On the SS issue, if in some states you can collect pension and SS, and some you can’t, seems like it was the state’s decision to not allow it. I didn’t realize that in Mary Lou’s state the teachers don’t pay into SS, so that makes sense. But for Cheryl and Carol, it’s strange. Has anyone ever asked their state legislators why that is? 

It’s an overcast day here, almost 50. =26pxWe’re going to lunch with F and C, and on the way back stopping at the local deli to pick up the hoagie Ralph ordered for the stupor bowl as he “watches” it. 

I did a blog post with a pic of the table runner in progress. The top is done, I just have to put the layers together.

So, here's the "long" short explanation, Holly.  The federal government decided about 30 years ago that they don't want people "double dipping," i.e., collecting two different pensions and making a lot of money from being retired.  The argument was that it would bankrupt the system. 

So, if your Texas school district has you contribute to an alternate pension plan, you don't pay into Social Security.  Some districts in Texas actually didn't opt into the Texas Teacher Retirement System, so those people collect Social Security like everyone else.  Other states have the same systems.  It's really weird.   From my investigations, I can collect Social Security and my pension; however, I can only get SS that would be more than my pension.  In other words, if my SS is worth $2,010 and my pension is $2020, I can't collect SS. Right now, my pension is slightly higher.  When I hit 70, my SS might be a bit higher, so if my pension is $2020 and my SS is $2040, I can collect the $20 difference.  Yay.  I might be able to afford a gallon of milk and a dozen eggs on that in 2027.  The chances of my pension increasing are slim and none, and slim left town.  We just got our first COLA raise in 23 years.  I got a whopping 2%, some who had been retired longer than I got 4%, and a few got 6%.  Last year, the state legislature granted us an extra paycheck in lieu of a COLA raise.  

The real solution is for Congress to pass a bill that abolishes the windfall profit elimination, which is the official term for the "double dipping."  They got close last year, but didn't get it through.  

I just don't understand why I can't access a system that I paid into.  I would understand if I had never paid SS.  I continue to pay into it as an Astros employee.  Not much.  I think it was $18 last year.  Tour guides are not heavily compensated, money-wise, LOL.  

We're having a rough morning.  Lots of thunderstorms and several tornadoes north of Houston.  I'm on the south side, so we're waiting for some rain, but nothing dangerous so far.  Lots of people are hiding in closets and bathrooms.  No basements in this part of the world.  The water table is about 6 feet below ground level.  Basements would be permanent indoor swimming pools.  

Back later.  I hear thunder. 

Diane, that sounds so painful! I hope he has plenty of pain pills to get him thru this surgery. 

BJ, how wonderful you took a really nice long ride and got ice cream too! Sending my love and hugs. Hope you're having a nice quiet Sunday! 

Carol, I pray you will be safe from the storms. Happy anniversary! I'm glad you posted the paragraph that you don't understand because it makes no sense to me either. I get a pension check every month from Kroger (Billy worked there 39 years). I also got his SS amount when he passed away (because it was more than my SS check). Now very little (if any?) companies have pension plans, only 401K plans.

Holly, that's going to be a nice tablerunner! I like the fabrics you're using.

I'm grooming the dogs today until I finish them. I don't want to make them tired (and me too) so we take breaks! Went to breakfast with Gary & Emily, then to Walmart for things for the trip.

I am looking forward to this cruise, but dreading all the walking. Praying my knees don't go out on me. There are no buttons in the elevators. You use a kiosk outside the elevator, tell it which floor you want to go to and it tells you which "letter" elevator to take. How interesting!

I got a good laugh out of this picture. That's me now and in the 4th grade. I loved that dress. It was a royal blue with orange flowers. My head looks bigger than my face, lol! Billy always said I had the hardest skull, lol. 


 

Last edited by DownSouth (2/11/2024 4:14 pm)

I am so so sorry, i completely forgot about locking and bumping !!! THANKS DIANE

DIANE I hope you DH is feeling better soon, that surgery is no fun, my DH had his wrist bones fused many years ago, it was very painful (((hugs)))

SANDRA sounds like a lovely day, those are all shows I love,  and I can re watch them a lot as well. I must catch up on Doc Martin, I stopped watching and haven't got back. I am really enjoying the Midwife series, the episodes go for a long time though, but it was good while I was marking sewing lines on all the diamonds for my Jane Austen. LOL Sharing with your less able friends is so good of you, they would really appreciate it (((hugs)))

DEVONNE going slow with the grooming is good, be careful your back. Maybe  G & E are realising that the way they live is not for them? Do you think they might want to move in with you? You need your space, so I hope not, but they could ask, be prepared.

CAROL that is a lot of rain, I thought we had it all over this side of the pond LOL Our north is being deluged. I hope the weather stays OK for you, That is early for the roses isn't it? I'm trying to figure out the difference in season, ours get done in July ( very late July LOL ) so about 2/3 through our winter, I think your area is similar temp to ours.

HOLLY nice to see you have gotten back into sewing. I find that I can switch to knitting for winter as well, it's something to do at night. 

STRINGS that is how I feel lately, just hang in there. visit when you can, we miss you!

INDY hope things are OK with Andrew and he is toasty in his apartment. There has been a lot of activity for you lately, rest, relax and enjoy some quiet time, although with the Mr it's not always so quiet is it LOL

DEVONNE forgot to say I had a similar haircut at that age, must have been the fashion back then.

I had a lovely dinner with the fitness group on Saturday night, we met at the new studio with drinks and canapés for it's official opening, and then walked across the hall to the chinese restaurant. It was lovely and we had a fun night, inexpensive as well. 
We all shared the dishes, and we had plenty of fun rotating the big lazy susan to send the food across to the other side. There were only 8 of us in the end, we were expecting 12. So they had us at the large table. 

I have done most of the housework already, and need to get organised now to go to yoga, see you later.
 

Last edited by tricia-anne (2/11/2024 6:41 pm)

ANOTHER LOVELY DAY BUT THE WEATHER WILL CHANGE TOMORROW.  WE WILL GET SOME SNOW SHOWERS IN OUR FORECAST.  THANKS CAROL FOR SENDING YOUR RAIN EAST AND THEN DEVONNE, THANKS FOR SENDING IT NORTH.  THAT'S WHAT FRIENDS DO.....SHARE.  LOL

ITS LINCOLN'S BIRTHDAY TODAY.  I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS A KID GETTING BOTH LINCOLN'S AND WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAYS OFF.  GEORGE'S IS THE 22ND.  IT WAS WONDERFUL GETTING 2 DAYS OFF THAT MONTH.  NOW THEY TIE THEM IN TOGETHER FOR PRESIDENT'S DAY FOR ONE HOLIDAY.
THAT'S MY HISTORY LESSON FOR THE DAY.

NOTHING SPECIAL PLANNED AGAIN.  I MAY MAKE SOME PIZZA.  I HAVE A FEW FROZEN DOUGHS IN THE FREEZER WHICH I SHOULD BE USING SOON.  I LIKE IT AND SO DO MY NEIGHBORS SO IT MAY BE THE WAY TO GO TONIGHT.

TRISH.......YES, I LOVE THOSE SAME PROGRAMS YOU DO.  I LOVE OUR SATURDAY NITES HERE FOR TV.  MOST OF MY FAVORITES.  
DO YOU WATCH FATHER BROWN?  REMEMBER MRS. McCARTHY, HIS HOUSEKEEPER?  SHE WAS FEATURED IN DETECTIVE MURDOCH'S LATEST PREMIERE THIS WEEK, A VERY DIFFERENT KIND OF LADY.  THE THING I REALLY DISLIKE IS A 2-PARTER.........AND  WAITING TIL NEXT WEEK TO SEE HOW IT ALL ENDS.  ANYWAY, MRS. McCARTHY IS DOING A GREAT JOB THIS WEEK.

THAT'S ABOUT IT LADIES.  DULL, DULL, DULL BUT I LIKE TO CHECK IN WITH YOU SO YOU KNOW I'M STILL ALIVE AND KICKING.  NOW I HAVE TO DO MY LAPS IN THE HALLWAY.
STAY SAFE.  HUGS, QB S 

Last edited by quiltbea (2/12/2024 10:40 am)

QB,  I never think 'Oh what a boring life QB lives.'  Or anybody else...  I'm sure not getting out to go anywhere can be dulling day after day but look at all you do, albeit the same ol', same ol', and how thoughtful and generous you are.  That really counts in the whole scheme of things.  I always say, thank goodness for books and tv!  

It's cold but we have beautiful sunshine here, today.  An incredible February, a month I usually dread and can't wait for it to be over.  Usually, the snow is so deep on our little deck that we couldn't get the door open if we wanted to.

We're in a dither about our small group gathering on Friday.  One couple is on their delayed honeymoon cruise, one man is having surgery today, one couple is in their winter quarters in Florida, so out of a full crew of 12, only six are available.  I'm pretty sure we're going to cancel/postpone.  it's been an Ethel/Lucy episode with the group texting and inability to pull that off the last few days.  I won't elaborate, but you all know how aggravating cell phones can be!  

Trish, Andrew is plugging through his first "busy season", tax time, you know, at his company.  Eleven or twelve hours week days and 5 on Saturdays until April 15th.  He is going to get to go to their office in Texas at some point.  The object of that is a means for their employees to interact and augment the human connections during this time.  He's looking forward to that and a change of scene.   

Devonne, I like typing, too.  Have to be careful with these computers and not do something wrong and screw up the whole thing, though.  Did you type on a IBM Selectric in your early working days?  IMHO, they were the very best and a joy to type on.  But, nothing stays the same and it is nice to be able to correct the way it's done, now.  And...I do my share of correcting because I'm too much in a hurry.  Do your girls like to be groomed or do you have to chase them down?  I can't remember, did you rent a scooter for your cruise?

We "churched" here at home, yesterday, as we've been doing.  I got a call early afternoon that my classmate in Missouri, May, had just passed away.   She had many health problems that weren't fixable.  We started first grade together and have been friends all these years.   Not exactly bosom friends, but when there are only 8 girls in your class for 12 yrs., they become family.  Now there are only 3 of us  girls left.   And 3 boys.  Half of our class of 12 are gone.  I will miss her occasional calls and visits when she came back up here.  

BJ, sounds like you had a very nice weekend with Tracy.  Two weeks will be a long time but I know you would never want her to miss this trip.  I loved you reminding us to spend our day well.  Easy for me to waste it!  
Back later,
Indy



 

Last edited by indyanny (2/12/2024 12:43 pm)

DEAR INDY/JUDY...... THANKS FOR YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT MY COMMENTING ON MY DULL LIFE.  I WOULD LIKE TO CLEAR UP A MISCONCEPTION.
I DO NOT THINK I LEAD A DULL LIFE, BUT WHAT I HAD TO REPORT ON ONE DAY OR ANOTHER IS JUST DULL OR REPETITIOUS FOR MY READERS.
I LOVE MY LIFE.  I READ, DO CROSSWORDS, HAVE MY PUZZLES, MY SOLITAIRE, AND MY SEWING AND COOKING ENDEAVORS.  I PLAY BINGO ONCE A WEEK.  MY SON SHOPS AND VISITS TWICE A MONTH.  I GAB WITH NEIGHBORS BY THE MAIL BOX A FEW TIMES A WEEK AND ENJOY GOINGS ON BY THE RIVER.  I TEXT MY SON AND DAUGHTER BACK AND FORTH EVERY DAY AND A FEW FRIENDS AS WELL.  I ALSO LOVE, LOVE MY TV SHOWS AND OLD MOVIES.
SO, NO,  MY LIFE TO ME IS NOT DULL.  ITS ALIVE AND WELL.
ITS JUST MY REPORT FOR THE DAY WOULD BE DULL READING SINCE ITS SAME OLD, SAME OLD, MANY TIMES.  THERE ARE DAYS WHEN THERE IS LITTLE TO MENTION THAT IS NOT A REPEAT SO MY POST MUST BE SHORT.
THANK YOU JUDY FOR MENTIONING THAT SINCE ITS A REMARK I MAKE OFTEN AND I DO NOT WANT MY FRIENDS HERE TO THINK I AM JUST MARKING TIME.
I AM OFF TO READ AGAIN.  STAY SAFE.   HUGS, ME QB S 

Last edited by quiltbea (2/12/2024 1:23 pm)

It was a rainy night in Georgia (music icon here)...and it's rained all day as well. I did get some breaks in the rain to let the dogs out.

Judy, I did type on an IBM Selectric! Can you believe I went from being a mountain hillbilly girl, never seen an expressway and our town had one red light to working on Peachtree Street in downtown Atlanta. I remember being so scared to merge on the interstate, lol! My first job was in 1970 at Equifax in the "typing pool." We had machines next to our typewriters that used magnetic tape (it was called MTST I believe?) I don't even remember what they were for unless it's how we got our "dictation" from all the different departments we did typing for. Most of the letters I transcribed were to insurance companies. 

Sandra, you are so blessed to have Matt and Colleen (and your GD). You got lucky when you moved there & got a great view of the river! I think it's a great idea to try and grow veggies inside where the light comes in.

I LOVE my life too! I could easily live in a place much smaller and it wouldn't bother me, but I'm glad I have a fenced yard for my dogs. I don't get bored at all and I don't have any close friends nor a church. I go out to eat with my family and they come here. I haven't been reading much because I've been busy in the sewing room. May switch those hobbies this year due to back issues. There is so much I like to watch on TV. I watch You Tube a lot and I'm interested in just about any topic. I have Netflix, Prime Video, Paramount Plus, Disney, Hula and Roku has movies. I did download Tubi TV, but haven't checked it out yet. Just so much to pick from...I think I get PBS too. I do laundry, clean house, go to Walmart, other grocery stores, Dollar Tree, etc. I don't know how much I will miss driving when I can no longer drive. I just dread asking my sons to take me to the doctor, but I think there's a Senior Community van that might do that (if I'm able to get on it, lol!) As far as food and groceries, there's so much that can be delivered now, it's great for those who can't drive, don't have a vehicle or just don't want to drive! Greg is not old and he does Walmart grocery delivery. It's not just for the elderly! Door Dash, bring me my Chick-Fila, lol! 

Dee is coming tomorrow to trim the dogs' toenails. They are really bad! She always stays and we talk a lot. We vent to each other (meaningless), lol.

Theresa, have you decided to stay where you are for now with your Mom close by? 

 

Last edited by DownSouth (2/12/2024 6:36 pm)

It’s snowing! They said rain in the forecast, then changed it to snow. The ground is warm, so it’s not really laying. 

So far I’ve browned and froze 2 lbs of sausage, paid bills online, fondled fabric, and talked to my brother John. He sounds chipper, but we no longer discuss his walking or lack of. Mike and I can’t do anything, and it’s up to him.