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Laurel-in-CA

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Everything posted by Laurel-in-CA

  1. My brother attended Harvey Mudd back in the day. There was one building shaped like a rectangle with an oval attacked in the middle of one side...they called it the toilet bowl. LOL BTW, he got a BS in Physics and a great education. Students at one of the Claremont colleges (there are 5) can take classes at the other four. Claremont is at the foot of the mountains. Cal Poly Pomona is an engineering school, not too far from Claremont, their classes tend to be very hands-on--machine shop and small foundry on campus when we had a tour. (I have a friend who taught industrial engineering there.)
  2. Finished an audio memoir by Michael J. Fox about his optimism amidst the challenges of spinal surgery, parkinson's, acting, and adventuring. His speech is slurring a book, so perhaps the audio was not the best way to go. I did enjoy his use of language, metaphor and analogy and, yes, he IS a super optimist! "No Time Like the Future" Also read "A Path Appears" by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn (husband/wife team) about altruism, charities, and evaluating what is really effective and what has not achieved its goals. The book is secular and although it mentions a couple of religious charities it downplays that side of the giving picture. It seems a HUGE gap in the story. And they label a "supergiver" as someone who gives 10% or more...which is exactly the meaning of a tithe. Anyway, they introduced me to a couple of charities and talked about the decision whether to invest in pursuing donors vs. put all the $$ into charitable endeavors (the later leads to a lot less $$ available). Interesting considerations. Working more myself (hurrah!) on a new business venture with some old friends, and dh is still looking for work and getting more discouraged. Retirement and downsizing is looking a lot more feasible than another job in his field right now. Trying to develop other possibilities too, but that will take time.
  3. That author's Pilgrim's Inn series is also very good, as is Scent of Water.
  4. I got hooked on a scifi series by Joel Shepherd (Australian author), the first of which is Renegade (Spiral Wars series). I am enjoying all the different aliens/cultures and their interactions with different types of AI-tech and AI attitudes. Fairly thoughtful military sci fi....they're all out for the benefit of their own species, more or less. After that it will be back to my library list, which includes Portrait of a Scotsman by Evie Dunmore. From military sci fi to regency romance! DH is still job hunting (now since mid-June) and we are praying something comes through soon!!
  5. Summer was late this year (much less risky fire season!) and in my few raised beds we have mostly tomatoes and basil...two japanese eggplant, which have given me about 5 total eggplants. The Sungold has been prolific with cherry tomatoes as usual, and I planted pineapple tomatoes which are big beefsteak heirlooms -- yum! Some grape tomatoes and san marzanos. I just planted 2 raised beds with asparagus crowns...they're right down the middle of a 3' wide bed and I'm wondering if I can plant carrots or greens along the sides??? Anyway, I don't can or dry, so we are enjoying whatever we can fresh. This winter I have to add compost and alfalfa pellets, and then I will probably top that with some water-retaining garden soil for next year.
  6. This week I read the Riyria Revelations trilogy by Michael J. Sullivan, an author who started out self-publishing fantasy he wrote to help motivate his dyslexic daughter to read, then turned that into some pretty good swords & sorcery fantasy, with his next series picked up by regular publishers. Plenty of twists and turns of identity in these books (no spoilers!). 8-) Happpy my library has so many of these on Kindle. Then got diverted into some space opera -- Renegade, the first of a series by Joel Shepherd, an Australian author. Pretty good plot and action, assorted mysterious aliens, plotting politicians and moral dilemmas. Not so great character development, but I'm going to give them a chance by getting the next book in the series. My book club's next offering is a memoir by Michael J. Fox, No Time Like the Future. My mom dealt with Parkinsons, and one of the side effects is depression. I am looking forward to hearing about things from his point of view as another sufferer from that disease. This will be my 2nd audiobook (and I didn't much like the experience the first time), and I hope it will be an engaging reader! As dh is job hunting again, I am having to limit my reads to the local library's online offerings. I am sure I will find something there, as my wish list online is quite long! Happy fall-is-coming reading! It's supposed to be 97deg today!!
  7. FYI in the US, hearing aids can be obtained for free for kids under age 18. (I have a friend whose daughter had severe hearing loss.) Also FYI, the hearing aids sold over the counter now for around $200 are ok for mild hearing loss but not for anything worse. My insurance covered the exam....then the audiologist quoted me $6500!! And then I went to Costco and they said $3000 (different brand). And then I went to a local network where they gave me FREE loaners (dh was unemployed at the time) and eventually I paid $4000 for hearing aids for moderate to severe hearing loss. They are a big help, although large groups with lots of chatter can still be difficult. I love that I can play my phone or audiobooks directly into my ears via the hearing aids without disturbing anyone else.
  8. My college kids are back to school soon too...one expanding on her AA and one starting 2nd half of BA at a 4-year school. My "happy" will be when dh finds a job...AGAIN! It's such a numbers game. Just finished The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba, which is about Cuba's fight for independence from Spain (stuff I didn't know) and the Hearst-Pulitzer battle in reporting it (which I vaguely recalled). Echoes of today as we discuss/experience media's role in shaping policy in the digital age instead of the newspaper age. Three different female voices telling the story -- two of them pretty dramatic for me...maybe because it was an audiobook? The historical stuff was interesting, but the story, for me, was not that enthralling. Looking for a little break from historical fiction with some space opera (by Jack Campbell) and regency fluff (by Mimi Walters) next. Making sure I have my go bag packed for fire season. How about you?
  9. Most crochet magazines have drawings of the stitches in the back. That worked for me when I took crocheting back up again in the last few years -- I still had vague memories from my teens and just needed some help and the willingness to rip it out when it didn't look right. I have a friend who swears by a photo guide (rather than drawings) she got online. That fits her visualization skills much better. She also writes out pattern directions in full as a way of learning them. Other friends swear by the videos, especially the lefties. Your mileage may vary - YMMV. For myself, I like a simple pattern repeat that allows me to keep my hands busy while I watch TV or read off my kindle or listen to an audio book. As a result, I don't really do garments, but I do a LOT of baby blankets and lap blankets to donate. A hat is a great way to practice different stitches, increase/decrease, practice color changes, etc. I have a group of ladies I get together with to crochet every week...great time for chat!!
  10. A "My-Gen" reunion consumed most of my early July -- 4 siblings and spouses. We hadn't seen each other since before covid and are scattered across several states and countries so it was wonderful to have extended time together. My sister brought some of Mom's files (seem to be everlasting), which included letters my dad had written to us in our 20s. Lovely, and so much more tender than he could manage to be in person. Old church directories with photos.....LOTS of memories. Planning for an all-gen reunion in a couple of years. Meanwhile, dh's latest job search continues...lots of recruiters but no offers yet. I am in the midst of The Ballad of Laurel Springs, which is Appalachian folklore, a generational story with a bit in the voice of each of the women in a family. This is for the bingo square that has "choose a book with your name in the title." For book club, I am starting The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba on audio...not my favorite medium, so I hope I can enjoy it despite the different tech. Finished Salvage Right by Lee & Miller, which is a Liaden story about an interstellar "light" - once a rogue entity but now establishing itself as a safe port of call for traders and independent intelligences that operate starships. Interesting in light of all the recent discussion of AI. These two are among my favorite authors, so I had pre-ordered this on my kindle as soon as it was available.
  11. County associations and co-ops in the area, statewide associations might be able to give you a county contact person who would have specifics. Also, charter schools, which serve several connected counties. Our district office of education oversees local homeschoolers that are under their charter umbrella, so local district or county educational organizations that work with charters or private schoolers migh also be helpful.
  12. I think she's going to give the insurance agent a call and see what recalculating her as head of household would do to the $$. Thanks for the suggestion.
  13. I tried a sensor this past year, for continuous glucose monitoring. It was compatible with my cell phone (no fitbit or applewatch here) which was lovely. Unfortunately the placement of the sensor on the back of the upper arm was not comfortable at night (I am a side sleeper; it was uncomfortable) and the sensors proved unreliable. Of the 5 I used, each good for 2 weeks, one fell off and one became utterly unreliable (reading of 256 when finger stick said 80). No more arm sensors for me! The monitor I am using now (Freestyle Lite) uses finger sticks but the data is downloadable, which my dr. likes. As long as it's covered by medicare, I don't really care which kind.
  14. She's been a dependent because she's a f/t student living @ home and on our insurance, working only p/t. But this may be the year for her to stop being a dependent, that's for sure.
  15. Congratulations! I think I joined these boards about the same time. Bonus child will be a transfer student this fall...25 years of homeschooling finished off her senior year with the pandemic lockdown and all community college classes. Still waiting for wedding bells and grandkids, though!
  16. At least a couple of employer interviews planned this week. Recruiters keep calling. We are hopeful. Still waiting for that severance check, which should hold us until unemployment starts coming. Lots of balls to keep in the air. The most challenging so far is that the 20yo has had to get her own medical insurance, as dh and I will both be on medicare, and it's based on our combined income since she is still a dependent....it will be about what it cost us as a family last time through covered CA. Big shock to her system!! Pro tip: a good insurance broker who can calmly explain all the options is your friend!
  17. Someone presented a possibility of auditing companies for a particular certification. He thinks he can do that (is going to apply) but it's payment per day on the road, not a salaried position. Doesn't sound like it would be a reliable source of income. 8-(
  18. If you can afford it, it is worth it to buy boxes -- you get the sizes you want and they all stack smoothly. Then you can bless someone else with them after moving, or else try to peddle them for $. We labeled each box by room bedroom #1, etc. - with a word or two of detail -- clothes, toiletries, crockpot, etc. We had a box or two of OPEN FIRST items -- cleaning and kitchen supplies, pillows and bedding, etc. We had a patio room where we stacked all our stuff, as well as in the garage. And lots and lots of books went to goodwill -- every time we move THAT happens. LOL
  19. One thing I can say, this is SOOOOOO much better than looking for work in 2020!!! Then it was not a single callback for the 1st 5 mo of lockdown. Now two recruiters have called within days of him reactivating his linkedin account and updating his resume. Screening interview tomorrow, but who knows whether that will lead to anything or not???
  20. He's an expert on specialized connectors and cables that carry data. Recently working with companies like Boeing, SpaceX, etc. Aerospace, satellite, and medical technology applications. "niche skills" indeed.
  21. Congrats to all who have found work! It is so intimidating returning to the workforce, at least it was for me. Compounded by my desire to use my skills but NEVER to return to the high-stress situation I had before leaving the workforce. I have been working freelance from home, not that many hours but getting my hand back in. This morning dh was laid off AGAIN and will be job hunting. No idea how long that will take and he is looking for a work-from-home position at age 64. Ideally we'd like 2 more years here while youngest finishes college before relocating where we can afford to live on less. Anyway, as a result of the layoff my income begins to matter again and I am going to have to up my game as I look either for more clients (and it's kind of a nich that I write for) or a f/t job (which I haven't had for 26 years) that will hire someone over 65! I love how you ladies encourage each other.
  22. This job lasted a year and a half, layoff due to reorganization; at least this time the employer said they did recognize dh's effort and commitment and provide a bit of a severance package. The last job lasted 9 months, a layoff in name only, really not a good job fit for dh and a bit of a relief. Before that, 9 months of unemployment during lockdown. That's such a long time to spend job hunting!! This makes, I think, at least 10 layoffs dh has had in the course of his career. We are SOOOO close to his being able to retire. Youngest has 2 more years of college. I can sign up for social security now and get full benefits but dh has to work at least another year. My p/t work from home has been really intermittent and I guess I am going to have to really up the job seeking now. DH will start looking on Monday, but this is NOT a cheap place to live so we're praying for job opportunities ASAP!!
  23. Hey, my brother lives in Grass Valley and drives into Auburn quite often. If you end up in the area, I can ask him for some pointers. -- We homeschooled all our kids in CA -- private school affidavit ourselves, part of a small co-op (they filed for us), and part of several different charter schools over the years. Charters -- there are benefits but you have to know your boundaries and how much managing you're willing to put up with for the trade-offs. Every charter is different and the teacher who oversees you can make a big difference too. Same is true of private co-ops and even park day/field trip groups. -- Housing prices in CA are the highest anywhere, except maybe NY or Seattle. I look at that area occasionally on Zillow...Grass Valley is a bit cheaper and more rural if you're up for a 30-45 min. commute, plus snow. Auburn has gold-rush era roots but more recent housing as well. Water is always an issue in CA, although thankfully the reservoirs are full right now, and you can expect dry and hot in the summers. I've been in GV when it was 110 and when there is lots of snow.
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