Overheard at Work

[WildJager]

[...] How do they function by just knowing that they have that much debt floating out there.

Very carefully, and with lots of stress. Except that it's 'normal'. A very carefully constructed idea as to what life is supposed to be like.

I've posted this before but it always hits home when I begin to think about it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PV_YAeXOSiw

Wow.  Check out some of the linked videos on that page.  Apparently making fun of debt collectors on you tube is a thing.  "Look at me!  I'm so funny.  I don't know how to pay people back that I borrowed money from while I sit on my ass drinking beer!" I would be embarrassed.

[auntie_betty]

Another one here with a daughter with a second tummy for dessert. She's 29 :)

[Zaga]

I have managed to break my dependency on ice cream, though I don't recommend my method.  I developed an allergy to all milk products, so I don't have any real desire for ice cream any more!  And all the non dairy ones just aren't as good!

[Rural]

I have managed to break my dependency on ice cream, though I don't recommend my method.  I developed an allergy to all milk products, so I don't have any real desire for ice cream any more!  And all the non dairy ones just aren't as good!

1.5 frozen bananas, one tablespoon cocoa. Whir in food processor until smooth. You're welcome. :-)

[DecD]

Today I had a funny conversation with one of my coworkers,

CW: Are you watching the game (NBA) tonight?
Me: Actually I'm not, I canceled my cable yesterday(yaayyyy me - saves me $118 mo)
CW: What do you mean?
Me: Ahh what do you mean? I just canceled it.
CW: Like you don't have TV anymore?
Me: Well I still got my TV's and I have Netflix($8 mo) and Hulu(free w/bros account)
CW: Yeah but you don't have cable so now what?
Me: I'll watch something on Netflix or Hulu.
CW: There's no way I could cancel my cable, even if it was double that price.

I honestly feel sick to my stomach that it took me this long(and this site) to realize how stupid I was for paying for a service I hardly used and definitely didn't need. I can watch all my favorite shows for $8/free mo and catch the sports games on the local stations if I get the digital antenna($40).

You don't need a digital antenna- you need an awesome homemade one: http://makezine.com/projects/digital-tv-coat-hanger-antenna/

We made one of these and it works beautifully.   Crystal clear HD network channels for free.  Cost about $3.  Works infinitely better than our old store-bought one.

[Zaga]

I have managed to break my dependency on ice cream, though I don't recommend my method.  I developed an allergy to all milk products, so I don't have any real desire for ice cream any more!  And all the non dairy ones just aren't as good!

1.5 frozen bananas, one tablespoon cocoa. Whir in food processor until smooth. You're welcome. :-)

I beg to differ, bananas are not food.  Blech!  I've also tried avocado; I love avocado but it doesn't work with chocolate.

I have figured out how to make very good non dairy brownies, chocolate chip cookies, and chewy granola bars, so my life is still worth living :-)

[greenmimama]

With the ice cream I do try to be picky, and I have noticed the ROI on ice cream, or any food for that matter, the first few bites taste the best.

I buy the expensive Ben and Jerry's and then try to make it last a long time, it sure is worth it, so delicious!!

[10dollarsatatime]

Love the banana ice cream.  I bought an off brand super blender on huge clearance and it works superbly for this.  Also... from my nephew last week, "Grandma, I'm dinner full. I'm not ice cream full."

On topic...  I have a coworker who recently lost a house to bankruptcy.  It was way more house than they needed, in the first place.  They blamed losing the house on lots of different things, but the real reason they lost the place?  The amount they ate out, two or three times every day for four people (at least... they often paid for other people eating out with them).  I mathed it out.  They were paying more for their fast food than for their house.

[eyePod]

Love the banana ice cream.  I bought an off brand super blender on huge clearance and it works superbly for this.  Also... from my nephew last week, "Grandma, I'm dinner full. I'm not ice cream full."

On topic...  I have a coworker who recently lost a house to bankruptcy.  It was way more house than they needed, in the first place.  They blamed losing the house on lots of different things, but the real reason they lost the place?  The amount they ate out, two or three times every day for four people (at least... they often paid for other people eating out with them).  I mathed it out.  They were paying more for their fast food than for their house.

That's depressing. I always want to be a "helpful" fairy and drop off a post it note on their chair with those calculations. I'm sure they wouldn't believe it though.

[Adventine]

Love the banana ice cream.  I bought an off brand super blender on huge clearance and it works superbly for this.  Also... from my nephew last week, "Grandma, I'm dinner full. I'm not ice cream full."

On topic...  I have a coworker who recently lost a house to bankruptcy.  It was way more house than they needed, in the first place.  They blamed losing the house on lots of different things, but the real reason they lost the place?  The amount they ate out, two or three times every day for four people (at least... they often paid for other people eating out with them).  I mathed it out.  They were paying more for their fast food than for their house.

That's depressing. I always want to be a "helpful" fairy and drop off a post it note on their chair with those calculations. I'm sure they wouldn't believe it though.

Also, that would come across more as creepy stalker fairy than helpful fairy.

[eyePod]

Love the banana ice cream.  I bought an off brand super blender on huge clearance and it works superbly for this.  Also... from my nephew last week, "Grandma, I'm dinner full. I'm not ice cream full."

On topic...  I have a coworker who recently lost a house to bankruptcy.  It was way more house than they needed, in the first place.  They blamed losing the house on lots of different things, but the real reason they lost the place?  The amount they ate out, two or three times every day for four people (at least... they often paid for other people eating out with them).  I mathed it out.  They were paying more for their fast food than for their house.

That's depressing. I always want to be a "helpful" fairy and drop off a post it note on their chair with those calculations. I'm sure they wouldn't believe it though.

Also, that would come across more as creepy stalker fairy than helpful fairy.

I wouldn't sign it, so they wouldn't know that I was the stalker!

[gimp]

Love the banana ice cream.  I bought an off brand super blender on huge clearance and it works superbly for this.  Also... from my nephew last week, "Grandma, I'm dinner full. I'm not ice cream full."

On topic...  I have a coworker who recently lost a house to bankruptcy.  It was way more house than they needed, in the first place.  They blamed losing the house on lots of different things, but the real reason they lost the place?  The amount they ate out, two or three times every day for four people (at least... they often paid for other people eating out with them).  I mathed it out.  They were paying more for their fast food than for their house.

So, quite literally eating out of house and home?

[going2ER]

I'm listing to some coworkers right now talk about fancy restaurants and their discussing what they paid.

Employee1:  I looked at the menu and saw wine paring for $220 and thought well sure for $20 bucks more we can have some wine with our meals.  But then when I got the check it was $220 just for the wine pairing and did not include the $200 meal.

Employee2:  For two people at French Laundry, without wine it was about $750.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-french-laundry-yountville-2

I eating my non-fancy mixed nuts and almost chocked on an almond when I heard that one meal for two cost half my rent or food for a month for a family of 4.

Yes, one meal could easily feed a family for more than a month! even with a cheap bottle of wine a few days.

I had to read the reviews of the place, because wow! I can't believe people would pay that for a meal. I've had some really good food, but nothing that was worth $750 for a meal. One thing that people kept talking about was the Wagyu Beef and comparing it to other restaurants that they have had it in. I had watched a documentary one time on Wagyu/Kobe Beef and most places that advertise it as such, don't actually serve real Wagyu Beef. So people are just basically paying a big price for regular old beef.

[Albert]

Wow, that's one expensive restaurant. I'm guilty of occasionally spending very unmustachian amounts of money for eating out, but it's all peanuts compared to this place.

[firelight]

We went there once for my in laws 30th wedding anniversary. Food was very good but it didn't stand out for me. However it was on my mother in law's bucket list and they were glad that they could get a reservation there. Apparently it takes months to get reservations.

Of course, they insisted on paying for a party of ten. They are comfortably FI and have been so for years that I think this bill wouldn't have made a big dent in their budget.

[Malaysia41]

We went there once for my in laws 30th wedding anniversary. Food was very good but it didn't stand out for me. However it was on my mother in law's bucket list and they were glad that they could get a reservation there. Apparently it takes months to get reservations.

Of course, they insisted on paying for a party of ten. They are comfortably FI and have been so for years that I think this bill wouldn't have made a big dent in their budget.

We went with some friends to http://www.manresarestaurant.com/ once.  I had heard it was expensive but didn't realize how expensive.  Foolishy, we went into it saying 'on us' because it was our turn to pay based on previous outings.
The price tag wasn't the only problem.

A) Portion size was small.
B) On any given night I might not be able to taste, as my allergies can be bad.  And this night they were bad. I couldn't even taste the food when I blew my nose.  (Yeah - I'm that guy).
C) Between wine and dinner, it came out to something like $500.  And that didn't include tip! 

We paid. When I got home, I at a big bowl of cereal because I was still hungry.  I would have rather eaten at pasta pomodoro.

I will never find value in eating at a place that is so expensive.  Even DH, who could taste, found the food was a big 'meh'. 

[firelight]

Our portion slices were smallish too but that many more space for ice cream after the meal :D

[LennStar]

We went there once for my in laws 30th wedding anniversary. Food was very good but it didn't stand out for me. However it was on my mother in law's bucket list and they were glad that they could get a reservation there. Apparently it takes months to get reservations.

Of course, they insisted on paying for a party of ten. They are comfortably FI and have been so for years that I think this bill wouldn't have made a big dent in their budget.

We went with some friends to http://www.manresarestaurant.com/ once.  I had heard it was expensive but didn't realize how expensive.  Foolishy, we went into it saying 'on us' because it was our turn to pay based on previous outings.
The price tag wasn't the only problem.

A) Portion size was small.
B) On any given night I might not be able to taste, as my allergies can be bad.  And this night they were bad. I couldn't even taste the food when I blew my nose.  (Yeah - I'm that guy).
C) Between wine and dinner, it came out to something like $500.  And that didn't include tip! 

We paid. When I got home, I at a big bowl of cereal because I was still hungry.  I would have rather eaten at pasta pomodoro.

I will never find value in eating at a place that is so expensive.  Even DH, who could taste, found the food was a big 'meh'.

You dont go there for eating, you go there for brag rights and more importantly to be seen.

[theadvicist]

Friend: Every year I ask for a magazine subscription for Christmas. Last year, no-one bought it for me! I was livid! I missed a month. Like, if you're not going to buy it for me JUST TELL ME, then I know to pick up a copy that month!

Me: Oh, what magazine?

Friend: Stuff.

Me: Stuff...?

Friend: Stuff. That's the name of the magazine.

-------

I SWEAR TO GOD, there is a magazine called, and dedicated to, the accumulation of stuff. http://www.stuff-magazine.co.uk/ I've seen it all.

Presumably he's made because he missed out on being told what 'must have' item he had to waste his hard earned money on that month? (The rest of our conversation was about how much this couple hated their jobs, how hard their lives were, how annoying their ironing lady was, how they disliked their childminder, how they just can't live on their paltry (massive) salaries etc). They mentioned how relaxed and easy our lives seemed. Yep.

[eyePod]

My friends and I have a group chat (groupme). Just like a big group text where everyone can respond and add pictures and stuff.
Anyways, this went down as a few friends were complaining about Mondays:

Friend 1: Come to think of it, why did Garfield hate Mondays? He's a cat with no job. He should have no care about the days of the week.
Me: That's my life goal. Retire early so I don't have to complain about it being Monday!
Friend 2: By that time all you'll have to complain about are your ailments.
Me: Not when I'm 40 and retired!

Silence.

Conversation went on to how one of my friends father just retired and he's thrilled because he can help out on a friend's farm. Another friends father was an engineer and decided to go back to school to become a high school teacher. He LOVES his job now; he has the whole summer off where he bikes/canoes/does tons of outdoor stuff, plus he has all the snow days off!

Anyways, I can't believe that my friends are that out of hope when they're not even 30. They just expect that they're going to be working till they're old and out of shape and in pain all day.

[arebelspy]

Anyways, I can't believe that my friends are that out of hope when they're not even 30. They just expect that they're going to be working till they're old and out of shape and in pain all day.

I think it's not so much that they're out of hope on it (i.e. given up), but just that they don't consider it a possibility even.  At least, that's what I feel is usually the case.

[eyePod]

Anyways, I can't believe that my friends are that out of hope when they're not even 30. They just expect that they're going to be working till they're old and out of shape and in pain all day.

I think it's not so much that they're out of hope on it (i.e. given up), but just that they don't consider it a possibility even.  At least, that's what I feel is usually the case.

That's a good point. I think I said this yesterday but "You don't know what you don't know." But then I see them financing two new Jeeps, buying a huge home, etc. Granted, they lived at home for a long time, so hopefully they saved up a bunch of $$$.

[MgoSam]

Wow, that's one expensive restaurant. I'm guilty of occasionally spending very unmustachian amounts of money for eating out, but it's all peanuts compared to this place.

Can these places be worth the expense? I haven't been to a Michelin rated restaurant yet, but don't relish spending $100 for a tasting menu that while delicious, leaves me wanting another meal as soon as I get home.

[senecando]

Wow, that's one expensive restaurant. I'm guilty of occasionally spending very unmustachian amounts of money for eating out, but it's all peanuts compared to this place.

Can these places be worth the expense? I haven't been to a Michelin rated restaurant yet, but don't relish spending $100 for a tasting menu that while delicious, leaves me wanting another meal as soon as I get home.

There's a fancy place near me that is really bad about portions. We went there once and got a burger at the nextdoor bar afterwards. The burger, in all honesty, was as delicious. Maybe I'm not civilized.

[Pooperman]

Wow, that's one expensive restaurant. I'm guilty of occasionally spending very unmustachian amounts of money for eating out, but it's all peanuts compared to this place.

Can these places be worth the expense? I haven't been to a Michelin rated restaurant yet, but don't relish spending $100 for a tasting menu that while delicious, leaves me wanting another meal as soon as I get home.

There's a fancy place near me that is really bad about portions. We went there once and got a burger at the nextdoor bar afterwards. The burger, in all honesty, was as delicious. Maybe I'm not civilized.

The best food I ever had was in Montreal. Thing about French food is that it takes 2-3 hours for a meal and costs a lot per person. I believe that with wine the final price was about $200 ($150 US at the time). Melt-in-your-mouth amazingness. It was 3 people for that price. At the end, I was just full. Still, I prefer having comfort food. It was worth the experience and was by far the best "fancy" meal I ever had.

Here's the link to the restaurant's offering closest to what I had then (in French 'cause Montreal): http://www.restaurantbonaparte.com/nos-menus/menus-soir/menus-soir-2/menu-degustation/

[frugalnacho]

Eating out at two separate restaurants for the same meal? That's about as unmustacian as you can get.

[Siobhan]

CW from page 112 and I are finally back in the office together (her from Morocco, me from visiting family) and the epic awfulness continues.

CW1: Man my 300 dollar shoes got so dirty in Morocco that I HAD TO throw them out (they were brand new and she wore them under 2 weeks)
Me:  Did you try throwing them in the washer?
CW!: No!  Why would I do that? It's not like they are going to look new again....all I could do was blink

Short while later
CW1: So I NEED a new iPhone 6, I wonder who is doing free upgrades
Me: all the phone companies stopped subsidizing phones this year so you won't get one
CW1: But ATT says it's only 199
Me: did you see their plans?  You pay X for your data and X monthly for your smartphone.  How much are you paying now anyway
CW1: 160/month for one line...but I get to keep my unlimited data!
Me:  Do you even USE enough to have unlimited data? (Me, I do, so for me it's a great deal...I'm a data hog for work, and work pays for mine, not hers)
CW1:  Probably not...I look at her phone, she averages a gig a month.
Me:  If you go to Tmobile (still fancy pants but she'd NEVER move to anything not in the big 4) you can keep your phone and lower your bill to like 40 a month and still get unlimited data (granted at slower speeds).
CW1:  Nah...I like ATT, and it looks like it's just leasing a phone, which means I can get a new phone faster...yay!!
CW2 (who is a VP):  Yea ATT is awesome, it's just like leasing...I leased 5 of em for the family, but then again, I lease everything, all 4 cars, the computer, the phones, HECK, I'd lease my house if I could!...this set off a large conversation among most of the office that's in today on the joys of leasing cars.

Fast forward an hour and CW1 is complaining that her parents aid asked for a 50c an hour raise for 2015...to 11 an hour...in NYC...because she couldn't afford it.  Yet in the past month she's spent an easy 10 grand between the trip, clothes, and now the new phone....she can't afford 8-10 dollar a week to give the woman that takes care of her parents part time so she doesn't have to deal with them...yet she can throw away a $300 pair of sneakers without the bat of an eye.....I seriously need out of this place

[gimp]

Worth the expense is subjective. I mean, why are you there? I save a lot and occasionally pay for something expensive, right? I wouldn't blink at five hundred bucks to propose or something, money is pretty much irrelevant if that's what I'm thinking about. On the other hand, that's about the only reason I could see to drop five hundred bucks on a meal. But everyone is different. Maybe someone saves all year and eats rice to go there once a year. I think that's fucking stupid but whatever. I suspect for most people, no, no it is not.

Burgers appeal to our basest cravings. Burgers and beer even more so. The only thing missing is fucking someone right on the dinner table. It's got meat, fat, bread, salt, it's got everything that we want and everything that for pretty much all of history until recently we couldn't easily get, often had to fight large animals to get. It's not at all surprising many people would find a good burger better than... whatever it is you get at a restaurant like that. It's like sitting at home and listening to that song from when you were 16 and in love... versus paying $500 to go to an opera. One might be technically considered better, higher-class, whatever... but if it's not your thing, it's not your thing, and it's hardly surprising you might prefer the simpler option.

[Albert]

Wow, that's one expensive restaurant. I'm guilty of occasionally spending very unmustachian amounts of money for eating out, but it's all peanuts compared to this place.

Can these places be worth the expense? I haven't been to a Michelin rated restaurant yet, but don't relish spending $100 for a tasting menu that while delicious, leaves me wanting another meal as soon as I get home.

One of my co-workers (French) is always saying that even if you are not that much into fancy food you should once in your life have a meal in a proper Michelin rated restaurant. I'm not old yet so maybe one day I'll do it as well. :)

What you like to eat depends very much on how you are brought up. No one gave me burgers when I was a kid so I'm not interested in them now either. I don't think I've eaten more than two dozen in my life. As far as simple food is concerned I'd go for meatball soup or red beat soup.

[Dr.Vibrissae]

HECK, I'd lease my house if I could!...

Did you tell them that they can? It's usually called renting, and is how the many people keep a roof over their heads ;)

[ketchup]

HECK, I'd lease my house if I could!...

Did you tell them that they can? It's usually called renting, and is how the many people keep a roof over their heads ;)

I like how the most reasonable thing to lease is the only thing this person seems to not be leasing.

[Siobhan]

Psh...renting is "below" him, he and his wife had to have the 4 million dollar house in northern VA

[arebelspy]

HECK, I'd lease my house if I could!...

Did you tell them that they can? It's usually called renting, and is how the many people keep a roof over their heads ;)

I LOL'd.

[MandalayVA]

Wow, that's one expensive restaurant. I'm guilty of occasionally spending very unmustachian amounts of money for eating out, but it's all peanuts compared to this place.

Can these places be worth the expense? I haven't been to a Michelin rated restaurant yet, but don't relish spending $100 for a tasting menu that while delicious, leaves me wanting another meal as soon as I get home.

You won't go hungry at the French Laundry.  The plates are small, yes, but you get a LOT of them; the meal is spread out over about five hours or so.  Mr. Mandalay and I went in 2005.  He's not a foodie but he STILL talks about that meal.  The service was absolutely exquisite to boot.  It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and worth every penny (about $700, which went mostly for wine).  It's like Albert wrote, even if you're not into fancy food you owe it to yourself to have one high-end meal at a super-fancy restaurant once in your life.

[Le Barbu]

Worth the expense is subjective. I mean, why are you there? I save a lot and occasionally pay for something expensive, right? I wouldn't blink at five hundred bucks to propose or something, money is pretty much irrelevant if that's what I'm thinking about. On the other hand, that's about the only reason I could see to drop five hundred bucks on a meal. But everyone is different. Maybe someone saves all year and eats rice to go there once a year. I think that's fucking stupid but whatever. I suspect for most people, no, no it is not.

Burgers appeal to our basest cravings. Burgers and beer even more so. The only thing missing is fucking someone right on the dinner table. It's got meat, fat, bread, salt, it's got everything that we want and everything that for pretty much all of history until recently we couldn't easily get, often had to fight large animals to get. It's not at all surprising many people would find a good burger better than... whatever it is you get at a restaurant like that. It's like sitting at home and listening to that song from when you were 16 and in love... versus paying $500 to go to an opera. One might be technically considered better, higher-class, whatever... but if it's not your thing, it's not your thing, and it's hardly surprising you might prefer the simpler option.

Yeah, and when I use to work hard on my neighbor's farm nothing was better for lunch than CoolAid and white bread sandwiches (ham, jam, cheese, whatever)

[Timmmy]

Worth the expense is subjective. I mean, why are you there? I save a lot and occasionally pay for something expensive, right? I wouldn't blink at five hundred bucks to propose or something, money is pretty much irrelevant if that's what I'm thinking about. On the other hand, that's about the only reason I could see to drop five hundred bucks on a meal. But everyone is different. Maybe someone saves all year and eats rice to go there once a year. I think that's fucking stupid but whatever. I suspect for most people, no, no it is not.

Burgers appeal to our basest cravings. Burgers and beer even more so. The only thing missing is fucking someone right on the dinner table. It's got meat, fat, bread, salt, it's got everything that we want and everything that for pretty much all of history until recently we couldn't easily get, often had to fight large animals to get. It's not at all surprising many people would find a good burger better than... whatever it is you get at a restaurant like that. It's like sitting at home and listening to that song from when you were 16 and in love... versus paying $500 to go to an opera. One might be technically considered better, higher-class, whatever... but if it's not your thing, it's not your thing, and it's hardly surprising you might prefer the simpler option.

Best post ever!  Right on the dinner table...  The mental imagery is stunning and making me hungry. 

Seriously though, maybe I'm just not sophisticated enough to enjoy fancy restaurants.   I've been to many high end places for business purposes and I'd rather have a bacon cheeseburger with a fried egg on top from my favorite burger joint for less than $10 any day.  If I was paying, I don't think I could enjoy a meal at any of those places. 

[eyePod]

CW from page 112 and I are finally back in the office together (her from Morocco, me from visiting family) and the epic awfulness continues.

CW1: Man my 300 dollar shoes got so dirty in Morocco that I HAD TO throw them out (they were brand new and she wore them under 2 weeks)
Me:  Did you try throwing them in the washer?
CW!: No!  Why would I do that? It's not like they are going to look new again....all I could do was blink

Short while later
CW1: So I NEED a new iPhone 6, I wonder who is doing free upgrades
Me: all the phone companies stopped subsidizing phones this year so you won't get one
CW1: But ATT says it's only 199
Me: did you see their plans?  You pay X for your data and X monthly for your smartphone.  How much are you paying now anyway
CW1: 160/month for one line...but I get to keep my unlimited data!
Me:  Do you even USE enough to have unlimited data? (Me, I do, so for me it's a great deal...I'm a data hog for work, and work pays for mine, not hers)
CW1:  Probably not...I look at her phone, she averages a gig a month.
Me:  If you go to Tmobile (still fancy pants but she'd NEVER move to anything not in the big 4) you can keep your phone and lower your bill to like 40 a month and still get unlimited data (granted at slower speeds).
CW1:  Nah...I like ATT, and it looks like it's just leasing a phone, which means I can get a new phone faster...yay!!
CW2 (who is a VP):  Yea ATT is awesome, it's just like leasing...I leased 5 of em for the family, but then again, I lease everything, all 4 cars, the computer, the phones, HECK, I'd lease my house if I could!...this set off a large conversation among most of the office that's in today on the joys of leasing cars.

Fast forward an hour and CW1 is complaining that her parents aid asked for a 50c an hour raise for 2015...to 11 an hour...in NYC...because she couldn't afford it.  Yet in the past month she's spent an easy 10 grand between the trip, clothes, and now the new phone....she can't afford 8-10 dollar a week to give the woman that takes care of her parents part time so she doesn't have to deal with them...yet she can throw away a $300 pair of sneakers without the bat of an eye.....I seriously need out of this place

You can start an eBay reselling business with her cast-offs! Used shoes sell really well on eBay. :)

[mm1970]

My friends and I have a group chat (groupme). Just like a big group text where everyone can respond and add pictures and stuff.
Anyways, this went down as a few friends were complaining about Mondays:

Friend 1: Come to think of it, why did Garfield hate Mondays? He's a cat with no job. He should have no care about the days of the week.
Me: That's my life goal. Retire early so I don't have to complain about it being Monday!
Friend 2: By that time all you'll have to complain about are your ailments.
Me: Not when I'm 40 and retired!

Silence.

Conversation went on to how one of my friends father just retired and he's thrilled because he can help out on a friend's farm. Another friends father was an engineer and decided to go back to school to become a high school teacher. He LOVES his job now; he has the whole summer off where he bikes/canoes/does tons of outdoor stuff, plus he has all the snow days off!

Anyways, I can't believe that my friends are that out of hope when they're not even 30. They just expect that they're going to be working till they're old and out of shape and in pain all day.

In their defense, the joint pain, injuries, etc. started at 39.5 for me.

[galliver]

Last night I was walking from my office to the campus gym for yoga and saw an idling car. 1 hour later, it was still there. No one inside. I hope it wasn't actually on the whole time, but I suspect it was. :(

I could name 6 bars on my college campus (not affiliated with the university though), and I'm probably missing a couple.  It was a fairly big party school though, but also had a good engineering program!  I went for the engineering program... Its University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign if you're curious.

Class of 2005 here. Off the top of my head -
Murphys
Brothers
Kams
CO's
Firehaus
Legends
Illini Inn
Clybourne

Then some more out of the way stuff, cowboy monkey and others. I feel like I'm missing some.

Green street/campustown is not part of campus...just adjacent. I don't think UIUC has an actual on-campus campus bar/pub. Many coffeeshops, though.

[infogoon]

Last night I was walking from my office to the campus gym for yoga and saw an idling car. 1 hour later, it was still there. No one inside. I hope it wasn't actually on the whole time, but I suspect it was. :(

Someone's child might have gotten a hold of the keyfob with the remote starter button. It happens.

[gimp]

Cop cars idle... all the time. On one hand, it annoys me, but on the other, I understand the need. Though I do laugh when I see one idling empty outside a donut shop.

I'll be glad when they're using newer engines that can start on a dime and give you power pretty much immediately. (How those work without drastically reducing the engine life is another question, but a different topic. I don't know enough so I'm pretty curious.)

But when normal people idle... bleh. A lot of towns/cities these days are putting in no-idle ordinances.

[flyfig]

Well, talk about a commute -

One of my coworkers lives in the Bay Area and works here on the Central Coast.  He used to stay in a hotel here and fly home weekly.  He's an engineer, and probably overpaid for his worth.  His wife makes 3x what he does in the Bay Area.

Anyway, he joined this new "all you can fly" service.  For only $1600-1800/month, direct flights (private charter), one hour.  So he flies home every night and flies back every morning.  Then again, a 1 BR apartment is about $1500, so maybe he's not all that crazy.

I actually looked into it as I and DH live in 2 different cities. It's only worth it if you want to commute by car+plane +car every day. We visit every 2 weeks um, no, not for us. http://www.surfair.com/

[RyanAtTanagra]

Last night I was walking from my office to the campus gym for yoga and saw an idling car. 1 hour later, it was still there. No one inside. I hope it wasn't actually on the whole time, but I suspect it was. :(

Once about 15 years ago I met my parents for dinner and afterwards couldn't find my keys.  Went to see if I locked them in my car only to find the car both unlocked and still running.  My parents were a little worried as to what I was getting into at college after that.  Was winter too, with the heat running, the plastic parts were almost melting.  I had to ride home w/ the windows down due to the interior radiating so much heat.

I'll be glad when they're using newer engines that can start on a dime and give you power pretty much immediately. (How those work without drastically reducing the engine life is another question, but a different topic. I don't know enough so I'm pretty curious.)

I've wondered that too, only thing I can figure is an electric pump keeps the oil flowing to the important parts when the ignition is on but the gas engine isn't running.

[jordanread]

Cop cars idle... all the time. On one hand, it annoys me, but on the other, I understand the need. Though I do laugh when I see one idling empty outside a donut shop.

I'll be glad when they're using newer engines that can start on a dime and give you power pretty much immediately. (How those work without drastically reducing the engine life is another question, but a different topic. I don't know enough so I'm pretty curious.)

But when normal people idle... bleh. A lot of towns/cities these days are putting in no-idle ordinances.

I don't really understand the need. For the most part, I haven't found cops to be all that timely, or useful by the time they actually do show up. That however, is neither here nor there.

My little brother is a commercial truck driver, and for a while was over the road. One of the things that I thought was really cool was the way the engines were setup. There is like a 'sleep' mode for sleeping in the cab. It keeps the engine off, but when the temp drops, it starts it up in some weird mode just to make sure the driver doesn't freeze. Just a really neat piece of technology that I didn't even know existed.

Also, don't the newer Priuses (Prius', Pri-i, Priusi?) or some other hybrid have that 'feature' where they turn off at stoplights?

[RyanAtTanagra]

Well, talk about a commute -

One of my coworkers lives in the Bay Area and works here on the Central Coast.  He used to stay in a hotel here and fly home weekly.  He's an engineer, and probably overpaid for his worth.  His wife makes 3x what he does in the Bay Area.

Anyway, he joined this new "all you can fly" service.  For only $1600-1800/month, direct flights (private charter), one hour.  So he flies home every night and flies back every morning.  Then again, a 1 BR apartment is about $1500, so maybe he's not all that crazy.

I actually looked into it as I and DH live in 2 different cities. It's only worth it if you want to commute by car+plane +car every day. We visit every 2 weeks um, no, not for us. http://www.surfair.com/

That's what I was thinking.  The hour flight time wouldn't be bad, it's like taking transit, you read/work/sleep whatever, but you still have to drive to and from the airport on each side of the flight, which has to be at least 30 minutes each with getting to/from your car and out of the airport.  If I could take an hour long helicopter ride from my work rooftop to my back yard, that would be acceptable.

[dragoncar]

Last night I was walking from my office to the campus gym for yoga and saw an idling car. 1 hour later, it was still there. No one inside. I hope it wasn't actually on the whole time, but I suspect it was. :(

Someone's child might have gotten a hold of the keyfob with the remote starter button. It happens.

remote starter = Antimustachian Wall of Shame and Comedy

[galliver]

So, the car was in a campus building (non-residential) parking lot. Probably not a child paying with it.  Not a cop car. Newer model.

I suppose if you're having battery/starter issues, you might leave your car to idle. Or by stupid mistake. But I seem to see cars idling around campus and on my way home all the time here. Almost every day (usually I'm just passing, though, so I have no idea how long it's there). Everyone can't have extenuating circumstances, can they??

[Timmmy]

Well, talk about a commute -

One of my coworkers lives in the Bay Area and works here on the Central Coast.  He used to stay in a hotel here and fly home weekly.  He's an engineer, and probably overpaid for his worth.  His wife makes 3x what he does in the Bay Area.

Anyway, he joined this new "all you can fly" service.  For only $1600-1800/month, direct flights (private charter), one hour.  So he flies home every night and flies back every morning.  Then again, a 1 BR apartment is about $1500, so maybe he's not all that crazy.

I actually looked into it as I and DH live in 2 different cities. It's only worth it if you want to commute by car+plane +car every day. We visit every 2 weeks um, no, not for us. http://www.surfair.com/

That's what I was thinking.  The hour flight time wouldn't be bad, it's like taking transit, you read/work/sleep whatever, but you still have to drive to and from the airport on each side of the flight, which has to be at least 30 minutes each with getting to/from your car and out of the airport.  If I could take an hour long helicopter ride from my work rooftop to my back yard, that would be acceptable.

BIL's boss actually does this.  It shaves over an hour off his commute IIRC.  He apparently wanted to live in the country but moving his business didn't make sense.  Commuting by helicopter makes the most sense.  He also volunteers with local law enforcement for search and rescue with it so it's labeled as a police heli. 

Last night I was walking from my office to the campus gym for yoga and saw an idling car. 1 hour later, it was still there. No one inside. I hope it wasn't actually on the whole time, but I suspect it was. :(

Someone's child might have gotten a hold of the keyfob with the remote starter button. It happens.

remote starter = Antimustachian Wall of Shame and Comedy

I drive about 100 yards and then enter the freeway.  I use my remote start to make sure the engine isn't ice cold when I merge in to 70mph traffic thereby extending the life of the engine.  I've had a few instances where the faster highway speeds cause water to freeze on my previously clear windshield causing me to have little to no vision.  I'll keep my remote start.

I also use it to keep my dogs warm/cool if I have to run in to a store on a road trip.

[Eric]

Also, don't the newer Priuses (Prius', Pri-i, Priusi?) or some other hybrid have that 'feature' where they turn off at stoplights?

The Prius, like most (all?) hybrids, only uses the gas engine at higher speeds.  At lower speeds, it's an electric motor.  So when the car is not moving, the motor isn't running.  It's not a feature so much as how an electric motor works.

[Zamboni]

If you let a Prius sit long enough with the key in the ignition, then the engine will cycle on and off periodically.  I discovered this by accident once:  arrived at my destination, got distracted fumbling about with something before getting out of the car, and then accidentally left the key in the ignition and in the on position.  That last part is easier to do in a hybrid than you think because yes, the engine shuts off when you stop moving, so there's no engine sound to remind you the car is on. 

Thankfully it was really short time inside before I realized I couldn't find my keys.  Went outside to see if I had left the keys on the car seat to find, to my horror, that the engine was running.  I'd feel like a total jackass for doing this, but my other half has also done it once with the Prius, which makes me feel slightly less senile.