It was a music documentary weekend thanks to a free trial of Stingray Quelo through our Amazon Prime subscription. It required less focus than watching a movie or TV show, so I was able to write or do genealogy research at the same time. My fingers are getting plenty of exercise in these times of self-quarantine.  I spent some enjoyable time with Annie Lennox, The Who, Bill Withers, Jethro Tull, Bruce Hornsby, and other options in the background. In the evenings my wife and I finally finished our re-do of Breaking Bad, and started season two of Lost in Space. She continues to wade through Homeland in a separate room. Looking ahead, it’s Outlander Monday, Better Call Saul Tuesday, Curse of Oak Island Wednesday, Skinwalker Ranch Thursday, Good Friday left-overs, Take-Out Saturday, and Easter Sunday before we reset for another exciting week of isolation. 

I did get a refund from Delta Airlines on our canceled May trip to Bali. For the first time that I can remember, I now have a huge negative balance on my credit card. It’s been difficult to spend money these past few weeks, coupled with additional travel credits. This is a good thing considering the declining state of my 401k balance. Fortunately, the market is seeing a bit of an uptick this morning since optimism is now spreading faster than the virus. 

My biggest hassle these days seems to be with abbreviations. I’ve been fighting with Medicare on my IRMAA (income-related monthly adjustment amount). They’re assessing me an excessive premium on Part B health insurance based on our 2018 IRS reported MAGI (modified adjusted gross income). With my wife no longer working and our joint income reduced to my Social Security check and pension, it’s nearly $500 a month, more than I was paying to be on her COBRA. This will push our monthly spending on health insurance to over $1100, without any prescription drug benefit for me. We’re entitled to an adjustment based on current circumstances but after filling out forms, making phone calls, and visiting the local offices they’ve yet to reduce my outlay. Their local office is closed like everything else, so I can’t imagine trying to get through to plead my case by phone. I’ve already wasted too much time on hold trying to get through. IMHO – it’s alphabetical harassment!

It’s at least “a beautiful day in the neighborhood.” I wore a short-sleeved shirt on yesterday’s afternoon outing, as the rainy winter of Portland will soon be behind us. Neighbors were out on their balconies and we heard singing. Hope was in the air. This will reportedly be a bad week of worldwide casualties, as the deadly virus reaches its peak. In our area, however, we’re forecasting what we call a “five-peak day (FPD),” when Mt. Hood, St. Helen’s, Adams, Jefferson, and Rainier are all visible. It’s an abbreviation of beauty.