We just got back from the UK (a two week trip which was supposed to include Paris via channel).  On the second day, we all got tested positive for Covid (testing was requirement to get on the Eurostar train to Paris).  We think we got it on the airplane there (no masking, the flight attendants were using dirty trays to pick up dirty utensils, then bringing out clean utensils to pass out on the same crusted tray, plus the restrooms were never cleaned - Virgin Atlantic - service was always with a smile, but no Covid clean protocol there and only 10 % passengers masked up). Mine was mild (just one day of fever, headache, sore throat, body aches then just fatigue for a few days - took a lot of vitamins the first few days which I think helped my recovery) but we all decided to isolate in the hotel room until we tested negative since we did not want to infect other travelers and ruin their vacation as well.  Took us all about 8-10 days to test negative.  We just ordered room service everyday.  Meanwhile, we heard from the hallway some people talking about testing positive so I am sure other people tested positive in our hotel (about 5000 rooms). 

I was curious about the local rules for quarantine, and turns out that it is very loose.  If you are a student, you can go back after 3 days and testing negative is not required.  If you are a worker, you can choose to quarantine for 5 days while working from home.  Again testing negative is not required to get back to the office (some language on how it is a policy decision to get workers back to work).  They do recommend that you mask up if near vulnerable people like the elderly or immune-compromised.  It seemed to me that all of this was at the person's discretion. 

Once we tested negative, we went out to a restaurant.  The manager/host seated us, then was looking at his phone, swiping away.  Then he went to grab bread and butter but used his hands (no washing hands) to grab the slices of bread.  This is an upscale hip restaurant near Spitafields.  Funny how some customers (all Asians) came in with masks but had no idea this guy was grabbing the bread with his unclean hands.

Then we went to a nice Mexican restaurant for take away.  The hostess/to-go waitress was drinking and eating with her hands while she got our food.  She proceeded to grab the chips with her hands and placed them in our to go boxes.  Didn't wash her hands before etc. 

No one wears masks except for some elderly and some tourist (Asian tourists almost all wore masks). 

Compared to California, it seemed like the wild west out there.

And another anecdote from my friend who went on a cruise this summer in Europe.  She and her friend tested positive during the cruise.  She said the cruise company didn't ask them to quarantine.  She had very bad congestion, cough and sore throat but no fever or body aches.  She wore a mask and joined in on all the excursions which may or may not have included eating out.  She said that she was so exhausted after the excursions that she went to sleep after getting back to her room.  She also said it took her two months to get over her cough. 

So with things being looser, more Covid positive people will be allowed to go about their daily business whether they have symptoms or not.  A personal decision to mask indoors seems like a good idea until Covid really becomes like a cold (and without the common Covid symptom of weeks long fatigue) since you may encounter a person who is Covid positive with cough, etc.

Quote from: irvinehomeowner on Yesterday at 01:04:55 PM

I don't think I've ever been to Il Fornaio and I love italian.

My current favorite is North Italia but they are pricey.

What's your favorite dish at North Italia? I will add it to my mental checklist and try it in ten years. 😏

Pretty much anything... although the one thing I haven't tried there is their pizza.

Quote from: irvinehomeowner on Yesterday at 12:57:10 PM

Quote from: Liar Loan on Yesterday at 11:05:55 AM

Quote from: irvinehomeowner on August 08, 2022, 12:03:28 PM

Based on the poll.. if prices only drop 5-10% in a year.. isn't that seasonal?

Uh...no.  That's why the two year Irvine decline in 2018 was so painful.

So hilarious! What was the percentage of that decline again?

I'm sure your home only went up in value, but the rest of Irvine didn't fare so well.  According to realtor expert USC, prices declined 8% based on his own measurements.

Now I know a six-figure loss is no big deal in the IHO household, but to a first time buyer, that tends to have a brutal impact on the pocket book as well as the mental health.  The proof is in the pudding.  Home values are taking a hit and domestic violence crimes in Irvine are now on the rise.

Yeah, you would have had an 8% if you bought at the absolute peak and sold at the absolute bottom but as you know people are bad at timing things even if they try.  I doubt that someone who bought near the top of the market in the Spring of 2018 would have or was forced to sell if the price of their home on paper went down 5-8% because a home is not a margined stock position. 

The key is to buy what you can comfortably afford and enjoy the home for many years.  A commodity first and an investment second because people choose to buy a home for more than a financial reason.  I'm sure I bought near the peak but I could care less because I can comfortable afford the home and plan on living there 10+ years.  Besides, it look me 2+ years for find the home so if I wouldn't have bought it who knows how long it might have taken me to find something just as nice that checked as many boxes.  In my head, some things are more important than money and one of them is TIME.

Quote from: linus on August 11, 2022, 11:30:05 PM

Quote from: CalBears96 on August 11, 2022, 12:03:48 PM

Quote from: irvinehomeowner on August 11, 2022, 11:45:14 AM

Quote from: zubs on August 11, 2022, 11:39:51 AM

I bought my Tesla Y in JAN of 2022.
Can I get the $7,500 tax credit? 

Nope, that falls under old tax credit timeline and Tesla exhausted their credits a few years ago.

And the new bill limits the MSRP to $55k, so any Tesla other than Model 3 base still won't qualify anyway.

It's $55k for cars but $80k for SUVs and trucks, so Model Y would qualify (and most likely the only Tesla that would qualify until Cybertruck if it will ever arrive).  In fact, Model 3 RWD won't qualify since the LFP battery is Made in China

Only qualify for $7,500 if buyers have income of $150k single or $300k couple or less.  These democrat jackasses always manage to screw up Irvine middle class. 😤

The income cutoff is too low. Should be $250k for single or $500k for couples, at the least. Middle class is screwed by both parties. Democrats only care about the poor and Republicans about the rich.

Running to the IE to deal with the rental is $20 in gas a day and $20 in tolls.

I could choose to sit on the 91/15 for an extra hour or more and save $20.

$20/day in gas and $100 tank fills start to register for most people.  Been seeing the pickups swiping twice to fill their tanks.