barbiecat Member

:) Rebecca, Like you, I have a wonderful tax lady in California. Her father played golf with Jake. We've used her for taxes for more than 20 years. Right now all I can do is put stuff in a folder so I don't lose it. I expect in a few weeks I'll be able to tackle it but not this week. :'( Carla, I, too, am sad for your…

:) Lin, my tax preparation is streamlined now because I no longer itemize. Years ago when we owned real estate, did some side hustles, and itemized, the gathering was endless. Now it's simple. All my investments are handled in a single place, they provide the 1099 of the activity for the year and I send it to the same…

:) Lisa, when my grandmother was in a nursing home at age 85+ she referred to the others as old ladies seemingly without understanding that she, too, fit that description. About the laundry, Jake thought that putting the clothes in the washer and setting the timer to start first thing in the morning was "doing the laundry"…

:) Rita, good luck on your house search. It's been a long time since I did that and I still remember how difficult it was. :) Pip, Thank you for your encouragement. I remember all you said about losing Lenny. :) Beth, Best wishes on a smooth road to your surgery. :) Allie, You are amazing how you navigate all your health…

:) :) My dog loving friend (the one who was the breeder of our poodles) came over today to use my printer and brought me a pot of homemade vegetable beef soup--enough to fill seven single serving freezer jars. We has a great visit til I had to go for my mammogram. I came home to a message from her that she couldn't find…

:) [bbSandy[/b] I need four documents for my taxes. One came in the mail, one is available online, and the other two haven't arrived. I set mid February as my goal for sending stuff to the accountant. :) My dog loving friend (the one who was the breeder of our poodles) came over today to use my printer and brought me a pot…

:) Allie, cute hair :) Right now my life seems to be the opposite of everyone else's I struggle to get important chores done but walk at least 10,000 steps and ride my exercise bike for an hour or more. <3 Barbie in NW WA

:'( Pip, exercise without having something to listen to would make me crazy too. <3

:) Social Security just called back. My local office will contact me when they have appointments available. They have none now. I am fortunate that I am not counting on them for benefits. I just want to get all the stuff finished 🐾👣👣🌻Barbie in NW WA

:) Lanette I found "The Bay" on Brit Box" and watched enough of the first episode to see that I liked it and it's now in my lineup of shows to continue watching. Thank you. :) I called Social Security at 10:15 this morning and when they said the wait was at least 120 minutes I took the option to leave a call back number. I…

<3 Vicki, what a bunch of challenges. Hugs to you.

:) Annie, my stationary bike is set up facing the TV so I watch and ride at the same time. It keeps me riding for long periods of time. I don't try to get super exercise, just more movement than I would get by just sitting on the couch. <3 Barbie

:) I had a giant sinking spell yesterday afternoon so I put Annie in the car and we went off to deliver a knitted blanket to Project Linus and two bags of stuff to the charity shop. I felt better when I got home. Earlier I had called the man who manages our investments and he assured me that the process would be simple and…

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:) Annie, It's so good to see you posting again. I've missed you. So sorry about Teddy. :) Got one more box checked off on my list. Talked to the man who manages our investments and he said it would be easy to take Jake's name off and since they needed the death certificate to do it, he'd come to my house (50 miles from…

:) Had a great visit yesterday from my friend that I met in 2005 when she and her daughters had a litter of poodle puppies and we acquired Brandy and later, Sasha from the another litter. She is fun to be with, a great listener, and good at sharing personal experience. Her years of raising poodles has made her good with…

:) Chilly and sunny here. :) Today's adventures in to the unknown--the automatic car wash (I haven't used one in over 20 years and Annie has never been in one) and going to the police station to dispose of a huge bag of prescription meds. The easy job was going to the library. :) The cold I had in November lasted well past…

:) Yesterday I filled out one online form that included attaching a scanned copy of Jake's death certificate. I won't know for awhile if I did it right and accomplished what was required. I also went online to find where to dispose of all the medications. I'll go look for the place today while I'm out to go to the library.…

:) Sandy, Your reminder of one day at a time is so helpful. I can't rush ahead to get everything done. :) Lin, Staying inside sounds like a good plan but doesn't work for me because the dogs need to get out and I am a fanatic about my 10,000 steps. Fortunately it's not as cold here as where you are. It's just a bit below…

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:) Jake had a will and this is a community property state. Everything goes to me, but there are still forms to fill out and sign, papers to deliver, and stuff to do that only I can do. It's nothing like what I had to do as executor of my mother's estate in 1991 but everything I do seems like climbing uphill and carrying…

:) Tracey, Jake used to say things about me having a "boyfriend" when I mentioned a man I spoke to while I was walking the dogs or when I was gone for what he thought was too long. I hated it too. Nothing I said could change him. Fortunately I never pointed out how many women he spoke to on the phone including his second…

:) Michele, I recall that a friend who had cats and loved jigsaw puzzles had a piece of plexiglass that she lay on top ot the puzzle when she wasn't working on it. <3 Barbie

:) From the sublime to the ridiculous. Today my challenge was putting gas in the car---something I haven't done for years. I succeeded. :) Rebecca I don't read a newspaper or watch the news on TV or online and and I'm fine with that. Your pen pal needs to accept criticism and different opinions with grace and not throw a…

:) Jake's name is off the manufactured home. The title will come in the mail soon. It wasn't as easy as I expected but I persisted and drove to the courthouse and dealt with six different women in two different offices, filled out a paper, and wrote two checks. Annie did well in the car while I was doing all this. I can't…

:) Jake's name is off the manufactured home. The title will come in the mail soon. It wasn't as easy as I expected but I persisted and drove to the courthouse and dealt with six different women in two different offices, filled out a paper, and wrote two checks. Annie did well in the car while I was doing all this. I can't…

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:) :) Today was my appointment with the lawyer. He explained everything and will take care of the part that seemed most daunting for me. Then I went to the bank to get the account put in my name only. The big milestone was that Annie was OK in the car while I was at the lawyer's office and while I was in the bank. She was…

:) Today was my appointment with the lawyer. He explained everything and will take care of the part that seemed most daunting for me. Then I went to the bank to get the account put in my name only. The big milestone was that Annie was OK in the car while I was at the lawyer's office and while I was in the bank. She was a…

:) This is tough and I'm slogging through putting one foot in front of the other. I have peaceful moments and moments of paralyzing despair. The dogs keep me from thinking only of myself. The kindness of friends smoothes some of the rough spots. Today I go to the attorney to find out what legal stuff I have to do. <3 Barbie