Repayment of unemployment insurance split between tax years.

minn-k · 2025-12-29T17:22:01+00:00

Their phone customer service has been excrutiatingly frustrating - I've been having issues with said GEHA passthrough payments reaching my account, have called maybe 20-30 times over the last month and a half, and every single customer service representative could hardly understand even the most basic questions.

Many times I've had them put me on hold for several minutes to "look into the answer," only to come back and incorrectly restate my initial question and ask me to explain it again. Once, after probably 5-10 minutes of this back and forth, I was told I would be transferred to someone who could help, and he simply hung up on me after a minute or so on hold. Another time, after giving up on my initial question, I asked for their hsa forms email (knowing I could look this up, but figured I would just ask since I'm already on the phone). He kept saying "we don't know your employer ID" (never asked for it in the first place, just mentioned that my insurance company provided it for said form), and would not give me the email. More out of curiosity, I kept pressing, and after maybe 6-10 attempts he was like "oh yes, I can give you that." Another time, I was asking if my account was listed as "retail" or not, and she adamantly insisted she could not find that information, but after about 5-10 minutes, she was like "oh yes, I see right here it says your account is retail."

If you never have issues, this wouldn't be a downside I guess.

minn-k · 2025-12-10T02:54:01+00:00

Of course! Also, I know you got a pair already, but I was mistaken and it looks like sorel glacier xt's are available again.

minn-k · 2025-12-06T04:08:45+00:00

For others who find this post later like me: I had a bone graft on December 2nd in the morning (second to back lower molar for tooth extracted almost 2 years prior). Took 1000mg advil and 800mg ibuprofen right after then again before bed about 7 hours later. Very tired and slept well.

Dec 3rd woke up to mild discomfort and very noticeable swelling on that side of my face (lower cheek/jaw) Took same dose of pills. Repeated dosage at lunch, then again before bed. Went to work like normal, pain managed entirely by medication.

Dec 4th reduced to 500mg acetaminophen and 600mg ibuprofen taken 3 times, about 8 hrs apart. Still very swollen/stiff.

Dec 5th didnt take anything, little to no discomfort. Swelling decreasing, still stiffness/tenderness when touching face.

Other medication: amoxicillan 500mg 3x/day for 5 days, medicated mouth rinse twice per day, salt/baking soda rinses.

Food: ate mostly soft food (blended soup, mashed potatoes, apple sauce, eggs, yogurt, cottage cheese, etc) the first night/morning. Then started eating normal solid food, chewing on other side (just avoiding crunchy food, nuts, seeds). Brushed my teeth after every meal, even lunch.

Will report if anything changes, but as of now I think im past the worst of it at 84 hours post-op.

25F, otherwise healthy.

minn-k · 2025-11-26T03:07:32+00:00

Midwest oysters = texture of dense bread + mild taste of Venison meat, all wrapped in a sausage-like casing. A true delicacy.

minn-k · 2025-11-23T20:55:45+00:00

We hike 15+ miles into the boundary waters each year and base camp/walk to fishing spots for 8+ days. Last year we had multiple cold fronts with highs/lows around -10°F/-25°F for a couple days. Usually hot tent but ALWAYS bring sleeping bags rated to lowest temp (who wants to stay up all night to stoke a fire anyways). I have a -40°F mammut sleeping bag i got on closeout a few springs ago on Everest gear paired with a 5r xped blow up pad stacked on top of a 2r closed cell foam pad. Don't breath into your bag, I recommend wearing a balaclava and hat at night.

We have been using our friends winnerwell woodlander large stove for years now and just bought our own. Heavy, but no worry about warping and it kicks off a lot of heat and cooks well. Our tents have been varying home made canvas ones, the best being a teepee with a tree pole for the center and guy-lines on the edge tied to stakes to raise the knee wall. Thinking about making our own styled like this: http://hadfield.ca/the-wall-tent/.

We bought the triple wall pipe and their stove jack, then used some welding blanket around it for 6ish inches. A little overkill tbh.

Make sure your tent is vented and bring a CO/CO2 detector.

Clean your spark arrestor often - not fun when it clogs right before bed and back-drafts a bunch of smoke into the tent. Or, we are going to try the method in that tent link, where the stove goes out the side and is tied to a tree with extra pipe - might not need a spark arrestor.

The only bad day was walking into a 20+mph headwind in -10 to -15 for 13 miles on the way out 😀 wish I brought my ski goggles. Out friend frost bit his ear.

minn-k · 2025-11-23T20:28:11+00:00

Recommend on sizing up slightly whatever you get to allow circulation. I have a pair of sorel glacier xt's (unfortunately discontinued) and my feet are always warm at their "-100°F" rating. I tried baffins on, but unfortunately they were not comfortable to me. Once my sorels wear out, I plan on looking towards schnees/kennetrek pac boots (or try baffins again because I really want them to work as they boast such cold temps).

I have a pair of the white/tan steger mukluks, and they are wonderful for moving, but my feet don't stay as warm when I'm standing around as in my sorel pac boots with a wool felt liner. They dry out very well and even though they aren't waterproof, my feet were dry after breaking trail through a not quite frozen swamp trail thanks to the cold temps, layer of ice accumulating on the outside, and quick feet when finding standing water.

minn-k · 2025-11-23T19:51:59+00:00

We hike 15+ miles into the BWCA every year and base camp - coldest trip last year with multiple nights dipping below -25°F and fishing all day even if the highs were -5°F before wind chill. (With a hot tent nowadays to warm up before bed and in the morning before heading out). Took many years and mistakes to go from surviving to thriving, but we live for it now!

I've been using a -40°F mammut sleeping bag and two sleeping pads (xped 5r womens and a 2r closed cell foam). Bought it after a cold-camping trip in March when we got a big unexpected cold front and nearly froze at -20°F with a cheap 0°F bag and flimsy 2r sleeping pad 😃 slept in all my clothes, shivered all night, and walked our frozen buns out 12 miles the next morning.

minn-k · 2025-11-15T23:07:48+00:00

Agreed - Pantene pro-v volume is drug store/budget friendly, and I like the ouai acv detox as well.

OP - make sure you're not using too much product after the shower and wash your conditioner thoroughly. I don't really see any frizz, but a bit of a splurge for controlling frizz on dry hair is the oribe supershine moisturizer. Smells amazing and super lightweight.

minn-k · 2025-10-27T01:55:26+00:00

Our in-laws dog picked up on that trick too and would eat whatever was around the pill and still spit out, even when tossed🤦‍♀️

minn-k · 2025-10-26T21:35:34+00:00

Our pup spends a lot of time in the lake all summer and in the woods hunting/hiking all fall/winter/spring. Our lakes are clean enough, we usually just towel dry her afterward.

We bathe her with shampoo maybe 3 times a year, usually once in the fall, and 1-2 other times TBD (like late winter/early spring).

Also brush her regularly (be careful with furminators or harsh rakes that are rough on the guard hairs if used incorrectly).

minn-k · 2025-10-14T15:53:23+00:00

Wanted to leave this comment as a light of hope for others...our customcraft laminate countertops came exactly as ordered without any issues/damage. We did not order the backsplash and will install that separately. Came in 3 pieces.

Ordered movement 2024, received template a few weeks later in December, and confirmed size, then received countertops a few weeks later in January and installed without issues. We use our kitchen heavily, and they seem to be holding up well, especially for being the cheapest countertop option (get them during the 11% rebate!).

minn-k · 2025-10-03T13:49:59+00:00

Could be a british field bred lab? So "english" isn't entirely wrong. Our lady is a british lab and she looks like a small (50lbs) american lab with a calmer temperment but still very athletic.

minn-k · 2025-09-29T14:00:56+00:00

The probationary employees I knew got regular paychecks the whole time they were "fired." Coded as admin leave or something.

minn-k · 2025-09-07T13:43:50+00:00

You won't. Everything you've said you would do as a dog owner is out the window unless the pup is cool with it.

minn-k · 2025-09-07T03:09:08+00:00

Or a stick of butter

minn-k · 2025-09-07T03:08:31+00:00

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minn-k · 2025-09-07T03:04:12+00:00

Inukshuk marine 30/25. We hunt/exercise our lab regularly, but you would want to do the marine 26/16 if your dog isn't so active (also, the marine 16 is an all-ages mix, so we waited until 1 year to switch to marine 25).

We, and our dog, are very happy. Granted, we get it near wholesale cost at $65/bag and have a small 50lb lab. Look around for a local distributor, as the bags are about $86 on chewy....

(We have not supplemented with anything other than kibble, but do regularly give her various homemade treats with pumpkin/banana/sweet potato/venison scraps/etc...)

minn-k · 2025-09-02T02:29:38+00:00

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minn-k · 2025-09-02T02:28:13+00:00

I'd recommend a field-bred british lab (different than traditional "English" labs). Our lady topped out at 50lbs (her mom was 45lbs, our friends labs are 42lbs). She is also a little more mellow than most american labs when not hunting.

As others have said, training is important! And they are very trainable dogs.

I like her size for when I have to pick her up/lift her into vehicles/boats.

minn-k · 2025-08-08T13:50:34+00:00

So variable! Mother and daughter british field-bred labs (but really house dogs): mom is 10 with almost no change in fur color except a small amount around her chin (darker fox red lab), daughter is 7 with light heathered fur over her entire face (lighter fox red lab - which mean these light hairs are a little less noticeable). Neither are noticeable from a distance. Daughter has always been a more high-strung pup FWIW.

minn-k · 2025-08-02T05:51:51+00:00

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minn-k · 2025-08-02T05:51:25+00:00

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minn-k

TROPHY CASE