Happy happy birthday CEEG...Hope it is enjoyable.

Nothing much here going on either. covid, and unrest everywhere. 2021 is not looking good either. We got our audit back from the IRS, We owe 10 grand for 2017. . Hit me with your best shot. Get in line. A lot goes into it. Bad accountant, wrong numbers, disqualified items, we should of changed accountants when I told C but NOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooooooooo. Now look. We probably do owe it but OMG. F my life. Over all this crap. end of rant.

Have a wonderful day. :( :(

Morning all.

Short post since I don’t have much to report. I hit my 25th service anniversary with my employer on Friday. The boss set up a fake meeting with all department members, and it turned out to be just to congratulate me. That was nice since we aren't together to go out to lunch. Two months earlier I received an engraved paperweight in the mail, along with a link to the site where I can pick a merchandise gift/gift card. I tried it Friday but the username/pw didn't work for me. I'll try again today and will probably have to call customer service or something.

What a gorgeous weekend we had here. I went for a walk with my mom at her community on Saturday – so beautiful. We both enjoyed it. It was a bit too breezy to go cycling, so it was nice to be outside there with her because the grounds are so beautiful. I didn’t go cycling Sunday even though it was an ideal day, just not in the mood/felt lazy. I finished washing the screens and windows in the 3-season room (a dozen windows in there!!). Bf and I ate lunch outside at a place that has a tent set up. We’d drove to our first choice that has a really great outdoor area and we were sad to see it had closed down permanently. It’s going to take a long time to get that leased again in this C19 environment.

Another nice day today, just going to be warmer. But I’m in here… At least the windows are open and I can look out into the yard. It’s a 4-day workweek for me and then a 4-day weekend. Whoohoo! No plans, but it doesn’t matter. No work is no work!! :)

Annie – Oh dear, that’s an awful tax audit result. :( I hope you’re taking your 2018 and 2019 tax filings to a new preparer to have them looked over just in case… My mom saw a tax guy last year but never got back to him with the paperwork needed, and she didn’t do anything at all this year with her taxes, so she has late penalties on two years of filings, of which there are multiples due to trusts. It’s time for my sister, who has power of attorney for my mom, to take over all of her finances. This stuff with my mother is difficult. :(

Hellos to the rest of you! Hope you’re all staying out of trouble. :D Stay safe and healthy!!

Happy Belated birthday to Ceejay!


Annie: I am so very sorry to hear about the results of the audit. I can only imagine how your heart is racing and trying how to deal with that. :(


Hello to Shad! We have tomatos coming out our ears! I love them but have to be careful with eating them so I don't get a IC flare.


Hello to Happy! I think it was you who asked about getting the blow-out at the hairdresser. My hairdresser and the others in the salon cut, dry and style unless someone asks them not for their service.


Laura: It sounds like you had a enjoyable visit with your mom and that is very special. Congratulations on your 25th service anniversary. It was very nice that you Manager got everyone together to acknowledge your milestone.


Quick update on my shoulder. I saw a new surgeon last week and he was wonderful! He took great care checking out my shoulder, the x-rays, the MRI, my PT and my concerns about anesthesia.


He said he can and will do the nerve block for the surgery that I will have to have. There is always a chance he would have to put me under general anesthesia; there is always that risks but he isn't thinking it will be necessary. He will also schedule me with a consult with the anesthesiaologist to talk it all with him before surgery.


As to when surgery is, that is to be determined. It isn't a matter of if, but when. But first he wants me out of this pain and get the inflamation down. So tomorrow, September 1st I am getting a shot in the shoulder, it will go directly into the AC joint and they will administer from the front and it will be done under a live X-ray, so he can see where he is putting it.


I have been told it isn't too bad. The lidocaine stings but after that, it is just pressure and it doesn't take very long.


If you remember, say a prayer for me and send good thoughts and peach around 2:00 p.m.

Good morning ladies,


Still living the quiet life. I do posting for some large items for the Thrift Shop on Facebook's local buy and sell sites. I am trying to temper them into not giving me everything as I don't want another full time job! It is September and just like a switch flipping, our summer went bye bye. It's in the 40's at night and highs in the 60s and 70s during the day. Good for working outside DH said. Trees are starting to turn, hummingbird population is down to just a handful of birds. This is the end of season for the veg markets. One more month and lots of lovely things from the farms. I have been doing a lot of cooking this past week. Made 2 yummy soups that taste great these cooler days. I have 30 pounds of tomatoes to cook up into salsa and sauce today. Got roped into being on another Board again. They decided to meet outside at picnic benches due to Covid. It's 55 degrees outside and the damp chilly morning and evening air is not lung friendly for me. DH said to just tell them no way and walk away. I will go there but if I get all wheezy I am leaving. It is also a steep incline down to the pond and I'm not sure my knee will be happy about that either. Is this a visible sign to just say no?? :lol:


Susie - I'm glad you found a second opinion with another doctor. DH gets pain shots and they use the xray also to find the exact right point. My last knee shot after my fall, the ortho doctor gave me an injection of lidocaine before the shot and it was WONDERFUL. I kept waiting for that awful teeth clenching pain that I typically get from my regular doc on the cortisone shot - she only sprays a topical lidocaine. That was the way to go! I hope the shot helps and tides you over until surgery.


Laura - happy service anniversary! That was nice with the surprise celebration. I hope you pick out a nice gift. Sorry your favorite restaurant closed down for good. We've had 3 that I know of shut their doors. I'm sure there will be more. The cancelled the big apple festival here and the orchards are getting creative about doing a social distancing thing while getting their apples sold. Not sure what's going to happen with the cranberry bogs too - another huge festival cancelled. Enjoy your long holiday weekend - just another day at home for us! :rofl: I am fortunate, my sister handles all of my Mom's finances as well as her meds and doctors and everything else in her life. We are on pins and needles, not sure how much longer my Mom can live alone. Her hearing and eyes are getting worse and she has a hard time getting around on those very arthritic knees. Makes us wonder, what is the point of living so long when you are pretty much chair bound in an ever limited world? Sounds like you will also have to do more for your Mom too.


Annie :hug: OMG can you just not catch a break already? I'm so sorry about the taxes. And during these hard times too? More frustrating as you say when you tried to get a different accountant. Having your own business is not all the fun it's cracked up to be. I always saw the down side of that and worried about things. I guess this year is worse than any for the small business people. I think God wants you to be poor as a church mouse. My heart goes out to you. Grrrr.


Shad - thinking of you as I cook up all these fresh vegetables. Your tomatoes looked quite nice the other day. How are the home projects coming along?


Did you have a good birthday Ceejay?


Well I'd better go find something warm to wear and get dressed for my meeting. I have a headache just thinking about it. Did I mention I don't want to sit out in the bright sunshine either - doesn't do my eyes much good. Yes, I am crabby today. :lol:

always spirit moms:carrot:

Hiya,
Still here, but have been quite ill with this sinus. Back to posting as soon as I get the place straight again - hopefully tomorrow

Howdie…

I have come to terms with the tax audit. Bleh, no vacations for me. Oh wait there are not any. Plus the ones we had got cancelled. I guess good thing so I would have $$ to pay taxes. Anyway.....our weather has been perfect with the exception of the past two days. Today forward is supposed to be nice. The 4 day weekend for me was very enjoyable. Park, Apple orchard, cards, met up with a friend at a distance to present her with her 11 year anniversary sober token. Such an inspiration. Dinner at my house with bro & SIL.

SHADDIE....Samantha is having a time with her sinuses also. Time of year here with fall on its way. Allergies are at an all time high also. Hope you are feeling better. I had a couple of red and yellow stripy tomatos out of my garden, best I ever ET. lol Have no idea what the brand was.

HAPPY...just say no. Avoid all the frustrations of the boards you get on. Hope all your parts are agreeing with you and working fine. :)

LAURA...happy 25th work anniversary. That is saying something. I was at RCA/GE/THomson for 23 years. Before they folded. It is a long haul and miss all those I worked with. Moms are a struggle, especially finances. But you know, I miss all that now. I miss my momma so much, dad and Michael too! Think of them daily at some point every day. SO I guess what I am saying, enjoy your momma, even if it is a struggle.

SUSIE...good luck with the surgery. Is it schedule yet?

CEEG...how's it going?

Better post and wrap it up. Bout time to head home. Yes still essential. For what I do not know.

Good evening all, or soon to be evening. I had a good long weekend. Met friends for lunch on Saturday, went for a nice bike ride on Monday. Our weather was nice - much like what Annie said. Last few days have been gloomy and raining and cool, but it'll be nicer for the next several.

Susie - I'm glad you like the new surgeon. Has the shot in the shoulder joint helped?

Happy - Did you get all those tomatoes turned into sauce? === We've had some cooler weather, but still not as chilly at night as you've had. I'm getting sad now that it's getting darker earlier... === Yes, that was a sign to say no to serving on boards, meetings, etc. :yes:

Shad - Hope your sinuses are better now. We had some very windy days last week & into the weekend and I'm surprised my allergies didn't kick up. Guess it was too early for the fall allergies to start giving me grief.

Annie - Sounds like a nice weekend. == Sorry about the vacation being cancelled, but good to have the money to pay the piper, so to speak.

Hi Ceejay. :wave:

Nothing much else to say. Quitting time for me, so I'm gonna get this posted, shut down the computer and get out to my mom's to drop the groceries I bought her yesterday. Everyone stay safe and healthy!! TTFN.

Things are going well. Bought myself a new vehicle for my birthday. It's another Ravv4. But this one is bigger than the older one. I'm liking it a lot.
Have a great day.

Hi ladies, I started to make a post the other day and got distracted before I could finish it.


Still quiet around here. Summer has said goodbye. We got a couple of frosts overnight. My basil got "burnt" on top but I can still harvest enough of the leaves underneath to finish off my tomatoes. I made 10 quarts of sauce and I still have about 30 pounds of tomatoes to go yet. Will roast some and probably make one more batch of sauce. I don't have the energy to do freezer corn. Probably should have made it a few weeks ago when the corn was less starchy anyway. We have one hummingbird left that apparently does not understand it should have left 2 weeks ago. I fear it will die here. While we are down to a single feeder (from 6), I am making sure it gets changed every few days although the bird seems to be more interested in my leggy, petered out flowers. They won't be around much longer. Trees are starting to turn also. Lots of peeks of red. Days are noticeably shorter.


My leg is coming along ok. I think it's as good as it will get. I bought 2 pairs of better shoes so they help with the knee pain but I don't think I will ever be 100% again. We are going once a week to the pool - I do my exercises and I'm tuckered out when I'm done with them.


DH and I are discussing several projects around the house. I am in analysis paralysis and can't make up my mind what exactly I want to do. I have a basement hobby room I was going to use for crafts but decided it was too dark (only natural light is from covered window wells and even though it has can lights in the ceiling it's better for reading / watching tv / exercising that craft work. So I will rearrange the loft area to move my desk from the dark corner area over to the windows. DH did point out that if I do this, the cats will probably sit all over the table to see outside. Ugh. The hobby room has nice cabinets that I don't really want to get rid of either so I have to decide if it's cabinets or storage shelving in the room. I thought about putting my NuStep and bike in there but they are too heavy to move and there is a step separating the 2 main basement rooms so the stuff needs to stay where it is.

I have 2 upstairs bedroom closets that are filled with clothes and stuff from when we moved in 9 years ago. Most of the stuff is my dressier work clothes. I hate to just toss them out but they don't fit with my life or the style up here. I do need the closet space for a seasonal closet as I have everything crammed in the master bedroom closet and it's overflowing. DH has pointed out I will never fit in those clothes again (that hurt but it's true) so get rid of them. I wish I felt better so I could stand for long periods of time and sort this mess out. I start it and make an even bigger mess because I don't finish. Time to put my head on and just do it. Oh and I have tomatoes to finish canning too. :lol: For having a pandemic and staying home as much as I have, I certainly have not accomplished much. :(


It's been 2 years since I have seen my Mom. I am thinking of going down there next month for her 94th birthday. I would like to get a Covid test before I go - not that I think I have the virus but my cousin's wife came up from Florida 2 weeks ago. The day before she was to see my Mom her friend down there called her and said she tested positive for the virus. S was STILL going to meet with my Mom until my sister said NO WAY. Even my sister didn't meet with her because she is responsible for not only my Mom but also is caretaker to her elderly FIL who is recovering from a stroke and heart attack. So you have to be careful who you are around. I will not fly - S who was exposed did not get tested, did not quarantine and got back on a plane to go home. So... you don't know how many S's are doing that kind of thing so no plane for me. Which means DH has to drive me 8 hours to my Mom's, spend the night and turn around and drive back again. Twice. I figured I'd go for 2 weeks, spend a week at my Mom's house which will be torture - no internet! not much to do besides just sit and talk but she will appreciate the company and then I will go spend a week at my sister's house where we will wrap up the trip with a small birthday celebration for my Mom. I will probably leave the day after my Mom's birthday because DH said he wants to leave every weekend open in October so he can drive out to a nature preserve. He is trying to catch the sand crane migration and hopes to catch 1,000 birds in flight. I was going to go for a 3 week trip but decided no because of the virus, I really can't / shouldn't / won't take the time to go see friends and family like I typically would have. I really don't want to possibly expose my Mom or sister to anything from anyone else. And end of October, even in warmer Chicago it won't be conducive to meeting outside somewhere for a visit. I am still mulling it over. Another reason to get the house in order before I leave lest DH decide to dumpster some things on his own. Which he has done in the past :mad: :mad: :mad:


Ceejay - congrats on the new car. I like the Rav4 too but don't like the small engine in it. It's too sluggish for the crazy people who like to drive 70 MPH around here. Pulling out on to the road would be a hazard. I am looking at another 4Runner. I would like the smaller Rav4 but it's also too cramped for DH's comfort. I hope you enjoy it.


Laura - hahaha, I consider myself chastised :rofl: Glad you are enjoying the weather and getting out on the bike. Did you find something nice for your anniversary gift from the company? How unusual to be at one firm for so long. Just like a marriage / relationship - don't see long term things any more.


Susie - how is your shoulder doing?


Shad - hope you are feeling better. This is sinus season up here so my sympathies are with you.


Annie - you just can't seem to catch a break, can you??? :hug: Glad you are taking it in stride and maintaining your sobriety. Heaven knows they have thrown enough curve balls at you to shake your spirit. I guess if you don't have money to go on vacation, this was THE year to skip it. Still it's nice to have SOMETHING to look forward to. :( Sounds like you had some nice heirloom tomatoes from the garden. I got some at the Farmers Market. One vendor has all kinds of tomatoes. Some were really good, some got tossed as they had an odd flavor to them.


Looking forward to apple season soon. That's another factor in going to Mom's. I will have to hit up the orchards early October, get my apples and make my sauce before I leave. I need a big shot of energy and motivation - those B12 shots sure aren't doing the trick.


Ok, off to start laundry and put some roma tomatoes in the oven to roast. Have a good week kids...

Happy
My Rav4 has got a lots of power. It's bigger than my other Rav more like a Buick Enclave. Very roomy. It has all kinds of driving modes, one for dirt /mud, snow and ice , sand etc. also one for sport and eco and normal driving. and it's AWD. But each to his/her own.
Glad that your leg is healing.

Not much else going on. The weather is changing and I'm happy about the cooler temps. I did mow with the rider today and used the weed whacker. Will use the push mower tomorrow.

Good Afternoon!

I am beginning to think I will be stuck in this job til I retire. I am just too old for everyone's likings at interviews. Oh well...look at the bright side, I have a job, I have insurance which means more than most other things, and I get a paycheck. Only about 2294 days til retirement. lol

I have discovered I love Bucca di Beppo's meatballs. Can only have the one huge one as they are 19 net carbs ea. I only get 20 net carbs a day. Still doing keto. Feb was 3 years. Actually getting closer to 4 years, I think. Anyway I am at 169, and want to STILL be at 159-160. The struggles are real. I have been at this weight for about 2 months. I really need to knuckle down. I guess I am complacent, my body likes this weight, I don't know. Truthfully, I just need to try harder.

Well paid the big tax debt (10K) over a week ago. Still waiting for the check to clear. It won't be final in my mind till that dang check clears. Anyway, bygones shall be bygones. I was never meant to be wealthy or even have a stash I guess. :)

We siblings are still going to TRY to go on our sibling vacation, but it is now rescheduled for October 2021. Maybe by then we will all have our vaccine, be healthy and still be on this side of the dirt. None of us are spring chickens. 2021 brother 1 will be 71, brother 3 will be 66, brother 2 was Michael. I will be 61. Cindy my SIL will be 68. BTW Cindy is doing good. She got the all clear at from her kidney cancer doc back in July. The only kidney left is doing great. No signs of that dreaded disease.

SUSIE...did you get your shoulder surgery scheduled? Hoping it all goes well. Let me know the date and I will do extra prayers.

HAPPY...God love you friend. All the aches and pains your body is putting you through. I think I would be continually grumpy all the time. I hope you get some relief and some time without pain. Hope you get to see your momma. That is a hard thing. I miss mine so much all the time. 94 is a big number to be alive. Praying I don't make it that long. I will surely be a pain to my kids....ON PURPOSE!

CEEG...congrats on the new RAV4, I loved mine. I miss it on some days. But also loving my Highlander. What color did you say it was? or did you?

LAURA...hope you are enjoying these nice days we are having. At least I think you are having. We have a string of sunny days, like 8 coming up. Yahooo!

SHADDIE...Still pulling stuff out of the garden?

Best get at it. Enjoy your weekend!

Hi Everyone,


Sorry to be gone for so long. I would tell myself I would get here...finally I am here! I do come and check the board often, using my phone. I hate to type out replies on my phone...takes forever for me to do that. I need a bigger keyboard instead of that text keybord.


Update from my shoulder visit with the Ortho. I got the shot that he put in right into my shoulder joint. It has helped a lot with the pain. It's not perfect but a lot better than what it was.


I go back to see him on September 29. We didn't talk a surgery date, he just said it isn't a matter of "if" but "when" . I imagine we will talk about it at the September appointment.


On the weight-loss front. I have been logging my food daily and exercising (Recumbent bike or treadmill or walking with my friend Ann) for 21 days. I have lost 7 lbs.....and i have 13 more to go to get off the Covid 20 that I put on, and then I want to keep going as I had gained back another 12 before that.


I wish I could just get stop eating for any reason but true hunger and stop this lose, gain, lose, gain cycle; this seems to be my hobby and has been since I turned 14.


It looks like Ceejay had a birthday (Happy Birthday!) and got a new car (NICE!)


Happy: it looks like fall is coming quickly your area and you are starting what I call "nesting". When I know I will be all cooped up in the house, I want things in order and not cluttered as well.


I think it would be good if you could see your mom for her birthday I know she would love it and it would be very good for you to. But I do understand how hard it is to travel with arthritis and the like. Being in a car for long hours isn't the best thing with arthritis but with all that is going on these days, I am not sure how I would feel about flying


Laura: Are you still going into the office some and working from home some?


Annie: I can only imagine how painful it was to take all that money you have been saving and pay it for the taxes....blaaaaaaaaa!!!! but it was great that you had it and can be done and over with it.


You have done fantastic with the keeping your weight off. Those last 10 lbs are always the hardest to get off. I know you can do it and you will.


That is good news to hear about Cindy. We hope to be able to go Las Vegas in June 2021 and meet my Danish friend and her husband there since we had to cancel it all this year. I hope both our trips will happen in 2021.


Shad: Sorry to hear you have been dealing with sinus issues. I hope you are feeling better by now.


It is good to spend some time here with you ladies.

Good morning ladies,


For a crazy year that mostly had us homebound, it sure is passing quickly. Leaves are in full color now but we have high winds and dry conditions so I'm not sure how long the color show will last. Pine tree needles have turned yellow - they will be falling all over again soon. We have taken a few UTV rides - once a week which we enjoy. We are replacing our mattresses and gave our old ones to a friend. I washed the covers - they came out really nice and threw in 2 sets of bedding - a new set of sheets and one microfiber that we only used once because it was too warm for us. The mattresses are in really good shape - no cooties. At first I was just concerned about getting rid of them so I offered them for free. When the person originally said no, I was going to list them to sell. I realized I probably could have gotten $200 for both - the sheets alone were worth $100. Oh well, we did a good deed and the friend gave us a gift certificate for dinner. Then we gave our wrought iron patio table and chairs to the daughter of one of our friends. We tried to sell that too and people either wanted it for next to nothing or did not follow through with inquiries. What a hassle! I told DH we gave away almost $1,000 worth of stuff yesterday. I was not much help moving the mattresses out of the house. We used a blanket as a sling but I have no grip strength in my hands and with a bad knee and leg, carrying something I could barely carry down several stairs did not work out well. It just made me more depressed about how old and broken down I am getting. We wound up staying at the 2nd friends house pretty much into the early evening which was far longer than I wanted to stay so that killed the day.


I have decided not to visit my Mom at this time. There is just too much crap going on in Chicago right now. Mom, you will just have to hang in there a few more years. :lol: Actually she was the one who said not to come at this time. I wish we could go back to normal again soon. Got my absentee vote form and we are hand carrying it to the clerk's office today. PLEASE make sure you vote and do the right thing or we are doomed for sure. And don't believe the garbage coming out of the current occupant's mouth. I can't believe the ignorant things that he says as the supposed leader of this country. Shameful. I will come after him myself if he messes with my social security. I think the goal is to make most of us poor peasants so he can be king. I wish people would wake up and realize that. Ok, enough of that.


I am in a very unsettled mood. I have to get my act together. Too many things scrambling for my attention and I really have to focus on losing weight no matter what.


Susie - I am glad you got relief from the shot in your shoulder. I don't know if there is ever a "good" time to plan your surgery. Just plan for it and see it through. Congratulations on losing the weight. I think you have a good plan, not only watch the food but regular, consistent exercise also. DH pulled out 2 bikes we bought back in TN that we never used. He wants to get rid of them. I sure do wish we / I could ride them again. Maybe like the UTV, we give it one more year. I have an AirDyne bike in the basement I keep saying I need to get riding again. Just wish they would make a comfortable bike seat LOL. I know what you mean about not liking to post on your phone. I don't like doing FB or 3FC via the phone. Some of the features are wonked up, others the full keyboard is better.


Annie - glad you got your debt paid. Ugh, hope it's the last of the unpleasant surprises. As for the job, I guess as the saying goes, be glad you have one. I'm not sure even the young and more desirable (in the eyes of the interviewers) are very happy with their jobs and working life either. The whole work world has changed a lot. Just keep focusing on getting through the day. Congrats on battling the scale too. At this point maybe just monitor things and don't put so much focus on that last 10 pounds. Maybe if you ignore it, it will give up the ghost and go away. So many things are much easier when we are young, too bad we don't know that at the time.


Our friend's (adopted) daughter is of Asian decent. She is such a tiny little thing. I looked at her and thought, I should be that tiny too. SHOULD being the key, operative word.


Hello to the rest of you ladies. Sorry, nothing very interesting to say. We are in our last dregs of autumn with nice weather. Trying to enjoy it despite the smoke from the wildfires out west and gusty winds. The deer have shed their summer coats, are dark now and everyone is gathering in the yard. Flowers are all gone from the hard frost last week, only my parsley remains. Either the lone hummingbird got smart and left or died from the cold, haven't seen any activity in a week so the feeders will all come down for this year.


It's time to get ready for P/T. Only 2 more sessions left. I think it's as good as it's going to get so probably should have cancelled these last 3 sessions.


Anyway, hope you are all doing well.