After Stephen died I mostly just left the accounts in his name because I didn't want to deal with the bureaucracy. I didn't even change my name on my Social Security account until several years after I remarried. I filed my taxes with my prior name for years. Just an unwillingness to do the work. Eventually, new accounts were opened and I changed my name.

We’re supposed to get really bad storms this afternoon. So, for real, some schools in Indiana and one county in Ohio just to the east of us are releasing kids early. But I can't stop laughing at the fact that, so far, not one school in my county is closing early, choosing instead to embrace the “fuck them kids” philosophy. (Honestly, it does sound like the storms could be very very bad, but, you know, this happens every spring. Weather gets wonky, sometimes tornadoes happen. [And here I'm about to go all "When I was a kid..."] When I was in grade school in the 70s and there was a tornado warning, we all just filed out into the school hallway and curled up in a fetal position and hoped for the best.)

(I say all that like I don't already have a plan to get the kitty in the basement if the weather really is apocalyptic. Because I totally have a plan. It involves the Premium Kitty Treats.)

Good to have a Plan, Teppy! But I too grew up in Indiana and recall hallway tornado drills!

Thankfully my mom and dad were both on the bank accounts, so it’s mostly just been an issue of dragging dad around to the MANY different banks they had (why so many??) and tediousness, rather than actual difficulty. But apparently one bank is more of a pain and maybe would’ve required changing the account number but it’s the account that social security goes into or something? We had to try to not mess with that. (And dad then got all in it and was like “no we should close one of these” when he had multiple accounts at the same bank and I was like “FOCUS ON THE NUMBER OF BANKS FIRST!!” Because at least all those accounts at the one bank show up when you log in there!

Geez, David, that's a ton. You remind me of when Mom passed and I would say, unjokingly, how glad I was that she didn't have any money. Sooo much less complicated. Though several of the bills for house stuff (Gas & Electric, Spectrum, etc.) still go to her name because it's too much trouble to get them updated (as -t points out, they keep insisting they have to talk to the person that you keep insisting has passed away).

Stay safe, Shir. I can't even imagine a governing body being that irresponsible. Or, in today's climate, I guess I unfortunately can.

I've made a to-do list and it's like twenty piddly things.

But I did one of them! I texted JZ's coworker with a copy of the Adobe charges to ask for reimbursement.

[Voice of Sesame Street's The Count] "That's one! Ha Ha Ha. One task struck through."

Top of my list is "Buy Yardley Soap."

Because we're out, obviously. But also noteworthy in that Matilda and I had a confused circular conversation as such...

Matilda: "Can you buy more body wash?"

Me: "We don't use body wash."

Matilda: "You know, the Yardley."

Me: "That is a bar of soap. Body wash is liquid."

Matilda: [exasperated] "Whatever! I need to shower and I'm stinky."

Me: "Just wash your body with shampoo until I get the soap."

Matilda: "I don't want my body to smell like shampoo!"

Me: [exasperated]

ION, I'm slightly flummoxed because I keep thinking to myself "First of the month! Gotta pay some bills!"

Except I paid all of my first of the month bills last Friday, including the big property taxes bill. So it's just this nagging thought and I have to keep reviewing it and going, "You already paid those. Settle down, reminding brain."

In short, I'm being punished by my brain for being too timely.

Ha ha! I did another piddly email to my CPA asking for an extension and following up on the Estate Tax Return (which is separate thing related to the distribution of JZ's dad's estate that will allow some Portable Electability down the line. Oh, it's so complicated.)

The important thing is...

"Two! Ha ha ha. Two items have been to-done!"

I paid off my FasTrak bill and emailed the event coordinator for the Memorial.

That's four, motherfuckers!

Off to buy some Yardley soap and reward myself with Second Coffee.

Bow down before my productivity!

One of the best signs so far: "if this is a total victory, I'm Beyoncé".

I can't even imagine a governing body being that irresponsible.

Thankfully, I'm in doing mode. I don't stay long in a state of despair. But the pain is there, and the grieving is there, and the sense of horror and shock is there. I'm heartbroken in many ways. Once this government is gone we can start to process and heal and rebuild. But until then, we need to make them go. The catch is that it needs to be as democratic as possible, because more violence is the last thing we need around here. I'm exhausted, but that's what it is.

I filed my taxes with my prior name for years.

My mom filed her (joint) taxes under her married name but didn't change her name with Social Security for maybe decades, they eventually yelled at her for using an alias! No actual trouble, though.

When I was in grade school in the 70s and there was a tornado warning, we all just filed out into the school hallway and curled up in a fetal position and hoped for the best.

I remember doing that. I think we only had drills, though, all the actual tornado warnings I can remember (there weren't that many) hit when I was at home. Where we did not have a basement either, because Louisiana. AT least once my dad decided the safest place was in the car with our seatbelts on, so we all sat in the car in the carport and watched the storm.

You are kicking as on the to do list, Hec! Well done!

The beginning of the month is always stupid busy at work and I should not even be in here. But I needed a break!

I am not changing my name primarily because I've been this name for so long, and I like it. But also, the paperwork and potential hassle down the road... brain says, "Nope."

Good job on the list, David!

Shir, may it be productive, and.may you stay safe.

I have dog to the vet at 4p, then drop off car to get brake pads and/or discs replaced -- it's making that "replace me!" noise, and I have to drive to Phily tomorrow, so. They said they'd have it done no later than midday tomorrow, so that'll work.

Rainy and yuck today. Dog doesn't want to go out. I don't bame her, but sometimes you just have to suck it up, pup.