Farmerjan's journal - Weather

[farmerjan]

Yeah, I think things with DS and gf are settling.... hope that it will work out. He talked a bit about her daughter and the spoiled way she is. They do not eat ANY leftovers in that house. If they go out to eat anything, he brings home all the leftovers and says it is his meal the next day.... I told him with the new administration, and the upcoming increase in taxes, and since he has seen how feed costs have gone up all of a sudden, that they had better think seriously about some of the eating habits. He said, not my battle mom, her daughter is very wasteful and she allows it so not my problem. I told him that I will get the oil tank here at the house filled since we might need it this summer for the tractors.... and that he needs to get the tanks filled at the farm...We talked better than we have for awhile.

Colder than I expected this morning. 34 but with the wind chill, it feels like 25 to me. Sun is out. Wind is supposed to die down later. Tomorrow is supposed to be warmer.

Got the trays of bottles for testing, going to put on my insulated overalls, and go out and switch the hoses around, then leave and go drop off the samples and head to Lowes on my way to the farm.

I will talk to DS and see if he and the guy came to an agreement on the cows. Then will see if they are going to be there at the sale. If so, I will probably go.

I am going to move the desk drawers and some stuff into the LR from the hallway. Got some boxes to put the paint stuff in so that it is all together. Get that out of the way too since I am done with it, for now. Then if it is a little warmer, I will try moving some more stuff out of the kitchen up here in the next day or 2.

Gotta go.

 

[Bruce]

I told him with the new administration, and the upcoming increase in taxes

There is nothing in Biden's tax plans that would negatively affect most of us here.

Kiplinger article

BTW, Trump & Ryan's tax cut was permanent for businesses, it was set to expire starting this year for normal people.

"A notable feature of the individual tax and the estate tax provisions is that all of them expire after 2025, except the reduction of the ACA penalty tax, the change in inflation indexing, and several changes in the tax base for business income. Some provisions expire sooner (for example the increased deductibility of medical expenses applies only to tax years 2017 and 2018). In contrast, many of the business tax provisions do not sunset. Congress chose to make the individual provisions temporary to limit the revenue cost of the TCJA to a level consistent with the overall constraint on the 10-year revenue loss in the Congressional Budget Resolution and to comply with Senate budget rules under the process used to pass the tax act that require no increase in the federal budget deficit after the tenth year."

Taxpolicycenter.org article

So Trump and Ryan were concerned about long term revenue loss but not concerned about the common people who pay those taxes.

 

[farmerjan]

If the businesses have to pay exhorbitant taxes, it will get passed on to the consumer.... and/or they go out of business. Then no jobs.... so no wages, But that has already happened with the shutdowns anyway.... so just let them keep printing money.....
Seems like with how they had some of those provisions worked out, that people had a chance to get some things caught up and better able to pay debt down.
When the executive orders start reversing some of the tax cuts, it is the SAME THING as raising taxes.... just not stated that way.
With things like shutting down the Keystone XL pipeline that they have been building .... in agreement and partnership with Canada.... these executive orders are going to start hurting the economy.... and the partnership agreements with "friendly countries"...... and will ship not only jobs overseas, but with the whole emphasis on environmental concerns... it will shift production and things to countries that don't have the regulations we have so there will not be any benefit to the earth's overall health because the pollution and such will just be worse over there instead of keeping a lid on things here.
And we will wind up paying more for stuff and it will be in the form of "environment" taxes or some such thing.

They will add it to the cost of fuel..... and before you start to tout the benefits of the electric cars.... how do you think alot of that electricity gets generated???? Not all by solar panels.... you are not producing enough to meet all your own needs and then to send more back into the grid....you are not energy independent right? I think it is great that you are cutting your use, just from a money standpoint for you.... but what you don't produce is made from a coal or oil or propane fired plant... with regulations to reduce emissions..... and how many people are where you are at, to have the resources to produce alot of their electrical requirements? So we will reduce what is produced and what is imported in to our country, and then there will be more problems like the blackouts and brownouts they have in Calf.... and other cities... and the electric cars and such can't get charged if there is not enough electricity to keep the lights on and the ac's and the heat in the winter....
You think they won't up the federal taxes on gas and such under the guise of an environmental tax?? Or a useage tax..... how do you think that the farmers are going to be able to do field work and plant, produce and then harvest the food?????? Modern trains run on diesel and such.... electric will never replace that for heavy long hauls.....so even if it takes trucks off the roads... how you gonna get the food to places of distribution????? How are you going to get the wheat processed into flour?
And since you do not eat meat due to the DD's.... how can you justify eating all the plant based food when animals are more efficient at converting grass to meat and the sun grows the grass.... so a carnivore diet is as healthy or more so for the planet. And don't give me BS about the cow farts.... plant based residue releases CO2 just as well as anything else as it breaks down... and without CO2, plants will not grow well. They balance it out.....
But without modern farming, you would not have all the vegetarian choices.... or the ability to balance your diet with other foods that are not local and get trucked/shipped to you all ready for consumption.
So there will be more taxes and they will start to strangle the ones that are still working..... and the businesses that employ them. Ask people who live in some of the highest taxes states.....

 

[Bruce]

Businesses create jobs when there is demand for their product, not when they get tax breaks. No business that got their taxes cut by 40% to a tax rate of 21% created new jobs because they paid less tax. And, as has been true in the past, the tax change did NOT pay for itself as promised.

We've already shipped most manufacturing jobs overseas, not specifically due to the tax rates here but because of the much lower cost of employing people and, as you said, their governments don't give a cr@p about the environment where those people live.

but what you don't produce is made from a coal or oil or propane fired plant...

False, not here. GMP gets power from solar, wind and hydro. VERY little electricity is created with oil anywhere in the USA. And there is far more created with natural gas than coal which is why all the coal miner jobs went away.

And since you do not eat meat due to the DD's

Also false, I eat meat usually 2 if not 3 times a day. Only DD1 is vegetarian.

 

[farmerjan]

Since there were some of the manufacturing jobs coming back to the US, in part because of tax incentives for the companies, which enable them to pay a sightly higher wage than they would have paid with higher tax demand, I have to wonder where that is going now. Yeah most jobs were shipped overseas because of the demands of workers to want more money, more benefits, and then they were out of work totally when the jobs left....

And we are shipping all kinds of coal to China, and other countries, so they can produce stuff cheaper because they don't have any decent controls for environmental reasons. So I guess it is better to ship stuff off, let them pollute and then ship back cheap made stuff to us, and our people are out of work instead of working in a plant that meets environmental controls and pays a living wage.
My few studies have shown that there are quite a few places still using oil, coal, and propane to produce electricity. Maybe not there in VT so I apologize. Do they actually get their electricity all from solar wind and hydro???? Or do they use "credits" that are so popular to "offset" use of fossil fuels?
Natural gas is closely tied in to the oil industry.... you cannot separate it out and have just one or the other.

I apologize for thinking you are not allowed to eat meat. Most all the posts that I have remembered, deal with you saying you cannot have meat for dinner because of your DD and her not willing to eat a meal that has been cooked with meat. I understand the other one has allergies/sensitivities to many things. I guess I have missed all the posts where you regularly eat meat at your meals. I was very surprised to read your post that says you eat meat 2 or 3 times a DAY..... many times I only eat meat once a day....but I eat vegs and things like pbj......

Maybe the tax change did not pay for its self as promised.... Okay, I will give you that and that makes it not a good deal. BUT, Please then, explain to me how the continued talk of the new administration with a 1.3 trillion "stimulus package", is going to be paid for.... it certainly is not going to create any employment.......except that it will be paid for with future higher taxes on those of us that still have a job.... and by killing things like the Keystone XL pipeline, all those jobs lost that is going to throw more people out of work and on the unemployment roles.....not withstanding the strain on relations with our "border country friends"..... and all the illegals that he is saying should not be deported....unless they are commiting a specific felony.... and he does NOT consider DRUNK DRIVING a felony..... and the open borders that are going to allow thousands to come into the country undocumented, with no income, no anything, so that we have to come up to money to support them and they are not contributing to the economy...
I have MANY farmer/rancher friends that can tell you all about the illegals coming across the border, the damage they do to property, the problems they create in the border towns, the stealing, and destruction, and the threat to the ranchers own families and their livestock.
And let me tell you that several of these ranchers are not just old white 'good ole boys'.... many are of Mexican/Latino descent, have mixed race children and grandchildren, so before you try to categorize them I want to clarify that.... and every one of them to a person is TOTALLY AGAINST more illegals coming across. One worked for nearly 15 years to get his citizenship for him and his family..... and he is beside himself for going the "RIGHT" route and they are talking letting thousands in with no repercussions. He is a better AMERICAN, than half the ones born here that think that they are entitled and don't want to do some real down and dirty drudge type work because it is below them..... and want to live off their parents or family....or the government....... he worked, his wife worked, his kids worked and they learned that nothing is free and if you work for it you then will appreciate it more. I am proud to call them friends and I have more respect for them than you can imagine.
And all the kids are not ranchers.... so it is not like they all work in physical hard jobs,,,, but they learned that no matter what you do, do your best and if it is not what you really want, then find another job BEFORE you quit the job you are working at. There are several ranchers in different states, that all have successful and productive kids... and it was not given to them.
My son and I have our problems and differences..... but he does not expect me to support him. Never did.... and he worked and helped pay his way as a young person while living with me, and has something to show for his work and effort. He learned a work ethic and I told him right from the start that I will help you anyway I can.... but I am not his meal ticket....
We are fortunate to have been born in this country so did not have to fight our way to become a citizen.....and I respect those that do go that route....so I have no respect for an administration that is just going to let anyone in and not kick any out that do stuff that is illegal......
Letting them all in is no different than just having anyone walk in through your front door..... to do what they want, and to expect you to welcome them and feed them and support them and give them what ever they want.

Cuomo is talking about raising taxes to 15% in NY.... so that will mean more people leaving, more jobs lost.....so okay..... that is not the federal gov't... that is a democratically controlled state... a disaster.... I have family that lives in upper NY state..... So maybe it is not the federal gov't raising the taxes right now... but they are going to get raised here, there, and everywhere.

 

[farmerjan]

Okay, Thurs eve. Nice day, sunny not as breezy.
PT was good but I really hurt after since in the pool takes away the gravity so things stretch and bend easier and then you get out to gravity and it hurts..... oh well....

Got another "space heater" ; trying a vornado. It was on sale and I have heard good things about them in the past. Also got a couple of "arms" to hang the the spider plants from if I can get them put up above the double window, double sink area. The big thing was that they are moveable side to side, they "swing", so I can adjust where they are hanging.
Also spent a bit of money for a work "platform" I found by accident at Lowe's. Cost more than I wanted, $110, but I think it will be very useable. It is 46" long by 14" wide step. The legs are adjustable 20-30 in high which is higher than I wanted. but I think I will get a little short 10" step to get up on it and then can walk back and forth to get stuff put up on the top shelves. It folds up and is not too heavy to carry, will fit into a narrow spot in a closet, etc.... it is more versatile than I was originally looking for.... the only thing I would change is for it to be more height adjustable.... Weight allowed is 300 lbs so I can put stuff on it and still stand on it so won't have to get up and down. And the thing is it will go pretty flat against the cabinets unlike a ladder that has the "back legs" on an angle to give it stability. I will let you know how it works getting the rest of the glassware in the china cabinet.
Knees really ache so probably won't be until tomorrow....

Got the samples packed and sent off today. Can't do a farm I was planning on due to the "don't test" memo.... will probably get a call from the owner sampler farm tomorrow morning. He said he would probably test tonight and tomorrow morning.
DS said that as far as he knew the cows that his friend has will be at the stockyard sale tomorrow... Friday. I will go to get the samples around noon tomorrow, then go by the sale and see.... Have to go by the feed store, pay off the bill and then order layer to fill the bin, so I have it for whenever I get a call for more.... Going to get out there and see about getting the shelter moved..... but that is not a priority right now.... getting the rest of the stuff out of the house is first. And getting any will also depend on how the dr appt goes next week.

Which leads to this. I had told the landlord about the furnace and he left a message the other day that he called and that someone would be coming to clean/service it. Fine, they don't need to go in the house.
So he left me a message this afternoon.... furnace guy came, said the furnace is okay....the chimney is so full of soot it is about blocked. And that I should not use the furnace until he (landlord) gets it cleaned. So landlord said he hated to tell me but that I probably should not use the furnace right now....WHAT????.... like, if he thinks I am going to go without heat for the night.... he said he is going to see if he can get it cleaned tomorrow.... like anyone will be ready to drop everything and come in a 12 hour notice.... Hell, it has been like this all this time.... one more day is not going to be any worse..... said the furnace guy cleaned what he could out of the pipe....
WELL that's 10 years of neglect for you.... cheapskate that he is..... stupid..... I am glad that my friend is not going to move in there....
I don't know if they turned it off or what.... I will take the new vornado heater there since the bed is still there. Close off the bedroom for the night. There is a radiator type heater in the bathroom anyway.... I will get a shower and have a warm room to sleep in.... leave and come up here tomorrow early to work. I did pack a box of clothes out of the cedar chest this morning, so will try to get the rest out this eve and into the car to come up. Then I may take the truck down there and manhandle the mattress and box spring out, into the back of the truck, and get it moved up here, over the weekend. The one reason I haven't done that is with the bed there, I have a good reason to go and stay there to do stuff/packing then just go to bed. Or do some in the morning, load, and then come up. Maybe silly, but it works for me. That's all that is in the bedroom except the bedside little table and lamp and radio/alarm. Oh, I think there are a couple things on the wall too.
If I get all the stuff out of the hallway here, most goes in the LR, then I will be able to get the mattress in and down the hall, into the LR door enough to get it around the end of the stairs and into the BR door. Actually, reading that over makes me realize that it would be better to go straight down the hall, into the DR and then straight through the 2 more doorways into the BR rather than try to "go around corners"......
Deb called left a msg., and invited me for dinner tomorrow night, or Sat night... have to call her back and see what time she is thinking. Too bad it wasn't tonight..... oh well, I will see but will go one night or the other. I am going to take her a chicken so she can take it back to the outskirts of DC where she lives and works....so she can cook it one night. She has a co-worker that shares the house some, so they do not have to drive so far to work, from their own house, so they take turns cooking she said. That would be something good for them to share and then get some sliced chicken sandwiches and stuff....a couple of meals....

So, I am going to go in and heat one of the veg lasagna packages I got a few weeks ago and put in the freezer.... and maybe see if I can set up this work bench/platform thing. Maybe get a few things put up if my knees will deal with it. I'm hungry.

 

[Mini Horses]

Maybe DS could give you an hour to load mattress in and out?

I can see what you say about the packing first thing and last thing for day/drive but, you'll work it out. you might want to load boxes on your small trailer and park it under the carport at new house, one big haul. . Then take into house as ready...can always tarp it for a while, off ground on trailer. A thought.

 

[farmerjan]

Okay, ate the lasagna.... it's not bad. Stomach quit growling.... Set up the workbench thing next to the china cabinet and put one of the boxes of china on it. BUT, it is definitely too high for me to just step up on with these knees. So, I think I will get the other box on it, and then tomorrow I will find a little step stool thing.... might set the 3 step ladder I have next to it and get up on it. It runs across the whole front of the china cabinet... NICE. But not tonight.

I have a new showerhead/spray thing that I got awhile back, to use with the clawfoot tub. It has a slider thing so that you can lower or raise the removeable arm..... made for showers that are set for elderly/handicap type situations... but I liked it because you can get some full body spray with the 2 heads on it and have them at different levels. After looking it over, I realized that it attaches at the top, no changing around the plumbing or anything. HOORAY.... so going to get it hooked up. Hope it will work the way it shows/says. And it will be transferable to any other shower/tub that I get.
I am thinking about what @Ridgetop said awhile back, about just dealing with it and then maybe redo the whole bathroom down the road. I still think I will just do a shower upstairs in a small bathroom due to space.... and do this one the way I want instead of just the shower/tub part. So for now, just deal with this the way it is. Don't like the vanity/full wall dresser thing, way too much wasted counter space.... hate the 2 medicine cabinets with another mirror in the middle, across that whole wall above the vanity. I keep looking at it and running different scenarios through my mind. Want a linen closet and smaller sink on the one wall.... and of course, a wider door. But that is for another day.

Going to get the rest of the stuff out of the cedar chest to bring it up here tomorrow. Back of the car is empty and I will have to put the meters in it tomorrow aft. when I pick stuff up. I put the rest that I didn't need to leave there, in the storage thing in the carport this morning. I think I will get a bunch of stuff together so I can load it in the morning. So I am heading down the hill...

 

[thistlebloom]

I have MANY farmer/rancher friends that can tell you all about the illegals coming across the border, the damage they do to property, the problems they create in the border towns, the stealing, and destruction, and the threat to the ranchers own families and their livestock.

This is absolutely spot on. Having lived near the southern border I can attest to what you are saying. The popular depiction of the border crossers as just hard working people who want a chance to better themselves and do honest work is very exaggerated. There is a small element of that, but by far, I think the huge majority are told to come here for the freebies that they can get. They are told how to cross, where to cross, and given Cliffs Notes on how to apply for benefits. Their government has encouraged it and is behind a large part of the push.
There is a lot of crime along the border, thefts and drugs, etc.
Not something you will hear much about from the mainstream media.

He is a better AMERICAN, than half the ones born here that think that they are entitled and don't want to do some real down and dirty drudge type work because it is below them..... and want to live off their parents or family....or the government....... he worked, his wife worked, his kids worked and they learned that nothing is free and if you work for it you then will appreciate it more. I am proud to call them friends and I have more respect for them than you can imagine.

The people I know who have immigrated here legally have this mindset you describe. They are appreciative and don't take our unique liberties for granted.

 

[Baymule]

I just got caught up. My computer is having issues, I’ve been sick and now DH is getting it from me. Great. The youngest granddaughter had a head cold, sinus drainage, cough, and low fever. My precious little germ sponge! Been sitting in my recliner, yes the one-Lazy Boy-with a HANDLE, with a blanket over me, doing nothing for days. Add intestinal upset to that. Yuck. Done animal chores and that’s it. Dogs are feeling neglected, sorry puppies I just want to crawl back under my blanket.
We filled our diesel tank too.
Computer keeps freezing up, may have to take it in. On phone, most of the time, not enough signal to post. Gripe. Gripe. Gripe.