The NFC B-Day Chat Thread

[bruceha2000]

The only way to have the Christmas tree shape is to prune it. At least once a year if not more. That is something many don't know about Christmas tree farms. Lots of "off season" time spent pruning for shape. Of course some types of trees are more naturally that shape, Colorado Blue Spruce being one of them.

 

[007Sean]

The only way to have the Christmas tree shape is to prune it. At least once a year if not more. That is something many don't know about Christmas tree farms. Lots of "off season" time spent pruning for shape. Of course some types of trees are more naturally that shape, Colorado Blue Spruce being one of them.

Yeah, I know you need to prune it but I was just too lazy to prune it.

 

[ronott1]

To insure me, DW would have to use half her pay... I'll be working until I reach medicare. Spent two years uninsured, it was cheaper to pay the penalty. They didn't care I was unemployed, it was $13K/year for the insurance with a $6K deductible, based upon my prior to unemployment salary.



Fond memories. One of the reasons I loved Germany was Christmas time was like it was when I was a kid. As you were shopping, you could have the warm wine (sorry can't spell it's name) and freshly roasted chestnuts, but more importantly everyone was nice to everyone. Total strangers would strike up a conversation and just be nice. And the Danish chocolates were to die for... Just don't eat too many and drive.

One Christmas season, Mom skipped breakfast and lunch to get all the Christmas mail delivered. One of her houses got the Danish chocolates and apparently gave her six, which she promptly consumed without understanding what was in them. A house or two later knew me and called me to come help her finish her route. She had quite the hangover the next morning. BTW, she's a teetotaler. And she especially enjoyed the "Jack Daniels" chocolates.

I have to make sure that our retirement health insurance will cover the family. If not, then I might need to work until the DW is 65. She retired this year a 55 and does not get health insurance.

 

[DigMyChicks]

Thanks for sharing the latest on your house Michelle! It's going to be beautiful when you're done



Morning DMC! I'm taking a page out of your book today and dip some truffles I started yesterday



Hi Bob, hope you have a great day!


We're having crazy winds here this morning. This poor old house was creaking and rattling so loud it woke me up. I had wanted to go to Casper today but I'm not driving 2+ hours in this. Have to see what tomorrow brings I guess.

Which ones are you making?

The only way to have the Christmas tree shape is to prune it. At least once a year if not more. That is something many don't know about Christmas tree farms. Lots of "off season" time spent pruning for shape. Of course some types of trees are more naturally that shape, Colorado Blue Spruce being one of them.

We have some of the Blue Spruce in our yard. They are not my favorite. We have Black Spruce behind our grove. I love them.

 

[bruceha2000]

What does the UC system do for retiree medical? LONG time ago the big corporation I worked for had good retiree medical. Changed before I retired. The "new" plan was they put away a certain amount of money between when you were 40 and 50. And it was originally "sold" as averaging 7% a year added interest, never did better than 3% and well below that when the 2007/8 crash hit, like basically 0%.

The insurance is ONLY good for buying coverage in the company's self insured plans. 3 options: high, medium, low deductible. No choice but to take the low deductible since the Rx limits per person were $1,000; $2,500 and no limit respectively. DW's Enbrel would be over $30K a year. Coverage for 4 people the first year was $29K. Not much left after that. Good thing DW decided to go back to work.

And I see that the company is now not covering anything that is not "in network". Kind of a problem when you need specialists that are often not "in network" or if your kid happens to be going to college in a different geography.

 

[pertnear09]

But think of all the oxygen they generated over the years!

I understand they go through a lot of ground water.

 

[CapricornFarm]

I understand they go through a lot of ground water.

We got 20 extra inches of rain so far this year and it is supposed to rain tomorrow again!

 

[ronott1]

What does the UC system do for retiree medical? LONG time ago the big corporation I worked for had good retiree medical. Changed before I retired. The "new" plan was they put away a certain amount of money between when you were 40 and 50. And it was originally "sold" as averaging 7% a year added interest, never did better than 3% and well below that when the 2007/8 crash hit, like basically 0%.

The insurance is ONLY good for buying coverage in the company's self insured plans. 3 options: high, medium, low deductible. No choice but to take the low deductible since the Rx limits per person were $1,000; $2,500 and no limit respectively. DW's Enbrel would be over $30K a year. Coverage for 4 people the first year was $29K. Not much left after that. Good thing DW decided to go back to work.

And I see that the company is now not covering anything that is not "in network". Kind of a problem when you need specialists that are often not "in network" or if your kid happens to be going to college in a different geography.

That is terrible!

Currently Medical insurance is the same for retirees. At 65, they convert to a combination medicare and kaiser system. The cost is the same as before. The thing I need to see is if the retiree coverage will cover family too.

The cost is not bad-- something like $175.00 per month

Because UC Davis is a public University, All employees have to be treated the same. If Retirement medical insurance was cut for Staff, then it would have to be cut for Faculty. That would hurt recruitment so it is un likely that there would be a change

 

[ronott1]

We got 20 extra inches of rain so far this year and it is supposed to rain tomorrow again!

We barely get 20 inches a year on Average!

 

[N F C]

The only way to have the Christmas tree shape is to prune it. At least once a year if not more. That is something many don't know about Christmas tree farms. Lots of "off season" time spent pruning for shape. Of course some types of trees are more naturally that shape, Colorado Blue Spruce being one of them.

I used to work with a woman who's family had a Christmas tree farm. She always talked about all the year-round work they had to do for a crop (the trees) they only sold one month out of the year. She made that job sound pretty unappealing.

Which ones are you making?

I made Maple Walnut Truffles. Tasty!

We got 20 extra inches of rain so far this year and it is supposed to rain tomorrow again!

No wonder you were always posting about more rain and the water rising! That's a lot!