The Chit Chat Chit Chat Thread

[MouseDreaming]

Our DMV shut down the beginning of April and went to appointments only, but, didn't include initial driver testing. I had to make an appointment to just change my address when I moved. I had been to the DMV many times since I moved to NC and they are were always standing room only. With the appointment, I got in about 5 minutes early to an empty waiting room. 20 seconds went by and I was called to update the address and a new picture. My appointment was for 9:40 and I was in my car and on the way home at 9:52.

It was required because I had a CDL otherwise I could have done it on the computer. I liked the system a lot and only had to wait two days from the time I called to get in. I kind of hope that they keep it that way forever. They are making appointments now for obtaining ones drivers license.

Switching to appointments would probably have been smarter. Lines here are wrapping around the building, and down the street, with many people reporting waits longer than most Disney rides. Although, pregnant ladies and senior citizens can bump to the front of the line (fastpass ). I heard it was better later in the afternoon. Only an hour or two wait, but I wonder if all the chairs are still there right next to each other, or spread out, or what.

 

[MouseDreaming]

How much would that on be?

Priceless. It is a historical artifact. Helps if you live by running water. Or in a wind mill.

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

I did my first home delivery order this week, but not because of Covid. When they emptied the biodegradable trash bin last week, they didn't actually empty it. It stuck and only got 1/3 emptied. I had mowed the grass and it all caked in the container. So my husband complained and the city decided to give us a bigger bin for that, which is great, but we don't want it to happen again, so we decided to get bags to line it. But, for that container, you can't use plastic liners....it has to be biodegradable. The grocery store only carries the biodegradable liners in the smaller size, not the bigger size. The bigger size is only available for online order for home delivery. And in order to get it delivered, you need a minimum of 50 euro order. So I had to get a bunch of other stuff, too, in order to get the dang trash bags. 50 bucks is a LOT of groceries!!

For me $50 is about 1/3 of the weekly bill here and that doesn't include stuff we may forget.

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

Good morning all!
Today is my last day of school.
The only school related thing I expect to do on this final day is "attend" a voluntary End of the Year ZOOM Faculty Meeting with my principal at 9:30AM.
Tomorrow is the first day of summer, correct?

Today is the last day for my sister in law who teaches in Clifton and her girls also.

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

That first one and the last bit leads me to believe that you SIL is raising the kid right. Now if he's just switch the the Ravens... Baltimore has no basketball team so we'll let that Knicks one slide.

He forgot the Yankees.

 

[SteveBrickNJ]

Today is the last day for my sister in law who teaches in Clifton and her girls also.

Your sister in law and I can now sing:
"School's..... out....for....summer!"

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

Happy birthday Mr. @ajrwdwgirl View attachment 477636

Yoda is right at the top, he'll love that!

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

When I got my license, there were no appointments (Waukesha County), and it would have been about the same time. Maybe I am remembering it wrong. But the dmv was run out of the local VFW, (I looked it up, and apparently was moved to the Public Library) and had some funky hours. It was every other Wednesday, and a few Thursdays, or something strange. I had to wait a little bit.

Usually here, nowadays, you would get to the DMV in the morning, so you didn't have to wait so long. They always had posted on the front door, if they were done taking road tests that day, so not a total waste of a day. Since they reopened, with the backlog, people first started lining up around 6:30 in the morning, only to find out they missed the cut off. Then started the "campers". I keep hearing if you need a road test, if you are in line after 4AM, you are too late. Then my DS's driving school started offering it. Well worth the $65 I am paying to not wait in line, and possibly still not make the cut off. Even more so now that the already slammed dmv's near me are about to get much worse.

I was just sharing with my daughter the story of my driver's test. It was the day after most of the Milwaukee area had flooded out. The one criticism the guy gave me was I should make my right turn closer to the corner. I just said ok, but honestly, that curb was under water.

Maybe it was based on the DMV location if they would have appointments of not. It's kind of funny how some DMV guys doing the tests care more than others. There was one guy in my county that would be super picky and no one wanted to get him, so I was glad that I didn't get an appointment there. The guy I got was an older guy and there was a WWII plane show at the airport that weekend and the planes had already been staged the day I had my test. He kept having me drive around the airport so he could look at the planes! I also couldn't parallel park (still can't and don't need to). I told him that and he said he would talk me through it if I tried it so he wouldn't have to count it against me. That was really nice of him.

 

[donaldtoo]

 

[donaldtoo]

One cautionary warning. Usually that money is never taxable because at the time one is drawing it, other income is usually limited, however, if you draw enough and combined with whatever other "taxable" income you might have, the entire amount including the Trad. IRA that you had withdrawn that year will be taxable. SS is never taxable, but that plan is called a deferred tax plan, invested before taxes and can become taxable if combined with enough other income to kick you into a tax bracket that is above the deductibles. Mind you, you have to be in a pretty comfortable financial situation for it to amount to a lot of money, but, alas it is still taxable. A single person like me would have to have other taxable income of about 25K before it kicks in, but once it kicks in that Trad. IRA portion becomes taxable as well. Simply speaking if I have total income of less then $25K (approx) including my Trad. IRA withdrawals I will not owe any taxes. However if my other income is over that amount then all of it including the IRA withdrawals will be taxable. Any investments from money after taxes will not be taxable again. It was already paid and then the profits, interest and dividends will be the only liability.

You talked about a Trad. IRA.
Isn’t that different than the Roth IRA we were talking about...?

 

[donaldtoo]

I may have been mocking GM drivers

Just check the production date on the end of the drivers side door to make sure it wasn’t manufactured on a Monday or a Friday...!!!!!

 

[donaldtoo]

Toyotas and Hondas from experience can last a long time with proper maint. And the best part- no monthly car payments! Use that $$ to invest in 401K weekly and with compounding interest it's a good start to your retirement ( maybe early ) future!

Do you, by some chance, work as a financial advisor...?!

 

[MinnieM123]

@BuddyThomas , I think I heard that NY (or NYC) will be going into Phase 2 on Monday. Just curious if that means you will be going back to the office, or if there will be no change in your business, (and you'll continue to work from home). Either way, I wish the best for you.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

Work: "Come back to the office (unless you're high risk)"
Me to my boss: Do I have to come back?
Boss: No
Me:

 

[StarWarsGirl]

Me upon getting that work email...thank goodness I don't actually have to go back.

 

[donaldtoo]

We have a sour cherry tree. It made loads of cherries this year. We picked a lot. Yesterday I noticed birds enjoying themselves in the tree.

We had a huge black cherry tree in our backyard in the last house we lived in in No Cal. The birds got a bunch, of course, but, we got the majority, and they were always delicious...!!!!!

 

[BuddyThomas]

@BuddyThomas , I think I heard that NY (or NYC) will be going into Phase 2 on Monday. Just curious if that means you will be going back to the office, or if there will be no change in your business, (and you'll continue to work from home). Either way, I wish the best for you.

No, we are working from home until further notice, probably through the fall or longer. Thanks for the good wishes. Stay safe!

 

[MinnieM123]

Dogs go through some strange phases. Lately, Jack will make himself comfortable, sprawled out, in room doorways.

Now, other dogs may do that occasionally, but Jack has been blocking doorways (upstairs and downstairs) for about a week now. If we tell him to move, he looks at us like, "What's your problem? Step over me."

He's about 11 1/2 years old now, and acts very entitled. Perhaps his stubborn stance is the older dog's version of "get off my lawn!"

 

[StarWarsGirl]

Dogs go through some strange phases. Lately, Jack will make himself comfortable, sprawled out, in room doorways.

Now, other dogs may do that occasionally, but Jack has been blocking doorways (upstairs and downstairs) for about a week now. If we tell him to move, he looks at us like, "What's your problem? Step over me."

He's about 11 1/2 years old now, and acts very entitled. Perhaps his stubborn stance is the older dog's version of "get off my lawn!"

Both cats do that. They lay in front of the door to the deck, especially Jasmine. And moving? Don't think so.

 

[donaldtoo]

Maybe early on a Sunday morning (minimal traffic), you could take this "what's old is new again" set of wheels out for a fast spin!! Apparently, the Ford Mach 1 Mustang did not die, sometime after its introduction in 1969 -- it's on the spring 2021 "new" cars list for Ford!

P.S.: Normally, I would also call attention to this car to @Mr Ferret 88 , but I think there's a smidge too much hp for his little island, and he might get jealous.

Ford is bringing back its iconic Mustang Mach 1 | CNN Business

First introduced in 1969, the Mach 1 supercar is getting a revamp. With a V8 engine and an expected 480 horsepower, the car is made for track driving.

www.cnn.com

Too funny...
When I was a kiddo, one of my uncles purchased a new ‘69 ‘Stang in “grabber blue”. I thought it would be one of of the new Mach 1’s. Nope, had a straight six in it...I never told him, but, I was sooo disappointed...!!!!!
Horsepower is beyond in the day, and with modern drivetrains, way more efficient...Yep, racetrack stuff...!!!!!!!