The General Chat Thread (2025)

I know I am gushing. I may sound silly to some. I can't help it. I am completely mesmerized by this once in a lifetime snow event. As the temperature rises Ice crystals on top of the snow sparkle like diamonds. I tried taking photos of the sparkles, but they do not show up. The ice cycles on the eves are melting as is the snow on the concrete in the sun. It is still a little cold - 38 in the sun and 29 in the shade. There is not a cloud in the sky and the air is still. I don't need more than my light jacket. I do have to be cautious walking on the driveway. There is ice under the snow. I have avoided walking in the yard because I did not want to destroy the pristine beauty. I realized that I could not walk in the snow - what? In my sketchers? I don't think so.
So, I gush, I feel refreshed and a little childish. I savor the beauty of this rare event.
Thank you for your patience.
 
My sister in Austin (Texas) got 2 inches, my cousins in Port Arthur got 3 inches, my brother in Houston got 5 inches, my aunt in Lake Charles (Louisiana) got 7 inches, and my husband's cousin in Navarre (Florida) 5 inches. Haven't heard from my sister in Tallahassee and my brother or nephew's over near Jacksonville yet today.
 
SandwichShortOfAPicnic
Not having to pay part - Medicare pays 0. I have to pay ALL!
I am glad we have Medicare. If we had to pay for private insurance, it would be more than 1k per month for each of us. The drawback is that Medicare does not embrace new medications. In a couple of years, they may cover the diabetes meds for weight loss or maybe never. George had bariatric surgery in 2012. Medicare would not cover it until he developed type 2 diabetes. Go figure. Covering the surgery would have prevented the development of diabetes and saved the system lots of $$$$ in medication and treatments.
OK! I need to stop. I get on my soap box when dealing with the good, the bad and the ugly of our health care system.
 
medtran49
Thank you, I will. The issue is, even if it is approved for weight loss, will it be covered by Medicare.
It is counter intuitive to ignore obesity when it comes to Medicare benefits, yet that is what Medicare does.
Medicare is a love hate relationship.
 
ElizabethB said:
SandwichShortOfAPicnic
Not having to pay part - Medicare pays 0. I have to pay ALL!
I am glad we have Medicare. If we had to pay for private insurance, it would be more than 1k per month for each of us. The drawback is that Medicare does not embrace new medications. In a couple of years, they may cover the diabetes meds for weight loss or maybe never. George had bariatric surgery in 2012. Medicare would not cover it until he developed type 2 diabetes. Go figure. Covering the surgery would have prevented the development of diabetes and saved the system lots of $$$$ in medication and treatments.
OK! I need to stop. I get on my soap box when dealing with the good, the bad and the ugly of our health care system.
Click to expand...

I don’t mind one bit. People whinge about the NHS all the time here because they have no concept of how much health care cost or how twisted the insurance system that a lot of countries use can become.
Covid changed peoples attitudes temporarily but they’re back to complaining about it again now.

I understand it, we waited a year for my husbands shoulder op but if you don’t want to wait then the same options that other countries use like paying for insurance or paying outright for treatment is still available.
They usually change their minds when they discover just how much private care costs.
 
SandwichShortOfAPicnic said:
Apart from the pistol that’s the same as Kathmandu, but they don’t have a correct side of the road (that’s they observe) it’s just a free for all.
And motorcycles are expensive so it’s nearly all mopeds, completely kamikaze mopeds.
Click to expand...
I always have a good laugh when folks who have never travelled anywhere (unlike you),and live in developed countries, start moaning about the traffic.
"Ooooh! I mean, that car in front barely signalled when he turned left!! :eek: "
"My goodness, that motor bike must have been doing well over the 30mph speed limit!!:hyper:"
:laugh::laugh:
Meanwhile, I've got motorcyles bussing past from left to right, people changing lanes with no signals, cars which will just barge in front of you because they feel like it...
I think: "come and drive in a 3rd world country, and you'll really learn defensive driving... "
 
karadekoolaid said:
I always have a good laugh when folks who have never travelled anywhere (unlike you),and live in developed countries, start moaning about the traffic.
"Ooooh! I mean, that car in front barely signalled when he turned left!! :eek: "
"My goodness, that motor bike must have been doing well over the 30mph speed limit!!:hyper:"
:laugh::laugh:
Meanwhile, I've got motorcyles bussing past from left to right, people changing lanes with no signals, cars which will just barge in front of you because they feel like it...
I think: "come and drive in a 3rd world country, and you'll really learn defensive driving... "
Click to expand...
😂

The first few times my heart was in my mouth, I was literally expecting to get wiped out at any moment 😂
But it has it’s own flow to it, you get into the rhythm eventually and then you actually start enjoying the far more organic free for all approach.
Then you come back to the UK and find riding just boring in comparison.
But safe, so much safer there’s no comparison.

Bored but safe. That choice applies to so many areas of life doesn’t it 😂
 
Lullabelle said:
The weather has arrived :rain::rain::rain::rain:
Click to expand...
Still frozen here...
1000026307.jpg
 
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