The notifications are finally done. At least I think they are - I sure as hell hope so. I think that has been the worst thing so far. The funeral home was fine, the ID was actually semi-easy - amazing how quickly you can get close enough to ID someone and then do a full 180 and be on your way back out the door. (Hell, I didn’t realize it would be an actual viewing room, I figured we were going into a walk in fridge…)
It’s 4:42 on Thursday and I’ve cracked open a beer and have been spending the day watching the NCAA tourney and reading. I’m too damn tired to do anything else of importance at the moment.
I’m sleeping fine, but waking up at seven-fucking-thirty every morning - I can’t figure out what is waking me up, but I’m a touch pissed, cause right now, sleeping in a little later is kinda critical.
Left brain has taken over this week - lists to make, things to tend to. Appointments with estate lawyers have been made to probate the will. Ronnie is the executor, but he’s down in Georgia, so I am going to just see how much we can do without him - I have a suspicion it will be quite a bit, and if nothing else, we’ll get a PoA done. It’s not that I don’t trust him, it’s the we’re in VA and he’s in GA pain in the ass factor.
I know there is still some lingering shit with my grandfather’s trust - Sandra & Ron are coming up later after the will is probated to go through some of it - I am going to put a complete stop to any nonsense going on with it, that is a given. If Fran needs more money for the house, she gets it - end of story. I’ll write the check myself if I have to.
The house is weighing a lot on my mind right now - if we don’t sell (and selling isn’t in the plan at the moment), one of us is going to have to buy the other out at some point - how to factor that in keeps going through my head. Set up an imaginary mortgage I pay to myself so I have the cash to buy Donald out someday if it comes to that? Bizarre the things that run through your head in times like this.
I have to have a “complete list of assets” to probate the will. I think I have most of the taxable stuff accounted for from tax statements. Valuation of the house could theoretically even be done with a tax assessment I suppose. The contents I will just use the insured value - I am not going to go through an entire household inventory, that’s just ridiculous. Right now, the only things I don’t have a statement on are her retirement accounts through work - not even sure how to get those, but I am sure there will be a way of some sorts. Gotta make sure the retirement stuff gets rolled right to avoid tax issues.
We did at least figure out that we can pay off the mortgage immediately if we have to - the balance is 114K, and the life insurance is 100K and I’ve got a 35K wide open line of credit right now. We could get a new mortgage later and get our cash back if we wanted to.
It’s hard to make decisions without feeling like you’re jumping the gun. I’d really love it if we both could move back in here. The place is certainly big enough for it, and well, it’s home. Sure, we’d be the weird family that moved into Mom’s house, but well, we were never normal. I’d love to bring the cats over and just move in and then concentrate on getting my place sale ready on the weekends - but again, that jumping the gun thing. But it would also be best for the dog to stay here. (As I’ve said before, we’re making all decisions right now based on the health and welfare of the muppet.)
I am seriously thinking about going out and snagging a laptop this weekend. Mom’s computer is, um, somewhat vintage…and there is a lot of things that need to be kept track of from a math standpoint and having a decent computer… Should I move in, I could snag a wireless router and setup DSL here and be good to go - again, though, jumping the gun. (Yes, there is that awful little opportunistic bastard in my head that has been looking for an excuse for a laptop.) Then again, I could just fire up excel right here and that would work too, wouldn’t it? (My inner geek is crying now)
I’m still in the “too numb to have real emotions” stage. Denial will be one I skip - when you see someone go, there is no denying it, that is for sure. Part of it is just my fucked up personality. I was all business when Dad died too - not because I wasn’t devastated or didn’t miss him, it’s just me.
Saturday is going to be ROUGH. I brought up the option for Mom’s coworkers. They really need this. Me? I think it’s gonna suck big time for me. The outpouring of love is beautiful and very overwhelming all at the same time.
Next week? That’s the big “well, what the fuck do I do now?” question. I think we can decide that next week.
