02/28/21 the end of February

 

I can't remember the last picture I took -- took for fun -- I found this one, it will do.   I survived todays winter weather advisory - mud season is soon to be upon us.  The driveway goes from mud to ice and back to mud -- all in 250 feet.  

My truck is making some odd sounds -- hopefully it gets to a repair joint tomorrow -- the joys of auto ownership -- I cannot complain -- I generally change oil and drive.

Tomorrow is my 2nd covid vaccination -- it too will go well -- someday I'm going to hug the public health nurses -- they are going beyond the call of duty -- and put up with a lot of flack

I've been home since 3:00 working in the cave -- I had a goal of completed returns and the laundry was piling up -- I'm out of clean black leggings -- ditto the trash (or the trash here in the cave) I managed to get the recycling cardboard loaded into my truck yesterday -- it is full.  

March is generally the "operation silence" month here on the blog.  2021 might be different -- time will tell -- I generally start, add and edit during the month and share the post if it gets to wordy or is important -- time will tell.

02/24/21 Hump Day

  yeppers, it is Wednesday, again.  I swear time truly flies.

  The snow is melting rather quickly.  Monday, the red tractor came to town and whipped the parking lot into shape.  There is a pile in the front yard and we gained 6' of parking lot.  It all helps.  The sun and the warmth are a treat.  Tuesday we were 55' warmer than the previous Tuesday.  It's amazing.  

  Still working like a madwoman.  Trying to get it all done and done timely.  Been starting at 5:00 ( in town ), up at 4:30 -- it's kind of weird -- the Caribou cabin isn't open on the inbound and it's closed on the outbound.  I think we're making progress -- I need to take stock of the boxes in the morning and attempt to figure out where we are at -- at least with our farm clients and the entities.  

  I'm tired.  

  My second vaccine is Monday -- I'm trying to plan a light schedule for Monday and Tuesday -- not sure if that is possible.  

  Time for bed -- 4:30 comes fast :)

02/21/21 no words of wisdom

 the highlight of my life is -- who I see in the grocery store ... seriously ... attitude adjustment on Saturday was a trip to Family Fresh ... 

 somewhere in my life was a conversation about the price of raspberries and I bought them at $5 because (a) I like them and (b) fruit is good for the soul.    I was told Aldi's has them reasonably cheap -- well that entails leaving town.  I haven't left town in 6 months?   I'm not counting cabin treks, or hauling Mom to the quack.  

  I've never been to Aldi's either -- with HyVee, Family Fresh, The Coop and the Farmer's Market -- I've got lots of choices -- could the choices be less expensive -- sure, but I don't have time and some days time is money.  I like local.  I am local.  

 I did get to see my favorite Joy!  at the grocery store.  I chatted with Skylar! on the phone and I swapped emails with Donna!  Life is good.  

02/17/21

 the crazyness contines

but I got a haircut ... 

that's all 

I bitched at a County employee
Silently told the City Administrator he was nuts
Ate my way thru a Chamber gig
Zoomed with a new client

Spilled an entire iced coffee -- 
and got my hair cut

It was a day.

02/16/21 synopsis

 here is my day

4:15 surf the internet
5:25 hit the shower

6:02 McDonald's drive thru ( needed coffee

6:15 arrive at office -- can't get backed into garage -- drive in
        upstairs had guest parked in the way
6:20 struggle to get into office with tote bag and McD
6:21 drop keys
6:30 thinks truck is on fire -- back it out of garage
6:35 eat McDonalds ignore truck
6:45 take trash to curb
7:00 put truck back in garage not on fire 
            (still smells like it)
7:02 finally working
7:10 wonder where keys are?
        2200 steps later no keys
        retraced the entire garage routine twice and dug thru trash
        tried keys from other box -- don't work
8:05 Kevin arrives -- have him look for said keys
8:07 Kevin finds keys hanging on key rack

argh.

unfortunately the whole damn day played out like this ... one step forward two back ....
brought home work at 7:30 and every return is missing something important.

I'm going to bed.
Soon>

02/14/21 Valentine's Day

 

I went home at 3:30 today ( with my tote bag of projects ) and while tossing together the supper hotdish -- I got to see the "house bunny" in action ... it evidently has no friends .. hangs out under the lilac bushes behind the house -- 

house bunny appears to be grumpy bunny
and freaking cold bunny

always need a pix of the thermometer 

yesterday I started early at home -- made it to the office (as did Mrs. H) .. left for home with THE TOTE BAG of projects .. and finally at 9:00pm went to bed.  started all over this morning -- 

slept in today, however, 6:00am instead of 4:45 ... I gotta get a life 
thankfully it is cold .. the old house is hanging together pretty good during the cold -- the poor furnace runs non stop -- I have a digital thermometer in the basement -- it's 55' and holding down there -- I sleep better knowing that -- no heat down there ... none.  

my office seems to be the chilliest -- Kevin gets sun on him -- lucky dude -- I promised Mrs. H that I was going to get the recycling out and in my truck on Saturday -- the wind was wicked in the afternoon -- so it's still boxed up in the file room -- it can wait for warmer weather :)  

02/12/21 good grief bring warm weather

 I'm freaking frozen.  
 Cold to the bone.  Numb.  Tired.

 I need 75' and sunny -- NOW>

 Today was the worst -- not sure why, but today I couldn't get warm.  Stress.  Had a couple dizzy spells too .. and I know stress is a trigger for them.  Toughed 'em out and didn't take the drugs (dug one out of my drawer stash).  

 Mrs. H and I got a lot done this afternoon.  Kevin leaves at noon -- kids are out of school every Friday at noon -- I can't keep up with their schedules -- hopefully their parents have it figured out.  

 I think in the last two days we've mailed out 75 packages of income tax returns.  Shits flying out the door -- out of control flying out the door.  

 I'm working at home -- during the cold snap, I've brought work home -- hung out in the cave and did laundry while working. 

 No lasting side affects from shot#1 .. as I understand it #2 can be a bugger -- the email came to schedule #2 .. the elders got the call from Mayo this afternoon -- they are scheduled for next Thursday -- I had a silent prayer when she told me ... they are excited.  

 I'm hoping in a month -- post vac's we'll be able to get out a bit more -- masked of course -- but less time being hermits and maybe get out .... like eating in a restaurant .. I miss dining in a restaurant -- I like being waited on -- I like hot food served.  Maybe shopping in a store -- .... the little things that I've avoided .... Menards!!!!!  

 I'm tired and rambling .... if I'm thinking about shopping at Menards, there is a problem .... 

02/08/21 this day in history

my new favorite t shirt arrived

yes, I shared a picture of my chest on social media

at least I missed the double chin

   Marie received shot 1 of Pfizer.  Yes, shot 1 is better than no shot at all.  

   Nicollet County Public Health is coordinating and vaccinating residents according to the Minnesota Department of Health guidelines ( groups ) .. as they have open or left over dosages -- county staff gets pulled in to use them up -- no waste -  it's precious stuff.  

   Commissioners and admin staff were at the bottom of the prioritized County Staff -- I received an email last week -- telling me to be "near your phone."   And when Cassie called -- I dashed up there.  

   I kind of feel guilty -- there are those in greater need than I --
   Need to get the parents in -- they are on the list at Mayo ... and their in the priority age group.

 

   It's not the cure, it's not the answer -- but dang it -- so many emotions .. after 11 months of this shit something good happened today.  

02/06/21 weirdness continues

   dang -- the weirdness continues -- February 6th and we have yet to print an individual income tax return ... software tells us that a release comes on the 9th -- so we'll start printing and generating efiles .. then they need to get out to clients ... and back and forth 

   I worked alone today -- one phone call all day long -- I think I got a lot done -- sometimes the little projects are time eaters ... I have a tote bag of work .. returns to input, proof and wait for the release ...

I came home Friday night shortly after 5:00 .. the entire outbound I couldn't believe how light it still was .. loving the longer days ... 

Dr. Osterholm has a weekly podcast focusing on COVID19 .. and he always mentions the extra daylight Minnesotans are craving -- he always encourages kindness ... I really enjoying listening to it .. I generally queue it up early Friday morning ... 

Today I spent 6 hours watching YouTube videos from the Missouri Star Quilt Company -- because if I don't have time to sew -- I might as well watch someone else sew.  I have heaps of plans for jelly roll race quilts ... gotta use up the goodies.

02/05/21 brrrrrrrr

 

I want to be like my buddy Harrison -- curl up in a blanket fort and read a good book -- I might find a more comfortable "chair" ...  

So, I think we have a rudimentary grasp of the portal software -- we uploaded to a client in AZ and they were able to download it and send us a return document  :)

the ring camera seems to have pooped out -- calling ring to get a replacement will have to wait 

Kevin and his multiple thermos arrived yesterday ..... good to have him back ... 

Benjamin, however, is remote learning from home this semester -- so he's not able to be the "go to and get it done" kid ... we're going to miss him a lot  --  the search is on for a flexible, reliable replacement 

we got it 

02/03/21 there are days

 when I don't know what day it is ...

I thought this was the one legged goose pix  .. not a Christmas card prototype pix 

I was losing it shortly after lunch today -- when someone wiser than I -- reminded me that losing it wasn't a bad thing -- it might just be healthy.  So, we battled thru software training -- after 8 phone calls in the first 30 minutes -- I answered phone and Kate paid attention to software training.  Portals ... trying to be efficient and paper free.  

All day long, we had clients walking into the office -- just walking in .. and NO MASKS -- none -- there is a box of disposable masks just inside the door -- when I pointed that out to a "stranger" ... I was told -- "I don't like those" -- I asked him to leave.  WTH.  

Weeknight/Weekend Jan came back to work today -- getting her rolling, righthand man Kevin is dusting off his thermos and will be there in the morning .. Kate will have mastered the portal gig by lunch tomorrow and will have fixed one of the ring cameras (skills) .. Robyn will be back on Friday ( weather permitting) .. and young Ben seems to be lost ... I'll find him. 

I brought files home -- so far I've messed around on the internet rather than work ... shit happens ...  we're in another winter storm watch -- freezing rain, wind then snow.  more shit happening.  and then the deep freeze arrives -- I'm not looking forward to the cold.  but a week of it is necessary .. then it can warm up.   

In the meantime -- I'll try and remember what day it is ...