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Apr. 19th, 2006 10:29 am*My weekend was a mixture of fun and frustration, as characterizes any time spent with my father. He's in the hospital for some rehab and is in the epitome of the "feel sorry for me" mindset. I am not a sympathetic ear. I love him, I wish that he was not debilitated and more than anything, I wish he'd think of someone besides himself. I wish he'd want to struggle, not wait for the magic pill that's never going to come. However, righteous indignation over my ingratitude finally propelled him into working hard at rehab yesterday so apparently I did serve some purpose.
*Got to see my niece and nephew, who are adorable and both were in a serious mood on Sunday. Too much stimulation and just enough sugar. Sigh. Giggly to furious to hysterical at the drop of a hat. My aunt (who is in no way related to them) brought them these fabulous children's book written by a labor lawyer. One of them, "Click, Clack, Moo" is about collective bargaining. It's really great. The cows get a hold of an electric typewriter, and try to trade it for electric blankets because they're cold. The chickens get in on the act and the barn goes on strike until the farmer complies. (Can you tell that my family is a bunch of liberal commie pinkos:)?
*My younger step-sister wants to go on vacation in August with me. We discussed Portugal. Anyone been? Anyone have ideas of where I could pitch an article to justify going and possible help get it paid for?:) No really.
* My tax saga continues. For those keeping score at home, tax season means tears in my house. This year, it meant losing my mind, slowly but surely. First, my W-2's (all 5 of them. Yes, five!!) were stolen from the mail box (which was partly my fault as I tend to use the mail box as a holding cell for mail I don't want to deal with immediately). This required me to contact everyone I'd worked for last year to get copies. Most everyone was pretty laid back, sent me the W-2, but the crazy woman I worked for last summer never got back to me, and then finally on April 13 had her assistant fax me the form. A long-time employer never got it to me, but called in an apologetic don't report me to the gov't panic on April 14 and read me off the numbers so I could plug them into Turbo Tax.
Saturday morning, I sit down at my mom's computer, load up Turbo Tax and prepare to cry. Then I sniff the papers and realize that in the other saga of the household, Logan the peeing wondercat vs. Everything I own, Logan had struck a blow for his side by peeing on the tax documents which were on the couch. Not terribly bothered by sending Uncle Sam urine damp forms, I gingerly proceeded only to discover that one of the employers had sent me someone else's W-2. The crying then commenced. But, there in the sanctity of my mother's boyfriend's house, I corralled my mom (who works for an accounting firm and deals with all sorts of tax stuff) and she helped me estimate everything to file an extension. So, I have still not really done my taxes and am sort of wondering what the hell else can happen. Aside form the State of California requiring me to get a business license. Which, BTW, they are. And did you know that in CA,you can claim a deduction if you're getting reparations from the Ottoman Empire? Who knew? (I'm assuming this applies to the giant Armenian population here, but I'd love to hear differently if anyone knows.)
* I came home to find my house a cat DMZ. In defense of the couches, which we'd like to remain pee free, M. has put objects on every surface - phone books, boxes, laundry tub lids. A little barbed wire and we could be declared a hostile environment. I keep reminding myself that the cat is cross-eyed and doesn't have thumbs. He should not be this much trouble!
*Got to see my niece and nephew, who are adorable and both were in a serious mood on Sunday. Too much stimulation and just enough sugar. Sigh. Giggly to furious to hysterical at the drop of a hat. My aunt (who is in no way related to them) brought them these fabulous children's book written by a labor lawyer. One of them, "Click, Clack, Moo" is about collective bargaining. It's really great. The cows get a hold of an electric typewriter, and try to trade it for electric blankets because they're cold. The chickens get in on the act and the barn goes on strike until the farmer complies. (Can you tell that my family is a bunch of liberal commie pinkos:)?
*My younger step-sister wants to go on vacation in August with me. We discussed Portugal. Anyone been? Anyone have ideas of where I could pitch an article to justify going and possible help get it paid for?:) No really.
* My tax saga continues. For those keeping score at home, tax season means tears in my house. This year, it meant losing my mind, slowly but surely. First, my W-2's (all 5 of them. Yes, five!!) were stolen from the mail box (which was partly my fault as I tend to use the mail box as a holding cell for mail I don't want to deal with immediately). This required me to contact everyone I'd worked for last year to get copies. Most everyone was pretty laid back, sent me the W-2, but the crazy woman I worked for last summer never got back to me, and then finally on April 13 had her assistant fax me the form. A long-time employer never got it to me, but called in an apologetic don't report me to the gov't panic on April 14 and read me off the numbers so I could plug them into Turbo Tax.
Saturday morning, I sit down at my mom's computer, load up Turbo Tax and prepare to cry. Then I sniff the papers and realize that in the other saga of the household, Logan the peeing wondercat vs. Everything I own, Logan had struck a blow for his side by peeing on the tax documents which were on the couch. Not terribly bothered by sending Uncle Sam urine damp forms, I gingerly proceeded only to discover that one of the employers had sent me someone else's W-2. The crying then commenced. But, there in the sanctity of my mother's boyfriend's house, I corralled my mom (who works for an accounting firm and deals with all sorts of tax stuff) and she helped me estimate everything to file an extension. So, I have still not really done my taxes and am sort of wondering what the hell else can happen. Aside form the State of California requiring me to get a business license. Which, BTW, they are. And did you know that in CA,you can claim a deduction if you're getting reparations from the Ottoman Empire? Who knew? (I'm assuming this applies to the giant Armenian population here, but I'd love to hear differently if anyone knows.)
* I came home to find my house a cat DMZ. In defense of the couches, which we'd like to remain pee free, M. has put objects on every surface - phone books, boxes, laundry tub lids. A little barbed wire and we could be declared a hostile environment. I keep reminding myself that the cat is cross-eyed and doesn't have thumbs. He should not be this much trouble!
dads
Date: 2006-04-19 06:04 pm (UTC)On the positive side, he WAS working on an arena for me, and he DID spend time with me while I rode, which was lovely. But.
I wound up doing supper, dishes, all the barn chores etc etc. *sigh*
Re: dads
Date: 2006-04-19 07:38 pm (UTC)Re: dads
Date: 2006-04-19 07:41 pm (UTC)Were you home, then? I am quite confused....
Re: dads
Date: 2006-04-19 07:45 pm (UTC)Re: dads
Date: 2006-04-19 07:49 pm (UTC)*shakes head in dismay at self*
Re: dads
Date: 2006-04-19 07:51 pm (UTC)Re: dads
Date: 2006-04-19 07:53 pm (UTC)Re: dads
Date: 2006-04-19 08:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-04-19 07:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-04-19 07:37 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-04-19 07:42 pm (UTC)*lol*
I'm getting a cat this weekend. I should probably not be tempting fate (one of the bastards puked on my comforter when I catsat). Still, funny.
*hugs you*
no subject
Date: 2006-04-19 07:45 pm (UTC)You will be fine:) And you must take pictures.
Kitten or cat?
And hugs you back and adores you muchly. Sends love from Georgie as well.
no subject
Date: 2006-04-19 07:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-04-19 07:56 pm (UTC)Unless I succumb to the lure of homeless yorkies...
no subject
Date: 2006-04-19 08:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-04-19 07:54 pm (UTC)My grandparents used to go about 3 times a year and loved it immensely. I'll ask my mother where they used to go, etc.
no subject
Date: 2006-04-19 08:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-04-19 11:24 pm (UTC)Much luck with the taxes.
"Click Clack Moo" sounds fun! What ages is it for? Would 3 1/2 year old Raindrop like it? Her parents are liberal commie pinkos too! As am I. Hee.
no subject
Date: 2006-04-19 11:41 pm (UTC)And my neice is 3 1/2!! So it should be perfect for Raindrop!! I just checked and it's available on Amazon.(There's another book, "Duck for President" which is equally hysterical!) So is "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus", which is by Mo Williams and is hilarious!!!
no subject
Date: 2006-04-21 04:31 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-04-21 05:27 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-04-21 04:28 am (UTC)Click Clack Moo has fabulous whimsical watercolor illustrations, and the storyline is simple and very appealing to young'uns that age and older - I've read it with my second graders, and they get the nuances beneath the straightforward story.
So, in conclusion, yes - I bet she would like it. :)
no subject
Date: 2006-04-19 11:29 pm (UTC)but i do love the idea of you sending cat peed on tax stuff to uncle sam. *perfect*. you may have started a movement.
no subject
Date: 2006-04-19 11:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-04-20 12:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-04-20 12:46 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-04-20 03:59 am (UTC)