. A local high school kid here in Connecticut was arrested after he was overheard making another mass shooting threat. The school was closed. The cops found weapons at his home.
Meanwhile, in Parkland, Florida, one kid's mom is shopping for bullet-proof backpacks.
Insanity.
The stock market
I took a little peek at my investments, the first time since the correction. Things have recovered since then, anyway, so the drop was not too bad. Not enough to change any of my plans, although I heard at least one pundit, generational author Harry Dent, predicted the Dow would drop big:
"I think this is going to be a stock market peak of a lifetime followed by a crash very similar to the early 1930s. This happens once in a lifetime," Dent Research Founder Harry Dent recently told CNBC's "Futures Now."
He added: "I think this is the last rally in this bull market."
Work
Every week my dad asks me if I'm still working. Supposedly 3 interviews are happening this week; I haven't seen any candidates walk in though.
Otherwise, the beat goes on.
Food
I made an excellent mushroom soup, which I'll be finishing up today at lunch. I think the big key is using top quality broth and a variety of mushrooms.
I also made a quick apple crisp, modified from my grandmother's recipe with a great deal less butter and sugar, to use up some old apples that were well past their prime.
Just hearing of an expected nor'easter on Friday. High winds, tons of rain, snow, power outages. Maybe a good day to work at home.
Health insurance
Well, it's official. I'm on the healthcare exchange now....or more correctly, my state's exchange, known as Access Health. I got my ID card yesterday and paid for the first month of coverage.
I'm considerably worried about how long it may last, given the most recent lawsuit by 20 western states led by Texas to do away with Obamacare.
On my list of things to do this weekend is researching and then selecting a new neurologist and scheduling an appointment, a necessary step to switch my MS meds to a generic drug. I planned to do this anyway but I remember someone from my new health insurer (Conncecticare) saying if a generic drug was available, I'm required to take it if I want to be covered. So, yeah, once I pick a new doctor (my old one is not in network with my new plan) and schedule the appointment, I'll have to arrange for all my medical records to be transferred to the new doc.
This will all take some time. Luckily, I've been deliberately stockpiling my meds for just this kind of scenario, temporarily caught in between health plans, and it was actually during times like this when I was able to stockpile the med. I believe I have about 5 months of meds in the fridge.
Retirement planning
I went ahead and registered for the continuing ed class on tax-effective income strategies in retirement. It will be in early March, and I'm looking forward to it. I also registered for a free class on things happening in my town of interest to boomers and seniors. They are building a new senior center with a big pool and all, and there's also some national initiative the town has just joined that's supposed to focus on quality of life issues and support/resources for older people. Again, an interesting subject as I march toward my 6th decade.
Life advice from a dear friend
My oldest friend has started chemo treatments for his prostate cancer. He told me the other day he has detected a pattern, where on about the 5th day following the treatment (once every 3 weeks) he is incredibly exhausted and can barely drag himself out of bed. So he plans to rearrange his p/t work schedule around those bad days. He still wants to work p/t as a driving instructor for teens.
My friend is rather stoic about it all. He'll tell me very frankly and in detail what is going on at any given time, but he has no self-pity and doesn't dwell on it. It breaks my heart. He often urges me forward toward my semi-retirement, telling me it's time to smell the roses and enjoy life more. This, while he's facing his own mortality.
It's just part of a continuum of financial and life advice he's given me during the past 30 years. For many years, his advice was usually, "Save your money." "Don't waste your money on frivolous things." He was the most frugal person I know. I thought he would always say those things to me, but now, during the past year, he has encouraged me to start the new chapter in my life that is less involved with work and more about pursuing my personal interests and happiness. I am sure his cancer has something to do with that, but fortunately, he has lived a full life, fuller than mine. He says he has no regrets, just as my father says.
The beat goes on
February 28th, 2018 at 12:34 pm
February 28th, 2018 at 01:54 pm 1519826067
The weather report for Friday is a doozy, especially considering the weather today.
I think your friend's life advice is / had been sound.
February 28th, 2018 at 01:57 pm 1519826263
https://www.cooksillustrated.com/taste_tests/590-chicken-broth
February 28th, 2018 at 02:25 pm 1519827931
February 28th, 2018 at 04:08 pm 1519834136
I think your friend has been a good friend and honest with you. I retired at 55. I could and although it meant taking a hit financially, I would prefer having time to enjoy life. I have worked hard ever since I was a kid. My folks had a furniture store and it was expected that I help, even as a little kid whether it was dusting or moving stuff. I had the chance to retire at 55, get a pension, so I did. Am I sorry? Heck no. I'm enjoying life. A friend who is near my same age is making almost $13K more than I did when I retired (she signed a four letter retirement letter with big raises) complains all the time how unhappy she is. I'm sorry for her, but she could have retired a year earlier than I did. But the money was too tempting. Instead they have spent big bucks on a huge new house. Yet she is very unhappy. Me, I'm happy in our small house, and I find plenty to do. My husband and I enjoy each other's company, but we do our own thing too. He volunteers at different schools and I volunteer at one of my old schools and church. Other than gas, it doesn't cost us anything and gets us out socially. Long story, sorry, but I agree with your friend. We never know when our end will come. How nice to look back and be able to say you had some pleasure before it did. Said a prayer for your friend and his cancer treatments.
February 28th, 2018 at 07:31 pm 1519846272
February 28th, 2018 at 08:41 pm 1519850487
February 28th, 2018 at 11:00 pm 1519858844
March 1st, 2018 at 12:19 am 1519863558