Another picture of Maurice?
Ho-hum.
The reason I am posting it is because it's the only picture I took today besides a picture of a shower insert and I KNOW you do not need to see that.
Today has been the suck. And I can't believe I am complaining about my day when parts of Washington state are crumbling in the unceasing rain they're getting, and there are wars going on, and people are dealing with real horrors but you know me- none of that ever stopped me from having a good bitch fest.
I woke up to find Mr. Moon already deep into answering questions on a form as thick as a small novel which is intended to help us begin to set up trusts for the children in the extremely minuscule possibility that we'll die at some point. I have the hardest time in the world filling out forms like that. Not because I really think I'll never die but because (a) I know I will, and (b) I want our wishes to be so completely covered in all ways so that no one is hurt, there are no unfairnesses, and the children will have the least amount of trouble dealing with all that shit.
Also, (c), I don't know the answers to half those questions.
And to be faced with that before I've had one sip of coffee at a moment when my morning angst is registering an eight out of ten, AND I know this is the day I have set aside to deal with the bank situation, the insurance situation, and THE CHRISTMAS PRESENT situation, is really too much to ask of me.
I recoiled in horror.
Glen assured me that I didn't have to fill out the form today and advised me that I was going to just have to do some research and neither of those things comforted me in the least. Please understand that not once in our relationship of over forty-two years, has this man lain in bed and complained about having to get up. Not when he was working, not when he goes hunting or fishing, not when he has to be at the airport so early that dawn is a hardly believable rumor.
So I guess it's a bit difficult to grasp the way a normal person might struggle with coming to an understanding with the universe about how to live another day.
I got the health insurance thing covered. All I needed was a new card because I probably threw the one they sent me away and it's just about the end of the year and god forbid I have a kidney stone event or break my leg when I don't have a current card. But this was not so difficult although of course I did have to deal with the phone bots and "Tell me how we can help you today!" shit.
The bank thing? Holy fuck. I'm trying to do something which should be so simple but up until now, seems to be a major problem with the bank I'm dealing with. Mr. Moon had to go through the same process but in his case, the guy who helped him get a new card was able to do it all in a day whereas I've been back to the bank three times now and have been told that I need to download the mobile app and get this situation solved there or call the number on the back of my card for help.
I have downloaded the fucking mobile app. Do I find anywhere on that site where my actual problem is addressed? No, I do not. And the bots absolutely do not understand what I'm asking about and getting through to a human was a task that strained the very last ounce of reasonable human response I had. Finally, I did. This occurred just when the refrigerator repair guy (oh yeah- that too) was trying to tell me that there is no reason my refrigerator seems to be leaking very small amounts of water onto my floor which is going to create even more rot around here.
"I'm sorry," I said to him. "I need to talk to this person. I finally got a human!"
He understood.
The human seemed to grasp the situation but she told me that no, I could not deal with the problem via the mobile app but had to go to the website or she could send me a form to fill out- ANOTHER FORM- which I know I have already filled out.
I told her to go ahead and send the form and then I went to the web site and I THINK I may have gotten it almost straightened out but then I glitched because I'd signed "AGREE" to a fifty page document which of course I did not read but which may have included giving over my eldest grandson to Beelzebub who will then train him in the ways of Crypto.
I have no idea what I'm talking about.
ANYWAY I shall be going back to the bank. Again.
I did order the yearly Virgin of Guadalupe calendars and three stainless steel WhirleyPops. One for us and two for the families who preferred those over the Tupperware Heritage collection. No worries about the kids reading this. They know.
I am slowly getting there and as always, I have waited until the last damn moment because it stresses me out to an unbelievably inappropriate degree to deal with any sort of Christmas stuff.
I just texted with Lily who is also stressing out (and who the hell isn't and if you aren't, please just don't talk about it here) and I said, "Oh Lord, can't we be Muslim?" and she texted back, "Or JW's," meaning Johova’s Witnesses.
"Well yes, there you go!" I said to her. "Although would we have to go witness and shit? We could just SAY we're JW's."
I'd apologize for being such a heretic but I refuse. And anyone who comes here to visit for more than a week knows what my beliefs about religion are.
And so it goes. Mr. Moon is over there at Lake Seminole, putting up something in the bathroom which involves cutting boards. He is about to eat some of the oyster stew I made for him to take. Say what you will about my attitude towards the cabin, I make sure the man will eat and generally, something I've made. I know he loves that and I love him.
Tomorrow I plan to go back to the bank, pick up a present for Maggie at Costco, and...I don't know. I have no idea. Oh yeah! Go to the library! No pottery tomorrow because we're between sessions. I look at my fish spoon rests and they make me want to get back in that studio and enjoy more playtime. Soon.
As to Keithmas, which happens tomorrow, I tried for like forty-five minutes to find one of my favorite videos of the ovation Keith got in Argentina when they played there on their last South American tour. In it, Keith gets so overcome by emotion when the massive crowd sings the Ole, Ole, Ole, Ole song to him for so long that the the entire concert is paused and Ronnie Wood has to comfort him.
I know there's a good clip somewhere but damn if I can find it.
So I'll just give you this one which someone in the crowd obviously took and it's not very good in that it does not have the old boy in focus on the Jumbotron or whatever that is.
Still. It's what I have. I would advise starting around 1:11.
I hope you bring that bank to its knees tomorrow. May VICTORY be yours!
ReplyDeleteI think I just about did bring a few people to their knees, mostly out of frustration with me. Oh well.
DeleteOvacion la plata Argentina on you tube of Keith
ReplyDeleteI found a few more clips but none were the one I wanted. Thank you, though.
DeleteHappy Keithmas in the midst of it all! We are about to begin the trust odyssey too. You’re lucky to have a spouse who tackles the novel sized sheafs of forms. In my house that falls to me.
ReplyDeleteWell, he certainly did not fill out all those pages. But I will definitely admit that he does 99% of the financial/legal paperwork around here.
DeleteSince Mr Moon got his card done in one day with no fuss, I suggest you take him to your bank with you and let him get your card done in one day with no fuss.
ReplyDeleteWhat on earth is a stainless steel WhirlyPop?
He has now told me the story of how it took him one visit at least a dozen times, probably more. He did offer to go with me on Friday but I wanted to get this done.
DeleteA WhirleyPop is a device for popping corn and it is brilliant! We originally got one in aluminum but have always wanted the stainless steel one so we got one for ourselves and two for our children.
Also have him speak to the fridge person, fridges shouldn't be leaking water.
ReplyDeleteWhat's the repairman going to say to Glen, though, that he didn't say to me? The repairman told us to call him directly if things change and we will.
DeleteRepairmen are like mechanics and speak to men differently, because machines are "man" stuff and women aren't supposed to understand them? I really don't know any other reason, just what I see in movies.
DeleteI'm very administratively minded and can usually keep on top of this stuff (hell, if not me, then who?) but it can get overwhelming, like finding out after 18 months that my solar panels weren't hooked up even though the company swore blind they were (they weren't as it turned out). The only way I can get round it is to make a never-ending list and tackle one thing at a time/per day, all the while praying I don't have to communicate with either a bot or a customer service agent in North Africa with a very strong accent!!!!
ReplyDeleteYour trick of tackling one thing a day for a certain amount of time really is a good idea.
DeleteI hate to be one of "those people" but truly- some tech help people have accents that I really cannot understand and then I feel terrible repeating, "I'm sorry?" over and over. It is frustrating for both of us.
Christmas, red tape, misinformation from people who are supposed to know, leaking fridges, the thought of being a Jehova’s Witness, even a fake one. I’m going back to bed! Not really, but, well shit! By the way, we both hooted at the title.
ReplyDeleteYes. It was a day of great frustration but today was much better. I'm so glad I made y'all laugh. That is what I live for. Please give SG my regards (and also love).
Delete"They" make everything so complicated these days (but that sure makes me sound old when I say that)! Hope you get it all straightened out soon. I had to look up stainless steel WhirlyPop and I see it is a popcorn maker?
ReplyDeleteYes! A popcorn maker! And the very best as far as I'm concerned.
DeleteThe thought of being in a crowd as large as the one in the video makes me feel short of breath.
ReplyDeleteI hate forms as well and I feel your pain. I was trying to get some documents notarized yesterday and ended up in the Walmart parking lot crying. I will try again today, or it will have to wait until after the holidays.
My fridge has been making a strange noise so I took the back of it off yesterday and gave it a good clean, apparently that's the first step. I did think to unplug it which was good.
We're getting a snow storm today. Sigh. At least it will look very Christmasy, even if I don't feel it in my heart:)
Glen offered so many times to take me to see the Stones on their last two concerts. He even offered to pay outrageous sums of money to get good seats and even then, I just could not imagine going. Which I hate.
DeleteCrying in the Walmart Parking Lot would either be a great title for a country song or a poem. I'm so sorry.
You took the back off your refrigerator? You are so handy.
You've had too much snow.
Remember when they told us all this technology was going to make our lives easier?
ReplyDeleteSurely Owen and Gibson are old enough that money is the preferred and magical gift. Once my grands got too old for craft kits I switched to money. So easy and don't have to endure shopping. Some may think it's lazy and cheesy but the recipients never complained. And my two grown kids, one with grown kids of her own are fine with not exchanging gifts. Though I do have one for Sarah this year that she thinks I bought for myself.
Our own kids get money and I've started giving money for birthdays. Owen's getting gas cards and gift cards for oil changes. Exciting, right? Oh well. Then he can spend less of the money he earns working on those things and buy himself something he really wants. So...same/same.
DeleteOh, ugh, don't even talk to me about estate planning. At this point I've decided I don't care what happens to any of it. After all, I have no kids and I'll be dead.
ReplyDeleteRemember the days when banks were competing for our business and they'd go out of their way to make sure we were satisfied customers? How we went from that to where we are now I'm not sure.
I may reach the point where I just don't care either. I do have kids but I'll be dead and none of it will matter. To me, at least.
DeleteI think this bank does indeed TRY to satisfy their customers. At least the woman who has helped me there does. But I believe the technology has overwhelmed everyone, even them.
Dang. Remember when you used to get a toaster when you opened an acount?
All the complex stuff at once. I've been giving money for years, everyone happy. I'm not taking on stress about it, so there!
ReplyDeleteMoney represents WHATEVER THEY WANT! Within reason, of course. I think it is an excellent option but the littles still love to open presents.
DeleteSo glad to hear that you are looking forward to playing in clay again! It’s such a wonderful medium to in which become creative,! I received a letter saying I needed to come into my bank and work on some beneficiary forms – when I open the account I think I was the first customer of the young man because he had to look things up in the manual continually.
ReplyDeleteOh god. Now THAT inspires trust, right? Well, at least he looked it up. I told Jessie today that Oles Guacamole has reopened. She was so glad to hear that.
DeleteYes. Clay can be fun!
Banks are not all equal. Some are very helpful, and others say: "make an appointment." Why do I need an appointment, when I am the only customer at the bank right now? I do not want an appointment; I want action now. Why make things more difficult?
ReplyDeleteAs for the Trust forms. If all fails, meet with the attorney and fill out the forms together.
Alternatively, for Trust questions, ask GPT chat. It will summarize concisely optional answers. You pick the answer that fits your needs.
Hang in there MM!
Well, many of the questions on the forms are about names and birthdates and the attorney is of no help there. Anything that we feel he might have a better handle on, we'll discuss with him.
DeleteI'm not sure how chat GPT would work here. But I'll see what I can find.
I guess I'll hang in there. What option do I have?