OUR POLITICAL NIGHTMARE

Every day, and sometimes several times a day, my heart skips a beat.  Trump and his choices of cabinet and advisors gives me a migraine.  I still cannot believe he will once again be President.

Most of the choices will be working counterintuitively to what America needs, in my humble opinion.  Environmental integrity will probably be threatened by Doug Burgum (Interior Secretary) as he has strong ties to oil and gas.  Pretty sure he will be pushing for more drilling.

The new Department of Government Efficiency headed by Elon Musk (I have no words for my fear of his legacy)(net worth 298 BILLION) and Vivek Ramaswamy (net worth one BILLION) who is a critic of “new secular religions” like Covid-ism, climate-ism and gender ideology.  He seems to have no positive view on environmental, social or corporate governance initiatives.  These billionaires sure know how to budget and reduce costs (have they ever even been IN a grocery store?).

It’s worrisome that Musk is already talking with other world leaders at Trump’s side.  Nothing has been thought out or discussed with others or planned.  Let’s hope the rest of the world can just bide their time for the next four years without some global consequences.

I’m especially dreading the deterioration of immigration to our country.  So many of the current choices have no empathy (or morals).  It really is almost impossible to muddle through the red tape to be here legally.  

My hope is that Trump will push many of these advisors away quickly as he did in his first term.  For instance Labor secretary, Energy secretary, Head of EPA, Health and Human Services and Veterans Affairs all left after a short stint.  There was a scandal with Robert Wilkie, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, during the first term but Trump is bringing him back this term regardless.  Duh.

In 2005, Doris Kearns Goodwin wrote the most interesting book (later made into a movie) called “Team of Rivals” the political genius of Abraham Lincoln and how he chose advisors based on their skills.  He tried (and mostly succeeded) to reconcile political factions and conflicting personalities to put the country on a path to abolition and victory in the American Civil War.  He was an amazing man and a true leader based on this historical account.

She has written several other books that I think I will now read, based on my research into this blog.  https://doriskearnsgoodwin.com/books/ if you want to peruse.  I think I will rewatch the movie today!

I’m not sure how to be heard at the high levels of government, so I’m going to be more active locally.  Oregon is such a liberal state and could be doing a better job.  I’m grateful that my little city (35,000) is just the opposite.  Our Mayor (second term) is also a successful businessman and is active in several local nonprofits (he’s on the Board at Hunger Fighters Oregon, our local food pantry.  And not as just a figurehead).

One day at a time, folks.  Just one day at a time.

OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

THE IRS

I’ve been in a mood since Tuesday night.  But that is best set to blog after I’ve returned to my senses.  It is so bad that I have unfollowed several people on social media.  Not UNfriend which might give them some satisfaction.  Just so I don’t have those posts in my face when I do log in.

The mood declined further today when our mail was delivered.  A notice from the IRS dated October 30 with response required by today.  Um??  They claim I did not file a 1040 in 2017.  Really?  Six years ago and they just discovered this oversight?  With my big bucks and all?

Ah, not to worry Aging Awkwardly JB.  You have an IRS online account so you can pull the file and email it to The Department of the Treasury!  I’m pretty handy with my Apple Macbook.  I also have a password manager which comes in handy for sites I only visit on occasion.  Confidently, I log in to IRS.gov and blithely click “Open and Fill”.  WHOA now.

The page read “The IRS now offers sign-in options with Login.gov and ID.me. Both offer access to IRS online services with a secure account that protects your privacy.

Login.gov is an account created, maintained, and secured by the U.S. government. ID.me is an account created, maintained, and secured by a technology provider. Currently, Login.gov can only be used to access IRS Form 990-N (e-Postcard), the Qualified Intermediary Application and Account Management System (QAAMS), the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act Financial Institution Registration System (FATCA Registration).

If you don’t have a Login.gov or ID.me account, you must create a new account.”

Lucky me, I have my account and log in information.  Except when I filled it in, it asked to verify me via text or phone call.  Being a Saturday, I opt for text.  It was sent promptly but when I went to the site sent as part of the text, it directed me to ID.me.  TO CREATE A NEW ACCOUNT. Well, times change and maybe the new site will be new and improved from the IRS site.

What an adventure it was to sign up for ID.me so I can access my account proving I mailed in my tax returns.  I have to take a photo (front and back) of my drivers license.  Then take a selfie using their app. Type in my Social Security number (gosh I hate doing that).  Have Password Manager dream up a strong password (similar to DRB6dgn!vka1qzp@zdh).  Even then it took several tries to get to my IRS account.  ID.me wanted to email me first to be sure I was who I had already verified.

When I finally arrived, this was waiting:

Immediately following this was the message that they are working on the system and check back Sunday morning at 6am.

I think I will wait until Tuesday and then just CALL the IRS.  Apparently they don't accept emails but at least I can tell them I can mail them all 30 pages ....

P.S.  Sorry for the white background in some sections ... I can't remember how to change that in my word processing software ....

LADY WINDERMERE SYNDROME

Boo hoo!  I caught a cold that has knocked me for a loop!  Brought home by the fifth grader who spends 6 hours a day, 5 days a week in a petri dish called school.  My daughter was next in line and lastly, little old me.  

I can't get warm

My sister caught a wicked cold after traveling from Oregon back to Kentucky.  After two weeks of no energy and horrible coughing she finally went to her doctor.  An x-ray showed PNEUMONIA!  She was prescribed two antibiotics and a cough expectorant.  After a few days she felt better but not back to her regular busy self.  And it never improved from there.  She went back for a lung CT and finally an appointment with a pulmonologist.

He advised that she most likely has “long pneumonia” (lasting six months or so).  She turns 65 next June and long pneumonia factors in during our dotage years.  Most likely it is “community acquired” pneumonia meaning acquired outside hospitals and medical facilities.  May be caused by bacteria, fungi, virus …. including Covid.  She did a few Covid tests and thankfully that was not it.  The cough has lessened but is still there (now we email or text rather than talk).  Fatigue is still a big issue (she’s usually getting in 20,000 steps a day) and she goes back for another lung CT in three months.  This all started two months ago.

The specialist also brought up Lady Windermere Syndrome which is pretty serious but when we did our research we had to laugh.  It's named after a fastidious character in an Oscar Wilde play. It’s more common in thin (low BMI), tall post menopausal women who have never smoked.  She is tall, thin and almost 65.  I now call her Lady Janet.

P.S. I highly recommend Mucinex-D.  

KNOX BOX

My WLLO Village (age in place) group started a campaign this summer to install Knox Box rapid entry systems to all of our members and volunteers who wanted one. We applied to both cities that we cover and received $6,500 in grants and voted to add some of our money as well.  The boxes we chose cost about $450.  Our full service members received one for free, other members paid subsidized $115 and volunteers $220.  Our handyman volunteers installed for free. 

The first Knox Box was introduced in 1975 by the Knox Company, headquartered in Phoenix. A Knox Box is a wall-mounted safe that contains keys to buildings or homes, which are used by emergency services to quickly enter a building in an emergency. 

If you have ever asked your local Fire Department or Police department to do a wellness check on a friend, they often have to break a window or door to get inside to check.  It’s always a last resort but we have had two friends encounter this process.  Homeowner bears the cost of getting things repaired.

Here at my condo complex, the Fire Department did have to break a large window when a resident’s new employer called her out of state son (emergency contact) to ask if she was sick or what.  He called a neighbor here but she did not have a key.  Upon forcefully entering, she was found dead in her bed with a book on her chest.  Just died in her sleep.  I don’t remember the exact cause.  One of our WLLO members also suffered the same demise.  Very fit, healthy and active 60 year old … died of a heart attack.  Which is what prompted our project.

(Our HOA will not allow any of us to install a Knox Box)

Aging alone does need some compromises.  We had a long term renter, 87, fall and was not able to get up or reach a phone.  She lay on her bedroom floor for four days!  I think everyone should have someone they contact daily.  I was part of a group of 8 widows in Maui who partnered up with one another, agreed upon a time for a call, then had a tiny chat every day.  WLLO had a member join just so she could get a phone call every day at 8:30 am.  

She now has a device (invented by our tech guru volunteer) that registers movement and reports to the WLLO office every day at noon.  (And she stills gets a phone call from her favorite seven who all became friends)  If there has been no movement, we contact the person to be sure things are OK.  It also measures the temperature in the home so if it gets too low in the winter, or too hot in the summer, we also get an alert.

Mark, our tech volunteer, also wrote an app that we can use on our phone or computer.  Each member/volunteer has an accompanying photo as well as contact information.  As an office volunteer I can also look at hourly or daily activity or mark someone away on vacation so we don’t worry if there is no activity.  He is looking for some venture capital to build and sell the unit and software to others.  First, to our 13 local Villages here (ranging from 80 members to 200 members)  I was invited to the first meeting since I use the app daily, learning more features.  In fact, I asked if we could sort by phone number in addition to first name or last name as some people call the virtual office and don’t leave a message.  If it is one of our more frail members, we usually give them a call back to check in.  And now we can.

Aging.  We get by with a little help from our friends. 

FINDOUTOLOGIST

I think I missed my career calling.  After high school, I have been a secretary.  Oh yeh, lots of different titles but really a secretary.  I still am.  A Jill of All Trades who manages routine and detail work for others.  (Yes, I still know enough shorthand so I can make secret lists that no one else can read).  I should have been a Private Eye.

Private detectives and investigators gather, analyze, and report information to clients regarding legal or personal matters.  As a secretary, I did all of these!  I kept notes on a Rolodex (those were the days before computers) so before a meeting I would remind my boss of the invitee’s spouse, kids, things from the news, bring in all files relating … and how they took their coffee.  Yes, I even did coffee.

Now in my volunteer life, I still enjoy keeping track of things.  And writing them down.  People are often amazed but it’s just instinct to me.  If our organization asks for RSVPs for an event, I write them down.  Even if it comes in on a day I am not managing the virtual office, I add it to my list.  The day before the Ted Talk or Happy Hour or whatever, I will forward the names and a head count to the host.

We do a monthly newsletter so if I see something interesting in the news, I send it to our Chair to let them decide whether or not to use.  Our Village represents two cities with most members in my city.  I research both cities (Parks and Rec, Library, Adult Centers, etc) so the other city gets equal info.

I just like finding out things.  A Findoutologist. I have total Senior ADD as one thing leads to another and somehow three hours go by.  I need to start setting an alarm for an hour at a time so I get up and move around!

AARP Founder Ethel Percy Andrus once said, “old age is not a defeat, but a victory, not a punishment, but a privilege.”

A THOUSAND WORDS

Lake Oswego is having great Autumn weather.  Crisp and cold at night, sunny and 70 during the day.  I've been going out and about more before the rains begin.

Black Vampire Flamingos

The spiders caught a baby

Welcome!

Sometimes it's nice to enjoy photos and not so many words!  More next week!

QUICK RESPONSE CODE

What is a QR code?  

It was initially designed in 1994 by a Japanese company to track parts as they moved through the automobile assembly process.  QR codes (or Quick Response codes) are two-dimensional codes that you can scan with a smartphone. The code contains information, usually a site address, and once you scan it, the code connects you with a resource on the web.

It is basically a barcode on steroids. While the barcode holds information horizontally, the QR code does so both horizontally and vertically. This enables the QR code to hold over a hundred times more information

The QR code might have just remained a workhorse for product cataloguing if it had not been for another invention: mobile devices with cameras. As people soon became inseparable from their smartphones, everyone always had a QR code scanner at their fingertips wherever they went.

That said, its rise to mainstream adoption wasn’t easy. As recent as the 2010s, you needed to download a variety of apps to scan various codes. Very frustrating and not exactly what we’d call good user experience.

But as it turns out, QR codes were just ahead of their time. It took awhile for smartphones to catch up, but these days, you no longer need a separate app to scan QR codes. For instance, iPhones with iOS 11 (launched in 2017) or later can read QR codes using just the standard camera app.

Nowadays, QR codes are used for a myriad of purposes, such as:

• Advertising (connecting consumers to a brand’s website for discounts)
• E-payments 
• Joining WiFi networks without having to enter passwords
• Providing more information about exhibits at museums, art galleries 
• Restaurant Menus
• Coupons in the store

The first time I used a QR code was in the late 90’s at a historic State Park and I had to download a special QR reader.  Now?  My iPhone is a reader!  When my sister was in town, we went to a restaurant where you have to order via QR and we paid that way also.

In the future (and some trendsetters are already doing some of these) you might be able to scan a house For Sale Sign and get all the details.  Packaged goods might have a QR that shows you recipes using that item, name tags at conventions (no more running out of business cards), to get more signatures for a petition (change.org) is already doing this)