2021 RESOLUTIONS

None.  Nada.  Zero.

After 50 years of making a list of outlandishly ambitious resolutions and feeling not so good about myself by the end of February when everything ceased, no need to write them down.  I know my weak spots and where I need improvement.  There was so much comfort watching too much Netflix and Hulu and Amazon.  Don't think I am going to give that up until the pandemic is over.  Same with comfort eating.

After the dumpster-fire of a year we had in 2020, I'm focusing on the good in my life, my country and the world.  If they will have me back, I'm going to volunteer with WLLO again.  I know they will understand if I say no to more than I want to give.  I'm also going to return to being a cub reporter for our HOA newsletter.  

This year I am volunteering to make dinner once a week and bring in dinner once a week.  With one night being "clean out the fridge" night, that leaves each kidult two dinners a week.  Plus all the breakfasts and lunches.  Our kitchen is too tiny to have more than two people in there working.  I want to include more fish and hopefully more ethnic food.  I've been keeping a list of potential meals that the boys will enjoy (I hope).  That is as close as I get to a "resolution".

Cheers to another year of blogging!

 

STAYING HOME

Oregon is still on lockdown.  Restaurants are only open for take away.  Grocery stores still limit how many customers in at a time.  I continue to buy groceries online with contactless delivery (unless I buy wine, then I have to put my driver's license face down for driver to scan).  I stay in my nightgown and robe all day long.

We are staying home for New Year's Eve.  Might make a nice dinner or order IN a nice dinner.  Boys will get to do a few fireworks.  And get to stay up late!

Staying home yet looking forward to saying goodbye to Covid in 2021.

SHARE YOUR FAVORITE STREAMING SERIES - FOR BINGE WATCHING

You are probably watching more TV and movies during quarantine .... I know I am.  I'm trying to choose those that have at least 3 seasons.  I have started a list of those I like as family and friends often ask.

Rizzoli and isles

Body of Proof

White Collar

Call the Midwife

The Good Wife

Law and Order SVU

West Wing

Longmire

The Crown

Vera

Shark

Burden of Truth

White Collar

CSI

CSI - Miami

Cable Girls

The Guardian

Downton Abbey

Upstairs/Downstairs

Rookie

Madame Secretary 

New Tricks

Self Made

Veronica Mars

For Life

New Amsterdam

Rosewood

Have any others to highly recommend?  Jesse just built me a fire (they are out and about) and I have great noise blocking headphones so I can watch movies sitting upright in the living room.  Otherwise, I'm on my stomach and with elbows taking the weight of my heavy head.  Starting to get callouses.  

I especially like shows set in1800 and 1900 or series from 1980's and 1990's (when I had a busy life and didn't watch much TV)....

Share with me?

OLDER LADIES

 I'm not sure how or when I first heard this song ... but I still love it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4QzHeUE-CM

JUST A GLIMPSE BEFORE CHRISTMAS

CHRONIC BLOGMOSIS

My brain's a fog, I cannot blog.  I'll try again, I don't know when!

NEWEST FASHION ACCESSORY

Yep.  The mask. 

I started out with disposable.  

Did we all start out with the basic, pretty thin disposable blue?

Next I bumped it up to black so the mask would always blend with my outfit.  But still disposable.

A WLLO friend made me two cloth black masks which feel much safer. I steam clean them every few wearings.  Now I'm investing in cloth with changeable filter ... and a bit of style.

Then I went for a little fun!  I only use this outdoors because it doesn't have a nose wire and is just one layer.

This Covid seems to be here for the long haul and Etsy introduced me to this more stylish version.  And it has a pocket for changeable filter.  But when I put on my reading glasses, they still fog up a little.

Coming soon ...

Origami style which supposedly helps reduce the fog.  Nose wire and filter pocket.

I also got some KN95 disposables.   After hearing from a friend about plastic face shields, I bought some of those although none of us has had to wear them.

NO GRINCH ALLOWED

 

This sign has now been recycled. 

I'm amazed how much more boy time I have since stepping down from "too much" WLLO volunteering.  My email has been reduced by more than half.  They each claim Gramma's room for distance learning.  One in the morning and one in the afternoon.  (They have EACH finished a grade level in Math already!  Three months!). It was such a great hug when Braeden "graduated" just the other day right by my side.  He has such a hard time with Math.  Mom helped him celebrate by making him a s'mores pie.  He is gaining confidence by the minute.

My Christmas shopping is done, thanks to Amazon and Etsy.  Fortunately, I made the kidults order in November ... I've heard of delivery delays.  I usually buy too much for the boys, so some can go to stockings.  My favorite choice this year is "stinky" crayons (by Crayola!) ...  kids will love the smelly scents, including old rotten tooth, moldy sponge, grass, cough syrup, mushroom, pizza, cheese, dirty potatoes, onion, barn, socks, and flat tire.

They are going out this afternoon (sunny and crisp) to get a tree.  Then there is an outdoor local craftsman fair starting at 4pm.  Our Covid rates have gone up 15% since Thanksgiving so I'm not too keen on being around anyone, even with masks, even outside.  There was an article in NYT about a couple getting arrested for knowingly taking a plane to Hawaii for vacation ... they both were tested before traveling and BOTH have Covid. I hope they do jail time although I feel sorry for the other prisoners.

Life at my house is still going well.  

DECEMBER 2020

 

6 months old. He's now 15

The elves came quarantined.  Zooming with Santa at night.

The straight scoop!

Busy putting together an edible Christmas Village

The main feature - Oreo House

TINY HOUSE MOVE IN

It's after 10:30 am on Sunday and EVERYONE else is still sleeping!  I really love having an hour of coffee and quiet.  But two hours???

My niece is moving from a rental house with four roommates (who are NOT Covid safe) into her Tiny Home about 30 minutes in the opposite direction.  It will be so fun to carefully add her to our Pod.  She is looking to buy a house with a big back yard closer to where she works (maybe some day, in person!). She can then choose to live in Tiny or rent her out.  The parents of the former owners of the Tiny House are renting the space (and utilities) to her to give her a few more months.  She has been outbid on at least 5 homes!

We loaned her our minivan today so that she may only have to do 3-4 trips.  We will also store her desk in our storage unit until she needs it.  She wouldn't let us help her because of the wicked room mates.  Not that I would have been much help!!

She's very active and outdoorsy (as are my kidults) and after two weeks of outdoor walks or whatever, we can have her inside.  She is going to share some of her sourdough starter and the cousins will be making bread and/or pizza once a week.  Tahlia is vegetarian and tries many ethnic dishes so I hope to be invited over to the Tiny once in a while (not sure my family would even TRY these dishes)

Her eating habits now are very interesting!  When she was little, she had a VERY VERY limited palate.  Macaroni and cheese.  Cheese tortellini.  Cheese sandwiches.  Vanilla yogurt.  And catsup!  My sister would never purchase catsup so for her birthday I would also send her a bottle!  I think that may be her housewarming gift!!!

Although she may decide I'm too dangerous to be around.  I gave her some of our turkey day leftovers ... totally forgetting her nut allergy ... and the best sweet potatoes in the world had pecans!!!

ALMOST AN UNTURKEY DINNER

We had a fabulous Thanksgiving Dinner prepared solely by Jesse!

But with quite a few road blocks along the way.  First, he didn't decide to stay home for Thanksgiving until Monday about noon.  I offered to buy a small Honey Baked ham AND a small Honey Baked Ham turkey breast.  A new pop up Honey Baked Ham station opened a few blocks from us.  Kate went online to order but it was the most convoluted non-workable site ever!  She was so frustrated but finally decided to call the new spot.

The phone number on the website was NOT to the local location but one on the other side of town.  I then said just call the location we have always used and I will drive to pick it up.  That location had permanently closed due to Covid!  Jesse walked to the local pop up to order one of each but was told they do not take reservations.  At that moment, the shop did not have turkey but it would be in later in the afternoon.  He and Kate went on their way to get the other groceries, along with 3 million other people.  And stopped back in to learn there were still no turkeys but they would definitely be in on Tuesday around noon.

Jesse walked back over at 12:30 and there were STILL no turkeys!  So he bought the ham and would check back right before closing to check on the turkey.

STILL NO TURKEY!  He then went to three nearby grocery stores and he got the LAST frozen turkey breast!  He thawed it in cool water while he cooked all day on Wednesday!  Sweet potato casserole with toasted pecans on top.  I usually forgo sweet potatoes as they are usually too sweet for me.  But this casserole was a gift from heaven!  Creamy smooth mashed potatoes (the boys did all the peeling).  Best homemade turkey gravy.  Homemade orange cranberries (also terrific and I usually do not eat that either).  He then made a top secret brine and put everything in the fridge (I cannot believe it was possible).

Kate made homemade cinnamon rolls which she baked on Thanksgiving morning.  She made half a recipe and she still had the boys make three deliveries to neighbors and plenty left over for Friday morning breakfast.

We ended the day playing Chutes and Ladders (with occasional poor sportsmanship), then Operation followed by War using a deck of cards.  Dad had a fire going all day so we all found a comfy spot and watched the Christmas Chronicles II (recommended by my sister).  It was great but now I need to rewatch the first one.  Very entertaining for ALL of us.

All's well that ends well!  Hope your day was tasty and fun!

P.S.  I posted on Honey Baked Ham's Facebook page.  I emailed customer service.  And today I am sending a snail mail.  Not a well managed Covid safe plan at all. 

P.S.S.  My niece is coming over soon to enjoy an outside visit/walk.  She moves to her Tiny Home tomorrow and we hope to gently and safely bring her into our pod!

THANKSGIVING DAY 2020

 

Day Dreaming

Once I changed my perspective, happiness returned.  New Zenni specs!
 

WATCHING TV

Without all my WLLO commitments, I have a LOT of time on my hands.  It's luxurious!  

I check my calendar before going to sleep and SMILE that there is nothing on it.  I spend more time with the littles (until my ears are exhausted) and always learn something new.  Did you know Eleanor Roosevelt did as much good as her husband who was President?  And she was OLDER than me when she died.  (From the First Grade guy).

Now I am changing up our live stream entertainment.  We don't have TV, per se.  Amazon Prime Video and Netflix.  And Hulu. Now I'm trying different services for a week at a time.  First up (for the Holidays), The Hallmark Channel.  Unfortunately it is not "on demand" and you know retired people can't possible plan their day around WHEN a great Christmas movie is on.  It will retire next week.

HBO Max is going all out to get customers!  I signed up for a free week but now get to cancel as it will be included with Amazon Prime.  I love historical period series and BBC crime shows. I cancelled Masterpiece Theater and created a BritBox account.  Again, one week for free. 

Unfortunately, our TV is too old to stream some of these newer selections.  The set wants everything to run through Amazon Fire Stick (which is old) and isn't very cooperative at times.  I've been asking about getting a new TV (I think it's at least 15 years old, probably 20). That will be our pandemic present to ourselves.  So, I'm not really SAVING any money here ... just rearranging it!

FOR THE LOVE OF EATING

One of the best things living with others is sharing the cooking (and dishes).  Jesse and Kate do most of the cooking and they are always trying something new.

Kate made cheese fondue for dinner followed by chocolate fondue!  I forgot to take photos until the platters were almost empty:

The main course was bread, turkey, ham, broccoli, carrots and potatoes

  Dessert was white chocolate and milk chocolate ... with cubes of pound cake, apples, strawberries, bananas and marshmallows.

We no longer have a fondue pot, so she used the crockpot with hot water.  The cheese fondue was in a casserole dish that just fit in.  Chocolates were in two different mason jars in hot water as well.

Fun was had by all ...

We had some leftover rotisserie chicken on a day the parents wanted to get groceries and prescriptions.  I asked if the boys could stay home (I ALWAYS have to ask ... they only ask me if it's an adult-only thing like a class reunion or wedding ... all of which there have been none for many months!).  I made the boys a fancy lunch and asked if they would walk the dog if I did the dishes.  Chicken Pot Pie!  Something the boys had never had (biscuits on top instead of a crust).  I started on the lightly browned mirepoix, added bone broth and then the cut up chicken.  It simmered all day!  When the parents got home, I thickened the stew and made Bisquick biscuits.  Well received by all.

The boys did a deep clean on the dining table, dusted all the living room surfaces then got to play some screen time.  I did a load of laundry, changed my sheets and made my bed then we all snuggled in to play on our computers.  Deacon asked for a relaxing bath so I lit candles, let him choose a bath bomb I keep a supply in my room ... with little toys in the middle), turned the heater on and let him prune in up.  When he was finished, I ran the dishwasher and asked them to play something that didn't use a device.  Legos it was.

Jesse is doing spareribs in the crockpot tonight with coleslaw and homemade french fries.

I better go out and make some brownies for dessert!

COVID19

 An article from the NYT has put me in a somber mood.

Oregon has already edicted a two week "pause" because of rising new cases ...  on social activities, groups no larger than six, restaurant and bars to reduce customers to half, and so on.  Of course our Holidays are going to be very different this year.  I am hopeful that Biden's team will be a big help to all of us.  We are all weary of being stuck at home.

Oregon's Governor has put Portland and surrounding area on a "Covid Pause"  

• Urging all businesses to mandate work from home to the greatest extent possible.

• Pausing long-term care facility visits to protect staff and residents.

• Reducing maximum restaurant capacity to 50 people (including customers and staff) for indoor dining, with a maximum party size of six. Continuing to encourage outdoor dining and take out.

• Reducing other indoor activity maximum capacity to 50 people (for example: gyms, fitness organizations/studios, bowling alleys, ice rinks, indoor sports, pools, museums).

• Limiting social gatherings to your household, or no more than six people if the gathering includes those from outside your household, reducing the frequency of those social gatherings (significantly in a two-week period), and keeping the same six people in your social gathering circle.

“We all must continue to do our part to stop this virus from spreading, particularly limiting our social gatherings and interactions, or we risk further closures and restrictions," Gov. Brown said in an email Monday.

I continue to be surprised by neighbors and acquaintances who are not being careful and get mad when stores ask them to wear a mask.  Crazy upstairs neighbor texted she was bored.  I said yes, this Covid lockdown is very wearisome.  She replied "We r ignoring it"  Ugh.

I stepped down from WLLO volunteer work yesterday.  It's been bothering me for a few months.  Then came the straw that broke the camels back.  It must be me.  My daughter said "Mom? Why are you doing all of this work if it doesn't make you happy?"  Yup.  I wasn't happy working with some of the personalities.  Now!  What to do with all of THAT time??

This year we will need to make the holidays and especially Christmas more cheerful.  I spent my morning doing Christmas shopping online ... personalized ornaments for this family, stocking stuffers, small toys to put in their countdown calendars, helping the boys make their lists.  I will make time to let the boys bake and decorate cookies (as I will assist and clean up!).

We can do this!

BLUE and RED

It's Saturday and things are even more BLUE than Thursday.  It's not really over until the fat lady sings but I declare we are now blue and red.  I know that every last vote will be counted.  Oregon has been doing mail-in voting for over 20 years.  I am a registered Republican and I voted BLUE.  Hopefully I am not stupid red.  I vote how I think, not by party. 

Some dreams for our next four years. 

Be kind.  Be honest.  Be respectful. Use courage.  Everything else will follow! 

Stop with the Twitter stuff every 5 minutes.   I don't think social media is a way to run a government (or anything, for that matter).  Say what you mean and mean what you say.  If you appoint someone to a position, give them at least 6 months to work at it before you fire them.  Honestly, I don't think I could name anyone in any position in the top government with all the switcheroos!  

Make healthcare AFFORDABLE for all citizens.  (Obama care was NOT affordable ... mine, for just me, jumped from $300/mo to $800/mo). Make tangible efforts to ease climate change.  Get children back with their families immediately.  Get deadbeats off the government feed bag and ... sorry, I think our money should go FIRST to American citizens and soldiers before immigrants.  Make English the official language of the USA.  I wouldn't move my family to another country and demand they have English speaking schools.  Should you need any benefits to temporarily help, please become a citizen and then ask.  Churches and civic groups will help you.

The Supreme Court is now red but I think they are all intelligent and compassionate people.  Even if they are lawyers (hee hee).

NO FIRM ELECTION RESULTS

It's Wednesday afternoon and it's leaning towards Blue from my sources.  I bet it will take WEEKS for Donald to accept reality.  So far, no riots in Portland.

Oregon continues to have more cases of Covid than ever before.  I think people are so tired of it, they are just not being cautious.  Except me.  I bought a gallon of hand sanitizer to do our refills.  There are two mini hand sanitizers in each car.  And a container of Clorox Wipes.  

I'll be having Stouffer's microwave turkey dinner ( ... or I might order in the smallest dinner from Whole Foods or wherever)(I just looked online and WOW ... great menu options and even the Vegan for Two dinner sounds delish).  Family is going to Jesse's side of the family but I graciously declined.  I'm kinda glad I have an excuse now ... I RARELY attend (although always invited).  Too much drinking going on.  Then the arguing starts.

One of our WLLO members has taken a turn for the worse.  She had a heart issue and went to the hospital a week ago.  Doctors said a pacemaker would fix her right up (she's 89).  Now she is heading home with Hospice.  WLLO is going through another growing pain.  One of the busiest volunteers is standing down.  She is now doing a lot for her inlaws, including making meals 3 times a week.  But the main reason is she doesn't like the Village restrictions on what she does with some members.  She is head of Transportation and HER rules during Covid is the member sits in the back passenger seat, with mask, windows cracked.  Yet SHE would let members sit in front with her.  When other drivers said no ... our rules say you must sit in back, well just imagine a five year old.  She also loved doing little extra things and drives but didn't run them through the Village software so we can record and use all the Volunteer hours to apply for Grants.

Just heard from the Kidults that Jesse's sister-in-law's family (BIG Vietnamese family) have had several members come down with Covid.  Now Thanksgiving is up in the air.  I just finished making a date to share the Vegan Thanksgiving meal with my favorite (vegetarian) niece who is now back in Portland.  Her four roommates are NOT Covid safe at all.  She spent two months back in Kentucky with her parents because they wanted to start having people fly in, no isolation, and let them in the house. She waited til two weeks had passed from last set of visitors and drove back to Portland ... and now they want to have a big Thanksgiving celebration with friends.  All the while SHE is paying rent.  Poor kid.

Stay tuned!

 

HELLO NOVEMBER

 

BINGING ON SUPER NANNY

Super Nanny has been on TV since 2005.  When we had TV, I would accidentally catch an episode here and there.  It is amazing (to me) how many parents think discipline is a dirty word!  Most of the kids are rude, disrespectful hooligans and their parents are afraid of them. After two weeks with Super Nanny, it's a whole new happy family.  The show is refreshing to watch as no one dies, gets shot, or other gruesome things so it is fun to watch in the evening with my wine.  

Recently, Facebook was sharing some of her episodes.  Now I am hooked.  Again.  We recently traded HBO Max via Amazon to direct HBO Max and there are many seasons on there.  Also on YouTube.

The Kidults here recently instituted a "schedule" for the boys.  (The FIRST thing Super Nanny does) Just on a steno pad page, written in pencil.  The boys LOVE it.  They know what is happening when and Mom scheduled in lots of exercise/play time.  Yesterday I watched them for a few hours and right after lunch ... they went to Acellus for some lessons!  Without being asked.

While watching Super Nanny's techniques, I've incorporated a few of her great ideas.  They don't really want more "stuff" they want us to play with them!  When just Braeden and I were up the other morning, I asked if he wanted to play a memory game.  He went to get one when I said no way Jose, I have a new version.  I got a cookie sheet and we each gathered up six items to position.  He'd close his eyes and I would remove two things.  Then my turn.  We got too good at that, so whoever was removing items could rearrange all the other items.  Then we would remove three.  Then four.  By then we had memorized them all, so we each got 8 more things.  I don't think I will get dementia living here!

I also asked the parents to each play WITH the boys for 15 minutes (or more but WHO could say no to 15 minutes) a day.  The boys were so excited when I asked if anyone wanted to play with me!  Deacon immediately went to his room to get a board game.  (Ever try playing Monopoly with a 6 year old????). Let's hope we stay this involved because those youngens are eating it up.

The boys each got two more chores as well.  They accepted with glee!  So amazing.  Our dining table/school desk is a dropping point for everyone entering the condo.  SO MUCH stuff on there that has nothing to do with eating, Acellus or art projects.  Now, every night after dinner, on even days one boy puts non essential items on the owner's pillow.  Then wipes it down.  The other boy does odd days.

The shared bathroom is also getting wiped down every day (maybe they will aim better?) with the same even/odd plan.  They also make their beds every day, put away their own clothes and empty the dishwasher.  Next chore to turn over to them is folding towels!  Super Nanny has 3 year olds doing it.

There is always so much to learn!

SUNDAY

I have a whole blog ready to post but decided it was too political and depressing.  We have way too much of that going around.  There's a group heading to this little suburb to make some noise.

Sounds like they just want to discuss things here (not). When I first saw this, I notified the police.  The Chief called me the next morning to say yes, they were aware this was planned but thanked me as it takes a Village to keep up with what is going on.  I was shocked at the language and he explained First Amendment rights.  UGH.  So far, local BLM groups have had rallies with no violence or destruction.  This particular group is led by a known activist who usually crosses the line.  Stay tuned.  (He gave me his direct phone line and his email address).

We, on the other hand, are anxiously awaiting Wednesday, October 28.  Braeden turns double digits.  We are going above and beyond celebrating all day since we can't have a party or take some buddies to the Video Arcade due to Covid.  For breakfast he wants Dad's pancakes and bacon, lunch is Subway style (made at home) 12" turkey sandwich and fancy dinner?  steak, salad, steak fries, corn on the cob followed by ice cream pie (I used to be great at making those, so wish me luck).

I'm now going to giving money for birthdays!  $5 for each year.  He will be SO excited.  He now mostly chooses his own clothes although I did get them (non matching) Halloween pajamas.  I think my matchy matchy days are over!!  Sniff.  He is playing a video game with his brother, Dad and several cousins and needs "real" money to buy stuff for the game.  Both boys have to go through me to buy anything, so it's very controllable and I like how they are learning to not spend it all at once.

The weather here is COLD and sunny.  Freezing point already.  Homemade pizza and family movie night is still going on here every Friday night.  We watched Poltergeist which I thought was too frightening for them but it was rated PG back in 1980 and was just a bit scary.  Then I signed up for a free one week trial of HBO Max as my sister told me they were showing Roald Dahl's "The Witches" and we watched that Saturday night.

Chin up and let's stay positive.  And kind.

VOLATILE POLITICS

My voter pamphlet and ballot and black ink pen are carefully laid out on my desk.  I've read through our local issues (sorry, NO NEW TAXES for me) especially when they are worded in the most biased way.  I'm not inclined to "amend our Oregon constitution" for much of anything unless it is something the Supreme Court would endorse.  In addition, I carefully read who endorses and who is against.

The week our ballots arrived via mail, all four of our mail stations were vandalized and some mailboxes emptied.  Fortunately, the HOA had been planning to replace the 25 year old equipment and they are scheduled to be installed by the end of this week.  Our mailbox was spared but one neighbor had put their completed ballot in the outgoing slot as they left for Arizona for a month.

You probably get them too but I cannot WAIT until the robotexts stop!  I get over 10 every day.  And they call me Reagan, not JB.  So what do they know!  I don't get many phone calls but I don't answer numbers that don't have names I know attached.

Last but not least, the construction industry here are already stockpiling plywood, windows, paint and other major repair items due to concern about even more riots after the vote.  Maybe even tonight after the debate.

America!  Simmer down. 

COVID HAIR

I FINALLY got brave enough to go to the salon to get my hair cut.  Only 3 stylists, their clients and the receptionist were there ... it's a HUGE place.

My easy "go to" Covid look

The long stringy Covid hair look

At the shop

Modeling outside the salon

The back ... more grey.  The front, all white!  

I love it!  I just let it air dry and scrunch with my hands every once in a while.  Second day I use some molding paste.  Not TOOOOOOO old lady looking, is it?

I HAVE BEEN CURSED

I may have mentioned that I procrastinate and this year I have been doing this at an extreme level.  May even enter the Olympics ....

2019 taxes. My financial genius, Heidi, found a tax preparer willing to take me on.  After I filed for an extension.  Months later, I contacted him to say I was ready to work on getting them done.  He had retired the month before.  WHAT?  I would never have chosen to work with him knowing he would be retiring that soon.  I need my own personal NAG to get them done.

For some reason, I have always been the tax preparer for my family.  I use TurboTax and I don't have anything fancy going on in my life ... like renting, or foreign investments, or gambling winnings, or home office, or whatever.  We DID once hire a CPA when Mr. Ralph's mother died (1993) because I didn't know how to handle gifts and a small inheritance.  I found her through a friend and interviewed her over the phone and asked for a ball park price.  Great!

I got all my stuff together (which is really 75% of all the work, right???)  and personally took it to her.  The first part of February.  FINALLY,  towards the end of March, when I hadn't heard a word ... I called to see if she needed anything more from me.  "oh, I'm just getting started on your return". ?????  On April 10 I asked for a copy to review ... she did not have it done for review.  I went to her office on April 14 to review and discovered a GIANT mistake (and few small ones).  Oregon allows residents over 60 to claim ALL medical expenses and she apparently didn't notice Mr. Ralph's birthday.  Then she suggested we "just file an extension" to give us more time to review.  I was flabbergasted and said NO.

She did get them redone, correctly, and gave me a bill for THREE TIMES the amount she had quoted me.  For two days work?

I went back to Turbo Tax and procrastinated on my own.  Until Mr. Ralph died.  I would gather the info, input to determine if I owed and filed for extension because I don't keep files very well.  I know I have many more deductions but would need to comb through Mint.com to find them.  Never filed.  Have not filed until last year.  Finding a tax person willing to sort through five years of half finished returns was an embarrassing adventure.

Heidi helped find another (patient) preparer and we started work on 2019 taxes on the 5th of October.  He would email every day asking for paperwork or estimates until late last week.  I thought maybe he was on a long weekend for Columbus Day (yes, it will ALWAYS be Columbus day to me ... born and raised in Columbus, Ohio).  (I cannot keep up with being politically correct)

I emailed him Tuesday morning.  The return email was from a Partner at the firm ... he had died of a heart attack at work Monday afternoon.  Probably MY fault.

SUNDAY, SUNDAY

I prefer the tune Monday, Monday.  In fact, I almost changed my post day to Monday!

Nothing at all interesting happened in my week!  My Mom would have been 93 on Wednesday.  She sure loved Autumn!  Born in October and died in November.  

She enjoyed oil painting and most of her paintings were Fall landscapes and rainy days.  She was a productive crafter and sold her items at a Senior Center gift shop, The Golden Hobby Shop.  And she was an amazing cook!  I got the cooking gene but not the creative gene.

Fortunately we had sunny weather so the boys got in some outdoor time.  We are expecting rain for the next week.  Dad set up all the Halloween decorations and Family movie night features Halloween movies.  I think we are going to make a bigger deal of any celebration to help push the pandemic into the background of life.  Mr B turns 10 on October 28.  He's not a big cake fan so I am going to make an ice cream pie (they all love ice cream). A chocolate wafer crust, a layer of ice cream, freeze, a layer of hot fudge, freeze and another layer of ice cream.  Put some tiny Oreo cookies around the edge and VOILA!  He has chosen vanilla bean ice cream and oreo ice cream.

I keep myself busy with WLLO volunteer work although many of our leadership council seem to be getting burned out.  Most do NOT want to host an activity or be responsible for a new project.  Some are no longer doing much of anything.  Everyone is just getting weary.  We are FINALLY joining with other Portland villages to share our online activities ... seems like each Village has the same challenges.  So if we offer 5 events each month and the 10 other village share their 5 events, we'd all have a lot to choose from.  

Even I am getting cranky.  Others ask me to do an email FOR them (because "you are so good at it).  But sometimes I don't want to do it last minute!  Give me a few days notice!!  When I do send an email invite, people text me or email me a minute before the event wanting the link!  HELLO???? I just sent it to you last night at 5pm ... sort your mail.

My new project is to try to get instant closed captioning on our Zoom gatherings.  For FREE!

 

HOW IS IT POSSIBLE?

This household is taking turns sharing our little lockdown bug.  How is this even possible?  We are not around anyone else.

Fever of 100.3, having saltines and ginger ale.

It's not just our conundrum, the NYT had a great article a few days ago (sent from my sister) "How Are My Kids Still Getting Sick in Lockdown (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/24/parenting/virus-kids-sick-quarantine-infection.html). It's a long article that explained many reasons.  Our own bodies harbor germs that normally live within our bodies and sometimes end up in the wrong place.  Adults can bring in a germ from going to the bank or the grocery.  Taking hikes has now caused a rise in Lyme disease.

We don't do as much online learning as we could, but they are both making rapid progress in many subjects.  They are both learning life skills as well.  Mr. 6.5 made chocolate chip cookies the other day.  Mom helped him get all of the ingredients and he got out all the measuring utensils.  He knows how to level things and is learning the KitchenAid mixer.  They were delish!  And they get lots of physical exercise as well.

I'm so glad I'm stuck WITH these creatures rather than on my own.   Every day is a new adventure.  One morning they took turns playing Fart Factory (one boy crawls inside a sleeping bag, head towards the foot of the bag, toots, and tries to back out of the bag before death ... all while the other boy is pulling the sleeping bag up and down the hall)

Mr. Almost Ten now knows how to create different games within Roblox.  The only problem is that he has to use my computer as their laptop is too old to update to accommodate most new things.

I do take myself on a drive most every day.  Yesterday the boys were both feeling well so off to Krispy Kreme!

THE DRIVING QUEEN

Yes, I'm finally driving again.  

My Zenni specs (and sunglasses) arrived and the next day I took myself to get a flu shot.  Interestingly, the pharmacist thinks the season will start late AND we may be able to get a second dose if necessary.  Sounds about right for 2020.  The rest of the family gets their flu shots next week ... boys still have to go to pediatrician.

Saturday I drove to the other side of town to view a house with huge yard that Tahlia is interested in.  Darling!  Safe neighborhood.  Her plan is to move her tiny home to the back corner of the back yard then rent the home out to cover her mortgage payment.  I may drive over again tomorrow, taking the outer belt to see if it's quicker ... then research some grocery stores and restaurants nearby.

I signed back up for WLLO driving again, although I am only accepting members who do NOT need my help getting in and out of my van.  Member must sit in back on the passenger side which will actually be much easier to get in and out.  The front passenger seat can be pushed WAY forward, so there will be so much more space for getting in and out, storing purse, water, etc.  First I will take it for an inside and outside car wash!

Halloween decor is going up this weekend.  Don't worry ... we can put up seasonal decorations a month prior to holiday and leave them up for a month after.  My current HOA drama is they claim I did not pay dues for September.  Even after I send them the front and back of the check!  They would prefer I use "ClickPay" but I'm happier having control of stopping payment and using my Credit Union.  Which I have been doing for ten years.  The Assistant Manager INSISTS their collection center did not get my check .. despite the "FOR DEPOSIT ONLY" and their account number (the same for past few years). "If we had gotten your check, accounting would have processed it and they do not have it".  After 2-3 email exchanges, I just didn't respond and we'll take it from there.

We also requested an in-person "hearing" about our landscape.  Now the Property Manager is recovering from some sort of surgery so who knows when that will be.  We just want an impartial person to visit ALL condos to be sure the RULES are applied fairly.  The ten pink flamingoes are still out ...