I can't believe it's Wednesday!!!

Hello Kathy....CONGRATULATIONSon the job offer!!!!!  

I am so happy for you!! The benefits will be great!! If i could do a cartwheel I would!!! Saying prayers!! 

Have a nice afternoon with Jazz!! Enjoy these times together.

Love you much...hugs....connie d

Congrats Kathy!!  I'm so happy you got the job.  Just a thought -- do you keep your tax returns or do you have them prepared by a CPA?  Maybe you could come up with a W2 as proof of employment?  Anyway - good luck!!

Mary

Mary,

The reason this tied me up all morning was b/c I used to keep paper copies, but just last year started destroying all returns 7 years or older. I use TurboTax and they used to store them. I called them and They deleted everything except past 3 years...I guess I missed the damn memo!

I then went to the IRS site and thought the fastest way to get the W-2 was to call local office. just got VM saying they don't take calls and you need to stop in.

Ugh!

I got back with the company and they will see what they can do.

But thanks for trying to help!

Hi Ladies, 

I stayed up late last night so I'm a little tired today so my plan is to go to bed early tonight. Today I just doing the usual watching tv, just exercised and drinking my fluids. Also wrote out my bills for the month, I'll go out to the mailbox in a little while

. Supposed to get some snow today but so far it's been rain. I'll take the rain over the snow.

Everyone have a good day. Thoughts and prayers for everyone. 

Love and hugs,

Yvonne 

Hello Yvonne.....I know how some nights we just tend to stay up longer. It will be good if you can get to bed earlier tonight.

I will be writing out my bills tonight. I should have done it a couple days ago. Too darn tired. You are more motivated then I am right now.

Have a good evening ....love and many hugs too....connie d

Hello sweet sistas!

I am having a quiet day--so far.  I go to pick up the boys in about an hour, so things will change then!  LOL!  

I tried to do a little Christmas shopping on-line this morning.  Truly, my heart's not much in it this year, but at least I made a start.  Carrie wants this ceramic heated straightening brush called Dafni.  I swear, that's the hardest dang thing to find!  It comes from Israel and they are no where to be found in the U.S. right now.  I finally ordered one on EBAY.  It won't arrive until January, but she says she's okay with that.  It's all she wants, so I got it for her.

I also ordered a few things for the boys.  I wanted to get Benny a gumball machine bank. Again--so much trouble finding one!  All of the gumball machine BANKS that I can find on-line are made in China and the glass globes are so thin and fragile that they shatter at the least little bump!  In fact, there are several reviews where just the act of pouring the gumballs into the machine breaks the glass!  I'm not buying one of those.  Too dangerous for little boys!

There are several commercial gumball machines available, but the problem with those is that they are not banks.  They're commercial machines.  Very sturdy, but they only take quarters.  (The banks will take any coin--penny, nickel, dime, etc.)  Well, that's no good for a five year old.  

I did find a few vintage machines on EBAY and I sent off a couple of inquiries.  This may be an idea that never comes to fruition.

I don't have a clue what to get Mike!  Or Chris, really, although I did buy her a Christmas wreath for her front door already.  Would it be really horrible of me to just buy Mike an Amazon gift card and let it go?  Or would cash be better?  I never do that, but honestly, I just don't feel up to shopping and wrapping presents this year.

Also, I bought four more of those Fragrant Jewel candles, just for fun.  We all had such a good time last year discovering our rings!  None of us got a really expensive one, which is okay, but a couple of them were really, really pretty.  Mine wasn't so great, but maybe it will be this year.  Mom's was absolutely gorgeous, and people think it's real diamonds all the time.

Well, I want to share something important with all of you now.  You know I've been struggling with what to do about my health insurance.  Today I found out about an organization from my old doctor back in Nacogdoches.  It's called Christian Healthcare Ministries (www.chministries.org) I highly recommend you check it out!  I think I'm going to join it.  It's not health insurance, but it does qualify for Obamacare, so I won't have to pay a fine for not having health insurance.  And frankly, it fits my budget and my needs so much better than the crappy BCBS policy I had to pick up for November and December!  I'm very excited about it and I feel this is answered prayer!  Thank you, God!

I am cooking dinner right now.  I always try to have dinner cooked and ready whenever I have to go pick the boys up in the evenings.  They are always starving.  I'm making a roast, pinto beans, and I have some broccoli to steam with Velveeta cheese sauce.  However, y'all would laugh if you could see me right now.  I get hot cooking, and I get hot from hot flashes, and I was just literally sweating bullets a few minutes ago!  So here I sit at the computer in my bra, no top!  Getting old is hell.  LOL!

There were several things I really needed to do today, but I didn't feel like doing any of them.  The blue funk has been pretty bad lately.  I think Thanksgiving knocked the stuffing out of me--no pun intended.  People try to be kind and post all kinds of little poems and things for me to read on FB.  But honestly, nothing makes me feel better.  This Christmas is going to suck big-time, and there's nothing that's going to change that for me.  I miss my husband so much it hurts.  I will try to do a few things for the boys' sakes, but other than that, I just really don't care.  I don't want to "keep Christmas" this year, but I'll try to go through the motions.  The boys deserve that much.  And frankly, after buying $800 worth of new tires, my budget is pretty much wiped out.  Merry Christmas to me, huh?

Well, I need to turn my roast, add some potatoes, and go get the boys.  I love you all.

Vic...That health insurance...did you check to see if it is taken where you go to Dr's and Drug stores and Hospital's etc?? Lot of these insurances are not...just saying CHECK IT VERY CAREFULLY...don't get something just because it is cheap...

I hear you on the Christmas...sighs....my heart is not into it either. BAH HUMBUG!!!!!!!

HUGSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

PS If you use AMAZON...Please use RANGERS LEGACY EQUINE RESCUE when you do...they give them help to feed the horses...you can find the link on my FB if you can't on AMAZON.

Thanks!!!

Hi Judy,

See? That's the thing.  It is NOT health insurance, but it COUNTS as health insurance as far as Obamacare is concerned.  No fines!!!  You pay a minimal monthly "share" amount (you can pick your level), and you are basically "self-pay".  But if your medical "event" goes over a set amount, you get reimbursed.  For example, if I pick the Gold level, and I get sick, I go to my doctor (or urgent care or ER--no limitations on health care providers).  I tell them I am self-pay up front and ask for any discounts that might get me.  Whatever the cost, if it goes over $500, I get reimbursed.  The Gold level is only $150/month for one person.  I'm currently paying over $250/month and with a $6000 deductible, I'm basically self-pay anyway.  So for much less money a month, I at least have a fighting chance of being reimbursed.  I'll take it!  

Hello Vickie...I know you are really having a rough time. I don't know what to do to help you trough. Just do your best and that will be good enough.

It is good that you managed to get some Christmas shopping done. I wanted to get Amanda a Dafni until I found out the cost. Way out of my budget. I am sure Carrie will love it! You always find the nicest gifts. Those candles are another great idea...how fun!! I think Mike would be happy with cash or a gift card. Men like those things!

I hope you remembered to put your shirt back on before you went to pick up the boys...LOL!

Your dinner sounds great. I am sure the boys will love it!

I am always here for you...I love you...hugs...connie d

Hi Vickie - I feel the same way - only putting up my small tree because of Taylor.  I was in CVS today looking for an Advent Calendar (no one has any left!) and I saw a small animated "Christmas Tree with 'Nutshell Guards' that played a nice tune -- that would be enough for me, but way too small for Taylor.  

Every store is out of those Advent Calenars with the chocolates behind the doors - I get one for Taylor every year -- so I'll have to make one up ..... I'll get a posterboard and glue some small foil-wrapped Santas or x-mas trees on the board and draw a holiday scene.  She'll be happy with that.

I have a question for your Vickie - I want to start crocheting to keep my hands "busy" during the evening.  I've made two types, many, many years ago - one was what I call the zig-zag, and the other was something where you crocheted 10 stitches, then dropped some, and repeated.  I'll have to get some yarn and do some crocheting - my grandmother showed me how to make these afghans but I never had written directions.  Anyway, when I made the zig zag afghan I made it extra long and wide so it fit like a bedspread, so I could tuck my pillows under it, and it hung over on the sides.  i made it for a twin bed, but now I'll be making it for a queen sized bed -- would you have any ideas how many skeins of yarn I would need?  I know it would be a lot, but I want to buy it all at one time, with the same lot numbers -- or does that really matter?  I usually add fringe along the sides too.