Sharing life's vicissitudes

[Sason]

Great news about the money, Jack!

[CellarDweller115]

Jack, I am crossing my fingers that you get the financial windfall.  After everything you've had to deal with, that's the least you deserve.

[jack]

knowing my ENTIRE history, getting ALL i deserve is the LAST thing i hope for

even though i fully understand the emotional set up counting on the pie from the sky, i have been shopping for apartments on craigslist already this morning.  i have my rationalizations pretty much worked out, even though i am sick unto death of moving, and certainly will be leaving this area for parts as yet unknown before i hit 70.  i might as well do the vetting process in relative comfort and privacy.

its going to be a long weekend.

[killersmom]

Just so you know, Jack, vetting is hard, but possible. I downsized by half when I moved from TX to CA, and yet again when I moved from the house out here to the place I am in now. I know if I can do it, so can you. it is HARD, but once it is done a weight is lifted. You still may have some reservations even after it is done, but you will so feel much better as a result of it!!

[jack]

i got my call from social security today, and although i don't have specific amounts yet, my claim has offiially been been acknowledged retroactively to last year.  my joy is somewhat overshadowed by by news of lydia, kittyhawk's, passing.

[fritzkep]

Geaux Jack!

[jack]

as one might expect from the federal government, the numbers that were unearthed by another phone call for that social security bounce are well short of my calculations, so, once again, i am going to have to "demand to speak with the manager" or, in real life terms have someone explain to me how those figures were reached.  the monthly increase, as stated by the agent, will bring me to approx $900, which is only 1-200 bucks shy of my calculations.   the retroactive amount is around $3200, nice for found money, but less than half of what i came up with, which was undoubtedly optimistic,  but there figure amounts to only $267 a month.  now that i look at it, that's just about the raise credited to me per month.  i will defo be challenging THAT figure.  if anyone can wring more dinero out of them it is i.

[jack]

well, i got my answer for the lower amount.  when they calculate the difference between my former spouse's retirement and mine, they use her full amount at 66 or 67, whichever.  they also use MY full amount at retirement age, not the early retirement figure i actually took, hence the lower number.  i guess that is logical.

nevertheless, a check for 3k hit my bank within days of my office visit, and its on the way to being spent already.

first priority of course is a desktop replacement size laptop with the best specs i could find for my my budgeted amount, a bit lower than my grandiose dreams, but i was happy to have some disposable income for a change.  all my bills are paid up to date, and i'll be shopping for a new pair of glasses, necessary since the surgery gave me new eyes.  i also need sunglasses for the bright florida sun.  not only am i pale skinned, but i have light blue eyes that suffer from glare.

and then there is the BIG expense.  i will be moving out of my perfectly good but way too small one bedroom into a 2 bedroom apartment.  fortunately, the rental market is so depressed here, i will be able to get one for $500 to $550.  this would be a bit high for my new ss income, but i will be able to give myself a small monthly stipend bringing me up to the needed income.  i will also, given the condition of my back, have to employ real movers...  god i hate moving yet i seem to be doing it every 2 years at least.

AND i almost forgot, its time to update my phone, and i have the one i want picked out, yess.


and so it goes...

[janjo]

Well, my vicissitude of the day is that my hospital appointment to see the orthopaedic surgeon to try to persuade him to do my knee replacement operation, was cancelled because the small hospital where they have the outpatients clinic was snowed in and had no heating.......................
I had myself all psyched up for it too.
Mind you the snow is bad here.....................

[Sason]

Sorry about that, Jess.

Must be awful to be prepared and expecting it, and then have it cancelled in the last minute.

Hope you won't have to wait long for your next appointment.

[jack]

 continues 2012 its pleasant ways.  i have definitely entered the 21st century.  i have the new quad core laptop and my new samsung smart phone, and i feel like a bit of a relic trying to figure out how to use all the new capabilities.  te phone alone has more computing power than my first computer, and the image has a higher resolution than all those tv's before HD.  it also has a 5megpixel flash camera and another front facing camera for video chat calls.  i think the future has lived up to all the old predictions but one, we still don't have our flying cars in common usage (i'm sure there are flying cars out there somewhere).

[jack]

this is so sad... i had to find a manual to figure out how to answer my phone.  the technique is NOT intuitive.  i had to use gmail's phone to call myself several times until i got the hang of it even after it was explained.  moral of the story, don't buy equipment that is smarter than you are.

[fritzkep]

Geaux Jack!

Running out of vicissitudes! 

[janjo]

No, Jack, the point is to buy equipment that is cleverer than you are, and then to learn how to use it. Do not let yourself be beaten by a machine, any machine.........................

[jack]

am in a holding pattern just now, keeping my eyes out for an affordable apartment in a more felicitous location, all the while dreading the moving process.  also trying to recover from a beast of a cold.  today required to recertify my door to door bus pass eligibility, and saturday taking pussycat to the vets for a thorough check up.  for me this is a busy schedule.