RA1

LTC insurance is difficult to obtain IF you have any sort of health issues that contrast with a company's strict underwriting policies. There are three main benefits to LTC insurance. One obviously being the money the insurance provides for one's care. Two being that the total benefit (in dollars) becomes protected from Medicaid. In other words, if you have a two year contract at $300 a day, the $219,000 in total benefits prevents the state from forcing you to spend that amount from your savings or investments. The way that Medicaid works is that you have to spend all of your assets before the state kicks in with the above mentioned exception. Three being many care facilities will not accept anyone who cannot demonstrate the ability to pay for continued care. That can mean big assets or it can mean insurance. In other words you likely can get into a "better" facility than you might otherwise afford IF you have insurance. One kicker is that state law will prevent the facility from putting you out the door, once admitted. This may be the "best" benefit to LTC insurance. Best regards, RA1

I have had a tiger in my tank but I am not a bear (except early in the morning) so likely I will not have a relationship with a tiger such as this. Interesting story. Not so sure about the "color" commentary. Animals only have human characteristics in our minds, no matter how cute, cuddly or otherwise engaging. You can step on my blue suede shoes but leave my dog alone. Best regards, RA1

It's all tricky. But, with perseverance, luck and a little imagination (and probably a boatload of tears) we can survive, at least until our turn in the rack. Best regards, RA1

Well, as you may or may not recall, first they got rid of Agnew, convicting him of being a politician (and the crook he was known to be), then they got Senate approval for a replacement (Ford), then Nixon resigned with an almost immediate pardon from Ford. Not all in the same day. And, I skipped the step about Ford being "approved" for the move up from VP to P. I give BO lots of credit for being shrewd and a consummate pol; just not a good leader and, of course, I disagree with much of his politics. But, then, I have never met a pol that I completely liked. Best regards, RA1

I am hoping hijacking is only verboten on aircraft, otherwise likely I will be spending time in the pokey. According to me, random threads and random thoughts bring on random posts. Perhaps I have had too many "discussions" in bars and the like where topics are without headlines. Regardless, I know I will not be lonely if and when posting hijackers are sentenced to writer's prison. Best regards, RA1

Now there was an actor who was gay and I would have liked to have known it at the time (Raymond Burr). Perhaps everyone except me knew it. I enjoyed Perry Mason and the characters thereon. I also remember William Talman doing a stop smoking ad while he was dying from lung cancer. Do as I say, not as I have done. Best regards, RA1

Actually my mother moved into a retirement community at age 65 so she would have help with her mother who was living with her. She unfailingly called this facility the old folks home. They promised, for a fee, to take care of her for the rest of her life which they did. But, of course, they were not perfect. Most of the time my mother was happy in the general community, living in her own apartment with two meals furnished and plenty of activities and amenities. There was enough variety and a large community so that I think it was easy enough to deal with minor inconveniences. Of course the maintenance fees went up every year and had more than doubled after the 27 years she lived there. When her health began to decline and she fell a few times, first she went to rehab and then to the long term care which most of us call a nursing home. All co-located. Here one finds the meat and potatoes of such a facility. In my case, I have few complaints about the care and caring of the staff. Basically they gave good care and were caring. I even have good things to say about the "middle" supervisors but not so much good to say about the upper management. As I and others have observed in the past, no one likes their landlord. They did deliver what they promised but it could have been done with less acrimony and, where have you heard this before, more transparency. As it turned out, I did not know all the rules and ramifications thereof until too late to make them work better for me and us. Before signing any agreement or contract with any facility I highly recommend reading through the literature and contract. Any questions you can ask to improve your understanding thereof will pay benefits in the long run. Peace of mind is imperative and sometimes the least found commodity. Best regards, RA1

In a lot of ways, fathers with medical and mental issues are harder to deal with than mothers (on their children). Of course, both tend to have slightly different problems and approaches to how they deal with such. My mother did not object when I suggested she stop driving. She simply expected me to take her where ever she needed to go. Actually I was very lucky that her mental faculties were there through out her life and although she expected me to do right by her she was never too demanding. From the posts on this thread a lot of us have already been where you are now or are in the middle of something similar or about to be in something similar. That does not necessarily make the daily grind of being there and doing things easier but I am hoping that knowing others have lived through this is of some comfort to you. Best regards, RA1

Me, too. I don't want Joe Biden to be the President. Best regards, RA1

I am not much on road kill, no matter how well prepared. However, I have eaten reindeer and elk + some, no doubt, rare delicacies during a holiday feast in Iceland but I have no idea what they were as I don't speak Norse all that well. Probably Hagaar the Horrible could have enlightened me but I think he was away sacking, pillaging and causing mischief elsewhere during the holidays. Best regards, RA1

You seem to "throw" yourself at many but that is the way of the world, isn't it? Best regards, RA1

There are a lot of turkey products among the fast food menus. Best regards, RA1

I am willing to believe in God's intervention but I think many liberals believe in using other people's money to accomplish their stated goals. That is the bottom line you are suggesting and I think it correct. Good for you. Best regards, RA1

May we add AS to the list? Best regards, RA1

Interesting stream of consciousness thoughts. One can only hope that others will realize that BO can be culpable no matter how "cute" he is. After all he is a politician. Best regards, RA1

I think it could be quantity vs. quality, so to speak. A little salt is good, a lot of salt is bad, a whole lot of salt might cause anything, even cancer. Yes, I love other people's brains also. Nothing like massaging the largest sex organ. Brains cooked together with scrambled eggs is delicious, especially if you don't know what you are eating. However, like most "organ" meats, it is bad for gout. Too bad because I like mountain oysters, bull fries and all such. Not so much for liver, lungs and some other organ meats but I am willing to bet you can guess my favorite organ meat to eat. Best regards, RA1

Aren't all preservatives carcinogenic? You haven't lived (in the South) until and unless you have had brains and eggs. Best regards, RA1

US legal history supports your comment. The most likely way an MD will go to the pokey is for income tax evasion. One of my favorites had this result. Sent him to Camp Fed in Texarkana where he promptly resumed medical practice but presumably not tax evasion. Best regards, RA1

Not to worry. No one yet has not. Best regards, RA1

The oink. Best regards, RA1

Without further commentary I shall take the fifth (or maybe a quart). Best regards, RA1

A huge judgment might get their attention but that generally is a shared economic burden (insurance). A little time in the pokey to re-think their philosophy might be in order. Best regards, RA1

Does that suggest his pocket protector is minus a couple of pens? Best regards, RA1

So, ALL of our elected officials are to blame. What else is new? Best regards, RA1

This whole subject is interesting. The last time I was in Bangkok I was able from my hotel room to see into the living quarters of some who seemed less fortunate. However, I do not know this for a fact, only the appearance of what they were doing compared to my life experiences. Their proximity to a lively area of commerce and hotels may have indeed put money in their pockets and food on their tables. I would like to think so. I have spent a little time in India where the poverty was appalling, at least to me. I did not have that same impression in Bangkok and would like to think I would not in Brazil. Best regards, RA1