47 thoughts on “March 25, 2019: Winning Ticket”

    1. I'm assuming this is a lottery comment. But I'm gonna hijack and continue the actual taxes conversation we started on here the other day, as it's looking like I'm one of the folks who is getting hit by the new structure. Last year I was able to put $2k into a retirement account and as a result got a rebate. This year I have to pay in and don't get that benefit. I think our actual tax total is almost identical to last year, as was our income, but we've definitely been hit by some of the specific deductions. Saving for the future and getting a tax benefit for that was awful nice.

        1. but did it change your giving behavior?

          I had this conversation with my dad yesterday. The expectation of non-deductability didn't change our giving this year (nor his; he's not had enough deductions to itemize for several years). But I would have to guess that the change will have an impact on charitable giving.

          1. I think this is a great question. I can't speak to the impact re: annual income taxes, but I've seen that the increase in the estate tax exemption has affected end-of-life giving. Of course, I'm really basing that off of my limited experience, so... I suppose I can't speak to that in the broader sense either. Nevermind me...

          2. but did it change your giving behavior?
            Hell no, but it will affect some, I'm sure, and it bothers me a lot that when due to government cutbacks we're picking up the slack in helping underprivileged or disaster relief, for example, and even that gets hit. I'll still be a cheerful giver, but the extra benefit of the deduction was nice.

          3. Considering the amount of giving normally done at the end of the year, I think it will need affected.

  2. Wild Playoff Watch: The More Things Change Edition

    PLACE TEAM GAMES POINTS
    WC1 Dallas 75 82
    WC2 Colorado 76 81
    --- Minnesota 76 79
    --- Arizona 76 79
    --- Chicago 75 76

    Colorado is on fire and passed the Wild, who split their games this weekend.

    Dallas and Arizona seem to be in free fall, and the Wild play both of them before the season is over. That might be their last best hope.

    TODAY:
    Minnesota vs. Nashville
    Dallas vs. Winnipeg

    TUESDAY:
    Chicago vs. Arizona

    WEDNESDAY:
    Dallas vs. Calgary
    Colorado vs. Las Vegas

    1. I want to shoot this whole stupid Wolves season out of a cannon. I might just skip the rest of the Wild season because I know they'll fall short (and because most of the time I'm wrong).

      1. If you're feeling down about the Wolves season, just remember that the best piece they got back in the Butler trade has missed the second half of the season because Tom Thibodeau played him stupid minutes immediately after he came back from a knee injury. Hooooowwwwwwwwl!

        Also, I haven't watched any Wild at all, but I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that you are correct in how the season will play out.

      2. I have watched about 10 Wild games this season, and maybe about 10 other random NHL games on NBCSN. I was pretty wishy washy about hockey in general this year, but the why and how surrounding Matt Dumba's injury (he "had to" fight a dude cuz dude was mad about some small grievance from a game 3 weeks before ) really turned me off.

  4. A reminder that we've got our fantasy draft set for tonight at 8 p.m. central.

    Looks like there might still be some teams without keepers set, though I'm not sure if there's still time to do that?

    1. I'm entering the keepers into the correct rounds right now. If I get more keepers, I'll do my best to get those entered, too.

      As another note, Devilbirds has one too many keepers selected, so if you don't want me to pick which one not to keep, let me know via email (or on here). Currently, I'm leaning towards not keeping Machado...

    3. I saw this earlier and I still totally spaced on it. I think it was mostly because my wife texted me at the last minute to inform me that she wasn't going to get home in time to take Trey to practice. Oh well. I think I got a decent team anyways after picking through the free agents.

  5. Twins are playing Rochester today but not really. It's Team Rosario vs. Team Cruz. I guess they got to set the lineups and will be managing at least the last 4 innings. I'd give the advantage to Rosario.

    3. Odo walked Astudillo, who then stole second base standing up. I'm guessing Odo was determined to see if he could either strike out or Astudillo or walk him (Astudillo had done neither this spring).

      2. Get used to days off for the next couple weeks. Exhibition tomorrow, then Wednesday off, then Opening Day Thursday, then Friday off before finally 2 games in a row before Monday day off.

      1. There is a presale going on right now for MPR members. There will be no other presale. Full line up will be announced April 9 and general public tickets go on sale April 11.

        Oh did I say that besides The Beths, The National (headliner), Alvvays, and J.S. Ondara will be playing?

  7. I have some extra tickets to the home opener, so if anyone is interested let me know via email (username + gmail). Or let me know here if you prefer.

    They're free and I'd rather give them to someone from here than sell them. Seats are in 117 row 22. CoC came with me last year and it was a blast, plus the weather looks to be much much better.

    1. Dang, I should call in sick (but won't). I think I'm going to try to hit Sunday's game.

      1. He was informed 2 days before his 30th birthday that he made the team. Former 37th round pick out of Austin Peay. Great story. I hope he sticks. He was in the majors a couple years ago with the Mariners but never got in a game. I'll be really pissed if Harper does well and they send him down anyways when Reed gets healthy.

  9. I've been trying real hard to stay positive since before the surgery and mostly succeeding, but today I had my cardiac rehab evaluation and couldn't muster enough strength to do more than a slow shuffle around the track. I still can't take a deep breath without pain that stops my inhale in its tracks. I can't sleep because of a random stabbing pain that pierces my left side like an arrow. I spent much of the afternoon in a Why Me funk of self pity. And I'm thinking it might be time to talk to somebody, as in a professional, because I've never felt so put upon by life. Not fishing for sympathy, but y'all need to know what a thoroughly miserable experience this is so you can do everything in your power to avoid it for yourselves and the people you love. If you have a family history, get to a doctor for a thorough screening. Do it immediately, make the call tomorrow. If you have other risk factors, fix them now. Don't wait. Seriously.

    1. Good advice, Twayn. I do have a family history and do get screened regularly, though I do need to make lifestyle changes to try to minimize the risk.

      Like doctors and bosses, I've had therapists that were terrible and therapists who really helped me quite a bit. Hope you can find one that's a good fit.

    2. I've been told how stents can almost immediately give improved stamina, but I can see how the invasiveness of the surgery can be debilitating when stents aren't an option. Hip replacement didn't have the pain as much as the frustration of the movement restrictions, but what it did have in common is the patience it requires until a return to normalacy. Like having Tony Batista on the roster: keep putting up with it, eventually it will go away.

    3. Thanks, Twayn.

      FWIW, my shoulder surgery experience, while not one where life was in the balance, seems vaguely similar. Before, the surgeon talked about how there would be a six-week recovery. After, he talked about six month recovery. At my next check-in, he said it would take a year. The truth was more like two. Rehab was a bitch and I began wondering how close to "normal" I would ever be again. Truth is, I will never get back to "normal," which I knew going in (given the amount of damage), but I am mostly pain free and with a high degree of function.

      This after 5-6 years, when the surgeon told me I would probably need a total replacement within 5 years. I am now hoping to get another 5-10 before I get to the replacement stage.

      Here's hoping you find someone to talk with, and the good days start outweighing the bad and the light at the end of the tunnel gets brighter without becoming an oncoming train.

    5. Wishing you continued resilience while your body recovers, and the strongest support behind you for these times when resilience isn’t enough. If you are thinking it might be time to talk to somebody, I encourage you to heed that need. I’ll be remembering you in my prayers.

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