AND LIFE GOES ON....

I returned home from California on Friday having spent the night at a motel in Fernly Nevada. My sister and I had a great trip , but on the way home we both came down with the flu. Linda was a lot worse than I , but we both needed to be very close to the bathroom.YUCKY!!!

We had a very good time visiting , relaxing and gabbing. We both did really well on our diets even though I got the crazy urge to cook one night. Ribs and twice baked potatoes and don't forget the tarts for dessert. But any damage we did that night was counter acted by the flu. Double yuck!!

I came home to a wonderfully clean house (thanks Sarah) and absolutely no food in the house (thanks Gene). But the progress on our new house was amazing. They dug the hole for the foundation on Thursday Jan. 10th. Poured the foundation on the 11th. Did the sewer and water lines , put a new pump on the well and put the floor in on the 18th. They started framing on the house 19th. All the framing is finished and the roof is on. The plumbers and siders will be there Monday. WOW! You can imagine how surprised I was when I came home. This is really going to jump start me. I have a lot of work to do and real soon.

Gene has been out there everyday watching over every detail like a hawk. I know he wants it exactly as I chose it, because I'm kind of fussy about that. He is really being meticulous. Bless his heart , he is trying to get this done and keep my mouth shut , which is no easy task. Sometimes I wonder why he keeps me.

It's always good to go away , but always good to be home. I'm going to go enjoy my own shower and my own bed. Good night !

THIS IS TAXING ME

It is tax time, my most UN favorite time of year. It just rushes in right after Christmas and starts demanding attention. It is full of deadlines and details.YUCK!!

I am a tiny bit of a perfectionist so I always worry about making a mistake. I guess I think the IRS will just show up in the middle of the night banging on my door demanding I come out and face them. The one time I did have an audit I owed 8 dollars and it was really quite painless. The lady was very nice and never once threatened to drag me off to federal prison.However my dealings this past year with the tax commission has been less than pleasant. Due to a bad business venture we have been bombarded with tax people demanding money we personally do not owe. So I have figured out a new tax payment plan... If you owe money just give them someone else's name and phone number , then go to the post office and have all your crappy stuff forwarded to their house and you never have to worry again. Lets set back and see how that works for them.

Anyway , in all my dither I have managed in two days to get the majority of it done and will finish the rest this week-end. I am getting ready to go with my sister to California to do some visiting and relaxing so that will be one less thing to worry about. Maybe I can bring home a piece of sunshine because I am cold and ready for the snow to go away.

Get your taxes done early and don't worry they won't hurt you they only want your money.

2008 ALREADY??

I know , I know , I'm one step behind the drummer. It took me all week and a whole day of check writing to have it sink in. My time flies when your having fun.
It has been a good year in so many ways. I know unpleasant things have happened but I am going to take the lessons learned and move ahead swiftly.

I made a few resolutions to myself that I think I can live with. Trust me , I did not set the bar too high. I decided that I needed improvement in a few areas and now is a good time.

I am going to write more notes and letters. I love beautiful stationary and that's a good reason to share the beauty.

I am going to watch a whole movie without folding clothes.

I am going to ride my scooter 35 MPH and not be afraid.

I am going to take 20 items to the express lane and by cracky they are going to CHECK ME OUT !!

I am going to let a dirt ring form in my tub.

I am going to buy clothes that are not on sale.

I am going to spend more time with my friends. They deserve it.

I am going to be more tolerant of my own and others shortcomings. However I will still keep working on them.

I will let my family eat in the living room without having an anxiety attack.

I will turn my head the other way when my husband purchases a gas station hot dog or a krispy cream donut.

I will not go ballistic over my son leaving cigarette butts in my drive way.

I will not be distressed when Sarah does not dress her kids in snow suits to walk from the house to the car.

I will not tell my husband to turn his blinker on or off.

I will leave a drink cup in my car all night , maybe I will drive around with it all day.

I will stay in a hotel without cleaning up after myself.

Wait........... This is already too overwhelming for me. I can't possibly do all that in one year. Okay , I've narrowed it down to just spending more time with my friends. Whew.. I feel less pressure already.

God bless you and keep you in this new year. May everything you put your hands to prosper. I will be calling you for lunch!!