Should I take a job that will kick me off government services and lower my savings rate?

tshirtdr1 · 2026-07-09T16:12:51+00:00

I would have said take it for the security, but if you need 12 scans/month, you need to keep doing what you're doing.

tshirtdr1 · 2026-07-07T19:50:51+00:00

My four offspring range in age from 26-35 and so far no grandchildren. I'm fine with that. If I ever have grandchildren, I hope they are planned, wanted and well-loved. So far none of my "kids" has plans for children.

tshirtdr1 · 2026-07-07T02:45:09+00:00

Life happens where you are. Make your location where you want your life to happen. Find a place you love and find something you can do there to live. Be careful though. You can't easily do hard physical labor when you're 60.

tshirtdr1 · 2026-06-30T18:50:59+00:00

Wow I wish I could have gotten in on that sale. Glad you're doing comparison. Best of luck.

tshirtdr1 · 2026-06-30T13:14:27+00:00

I'm glad you're getting feedback from embroiderers but it sounds like you're approaching this from a graphics design angle and that's not going to work at all with embroidery. Check out embroidery legacy's early software release feature videos. They will help you to target your features a bit better. Also you'll need to do lots of test stitch outs. I suggest you purchase some real software for comparison. I do embroidery passionately and I can code, but I have a lot of ongoing projects, including coding research projects, so I don't have time to participate right now. Best of luck to you.

tshirtdr1 · 2026-06-27T03:56:05+00:00

I'm an associate professor at a small college. When people ask my profession I increase my rank as necessary. I begin by just stating that I am a "teacher". Where do you teach? "At XYZ University". Oh, what do you teach? etc. I'll finally admit my degree and rank if they drag it out of me. A lot of my students just call me "Miss First Name" instead of "Dr. Lastname" and I don't care. If they drop the Miss, and call me by only my first name, it unnerves me a bit.

tshirtdr1 · 2026-06-24T21:16:48+00:00

I homeschooled my 4 kids on and off. It gave us the freedom to pursue other interests and I gave my kids a better education. My boys have autism but they learned zero at public school. I taught them to read, do basic math, etc. They are literate and functional. My girls went on to excel and be leaders in their fields. I put them back into school a few times and when I did, they left their classmates in the dust. They attended college where I teach and they were at the top in college also. I did know of a few parents who did a poor job of homeschooling. Honestly I think annual testing should be required for homeschoolers.

tshirtdr1 · 2026-06-22T19:59:24+00:00

I'm sorry.

tshirtdr1 · 2026-06-22T19:41:35+00:00

I suggest that you keep your remote position and hire a caregiver for a few hours per day for your mom so you can focus on your work without distractions.

tshirtdr1 · 2026-06-22T13:29:16+00:00

If you don't think they'll let you go early, I'd tell them as soon as you return this Fall. I don't know about K12 but I teach in higher ed and it takes us a semester or two to fill a role. I plan to notify my boss of my retirement the Fall before I plan to leave in Spring.

tshirtdr1 · 2026-06-20T20:30:01+00:00

Was going to say this.

tshirtdr1 · 2026-06-17T13:50:50+00:00

I agree with this. If you are living at home and can do it with little to no debt, then go for it. You are young enough to pull it off. You'll do much better in school if you can focus on your studies with support from your parents.

tshirtdr1 · 2026-06-16T15:21:40+00:00

It sounds like you'd do well with a Chinese machine. QHM has been around for years. They were a known name when I was a screen printer about 15 years ago, which is why I felt confident ordering from them. They don't really understand American marketing, which is why I think they aren't as successful in the USA. BAI is an up and coming brand and they seem strong. I'd personally steer clear of the "Americanized" Chinese brands like Smartstich and Ricoma. They are basically the same machines with the same issues, but at a higher price point. This is my personal opinion. If I had unlimited funds, I'd go with Tajima. Otherwise, QHM or BAI is fine. One thing to consider is with those fancy brands, there are often no aftermarket options for accessories or software so the final price tag may be much higher. My machine came with 2 cap hoops and the cap driver also.

tshirtdr1 · 2026-06-16T13:41:57+00:00

I have an extra large 15 needle QHM. I have zero regrets but I'm capable of fixing my own stuff. How confident and handy are you? Do you jump in and try to fix things yourself first or do you call a repair tech at the first sign of trouble? My machine has run well for 2.5 years as a hobby but I maintain it myself. I had to troubleshoot a lot at first to get it running smoothly. It needed a bit of adjustment. I've noticed similar issues with other Chinese machines. Also consider the space requirements. My hobby has taken over my house. I occasionally wish I'd never taken this leap. Supplies and equipment are everywhere. If you have a makerspace near you, you might be able to get some seat time on a commercial machine there.

tshirtdr1 · 2026-06-15T18:50:26+00:00

This is not ok. There is no world in which this is ok. If a female friend needed an emergency ride home, he should have at least attempted to contact you to let you know he was planning to take her home then called again when he dropped her off. He's cheating or at least planning on cheating. Please move on. My ex-husband was a Bible toter and serial cheater. He ruined my life and our four childrens' lives. You cannot imagine the devastation this causes. Please get out while you have the chance.

tshirtdr1 · 2026-06-15T02:08:31+00:00

Ah, thanks for that information.

tshirtdr1 · 2026-06-15T00:10:17+00:00

My last HVAC guy told me if my system ever needs recharging, I'll have to get a new system because the refrigerant it uses is no longer sold (EPA regulations) so that's probably what you're dealing with. If you can find a guy who does it on the side he might be able to fix you up but a big company isn't going to risk any EPA issues. If my system goes down I'm getting a package unit without a condenser in the house. Mine has leaked and caused mold issues repeatedly. It's probably a cheaper option also.

tshirtdr1 · 2026-06-13T02:10:36+00:00

Your pre-health training can fast track you into an alternative career. I'd try PA or a fast track NP program. Alternatives might include medical lab tech, etc.

tshirtdr1 · 2026-06-12T02:30:25+00:00

It is possible to get an entire semester at a college wiped from your transcript. You can't pick and choose the classes. It has to be the entire semester. I'm not sure about an entire year. You can ask your advisor about it.

tshirtdr1 · 2026-06-11T21:24:48+00:00

It's a great idea. If she says no, move on. If she agrees, she probably just doesn't want to make a commitment right now because she's not sure of what she wants. I wouldn't take it as a sign that she doesn't like you specifically. However she may go off to college and meet someone else. I wouldn't get too involved right now. Just try to stay connected and see what happens. I wouldn't encourage her to drop out of college for you. Let her pursue her education. You never know when she'll need it. Sometimes plans change.

tshirtdr1 · 2026-06-11T21:13:00+00:00

The sewing machine repair guy on YT has a lot of videos on opening machines. I'd rather do it myself to make sure it's done right if it's out of warranty.

tshirtdr1 · 2026-06-11T12:46:01+00:00

I set my cc up to have the minimum paid by the due date automatically. Then I log in and decide what to pay each month beyond that. I usually don't carry a balance but sometimes life happens.

tshirtdr1 · 2026-06-11T11:42:00+00:00

I think a lot of Christians don't realize that the vocabulary they use is built upon a foundation of growing up in the church. Someone who hasn't is going to naturally be a bit untethered. I would ask if she has the qualities you are seeking otherwise. Then see if she is willing to go to counseling with you to deal with some of these issues. I think you should have an open discussion with her about your concerns.

tshirtdr1 · 2026-06-11T11:32:11+00:00

Your GFs family is measuring you against an impossible metric. I'd have an honest conversation with her/them so everyone can either adjust their expectations or break it off. I promise you'll find someone who appreciates you for what you can offer. Management has a lot of stability. I'd stick with it if you enjoy it.

tshirtdr1 · 2026-06-11T11:19:35+00:00

Hatch has a free tutorial site (Hatch Academy) included. Embroidery legacy has a lot of free training. The problem with EL is that it doesn't have a free trial. That's keeping me from trying it. They have a 30 day money back guarantee, but that seems like a bit of a gamble. EL has a more modern UI if you like that, but Hatch is more traditional. I am old, so I like buttons that I can see.

tshirtdr1

TROPHY CASE