Thursday November 2 2023

No Stars In My Eyes · Nov 2, 2023

Good Morning!

I was awakened by the county clerk from where hubby and I got married. He thanked me for leaving a complete and thorough message for him on the phone yesterday. And guess what? Rather than making me wait for an application for a certified copy of out marriage license, he said to just write my info on a piece of paper and send it to him; I said I could include a copy of our wedding announcement from the newspaper, and he said, "Excellent. That would be a big help." Soooo, off to make copies of that and my driver's license and mail those with a check. Will get both requests (birth cert and marriage license) off in the mail this morning.

Have to stop by the UPS store to have the copies I need to mail off the requests, stop at bank and make 2 deposits into checking accts, stop at the post office to mail that stuff off, and stop at the lawyers office to pick up my info re Spouse's Allowance. <That is a weird thing where I don't get the money, but if I need to pay something ---?in his name? I can. Weird. Everything except that MC charge card is in joint accounts. BiL can deal with the utility companies bills that come to his name, which is the same as his dad's name, and there is no Jr or Sr specifying WHICH one it is coming to; he's going to have the utilities sent to him at his home address and pay them from there.

So, anyway. I better put on a sweater ( it is chilly and sunny today), gather my stuff together and get on the road. I can get this done before I wake up Nannie.

Later, yez guyze!

No Stars In My Eyes · Nov 2, 2023

Done, and done.

But that silly Spousal Allowance form says different things on the two pages: On page one it says I request assignment of $60,000 from the funds or other personal property of the decedent's, for one year's support to surviving spouse. Then on page two, it has listed only $600 of household furnishings+ personal property. But in his will it says "just debts, the expenses of my last illness, funeral (cremation) expenses, and the administration of my estate, to be paid out of the assets, as soon as practicable after my death." So I have to call the lawyer's office again, as I cannot figure out if I can use some of the larger amount quoted on page one, to pay some of his medical bills not covered by Medicare or the supplement, if and when they start coming in, and if the cremation and services of the funeral home are covered. As Alfred E. Neuman of MAD magazine used to say, "Who-Haa?" ( ...or was that "What, Me Worry?") No wonder you have to go to lawyering school to figure out wth all the gobbeldy-gook language actually (and clearly, in plain old civilians language) MEANS!

My gosh, it is already 3 PM. But at least I got SOME things covered today! EGADS!

No Stars In My Eyes · Nov 2, 2023

Ha-HAAAAA, Ho-Ho!

Lawyer's office says I am not responsible for his medical debt. w00t! I can tell them, if they send a bill or bills, that there is no estate; the estate is not responsible for medical debts.I can send them a copy of the Spousal Allowance agreement, and if they want to contest that, they can file with the Clerk of Court. No assets needed to be probated, 'cause he didn't have any assets. Huh, whaddya know! And I was told if I get harassed by anyone about something he supposedly owes, my lawyer will send them a letter setting them straight.

So, the only part still clear as mud to me is, when she explained, "the estate owes you (me) X # of dollars before it owes any creditors." Whatever! But, somehow, *I* don't actually GET any of that money; if "the estate owes me before any creditors", what-the-heck does that mean? Essentially, I guess it means I can wiggle my fingers under my chin and chant "Na-na-na-na-boo-boo" at anyone who says that I have to pay bills that are only his to pay......I think. What I REALLY think is that they should 'show me the money!', and GIVE ME the money! I guess the Spousal Allowance is a loophole through which I can slither to avoid paying ... whatever. Sheesh! My brain is all twisted up, but I suppose that is 'normal' in this situation.

nursej22, MSN, RN · Nov 2, 2023

Hi. It rained pretty good this morning, and now the clouds have parted and the sun is out. I've got the kitchen door open for the dogs, so they can run in and out, but they keep bringing in sticks and twigs and making a mess. And they destroyed one of dh's crocs, so I guess I owe him a new pair. And a Santa hat. They chewed off the white ball at the top of the hat and pulled the stuffing out. They are little devils today. I will be leaving soon to go to a cooking class about Italian holiday desserts. I would have preferred to take the pasta class, but it was full before I signed up.

NSIME, I think the spousal allowance is a chunk of money held back if the estate has any value. I don't think the state is going to give you anything. Hopefully, the SSA thing gets figured out and you will get a small monthly amount from that. And BiL certainly needs to give you funds for Nannie's food, and personal supplies, not to mention something for you as a caregiver. I wonder if she would qualify for Meals on Wheels. My sis got that when she was laid up with her broken leg.

I am going to lunch with dh and his sisters for MiL's 83rd birthday. Hopefully, the convo stays away from politics and religion. One time dh and his sister didn't speak for 5 years because he mentioned he liked the movie "Love Actually". shake my head.

Editorial Team / Admin · Nov 3, 2023

Hello all!

I cleaned up some in the front entryway -- as much as I could reach, for dh didn't want me to clean very high up, so as not to disturb the wasps up there. ? Then I prepared our property tax payment and drove to drop it off. Then, on a whim, stopped by Best Buy and purchased a new microwave. Ours was given to us some 25 years ago, and it still works well, but is rusting on the inside. Not cool. I looked into getting a new-fangled one with air fryer/convection/microwave, but they had none that were as big as dh wanted: 2 cu ft. They were all 1.5 or 1.6 cu ft. So I bought the big, single-use one, and brought it home. We just finished "installing" it, and I took the old one to the curb. Hopefully it will disappear!

No Stars, good you are getting some good news re: "The Estate." I do hope your BIL does keep his word and help with some of the finances involved in caring for his mom.

nursej22, I'll bet that class will be interesting (I would have preferred the pasta class too, but maybe next time)! Enjoy your lunch, and hopefully conversation won't cause a family rift.

Joe, hope today was OK at work.

Tweety, hello!

We were planning on attending the bluegrass festival in Carlsbad, the South State 49, but cancelled our plans. While we will miss seeing friends and jamming, it was going to be too expensive for us at this time (3 nites hotel, plus meals plus pet care). So, we will have a(nother) quiet weekend. May practice with fiddler, as we have a Christmas program on Dec. 8. Hmmmm, I need to make a set list for that...

It was 87 and clear today, very nice.

Have a good evening!

Tweety, BSN, RN · Nov 3, 2023

G'day.

Wasn't a horrible day, but busy. Had a patient crash at the shift change with a low BP and shortness of breath. Wisked him off to the ICU. A nurse balked at me giving her admission, when she was in charge I remaindered her of the Monday she gave me five admissions, so suck it up buttercup.

My sister left my parents alone in North Carolina to come to Tampa. Again she never told me she was going to do this. And again something happened that she needs cash from my parents...this time she claims there's a water probably at her mobile home and her tires were slashed. She's so shady. My dad is pretty sharp, but at this point we're all so dependent on her, I don't know what to do. She deserves compensation for her caretaking and honestly she has no job, has all her bills paid at her place here in Tampa, and has all the cash for essentials she needs. I don't believe for a minute her tires were slashed, and what's so urgent she's here in town without telling me.