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Cake day: July 20th, 2023

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  • You can test drive a payment level while watching the market. Pick the price bracket that you think might be your max and calculate the payment. Then set up an automatic recurring transfer from your checking to a savings account for the amount of the theoretical house payement with escrow - current rent. This will help you see if you can manage a higher payment or if you will feel too house poor. Those savings transfers can be earmarked for the downpayment too.

    When figuring out how much of a downpayment you can afford, don’t forget to reserve money for closing costs which can be thousands of dollars. You will also need to reserve some emergency funds, and expect to buy a significant number of tools in the first few years. Yard care tools, ladders, etc. really add up.

    If you look at places that need a little work, do your best to arrange to have all that work done before you move in. For example I wish we had our floors refinished before we moved in. To do that now would be a lot like moving twice.
















  • Did you measure voltage drop across the pump while it’s trying to start up? The voltage will only drop when there’s current being drawn. So with the pump off you would see full supply volts even on a highly resistive line. You could try lugging a battery down to the pump, and jump it to get it started, then remove the battery jumpers but keep the pump running on your main run, then measure the volts across the pump.

    Or you could try to measure the resistance of your wiring with your meter. You would disconnect it from your 12v source, then short the pump side, then measure the ohms across the pair at the source side. Also measure the resistance across your pump windings when it is disconnected, but with the switch on.

    I’ll throw out some example numbers. Say you have a pump that says it needs 6 Amps. Chances are the inrush current is more like 12A. If you measure across the terminals with the pump disconnected from power with the switch closed, you might measure around 1 Ohm. Now if you measure your very long supply line and get 2 Ohms. Then you would only get 12V/(1+2 )Ohms = 4 Amps through the whole system. With the pump drawing 4 Amps you would only see 4V at the pump terminals when it is already running.



  • Those are good addendums, but I’ll add one more qualifier to your nasal rinse suggestion. Never use tap water. Use only distilled water or water that has been boiled. Pharmacies also sell aerosol cans with saline solution, which is what I use for the convenience factor. Then you don’t have to worry as much about sanitized water and mixing up a solution. Saline rinses should also have at least half an hour of being upright before laying down. Don’t do a rinse then immediately lay in bed.

    If budget isn’t tight, all bedding including the allergy covers benefits from getting in duplicate so you can take your time with the laundry. I was a lot worse about washing bedding when remembering late in the day meant there wouldn’t be enough time to wash and dry before bedtime.


  • Sounds like you have already convinced yourself the answer is probably yes.

    You could also have a high sensitivity to dust mites. Talking to an allergist could help you narrow down what specifically bothers you. Allergy tests aren’t that big of a deal to have done.

    Before trying to rehome the dog, do your best to make your bedroom a dog free zone. Keep the door closed and don’t let her on your bed. Shower before bed and don’t touch your dog between showering and getting in bed. Wash your bedding often. Don’t ever sitnon or get in your bed in clothes that have been around your dog or on furniture your dog is allowed to lay on. An air filter can help, but is limited in what they can actually accomplish. Filters can help with dust that comes in through your hvac vents, but any sources of allergens in your room will easily produce irritants at a much greater rate than a filter can capture them.

    I’ll avoid specific medical recommendations, but I will list a few things worth checking out. Non-steroidal nasal sprays could help your sleep. Nasacort was the one recommended to me by a doctor. One lesson I had to learn with that is to not use it right before laying down. You need to give it time to drain. It does bother my stomach a bit, so timing it with a meal or snack can help. Pataday and opcon-a drops have both been helpful for me. Opcon-a does cause a temporary burning sensation. I would recommend starting with lower dose twice a day variants The extra strength stuff also hurts my stomach. (your eyes and sinuses drain down your throat.) Eye drops and nasal sprays are more targeted than tablet antihistamines so they can be a little more effective.

    You might want to ask your doctor about a sleep study. In my unprofessional opinion, I would suspect you are experiencing apnea.

    If you have a polyfill pillow, try switching to foam, or better yet buckwheat. Polyfill is a dust sponge. Every time you toss and turn it will release a cloud of dust right by your face.

    You’ve lived this long with your dog, so it’s worth trying to find ways of improving your sleep hygeine and symptom management before jumping straight to no dogs. Although, a no puppies after this dog rule could be warranted.

    As far as not having some of the symptoms you think should be present, chronic exposure vs acute exposure can have different reactions. If you are always mildly reacting to your dog, then you won’t experience some of the acute responses. (Again, not a professional)


  • All of the OP’s points could be said about church sermons as well, and yet there’s still thousands of church gatherings every week.

    So I think your point hits the nail on the head. People don’t go to these large gatherings because they’re looking for a presentation of convincing arguments, books and recordings are better for that. They go to experience the sense that they are part of something bigger than themselves. They want to feel like they are contributing to something important, and a large crowd all in unison makes them feel that way. Rallies aren’t meant to change minds, they’re meant to get the base excited to donate/ volunteer/ talk to anyone who will listen.