I got called at work today by one of the executors in Wisconsin. He was asking whether I had gotten and filled out the W9 they had sent, which I did. It was to get me in "the system" and probably to make sure that I existed. I told him about the irony of that letter and the SSN card from the lawyer. He got a kick out of it.

It was a good opportunity to ask a few questions.

The list of funds and fee structure they sent me was for information and CYA purposes. They have been picking up and rolling in little savings accounts from mom and dad into a money market sweep account, ie a money "bucket". The original account of mom's that started sister's grudge with the bank, well, the bank executors needed a court order to roll it in and put into the bucket. I'll have to mention it to sister that it was nothing personal. Even the bank needed industrial strength legal means to get at it, and it was one of their own accounts.

The executor asked whether I knew anything about an insurance policy grampa got for mom when mom was one. Yep, no one threw anything away, and luckily it looked insurance-y enough that we stuck it in a file. I didn't know anything.

He asked about the Employees Trust piece of mail. Sister got it too and was asking about that. We mused a bit on where mom must have worked to get it - he thought she had to be a teacher, I knew that she had worked at the public library, and I think that was where it came from. I explained that I had filled it out and sent it back and that it looked like they were searching for beneficiaries. The executor told me that he'll have to explore this a bit further - it'll go to us but if a beneficiary was not named it should go through dad's estate bucket first.

Later that day I missed another Wisconsin call (I was in a meeting with my boss.). Sister later emailed me the land assessment had come in. Zoned agricultural and at 4K/acre, but I think that there are 3 estimates. Wonder which one they used? I could tell from the email that sister wasn't thrilled.

I get the feeling everyone's going to call me tomorrow.

G*d, I hate that. 8:11! I dressed in a hurry, took a quick number one, ran out the door and made it to the 8:30 bus. Made me feel like an elementary school kid again. I made it to work 20 minutes late. At least we're not in a place where you punch in and as long as you get your projects done, you're fine. Stayed an extra 15 minutes, though.

Got the Employees Trust letter from my mom's work. You see, when my mom died two years ago, none of her estate got settled. Dad wasn't up for it. She died at 61 from breast cancer so she missed social security benefits. Sister and I were collecting papers from her too. We'll settle it all together, I guess. Anyway, they were basically beating the bush for beneficiaries - sister and I. Based on what was checked, they were going to get mom's death certificate from my sister.

I got another odd piece of mail from US Bank. It was a list of their mutual funds, with a letter from, well...let me put it this way: if the executor was Batman, this was Robin. Robin talked about "we may invest..." Hmmmph. Not at these fee rates. Since there was no application, I will take it under advisement, and have another chat with my lawyer friend.

I got two pieces of mail today.

#1 - from US Bank in Oshkosh, asking me for my SSN.
#2 - from sister's lawyer. Inside was my original SSN card with my signature from when I was 11 yrs old. Found amongst father's papers. I probably popped it in a file during that paper-o-rama week with sister.

Coincidence, or does it rise to the level of irony? Discuss.

Paid $350 to credit card. With that, the debt that I took on during dad's funeral has been paid off.

Yippee!!!!!
Since its retroactive from the end of August, the paycheck is about $120 (net). I figure the raise will be about $40/ paycheck, and along with the net $50/paycheck salary adjustment and the original promotion it means that I'm making 20% more now than I was in January. Thank you, emergency fund!

It'll bulk up my ING account, but I'm seriously considering bumping up my 403(b) to 15% up from 12%. On the other hand I don't really like my fund choices. There's always starting a Roth, or just simply going it alone and bumping up my stock and I-bond purchases.

And then what to do when the inheritance comes in. I also got a phone call asking for my mailing address re: mom's death benefit. I called them back and gave them my address. I wonder what that is?

But as for now, I broke down and bought new shoes and ordered the Looney Tunes vol 3 DVD. Spent the $120.

In the last few days:

So sister made her wishes more public to have the house, barn, and a few acres around it, and to put the kibosh on the family to get items. I'm shaking my head here - why beg me to "hurry up with that email to the family asking them about the items they were interested in..."? I put a lot of energy into writing that email. I wanted to be clear, precise and succinct. It wasn't shoveling a few IM shortcuts together This jerking around made me look like a fool. Maybe that was the plan to force the issue. Of course with me in Seattle and all the other players in Wisconsin, the midwest, and the east coast my thoughts are expendable.

Sigh. When I get conspiracy thoughts I know I need some serious handholding. I forwarded sister's email to my lawyer co worker and we had a lunch and an informal (non-billable) chat. This is what I got:

a.) According to the will, I inherit equally with my sister.
b.) Nothing can happen without my agreement.
c.) I can simply "cash out" my half - in other words, take my half in cash. Sister gets a lot less cash and the grounds and house. To the executor and the lawyer, that is a very easy transaction.
d.) Sister's changes of mind and of heart are very common. She might well change her mind several times throughout this process.
e.) You will never persuade sister or get her to see your viewpoint. Lawyer friend role-played with me as a joke. Sample -
Me: Fine by me that you get the house.
Him (as sister): why do you hate us and want to torch the place and don't you have at least one good memory of the farm?
Me: Okay, I don't want to torch the place. What if I want the house?
Him (as sister): what, you're trying to screw me over, you don't think I can own and keep up this house by myself?

In other words, [O]K...yes, dear was the right response. I'm to keep saying it. Often.

In other news, the electric bill came in. $68.06. (Summer rates, and Seattle comes pre-airconditioned) I budgeted $70. Yes! Added $8 in the last couple of days to my tip box. I get paid tomorrow. It'll be interesting to see what my job evaulation has earned me.

My email to the family was a big hit. Everyone wants to go, get a truck, and take everything. It wasn't what I wrote, but now we've started a gold rush that sister and I are going to have to manage.

Talked to sister on the phone this evening. Sister and her partner definitely want the house and a couple of acres of grounds for... something. Maybe a bed and breakfast (I'm shaking my head here). If they want to put the effort in, fine, it will take a lot of effort. Makes sense why she kind of doesn't want everyone coming in a truck to take everything. Why the he&& did she ask me to send that email to ask everyone about what they wanted? I feel like I'm jerked around. But she'll have to buy out my half.

The land is going to be sold and I'm guessing that we are splitting the proceeds (after debts are paid off) to give us room to manuever. Sigh. Sister was telling about one of dad's friends saying, "don't let them jerk you around, some of that land is zoned commercial. That should be priced at 10000/acre. " She was worried. Not that I'm not, but if the bank is getting a 4% flat rate and they get two offers - one at 10K and one at 5K, which are they going to pick? I told her she has to do some actual research, not taking some old fart's word for it. And she has a lawyer; she'd better be asking questions.

The executor was officially named on Sept 26. Suddenly, everyone but sister is working at warp speed to get things wrapped up. Both parcels of land will be sold, sooner rather than later. It boils down to the house and a few acres around the house. Sell it and auction the household items right away along with the land (executor position), or sell the land quickly, and leave the house for a little while (sister). I was asked whether I had the burning desire for the proceeds.

I told her no, there was no rush from me.

But I'm not sure why sister is stalling. (Like really stalling - 1-5 yr stalling). It could be that she does want the house, or that she thinks the house is worth more, or she's sentimental. She did put a lot of work into cleaning it and she just got done painting it. Selling the house to someone who will immediately tear it down despite her work is probably pretty appalling.

I'm to wrangle up the relatives who took a tour of the inside of the house and were looking around. Dad's twin sister asked for items, which I think I mostly knew about. My notes that day weren't that good - but you know, it was after the funeral, and frankly no one was saying, "I'm gonna hold my breathe and die if I don't get X." We'll see what the gang asks for. Sister will just say no. like she mostly did that day. Or in her tone: NO. And there were other items in the attic we're asking around in the family about.

Put another 5$ in the tip box, but took out 1$ to go into a football pool. Sent another 40$ to the 3M drip.

Went to Costco today for the first time in months. Everything got rearranged so we were against shopping cart traffic most of the time. Picked up socks, undies, (clothes I'm leery of at the thrift store!), AAA batteries, chicken stock, cream of mushroom soup, DH's romaine and coffee, chicken tenders, and a pack of dark teal bath towels. $118. That's why I don't usually go; I can never get out with anything less than 100$.

Put $100 in the ING account. Still haven't gotten the heiress letter yet. Sister thinks that only one of us had to vouch for it. Since she's in Milwaukee and I'm in Seattle, if you were mailing a letter in Wisconsin, who would you pick?

Speaking of that, sister - with help from dad's friends - got bushes trimmed up, got the paper and mud wasp nests around the house cleaned up and gotten rid of, a well capped, and the big nasty sump pond cleaned up in front of the house, and the house primed, ready to be painted. She even found homes for the crew of barn cats that were our audience when we were finding paper. On the bad news, several farm implements have gone missing. We know who took them; we are making sure the bank executor knows and is dealing with it (they're earning that 4 flat, remember?). Fall is coming, though, and with it, making decisions that affect the plans of other people. For instance, a farmer rented half of dad's land to grow his crops. If we're going to sell, then the renter needs to know so he can make plans or can buy it out right.

We have a new manager at work. Talking with her a little bit, we seem to have a lot in common.

I got some bubble tea this afternoon, then caught a heel on a crack in the street and promptly tripped and fell, losing my tea. Its a sign to join the bubble tea 12-step program.

No heiress letter yet, emailed sister to ask whats up.

Had the urge for another bad-for-your-health-life-affirming lunch. Hit Dome Burger for the first time in three years. All their burgers are fresh, the fries were hot, and all the condiments you could want. I had a meeting today so I didn't load up on the onions. Took me back to high school and college; Dome Burger decor reminds me of a college dorm. Prices had gone up about .50 from last I went.

Bought a $300 I-bond today. You buy those at the end of the month because the issue date is set at the first of the month. Buying at the end of the month means instead of a year's wait before you can redeem them, its 11 months.

My $40 bought a 1/2 a share of 3M, so I have 19.66 shares of 3M. Tomorrow $50 will be taken out of my savings account to buy Coke. I should have 61.50 shares of that. (FYI - Dome Burger has a Coke fountain. Ka-ching!) On the first day of October the $35 I sent to Wisconsin Energy Corp should buy another share of that. I should have over 10 shares of that. Compared to my 403Bs, these stocks are a small proportion. I just thought I'd quietly add to my positions, reinvest the dividends (all pay a reasonable dividend and cost nothing to invest in their DRPs). Investing $40, $50 at a time feels way different than plunking down a $1000 at a time - it feels nice, like I'm sending my money away to earn money for me.

Waiting for the paycheck to come on Friday.

Spending log - 1.65 coffee (paid w/change) + 6.00 lunch + 2.75 bubble tea
Saving log - 4.00 tip box + 300 savings bond

Paid $350 on the credit card; now I have $280 of debt left. Chipping away at it - my only purchase on it last month was a Katrina donation. I shudder to think that I'll be making Rita, Stan, Tammy, Vince and Wilma donations, too. Baring all that death and destruction, I should be able to clear it next month.

Popped the signed waiver and consent in the mail. Sister told me that the next piece of paper was a certificate that I'm a legal heir(ess) to the estate, to be signed in front of a notary. We have a notary at work, so its a hop up some stairs. Now all I have to do is find the time.

I made some comments on another frugal blog about grocery shopping and how to select produce. One thing led to another and suddenly I was part of an email interview about how to keep vegetables fresh. If you're curious, here's the link:

We sat together, my lawyer friend and I, as he looked at the papers. The consent is that I agree that the bank is to be the executor, am satisfied with the will and am not going to contest it. By signing it, I help send this into informal probate, which as sister's lawyer explained, consists mostly of signing stuff. My lawyer friend added that since everyone gets paid after the estate is settled everyone has a stake in getting things moving.

Yesterday I cheaped out on lunch in order to at least make my ATM withdrawl last 3 days instead of two again.

One of my DRPs is 3M. In the mail today, I got a shareholder offer for a Christmas pack of products for $9.75. There were a couple of things I wanted to try (shoeshine wipes sound interesting in a weird 3M-y sort of way), so for giggles and grins I bought a box.

Sept 20
Spending log - 1.65 coffee + 5.00 lunch
Saving log - 3.00 tip box

Sept 21
Spending log - 1.65 coffee + 8.00 lunch + 9.75 christmas box
Saving log - 40 3M DRP

Tonight I got the waiver and consent from sister's lawyer, who is going to assist the executor (the bank). We're starting with the paperwork by entering the will for informal probate, and by signing our consent allowing the bank to become the executor. Wheels are grinding slowly and infinitely fine. The first casuality: they've shaved off an "a" from my mom's first name. I expect my lawyer friend, a gay man, to enjoy the joke.

My bank transferred back the 200$.

This week the Seattle police are cracking the whip to get cars off of Third avenue during the 3 hour afternoon rush hour. Big "do not enter" signs. Cars are being turned off at every intersection on Third by four officers, two cars, and large flashing signs. Its kinda cool actually. No exhaust, no honking, no stereo bass.

September 18
Spending log - 10.00 coffee/brunch + 3.00 bubble tea

September 19
Spending log - 1.65 coffee + 7.00 lunch + 3.00 afternoon juice
Saving log - 5.00 tip box

Got my paycheck. $3 more than I thought I'd get.

At work we are probably getting personal time off (PTOs), a change from sick days and vacation days. I'm not sure but, apparently one of the advantages is that we can cash them out - take cash instead of having to use them. I'll have to figure that out.

Sister is now talking with the executor and asking questions about what she should do and how to proceed. Whew. Her lawyer told us that he is about to send us both waivers to sign. I'm guessing that its to give them permission to proceed from their end - post the estate, allow the creditors to come, allow the bank to sell the land and bits. One of dads friends got one of the tractors started, so that immediately means that its worth more. More good news.

The reroutes downtown are interesting. Third avenue, where the buses go, had a great drop in car activity. But it means that First, Second, and Fourth Aves are car infested nightmares.

Spending log - 1.65 coffee + 5.00 lunch + 3.00 bubble tea.
Saving log - 0

So I looked in my online Treasury Department account where I have my online savings bonds.

I filled out the paperwork and made a manifest on Aug 25. I see it on the website, so its been converted. Yay, it worked! Not that I've been biting my knuckle, but they did it in about 2 weeks. For government work, lightening fast. . I did the manifest of the second bond Saturday, and mailed it Monday, so now I know that it works and how much time it will take.

I wanted them all online so I can keep track of them and I wouldn't lose them. Plus, clutter worth a lot of money is still clutter.

Sister has loosened up and accepted the executor's deal. She asked me for advice on what to do next, now that the house is mostly clean. This is a new world for me too so I couldn't really give her a decent answer; the only thing I can think of is that its time to make up the household inventory - how much of what is in each room. I suggested that since she has her lawyer working in tandem with the bank that she ask him what to do next from her (and my) end. And I'll ask from my end.

And I reminded her that its only been 6 weeks since dad passed. We don't get brownie points for speed. Perhaps a couple of weeks of not thinking about estate stuff might be refreshing.

Spending log - 1.65 coffee + 7.00 lunch + 1.45 sbux chocolate chip cookie
Saving log - 2.00 tip box

Showed the letter to the lawyer-co worker today. After reading it carefully, he told me a story. When he did probate work in Wash DC, anything not freaking obvious -- like a list of liquid assets and their beneficiaries and no debts of any kind -- would be considered extraordinary, and therefore they would charge 10%. "They're letting you off easy at 4 flat," he said.

My DH, the step-son of a banker, mentioned tonight that at a decent flat rate the bank has a stake in maximizing the assets, trying to get the highest prices on the land and the effects. You'll pay more but you'll get more.

I emailed sister the news. I know she'll be disappointed. I don't know how she will react - will she loosen up and accept it, or dig in her heels? Its a familiy trait, assuming that everyone is trying to screw you over. Heck, my natural inclination is to assume it, but the straight fact is that the farm has to be sold, and this is not a do-it-yourself project. Plus, nothing's ours. I have to keep explaining it to her that a nice legal entity called Dad's estate owns everything.

Spending log - $1.65 coffee + $9 lunch + $2.75 bubble tea.
Saving log - $2.00 tip box

(Tip box is a little opaque box I keep in my desk at work and put small bills and change. Usually I deposit whatever's in there monthly, but sometimes I use it for office collections.)

I mean it in a nice way. Really.

I got the letter from the bank executor tonight and read it over carefully. It describes the estate's parcels of land (where the wealth rests, frankly), the disrepair of the buildings (yep), and that some of the farmers have grabbed some of dad's farm implements for "safekeeping". 2% of the estate is minimum for WI and for average, ordinary, liquid estates; WI law allows charging more for "extraordinary circumstances". The bank is charging 4%, flat.

Selling land. Capping water wells. Clearing fuel oil tanks. Clearing ancient wood and rusty scrap iron from waist high grass. Fetching tractors. Dismantling the barn and sheds for wood reclamation. 4% flat? We're getting off cheap!

They're also charging to file a WI inheritance tax return, if the estate is worth over $675,000. The trick of this is the word "file". Not pay, merely file. I'll ask the bank and ask for the innocent clarification .

Having my lawyer look at it. (Gee, that sentence types easy!)

Spending log - 1.75 coffee (tip) + 4.50 lunch
Saving log - 4.00 tip box

Ah schadenfreude. Pleasure at another's misfortune.

I experienced it today in Safeway with my price book. Safeway is one of the those grocery stores with the club card that "entitles you to sale prices" but in fact over inflates regular prices then encourages you to sell your privacy down the river in exchange for a crummy card that entitles you to regular prices. I guess Safeway to me is what the bank is to sister -- it produces all sorts of semi-irrational long term grudges and hatreds.

I was cutting through in the double-decker Safeway -- they have an escalator and sometimes I just don't want to face the walk up the hill -- when I had an urge to pick up a couple of things. The so called "sale" price on every thing was more expensive than the mid-range of my price book. HAH!

Plus I got a fantastic deal on ground beef yesterday from my usual grocery store. Stocked up and rotated out the old stuff from the freezer for crockpot chili.

I also got a voicemail yesterday from sister. She received the letters that the bank executor sent, opened hers up and she let fly. The bank had checked off that they need an exclusionary clause in case the situation required it. That really set her off. It nearly set me off, but I'm fairly sure that this is boilerplate - a clause that nearly every estate gets. I mean, what if they find 33 dead bodies in the basement?

I had to call her back and ask that I get my copy. Ranting over the phone isn't going to help the situation any, and my lawyer-advisee needs the paper, not the pissed-off voicemail.

Normally Labor Day weekend is one of my favorite holidays. The weather is usually good and the its one of the few American holidays that occur at the beginning of the month so you can celebrate when your bank account is flush.

Not this year. I donated $100 to United Way Katrina Response Fund. I glad that help is finally coming through, but if there is any sort of justice in this world, heads should roll. I'm a voter with a long memory, and some situations go beyond money. When doctors at charity hospitals in 2005 have to use the glucose in the IV bags to keep going because there is no food and no FEMA and no social order of any kind for four days, that tells me something. I am frankly so ashamed to be an American this week and that shame is turning into anger as I write.

I mused about this, slugging down a couple of martinis during a going-away party Friday night. When I got back home, I found out that sister mailed me another savings bond. Too bad I can't specify what part of the government debt I can assume with the bond. The bond is of the same denomination and issue date and comes again from grandpa. I wonder what tipped his decision - why July 1991? I'll have to ask.

I also got a couple of black and white pics from Sept 1962. Me at four months old. The first one was grandma and grandpa holding me, the second was mom and dad holding me. Out of the five of us, the oldest was grandma and the youngest was me. Whose left now? Grandma and me. Funny how fate works.

Called one of the bank executors today to introduce myself and provide them with phone numbers and address. I updated and added more to a word document regarding our joint decisions, and mailed it to sister. At lunch today, my lawyer-trained friend suggested that it might be a county or local inheritance tax. When the documents come, he and I will look at them a bit to see if something's hinky. I offered to buy him lunch as a payment.

Ah, payday. Sent out $50 to ING, put 40$ to a DRP, paid my bit of the rent to DH. The toilet got fixed yesterday; the tenants union is safe from inquiry.

Cheapest gas in Seattle is about $2.80, and the high end gas is above $3.00. I'm actually a bit surprised because we are so far out on the periphery of the country.

Spending log - $445.00 rent + $1.65 coffee + $8.00 lunch
Saving log - $2 tip box + $50 ING + $40 DRP

Well I spoke too soon regarding sister and the bank executor. The bank executors are going to send us each letters describing what they are going to do and how much they're charging for the pleasure. According to sis (who hates them, so not an objective source), they want to charge 4% of the gross estate instead of 2% due to added complexity and environmental issues. I'm thinking its to offset the extra gas its gonna take to drive those 8 miles from the bank to the farm. Actually, since it is real estate and farm stuff and I know about 3 environmental issues already, I would believe and buy off on the 4%.

What worries me is that sister was telling me about an inheritance tax that kicks in for estates above $650,000. I'll have to ask for clarification - simple searches on the Wisc Dept of Revenue list in big letters - No Inheritance Tax since 1991. I guess its time to gird the loins and whip up another brilliant innocent letter...gee, I don't understand, from my research neither WI nor the Feds is levying an inheritance tax.... Wish me luck!

Spending log - 1.65 coffee + 7.00 lunch + 3.00 bubble tea

Saving log - 4.00 tip box

Not much on any economic front -

Bought this month's $500 savings bond. Next month will be only $300, to allow me to throw the spare $200 against the credit card. Nothing on the savings bond manifest front, but it only has been three business days and it has to get to AK from WA.

DH put in several calls to the landlord regarding the toilet. An email, then one more day and then its the tenant's union.

This last weekend, sister got through cleaning most of the basement and has a good start on the attic. She had to pitch a lot of water-damaged baby clothes. Its not like they would fit us anyway. There is a hole in the front of the house that's going to be filled in. The bank (our executor) made formal contact with her. She didn't tell me anything more and in this case, I'm taking no news as good news.

Two more days until the next paycheck.

Spending log - 1.65 coffee + 7.00 lunch

Saving log - 4.00 tip box

The farm is fine. Sister tells me that she had made a lot of headway on the upstairs of the house, but that the attic is going to be a barrel of laughs.

Wrestling with my bank and the transfer agent for one of my DRPs. They both claim I wrote a check for 85, not 35. We shall see about that!

Spending log:
1.65 for coffee + 7.50 for lunch

Saving log:
8$ in the tip box

There was a super-cell of tornado activity in Wisconsin Thursday. 18 of them throughout the late morning and early afternoon. Looking at the map and the list of counties where the tornadoes hit, the activity was mostly far to the south and west of the farm. Sister figures that if anything, probably fallen branches. A couple of dad's friends in contact w/sis had mowed the lawn - if there was damage, they'd tell her. The farmhouse is shrouded in large trees, though. Plenty of possibility for minor damage, so sis is going out to investigate.

In honor of our family, a recipe for a frugal summer supper - open faced cheese, tomato and bacon sandwiches.

1. Set oven rack as high as you can, turn oven on to Broil.
2. Get out a clean, dry cookie sheet.
3. Lightly toast 6 pieces of bread, and set them singly on cookie sheet.
4. Set on each piece of toast one slice cheddar (or American) cheese.
5. Slice fresh, ripe slicing tomatoes into 1/4 in slices, thicker if you'd like. Put tomato slices onto cheese.
6. Cut raw bacon in half at its width so they fit on the bread. Break toothpicks in half.
7. Toothpick raw bacon firmly on top of the tomato. Plant the toothpicks deep; they have a tendancy to pop out if they're loose.
8. Broil until done. They don't take long; you want to prop up the door to watch and adjust if necessary.

They are done when: bacon is done and cheese is melted and bubbly, and both the toothpick ends and the edges of the toast are black. Best when hot.

Put 4$ in the tip box, paid 300$ on the credit card. Ate a 5$ lunch.

Checked out my grocery flyers on the web for any deals. If I buy it regularly, and the prices are good, I put them in my price book too. Slim pickings this week, although there is a deal on frozen OJ, cottage cheese, sweet corn, nectarines. Sometimes you got to go and be there for the deals, if there are any. Cheapest gas here in Seattle is approaching 2.60; the expensive stuff is high 2.90s... $3 by the end of the week no doubt.

Bank is going to be the executor - that was in the executor of last resort in dad's will (will was so old that the executors named were dead) - and sister's lawyer is going to handle the legal affairs. Time to make calls to clarify the situation - who wants to be double billed? Papers are going to the lawyer and the bank is going to do a driveby to assess the farm.

Sister is getting wigged by this whole thing, I can just feel it. Sent a link to the ebookbuy site to her. (and their contact address is in Seattle) We've got boxes and bags of books. Might just as well clear the decks and get a couple of bucks at the same time.

Co workers, many of whom knew their stuff, are leaving for greener pastures in droves. I have a suspicion that I'll be doing something similar within a year.

I had a hankering for good tasting diner food. Something so bad for you that its life affirming, in a weird sort of way. Unfortunately the open-faced hot turkey sandwich w/gravy didn't come cheap, at least as far as lunches go. Paid an office mate for a birthday pizza lunch.

Spending log:
Coffee - 1.65 + Lunch - 10.00 + Pizza lunch - 4.00 + Sewer/water - 121.00

Sent $35 to one of my DRPs to buy the better part of a share...
Saving log:
DRP - 35.00 + Tip Box - 2.00

Another office friend of mine, formerly a lawyer, offered some of his services as we're settling dad's estate. Mostly its going to be advice and implications of what I'm signing. We've been friends for years - I don't expect a bill.

Stuck 1$ in my savings tip box at work and made reverse change in the box (pulled out 5 ones and a 5 for a 10). Makes things much easier when I deposit the contents in the bank 2 blocks away. My tip box is opaque and in a locked drawer. It seems a bit dangerous to keep it at work but the bank is 2 blocks away and its useful for the surprise collections - birthdays, lunches and presents. Its nicer now to be in a small, quiet department in your job - you get hammered less for that sort of thing.

Found 12 cents on the floor of a bank that I don't bank at but cut through as a shortcut to my bus. Tee hee, I'm a bank robber. All I need's a mask.

Asked sister for to send me the savings bond so I can get it the online account. It must be a reaction to all the paper I touched, but I just love the online stuff. My dream would be to have a single sheet in a safety deposit box listing account numbers, assets, beneficiaries, passwords. Go to it, guys...

Spending log:

1.75 for coffee
6.50 for lunch

Saving log:
1.00 for tip box
.12 tip from Wells Fargo

Ugh, the credit line on the credit card bill is well over $600. Most of it from last week, but Sunday it was DHs birthday and we went out for dinner. Pay the card all next month or spread it out over several months? Decisions, decisions... I just hate to spend down my emergency fund (why? it was a real emergency!), so I'm gonna do the unprudent, non-perfect saver thing and revolve the credit a bit.

Pored over the mail. A utility bill from my landlord was calculated wrong, it claiming that according to the lease we would pay 70% instead of 50%. DH was unnerved and was going to pay it, but its easy to fix by a polite email...blink, blink, write innocent. Why was it 70% this time and 50% last time? Did we miss a notification? We got back a whoops, we were wrong its 50%. Letter writing and arguing an economic case was always a talent of mine. The IRS red-flagged me once in grad school and I managed to get the IRS to back down. Its a gift.

Sister emailed me to tell me she and a cousin found several EE savings bonds in our name from 1991. Hah! As usual, finding money. Her gift. Plugged the issue date and amount in my savings bond wizard and got a very pleasant surprise. I'm surprised on another level - gramps was always pro-business, anti-government, no taxes kind of guy. It'd be like me buying Enron stock or something.

It was nearly routine last week - 1.5 hr drive from Milwaukee to Oshkosh, then to the farm. At the farm, pawing through paper in a hard target search for assets and pieces of paper that will help us file dad's last IRS return.

We put on a vinyl LP and began...

My mom was a serious clutterer. I'm debating whether she was a hoarder or not. One minute I was flipping through newspaper clippings from the 80s, the next, grandpa and grandma's wedding picture. On which side you ask? Found them both. We found my birth certificate, my sister's birth certificate, my mom's birth certificate, my dad's birth certificate, grandpa's wedding license, a school assignment my mom wrote when she was 8, pictures of my great uncle in WWII when he served in New Guinea. I also found scraps of paper with a note or a sentence or a book list written in my mom's hand and stacks and stacks of newspaper. My sister was luckier - she usually found money. (I guess that's why I have to save it. )

The important papers we hoofed to Milwaukee, the rest to recycling. Here's another reason why clutter is bad. Its totally exhausting for your heirs who will never share your opinions about its value!

On the bright side, except for gas, we had several no spend days. We ate Dad's food and drank his soda and found his high school class ring, all without his permission.

Sister and I started an email chain of decisions that we made and agreed to so its written down. Sister is in Milwaukee, so she will be doing the heavy lifting in this. I feel so guilty about this. I sorted and organized the papers until late in the evening - my way of keeping busy.

Why start this journal? Well, kashi asked me to!

The reason that I haven't for so long is that I didn't really feel that I needed to. My debt was under control and I have been happy with my savings rate for the last two years. Life was good...at least it was until the last Wednesday in July.

Now its not. My dad passed away unexpectedly July 27. Mom passed away nearly two years ago, so now its my sister and me. There was a will which states that we inherit equally a dairy farm in Wisconsin. Luckily it wasn't a working farm - no livestock - two parcels of land, barn, sheds, farm equipment, house, household items.

Right now I really feel like my finances (and my emotions) are out of control and will be for some time. Of course I've spent a fair amount traveling to the funeral and beginning the long journey through the will and probate. My sister, who lives in Wisconsin, did a fantastic job with the funeral arrangements.

More tomorrow.