10/31/21 Halloween

I find these blurbs, burps, whatevers on wastebook and save them as reminders to self -- I have a lot of reminders to self.  Sometimes I actually remind self.

I hate blaming the pandemic for my mental state of affairs but I am.  So much turmoil over the last 19 months -- just crazy shit and it keeps popping up.  Just when I think I've finally got a handle on the turmoil and crazy shit -- something else happens.  

 -- emails from clients all weekend - "where's my refund" is a common theme -- it's an issue . . . but it is an exhausting issue -- sometimes we just do not have the answers and cannot get the answers.  I've been playing telephone tag with a Problems Resolution Negotiator for 10 days -- back and forth leaving messages on answering machines .. and she never calls back before 6:00pm .. wth.  

Hence the need to set boundaries -- why did I actually look at those emails or check the voice mail on the answering machine.  Because I do.  I have to do so.  

Other projects this weekend -- hauled brush and cardboard to the respective dump/recycling, reconciled my checkbook ( always important ), 6 loads of laundry, finished my book, and this afternoon took a ride on the ATV.  It was colder than cold - but probably good for me. 

Next week promises to be better -- routines are back -- a two day seminar -- virtual -- no, I won't be in my pj's but dang close -- 2 days of appointments with the weird people and another day of County commitments .. just a normal week ... 

 

10/30/21 the last Saturday in October

dash cam -- pretty darn cool 

there was no one behind me and I was stopped ... should have taken more shots

should have had the "real" camera with me

the lake is so blue this time of year .. well, it is a reflection of the sky ... but so blue

and calm today .. neighbors still have their dock out 

and this dude paddles past and asks if the fish were biting

I'm in my lawn chair -- just enjoying the sun and silence

it was a little wet to rake -- and burn ( ask the neighbors, she was trying to burn and it wasn't going well) .. so it was recliner and lawn chair time -- naps are good, the warm(er) days and daylight will soon be disappearing I just hate the darkness of winter -- 

 

10/28/21 beginnings

aging Diva, needs haircut ?, lands end thermal sweatshirt finally arrived -- ordered in August ... I waited, it finally came - it's been a goofy kind of week ... scattered thoughts and projects -- and other than Tuesday I've managed to wear leggings every day .. might not be my best look -- but with the current projects seems to be the most comfy .. tomorrow is window washing and installing the always ugly plastic window kits .. ( it's good for the the heat bill and the drafts )

on today's project list -- move the gerbera daisies and geraniums to the basement -- they've been in the garage for a week .. and this lovely had beautiful blooms -- I left it upstairs ... 

I bought a 5 light - grow light - tripod gizmo form Amazon for the basement plants .. $40 later it appears I am growing marijuana in the basement -- the grow light has a timer ( for $40 I was surprised ) I have grow lights on the houseplants too -- those are more like a security system ... lights up the front room and hopefully deters the bad peeps.

new beginnings -- I've tried to give up one vice a month since the 4th of July, french fries, frappes from McD's, make the bed every day -- little things.  It is time for the big things in life .. changing bad habits is work -- so I made a list ..

1.  no new clothes

2.  no McDonalds ( ever )

3.  no eating out 

4.  clean desk 

5.  no wastebook posting

so for November, it's no new clothes, no wastebook posting, and walking everyday .. 

I've had a clothes shopping habit lately .. really bad .. that damn Kohl's sucks you in with the enticements ... 

 

10/27/21 Boundaries

 

mid-afternoon I made a large note to myself -- set boundaries and live by them ... 

don't answer the phone before 8 or after 4:30 

don't work weekends

don't give out cellphone #

don't answer emails from home 

sometimes setting boundaries and living by them is good mental health therapy 

Yesterday's client called at 4:59 asked questions for 30 minutes and then wanted to drive something over from Mankato and ask more questions ... 

I am part of the problem - I am an early riser and am generally at work by 6:00 am

except gas and grocery store days -- then it's 6:30 ... 

during peak season I'm up by 4:30 - 5:00 and rolling for the office

5 hours of uninterrupted worktime is bliss

by late afternoon I'm generally brain dead

or need a nap

10/26/21 lists, the endless lists

 

I am having a productive day .. sort of ...

This afternoon the front room furniture got moved -- the space looks larger with no islands of tables, desks, etc in the traffic flow ... next up is repotting the plant collection (wednesday's project) 

I brought home work -- project #1 was to retype news blurb for clients .. it was a cut and paste gig .. 20 minutes and bam done

next project was type a list of passwords and login's from my password book and then start testing the rarely used ones out .. so I learned a few things, my H S A has a tidy sum in it as does my PERA retirement - things I should check oftener but don't .. I had oodles of email going to an old email account that wasn't being forwarded ( changed that )

November is the month to clean up the emails -- unsubscribe, change to the new ( like 2 years new ) email address etc...good project -- all the technology in life creates a lot of work ...

10/24/21 operation do nothing

 

we went to visit the bison herd this morning -- drove 2 miles in on the bison drive and found them in the corral .. hmmm something must be happening ...

lunch at panera -- the first time Mom and I have been to a restaurant since December 2019 .. and sadly it was pretty awful -- old lettuce is never a good thing ... then to Michels for more shit I probably do not need and finally squash at the neighbors .. always need squash.

then home for a nap == I think I succeeded on my plan for a do nothing weekend, perhaps it was a do nothing important weekend.  I did sit a bit at the sewing machine -- played with some orphan scraps and added the finished mess to the potholder pile.  

The Divas and I are headed on a retreat weekend in November, I am waffling on which project to take with me -- sewing, scrapbooking, crocheting, reading or work.  It's basically 2 days ... might be a potholder weekend -- should start prepping the parts and pieces beforehand.

10/23/21 early morning and late evening

 I went to the cabin last night 1) unhook the garden hose and let it drain and 2) retrieve my favorite fall jacket.  Need my jacket for fun day today .... 

The view was breathtaking -- the only activity was the barge lifting docks etc out of the lake -- I could hear the barge but couldn't see it .. 

I should have stayed longer - 

my goal for the weekend was to do nothing or nothing important, so far I have succeeded ... 

I went to Mankato shopping -- well, more like returns from the internet shopping ( grinning ), Target -- ugly Little House on the Prairie dress got returned and I used my credit for baking/cookware for the cabin, 

Kohls, lots of returns here -- I did scope out the clothes and found a nice pair of my favorite Lands End dress pants, 

Joanne Fabrics, I purchased a pumpkin quilt pattern earlier this week and have started to accumulate "oranges, greys and blacks" -- it was fun to wander .. and finally 

Drummers -- looking for more houseplants, alas, I purchased more tulips to plant .. 

I should have went to Fleet Farm, Menards and Office Depot, but alas -- I needed food and a nap

post nap I snuck in an ATV ride -- colder than hell -- I was underdressed a few pix .. after the 26' start to the morning the leaves on the front maples have decided to fall -- rain in the forecast for tomorrow -- I might have to sew -- or plant tulips   

10/22/21 back to work

 I did manage to stay at the office until 5:00 -- not sure what I actually accomplished .... 

 I headed for the farm and the last couple of weeks have been a stay at home sloth -- I've finished a couple of books and watched way to much television.  There's usually laundry involved.  Last night it was laundry and internet surfing -- and I designed and ordered the Christmas cards from Walgreens. 

I've become a horder/prepper -- all of our office supplies for the upcoming chaos are ordered, delivered and stashed ( 15 cases of copy paper ) .. the other software/supplies are here -- or the most of them -- need to build our year end packets and those need to wait for a freaking tax bill ... 

My next move is to reconfigure our spaces to make room for working bodies and clients.  I think we are going to let limited clients in ... at least at this point that is the plan -- suggestions always welcome.  

I also have enough tp, paper towels, cleaning supplies to get thru April ... 

Today's goal is to get the table cleared off in my office.  Working on the file room too ... Target delivered the new cube storage units and they need to be "constructed" 

and then there is the calling of mediacom and the attempt to get better internet and cheaper tv at the farm -- keeping my fingers crossed that they will bury a line to us.

it never ends ...

10/21/21 I don't

 

I don't want to work no more.
I want a month off.
I'm tired of answering questions that have no answers.
I hate using the word I.

But I really don't wanna work no more ......

I tried plant therapy -- it was a temporary fix.

10/20/21 prepping for frost

we get the best sunsets at the cabin

too bad they are happening so early ... 

I hate the lack of daylight

Mom and I took supper ( well, McDonalds supper ) out to the cabin last night

I needed to move the tubs of geraniums into the porch before the Friday frost

so I pulled out all the "non geranium" annuals from the tubs and cleaned them up I was going to have Lee stash them in the crawl space but I decided to leave them in my cabin "bedroom" instead -- it's cool, dark and above freezing, will treat them for bugs this weekend and move them in 

the lake was so calm last night

until a water skier went past ... 

he / she had the whole lake to themselves  ( insert grin )

 

10/18/21 and back to work we go

what a perfect weekend - weather was good, projects got completed -- spent some quality time at the cabin -- by the time we got out there on Saturday, the Lake Boys had just finished moving the dock in -- it was still dripping -- the grass by the lake had sprouted ... lots of little projects got done -- the furnace got tested  ( it works ) ... 

Sunday, I got out there pretty early -- and bonded with the vacuum cleaner and the Pine Sol ... it was a calm day so Jean and I burned our pile of bush -- lots of sticks falling all the time.  Haven't raked many leaves yet -- they are still falling ..I'm not raking until a majority of them are down .. frost will speed up the process ... while sitting and enjoying the lake -- we got to see the Lake Boys in action -- across the lake, in our neighborhood and on their trip to the landing they picked up the xtra lift ... it was a beautiful afternoon to just sit and enjoy the lake .. no bugs, calm winds and sunshine ... it was time well spent

look - here comes the barge

ease it in gently

and off she goes to a new home ... hopefully

 

I did cruise the prairie Saturday night with my "still" camera ... we are so blessed to live in this beautiful part of earth .. 

10/15/21 3rd day of hell

 

this is a pretty accurate snapshot of me -- 45 minutes ago ... my cell phone and both income land lines were ringing and a text .... the only way to deal with it 

make another cup of coffee ... 

I found this quilt picture while searching for my favorite squirrel shot ... might need to learn to sew again and burn up some craps with something like this ... I like it ... 

today is our 3rd, 4th or 5th due date of this year

3/15 - entities

4/15 got cancelled

5/15 was the new 4/15

9/15 - extended entities

10/15 extended individuals

a flurry of activity and chaos this week .. still plunking them out .. it's gotta end soon -- so she snarls ...

women snarl -- men sneer ... 

I'll drink some more coffee -it will all be better ...

10/12/21 the water party is over for 2021

 

and the pontoon made it to shore on Sunday afternoon .. when I left they were going to wait for the wind to die down and move it Monday 

it was a windy day ... those ripples are wind ripples not boat wake ripples 

it took a couple of attempts but late Sunday it made it onto the trailer and then home yesterday 

let the "remodeling" of the boat begin ...

Lee ordered the "furniture" for it yesterday -- hoping it's here before spring -- ya, things that aren't always available

Sunday morning the boat lift and wave runner lift came ashore -- the wave runner lift is stacked inside the boat life on the rails ( takes up less real estate) and xtra dock section is in there too -- they are tucked in front of the boat house -- so while sitting in the porch -- we don't see them .. good views while porch sitting is important! 

we decided to sell the paddle boat -- we finally moved it away from the boat house .. it's in pretty good shape .. but needs a new home

dock comes in this week -- there is a service and for a fee wrangles them -- it is well worth it ... 

so -- the fall cabin project list is almost complete

1.  beach work

2.  grass planted, mulched and regular watering

3.  lifts in

4.  paddle boat at store

5.  siding project done

6.  dock scheduled to come in

7.  planters moved closer to house

8.  boat house sort of tidied 

to do yet:

1.  rake leaves and burn

2.  wash windows 

3.  good indoor cleaning

4.  get the tv working :)

5.  plant more tulips

6.  transplant perenials?

7.  bank work -- gotta get more rocks and 

         chop out more weeds

spring project

1.  paint interior of the porch

2.  new carpet in the porch

3.  

10/10/21 and the day after

sunrise on maple drive ... the view opposite the lake, boardwalk, power poles, old lawn chairs and our garden shed .. leaves, lots of leaves

I had my booster shot on Friday and Friday was good -- yesterday morning, I got up early (5:30 early) and didn't feel perky -- and didn't feel perky all day -- I made it Denny's visitation -- got home grabbed Mom and food and headed to cabin -- where I napped in the chair for 3 hours ... still in my funeral clothes .. 

got up with advil and went to work .. the last of the grass got planted ... leaves sort of raked .. today two of the lifts come out .. and the pontoon goes home - it's breezy and a nice chop on the late at the moment -- not sure if we'll get a boat ride ... I left the farm at 6:30 -- wonder if the other two have figured out I'm gone yet .. one was snoring in bed and the other in his recliner

life goes on 

 

10/08/21 ... and so it goes

 no fancy (or ugly) pictures today

 haven't wigged on on anyone

 got my COVID pfizer booster shot this morning ... #3 is done and creating those lovely antibodies to keep me healthy.  they just have to work.

 plans are changing constantly for the weekend -- Denny's funeral is tomorrow, Mrs. Peterson's funeral is tomorrow and Skylar's wedding ... and it is supposed to be a beautiful day ... so many events and I really just want to go to the happy place and park my ass  tush in a chair.  

 I'm tired -- mentally tired -- not sure how to cure that at this stage in life.  My dream job at Target is looking better and better every day - Holiday bonuses !!  Although, the smile and hug I received at the vaccine clinic this morning was priceless -- a client.  ( you can bet the public heath nurse was groaning while witnessing) .. it is the small things in life.

So -- here's my project list of the day:

1.  Finish Q for SSTPeter 
2.  Financial Statemens - NCCO
3.  Finish Q - RJV
4.  Finish Q - Psy
5.  Payroll Taxes and Q for APH
6.  Q for NUG
7.  a couple tax returns
8.  water plants and run roomba
9.  trash day baby!
10.  pile up recycling
11.  chop some weeds

10/06/21 wigging out

so the frustration of life boiled over yesterday and I sent this email to paralegal at a law firm .. I'm tired and wigging out 

I doubt I'll hear from them anytime soon.  
I feel better.

Back to the cabin last night where I watched Lee/Jean level the dirt, pick rocks and spread grass seed -- then the straw meshy mat went down and the sprinkler gave it a drink .. hoping for warm cloudy days for the seen to sprout -- this weekend two more patches need work up by the cabin.  and the leaves, lots of leaves to rake ... 

Sunset was fabulous -- as always

 

19 months of pandemic – averaging 75 hours a week

 

1400 tax returns

 

27 legislative changes to tax code at federal and state level

Amending 300 previously filed individual/partnership and corporate returns

 

100 open  IRS Issues since May …. Not related to the amending

8 clients still don’t have 2019 federal refunds

 

895 call on the stimulus crap

(yes, we started to log them)

 

Ppp/eidl/RRVFunds/DEED grant support

City/County and other COVID grant reports

 

Little or no help – qualified employees are impossible to find

 

 

Duane and his chaos are not a priority

I’m going to regret sending this  

 

 

 

 

M

10/04/21 Weekend adventures

it was a weekend of adventure and projects 

the siding project at the cabin is complete -- looks pretty awesome

the retaining wall at the lake was finished on Sunday

Dad and Lee discussing the "L" portion 

the labor end of this gig was Jean and I ... we carried 35 extra blocks up the stairs and out to the trailer .. they are heavy and I'm to old for projects like that .. the knees didn't handle the stairs very well

Cousin Molly got married Saturday afternoon at the Johnson Family Farm ... this is cousin Elliot -- he likes to dance .. and he's got the moves

Cousin Mason wanted to pet Maggie --- Maggie ignored him ... 

and the final pic of Sunday -- most of the wall is done, still need to till up the grass portion of the beach and re-seed it ( need a tiller ) .. then we're done down there for the season ... we had a pontoon ride before supper -- might be the last one of the season -- no camera with me but the fall foliage on the lake was pretty -- pontoon is scheduled for a complete rehab once she comes out of the water ... 

and on to the new week of work projects, home projects and lake projects

my covid booster shot is Friday :)  and Skylar's wedding and my birthday are Saturday

it's going to be a great week 

 

10/02/21 Molly's Wedding Day!

I hopped on the ATV and took a post lunch ride -- the colors are good, the soybeans are combined so I got to roam the entire farm .. and the entire time attempting to decide what to wear to cousin Molly's wedding ...

this blog should be re-titled :

Too many clothes, Plus Sized Idiot, Cannot make Wardrobe Choices 

the weather is not helping with this decision ... it is still misting on and off and the wedding is outdoors .. I should just toss on a pair of jeans, t shirt and my rain jacket .. 

stay tuned -- pix to follow ... 

same spot from last week ... soybeans were combined last Sunday 

and it was misting 

un-zoomed

looking down the driveway 

looking up the driveway ..

un zoomed -- this is lovely now -- just wait -- freaking ice is on the way 

rain drops on the camera lens