I had been tired the night before and slept early and well until 4:30ish, and then at 5AM, I was wide awake. I was unhappy about that, but I had hoped to wake early (not f**king early), so I rose. I made coffee and an NYC bagel, toasted, with cream cheese and a bit of salmon mousse from a can that I had opened a few days ago (thanks, Smiths and Joyce, for the bagel, and Dondrea and family for the mousse).
I put on YouTube music videos, and I have long playlists available to me–YouTube technology, without being creepy, noticed my selections and put them in lists for me. Excellent. I started to make breakfast rolls. I cooked the flour in milk to start my super puffy dough. Today, I would be back to using fruit cake dried fruit (still having quite a lot left over–a King Arthur Flour purchase for the holidays. I did the dishes and started the never-ending laundry quest. I was rocking out as this happening.
The dough was soon resting for ninety minutes. I cleaned the kitchen, which looked like a bakery had exploded in the space. More laundry stuff was begun. The mail included my CPA’s 2023 Tax forms; I filled out the required forms again; even though Cornerstone Tax in Hillsboro has the information, it is explained in their annual letter that the IRS requires this information to be re-acquired in a form that can be shared with the IRS. I also added my end-of-year paystub to my records (I have to log on to Nike HR, run a report to generate an electronic copy of the paystub, download the PDF, email it to my personal email, save it again on my Apple, and finally print it) and to my already started tax large envelope.
I next turned to Quicken, the online version, and I started to look at the tax reports. Most of my paychecks are under income instead of paychecks, already corrected for new transactions. However, the old ones are misclassified; the error is transparent, so it is of no consequence. The payment of Susie’s housing and care at the hummingbird house, classified as an unused medical category, did not show on the tax reports, but again, this is transparent, so there should be no issue.
Next, I got balances for my 401K (finally going up again) and my deferred compensation (increasing) and then made adjustments for the month-end values. For a brief time, Quicken was able to update these values daily. However, the two-factor protection on these accounts made it impossible for Quicken to robotically access and download the values. I now manually update these values every month as adjustments. It also gives me a moment to recheck the compensation account. I eyeballed them for unexpected changes both from hackers and also to see if the corporation/organization that manages them has not come up with some new way to take what is mine as fees–I have found most of these fiduciaries to be untrustworthy.
Aside: Folks who want Wall Street to take over social security need to consider the fees and percentage that Wall Street helps itself to. They also make it difficult to transfer money, especially large retirement balances–so shopping for better returns is discouraged. Social Security returns about 10% with zero fees. Try to find better over thirty years! It is also not taxed by states (increasing the effective return compared to an IRA to over 18% in my calculations). Social security is indexed for inflation. It offers an excellent return.
My deferred compensation will jump to 20% of my pay next year. My tax efficiency plans are weaker with Susie’s passing and were already failing due to the Trump changes to deduction limits for SALT (State And Local Taxes). My interest payments on the Volvo Cave are not tax-deductible as there is a hard limit to write-offs for SALT. While I don’t agree with the changes, I do agree the changes are a kept campaign promise and believe Trump was a successful president. He did what he said, but I reject his methods, including race-baiting and other fascist-like actions. The changes to the courts are also quite telling. I find myself often agreeing with at least the logic of most of his appointee’s rulings though I strongly object to the results. There are limits to 401K contributions–increased for us older workers, but not to deferred compensation. But, deferred compensation plans are inflexible, and I have elected to take lump sum payments to avoid the inability to access my money once I leave Nike (likely by retirement). I am trying to balance my options; Trump’s changes have made it very difficult.
Aside: Oregon has retained the previous tax structure, so what is not tax deductible on Federal may still be in Oregon. Last year, my Oregon tax refund was much larger than my federal one! Another reason to have a CPA.
I will close out the year next week with all the documents from the bank and investment houses have been printed and the transactions reviewed and accepted.
I wrote the blog Tuesday morning. It was a long one. It took me ninety minutes.
I was surprised by how late sunrise is today (just before 8AM); we are still in the dark winter.
I also have a doctor’s appointment on Thursday and went online to-yet-another-website to put in all my information. The same information is in all myChart, including matching questionnaires. I did sign in to myChart but could not find the medicine allergies to copy the information (I am banned from one chemotherapy drug now that I enjoyed a trip to the ER from its side effects). I spent about an hour repeating the same items from last time. I am ready now. It will be a remote appointment. The surgeon appointment is later this month, on the 29th, and that one is in person.
I had my sandwich half from Wanda’s on the Oregon Coast for an early lunch. It was still good, but too cold. Next time, I will put out a sandwich and let it warm on a counter.
I finally get dressed and head out. I loaded the rolls, which looked wonderful and lightly glazed, and boarded Air Volvo. I called the hummingbird house, Susie’s former facility and they were happy to hear from me. I arrived, and Jennifer and Louis were delighted to see me and get a load of warm breakfast rolls. More changes at hummingbird house saddens me, but I cannot share that private information here. I stayed for a while and chatted; it was good to hang out with the friends I made there.
Next, I dropped off some breakfast rolls for Dondrea, Z, and Donna (Dondrea’s mother, who now lives across the street). Dondrea could not come to the door as she was on a call, so I left the baked goods in a bag by the door. I then headed back after discovering my wallet was still at the house.
At the house, I found my wallet and headed to Safeway. There, I acquired groceries and the fixings to make porcupine meatballs, a new recipe from the NYT. I loaded up three bags of groceries, which I managed to get through the DIY checkout. I had to use the heavy plastic bags they charge you for–they are recyclable and reusable. No thin plastic bags here anymore (the cheap bags make a mess of the trees and our waters when lost outside). I need to put the shopping backs back into the Air Volvo Cargo bay.
I loaded and unloaded and put the groceries away without incident, wondering again why I don’t just do this online and have this delivered. Lack of planning on my part! Safeway produce is always a crap shoot, and one onion I bought in a bag was ruined (having been squished). I cut an onion in half, checking it, and then finely chopped it with many tears. The other half is wrapped and in the frig. I forgot to wash the other half to stop some of the crying-causing fumes. I minced garlic, shooting one clove into another universe when smashing it with the knife side–I could not find it anywhere and assumed it entered the same extra-dimensional space where socks go. I added the surviving garlic to my mix with oregano and some dried parsley (I forgot to get fresh). I defrosted ground beef in water. I cooked 1/2 a cup of rice, but I had only Indian-style rice and not cheaper long-grain (which will make this not work well).
I put on the movie based on the musical Chicago, named the same. I sang along and finally started assembling the meatballs. It did not go well; I forgot the egg and added it late. The rice was not sticky and would not porcupine when baked. The Dutch oven bottom grabbed the meatballs as I tried to brown them, which were too loose and broken. I salvaged the meatballs and placed them and the remains on a cookie sheet.
I made the sauce, which was quite good once baked and assembled into more casserole and less like meatballs. I put it in the oven, cooked it, and the baked dish was a fine repass at 5ish. It was quite good. The garlic and onions tasted too sharp. I would cook them until translucent in a pan next time and then add them cooled to the meat. I would change the rice to the recommended type, long grain, and add some bread crumbs to help it hold together. Lastly, I would cook the meatballs in a non-stick fry pan to brown them. Still not bad for a first attempt.
More mush than meatballs, but it still tastes good. The salad is leftover from yesterday.
Time flew by soon. I did much as I already described. Today, I cannot remember the sequencing, so sorry if the blog sounds a bit random.
I read more and re-made the bed. Having newly washed sheets felt great.
On the harsh side, my colon played tricks on me a few times. I had to rush to the bathroom. I decided not to travel anymore on Tuesday. I was freezing a few times and felt off–flu-like. I stopped and thus rested a few times. So, it was not a great day as I felt off much of the day, and my colon and body felt unhappy much of the day.
Still, a productive and busy day. I was happy to have a long day and do so much. I fought against my usual issues, but it was good to enjoy a day off.
Thanks for reading.
Alohawild (Michael Wild's) Website 