u/catsaway9

Edit to answer some questions: The $450/mo cash in lieu is in our union contract. I should have noticed I wasn't getting it but I'm living with my parents and putting all my money towards student loans so I didn't focus on the specific amount of each paycheck - my mistake. Tbh this is my first real job and it seemed like a lot of money so I didn't notice it wasn't all there. I didn't realize this was a rare benefit because my mom has gotten it at most of the companies she's worked for. In my district the $450/mo applies if you get health insurance through a spouse or a parent.

Original post:

I started working full time for a public school district in California in fall 2025.

I'm still covered by my parents' health insurance, so I opted out of the district's healthcare coverage.

I was supposed to get a payment of $450 per month for opting out.

However, the day I was supposed to meet with the HR rep to finalize all the benefits paperwork, the HR rep didn't show up. We had already drafted all of my paperwork the week before, so when they didn't show up, I didn't worry about it, I just assumed that they would file what we had already agreed upon.

However as I am doing the paperwork now for the coming year, I've realized that I haven't been receiving the $450 monthly payment for opting out of health care coverage.

The HR pserson says there's nothing they can do about it at this point.

Is that right?

The school district didn't have to pay for my health care, so what happened to that money? They should have paid me, but since they didn't, do they just get to keep it? I feel that they should still owe it to me, but I don't know how to proceed.

Is there anything I can do?

That's a lot of money, especially with all my student loans.

I have a virtual to use and I know where I want to place it, but I'm having trouble deciding which specific spot(s) to highlight. There are three I'd like to include. Two of them are very close together, and one is about a quarter mile away. They're locations that a visitor to this destination would probably go, anyway. Is three stops too many? I would keep the questions brief, maybe one question per location.

My spouse is a woodworker and is designing a little free library for me.

The initial plans call for it to be 16" tall x 16" wide and I forget how deep, with one shelf.

I think it's too short. If the shelf divides it in half, that's less than 8" per shelf, which would only fit paperbacks at best.

The shelves will be adjustable, but if we make one taller to fit hardbacks or picture books, then the other one will be too short to really hold anything.

Honestly it's a pet peeve when the books in a little free library are sideways, so I really want to avoid that.

It's just in the planning stages and we can adjust the dimensions, I'm just not sure what they should be. I'll measure a variety of books to get an idea, but I thought I'd ask here as well.

There used to be a website, yfiles (not sure of the spelling) where you could ask things you were curious about on topics that are usually off-limits in polite society.

Questions were asked and answered in good faith on all subjects - religion, politics, sexual orientation, race, gender identity, culture, and niche social communities of all kinds.

It must have had monitors to shut down hate speech, because the dialog was very civil / respectful.

The only question I can remember is, "Why does white people's hair smell like a wet dog when it's wet?" Lol

I can't find the site on Internet archives, but I figure if it's gone anywhere, it's on reddit.

I'm trying to register 2 people for the event and buy a passport.

I'll select one thing, add it to the cart, then select the next thing, but at that point the shopping cart is empty again - it no longer has the first item.

Does each item need to be a separate transaction?

I've tried two browsers (Firefox and Chrome) and made an account and logged in.

We're just starting to plan a 10-day trip in June 2027.

I love the idea of a self-guided walking tour, where someone else moves your luggage while you stroll to the next b&b. Our first priority is Wales, with a possible extension to Ireland. Has anyone done this and do you have any recommendations?

65F, 5'8", 180#, non-smoker, in good health except for joint pain, high blood pressure, and spondylolisthesis.

I consulted my PCP about knee pain and just received this message:

"I reviewed the results of your x-rays of your knees. They both show mild-moderate degenerative changes (arthritic changes), the right is worse than the left. I can submit a referral to physical therapy if you wish to pursue this option. Another option is a sports medicine consultation, Dr. S, in our office, can provide further care including providing injections to help with pain management. Finally, I can refer you to an orthopedic doctor if you would like to review your options for treatment."

What's my best option / combination of options? In addition to my knees, I do have other joint pain, particularly hips and hands, that I'd like to have assessed.

I'm thinking I might like to see an ortho to establish that relationship and get a baseline for future comparison (as my joints worsen), is that reasonable, or a waste of time?

I do want PT, so I can learn how to strengthen the structures that support the knees and other joints, and figure out which ways of moving are safer for my joints. Not sure if I should ask for that now, or wait until I see an ortho or sports med dr.

I don't know anything about sports medicine and how it could benefit me. I'm not athletic but I do like to hike and that's a big reason I want to deal with this knee pain. But I'm not at the point of wanting injections.

I was expecting her to recommend something, not leave it up to me. Lol

I was debating gathering a bunch of books to restock it, but I wonder if someone just takes them and sells them, because it was literally empty.

Would it help if I wrote in them?

I had a Dr visit today and I'm down 40 pounds from last year.

The scale has been problematic for me - if I'm following my plan but don't see the results that I want on the scale, I get discouraged and quit. Conversely, if I haven't been great about following my plan, yet see good progress on the scale, I treat it like a license to eat whatever I want.

So in Feb 2025, I stopped weighing myself. I kept a food journal and tracked calories for the first six months, and I judged how it was going by how my clothes fit.

I could tell I had lost weight because I went down 4 sizes. I guestimated it was about 40 pounds because they say every 10 pounds is about one size.

I think I continued to lose a bit more because my clothes got a bit looser, but to be honest they've started to tighten up again in the past couple months.

I was probably down 45 or maybe even 50 pounds a few months ago, so I'm disappointed that I let the weight start to creep back a bit, but knowing I'm still down 40 pounds has re-energized me.

I'm ready to get back on track and lose another 20 pounds. Woohoo!

I live out of state and want to order some sort of gift basket for a relative in Quincy. There are plenty of online options, but I'd prefer to order from a locally-owned business. Any recommendations?

Front page story in today's Champion:

"Secret recording of teacher played at board meeting."

The teacher was pointing out that the History Rocks 250 assembly was presenting fake, white-washed history. (The group behind the assembly is a conglomeration of known far-right, Christian nationalist, white supremacist groups. The assembly was scheduled without giving parents advance warning of the content so that they could opt out if desired.)

The head of the school board played the audio, which was recorded by an unknown student without the teacher's knowledge or consent and played without context, then went on a rant about the "communist" teacher "sabotaging America."

The teacher has supposedly been put on leave for the rest of the year. I wouldn't be surprised if they try to fire him.

I hate this school district so much. I wish I could afford to move to somewhere they actually value education and put the students first.

My niece just had a second child and I'd like to get some sort of matching gifts for both kids.

Both are boys, the older one is 2.5yrs and the younger was born about a month ago.

My budget is under $50 per child if possible. Looking for any and all suggestions!