I got an email from Chase Bank today. The subject line read, "Unusual Activity Detected In Your Online Statment." Although I have a Chase Bank account, I didn't bother to read the email.
It was sent by someone with the return email address of "hotrod35768@earthlink.net". I think if "hotrod 35768" is going to try and scam me, he or she ought to put a little effort into it.
,
First of all, they could pick a more deceptively bank-like email address. And secondly, if you're going to pretend to be a bank, at least learn how to spell "statment" correctly.
Thursday, October 18, 2018
Wednesday, October 17, 2018
Autumn Evening
Sam and I managed to squeeze in an after dinner walk last night. Originally, we were going to go on a walk up to the tower, but when we got there, there was no place to park. I suppose we could have parked in the upper lot, but that would have defeated the point of going in the first place. Instead, we continued on.
I asked Sam where he would like to go instead and after thinking for a few minutes, he said, "Maybe the forest." This was another good idea, but the problem was, we had just driven past the road that would have taken us there and with no good place to turn around, it meant that we would have to loop across town and head back. Not impossible, except that daylight was already fading.
We decided we were closest to the train yard, so we headed there instead.
It was a brisk walk down to the iron bridge and back - partly racing against the daylight, partly because it was getting cold.
I was surprised to see that the river was still so high, though I shouldn't have been. It was a wet summer and so far, the rain has continued into the fall.
On the way back to the car, I snapped this photo of the fields below...
I never did find out what they planted in these fields this year. I was a little disappointed to see that whatever it was, it had all been stripped away.
There's something I find a little lonely about this picture. I guess it fits the mood of this late autumn afternoon - the barren ground and the colors of fall, stretching further and further away, into the shadows of the setting sun.
I asked Sam where he would like to go instead and after thinking for a few minutes, he said, "Maybe the forest." This was another good idea, but the problem was, we had just driven past the road that would have taken us there and with no good place to turn around, it meant that we would have to loop across town and head back. Not impossible, except that daylight was already fading.
We decided we were closest to the train yard, so we headed there instead.
It was a brisk walk down to the iron bridge and back - partly racing against the daylight, partly because it was getting cold.
I was surprised to see that the river was still so high, though I shouldn't have been. It was a wet summer and so far, the rain has continued into the fall.
On the way back to the car, I snapped this photo of the fields below...
There's something I find a little lonely about this picture. I guess it fits the mood of this late autumn afternoon - the barren ground and the colors of fall, stretching further and further away, into the shadows of the setting sun.
Tuesday, October 16, 2018
Monday, October 15, 2018
Weekend Recap
It was a lovely, jam-packed weekend.
Back at home, Sam got a bite to eat, Rachael packed - then I brought her to the train station for her ride back to the city.
It was rainy and chilly when I picked up Rachael at the bus station on Saturday morning. We headed back home to meet up with the rest of the family and we plotted out our annual attack of the apple orchard.
After we worked out the logistics, we all headed off to the orchard - this year, as in recent years, in two separate cars. We got there first, so Sam fed the animals while we waited for his brother and sisters to show up. Fortunately, they arrived before long - and shortly after that, the cold rain stopped - just in time for us to go apple picking.
For the last several years - or maybe even longer - we've picked about a bushel of apples. This is about three quarters of a bushel more than what we really need. But by baking apple pancakes and making apple butter and cooking other various apple-based recipes, we almost always manage to use them all up. Almost.
Before we left the orchard, each of the kids got a pumpkin. This was the first time in many, many years that we bought pumpkins.
The night before, Sam and I had shot over to the grocery store for his usual Friday night meal selection. And while we were there, I asked him if he wanted to get a pumpkin carving kit. He thought about it for a while and decided that it might be a good idea - though he was on the fence about buying a pumpkin this year. I guess he changed his mind.
Back home, everyone carved their pumpkins in record time - and did a pretty good job, in my unbiased opinion. Maybe all those years of resting paid off.
Oh! And somewhere in between the orchard and the pumpkin carving, we celebrated my birthday. So, that was pretty nice.
The night before, Sam and I had shot over to the grocery store for his usual Friday night meal selection. And while we were there, I asked him if he wanted to get a pumpkin carving kit. He thought about it for a while and decided that it might be a good idea - though he was on the fence about buying a pumpkin this year. I guess he changed his mind.
Back home, everyone carved their pumpkins in record time - and did a pretty good job, in my unbiased opinion. Maybe all those years of resting paid off.
Oh! And somewhere in between the orchard and the pumpkin carving, we celebrated my birthday. So, that was pretty nice.
On Sunday morning, we managed to make it down to the flea market. Though with everyone’s different schedules and commitments, it meant that the six of us had to take three separate vehicles to get there.
I haven’t gone to the flea market at all this year, largely because it’s hard to think about looking at other people’s stuff when I have too much of my own. But that's not the main reason I haven't gone.
Like almost anything meaningful, going there is really about spending time together. It's about walking around and talking - maybe critiquing other people's junk, or commenting on how cold it is - or how warm it is. It's about pointing out the early morning fog as it rises over the autumn hills.
Still, needed or not, we managed to buy a few, perhaps unnecessary, memories - or maybe they're reminders of memories. I bought a replica metal toy rocket that I don't need. But I look at it and, for now, at least, I think about this cold Sunday, and about walking around together - and even if it doesn't last, that's worth the dollar I paid for it.
As we finished up at the flea market, Helaina and Jake both took off for prior commitments, while Rachael, Sam and I headed home.
I haven’t gone to the flea market at all this year, largely because it’s hard to think about looking at other people’s stuff when I have too much of my own. But that's not the main reason I haven't gone.
Like almost anything meaningful, going there is really about spending time together. It's about walking around and talking - maybe critiquing other people's junk, or commenting on how cold it is - or how warm it is. It's about pointing out the early morning fog as it rises over the autumn hills.
Still, needed or not, we managed to buy a few, perhaps unnecessary, memories - or maybe they're reminders of memories. I bought a replica metal toy rocket that I don't need. But I look at it and, for now, at least, I think about this cold Sunday, and about walking around together - and even if it doesn't last, that's worth the dollar I paid for it.
As we finished up at the flea market, Helaina and Jake both took off for prior commitments, while Rachael, Sam and I headed home.
Back at home, Sam got a bite to eat, Rachael packed - then I brought her to the train station for her ride back to the city.
Back home once again, I picked up Sam and brought him to the grocery store for a last minute visit with the Sample People - a crucial part of of his (and therefore, my) weekends. Then we returned home one last time, where we made the first of what will likely be many, many baked apple pancakes.
After dinner, I put in one more storm window and did another load of laundry - and then sat back and watched the rainbows on the wall and the fading golden sunshine of the late autumn afternoon - and I listened to all the quiet.
Friday, October 12, 2018
Thursday, October 4, 2018
Things That Keep Me From Posting
This is what I do with my spare time...
Below is an email response to a counselor at one of the support services that Sam and I have periodic contact with. A month or so ago she wrote me an email with information on ways to report income to SSI - in this case, a downloadable app and by using an automated, toll-free telephone number.
It was information I appreciated, but I already had. And also, as I mention in my email, it is information that, for whatever reason, doesn't work - at least, not for me.
Because of this, and because the nature of her email was to only pass along information, I hadn't responded. But yesterday, it was on my mind because yesterday was another adventure trying to deal with SSI.
My email...
Thanks for your email. Here's an update for you on the SSI reporting...
I had a meeting at SSI a couple of months back with Sam's current caseworker. This was set up by them to make sure that Sam was "still eligible." (Why this was necessary when Sam had only been receiving assistance for about two months when I received the notice, I have no idea. Apparently, no one else did either - or at least, didn't want to bother answering the question - beyond a, "We don't make those decisions in this office.")
Below is an email response to a counselor at one of the support services that Sam and I have periodic contact with. A month or so ago she wrote me an email with information on ways to report income to SSI - in this case, a downloadable app and by using an automated, toll-free telephone number.
It was information I appreciated, but I already had. And also, as I mention in my email, it is information that, for whatever reason, doesn't work - at least, not for me.
Because of this, and because the nature of her email was to only pass along information, I hadn't responded. But yesterday, it was on my mind because yesterday was another adventure trying to deal with SSI.
My email...
Thanks for your email. Here's an update for you on the SSI reporting...
I had a meeting at SSI a couple of months back with Sam's current caseworker. This was set up by them to make sure that Sam was "still eligible." (Why this was necessary when Sam had only been receiving assistance for about two months when I received the notice, I have no idea. Apparently, no one else did either - or at least, didn't want to bother answering the question - beyond a, "We don't make those decisions in this office.")
Anyway, he gave me an instruction paper for reporting Sam's income info - for both the phone app, as well as the automated call-in (as you mention). Unfortunately, neither one works for us - and no matter how I try the reporting (reporting for Sam or as Sam) it only gives me an error at the end of it all. Both last month and the month before, I had to call and give them the info over the phone. Each time, I explained the problem and the best anyone can come up with is, maybe it's because Sam's still a student.
I tried reporting it again today - with the same results. I called SSI and explained it all over again to the "operator of the day." Despite everyone else taking the info over the phone, he refused and said they aren't allowed to do this. He said I needed to mail it to them (!). When I asked for the address, he said, "Just mail it to our office." When I asked what I should put on the envelope, he had to think for a while, then said something like, "MVI" (or something... my notes are back at the office).
I told him (as politely as I could) that I understood that his hands were tied but could I possibly speak to a supervisor, that this was going counter to everything else I've been told the last three months. He looked around and found someone and said he would switch me over. He gave me this person's extension, in case he cut me off by mistake - but I had to promise to only use this extension just this one time. I promised and naturally, I got cut off. I called back, dialed the forbidden extension, and naturally got the supervisor's voice mail - because by this time, it was lunch time and the office closes at noon on Wednesdays!!!!
So, so far, I haven't reported Sam's income for September. But I still have two more days. I'm sure it'll go smoothly!
Here's the thing, after all of this, I went on the SSA website to look for reporting options for income under SSI. There's this page: https://www.ssa.gov/ssi/spotlights/spot-telephone-wage.htm
This page gives you info on the app and automated reporting (which doesn't work for me) but further down, under "Is There Another Way to Report Wages," it says (the bold is by me):
The third paragraph on this pages begins with, "You can report wages by visiting, calling, or writing your local Social Security Office" (again, the "bold" is by me.)
Needless to say, I am beyond frustrated with this process. Every two weeks, it's something else like this.
I'll try again tomorrow.
If I have any energy or sanity left, I'll try and let you know how it went.
Thanks.
This page gives you info on the app and automated reporting (which doesn't work for me) but further down, under "Is There Another Way to Report Wages," it says (the bold is by me):
- sending a fax with the gross wage amount and applicable month;
- mailing a brief letter with the gross wage amount and applicable month;
- telephoning your local field office; or
- going to your local field office to give the report in person
The third paragraph on this pages begins with, "You can report wages by visiting, calling, or writing your local Social Security Office" (again, the "bold" is by me.)
Needless to say, I am beyond frustrated with this process. Every two weeks, it's something else like this.
I'll try again tomorrow.
If I have any energy or sanity left, I'll try and let you know how it went.
Thanks.
What I didn't bother to mention (because I forgot) is that after getting home and getting Sam some dinner, in an attempt to get some clarification, I then tried calling the 800 number on the SSA website.
After managing to get through the automated menu, I was put on hold, where an automated voice came on and told me that they were looking forward to speaking with me. After a moment or two, another automated voice came on and told me that the "current wait time is approximately fifty-five minutes."
By this time, it was around 5:30 and I knew that even if I could stick it out, it would likely put me past their business hours and at best, I might be able to leave a voice mail. My experience with voice mail has been that, with one exception, no one ever calls me back. (That one exception? I did indeed get a call back - six weeks later.)
I gave up.
As I said in the email, I'll try again... if I have any energy or sanity left.
And like I said at the beginning of all of this, this is what I spend my free time on - this, and falling asleep on the couch.
Tuesday, October 2, 2018
Rediscovering the Day
Periodically, I get reminders from my online photos, allowing me the opportunity to “rediscover this day” from a previous year. The photo above is one example of this. It was taken exactly a year ago today, on a walk that Sam and I went on, through the woods at the edge of town.
We haven’t walked those woods at all this year. When it hasn’t been rainy, it’s been too humid. Even under the best of conditions, the place can be pretty buggy. But with the air being as humid as it's been, I expect the preponderance of mosquitoes would carry us away.
And now, with the declining daylight hours, the thought of going for an evening walk along a buggy, unlit wooded path is even less appealing. Because of this, it's looking like going for a walk in these woods is going to be one more thing that's moved to our “maybe next year” column.
The other thing I want to mention about this photo - which is completely unrelated to the walk in the woods - is that the photo was taken on Dad's birthday.
I can't remember whether I was thinking about this when I took the photo, but I've been thinking about it today.
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