Hope you have a good trip, shawbridge. Say “hi” to my S for me!
I finished all my taxes this past weekend. Should be the last FAFSA and CSS Profile ever! And the best part: I had enough withholding and don’t owe anyone any money! We had to file two states this year.
Yay to no (more) taxes, CQ! I remember being excited about dong the last fafsa, but must say I miss the early deadline it gave our accountant…who has still not produced our personal return 
he does our corporate first, and in our state political dithering caused a nightmare for accountants this year…our guy had to redo just about everybody!
Have a good trip, Shaw!
I am fighting the pague that mcs and mch contaminated me with…after resisting a week. I’m a little better this a.m. Used the down weekend to finally organize my laundry room, which seriously hasn’t had attention since we moved in 3.5 years ago! Goodwill got six bags I also managed to paint the back studio door red, which was something I meant to do sat year. It took 3 coats and I not my best work, likely because I was semi-delirious, but te weather was too nice to lay about indoors.
What I really “wanted” to do (but didn’t “feel” like doing) was to powerwashing the house. However, I have learned that its best to wait til they a) do the gutters and b) til landscape guy does spring cleanup because otherwise I end up having to do it all over again!
Glad you’re feeling better, kmc.
Safe travels, shaw.
H returned on Sat. I had a fairly productive weekend, I can really see how my energy level has gone up with the sunshine and warm weather!
Spring cleanup is also starting here. H and I unwrapped and arranged patio furniture at the lake on Saturday. Also started some yard cleanup, worked on the canoe and got the lift and dock pieces ready to be put in the water. Now we have to power wash the deck and get the boats cleaned once they get in the water. I am also hoping to start getting carpets and windows washed here at home. I really dislike cleaning. 
Good morning, all. I told myself that it would be a relaxing weekend, but now I feel guilty in light of all of your accomplishments.I did get my herbs planted (can never have too much basil.) Went to H’s performance of the Bach B Minor Mass. It was glorious, but I did get sleepy toward the end.
Just as a bit of trivia, Jordan Spieth, the winner of the Masters, went to the same academically rigorous Catholic HS as one of the expelled OU racist chant kids. (Probably would have overlapped by a year.) Jordan’s win has to make Dallas Jesuit feel better. Hope Spieth stays on the straight and narrow. We’ve been hearing about him in the local press for a long time, maybe since he was 14.
A neighbor of whom we are fond is going through a Child Protective Services nightmare. Their HS aged son got into a fight with one of his buddies, got a black eye. When the school nurse asked about it, not wanting to get his friend in trouble, he said it was a “family matter.” The nurse filed a report with CPS. The kid’s buddy has even come forward but I guess you can’t withdraw a CPS report. The mom is a social worker and could lose her job over having a report filed and the kid is just consumed with guilt over his lie. Oh yeah and the mom is recovering from a heart attack.
Missypie, that is horrible. Why is there no way to withdraw a CPS report? I know of divorcing couples where one spitefully reports the other (with no basis) - you would think there are occasions when it needs to be withdrawn.
Hi all! Back from a week in VERY sunny, VERY warm FL. We spent lots of time lazing around at the beach, which was wonderful. In the middle of our stay we drove down to Sanibel to stay 1 night with friends who rented a place for 2 months, March & April. We had a great visit, but all I can say is it’s a good thing I go to the gym! Every time we get together with them for more than just dinner, we know we’ll be doing something physically active – this time it was biking. We also spent a day with H’s cousin and her H, who have a place not far from where we were staying. H doesn’t see this cousin very often, but we had a fun visit. Anyway, we had a 7:00 AM flight back yesterday, which meant getting picked up at 4:00 AM for the ride to the airport! As soon as we got home H changed and was out the door for meetings in Worcester. I’m on 1 advisory board with him at Worcester Polytech but didn’t have to be there until 5:00 for a dinner meeting. Needless to say, by the time I was driving home at 8:30 PM, I was having trouble staying awake!
So sorry to hear about your FIL, FallGIrl.
Hugs, cheers, healing, and best wishes to everyone else, as needed.
Today I have a long overdue medical exam. I certainly believe I’m in good shape – we’ll see if all the tests agree! At the end of the week we’re off for the beach house. This will likely be H’s official seasonal move; I may take a couple of weeks to make the transition. While I do love it there, I’m not looking forward to all the yard work that needs to be done. H will be busy getting his sailboat ready to go in the water, so that means the brunt of the work falls to me. Now that’s when I start to feel my age!
Sounds like a fun trip, CBB.
MP- that is awful. While I appreciate that the agencies look after families and all, I think sometimes they are too quick to rush in and make assumptions. A few years ago I walked into a column in my house (yep I’m a klutz)and ended up with 2 black eyes, I would not go to ER because I knew they would grill H (who was sound asleep when it happened).
On another note, it is D’s birthday today. She is hoping Kate and Will have their baby today.
I washed windows and steam cleaned the carpeting in our sunroom/four season porch yesterday. Ish… The cleaning was much needed since that is where D1’s dog stays. I am going to redo the carpeting today just to make sure it is absolutely pristine. I ordered new furniture for in there and the chair has arrived but still waiting on the sofa.
I talked with two contractors yesterday to get estimates for my flooring remodel. One is coming on Thursday and the other not until next week. I just want to get this done!!!
D2 is exhausted as tax season is winding down. She went in to work at 7:00 AM yesterday and didn’t leave until 11:00PM! She needs a vacation! She has the closing on her new house on Friday.
Missing you Moda!
Well at least your D2 is young! Think of the folks our age who are still doing it! I could work those kind of hours probably for a week or two, but then I would get sick.
And then closing on a house. Exciting!
Busy group here. NM and all of you other super-clean house folks - do you own your own carpet cleaner? I hadn’t thought about it, but then my mom started shopping for one, and now I’m considering a purchase.
Younger D has a sore throat that just won’t stay gone, despite two rounds of antibiotics. I guess it’s “recurring strep.” Do you think a tonsillectomy is in her future?
mp – No carpet cleaner here. We mostly have hard wood floors with a couple of area rugs. No idea about tonsillectomies these days. Both D & S were fortunate that they only each had strep maybe once when they were younger.
So, out of the blue yesterday, H announced he was going to contact the lawn mowing service for the beach house and have them do the spring clean-up – trimming all the bushes & ornamental grasses, raking the grass, getting last fall’s leaves out of the stone wall, and mulching! He asked if I thought this would be worth the $$, and seemed surprised when I enthusiastically said, “YES!” When he asked about it, he seemed doubly surprised when I said I did almost ALL of that last year by myself since he was working on the boat. End of discussion!! I can’t begin to say how relieved I am that he’s doing this. I was actually somewhat dreading going to the beach.
CBBB, my MIL has a place on Sanibel and there isn’t much else to do there but bike. So we do that every day when we go.
Sounds like my normal day. I’m on a plane heading back from Germany. Worked all day yesterday with the client except for a call with the US, Switzerland and Singapore for another client and then out to dinner with the senior people on the client team. Then, completing some things for our client and signing tax returns.
ShawD loves her new job and it pays a bit more than the last one. She did speak with the head of HR for the hospital she used to work at and he thinks has heard that it is a very good place. He offered to help her when she wants to find the next job, including adding another part-time job to get different experience next year if she switches to going to school half-time.
MP - I am not a super clean person LOL, but I own a carpet cleaner because I have a dog.
I do own a carpet cleaner but it is an old one. You add hot water and cleanser to the reservoir but it doesn’t keep it hot so you have to be quick. I have now scrubbed the entry rug three time and the water is still dirty! It gets better every time I redo it but I think it is kind of gross! I cleaned the four season carpet because of D1’s dog and then did the family room. The main traffic area was quite evident due to discoloration (dirt). Unfortunately we are not putting in hardwood in the family room as my family likes to sprawl on the floor to read or play games.
CBB…good for you on getting yard help! We have the kids help with leaves in the fall so it is not too much in the spring. Our next visit to the lake will involve time with the pressure washer to hose down the composite deck and knock down cobwebs and junk under the eaves. I did the interior windows but I think we will get professional help for the tall lakeside windows. We have the docks put in by local high school sports teams who do this as a team fundraiser. H is charge of cleaning the boats. I usually rake the shoreline and the sand in the shallow water to make sure there aren’t any sticks or rocks. That is relaxing to me but I won’t do it until the water is warmer! 
Next school year, Son and his GF of 7 years will be sharing an apartment. (Same run down but close to campus complex that he’s in now, only a one bedroom.) I think it will be good for him. I hope she doesn’t run for the hills after a while of 24/7 Son. The unofficial plan is for them to marry next summer. For a while he was expressing concern about the proposal, since The Big Ask tends to be all the rage. Turns out, he’s been pondering making a music video for her that ends with a proposal. I like that idea. Even though I truly hate the idea that the proposal needs to be an Event, I do think she deserves something special. As the mother of two daughters, I also want him to “put a ring on it” before they move in together.
The music video sounds like a cute idea. Hope it all goes well.
Vibes requested today for D - she’s taking the GMAT, and has never been strong at standardized tests. She’s been taking a prep course. Applying to a MBA program for working professionals that begins in the fall.
Today H is 55! I’m in Mississippi so we will celebrate this weekend.
Sending the vibes, c_q. Also Birthday wishes to your H.
Sending good testing vibes and fairy dust her way, cq! I predict she will do well. Sounds like she has a professional career plan in place. Happy Birthday to your H!
missy…how exciting for pieson! The video sounds wonderful. How is school going for him?
Sounds really nice Missy.
Good wishes to CQ’s D and a warm Happy Birthday wish to your H.
Not much going on here. Spring might actually be here which is nice. Starting the prep for some painting in the house.
Started working on the Christening gown. 3 dresses the oldest over a 100 years (MIL is 94 and this was HER mother’s dress) have all been washed and dried. I want the Christening gown to be washable so figured I might as well start by washing the garments. I have a plan - sort of. Will start to try the implementation of said plan this weekend. My idea is to do a baby bubble (romper) with a detachable skirt so that that can be taken off after the ceremony. I’m planning on having “areas” low in the skirt to embroider who has worn it (first, middle name, birth date and christening date) and then on the inside where it won’t show I want to put who the gowns are from and their wedding date. I think it all sounds good. We’ll see though.