The country made it. We have a new President and VP and an all Democratic administration!
Now they face incredibly difficult work to fix the government, country and relationships with the rest of the world. I really think they all are brave to take this all on. I am sure they will make mistakes and do things I don’t agree with but I am so glad we are starting down a new and better path!
So far the demonstrations at different state capitals have been peaceful as far as I know. Hoping it stays that way!
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On the money in retirement front:
This is my first year having to take a required minimum distribution. I logged in and went through the steps to set up the payment for late this year only to find out you can only put in a date that is 180 days or less away. Why not put that info at the front end lol. Noted to come back and do it in June.
We are thinking of putting it right back into our Roth accounts as they are earning more than any other investment we have. Has anyone else made Roth contributions after retirement?
Pence finally talked to Harris. Meadows had a stuffed pheasant in his office that his wife helpfully moved home for him. Biden tells Republican officials who won’t wear masks to “grow up”.
There must be more important news to report in depth like why the Trump admin said they would release the held back stockpile of vaccine when in fact there is no such thing. Now that the states have scurried to figure out how to quickly use those phantom doses and so many people got their hopes up.
I do know two fellow senior citizens friends who were able to get theirs in GA and SC. Otherwise just a nurse friend and the nurse adult children of a couple of friends in different states who got them at work.
I am not expecting to be able to get one until late March or later - probably much later. Staying pretty much locked down until then except for getting groceries and meds and seeing the son and DIL who are part of our bubble. If it gets any worse here we may start using delivery services as much as possible.
Can't wait for the Trump family to depart. A news story yesterday was about how Ivanka and Jared have not let the Secret Service officers guarding them use a bathroom in their many bathroom home so we taxpayers have been paying the $3,000/month rent on a nearby apartment so they have a bathroom to use! Won't be an expense in just 5 more days!
Then there is the news (or old story repeated) about the Trump's not paying their bills. Trump wants to stiff Giuliani for his legal bills since he did not keep impeachment from happening. The Trump inauguration committee is being investigated for paying a $50,000 hotel bill the Trump Organization contracted for.
Sigh. And the pandemic continues to accelerate with another new strain.
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I’m reducing my stress by watching the Masterpiece Theater remake of All Creatures Great and Small. Just lovely.
But it is supposed to be 92 here today! Can we say - weird.
And then there is my desire to pick a word for the year.
I’ve been letting myself sit with some potential words and phrases to see what would stick and truly be useful. What I truly want for 2021 besides good health and a positive functioning science and value based Federal government (lol) is to use my time better by focusing it on the things that not only matter short term but that will make a difference longer term in the areas I value. I also want to try the tiny sequential changes approach to switching some habits to better ones.
I’ve not been able to come up with a word or short phrase that encompasses that. The best I can come up with so far is Reset. Others are shift, focus, step by step, essentials. Help with suggestions!
.
He’s impeached and now the challenge is how to keep his Senate trial from derailing Biden’s nominee confirmations and needed passing of key legislation. What are the odds Trump could be barred from ever holding office again? First he would have to be convicted by the Senate. I can only hope.
I feel I need to keeping noting what I am thankful for each week just to keep my own mood lifted so here it goes again.
1. The people who are still volunteering during the pandemic. I dropped off some old paint and a fluorescent tube at the monthly hazardous waste collection site staffed by volunteers. It was the same at the animal shelter on Friday when we dropped off some food our dog won't eat. Another person mentioned a recent blood donation so thankful for those who are stepping up to still do that.
2. Antibiotics! It seems our dog may have had an undiagnosed UTI that was causing her decline (and very frequent peeing!). Since finishing a round of doggie antibiotics she is back to almost her normal self.
3. Once again the steam mop I purchased. Where has it been all of my life? Can't believe how much dirt continues to come off our tile floors even though we vacuum and mop regularly.
4. The glorious weather we have been having which is perfect for being outside. It is supposed to be in the low 80s today and tomorrow with plentiful sunshine.
5. My DIL has agreed to try to trim my way overgrown hair. Hubby was concerned about doing any of it. I had a pixie cut September 4th so maybe 1 1/2 to 2 inches of growth? Pretty shaggy especially at my neck where I can’t see to do anything about it.
Now I am reading that the FBI is warning about planned armed insurrections from the 17th through the 20th. Apparently all types and levels of government offices are targeted from local to all 50 state capitals and DC plus federal buildings anywhere.
And then there is the million militia March scheduled for Inauguration Day..
Hopefully sufficient security will be in place in all those places and the mobs will be dealt with and arrested.
Who are these people and how can this movement be diminished until it no longer can act?
When we were marching against the Vietnam war we were trying to end violence and death not kill elected members of government and overthrow the election. Huge difference.
I know Trump won’t resign and there is not time to remove him by impeachment and conviction but I would really like this to speed up! I do realize that the armed and violent protests won’t go away after Biden becomes President but Trump and his craven minions won’t be in office at least.
At home we have been rather consumed by trying to create a healthy diet for our old dog that she will eat. Now that she is done with antibiotics and we have increased her medication for her Addison’s disease she is doing better. Our pets lives are too short even when they live to a ripe old age!
I am feeling like this countdown is moving too slowly and terrible events too fast but am relieved when a day passes with no deadly mob behavior.
Disgusted though to hear that Biden may have to take office with no confirmed cabinet secretaries or key national security appointees requiring Senate approval. Think about the Republican led Senate’s dereliction of duty re protecting the country. No leader of defense, homeland security, treasury, etc. due to their not wanting to seem to have accepted Biden’s election until after their personal safety was at risk from a violent mob. Only one hearing has even been scheduled and that for the Secretary of Defense.
On my little home front I am so fortunate to live in a little healthy and safe bubble but as I walk I do see Trump supporting banners and signs on some people’s houses. So disturbing. It is a cult or mob/gang.
I am looking for success in the small things accomplished: hazardous waste dropped off, learned some things in a state level workshop for club officers, got and iced coffee and cookie before a library pick up run 😁
Whew, we made it through another day of Trump as President. Anyone else disgusted to read yesterday that he was delighted and excited to see his supporters attack and trash the capital building, threaten members of Congress and kill a police officer?
On my little personal home front, I was delighted to spend time on Zoom with friends discussing books and great streaming shows. A neighbor who just started chemo was outside and said so far so good. She is still working although perhaps fewer hours than previously. Her hubby took early retirement to be home to care for her which is very sweet. This is the second time she has had chemo.
Hmmm - what to say.
I do like Biden’s cabinet nominations and his point that the Justice Dept is not there to protect him but rather to protect the Constitution and laws of the country. Can the damage done by the current Justice dept and the Education, EPA, Interior, Homeland Security, HHS etc, cabinet secretaries all be reversed? More hope with a Democratic Senate now.
I am hating that Pence and McConnell are getting praise for the one time they stood up to Trump’s insanity but at least they did. There was one death due to violence during the insurrection that Trump kicked off and a second now that a Capitol police officer died as a result of injuries from assault during it. I won’t blame him for the 3 deaths from medical emergencies but they might not have happened if their was no riot. Will he be held to account in any way?
And yesterday a new record of more than 4,111 residents of the US dying from COVID-19. In just December 140,000 more jobs were lost. Even the Murdoch controlled WSJ has called for Trump to resign.
All the officials of Trump administration are complicit in enabling this awful and deadly administration. And resigning in less than 2 weeks before the administration ends isn’t an act of conscience or courage. It is rats jumping a sinking ship.
Not that I have strong feelings about the situation lol.
So no thankful Thursday today but on the personal front things were more positive. We were finally able to return borrowed medical equipment to the HOA office, dropped off a bunch of food our dog won’t eat anymore at the animal shelter, and returned the puzzles and games a friend lent for our Christmas. The club’s Little Free Library if getting lots of use in its new location. We made our favorite turkey and bean chili for dinner and added a salad. Everyone in our little circle is still COVID free although other serious health problems are afflicting some as is the usual case in life.
How are you and your circle doing?
I have no words to describe what happened yesterday or the fact that Trump, Giuliani and Don Jr incited violence and insurrection right before the mob attacked the Capital Building. Add in Ted Cruz, etc.
Democracy will still prevail and Biden will be President at noon on Jan 20 and the Democrats will control both houses of Congress. Good things will get done and damage from the Trump presidency will be rectified although it will probably take a generation.
We just have to survive the next 13 days.
UPDATE: I wrote this early this morning and then was not watching TV or following the news until just recently. Is this what Ted Cruz and the rest want - an attempted coup? I can see that it is what Trump wants and it feeds his narcissism, strongman wannabe, and conspiracy fantasies - but really? I do hope they find ways to charge them all with crimes that have serious jail terms.
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I was thrilled to wake up this morning to hear that it really looks like the Dems will control the Senate. Stacey Abram’s revenge is so great to see. Hopefully it will continue in Georgia’s future elections and in other states. Those Senators and representatives trying to overturn the vote should watch out next time they are up for election.
BTW, I lived in DeKalb county when we lived inAtlanta and just a few blocks from Fulton county. It was a great place to live and I am thrilled at the Dem voter turnout.
But if you want to ignore what is going on today in Congress here are some official national days to celebrate .
January 6
Do you think The Proud Boys will be declared a domestic terrorist organization by the new justice department? Looking online they were declared something by the FBI in 2018 and then it was taken back.
Tomorrow has me worried for DC but this too will pass and Biden will be President.
I’m more concerned about the Georgia Senate runoff election outcome. Got to love the Georgia Sec of State taping Trump trying to illegally change the election outcome and then releasing it when Trump lied about the call. And 18 calls to try to get anybody in Georgia to actually talk to Trump! Trump’s niece said his behavior would get worse as his time in office got shorter and that was an understatement.
On the other hand, how am I spending my time productively?
I spent most of yesterday and early this morning trying to figure out how to fill out a form required for reporting local club activities and outcomes to the national org. Thank goodness for minutes and the counsel of people who have done it before. We will be tracking monthly for this year lol.
I just started reading “The Splendid and The Vile” about Churchill and the Blitz. It opens with this quote which is so appropriate for last year and this - probably for all the time but especially now.
“It is not given to human beings - happily for them, for otherwise life would be intolerable - to foresee or to predict to any large extent the unfolding course of events.”
- Winston Churchill, eulogy for Neville Chamberlain, November 12, 1940
Be adaptable, find solutions, help each other and don’t forget to be thankful and find joy in being alive.
I’m thinking of doing occasional Money Monday posts so thought I’d give it a try today.
I mentioned that our year end financial review pointed out that we will need to reinvest most of the money we have in CDs at some time this year. No surprise here but our year end review showed an increase in the grocery category (food, toiletries, household supplies, alcohol) and decreases in eating out, entertainment, travel, haircuts, gasoline. I expect this year will be essentially the same although we are increasing our donations and contributions to granddaughter’s college fund.
In addition, since our taxes are simple we are thinking of going back to doing them ourselves. The tax preparer charged $350 last year so anything less is a savings. Any easy to use tax software to recommend?
Today is my older son's 50th birthday! He is doing great and I am so thrilled with the kind of man he is including how kind he is. They are stopping by for lunch on their way to pick something up which is very welcome. They assured us they had only been to the grocery store since we saw them last.
In other news, I received a jury summons to show up in person - yikes. Fortunately if you are over 70 you can just say you can't and you will be excused. With almost all of California in a super lockdown state I find it hard to believe they want anyone to show up in person for jury duty but I guess it has to go on. It will go on without me though.
And what could still go wrong? Let’s hope it isn’t significant.
I got my financial review pretty much done yesterday and one thing I was reminded of is that almost all of our CDs will have to be renewed this year. Wishing interest rates were better but that is a small thing in the midst of this pandemic. We will make short term decisions again and be quite grateful to have this challenge.
I’ve decided that in addition to my 2021 areas of focus and monthly goals plus key to do list I need a word or phrase of the year. It has to be some variation of focus on what I can control or influence. Steady small steps in the right direction seems to be my focus for the year right now. Not exactly inspiring but perhaps right for this time.
Do you have a word or phrase of the year?
Welcome to 2021!
I’m counting the days until Inauguration and Trump leaving. Too many days left but each one that passes makes me happy. 19 days left as of 9 AM today in California aka noon in DC.
The dog is eating again (long story) so we are a bit more relaxed than we have been the last week although she still has to get switched to a different diet. As the vet said on Thursday, don’t worry about that right now just get her.
I started exercising more at the beginning of this week and have made improvements. No one in our family or circle of friends has been infected yet. Not a bad way to start the year.
Since it is January 1st I am closing out my 2020 finances and each day going forward will do a bit more of my annual financial updating, tracking and planning. This year I am double checking all passwords too to try to minimize risk. Paper financial records will get shredded, computer ones backup or put on Dropbox. Will be spread out over a week or so though.
What do you do at the beginning of each year?
I hope you have had a positive week as this time of year can be difficult under the best of circumstances. But 2020 is over with tonight and here's hoping for a better 2021! It is 9am in California so noon in DC. 20 days until Trump is gone !
1. Our son and DIL are so fun and lovely to spend time with.
2. We gave and received just a few gifts and they were just right for each recipients. Minimalism at its best.
3. We had a nice Zoom call with me eldest nephew Christmas Eve and FaceTime with granddaughter, other son and DIL. At 3 pm on Christmas Day that son and DIL looked like one wound up 4 year old had worn them out! Ah, memories of our own parenting days.
4. A city councilman in Pasadena gave out a free turkey to any resident so our son and DIL brought theirs with them. We had a mini-Thanksgiving dinner Christmas Day which was fun so I’m thankful to whoever he is lol.
5. We diligently ate leftovers and figured out what to do with remnant foods we don't normally buy. Thankful for the food and our creativity!
6. I started trying to build a new exercise habit on this past Monday and am thankful I have a lovely safe place to take walks and that I have room in my home to exercise.
