[UCGal]

Jeeman – I’ve been thinking about this all last night. I’m changing my advice. I looked around my kitchen (and the rest of my house) and realized it will be YEARS before we’re done. Some people have exposed brick that they call rustic… We’re going with exposed studs. Seriously, if I were like most most of my friends, I’d have freaked out a long time ago. (I have a higher tolerance for “construction zone” than most of my friends.) When I was going through my pictures, I realized it had been almost a year since my husband took a section of cabinets off the wall to rerun some pipes in the wall – and that I’ve been living with a kitchen that is put back together… sort of… so it functions – but is worse than when we started, aesthetically.

Unfortunately, we don’t have the budget or desire to hire folks to do our work… After we built our companion unit (and got ripped off by the first contractor, big time) we’re broke, and burnt out.

I can post pictures of the cabinets my husband built in place for the companion unit. At least the cabinet boxes… A quick search of my work ‘puter and photobucket account show that I don’t have any “done” pictures readily available here. Same concept except he started from scratch.

Here are the pics… They don’t show what you’re asking for, specifically – but they may give you an idea of how to do a project that will drive your wife nuts…

companion unit cabinet boxes…

Main house kitchen destruction

Not quite what you asked for but… if we ever finish, I’ll post “done” pictures.

[UCGal]

Jeeman – I’ve been thinking about this all last night. I’m changing my advice. I looked around my kitchen (and the rest of my house) and realized it will be YEARS before we’re done. Some people have exposed brick that they call rustic… We’re going with exposed studs. Seriously, if I were like most most of my friends, I’d have freaked out a long time ago. (I have a higher tolerance for “construction zone” than most of my friends.) When I was going through my pictures, I realized it had been almost a year since my husband took a section of cabinets off the wall to rerun some pipes in the wall – and that I’ve been living with a kitchen that is put back together… sort of… so it functions – but is worse than when we started, aesthetically.

Unfortunately, we don’t have the budget or desire to hire folks to do our work… After we built our companion unit (and got ripped off by the first contractor, big time) we’re broke, and burnt out.

I can post pictures of the cabinets my husband built in place for the companion unit. At least the cabinet boxes… A quick search of my work ‘puter and photobucket account show that I don’t have any “done” pictures readily available here. Same concept except he started from scratch.

Here are the pics… They don’t show what you’re asking for, specifically – but they may give you an idea of how to do a project that will drive your wife nuts…

companion unit cabinet boxes…

Main house kitchen destruction

Not quite what you asked for but… if we ever finish, I’ll post “done” pictures.

[UCGal]

Jeeman – I’ve been thinking about this all last night. I’m changing my advice. I looked around my kitchen (and the rest of my house) and realized it will be YEARS before we’re done. Some people have exposed brick that they call rustic… We’re going with exposed studs. Seriously, if I were like most most of my friends, I’d have freaked out a long time ago. (I have a higher tolerance for “construction zone” than most of my friends.) When I was going through my pictures, I realized it had been almost a year since my husband took a section of cabinets off the wall to rerun some pipes in the wall – and that I’ve been living with a kitchen that is put back together… sort of… so it functions – but is worse than when we started, aesthetically.

Unfortunately, we don’t have the budget or desire to hire folks to do our work… After we built our companion unit (and got ripped off by the first contractor, big time) we’re broke, and burnt out.

I can post pictures of the cabinets my husband built in place for the companion unit. At least the cabinet boxes… A quick search of my work ‘puter and photobucket account show that I don’t have any “done” pictures readily available here. Same concept except he started from scratch.

Here are the pics… They don’t show what you’re asking for, specifically – but they may give you an idea of how to do a project that will drive your wife nuts…

companion unit cabinet boxes…

Main house kitchen destruction

Not quite what you asked for but… if we ever finish, I’ll post “done” pictures.

[UCGal]

[quote=ucodegen]
Did anyone try the ‘little exercise’ I mentioned? Take and sum up all the payments you have made into ‘health insurance’ and apply an inside rate of return?.. or would you rather take pot-shots at people.[/quote]

I just did a fast swag on the past 20 years and what I’ve paid in, vs what I’ve gotten out.

For me and my immediate family (covered under my family plan) it’s pretty much a break even proposition. I estimate I’m slightly ahead with insurance vs what I’ve paid in payroll deductions and co-pays.

I’m fortunate that, until this year, my employer was pretty generous in how much they covered. I did not count the employer contribution since that was NOT out of my pocket.

Over the past 20 years I’ve had 2 orthoscopic knee surgeries, physical therapy for my knee, a tumor removed (non cancerous than goodness), two children born. I’ve also had sigmoidoscopy, 2 colonoscopies, and a bunch of mamograms and gyn checks. I had a spider bite get infected, and I had a subcutanious abscess that needed to be taken care of.

I’m on no medications and only see the doctor when I need to other than the periodic mamogram and gyn appt. (And now periodic colonoscopies since I had polyps.) I am aggessive in the prevention – but my family history of cancer warrants it.

My husband has had 1 minor outpatient procedures and some cardiac follow up after a heart scare.

My kids have had the usual bunch of vaccinations/well baby stuff plus ER visits for a bead up the nose for one son and a SERIOUS allergic reacion (HSP type) for the other son. Oh – and 3 sets of ear tubes, various visits for ear infections, etc…

Our family does NOT rush to the doctor. In fact our ped chastised me the last time reminding me that I could bring the boys in more often. I have Kaiser, so she doesn’t get paid extra if we go in.

I paid 100% out of pocket to get genetic testing for the BRCA genes – but since my mom died of ovarian cancer, and my dad, and brother died a few years later, 2 months apart, of cancer – I felt it was money well spent. (And now I have peace of mind that I don’t have the gene… and no explanation of why cancer has hit my family so hard.)

This isn’t the first time I’ve done your exercise… When high deductable HSA plans were rolled out a few years ago I started doing this every year. So far, it doesn’t make sense… but being an anal engineer – I’ll keep doing the math every year.

[UCGal]

[quote=ucodegen]
Did anyone try the ‘little exercise’ I mentioned? Take and sum up all the payments you have made into ‘health insurance’ and apply an inside rate of return?.. or would you rather take pot-shots at people.[/quote]

I just did a fast swag on the past 20 years and what I’ve paid in, vs what I’ve gotten out.

For me and my immediate family (covered under my family plan) it’s pretty much a break even proposition. I estimate I’m slightly ahead with insurance vs what I’ve paid in payroll deductions and co-pays.

I’m fortunate that, until this year, my employer was pretty generous in how much they covered. I did not count the employer contribution since that was NOT out of my pocket.

Over the past 20 years I’ve had 2 orthoscopic knee surgeries, physical therapy for my knee, a tumor removed (non cancerous than goodness), two children born. I’ve also had sigmoidoscopy, 2 colonoscopies, and a bunch of mamograms and gyn checks. I had a spider bite get infected, and I had a subcutanious abscess that needed to be taken care of.

I’m on no medications and only see the doctor when I need to other than the periodic mamogram and gyn appt. (And now periodic colonoscopies since I had polyps.) I am aggessive in the prevention – but my family history of cancer warrants it.

My husband has had 1 minor outpatient procedures and some cardiac follow up after a heart scare.

My kids have had the usual bunch of vaccinations/well baby stuff plus ER visits for a bead up the nose for one son and a SERIOUS allergic reacion (HSP type) for the other son. Oh – and 3 sets of ear tubes, various visits for ear infections, etc…

Our family does NOT rush to the doctor. In fact our ped chastised me the last time reminding me that I could bring the boys in more often. I have Kaiser, so she doesn’t get paid extra if we go in.

I paid 100% out of pocket to get genetic testing for the BRCA genes – but since my mom died of ovarian cancer, and my dad, and brother died a few years later, 2 months apart, of cancer – I felt it was money well spent. (And now I have peace of mind that I don’t have the gene… and no explanation of why cancer has hit my family so hard.)

This isn’t the first time I’ve done your exercise… When high deductable HSA plans were rolled out a few years ago I started doing this every year. So far, it doesn’t make sense… but being an anal engineer – I’ll keep doing the math every year.

[UCGal]

[quote=ucodegen]
Did anyone try the ‘little exercise’ I mentioned? Take and sum up all the payments you have made into ‘health insurance’ and apply an inside rate of return?.. or would you rather take pot-shots at people.[/quote]

I just did a fast swag on the past 20 years and what I’ve paid in, vs what I’ve gotten out.

For me and my immediate family (covered under my family plan) it’s pretty much a break even proposition. I estimate I’m slightly ahead with insurance vs what I’ve paid in payroll deductions and co-pays.

I’m fortunate that, until this year, my employer was pretty generous in how much they covered. I did not count the employer contribution since that was NOT out of my pocket.

Over the past 20 years I’ve had 2 orthoscopic knee surgeries, physical therapy for my knee, a tumor removed (non cancerous than goodness), two children born. I’ve also had sigmoidoscopy, 2 colonoscopies, and a bunch of mamograms and gyn checks. I had a spider bite get infected, and I had a subcutanious abscess that needed to be taken care of.

I’m on no medications and only see the doctor when I need to other than the periodic mamogram and gyn appt. (And now periodic colonoscopies since I had polyps.) I am aggessive in the prevention – but my family history of cancer warrants it.

My husband has had 1 minor outpatient procedures and some cardiac follow up after a heart scare.

My kids have had the usual bunch of vaccinations/well baby stuff plus ER visits for a bead up the nose for one son and a SERIOUS allergic reacion (HSP type) for the other son. Oh – and 3 sets of ear tubes, various visits for ear infections, etc…

Our family does NOT rush to the doctor. In fact our ped chastised me the last time reminding me that I could bring the boys in more often. I have Kaiser, so she doesn’t get paid extra if we go in.

I paid 100% out of pocket to get genetic testing for the BRCA genes – but since my mom died of ovarian cancer, and my dad, and brother died a few years later, 2 months apart, of cancer – I felt it was money well spent. (And now I have peace of mind that I don’t have the gene… and no explanation of why cancer has hit my family so hard.)

This isn’t the first time I’ve done your exercise… When high deductable HSA plans were rolled out a few years ago I started doing this every year. So far, it doesn’t make sense… but being an anal engineer – I’ll keep doing the math every year.

[UCGal]

[quote=ucodegen]
Did anyone try the ‘little exercise’ I mentioned? Take and sum up all the payments you have made into ‘health insurance’ and apply an inside rate of return?.. or would you rather take pot-shots at people.[/quote]

I just did a fast swag on the past 20 years and what I’ve paid in, vs what I’ve gotten out.

For me and my immediate family (covered under my family plan) it’s pretty much a break even proposition. I estimate I’m slightly ahead with insurance vs what I’ve paid in payroll deductions and co-pays.

I’m fortunate that, until this year, my employer was pretty generous in how much they covered. I did not count the employer contribution since that was NOT out of my pocket.

Over the past 20 years I’ve had 2 orthoscopic knee surgeries, physical therapy for my knee, a tumor removed (non cancerous than goodness), two children born. I’ve also had sigmoidoscopy, 2 colonoscopies, and a bunch of mamograms and gyn checks. I had a spider bite get infected, and I had a subcutanious abscess that needed to be taken care of.

I’m on no medications and only see the doctor when I need to other than the periodic mamogram and gyn appt. (And now periodic colonoscopies since I had polyps.) I am aggessive in the prevention – but my family history of cancer warrants it.

My husband has had 1 minor outpatient procedures and some cardiac follow up after a heart scare.

My kids have had the usual bunch of vaccinations/well baby stuff plus ER visits for a bead up the nose for one son and a SERIOUS allergic reacion (HSP type) for the other son. Oh – and 3 sets of ear tubes, various visits for ear infections, etc…

Our family does NOT rush to the doctor. In fact our ped chastised me the last time reminding me that I could bring the boys in more often. I have Kaiser, so she doesn’t get paid extra if we go in.

I paid 100% out of pocket to get genetic testing for the BRCA genes – but since my mom died of ovarian cancer, and my dad, and brother died a few years later, 2 months apart, of cancer – I felt it was money well spent. (And now I have peace of mind that I don’t have the gene… and no explanation of why cancer has hit my family so hard.)

This isn’t the first time I’ve done your exercise… When high deductable HSA plans were rolled out a few years ago I started doing this every year. So far, it doesn’t make sense… but being an anal engineer – I’ll keep doing the math every year.

[UCGal]

[quote=ucodegen]
Did anyone try the ‘little exercise’ I mentioned? Take and sum up all the payments you have made into ‘health insurance’ and apply an inside rate of return?.. or would you rather take pot-shots at people.[/quote]

I just did a fast swag on the past 20 years and what I’ve paid in, vs what I’ve gotten out.

For me and my immediate family (covered under my family plan) it’s pretty much a break even proposition. I estimate I’m slightly ahead with insurance vs what I’ve paid in payroll deductions and co-pays.

I’m fortunate that, until this year, my employer was pretty generous in how much they covered. I did not count the employer contribution since that was NOT out of my pocket.

Over the past 20 years I’ve had 2 orthoscopic knee surgeries, physical therapy for my knee, a tumor removed (non cancerous than goodness), two children born. I’ve also had sigmoidoscopy, 2 colonoscopies, and a bunch of mamograms and gyn checks. I had a spider bite get infected, and I had a subcutanious abscess that needed to be taken care of.

I’m on no medications and only see the doctor when I need to other than the periodic mamogram and gyn appt. (And now periodic colonoscopies since I had polyps.) I am aggessive in the prevention – but my family history of cancer warrants it.

My husband has had 1 minor outpatient procedures and some cardiac follow up after a heart scare.

My kids have had the usual bunch of vaccinations/well baby stuff plus ER visits for a bead up the nose for one son and a SERIOUS allergic reacion (HSP type) for the other son. Oh – and 3 sets of ear tubes, various visits for ear infections, etc…

Our family does NOT rush to the doctor. In fact our ped chastised me the last time reminding me that I could bring the boys in more often. I have Kaiser, so she doesn’t get paid extra if we go in.

I paid 100% out of pocket to get genetic testing for the BRCA genes – but since my mom died of ovarian cancer, and my dad, and brother died a few years later, 2 months apart, of cancer – I felt it was money well spent. (And now I have peace of mind that I don’t have the gene… and no explanation of why cancer has hit my family so hard.)

This isn’t the first time I’ve done your exercise… When high deductable HSA plans were rolled out a few years ago I started doing this every year. So far, it doesn’t make sense… but being an anal engineer – I’ll keep doing the math every year.

[UCGal]

Coming back to this thread well after the fact…

I agree with CAR about Father Joe’s Village – it’s a shelter that runs a bit different than most – geared towards families, job training, getting people back on their feet. You’re not allowed to stay unless you agree to work or be full-time looking for a job. I give to them regularly.

Someone pondered, on the first page, why it was that homeless people end up in cities with good weather. I think the answer is obvious… if you have no home – you have fewer ties to your previous city… if you’re sleeping outside – wouldn’t you find a way to move where you won’t die of exposure?

Back in college I lived downtown – pre-gentrification and condo-fication… it was pretty scary… This was right as Horton Plaza first opened, before the convention center was built… it pretty much rolled up the sidewalks at 6pm. There were a LOT of homeless. Many were mentally ill and used drugs and alcohol. I was skeptical of panhandlers – I never gave them money. (Partially because I was a broke college student.) But I would offer PB&J sandwiches. You’d get a few that were angry because they wanted $, but many were VERY grateful.

I still kind of have that attitude… I give to the San Diego Food Bank and Father Joe’s village, rather than to individuals. I hope to never need the services of these places.

[UCGal]

Coming back to this thread well after the fact…

I agree with CAR about Father Joe’s Village – it’s a shelter that runs a bit different than most – geared towards families, job training, getting people back on their feet. You’re not allowed to stay unless you agree to work or be full-time looking for a job. I give to them regularly.

Someone pondered, on the first page, why it was that homeless people end up in cities with good weather. I think the answer is obvious… if you have no home – you have fewer ties to your previous city… if you’re sleeping outside – wouldn’t you find a way to move where you won’t die of exposure?

Back in college I lived downtown – pre-gentrification and condo-fication… it was pretty scary… This was right as Horton Plaza first opened, before the convention center was built… it pretty much rolled up the sidewalks at 6pm. There were a LOT of homeless. Many were mentally ill and used drugs and alcohol. I was skeptical of panhandlers – I never gave them money. (Partially because I was a broke college student.) But I would offer PB&J sandwiches. You’d get a few that were angry because they wanted $, but many were VERY grateful.

I still kind of have that attitude… I give to the San Diego Food Bank and Father Joe’s village, rather than to individuals. I hope to never need the services of these places.

[UCGal]

Coming back to this thread well after the fact…

I agree with CAR about Father Joe’s Village – it’s a shelter that runs a bit different than most – geared towards families, job training, getting people back on their feet. You’re not allowed to stay unless you agree to work or be full-time looking for a job. I give to them regularly.

Someone pondered, on the first page, why it was that homeless people end up in cities with good weather. I think the answer is obvious… if you have no home – you have fewer ties to your previous city… if you’re sleeping outside – wouldn’t you find a way to move where you won’t die of exposure?

Back in college I lived downtown – pre-gentrification and condo-fication… it was pretty scary… This was right as Horton Plaza first opened, before the convention center was built… it pretty much rolled up the sidewalks at 6pm. There were a LOT of homeless. Many were mentally ill and used drugs and alcohol. I was skeptical of panhandlers – I never gave them money. (Partially because I was a broke college student.) But I would offer PB&J sandwiches. You’d get a few that were angry because they wanted $, but many were VERY grateful.

I still kind of have that attitude… I give to the San Diego Food Bank and Father Joe’s village, rather than to individuals. I hope to never need the services of these places.

[UCGal]

Coming back to this thread well after the fact…

I agree with CAR about Father Joe’s Village – it’s a shelter that runs a bit different than most – geared towards families, job training, getting people back on their feet. You’re not allowed to stay unless you agree to work or be full-time looking for a job. I give to them regularly.

Someone pondered, on the first page, why it was that homeless people end up in cities with good weather. I think the answer is obvious… if you have no home – you have fewer ties to your previous city… if you’re sleeping outside – wouldn’t you find a way to move where you won’t die of exposure?

Back in college I lived downtown – pre-gentrification and condo-fication… it was pretty scary… This was right as Horton Plaza first opened, before the convention center was built… it pretty much rolled up the sidewalks at 6pm. There were a LOT of homeless. Many were mentally ill and used drugs and alcohol. I was skeptical of panhandlers – I never gave them money. (Partially because I was a broke college student.) But I would offer PB&J sandwiches. You’d get a few that were angry because they wanted $, but many were VERY grateful.

I still kind of have that attitude… I give to the San Diego Food Bank and Father Joe’s village, rather than to individuals. I hope to never need the services of these places.

[UCGal]

Coming back to this thread well after the fact…

I agree with CAR about Father Joe’s Village – it’s a shelter that runs a bit different than most – geared towards families, job training, getting people back on their feet. You’re not allowed to stay unless you agree to work or be full-time looking for a job. I give to them regularly.

Someone pondered, on the first page, why it was that homeless people end up in cities with good weather. I think the answer is obvious… if you have no home – you have fewer ties to your previous city… if you’re sleeping outside – wouldn’t you find a way to move where you won’t die of exposure?

Back in college I lived downtown – pre-gentrification and condo-fication… it was pretty scary… This was right as Horton Plaza first opened, before the convention center was built… it pretty much rolled up the sidewalks at 6pm. There were a LOT of homeless. Many were mentally ill and used drugs and alcohol. I was skeptical of panhandlers – I never gave them money. (Partially because I was a broke college student.) But I would offer PB&J sandwiches. You’d get a few that were angry because they wanted $, but many were VERY grateful.

I still kind of have that attitude… I give to the San Diego Food Bank and Father Joe’s village, rather than to individuals. I hope to never need the services of these places.

[UCGal]

[quote=jeeman]UCGal,

Do you have pictures of your cabs before and after sanding/painting?[/quote]

I have some before… Right now we’re midway through – so no “after” pics. And we still haven’t done countertops. We’ve done the floor, but not the kickplates/baseboards… It’s very much a disaster kitchen at the moment. Fortunately, it still functions for meal prep – since my husband has this as a lower priority than I do.

I’ll see if I can find a good before picture for you, tonight.

[UCGal]

[quote=jeeman]UCGal,

Do you have pictures of your cabs before and after sanding/painting?[/quote]

I have some before… Right now we’re midway through – so no “after” pics. And we still haven’t done countertops. We’ve done the floor, but not the kickplates/baseboards… It’s very much a disaster kitchen at the moment. Fortunately, it still functions for meal prep – since my husband has this as a lower priority than I do.

I’ll see if I can find a good before picture for you, tonight.

[Author]

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