Saturday, August 13, 2011

I think my phone is smarter than I am

I try to stay up with the latest electronic trends ... but today I got a new smart phone and I think the phone is smarter than I am.  It seemed to take forever for me to set up the phone and finally figured out how to set the ring tone (I like it to sound like a phone- go figure) and here is the biggest issue.  I opted for a virtual keyboard... and my fingers and the phone don't seem to be able to connect at the right place.  Now perhaps this is just a learning curve for me.. but I shouldn't have to retype my password 10 times just to get the letters correctly!  I may have to change to a REAL keyboard (sigh) to make the smartness work for me. 

I guess I'll give it one more day to see if I can work it out -- stay tuned!

Saturday, May 28, 2011

My Review of Hiya Hiya Interchangeable Needle Set - Red 4" Tips

Originally submitted at Alpaca Direct

Hiya Hiya Interchangeable Needle Set - Red HiyaHiya Interchangeable set includes: 7 sets of tips in sizes from 2-8US (2.75-5mm) Each set includes a practical and portable brocade case, needle tips and 4 cables (to make 16, 24, 32 and 40 inch needles)


LOVE these needles!!!

By AZ tinker from Surprise, AZ on 5/28/2011

 

5out of 5

Sizing: Feels true to size

Pros: Comfortable, Lightweight, Great for travel, Well Made, Smooth join, Practical

Cons: None

Best Uses: Knitting anywhere

Comfort vs Style: Comfort Driven

Was this a gift?: No

Well I checked that this wasn't a gift - but it was for ME! I have used the Hiya Hiya fixed 9" for socks, handwarmers, and more and the DPNS are lovely too ... so I splurged and gave myself a gift of this interchangable set. They are lightweight with smooth joins to the cables. They even include a little gripper! The container is well made and lovely to look at. I will use it even more when I travel!!! My friends are already looking to get a set for themselves. You will love these needles!

(legalese)

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

WHAT IF? Sometimes Life has suprises in store....

WHAT IF......

  • you were told you had an illness that would cut your life short? 
  • you are in an accident that prevents you from paying your bills?
  • you have an unexpected heart attack or stroke?
  • your parent becomes ill and cannot live alone?
  • your parent/spouse developes alzheimers?
  • you or your spouse get's laid off or forced into early retirement?
  • your kids never move out?

These are all examples of things that have happened. Are you ready for any or all of these things?  You can't prevent everything that happens, but you can be prepared for many of them. 

Everyone needs a medical power of attorney with an advance directive.  It allows someone to make medical decisions for you in the event you are not able to make those decisions for yourself. I can hear you saying " my husband/wife/children/other will do that for me"; but based on the recent privacy laws if you are not able to tell the doctor/hospital/emt that they have your permission to tell your child/friend/other (this includes your "ex") your wishes without  a medical power of attorney your wishes may not be taken into account or they may not be able to get the medical information they need to make a good decision.  The classic case is the lady in Florida who was on life support and her husband and her parents were fighting about whether to take her off life support.  She was officially brain dead, but they still could not come to an agreement.

A woman I knew lapsed into a coma from an undetermined cause. The family said she had been having memory lapses and changes in behavior and her personality.  Everyone  assumed that it was a result of alzheimers.  Her husband colapsed and ended up in a mental facility and was not able to make decisions.  There were 4 children.  The doctors would not take a specific course of action unless all 4 kids agreed on the course of treatment.  You guessed it... the kids were not in agreement.  Some wanted surgery to determine if there was something besides alzheimers (which had not been diagnosed officially) and some wanted nothing done.


Of course that means that you need to download a form from the internet (each state has it's own form) and decide who is going to make that kind of decision for you.   Keep in mind.. WHAT IF.. you and your spouse are in the same accident and can not act for each other... and who will be the back up if you and your spouse are in the same accident.

Once the form is printed out signed and witnessed or notarized then you need to make sure that the person you have designated has a copy of that document.  It's a good idea for your primary care doctor to have a copy too.    This means you need to have a conversation with your medical power of attorney about what you do and do not want done to keep you alive. 

The medical POA does not allow someone access to your bank account to pay for expenses or to pay your regular bills.   WHAT IF .. you had a stroke and could not write a check or go online to pay your bills. A durable Power of Attorney is needed or a Trust is needed and these are best done before you are incapasitated.  I don't recommend you put your kids on your checking accounts there are legal issues there too

WHAT IF.... you die?  Do you have a fund set aside to pay the funeral home?  Did you know your kids can't access your money if they don't have a death certificate and the funeral home files the death certificate paperwork.. so they have to be paid first.  Do you want to be creamated? or do you want to be buried?  Where will your remains be kept?  A friend of mine was cleaning out her garage one day and I asked what to do with the stuff in a box.... "Oh" she said.." that is my husband Mike... I didn't know what to do with the ashes - so I've been keeping him in the garage". 

WHAT IF..... your parent can no longer live alone safely.  Are you willing to let them come live with you? Are you willing or able to pay to have them taken care of?  Do they have the funds to care for themselves but... are keeping that money for "when they REALLY need it" and you don't have access.  Our parents are not usually open to sharing their financial situation with us, and we don't really know how to ask the question either.

WHAT IF... a family member is diagnosed with something terminal but without a specific expiration date?  They need help, but because they are floating down the river of denial, they don't accept help and they are not willing to discuss their upcoming death with anyone.  How can you help them if they don't know how to accept their failing abilities?

WHAT IF.. your retirement plan assumes that your children will move out and get jobs and homes of their own?  Two scenarios play out here:
  1. They move out - get married - but then move back (eeeek)
  2. They never move out - because your house is nicer than one they can afford
How can you encourage them to move on with their lives so you can move on with yours without seeming to be mean or insensitive to them and their needs.  In Italy, a trend has occured.  Boys/Men are not getting married and moving out, because their grilfriends won't take care of them like their mothers do.  Can your kids cook for themselves? Do their own laundry? Do their own grocery shopping? Pay their own bills and balance their checkbook?  If not those are the first  things to make sure they know how to do.   Making them do this is not being mean or not caring for them, it is teaching them life lessons -- like teaching them to read when they are little. 

A lot to think about.  Of course, if you don't do any of these things, you might be fine....but....

  WHAT IF.......