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Post by rockymtblue2 on Oct 11, 2023 11:54:27 GMT -5
It is now unofficially winter here in Montana. The Beartooth Highway was closed for the season yesterday. 68 miles of highway connecting Red Lodge and Cooke City, it offers the most easterly entrance to Yellowstone. Elevation 5500 to 10,947, it's a snow magnet and can have 26 foot snow drifts. Twisty, turny in some of the most spectacular mountain scenery there is. Ugh. Montana is off the list of potential retirement locales! People move here in summer and move away the following year. They tend not to believe advice about our harsh winters.
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Post by bulkey on Oct 11, 2023 12:00:27 GMT -5
Kevin Costner and his family have stuck it out for over 7 generations. Just sayin'...
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Post by pinotbear on Oct 11, 2023 12:05:51 GMT -5
It is now unofficially winter here in Montana. The Beartooth Highway was closed for the season yesterday. 68 miles of highway connecting Red Lodge and Cooke City, it offers the most easterly entrance to Yellowstone. Elevation 5500 to 10,947, it's a snow magnet and can have 26 foot snow drifts. Twisty, turny in some of the most spectacular mountain scenery there is. Rode the Beartooth in September, oh, 2018 probably. The "snowplows" I saw then looked like something out of a Mad Max movie. Not your neighbor's John Deere.
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Post by UConnChapette on Oct 11, 2023 12:36:26 GMT -5
Ugh. Montana is off the list of potential retirement locales! People move here in summer and move away the following year. They tend not to believe advice about our harsh winters. I lived in east central South Dakota for a time. Some of those winters were brutal. Below zero temps were common. I always laugh at people from Connecticut who complain when the temperatures get into the low 20s, let alone teens! I always want to say "you think this is cold? You don't know cold!"
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Post by rockymtblue2 on Oct 11, 2023 13:16:44 GMT -5
It is now unofficially winter here in Montana. The Beartooth Highway was closed for the season yesterday. 68 miles of highway connecting Red Lodge and Cooke City, it offers the most easterly entrance to Yellowstone. Elevation 5500 to 10,947, it's a snow magnet and can have 26 foot snow drifts. Twisty, turny in some of the most spectacular mountain scenery there is. Rode the Beartooth in September, oh, 2018 probably. The "snowplows" I saw then looked like something out of a Mad Max movie. Not your neighbor's John Deere. The spring operation to get the road open is something to see. We get mostly still pixs of this huge operation. It's gated closed until the operation is done and certified.
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Post by rockymtblue2 on Oct 11, 2023 13:19:24 GMT -5
Kevin Costner and his family have stuck it out for over 7 generations. Just sayin'... I have nothing but admiration for the cattle ranchers who tough it out year after decade after generation.
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Post by bulkey on Oct 11, 2023 20:44:28 GMT -5
Going to Washington DC Friday-Sunday for our niece's wedding. Hoping to check in here on First Night and learn of any recruits who attend!
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Post by UConnChapette on Oct 12, 2023 10:37:39 GMT -5
Oh boy. Drama in the workplace. The company announced a "Return to Office" policy last week, and the workforce is up in arms. The premise is to improve collaboration and more in-person time. Funny, a year ago senior leadership was praising how we have maintained productivity and performance, and we have proven we are just as successful under the remote work model as before the pandemic.
The reality is that the company risks losing those precious, and lucrative, tax breaks if they don't fill up the real estate.
The high points:
Impacts anyone who is within a 25 mile radius of seven sites countrywide. (Me) Anyone with pre-approved full-time work from home arrangements prior to the pandemic, those agreements are now null and void and those employees must now come into the office. (Me) No exceptions can be granted by your manager. You have to apply for an exception with the stated policy is that very FEW will be granted Requirement to work in office Tues, Wed, and Thurs Top tier managers (including my manager) will only have to come into the office four times a month. Managers will monitor badging reports. Employees not complying with coming in for 8 hours Tues, Wed and Thurs will be put on a performance plan. (Return to grade school and truancy officers anyone?)
This, on top of changes to benefits that will decrease take home pay, even before you consider the increased cost for gas, car maintenance, office appropriate clothing (I got rid of almost all my business casual clothing).
My company has been proudly touting how they are an inclusive, diverse, equitable company who truly cares about their employees and strives to support work/life balance. Well, that whole load of manure has just been spread out into the pasture growing employee dissatisfaction.
There is so much that is wrong with what they are doing from a "we care about our employees and supporting their work/life balance" perspective, becoming an authoritarian organization who cares not a whit about the impact to employees. The fact that they are hiding behind the "increasing collaboration, face-to-face time, blah blah blah" instead of being honest about it being financially motivated to retain tax breaks and limit tax liability is insulting. Man up! We are adults. Be honest. I would respect it a lot more if they were honest about it. The way they have done it gives the impression their employees are just a line item on the balance sheet. Which we are, of course. But during COVID they were all about taking care of their employees. Now? Do it our way or hit the highway.
Call me disgruntled.
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Post by rockymtblue2 on Oct 12, 2023 10:47:14 GMT -5
The work at home/office tension is impacting many. Tough choices for company and employee alike. Millions of square feet of office space are being jettisoned by companies who have decided to make the work at home model permanent.
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Post by chicagogg on Oct 12, 2023 10:47:58 GMT -5
Sounds like a good thing you have your retirement strategy in place (IIRC?). Major bummer.
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Post by bulkey on Oct 12, 2023 11:38:06 GMT -5
So very sorry, Chappy. It's all about exerting control and, as you say, real estate values. Hoping you are fully vaxxed and can get through this until, as chicagogg says, you're able to retire.
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Post by UConnChapette on Oct 12, 2023 11:45:06 GMT -5
If anything my retirement timeline may have escalated. Medicare eligibility is the single most important factor right now. That is a year away. I had every intention of sticking it out another 6 months to get the last bonus in March of 2025. But if the company has a bad year in the first three quarters next year, bonuses will be small and I might choose to just bail before that payout.
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Post by swash on Oct 12, 2023 15:29:01 GMT -5
Oh boy. Drama in the workplace. The company announced a "Return to Office" policy last week, and the workforce is up in arms. The premise is to improve collaboration and more in-person time. Funny, a year ago senior leadership was praising how we have maintained productivity and performance, and we have proven we are just as successful under the remote work model as before the pandemic. The reality is that the company risks losing those precious, and lucrative, tax breaks if they don't fill up the real estate. The high points: Impacts anyone who is within a 25 mile radius of seven sites countrywide. (Me) Anyone with pre-approved full-time work from home arrangements prior to the pandemic, those agreements are now null and void and those employees must now come into the office. (Me) No exceptions can be granted by your manager. You have to apply for an exception with the stated policy is that very FEW will be granted Requirement to work in office Tues, Wed, and Thurs Top tier managers (including my manager) will only have to come into the office four times a month. Managers will monitor badging reports. Employees not complying with coming in for 8 hours Tues, Wed and Thurs will be put on a performance plan. (Return to grade school and truancy officers anyone?) This, on top of changes to benefits that will decrease take home pay, even before you consider the increased cost for gas, car maintenance, office appropriate clothing (I got rid of almost all my business casual clothing). My company has been proudly touting how they are an inclusive, diverse, equitable company who truly cares about their employees and strives to support work/life balance. Well, that whole load of manure has just been spread out into the pasture growing employee dissatisfaction. There is so much that is wrong with what they are doing from a "we care about our employees and supporting their work/life balance" perspective, becoming an authoritarian organization who cares not a whit about the impact to employees. The fact that they are hiding behind the "increasing collaboration, face-to-face time, blah blah blah" instead of being honest about it being financially motivated to retain tax breaks and limit tax liability is insulting. Man up! We are adults. Be honest. I would respect it a lot more if they were honest about it. The way they have done it gives the impression their employees are just a line item on the balance sheet. Which we are, of course. But during COVID they were all about taking care of their employees. Now? Do it our way or hit the highway. Call me disgruntled. sorry for how this impacts you, Chappie. Not that you need ammo, but this is also coming when every company is having trouble finding enough good people.
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Post by vtcwbuff on Oct 12, 2023 18:23:24 GMT -5
"Do it our way or hit the highway."
Sounds like you have two choices - either suck it up and do what the company is demanding or quit.
I spent most of my productive adult life in the military. Some of the duty stations where I was assigned weren't exactly high on my list of jobs that I enjoyed. My mantra was always that no matter how bad it sucked, " I can do this sh*t standing on my head."
My advice - do what you need to do to reach your goal. Fretting about it will only give you ulcers, although venting here is probably good therapy.
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Post by knightsbridgeaz on Oct 12, 2023 20:10:42 GMT -5
If anything my retirement timeline may have escalated. Medicare eligibility is the single most important factor right now. That is a year away. I had every intention of sticking it out another 6 months to get the last bonus in March of 2025. But if the company has a bad year in the first three quarters next year, bonuses will be small and I might choose to just bail before that payout. Sounds simply awful, not just the idea of returning to the office but the sort of nanny state affair they seem to be arranging. Medicare is a challenge. I'm still covered under my wife's disability, so I didn't have much choice, they put me in a Medicare advantage plan and they pay me my premium. But - my wife just found out that Mayo is no longer going to accept advantage plans, only supplemental plans. But obviously doesn't want to lose her medical benefit as she is nearing transition from disability to "retirement" in a couple years. So my advice is - pick carefully when the time comes and consider your options.
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Post by rockymtblue2 on Oct 13, 2023 7:54:54 GMT -5
Well, they closed the Beartooth Highway in the nick of time. Red Lodge Ski Resort at one end of the Highway got over 14 inches of nthe white stuff last night and more predicted.
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Post by chicagogg on Oct 13, 2023 7:59:53 GMT -5
Well, they closed the Beartooth Highway in the nick of time. Red Lodge Ski Resort at one end of the Highway got over 14 inches of nthe white stuff last night and more predicted. OMG, and we haven't even had frost yet in central CT. How are things closer to you, Rocky? As I recall, you live in pretty wide open spaces.....
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Post by rockymtblue2 on Oct 13, 2023 11:54:19 GMT -5
Well, they closed the Beartooth Highway in the nick of time. Red Lodge Ski Resort at one end of the Highway got over 14 inches of nthe white stuff last night and more predicted. OMG, and we haven't even had frost yet in central CT. How are things closer to you, Rocky? As I recall, you live in pretty wide open spaces..... I'm 16 miles west of Bozeman in SW Montana. The Bridger Mountains are our NE view. They actually catch a fair amount of snow for us during the season. Bozeman lies in the very easterly end of the Gallatin Valley and weather tends to stack up there. Our little town is in a wide part of the valley, but only if you consider the Horseshoe Hills which rise up to 5600+ as valley. We are about 4600 I think. Beautiful countryside, but Bozeman is one of the fastest growing small cities in the US and the cost of living has grown outrageously.
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Post by vtcwbuff on Oct 13, 2023 15:11:18 GMT -5
I've been to Montana three times. Once in the late 80's to visit Yellowstone and twice for the trout fishing at least 50+ years ago. I'm sure that like everything else it has changed and probably not for the best. My memory is fuzzy but I think one of the rivers we float fished was the Galatin. I remember it as beautiful country but if I lived there now I would want a winter place somewhere warmer.
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Post by rockymtblue2 on Oct 13, 2023 21:33:55 GMT -5
I've been to Montana three times. Once in the late 80's to visit Yellowstone and twice for the trout fishing at least 50+ years ago. I'm sure that like everything else it has changed and probably not for the best. My memory is fuzzy but I think one of the rivers we float fished was the Galatin. I remember it as beautiful country but if I lived there now I would want a winter place somewhere warmer. I live virtually on the Gallatin but have never floated it. It is a challenging float. I wade fish it. My favorite local float is the Lower Madison. It teems with fish and between June and August pretty huge numbers of tube floaters.
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Post by vtcwbuff on Oct 13, 2023 22:06:12 GMT -5
I had a very close high school friend that decided to visit Montana after HS graduation and before going on to college. He wanted to spend the summer trout fishing. He never returned to VT and never went on to college. He ended up as a successful trout fishing guide and was probably the most content of any of my friends. The weeks I spent in Montana fishing with him are favorite memories. We lost touch many years ago but I sometimes think of him especially when reading your Montana posts.
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Post by rockymtblue2 on Oct 14, 2023 19:32:11 GMT -5
I had a very close high school friend that decided to visit Montana after HS graduation and before going on to college. He wanted to spend the summer trout fishing. He never returned to VT and never went on to college. He ended up as a successful trout fishing guide and was probably the most content of any of my friends. The weeks I spent in Montana fishing with him are favorite memories. We lost touch many years ago but I sometimes think of him especially when reading your Montana posts. Not an unfamiliar story out here. Out of state comes to Montana State and gets drawn to the rivers and the slopes. Becomes a guide. Not an easy life and some years mother nature beats up your bookings, BUT if you are doing what you love.
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Post by huskyharper on Oct 18, 2023 11:34:40 GMT -5
HI all, missed you for the last couple of weeks. went up to Maine and had a wonderful time. watched 1st night on my kindle, could've used less talking heads and their audio with the camera on the players. can't hardly wait for the season. what's up with Youtube tv and sny? anyone know how I go about watching this year? Prime and SNY? if I have to, I'll subscribe to SNY directly (if possible) and watch via computer. May have to do that anyway in January in Texas
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Post by bulkey on Oct 18, 2023 11:36:38 GMT -5
HI all, missed you for the last couple of weeks. went up to Maine and had a wonderful time. watched 1st night on my kindle, could've used less talking heads and their audio with the camera on the players. can't hardly wait for the season. what's up with Youtube tv and sny? anyone know how I go about watching this year? Prime and SNY? if I have to, I'll subscribe to SNY directly (if possible) and watch via computer. May have to do that anyway in January in Texas Welcome back from Maine. I'm sure that was great. Looks like youtube will not be carrying SNY. Right now, looks like Hulu TV is the best bet for that (same price). Hoping we all post on this here: uconnterritory.freeforums.net/thread/12362/links-televised-schedule-replays-media
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Post by chicagogg on Oct 21, 2023 10:44:16 GMT -5
We're leaving for 10 days in London tomorrow night. Very excited. We enjoyed ourselves so much in April, that we leapt at the chance to go back. Looking forward to immersing ourselves in museums,having a proper Sunday roast dinner, and the highlight of it all - The Carmina Burana in the Royal Albert Hall with two orchestras and 9 choral groups. Definitely a bucket list item. (humming -And now we'll know how many holes it takes to fill the Albert Hall....!)
I will miss the board, and hope to see lots of interesting posts when I get back just before the first exhibition game. Also hoping that the discussions are just that,discussions, with a little less acrimony...JMHO. Toodles!
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