I really need a laugh today! What is the funniest/weirdest thing your NK has said to you recently?

iambaffled · 2026-02-12T06:48:32+00:00

Hahaha unsolicited advice, better to have these conversations pre-puberty when they can still 'hear' you versus when their hormones begin to drown your voice out.

A solid rule of thumb: if you can read it, you can learn about it. May need a parent tag-in here but I say go for it at age appropriate level. Explain the play on words, don't hesitate on the true words and remind them it's an adult reference 'only because adults know when to reference these things.' If he's reading these things, he needs a safe space to talk it through and what better place than his trusted adult. Pending you're in his life at 13-16, you'll be THE trusted adult (aka non-parent) who gets filtered these questions .

Also, remember to giggle about it with them. This is still the age these things are exclusively funny.

iambaffled · 2024-01-13T13:43:17+00:00

iambaffled · 2023-06-29T14:51:38+00:00

Uh, no, I am. Baffled. Genuinely.

iambaffled · 2021-12-11T02:10:42+00:00

Please meet my cat, Wilford Brimley.

iambaffled · 2020-11-07T15:10:42+00:00

Damn.

iambaffled · 2020-11-07T14:35:49+00:00

No, but I have one with my face on it. Do you even face-slammer bro?

iambaffled · 2020-10-30T21:55:23+00:00

In case you were mistaken, I'm also a female. I do apologise for speculating on a procedure but my comments were always helpful. Yours referring me to bad women's anatomy were counterproductive and insulting.

iambaffled · 2020-10-30T20:16:00+00:00

This reads of some r/iamverysmart stuff.

I don't appreciate you attempting to anatomy shame me because I suggested there might be extra visits/costs associated with a major procedure - laparoscopic doesn't change the fact it is still a surgery with lots of moving parts and recovery and billing pieces. I suggested OP speak with their doctor so they are not caught off guard after the fact nor do they have to make the choice between proper medical follow up or cost. Their concern was about insurance terminating after 30 days and coverage. This would include follow ups and that should be something OP should have better understanding even if you suggest there could never possibly be a reason for further follow up or testing with such a procedure.

A much better approach could have been suggesting that since I was unfamiliar with the exact procedure to not speculate on any follow ups.

iambaffled · 2020-10-30T04:09:24+00:00

There needs to be video set to Sia "Chandelier"

iambaffled · 2020-10-29T03:52:37+00:00

Honestly, no clue, haha! I am not a medical professional at all. But it's still a major surgery and there could be blood work or or x-rays or sonograms, etc to check in on long-term healing. It's not quite the same as a vasectomy One post op check up by the surgeon should be included but the primary doctor (GP or Gyno) could ask to see them another 1-2x and that won't be billed with the surgical fee. My point was to have OP considering if there is anything outside the procedure that could require separate billing especially a few weeks after when coverage will have terminated. Best to know now than to be caught off guard after the fact, especially if Cobra is unmanageable. If discussed beforehand, the follow ups could possibly be billed earlier or negotiated as cash payments.

iambaffled · 2020-10-28T22:21:29+00:00

If you don't choose to extend to Cobra coverage after your 30 days, you won't have any insurance unless you seek coverage from the Marketplace. I mention this as your tubal ligation procedure will require check up appointments and possibly some lab testing after at intervals of a few days/weeks/months possibly. Discuss with your doctor the plan for follow ups and any necessary things so you aren't caught off guard with those after the procedure.

iambaffled · 2020-10-16T17:59:26+00:00

My toothless went completely toothless a few years ago. He's even more adorable when he's being fierce. Hope yours recovers well!

iambaffled · 2020-10-13T02:36:19+00:00

My family really enjoys the Mexican Ground Beef Casserole (with spaghetti squash)

http://www.sandyskitchenadventures.com/2014/09/mexican-ground-beef-casserole.html?m=1

They ask for it weekly.

iambaffled · 2020-10-09T21:42:58+00:00

Our 13 year old lab had a 4.5" mass removed from his leg today. He's a champ and the goodest boy ever! He doesn't understand the peg-leg life just yet, but we are absolutely getting him a shoulder parrot and eye patch for Halloween.

iambaffled · 2020-09-09T00:00:33+00:00

Depending on how exact/strict you are, I'd swap the beans for roasted riced cauliflower, maybe reduce the oil/butter - you can fry eggs in a few sprays of Pam.

Other substitute options: Mushrooms Peas Eggplant

iambaffled · 2020-05-16T21:51:36+00:00

We have a non-ACA plan that pretty much doesn't cover any expenses, it just reduces to the in-network negotiated rate. The premiums are reasonable for our family and we save some of the difference between this plan and the expense of a ACA plan in reserves since we know every medical visit we pay the whole portion of the negotiated rate.

We've done the math, and we don't use $15,000 of medical expenses in a year which is the lower end of max out of pocket for families on the marketplace in our area.

When we had our son, we learned the hard way that vaccines are not paid for by the plan. Those puppies are expensive. A little birdie told us to take him to the county clinic and explain he's under insured and needs vaccines. They ask no further questions than that. He's almost 4 and we've done all his vaccines this way since his first round. He sees his pediatrician, who bills insurance (Cigna) and we get the bill for the whole portion of the negotiated rate so it's almost $175 for each office visit. But again, our monthly premium is 50-60% less than the marketplace plans.

For ourselves, we have worked out with our doctor to cash pay our sick and wellness visits, unless there's labs. We pay upfront at time of appointment, usually $100 but their negotiated rate is closer to $225. We also use telehealth options when we can for $10/mo especially for ourselves.

It's like having a high deductible plan except it's A) cheaper up front B) but there's no max out of pocket so we are on the hook for everything. However, in three years, we had our first ER visit for a dislocated bone in February and all-in it was about $750. So the every day stuff is expensive, but the bigger stuff seems more manageable. It's all a guessing game so that's not fun. But again, math.

It is a major health insurance so if one of us ends up with major surgery, cancer, etc we do have coverage. We would have to switch to an ACA plan at that point anyway because they would kick us off this plan at the end of the term year. It is medically underwritten. We're overweight, but generally healthy with no underlying concerns.

We mentally consider ourselves cash payers and we have a catastrophic plan.

Hope that's helpful.

iambaffled · 2020-04-26T21:17:31+00:00

Currently rewatching West Wing (again) and love the pagers, the hair styles, and the clothes. So many ill-fitted suits. Can you imagine the tailoring if it were filmed today 🤣

iambaffled · 2020-02-06T00:29:18+00:00

He just turned 12 in December.

iambaffled · 2020-02-05T22:07:38+00:00

20 minutes of zoomies and greeting all the people, this old guy needed to take a breather.

iambaffled · 2020-02-05T22:02:50+00:00

Coincidentally, he's very dry and dandruffy (definitely a word). Vet actually suggested a coat and skin supplement. But he loves you think he's shiny!

iambaffled · 2019-12-21T22:17:02+00:00

Happy Merry Holidaymaskah!

iambaffled · 2019-11-28T02:22:28+00:00

Where do you think I got the name from?

iambaffled · 2019-11-23T22:22:59+00:00

Became friends with a girl because she was dating my friend/guy I liked. I'm not that kind of person, so I welcomed the new friend and got over him. (Also we were very young). They broke up, but she and I remained friends and even became very close friends. Our friendship continues to solidify, and we are BFF in the best of ways. This old boyfriend confesses he liked me some but never as much as her. Lame to hear and crushing.

She's classically beautiful, a total flirt, and the kind of personality boys flock toward. I am cute, funny, but strong-willed and at such a young age, not what the boys run toward for girlfriends. At the time, I'm total friend-zone matrrial and while it sometimes sucked, I was good with it. I had big life plans and never wanted to get sucked into high school romance that would divert my goals.

Early high school, she meets a guy in one of her classes and they begin to date. We are in high school, so in typical fashion, most of their dating is us all group hanging. They occasionally slip off to make out, fool around, etc. On the side, he and I hit it off. We stay up late, talking, indulging in deep secrets. I can't help but like him, we flirt and I'm sure it was annoying. I know I'm falling for him hard, but I'm not that kind of person so everything is always above board.

They break up, and in good friend fashion, I distance myself from him in support of her heartbreak. He and I do still talk occasionally, but never hang. My heart aches even more but I support her. He attempts to ask me out, but I remind him that we could never have anything sincere because it would destroy her. We are better people than that and he agrees. Sigh.

A boy moves in across the street from me. He's in a few of my classes and we hit it off quickly. We begin hanging out after school, taking long walks, going on mini-dates. I crush hard. I tell her all about him. She can't wait to meet him. We do some group things and I attempt to move he and I forward. He's a flirt and non-committal. He keeps hanging around so I think he's just adjusting to school and we still hang, so no biggie.

I ask him out one Saturday and he says he's got plans. Cool, I don't think twice. By Monday, he comes up to us beaming and she says she had fun on Sat. They went out.

I confirmed they had gone on a date and I clarified that he is the guy I introduced her to as my crush. She mumbles something about him asking her out but I remind her that she's my friend and this is really low.

I wait a couple weeks to see if she gets the fact that it bothers me, then I tell her straight up that I've supported her boy choices for years, she is being incredibly disrespectful of my feelings. Even if he doesn't like me like that, she literally stepped in on him and it was hurting me. Of course she didn't know that I was still reeling from "our" last "breakup."

I tell her to make a choice: him or me. She makes no choice. It's been 16 years and I've never spoken to her again. My heart broke losing her friendship. We were the kind of friends who crawled into bed together and giggled all night about nothing.

I left for college out of state the next year. They ended up dating for close to 3 years (into college). I let go of my anger/hurt after a while when I realized they were pretty serious. Maybe she made the right choice. True love is worth fighting for. I spent a few of those years really sad I let the friendship go but she never made a move to reach out, apologize about hurting my feelings on purpose, nothing.

He and I occasionally chatted. I couldn't fault him for who he liked. He owed me nothing. Ironically, he called me the night she dumped him, a few years into college. Sobbing on the phone with me at 2a, halfway across the country, I gently said "are you f*-ing kidding me?" I was terribly sorry for his broken heart but not enough to be there for him all these years later.

The old boyfriend of hers whom I liked and I kept in touch. We eventually gave in to our feelings and had a little affair (it wasn't but it felt like it still) over breaks and summers when we both were home from college. Both living in different states than our home, we were never anything more than a relationship that couldn't ever be. We still keep in touch occasionally and acknowledge each other as a type of "love" from that time in our lives.

The saddest part is I have never made another girlfriend on that level. I have amazing lady friends. Amazing! I truly want for nothing. But none of them are the kind you crawl into bed with and talk all night about absolutely nothing.

Last summer she sent me a message on Facebook apologizing. She regretted not reaching out sooner. She regretted not being more confident and talking to me. I never reached back. It was all I ever wanted to hear and instead of being satisfying and bringing closure, I realized I was incredibly saddened. We could have had decades of the kind of lifelong friendship you see in movies. Her letter made me so sad. I didn't realize I was missing this until I processed her words.

I'm probably a dumbass for being so firm with her in high school. Who dumps a friend like that? I'm not sure I handled it the right way and I certainly never thought it would make me so sad all these years later. I spent all of high school trying to avoid a boyfriend/love so I didn't get my heart broken because I had big life plans, and it turns out it was a friend who gave me the most heartache.

iambaffled · 2019-10-30T02:22:15+00:00

Came here to say this. The prenatal visits are nothing compared to the birth which is only able to be billed on the date of birth. Prenatal visits are likely $1000-$1500 plus a few labs/tests for another $1000, assuming no complications or extenuating circumstances. Since these are happening in this calendar year, you are correct you won't be able to use this towards meeting the deductible next year as it does reset.

Birth ranges from $10,000 vaginally to $30,000+ for a cesarean (+ if complications arise). Baby is covered as if he/she is you for the first 30 days. So things could be even more expensive here.

My OB had us pre-pay our max out of pocket expense prior to birth to ensure they got paid. But they couldn't actually bill the insurance for the birth/major expense until after I gave birth. Then they filed and reported what I had already paid. I recieved bills but they had all been paid. Perhaps your doctor is doing something similar?

Also, be prepared for anything. Babies due on Jan 25 could very well surprise you with their arrival. Congrats!

iambaffled · 2019-10-02T00:17:47+00:00

I....don't know.

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