misc thoughts

If you're in the USA and have simple taxes, please consider filing your taxes for free directly with the IRS. Their pilot test has limited availability, but see if you qualify. I won't use them this year, because it's the first time I've ever had to file taxes in another state plus Minnesota plus federal, so I'll probably have to splurge and spend extra money to do it with my usual TurboTax and get an actual tax specialist from them to look it over. Once I know how to do this process, maybe I can do it cheaper next year.
https://directfile.irs.gov/

This morning, when I took the micro-route bus to the grocery store, employees of some government department were walking down the street collecting trash from along the roadside. That's unusual. I don't remember ever seeing that before. When I came back home, the micro-route bus had to make room for their truck again before opening the door for me, but this time it was a crew cutting the stray tree limbs. They are supposed to do that every year, but it's strange that they're doing it in February. I guess they're taking advantage of the prolonged and unusually warm weather before the trees wake up fully?

Happy belated Metronidazole day. It's been over a decade now, but every time January rolls around, I still tend to think of the doctor who on a whim decided to give me a strong medication before a gastroenterological procedure. It cured a decade-long persistent diarrhea, and I've been thankful ever since. That occasion also reminds me of the doctor who, filling in that day for my regular neurologist who was on vacation, decided to ask me if I would try a gluten-free diet to see what effect it had on my progressing nerve damage. Left on my own, I know I wouldn't have made it this far or been this healthy. I've been very lucky in my life, and I know it.