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mnhtnbb

mnhtnbb's Journal
mnhtnbb's Journal
February 3, 2025

15.9% increase in health insurance premium

deducted from my CSA (Federal gov) survivor's benefit annuity, beginning with this month's payment.

I have been worried that with Musk and cronies access to OPM accounts whether my benefit that is direct deposit on the 1st of the month ( or first Monday when the first is on the weekend) would hit. I just checked it and was astonished to see my net increase after the COLA had declined to a paltry $5.95 over last year's payment. So I went on the website and checked the deduction for an increase in the health care premium. Last year the premium increase was $18.18/mo, which was 5.89% . This year the premium increase was $52.05/mo, which was a whopping 15.9% increase! WTF? That reduces my net benefit to $5.95/mo more than last year's benefit.
OPM does not send a notice of change in benefit if the only thing affecting the benefit is a change in health care premium. So, although I was relieved to see the benefit pending at all in my bank account, I was shocked to see it reduced to practically nothing more than the net benefit in December.
I will be writing my (Democratic) Congressional Representative today.

January 5, 2025

Le Creuset cookware on sale

I have a Le Creuset stock pot that survived our house fire in 2007. My neighbor cleaned it up for me--removing smoke stain is an ordeal--and I use it every winter to make soup.
About a week ago I saw the NY Times recipe for Boeuf Bourguignon reprinted, but it requires a Dutch oven. I've never had a good one. Discovered Le Creuset cookware on sale --serious sale --and decided to splurge. If you've ever wanted one of their pots or want to expand your collection, now's the time. I bought mine from Sur la Table (on-line) and it arrived yesterday. Looking forward to using it.

January 3, 2025

Any Outlander fans?

I only discovered the show just about two years ago. Then became a fan of the books. Follow discussion about the show and books on several forums.

If you'd given up the series --as some have after Seasons 5 and 6--come back to Season 7, particularly the second part which has been airing since late November. The latest episode, which dropped at midnight, is classic Outlander from the early seasons, with knockout performances from Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe as Jamie and Claire.

December 18, 2024

Wordle Dec 18 Spoilers

Wordle 1,278 3/6

🟨⬜⬜⬜⬜trial
⬜⬜⬜🟩🟨couth
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩hefty

NY Times average 4.1 and Wordlebot in 4

December 14, 2024

And so it begins...

My monthly gas bill included a rate increase for winter rates. I ran the numbers and the increase is 3.7%, beginning next month when I receive my 2.5% Social Security increase. Most of the SS increase is eaten by a 5.9% increase in the premium for Medicare Part B.

My net increase for SS is $57/month, or 2.25%--not even the 2.5% increase promised--which will soon be eaten by price increases in other goods. And the houses in my county will be reappraised in 2025, which will undoubtedly mean higher property taxes, which have already gone up due to rate adjustments every year since I bought at the end of 2020.

Forget about eggs. I'm not saying this will break the bank for me, but it will for some.

December 3, 2024

Wordle Spoilers Dec 3

Wordle 1,263 4/6

⬜⬜⬜🟨⬜trial
⬜🟨⬜⬜🟩cagey
🟩🟩🟩⬜🟩shady
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩shaky

NY Times average 4.0 and Wordlebot in 4.

November 18, 2024

Wordle Spoilers 11/18

Wordle 1,248 2/6

⬜🟩🟨🟨🟩trial
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩frail

NY Times average 3.7 and Wordlebot in 3.

Woo-hoo for me! A 2 two days in a row!

November 16, 2024

Moon setting

Watching from inside --having coffee in the living room --as the sun lights up the tree tops


to outside, watching the moon disappear behind the trees

November 15, 2024

Wordle Spoilers Nov 15

Wordle 1,245 3/6

🟩⬜⬜🟨⬜trial
🟩⬜🟨⬜🟩toady
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩tacky

NY Times average 3.7 and Wordlebot in 3.

November 14, 2024

Wordle Spoilers Nov 14

Wordle 1,244 4/6

⬜⬜⬜🟨🟨trial
⬜🟨🟨⬜⬜plane
⬜🟨⬜🟩⬜sadly
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩uvula

NY Times average 4.8 and Wordlebot in 4.

Profile Information

Gender: Female
Hometown: NYC
Home country: USA
Current location: Durham, NC
Member since: Sat May 7, 2005, 10:13 PM
Number of posts: 32,253
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