Taxes

Taxes.  Our tax situation for 2010 is so complicated that two accountants have already given up on us.  Accountant number 3 looks promising.  I am in the process of filling out the forms he gave us.  He wants to get a head start before everyone else comes in February - April.  Unfortunately, that means I am looking for raw numbers and not just copying the final figures from the tax reporting forms that you receive in the mail in late January or early February.  Unfortunately AGAIN, Case runs away and hides when I ask a question that I feel that he may know the answer or know the direction to look.  So I have been tediously plodding along.  For a long time.  This feels like torture.  I think that I would rather be water boarded. 

SNOW!

Help!  We don't have enough snow!  There was a warm day and an unusual winter rainstorm last week.  Now there is a layer of  ice over everything.  No cross country skiing.  No snowshoeing.  No snowmobiling (if we had one, that is).  Difficult to walk even with ice cleats on your boots.  The ice is not smooth.  We along with everyone else in the Northwoods are searching the weather forecasts for a lot of snow to cover the ice.  We want snow!

I Have Flunked Retirement

I have been told that I have flunked retirement because I have taken a part-time job.  Probably I should hang my head in shame.  Instead I am excited about my first day on Monday.  It is an administrative assistant position for a couple of doctors in town.  It is only two days a week.  That means that I have a five day weekend.  I think of it as a reversal of the usual working five days and being off for two.  Now that I am retired, the schedule is switched.  That seems right. 

What a Difference a Year Makes

A year ago I never would have thought that Case would decide to retire in July.  A year ago I wasn't thinking of getting ready to put our house on the market.  A year ago I thought that everything was in the hazy future.  It wasn't in the distant future.  It was this year.  This year has made the most changes our lives than any other single year. 


I need to correct myself.  The year 2010 was the second most changes in a year.  The number one year of change was without a doubt Father's Day 1986 and the year following.   When Father's Day 1987 dawned, we had 2 babies under 10 months old.  Last Father's Day -  zero babies.  This year - 2 babies.  At the time we did comment to one another about last year's Father's Day and how different and how wonderful Father's Day was this year.  Now that was a year of change. 

Don't Know What to Label This

I have been a bit under the weather so inside, quiet projects are on my agenda.  I ended up labeling all the chargers in the house and garage.  We must have been good this year because Santa was generous.  That means more chargers.  I certainly can't keep them straight as to which one goes to what.  We probably could read the company name on the charger and match it to the object.  However, when we are looking for a charger, we are out of juice for the needed device laying stone cold in our hands.  We are not of "sound mind" as the saying goes.  Lots of waving of arms and frantic searching goes on.  I don't know if this is an age-related problem, technology-related problem (didn't grow up with chargers), or some other problem.  The result of my efforts are correctly-labeled chargers.  This is a good thing.  I have also marked right-side-up for the cords for electrical appliances that get plugged in and out - not left on the counter.  This has not been a problem.  It is merely  laziness of not wanting to try a plug two times before getting it right. 

Back Home - Retirement Style

We are back home after enjoying Christmas with some family and friends.  Lots of activity.  Lots of traveling.  Post-holiday time in retirement is sleeping in, leisurely unpacking, and playing with our new toys.  This is a good thing.  Yea for retirement! 

New Schedule for Christmas

Retirement in the Northwoods has been a good thing for us except for holidays.  Since we are the ones that moved away, we are going back for Christmas.  Lots of preparations today - putting together some traditional foods to take and packing presents, clothes and the usual stuff.  We are leaving before daylight tomorrow.  That sounds monumental, but it doesn't get light here until about 8 am.  (Hayward is much farther west in the time zone than Chicago.)

Merry Christmas to you and wishing you all of His blessings this season and all year.