Big events are just around the corner....

This is the time of year that I go into survival mode. This is not a physical survival, but time and emotional. I do it to myself so I ask for no sympathy (will accept it though, if freely offered!) I enjoy preparing tax returns, but it has become more difficult now that I am working full time. That's one down side of the season. The other down side is I swear every year there are all these events that I am compelled to attend....PEOPLE...quit having events during tax season...try to be considerate of your tax professional!! Everything always seems to hit on Saturdays and just be aware that I can't give up a lot of Saturdays from January through April...so you may or may not see me. If I don't attend, you can at least take comfort that I'm feeling guilty...a true Mormon state of being.

The upside is that time goes by really fast and it will be spring before I know it. That part I like....and a little extra cash never hurts.

Now for the really BIG upside.....Angie and Doug will be having a new baby girl on February 23'rd..that's this Monday. Doug and I are so excited and it seems like we've been waiting forever for this baby to arrive. I'm sure Doug and Angie feel like they've been waiting longer! Poor Madi doesn't really know what is about to hit, but I think she'll do great and be a wonderful big sister...after she gets over the shock.

That's all I can write for now. I think my sense of humor also goes on hiatus during this time of year...Hopefully it will resurface in April after I have survived tax season and Doug Sr's surgery...I am trying not to think about that...again, another major event during tax season. I am sending out notice to the universe that next year I will be unavailable for weddings, baptisms, funerals (except mine), surgeries, etc. etc. There's a reason my blog is "Old Bags Rule"....I am old and I now have a rule.

I end my ramblings by sending warm fuzzies and base 10 numbers to all who read this.

Elaine

What happened to "Ax-Men?"

I was sitting here waiting for my sister to bring me homemade cookies (haven't seen them yet) when the thought struck me....what happened to the "Ax-Men"? Perhaps when I looked at Doug and his beard it reminded me of that show. Anyway, just wondered when or if it will be on again. Gotta love those Oregon loggers! I just looked it up online and am relieved to find there will be a new season beginning in March. Hooray! Also FYI for those who enjoy the show...they have a facebook page. I mean if I didn't have Ice-Road Truckers (whiners) and Ax-Men what would my life be like? I wouldn't know I had a real life if it wasn't for reality shows.


Oh wait a minute....I don't have a life.

Nothing much new....

Morgan tells me I need to update my blog more often. I would if more interesting things happened to me.....but they don't, especially at this time of year.

Here is my life in January - work and taxes...that's almost as bad as death and taxes, but I don't want to experience that just yet. This year I am trying to figure out how I'm going to fit in workouts at the gym besides the work and taxes...haven't ever tried that before. Well, where there's a will, there's a way. I'll have to see what I can do because I do not want to lose all the buffness I have acquired these past 5 months. I know many of you actually don't recognize me, but when I see you, I'll let you know its me. I kind of like travelling incognito! Its the next best thing to an invisibility cloak.

Also at this time of year while I am living the mole life ( or in espanol, that's pronounced "mo-lay") time goes by pretty fast. I don't know if I like that because then I seem to age faster. I mean really, you just can't win! Now, though, I can't say negative things because I'm trying to do positive affirmations. Here are some of my latest affirmations...if you don't know what an affirmation is, read "You can heal your life" by Louise Hay.

Lets see...some good ones are:
--Even though I don't like people in general, I choose to think positive thoughts about them.
--I choose to believe that sitting in a recliner watching tv will assist in my sojourn to lose weight.
--Expressing gratitude daily will assist me in recognizing my good fortune in being married to Doug (wolf hat and all)
--I am willing to accept that good things will come to me.
--I am open to the possibility of achieving spiritual nirvana.
--I am willing to let my desire for chocolate cake go. (Sorry, that's a lie!)

OK. Hope you didn't fall for those affirmations. I do have some, but they are so ridiculous that I wouldn't ever post the details. If I ever find that they work, I'll let you know.

Mostly, I hope all my loved ones know that I am hard at work in my accounting cave, making progress on bank reconciliations, journal entries and printing tax organizers. I just survived sitting through an all day tax seminar last Saturday and let me tell you...that's an achievement! In my mind I do not have a boring life, but from the outside looking in....you might disagree with me. It is my wit and humor that sustain me in these trying times...that and the promise of a vacation after tax season is over. I also dream of raising my rates...that cheers me up on a good day.

Well to my few and loyal blog followers, I sign off now and will post again when I have something interesting to say.

Seven...oops Eleven Things I'm NOT going to do in 2009

Several years ago I quit doing New Year resolutions...Let's face it, they don't work. This year I decided to post the things I'm not going to do and see if that works better for me. Here goes:

In 2009 I am not going to:

Worry about global warming or greenhouse gases. Perhaps all the greenies will stress about it and die young. (I live with hope)
Spend time trying to recover all the retirement funds I lost.
Forgive the theives who stole all my retirement money (at least this year--the GCW in me insists that eventually I must forgive...I don't have to like it)
Waste my time with people I don't like or am "done" with.
Stress over tax season.
Whine about being choir director at church.
Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.
Buy more stuff I don't need.
Take for granted my wonderful family.
Get up before 7 am .

Well, there you have it....if you can add something constructive to my list, let me know.

PS: "GCW" = Good Christian Woman

"Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?"

This question is asked every year by Charlie Brown and every year it is answered by Linus..
"Sure, Charlie Brown - I can tell you what Christmas is all about....And there were in the same country, shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord shone round about them and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not, for behold I bring you tidings of great joy which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a savior, which is Christ the Lord.'

'And this shall be a sign unto you...you shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly, there was with the angel, a multitude of heavenly hosts, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace, goodwill to men." That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown."

I need this reminder every year to keep me grounded. I celebrate Christmas because I have a testimony of Jesus Christ. I know he is my elder brother who gave his life so I could have a chance to make choices that will allow me to live again with my Heavenly Father. This season helps me renew my choices and review what I have done for others in the past year. Do I have charity, the pure love of Christ? (ok...I'm working on it and it depends who it is...so basically, I'm not there yet!) I want to develop the qualities I need in this life to be able to enjoy the next (not that I'm in a hurry to go). I want my family to know how much I love them and that I would do anything in my power or abilities to help them when they need it. I hope we can always be close and forgive and forget when our feelings get hurt as sometimes happens. I want to enjoy spending time with my family members because the love I feel for them reminds me in a small way, that God and Christ love and accept me. It makes me want to be a better person.

May you all have a wonderful Christmas season and not lose sight of the real reason we celebrate.

Merry Christmas! Elaine