Disqus - Latest Comments for bubelah

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

Four Pillars — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:47:33 -0000

We do have a tv but we don't watch it when the kids are awake.

It's tough since sometimes it's easier to just watch tv - there have been a few times in the last couple of months where we did watch for a bit.

Chores don't get done.... :)

I just don't like the idea of young kids watching tv - I'm ok with the 3 yr old but our 1.5 yr old is still pretty young. And our 3 yr old is not toilet trained in case you think we are some kind of super-parents.

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?

Bret — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 22:50:20 -0000

Bubelah,

Thanks for your message. I was expecting some grief from Steve over my comment, since he was pretty animated about this subject. I'm glad you replied instead. I definitely got the point. But, our situation is very different than yours.

Next week, we will have been married for 19 years. And, I worry a lot about how my family would do if anything happened to me. Like Ulyana, I have thought about putting together a packet. If I got hit by a bus tomorrow, I would be leaving my family in very sound financial condition.

As a PF blogger, I have tried very hard to educate her and my kids (ages 16 & 20) over many years. And, she has picked up some of it. But, in general, she doesn't have any interest it the finances and is happy to let me handle it. My previous comment that it "isn't her thing" was pretty accurate.

For now, she leads a pretty charmed life. She doesn't have to work, she has an allowance and she definitely knows how to use the ATM. And, if anything happens to me, I'm pretty sure she could learn to pay the bills.

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 myth of stable employment

Curmudgeon — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 10:02:52 -0000

Separation is almost always a voluntary act on the part of the soldier. For example, I separated after 6 years, simply because I didn't want to be in the military any more.

There is an "up or out" philosophy that if you don't get promoted after several attempts, there is no longer a position for you, but that is somewhat rare. And you don't have to reach too high a grade to be able to stay in long enough to take retirement. And, of course, if you get into legal trouble (whether civilian laws or the Uniform Military Code of Justice), you can be discharged (or sent to prison and then discharged).

Re: the myth of stable employment

Janette — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 22:46:55 -0000

Really? My husband is retired Army and my son is in the Army. son in law is a Marine. We live next to a post and I teach in a 'primarily army' school. People begging to get out. No one being laid off. This is not the early '90's. The budget cuts will come. Right now they are in the civilian side of the Army. You have to be a major bad boy to get kicked right now! Pretty darn stable. IN fact they are signing people on for way more years than an 18 year old should be allowed to commit to!

Re: the professional hitman

bripblap — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 20:32:02 -0000

@Bubelah: I would imagine you could find a few different ways to deal
with it. The easiest way would be to have a penalty for late delivery -
$500 per day, or $5000 per week, or whatever. The client could pay half
up front, half on delivery. Etc. But I'd imagine that if you want to
be successful at all with that business model you'd have to deliver on
time, or else you're not going to be very highly recommended in the
future.

It's really the point about the post, though: if I'm paid hourly, I
don't really care about the deadline myself (except as a reputation
issue) and will actually make MORE if I run over the limit. If I have a
flat fee and know that I'll be LOSING money if I miss the deadline I'm
going to be exceptionally motivated. So it seems like the company would
be better off with a flat fee, too.

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

bloggingbanks — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 15:49:17 -0000

Yes, that was exactly my point bubelah. :-). I guess I should have better explained my comment.

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

Emily — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 09:13:54 -0000

I think you'll love it. Especially the area you're moving to - I don't know anyone who doesn't!

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!