Tuesday Evening Something-or-Anothers
By Four Walls
@FourWalls (86575)
United States
October 24, 2023 7:27pm CST
Today was gorgeous. By the time I got out of my dental cleaning appointment the clouds had rolled in, but that didn’t stop the day from being great. Before my appointment I walked around the grounds of the VA hospital, trekking over a mile according to my phone pedometer. And, as you can see from the photo, there was plenty of beautiful scenery to look at while I was walking!!
Thursday I go back for my hearing test and to pick out what hearing aids I want. They said they’ll be ordered and here in a month. How cool! I was reading on the company’s website that these newer models can be programmed via Bluetooth to the smart TV or the iPad as well as the phone. Now if they can just be programmed to do the dishes for me. 
I must say I loved the outcome of the American League championship series. I still have a bad taste in my mouth from the cheating scandal the Houston Astros had in 2017. Yes, I think their championship last year was “legitimate,” but after someone’s caught cheating you always have suspicion. As I type this the D-Backs are up 1-0 on the Phillies, which also makes me happy. I love Schwarber from his days with the Cubs, and Nick Castillanos was with the Reds. The Philly Fanatic is unquestionably the best mascot in sports. But there’s just something about the Philadelphia sports scene that rubs me the wrong way. Oh, well. I was hoping for a Braves/Rays or Braves/Orioles series, so what do I know. 
I had a laugh today, and not in a good way. An ad came up for a local car dealership, saying you could lease a new Ram truck for about $1200 a month….not to mention nearly TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS due at lease signing. Are they nuts???? Hey, if anyone can actually afford that, more power to ‘em! For comparison, $1,200 would pay for my last car payment, my last house payment, and everything else (utilities, etc.) with about $300 left over!!!
I’m glad I love my car, because with those prices I’m going to be keeping mine for a long time!
I hope you have a great evening or day! 
I must say I loved the outcome of the American League championship series. I still have a bad taste in my mouth from the cheating scandal the Houston Astros had in 2017. Yes, I think their championship last year was “legitimate,” but after someone’s caught cheating you always have suspicion. As I type this the D-Backs are up 1-0 on the Phillies, which also makes me happy. I love Schwarber from his days with the Cubs, and Nick Castillanos was with the Reds. The Philly Fanatic is unquestionably the best mascot in sports. But there’s just something about the Philadelphia sports scene that rubs me the wrong way. Oh, well. I was hoping for a Braves/Rays or Braves/Orioles series, so what do I know.
I had a laugh today, and not in a good way. An ad came up for a local car dealership, saying you could lease a new Ram truck for about $1200 a month….not to mention nearly TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS due at lease signing. Are they nuts???? Hey, if anyone can actually afford that, more power to ‘em! For comparison, $1,200 would pay for my last car payment, my last house payment, and everything else (utilities, etc.) with about $300 left over!!!
I’m glad I love my car, because with those prices I’m going to be keeping mine for a long time!
I hope you have a great evening or day! 13 people like this
13 responses
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 Oct 23
I was just talked no to @porwest about the high cost of new vehicles. I’m certainly glad I love my old truck enough to keep it as long as possible
I’m a big Ray’s fan, I would have loved to see them in the World Series this year. Oh well, maybe next year.
2 people like this
@FourWalls (86575)
• United States
26 Oct 23
I’d love to see the Rays win a title. The AL East is murder, though (three teams from the AL East made the playoffs [and joy oh joy, the Y*nk**s weren’t one of them!! 
), and this season has proved the old adage that anything can happen in the playoffs.
My brother just dropped $1500 on a contaminated brake line on his car, but that’s two months’ car payments anymore. 
), and this season has proved the old adage that anything can happen in the playoffs.
My brother just dropped $1500 on a contaminated brake line on his car, but that’s two months’ car payments anymore. 1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 Oct 23
@FourWalls I’d rather pay for maintenance every once in a while instead of an overinflated car payment every month.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (174208)
• United States
25 Oct 23
When I drove to Monett this afternoon to get my allergy shots, I was noticing all the bright yellow and orange foliage along the way. I did miss seeing all the bright red foliage of the maple trees but it looks like they turned brown and have fallen off already. Such a shame... the red maple leaves are my favorite ones.
I hope you enjoy the rest of your evening/night ahead.
2 people like this
@FourWalls (86575)
• United States
25 Oct 23
Is it peak there yet? Might they not be out yet? I hate missing the red and purple leaves, they’re my favorites.
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (174208)
• United States
25 Oct 23
@FourWalls Missouri Conservation site says the peak of the foliage season has already passed for us but most of the leaves here are still dark green.
3 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (135583)
• Marion, Ohio
25 Oct 23
Lovely trees. I am shocked at how much vehicles are now
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86575)
• United States
25 Oct 23
It’s simply gorgeous here right now. That vicious cycle of supply and demand is eventually going to price cars out of reach, meaning people are going to hold on to their cars longer and that’ll force the prices back down.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86575)
• United States
26 Oct 23
@wolfgirl569 — with these prices I can understand why!
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (135583)
• Marion, Ohio
25 Oct 23
@FourWalls I don't know anyone driving a new one
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86575)
• United States
25 Oct 23
I’d love to go for a quick jaunt for foliage viewing…then I look at my appointment calendar and say, “Nope. Too many doctor’s appointments.” Hope Vince’s health is good and they’re “check-ups” the way mine are.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86575)
• United States
26 Oct 23
@JudyEv — colonoscopies are crappy.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Oct 23
@FourWalls Mostly check-ups at the moment. A two-yearly colonoscopy coming up.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222222)
• United States
25 Oct 23
Lovely photo. I'm glad you will be getting your hearing aids. Car prices today are out of sight. I hope you have a great day too.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86575)
• United States
25 Oct 23
I’m thinking my next car will be a street-legal golf cart to get me to and from Chuy’s.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222222)
• United States
25 Oct 23
@FourWalls lol You can't take it on long trips though!
1 person likes this
@porwest (112717)
• United States
27 Oct 23
$1200 a MONTH???? Yes. They ARE nuts. I bought my 2018 Ford F-150 XLT in 2020 with 26k miles on it for $32k, put $13k down and my payment is $386 a month, and even THAT'S too high if you ask me. But the financing I got was a good enough deal compared to my cash prospects at the time, so it worked out. But that's just nuts to me. AND the fact that its a LEASE. You don't even own the damn car! Get out of here. They've lot their minds!
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86575)
• United States
27 Oct 23
I’ve seen videos on You Tube talking about how those $100K trucks are just sitting there, collecting dust, because people simply cannot (or WILL not) pay that. It’s bad enough that the car I’m driving now (which I bought just after the lockdown ended, which in hindsight was the perfect time to buy a new car) was sticker priced at $31K.
A few years ago I wrote a discussion about the rise of SUVs (or CUVs, which is technically what I drive) maybe putting an end to the “sedan” style. Now, with the sedans being the only thing “affordable,” they may make a huge comeback.
1 person likes this
@porwest (112717)
• United States
28 Oct 23
@FourWalls Lots of overflows of stock for sure. I know from time to time there are deals on brand new vehicles that are two or three years old. Eventually they have to get rid of them. I don't imagine they junk them.
I think some are offered in deals to corporate fleets or rental car companies.
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (51811)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
25 Oct 23
New vehicles cost too much, especially when you consider the ones made in Mexico where the workers get paid something like $1.50/hr...
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86575)
• United States
25 Oct 23
I’ve never understood the mentality of the autoworkers union. Somebody makes $100,000 a year and they aren’t happy because the “company” showed “record profits.” I’ve long thought that the standard definition of “a rich person” that the average American uses is “someone who makes $1 more than you do.”
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (51811)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
25 Oct 23
@FourWalls Yeah, that's about right... 
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (208746)
• United States
25 Oct 23
Beautiful here too and will be for the next several days. Almost hot on Saturday good day to go to the mountains. The cost of everything these days is simply outrageous.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (208746)
• United States
26 Oct 23
@FourWalls That's right it's a no win game.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86575)
• United States
26 Oct 23
It is what it is. People wanted an increase in wages. We tried to warn them prices would increase exponentially.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (91299)
• United States
25 Oct 23
Lovely, glad you are having a great time.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86575)
• United States
25 Oct 23
It was a great walk. I have to go back up there tomorrow for my hearing test, so another walk around the parking lot (if it’s not raining…I think they’ve taken the rain chance out).
@FourWalls (86575)
• United States
25 Oct 23
Think about it: the average social security check is $1,500 a month. How can someone live with a four-digit car payment? Of course, that was for a Ram truck, and I don’t see too many grandmas out there buying a Ram pickup.
My husband told me that our car is going to last for a long time, possibly our last car considering his age.
The prices of new cars are crazy@LadyDuck (502187)
• Italy
26 Oct 23
@FourWalls - Most companies offer an interesting lease system here. They sell the car, it is registered in your name, you pay a monthly amount during 5 years and everything is covered, including insurance.
Last year we gave back our previous car, the amount they calculated it was worth, went as a first deposit for the new car and now we are fully covered for the new car with a payment of $ 300 a month.
Four years from now we can decide if to keep the car or exchange for a new one. IF my husband will still be good enough, we keep this one, as we only use the car to go grocery shopping now.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (97912)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
25 Oct 23
I hope you have a good evening, Lovely autumn colors in the photo, Hope you get the kind of hearing aid you need.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86575)
• United States
25 Oct 23
These newer ones sound like they will do the trick. And I fully understand the problems my dear mother of blessed memory had with her arthritic hands.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (44560)
• United States
25 Oct 23
The trees are still pretty here for the most part. If you find a hearing aid brand that will clean bathrooms, let me know. Mine are getting old, but they're so expensive. I'll never understand why our health insurance won't pay anything on them.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86575)
• United States
25 Oct 23
I agree. Hearing, vision, and dental are not “luxuries.”
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (44560)
• United States
25 Oct 23
@FourWalls Tell the insurance companies to try not hearing, not seeing, and have no teeth and see if they still consider them luxuries.
1 person likes this
