Have you put your tax information together or are you one of those individuals who waits until a couple of days before April 15th?
By January 31st you should have received all the information from your bank, employer, investments, mortgage company, etc. Now it is up to you to pull together all of your receipts for charities, work related expenses, etc. and make that appointment with your accountant.
My appointment is set for next Wednesday, all my receipts are in one place - just need to put that spreadsheet together with all the deductions to make it easy for my accountant.
Don't put this off - earlier is better.
This winter has been affecting everyone with a chest cold that has many people coughing, developing bronchitis; and, in some extreme cases pneumonia.
There is not much that you can do to avoid it; but, somethings that will work:
- Wash your hands often
- Dress warmly and cover your head
- Take your vitamins especially Vitamin C
If you already have it - like I do that annoying hacking cough then may I suggest:
- Don't push yourself - your body needs to heal itself
- Drink some ginger lemon tea with honey
- Consider gargling with warm water
- Always have something to suck either a cough drop or a butterscotch
Most importantly, cover your mouth whenever you need to cough - it will pass in good time.
Feel better!!!
Next week it will be Valentine's Day and many people will send out e-cards. Call me old-fashioned but I prefer to receive a card in the mail or to have one handed to me when I see someone.
I give my family cards for their birthdays, Valentine's, St. Patrick's, Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. I will spend a couple of hours at the card store reading the various greetings to make sure that the one I chose expresses my thoughts and feelings for that individual.
I know that when they read it they realize that I mean the words that are in the card. Of course, cards never take place for our actions; but, sometimes words are important to read and hear.
Be old-fashioned, buy that card with that special person in mind and mail it.
There are few times when a country comes together for one single event. Despite baseball being the national past time of the United States it does not get the hype that the Superbowl does.
Last night millions of Americans watched the Superbowl from their homes, bars and at the stadium. Who knows how many chicken wings, bowls of guacamole and beer was consumed??
What is today's water cooler chatter - the commercials. A 30 second commercial cost was over $4 million. Do you buy the product because of last night's commercial - I know I don't.
But I still enjoy the hoopla that goes with this one event - I hope the rest of you did too.
Today I need to prepare for a busy week and some long days. Generally I like to take the Monday after Superbowl either off or work from home. It is not because I have indulged too much in either food or drink; just that it tends to be a late evening.
This year, no such luck as there is a Board Meeting that I need to support on Monday - my day will begin in the office at 7AM and not end until around 7 or 7:30PM. Tuesday and Wednesday do not look to be much better.
To survive I will prepare tomorrow before the game begins. That means choosing clothes for the week, pressing them and having them at the ready. Any items that need to be mailed (birthday and Valentine cards) will be written, licked and stamped and in my briefcase. Quarters in my bag for the meter on Wednesday when I have to park at the train station.
Down the list, check it off and I should be able to make it through the week; with some breathing.
Small children if they are in your life can be such a joy - that is my great nephew Callum, a joy in my life.
It is wonderful to see a child put together sentences, thoughts and to ask, "what's that?" - their minds are inquisitive and a sponge at this age and you are their Hero.
Spend as much time as you can with that child, realize that you are an integral part of their life and they look at you for approval, risk taking, structure and boundaries. They know that you will be there to pick them up should they fall and to give them a hug and kiss their boo-boo.
Realize the honor and responsibility that you have - hug and love that child and know that as they grow they carry a part of you in them.
Many times I will say that I don't eat something without even having tried it. Just a few months ago while eating out with my boyfriend who had oysters - I said "no" when he offered me one stating that I didn't like them.
How do I know that? I had never tasted an oyster - I had made that determination without even trying.
Decades ago someone advised me to have a "mother-in-law" portion. That was just a small bite that would let me taste the item, determine if I liked it and not insult my host or hostess.
This year I have decided that I won't say - 'I don't like' - until I have had a mother-in-law portion.
