Glens Falls (NY) Online Book Discussion Group discussion
What are U doing today?
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What are U doing today? (Ongoing thread)
Woodpeckers don't damage healthy trees. Pecking is hard work. There must be something in them to make it worthwhile. They're a very good indicator of insect infestation. Lots of trees look good on the outside, but have issues inside. Around here, most of the bigger White Ash have heart rot fungus growing out of otherwise healthy looking trees.
I think there's a bug infestation, and the woodpeckers are looking for food. In a way, they're beneficial because I'd never have known how bad the tree was without the woodpeckers. The wood that gets chipped out is dry and smushes apart when you rub it between your fingers. Like you said, looking at the tree it looks fine.
I found a pretty good article on what causes the Cherry burls which are actually the result of a fungal infection called Black Knot. Here it is:http://plantclinic.cornell.edu/FactSh...
That's informative.In Figure 2, the tree on the left, doesn't the burl look a bit like a beehive?
Some of the big ones remind me of hornet nests. They can be a challenge to cut so you maximize what you're turning. A lot of it is luck since you can't tell anything about the interior until you've cut it. If the hearts are too riddled with ant nests, there isn't anything to attach to. I've gone so far as to pour epoxy into them & then try to turn them. I had one come out OK. Usually it's just a waste of time, energy & epoxy, though.
To add insult to injury, someone tried to use my CC for $140. Luckily, it was flagged. The company cancelled my card & sent me a new one in 36 hours. The weird part is it came with an offer for security protection for $65/year. Maybe I'm not thinking right, but it seems to me the standard security worked pretty darn well. Why would I pay for more?
What a coincidence, Jim! Ant and I were just discussing the protection fee this morning. It comes out to $12 per month and I rarely use my card. I say we don't need it, he says we do. I'm going to show him your post. Thanks for the info!
Jim, how did the CC company know that you hadn't made the purchase?
Jackie, the CC & other credit protection racket is pretty much a scam. It's in their interests to stop such scams since they're liable for the fraud in most cases. Most of them try to add the value of contacting all other CC, too. You're better off making a copy of the front & back of every card in your wallet & storing it in a safe place. That way you're covered all the way around & can use it, not only to cancel all cards, but as proof to get replacements for others. It's not legal proof, but is supposed to help a lot.You can also call the 3 big credit agencies & put a credit hold on. That gets rid of all the CC junk mail offers in a few months & locks down your credit so they have to contact you at your home phone to extend credit on anything. Call or go online once a year & get your credit report free.
Use just one CC online & don't let them save your information. That's where most of the info is gathered, from stored CC's at merchant sites. That gives you gives both you & the CC company just a few transactions to watch, limits where the CC is used & makes security flagging much better.
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Joy, I think the purchase was made in Canada. I get calls every now & then for even small purchases made out of state since one CC company keeps getting my son & me confused - scary. They can't distinguish between Jr. & Sr. - even though Sr. hasn't had one of their cards in years.
Jim, the fee for CC fraud protection is from Bank of America, for their CC card and the charge is on our actual CC bill. Is that the same as the CC protection scam?Thanks for taking the time to answer these questions. :)
I see, Jim. Thanks for explaining. I often look back and think about how wonderfully simple life used to be before all this technical "progress". :) Of course, some things have been made easier but there's always a trade-off. We gain some things and we lose some things. Personally, I think we've lost a lot of "peace of mind".
I have to agree with you, Joy. For things that are supposed to make our lives simpler, why is it so complicated?
Hi Everyone - long time since I've been on Goodreads. My Citibank credit card - they cancel my card for small charges - just last month I signed up for trial service of Netflix (a wonderful service!). Netflix states you may see a debit and a credit. Well, the credit card company thought there were 2 charges from Netflix within minutes of each other - and they "cancelled" the card - we had to call them and Netflix only to find that Citibank made an error. A week prior, we went to Ottawa Canada and bought lunch. The next transaction we made in Ottawa was denied because the credit card company didn't think it was us making the charge. So, no - you don't need credit card protection - some credit card companies are watching the card too closely - causing you embarrasment when making a purchase because you were denied, and wasted time making phone calls. They "cancel" your card (which is really putting a hold on any transactions) - without first trying to contact you - that's my main complaint.
Jackie wrote: "Jim, the fee for CC fraud protection is from Bank of America, for their CC card and the charge is on our actual CC bill. Is that the same as the CC protection scam?..."I'm not an expert, Jackie, but BOA is the one that constantly calls me about my son's purchases out of state & he doesn't have any credit protection. I guess you need to read what all they say they do for you & google it, too. I haven't seen one yet that I thought was worthwhile, but YMMV.
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People always say technology makes our life 'easier', meaning less labor intensive, but the time/labor savings often gives us more options, which just complicates things. It becomes an information battle.
Joy, you probably notice those options in the grocery store. Back when you were first married & grocery shopping, the number of brands & types of mundane items like toilet paper & soap were a lot less. Most of the prepared stuff didn't exist & the stores were half the size. Now we have a 'wealth' of choices, even for products we don't really need or want. We need to know more to make a decent choice.
Take a look at something simple like soap. Brands & products lasted for decades. Remember Lux? They were around for decades, then in the 60's, our technology & wealth gave rise to so many manufacturers & products that "conspicuous consumption" was born. Everyone wanted our attention, so re-branding became the name of the game & we're faced with a bewildering variety of choices. Those that didn't fell by the way side.
Were the choices real? Sometimes yes, often no, but to make a decent decision, you had to read the label or try them & then remember. More & more information. New products were sold along side or replaced old ones & the choices widened until now I just get bewildered when I look at the shelves. It's hard to find something just 'regular' without a lot of glitz. For years I used Head&Shoulders until they improved it into a dozen different types & I couldn't find one I liked. So now I just use ... I dunno. Something Marg gets me. Heck, I need my better half to keep up with that part of life while I keep up with others...
;-)
Going to work today. Hoping to get out a bit early and make the holiday weekend even longer (office closed on Friday). For Thanksgiving - going out to dinner - decided not to cook. Usually, my husband and I escape for a weekend in Montreal. This year, the hotels in Montreal are charging higher prices for Thursday night than a Friday or Saturday night because of the Thanksgiving Holiday!!! Plus, the exchange rate is terrible - so we decided not to go to Montreal this weekend. First time in 8 years.
Linda, it was good to hear from you. Thanks for your input.About the bewildering amount of choices we have, I recently read an article online which pointed out that having too many choices can make us feel paralyzed because it's too hard to make a decision. Instead of making a decision, we wait and do nothing.
As Jim pointed out, picking out a simple product from a large number of choices can be time-consuming. On top of that, sometimes we may make the wrong choice because we neglected to read the entire label.
I suppose that we eventually adapt to having so many choices and so many decisions to make, but sometimes it's a pain in the neck.
Linda wrote: They "cancel" your card (which is really putting a hold on any transactions) - without first trying to contact you - that's my main complaint. Ah, that must be the difference then, when we have a discrepancy the BoA Fraud Dept calls us first and confirms that the purchase is our's. They don't automatically cancel our card.
Same to you!What's everyone doing tomorrow?
I'm cooking. I made my pies today so that's out of the way.
We have Erin & her boyfriend, Josh, plus the cat, Ariana, & the dog, Molly, here until Sunday morning. The rest of the kids & their other halves are out of state. We'll be sitting around & getting fat. Hope everyone else has a happy day, too.
I remember when we read the back of cereal boxes at breakfast; not at the grocery store. I just roasted a 22 lb turkey last night. I overslept and it overcooked but was so juicy it ran all over the countertop while cooling. At least we didn't have much to carve as it literally fell apart; except for the two huge breasts. Sounds porno doesn't it. Happy Thanksgiving. nina
We'll be hosting our family for the holiday weekend. That includes three dogs, not counting our own! :)Happy Thanksgiving to all.
I join in wishing everybody a happy Thanksgiving! Barb and I don't expect any company, so it'll be a quiet Thanksgiving at home for us. We've got a turkey in the refrigerator awaiting its destiny. Most likely, we'll spend a lot of the day playing our favorite word-making game, Joker Quick Cube, since unlike many guys, I've never been a fan of televised sports. (Though if they'd ever start broadcasting some Quidditch games.... :-) )
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! Going out for Thanksgiving dinner. Plan on cooking our turkey on Christmas Eve!
Joy H. wrote: "Linda, it was good to hear from you. Thanks for your input.About the bewildering amount of choices we have, I recently read an article online which pointed out that having too many choices can ma..."
Glad I'm not alone with my feelings on too many choices - which does tend to make you wait and do nothing - that's why these websites are good - we can learn and get tips from others. A welcome resource.
Later on today, after napping from eating turkey - rented from Netflix The Blue Butterfly. Haven't heard or read any reviews - selected this because I like butterflies, its based on a true story, and indicated that "this stirring adventure includes breathtaking natural footage shot on location in the rain forests of Costa Rica." Thought this would look great on a 46-inch screen!
Linda, The Blue Butterfly was an amazing movie. I know you will like it. It's based on a true story which makes it even more impressive and beautiful.
Happy Thanksgiving to All! I Am invited out to a free meal!Enjoy your Turkey and stuffing--or other meals, if you don't go traditional!
Btw, imho it is not Thanksgiving without cranberry sauce! Any other cranberry sauce fans out there??
My husband. He has to have it on Thanksgiving.
Yes, cranberry sauce is an important part of the Thanksgiving meal for us. I like the jellied kind. Eddie likes the kind with whole berries. So we have both. :) Sometimes I even put it in my turkey sandwiches the next day.
Mary JL, thanks for the reminder! Barb was thinking we had a can of cranberry sauce, but had forgotten to look to make sure. It took a bit of rummaging through the cupboard, but we found it. :-)
Imho, one reason cranberry sauce is popular is it is sweet. Most of the other dishes--turkey, stuffing, potatoes, and gravy are somewhat salty. The sweetness of the cranberry sauce is a nice contrast.Joy, I have always preferred the jeleid kind!
I love cranberry sauce - I'm with Joy on liking the sauce better than the whole berry or relish, although I won't turn down any of it. Our other sweet is sweet potatoes with marshmallows & & brown sugar.Anyone else like sauerkraut with turkey & stuffing? Like the tart cranberry, it's sour tartness cuts through the fatty flavors of the rest of the meal. We had a wonderful meal & a nap. I took the dogs for a brief walk around the woods - it's pouring down rain, but 60 degrees - after feeding the fish & goats while Josh & Erin fed the horses. We are now about to play dominoes or rummy as soon as we finish pie.
It was raining & 60 degrees out when I went to bed at 10:30 last night. Now we have an inch of snow & it's 23 degrees! Sheesh!
27 degress here in the Midwest--but w ehave been cold all week! I am already longing for spring--winter is the season I like least!
Yes, I love sweet potatoes with marshmallows although I haven't had it for decades.I played a short game of Boggle with my granddaughters. Good game! Here it is online (although we played the real game, not the virtual one).
http://www.pogo.com/marketing/landing...
Anthony made the sweet potatoes with crushed pineapples and marshmallows baked on top. It's too sweet for me. I like it as a dessert.
We just had ours plain --peeled, cut and baked (though seasoned with some margarine and brown sugar). But the pineapples and marshmallows are an interesting twist; I've had sweet potatoes fixed that way a time or two, but like Jackie says, they sort of edge into the dessert category. :-)
I baked mine in the oven for me. Sweet potatoes are so delicious I don't put anything on them, I don't think they need anything. Out of the oven and on my plate!
Well, car shopping done & I took a 2 hour nap & am still exhausted. Got a white '09 Chevy Cobalt for $8500 with 35K miles on it. Of course, but the time I got a warranty, tags, taxes, etc... it was $11K. That's the kind of deal I've been looking for but haven't seen until today. Seemed to be one of the very few available, too. Everyone else wanted $10,500 for something similar to start & telling me that credit was the same as cash. Crap. You can't tell me that when I can hand them a check for the full amount, that isn't better on their bottom line than messing around with financing on a used car.The car has already been christened. Marg filled the trunk with horse & goat feed. It's been driven out to the barn & emptied, so it has been liberally dosed with muddy horse manure & licked off by Cutter. So much for being my commuting car - get used to it. At least they kept the dogs from jumping through it with muddy paws.
;-)
Good luck with your new car, Jim.
"The Blue Butterfly" was exquisite; beautiful story and setting. Hope you found it so. nina
Mary JL wrote: "Imho, one reason cranberry sauce is popular is it is sweet. Most of the other dishes--turkey, stuffing, potatoes, and gravy are somewhat salty. The sweetness of the cranberry sauce is a nice cont..."I cook fresh cranberries into sauce and add about a tbs.of jello to them. It is a good combo. Then chill until set. nina
Lily is feeling MUCH better. She dragged Marg around the woods & fields earlier today & then did the same with me this evening. The goats were trotting the entire time to keep up. Lily is so funny with her cone on. She scoops snow up with it then shakes it all over. I think I'll take it off for tomorrow's walk, although it does keep her from ducking into brush piles. Still, she managed to catch a vole tonight & then flip it at me. Weird dog. Like I wanted her bloody vole. Pixie was upset that I kept it & tossed it out of the field.
It's good to hear that Lily has improved. She's a real trooper.
I am so glad your Lilly is improving. It is so pitiful to see a dog suffer and not be able to tell them they will soon be Ok and not have to wear the cone hat. nina
Thanks, both of you. I just hope we sleep better better tonight. I'm exhausted. Everything is so much harder to do in this cold. Marg took a bath tonight to get warm.
Cold is hard to bear with other problems looming but I just returned from a very sad wake tonight. Be glad you have each other. nina
Glens Falls (NY) Online Book Discussion Group
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Woodpeckers are doing some serious damage on two of my trees out front. They'll have to come down in the Spring. I'd like to choose a flowering tree for replacements.