Wednesday Mutterings

 

The stock trailer has appeared at the corrals next door at the Meserve Preserve.

That makes me wonder if Bert and Liz Wood's cows will be going home to Naples soon. 

They have been a quiet herd this past summer, just doing what cows and calves do during their summer grazing. With the new Shawn and Becky's new fencing, not one cow or calf has come to visit us this year. 

Yesterday, while I was taking Foster for a walk in our hay field, the cows were grazing and resting in their field.  

So, I took some pictures, and as we were leaving to go back to the house, most had gradually gathered just on the other side of the fence. 

It was nice to spend a few minutes saying hello to this year's herd.

I don't think anyone is going to bring a stock trailer to load up the deer and take them somewhere else for the winter. 

They seem to really like our place, especially the barnyard and, of course, around the apple tree.

I worried one day because, in two sightings, I had seen only two of the usual three deer.  

Later, however, while they were hanging out at the apple tree, the two had doubled to four, so they must have met up with a friend and invited it to join them for a little apple chomping. 

Yesterday the herd was back down to three.  Once again, they were hanging out in the barnyard.

It will be interesting to see if they spend the winter here.  If so, I have a feeling that the space around our bird feeders will become popular. 

It's always nice to see them, and I think, with their staying power, they kinda like seeing us too.  

GAME DAY, YAY!

🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀

Men's Basketball vs Lewis-Clark State (Exh.)

 

Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026

 

6:00pm | McCarthey Athletic Center | Spokane, WA

KHQ - Channel 6 (local markets only)

🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀

Yes, I can feel some extra excitement today, knowing that we can easily and calmly watch the ZAGS today. 

As noted before, it's not going to be an simple task this year to watch them because they often play at odd times and appear on different channels. 

This past weekend, Bill and I went to my sisters' house to watch the exhibition game with Arkansas because I knew that, between Barbara and Laurie, they would figure out a way to watch the game, which was streamed, on their Smart TV. 

The operator of our Smart TV is just too dumb and impatient to figure it all out. 

I started the process of trying to watch the game here at home, but after about two steps, frustration started to build. 

I knew I was bound to get mad because something would not work, and I'm tired of getting mad when technology screws up my mind.  

So I gave up early and relied on the sisters. 

When they reported that similar frustration brewed at their house but they finally figured it out, I didn't feel so bad. 

Why does the world have to make everything so hard these days? 

I have a PERSI choice IRA from my teaching days, and because I am old, I'm supposed to take a portion of it each year (to keep the tax people happy).  

Every time, over the years when I've gone to the bank to do my duty, I have quickly learned that the people at the bank don't usually have a clue as to how to go through the steps and paperwork required to give me the money that I'm supposed to take to make the tax people happy.  

They usually get on the phone and call someone else, often to be disappointed. 

I received a letter last week from the bank (first time in about three years) telling me that I need to get this year's pay out. 

So, I dutifully took the letter to the bank yesterday and requested that I take the payout along with a little extra cash. 

Once again, nobody knew what to do, so I ended up withdrawing the money from my money market, which I always thought was my savings account.  I was told yesterday that money markets do pretty much what savings accounts do. 

So, why the different name?  Just curious. 

The plus side of taking my IRA payout each year is that eventually someone, probably in corporate headquarters, sends me a check in January, so I'm not complaining. 

Just wanted to follow the proper steps and am wondering why it's so hard to figure it out at the bank. 

****

Yesterday I received an email telling me that I could go online and see what's happening in my Social Security account.  

(BTW:  is that account where the $90 fake bribe, issued in the name of Medicare right before the election, was deposited)? 

Yesterday's email told me that if I wanted to see my personal paperless Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) long before it shows up in the mail in January, I could sure do that by going to my online account. 

Well, years ago, I opened an online account to follow my Social Security activity.  Only problem was I didn't feel the need to follow it that often and eventually forgot my password. 

I decided that since this email came yesterday, I should revisit that problem.  I soon learned that when I originally opened the online account, I also had a different email address, so I took the option of signing up for a new account. 

All went well until I reached the point where the account requires two---not one---but two safeguards, after all the preliminary steps, to get through the final hurdle. 

I knew how to use one of the safeguards, but the others are totally Greek to me.  I tried to figure a couple of them out, but failed. 

So, once more I have an online Social Security account that is SO safe I can't get into it. 

I told Bill that I'll probably take my laptop to my daughter-in-law who hails from the next generation and is much more computer literate than I seem to be. 

 

I'll ask her to see if she can figure out a second safeguard for me so that I can access my own Social Security information. 

In short, this basketball season, in many cases, we can't watch ZAGS games without going through an ACT of Congress (and do they even act anymore)? 

I can't have my IRA money which I'm required to withdraw each year, and I may never know until long after the election if I received that $90 handout--er--fake bribe.

 BTW:  I had already voted before the announcement of the handout was made.  Where was the Fake News to inform us when we all needed them???? 

Life is complex, even when you live the simple farm life.  

I guess it keeps us on our toes, and when you're old, that's pretty important.  Actually, I've never really been on my toes, but that's another challenge for another time. 

Happy Wednesday. 

GO, ZAGS!