Category: Life

Progress at Work, A Death in the Family, Another in the Hospital, and Building Up the Immune System

On By BackporchwriterIn Life, Wellness10 Comments

We had the prettiest sunrise yesterday morning! And I got to enjoy it all the way to work. It was very quiet at work yesterday and had done a lot of my payroll duties yesterday at home so I had a chunk of the day to finish up withholding returns for both businesses, including the Oregon “all in one’s” for both and including the STT taxes for Oregon for both company’s. I am almost through with unemployment returns for one side of the business and have to do it now for the other. Then I can begin working on the year end reporting for all states. I think there are 26 states or something like that. It’s the bigger ones that are the problems – where you have to hand enter a w-2 in its entirety – I think Oklahoma is the worst, lol. But I have to stop to do payroll and the weekly taxes for this week so they won’t be late.

The irony of this payroll is that it is month end again, lol. I’m rolling my eyes because it seems to never end, lol – but I have until Feb 15th to get that monthly withholding payments done and it goes fairly fast. At least now I’m starting to feel some relief but there is still a lot to do and it is still questionable as to whether it can all be done by Feb 1st, even working on the weekend, but we will see. I’m not even sure that if I didn’t have payroll whether I could even get it done or not. There is just not much time in my week normally to work on extra things so why would there be now? lol But I will at least have the returns done 2/1 and should have quite a bit of the annual reporting done by 2/1. I predict there will be some left to do but we’ll see. I’m trying to accomplish the goal. I was happy being in my office yesterday and so glad I didn’t have to waste a day being at a legal meeting downtown. It’s just so much easier working in my office than from home in my temporary set up.

Meanwhile I learned that my 1st cousin has passed and on line I saw the funeral was a graveside service about an hour and half away from us in the middle of the day. She was a generation older than me and our families have not hung out really since I was child. We really only saw them at family funerals which is kinda sad. I’m not going to be able to go. I thought if there had been an evening visitation that we might try to go if it was late enough where I didn’t have to leave early from work. I’m sure Mom would have liked to go but after talking with her, she said “no we are just too far away”. And with that variant virus so rampid I guess the simpler the service the better. So that is some pressure off. I was afraid Mom would be bitter and hold it against me for not taking her. So I’m relieved that she was not expecting to go. I am glad because I don’t want to lose my job and I’ve had to take off for so much already and still much to come as I will be needing to make some of my own appointments this year too. Unfortuneatly “cousin” is not on the funeral excused list, either. So I will send a card of sympathy to my remaining cousins and George and I plan to donate to the American Diabetic Association (whatever was listed in the funeral notice). I’m quite fond of Lynn, who is more my age. And I want to reach out to her for the loss of her sister. I’m sad and I’m also sad that our families did not hang out more. People grow apart for various reasons through the years. We all know how THAT goes. I’m of the mind that if you don’t see people while they are living, it sucks to go see them after they pass. Sorry but just a weird thing that kept going through my mind yesterday. I know we need to be there for those that remain, but it’s just sad that extended family ignores each other until there is a death. I guess our world is just so huge and explosive with so much going on that there is not the time to spend with all the people you would like to. And no one ever cared enough to do family reunions to tie us together so we end up not even knowing who our extended family is anymore. It’s really sad to me.

Coming out of the neighborhood.

Driving over the lake.

So I worked late and got home and George fixed a soup and sandwich for us as I showered and changed and put on warm PJ’s. We sat into watching the 3rd show of Ozark for this new season that released. And we get a call from Katy. She has been throwing up and sick from food poisoning or some thing. And was dehydrated and almost passing out, so Cody took her to the hospital and she was put on IV and given nausea meds. She began feeling better immediately once she had liquids. She can dehydrate so fast. She is frustrated as they have all been sick over and over again. River had also been throwing up some in the last day or so but seemed fine otherwise.

So I am thinking that they need to boost their immune system. I know that being around kids in school and day care exposes one to everything the community has as it is such a collection of germs from all over the place. As a woman and to build up immunity, what would you take in vitamins and supplements to get well? I want to suggest these that I take:

*Vitamin D – this is one thing that really makes a difference. My legs and body get really week when I’m low. A shortage of Vitamin D can impact a lot of things.

*Zand Naturals, Immunity Gummies which has Elderberry and Zinc (on Amazon) – Just gives an extra boost.

*Vitamin C. I don’t drink juice and probably don’t eat enough fruit but I think this has helped some.

*Vitamin B Complex – Oh my gosh. This is my feel good pill right here. If I don’t have enough B’s I get emotional, nervous, and anxious (I know I know I’m always anxious, lol) but seriously it’s on steroids if I don’t have this. There is certain brand I use that works and has a veggie capsule so it will actually get in your body.

The rest is just trying to get in some greens and fruits and eat healthy nutrition including a lot of protein. Sometimes even a spoonful of peanut butter can get me through til I can get something better.

Do you have any suggestions for Kate? She reads the blog and she will read your answers. I’m worried about her. She is home now after being able to keep sprite down.

So pray for them all out there in TEXAS. They are having a rough time trying to keep everyone well. But I’m thinking it’s time for Katy to work on the immune system. And see if it won’t help. It’s frustrating to me to be so far away and can’t run over and help with River. But someone came over while they went to the hospital. I just pray she feels better today. And I know she feels like she can’t miss work either. But she will need her rest and to get better.

Ok off to get ready for work and get payroll done. Ya’ll take care!

Choosing Happy and Finding THAT ONE THING that Makes Your Day Feel Worthwhile

On By BackporchwriterIn Life, Self-Help8 Comments

I have this “Choose Happy” hanging in my laundry room, where I actually spend a chunk of my time. It spoke to me yesterday. This week we are in now is THE last week of quarter end, year end. In a normal quarter end it is bad enough but year end is quarter end on steroids x 2 and multiplied by life’s curve balls = the reason why I call it “impossible”. Normally impossible is not in my vocabulary. But the month of January is very persuasive in thought and action and is convincing me otherwise.

Regardless, I have fought with myself nearly every day but as I near the deadline my attitude, my resolve, and my determination are on very shaky ground. My immediate thought this morning was that I should not talk to anyone for a week because I would do nothing but complain. And it is true that I will probably just not do a lot of talking this week.

My second thought was that every day of this last crunch week, I need to just do THAT ONE THING that is going to make me feel like I have a life that day. Just THAT ONE THING, so that I can go on and choose to be happy for that day, and feel less like a robot checking off eternal boxes that never seem to end.

While everyone else in the universe was enjoying their Sunday afternoon and evening, I was working. But after I packed up my “suitcase” of work, and before dinner, I decided to find time for THAT ONE THING that would make me feel like I’m am my own person and able to something I want to do. So I downloaded another song from Epidemic Sound – not just a download but picking it out. That was a big deal to me.

So now I have the two songs that will be on Roger’s tribute. I still need about another two hours of editing to make it viewer worthy. And that will be one of my first projects in February among the big list, unless somehow I find some surprise time or make it THAT ONE THING I get accomplished each day.

I will confess though that going to Walmart yesterday could have been my second thing. I know it sounds hilarious but just to have time to go to a grocery store, walk the isles, and pick out food we love and look at things was a delight. And it was a huge morale boost to have food in the house again that was fresh, food in the fridge, and not just frozen meats, canned goods, and crackers with nothing to put on them. ha. Finding something to eat in a hurry like we have been in, has been – bland or non existent.

So I’m trying hard to be content during the impossible week. And I guess each day I’ll do THAT ONE THING (which has to be a quick thing). All this week, I am choosing to still have my hour in the mornings. IF I don’t have that my sanity will leave the building. I’m already going to be tough to be around this week. So I’m trying to curb my talking so that the truth does not come out about how insane this line up is for IMPOSSIBLE WEEK.

I started to take a pic of my check list – of all the withholding returns, unemployment returns, and all the w-2 reporting for both of our companies that I do but I guess that would be “too much” to share. And you wouldn’t believe it anyway. I will try to get everything done this month but I’m not sure it is going to happen. My week is only built to have a few hours to work on taxes as most of it goes to payroll and at the year end there is just so much extra and no time allotted for it for one person. This year I’ve had extra on me with Mom and family responsibility time such as a grandson’s first birthday that we would not miss, and not to mention all the snow, and working through being sick with some flu like thing. It’s taken about a week or more from me in total and that did not help my work’s cause. lol. I’ve tried to make up all the time. And I’ll be giving it my best shot this last week to get it done. And I’ll be finding THAT ONE THING each day to do (besides my morning personal hour) to make me feel like something in the day is on my own agenda. No Mom responsibilities this week. That I am aware of. We gave her half our week last week in spare time. She should be good.

I will try to post something each day but there could be some missing days if I choose to work on video. So in case I’m not here, have a great week ahead, CHOOSE HAPPY, if not speak little, lol and find THAT ONE THING that makes your day worth while.

Peace and Happiness During January’s Chaos

On By BackporchwriterIn Decor, Life, Office, Shopping8 Comments
Photo by Daria Obymaha on Pexels.com

The past day or two has been chaotic, but yet somehow peaceful. Most of the pressure comes from trying to pack too much into periods of time, meetings, appointments and deadlines. But several things have kept me from totally falling apart – and I did get very close.

God has been listening and has been my tower, my strength, my “go to” and at night when I lay down, I totally rest in Him and ask him to just help, and He has. He has given me peace, rest, little avenues of unexpected time, little pockets of joy, little moments with friends or family, and little bits of fun with the after Christmas Amazon shopping, lol. Even Mom has been joyful and patient with our last two days of doc appointments and errands.

This watch band has been sitting my “wish list” page on Amazon for a long time. A year to be exact. It seemed to be more of a “winter” band and since I didn’t order it last winter, I didn’t see a need for it until about fall. I had decided I’d get it with the Amazon points, so here it is. I really like it because I wear a lot of black and grey in the winter. And I really didn’t have anything that looked like winter. I don’t even think I had a black plastic band. All of my plastic bands have turned and the dirt seems to be melded into it over time and won’t come off.

I have loved my watch. At some point this one will become obsolete though. I’m not sure I want to pay the price for another when it does. I’m just not sure that I really need it so much. My phone is usually with me. However, there is something to be said about it being able to to do so much with heart, sleep, and being able to call for you if you fall – at least on the newer models there has been improvement, so likely I will want to continue having it.

I needed a little energy outlet yesterday – you know swinging a hammer and beating on the walls kind of a thing to release a little nervous energy. So I figured out where to hang a few things on the wall. These walls are so big and ceilings high so anything (that I can afford) to hang up is just swallowed by the wall. My map seemed bigger when I ordered it but came out so small. It’s ok though. I decided to keep the lamp right where it is as it provides good soft light. Kinda weird to be in the middle of a wall like that, but that is where the easiest plug is. And when I hung the pictures up, it kinda creates a little separation there. I have about a 3 foot plant that I will put on that tan filing cabinet there. It will “fill some space” and give the room a little lift with my sad desperate try at decorating. It’s good to have the space though don’t get me wrong. I’ll also be adding a little black bookshelf behind me to put paper on for my printer, my Kleenex, hand sanitizer, and things like that. I hope it works because I really need the shelf. That will also add a little more to the room as I’ll put a plant on it too. I hope when I put the bookshelf in, that I don’t have to rehang or move things around. I might have to center things up. I didn’t think about that. But, hopefully all will work. The chalkboard and chalk came in. And I have a bulletin board to put up. I am just ready for warmth and welcome when I go into my office. Trying to make it a nice cozy feel since I’m there so much. That could be argued this week, lol. I’ve not been there much due to working from home, doc appointments, etc.

I was happy to see that Mom will still be able to see a sunset, despite the villas going in around her – at least so far. They are coming up fast. I went outside to take a pic. Her place is going to be so nice when spring and summer and fall are here. We will look for a patio table as well and can have sandwiches or dinner out there some.

Last evening was pleasant as we arrived from the doc appointment and I ordered pizza for us all and George picked it up. It was so good. I had a little pocket of time to play a game on my phone to release some more nervous energy. lol

George and I came home and began watching Ozark. I fell asleep toward the end and he had to wake me up. I had gotten up at 3:15 yesterday morning just because I was awake. I’ve done the same this morning. But sleep was solid for the 6 hours I did get both nights. We have to be at Mom’s by 8:30 this morning to hang curtains. So when I woke up at 3:15 and was awake, I was delighted, so I’d have some goof off time as well as some laundry time.

I only fixed half pot of coffee b/c not sure when George would get up but certainly not for a couple of hours later.

While waiting for the coffee to finish and after sorting and starting the first laundry load today – I picked out my next two books. Since I’ve slotted myself to read three books until summer, I figure I needed to pick the other two. I’m reading the Magnolia story as the current one. But I think I’ll try the technique of having 3 going at once. I just can’t seem to find time to sit and read so why not have 3 sitting there pulling at me instead of one. Maybe the force of will – will be greater! I can’t sit still long enough. lol

I’ve had these in my wish list since probably August or September when I knew for sure I was making my hair grow longer and was sticking to it. I ended up buying some different ones because they had a lot more in them for the money. But I kept looking at how pretty these were. I love the turquoise flower and the white flower one the best, but I’m also fond of all of them. I guess I’m starting to look like a granny. These look like something my grandmothers would like. Maybe that is why I like them. They kindof pull your hair when you pull them out so I have to be gentle, but they hold good and are so much better than barrettes or hair clasps and don’t fall out like combs do.

And so that is about all I have today. I am glad it is the weekend although lately, with snow, meetings, doc appts, and all that is going on, it’s been difficult to know what day it is. There is no question, however, as to what month it is.

Photo by Olya Kobruseva on Pexels.com

So the weekend brings a day at Mom’s or with Mom and we’ll do whatever she needs today. BIL and SIL arrive sometime after lunch and George and Kevin will go to the playoff Titans game and Susan and I will be around for Mom and we’ll all have a girls afternoon, whatever we decide to do. Had promised Mom a day out to get shoes, look at furniture for her den (needs smaller furniture as the current is hard to fit in there). Mom has not really liked (none of us have) getting out in the cold so I’ll leave it up to her. It has been freezing or below most of the time and with wind, just horribly frigid.

Tonight we celebrate my birthday with Kevin and Susan as between all four of us we do birthday meals – no gifts and it’s a great excuse for another meal out. We buy Kevin and Susans and they buy ours. I’ve opted for a steak house tonight, but I had steak earlier in the week and I may opt for chicken tenders as that sounds so good. But we’ll see.

Sunday, tomorrow, is a work day for me, but I’ll have to finish our laundry and sneak in a grocery trip so I have food to eat at work next week. I won’t go out more than likely for fast food (no time to take lunch) until after quarter end/year end duties are finished. I’m trying to robotishly keep plugging away til all boxes are ticked off or I’m ticked off, whichever happens first. lol lol lol

The off site meeting I had to go to on Monday is cancelled so I’m grateful for getting about 4 hours back into my week to plug away at the impossible line up before me.

But most of all I’m looking forward to doing a Target order and the grocery store run. (Isn’t that pitiful? But I can’t wait to do both!) I’m not pushing any of my own agenda until February. If I can’t get to my agenda by Feb 1, we gonna have some trouble with everyone. I’ll shut down everything including myself. lol lol. I have to have some time to work on some things I want to work on. I have things to download, things to cancel, want some creative time, need to flip some things around the house, put up the Christmas trees, pretend it’s my new year, look at my goals and actually have time to work on them, think about them, do them. See my friends from Franklin finely. And pretend I still have a life of my own. It’ll be great! 😉

What you doing this weekend?