luckytxn

4 hours ago, Neonred said:

This always makes me shake my head.  How do we improve schools?  Spend more money....LOL

 

My wife was a teacher of Russian grammar and literature in Russia when I met her.  I made many trips to Russia and most visits I had the opportunity to spend time at her schools.  I met many of her teacher friends and the headmaster of one school.  It was quite obvious to me that these students were doing much better and working at a higher level than students in the US.  It had nothing to do with how much money was spent.  The classrooms were old with old wooden desks and a single chalk board.  Not much extra money available for education.  Very basic yet all these students were multi lingual and well prepared for university.  What was the difference?   Took me a little time to understand that the difference was discipline and a strong emphasis on the basics along with putting in extra time in school.  

We pay a lot for substandard Houston school district too. It is so bad the state trying to take over. Of course we know the problem is public school cookie cutter approach. Our private Catholic school is doing way better at a cheaper price. The teachers make less though but the ones I know would never teach at a public. We have several private schools nearby too that are way better. Shame people don't try to stop the bleeding and care about the kids but Liberal ideology wants slaves not productive citizens.

I used to run the west coast a lot and remember that just to go to a national fast food place that an identical meal would cost about $1.50 more and going shopping anything would cost more than any other state and that included the northeast that had an overwhelming toll road system and an advanced mass transit system that was heavily subsidized.

It is the housing that is tragic in California in my opinion and very unnecessary. It may be the main engine that will force people to relocate if it is possible but unfortunately  one needs to save money to do that and savings can't happen when your pay is being confiscated. Now of course the state already has a high minimum wage and the state wants an even higher minimum wage boost that is inflationary and just will make the prices and rents to go even higher so with the mindset that has gotten them there in the first place they will have to revisit the higher minimum wage to combat that and so on. Of course that means that the taxes will need to be raised and that unemployment becomes higher. Businesses have to put off hiring more and/or let go of some employees.

What this causes is a slave class of citizens so yes the middle class is disappearing as the rich get richer and new rich come into being to soak up that extra money that will be flowing into the economy but they all become slaves to the system as the poor and middle class are now slaves just in order to survive and exist. So I hope that fantastic climate and whatever it is that makes California such a huge attraction is worth it. Personally if it is so fantastic in California then why do so many want to leave the plantation?

On 3/6/2021 at 8:23 AM, Nature Boy 2.0 said:

There are so many appointments  available  now they are just pretty much giving to whoever wants them. My buddy was at a pharmacy yesterday and asked if they had extra. They said sure and gave him his. I just registered and clicked essential  worker, which technically I am. They asked no questions. we have more vaccine here now than people wanting shots 

Opposite here for me. I have tried as I am 61 and said I have a medical condition that allowed it so they put me on a waitlist but it seems no vacancies are ever open. I had already kept trying at every place that had vaccines but never could get them to do it.

On 3/7/2021 at 12:58 PM, Neonred said:

Congrats on the 12 years.  This June will make 15 years for me and my wife.  Can't believe we actually made it this far.

 

Reminds me of a friend, that used to be on VJ years ago, telling me about his very long drawn out divorce from his first wife.  It was taking years and every time he thought they were close to finishing she changed her mind and wanted something more.  He was waiting outside the judges chambers for one of the hearings reading an article in a law magazine that gave statistics about actual sentences served in his state.  As they entered court he looked at his wife and said " If I had killed you back then I'd be getting out of jail about now".  Wrong thing to say!   After getting ripped a new one and asked about threatening his wife he explained that he was just quoting the statistics in the magazine in the waiting area.  

Heh, that is rough. And thanks for the congrats. I am actually surprised we made it this far as didn't expect it but now that we have I can see why we have made it. Very happy that you have made it so long with yours.

1 minute ago, TBoneTX said:

Oh, absolutely.  It's completely crucial to:

  -- have a "death drawer" in the filing cabinet

  -- update the account numbers, contact-people, etc. every few months (quarterly)

  -- review it with spouse and (if different) estate executor

  -- let at least one other person know where these files are

 

Also important to have a list of all digital accounts/subscriptions/websites so that the executor has access to these.  Texas Wills can include such provisions of authority.

Yes and to add to this as it is very important to understand that to not wait until you are older but that things can happen to one at any age. One never knows what will happen. Make sure that someone knows where this stuff is also and especially make sure that ones wishes are spelled out plainly and clearly. And you are right that in Texas this can be provided for in wills but make it easier for others in explaining on the steps needed to be done and where. I have the forms ready and each has where things need to be filed and how and each institutions ways and hows. It is very daunting to try to figure things out when in mourning and being overwhelmed. I am experienced in handling these things now as I have had to now 3 times in the past year alone and each time it is a pain.

1 minute ago, laylalex said:

You're a great husband for thinking of your wife's peace of mind, though I suspect your wife already tells you that all the time.  

No she tends to never praise me or thank me for anything I do and I am ok with that. She and rightfully so expects it as a something I should be doing anyway and no thanks are needed. She will be grateful later when it is needed to be done. And no she doesn't think I am a great husband no matter how many times I tell her I am. She shows gratitude in other ways by doing things and getting me things she knows I like and want without asking her. Can't really ask for more that.

7 minutes ago, TBoneTX said:

Good reminder that beneficiary designations (on accounts that allow them) are at least as important as are estate documents, and probably more so.

It is very important to do this. The institutions can't do anything with accounts unless there is a beneficiary or an estate court order. My brother passed away last year who I was caregiving and He was supposed to make me beneficiary and failed to do so and I had to small estate affidavit and other things. Also very important to have files for this stuff and let someone know where. My brother failed to do so and it took me months to go through tons of papers to figure what was what. When I pass I don't want that happening to my wife at all and so have made it simple for her.

1 hour ago, Nature Boy 2.0 said:

I got my Pfizer vaccine yesterday. All is well 

Good for you. I was just allowed to be put on a waiting list yesterday.

I was more jealous that I didn't fly out myself someplace warmer and fun. Anything Cruz could have done could have been handled by a call and his assistants could do more than him anyway.

I didn't worry about it as I knew that if she stuck around for 7 years or more she I thought more than entitled to half of everything. If we were going to have problems and stop being together for life I would have known by that time. So far we have been married 12 years last month and I have pretty much put all property in her name anyway so if I pass she would have little court actions. Any accounts by now also are in her name or she is the beneficiary. I keep all papers she would need and have explained to her what to do in case of an unfortunate passing.

My wife does send money back through a money service once a year for Tet which is usually 4-5 hundred dollars for the red envelope occasion and when the red envelope is being handed out ours is usually passed out at that time to certain youngsters. This is a custom around for generations so I have no problem at all being a part of it. It does get tedious though that we are usually on a video chat for part of it watching and allowing some interaction for the kids to show us and thank us. My wifes family is well off and there is no need for us to help out any family there. She does have some poor family in the countryside but the family there helps them out. We do sponsor a couple of Nieces  for student visas and care for to an extent where we help them out and stuff but their family sends them or us money when needed such as buying them a vehicle or school expenses. We do have them also do things for us and pay them some to help them have spending money and I quietly give them some money now and again ( a hundred or so every few months) sneakily and say don't tell their Aunt but ask them to help their Aunt and stuff. This is done because I appreciate them doing so well and doing so much and my wife is I think too tough on them.

My wife does send what we call a care package that is sending them vitamins and cereals and creams and things of that sort. Vietnamese products are mostly from China and is known as being poisoned or very inferior to what we can get here.  They do send us packages also for things for my wife such as special Ao Dai dresses she wears for church or weddings or things for her salon business. This maybe costs us a few couple hundred a month but we do it as we can easily afford to do so and it makes her happy to do things like this. I would not have married her if she was a poor impoverished waif that I knew we would have had to help out financially. 

Many congrats and good luck.

Trump for Rushmore!

Is she buried so we can say what we really think of her yet?

On 9/12/2020 at 10:57 PM, TBoneTX said:

Seemingly an accurate analysis.  Comments?

Yeah. I agree with you.

1 hour ago, Cyberfx1024 said:

What I have been hearing is that it will be Amy Comey Barrett or Barbara Lagoa. 

Amy would be the right choice I think because she has alittle more experience and help with the Catholic vote. While Lagoa would be the strategic choice because she is a 1st generation Cuban born in Miami, so it would help with women and immigrants. 


There is another name that has been floated around "Amul Thapar" but I don't see him getting it this time around. He is a 1st generation Indian and has extensive judicial experience. 

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/florida/fl-ne-barbara-lagoa-potential-scotus-nominee-trump-20200920-o6u24ctyzrdhnikerynauo4wo4-story.html

Amy is the only choice left. SCOTUS would be conservative 3-4 generations.

On 9/7/2020 at 1:39 AM, Captain Ewok said:

It looks like you or someone with access to your account closed it.  I've reopened the prior account.  Sorry for any confusion.

I have been wondering what happened to you. Been ages.

Always wondered myself why they never made me at least a moderator. *sniff*

Trump for Rushmore!

8 hours ago, TBoneTX said:

Watching with macabre fascination on click2houston.com -- transformers in Lake Charles blowing out as the reporter spoke.

 

Cameron (La.) beginning to go under water even before eyewall landfall.

Sustained winds approaching 80 mph in Lake Charles, ~30 miles north of Cameron.

Storm surge ~20' expected even north of Interstate 10.

Power could be out for weeks in some of the many rural areas.

Arkansas going to get trop-storm-force winds.

 

For me, just a mostly cloudy, somewhat breezy night.

Feeling some "survivor's guilt" here.

A big ado about nothing. For us anyway but Lake Charles got the brunt and I hope they prepared well.

4 hours ago, TBoneTX said:

And FEMA now says that where I am, wind speeds of 10 to 15 mph are expected, with gusts up to 20 mph.  National agencies describing storm surge as "unsurvivable."  Counting blessings but praying hard for east TX/western LA.

Really. A few hours ago I read that we were expected to get Cat.1 winds. I don't remember if that was gusts. I am doubting that we even get that.

8 hours ago, TBoneTX said:

And Gustav and... and Rita.

Rita completely annihilated Holly Beach, La.

They about to get annihilated again big time. Lake Charles is about to get a lot of the "nasty side". That front west of us saved us big time it looks like. I never expected a Cat. 4 though. They are going to be in bad shape after this but better them than us.

48 minutes ago, TBoneTX said:

Not expecting Harvey-like flooding.  This will probably be more of a wind event.  Have already lined up a fence guy for the inevitable.

I don't expect either as it is moving too fast. I am the fence guy and the everything guy for that matter. I have secured someone to help me if needed and have gotten both chain saws readied. My neighbors tree is like a dagger aimed at my roof on my house though.

51 minutes ago, Ban Hammer said:

noaa is showing right on the border of texas

So did Harvey but at a Cat. 4. The cone has moved westward a bit but it will be a slight east or west movement at any time. I am expecting it to come in there but tomorrow morning we will know more.

16 hours ago, TBoneTX said:

As of 6 p.m., Laura forecast to go up the Sabine River (much like Rita).  However, wide cone.  After Laura clears Cuba, we'll see.  The 10 a.m. forecast on Tues. should give a much better idea.

Shifted a bit more west toward us and cranked up to a potential Cat. 3 now. Starting to get interesting for us. Just declared us as voluntary evacuation here by the Bay in Bacliff. Oh and this will make it more like Harvey now under this scene. Remember that flooding?

The more we progress the more we segregate.