CATCHING UP

 

          It’s been a while since I put fingers to keyboard to write about my ho-hum life and I’m not sure exactly why I’m making an attempt today. And, don’t get me wrong, I am NOT depressed or anything like that. It’s more there’s so much to do and only so much of me that is available to get it done. I tell myself not to fuss over what is and isn’t done, to concentrate on what has been done and believe I’ll get to it all a bit at a time.

          Then there’s the fact my calendar blew up. I don’t know how I managed to keep putting things on it without noting how busy I was going to be. I exercise five days a week, take Kuma to a training class on Saturday, work with Kuma during the week to ensure he’s the class star (and he was the last two Saturdays), keep the house tidy, meet up and/or lunch with friends, and go to a driftwood sculpture class. This is in addition to cleaning the house, laundry, cooking, grocery shopping, etc.

          Anyway, about the driftwood sculpture class. Did you know there is an organization devoted to driftwood sculpture…Olympic Driftwood Sculptors (ODS)? I had no idea and had seen the class advertised in the Shoreline-LFP Senior Center bulletin for years. I finally signed up and have joined an entirely new segment of the population. There are about eight of us in the class including the instructor. A few folks have been doing and attending for years with only about three of us being the newbies. Everyone is interesting, it’s fun to see what each person is producing, and while we work on our wood, there’s lively and interesting conversation.

          The ODS will be having a show in Maltby on May 13^th. This year the show won’t be judged, but there will be many fine examples of how driftwood can be rehabilitated into a beautiful sculptured piece. It’s on my calendar. Maybe I’ll see you there. Plus, the Snoqualmie Ice Cream parlor is located there, and hopefully it will have my favorites on hand that day…Tennessee Whiskey and Kentucky Bourbon.

          I’m working on a piece that resembles a porpoise jumping out of the waves or an anteater in long grass. I’m sure it will take a lot more scraping and sanding before I can get it to the point where I can apply the wax that will make it shiny and beautiful. I also thought I would take the class for the month of March, but I’ve a feeling my time with these people and my driftwood is going to stretch.

          Winter was not kind to my deck and looking at it makes me sick. Now, dear readers, you went through the process with me last year of putting two coats of WHITE (had no idea it would be so WHITE) stain on my deck in the hottest weather we had. You perhaps commiserated when I realized just how blinding white it was when completed. Still, I was proud of all the effort, sweat and time I put into that project.

          Unfortunately, there are portions of the deck where both coats of the stain disappeared. The bare wood is showing. When I hosed off a section of winter’s detritus additional stain came off and it’s bare wood. I also sprinkled sand on top of the tacky stain so it wouldn’t be slippery. Well, that isn’t working well either because wherever I sprinkled sand, it’s turning green with algae or moss. So, my deck will look as though it has a bad case of vitiligo.

I did everything I was supposed to do to prepare the wood for the stain. I’ll have to look at the can, but I believe it is warranted for a couple of years or more. So, I can take photos and go to Home Depot and complain, but there is no way I’m going to go through that whole process again this year. Once was enough. Very disheartening.

          I finally got my income tax filed after having it rejected by the IRS numerous times. I had to call and ask for help and wouldn’t you know, the resolution was right there in front of my face. The problem was the IRS wanted to know my AGI for 2021 and I put in the wrong number. Every time I went to the FIX page, I did what it said and still didn’t come up with the correct page. The fix was so simple. Far down in the lower right corner of the page, in bright red and underlined was the word “Edit.” Apparently, I never scrolled down to the end of the page.  I did the edit and the report was accepted the same day.

          Kuma was neutered the beginning of March. Fortunately, it was between the beginner and intermediate training classes so he didn’t have to miss any. He sailed through the procedure without a single problem. And, let me tell you it was hell for a week or more when we couldn’t go outside and run, run, run. He drove me crazy wanting to play in the house and/or just sit on me. Kuma only wore the cone of shame for a few nights. He wasn’t licking his incision, so I left the cone off. Now, he’s fully healed and the little ball sack is being reabsorbed back into his body.

          Kuma has continued to grow and probably weighs at least forty pounds. He’s a very bad dog on the leash when there are other leashed dogs in the area. He lunges and barks and growls. One day I thought he was going to pull me onto my face. I researched and went and bought one of those collars where there’s a strap across the nose. That has stopped the lunging, but the barking is still uncontrollable. Kuma doesn’t act that way at the off-leash dog parks or at the training classes. As soon as the leash comes off, he’s fine, runs and plays and has fun. Someone who has had Aussies told me Kuma is doing this to protect me and that without the leash, he knows I’m just fine. Makes sense…maybe I need to train him to walk without a leash.

          I suppose having Kuma go leashless might be possible. He will do sit, down, and stay in the driveway with his leash on as I walk away, wander a bit and then return to give the signal…and a treat…that he can get up and move. I’ve also made an appointment for Kuma to have a spa day. That is happening today, and I’m anxious to see what he will look like after all his “feathers” are clipped off. He’ll look a lot more tidy, but I think I like his messy look best. I also want to ask what kind of a brush I should use to brush him because the one I have doesn’t pull out any hair. I know he’s losing hair because I find clumps of it, rather like dust bunnies, here and there around the house. I just don’t know why the brush doesn’t eliminate some of that.

          Well, my calendar is buzzing that it’s time for me to get myself together, put Kuma in the car, drop dinner for AJ, Angie and Haley at Angie’s school, drop Kuma off at Hippie Hounds and go to my river exercise class. Sheesh, I think I’m tired already.

INCOME TAXES REJECTED

 

          Taxes are the bane of my existence, at least today. After filing my taxes yesterday, I had an email this morning telling me they were rejected. Last year I filed using Turbo Tax, but didn’t want to use them this year because they are expensive and the IRS e-file tax program was supposed to be free…it wasn’t.

          Anyway, I didn’t notice when I printed out my 2021 return that the right side of the forms was cut off, so when the IRS asked for my adjusted gross income from 2021, I had to guess because only two of the five numbers were visible. Well, the IRS doesn’t like it when you guess because that’s why they didn’t accept my tax return.

          I went to Turbo Tax to try to get my last return printed out again, but what a bunch of hoops TT wanted me to jump through, so I logged out because I didn’t have time to spend on the retrieval at that point. Once I returned home, I looked at the email from the IRS and went online and read the information provided.

          There was a link I could click on which would give me a transcript of my 2021 income tax filing. Again with the hoops. I was directed to another site which verified my identity in multiple ways, including allowing them to scan my face after I submitted photos of my driver’s license, front and back. Once they were absolutely positive it was me, they directed me back to the IRS e-file site and I was able to print out my 2021 tax transcription which looks absolutely nothing like the return I completed and filed. It’s simply six pages of line after line of information, most of which have a zero on the right side; and I’m referred to as “computer.”

          So, with my AGI in hand, I went to correct my return and file. Somehow, the directions on how to do this were incomplete and/or confusing because I ended up refiling what I filed yesterday. So, I’ll be getting another rejection email. Sure wish I could reject the IRS.

          And, just to make it all the more painful, I received a refund last year as opposed to this year where I have to pay. 

INCOME TAX...BAH

 

          According to the King County Assessor’s Office, if you make less than $58,423 per year, you are considered low-income and can file for an adjustment to your property tax bill. According to Seattle Humane, if you make less than $66,750 per year, you are considered low-income and can receive assistance with pet neutering and spaying.

          Apparently, the US Government doesn’t see income below those figures as being low-income. I just finished my 2022 income taxes and had to pay. Not only that, but the “free” IRS e-file program wasn’t free…it was $55.50.

          My adjusted gross income wasn’t even $45,000 for the year and once they gave me the standard deduction, the figure was less than $30,000; and it was that amount on which I had to pay taxes. I guess I should take a look at my social security and begin paying taxes on the monthly benefit I receive.

          I actually thought I would reach a point in my life where I wouldn’t have to pay income tax, especially once I retired and wasn’t making those big bucks.  I guess I thought wrong.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BFF

 

          It is likely that each one of us has a BFF, or Best Friend Forever; and sometimes, one can be fortunate to have more than just one. I believe I’m one of the lucky individuals who does have more than one BFF. I am immensely grateful for each and every one.

          What brought this to mind today is that it is my closest BFF’s (meaning I see her at least once a week) birthday. We no longer exchange gifts, but we do exchange cards and take each other to lunch when our birthdays come around. We also don’t always manage to have the birthday lunch on the actual birthday, but it doesn’t matter when or where, just that we do this.

          Claudia is my BFF even though we haven’t known each other all our lives. I have another BFF who has known me longer than anyone else who lives on Cape Cod. Anyway, Claudia and I met at Woodland Park Zoo. Initially, we were merely acquaintances until there was an upheaval that left an important position vacant. Claudia was drafted to fill that position part time and performed in that position much better than the woman who had held it full-time.

          At that point, we came to share an office, with our desks adjacent. That’s when we began to know each other and first became friends. I look back on that time with a smile on my face...it was work, but we had fun. Claudia is a hard worker and was appalled at some of the discrepancies she found in various sections of the zoo. I estimated at one point that she had saved the zoo more than ten thousand dollars by eliminating phones and modems that no longer existed or were not in use.

          A few years later, my boss tasked me with “temporarily” supervising several people, one of which was Claudia. I had to work very hard to make sure I didn’t show any favoritism in the workplace and think I managed quite well. My last year at the zoo, after “temporarily” supervising for more than ten years, I was relieved of my supervisory responsibilities.

          As an aside here, I’d like to note that I supervised another woman who also became my BFF.

          Anyway, it’s now been more than two decades since Claudia and I have been in each other’s lives. There are so many memories, i.e., numerous birthdays, lavender festivals, ferry rides, nursery trips, family successes and worries, becoming grandparents, zoo events, health scares and problems, death…the list is incredibly long. Throughout the years, we have laughed and I’ve cried…Claudia is very positive and I don’t think I’ve ever seen her really depressed or hardly ever manifesting tears. However, Claudia’s always been quick to support, encourage and dry my tears. I am so grateful and blessed by her strength and reassurance.

          You often hear people say or read thoughts expounded by other individuals about how important it is to express your feelings while there is still time. Today, I’ve taken the time to write about my BFF, although I don’t feel as though this even comes close to depicting Claudia or our friendship. Words simply aren’t enough, or my ability to use them in this instance fails.

          What is important is we share each other’s lives. What’s important is that I love Claudia deeply, strongly, without a single reservation. Claudia fills my heart with love and joy. I’ve already wished her Happy Birthday, called and sung the Birthday song, but here, again, I do wish with all my heart a very Happy Birthday to my BFF.

KUMA UPDATE

 

          Last Friday, Kuma was neutered at Seattle Humane. I drove him there before the crack of dawn; and have come to the realization I do not like driving in the dark in unknown locations. We made it and arrived about ten minutes early even though I made a wrong left turn and had to reverse my direction.

          When the young woman came to get Kuma, he eagerly greeted her at the car window, stepping all over me in the process. She put on her lead and I took off Kuma’s leash. Did he hesitate to leave the car? Nope. Did he look back as though he was going to miss me horribly? Nope. He went off with this strange woman, stopping to sniff at places other dogs must have peed. I have to admit I did feel a bit abandoned.

          It was no longer dark on my return trip from Bellevue. Back home, the house seemed strangely empty and silent even though I usually put Kuma in his crate when I have to leave, so he wouldn’t be rushing to the door to greet me anyway. I had jokingly said I was going to loll around and enjoy the lolling since Kuma wouldn’t be there to try to sit on my I-pad, eat my magazine, or place his paws on my keyboard. What I did after having breakfast was go back to bed. I didn’t get up until noon.

          Then, I had lunch and did read until it was time to pick up my friend who was going to ride along for the pickup. We arrived in plenty of time to go to the other side of Seattle Humane and look at all the dogs and cats up for adoption. My friend would really like a dog at some point. I find visiting these animals very hard because I want to adopt every single one and bring them all home…not that Seattle Humane would allow that. I just feel so bad, especially for the older animals who probably were given up out of necessity.

          Kuma was glad to see me, although he didn’t do too much jumping around. I had put his crate in the car and put him into it so he wouldn’t be climbing around the interior. He didn’t like that at all and did some whining until we got underway. When I dropped my friend off, I backed down her driveway. Kuma equates backing up with going into our garage. Once again, he wasn’t happy because I didn’t turn off the car and let him out.

          Back home, we tried both the hard plastic shield and the soft doughnut around his head to keep him from licking his stitches. He shook the plastic one right off, so we used the soft one. He didn’t wear it Monday night or Tuesday when I went to river exercise and didn’t lick the stitches.

          The instructions said to pick up all his toys and put them away. I watched him traverse the house more than once looking for them. He finally found one I missed and wanted me to throw it for him so badly, but I said no. His only source of joy has been his yak chew bones. Since I won’t hold them once they reach a certain size, he’s taken to tossing them up in the air. I can’t believe the loud noise when that bone hits the floor. Then, he pounces like there’s nothing wrong with his behind and tosses it again. It’s nice he can amuse himself.

          Kuma has been trying my patience no end, not that I had much to begin with; but, our inability to go play and work off some of his energy is taking its toll. Monday night, he almost got a serious case of the zoomies, but I was able to halt his bouncing off the furniture and beds before it got too bad. He doesn’t seem to think he has a problem, but the instructions say he has to be careful to not pull the internal stiches before he heals.

          On Tuesday, I was busy at the computer and Kuma got up and took an avocado off the counter. When I discovered what he’d done, all that was left was some skin and the seed. He’d devoured the rest, but did leave some spots on the carpet which I had to clean up. On Wednesday, even though I’d moved the fruit bowl to a location I thought was out of his reach, I turned around and he had an orange on the floor.

          Kuma has also taken a great liking to the fringe on my chenille bedspread. Whenever he disappears and it’s quiet and I haven’t yet made my bed, he’s in there pulling and chewing on the fringe. On what’s become my side of the bed, almost all the fringe over about a foot of the bedspread has been chewed and pulled off. I have to cut the loose pieces off. I don’t mind too terribly much even though I really like the bedspread. I bought it at a garage sale for five dollars and planned to make a bathrobe for myself…probably not going to happen.

          Then there was the cute little plush lamb I'd saved for Kuma. I gave it to him about 10:00 am and before the end of the day, the lamb was completely gutted, and I was picking up clumps of stuffing all over the house. It's hard to believe just how much material is in one of those things. He got the squeaker out and chewed the heck out of it, and I took it away before he could swallow any parts. Before bedtime I picked up the last of the stuffing as well as two drained pieces of the lamb and put it all in the garbage. In the past, Kuma hasn't completely gutted a plush; and with the exception of once, he's never taken the squeaker out. I guess the poor puppy is frustrated too.

          Next week we begin Kuma’s Intermediate Puppy Training class. I have high hopes he’ll learn how to heel and behave himself so we can go on walks without him lunging and barking at every person/animal we come across.

          Don’t get this post wrong. I’m still extremely happy I got Kuma. I wouldn’t trade him for anything. I still find him fun and delightful most of the time. It’s just that this past and coming week, we can’t get our needed exercise and it’s driving us both a bit batty.

ROADS LESS TRAVELED

 

          Do you ever wonder about the roads less traveled? I do now and then as I make my usual way to whatever destination awaits. I have this mental image of myself going to and coming from the same place throughout all the years I’ve lived in this house. I sometimes wonder if there are other dimensions and the other mes are busily traversing the same path as me over and over. 

          My parents lived in Lynnwood for many years. Since my son and his family moved to Lynnwood, I take the same roads I took when I went to my folks, just go a few blocks further west. Why have I never taken the time to drive around that neighborhood or the one my son lives in now?

          When I was taking daily walks I sometimes would take a different route just to see what was down or up that street. Why don’t I do that when I’m driving my car? Why don’t I turn left instead of right? Why don’t I decide I want to see what’s on the other side of this hill? Would it matter if I got lost? Probably not because sooner or later I’d find my way; and who knows, maybe see some interesting stuff.

          For that matter, why don’t I pick a neighborhood I’ve never ever been to and go there to see if it resembles my own? I wouldn’t necessarily have to drive the entire neighborhood because I could park and walk for however long I wanted. I know just on the walking route I usually take in my own area, there’s almost always something I didn’t notice before, especially as the seasons change.

           I think in addition to the other new stuff I’m doing and plan to do, I’m going to choose destinations to which I’ve never gone and go there. There’s sure to be new and interesting details just waiting for me to discover.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY THOR

 

          Today is my son Thor’s forty-third birthday. I don’t know about those of you who read my blog, but when one of my sons celebrates a birthday, it provides me with an opportunity to remember and celebrate so many things from the years they’ve been part of my life from conception to now. I want to share some of those today.

          We tried for at least five years to have a second child and were going to give up after May 1979. By the end of June, we knew we were pregnant with a due date the following February. I enjoyed being pregnant with Thor and all the attention his father and brother paid to the growing belly bump. It was a very happy time.

          Thor was a very happy baby. He was full of smiles, nursed well and delighted in the devotion of all family members and friends whether they lived with him in the house or merely came to visit. The saddest part of Thor’s first year for me was when he decided he no longer wanted to nurse. He wasn’t quite nine months old, but he’d already come to the conclusion there was way more to life than facing mommy’s chest. He could chug a bottle and be on his way in minutes.

          We tried to slow him down by calling him, “Tortoise,” affectionately but that didn’t work at all. He wanted to do everything his older brother, AJ, by ten years did. He potty trained himself because he wanted to stand up and pee. He had a little plastic three-wheeled bike which he took over the jump the older boys did with their bikes. He wasn’t hurt, but his bike was totaled. He idolized AJ and followed in his footsteps in many ways.

          I went back to work when Thor was four years old. He didn’t like that even though the daycare provider told me I was barely out of sight before the tears disappeared and he was busy playing. I now think the tears were for my benefit because I so hated to leave him, my last child, in another’s care.

          Thor did very well in elementary and  middle school, but gave us a few concerns when he reached high school. His dad was convinced none of the transgressions were Thor’s fault, but the fault of the other participant(s). It was at this point we found out his older brother AJ had had his own misbehaviors; however, AJ just never got caught.

          Thor played soccer and I loved to watch him and his teammates practice and play. One year, the team somehow was put up against a really good team, a select team if you will. Thor was the goalie and the game was played mostly in front of his goal. He didn’t allow one goal and told me after the game that he knew he had it the first time he caught the ball. The ball was a THOR ball. His team won 1-0 and we were all amazed the team pulled it off against a supposedly much better team.

          Thor also played basketball for a while. Initially, AJ and a friend of AJ’s were the coaches. It was so special to see AJ out there coaching his brother and the other kids. The time they spent in front of the  house at our basketball hoop amounted to a lot of hours because Thor joined AJ out there when he could ba rely lift a regulation basketball. These are the kind of memories that makes a mom’s heart swell.

          With two years of high school to go, Thor decided he didn’t want to attend there any longer. On his own, he investigated the potential of attending Lake Washington Vocational Technical College. His dad was very much against this until he found out Thor would graduate with a high school diploma. We gave our permission and Thor ultimately had two graduations, i.e., one for his high school diploma and one for his diesel mechanic’s certificate.

          Unfortunately, it was at this point Thor had some serious, and scary, health problems so rather than getting a job as a diesel mechanic, he went to work for his dad. His father taught him everything he knew, which was a lot, about carpentry, plumbing and electrical. There isn’t anything Thor cannot do when it comes to these abilities to which his wife can attest. I can also attest to his capabilities because there are many completed projects around this house for which Thor is responsible…and he continues to help his poor old mom out whenever possible.

          When John closed his company, Thor had already found one of several jobs he’d have the next few years. He has never been without a job since and he’s always given each and every company far more than required.

          It was about eleven years ago Thor met his wife, Amber. She had two children, the youngest only three years old. Thor is the only dad she has ever known and he is a good father to her. Xander was born eight years ago, and while I loved to see how Thor interacted with his daughter, I was there when he first held his son. I’ll never forget that moment.

          I know we all say we simply can’t understand how quickly the time has flown, but there’s no stopping it. Today Thor is forty-three years old, but to me it seems like only last week I hugged his swaddled little body in my arms. Now, my head is below his chin and his arms wrap completely around me. Still a wonderful feeling but extremely different.

          Today, as always, I hold Thor in my heart and allow my mind to bring forth memories, each a snapshot of how he was right then. And, as I have from the time he first drew breath, I wish and desire only the best things in life for him. I’m grateful that at forty-three, he does have a multitude of all those best things. May the future continue to bless my son.