Tag: Work

Weathering a Taxing World

On By BackporchwriterIn Uncategorized6 Comments

Tropical Depression Ida

Our clouds have looked like this the last couple of days from Tropical Depression IDA. I’m hoping for sunshine today but enh – it doesn’t really matter. It will be what it will. We have had rain but with breaks at times. As our weather woman said “it’s coming in waves”. As I got out of the car yesterday morning, the wind blew my umbrella inside out immediately. I had to switch from the little umbrella to the big one as torrents of rain fell from the sky. I had driven the back roads instead of the interstate. The interstate is starting to scare me because of the latest “bloom of idiot (likely on drugs) drivers” that can’t drive and cut you off and drive 100 (or try to) in traffic that is doing 55. Their game is weaving in and out like a Nintendo game. What they don’t know is that we will see them on the news in the morning or upside down clogging traffic while ambulance crews arrive. I don’t want to be in their game or on the news. So I’m starting to take the back roads more and more and that of course takes longer with the red lights. ::sigh:: Long story short – neither umbrella protected me from the rain. I was a soaking complete mess from head to toe walking just 40 feet or so from the front door. I had to dry off with paper towels.

Too Much Work and No Play Make for a Tropically Depressed Sonya

Mostly my efforts this week have been toward the work front. I’ve put in a lot of hours extra, which are my “deposits” for Mom’s doc appointments. I go in early on Tuesdays all month to cover the afternoon of the “eye injection” appt once a month and I’ve been staying late 30 min across 4 days this week to cover the Friday morning heart test she has. That way I get my work done and my “allotment” of hours in. I’m salaried but I want to make sure I get the hours in! With the way life is right now this year, I could easily be gone hours from every day just trying to get Mom’s life situated, and my own life done, lol. So I have to make sure I get work done!

Some of the appointments have had to be pushed out too because inevitably the day the doc is in – is on a Tuesday when I’m doing payroll or a Monday afternoon when I’m doing time sheets. lol Rolling my eyes. Her reading of the heart test is a month away b/c the doc and I could not get our schedules to work. I hate it but unless she is willing to uber, it has to wait for a non-payroll related day. It’s not easy to just tell someone else to do payroll. It’s a very finicky process and one in which if you hit the wrong button it WILL explode! lol. It’s always best that the one used to doing it – does it. It’s easy for me now, but even I worry I’ll hit the wrong button. I always sleep better on Tuesday night than I do Monday night before payroll!

Some things happened lately that made me want to give up on a few things. Or change a few things. It’s really all up to God. He sets the paths. There’s just been a few situations where regardless of the efforts of my own, LIFE and or others, or situations have tampered with, changed the situation, or caused a stumbling block – likely none intentional – but it is what it is. And it is just so discouraging, to know the efforts you make to just be less than stellar because of the circumstances and it makes YOU look bad. I’ve just had to give it up worrying over it. It’s nothing I could have done, I did what I could do with what I had at the time. I made the pot with the clay I had in my hands – that is the best way to put it. If you have rotten clay the outcome will not be a beautiful piece!!!!! And yes I do make mistakes and can make mistakes so put that on top of it. We all do regardless of trying your best. But yes at least everyone is trying – with the mangled world and data we have.

My unhooking skills (different from uncaring) have come in handy. When you Unhook and then attach said situation to God, it suddenly becomes a winning situation. I no longer have to worry. God deals with the spirits and principalities of this earth or UNIVERSE as they call it, so I don’t have to. He has the power to overcome.

Weathering the Taxes in a Virus Ladened World

This was on the calendar yesterday. And it’s funny, considering the issues WE have at work with the tax returns. We have had some tax returns to come back. I guess the IRS workers finally came back to work. lol. I do *some* of the tax returns, not all of them and I do them modeling the “big return” that someone else does when I do them. I also make sure they match the numbers I’m given. And I also make sure that I report on Schedule B the payments I made, exactly as I made them. But then the “dreaded virus” credits the government allows changes things and messes the whole thing up. I was asked to change a number on a return because of the credit and when I did – then my payments didn’t match the return but I didn’t realize it at the time. I thought I was “done”. lol. I think I was supposed to have made a credit in the payments too but I didn’t know it or wasn’t told to. (My ability to read minds IS pretty good but not perfect.) So it came back.

Then another time I was given the same tax form for a payroll two weeks in a row instead of the correct week and so I noticed on the return I had paid one week twice. I can’t imagine how I could have fouled that up when I just pull the tax form from that company’s payroll each week and pay it that week. I wouldn’t have gone back and pulled the last week tax form and made a copy as there is no copying, I simply pull what is given and pay it the week given. Anyway, when you see a tax paid the same number back to back when I did the return- it was suspicious. So I had to go ask for the correct payroll week for that week I didn’t have and apparently never had – then owed more $. Which I paid but it was late at that point. So we’ll owe interest as it didn’t show up until I did the return.

Anyway, I’m not an accountant! So the federal returns are not something that comes easy for me. I just have to model the big one and then work it til the numbers finally match, but then the credits come and it messes the whole thing up. You add these things, others errors, plus any I make, and it makes me look like I’m goofing the whole thing up. But I’m sure they (the big guys in the company) probably know I don’t file all of them. It’s not just me – but the credits, the other things that went afoul and then anything I missed or didn’t realize – makes the returns come back. But I’m choosing to let it go because it what it is and not much of it is in my control.

I am a payroll person though and I enjoy doing the withholding taxes and returns and the unemployment taxes and returns as apart of the accounting side of it, but I don’t like doing the federal tax return for one of our companies that I have to do because of all the credits and ins/outs. It amazes me how the numbers can match and it’s still wrong, lol. I’m not even sure why this position was assigned to do the federal return itself when more capable others are in the building that are familiar with the credits and what they are doing and what is going on with all that. Anyway, I just try to make the numbers match and even then it’s wrong. So go figure. I just make the tax payments but probably NOT the best person to do the return itself since I’m not involved with the credits and figuring all that. God gonna have to do them from here. I’m afraid to touch them with a ten foot pole now.

And I’m just not really one that is used to dealing with that or the credits happen after the fact and mess it up into the next quarter. It gets confusing and it’s not something I have to deal with every day. So my mind is just not wrapped around this I guess.

Then there was an annual tax that I thought was paid at the end of the year. I mean – an “annual” tax is what it is called. But apparently we make quarterly installments. Who knew? lol If I weren’t so bummed about it I’d laugh. Maybe one day.

I am shaking my head though. Not a lot I can do. It’s just a bit over my head with my level of accounting experience, but I absolutely love doing the withholding and unemployment returns. Payroll also remains a first love! But those federal tax returns. Ugh! I am totally afraid to touch anything with them now. I wish they would go away. lol

Meanwhile in Texas

Someone is enjoying himself in the mirror. He sees a baby! He loves the baby! He also loves his basket of toys! He’s sitting up good and on the verge of crawling. But having trouble lifting that belly off the ground! He swims instead. He’s so close as he’s pushing his knees up and he’ll go in circles on the floor.

Look at those fat rolls on his arms!

So the rest of the week – finish out payroll and tax responsibilities at work and get my nails done one night and Mom to her heart test on Friday where they see if her valve is working properly.

The house is coming along – dry wall up and windows in! They are waiting on the brick to arrive. That is next I think.

The weekend plans are building which is not much. KFC one night and burgers on the actual day. Not a lot of plans to go anywhere. I have plans to fall decorate and plans to work on files and start the next video.

Better go. I’m now running late since I didn’t have anything to say today (I thought) but I did!

So what are your Labor Day plans for those of you who celebrate?

Little Roo has RSV, Life’s Issues, and New Coffee Pot

On By BackporchwriterIn Uncategorized13 Comments

Please pray for Little Roo who has RSV. Going around daycare and their church. He’s having to do breathing treatments. Should be better in 2 to 3 days as he has been given a steroid and also antibiotics. So keep him in your prayers. He had a fever a few days ago. Seemed to be fine and then it began going in his chest, wheezing. He also has an ear infection along with it. So PLEASE PRAY. I know God’s got this as I have prayed for his health and to keep him healthy.

Pray for the parents because it’s scary when your baby is not feeling well.

Also pray for George and his work family. His friend/coworker/and boss committed suicide over the weekend. Everyone is in shock and devastated. George and his work crew have therapy on site today. George was supposed to work from home today and will come home after that.

At lunch he is going to go to the flooring place and set up our flooring details.

I want to thank everyone for watching the video that did and some left a comment either here or there. The link is a couple of posts back if you missed it. I gained a subscriber! Thanks! At home we always watch them when they go live. We had to wait til after church. Mom actually sat with us for it. I wonder what she thought about it. She never said. She got up and went to her room and was there all day. It’s hard to get any compliments EVER from family. I don’t know why. But most of them come from you all. I know George is supportive of them and will give me suggestions. It’s just rare to hear any good news from anyone anywhere it seems. So I love you all for encouraging me on and inspiring me, listening to me, actually responding to me, and I thank you for that which is MUCH above just watching the video. A little bit of cheer and inspiration goes a long way. Otherwise you doubt yourself, question yourself. But I’ve lived long enough now to just keep plowing through and doing what I want. Living for praise or approval from others is in vain anyway and a rare thing. If I approve and God approves, I guess that is all that matters.

Anything else is gravy.

Did I show you the new coffee pot? Since my Mr. Coffee coffee pot did not last much over a year, I went with Hamilton Beach. I have a crock pot (I think) by them that we like a lot. And there you can see my “mule” coffee cup. Forgive if I have shown this already. My life is in such turmoil right now I have no idea whether I’ve come or gone or whether it’s today or tomorrow.

Better go so I can get in early. Although after working late last night I think I’ve paid my dues.

We are going to celebrate Mom’s birthday tonight at a special place. I hope she has a good day. We NEED good days!

Off to close payroll and I hope my Little Roo is doing ok.

:::::::sighhhhhhhhhhhh:::::::::

But at least I’m thankful for the things that are going well. It took a few minutes to think of them – but food and shelter and a good cozy bed were at the top of the list. Not many more tummy pains so that is good.

I’m going to go and try to enjoy the day and take delight in small things – such as hot coffee and knowing God is nearby.

My Travel on Snowy Roads, Work Day, and Pantry Storage Ideas

On By BackporchwriterIn Uncategorized3 Comments

My little Grandson is growing! He is six weeks and counting. Katy posted this a few days ago. I thought it was a sweet pic and she is looking great! They are getting more sleep now. She joined a program called “Taking Cara Babies”. (The lady that owns it is a nurse and a Mom and her name is Cara and she is a certified pediatric sleep consultant). I’ve mentioned this before but I’ve connected a link and given you the name of the program in case you know someone that needs information as to how to get babies on a schedule. At the time she enrolled it was $99 and she said “it was the best $99 I’ve ever spent. I wish something like that existed when Katy was born. We just fumbled about and figured it out and I have loved and guarded my own sleep schedule ever since, vowing I’d turn into a pumpkin if I stayed up past 9:00! But I’ve been thrilled to hear “how” and “why”. She has been given scientific information as to why babies do what they do. Katy has learned so much. So I wanted to share this program in case you know someone who could benefit from the same. It has helped her quickly and she has resources to the program for a year I believe.

Snowy Roads in the Neighborhood and Driving in to Work

I just thought of it, seeing the hood of my car in this photo, but I guess it could be dangerous being a white car on a snowy day. I’m invisible! So here was what I had to drive in to get to the main roads! There are hills getting out of either side of the neighborhood. But the connecting roads were better than our road so that was good. George got it up the driveway for me (uphill). It took two tries but finally we made it. He took me around the block, applied brakes and such to show me how to test a snow road for “slippability” and it was fairly dry packed. The other roads had ruts. And the main roads and interstate were dry with water here and there for the melting. When I left it was 40. I waited until it got to 40. So I think I left around 9:30 or 10. And I worked until about 4:15 or so. Got a LOT done. I knew I had to do a lot when I got there but….I realized just how much I was behind.

The first order of business was printing everything that needed to be printed: PTO requests for the next Payroll, tax receipts paid, w-2 resends from requests that came in, check statements for the TN plant that needed to be stuffed into envelopes for 111 employees, and the list goes on. I also had garnishment sheets to work on for payroll as there were some changes. I did as much as I could and I am glad I have today to work on payroll related things as I have a ton of PTO requests as you can imagine from nearly every one of our plants b/c of the snow/ice storms that swept our nation. I have to look up their avg pay with incentive and make sure they are eligible and make sure they have the balance to take it and then put it in the plant’s payroll folder. So I’ll be doing that today and doing time sheets. Ahhhh I am so thankful it’s going to be above freezing all week so we don’t have to deal with snow, or at least much of it anyway. Some nights get down below freezing and sometime we have to watch for freezing fog but I’m hoping not this week!

I know it will be a looooong week this week as I’ll be working six days in a row. And then Friday I’ll be headed to Mom’s for a girls night. I will likely work enough hours all week to get off around 3 so I can get down there, and get our dinner picked up and get to her house before or around nightfall. I knew I was going down there the last weekend in FEB, and Mom had to remind me it was this next weekend. How did I not know that? I guess the last week was just a blur since we were iced/snowed in for 8 days. I just hadn’t realized time passed! I thought it was one more week away. So I’m looking forward to our time together. I’m taking food in when I get there Friday night and then Saturday we will go out to eat. She says she is READY to go SIT DOWN at a restaurant and eat! So we’ll do that. She does not want to shop, but I told her I needed to go to one store and buy a quilt ladder if they still have them. I think they were about $20 to $30 cheaper than buying them on line. On line they have to account for the shipping I guess but I want a quilt ladder for the den to put our quilts on. I enjoy them year round – sometimes the a/c in the summer gets to be too much for me and of course the winter chills and seasons changing. It’s something I’ll enjoy a lot and need to get them in their “place” instead of just laying around.

One of the things that surprised me of my drive in to work yesterday were the hills of snow on the side of the road. Our snows are usually not big enough to have snow banks on the side where the snow has been plowed.

Finished Organizing the Pantry Storage

Working on the Pantry has been a project I started a year ago, or was it two? I got some ideas from other bloggers and from Pinterest. Some of the ideas I already had in place. Our pantry shelves have deep shelves and it’s a lot of adequate space for us. We have plenty of room to buy extra things for back up. We use a lot of sauces and marinades and keep a lot of dried beans, pasta, and grains on hand. I don’t care so much about how it looks so much as “can we find what we are looking for”, “can we reach it easily”, and “grouping like things together”. It’s NOT perfect or pretty so much but I worked on it some yesterday and I think we have it better organized. I did NOT work on our back up supplies and I probably won’t as George usually likes to organize those things (hot sauces, condiments and such) but I did work on these shelves here a bit. Here are some things I’ve used or done to organize the pantry:

  • Lazy Susans – for Canned Veggies and Soups – Not all fit of course but I try to put canned veggies that we use as sides with our meals on them, as well as soups and then let the canned tomatoes and sauces and stuff hang to the back.
  • Dinner trays – The dinner trays slide in and out to where you can see what’s behind and look for things. This was a great idea. You can see below that I put the baking things on the right, including the jello, lol. On the left tray are canned chicken and tuna, soup and pasta kits. I mainly put those there so it was at eye level and we can use those up soon and not let them sit. We tend to forget about such “kits” when we are planning dinner for some reason.

  • Little shelves so you can double your space. I have pasta and some rice on the bottom and the topped is filled with dried beans of all kinds.
  • Baskets can be pulled out to see what is in them. WE have all kinds of rice and quinoa in the basked here.
  • I have bought into some air tight storage systems for oats, sugar, flour, and I had one left over so I put tea bags in it. WE have two lifetimes of tea bags in our house, LOL! George says he loves his little corn meal container that he has used for years and didn’t want me messing with it! (Story of my life). So he has his little corn meal container in there. Mainly he said when he uses this he knows how much he is adding when he pours from it.
  • And it’s nice to have some of these lights to use when finding things. But you have to remember to turn them off.

So I finished that project up with my storage containers as they arrived yesterday. It’s not the “prettiest” organization but it IS functional and I’m happy with it! I think the only thing I might add is a little container for sauce/spice packets but honestly I think if we lay them about we end up seeing them and using them more often. I through away a bunch of OLD flours too, stuff from 2014 to 2018 that I had no idea it’d been in there that long. Our daughter used to bake a lot and when she left – enhhhh we just don’t bake much! I filled up the trash can and made a lot of room! So be sure and check your expiration dates.

And now I must get ready for work and head out! What are you doing today on this fine Monday?

After work we are meeting up with my SIL and BIL nearby for a beer and dinner. Looking forward to that so much! (Reasons to love Monday! It doesn’t have to be a Friday to enjoy some fun!)