Wednesday, March 28, 2007

The Tax Man Cometh...

The birds are singing, the flowers are blooming, the temperatures are rising. Oh yes, it's that time of the year! No, I speak not of Spring...I speak of (dum-da-dum-dum) tax filing season.

As the "designated filer" for our family, I prepare to prepare the returns...starting in January when I typically purchase the software as soon as it hits the shelves at Sam's Club. Because I have a sole proprietorship, I buy the TurboTax Home & Business version, to have access to the forms I need. Then, I start collecting the documention I'll need to file the three returns (ours, Mom's, and Maredith's)...gathering the necessary forms, etc.,...and waiting until the time is right to tackle this annual chore. Well, the sun, moon, and stars were in alignment yesterday, I guess, because I started the ball rolling...working on Mom's return (finished it in the afternoon...it's really a simple thing), followed by Maredith's (a bit more complicated, as she was a student for part of the year, then a full-time employee...and she was a resident of Tennessee for part of the year, then a resident of Kentucky...and she had moving expenses to report...and educational expenses...and she bought a house...you get the picture). Still, I managed to finish hers by bedtime, thanks to our cellphone connection to help clear up some questions I had. Now...that just leaves our return...a bear because of the business expenses, etc.,...so I'm taking a break to blog!

While checking my CNBC.com portofolio (I'm down to under $1 million in value today...bummer), I came across the trailer for the newest Pirates of the Caribbean movie with Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow...looks to be a rollicking addition to the previous two movies. I attached the link (below the posts), so you can see it, too! Arrgghhh!!

Well, I did my part last night to help Devon Smith make her Great American Dream a reality! I had received an email from Dr. Larry Little at Guardian Angel Basset Rescue, giving us a 'head's up' on this new ABC show. Thomas and I watched it last night, and then I used every phone in the house (two landlines, two cell phones, plus my internet connection) to cast my alloted 25 "votes" (you're allowed 5 votes per phone number or email address) for Devon after she made it to the two finalists on the show. By the way, I do hope she makes it, as her dream is to create a Senior Basset Hound Retreat! Go Devon!! (But, I wouldn't recommend the show...hosted by Donny Osmond, no less...as it is just silly. The guy that "competed" against Devon initially wanted to open "Chicken Heaven," a theme park devoted to chickens...and the guy she's a finalist against wants to have a full head of hair! It was almost too much to watch.)

OK...back to the taxes! (Uggghh!)

Monday, March 26, 2007

Introducing...Wilson Potts!


Welcome to the World...Wilson Potts! Yesterday, Thomas and I worked diligently to take all those 31 pots (two 10" clay pots; one 8" clay pot; 16 6" clay pots; and 12 4" clay pots) that have been sitting in the garage all Winter long and to create our very own Clay Pot Person. We read the directions that came with the Bag of Bones...and read them again...and attempted to do what they said...and then re-read the directions...re-did what we'd just done...and finally got it right! We hope to add some interest with bits of clothing...a green plant in the big pot on top ("hair" for his "head")...and some seasonal touches here and there. Meanwhile, Wilson adorns the bench in our back yard. How do you like him?

We saw a similar Pot Person at the bed & breakfast where Jack and Julie were married...almost 8 years ago...and I've wanted one ever since. I searched the internet and located a company in Florida that makes the "bones" that hold all the pots in place: Annie's Bag of Bones. I ordered a couple of bags last year...even bought all those pots...and then set the project aside as I do occasionally. What made me decide to finish it yesterday? Well, let's see...we were working in the yard...it's Spring and time for new things...the bench looked so vacant...who knows? Whatever was the motivation, it worked!

Otherwise, it was a rather sad weekend around here. The University of Memphis Tigers lost their Elite Eight game to Oh-how-I-hate Ohio State. Major bummer. I had to retreat to the yard and throw myself into the work of dividing irises (irii?). Whew! Thank goodness for iris! I worked out my frustrations...set up a temporary spot for the iris and day lilies that we needed to move...and made up 20 pot of iris and day lilies to take to Maredith, to help her get some color into her yard in Kentucky!

We're moving the plants because we are re-working the pond and waterfall we have just off our deck. We're repositioning the waterfall to the opposite side of the pond so that we can incorporate a garden bridge into the design. I've always wanted a bridge, and Thomas says the plans I found shouldn't be too difficult to build. I'll post a picture when we get it finished.
It's a really good week here, especially since Thomas will be in town all week...woo-hoo! He's got a meeting scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, and Friday is the last working day of the month, so he'll be in his home office for close-of-business. I wish every week could be like this!

OK...time to close...laundry calleth!

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Welcome to MO, Spring!

Drum roll, please!! I am pleased to announce that we are finally welcoming our first daffodils. I had wanted to post a picture last week, but I couldn’t get out and take one for the SNOW that was falling!!! Of course, today is a fabulous first day of Spring, breezy with highs in the high 70s. >>>>Be sure and scroll ALL THE WAY DOWN the page (below the posts) to see the video I took of a cardinal at the feeder off the deck in the back yard!<<<<< Love it! Well, I love it as long as the tornado sirens are silent!! Thomas is in Minneapolis, where it’s a bit cooler, shall we say? He’s scheduled to fly back in tomorrow, when thunderstorms are forecast…bummer.

We’re still waiting on the results of Thomas’ most recent test to determine the reason he’s anemic. Remember, he had to swallow the PillCam last Tuesday (see my previous Post)? He said it wasn’t so bad swallowing the thing, but he didn’t particularly care for having to wear the “recorder/transmitter” box around for 8 hours. He hopes that this was the last test he will have to take, but I’m still hoping he’ll have to take at least one more. I don’t think anything that a PillCam finds can be an easy thing to fix, do you? He thinks I ought to post the pictures they took of his small intestine on my blog…hmmmmm…we'll see.

How ‘bout those Tigers??? [Click to hear the fight song>>>Go Tigers Go!] We are so excited that Memphis made it to the NCAA Regionals/Sweet Sixteen! They’ll be playing in San Antonio on Thursday, and if they beat Texas A&M, again on Sunday (against the winner of Ohio State vs. Tennessee…uh-oh, who’s Nana/Momma/Edith going to be yelling for if Memphis ends up playing Tennessee????). Sure do wish we could see ‘em in person. Oh well, we have tickets to the Mid-west Regionals, here in STL, to be played on Friday, with the finals on Sunday. Should be some good games, especially since we’ll see the “Cinderella Team” Butler playing last year’s winner, Florida.

Well, I must report that I dropped down considerably on the CNBC's Million Dollar Portofolio Challenge...all the way down to the 85 percentile after the weekend, with a bounce back up to the Top 51% yesterday...ouch! I had taken a chance on Six Flags (SIX) and on Ligand Pharma (LGND), but both let me down. No matter, sold 'em and moved on! It's only money...and not even that, is it? Trading has no cost associated with it...the way you win on a weekly basis is the greatest percentage gain, so "losers" drag you down. I've still got positions in IMOS and BGP, and added CNXT today. I'm learning so much! While the Challenge isn't about investing at all, since it's trading that wins the game, the lessons I've learned on research and fundamentals, and paying attention to Earnings Dates, will help me with my own investing. Plus, I never miss a chance to earn "Bonus Bucks," and that offers me another opportunity to learn...and "earn!" Wish I could do that in real life!!! Anyway, my goal isn't necessarily about winning the game (although I wouldn't sneeze at either a weekly win...$10,000, or the top prize...$1,000,000!); my personal goal is to put Warren Buffet's advice to work:
  1. Rule #1: Never lose money.
  2. Rule #2: Never forget Rule #1!

Friday, March 16, 2007

March Madness!

"Where has this month gone???" I find myself asking that question more and more often. I had thought I'd get more done this week than I did, but the week zigged when I had planned to zag!

First, Thomas had to return to the hospital for another GI test to determine why he's anemic. This time he had to swallow a camera! Yep, that's right...a camera. It's called PillCam, and it's just fascinating...or as John Denver would have said..."far out!" We don't have the results yet, as his doctor is out of town until Monday. Fingers crossed...toes, too!

On a more pleasant note, the rest of my week was centered around a visit from one of Mom's friends, Rose Liming. She and her daughter, Carol, motored over in Carol's new Murano (neat car!) from the Cincinnati area for a couple of days. Rose and Mom have known each other for many years, dating back to the days when Daddy worked his "second job" at Clopay in Covington. Carol is a skilled and enthusiastic cross-stitcher, and she had already Googled the shop in St. Charles (Stitches, Etc.), so we headed to Main Street for a wonderful day on Thursday. We also "hit" the quilt shop, Patches, where we oohed and ahhed over the amount and variety of fabrics as well as buttons. This photo is in front of the fireplace at Canoe restaurant, where we enjoyed a nice lunch before heading back to the shoppes. I, of course, had to show them the new yarn shop (Knit 'n Caboodle), where I'm already on a first-name basis with the shop owner, Connie! A good time was had by all!!

Thomas surprised us by heading home from Wisconsin last night...he had said he'd be gone until Friday (today). So he's in his office, toiling away. Hopefully, he'll surface to help us cheer on the Tigers in about an hour (11:30 a.m., Central DS Time).

Yep, the University of Memphis made it into the field of 65 teams in the NCAA Basketball Tournament for 2007! We've got our brackets set, so now it's up to them to go all the way...to the Final Four in Atlanta!! Go Tigers Go!!! (Click for the Fight Song!)

Wednesday, March 7, 2007

The Lion of March

It's been so true here: "March comes in like a Lion, goes out like a Lamb." The wind blew ol' February away (thank goodness!) and blew our new month right in. Of course, we are still getting some low temps (went down into the twenties last weekend), but the days are brighter and the cold is receding...gradually. I'm eagerly awaiting that first daffodil to pop open...there are several candidates for the honor in both front and back gardens, but none has dared brave the coolish weather to make a full appearance.

Maredith was here for the weekend and stayed through Tuesday morning as she had work in the STL area. It was wonderful to have her here...period. I find that I miss her more and more.

I worked "overtime" on Sunday to finish up Hannah's Big Girl Blanket, crocheted in a shell pattern using Lion Brand's Baby Soft in White, Powder Pink, and Bubble Gum. That's a picture of it in the "Projects Completed" area on the right, along with a fluffy white scarf I made for Mom for Valentine's Day, using two threads held together (Moda Dea's Dream in Winter White and Caron's Simply Soft in White). Both turned out well and made me proud of the efforts. I think the recipients of each will enjoy using them. (This is Hannah's second blankie; her Mom made a special request for one, as the one I made when Hannah was born 5 years ago has about been loved too much...and needs to be retired!) I just love it when I start a project...and when I complete it! It's the middle part that can sometimes feel like forever!

Speaking of starting a project, I started a new knitted baby afghan with some new baby blue and white self-striping yarn I picked up when Maredith and I met for some Mother-Daughter Bonding Time at Michael's on Monday. It's knit on the diagonal, casting on 4 stitches and using a simple YFWD to increase between the second and third stitch on each row, until you have 190 stitches. Then, you do a decrease on each row after the YFWD and before the loop on the other end of the row. It's simple...and looks like it will work up quickly. We'll see...

And, I continue thinking about working on my green cotton thread knitted sweater. I worked on it while on our last visit to Maredith, but I haven't picked it up since returning home. Such is life...

I've entered the CNBC Million Dollar Challenge contest, so I've been studying the market a lot this week. I find that it does 'challenge' me to determine some parameters...only, not for investing...but for the contest itself. Still, I've been able to put some of the things I've been learning about investing to work, and I found that I already had a "Watch List" available to start my 'investing' on CNBC. Yesterday, I was surprised to learn that I had moved from the top 92% to the top 23%! How about that?!

Time to close and get supper ready. Let's see...what sounds good tonight? I've got a good many 'fixins' for another Mexican meal, but can't decide just what...? We'll see...

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