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Biscottiii
Member
05-30-2004
| Tuesday, March 31, 2009 - 11:58 pm
GAAAAAAH! I'm STILL working on taxes! Slow to get started but have never been this late before. Using Turbo tax and after my neighbor lady's comments (discovered she was right). We don't have State Income tax, but the last few years they have allowed us to declare an average deduction amount per person IIRC it was $525, or list depending on location, like my county is higher at 9% sales tax. However, since I had to get the 2nd mortgage and have interest to declare with the State Sales tax, now I can declare "Materials" for the repairs last year. Remember all the extensive damages in my house, after mold abatement, that took months to repair last year? Well my place still looks like the inside of a goat's stomach, there's just so much to put away & slow going. So yesterday, today, & tomorrow, I'm pulling out paperwork all over the house trying to locate all the receipts. I keep saying to myself "It's a Scavenger Hunt!" to make the job palatable. Thought I had kept things pretty together, but with moving upstairs & downstairs & back upstairs, moving stuff out of the two contractors way, and so MANY receipts - what a mess. Since both of the computers crashed last year and the Geeks lost my backup, of course, I no longer have all the extensive daily Excel spreadsheets to pull up & make sure I've got them all. Still, sometime I would need to pull these together to declare if selling the house, so it's a needed effort. Shocking how many old bills and pieces of paper I've been able to sort or clear out too. I'm truly tired of all this.
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Biscottiii
Member
05-30-2004
| Wednesday, April 01, 2009 - 12:01 am
And, of course, I'm having to re-enter all my data into Turbo Tax because all the records from past taxes was lost, as well.
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Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Wednesday, April 01, 2009 - 12:01 am
Wednesday's Mission I need to do this one if I have time tomorrow! Yeah, I've heard about that Bisc, though I actually thought it must have already gone up seeing the price of a pack of generics today! We probably should have doubled that, I guess, but I'm not sure how long cigs would last and 12 cartons would be at least a five-six month supply for him. That's outrageous that they're going up even more. My day just kept going, lol. Went to the pharmacy to pick up my aunts meds. They cost $1.10 each, she had 2 of them, and I also picked up a bottle of eye drops for Caleb who's having a terrible time with his allergies. The total was like $6.42 and I opened my wallet to find all I had was a 100 dollar bill. Oy, I hate using a big bill for small purchases (and lol, no that's not normal for me, but I have to go pay a water bill sometimes this week so I've been carrying it around with me.) Then the truly dumb, lol. I buy most of our meat at Costco and when I come home, I'll seperate it into meals and put it in ziplock freezer bags. Last time I went, I didn't know til I got home that I was out of the bigger bags. No big deal, I decided to seperate them into smaller packages. Yeah, I forgot about that when I pulled out some pork chops for dinner. Even worse, didn't notice it til I went to cook dinner and had three pork chops. So it was a McDonalds dollar menu dinner for us. I won't be home til about 2 tomorrow (I think) which will give me just about an hour before I have to run and get the kids from school. The girls have to be at the park by 4 (Dakota has just enough time to run in the door, grab a sandwich, and then change before we leave) for a game at 5. My oldest niece has a Native American project due next week, something about building a model house and she was thinking she wanted to make a beaded necklace to wear for her presentation so sis asked if I'd go with her to Michaels to pick out what she'll need. I think we decided that Darren and Caleb will take the girls to the park at 4 while sis and I run to the store and try to get back before the game starts.
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Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Wednesday, April 01, 2009 - 12:05 am
Ack Biscotti! That sounds like a horrible mess (the tax stuff) to try to deal with! I should slink away as I admit that I started our taxes last month but still haven't finished them. No reason, just haven't gotten to it. I do them, using Turbo Tax too, and its always slow going for me and something I need to do when the kids are either gone or asleep and I have no distractions. That doesn't happen too often here!
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Biscottiii
Member
05-30-2004
| Wednesday, April 01, 2009 - 12:14 am
Whimper. And the deadline is creeping up so it's just got to be done. My friend said she got her refund today, "I was a bit surprised to get it just under 3 weeks from mailing."
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Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Wednesday, April 01, 2009 - 12:29 am
Yep, it has to be done pretty quickly. Sis and bil did theirs in February and did rapid refund or whatever it is. They're remodeling the girls bedroom and the bathroom and were waiting for their refund to buy the supplies for it so they were in a hurry. LOL, they bought the stuff, but bil, who thought he was gonna end up laid off in the next month or two, ended up getting swamped at work with no layoff in sight (YIPPEE!!!!!!) Good for them, but also means the remodeling is gonna have to wait a bit, at least until he's not working 6 days a week anymore.
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Dipo
Member
04-23-2002
| Wednesday, April 01, 2009 - 10:11 am
Wargod and Biscottiii, taxes !!!! I use turbo tax and sent mine in a while ago, I was sort of expecting my refund yesterdy or today, but nothing so far. Happy to hear your BIL will not be laid off! Last night I just watched my tapes, moved a chair from the bedroom to the living room, rearranged the bedroom a little and identified that I really need to do the bedroom floors tonight, LOL!
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Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Wednesday, April 01, 2009 - 11:40 pm
Thursday's Mission Me too about bil! That was a very happy surprise. I ended up gone most of the day. Was home for about 45 minutes this afternoon before we had to leave for Kota's game. The girls won 12-2, Kota and my niece both had a couple good, solid hits and both of them scored twice, which was especially fun since a couple of our friends came out to watch them for the first time. Tomorrow morning is Caleb's award ceremony and then I'll be gone again most of the day. I'll be home during the evening though and plan to get some cleaning done then.
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Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Friday, April 03, 2009 - 12:52 am
Friday's Mission Today I did a ton of housework...but, none of it was at my house, lol. By the time I got home, it was time to pick up the kids (Caleb and neighbor girl,) rush Kota through changing into her sweats (she got home at 3:45, we had to pick up niece and be to practice by 4) and snacking in the car, drop the girls off, pick them up, fix dinner, get the kids doing homework, and washing dinner dishes, it was already bedtime for everyone. I did get a load of laundry done though. I have to take Caleb for his bloodwork at 7 (ick,) have an awards ceremony at Kota's school at 9, and banking for my aunt after that. I might be able to get some work done between his bloodwork and taking the kids to school, may not. But, don't really have anything to do once I finish with the bank until tomorrow evening so hoping to get quite a bit done. This week has been quite hectic, but I don't see them being any better over the next little while.
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Biscottiii
Member
05-29-2004
| Friday, April 03, 2009 - 2:33 am
I confess that I was embarrassed to comment lastnight. Remember? My "Scavenger Hunt" in search of receipts for State Sales Taxes on the repairs to my house? I was bad. Suddenly yesterday, washing dishes and cleaning in the kitchen seemed so much more enticing. lol. But you know how they say, sometimes if you back off on a problem, your subconscious keeps working in the background? Dang, in the middle of the night I had this dream about a red plastic folder/envelope. When I woke up this morning I remembered that I haven't seen that red folder in months and it sure wasn't with my records. So, today I went back to my Scavenger Hunt. This evening I pulled (yet another) black lawn bag with more dishes off the couch. Unbelievable! Right underneath was the red plastic folder with big words on the front: "HOUSE REPAIRS" In it were the two plumber bills which showed about $450 in State Sales taxes. I may be slow in getting the taxes done, but seem to be making more progress in shoveling out the mess. Need to make a couple of runs to St. Vini's soon, I'm really yanking a LOT of stuff to donate. Being firm here: if I've lived without some things for 2yrs, I can probably live without them permanently. Maybe tomorrow I can get back to Turbo Tax.
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Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Friday, April 03, 2009 - 7:36 am
Yay Bisc!!! For finding the folder. It takes a while to get things put together after you've torn them apart. I think home repairs are the worst, you deal with the repair mess for so long with that it's even harder to get things back to normal. I don't know why but it always tends to work that way. We're back from Caleb's blood work. I should be doing something, but I slept like crud last night. Won't be doing anything til I finish my morning Mt. Dew. Oh, and Bisc, thanks for reminding me! I got a flyer last week from the blind association that they'll be doing a donations pick up later this month. I need to start getting a bag or two together for them.
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Dipo
Member
04-23-2002
| Friday, April 03, 2009 - 12:36 pm
This is so funny, Biscottiii, I am sort of doing the same thing. I moved into my house in July 2007, I did a lot of decluttering before I moved. Now I am trying to identify all the things that I haven't used/touched since I moved in and donate them. I have quite a little pile going, and haven't even gotten down to the storage unit! Oh, my federal tax refund hit my bank account today, I was surprised. Not sure if or when I will ever see my CA tax refund.
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Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Friday, April 03, 2009 - 1:45 pm
I am just crashing, or rather, already crashed. Took Caleb for his bloodwork, then back home. Took the kids to school, then back home for a couple minutes. Went to the award ceremony (Student of the Month for Kota) and then to my aunts. Then to the bank and back to my aunts to write out some checks and balance her bank book. Then I got to have fun (sarcastic.) My car alarm remote broke a while back, the little hook part so it won't stay on my keychain. I've been carrying it in my purse. Guess one of the times I came home this morning when I threw my purse on the table it was open and the remote fell out. I didn't know that though. Was leaving my aunts about 11:15, big plans on getting all this stuff done today, opened the door on my car...and the alarm goes off. I didn't even have time to question why my alarm was set! Started searching through my purse, crap, don't have the remote. Sis came out and we searched the car, nope not there either. We're both taking turns hitting the little button under the dashboard that's supposed to shut the alarm down and that wasn't working. It finally stopped on its own, until I put the key in and tried to turn the car on and it went nuts again. We ended up messing with the damn thing for over half an hour, meanwhile my head's just pounding. A friend of ours was visiting sis so she gave me a ride home and we ran in to look for the remote. It was sitting on the table right where I'd tossed my purse, which is why I think it just fell out. Then back to sis' to get my car. It wasn't til then I started to wonder why on earth the alarm was on in the first place! I didn't have the remote to set it, heck hadn't even locked the doors since I had no plans of staying more than a couple minutes. It shouldn't have been set and shouldn't have gone off like that. In the almost 4 years we've had the car (had the alarm installed when we bought it) it's never been anything but a huge pain in the ass. I've had the car over to the dealership more than I can count to fix it and still have problems with it. I'm seriously thinking about having them disconnect it. So I've been sitting here nursing my head. Think I'll go clean the living room though so I can say I did something today!
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Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Friday, April 03, 2009 - 10:11 pm
Ok, I did something today! We decided to do our Costco shopping today. Something new we've been talking about for us is doing the big shopping once a month to try to cut down on big trips to the store. Even though it'll be a pain, we did ours today and I'll go back this weekend to do my aunts, but I didn't want to end up with so much I couldn't figure out what was whose. And of course since I'm already making it difficult, lol, I waited til we got home with it all to figure out where I was going to put everything! Had to straighten up my cabinets and the shelves and rearrange the fridge and freezers. Then split everything up and put it all away. Went ahead and did the few dishes and wiped counters down, took out trash, and swept/mopped the floor. Also cleaned/vacuumed the living room. I actually got quite a bit done! Middle niece is over for the night, a very rare sleep over with just her. Her and Kota spent most the day playing and shopping with us. We were supposed to also make cinnamon rolls and make some jewelry but she got to playing school with Kota and then watched some tv after dinner and fell asleep. The girls have a game at 9 tomorrow morning. I'll bring her back home with me to make her jewelry and the cinnamon rolls (her sister has to come back with us too to do some research online and write a report.)
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Dipo
Member
04-23-2002
| Saturday, April 04, 2009 - 9:48 pm
I went to bed last night at 8pm starting feeling yucky out of the blue. Took it easy this morning, but I have accomplished some this afternoon and evening. Swept and washed the foyer, dusted as well, vaccumned the rugs and floors in the living room and dining room. Loaded and unloaded the dishwasher. Tomorrow I will do a couple of loads of laundry and sweep/mop/dust and reorganize my bedroom closet. I have been getting rid of stuff so have some room. Yum cinnamon rolls, I want some, LOL.
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Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Saturday, April 04, 2009 - 11:04 pm
I would love to give you some Dipo, but they're all gone, lol. We made three cans, Darren and the kids finished off one and then the girls two two batches (8 in each) home, one for aunt and her companion and one for nieces and their mom/dad. I made a trip to the grocery store today after the game. After the girls left I had a headache so laid down for a few hours. When I woke up, Dakota was gone to spend the night with sis and the girls and Darren and Caleb had made sandwiches for dinner. Tomorrow I plan to go to Costco for my aunt, then clean up her house and get her in the shower. Need to do laundry at home and whatever else I get done.
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Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Monday, April 06, 2009 - 12:24 am
Monday's Mission Today was a busy day but not at my aunts. She was resting and didn't want to get up for a shower and didn't want me to clean today. Oh and Costco, Darren pointed out today was the last Sunday before Easter and it'd be a madhouse. Glad I waited too because I had forgotten Caleb's dr appt tomorrow and I'll have a prescription to take over there. So will do Costco, and his prescription tomorrow, and then clean my aunts and get her in the shower tomorrow afternoon/evening. Today I cleaned my house and did a bunch of laundry. Also ran an errand or three. Also put the kids to work for a while cleaning the den.
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Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Monday, April 06, 2009 - 10:48 am
This morning has kicked my butt, lol. First I over slept. Not too big of a deal, I just hopped up, threw on some clothes, and took the kidlets to school and came back home to shower and get dressed. Except that on my way home, my gas light came on. Pulled into the gas station, grabbed my wallet and my atm card wasn't there. Checked my purse and it wasn't there either. Realized I must have left it in yesterdays jeans. I had just given the kids what money I had on me, so no cash to get gas either. Got home, decided I had a few minutes to read the online news and browse here before hopping in the shower. Things were going great til I was ready to leave and went to retrieve my atm card from yesterday's jeans and it wasn't there. Ended up searching the house for 20 minutes (finally found the damn thing in the bottom of the laundry basket.) Raced out of the house and to the gas station and got to my aunts just about 9:25. I walked in saying "I'm sorry!" and she said, "You are very late, but doesn't matter, I'm not going to therapy today." She's having stomach issues and didn't feel up to it. No arguing from me, she shouldn't go when she doesn't feel well. Also no arguing cuz I can use a few quite hours to myself! I do have to leave in about half an hour to run by the water company and check on my aunts bill and then swing by and pick Caleb up for his appt. After that it's home for a bit before going to Costco and back to my aunts to drop off groceries, clean, and see if she's feeling up for a shower.
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Dipo
Member
04-23-2002
| Monday, April 06, 2009 - 11:25 am
LOL, I guess things just aren't going as planned. I had a whole bunch of stuff I wanted to get done yesterday, but my sister came over for brunch. We went to Sweet Tomatoes because they have a sunday brunch, but got there at noon and that is when it ends (I didn't know that or we would have gone eslewhere) So went to BB&B got some coasters for a chair and a needed 8/10 frame (I accidently bumped one one in the hall and came crashing down and totally broke!). We went to El Torrito where to our surprise they have a fabulous buffet brunch! Then on to Home Depot to look at ceiling fans (she insisted, I was planning to purchase off the internet), got a great deal on a nice fan (and I think it was cheaper than the internet options) and got a floor lamp for my living room (that has been on my list since I moved in) for $30. Great day, but I was pooped when I got home and just read the paper, my new people and called it a day!
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Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Monday, April 06, 2009 - 11:49 am
Sounds like it was a good and productive day for you! El Torrito has a great brunch, we go ever so often with Darren's parents and enjoy it. Did home depot have a good selection of fans? Darren can't sleep without one on the nightstand, likes the noise of it usually, but ours has been making a horrible sound lately. He looked at Walmart yesterday but came home empty handed because they didn't have much on choice and were expensive for what they did have. We have to have one cuz we're battling all night, I get up to turn the damn thing off, he gets up to turn it back on. This is a table fan, not a ceiling fan though.
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Dipo
Member
04-23-2002
| Monday, April 06, 2009 - 12:00 pm
They had a lot to choose from and some were less than $50. My sister said she got one of the "cheap" ones and it works great. In the summer I often have an oscilating fan running all the time to cut down on AC needs so I am hoping that the ceiling fan will eliminate the need for that fan. I do like the noise as well, but now that I am in my condo I feel a lot safer than my apartment. I wanted the noise so I didn't here weird noises that would scare me to death.
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Landileigh
Member
07-29-2002
| Monday, April 06, 2009 - 1:18 pm
war, i was at 2 different Targets this weekend, and they had a ton of fans. better get one soon before we get the May heat spell that always happens and there aren't any to buy.
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Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Monday, April 06, 2009 - 3:06 pm
Dipo, I'm not sure why Darren likes the noise, but he always has. It can be middle of winter and he still has to have the thing going. Yep, Landi, if we don't have one soon we won't find a new one this year. His complaint, like I said was the price, but more specifically that they were all too small for the price they were charging. With summer coming up, I agree we need one that's not too small, lol. I almost screwed up my afternoon plans! Caleb's appt is in Palmdale and it was for 1pm. Now, don't know if ya'll know anything about Palmdale or have ever been there, but if it was longer than 10 years ago, there's been huge changes. If every car on the road disappeared except mine, I could be there from my house in about six minutes, but with the traffic it takes at least half an hour to get there, and that's on a good day! For some reason I had it stuck in my head that I was picking Caleb up at 1, totally blanking on thats when we were supposed to be there. Sis had called to give me aunts grocery list for Costco and during our chat, she casually wondered about what time I had to pick up Caleb from school then told me I was nuts, lol, and would be late. And as I was pondering that, it dawned on me his lunch period should be coming soon and it might not be that easy to get him. Called the school and asked what time 7th grade lunch was, receptionist said in about 10 minutes, it goes til 12:40. Ack, ack! So I asked if she could pull him out of pe then and just keep him in the office and I'd be right there to get him. She said no problem and I picked him up right at 12. Took him to get McDonalds cuz he missed lunch and he ate in the car there. We did end up getting to the derms office about 20 minutes early and waiting in the car cuz they were on lunch, but I'd rather do that than be late! The appt went great, they got him right in and dr was right in. Asked about any of the scary side effects, none, reminded Caleb to use moisturizer and recommended a neosporin chap stick since his lips are so so bad right now with the accutane, said all his bloodwork came back fine (his cholesterol and tryglicerides are perfect, btw,) and pointed out one side effect I'd chalked up to something else. About mid week last week, when the winds were so terrible here, Caleb started complaining about his dry itchy eyes (and they were bright red.) Since everyone else was having allergy/sinus problems, I assumed that was it and bought him some visine allergy eye drops. Oops, turns out it's not allergies but the med making his eyes so dry and he recommended getting some regular visine drops. Other than that and a reminder that we still have five months to go and he'll still have bad breakouts (he's in one right now,) was good, quick appt. Since we were done so early, we ran to Costco, dropped off his prescription, and did aunt's shopping and dropped all that off at her house.
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Dipo
Member
04-23-2002
| Monday, April 06, 2009 - 4:29 pm
I got a 52 inch fan at Home Depot, the 44 inch ones were cheaper but mine is really nice and I think it was $149.
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Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Tuesday, April 07, 2009 - 12:13 am
Tuesday's Mission That's a good price, Dipo! When we first moved into the house, the first thing we bought was ceiling fans for the bedrooms, even before buying curtains, lol! And within the first six months had them in the living room, den, and the entry way (we're our dining room table is.) Part of it was that they had the lights attached, part because we needed the fans.
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