New Years Eve (part 2)

any day is better with a Yellowstone marathon -- I'm catching up fast 

good grief -- I really need to "declutter" my office - what a mishmash of crap

certainly colorful and well, dusty

and I haven't change the clock from / to daylight savings

the front room isn't much better .. at least the piles are organized?

love this paint color - it changes in the light

I'm in a better place today -- I worked all day -- left the office at 3:30 - with tote

bag of work -- did a spot of reading, a spot of laundry and now am building asset spreadsheets for an estate return 

as I said yesterday -- no resolutions for this Diva -- but it's time to start the bucket list of things -- things to see and do, things to experience .. gotta live life to the fullest and starting with a list is good

 

New Years Eve (part 1)

yep, here I am -- in a pink fuzzy sweater and messy gray hair.

I don't have any wise words for the end of 2021, the last month has been so chaotic and so out of control that my head is swimming in details.  Since the start of the Covid shit show (aka CSS) the endless questions from clients regarding whatever's and just coping with the stress of "what's next" has been a challenge and just when I think I have it under control it all starts spinning.  And today it was tough to keep my cool.

My resolutions -- are going to be the same as last year - it's the best I can do, at least for today.  

Today's big project, unrelated to work was getting dad a new cell phone.  He's now got a smart phone and as I sit here and type -- he's playing with it.  It's a Samsung and he has a Samsung tablet -- it's keeping him occupied this evening.  It was a free upgrade from his ancient flip phone - which is being held together with duct tape.  The dilemma of the moment -- we can't figure out how to answer a call -- wth.  Nick will have to help him tomorrow.  YouTube to the rescue -- we can now answer the phone.

They have a busy week next week -- COVID tests, more swallowing tests, bone doctor for both of them -- both hips -- the hip replacement surgery is on hold for a bit and #2's chiro dude told her she needs to see the bone doctor too.  And Friday, well Friday it is back to oncology for #1 -- we might have a plan after that appointment.  In the meantime, both are limping in pain.  

And it is going to be freaking cold for a couple of days.  I still need to chip ice off of the office sidewalk.  Katie made good progress getting the packets put together -- I think we're 1/3 + done.  Maybe -- in the grand scheme of things -- it's further than we were yesterday. 

I ordered a new chair for my bedroom from Target this morning.  Bedroom or the cave -- I know I'll be working at home a lot this tax season.  It's the way it is going to be.  I just wish I felt more in control rolling into the busyness of it.  105 days and it will be done.  

I told Kate this afternoon -- I need to hole up and work uninterrupted for a week -- just to get at "things." ... and then the phone rang -- and someone wondered if I knew their last day of work at the State Hospital -- mind you, they've been retired for 15 years -- it's the shit like that I can't handle any longer. 

I'm whining .. bad -- just kick me when I whine.

 

Today

I'm a crazy old woman.

One calendar tracks my hours working, mowing the grass and time at the lake.

One calendar tracks the steps on my fitbit.

darn, I've been good in 2021 -- 340 days of fitbitting ... my fitbit died in May and I had a 10 day period of waiting for the new one.  

crazy, I'm just crazy.

here's my other important "book" .. I started jotting notes in March of 2020 - the day I became an essential - non-essential person -- the day the covid shit show began -- I was pretty good jotting a sentence or two everyday and tapered off as I got stressed or busy -- it is odd to look back -- and then look ahead .. 

Today's list of accomplishments:

1.  I told a client -- "I cannot do this"  hardest words ever and I know it will have large repercussions but I just can't be everything to everyone any longer.  Hardest words ever.  Nothing like irking an attorney.

2.  I just told another client " you need to get your shit together" .. seriously, this one was sending me over the edge -- and they need to get their shit together.  How do I know what they paid and when they paid -- prove it honey -- argh.

3.  I found out yesterday a favorite client is dying and soon - tax planning for the "soon to leave this earth" is unsettling, but necessary -- I don't like it. I've said it before and will say it again -- have nothing when you leave this earth -- it's a whole lot less complicated.  

4. Working for a couple hours in the cave this evening.  Starting my 1099's -- so far so good.  Then again most of them have only 1 per client.  Start small and finish big.

 

wisdom

thanks, teresa s ... another jewel from wastebook 

I just want to survive this week - the shit show continues -- snow, ice, snow on the ice, blood work, doctor appointments -- "you're pretty healthy" ... and didn't utter overweight, obese or the "age" gig .. thanks, I think ... 

freezing rain?   I missed it -- I worked at the office until 6:30 and then came home with my tote bag of goodness to keep plugging along.  

 

favorite clock

seemed appropriate today 

I had fasting blood work at 9:50am

no coffee until 10:30

it was an issue ( all day long )

 

and the day after Christmas

no zoom above
tight zoom below
1/2 mile long field -- long and skinny field

Lee ripping along

I try and walk everyday.  I don't always succeed.  Today's stroll was out the field road -- I wasn't sure what was up with the weather -- and once I cleared the trees it wasn't windy -- so I walked south to the corner and north to the edge of the bank.  My camera batteries were fading fast ...

Got in the yard and had to move my ATV and Ruby got her dust cover (even though she didn't have a winter/fall bath) -- so I took a mini ATV cruise too -- alas the hands were cold by then and I didn't last long.  Elder #1 was attempting to fix burnout ruts on our driveway.  Damn neighbors, it may be time for law enforcement.

Our Christmas was uneventful.  Quiet. 
Things are in flux -- so, uneventful is okay.

M

 

Christmas magic

 Merry Christmas

I managed to work a few hours this morning -- copying letters, emptying the trash, running the vac -- because that is on the chore list for the boss .. it was quiet and things got done

Home in time for an ATV ride around the prairie -- and down to the shop -- the boys were "acid" washing the pontoon floats .. at 46' - it was a good day for projects.

Home to frost cookies, do dishes, scrub tater's ... make soup, do dishes, eat cookies .. 

the gifts are in the gift bags ( quit laughing - it's efficient )

and my homework awaits me for Sunday 

Merry Merry 

May all your Christmas dreams and wishes come true ..

Bonk!

I see these memes on wastebook and sometimes they are just too good not to share.

Bonk!

I think I need paper tube next to my desk just to bonk myself during stupid moments.  Spent an hour looking for a thumb drive this morning, then I decided it was at home and nope, so I just retyped a full page instruction sheet by hand.  Bonk!

Christmas shopped today -- Lands End delivered, I dashed to Nutters and I went to the bank for prepaid debit cards -- cash is king.  I just went thru my gift card stash at home and found some more jewels.  Life is better with the re-gifting.  Actually, I bought it in error last year, technically not re-gifting.  

Bonk!  me bad.

see that paper tube isn't so bad after all.

I got this.

she laughs and laughs and laughs.

 

and on Tuesday

 so it's Tuesday ... before 7:00am I:
1.  made my bed, tidy'd the bedroom
2.  took my shower
3.  stopped at HyVee on the inbound commute --
        I had the whole store to myself
4.  got the trash curbies to the curb
5.  unpacked the groceries at the office
6.  delivered several packages to a client
7.  back to the office for coffee and raspberries

by noon, I was wondering out load why the trash man was ignoring the recycling curbie.  well, it isn't recycling week.  I was only 7 days early.  wth.  it was full so I assumed it was recycling week.  oops.  wrong again. 

so tonight, I've become a chair sitting, www surfing, laundry switching, tv watching Diva.  I really should have went to Mankato and did my Christmas shopping.  Other than 1/2 a washing machine, 3 jigsaw puzzles and some hand lotion from bath/body, I haven't purchased a thing.  I have a list for tomorrow -- for in town stuff ... hello, gift cards -- aka. prepaid debit cards :)

just another Monday

my love/hate relationship with Mondays continues.  
it is cold and I'm cold and when I am cold I am a nasty critter
so I'm sitting in my new favorite chair tinkering with things on the surface pro and getting no where fast ... me, the tv and coffee.  I believe the elders are watching the Vikings on the larger TV .. I don't need to see the Vikings ever.

today is the shortest day of the year -- my research tells me by Friday, Christmas Eve, we will gain 3 minutes of daylight and that my friends makes me a very happy woman.  I need my daylight and I need sun -- both have been absent lately.

my only goal for the rest of the evening is to surf the internet and find the perfect book to download for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day reading.  I do have a subscription to Kindle Unlimited and believe me -- I've been using it regularly, but the content is sometimes limited.  I might need to give it up for the winter.  Although, my kindle app tells me I've read weekly for the last 3 years.  I read every morning for 30 minutes, or I try to read every morning.  

reading is good

 

and today is

the final day of darkness is today ...

I'm trying to enjoy all of the little moments of 2021

and the return of the light is important

small stuff peeps -- small stuff

I had client gigs yesterday .. and got home shortly after 3 -- so I grabbed elder #2 and we drove out to the lake to check on stuff ...

after the big winds this week I was worried about branches -- 'cause we always have twigs/branches in during the gentle breezes .. alas - nothing big fell -- or someone already picked them up .. 

we have ice!  I didn't walk down to the lake -- the wind was wicked - 2021 has been windy!

we came home the long route -- there were multiple portable fish houses just off the public landing ... and on Lake Henry -- the landing was full ... 

no fish tastes that good 

fire in downtown Hooterville this morning

prayers that all are okay 

pulled this from wastebook ...

 

seriously

seriously, the world is BAT SHIT CRAZY.  well, f'ing nuts was my first thought and I realized that f'ing nuts might not be appropriate language  --  as if BAT SHIT CRAZY  is any better

then I googled both for images -- I'm losing it

I try to lead a structured life - truly - I do not do chaos -- and lately all I have is chaos.  clients keep changing appointments -- clients want last minute appointments -- everyone wants something all the time 

must be our weird weather -- hot, cold, warm, colder, wind - no wind.

I had to go home this morning to share a conference call with one of the elders -- so I got to see the yard in the light of day -- 1 ash/boxelder tree is down in the slough and there is a pretty large uprooted pine tree laying just north of the garden ... weird -- since the ATV is still home and Sunday appears to be a warmer weather day I'll have to take a cruise and check out the rest of the acreage.

truly -- I leave the house at 6:00 am and return at 5:30 - 6:00 -- 7:00 pm depending upon the day and the workload -- prepping for the busy season is sometimes busier than the busy season.

but I'm not

BAT SHIT CRAZY.

yet.

 

 

 

all in 24 hours

 seriously, Mother Nature is losing her mind, 62' on December 15th, sun, double rainbows, rain, thunder, lightening and lots of wind   --  it was still 50' at 9:00pm when I peeked at the gauge before going to bed

the wind howled all night long

it was 17' when I got up this morning

thankfully -- just twigs and branches down -- or twigs and branches that I saw via my headlights 

all in one day ...

and it was snowing this morning

most of the 12" from Saturday is gone -- weird, really weird.

Christmas Cards

This was the picture on my office Christmas card ... the message

Thankfully this crazy year is behind us!

I think we made it!

Cheers to 2022 - bring it on ...

only one person guessed correctly -- the southbound side of a northbound mama cardinal 

It's been a weird day -- up before the crack of dawn -- work projects, off to the office ... had a chat with the dog walking neighbor, grocery store, work, gas station, back home ... finished the family Christmas cards, snack, nap and I'm back to the computer.  

Neighbor was surprised I was headed back to work.  Well, peeps, I'm self employed, I don't earn weekends off, paid holidays, PTO or any of the other lovelies others earn -- I don't work, I don't get paid is the drill -- after 36 years my family understands.  

I've really been working a lot to get ahead -- if nothing else this pandemic has taught me to be ready for anything -- so today when I was reviewing the "to do" list for December -- 

👉 all of the payroll taxes are paid

👉 two sales tax filings remain

👉 two sets of client financial statements 

👉 1099 packets are out

this week's projects included

💧 year end packets for corporate/partnership clients

💧 finalizing 1040 client packets

💧 engagement letters for financial statement clients

a couple of county meetings

pre tax planning for a slug of farmers

a good office cleaning  - still need to find someone 

more shoveling - it won't melt fast enough.

I won't feel totally caught up and on top of life until May -- I have a love/hate relationship with our timelines and workloads - 

 

white stuff

and the lovely maytag --- 7 loads later ...

I was waiting for the cardinals to appear .. and the setting sun became the star on the pine tree .. a reminder to calm down and enjoy the moments

I've been up since 4:45 -- at 5:00 am one of us felt the need to plow snow -- as I watched him make his way to the shed, I got dressed and started to shovel ... 

eventually, Fergie came out -- it's a lot of snow -- and one of us is very tired

I made it to town ( no 4WD at the moment) - and my parking lot was not plowed -- so, street parked and started to shovel the sidewalk -- there is no pix but I shoved a 4' wide strip along the fence -- it's a 1/3 of the freaking block .. my 61 year old body hurts ... met with  clients and came home --- Jessica confirmed the snowplow dude arrived and the parking lot is now cleared .. I hate this shit.  I hate moving it ALL THE TIME.  

night shot from the front door ... WSW and the bar has patrons

12/10/21 #2

the birds were fueling up ...

the washing machine arrived ... it is pretty darn cool

3 loads done -- taking a break until after supper 

 

'12/10/21

 if 12 inches falls I will be angry

on the good side, it's warm, and it's only a day

evil goddess

 Mother Nature you are one evil woman this week .. seriously a winter storm watch for Friday .. is that really necessary??

  It has been quite the week -- Mom's wheels need work ( mechanical ), the washing machine is dead and not fixable -- and now my truck smells  like something is burning while in 4WD -- I will avoid 4WD until Wednesday when it gets fixed ? ... 

  I flipped it into 4WD at the mailbox last night -- looked slippery and it's uphill from a dead stop .. and the smell wafted thru the vents .. 

  It is not my mechanical week.

photo's of the week

mama cardinal didn't want to participate in the photo session .. 

kind of liking the blurry background

it happened -- things are never planned

I have 150 pictures of this dude -- 15 are actually focused ... he's a speedy tree rat and is a blur in some of the pix

so, I've spent the day wrecking things

mom's wheels -- something wacky is happening there -- we drove it to Mankato for the day of procedures .. we (Mom and I) sat in the car -- only 1 person per patient, Jean went with Dad

anyhoo -- after lunch I started the car to warm us up and things went from good to bad in a hurry .. we made it home -- not sure how .... it was an interesting trek

patient re-cooperating and now we wait for results, hurry up and wait is the name of the medical game

just finished a load of laundry and the washing machine is making horrendous noises when the drum spins - both directions -- Dr. Google will need to diagnose it next.

frack

 

sleep

   I don't think anyone in the homestead is sleeping very well -- actually, I know it.  The elders are up and roaming thru the night -- and since I hear them I am up (not roaming).  TV's go on and off -- all the background sounds.  Not sure who was making coffee at 2:00am  (again, not I).

   # 1 had is pre-surgery covid test and physical yesterday -- scored a 97.3 on the pre-op, so he is more than good to go .. very rough/hoarse voice this week -- learning new habits and experimenting with new foods.  the liquid Tylenol has been a hit.  Wants a smart phone (oh, joy).

   Last night, I slept well -- until my office camera's popped off at 6:20am.  Thanks to the client dropping off info ... 

   The weekend plans include:
    

1.  working -- finishing up the pre tax 
2.  finishing up an estate/fiduciary return
3.  issues/problems -- more are creeping in 
4.  laundry .. 
5.  basement cleaning/purging
6.  planning life

   Learning to roll with change is hard when I've been a plotter/planner/list maker all of my goofy life.

old age

yep, you know you are old when a new vacuum cleaner makes the day ... this was my "black friday" shopping spree ... 

a small stick vac for the office .. I am surprised (and somewhat flabbergasted how much it has managed to pick up).  Evidently the roomba was slacking.  

$99 of happyness

 

The man in the moon

 

I’ve probably over shared this. But it was a cool sight this morning 

Tuesday

 

sometimes I think God tosses things at us to see how we handle the challenges and sometimes I think God gives us these challenges to make us better humans -- 

this weeks challenge -- after doctor appointments, ct scan and a pet scan -- next monday is a biopsy of a spot on one of Dad's vocal chords -- evidently the "spot" was on the backside of the vocal cord/voice box ( I'm not really sure which one - I've heard both mentioned ) and during his regular "scoping" his doctor didn't see it - but it showed up on the ct and ultimately the pet scan --

.. and while they are in there, they will be shooting botox in the collapsed vocal chord .. he did ask if they could replace his hip at the same time -- that was a no.

procedures during covid are weird .. 1 person in the waiting room and the balance of the crew are sitting in a vehicle in the parking lot -- waiting with cell phones -- in December, in Minnesota  

we are hoping for good things -- but doctors try to prepare patients for the "not so good" things 

so some days are hard

some days are tough

but every day is a new day and that's where we are at

mind over matter 

do not call him and ask - he'd be pissed I blogged about this -- although I'm not sure who exactly reads this -- I may make it private for a spell .. it is my "journal" of life 

more shopping

 

my friends at the Fat Quarter Shop have 20% off on fabric for the weekend ... so I splurged, because a) I need more fabric to look at and b) I felt like it 

above is Tula Pinks Daydreamer line .. a layer cake and a jelly roll -- should be enough to make a wild quilt for my bed ... 

and below is Basic Grey's Cider line ... 

not sure what I'm going to do with this one

mustard/black/rust/grey are fast becoming my new favorite color combo's

I was a good woman and went to the office this morning -- finished rolling 2020 data to our 2021 software -- yesterday, I backed up all the 2020 data and restored it to a local computer (basically, I copied it from cloud storage and moved it to earth / closet storage) .. 

I actually worked on "work" also ... my desk is looking a bit better ... 

got home, tried to get a nap it ... didn't happen

the phone rang ( elders were gone ) and then a trip to the emergency room -- made for an entertaining afternoon -- now I really need the freaking nap.

Not sure what is on Sunday's agenda -- I sure hope it is dull

black friday

 

well, Target is the place to be -- and I have to admit not the only place I shopped

my friends at Target delivered my new bedroom TV today, $115 of happiness on the fed ex truck .. sometime in the next week -- there is a new vacuum, toilet paper, kitchen trivets, and a sweater headed my way -- my friends at kohls, had jeans that fit my a$$, leopard print sneakers and sweatshirts .. 

I'm thinking I need this Target t shirt ... 

blessings

 ah .. Thanksgiving

rise at the normal time
toss the bird in the oven
laundry
prep the beans, yams and peel the taters
clean -- 
leaf in the table
bird done
sides to oven
cook taters, mash them
set table
consume food
dishes, clean again
desert
dishes, clean again
laundry & black friday www shopping
pop leftovers in oven to warm
eat again
laundry ( I'm spacing it out)
a spot of work 

and it's time for bed?  sort of .. my new TV has yet to arrive so, I've had some quality book time this week .. earlier I decided no more crime/mysteries -- time for a something a bit more upbeat and lighthearted ... 

Happy Thanksgiving ..  aka Labor Day #2

life lessons from wastebook

this will be me at 5:05 

I'm still driving Ruby -- no snow in the forecast -- my goal when she came out of winter storage was to get the odometer up to 20,000 ... 7 years ... 20,000 miles 

I have 600 to go ... might need a road trip over the weekend 

saw this jewel on wastebook this morning

truth ... seriously -- absolute truth 

more truth ...

and now to focus on the positive 

dear Target -- where the heck is my TV ...... 

my plain jane 24" TV -- you said it would be here today ...

I'm still waiting

my bedroom tv took a dump and died

the local appliance place didn't have one ... so I ordered from Tarjay ... 

and I'm trying to be patient ..

tv is like a booze/drugs/food .. addicting and life without it is horrid 

yes, I'm being dramatic ..

very dramatic

but I miss my TV ...

 

Tuesday -- I don't give a shit

I've hit that point in the pandemic/life/shitshow whatever the hell is going on in life .. that I don't give a crap .. my gas tank has finally hit bottom.  

Too much work and too little time not thinking about work and the problems of the world.  

Today the dreaded table ... returned to my office .. the couch is gone ... it was uncovered less than a month ( the couch ) .. the plants look happy don't they (insert grin, we think they are growing) ...  I think it is warm outside but the dang wind is wicked.

 Life by the numbers for the last 20 months ..

3,000 federal, state and property tax returns ( 2020 and 2021 and others)

6,220 1/2 hours since March 1, 2020   geeks have spreadsheets to track these things

81.85 hours per week average 

300 +  IRS/Mn Revenue Notices

900+ phone calls on those damn stimulus payments

100 PPP loans -- assisted clients on applications for obtaining and forgiveness

15 Mn Main Street Deed Grant Applications

20 + County Business Assistance Grants ( all counties )

Full County Schedule -- although I have had to miss a couple R9 meetings ( maybe 2 ) and believe me -- a crapload of drama there (county not R9)

110 hours of Continuing Education ( 2020 and 2021) thankful for Zoom

3,500,000 of payroll for clients ( just the direct deposit clients)

No cleaning lady - really really miss the cleaning lady

No lawnmowing kid

All I have done the last months is whine.  Loudly whine and moan about taking charge and making a change -- well, it is time for the big girl panties -- because that is the way my life is and good or bad will remain  -- I'm learning to set boundaries and follow them.

so, I grateful to have a table in my office and the ability to move the couch to the front room .. grateful to need that damn table 

Grateful for the lake cabin

Grateful to have good clients

Grateful for technology -- 

Grateful for family

Grateful for good health

Grateful for good friends 

favorite 2021 pix so far

 another day in paradise ... actually it was a pretty darn good day ... got back to the office and finished up a couple more "projects" .. the damn things never go away ... 

I finally got the plastic winterizing window kits on the three windows in my office -- after 20 years of installing them, it's not a "hard" job -- it's just a pain job.  pain in the knees from going up and down the ladder multiple times in 60 minutes ..

the homework and I are sitting here typing away -- sort of .. there was a two hour nap after I got home and had lunch -- it was too windy to take a walk so I napped ... managed to purge another bookcase shelf in my bedroom and finished my book and everything on my Friday night list -- progress

I started working on my annual calendar

and having trouble choosing my 12 favorite, let alone favorite picture of 2021

I got lots of pix -- from the porch at the cabin ...

missing those sunsets ... especially since the darkness has arrived

missing the daylight too 

the ass of a mama cardinal is leading the pack for favorite shot ..

who'd a thought ....

I used it on my office Xmas cards ...