And the new year begins …

[aadler]

It’s been awhile since I posted. See, I did that thing again where I had an unfinished story, and I felt uncomfortable doing anything else (visible) online until I’d finally got the job done. Which it now is: “Friends with the Monster” was completed, finally, before I went to bed last night, so even though it’s nearly four months late it’s done now.

Other stuff:

Susan is sick and tired of California, and the VA is changing its rules on pension calculations: as of October this year, it’ll be determined by high five instead of high three. She plans to leave as soon as she can be officially assured — in terms that will bind the larger organization even if it turns out there was a miscalculation — that she has a full twenty years in the system. If she can transfer to a suitable VA position back closer to home, that’s the way she wants to go, in which case time-in-service will no longer be an issue. More on that as I know more.

Remember some months back when I commented that I’m so compulsive about having enough money set aside that, if circumstances required it, I could purchase another car without advance notice? Shouldn’t have said that, because then circumstances did indeed require it. Yes, I had the money; and yes, I was able to manage a deal within four days with an establishment in walking distance of where I live; and yes, I like my new-er car quite a bit more than I did the old one. (Which died so thoroughly that repairs were pointless; it brought me $50 in salvage.) I’m ahead on points — and highly pleased to have cruise control again — but I’m much more cautious now about saying anything that might sound to the fates like hubris.

I only made one prior mention of this, back in July, but my son Kevin is planning to vacation in Thailand over Chinese New Year (i.e., not for another six weeks) with Mei-li and Amber. With my unexpected expenses (and Susan has been dealing with a few of those herself), I thought we were just barely not going to be able to join them there … but we got a few breaks, and now we just-barely-will be able to go. Aside from Skype, it’s been over two years since we’ve seen our only grandchild, so this is a pretty darn big deal. We already have the plane tickets, Susan has already made the hotel reservations. Just a matter of getting enough money together to pay the hotel bill once it’s time to leave, plus I still have two more payments to make on my car. It’s going to have to be done carefully, but it’s on the schedule now.

(I’ll also have to renew my passport on the double; I didn’t even notice it had expired until some other matter required me to inspect it. Got time, just not time to waste.)

If there’s anything else, I can’t think of it. We’ll see what occurs to me as I go along.

Comments

[snogged.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you're going to get to see your grandchild soon.

Good luck with the financial stuff.

[aadler]

Other complications, but still working our way through.