My Bad
The man called this morning. Not an underling, but the man himself. The District Manager for the local social security office. He began the conversation with an apology, and it sounded sincere. We mishandled your case, he said, and I am sorry you had to wait so long. He gave me Cici's new social security number and told me that we will receive her card in a couple of days. If you don't have the card by Wednesday of next week, here is my phone number. Call me. I will make sure you receive the card.
Sometimes having a law firm letterhead handy helps solve problems, even with bureaucrats. Ping had read the letter over my shoulder as I wrote it on Tuesday. She mailed it that day. It probably arrived on Wednesday. Less than 48 hours later we had a social security number, but they didn't process Cici's application until my letter arrived.
Now we can ask the IRS for the exemption amount from last year that we couldn't claim without a social security number. That is close to $1,000 that the IRS will refund now, so getting the social security number has benefits beyond just having a number. Ping is on her way to pick Cici up at school and they will drive to the Department of Public Safety to get a Texas ID card for Cici. Suddenly everything has fallen into place for her.
Is this a good omen for her audition tomorrow?
Closing on our refinancing for our home next Wednesday has prompted some discussion about houses. I made the mistake of suggesting that we sell the house and invest the proceeds in an annuity when we start spending half or more of our time in China. We will never sell a house that we own, Ping told me. Cici will take care of our home is Houston when we are in China. And Cici said that if she is ever having problems with her life after she marries that she will return to our home and live there, Ping continued. Cici also never wants to sell our home, Ping said.
Besides, Ping said, selling your home is a bad omen in China. If you sell your home your business will go bad, and we don't want our business to go bad. Hmm, my bad, I told her.
Sometimes having a law firm letterhead handy helps solve problems, even with bureaucrats. Ping had read the letter over my shoulder as I wrote it on Tuesday. She mailed it that day. It probably arrived on Wednesday. Less than 48 hours later we had a social security number, but they didn't process Cici's application until my letter arrived.
Now we can ask the IRS for the exemption amount from last year that we couldn't claim without a social security number. That is close to $1,000 that the IRS will refund now, so getting the social security number has benefits beyond just having a number. Ping is on her way to pick Cici up at school and they will drive to the Department of Public Safety to get a Texas ID card for Cici. Suddenly everything has fallen into place for her.
Is this a good omen for her audition tomorrow?
Closing on our refinancing for our home next Wednesday has prompted some discussion about houses. I made the mistake of suggesting that we sell the house and invest the proceeds in an annuity when we start spending half or more of our time in China. We will never sell a house that we own, Ping told me. Cici will take care of our home is Houston when we are in China. And Cici said that if she is ever having problems with her life after she marries that she will return to our home and live there, Ping continued. Cici also never wants to sell our home, Ping said.
Besides, Ping said, selling your home is a bad omen in China. If you sell your home your business will go bad, and we don't want our business to go bad. Hmm, my bad, I told her.
Comments