3/31/20 9:42 am

March 2020 -- a horrid month.  I fear however, life will get worse -- the isolation gig is getting on peoples nerves. 


especially elder #1 and #2 ... yikes.  multiple discussions regarding a trip to the grocery store last night -- yikes -- I never thought I'd wish for lawn mower season -- but it will give one of them something to do .. for at least 8 hours a week ... the lack of baseball is going to be an issue ...

#2 isn't getting to the thrift shop to replace her stash of $ 0.50 books .... she's running out fast.  I have my kindle on the charger and will hook her up with my kindle unlimited account ...

I cannot fix the cooking/cleaning/chore issues --


I drove Ruby to work this morning --- dang ---- it felt fabulous.  need to do one fun thing a day --



one fun thing a day
one fun thing a day

3/29/20 7:52 pm ---- 22 years

the big wind was 22 years ago today -- not yesterday ..

my mind is on warp speed .. I was close

Mom and I took a drive out to the cabin

just checking it out

the mice at the bait -- and left deposits

cleaning will commence when it warms up

ice is almost gone in the bay

Buster is ready -- his boat was out of the garage :)

3/28/20 8:23PM

  I almost forgot -- 22 years ago the big wind whipped thru ..

  Seems like small potatoes compared to the current state of affairs -- yikes, who would have thought



So today's agenda ...

1.  empty all the trash cans (that's what the boss does)
2.  bust down the cardboard boxes (add to recycling)
3.  bust down the unused file boxes (again my job)
4.  run the roomba  -- I lost the damn thing it is hung up somewhere
5.  carry up copy paper and load the shelves and the copier
6.  actually prepare income tax returns --
             today was dedicated only to bad clients and clients in my
             missing information pile
7.  wash dishes (again my job)
8.  sanitize (oh joy)
9.  carry home all the crap that has accumulated at the office
             clothes, shoes, jewelry, bath/body order

I brought home a tote of homework and forgot a couple of important thumb drives to I'm done early -- headed to bed with my book.


Tomorrow's agenda ...

1.  more trash (it never ends)
2.  more tax returns (one more box)
3.  print / generate quarterly payroll reports and related docs
4.  grocery store (this will be fun)
5.  vac basement
6.  vac bedroom
7.  plan clothes for the week
             it's been leggings, tee shirts and sweatshirts for 2 weeks I might actually were a pair of pants -- and real shoes ... ha ha ha ....

03/28/20 11:02 am

somehow I found this funny yesterday

the heap of snow has vanished as of this morning 

seemed to go fast this year

Monday's tulips brightened our days 

Day 1 of Operation "Lockdown" .. so far the mail man and the UPS driver have been here -- one phone call -- it's been weird

I sent Cathy home yesterday -- she's been here 10 days ... and now with the extended due dates we're on just get it done when we get it done mode ...

I slept in this morning -- well, 6:30 ... I got up, I read for an hour first.

Survive 

Thrive

Conquer

3/26/20 2:42

i'm not even sure what day it is today

we put the moves on clients --  to get the completed returns picked up and out of the office before the "shelter in place" order takes effect.  they've been great about picking stuff up ...

and then, there are the ....

peeps who call about their stimulus refund.   -- the ink is not dry on the bill and they want their money NOW -- NOW -- NOW ... i see a cluster of disaster in the making.  12 + calls so far...


and the best one of the day -- Pioneer Bank (up the street) was down to their last 10 rolls of toilet paper -- HORRORS ... no TP at the bank ... drama lama ... 

crap it will happen here next.


Cathy is leaving tomorrow -- it will be Mrs. S and I -- and the phones, the ever ringing phones, because I want my money NOW ... NOW .... personally I'd worry more about the tp.

3/25/20 6:55pm

Shelter in Place


I've decided it's "get shit done without interruptions" ...

Since Gov Walz announcement we've been in action.  Serious action -- 200 completed tax returns needed to get out of here -- it is worse than April 15th -- no lie -- worse.

The girls were troopers.


We are considered essential services -- but seriously -- we don't need extra bodies in here.


Get Shit Done.




I can
I can
I can

3/25/20 5:55 am

so, I had a wild thought a couple of days ago -- stand in the middle of 3rd and snap a picture -- well this morning I did ... until the patrol car came past --

dark leggings, dark jacket -- iPhone -- middle of the street 5:30am .. at least he wished me a good morning --

it's eerily quiet downtown in the morning ..

3/23/20 7:42am

1. shower/laundry/bed made
2. grocery store
3. office groceries put away
4. back up tape running
5. coffee made

it's going to be a good day.....



3:26 afternoon edit:

I took an attitude adjustment break -- moved the curbies out of the garage, loaded them up, organized the pile of dead computer equipment (can appliance recycling happen quickly?) -- tidy'd up the garage and got some fresh air .. trash handling is my third occupation -- and sometimes the most satisfying ... 

if this COVID crap happened in the fall - imagine the sewing I'd be getting done ... the elders are doing a good job of clean/purge/bake/read and nap ... and wayyyyy to much TV watching -- warm weather needs to happen ...



we all need to take a break -- 

Katie and I both listened to Gov Walz press conference -- I kind of like the man -- I met him several years ago at a R9 gig -- he talked even faster back then -- but he has the gift of never forgetting a name ... he's a calming influence --- I certainly would not want to be him ... but I'm impressed with his demeanor ....


thanks for the emails Deb & Donna -- we're in this crazy world together .... 

03/22/20 7:09pm

  so Saturday night I left the office after 8:30 -- I had 4 hours of working alone ... sometimes I need time to work alone -- no questions, no interruptions, no questions ... it is the introvert in me ...

  anyway -- I was watching news with the elders and exchanging emails with David H (cpa down and over) and I decided to close the office to the public.  I was seriously surprised at the number of clients that kept walking thru the door the last 3 days ... seriously -- it was over 100 --- ya, 100 ....

  the safety of my staff and my family is more important than a tax return.  end.of.conversation.

  I started building an office fbook page to keep peeps updated -- at least to direct them to that platform -- it's going to be very generic and if I could keep the recommendations off I would.  I posted on my personal page ...

  I created a group email and emailed the payroll / accounting clients -- they will have access via the file room .. this morning I reconfigured the file room to turn it into a drop off ... pickup room ... again with locked doors -- but a door bell is on it...

  i ordered new doorbells (front and back door) I'm ready for the "shelter in place" order -- we don't have one yet -- but it is coming. 


I did it
I did it

I can
I can


I'm a bit calmer ...

3/21/20 4:15 pm

still struggling with all of it today

planning for the eventual "shelter in place"
I waffle between camping out here or just chucking it all in the dumpster
I need to prepare payroll for payroll clients and I have to do it here on 3rd.
Their employees need to be paid

Ben left today -- GAC is closing dorms -- his elders retrieved him, his stuff and his brothers stuff.  left me with a card -- and a lot of tears ... sometimes it's hard to hold it all together, really hard ...

perhaps letting it out is good ...


I can
I can
I can

03/21/20 6:53 am

it is sunrise .. there is a blue/teal/orange glow in the eastern sky --
sunrise - new beginning to a new day

new normal
old normal
same shit another day

I'm trying to find the good / positive / it's just okay in everything.  Trying to be sane.  Trying to answer a million senseless questions everyday.  Trying.  It is the best we can do.

I am amazed how people (clients) seem to need finite answers to everything immediately -- there are some issues that simply do not have an answer and well -- the status of "things" is changing almost hourly -- it is impossible to answer some questions.

Today we lose Ben -- he's has to vacate his dorm room by tomorrow and the parents are coming to retrieve him and his "stuff" and the brothers "stuff" -- he's been a trooper all week long we will miss him. 

Since we did not get a "shelter in place" order yesterday -- Cathy/Jan ? are coming in today -- cleaning lady came and deep cleaned last night -- it smells like it.

I'm going to put my big girl panties on and dive into the projects ....




elder #1's new tablet arrived yesterday -- I set up most of it before I took it home -- the first question  -- "where's craigs list?" ... okey dokey ....


stay smart peeps
stay smart

3/20/20 7;32 am

it is a beautiful sunrise this morning -- a small blessing -- my second one of the day ....

the first was at the McDonald's drive thru -- I had enough left on the gift cards for breakfast and an iced coffee ... the morning crew was very chipper (5:25 am) ..

I spent a spot of time paying bills ( $19000 later .... it was an accumulation of things ), tidying up the reconfigured offices -- thru all of the chaos of movement -- a scanner decided to die ... -- I had a spare -- Ben, the GAC kid, was impressed that I had a spare in the supply closet --

I've been going home with a tote bag of work every night between 7 - 8 and working from home -- I take home easy stuff -- head to the cave, work, do laundry and watch tv -- non news tv -- I've had too much news ...

today's agenda
-- prioritize the projects
-- decide what is actually here and not here
--breathe, just breathe

I told the kids this week, when I stress out ...

I swear
I cry
I get ornery
I get the poops
I noticed the dizzies came back
I clean ....

It's not just me is it ...


breathe in
breathe out

03/19/20 4:10pm

so i need a sanity break ...

seriously --  5 freaking calls today regarding the $1000 payment -- who gives a shit ---

we moved furniture today in the office to isolate work spaces in advance of the yet - to - come "shelter in place" order from the Governor -- it's coming peeps, it will be coming.  wtf.

we had a tour of the not so nice basement -- it's a creepy place.

I've got Mrs. H staying home -- she's in the wrong age group to be out in the public.
I've got the elders staying home -- tablet has yet to be delivered ... need that tablet and soon.  Beefed up the home internet -- more data will be good. 


I'm trying to hold it all together and I'm not sure if that is possible.  I'm trying ... it's the best any of us can do ...

03/18/20 5:59am

  oh my mind -- it's wandering all over the place -- this shit is driving us all nuts -- fear, panic, stupidness ... not a word, but you get the drift.

  Lance got the f/cabinet working on the file room computer last night and did a bunch of clean up work on the system -- I brought home a tote bag of work -- got up this morning and most of it is done -- or done as far as i can go ... got up at 4:15 -- couldn't sleep

  not sleeping well.

  Cathy comes to work today -- trying to get people in to pick up their stuff
 
   I think there is a 90 day automatic extension -- think -- it might just be 90 days to pay ... no official statements at this point.  government is scrambling

  Nicollet County will be closing all facilities to the public as of 4:30 on Thursday -- there was more discussion regarding a 5 year capital improvement plan -- than discussion on COVID 19 and our response -- I was a bit pissed -- and let my opinions known.

COVID19

operation silence is ending ... there's only 10 of you who read my spewing

what a fucking nightmare -- at least here at the office ... pardon my spewing -- this is turning all of us into raving lunatics === raving lunatics .....

so far April 15th is still April 15th -- we're doing what we can -- but it won't be enough --
 
appointments are cancelled -- we're mailing stuff out and limiting contact for drop off's and pick ups

Ben is still here -- but I'm going to send him home or have Dad deliver him home .... I was going to send him home in Ruby -- but it sounds like he won't be back to GAC anytime soon ...

Kevin is getting ready to farm -- kids are home ... Christina isn't sure what her schedule will be ... she really doesn't have a "classroom" ..

Katie is here -- her kids are "e learners" ...

Cathy is coming to work --

I texted Robyn yesterday and she thought I meant "come now" so she sped into town -- and when I saw her pull up -- I lost it ... literally lost it ... and well, am losing it as I type this morning

the elders have holed up at home -- #1's tablet is dying so I'm ordering him a new one -- he's playing cards on the desk top now ....

I went to the grocery store this morning -- my normal time and day --- it wasn't too bad -- I am grateful they are there and have things ...


It is so hard to be strong --- everyone is pulling at so many directions -- questions, answers, uncertainties ... so much turmoil ... jumbled turmoil ... I thought surviving that damn tornado was bad --- this is so much more .....


so once day one step at a time


so day -- it is County Board Workshop ... things may change ...

but here's the plan ...


1.  If info is here at the office -- we'll do our best to have it done by 4/15 .... after today I can't guarantee it will get done. 

2.  Ben needs to go home to be with his family --

3.  We will limit client contact -- one at a time -- no touchy feel-y shit happening.

4.  I will be strong.




not sure if spewing helps ... but I'll keep spewing for self care  -- I'm going to the happy place on Sunday . just for a break ... I need a break ...

oh shit

breaking silence -- also known as calming myself

do.not.panic

one of us may have been exposed to COVID 19 == I freeked out yesterday afternoon after that news -- as bad as this shit is -- the panic, chaos and unknown hysteria is driving me mad -- and I'm falling into the trap of all of it ...  seriously losing my shit is not a good thing.  

I cannot control

I am not in control 

I am in control

I forgot it was March today

 ... for the past couple of years I've had operation silence with no blogging for the month of March -- usually I'm busy  ( :) ) seriously busy and well I'm sure you all (all 10  of you) get tired of my ranting ...

... since it is March -- it's the month of operation silence ... I'll store up the blog posts ...

... I worked a 102 hours last week -- I'm pretty diligent about logging my hours  -- and tracking them year to year ( fancy spreadsheet, of course) ... March is generally has the most hours and September the least ...

... Saturday was chaotic -- Jan and Ben were super troopers but by Saturday we're all tired of Joe Q. Public --- today it was just me.  I kind of enjoy having the building all to myself -- all day ... I actually lock myself in -- and usually don't even answer the phone -- me, 5 computers, a copier and some form of background noise.   

  I did venture out to the grocery store -- $75 later I'm not exactly sure what I purchased -- two kinds of berries, a melon, lettuce, veggies, apples, cheese, lots of cheese, milk, paper plates, mayo, tartar sauce, tulips, ice, gummy bears --    just the basics -- I got back to the office, unpacked it all ( mind you -- this is office food ) ... and realized we were low on paper towels and trash bags ...

  I did it -- I ordered paper towels and trash bags from Target -- to be delivered -- I've turned into one of those PEOPLE ...

  on that sad note -- I'll see you all in April -- unless something fun and exciting happens ....


cheers

Diva