LadyCrimson

Monthly upkeep of any medicines can also be a huge factor for uninsured in some cases, relative to income. I think the insulin I'm taking would be around $150-$200 per month retail which for many would be a not unsizable annual burden. And that's not some uber expensive or rare drug. And those blood test strips can be $1 a strip, and considering one is "supposed" to use one at least once a day, maybe thrice - altho at this point I mostly just check it once or twice a week. We currently have an insurance plan that pretty much covers everything - we weren't billed a dime for my multiple-day hospital stay last year and all the tests/scans they ran on me, or when they want to rerun the standard checkup tests, for example. But we also don't get any true personalized care. It's the typical US hospital factory. And we didn't always have such a policy. Most people don't. Most employers can't afford the really pricey/comprehensive plans and even if they did, it also means more taken out of your paycheck if you accept it. Still, better health insurance is definitely one factor that can motivate people to switch jobs.

I'm telling y'all, I'm going to buy some raw land somewhere in the boonies and dig myself an underground, concrete, hobbit-hole and that's what I'll die in. My tomb. No one will even know my corpse is there unless a tax man comes calling.

I suspect a vacant (and buildable zoned) lot here, of a home-lot size (5000-6000sf to half acre) would still go for $350k to over a million, depending on the street/area. Also, such empty lots are extremely rare in most of the Bay Area outside of some spots in the SC hills or closer to the ocean, or way east in the more valley Valley, which would entail long and annoying commutes for Hurlshot most likely. And then you'd have to probably spend $400k-600k+ building something on it. I suppose one of those modular/prefab houses might save some $$.

This has been true for a long long time, really, for this area. Back in the early 90's, most people I knew who were I and hubby's age back then were able to purchase a (single-family) house here because of at least some help from parents/family, not because they saved entirely on their own. Of course, it's way way worse now. Generous parents probably wouldn't be enough, you'd need a rich grandparent. Haha. And yeah...the investment buying (vs those buying because they want to actually LIVE in it) is terrible.

There is no way to tell (far as I know) who may purchase a gun and then 1, 2, 4, 10 years later suddenly "snap" for some reason. Background checks and psychological evaluation upon purchase is fine, but does not address all the weaponry already out there, illegally purchased or stolen guns, kids/other family getting their parents stuff, and all that jazz. And because you never know if or when someone will "suddenly" mentally deteriorate, such a psychological evaluation, imo, would need to be repeated as a requirement to maintain gun ownership - and ofc even then it wouldn't "catch" most cases in time, at least imo. Because of this, I think the main long term solution would be ... people, and attitudes. That is, we need to be rid of the stigma and secrecy of mental health concerns so people aren't afraid/ashamed to talk to others and/or seek counseling (or fear of being fired, or something), we need to have more lower cost options for such, and we need to have more awareness in the general public. There is also, of course, the economic stress factor - the more the masses feel disenfranchised, "not economically viable", hopeless, live in fear of debt and/or debt is ever increasing while personal financial goals/dreams ever further away, the more people who might not have actually quite reached a breaking point, may reach their breaking point. So to speak. It all adds up. It is not, imo, just about "gun control". People want fast answers and results, tho ... I just don't think there are any.

*looks* ... 19 carbs/11g sugar for 2 pieces. Nope. And by nope I mean that if I had a bag, it would absolutely not be eaten one piece per day. So, nope. LOL. Per usual it's not that I can't eat any "junk" or plate of rice now and then etc. I just can't make it a daily meal/snack type of thing. Anyway, I don't actually miss most "junk" food too much, too often. I just hate cooking/spending 1-4 hours a day in the kitchen or whatever. The constant routine (and dishes...). Also, eating the same things day in, day out for months on end because that's the easiest to cook/deal with. Snack wise I did find this sugarless (Splenda) hard candy (brand: GoLightly) that tastes like really weak hot-chocolate. It is not calorie-free and it still has "sugar alcohols" and I think for some ppl even one may still spike their blood sugar some, but for me it does nothing. I can suck on 3-8 pieces a day or even in a row and it bothers my numbers not at all. Not exciting, but keeps snacking cravings at bay at least. So I bought 3 pounds a while back (it lasts months).

I am old-ish, lazy, and fed up with all this daily meal prep/cooking all the time (which I've never been a person to do in the first place) and the "gotta cook that before it spoils" considerations and I swear there are almost zero low-carb/low crappy ingrediant frozen dinners in grocery stores that I could use for, say, half my meals. It's all 50carbs, 45 carbs, 70 carbs because they all use rice, pasta, potatoes etc. as 80% of the meal as bulk fillers. Contemplating trying one of those pre-made delivery meal sites. BistroMD, maybe, they supposedly have diabetic considered meals. I dunno tho...such services can vary so wildly in experience depending on area and personal preferences/needs. Arrgh. Anyone want to be my personal chef.

Wait, there's going to be a new CSI:Vegas sequel/series? Even with the original being one of my fave crime shows (until the last 2-3 seasons maybe) and having Gil Grissom back, I have to say ... whyyyyyyy. Also sorta related: I saw some old clip of Alien: Resurrection and suddenly realized the hotshot gun dude of the mercenary group was Gary Dourdan (Warwick). The movie was before CSI, ofc, and I guess that movie was so forgettable I never had a "where have I seen that guy before" moment when I saw CSI. It almost makes me want to rewatch that turd of a movie. Almost.

"Your workshop isn't big enough." "Your (over 50) granary is full, m'lord." ...oh wait, sorry, wrong games. ...that type of thing is all very absurd tho. Sure, I get it - the fabled "balance" - but they almost always go overboard, imo.

Finnish crime/detective series: Bordertown, via Netflix. I initially thought it would be in the crime-a-season format but what it actually does is spend two or three episodes per crime (10-11 eps. per season). I rather like that format. Not too short, not too drawn out for each one. Not a flashy series, which I like. Main character is kind of eccentric but I'm not sure in what way. Not socially attentive/personable, socially awkward, "lost in his own head-space" most of the time, but not purposefully mean/arrogant ala Dr. House or modern Sherlock. Has that typical grey/dreariness and deliberate pacing to everything but the lead actor is very interesting, imo, main reason to watch. His daughter, wife, and their family dynamic are ok too, although I could use a little less of the human-drama bits (just me, I prefer the crime/mystery solving) but so far I'm liking it a fair bit. Finished first season, there's currently 3 seasons on Netflix.

Everyone knows this noise: ...but did you know they purr, too?

At my age I likely don't have a few decades. Which is probably one reason why I feel more resigned than angry about such, anymore. It just feels less and less important, permanence of stuff I mean. I used to rage about stuff like this tho.

I knew there was a reason I only bought a handful of games on the PS4. At this point I'm so used to idea that nothing access-wise is even close to permanent (at least not without a lot of hoop-jumping or multiple purchasing) it just kind of makes me sigh a little. It still sucks tho. I know it's not quite the same, but I still haven't replaced the majority of the VHS movie/TV collection I had, because the format keeps changing and I stopped wanting to rebuy fave media since ... they created streaming TV. I feel like the streaming gaming stuff (or temp-play services like GamePass I think?) are trying to create a similar merket situation if that makes sense . Dunno if it'll long term succeed but I already see kids yapping about why pay $60 for every game to "own/perm access" when they can just use GamePass to play something, so yeah.

It's Spring, the giant jumping spiders are out in force again, ridding the yard of all the boring usual house spiders. I love how aware they are that I'm there, holding a phone 2" from their face and they only move their head a little to stare you down, while still eating, being all like "yeah, so, you want a piece of me? I'm busy at the moment, come back later."

A slow, meditative joke video about a joke game. That said, around 5:00 when he upped the weather and wind for the "true professional player" I sorta lost it. ...there's a 2022 version now, complete with ... multiplayer!

I would like to be playing something, but nothing interests me. I goofed off a little more with both DK1 and DK2, just some levels I made for dungeon building and avatar-whacking. Thought about redoing a few of the fave levels from Deeper Dungeons (the ones with the zillions of tunnelers at the beginning where you have to wall off fast or die) but .... eh. Actually, I pulled out my DK-Gold Prima guide and read through it - that one was especially entertaining, the writer/s were amusing and it was so full of details. Sure, 'net guides are easier, but I miss those Prima guides, in a way. Edit: from the start of that guide: (and they kept this kind of tone most of the time)

I bought hundreds of pieces of eating plasticware and stopped washing any dishes - because doing such daily was causing too much joint wear and tear and pain. And a week later, the 'trigger' aspect to my right thumb, at least, seems to be slowly improving instead of worsening. Dunno if it'll ever feel as flexible/not stiff, but it's nice to hope I won't be Velcro-Hand forever. I guess washing dishes is now evil. Well, it always was, but now even more so. Btw, velcro wrapped around most of your fingers is murder on bed blankets and robes. Just saying.

I have always liked Ryan Reynolds, even in otherwise "bad"/unremarkable films like Blade 3 and Green Lantern. His overall acting feels (to me) rather generic yet his on-screen presence is often very funny or charismatic in a cheeky way. Which is why those ads he does on his YT channel are so great. I vaguely recall that hitman bodyguard movie, they were an amusing pair.

yeah my hospital sent me a similar notice re: johnson and johnson vaccine and how it means their vaccine supply is "smaller" now. I have no idea if this affects my appointment in a couple weeks, guess I'll have to check. I'm tempted to cancel the appointment and just try again later.

That Army of Dead trailer: "Hiroyuki Sanada!" "Gambler! Good song!" ...*eh, not as brain-dead as usual (?) zombies...well, at least it's not superheroes." ..."...zombie tiger. That's crossing the line." - HAHAHAHA. Well, it's on Netflix, so I'll at least try to watch it, probably.

Tried to watch a 10ep serial killer crime drama called Reckoning on Netflix. It's more human character drama than crime, in a way. Acting was generally good all around but ... the show is so depressing and dreary. Color wise (most of the time), character wise, atmosphere. Can't say I *like*, let alone want to root for anyone - cops, children, wives/mothers, the criminal. After three episodes I was starting to feel a little depressed so I turned it off.

Yesterday I did nothing. Today I did nothing. Tomorrow I'll .... probably do nothing. Also, I need this t-shirt:

Yeah, I used gatehouses to prevent low-level housing market ladies from grabbing food from the palace areas and so many housing areas were all fish or maybe fish and wheat only. Or something. You can do that if you have enough palaces/etc. IIRC. My fave war level was the one with the elephants.

Peace or War path? The peace one is actually a bit harder because of higher prosperity type ratings. I haven't played the whole campaign in ages but I do have the 'HD' version of it installed. Ah, gatehouses. I loved doing that. The market ladies and cart pushers always made me giggle. I remember in later Impressions games they had these little road-block squares you could place, but for some reason I didn't like them as much as having gatehouses everywhere. I can't recall why. lol. edit: maybe it was because it only stopped market ladies, not building workers and I liked controlling all workers? Maybe? Maybe not? Never mind me.

Tried DK2 pet dungeons again. Exited game/restarted after finishing each one, saved progress each time. Then I got to the 4th one again. Possessed a creature to group minions to get points (to finish the PD faster). Game froze. Wouldn't let me use my mouse on 2nd monitor/anywhere so I was spamming KB key combos for long minutes trying to close game window w/out a hard reboot. Come to think of it, the first time I did it, game did that "party like it's 1999" disco thing w/everyone dancing - and they wouldn't stop for ages, after minutes I could pick creatures up and drop them and they'd still be dancing on landing. Had to slap them all to get them to stop. Maybe that specific PD is just bugged in gog version, I've heard the campaign has a few buggy levels too. Copied over a couple of my self-made/altered PD's from other PC to Win10 PC. Playing those instead. So far they seem stable. Mine are more fun anyway - vamps can walk in water, creatures can train to lvl 8 (instead of just 4) and treasury tiles can hold a lot more gold per tile. Can't stand needing 10 treasure rooms...