Belyea

My partner and I own a house (the mortgage is in both our names) and our monthly expenses, which we split evenly, total about $1300 combined.

If I apply for a small personal loan under my own name and they ask what my expenses are (mortgage, utilities, etc.) can I say it's half of the $1300 (since I only pay half) or do I have say my expenses are $1300 ?

With the claim made by Christine Blasey Ford, why does the FBI have to investigate this and not the police ? Is it because Kavanagh is a nominee for the supreme court ?

If he was just a 'no one' and she was a 'no one' wouldn't she go to the police ?

Doing some family research and found out my great aunt (who was quiet wealthy) arrived in Puerto Rico in 1917. She was American, never married and frankly, can t quite figure out what the appeal of Puerto Rico would have been in that era for a 28 year old New England spinster..

Was it a tourist destination for the wealthy ?

Any thoughts ?

At my work, the support staff have a daily task to perform at a certain time every morning at 8:15AM (what the task is, and why we do it is not relevant). One of the support staff, I'll call her Mary, doesn't come in until 8:30AM and I said to that person "I guess you won't be doing (this task) since you don't come until later. She stated that if it is part of her job, she will do it because it is required.

Yesterday and today, I was pulled aside by two senior leaders who inquired if I knew anything about the 'rumor' that this employee would not be doing the task. I explained that I had a conversation with Mary and that she stated she would perform the task when it was her turn.

The bad news is: I must have mentioned to someone else that Mary comes in late to someone else, and that she probably wouldn't participate, because now, the 'late' employee is upset with me because she feels I have somehow damaged her reputation ( in the sense that she feels people will think she's not a team player if she doesn't perform the task) and that "Human Resources" may get involved.

What's worse is that I don't remember telling anyone else, but I clearly must have!

I realize this may seem like petty office politics, but I'm really upset and don't know if I'm going to be in trouble or not.

Thoughts ?

My boyfriend recently moved in and I have encouraged him to make friends in the area. (he previously lived in the next state) He recently told me that he befriended a co-worker, who I’ll call “Tom”.

It turns out Tom was the best friend of my previous partner, and Tom’s “inference” was a large part of our relationship ending. He would tell my ex-partner things about me that were either exaggerations or half-truths. For example: I was at dinner with a co-worker one night, and Tom told my partner that he saw me out with another guy and we looked ‘cozy’ (it was a co-worker, and we are friendly, but not THAT friendly).

Another friend, Mike, who recently broke up with his boyfriend, told me that Tom is the roommate Mike’s ex-boyfriend. My friend explained that Tom was part of the reason that they broke up.

While it’s been years since I’ve seen or talked to Tom, and I don’t want to discourage my boyfriend from making new friends, this concerns me. Our relationship is strong, and I feel that my boyfriend trusts me (he has no reason not too), but should I say something to him about Tom ?

One of six administrative assistants in my office is about to have a baby, and has announced that she will need any vacation week off that her daycare is closed (which apparently is Christmas, Thanksgiving week, all school vacation weeks, etc.). She is married, but her husband travels for work , and neither have family in the area.

I know the old adage that employees will be treated fairly, but not necessarily equally, but frankly, while she certainly deserves a vacation, I feel it's unfair to burden the rest of the staff for multiple weeks, just because she doesn't have a back up babysitter. (and what kind of daycare is closed that much?! :)

Is this 'fair' ?

Let's say you win a $1,000,000 lottery. In my state, they take 5% of your winnings and the government takes 25%, so you'd end up with $750,000.

When you file your taxes, are you taxed again on the $750,000, as it's considered 'income'.or does it depend on your income for the year, or do you NOT have to pay any further tax on your winnings ?

If you win the lottery and the feds take 25% and possibly your home state takes a certain percentage (in my case - 5%), of the total sum, then you get your prize money.

When you file your taxes that year, do you have to pay tax on the winnings you received AFTER state and federal taxes (as it's considered income) ?

About 8 years ago, I made the decision to pay cash for everything and live debt free. Car was paid for, (I rent, and don't have a mortgage), and have no credit cards.

I recently ordered credit reports from all three credit reporting agencies, and was surprised to discover that all reports show absolutely nothing. (I'm aware that things 'drop' off your credit report after a few years), but was surprised to see that the reports contained nothing.

Now, I'm looking to buy a house, but am concerned that when the bank looks at my credit report and sees nothing, they won't lend to me.

Thoughts ?

I started a new job about a year ago, and just had my annual review. My manager pointed out some areas that I needed to improve in, even though throughout the year I met with my boss and always asked for feedback on my performance, and never received any indication that I was 'underperforming'.

I have no issue taking constructive criticism, but I feel that if these issues were 'enough' to make it to my review, they should have been brought up sooner, rather than having me go along thinking eveything was O.K.

Thoughts ?

I'm over 40, and 6'1" and weigh 203lbs. I'd like to lose weight, the 'bulk' of my weight is around my stomach. I am not 'bulky' or 'flabby' anywhere else on my body

I'm wondering the best way (both exercise and diet-wise) to slim down the stomach area. . I'm concerned that if I lose weight, I'll be losing it all over my body and I don't want to look like I'm sickly.

Would prefer answers from dieticians, health instructors, etc (professionals)

Bank of America does not list the local branch telephone numbers in the phone book, or online. The number listed is a customer service center out of state. I rarely have to call the bank and am perfectly happy using the customer service line, but why do banks do this ?

My Mom had surgery last month and has been in a rehabilitation facility getting her strength back. Since the surgery, I have been staying at her home, taking care of her pets. I've been spending about $70 week in gas (she lives about 30 miles north of me), and frankly, I don't budget for that. Note: I don't own a car, hence why I don't budget for gas.

I slyly noted to my Mom how expensive it was to pay for gas, etc, and she said "well, you have the car." (while I'm in rehab)

I feel bad asking my poor recovering mother for money, but it's tough enough to make ends meet without spending the additional money for gas (not to mention cat food!)

Should I just suck it up and cut back or ask her again ? (She is a retiree on a fixed income and certainly doesn't use $70/week in gas)

Thoughts ?

I found that when I sync songs to my Microsoft ZUNE (rather than download the songs to my PC then transfer them to my Zune), the songs remain on my Zune. A friend who also has a Zune says the songs should 'expire' after a month and I should not be able to play them (without syncing them again). I've had the device since Christmas and all the songs I originally synced are still there, plus all the other songs I've added since then.

I'm sure Microsoft, not to mention musical artists, don't want people getting songs for free. I don't pay any membership, or purchase a 'ZUNE' pass.

Any ideas ?

I regularly ride the bus to work. On a few occasions, a random passenger will have his/her iPod on loud enough so that the driver can hear it through their earphones . (it is not blaring like a radio at full volume.) The driver will ask the passenger to turn it down.

However, loud conversations between passengers are not adressed by the driver (not yelling, but loud enough so that everyone on the bus, including the driver, can obviously hear.)

Frankly, I'd rather only slightly hear music through someones earphones, than hear passengers talking loudly.

Any thoughts ?

For example, I work at a local restaurant and a black family came in and had to wait about 30 minutes for a table (on a busy Friday night). Other customers had called ahead to be put on our 'call ahead' list and were seated quickly. The woman asked why the WHITE customers were seated first. I explained to her that there is a call ahead list, and that is why they were seated first. She wasn't buying it and said 'It sounds like racism to me."

I understand that some people must face situatiions every day where the are legitimately discriminated against, but seriously, just because someone didn't 'call ahead', doesn't mean that we deliberately seated white patrons before the black family.

I don't get up in the morning and say 'What can I do to prevent someone who is gay (or black, or Asian, or handicap, etc) from doing what they need to do?" or "What can I do make someones life or day difficult?"

Why does this happen ?

Every year, my company (which has over 3000 employees), holds an 'appreciation' dinner for employees who have been at the company for 5, 10, 15, etc. years. I told my boss that I would not be attending because though I like my job, I do not socialize with other employees outside of work. My boss was angry and said I it would reflect 'badly' on me. Do I have the right not to attend ? (NOTE: I'd prefer if answers were related to my right not to attend, and not why I chose not to attend)