The Chit Chat Chit Chat Thread

[FutureCEO]

Government agencies are also checking into why the airlines haven't lowered their fares, since the drop in fuel.

Who's looking at the government and taxes?

Funny story.

But my town has 50 million fire districts. Who knows why? But one went bankrupt. They wanted higher fire taxes but it lost in a citizen vote but the state gave them money anyway. Another fire district which is mine has the highest fire tax is the state. Anyway, the chief just got caught smoking pot on the job among other things. Now its almost in bankruptcy. Got suspended with pay. Wanted a higher budget and more taxes but got shot down.

 

[MOXOMUMD]

 

[MinnieM123]

Who's looking at the government and taxes?

Funny story.

But my town has 50 million fire districts. Who knows why? But one went bankrupt. They wanted higher fire taxes but it lost in a citizen vote but the state gave them money anyway. Another fire district which is mine has the highest fire tax is the state. Anyway, the chief just got caught smoking pot on the job among other things. Now its almost in bankruptcy. Got suspended with pay. Wanted a higher budget and more taxes but got shot down.[/QUOTE

Oh my, I hope you never have to call these guys in a fire scenario, with all of this stuff going on in the background!!

 

[MinnieM123]

I bought a Minions cup at Dollar Tree for my daughter's stocking today. I filled it full of nail polish they were selling out for 50 cents.

That's a fun, creative gift for her stocking. I like looking for stocking stuffers; it's one of the more fun parts of Christmas shopping, because there's no pressure or stress involved. It's all light-hearted.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Years ago I lived on Ramen Noodles - couldn't afford much else. Would cook them up in plain water then drain. Add the seasoning packet with a couple tablespoons of butter and mix... I was in heaven. Then there was the old Minute Rice reconsituted with Campbell's Cream of (insert your favorite flavor) Soup.
Thank God - life has changed!
-T

Thanks for reminding me about the soup and rice trick. I used to love rice made with Cr. of Mushroom soup. I must put that on my list again.

Well thank you! Went to the doc's today and I'm down 31 lbs. View attachment 76746

Spoiler

Of course a little milkshake couldn't hurt.

Congratulations. That is a great accomplishment. When I moved to NC, almost four years ago, I decided that I needed to lose a lot of weight (believe me I was way over a healthy limit) In the four years since I move here I have lost over 65 lbs. and still have another 50 to go. The only way I could do it was to merely cut back on my intake without depriving myself of the stuff that I loved, just the quantity. I cut back on carbs, but didn't eliminate them. (I love carbs. There what give you life and energy, but, too much is a bad thing. The real bummer is that I never said anything to my family about my attempt and no one, and I mean, no one even noticed that I had lost the weight. There is nothing sadder then to lose that much and not have it be noticeable.

Who's looking at the government and taxes?

Funny story.

But my town has 50 million fire districts. Who knows why? But one went bankrupt. They wanted higher fire taxes but it lost in a citizen vote but the state gave them money anyway. Another fire district which is mine has the highest fire tax is the state. Anyway, the chief just got caught smoking pot on the job among other things. Now its almost in bankruptcy. Got suspended with pay. Wanted a higher budget and more taxes but got shot down.

Oh my, I hope you never have to call these guys in a fire scenario, with all of this stuff going on in the background!!

Fire Districts are connected with Fire Stations, but, in most cases only in that they are responsible for making sure that water is available to use when needed. They are separate little entities that have the power to tax in the sense that they can increase what is charged for the water that everyone gets and the waste disposal for that assigned area and do not require public budget approval. Fire Departments are funded through city, town or village governments (unless it's volunteer) and do show up with increased in taxes to equip and fund their mission all within the voted on city budget. It's important to know that the charge for water is also considered a tax, but, it is to cover the costs of supplying water to all residents.

 

[MinnieM123]

The only way I could do it was to merely cut back on my intake without depriving myself of the stuff that I loved, just the quantity. I cut back on carbs, but didn't eliminate them.

The only successful diets for me have been exactly the way you proceeded. I hate "diet" food, diet rules, etc. And I never wanted to pay anyone (or a group like weight watchers) to help me drop weight. It all comes down to yourself, and as long as you're still eating what you like, but in "lunch plate" size servings for your major meals, you'll do fine. It may take a bit longer this way, but it's far less painless when you're eating the foods you've already enjoyed.

 

[Goofyernmost]

The only successful diets for me have been exactly the way you proceeded. I hate "diet" food, diet rules, etc. And I never wanted to pay anyone (or a group like weight watchers) to help me drop weight. It all comes down to yourself, and as long as you're still eating what you like, but in "lunch plate" size servings for your major meals, you'll do fine. It may take a bit longer this way, but it's far less painless when you're eating the foods you've already enjoyed.

I don't even call it a diet. It's a necessary adjustment of overall food consumption. It sounds so much more civilized and doesn't have the word die in it.

 

[MinnieM123]

So, this has nothing to do with dieting, but one of my colleagues gave me a Lindt chocolate teddy bear this morning. I ate off his head. It was hollow; he had no brains.

Figured I'd maul the rest of his lifeless carcass tomorrow at work.

 

[donaldtoo]

Still suffering from a meat hangover from last night's dinner, so my brekkie looks like this:
View attachment 76693

Hubby seems to be over his meat hangover. His plate:
View attachment 76694

Hullooooo, do I see potatoes?
So, maybe these are mine too:
View attachment 76695
Hubby might have been a little "ketchup happy". I scarcely touched it though, as these potatoes were pretty darn fine all on their own.

We're just finishing our coffee, alternately looking at the depressing news on the t.v. and the depressing pouring rain out the window.
So sad about those 130 (mostly children) killed in Pakistan.

Nice!
But, again, I prefer that plain red stuff be replaced by some spicier red stuff...!

 

[Gabe1]

In my area, at pools or at the beach, the lifeguards wear shirts that just say, LIFEGUARD, on them. Maybe they figure we're all remedial, and can only read one word.

Yeah, these are special event shirts. She is management now and a trainer so she is always in a Polo. Guards are in shirts with small logo on the front and Lifeguard on back. The rest of the support staff says STAFF on back, like cashiers, swim instructors etc. Their summer T shirts are either bright orange or bright lime green though one event was bright baby pink.

 

[donaldtoo]

Link between annual income and weather temperture, 40 year data suggests the warmer the weather you live in the less money you make on average. For every degree in temperture above 59 the productivity of workers decrease by 2%. The most productive workers average temperature is between 54-59 degrees.

-The National Bureau of Economic Research-

Well, then that should make up for you folks up there probably missin' a few more work days due to inclement weather, than us folks down here.
Plus, it's a heckuva' lot harder to be productive when you're lookin' out your office window at 80 degree sunshine, as opposed to -8 degree tundra...!

 

[Gabe1]

So, this has nothing to do with dieting, but one of my colleagues gave me a Lindt chocolate teddy bear this morning. I ate off his head. It was hollow; he had no brains.

Figured I'd maul the rest of his lifeless carcass tomorrow at work.

Dear Lord, Woman, my DD and I are still laughing, Walter thinks were nuts.

 

[donaldtoo]

Your garage seems to be stocked with all the stuff ours has. Can I tell you how many times I clunked my nogg'n on the jack stands and ramps hanging in the garage? The latest hazard is that retractable light that hooks to something under the hood as it seems to not want to retract when it is cold.

Yep, got most of what I need, but, nothin' hangin' from the ceiling...yet...
Anything I don't have, pop, less than a mile down the road, has.

 

[FutureCEO]

Yeah, these are special event shirts. She is management now and a trainer so she is always in a Polo. Guards are in shirts with small logo on the front and Lifeguard on back. The rest of the support staff says STAFF on back, like cashiers, swim instructors etc. Their summer T shirts are either bright orange or bright lime green though one event was bright baby pink.

I never understood why lifeguards wore shirts. Like at Disney...beaches and everywhere. Then I realized it was for protection.

 

[Cesar R M]

And we're back over the border.
No problem at Customs, even though we were over our exemption limit. Again.

My philosophy is to simply tell the truth; and if you have to fork over 20 or 30 bucks in Duty, so be it.

I always do it, and I get always get big exceptions in $$.
Officers value honesty and will always look at you badly when you lie.

 

[Cesar R M]

Chile is actually generally a diet friendly food. Nutrient dense and high in fibre.
Go ahead. Enjoy.

also good for the teeth if they're green chiles (like jalapeño and serrano).

 

[FutureCEO]

What astronauts see coming home. 17,000 mph

 

[JenniferS]

Well thank you! Went to the doc's today and I'm down 31 lbs. View attachment 76746

Spoiler

Of course a little milkshake couldn't hurt.

Hooray - good for you!





I fell off the diet wagon months ago. No sense starting again until after Christmas now.
And then I'd better get 'er done. Heading back to work, and absolutely nothing fits!

 

[Gabe1]

Probably, most of us had times in our lives when Ramen Noodles took center stage for dinner. I know I ate many packages of those (I used to get them 10 for a dollar at one store!!). Funny thing, I still keep a few packages of them in the cupboard; they come in handy in a pinch!

After college I swore I'd never eat Ramen again, ever. Yet there are a few hang'n around. They are oddly comforting when I am not feeling well.

 

[JenniferS]

Thanks for reminding me about the soup and rice trick. I used to love rice made with Cr. of Mushroom soup. I must put that on my list again.


Congratulations. That is a great accomplishment. When I moved to NC, almost four years ago, I decided that I needed to lose a lot of weight (believe me I was way over a healthy limit) In the four years since I move here I have lost over 65 lbs. and still have another 50 to go. The only way I could do it was to merely cut back on my intake without depriving myself of the stuff that I loved, just the quantity. I cut back on carbs, but didn't eliminate them. (I love carbs. There what give you life and energy, but, too much is a bad thing. The real bummer is that I never said anything to my family about my attempt and no one, and I mean, no one even noticed that I had lost the weight. There is nothing sadder then to lose that much and not have it be noticeable.




Fire Districts are connected with Fire Stations, but, in most cases only in that they are responsible for making sure that water is available to use when needed. They are separate little entities that have the power to tax in the sense that they can increase what is charged for the water that everyone gets and the waste disposal for that assigned area and do not require public budget approval. Fire Departments are funded through city, town or village governments (unless it's volunteer) and do show up with increased in taxes to equip and fund their mission all within the voted on city budget. It's important to know that the charge for water is also considered a tax, but, it is to cover the costs of supplying water to all residents.

I gave you the like for the weight loss story. (Well done !)

As to these Fire District conversations, I have no idea what y'all are talking about. We don't do things that way up here.