Midlife Musings

Lisa of Hippie Spelunker was the Supahstar on March 10th. Lisa is a gem of a gal, and absolutely one of the sweetest people I know. And that’s not even thinking about her blog, which is pretty cool in and of itself. Right now, she’s living with Yellow Snow, but she’s thinking about a garden. Go gove Lisa a read. She’s a laugh a minute. And tell her I sent ya.

Now, you’ve been seeing these posts about Supahstar Saturday, and you may be wondering how you can find out more. head over to GeekySpeaky for all the details. Or click the pretty little badge at the top of this post.

So, I called the IRS about my refund, as I do every year. We have to file some additional papers with our returns, and it always causes a delay in getting our refund. In previous years, it has only gotten dealt with when I have called, and called, and called. This year the amount is more than $4,000. Needless to say, I am quite interested in getting that amount of money, so I asked the woman if there were any way to expedite the matter. She informed me that I could call the advocate’s office and if they agreed there was hardship, they could expedite it. So, I said to the woman in my most reasonable tone, “if you were in a tax bracket such that the federal government owed you close to five thousand dollars, wouldn’t you consider that a hardship?” And the stupid woman said “I wish I was.”

No, ma’am, you do not. Because when the IRS owes you that much money, it means you are barely scraping by. It means that household repairs have to wait until it comes. It means that bills that run chronically behind get caught up once a year, and begin to slip again after the refund is gone. When the federal government owes you that much money, it means you are paddling way too hard just to stay afloat. No, you really don’t want to be in my tax bracket. And I sincerely hope that was one of the calls the IRS chose to record. Better telecom consulting for better taxpayer service. Or something.

Technorati Tags: IRS, refund, tax refund

Hmm, what shall I do today? I’m sitting here about halfway through my second cup of coffee, and really wanting to just continue to sit here. But I know I need to get up and do other things.

Ya’ll, I’m weary. I’m not tired, there’s a difference. I am in a very uncomfortable place right now. I can’t really blog it at this point, but trust me when I say there are volumes going unwritten.

So, time to get up, and do things that resemble normal life. You know, laundry, vacuuming, scrubbing.

I told you politics was coming to this blog, right? Here are a few things I’ve written in the recent past. I’m bringing over the comments as well, so feel free to jump on in the conversation
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So, it’s Obama and Hillary for the serious contenders from the Democrats. It’s possible that Obama might make a decent president *if* he’ll not parrot the party line, and remember where he came from.

Hillary, she’s lost her mind. The American people will never vote her into office. We have a memory, after all. That shrill wind-bag? She just oozes “I count on my money to buy me what I want, including teh presidency.” Umm, no.

My early prediction: Rudy in a bi-partisan landslide. I said we have a memory, and there’s not an American over the age of 15 who doesn’t remember his firm resolve and balanced actions as mayor of New York on September 11, 2001, and in the days, weeks and months that followed.
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Seems Miss Hillary has been busy already. In truth, I think she started preparing before Bill’s presidency ended. Her investigators have discovered that Barak Obama went to *Muslim school*. *Gasp, shock*. The line coming from them is that he “hid” this information, and that they have questions about whether he may not still be a Muslim.

We’ll leave the hilarity of this religious intolerance from the party of “it’s all good” for another day. Here’s the part they aren’t going to publicize: Mr. Obama’s attendance at Muslim school occurred before he was 10 years old. Yeah, they are holding the man responsible for the choices made by the child’s parents. Nor will they publicize the fact that Mr. Obama is now a Christian. I suppose that’s ok, because he doesn’t attempt to hide it.

Roaches and rats, eat their own, you know. And also apparently Democrats.

H/T: American Princess, Insight
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Staunch conservative Mike Huckabee is tossing his hat in the ring for the presidency. Huckabee has previously served 10.5 years as governor of Arkansas, and had a good share of controversy while in that office. He’s opposed to abortion rights and gay marriage, which make him a favorite of right wingers like me. More interesting yet, Arkansas tends to lean Democratic, but he won twice by landslide. So, what’s he got?

More here.
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Technorati Tags: Obama, Hillary, Rudy, Mike Huckabee

I found my pen, ya’ll. I had *cough* hidden from myself by putting it right where it belongs *cough*. You know how advertising pens are usually cheap and horrible? Well, my favorite pen is actually a pen I got from an advertiser. It’s got a thick barrel with the padding, so I can hold onto it for a long time, even on days my hands ache. It’s got a nice weight to it, too. I haven’t even gotten to the best part yet. It’s refillable, but that’s only the second best thing. The truly best thing is that it uses gel ink. I’ve never had a pen that writes as well as this one writes. The only reason it’s not in my pocketbook is because I am afraid I will leave it somewhere accidentally.

Which brings me around to thinking about other marketing things I’ve received. I prefer tools to business cards any day of the week. I know that the cards are generally cheaper, but I’d rather have a pen or pencil, or a calendar, or a magnet. The businesses I actually call back the most are the ones that mounted their card on a magnet, because I see them often. You know, every time I open the refrigerator. Those little tools to open soda cans are cool, too. I am always grabbing something to open those with, because it hurts my fingers to do it with my hands.

So, what’s the favorite marketing thing you’ve ever received? Do you still have it?

I’m looking for a wordpress theme centered around movies, preferably classic/b&w. I’ve looked in the more well known places and can’t find what I am looking for. I can’t make it myself, because I am a hacker, not a coder. Do I look like I went to Collins College to you? No, I didn’t think so. If you see one that you think looks interesting, can you drop me a comment please?

Technorati Tags: wordpress theme

and some things just don’t. Like oil and water don’t, but bread and butter do. I want people to be able to find what they come looking for on any blog of mine they land on, without the irritation and distraction of stuff they aren’t so much concerned with. So, I was thinking maybe business doesn’t belong so much on a blog where I discuss religion. I don’t want to water down that message with concerns about mammon. So, I’m not going to do that anymore. I have a separate place now for business discussions, and it’s over in the side bar.

Likewise, my political thoughts are so much a part of me that they really belong here on the blog that is about me, not over somewhere else where I can’t do them justice. So, you’ll begin to find the occasional political post here.

Oh, there will still be plenty of crazy goings-on here. I haven’t cashed in the death insurance on my quirky nature. I’m just trying to channel my adhd self a little more effectively.

Technorati Tags: business, religion, politics

I have to confess, as often as I have complained here about my redneck neighbor that I now look like one too. I even have the redneck yard markers to prove it. These markers of mine are quite different from the markers some folks have.

We have one of those sectional sofas, and right after my cuz brought us the furniture he didn’t need anymore, one of the kids got hurt on the middle part of that sofa. The metal piece in it had gotten banged and was sticking up through the fabric at a wicked angle, and DD#4 sliced her arm on it. It went out in the yard as soon as we got her cleaned up and calmed down. The chair was joined by the leaky freezer the next week (upside down of course). Now, there they sit, waiting for the same cousin to have time to come in his pick-up and run them to the dump for us.

You know what else is out there? Daddy’s ladder. He had a day off right after the big windstorm, and we needed to put some siding back up that had blown off, so he brought the ladder for us to use. I can’t take it back to him, because I don’t have a ladder rack, and he hasn’t had another day off to come get it. Ya’ll, it’s bad out there in my yard right now.

Technorati Tags: redneck neighbor