This paperwork is sucking the life out of me. So, I did a very mature thing. I took a nap.
Think I have a handle on what the new tax-guy will need. I sent the MIA lawyer a firm email, essentially expressing my concerns about our ongoing relationship. Got an autoresponse that she is on vacation.
I have identified a couple of new law firms. Including one that this lawyer was briefly a partner with. Their relationship didn’t work out. But, I recall they used to answer the phone at least.
Who knew that the paperwork involved with old age and ultimate demise was so taxing? Job One for me is to stay alive until this is all sorted out!
And another one hits 80. We have exceeded our best if used by date.
Another one of the gang hits 80. But we are still having fun as you can see.
Okay, now that’s an interesting idea. The Asylum has decided to admit those 55 and older. Most folks don’t move in here until they are well into their 70s or older.
Traffic Jam on New Year’s Eve.
Does anyone really think that a 55-year-old (sound of mind and body) would really move into this place? I hope that 55-year-olds start moving-in in droves. That might kick the joint out of 1952. We seem to be stuck there.
It’s the Year of the Cat in Vietnam.
One of my readers hates cats. Really really extremely hates cats. I waited until she went on a cruise to put this MidJourney image up.
Absolutely nothing good to say about the weather today except that it’s not freezing rain or sleet. It’s just plain old ice cold rain.
So, I spend most of the day making Kawasaki roses. And a couple of boxes to put them in.
Creeping up on getting my affairs in order. And chipping away at stuff for the new tax guy. I am going to treat myself to a trip to somewhere either warm or interesting when this is done.
SO: How about Cairns?
Huge Bats in Cairns
I didn’t spend nearly enough time in Cairns in 2018. They have warm weather, ocean, and big ass bats. Just an idea to keep me sane for another 24 hours.
This old bat is in party mode for the rest of the day. First – Wine “Seminar” AKA drinking. The Birthday Party! I’ll post this now while I am still sober.
Just sort of trying not to completely screw things up today. And that’s about it. Went downstairs to snag a cup of coffee a while ago and someone asked “Well, what have YOU done today?” Didn’t want to truthfully respond, “Absolutely Nothing”. So, I said, “I haven’t killed anyone, YET”.
OK, for about 3 minutes today, the sun made its way into the old bat’s cave.
The sun is starting to make it out from behind the east wing of our building. In a couple of weeks, it will start spending some serious time streaming in my windows. For now, just happen to see it at all.
I decided that Getting Affairs in Order could be expanded to include Getting Tax Shit together for the new tax guy. And this year it is going to include me doing the taxes myself with TurboTax. Just checking. What was it that Regan said, “Trust but verify”?
So far my lawyer/her office has failed my test. (A very simple test, please email me a copy of my Advance Medical Directive.) I’ll try calling the office next. I HATE calling any office.
On a happy note. Luke Shepardson, a lifeguard who was working, won The Eddie with a score of 89 out of 90. He was allowed time off for his heats. One of the old-timers who won The Eddie before gave up his spot so one of the alternates could play. There was almost no prize money. The biggest prizes were actually Hawaiian Airlines miles, which any Hawaii surfer can use. All six women did good. Actually, everyone did good. It’s a day that surfers and former surfers will remember fondly for many years.
Gratitude
Fine evening with the accidental asylum family.
Dinner last night was excellent. And it wasn’t entirely due to the wine and the company.
A very simple Sunday. Killed a lot of time watching The Eddie. It was cold and gray and damp outside. Forced myself out for a walk. That’s about it.
Gratitude
Grateful of central heating. I don’t like turning the heat on. But, as the temperature in my apartment gets closer to 66° the appeal of turning the heat on increases. (I get zero solar heat gain in the apartment from November to late February. Not to mention there hasn’t been sun anyhow.)
The Asylum’s “Pizza Joint” is open tonight, so I am looking forward to pizza with all of my Asylum Family.
Told my friends that I got mittens. They proceeded to recite a Mother Goose rhyme about kittens who lost their mittens and got no pie.
My brain absolutely refused to function today. So, I gave my brain the day off from anything harder than a little light reading. And light is all that I read these days. It’s after 4 PM now and some of the brain cells appear to have rallied. By bedtime, all of the remaining brain cells will most likely be wide awake!
I figure it is important to practice “Safe Mittens”.
These mittens were just begging to get lost. So, I made a little modification. At least this way, I’ll lose both of them.
There is a chance they will run The Eddie tomorrow or Monday. If it’s a go, you should be able to catch the action on SurfLine.
Didn’t accomplish much today in the Ordering Affairs department. I did come to accept that I must get a new lawyer. Mine isn’t very responsive. Hell, she isn’t responsive at all. And never mind that I’ll be dead. I don’t want my money to be stolen or mishandled after I am gone. I emailed my lawyer with a simple request. Will see what comes of it. This lawyer is really really important to me. My executor, my power of attorney, the Pull the Plug on Peg person. Eight years ago she was great. Not anymore.
On a positive note, I renewed my Medical Evac policy for another year. Every year, I have to be medically re-approved. I understand. They are promising to get me back to The Asylum from anywhere if I get sick or hurt. I wouldn’t be so cavalier about traveling if I didn’t have Global Rescue on board.
How’s the Vee thing supposed to work? The X is my old apartment.
I plan on plying myself with booze in a few minutes. That should mellow me out enough to accept the general pandemonium of our dining room. And it’s Filet night. I can put up with a lot for a rare steak.
Damp and gray today. Not really cold. Mid-40s. Just unpleasant.
Trudging through more Getting Affairs in Order. I can really only work on it for about 4 hours a day. Cut me some slack, people. I don’t move as quickly as I once did. Either mentally or physically. You would think that in 4 hours one could have ALL of their affairs in order. But not so. At least not for me.
Amazing (to me) Fact: I have 26 (I think) recurring automatic payments. Everything from monthly Asylum Rent and quarterly Taxes to annual Pandora and Tunnel Bear.
Gratitude
Soup
Whilst I was slaving away over ordering my affairs, my soup was bubbling away on the stove.
Kitchen Sink Soup. Split peas and anything else that wandered by the pot.
It was good today and will be better after it ages in the fridge a bit.
PS – I could not face another Asylum dinner. My friends have noticed my negativity. Hence I bailed out of dinner. Is it time to bail out of the Asylum?
Getting Affairs In Order. I can not turn the heating on until I finish!
Well, I managed to find a lot of the pieces and scraps from when I last got my affairs in order. That was in 2010. And one hell of a lot has changed in my life since 2010.
I really have to do it all over again. But, I am telling myself that I am just updating it. I am much better at fixing things than I am at creating things. I tweaked a few things when Carlton died. But, not enough. Because I didn’t care anymore. Updated my will. That was it.
I already found a big OOPS in the orderliness of my affairs. So, the effort has already “paid” for itself. The way things were Charles Schwab was going to decide what would happen to my Charitable Trust. No way I want that. That problem has been fixed.
Once I get this done – reviewing the orderliness of my affairs will definitely be an annual event and maybe even a quarterly event.
Had the bestest time at an Asylum Family birthday last night. We had 5 or so pints of Jenni’s Splendid Ice Cream. The ice cream was great. But I believe the X-Rated reading of the ice cream labels was better. 8 old women and an old man can get pretty rowdy. Especially when wine and ice cream are involved.
Had good fun folding Puffy Bunnies with my neighbor. She brought me some “plastic” origami paper (made in Japan) from Thailand. I will need to stare at it for a while before I try to fold anything. It will be more challenging than foil paper.
Haven’t started yet. But, I have made a commitment to myself to “Get my affairs in order”. I don’t have “Die Today” penciled in on my calendar – but Nobody is Promised Tomorrow. Everything was in excellent order while Carlton was alive. I had everything sorted for him. But, for the last 8 years, I have been “well, I’ll be dead, my lawyer will just have to deal with it.” That might not be the most mature way to handle things.
How long can it take? I just have to do it. I would hate to be told “get your affairs in order” and actually have to do it.
The National CathedralThe National Shrine of the Immaculate ConceptionThe Washington MonumentThe Capital and Air Force Memorial
And, last but by no means least –
The National Steak Knife – Down at the corner.
All of these were shot through double-pane windows. It was too cold to stick my head out the window.
I am craving pea soup. Making pea soup is on the to-do list for the week. At the top of that list is “Clean up the Origami Dojo”. Because my next-door neighbor and I are going to fold some rabbits tomorrow. Best hop to it!
