long wait

I filed my taxes last year on March 5. 

It was a simple return. Just standard deductions. Nothing unusual or complicated.

I paid what I owed New York State, and then waited for my federal refund. A portion arrived on October 7 and the balance on December 2. Yup, an eight-month wait. Ridiculous.

Today I meet with my wonderful accountant Janet, with whom I've had a decades-long relationship. We meet via phone. There's no need to meet in person. 

Everything's the same as last year. All is quite simple. Little income. Standard deductions.

But Janet does have a question on a pension distribution from GE. I worked at CNBC once upon a time (when GE owned it). She wants to know if a particular portion is taxable. The 1099 indicates it isn't, but she asks me to check.

I call GE. After I go through all the prompts I learn that I am number 46 in the queue. UGH.

It takes almost 137 minutes for a real person to pick up. But they do a good job of letting me know where I am in the queue. Wish all companies did that.

I use the downtime wisely:

• I read the paper.

• Wash all my make-up brushes in case I ever wear make-up again.

• Do today's Wordl. (I'm saving Quordle for later, a game I like better... same rules but instead you need to identify four words).

• Clean the bathroom.

• Have a long conversation with a friend I haven't spoken to in ages.

• Complete the NYT Spelling Bee (today's was easy; my daily goal is to get to Genius without using any four-letter words, somedays it can take the entire day. Then I post my score with the two friends I "play" with every day). 

• Answer some emails.

• Watch the first hour of The Today Show.

When a GE person finally picks up, he answers my question in about five seconds. It happens to be the answer I wanted: not taxable.

Now I hope that I get my federal refund quicker than I did last year.

After all, COVID's over, isn't it? 

Masks are no longer required. 

So that must mean those ubiquitous COVID-excuses are gone too.