Good Morning All. It's clear and 30° out there right now, mid-50's later today. That looks like the weather pattern for a while, except Tuesday when they are predicting rain, but with temperatures staying above freezing. At least that's the forecast today.
The weekly grocery trek went OK yesterday, not out of anything in the store except employees. Had to return to the parking lot to retrieve a shopping cart as there were none inside; no stockers, no baggers, but two manned checkout lanes open...no one in either line. Bagged my own since I know how I unload them after getting home. It looks like prices have inched upward a bit in the last month on just about everything except meats. Seafood has gone up though. It looks like gasoline has stabilized at $2.69/gal at most places; that's 40¢/gal higher than a month ago. I did use the last of my $1/gallon discount from my fuel points.
I had a major hassle at Home Depot yesterday. I needed one 2'x2' ceiling tile to replace a damaged one. They only sell cases of ten and there was a sign stating so. But there was already an open case with 2-3 missing, so I got one and tried to check out. No, the cashier couldn't ring it up. She called over two other individuals who both scratched their heads. Finally a manager came over and she was no more helpful. I pointed out that the case was already opened and they couldn't sell it as a case, so I was doing them a favor by purchasing one and at least moving inventory. She insisted that they couldn't ring it up, and that they hadn't sold a single tile in over five years. I pointed out that some had apparently gone out the door since the case was open and missing some tiles. She continued on the line that it couldn't be rung up. I asked if there was any way that they could just ring up a miscellaneous sale, and the answer was still no. So I asked her whether she would just give it to me, or should I just walk out without paying? She did think about it for a few seconds, but the answer was no she couldn't just give it to me she said. I chose not to steal it and walked away.
Today I have to file paperwork online for a RMD from an IRA that my late brother left me. I have hassled with four different persons at the investment firm and I got differing answers from each as to whether I had to do one or not. My interpretation of the IRS rules is that I have to take one. Two of the four advisors agree but each with differing reasons?!?! My goal is to not have to pay income taxes on the distribution, and not put me in a taxable bracket for income taxes. I did not pay any income tax in the last two years because my earned income has been low enough to put me in the 0% bracket. I've been using money market funds to fill in the gaps from Social Security and that cash is not taxable. I can do this for another year before a major RMD is mandated in 2025; unless the rules change again. Things will be different then, as the total of Social Security, small pension, interest from money market and savings and all of my combined RMD's will amount to more than my highest yearly salary during my working years!
I have now gotten three text messages from Joe Biden this week, as well as one from Hillary Clinton, all asking for money! They are all personalized to Tina, the former owner of my cell phone number...it's been over 10 years according to ATT! I text STOP to all of them, but they must have more than one number. I even texted Joe telling him that due to Bidenonomics, I can't afford to donate but that didn't do any good either.
i was out in the train shed for a little while yesterday, but only did some painting on the mobile home. It wasn't enough to warrant a picture yet but I am making progress. Today I plan to run trains as I haven't done any of that in a while due to all of the holiday traveling.
Here are a few more shots of endless rail from the archives.
Gary - Yes, that old-fashioned phone even works during power blackouts.
David - Unfortunately I have an unpopular neighbor that everybody wishes would leave. We did have a peaceful 7 years when he was locked up in the penitentiary for shooting up another neighbor's RV, but he's been released. The Sheriff's Department has been out twice in the last 3 months to warn him about violating the restraining order that another neighbor has on him. He has 24 hour surveillance cameras trained on that neighbors yard, as well as some of the rest of the neighborhood. I'm too far from him and I have a good covering of trees that obscure his view. The last time the deputies were out about 3 weeks ago, asking me if I was also having trouble with him, they asked me if he ever had visitors. I commented that the only visitors that he ever got had "Sheriff" written on their vehicle doors.
Tom O - I do agree with your son about Texas drivers in general, but the holidays bring out the poor ones.
Grizzy - I can't answer about the paint, I am still looking for a paint brand as good and as versatile as Polly Scale.
Chris - That was indeed a horrible day. Good luck today. I agree with
Tom that it is probably the full moon.
Joe - Yup! Christmas decorations are up until January 6 here as well. Not just Epiphany, but the twelfth day of Christmas.
Todd - My condolences on your loss of Nina.
Everyone have a fabulous Friday