Category Archives: Ramblings

The Road of Aggravation

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Yesterday was rough. By the end of the day I was ready to pull my hair out. It all started after lunch when Dad said he needed income tax forms printed up soon so he could get his taxes filed. Ok, no problem, right? You’d think it couldn’t be that difficult. I’ll tell you it was. It went something like this:

Dad: “I need tax forms printed up soon. When you get around to it, no rush.”

Me: “No problem. I just need to know which forms.”

Dad: “The federal short form and the state short form.”

Me: “But which ones? There are a lot of forms. If you bring me last year’s forms I’ll have something to go by.” (I don’t remember which forms he had last year and I’d like to know exactly which forms because they’re easier to find!)

Dad: “The 1040, I think. But the short form, not the long form because that damn thing is 50 pages long!” (He gets up to get last year’s forms.)

Thinking this would be an easy peasy task, I go to the kitchen table where the laptop is. I notice he has brought me 2020s forms.

Me: “These aren’t last year’s forms.”

Dad: “Those are the forms I need. Last year I filed the long form. I don’t want the long form.”

I immediately found the federal 1040-SR short form. I bookmarked it so I could go back to it when I had everything needed to print them. I can’t find the short form he needs for the state, which was 1040P. After 30 minutes I’m getting aggravated because I still can’t find the short form, only the long. I thought I found it but it was for the wrong year – and come to find out, that ‘P‘ form had been discontinued. That was why he had to file the long form last year. Now I find the 1040 long form. 50 pages it was not!  I told him that according to what I was reading in the instruction booklet (another half an hour wasted) he needed the Pension Credit form and the Property Tax Credit form.

Dad: “I don’t need those. I never file them.”

Me: “Why not?”

Dad: “I don’t owe them anything so I don’t worry about it.”

Me: “You may not owe them anything but maybe they would owe you.”

Dad: “I’m not going to mess with it.”

Me: I roll my eyes and bookmark the long file.

Now, you’d think printing the files would be easier than trying to find them, right? Nope. I thought I had the printer on my laptop already because months ago, my desktop pc took a dump. I figured I’d need the printer on the laptop eventually, so I hooked it up. The laptop told me printer ready to print or something to that effect. I didn’t have anything to print then but I thought it would be ready when I needed it. I thought wrong. When I went to print the forms, the printer wasn’t communicating with the laptop. Crapola. So, I dug out the disk to install the printer. That should have been easy, too. Nope. I was ready to throw the damn printer out the window and be done with it. It kept telling me that the printer needed to be connected to the laptop via USB and turned on. Grrr…. I unplugged both and plugged them back in. I clicked continue. It just didn’t want to crapperate, as my son used to say when he was a kid. I tried numerous times. I even started the installation process again…and again. My entire afternoon was wasted on this activity that should have taken 30 minutes tops.

Me: “Dad, you’re going to have to go to the library to get your forms.” (I explained the trouble I was having.)

Dad: “I’ll have to have H&R Block do them because the library isn’t open.”

Me: “Well, I know the library isn’t open right now but next time we go to town we can stop by.”

Dad: “The library hasn’t been open since everything was shut down for Covid.”

Me: “Things haven’t been closed down for quite some time, Dad.”

Dad: “The last time we stopped by there, they were closed.”

Me: “I can’t even remember the last time we went by there. It had to have been before Covid or maybe in the beginning of Covid.”

Dad: “I’m telling you it’s still closed.”

Me: Rolling my eyes now. Grrr… I can’t seem to tell him anything so I drop it. I say, “Well, regardless. I still can’t print the forms. You’ll have to get them somewhere else.”

So, after 3 hours of messing with this situation, I decide I need to de-stress because I’m ready to pull out my hair at this point. Anyway, I sit down at the kitchen table and get my diamond painting kit. I turn on my current audiobook and start to work. 5 minutes later:

Dad: “I need a book on a shelf in the cat room but I’m afraid to get up on the chair without someone there to help steady me.”

Me: “Ok.” I turn off my audiobook and get up.

We go into the cat room to get his books. The only reason any books are in there is because Dad’s bedroom had to be vacated due to mold. We moved everything out, including him. So, I get behind him and steady him while he gets up on the chair. I would have done it myself if I didn’t have mobility issues. There’s an old dresser right under the shelf where I keep food and water for BobCat, because he needs safe place to eat where he won’t get beat up by Jack. Anyway, I move the food bowl to the left so Dad wouldn’t spill it. I knew he would need room to put a couple of books so he could get to the ones he wanted. What does he do? He spills the damn bowl of food anyway. All of a sudden cat food went flying into the air and went everywhere.

Me: “Damn it, Dad. I moved that bowl over so you wouldn’t spill it.”

Dad: “I’m sorry. I’ll clean it up.”

Me: “No, don’t worry about it. I’ll take care of it.” Now Jack and BobCat are eating food off the floor and under our feet. Ugh. I carefully steady Dad as he steps off the chair. “Now go sit down with your books and relax a bit.”

Dad: “Sorry you have a mess to clean up now.”

Me: “It’s ok. Jack and BobCat will help.” I do my best to pick up cat food that scattered everywhere and I leave it until the next cleaning. The least I can do is leave a little food for the mice.

It was getting close to 7pm and I had been on the Road of Aggravation since 2pm! Now I was able to de-stress and have a little bite to eat. Dad made himself a pb&j sandwich and we both sat down to relax, finally.

What’s Eating Aunt Debbie?

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a person holding poster with equal rights

Photo by RODNAE Productions on Pexels.com

I despise the word ‘woke’ because the GOP uses it in a derogatory manner as if it’s a bad thing. They have created this war against ‘wokeness’ and I just don’t understand it.

As a human being and a member of a ‘supposed’ civilized society, I would like to say that yes, I am woke, if that’s what they want to call it, and I’m not ashamed of it! I believe that anyone with a heart and compassion for others would also be woke.

Some folks wonder, “What the hell is woke?” Woke is basically being aware of the social and political injustices around us. Woke originated from African-American slang which has been given new life in the past few years.

Woke means being alert, empathetic, open-minded, socially aware, informed…and generally a good person.

If you’re not woke, then what the hell are you? You’d be uninformed, unaware, or perhaps you’re informed but don’t give a shit. Why wouldn’t you give a shit? Why wouldn’t you want others to have the same rights that you have? Skin color, sexual preference, religious beliefs, and/or political views don’t make a difference! We are all human beings!

Everyone has the right to fair treatment, and the medical/mental health care that is right for them. Why wouldn’t you want that for everyone? Why shouldn’t the LGBTQ community have access to the health care that they need? Why would you treat someone differently because of their skin color? Why be so hateful? People being treated poorly (and sometimes killed) all because of their skin color infuriates me! It should infuriate you, too!

If you don’t like the way someone lives their life then stay the hell out of it. They still deserve fair treatment and equal rights. Your opinion of them doesn’t matter one iota.

I am woke. I am an empathetic, open-minded, caring, and informed human being. The opposite of that is just not an option.

What’s Eating Aunt Debbie?

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Good morning!

There’s been a lot on my mind, but damned if my brain will let me remember everything I wanted to say! 

Dad’s blood pressure has been relatively good; some days a little higher but with a medication dosage change, it’s under control. Dad had an appointment scheduled to see a cardiologist regarding his A-fib but unfortunately the appointment had to be rescheduled due to snow. 

We didn’t get much snow really but it sure made the roads dangerous. There were many accidents on the roads we would have been on for that appointment. People just can’t stay home because they have to go to work. I remember those days when I worked at the local nursing home. I hated winter weather because if it snowed after I got to work, then I was stuck there! I had to spend the night in that place too many times! Anyway, Dad’s appointment has been rescheduled for March 10. Shouldn’t be any snow then! 

I don’t know what I did, but I have injured my arm/shoulder. I think it’s a rotator cuff injury – perhaps a tear – and so on top of all of the pain and mobility issues I deal with, now I have to deal with this. As if life wasn’t hard enough. Ugh. I can’t not use my left arm because I need to use both of my arms to get up and down, not to mention to walk with my forearm crutches. I have yet to go to the doctor. I’m a bit ‘gun shy’ after years of not getting help for other issues. If the injury is serious enough they will suggest surgery BUT I can’t have surgery now! Who’s going to look after Dad? I can’t leave him alone. I won’t. If it’s not serious enough for surgery, there’s nothing to be done besides exercises. My insurance won’t cover physical therapy so I’d have to do it on my own. I’m already doing that, but having to use both of my arms means the injury won’t heal or could even get worse. Good grief. 

The silver lining this month is that my daughter gave birth to her 4th child, and her #2 girl earlier this month! Her name is Kaliya Rain and she looks like her older sister, Angelina Rose. 10 days later, though, my daughter ended up in the hospital because she woke up bleeding profusely. All is well now, thank goodness. It was scary and here I am in another state, unable to help her. This is my 6th grandbaby! I just wish I saw them more than I do.

I wish to hell politicians would produce some decent candidates for the 2024 election. I am sick to death of the literal shit that flows out of just about every mouth these days. MTG spews lies and hatered and couldn’t look any less like a turd than she already does. DeSantis spews lies and everybody swallows it up. DJT is still at it. Good grief. I could be here all day… If Joe Biden isn’t going to run again then the Dems better get off their asses and produce a better choice, quickly! I never used to worry about our government. I never worried that our democracy would suffer. I never worried about ‘bad eggs’ infiltrating the country and the government, ready to bring it all down. I didn’t worry because they all seemed to want our country to progress, not go backwards in time! Ugh!

Those who have followed my blog might recall that I have brought a stray cat into our fur-family. I knew we would have problems but I just couldn’t stand for the poor thing to be out in another cold winter! So, in October, BobCat was neutered, vaccinated, treated for fleas, ticks and earmites, and brought inside. He has been more calm than I expected. I think he’s grateful to be inside, getting lovins, and having other cat friends – BUT Jack is not a happy camper! He is one jealous and spiteful little shit. He still has to wear the vest when he misbehaves. Poor BobCat keeps getting beat up! Alice doesn’t care about BobCat being inside. In fact, Alice has warmed to him a little and has been seen giving him a bath! Honey Bear keeps her distance because Jack picks on her occasionally, too. Anyway, Jack is so spiteful that he has made sure to ‘steal’ my chair before BobCat gets to it. That’s the only place BobCat feels safe, other than in the cat room with the door shut! If BobCat has any dried kibble left in his bowl then Jack will eat it all and then puke it up right next to the bowl! Unbelievable! Jack still gets what he always got, before BobCat came along. They all do. BobCat isn’t showing any aggression and he’s not being territorial at all. They have to be watched all the time and it’s a lot of work for this ol’ woman! Ugh!

Well, that’s about all I have on my mind this morning. I’m sure I’m forgetting something. I always do!

What’s on your mind these days? 

 

 

What’s Eating Aunt Debbie?

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I can’t believe the childish bullshit going on in today’s politics. Seriously childish! So your candidate lost. Big deal. That’s how it works. The people vote. Someone wins, and someone loses. You don’t cry, belly-ache, and moan when you lose. You take it like an adult. Gracefully. I’ve seen Elementary School kids behave with more grace and maturity in school elections than I’ve seen amongst political candidates in a very long time.

Oh, I can just hear the Trumpers moaning about how the Dems didn’t accept the vote and went all-in after Trump. Please. Don’t get me started. I can sit here for an entire week listing all of the absolutely UNacceptable (and sometimes illegal) bullshit Trump did and said and still not list it all. If Trump would have been a Democrat, the Republicans would all have aneurysms trying to take him down. It was obvious (and still is) that Trump is an unacceptable candidate for the Presidency.

Let’s not forget those so-called adult candidates. You can’t claim fraud or cheating just because you lost. You don’t act like a sore loser. You take your loss like an adult. They think that if they lose there must be some kind of conspiracy! Give me a break. Some of them tell their voters that they “can’t trust the vote” even before the election. Really? Then why should they even vote? And why the hell are you running if you can’t trust the vote? I wish these people would just grow up! If they’d just go away would be even better.

Since Republicans have control of the House now, they’re all about investigating Hunter Biden, impeaching the President (for what I have no clue!), and Merrick Garland, as well. Some say they want to fix the economy and solve other problems…but they never say how they’re going to fix it. They don’t have a plan. They just spout bullshit they think their constituents will believe.

I never thought I’d see such a circus in my lifetime. Integrity is lost and brains are scarce.

Confusion

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This morning I woke up around 7:30am. It was cold in the house because we turn the heat off at night and the low overnight was supposed to be around 18 degrees. It was a bit “nipply” as Dad says. He turned on the heater and we had coffee while we watched the news.

Two hours later, I was still cold. I put my hoody on and covered my legs with a blanket. We aren’t ‘breakfast people’ so I thought I’d be different and asked Dad if he wanted me to make breakfast. He said, “No, thanks. I can’t eat on an empty stomach.” I laughed and tried to occupy myself on the laptop. After a couple more hours, I was feeling chilled to the bone. I just couldn’t warm up.

It was 11:45am already; nearly lunchtime. I gave in and turned on my heated blanket and snuggled up underneath. I didn’t mean to, but I fell asleep. I woke up at 1:15pm in a panic. I said, “Shit, it’s almost 1:30 and I have to be at that thing. I’ll never make it in time!” Dad looked at me funny and asked, “What thing?” “That thing they canceled yesterday. I was still supposed to be there today,” I told him. He was still confused and asked, “What thing? If you were supposed to be somewhere today, I didn’t know anything about it.” I hid my aggravation and tried to recall details. “Oh, that thing…” I rubbed my forehead trying to remember. Then I looked up at him and asked, “Am I confused?!” He asked, “Do you know what day it is?” I said, “It’s Sunday, isn’t it?” I got up to go to the bathroom.

All the way there I tried to remember details about the thing I was supposed to go to. By the time I got to the bathroom, I realized I was confused. I must’ve been dreaming, but the dream I was having prior to waking up had nothing to do with the thing I was supposed to go to! Of course, now I can’t remember what I was dreaming!

I’ve woken up confused before. I’ve woken up not sure if I was waking from a nap or after a good night’s sleep. I’ve woken up thinking I’m going to miss the bus or that I forgot my locker combination, but it has never taken so long to realize I was dreaming! I feel like I’m losing my mind!

I’ll never live it down; Dad will tease me about it for a long time and I’ll probably regret writing about it…BUT if you can’t laugh at yourself then who can you laugh at? Unga Bunga.

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