The end of Tax Year 2010

Well, it’s April 18 – and I finally get somewhat of a break. Yes, folks, tax season is over and we made it! I, quite honestly had my doubts at times, but Dad pulled through and we did it! And he pulled through with some quite complicated returns too. We did have his associate Veda here for the first of the season to fall back on if we needed to but she evaporated back to the Bay Area in mid-March.

Now mind you Home Health Care has about had it with him, but I think he’s had it with them too. Scheduling was a real issue during the early part of March. All the data entry they do and 10 minutes of physical therapy…every visit. His patience just couldn’t take it. Then there was the Nurse’s aide who came at 7:30 am to help bathe him…or should I say, bother him. It was way too early and messed up the entire day. But, I think we’re pretty much done with that now. At least I hope so.

He’s is doing much better health wise, but his legs continue to bother him – which is part CHF and his bad knee – so it’s quite an ordeal for him to get around. He is continuing to use the walker –which is a nice security, but I think I’m going to move the Dining Room table into the kitchen between the stove and the sink for all the trotting back and forth with clean and dirty dishes I’ve done.

We had a deal, I cooked, he cleaned. Well, now it’s I cook, I clean! (It’s just not fair but I’ll have to just get over it.)

It was very good for him to interact with clients and you could tell they really appreciate him, his knowledge and the care he takes with them.

Through it all, and I always try to have a project going each year, I was able to complete the remodelling of my closet, which had been an absolute nightmare. So I’m happy with that but I did let my Broker’s license slide and have 45 hours of Continuing Education to complete. I had started it in early March, but I just couldn’t handle sitting at the computer all day and then most of the evening trying to do the courses. So now maybe I have some time to get that done. Californina is so messed up. The grace period for a broker is one year. Thank you, but really.

I just realized Easter is Sunday, so I, strike that, we wish everyone a Happy Easter! We won’t be having the egg hunt this year though. We barely got the grass mowed. The exciting news is that I personally witnessed the polinization of the Bing Cherries, the Nectarine, the Frost Peaches, the Elberta’s and the Bosc pear tree. Yeah! It should provide a nice bounty around August or so.

The RING THAT TIME HEALS....

I never really thought about why I still wear my X's ring. Although, I really love it, it no longer conjures the same feelings it did.

However today, I looked at my hand and saw hope. Yes, for the first time, Hope that one day I will have another relationship even better and longer that the one for which the titanium ring I continue to wear symbolized.

It is totally amazing when we can shift our minds and remove all the essence of the old and look to the future - especially with an object. Now, maybe I should be repeating, "I am worthy, I am worthy, I am good". but now, I just look at my left hand, treasure the 6, well almost 7 years and it somehow doesn't have the same meaning it did. Amazing.

Jerry Herman wrote in probably his best song ever, from Mack and Mabel: "Time Heals Everything, Tuesday, Thursday, Time heals everything, April, August, if I'm patient, the break will end and one fine morning the hurt will end.

So make the moments fly, autumn, winter. I'll forget you by next year, some year, though it's hell that I'm going through,some Tuesday, Thursday, April, August, Autumn, Winter, next year, some year.

Time heals everything, time heals everything,...but loving you...So make the moments fly, autumn, winter, I'll forget you by next year some year, ,though it's hell that I'm going through, some Tuesday, Thursday, April, August, Autumn Winter, Next year some year, Time Heals everything, times heals everything but loving you.
My absolute favorite version is sung by the great Barbara Cook.

But we can shift our perception of things. Now the ring is a joy to look at, knowing in the future, I may just have a more meaningful relationship than the last one. It's odd, because after 3.5 years, I'm finally getting over that relationship and they say it takes half the amount of time in the relationship. So here's to the future. L'amore, l'amore! Let time continue to heal everything! Because I now that something is coming, don't know when, but it's soon and I'll catch the catch!

Well, it's about time.

Yes, finally...Dad will be coming home next week. His strength has improved by leaps and bounds, there appears to be no damage done to his thought process and It's really a miracle.

I definitely feels he's good for another 10 years now.

Bill Freeze

Betterist in: Swedish Massage

Learning to live alone

Learning to live alone. At my age no less.

It's been three decades since I've lived alone and I must say life is very different than living with someone else. Most people already know that by my age.

While Dad is still here, I've been very lucky and fortunate to have him but one day I won't. I guess this is life's way of preparing me for that day while he is still around.

The first thing I encountered was a budget. A budget!, Oy vey! I've never been one to manage my money well. With a roommate, or a relative, that is, my father there always seems to be enough around. I've never been one to be frugal either. If there was a name-brand, I'd buy it. Now I stop and look.

So not only is the house much quieter and there's less food in the refrigerator and there's less laundry to do I will have to learn this new way of life. I will walk the dog more, watch less TV. Do more in the community and more as I think of it.

This type of situation isn't new. Everyone goes through the loss of their parents. In fact, over the past few years, due to the dot com failure, many adults, previously living on their own have had to move back home. And now, as our parents become older, we are fast becoming caregivers, whether we want to or not. Sure, there are other options but for the most part, this job is not a forever job. At some point many of us will have to re-enter the work-place. In today's economy I wonder how possible that will be.

I know I can't go out and get a bartender job like I did when I was 23. Or that of an Administrative Assistant at 28. My physicality has changed. It's just the way it is. Many occupations are age appropriate. Some aren't.

So during these weeks while Dad is in rehab I have a lot to think about, that is...learning to live alone.

Merry Christmas Greetings!

So this is Christmas...

It's been a year! We've certainly had our ups and downs this year, but somehow, someway, both my father and I have made it through another year.

I didn't travel much but I did further my education. I also spent a lot of time care-taking after Dad's vacation at SRMC.

Through it all, on Christmas Eve we both find each other well, fed, happy and there are gifts under the "tree". (It's definitely not a tree, but we lit the outside of the house in a conservatively economical way this year.)

This coming year we hope to do more work in the yard - we had great success with our two year old "orchard" of pears, peaches, nectarines and cherries. Of course, the roses didn't let us down and they were all gorgeous in almost 3 full blushes.
Politics have run the spectrum in the TV room and I am sporting a Turn Off FOX sticker on my Ford. Meanwhile, in the TV room, it's Palin and O'Reilly blathering all day long! Kinda funny how children can become the complete political and philosophical opposites of each other.

Anyway, this year was a time to re-unite with old friends, dump some bad habits, and make a fresh start on many different levels. I'm pleased to say, it's been quite a metamorphosis! I am so thankful and lucky to have the people that are in my life. (You know who you are!)

So, my friends, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year - My phrase for my year is "Grateful, Thank you! Grateful for old friends, grateful for marvelous opportunities for learning that I can never say thank you enough!

So this is Christmas, what have we done? (A terrific song with terrific lyrics). Listen to it tomorrow).
John Lennon & Yoko Ono 1971

Dear Mr. President,

I applaud you for doing something right in propelling the repeal of DADT - that is, if you had anything to do with it other than making it a campaign promise.

What I don't understand is the positioning of yourself with the GOP on the "Republican Tax Reduction Act of 2010" formerly known as "The Bush Tax Cuts".

Dropping Social Security to 4% is not acceptable. It's simply a way to phase it out. Social Security and Medicare have been a problem for years, but Medicare is really the problem. Your Health Care plan hardly addresses that. Not dealing with Estate Tax "the Death Tax" was just plain dumb - while the yield would have been minimal, but to continue drop the top 3% (which, by the way, who pay the majority of taxes is astonishing). Programs must be cut - school lunches, school programs, excessive government spending, and more.

I hope our military is bringing over enough of those poppies from Afghanistan to make up for the shortfall, if not, some of those guys in Washington need to be smoking Crack! Might give 'em some ideas they didn't have.

I applaud the House Democrats for rejecting your "deal". That, finally shows some backbone on their part. Maybe they have finally listened to the people.

In closing, thanks for the DADT. But you must keep working. Families in this country are suffering by paying too much in taxes. Our middle class is literally disappearing - it's "the Have's and the Have Nots" and that's a shame.

God Bless America