Bogieblog

Tax Software Bloopers

I have used H&R Block tax software for years as a convenience. Sure, I usually don't need it per se because it usually boils down to how much did you make, how much did you pay in taxes, and what is the difference? But filling out forms can be so frustrating just to find out that you wasted your time.So for ~$30 I can let the software sort it out.

So I started completing the entries. About 1/2 way thru, I was flummoxed. Why? Because the software made me go the the RMD section (required minimum distribution from retirement plans). At the start of the section it clearly states that   if I am over 72, I have to take RMD. Um, I still have over a decade before I hit that age, and the software "knows" that (because it has my birthday - and yes it is correct), so why is it making me go thru answering the questions? I mean really, at the end it actually said something like, congratulations, you do not have any penalties for not taking an RMD.

Hair cut and Snow Pictures from 1/21/2023

Yesterday I did something I haven't done for years, got my haircut at a salon instead of hacking it myself. No, I didn't get any before / after pics, but it is layered in the back and the full length is only down to my shoulder blades now instead of my waist. It looks a lot healthier now without the constant frizz on the top layer, and some of the body my hair achieved after menopause can be seen now.

After the haircut, I went to the Capitol city (Concord) for my monthly trip to Wally World. Even with the overcast that kept the sun away, I was in awe of the view the whole way as the trees were still heavily covered with snow from the storm the day before. I did stop at Dunkin Donuts in Henniker on the way and snapped a picture of trees across from its parking lot. Of course pictures don't do the scenery justice.

On my way back home, the trees were still heavily covered. Shortly before the Hillsboro exits, the traffic became light enough that I felt comfortable taking pictures. At that point, there was one break in the clouds, which is in the picture (no direct sunlight ). Pictures in order: Just before the western Hillsboro exit, partway into the upper part of the Hillsboro exit off-ramp (before the right hand curve), just before the left hand curve on the Hillsboro exit off-ramp. Yes, that is a long "ramp", with the left hand turn about 3/4 to 1 mile from the surface street.)

At the gas station on the west side of town - too bad Osram Sylvania is behind it, but I was taking the picture from the pump so it couldn't be helped

At the stop light at Shaw's (I had to take 2 pictures as a car pulled into the turning lane right as I snapped the first one - LOL)

I stopped in the middle of the bridge that is shortly before my street. No one was behind me at the time but right after I stopped a truck turned onto the street so I only got the 1 picture before I had to move on.

I was glad I had gotten out and about so I could experience all the quintessential New England beauty after the storm.

First Plowable Snow of the Season

Left the house 7:15 yesterday morning for some errands. Made a stop at the Bedford L*we's for some N.A. made products, made a stop in Manchester to pick up a beautiful calendar that a friend makes from her photographs in support of charities, stopped at Target where everything I was looking for was made in China, so left empty handed. Then stopped at Hooksette Home Dep*t, where I bought N.A. made products. Went to the Concord BB&B, where again I left empty handed, because China.

Came home and unloaded, then to the dump and grocery store. Made it home just as the snow started. Even though it was still 34*, the snow was falling so heavily that after 25 minutes, it was sticking.

Overnight we got some mixed precipitation, so everything settled into about 3" of the white stuff. Will be out snow blowing later this morning.

Introvert DEI Training

Where I work, my boss is required to perform DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) training at least 4x/year. Last Thursday was our last training session that included a short video then discussion for the team (not that this was a virtual meeting).

The video was horrible and was just a couple of minutes about two coworkers talking about an introvert boss (yes, introverts can be bosses) of which the conversation was so inane that I can't remember any of it. The only part of the video that was good was the ending slide which stated something like, "Extroverts are energized by socializing in larger groups of people, while introverts are energized by spending time alone."

Many people interpret "introvert" as shy, and the video did not help in that misconception. During the discussion, I stated that it shouldn't be a surprise to anyone that I am an introvert since I love working from home and most of the people in my team are stressed by it. I went on to say that interacting with people just exhausts me. Then the only other person to participate in the training (who is a definite extrovert who is also outgoing), tells me that I need to go to speaking training and do some presentations in front of people until I get comfortable with it - then I won't be an introvert any more.

Hmm, so during sensitivity training, he is telling me,  that as an introvert, I need to be fixed. And, NO ONE EVEN CAUGHT IT. I, not needing to defend myself, nor wanting to get into an argument, just said, "hmm, that is an interesting theory."

Introversion isn't shyness. Shyness is an emotion while introversion is a personality type. Although I can be shy at times, I am also outgoing and assertive when I want/need to be. Sometimes I can't be bothered, as in the above situation. If I don't see value in it - as in it will exhaust me more than help me or the other person who most likely can't understand (not won't/unwilling, actually can't) - I just let it go.

This article has a chart showing some of the different reactions for different personality/emotional combinations.

A personal example that may explain better; As you may recall, I was active in the local HOG Chapter. I was LOH Officer for several years and also membership officer and editor (I usually had at least 2 positions and one year all 3). I enjoyed participating in and even leading some of the activities. The best one, in which even when I wasn't "leading", I managed to take charge of was the spring bake sale / raffle. See, I would be continuously interacting with a small group of people behind the tables, while dealing with a large amount of the public. The public came to us because they wanted food or raffle tickets. I wasn't trying to convince them to buy, although I could upsell them (hey, you have $2 for change from the cookies, you want to buy raffle tickets with that?). Yes, it was tiring for me, but at the same time I enjoyed the entire day (although when it came time for a break, I would go off by myself into the back parking lot and recharge by not being around people). What I couldn't do, was be the person who circulated thru the store asking people if they wanted to buy raffle tickets - that was being too intimate with strangers. That was a job better suited for an outgoing extrovert (which we employed for that task).

I hated the one year that I was at the Membership table, although the circumstances were much the same as the bake/raffle sale, my job was to convince the public that they wanted to join the HOG Chapter. This circumstance was just plain exhausting with no reward for me. In these cases, you generally want to get on the same page as as the people that visited the table, which means a more intimate conversation with total strangers. I was exhausted after only couple of hours into the full day. I also never managed to convince myself to go to the annual winter bonfires, even though I knew practically everyone that would be there. One year I made myself go, then once I got there I turned around in the parking lot and left. I just couldn't deal with the exhaustion of all those people and the noise. The annual holiday parties were also exhausting. I had to go to those as an officer, but would leave after only a couple of hours (the meal and the award presentations) because I was so exhausted from all the people, noise and activity.

Introvert, extrovert, you do you, just don't make the mistake of believeing that the other needs to be "fixed".

Watching the Big Dogs Work

Went to visit friends from NJ as they visited their property in Winchester, NH. I have gone over a couple of times in the last 2 years to help them clear and stack brush, while others cut trees down. They have been disappointed that the company they hired to remove stumps and rocks, then grade hadn't been up to do the job yet. 5 minutes after I arrived, a machine showed up and started working. The land owners were really happy with this surprise.

I don't know what algorithm Typepad uses to upload a group of pictures, but even though they are numbered, and I clicked on them in order, the order is all messed up. I don't feel like re-ordering, so it is what it is. I also don't feel like going and turning those pics to right side up. It annoys me that this is the only website that shows landscape pics sideways when they are uploaded.

Short Trip to PA

Last week I took a trip to PA for work. Three of us drove there on Monday, stayed thru Wednesday about 1pm, then drove back. Since none of us were the going out type, we fit all our sight seeing in during the drives. We got to go thru some amazing corn and soybean farming country in PA as the GPS took us around an estimated 26 minute traffic backup due to a MV accident on the highway.

On the way back I took pictures while going over the Hudson River Bridge

While I was away, remnants of hurricane Henri hit. Of course since it was traveling over land, it was downgraded to a tropical storm and I'm not even sure it had that designation when it got to VT and NH. Regardless, it dumped some rain.

My pet sitter did a great job and kept me informed of her cat sightings. Rita is the only cat that deigned to make an appearance when Anne was here (she made a total of 4 visits). Since Rita was a rescue that I took in when she was about 7, she must have been socialized  during her younger years. Although she isn't the type to seek out attention from strangers, she quickly settles down when they are around.

Of course the two youngsters have only seen a couple of other people in their lives, and those have been people doing work on my house, so they don't tend to be sociable. That being said, at times I have put them in the cat pen in the living room while others have been here, so they also aren't terrified. This is illustrated by Anne saying that she could hear them chasing each other on the main floor while she was cleaning the cat boxes in the basement. I would just about bet that, at times,  Spot was lurking around watching Anne since she is very curious and adventurous.

It was a good trip with the cats and birds well taken care of, so I couldn't ask for anything better than that.

One and Done

A couple of weeks ago I had set my first COVID shot appointment for 4/24 in Keene (I had just had my second shingles shot, so had to wait a couple of weeks). Then at the beginning of last week, the local news featured a story about the NH Motor Speedway having another mass vaccination clinic and they would have the J&J. SWEET. I have to travel 30-40 miles for a shot, so I'd rather do it once.

Immediately got on the computer and accessed the state VINI website and switched my appointment to Saturday (the state did a really good job creating the website - easy, peasy). My appointment was for 12:30. I turned off of Rt. 106 at 12:05, worked my way thru the traffic pattern, got my shot, sat for 15 minutes of observation, and worked my way thru the pattern to the exit, and exited back onto Rt. 106 at 12:30.

The Speedway is very practiced at dealing with massive traffic for NASCAR races, and they did an excellent job for this also. This being their 3rd mass clinic, they had it down to a science. The volunteers, traffic directors, and other personnel were all chipper, the weather was great, and everything ran smoothly from what I saw. I later saw a FB post from an acquaintance where they had been there ahead of me by about 10 minutes, who also had the same positive experience.

For a change, there are no side effects from this vaccine.

• I had adverse effects from the pneumonia shot; about every side effect known plus welts and rash along my shoulder and arm.
• My second shingles shot had me shivering for about 24 hours, starting about 8 hours after the shot. I was literally shaking from freezing even thought I had the pellet stove going, raised the thermostat setting, and was covered in blankets. I was so bone cold I couldn't even sleep, I just dozed for a while every couple of hours. I didn't have a fever (go figure with the shivering) but did have a minor headache and neck ache that lasted about 48 hours.
• Heck, the injection site for all my previous shots hurt for days, and even bruised for some, but not this time.

One and done baby!

Good Deed

Did my good deed for the day on my off- Friday morning. Went into the local O'Reilly's/VIP to drop off the snowblower tire for fixing (I thought it was off the bead since it was flat and I couldn't get it to pump up). While waiting on the tire, a lady probably a couple years older than me got the bad news that they didn't have the tires for replacing one that blew on her truck. They would get it in from another store in a couple of hours. The counter guy asked her if they could get her somewhere, and she said she needed to get to work in Hooksette (about 35 miles away). Well, that was too far for them (understandable) so she said she would try to call her daughter.

She went outside and I waited a couple more minutes before they brought my tire out - freebie since they just needed to pump it up. They even did a water test to make sure the rim seal wasn't broken and there were no holes. Apparently I either didn't wait long enough for my tire pump to make traction on the 3 pounds of pressure that was in the tire, or just not strong enough. Anyhoo, I was happy.

As I was leaving, I saw the lady out in the parking lot looking at her phone. I asked her if she was all set and she said that she couldn't get ahold of her daughter but had left her a message so she should hear back at some point. Well, I was planning to go to Concord soon anyway (about 30 miles), so I told her I could take her to work as long as she could get a ride back. She agreed, got her uniform out of her truck and we headed off. She was gushing about how that is why she like small town life - everyone is so friendly and helpful. She said if she was living in the city (where she used to be), everyone would just ignore someone with a problem.

Yes, we both wore masks during the trip. About half way to Hooksette her daughter returned the call and gave her mother the 3rd degree about if she had a mask, if she was wearing it, if I was wearing a mask etc.). I piped up in the background that we were being safe. It was actually a fun trip getting her to work, she liked to talk, which is the type of person that I need around when I don't know them. I can never think of anything to talk about and I was happy we didn't have a 40 minute ride in uncomfortable silence.

The Eyes Don't Have It Together

If you have never experienced only getting 1 eye dilated you'll never realize how badly you actually see when both are dilated. Had the 2nd eye appointment in 9 days yesterday (yes, on a Saturday).

My right eye is the one they dilated again to check on the retinal tear I had toward the end of last month. My right eye is my "good" eye (relatively speaking) so my brain is used to trying to use that one to see. Sure, I've known that when both eyes are dilated, vision is off, but it was horrifying to really understand what it does to your vision.

Also had a Visual Field on both eyes. The test was supposed to be in late March, but was delayed because of COVID. Results showed additional abnormalities in my left eye (which has more than it's share of problems, including two cataracts). I'll have to have another VF in 4 months. I was on a yearly schedule but this is the second time in a row it has done worse so the schedule has been upped.

Doc thinks it could be the second cataract getting in the way (2nd one, in that eye showed up last year). My pressure is fairly stable even if it is elevated, as it has been for years (pressure is checked 2x year). But, she says the nerves look okay, so she doesn't think it is glaucoma - we'll just have to keep testing and taking pictures to see how things progress.

Sickly Me

UPDATE 3/15/20, at 1:50 pm shown at the bottom of the post

I rarely get ill, at least not with common colds and viruses. I may get conditions (allergic reactions, trigger finger etc.) but I don't get anything beyond a mild sniffle. And I mean a MILD sniffle that lasts about a day. I am just this side of an OCD hand washer when I am at work, use paper towels to open the restroom door (faucets and paper towel dispenser and touch-less), and wash my hands frequently outside of nature's call.

Tuesday I went to work as usual feeling just fine. By 9:30 (4 hours into my work day), I had developed a sore throat and my nose was getting stuffed up. Being sensitive to the current times, the fact that I hate it when other people come to work sick, and that my boss always wants us to go home / stay home if sick, I gathered my computer and some paperwork and headed home to work. By late Tuesday evening it had settled into my upper chest and by last night it progressed to mid chest and had some heavy coughing up of phlegm.

Wednesday was more of the same, except it had moved to the middle of my chest. Thursday was more of the same, although toward the afternoon I also had a couple of chills (no fever, just some chills which might have been a psychosomatic reaction to the heavy overcast and rain we had). Thursday night it changed direction and went back to my sinuses. Friday and yesterday my eyes got itchy, I was a snot machine with occasional hacking cough attacks. I finally opened a box of tissues, instead of using TP as I normally do. To go along with the runny nose, yesterday I could have earned the nickname "Sneezy" too.

By late afternoon on Saturday, I had lost my sense of smell and taste. I didn't even realize it until I was making shower gel and couldn't smell any of the essential oils I was using. That includes Ylang-ylang and patchouli which are powerful scents. I could get a bit of "sharpness" smelling rosemary, but that was it. Thinking back on what I ate that day, cinnamon was a bit flat at breakfast and I didn't get any heat or sharpness from the salsa and guacamole I had at lunch.

This morning the sinuses have slowed down, my throat is not sore and the sneezing has ended. Still have the occasional hack, and the sinuses are backed up a bit. Haven't gotten my sense of smell or taste back yet.

Thru this whole thing I have not had a fever - my temp has been between 97.6 and 98.8. The rest of my body has felt pretty good - no aches, no tiredness etc. So, according to my symptoms I do not have flu or the latest health threat. Just a nasty cold or other bug.

I've had people ask if I'm getting myself tested for COVID-19. No I am not for a couple of reasons

• I do not qualify. First question is if you have a fever - nope (one of the signatures is a fever of 100.4 or higher). Second question is do you have a dry cough - nope, cough is very productive
• I have not even been out of 2 counties in the last couple of months, much less overseas
• I haven't come in contact with anyone who is a known carrier
• I don't have a social life so it is highly unlikely I unknowingly came in contact with any of the known cases in NH
• And because of the point above, I most likely caught this thing at work. I am surrounded by people who have small kids (or grandchildren that they live with). Those people are constantly sick themselves or staying home with sick kids.

Even though I am 99.99999....% sure I don't have COVID, I have been pretty much self-quarantining since I left work on Tuesday. Yesterday I did go to the dump and stopped at the grocery store for some perishables. The store wasn't crowded and I kept my distance from people, used hand sanitizer at the register, and wiped down the cart I used with the sanitizer wipes the store provides. Otherwise, I have been at home either working remotely, reading or wishing the weather was decent so I could go outside. However,  I do not plan on being out for 14 days, unless something changes. As I stated before, I most likely caught this at work and I would be the least common vector for anyone else to be affected.

Work has been proactive in keeping everyone informed. They have pretty much shut down international travel and discourage travel at all unless required. And that travel has to be okayed by management.From what my boss says, there have been a lot of people out of work in my building (an office building). The cafeteria sent out a notice that all "self-serve" areas such as the salad bar, soup pots and pizza carousel are being shut down and they will pre-package so 100's of people aren't handling the same utensils.

NH has declared a state of emergency, in order to give the government flexibility (that lasts 21 days). The SOE gives schools the ability to shut down (all schools in the county that has confirmed cases have shut down for a coupe of weeks) . It also gives towns the ability to reschedule town meetings (which is not allowed unless there is a SOE) - and several have taken the opportunity.

EDIT: I was supposed to have an eye appointment on Tuesday. It is the first of my bi-annual appointments. I called Friday and rescheduled it for the first week in April.

EDIT II: As of 1:30 pm Sunday, the Governor of NH has ordered all schools to shut down - giving them 1 week to develop remote learning plans to last at least until April 3. I assume this is because overnight the state's cases of COVID-19 have nearly doubled from 7 to 13).