Stuff About Stuff

Facebook is becoming a place where the only thing happening is people pouring containers of ice water over their heads.  Hey, I'm all for a great cause....but can we all please move on to something else?

Finally filed our 2013 taxes today and was relieved to review the IRS code and realize that the absolute most they can penalize us is 100% of amount due - which was a whopping $65.  Interest on that too plus whatever the penalty is but oh well.  Just couldn't wrap my head around finishing until this morning when I finally just did it!

Made my once every couple months trip to Walmart and left for under $100 - and that included a tidy sum for greeting cards.  And some groceries.  And a splurge:  a packet of 10 multi-colored Ink Joy pens.  The desk is full of pens but a lot of them don't write.  We were due for a new pack.

It's only a splurge 'cuz we do have pens.  But aren't new, pretty colored pens so much fun?  Sometimes a girl just needs color.

We are all heading up to Jackson tomorrow - making it a family afternoon and sharing a buffet dinner together.  Yes, it will undoubtedly 'cost' more but oh well.  It's entertainment for us all.

H. hasn't been feeling too well the past few days.  Stomach issues.  Not sure if we should be worried?  But we know he's really under the weather when he says he doesn't feel like eating much.

B. was out last night and went to the restroom and left his phone on the table.  Why would he do that? Would he leave his wallet on the table?  A $100 bill on the table?  So now he has to buy yet another phone and this time, I'm not bailing him out.  If he has to save up for the deductible for his insurance and be phone less for awhile, so be it.

I know we will help him pay for the phone 'cuz he's heading out our way soon and he needs a phone while he's there so we can figure out where he is when we visit.  Just makes me doubly glad that when he tried to guilt me into loaning him money to purchase a pistol from a friend to use for marksmanship practice, I said a firm and repeated 'no'.  Reminding him that if he'd stop living from one check to the next spending every dime he has, he'd have plenty of money to buy what he wants when a 'great deal' comes around.  It's really hard for me to say 'no' to him - I mean, I want to always be able to help him.  But helping him buy completely discretionary things is not happening.  Fixing his truck?  Yes.  Helping purchase a new phone (again)? Probably happening.  But not purchasing a gun for target practice.

This is the fourth weekend in August and I have not worked any of them.  Pretty amazing!  Not planning to work much of next weekend, either though we'll see.

Working is a lot less expensive than going to Jackson.

We hired a new gardener and for $5 more a month than we've been paying, we have someone who will come weekly!  And will plant whatever we leave for him to plant; prune and weed regularly AND mow and edge.  OH and blow off the debris from the patios, walkways, etc. .  Our current guy pretty much spends 10 minutes mowing and edging every other week.  So we're upgrading.  J. stopped at a house on one of his walks and asked the lady (who is an acquaintance - her son and H. were good friends in grade school and she and her family own the best Thai restaurant in town) who they use.  She gave us the referral.  Nice guy and speaks good English - which will be a help as well.  We're paying a very reasonable $100 for a huge 'catch up' effort - and the yard needs it so I'm happy to pay for it to look nice.

My cousin and brother-in-law are in the hospital currently and another cousin goes into the hospital Monday. So far, everyone's doing well and I'm sure my cousin's procedure on Monday will go well.  All of these family members are tough cookies and are or will be making huge strides daily towards full recovery - and I'm so glad to report that.  Sending prayers and thoughts to all, everyday, all day.