Update XX: A Darn Good Judge of My Financial Situation

[Joe Biden 2020]

Jeff, why do you need to waste over a week indulging your moocher aunt & uncle? There is no reason for anyone to be anyone's houseguest - relative or not - for that long. Certainly not 4-5 times a year -- that is more than a MONTH a year. Do they not have jobs?

As I said, go up to OKC for one day. Have dinner. Say hello. A nephew does not owe an aunt and uncle who visit frequently any more than that.

Poor granny. RIP.

Oh my, my, my.  A whole bunch of goodies in here, but none of it is correct.

First off, they don't mooch.  They come so often specifically to take care of Grandma by doing the cooking, cleaning, handiwork, and seeing after her needs.  Their visits give my mother a break from having to do all of that.  Grandma is almost 89 years old and really needs someone to look after her all the year.  She can still live by herself, but she needs someone to call and check on her once or twice a day.  They also take care of my uncle's dad who is almost 90 and who lives just 6 miles from Grandma.  In fact, he and Grandma went to school together back in the 30's and early 40's.  He is even worse off, he cannot hear much, cannot drive, cannot really see well, and, in my opinion, shouldn't be living by himself anymore.  He has other kids nearby, but my aunt and uncle's visits given them a break.  My aunt and uncle are retired military.  He served over 30 years in the US Air Force making it all the way to Major General rank.  They are both retired now, and like to travel.

So, before you go insulting someone else or their family, learn ALL the facts before you make any kind of judgment.

[Joe Biden 2020]

So, it would be very rude for you not to stay over for 10 days and have them prepare meals for you as well.

I didn't say that.  The rest of his post is valid, but I was too caught up addressing and shutting him down over the inconsiderate labeling.

If you would do me a favor, can I spend time with my family how I want to spend time with my family without being condemned for it?

[Joe Biden 2020]

So, it would be very rude for you not to stay over for 10 days and have them prepare meals for you as well.

I didn't say that.  The rest of his post is valid, but I was too caught up addressing and shutting him down over the inconsiderate labeling.

If you would do me a favor, can I spend time with my family how I want to spend time with my family without being condemned for it?

okay but don't pretend that you're trying to get your life back on track at the same time

and don't use your family members, who by your own words you "want" to spend ten days straight with, as an excuse for not getting your life back on track

I've pretty much decided to only spend 4-5 days instead of 8.  I thought I made that point already, but it must have been glossed over.

I also said I would I would be looking for a job during the time I'm down here.  That point was glossed over, too.  C'mon guys, you're slippin'...

[Joe Biden 2020]

Forgive us, Bushie. Considering most of us post here on break from our full-time jobs and/or graduate school, we don't all have the mental time or energy to pick up on all of your more intricate explanations as to why a nap and vacation was well-earned.

Ouch.... Nice come back.

[Joe Biden 2020]

How did I miss this?  I liked that game as a kid watching the Price is Right!  It was probably my second favorite behind Plinko.

[Joe Biden 2020]

None right now, King.  I'm over at my parents about to go out for supper.  Remember, the Brown clan are early birds at the dinner table, especially on weekends.  In case anyone asks, Mexican food is tonight's cuisine of choice.

[Joe Biden 2020]

After talking to my mother just now, I am going to try to get someone to teach for me on the 25th and go up there to stay on Saturday, January 24.

[Joe Biden 2020]

Hey, folks, we're back from dinner.  We went to Ted's Café and Escondido for supper tonight.  It was decent, but it wasn't the best.  Anyway, Memphis, I will be teaching senior adults in their 70's and 80's.  I am just going to teach this Sunday, then try to find someone else to teach for me next Sunday so I can officially move back to Tulsa next Saturday.

I am also going to call the doctor Monday morning and see if I can get into see him about my dizziness and my potential sleep apnea.  While I don't have a job, it would be a good time to see him without having to take off work.  He's kind of difficult to get into see, so it may be a challenge, but I'm certainly going to call and try.

[Joe Biden 2020]

Hey, folks, we're back from dinner.  We went to Ted's Café and Escondido for supper tonight.  It was decent, but it wasn't the best.  Anyway, Memphis, I will be teaching senior adults in their 70's and 80's.  I am just going to teach this Sunday, then try to find someone else to teach for me next Sunday so I can officially move back to Tulsa next Saturday.

I am also going to call the doctor Monday morning and see if I can get into see him about my dizziness and my potential sleep apnea.  While I don't have a job, it would be a good time to see him without having to take off work.  He's kind of difficult to get into see, so it may be a challenge, but I'm certainly going to call and try.

The doctor's just going to tell you what we've been telling you for years - that you need to lose weight and aren't going to unless you eat healthier and exercise. You'll never listen to him. RIP.

You can't have it both ways, Jeff. One minute, Granny Bushie is a hardy, vibrant woman who has no problem cooking and cleaning and "waiting on [you] some." Now, suddenly she's a frail invalid who is helpless. Why do Aunt and Uncle Bushie have to stay for so long to tend to her? Why can't your parents do that? They actually live near her and it's not like your mom has a job apart from managing Papa's diabeetus and drawing up a new "game plan" for you after the latest firing/layoff. Why weren't you doing it seeing as you've been living in her house for free? I don't buy this "they like to travel" BS. Spending a week in your elderly mother's house cooking and cleaning for her isn't traveling. Sounds more like they have to come in from out of town to do stuff that you and your parents ought to be doing. Whatever the explanation is for what's going on over there, it still has nothing to do with why you need to spend 4 to 5 days there.

Listen, you are in NO position whatsoever to condemn anybody in my family.  Keep your mouth shut.  Your opinions are invalid and completely irrelevant.  NEVER condemn my family again!!!!!

[Joe Biden 2020]

It's a shame that you're bothered by a simple question or unpleasant truth raised about your family on the Internet by a total stranger, but aren't at all bothered by all the way you've treated your family with regards to spending their money, eating their food and unloading all your debt and problems onto them.

It's a shame that you're bothered by an internet stranger's family that you have to condemn him and his family.

[Joe Biden 2020]

It's a shame that you're bothered by a simple question or unpleasant truth raised about your family on the Internet by a total stranger, but aren't at all bothered by all the way you've treated your family with regards to spending their money, eating their food and unloading all your debt and problems onto them.

It's a shame that you're bothered by an internet stranger's family that you have to condemn him and his family.

Not bothered. Just amused and bemused by the total trainwreck that is your life.

Ehh.. Your opinion.

[Joe Biden 2020]

I think the question is: why does the rest of the family still have to work hard taking care of grandmother if a 32-year-old man is living with her rent- and responsibility-free?

Just an assumption as to where the vitriol may be coming from ...

That is exactly where my vitriol is coming from. Most people Jeff's age work full time and have a spouse and kids to look after. There is ABSOLUTELY NO REASON that Jeff could not have been working during the day and minding grandma's house in the evenings and on weekends. It seems like perfectly fair compensation for the free use of her living space.

And if she is in a state where she actually ought to be in assisted living or have some sort of aide come to help her, then it's even more despicable that Mama and Papa are still contributing to Jeff's expenses and debts for sake of an empty apartment and premium cable and new furniture and so on when that money could be used to get grandma the help she needs.

I'm just going to chalk it up to the fact that you really don't understand my family.  Which is fine.  I don't need to go into depth about the finer intricacies of my family.  I will say this, though, Grandma is not anywhere near assisted living level, yet.  She still functions very well on her own.

[Joe Biden 2020]

Have requirements for partial or full disability been looked into, out of curiosity?

And it's not hard to get an appt. with a physician. You don't have to try to do that. You just get one, unless you want in now, in which case they probably won't have any slots open.

As far as the disability, I have not really looked into it, because I still believe I can work just like everyone else.

As far as the doctor.  He is a busy doc.  I can sometimes get an appointment if I call before 0815 every morning, and even that's really too late.  His cancellations fill up very fast.

[Joe Biden 2020]

Update is not a comedy. It's a dark, dark show that has some funny moments, but even those are usually grotesque à la Breaking Bad.  Update is to America what Charlie Hebdo is to Islam. Fierce. Biting. Unrelenting.

I'll admit it does take a certain type of person to enjoy a series such as this.  It's even better when the viewer can take a non-judgmental approach to all the characters involved in the filming of the episodes.  It's hard, I realize, but a lot less stressful.

The previous paragraph shows I can laugh at myself quite well.

[Joe Biden 2020]

Good morning, folks.  On today's agenda is a haircut and packing up my room at Grandma's.  I will be staying at Mom and Dad's for a week starting tonight.

[Joe Biden 2020]

I just got my ears lowered.  It is about time to start packing.

[Joe Biden 2020]

I can't imagine such an idea making it past his church friends, much less Ma and Pa's game plans. 

He could bill it as a trip to holy sites. Now I know the first thought will be "But...those are Cat-o-lick places, Jeffie!" I still think there's a way to work it.

Do any non-Mormon US churches send missionaries to (re)evangelize post-Christian Europe? I know some African churches try to. It would in many ways make more sense than going to already Christian parts of Africa.

I know the Internaional Mission Board goes all over the world to Europe, Africa, Asia, South America, Australia.  We have a mission to tell every single person on the face of the planet about Jesus Christ and give them the opportunity to acknowledge there is no other way to heaven but through Jesus Christ and accept Him into their life.  That's why the Bible is being translated into every single language and dialect on earth including local African languages like Luo and Swahili.

[Joe Biden 2020]

They require:

"missionaries must understand their own weakness, can expect to face hardship of one kind or another and must learn to be totally dependent on the Lord. They need to be prepared that progress may be slow and so they need to be committed to the idea of lengthy service. For those ministering in foreign countries, they must be willing to seek to become fluent in the local language, to be sensitive to local customs and to live on an income consistent with local levels."

Understanding his own weaknesses is not Jeff's strong side (to put it mildly), but the rest should be possible. Lengthy service might also be a problem. Still, he should try it.

I know my own weaknesses.  But, one other question on the IMB application is "Are you willing to die for the name of Jesus Christ?"  That's a tougher question to answer than all of the other questions combined.  The IMB will do its best to evacuate its missionaries if threats to their lives are made, but there are naturally things that escape the eye of the IMB, or they don't get there in time to get you out safely.  The world is a very volatile place and a lot of places are very hostile to Christians, especially Muslim areas like Iran and Indonesia.  I don't think we have anybody in Iran because it's just too hostile and a Christian is likely to be tortured in a dungeon like Pastor Saeed is being held erroneously just because of his faith.  Some nations are receptive to Christians, but there are still small coups and factions wanting to stamp out Christianity that the IMB are not always aware of.

[Joe Biden 2020]

Not only am I looking in Tulsa and my best friend is looking in OKC, but apparently, my church family in Tulsa is looking on my behalf.

[Joe Biden 2020]

I sleep on the couch.

[Joe Biden 2020]

I sleep on the couch.

That must be quite a sturdy couch. My ~200 pound brother used to sleep on the couch and caused huge dents in it.

The couch is several years old and hasn't shown any signs of stress due to weight.

[Joe Biden 2020]

I sleep on the couch.

That must be quite a sturdy couch. My ~200 pound brother used to sleep on the couch and caused huge dents in it.

I expect the Browns have a couch along the lines of this - maybe smaller but still complete with built-in cupholders for the XXL Braum's to-go cups.

Actually, it's just a normal 3-seat couch with no cup holders.  It does have a recliner on each end, though.

[Joe Biden 2020]

I just got a cupholder/recliner couch a few months ago. Not big like the pic. Just two super comfy seats with a console in between. I love it! Way more comfortable than the old, low three seater, where you'd never want to use all three seats due to lack of personal space.

I've got a cup holder loveseat sitting in my Tulsa apartment.  It's quite comfortable and since the cup holders are in the middle, where a third seat would be, it allows for elbow space and adequate arm rests for the people on the end.  The loveseat also has a storage box underneath the arm rest in the middle which is a good place to store/hide the remote controls.

EDIT:  It looks like we're describing the same thing.

[Joe Biden 2020]

6 1/2 days until I return to Tulsa. This will be a busy final week in the Choctaw/Harrah area. Monday, Mom and I will be going over to Grandma's and cleaning her house for her and I will finish getting the room I stayed in ready for my aunt who will be staying in there for 8 days starting Tuesday. Tuesday, I need to run by the post office and fill out a change of address form. Also, on Tuesday, my aunt and uncle will be coming into town. That night is also the 2015 State of the Union address to Congress by President Obama. Wednesday, we will have our first supper at 1700 and then I will immediately hit the road to Tulsa to get ready for my job fair on Thursday morning. Thursday is the job fair and then I will drive back to Choctaw for dinner. Friday will be my last dinner with my aunt and uncle until they come back through in March and then I plan on leaving for Tulsa to stay at 10:00 Saturday morning.

[Joe Biden 2020]

Tuesday, I need to run by the post office and fill out a change of address form.

No you don't.

I know I can do it online, but I don't like wasting a dollar just to verify my address.  I don't know why I don't like spending that dollar when I have no problem spending money most anywhere else, but I guess it's a strange quirk.

I guess it's not the dollar that I mind, it's just having to get up, get the credit card out of my wallet, inputting the information into the appropriate fields, then putting the credit card back up.  It's still totally illogical because the other alternative is getting up, putting my shoes on, grabbing the keys, getting in the car, driving to the post office, going inside, filling out a change of address form, getting back in the car, driving back home, etc.