Daily - Feb. 10, 2026

Previously…

Today’s recap

Alright, a pretty boring day. Started with ruffling some feathers with a shitpost and then going about my day.

My work day didn’t start until noon, so I ran a couple errands first. I hit Harbor Freight Tools for the plumbing stuff I need and grabbed a new knife for our pond restoration job that starts tomorrow. Went to the bank to deposit a check and then stopped at Lowe’s to grab some 1/4" tubing I forgot in my previous trip that we needed today.

Our job today was simple. We removed a emitter line drip system, that was no longer working for the homeowner, and installed a drip spray system. Now instead of having a grid of tubing all over two beds, there is a single drip tube along the back of the bed and 12" tall stakes with low flow sprays. It took about three hours and while we were there we went through the rest of the sprinkler system.

Got home and discussed our plan to replace the van with Wife. We planned on asking my sister for money, about $6,000, to purchase a replacement. We would then pay her back in monthly payments. We have made this arrangement with my sister when we purchased the van. When we bought the van borrowing money from her made sense. Rather than getting a bank loan, we asked her if she would finance us so it would save us money and hassle.

My sister (and her husband) is extremely successful and I’m proud of her. She currently works for a large tech company (her second one) and is paid well for her success. She makes more in one month than I do in six. When Wife and I discussed our options for replacing the van, we knew there was no way we could come up with the money. We either have to get a loan or ask family for help.

I hate it. I hate that we have to do this. Our money problems are a me problem. I’m the sole income for the house and I’m failing everyone. But, I know my sister wouldn’t tell me no.

In my discussion today with Wife I told her I can’t do it. I can’t ask my sister for money. Although I mentioned above that I hated asking her, there is a different reason. My sisters youngest, who is about eighteen months old, is about to go into his second open heart surgery. His first was just days after he was born. He has a congenital heart defect and will still need several heart surgeries in his life. This is just the second of many. I can’t ask her for money while she is also going planning a second heart surgery just three weeks from now.

I just can’t do it. Aside from timing, this is the good old U.S. of A. I have no idea what his care is costing them. I know they have insurance, but it is still probably costing them tens of thousands of dollars. I’m not asking her for money.

Obviously both her and her husbands family are rallying around them and helping every way we can. There is no way I can ask her for money while we are all figuring out how to help them and their other two kids through this surgery.

Dinner (tofu fried rice), bed time for the gorls, and then we can finish watching The Dark Knight Rises.

Projects

None today. All my brain power is being used up by money thoughts.

Daily gratitude

• I’m grateful for my sister. She is an amazing person.
• I am so glad we have a Harbor Freight Tools in my little town. Makes my life so much easier.
• I’ve been wearing compression socks when I get home from work and my legs feel so much better.

Tomorrow’s big thing(s)

No work. I’m meeting up with my SIL to sell him the car he currently drives. This should save him on car insurance and allow him to do what he wants with it. I think he’s going to trade it for something newer.

Loose thoughts

How do people afford stuff?

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