Joining the Pack?

"Bye-Bye" is the name Joe calls the remaining puppy.  After Mike took the little male home and named him Chief, the little girl was so lonely.  She just decided to join the pack!  Suddenly she is running behind the rest and blending in like she is going to stay......NOT!   Sunday, she curled up for a rest on Joe's chest and even Frankie decided to cuddle up.  Only Wendy is missing from this photo (she was curled up with Andy). 

 

"Bye-Bye" is awful cute!

Freedom Week

With my income tax mailed and years of filing sitting nicely in an organized file cabinet, I woke each morning this week,  to a sense of freedom.  Gone was the guilt of passing those boxes of papers each day, knowing that I "should do something" with them.  Amazingly, probably 3/4 of it was trash!  As I watched the Trashman take it away on Thursday morning, I felt an evil little smile creep on my face.  GO!  Guilt, be gone!

Ok, there is still work to be done, but at least I know what is left and WHERE it is!  Mikey asked for his birth certificate on Thursday and I was able to walk to the file folder.  That is a miracle in itself that only my children would appreciate.  I didn't get the project finished until Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning was like waking to sunshine, regardless of the weather.  Although the rest of my week was filled doctor appointments, errands and transporting people, I just did not mind.  I as ready to be out of the house for a change.

When I drove to Albion to pick up my tax return that was being checked before mailing, I could not resist going into a little resale shop next door to the accountant.  It was THE absolute best resale shop I have ever entered.  Everything was neat, clean and well displayed and I would defy anyone to leave without a purchase. I sifted through at least 1000 metal cookie cutters to find the perfect ones for Cat and Tate.  At 50 cents each, I found wonderful antique Halloween and Christmas shapes.

On Thursday I wore myself out.  I had an early (for me) appointment in Lansing, had to drop Joey at work and then a later afternoon appointment.  I decided it would be foolish to drive back and forth, so I would spend the day in Lansing.  I thought it would be enjoyable.....WRONG!   After my first appointment, I stopped by my favorite Threadbear, just to visit the people and fondle the yarn.  I read some patterns, chatted and made a small purchase.  I still had 3 hours before my next appointment and the pain in my shoulder radiated down my right arm until I actually thought about laying down in the back seat of my car for a nap.

Maybe lunch would help?  After cruising through the Taco Bell drive-thru, I munched on a taco and drove downtown to Rae's Yarn Boutique in search of a knitting needle that Threadbear was out of.  Rae didn't have the needle either so I spent some of my time reading and chose a pattern, bought a small knitting notebook for notes as I knit and faced the fact that I still had an hour left.  This is when pain becomes darned inconvenient!  I longed for the days when I could shop all day without a care, since 2 yarn shops had me reduced to exhaustion.

What to do?  Threadbear is always my 2nd home!  I headed back, found a nice comfy chair in a quiet corner and got a book.  There I found the rest that I needed to get me through until my next appointment.  How many stores have created such a presence in the community that a patron knows they can just go there to rest?  It made me realize how truly different they are from other businesses and why I drive the 17 miles to shop there.  I know I am always welcome, even if it is just to rest.

On to my appointment and dinner with Joe, finally getting home after 9:30pm.  I have never been so glad to see my recliner, my computer, my knitting basket and my cup of coffee.  Have I become a recluse?  Nope, just a woman in pain.  It made me realize just how much this injury has affected my life.  Maybe it is time to regroup a bit and find ways to enjoy myself, yet get out of the house this spring.

I chose to make a Friday hair appointment and after a cut and color, emerged feeling at least a year younger!  The kids all complimented me as I walked in the door.  That felt nice.  Mikey and his roommates were rooting through the crawl space, in search of 'treasures" and playing with the remaining male puppy, which went home with them.  Make my day!  His name is now "Chief"  and he has a wonderful family.  I am sure he is one happy dog.

Plans for next week?  My "To Do" list will be equal parts of "should do" and "want to do"!

Countdown to April

It is the roar of the lion that we felt as March arrived in 2010, with snow to blizzard levels over this past week.  I have always hated February with a passion and in the past few years, March has now linked itself to my list of time to get through.  February was always dreary and cold, Christmas over, winter has grown old and I admit to being a grouchy soul by February. 

I sit here writing, trying to ignore the obvious, but knowing the post is ridiculous without mentioning that March claims a corner of all our hearts.  We all try to get through the days of March, working hard not to remember it's sadness.  I found a book that my friend Tana gave me on the first anniversary of Karen's passing and realized that I am going to put it out.  It is a "Happy Karen" book, complete with a laughing photo on the cover and intended to record only happy memories.  I will stop and write one as the spirit moves and read the ones that others have left.  What a thoughtful gift it was.

THE TAX MAN COMMETH! 

 Having neglected to file my tax returns on time, during this bad period of my life, I find myself adding tax returns to my list of reasons to hate this time of year.  At first, it didn't seem like much, since I have always been pretty good at numbers, then I woke up.  I always wondered why tax services were packed with people paying others to do this simple stuff.  LOLOL....ROFLMAO!

Now I get it!  If you are filing a simple return, anyone can do it.  If you are itemizing your deductions, you either buy the current tax software or get ready to read and read and read.....then calculate and read some more!  I bought a book on taxes and then returned to the bookstore and bought another one.  The best line of all was "Congress passes tax laws that are so difficult to understand that the IRS employees cannot explain them or interpret them."  True story!

I have learned to dial 1-800-829-1040 in my sleep.  That is the Tax Line Question phone number where employees recite a list of questions for you to answer, then tell you they are either NOT SURE or MAYBE you could claim the deduction.  I am not lying!  My favorite answer to a question regarding a business expense recently was "only if you can get a letter from your employer stating they will FIRE you if you do not have a cell phone."   Ok....I am sure most employers will be willing to write that letter.

I have been accused in the past of having Attention Deficit Disorder.....my family Doc says "If they had discovered it in the 1950's, I am sure you would have been the poster child."  Funny.....until you try to converse with the IRS, calculate and read in the Chin Family Nuthouse! 

Yesterday I reached for migraine meds as I heard a knock on the door.  Frankie, Josie, Rocky, Wendy and Lucy began to bark like the pack of wild dogs they are, the puppies begin to squeal and yip as one of Andy's pack arrives.    The dogs chase the offender down the stairs and I settle back into my numbers as the phone begins to ring.  I can ignore it.  Now, my cell phone rings so I know it is probably Catie.  By the time I find the phone, it has gone to voice mail.  The home phone rings again........Sheesh!  It is Joe wanting to know what is for dinner.  I have a few sarcastic answers. 

Today I got up at 5am, convinced that if I start early I may be able to avoid some of the confusion of the afternoon.  It was a good thing since Catie informed me that she has a half day of school and needs to be picked up at noon....."Oh, I forgot to tell you I am bringing a friend with me."   Of course she is. 

Does anyone have some Adderol or perhaps a padded room?