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The BOMB

Welcome to the BOMB.



The Blog Of the "Mother" of Bandit.
Bandit is my Hairless Chinese Crested--he's the "normal" one. I, on the other hand, am unrepentantly "pet-crazy." You know the type--the spinster who lives in the haunted house three blocks over with 72 cats...okay, so I don't have 72 cats, and my house isn't haunted--but my dogs wardrobe is better than mine! Need I say more? :~)
I've never been consistant at journaling, so the timing of my blogs will be sporadic at best. I just hope they are as entertaining to you as they are to me; however, be forewarned: Most of my blogs will be about The BaldOne. In spite of his Don King "do," I think he's just as cute as any of the Brothers B!
Now, if I can just remember not to get him wet--or feed him after midnight...

About Me

My photo
My bags are packed and I'm always ready to seek out an adventure with Bandit and Moggy in tow. Bandit is my thirteen year old Chinese Crested, who I frequently call The Bald One or The BaldOne Boy (like he was one of the Baldwin Brothers). Moggy’s full name is Pip-Moggy. He’s my two year old gansta-resuce kitty. I couldn’t decide between Pip (which are the spots on die and domino tiles) and Moggy (or Moggie when I mistakenly thought he was a she), so I combined the two. Moggy refers to the British term for "cat of unknown parentage .” So in essence, I have an almost bald dog, and I’ve named my cat “Spot.”

Fun Stuff (I'm doing now or have done)

  • Artistic Attempts weekly (alternating between Painting With A Twist, That Art Place, and Peniot's Palette).
  • Bunko with the Belton Bunko Babes monthly.
  • Participating in the A to Z Blogging Challenge.
  • Spades and Liverpool Rummy with the Spadetts weekly.
  • The Mighty Texas Dog Walk, Austin (fund raiser for Service Dogs, Inc--they train shelter dogs to be Service Dogs, then give them free of charge to people with disabilities.)

Monday, September 7, 2020

Deferred Enslavement

So it seems I'm to be gifted a forced, unwanted, Social Security tax deferral for the remainder of the year.  Worse yet,  because I am a Federal Employee, I am unable to opt out of it. 

Social Security is funded, at least in part, through the earnings tax called OASDI on your paystub. OASDI is the acronym for Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance.  It is based on 12.4% of the employees gross income.  The employer pays half and the employee pays the other 6.2%.

Be sure that you understand this tax deferral is not like the free gift of salvation that God offers to everyone, and each of us make a decision to accept or reject the offer--whether our decision is an active acceptance or rejection, or a passive refusal to make a decision, which is in fact a passive form of rejection.

No, this tax deferral is more like a totally inadequate loan, which you neither want nor asked for, being forced on you. And the repayment is a wage garnishment which occurs when you have the least amount of resources available. 

If you, or your employer opt in to this deferral, you will pay it back on federal government terms.

As a federal employee, I am not even allowed to opt out. So it truely is being forced on me.  Which means January through March I'll have twice the tax taken out to pay it back. At a time when I personally am traditionally already short on cash.  This is not good.  This is not a gift. 

Oh, a disciplined person will not touch the extra money in their paycheck for the  next four months. However, I am not disciplined. 

If I were disiplined I would not have 7 alarms set each morning.  My checking account would always remain black and my savings would be healthy.  I would not have a weight problem. I would always know what time it is, and I would diligently focus on  my plans rather than get sidetracked chasing rabbits.

However, I do chase rabbits. I get sucked into the 'net  hours at a time. I frequently arrive just-in-the-nick-of-time.  I am overweight. I hit the snooze multiple times each morning.  My checking account is anemic and my savings account is lean. I am by no stretch of the imagination disciplined. 

In fact, every pay period I have an additional $50 taken out to cover federal income taxes.  It's how I ensure I always have a small refund due me, and I never have to pay the IRS more in April.  If that $50 were still in my paycheck, I would spend it.  When I see this tax deferral I will spend it. I know myself too well to know I will do otherwise.

And spending it is what the federal government wants us to do. To bolster the economy. To give the workers breathing room. So they say.

Like many, I have more expenses during the holidays. Like many, I pay for a lot of those  expenses on my credit cards. Therefore, because I aim for zero balances, I'm typically paying more on credit card bills the first quarter of the year. 

I count on my IRS refund  each year to pay down any  remaining credit card bills. Or repairs, or tires, or tution or CE courses--you get the idea. 

In good years where I've made wise money choices, I use it to take a much needed vacation. Two years ago I combined my vacation with a workshop and study course. 

The need is different each year. The refund does not cover the need, but it catches me up and makes the first quarter bareable.

This social security deferral will have to be repaid during that period of the year that I am already cash strapped. So not only will I have my own poor spending to repay, I will also be forced to repay an unwanted, forced on, me deferral/loan.

In order for me to survive this "gift" I will have to be very tight with my spending the rest of the year. My tightness is going to aid in stiffling any business depending on my spending. Therefore, this tax deferral will not provide the relief or economic stimulus that a second stimulus check would provide. In fact, I believe this deferral will serve only to hurt the economy and enslave us.

Yeah, I know: the President says he will forgive the taxes and make the deferral permanent if he's re-elected; however, I don't believe that for a second. That is a campaign promise coming from a politician.

Politicians are not to be trusted or believed and campaign promises are not worth the hot air it takes to voice them.

This deferral will not induce me to spend more.  It will not bolster the economy around me.  In fact, it will have the opposite effect: I will pull back on my spending now, try to sock away a little bit more than 7% into a hard-to-access savings account,  and pray to God it is enough to pay expenses and increased taxes I will incur starting January.  Others will spend now with no thought  or plan of repayment until they are in a world of hurt next quarter. Many will turn to payday or personal loans to make ends meet. 

Be prepared. This tax deferral is not in your best interest. It is not in the best interest of small business.  

Whether this quarter or next quarter this tax deferral is designed to enslave not liberate.  

Friday, September 4, 2020

Summer Tire Chains

Tire chains are not just for icy winter driving. Sometimes they rear their ugly head during the Dog Days of Summer. 

Driving to work the past few days I  heard a thunk with every tire rotation. Because of my vast tire knowledge I figured since the pressure was holding it was probably a bubble that was getting ready to pop. I was trying to hold out until Saturday to have it checked out because I wanted to give the tire guy plenty of time to fix it.

It didn't hold out until Saturday. 

I left work early for my monthly B12 injection today. On the way to the clinic my low tire air icon came on and the sensors told me the problem tire was the front passenger side. The tire hadn't popped as I feared; however, the pressure was dropping. 

Since the tire pressure drop was fluctuating and not a fast straight drop, I figured the tire, and its pressure, would hold long enough for me to make my appointment then double back to the dealership to have it checked out.

It held, but I was going to end up being an end of the day repair after all.  On a Friday.  And a pre-holiday Friday to boot. 

Well, it's not a bubble.  It's also not a repair. 

Yep. It's a replacement.  

Somewhere along my covid-limited travels I picked up a nail.  In the sidewall. Because that's where I pick up all my nails. I guess I really need to stop driving on the sidewalks. Those sidewall nails are almost always irreparable. 

I told the Service Advisor I wanted Michelin tires, not that inferior Hankook that came on the SUV.

Honestly it seems like I  already replaced them, but then I remembered the last thing this SUV was in the shop for was the replacement battery. And I've only had this SUV three years, so I must be thinking about my last SUV. Darn. 

I prefer to replace all tires at one time--or at least by twos on the same axle. I'm having eaves replaced all the way around the house, so tires all the way around the SUV would stretch me thiner than I would be comfortable stretching on this fine payday.  Yep. I spend it as soon as I make it. Even when I try to save it. 

So I told the Service Advisor I needed it replaced, but I would only replace it with Michelin. That's when he told me I have  Michelin on the SUV.  It wasn't crazy after all--better yet--I have replaced all of the tires on this SUV already. 

Well that perked me right up.  

Surely, since I have replaced the tires that came on the SUV, my new tires should still be under warranty. Since the SUV is only three years old, the tires can't be more than a year or two. Tops.  If nothing else, they should prorate the replacement. Besides,  I usually buy Road Hazard  due to the mileage I put on my SUVs. Surely, pro rating and road hazard insurance would take care of a majority of the bill.

The Service Advisor  checked.  

I spent the money on Road Hazard. The replacement is  covered. 😃

Unfortunately, the dealership  does not have the tire in stock. They will  have to order it and have it delivered--and they won't be able to pop it on the rim until Tuesday. 

So, it looks like I will be taking no road trips this  long holiday weekend.

And to add insult to injury, I'm having to run on the donut tire, so I can't drive fast or far.  I'm really teathered to home.  Not even a day trip for this girl. ☹

And because when it rains it pours...it has started raining.  Really.  On my night to work the Covid Tent.  

I need to take a nap. At least the rain is good sleeping weather. And good staying home weather.

On the brighter side, I can make it to work tonight without having to obtain a rental or ask the dealership for another loaner. And the cost of the replacement tire is covered.

All in all it could be a lot worse. 

I'm pleased. Even if I am to be  chained to the homestead for the weekend.

Mabye the weekend weather will clear and TheGirls and I will make a break for freedom and go for a walk.  

Or three.  

Here's to breaking tire chains...