random thoughts – Day 2,169 (Monday) – snow day aggro

Snowy day. Again.

The blizzard raged with cold air, hostile steady snow, high winds, and occasional white-out conditions. Snow clotted on the window screens and gathered on the ledge between upper and lower panes. It blew and cleared some roofs and drifted in driveways, against sheds, stairs, and homes. The storm was a combination of fascinating and picturesque, best observed from inside. 

In between watching episodes of the never ending reality show “winter snow 2025-26,” regular daily life of emails, job applications, and phone calls took place. This included the frustrating labyrinth of bank customer “service.” Short version: last Tuesday (because Monday was a holiday), I called the bank with a question about an IRA CD that had matured on the 14th and had a 10-day window for changes. Based on the crappy rates provided, I said I wanted to close the CD and was told it could be closed and moved to my checking account easy peasy, it just might take a couple days.

Today, after checking for the millionth time and seeing it hadn’t happened yet, I called to ask when this transaction might happen.  I learned I had been misinformed last week and because it is an IRA instrument I need to visit a branch to sign paperwork. This information was noted in my bank file, but was never relayed to me. Nice. And tick, tock, the 10-day clock is slipping away.

Relaxing with a puzzle.

It looks like tomorrow I’ll be making the 15-mile journey to the closest branch, which could have been accomplished at several pre-blizzard points last week, including Wednesday when I was next door to said branch. I can’t wait to be fully divested of business with this bank.

To restore calm and shake off the aggro, I started a new small side quest with a jigsaw puzzle. It has only 500 pieces, but it’s harder than I assumed. It’s good diversion for housebound annoyances and aggravation.