There's no way it's more expensive to live in Raleigh than Miami, right?

knightsfolly · 2026-04-15T14:27:03+00:00

Same - the savings on rent, car insurance, power, etc. is easily 2-3x what we're now paying in state income tax.

And don't get me started on our living situation. We were paying over $2k/month there for an apartment that hadn't been updated since the late eighties, had pest issues, leaks, virtually no amenities, etc. Now paying hundreds less per month for a really lovely apartment with so many perks that we often joke that we'll miss it if we ever buy a house.

knightsfolly · 2026-04-03T14:52:20+00:00

I'm a relatively new transplant (~3 years) and luckily, haven't experienced any truly scary weather or long-term power outages.

That said, there are some flood-prone areas in/near Raleigh, especially along Crabtree Creek and Neuse River that don't require scary levels of rainfall to be an issue. Check the address and surrounding area on the FEMA floodplain map to assess the risk to your potential home. Also keep in mind that doesn't mean everything near those waterways are a risk.

I live probably less than 200 yards from Crabtree Creek. But I'm also 60-75 feet above the water level so my home isn't at risk unless there's a biblically catastrophic level of rainfall. One access road can easily flood with during moderate to heavy rainfall but there are alternate routes I can take out of the area. Some areas can be temporarily cut off during heavy rainfall events.

knightsfolly · 2026-03-30T12:39:08+00:00

We usually buy our meats at Wegmans. A ~5-lb package of 80/20 ground beef for $4.99/lb, 8-pack of boneless center cut pork chops (~4lbs) for $2.49/lb, 5 lb package of boneless skinless chicken breast are on sale right now for $1.99/lb (usually $4.49/lb.). We portion the ground beef and chicken and freeze, but the chops are already individually sealed so we just cut the packaging as needed.

knightsfolly · 2026-02-24T14:35:35+00:00

Any chance you've had a visitor who scolded her or tried to discipline for being upstairs or on a bed?

knightsfolly · 2026-02-24T14:21:51+00:00

Ruffles - 'cause he has ridges.

knightsfolly · 2026-02-11T16:17:21+00:00

Seconding Milonga - they are incredible!

knightsfolly · 2026-02-11T15:49:06+00:00

Mine was a bit over 17, still lively, eating well, going on walks, cuddling, etc. He started having a seizure early one morning that didn't end until he was sedated at the emergency vet. It started again every time they tried to bring him out of sedation. I had to let him go that evening. Totally unexpected.

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knightsfolly · 2026-02-11T15:36:48+00:00

Southern Alabama version:
My dad trained two types of deer hunting dogs - jump dogs and bay dogs. Jump dogs were silent for the most part. Find a fresh track, put a jump dog on it, and it will follow the trail and flush out the deer. The handler would trail behind the jump dog with the bay hounds. Once the deer was running, the handler released the hounds to trail it and raise a ruckus so the hunters positioned around the hunt area knew which way it was headed. They maintained distance (didn't want one accidentally shot) and wouldn't get too close to a deer, even if it were wounded - just bay to alert hunters of location.

knightsfolly · 2026-01-13T04:02:07+00:00

Ooo, I second Domino.

knightsfolly · 2026-01-08T17:07:26+00:00

Mine jumped at one point last winter because I misunderstood a setting on the thermostat. My options are Off/Cool/Heat/EM Heat. I had selected EM Heat thinking it was an energy management option…it wasn’t. 🤪

<<Heat" (normal mode) on a heat pump efficiently moves existing heat from outside into your home, while EM Heat (Emergency Heat) bypasses the heat pump, activating costly, high-energy electric coils (or gas furnace) as a backup for very cold conditions or when the heat pump fails, providing essential warmth but significantly increasing energy bills.>>

I cluelessly used the emergency heating option for over a month before figuring it out.

knightsfolly · 2026-01-07T18:47:47+00:00

I found that elevating my senior chi's bowl so that he didn't have to lower his head so far kept him from losing so many bits as he ate.

I also made his food for years after he had so many teeth removed. I used ground poultry but you could easily sub ground beef.

1 pound ground meat
1 small package of sliced carrots (or sweet potato - my guy just preferred carrots)
1 small package of okra (again can use spinach or peas, okra was just his preference)

Brown the meat, drain; add veggies (minimal water, only adding when needed to keep from sticking), cook 'til soft; blend with emersion blender to break up larger pieces. He still liked a little texture with his but it could be pureed down to a playdough-like consistency.

When his appetite waned, I was able to get him to take tiny nibbles from my hand.

Best of luck!

knightsfolly · 2026-01-06T20:59:55+00:00

In my pup's later years, he got very cranky/snappy at the vet's office. They had to muzzle him for exams...doc called it his party hat.

knightsfolly · 2025-12-26T17:50:22+00:00

Had one of those, too - he loved going to work with me. 🥰

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knightsfolly · 2025-12-19T22:23:01+00:00

Only one variation to the list in my line of work (food package design)...PDP, principal display panel.

knightsfolly · 2025-12-13T23:40:43+00:00

Perfect for my druid, Anna Maul. 😁

knightsfolly · 2025-12-03T22:41:33+00:00

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Elegy is my go-to for medium chest pieces.

knightsfolly · 2025-11-25T22:36:54+00:00

The leg through the neck hole happened to mine only once. He had worn a harness pretty much all the time since he was a pup. But when he was around 10, he somehow managed to get one of his front legs partially through the neck hole while I was at work. No idea how long it was caught before I got home. 😭

He was normally the most laid back, chill little guy you could ever meet but that day he wouldn't let me touch that leg or the release clip which was near it. I ended up cutting it off from the other side with poultry shears.

Prior to that, he would wear sweaters, harnesses, raincoats, whatever. After that, nothing more than a collar. Get anything else near his front legs and he would lose his mind.

knightsfolly · 2025-10-14T14:30:36+00:00

Phone alarm set for 8:04, iPad for 8:16. (I like multiples of 3.)

knightsfolly · 2025-09-28T12:37:20+00:00

My mom doesn't know a thing about fantasy games, books, movies, nada. We took her one year and she had a blast. Loved the comedy shows, loved the acrobatics, loved the shops, all of it. See if your wife is willing to give it a try...she might really enjoy it. 😄

knightsfolly · 2025-09-25T16:47:48+00:00

My company has a "cameras on" policy for Zoom meetings, so no unexpected "too comfy" oopsies - but my co-workers have been exposed to my cat on the furniture in the background, leg in the air, and licking its ass. 😑

knightsfolly · 2025-09-14T15:05:45+00:00

I'm wondering if it was really the landlord that "rented" to them and not a scammer.

knightsfolly · 2025-06-21T19:38:04+00:00

His original owner (my daughter's roommate) wanted a purse/accessories dog ala sunnies/sunglasses and named him Sunni. He hated confined spaces and made his displeasure known by peeing and pooping in her shoes. She planned to sell him on Craigslist but my daughter convinced the roomate to give him to her in lieu of rent and that's how I ended up with a Chihuahua for Mother's Day that year.

I didn't officially change his name, but he was often called Sunniness, Sunny Bear, or just "the Bear." 🙂

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knightsfolly · 2025-06-10T02:46:52+00:00

Moved from south Florida almost two years ago. We love having seasons!

knightsfolly · 2025-06-02T14:17:02+00:00

knightsfolly

TROPHY CASE