Tom's Diary

Dear   [Lynn],

Okay, I’ll wait until Thursday to call. After all, as the song says:
“Everybody needs a little time away
That’s what they say
From each other”

On the taxes: Yep, this year I’m going to be brutalized by the IRS. Only 2 deductions and less than $200 in charitable contributions, although I did give away many pounds of old clothes. But next year, there should be sizeable mortgage interest to deduct.

No TV now. The cable service has been disconnected. Oh I suppose I could hook up a coat hanger and pull in a few of the local channels. But things are going to be so hectic the next couple days, I won’t have the time to worry about it. However, I still have the DVD player available. In fact, I might just watch one of the Star Trek movies tonight.

They turn these phones off on Sunday.

Read between the lines? Yes, as in, many a truth is said, in jest.

Tom

Hi you   [Lynn].

Talked to Mom last night, and got her to relent on her wish to have any resale gains from her property distributed to all her children. While she wouldn’t eliminate this stipulation entirely, she did agree to make it just a 3 year rein. Then, after I’ve owned the property for 3 years, all proceeds would be mine if I were to sell. And she also seems to be warming to the idea of giving me a break on the purchase price to help reduce my up-front financial hardship of buying both her property and the mobile home. She agreed with the concerns that prompted this idea, but I don’t know just how much of a break she’s willing to give. Stay tuned.

In the teens here with sunny blue skies again. Very bright reflection off of the snow.

Cleaning lady phoned. Said she had way too much running around to do yesterday afternoon. Surprising. She didn’t even call to let me know she wasn’t coming. Not like her. But anyway, she is coming today around 3:00 PM.

Cable guy just left. He took their boxes back.

Wish the cat well for me.

Will try your phone number Sunday evening.

Later.

Tom

Dear sister Mary Ann,

Sounds good.

My new phone numbers at Mom’s are:
814-742-xxxx (home)
814-742-yyyy (work)

So don’t forget to put these in your address book.

I will be at home on Sunday, unpacking my office. So give me a call if you’re not busy.

Tom

Dear   [Lynn],

I’m glad Tabbo is better. He seems like such a nice kitty judging from the way you describe him.

Did you ever make it to the medical center to get medicine for your cold?

Well, on the packing, carrying it down the stairs should be easier than carrying it up was when I moved in. And, once we get this load home, only a few of the boxes need to go upstairs. So this move should be relatively easy.

If you’ve already started packing, you should have time to get a complete suitcase together for a week-long trip.

Later.

Tom

HI   [Lynn].

Yes, I’m here and functioning within established parameters. Had two 1-hour meetings this morning and looked into a few problems.

How ya doin’? Thought you might be Land Trustin’ today.

The cleaning lady is coming this afternoon.

The snow is gone now and the skies are blue and sunny. About 30 degrees out. Late this afternoon, headed for the moving place again to buy the last batch of boxes.

Later.

Tom

Dear sister Christine,

I talked with her [Mom] last night. She said she’d talk to her realtor today, and her lawyer soon after but she didn’t give me a time frame on him. She also wants to chat with Pinky’s brother – the guy that is helping to manage her investments – to get his take on the whole deal. But once I’m home, I’ll be able to encourage Mom to address this issue quickly. She wants to do it quickly I think. So this may not be the uphill battle that it could be if Mom did not want to settle it pronto.

Talk to you later.

Tom

Hi folks   [all my sisters].

Mom has requested that we cancel this meeting. She needs more time to evaluate her options regarding how to proceed with the disbursement of her estate. She’s going to talk to her lawyer and her realtor during the next few weeks for some ideas.

Do keep in mind that nothing has been decided about how and when Mom will sell her property. Mom just says that when it *is* sold, it will be sold for fair market value, as stated in her will, and that her offspring have first dibs on purchasing it. At this point, she may sell it this spring, in 5 years, or, she may never sell it at all. However, she did say tonight that she definitely wants to get it out of her name soon, to protect it from seizure by a nursing home, should she need to move to one in the future.

Also keep in mind that the final decision as to what is done is Mom’s and Mom’s alone. We can offer her input as to what we think she SHOULD do. But ultimately, what to do is her call.

Now we each are likely to have differing opinions as to how she should handle this delicate issue. And so this could become divisive. But if fairness for all remains our collective objective, we should be able to get through this with minimal conflict.

I will let you know when Mom is ready to have this meeting. And we can talk informally when I get home.

Take care.

Tom

I noticed yesterday that that pesky cough that held on for so long finally went away. I feel 100% once again after 24 days. Fortunately, I only actually felt bad for the first week or ten days. The rest of the time I had my usual energy levels. It was just that cough and chest congestion that wouldn’t stop, until yesterday that is.

Colds these days seem worse than when I was a teen-ager. Perhaps with all the antibiotics now, the germs are getting stronger.

So, is medicine good or bad? I don’t usually bother taking it unless the symptoms become particularly debilitating. Even then, it doesn’t help me much, and I typically end up with headaches and drowsiness that I did not have before popping the pills. So as I see it, the cold will run its course (of three to five weeks whether I take the drugs or not). That time can be shortened some by getting lots of rest and avoiding stress and getting chilled. But the medicines don’t do much to speed up recovery time generally, and they’re not that good at relieving the symptoms even. So when I get colds, I just batten down the hatches and weather the storm until they pass.

Fortunately, I don’t get colds but once every two years these days. So, perhaps, my immune system has gotten stronger as well. As a kid, I got them several times a year.

Tom Hesley

Dear   [Lynn],

Ideally, we shouldn’t need to keep our egos in check. Every good thing we’d think about ourselves would be true. We’d be as smart as we could imagine, and NEVER be wrong. Pipe dream.

Meow.

Tom

Dear   [Lynn],

Thin ice is fun to walk on. It’s very clear, like glass. But no, I don’t want to walk on it right now. Just giving you a little friendly agitation.

You didn’t look foolish. Just inquisitive. And that’s a good thing.

Tom