Chit-Chat: What's On Your Mind Today?

[annzeepark914]

3 hours ago, shapeshifter said:

In other news. I just finished filing my taxes. 
I trust that if I made a mistake I can apologize my way out of it with a bit of sob story about how I'm probably too old to be doing them myself anymore, but blah blah blah.

Isn't there an AARP Tax Aid program near you? No charge, and they take classes each autumn to learn about any new changes.

[ECM1231]

We owe a bundle to the federal government this year. When I started collecting Social Security, I neglected to let them know what percentage I wanted them to withhold for taxes. I'm so angry with myself b/c this same thing happened when the mister started to receive his SS. He's five years older, so it completely slipped my mind. 

[shapeshifter]

17 minutes ago, annzeepark914 said:

Isn't there an AARP Tax Aid program near you? No charge, and they take classes each autumn to learn about any new changes.

Probably? But I suspect it winds up dumbed down for people who haven't always done their own taxes, and I would just get distracted. 

This year (today) I wound up using the software IRS.gov recommended for me, "1040.com," which did a great job of efficiently moving the software along while also mentioning changes.

1040.com also allowed me (retired senior with a modest amount of Social Security) to file both fed and state for free.

I'm sure if I buy a new place and sell my condo this year, I'll have to at least pay a pittance to file with the State again.

If someone had asked me how they could save a few millions of dollars, off the top of my head at this moment I'd say it's not worth the record keeping to charge people a few bucks to file their state returns, because it pushes a lot of us to go fill out forms with a second "free" State tax service, which has got to complicate the meshing of data, and likely cause filers to neglect other civic duties, …like maybe recycling? Or helping little old ladies cross the street on a windy day? IDK. 

BTW. I got my 70s shag rug vacuumed, so at least I got my exercise for the day.

Edited Monday at 10:50 PM by shapeshifter

[meep.meep]

On 3/22/2025 at 5:44 PM, Cloud9Shopper said:

 

I also catastrophize a lot, and I have no idea why, as all this terrifying stuff I imagine never seems to come to fruition. Like for example, this tax situation is having me in a tailspin worrying about being audited and finding out I made a major mistake and owe even more. Or I’ll be on edge that I’m bad enough at my job to get a performance improvement plan and be eventually fired, but I haven’t had a PIP since three jobs ago. It’s often hard for me to see things calmly and rationally. 

If you ever had to pick a year to cheat on your taxes, this is it.  Don't worry about being audited.  

[fairffaxx]

I used the free AARP service for years & was always quite pleased.  The workers who volunteered at the Sr Community Center near me were all IRS Enrolled Agents, which means they had been trained & tested annually by the IRS -- lovely people & very well qualified.  They only handled basic returns, but that included supporting schedules for itemized deductions.  I had done it myself forever but got tired of that after I retired, so the AARP service was such an efficient solution.

When my dad died, it made sense to have his longtime accountants prepare fiduciary returns for his estate & advise me about investing my inheritance, so I've relied on them ever since.  But I'd definitely advise anyone who doesn't want to handle his/her own income tax filings to consider using the AARP's free service if it's available.

[Absolom]

2 hours ago, roseha said:

I have to finish the taxes also, although I've used Turbo Tax for years and almost never have had a problem.

I'm doing infomercials for the IRS this year!  Just kidding, but the IRS is catching up with California.  California has had its own online filing system free to the users for years.  I'm sure there are some things it can't cover, but so far it's handled everything I've needed and this year took a whopping 10 minutes.  The IRS similarly has developed Direct File and tested it last year.  This year it went live in a selected group of states.  It was pretty easy and it's free!  The taxes go in directly to the IRS so no middle system involved and if you owe, you can schedule the payment right there in the system.  So if you haven't done your taxes and want something free and relatively easy, check Direct File to see if your state is listed.  At the end it even took me straight to the Cal File site. 

I'm not a trusting soul so do my taxes with pencil and forms first and both systems came out to the dollar to what I had calculated.  I've done that ever since Turbo Tax bungled my California filing-well would have if I'd submitted what it produced. 

Edited Monday at 11:57 PM by Absolom

[Caoimhe]

8 hours ago, Dimity said:

Has anyone else had random books just start showing up on their kindle?  It was really creepy.  I had already put my Amazon account on pause and had stopped using it but this motivated me to just pull the plug completely and delete my account.  I guess this was an overreaction but I figured there wasn't any point in changing my password or whatever for an account I wasn't using.

But that said, I do wonder what the hell was happening there!

No, but I have so many books I mightn’t notice.  They’re sorted by recent and nothing has ever appeared that I didn’t buy or borrow myself. At the moment I’m trying to get a new Kindle set up with my 2800+ Amazon books and another 700+ from my pre-Amazon days. I think it’s time to go through and delete the few I don’t want to keep. I’m also trying to convince myself that I don’t want to purchase a particular favourite series AGAIN just because I can’t get the Kindle to put them in order as I bought them from Fictionwise way back in the past.

[shapeshifter]

I may have found the holy grail of yogurt to substitute for my sour cream addiction. Last time I had gotten close…

On 3/11/2025 at 8:03 AM, shapeshifter said:

Yes, back to speaking of yogurt—
and back to my quest for a healthier (less fat, more protein) sub for my beloved sour cream—
I may have found a yogurt that will do for me: Wegmans "Organic" "Greek" Plain Yogurt has just these ingredients: 

• cultured pasteurized grade a organic nonfat milk. contains the following live and active cultures: l. bulgaricus, streptococcus thermophilus, l. acidophilus, bifidus, l. casei.

And it doesn't smell funny. But it does taste like the yogurt we used to make in the 70s before it was on the shelves of small town groceries.

Maybe I can do ½ yogurt / ½ sour cream with bananas.

…but it was more of dilution for sour cream than a replacement.
But today I just opened 🥁📯 "Stonyfield Organic Yogurt, Whole Milk, Organic, Plain, Greek"
shop.wegmans.com/product/29927/stonyfield-organic-yogurt-whole-milk-organic-plain-greek
It has just a fraction of the fat in sour cream, and more than twice the protein.

Should be great for baked potatoes.
BTW, I "bake" my potato in the microwave (after poking holes in the potato) on half power for 5 minutes, then flip it and repeat.

[PRgal]

2 hours ago, shapeshifter said:

I may have found the holy grail of yogurt to substitute for my sour cream addiction. Last time I had gotten close…

…but it was more of dilution for sour cream than a replacement.
But today I just opened 🥁📯 "Stonyfield Organic Yogurt, Whole Milk, Organic, Plain, Greek"
shop.wegmans.com/product/29927/stonyfield-organic-yogurt-whole-milk-organic-plain-greek
It has just a fraction of the fat in sour cream, and more than twice the protein.

Should be great for baked potatoes.
BTW, I "bake" my potato in the microwave (after poking holes in the potato) on half power for 5 minutes, then flip it and repeat.

Greek yogurt has always been my sub for sour cream.  I only eat it if there’s nothing else.  I also use Greek yogurt (often mixed with quark or cottage cheese) as a substitute for mayo which I also don’t like.

[Absolom]

4 hours ago, shapeshifter said:

Should be great for baked potatoes.
BTW, I "bake" my potato in the microwave (after poking holes in the potato) on half power for 5 minutes, then flip it and repeat.

The full fat vs non-fat yogurt makes a big difference to my taste buds.

[Dimity]

I just saw a commercial for a product called (I think) Unstoppables.  Anyway a product you add to your dryer to make your clothes smell good.  I guess because just washing them isn't doing the job.  What has me curious though is that the woman in the commercial claiming something along the lines of "I often have people telling me how fresh and clean I smell".  Ok I know it's a commercial but, seriously?  Does anyone ever have someone tell them how good they smell? 

[Absolom]

I did once quite a few years ago.  It was the first sign of a stalker.

[Dimity]

4 minutes ago, Absolom said:

I did once quite a few years ago.  It was the first sign of a stalker.

Stalker, serial killer, someone who has no boundaries - lot of options.  But not someone you'd think "wow what a compliment!" 

[Ohiopirate02]

49 minutes ago, Dimity said:

I just saw a commercial for a product called (I think) Unstoppables.  Anyway a product you add to your dryer to make your clothes smell good.  I guess because just washing them isn't doing the job.  What has me curious though is that the woman in the commercial claiming something along the lines of "I often have people telling me how fresh and clean I smell".  Ok I know it's a commercial but, seriously?  Does anyone ever have someone tell them how good they smell? 

I like perfume and have a collection. I do compliment people on their fragrance when I can recognize the scent because I know how marvelous it is and how much money it may have cost them. I also welcome non-creepy compliments on my scent of the day.

[Browncoat]

1 hour ago, Dimity said:

I just saw a commercial for a product called (I think) Unstoppables.

It's "Unstopables" and that missing p drives me batty.

[lookeyloo]

2 hours ago, Dimity said:

I just saw a commercial for a product called (I think) Unstoppables.  Anyway a product you add to your dryer to make your clothes smell good.  I guess because just washing them isn't doing the job.  What has me curious though is that the woman in the commercial claiming something along the lines of "I often have people telling me how fresh and clean I smell".  Ok I know it's a commercial but, seriously?  Does anyone ever have someone tell them how good they smell? 

Geez.  And now we have those full entire body "deodorants" because marketers think we all want to smell like a fake scent.  I can understand some people have issues - my late sister in law had a bad body odor right out of a shower in clean clothes I washed. That was many years ago and really a thing.  But normal people? That practice basic hygiene?  I'm not talking about a perfume/cologne/scented lotion.

[Anduin]

In astronomy non-news, don't believe the hype about T Coronae Borealis blowing its top today. The news first broke in February last year that it would go nova. At the time, they were predicting September last year. In March this year, I remain cynical. Yes, it'll go bang sooner or later. But on schedule? That's where I don't believe them.

Indeed, I remember various doomsayers in the 90s predicting the world was going to end and provided several dates. As you may have noticed, none of them came to pass. Yes, eventually. Not when predicted.

Having said that, it would be funny if it happened in about two hours, after I went to bed. :)

[shapeshifter]

27 minutes ago, Anduin said:

In astronomy non-news, don't believe the hype about T Coronae Borealis blowing its top today. The news first broke in February last year that it would go nova. At the time, they were predicting September last year. In March this year, I remain cynical. Yes, it'll go bang sooner or later. But on schedule? That's where I don't believe them.

Indeed, I remember various doomsayers in the 90s predicting the world was going to end and provided several dates. As you may have noticed, none of them came to pass. Yes, eventually. Not when predicted.

Having said that, it would be funny if it happened in about two hours, after I went to bed. :)

Seems more like a potential light show than anything else?

• https://www.iflscience.com/t-coronae-borealis-your-once-in-a-lifetime-chance-to-watch-a-star-go-nova-could-come-next-week-78514
• https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2515-5172/ad8bba

My local weather person usually mentions any events we can see here in Western NY. I'll edit if he says anything today.

[Anduin]

5 minutes ago, shapeshifter said:

Seems more like a potential light show than anything else?

• https://www.iflscience.com/t-coronae-borealis-your-once-in-a-lifetime-chance-to-watch-a-star-go-nova-could-come-next-week-78514
• https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2515-5172/ad8bba

My local weather person usually mentions any events we can see here in Western NY. I'll edit if he says anything today.

Yes, it'll happen eventually. I just don't think it'll happen when the new prediction says it will.

[fastiller]

[Dimity]

On 3/23/2025 at 10:34 PM, Is Everyone Gone said:

So how often do you wash your sheets? I try to wash them once a week, and a friend looked at me like I was nuts. She said she does it once a month, if that.

I was thinking of this post today when my cousin posted a poll on FB and one of the questions was 'do you make your bed everyday if you have time'.  She responded with she has the time but she never makes her bed.

I admit I am somewhat surprised.  I thought Thou Shalt Make Your Bed Each Morning was the 11th Commandment!

[Is Everyone Gone]

Ok here's another question. I am watching March Madness and Im a huge NBA fan. 
So here goes ...

Why are so many NBA players black? Not just African American, but there are people of African origin from all over like Giannis Antentekoumpo and Victor Wembayama and Joel Embiid.

[Bastet]

2 hours ago, Dimity said:

I thought Thou Shalt Make Your Bed Each Morning was the 11th Commandment!

By the time my cat gets up, there really aren't a ton of hours left until we're just going to get back in it, so I usually don't bother.

[Browncoat]

I straighten out the covers, but I don't make it make it except when I'm changing sheets.  Which I do every week or two. 

[shapeshifter]

3 hours ago, Dimity said:

I thought Thou Shalt Make Your Bed Each Morning was the 11th Commandment!

I was trained to make my bed every day as a child and did so most of my life.
However, about 45 years ago an elderly woman advised to instead fold down the covers in the morning to "air out" the bed. 
Now that I'm her age, I too am "airing out" the bed, LOL.
However, when my daughter comes over with my tiny grandsons, I do make the bed.
At night I straighten out the sheets and blankets. 

[ginger90]

When my daughters were younger I told them I considered their rooms 75% clean if their beds were made. Recently my granddaughter asked me if I really used to say this because my daughter told her I did and used my line. 

[nokat]

On 3/26/2025 at 5:52 PM, Ohiopirate02 said:

I like perfume and have a collection. I do compliment people on their fragrance when I can recognize the scent because I know how marvelous it is and how much money it may have cost them. I also welcome non-creepy compliments on my scent of the day.

When I smell a light scent of cologne, my knees go weak. For me, if I don't get clobbered with scent, I like it.

[shapeshifter]

3 hours ago, ginger90 said:

When my daughters were younger I told them I considered their rooms 75% clean if their beds were made. Recently my granddaughter asked me if I really used to say this because my daughter told her I did and used my line. 

A dear friend told me that axiom (making the bed makes the room look 75% better). I had forgotten it until you mentioned it here.

[EtheltoTillie]

Depends how you define "making the bed."  When I was a kid we used bedspreads.  You had to arrange them with the pillows tucked a certain way.   I had a spread with matching bolsters so my bed functioned like a little sofa.  I had to make the bed every morning.  You had to remove the whole ensemble at night. 

There used to be special stores where you would go pick out your fabric to have your bedspreads made with matching curtains.   Curtain/upholstery/shade stores still exist, but no one uses  bedspreads anymore, thank god.  Does anyone remember bedspreads?

I do make the bed every morning by straightening the comforter and pillows. 

[shapeshifter]

1 hour ago, EtheltoTillie said:

Does anyone remember bedspreads?

Were they chenille? 

[EtheltoTillie]

32 minutes ago, shapeshifter said:

Were they chenille? 

No!  They were woven fabric with patterns or sometimes brocade fabrics or shantung weave was also popular.  I have some vintage chenille bedspreads I bought more recently.  I also have vintage Bates bedspreads (specialty weaves).  I use them to make bathrobes.

Edited 19 hours ago by EtheltoTillie

[Absolom]

Remember having to tuck the bedspread under the pillows and make sure you left enough to do that after covering the pillow?

[EtheltoTillie]

9 minutes ago, Absolom said:

Remember having to tuck the bedspread under the pillows and make sure you left enough to do that after covering the pillow?

Exactly right! That's what I was referring to.

[Bastet]

39 minutes ago, Absolom said:

Remember having to tuck the bedspread under the pillows and make sure you left enough to do that after covering the pillow?

I was really good at that -- but do not miss it!

[shapeshifter]

Late in life my mom had about 10 throw pillows on her bed that had to be arranged in a specific order every morning. My aches and pains have always been a rerun of hers, so now I figure that she needed that same propping that I do, but she would have felt humiliated to have her bedroom look "therapeutic," so she instead had all those fancy throw pillows.

Edited 18 hours ago by shapeshifter

[Anduin]

On 3/27/2025 at 9:30 PM, Anduin said:

In astronomy non-news, don't believe the hype about T Coronae Borealis blowing its top today. The news first broke in February last year that it would go nova. At the time, they were predicting September last year. In March this year, I remain cynical. Yes, it'll go bang sooner or later. But on schedule? That's where I don't believe them.

Indeed, I remember various doomsayers in the 90s predicting the world was going to end and provided several dates. As you may have noticed, none of them came to pass. Yes, eventually. Not when predicted.

Having said that, it would be funny if it happened in about two hours, after I went to bed. :)

Quoting myself because I was right! It didn't go nova. Again, it'll happen eventually. But on its own schedule, not ours.

[Browncoat]

1 hour ago, shapeshifter said:

Late in life my mom had about 10 throw pillows on her bed that had to be arranged in a specific order every morning. My aches and pains have always been a rerun of hers, so now I figure that she needed that same propping that I do, but she would have felt humiliated to have her bedroom look "therapeutic," so she instead had all those fancy throw pillows.

I call those "show pillows."  

I do still have a bedspread, but when I actually make the bed, I fold it back neatly, and fold the top sheet back on top of the bedspread.  The pillows are directly on the fitted sheet just above the folded back parts.  I have a quilt that is folded on the foot of the bed.  On cool nights, the quilt is unfolded and used as cover.  Currently, I have flannel sheets on the bed, but I think I'm going to switch to regular cotton sheets this weekend.

[Cloud9Shopper]

This really isn’t right for “happy place” just yet since I’m not super happy about it but I drove the highway on the way home from a work trip yesterday. I missed a turn and the next thing I knew I was on a toll road and being directed toward a highway. I had Apple Maps set to “avoid highways” but they re-routed me and next thing I knew I’m on the highway for almost the rest of the way home. (I live in PA so I was able to find a Wawa to pull off at to take a break, and then I turned back on “avoid highways” and drove a back road for the last leg of the trip but at that point it didn’t matter too much.) 

I guess it’s a good thing that I survived and didn’t hurt or kill anyone else on the road with me. Like once I got up to speed I was fine hanging out in the right lane and letting people pass me as they pleased. And I definitely see why it’s better to drive this way as opposed to taking back roads. But I still have to learn to merge better and I definitely was crying for one stretch of the highway wishing I could get off and be home, as I don’t need to drive them in 98% of my day-to-day life. (The other 2% is for the few long trips per year I go on.) I have always had a fear of the highway since I got my license and now that I was forced to confront it…well I guess it’s not too terrible if I could figure out the rest of it. 

Edited 15 hours ago by Cloud9Shopper

[roseha]

I actually bought a new bedspread just this year, although I think the merchant referred to it as a "coverlet", apparently bedspreads are considered out of fashion it seems.  I felt I needed to because my new Vaya mattress is 12 inches tall and I could barely cover it with my mattress pad and covers, and I didn't want the mattress showing.  I've since switched to a mattress protector that covers the Vaya fine but I do think the bedspread is a nicer look.  I have a too large comforter on the bed but will retire that for the year and put a smaller throw on soon.

[lookeyloo]

I am old enough to remember all those bedspreads - I had a worn out chenille on my childhood bed. Then  had a hand me down fitted "custom" bedspread my aunt made for her bed but got tired of and then over the years had the fold over the pillows ones and comforters and now since I make quilts have a neutral color solid thing that I lay my quilts over. 
 And @Cloud9Shopper - I feel your traffic pain. A couple Fridays ago I made my way for an hour through Atlanta surface roads and was close to home and I was told I ran a red light. I saw a green light but there were "witnesses" and my car a VW Jetta-  was totaled. I am basically fine. The other fellow in a giant SUV had allegedly a broken arm And now there is a lawsuit. So I commiserate 

[nokat]

I agreed to a painting class and lunch at a community center. The last time I had a man hitting on me a bit. Women I'm friends with were like, hey, there aren't that many men our age, so go for it. Meh.