SHEs Organized

Is your tax return done? Several have mentioned already filing, or getting it back from tax preparer. Unfortunately, I'm the tax preparer here, and I took a week-long trip during tax season, so that's what I'll be working on today. The due date isn't until a week from tomorrow, so I kind of hate to start on it early, LOL. (said the former tax CPA whose return almost always was extended! Tongue firmly in cheek there.)

What's your own taxing situation? Is your return filed and done? And what are the other "taxing" situations and tasks happening these days? Ok to kvetch (complain, vent) as needed, of course.

One of the joys of being my age is that
not having to do that!

I did pay prop. taxes last mo. a bit early b/c this mo. it nuts
with stuff in it and the fair and its SO busy there.

Took trash out to the curb this morning.
Working on taking time to focus on the dining room zone.
Table is looking way better yea!
Got the smaller desk in the other room.

Today's Top Two missions:
China hutch area is the next focus. X
I can use the rolling cart to put the desk in a diff. spot in the basement for some more storage in the drawers
instead of thinking about bringing it upstairs. Used furniture dolly. X Yea!

I need to get moving, I forgot I have an appointment at dermatologist at 10 a.m. Eeekkk!

Dh now is fired up about ME completing the forms that we need to do to sign up for Medicare. I told him I AM NOT looking at them until tax return is done. He is not going to stress me. Just came in after his workout arranging them all over the kitchen counters, lol.

I had really hoped to have genealogy time today - since dh is bowling tonight I am going to carve out two hours for updating from trip, summarizing, writing, getting everything down while things are still fresh. Too many times I get home and get swept up and then don't look at research for months and by then it doesn't make sense.

I must walk dog, eat something, and brush teeth before I go, I have about 40 minutes.

Good morning.

Ours are done and awaiting my check writing, so a good reminder today, Mystery and Twins'. That needs to go out.

Our Vet office surprised us with the news they are closing, and sent Tobias' records. He has only had one hospital stay in his life, one 2-day period in which we lived without him. I looked the date up here and found my post then, thought the pet parents among us might recognize and appreciate :

Our home is strangely still. No one helped wake me by jumping on and off the bed. No one insisted on being let into the bathroom to expect morning conversation. No one raced to beat me to the kitchen and explain out loud why the canned-food drawer should be opened before the refrigerator. No one threatened to inspect the inside of the clothes dryer or put paws onto the open door of the dishwasher, just to get a reaction. There is no one lying in wait under furniture. No one speeds to the stair landing first and turns upside-down innocently. No bell-toys fly across the room. I'm allowed to type at my desk without supervision or nose-to-nose communing. I exercised without anyone waltzing around my legs or trying to sniff my water glass.

Sigh.

No, I have absolutely no idea why we have a cat, but he better get well soon.

The HVAC folks are coming this a.m. with one more tweak they want to do. Better get some things done before they arrive.

Twins… funny I was thinking of you last night and bet you’re glad you’re not stressed out like you use to be during tax season.

We have a final meeting with our tax man this afternoon. Sweetie keeps saying… I hope you’re taking notes cause I’m sure by this time next year tax prep is going to fall on you!

We gave my DGD a dance pad for her birthday. It’s a 4x4’ pad with boxes drawn in it and a music component tha makes each box, some times two light up. The idea is to step on it as the light up. 5 different songs, each getting more complicated light boxes as you go. My son texted me yesterday that my dgd was up at 6:30am playing on it… she’s a bear to get up in the mornings.. and that made me smile.

Off to start my morning routines. It’s gonna be rainy all day and I e been enjoying my lazy morning and coffee. The joys of being retired. It never gets old

truly beautiful and well said d harriet!

waving hello.

That's a sweet pet story Harriet. I have a few too many cats. More of them here now than humans lol.

Taxes are done here. I really need to get more involved. Dh does the financial stuff and one day I'm going to be in trouble cause I could end up in a steep learning curve . I really don't pay enough attention. All the bills are just electronic. Mortgage etc as well. He does the taxes online and I hardly look at the online banking sight.

Wow. No motion today. I'm leaving for work in 15 minutes and I did nothing but get me ready. Oh well...

I need to get moving, I forgot I have an appointment at dermatologist at 10 a.m. Eeekkk!

Dh now is fired up about ME completing the forms that we need to do to sign up for Medicare. I told him I AM NOT looking at them until tax return is done. He is not going to stress me. Just came in after his workout arranging them all over the kitchen counters, lol.

I had really hoped to have genealogy time today - since dh is bowling tonight I am going to carve out two hours for updating from trip, summarizing, writing, getting everything down while things are still fresh. Too many times I get home and get swept up and then don't look at research for months and by then it doesn't make sense.

I must walk dog, eat something, and brush teeth before I go, I have about 40 minutes.


Aaaaand...didn't post this before I left. Home again - dermatologist, who is friend and probably in 80s, seems frail. He only works a couple of days a week. I'm going to bump up the Minoxidil and see if I can get more hair growing. The stress of the broken wrist and the surgeries I think caused additional hair loss, beyond what I already was having. The rate of loss has probably slowed, of course, I'm not as stressed and not having more anesthesia for now.

Our taxes are completely finished and filed. We get a refund every year. I keep adjusting how much they hold out but haven't hit the sweet spot yet of paying just enough without too much. I am very pleased with myself to have taxes done on time this year. I haven't accomplished that for several years. It is so easy to procrastinate. Our CPA has done our taxes for several decades so he automatically files for an extension when I don't get the documents to him on time. Since we always get a refund the only penalty or consequence for filing late is letting the governmentt use my money instead of having them refund it to me in a timely manner.

My normal routines are being utilized well today. I do love to experience life with no stress, drama or surprises. I do love being rewarded by accomplishing small goals. Rewards result in a steady supply of those good dopamine feelings.

Last night's meeting with DD13 counselor was different than we have ever done. This time the hour meeting was only me and the counselor alone. We discussed DD13 and her challenges. The counselor had loads of questions to fill in her blanks in understanding what happened in DD13 younger years. She said I am doing everything right and didn't have any suggestion of what to change or modify. DD13 is happy and straight A student right now so we don't want to rock the boat.

Today is the monthly Elderberry luncheon with about a dozen lifelong VDFriends. I'm taking lasagna and apple pie. Neither one was made by me but is being cooked in my home. I know my limits and there is no way i could make them from scratch without giving up the other things that need to happen. Showing up with store made food is 1000% okay with me. The part of the luncheon that I enjoy the most is the conversation and connecting with VDFriends.

Lauralind...My only advice to you is to make sure you know the passwords to all your husbands accounts. Sweetie has his written down for me. This is especially important for paying online bills. Also make sure your name is on the bank accounts as well as the utilites bills. We also did our Power of Attorney and medical ones for each other long ago.

For a while Sweetie and I had separate accounts until one day it occurred to me. Sweetie could be hit by a bus and in the hospital recuperating for months and I would be sunk to cover the bills and living expenses. I saw what a hassle it was for my mom once my dad sick and it only added to her stress. Once my dad died, my brother took over all the financial stuff for my mom.

Trust me it can happen. Now that Sweetie is slowly fading away, I have access to everything I need to keep us going. Most people don't like to think about these things, and I get it, but it sure eases my mind knowing I can take care of Sweetie when the time comes. My son is also included in our trust and knows how to navigate our finances. He has stepped up and agreed to take care of Sweetie, his stepfather, should something happen to me. We moved here to FL just for that reason. I don't love it here by any means and its was not my first choice where I wanted to retire to, but once my son found out about Sweetie, he insisted that we move close to him so he could help me when things get difficult with Sweetie.

LaddyM...so happy you had such a good meeting with DD13's counselor. Know that had helps you as you journey down this road with your DD13