Disqus - Latest Comments for bubelah

Re: everyone is special and unique just the way they are

bubelah — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:47:07 -0000

Wow! How is it possible? You don't have TV at home? Sorry to ask the question ;o)) What do they and you do all day together? I admit that I do turn the TV on when I have to do some chores in the house and don't want them to get in the way (like cooking or cleaning). Very admirable, btw.

Re: leaving the northeast, a retrospective

bubelah — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 14:25:25 -0000

You are right, it's strange to me that we are in mid-October and still have summer with 90+F temperatures. A loooooong summer! And the thought of snakes scares me to tears, but so far I've seen only snake skin next to our house.
We are planning to visit NE in Fall and for winter holidays. Hope to get the variety this way.

Re: lack of communication, or stupidity?

bubelah — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:51:49 -0000

I think you are missing the point here. I agree that there should be some separation of duties. Whoever does it better should do it or whoever has time. I do a better job cleaning, so I do it. Steve's duty is to take out the garbage. But I still know where the trash can is and when are the garbage pick-up days. So when Steve's on a business trip we are not drowning in trash. The point is that both parties should be aware of how much money comes in and how much money comes out. Two people in the family do not need to be involved in bill payin but both should be aware of the expenses and how to do it, in case one of you falls ill, or dies, or hits the road.
I am sure your wife knows how much you make and how to get cash from ATM, in case she needs it.

Re: the professional hitman

bubelah — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 08:46:19 -0000

Sounds like a good plan. Let's say you don't deliver the project within alotted time frame and go way beyond it. What happens? Do they start subtracting the money from your $50,000 fee?
They say here's $50,000 for the project to be completed no later than 16 weeks from now, no exception. You may deliver in 8 weeks which is good for you, or you can deliver 18 weeks from now. As a client I want to be protected. What do we do?

Re: the myth of stable employment

bubelah — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:37:41 -0000

Well, someone I know was "separated" they call it?? from the Army? In other words she was let go, laid off, fired... Army is going through recession too and they have budgetary problems too. So, if they find even slightest fault with anybody's conduct they will discharge them. Our nanny is an army wife and she explained these things to me.

Re: lying in the workplace, part 1

bubelah — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:30:43 -0000

I would guess that Mary stayed and Veronica was fired. Mary was not intentionally wrong, whereas Veronica was sloppy and careless on purpose.

Re: the myth of stable employment

bubelah — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 18:25:18 -0000

It's not exactly diversification if everything you do somehow related to banks or to one industry only.

Re: where the dogs are

bubelah — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 14:33:31 -0000

I don't trust dogs. Or any animal for that matter. And no matter how many times you tell me that your dog is nice and friendly and never attacks or bites anyone. It only takes one time.
I got attacked by a great dane when I walked into my friend's house totally unaware of its existence. And it attacked me out of the blue. My friend and her family tried to pry the animal away. Afterwards, they swore that it never attacked anybody before and that it is the friendliest doggy in the world and they don't know what happened to it this time.

Moral of the story: don't confuse fear and mistrust. (ok, maybe not very relevant here, but beware!)

Re: linklings, jimmy buffett and being there edition

bubelah — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 12:05:05 -0000

I love margaritas too, but I never heard of Jimmy Buffet, until Steve introduced him to me via CD a month ago. Sorry, I am a foreigner ;o)

Re: re-engineering your thinking

bubelah — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 09:52:56 -0000

Wow! Steve, great post!
People should not live in the dreams of some distant future, even though everybody should save for retirement. But you have your life now too.
We have built a fantasy that we want to retire early, which means NO work for most people. Thanks to imporoved longevity the average retirement (after age 65) is about 20 years. You think that 20 years of free time is a dream come true. It's NOT.
I also believe that when old people are unoccupied with anything they are more likely to feel disoriented and depressed, have more time on their hands to concentrate on aches and pains. Working in retirement is good for your health and early retirement can be harmful, especially if retirement means a more sedentary and less intellectually stimulating lifestyle.

Re: how much is that tree out the window?

bubelah — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 19:51:08 -0000

I used to work for a "mega-corp" where my desk was staring straight at the nicest view overlooking Hudson River, Statue of Liberty and Verrazano Bridge beyond it. Then a giant condo building was built and ruined it. I loved gazing out and rest my eyes. Now I regret that I didn't take any pictures. I think if you have a window in your working space it's a big plus.

Re: how much is that tree out the window?

bubelah — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 08:03:11 -0000

ARE YOU SERIOUS????? Ok, I haven't heard this one before. It's so STUPID!!!

Re: how to have a happy childhood

bubelah — Thu, 28 May 2009 09:17:16 -0000

I will add a few words "for" having winter - I love snow to some degree, mostly first few times it snows in winter. It's beautiful, it's calming, it's charming. That's it. After that it's old news. I enjoyed skiing as well but that was before I had kids. We had fun time going outside with our son and played in the snow and built a snowman. Most of the time we spent indoors, though, because of our infant daughter. Try to bundle everybody up for half an hour only to spend 15 minutes outdoors. When we had only one baby (read before baby can walk, after they learn to walk they don't want to sit still) I would take him for a walk in a stroller on a cold winter day. I was the only freak walking outside. Everybody saw me out their windows and knew it was ME.
We used to say good-byes at the playground in November for the winter. "See you in 6 months" - we would say. We did organize playdates here and there but not everyday. Anyway, it's not all black and white. So, for all you people staying behind, don't be too jealous, just a little bit.

Re: why I spend

bubelah — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 17:09:41 -0000

For me it's Traveling. I don't mind spending any money on it.

Re: how to pay less income tax

bubelah — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 11:21:38 -0000

I disagree with you. Try not to pay property taxes on your house (even when fully paid off) and see WHO really owns your house!

Re: linklings, south towards home edition

bubelah — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 16:34:49 -0000

Emily, how about me?? Will I fit in?

Re: networking is never about YOU

bubelah — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 09:48:43 -0000

To say that it is NEVER about you is quite strong. I think it is at least 50% about YOU. Take even non-professional relationships like friendships. YOU make friends because YOU enjoy their company, the way they make YOU feel about YOURSELF and how YOU spend YOUR time with them. It is true, though, that you should not expect anything in return but offer some.

Re: preparing for snap decisions

bubelah — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 20:02:44 -0000

It's something to be said for rash decisions. Most of the time I make them, a lot and then agonize whether I should've done or said something else. I almost always regret my snap decisions hoping that I had taken my time to think it through. It is my nature, though, to think and act quickly, without thinking too long. And the results are 3/4 are good and 1/4 are ok, that I wish could be different ;o) Does it even make sense??
Once it's done it's done, learn a lesson and move on!

Re: how to stick to a decision

bubelah — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 11:26:45 -0000

RS, wow! I love the way you think ;o) You described what we dream our life would be. Thank you for support. It's a tough decision since my whole family is staying in NY.

Re: something has changed

bubelah — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 09:20:58 -0000

I agree, it's inflation! Our salaries cannot keep up with rising costs. I've seen it in the extreme form in post-USSR regime. American inflation is slowly creeping up on us and a few years later we start wonder "what has changed?" Going out to movies and dinner became expensive, even luxury for some.

Re: in order to be helped, help first

bubelah — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 18:15:40 -0000

What goes around comes around! I got a job for my friend because I could not take it myself (the position was for a guy who could handle some heavy boxes). He was thrilled to get a job at a bank. I had no hidden hope that he would help me later. But I was pleasantly surprised when a position became available at the same bank but different department and I was the first one he called. I was very touched. I got the job and it was my big break in my College years.

Re: intelligence and wealth

bubelah — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 13:47:27 -0000

I think it's the opposite - when smart people can imagine more possibilities they tend to make no decisions, and take no risks. Being paralyzed by too many choices and outcomes.

Re: free time does not translate to massive productivity

bubelah — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 20:06:04 -0000

F: I was just about to leave a comment and saw your reply. You are absolutely right about the fact that we are so used to the structured lives, schedules, regimes from the time we are born that we don't know any different. We all think we want the "other" kind of life but when presented with an opportunity we are floating around not knowing what to do.

Re: have MBAs been devalued by the crisis?

bubelah — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 16:13:34 -0000

So I should've learned Chinese in order to understand my prof.? Doesn't make any sense in American college. I don't know what kind of interview process he went through, but I am also an immigrant and English was not my native language. So trust me, I know something about people with different background. And, Adam, I was not an American student who sucked at math. I went through a Soviet school, where we started learning algebra in 6th grade and trigonomerty 7-8 grades and know calculus by the time we graduated from school. They didn't wait to teach us calculus in College like they do in America. I had to take Calculus in college as a prerequisite for other classes and I was bored out of my mind b/c it was so easy for me and I just couldn't understand how hard it was for American students. You are right about this - American students do suck at math.

Re: the myth of the parent that NEEDS to work

bubelah — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 20:00:28 -0000

Do you have their contact info? The email address provided on the site is not valid.
thank you