Another night passed where I was half-awake for about three hours until I finally decided to get up and start all the earlier. I couldn’t help noticing how early the sun comes up, but just remember, we’re exactly a month away from the summer solstice, and once again, the sun will begin its annual march southward.
Since it was another Sunday morning, I proceeded to get my contemplative session completed, which was a relatively normal one with the exception of my having ‘seen’ that evil entity lurking for a second or two. I don’t know about you, but I absolutely hate it whenever someone enters my sacred spaces. I’m not a hermit by any means, but I’ve always been of the belief that we all must have at least one special corner, all to ourselves. You can bet whenever someone feels threatened by outsiders, I’m quickly backing away.
After I’d finished my contemplative session, I went ahead and got caught up on all the news, and the most shocking of today’s posts, was an obituary posted in the Globe Gazette for the son of a couple I’ve passingly known for many years, whom I believe was either 31 or 32 years old. After reading all of his scholastic and sports accomplishments, and then where he went on to get his medical degree, I couldn’t help wondering what in the world must’ve happened to him. Well, after seeing where the family wants their son’s memorials sent, it was pretty evident he committed suicide.
I’m sure his death is going to have a serious impact on his parents and surviving brother for many years to come. While out working today, I couldn’t help wondering what in the world must’ve driven him to do such a thing, and especially seeing where he pretty much had the world by the tail. But, as we all know, nearly every one of us have demons within which must be managed on a near-daily basis, just to make sure we remain ‘grounded’ while traveling down our life-paths.
I did get several overdue emails composed and sent out before I had to grab my music and head over to St. Paul Lutheran Church. When I got there, one of their members was already inside making preparations for today’s communion, so I had a little chat with her, and while visiting, I was alerted that there’d be a high school pianist who’d be play every Sunday but one during the months of June and July. I’m actually glad I don’t have to play every weekend, because I’ll have more free hours to work on my own daunting projects.
There was a great deal of music that had to be played this morning, and for whatever reason, I didn’t noticeably stumble even once. Yes, I’m now growing accustomed to their piano, which is the same brand as the one at my office, but doesn’t sound nearly as rich as mine. How nice it would be if I had a magic wand with which I could make mine small enough to fit in my pocket, and then zap it back to its original size after I arrive over at St. Paul. From the day a dear client of mine gifted me his piano, I send great thanks out into the universe for what he freely and willingly did. Every time I see him, I soulfully give thanks. I’m still trying to round him up for a lunch date, but unless he insists on going to The Quarry, I’ll find something equally good if not better.
There were several errands I had to run before heading back to office to get changed into my work clothes, and since they were eating up more time than I expected, I didn’t get out into my garden as early as I wanted. But, considering how much I did get done, I was overall satisfied.
I now have everything in the ground, so that’s all I’ll have to do from here on out, is weed control and of course harvesting. The most fun things I planted, were the seeds of those giant sunflowers, and if they should all germinate, I’ll have a large number of their smiling faces. They happen to be the edible ones, so if I decide to keep them, I’ll have to put a net over them, just to keep the bluejays from stealing them, just like they did the last time I planted them. When I was walking away after finishing up, I stood and looked back at everything, and pretty much made the call it was as good as it gets. What surprised me the most, was not finding even one pepper or tomato that’d gone into transplant shock. This year was definitely a first for that not to happen.
Before heading home, I returned a call which had come in from one of my out of town clients, and it having been many weeks since we last spoke, I had to bring him up to speed with all the recent happenings, and especially the prolonged process of getting the Kirk Apartment burn-out, completely razed and all of its rubble hauled off. Ok, today is the 21st of May, and the day that fire started, was April 24th, so it looks like I was right from the beginning when I said it would be well over a month before it came down. Don’t you just hate it when you’re spot on?
Well, I’ve been asked enough times about this senior 65+ homestead tax exemption they’re talking about, and as I suspected, it’s really not anything to get excited about so here’s the official scoop from the Iowa Department of Revenue.:
On May 4, 2023, Governor Reynolds signed House File 718, establishing a homestead tax exemption for claimants 65 years of age or older. In addition to the homestead tax credit, eligible claimants who own the home they live in and are 65 years of age or older on or before January 1 of the assessment year are now eligible for a homestead tax exemption. For the assessment year beginning on January 1, 2023, the exemption is for $3,250 of taxable value. For assessment years beginning on or after January 1, 2024, the exemption is for $6,500 of taxable value. An exemption is a reduction in the taxable value of the property rather than a direct reduction in the amount of property tax you pay. The Iowa Department of Revenue has amended the Homestead Tax Credit and Exemption (54-028) to allow claimants to apply for the new exemption. Applications are due July 1 to your local assessor. If the exemption is granted, the exemption will be allowed for future years without future filing as long as the claimant continues to qualify.
Just to clarify, that homestead tax exemption is only reducing our seniors’ taxable amount by $3,250 for this year, and $6,500 for the following years. I think our unbelievably millage rate is $38.00 per thousand, so what you’re looking at as a ‘real tax’ reduction for our seniors would be $123.50 subtracted off of their current tax bills. Well, I’m not the least bit impressed when knowing how sky-high our assessments now are, and for sure, when looking at the whole picture, our Governor’s generosity will be considered nothing more than a pittance.
Tonight’s One-liner is: Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.
