Opinion

Every now and again, someone comes up with suggestions for addition to the list of what to do when there’s nothing to do.

As often as not, such “yawn fodder” winds up to fill holes--gaping or otherwise--just before newspapers go to press.

I have another thought concerning an item that should be forever deleted from the list--the mistitled annual “All-Star” basketball game foisted on us by the National Basketball Association and its TV cohorts. Any other suggestion on the “what-to-do-list” is superior to this debacle which is no better than watching paint dry….

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Dear Rusty: My wife is on Medicare and receiving Social Security benefits each month. We built a house and used money from our investments to pay for it. We knew we would pay taxes on that withdrawal, but my wife got a letter from Social Security saying that because the money we withdrew was listed as income, her 2024 Medicare premium went up over $500. And since Medicare is taken out of her Social Security, that results in a $6,000 loss to our budget.

Please accept my deepest apologies for not writing last week. It was a difficult week for our family.

Texas’ prime grilling season is only weeks away. I await in the shadow of a conundrum, not knowing whether to mark off calendar days with giddy anticipation or be “gloomed” like Charlie Brown stumbling away from another setback.

There’s a certain limpness accompanying the unknown. That’s how I remember a sudden desire at age 30 to learn to play the organ, blowing off a warning to allot plenty of practice time. Right off, I bought a Wurlitzer transistorized model on a monthly pay-out plan. Months later, I sold it for pennies on the dollar.

Dear Rusty: I am collecting full Social Security benefits at age 72 and also working full time. Why is the Federal Government still taking money from my paycheck? I have written to Social Security experts on this issue, and they tell me “It’s the law.” That is not a good answer for me. Approximately $4,400 was taken from my pay in 2023 for Social Security and, yes, I get a pittance of a COLA increase, but not equal to what I pay.

Federal judge appears skeptical of new border law

Dear Rusty: I have a question regarding my SS benefits. I turned 68 this month and work part time. I earned $28,000 last year but will probably gross $36,000 to $38,000 this year. My husband collects his SS, and he earned $25,000 last year. I was told by a financial planner that I should apply for my benefits now, instead of waiting until I’m 70. I would collect $1700/month at 68 and $1944/month if I wait. Which is the smarter move? Signed: Seeking Answers

In our mind’s eye, most of us old-timers recall taking on life in slow motion when contrasted with today’s starts, stops and swerves now endured by the masses by day and by night. If identified with a fable, we were the turtles, and jet-setters of today are the hares.

Or so it seems.

In a perfect world, coaches, parents and participants would rightly refer to sports aspirants as “student athletes.”
Today, however, this often is not the case. For many — in both high school and college — reference to “student athletes” is an oxymoron, as far apart as the east is from the west.

Oh. No. Silly! I don’t have any answers. I am looking for them, too.

So the FFA speakers, Taylor Crook, Claire Ellis, and Ella Hearne spoke at the San Angelo Contest on Friday. Keaton Kuykendall and Colt Nelson exhibited their ag mechanics projects Friday and Saturday at San Angelo. Sheep were shown by Braden Copeland, Keagan, and Makenzi Nelson. The goat exhibitors included Landon and Kiki Buse. Heifers are this week, and then it’s off to San Antonio.

JV basketball was in Albany on Monday.

OAP brought their practice to life on Monday!