I finally received my IRA CD distribution in the mail this week; it took over 4 weeks to get, which I think is unacceptable. I did file a complaint with the OCC; perhaps that sped things up a bit. Now they're sending me surveys asking me if I'm happy with their service. Unreal.

I had them deduct state and federal taxes, so my net was just about $9500; still, I plan to live on that, and 2 more monthly annuity payments, to see me through the rest of the year. So glad to finally have this behind me.

I've been waiting for someone who was to show up today between 8 and 9 am to look around and provide a price on mouse exclusion. They appear to be a no-show. It's very disappointing how many service providers like this can't seem to meet even minimal requirements for doing business, like showing up.

I got one price already but at $2600 it seems pretty high to me for what they do: putting up a barrier all around the house under the lowermost level of vinyl siding. If I ever wanted to upgrade my siding, it would all be ripped out and a waste of money. I'm not planning on doing that, but still... It bothers me that after spending $2600 they won't guarantee their work unless you also subscribe to their monthly trapping program, which tells me they know that the exclusion alone won't work. Hence my hesitation.

I brought my father to Walgreens after scheduling appointments for both of us to get our flu shots (we already got covid shots, and my pneumonia shot is in another 2 weeks), but I was unable to get mine because I forgot to bring my Medicare card. I was following sensible advice about not always carrying it around, in case you lose your wallet. I've rescheduled my flu shot for this afternoon.

We still waited 50 minutes for him to get his shot because someone had not entered my father's middle initial correctly in their system, and it needed to be a perfect match. Then the home address didn't match up becus my father insisted for years on using his son's address in NJ as his home address. I won't even go into why.  So Walgreen's was asking me to confirm the exact home address in NJ, and since my father has trouble standing and walking, I didn't want to make him get up and walk to the counter, and he is hard of hearing, so I was yelling at him dad, I need the exact address and so on in front of other customers. Then he was confusing his current address here in CT with the old one in NJ. Nothing is ever easy.

I'm avoiding going to CVS now because when we were there for our covid shots, they charged my shot to an old insurance provider, even though I gave the guy behind the counter my Medicare card. I only know they charged it to the old provider because I got automated text messages from CVS saying thanks for choosing XXX. I've been waiting to get a denial notice from them, but so far, nothing. Maybe they won't bother? Seems like it will be a hassle to get that straightened out. Sigh.

Today I have nothing specific on my agenda except the flu shot this afternoon, working out at the gym and cleaning up up some tree limbs I cut down 2 days ago. Hoping it will be a stress-free day.

I planted a lot of small trees when I bought this place 30 years ago, and now they've all gotten pretty big. The tree I'm working on taking down now blocked my view of the front yard and also was growing into the fence surrounding my raised vegetable beds, so I decided it should go. Maybe it will help my lawnmower from gouging the lawn in this particular area when the tree is gone.