In this part of the U.S. this week is the winter school vacation. This dates back to the 1970s when there was an energy shortage and closing the schools this week saved a week of expensive heating of the schools. For those of you not in the U.S. the third Monday in February is an annual Monday holiday related to George Washington’s (our first President back in the 1780s) birthday which is February 22. It is still officially called “George Washington’s Birthday”, but since the purpose of it is to celebrate all of our Presidents, it is commonly called “President’s Day”. So, around here the 3 day weekend resulting from this Monday holiday was extended to a week of no school.
While many to most people are off from work on Monday, only those working at schools have the week off. The only connection that others have with the week off is what to do with their children while the children are off from school and they are working. Husband worked at an agency for children with mental health problems which followed a school year as it was also a school program for the children so he is used to this week being a vacation week. While he was still working and I was working full time for myself (back when we still stayed at hotels when traveling) we would go away this week to Lancaster, PA. It would be nice and quiet as was/is not a school vacation in Pennsylvania and in many other adjacent states so not many people were traveling mid week.
Husband had planned to go there for the day this coming Friday - but it is suppose to rain, so he moved it back to Tuesday (yesterday) which was suppose to be and was nice. At the last minute he changed his mind and we did not go.
Okay you are thinking - What does this have to do with organizing?
Well, a lot actually. If we are going away - even for a day - I have to plan around the trip to get done what regularly needs to be done in the house plus have everything ready for the trip. Even a day trip seems to take a bit of packing these days. I bring my work laptop, which has to be charged. I bring a small case with a spare wallet, just in case we were robbed while traveling or one of us lost their wallet and the credit cards had to be canceled. There is a credit card for me that he does have and a credit card for him that I do not have, there is extra cash, and there are assorted store cards and such which are for stores out of the area. We used to carry Travelers checks in also, but found out that no one takes them any longer so we (with much trouble) cashed them in a couple of years ago. I bring a spare set of one day’s medications - just in case. I might also have some craft business related papers so if we buy materials (fabric, wood, yarn) that will go into something we are making for sale, we will not have to pay sales tax - different forms for different states. If we are looking for something specific to buy while away we might bring something to match it to for size, color, etc. Depending on the weather we might bring warmer - or cooler coats/sweaters than we plan to wear - maybe even a rain coat when it is warmer weather if rain is possible. We also might bring a spare pair of shoes each - again depending on the weather. So much for the carefree easy travel of our younger years.
This year we have been traveling on these one day trips to Lancaster in our RV. Not that we plan to stay, but the RV is not driven enough - especially off RV season (late fall to early spring) and the engine needs the exercise. Last year we did not so this and we went to have our annual state inspection for the RV, it had not been driven enough for the tests to work, so we had to drive it locally for a few hours just to put enough mileage on it. Waste of time, waste of gas and we had to work it out so we went and came back between rush hours. So we take the RV when we go to Lancaster for day trips - well, this would have been the second time we did so. The other advantage to taking the RV is that the refrigerator can be turned on in it when we leave in the morning and will be cold by the time we are there. A can of soda for lunch will still be cold (especially if it is cold outside) when we have it and we can buy food items we like that are local to Lancaster and not available at home that need to be refrigerated and bring them home safely. (Last year when we went with the car husband bought chicken salad - he likes the type they make there and not what they make here) without the fridge and it got too hot in the cold bag in the back of the car, even with ice blocks in it and it had to be tossed.
So Monday I pointed out that if we were going away on Tuesday, we should get extra cash at the bank and did so. When we came home I packed what papers and such we would bring with us and had the laptop ready to charge. I then paid bills which were due out today so they would be ready to go out today even though we would not have been home yesterday.
Then Monday night - after not doing things I planned to do Monday so we could go away, he decided we were not going. It was a question I asked - “Do we need to take the stuff we stored in the RV out of it?” There is all sorts of stuff for the RV that we keep in the house when traveling (in the dining room) and then put in it for the off season so we have a nice dining room for the holidays. He thought about it and the fact it was raining and decided not to go.
So I got a day to work at home that I had not planned on.
I managed to finish filling the corporation tax forms for a client - due March 15. I still have to proofread it (and check the numbers and math) and print it all out, but the hard part is done.
I have been working on storing the Christmas stuff. I took the ornaments off the dining room tree and took the tree apart to store. It goes in a cardboard octagonal box (opens down the length of the box) which then “slides” into a carry bag (opens on one end). It has never been easy to get it into the box - much squeezing and many hand scratches and packing tape to hold the box together and then hard to get the box into the bag. This year the entire setup exploded - okay, part was my fault. I thought there were 3 sections to the tree (in height) and there are four. I was so confused that the tree section was longer than the box that the box got ripped apart on one end from my attempts. Even after I figured it out and took the 2 sections apart - the box was far gone. I then tried to tie each of the tree sections together so the branches would be compacted into place for storage - did not work either. I finally sort of got the box together - much packing tape - and still it only fit partway into the bag as the box was not as compact as it should be. I gave up - the entire thing was put downstairs on the box the main tree is stored in, as is.
I packed up the large figures we have in the living room. Someone husband worked with would give him these figures as a Christmas gift. Somehow they grew on us and we kept them even though we would not have bought them - well... It started with a Santa who is about 3 or 4 feet tall. He was joined by a wooden elf a bit shorter. Then a Santa who is a bear with toys and a bird in a cage. I had made separately and unrelated an elf who is making a doll - he joined the others instead of sitting standoffishly across the room. We found a small plastic Santa from when husband was a boy. I liked a girl elf figure that finally came down cheaper enough (well below 50% off) who joined them. Add 2 angel bears and it is a friendly group. It goes where a chair is moved to the dining room during Christmas to get it out of the way. They are also stored on top of the box for the main Christmas tree - in large plastic bags.
Then I took the small figures - mostly bears (oh, the angels above join them in storage) and stored them in their box in the basement. Our Christmas stockings (embroidered and commercial) and some other “soft” decorations I have made store in the box with them.
Three fancy gift boxes I use for storage have been packed with the items stored in them each year and are upstairs for storage when the Teddy Village comes down (they go in the trunk the village is on).
While doing the laundry now, I brought up the last 2 boxes to store Christmas decorations in - except the bear village. I will pack these two over the next couple of days.
So, we missed out on a day trip, but I have made good use of the day we were home instead - and kept working until it was done .
To feel a bit like we had a trip we went out to dinner tonight to a fancier (more expensive) Asian buffet tonight. The really nice one is much more than we felt like spending this year (technically this is our Christmas dinner out) so we went to one in between. Very nice and much better than the ones we go to normally. It made him happy and it that is worth it.
THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEK -
1 - Even short day trips work better with a bit of planning.
2 - When one gets an unexpected day to get work done - get as much done as possible.
Thursday, February 22, 2018
Thursday, February 15, 2018
INCOME TAXES ARE HERE AGAIN
Well it is February and time to think about (at least here in the US) income taxes. With the exception of a few rare documents, most of the forms about your income were required to be mailed to you by January 31 and you should have received them.
Again, while I am an accountant and tax preparer of over 40 years, nothing should be taken as specific income tax advice and you should consult someone who can help you with your personal situation. The information I am giving is general information to help you organize what you need for your income taxes - this varies greatly depending on one’s individual circumstances.
The most common forms that people receive about their income are the forms W2 for wages and withholding from their employer, a variety of different forms with the number 1099 (dividends, interest, capital gains, pension, IRA, and other types of income), and if one has an interest in a partnership, a “subchapter S corporation”, a trust, an estate, or an LLC form K1. (The latter are due out by March 15 as these organizations need a bit more time to prepare the forms as their tax returns have to be done first.) You know these forms have been coming in - have you collected them in one place - a folder, an envelope or some other type of holder? If not - go and find them - now. They are of the utmost importance in preparing your tax returns. These are income amounts paid to you (and/or your spouse and possibly children) and you want to check them to see if they are correct (generally they are) and have them together as these amounts have been sent to the Federal government and possibly also your state to be matched up with your tax return when you file. It is better not to miss any - but if you do, you will hear about it and receive a correction to your return.
If you have medical insurance through the ACA Healthcare Marketplace(aka Obamacare) you will receive a form 1095 which is needed to calculate if you received the correct amount of advanced credit to offset your medical insurance costs - or if you owe money on same or are entitled to a larger credit.
Now that is the easy part. The items you can deduct vary depending on who you are, what you do, the kind of job you have, where and how you live, etc. A summary of what you might need or have follows -
Medical expenses - records of amounts paid to doctors, dentists, pharmacies, eye glasses, medical insurance and other deductible medical expenses. Since I post my checks into a checkbook software program, I can get a printout of all the items in question. Don’t forget to include items paid by check or credit card or cash - cash being the one that is hardest to keep your receipts for. Did you know that if you can deduct your medical expenses you can deduct transportation for medical related trips? If you use your car there is per mile amount allowed plus any tolls or parking costs. If you take a taxi cab or similar or take a train a receipt from same will help you deduct these costs if your situation allows you to itemize your medical expenses. These will be needed if you itemize your deductions.
Income taxes - if all of your income taxes are withheld from your wages or other income this is easier, but many of us also pay estimated taxes during the year. While the amounts withheld will be shown on your W2 (and possibly on some 1099 forms) you have to keep track yourself of any amounts which you paid for estimated taxes - to IRS and your state (and possibly other states if you work in a state other than the one you work in). In addition to needing this information if you itemize your deductions you will need it as well as to be able to properly take credit for the taxes you have paid in against your final calculated tax for the year so that you pay the correct amount due or get the correct overpayment amount.
If you own your home and pay real estate taxes - make sure you have that amount (the changes from the tax law effect your 2018 tax, not the current tax which is your 2017 tax, so the limitations in the new law do not apply for this filing. It is deductible if you itemize your tax deductions. Also, if you have a mortgage on your home you should have received a form 1098 which will tell you how much interest you paid on the mortgage for the year so you can deduct it if you itemize your deductions.
Sales taxes based on a chart amount based on where you live and your income plus large purchases (such as a car) are deductible instead of your state and local income taxes if the sales tax amount is larger - remember this is an either or situation (either state and local incomes OR sales taxes).
There are other taxes which may be deductible depending on your state and other matters.
If you make contributions you should have received receipts for your contributions. If you contributed a monetary amount it will show how much the organization shows you contributed. (Sometimes these are end of the year statements from the organization.) If you contributed “stuff” - you know you have all the items you are clearing out of your home as you organize and you gave it to Goodwill, Salvation Army, St Vincent de Paul Society, or the rummage sale at your church - you should have a receipt - but they are not allow to tell you what the items are worth. You can go to the Salvation Army’s website and find a listing of what the range of values for these items are or check the items on E-bay to see what the item is selling for.
If you have expenses related to your job - union dues, required uniforms, transportation if you travel between multiple locations other than your “commute” (first and last trip of the day), required education (but not to meet the minimum requirements of the job or to qualify for another job) and such they may be deductible this year (as of now they are not deducible next year) and can be deducted on your return as Miscellaneous deductions (there at the bottom of Schedule A). Expenses related to your income is also deductible here - your bank vault if you keep income, information you paid for to help you make investment decisions, your income tax preparation cost, and some other items.
A problem with two of the above type of deductions. With the exception of medical and “miscellaneous deductions” you can deduct what you paid. However, you can only deduct your medical expenses over a percentage of your income and the same - but a smaller percentage - with the miscellaneous deductions.
If you are paid for employee related expenses - your boss reimburses you or gives you a per diem when you travel for example - make sure to check with your tax preparer about deducting the expenses you paid. This can be done on a different form than above, up to the amount you received in reimbursement.
If you are self-employed and file Schedule C with your return, of course you also need whatever expenses you paid out for your business during the year.
Remember this year’s taxes are basically the same as last year’s. It is the returns that you will in 2019 which will reflect the changes made to the income tax law for this year - 2018. Be aware that the amounts being withheld from wages based on the new tax law may or may not be correct for you as everyone is different. I don’t have all the information to correctly prepare estimated taxes for clients who need to file them. In the past I would presume all would be the same - this year I cannot.
While the standard deduction is being raised, and along with that more people will probably be using it due to limitations on deductions - remember the standard deduction is not really being “doubled” but going up from $12,700 to $24,000 (difference of $11,300) for married couples and from $6350 to $12,000 (difference of $5650) for single people.
At the same time, as I understand it, another deduction called the “Personal Exemption” is being eliminated. For 2017 this amount was $4050 each for you - if you are filing jointly - your spouse, and for each of your dependent children. In addition if you - and your spouse if you are filing jointly - are entitled to an additional Personal exemption if you are legally blind or over age 65.
So, in 2017 a single person is entitled to $6350 plus $4050 (if they have no children and are not blind or over 65) which is a total of $10,400 - which is only $1600 less than the new standard deduction. If one is single and has a child and/or is legally blind or over 65 the new standard deduction for 2018 will be less than they could deduct for the combined 2017 standard deduction combined with the personal exemptions.
In 2017 a married couple is entitled to $12,700 plus a personal exemption each (again, if they have no children and neither is legally blind or over 65) of $4050 which comes to $20,800. This is only $3200 less than they will receive next year. Again, if there are any children or either of the spouses is legally blind or they have children - they will be deducting less in 2018 than they would be able to deduct for the combined 2017 standard deduction combined with the personal exemptions.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK -
Income taxes need planning before you go to your tax preparer. Make sure you have all of your income items as well as any items that you may be able to use for an itemized deduction - in case they come to more than your standard deduction, and if you are self-employed for your business related expenses.
Now is also the time to think about next year. Get a file or a large envelope - label it - and start putting in items that are related to your income taxes next year - better to throw a receipt in that is not deductible than to be missing one next year.
Again, this is general information and not tax preparation information related to you. Check with your tax preparer about your specific information needed.
Again, while I am an accountant and tax preparer of over 40 years, nothing should be taken as specific income tax advice and you should consult someone who can help you with your personal situation. The information I am giving is general information to help you organize what you need for your income taxes - this varies greatly depending on one’s individual circumstances.
The most common forms that people receive about their income are the forms W2 for wages and withholding from their employer, a variety of different forms with the number 1099 (dividends, interest, capital gains, pension, IRA, and other types of income), and if one has an interest in a partnership, a “subchapter S corporation”, a trust, an estate, or an LLC form K1. (The latter are due out by March 15 as these organizations need a bit more time to prepare the forms as their tax returns have to be done first.) You know these forms have been coming in - have you collected them in one place - a folder, an envelope or some other type of holder? If not - go and find them - now. They are of the utmost importance in preparing your tax returns. These are income amounts paid to you (and/or your spouse and possibly children) and you want to check them to see if they are correct (generally they are) and have them together as these amounts have been sent to the Federal government and possibly also your state to be matched up with your tax return when you file. It is better not to miss any - but if you do, you will hear about it and receive a correction to your return.
If you have medical insurance through the ACA Healthcare Marketplace(aka Obamacare) you will receive a form 1095 which is needed to calculate if you received the correct amount of advanced credit to offset your medical insurance costs - or if you owe money on same or are entitled to a larger credit.
Now that is the easy part. The items you can deduct vary depending on who you are, what you do, the kind of job you have, where and how you live, etc. A summary of what you might need or have follows -
Medical expenses - records of amounts paid to doctors, dentists, pharmacies, eye glasses, medical insurance and other deductible medical expenses. Since I post my checks into a checkbook software program, I can get a printout of all the items in question. Don’t forget to include items paid by check or credit card or cash - cash being the one that is hardest to keep your receipts for. Did you know that if you can deduct your medical expenses you can deduct transportation for medical related trips? If you use your car there is per mile amount allowed plus any tolls or parking costs. If you take a taxi cab or similar or take a train a receipt from same will help you deduct these costs if your situation allows you to itemize your medical expenses. These will be needed if you itemize your deductions.
Income taxes - if all of your income taxes are withheld from your wages or other income this is easier, but many of us also pay estimated taxes during the year. While the amounts withheld will be shown on your W2 (and possibly on some 1099 forms) you have to keep track yourself of any amounts which you paid for estimated taxes - to IRS and your state (and possibly other states if you work in a state other than the one you work in). In addition to needing this information if you itemize your deductions you will need it as well as to be able to properly take credit for the taxes you have paid in against your final calculated tax for the year so that you pay the correct amount due or get the correct overpayment amount.
If you own your home and pay real estate taxes - make sure you have that amount (the changes from the tax law effect your 2018 tax, not the current tax which is your 2017 tax, so the limitations in the new law do not apply for this filing. It is deductible if you itemize your tax deductions. Also, if you have a mortgage on your home you should have received a form 1098 which will tell you how much interest you paid on the mortgage for the year so you can deduct it if you itemize your deductions.
Sales taxes based on a chart amount based on where you live and your income plus large purchases (such as a car) are deductible instead of your state and local income taxes if the sales tax amount is larger - remember this is an either or situation (either state and local incomes OR sales taxes).
There are other taxes which may be deductible depending on your state and other matters.
If you make contributions you should have received receipts for your contributions. If you contributed a monetary amount it will show how much the organization shows you contributed. (Sometimes these are end of the year statements from the organization.) If you contributed “stuff” - you know you have all the items you are clearing out of your home as you organize and you gave it to Goodwill, Salvation Army, St Vincent de Paul Society, or the rummage sale at your church - you should have a receipt - but they are not allow to tell you what the items are worth. You can go to the Salvation Army’s website and find a listing of what the range of values for these items are or check the items on E-bay to see what the item is selling for.
If you have expenses related to your job - union dues, required uniforms, transportation if you travel between multiple locations other than your “commute” (first and last trip of the day), required education (but not to meet the minimum requirements of the job or to qualify for another job) and such they may be deductible this year (as of now they are not deducible next year) and can be deducted on your return as Miscellaneous deductions (there at the bottom of Schedule A). Expenses related to your income is also deductible here - your bank vault if you keep income, information you paid for to help you make investment decisions, your income tax preparation cost, and some other items.
A problem with two of the above type of deductions. With the exception of medical and “miscellaneous deductions” you can deduct what you paid. However, you can only deduct your medical expenses over a percentage of your income and the same - but a smaller percentage - with the miscellaneous deductions.
If you are paid for employee related expenses - your boss reimburses you or gives you a per diem when you travel for example - make sure to check with your tax preparer about deducting the expenses you paid. This can be done on a different form than above, up to the amount you received in reimbursement.
If you are self-employed and file Schedule C with your return, of course you also need whatever expenses you paid out for your business during the year.
Remember this year’s taxes are basically the same as last year’s. It is the returns that you will in 2019 which will reflect the changes made to the income tax law for this year - 2018. Be aware that the amounts being withheld from wages based on the new tax law may or may not be correct for you as everyone is different. I don’t have all the information to correctly prepare estimated taxes for clients who need to file them. In the past I would presume all would be the same - this year I cannot.
While the standard deduction is being raised, and along with that more people will probably be using it due to limitations on deductions - remember the standard deduction is not really being “doubled” but going up from $12,700 to $24,000 (difference of $11,300) for married couples and from $6350 to $12,000 (difference of $5650) for single people.
At the same time, as I understand it, another deduction called the “Personal Exemption” is being eliminated. For 2017 this amount was $4050 each for you - if you are filing jointly - your spouse, and for each of your dependent children. In addition if you - and your spouse if you are filing jointly - are entitled to an additional Personal exemption if you are legally blind or over age 65.
So, in 2017 a single person is entitled to $6350 plus $4050 (if they have no children and are not blind or over 65) which is a total of $10,400 - which is only $1600 less than the new standard deduction. If one is single and has a child and/or is legally blind or over 65 the new standard deduction for 2018 will be less than they could deduct for the combined 2017 standard deduction combined with the personal exemptions.
In 2017 a married couple is entitled to $12,700 plus a personal exemption each (again, if they have no children and neither is legally blind or over 65) of $4050 which comes to $20,800. This is only $3200 less than they will receive next year. Again, if there are any children or either of the spouses is legally blind or they have children - they will be deducting less in 2018 than they would be able to deduct for the combined 2017 standard deduction combined with the personal exemptions.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK -
Income taxes need planning before you go to your tax preparer. Make sure you have all of your income items as well as any items that you may be able to use for an itemized deduction - in case they come to more than your standard deduction, and if you are self-employed for your business related expenses.
Now is also the time to think about next year. Get a file or a large envelope - label it - and start putting in items that are related to your income taxes next year - better to throw a receipt in that is not deductible than to be missing one next year.
Again, this is general information and not tax preparation information related to you. Check with your tax preparer about your specific information needed.
Thursday, February 8, 2018
NO MATTER WHAT ONE DOES - IT CAN GO WRONG
This week was to be a busy one for me. I was suppose to give a talk at my embroidery chapter meeting - today, Wednesday, and I also had to go to the same client again as she will going out of town and I have to do her books for February. And we had to go and take money from husband’s IRA to pay bills.
I spent the evenings the past week working on the talk about the history of embroidery samplers. I made an outline of what I wanted to say, both so I would not forget anything and would not wander - I tend to wander even more when I speak than I do when I write. I checked information that I knew, just to make sure I remembered it correctly. I searched for photos of samplers online to download and print out to show and pass around at the meeting, both to explain what I was saying, and because I knew the ladies in my group would love to see them - probably even more than listen to me talk.
I had started working on the research a week or so later than I planned to do so, but as of Monday night, my notes were finished (well, okay, I remembered something afterwards to add) and I had photos of samplers I liked and which went with talk. My husband was going to print the sampler photos for me on Tuesday afternoon and evening. He was bit miffed that I was not using any of the photos he has taken over the years of samplers at exhibitions, but polite about it. (I only was not using them as I have seen his photo organization - everything has the original number assigned to it and is a folder by year of every photo he took that year.) I was going to bring a reproduction of a 1700s sampler I had stitched - and I had a photo of the original. I planned to bring about 3 or 4 of the books I have with photos and info about samplers. Yes, for once I was organized and not going to have to work in a panic at the last minute - I am a major procrastinator. The weather since last week had said it would rain today - I figured out how to pack what I was bringing (especially the reproduction sampler and books) so it would not get wet.
Yesterday we went to the banks and dealt with moving money around. I had been unsure if I should go to the client yesterday or tomorrow and tomorrow was suppose to be the better weather day and it gave me more time to prepare for the talk. Everything was going great.
Then yesterday the weather report changed! The rain today changed to snow - not too much in this area, but it would be coming down while everyone was driving to the meeting and some members come from the county to the east and others from the county to the west - and let’s face it - we are a bunch of, literally, old ladies. Heck, I live around the corner and up the block from where we meet and I was concerned about driving to the meeting. I kept figuring I would hear from the chapter president to talk about the weather, but I did not. Finally I telephoned her - good thing, she had not heard about the weather. So, we split the membership list to call and tell them the meeting was canceled (not a big group and there are members who are friends and/or come to meetings together so we can call one and have them let the other know).
So, now I have a lot of time as I will not be giving the talk until May. I will not get complacent and will make sure husband has time to leisurely print the photos and he will time to look for a few photos he took for me. (I like to make him happy as much as he likes to make me happy.)
So I planned to call my client and ask if I could come tomorrow - but the weather is to be below freezing and it is still raining on and off, so ice is a good possibility. She is not always in on Fridays, but luckily this week she is, so I will go then when it was to be a tiny bit warmer and dry. Of course once I made the appointment there was suddenly a 20% chance of snow on Friday! But the local news covers parts of 3 states and the sections north and west of us tend to be the more likely to have snow, so I am hoping I will not get stuck driving in snow.
Spent the afternoon catching up on things on the computer as I had not expected to be home. Found some items online I promised to email to my mom and did so. A few bank statements had come in, so I did the bank recs on them, so they are done with for the month. I scanned magazine articles for my husband - in case the idea is forgotten - he had a number of issues of a reenacting magazine that for some years he no longer subscribes to. I suggested he go through the magazines, mark the articles he is interested in and I would scan the articles so he would have them if needed or wanted (and they could be magnified easily so he could read them easier) and then get rid of the magazines. Oh, and the file can also be searched if he is looking for info on a specific topic. I do this “between” other things. Today I got rid of 3 more issues. I also went through the work from last year for this client so that if I have any questions about anything I can look it up Friday to correct it.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK -
“The best laid plans of mice and men...” There are going to be times when what one plans goes awry - much more often than one expects. One just has to go with it. If you end up with time planned for one thing and then not doing that one thing, figure out what else to use the time for. I am now ahead on other things that I would have to do anyway and I am ready - except for printing the photos - for when I give the talk in May and I will be much more relaxed as I will not have had to rush to put together the talk then. Maybe I will even find some source for some things I know and cannot remember where I read them.
I spent the evenings the past week working on the talk about the history of embroidery samplers. I made an outline of what I wanted to say, both so I would not forget anything and would not wander - I tend to wander even more when I speak than I do when I write. I checked information that I knew, just to make sure I remembered it correctly. I searched for photos of samplers online to download and print out to show and pass around at the meeting, both to explain what I was saying, and because I knew the ladies in my group would love to see them - probably even more than listen to me talk.
I had started working on the research a week or so later than I planned to do so, but as of Monday night, my notes were finished (well, okay, I remembered something afterwards to add) and I had photos of samplers I liked and which went with talk. My husband was going to print the sampler photos for me on Tuesday afternoon and evening. He was bit miffed that I was not using any of the photos he has taken over the years of samplers at exhibitions, but polite about it. (I only was not using them as I have seen his photo organization - everything has the original number assigned to it and is a folder by year of every photo he took that year.) I was going to bring a reproduction of a 1700s sampler I had stitched - and I had a photo of the original. I planned to bring about 3 or 4 of the books I have with photos and info about samplers. Yes, for once I was organized and not going to have to work in a panic at the last minute - I am a major procrastinator. The weather since last week had said it would rain today - I figured out how to pack what I was bringing (especially the reproduction sampler and books) so it would not get wet.
Yesterday we went to the banks and dealt with moving money around. I had been unsure if I should go to the client yesterday or tomorrow and tomorrow was suppose to be the better weather day and it gave me more time to prepare for the talk. Everything was going great.
Then yesterday the weather report changed! The rain today changed to snow - not too much in this area, but it would be coming down while everyone was driving to the meeting and some members come from the county to the east and others from the county to the west - and let’s face it - we are a bunch of, literally, old ladies. Heck, I live around the corner and up the block from where we meet and I was concerned about driving to the meeting. I kept figuring I would hear from the chapter president to talk about the weather, but I did not. Finally I telephoned her - good thing, she had not heard about the weather. So, we split the membership list to call and tell them the meeting was canceled (not a big group and there are members who are friends and/or come to meetings together so we can call one and have them let the other know).
So, now I have a lot of time as I will not be giving the talk until May. I will not get complacent and will make sure husband has time to leisurely print the photos and he will time to look for a few photos he took for me. (I like to make him happy as much as he likes to make me happy.)
So I planned to call my client and ask if I could come tomorrow - but the weather is to be below freezing and it is still raining on and off, so ice is a good possibility. She is not always in on Fridays, but luckily this week she is, so I will go then when it was to be a tiny bit warmer and dry. Of course once I made the appointment there was suddenly a 20% chance of snow on Friday! But the local news covers parts of 3 states and the sections north and west of us tend to be the more likely to have snow, so I am hoping I will not get stuck driving in snow.
Spent the afternoon catching up on things on the computer as I had not expected to be home. Found some items online I promised to email to my mom and did so. A few bank statements had come in, so I did the bank recs on them, so they are done with for the month. I scanned magazine articles for my husband - in case the idea is forgotten - he had a number of issues of a reenacting magazine that for some years he no longer subscribes to. I suggested he go through the magazines, mark the articles he is interested in and I would scan the articles so he would have them if needed or wanted (and they could be magnified easily so he could read them easier) and then get rid of the magazines. Oh, and the file can also be searched if he is looking for info on a specific topic. I do this “between” other things. Today I got rid of 3 more issues. I also went through the work from last year for this client so that if I have any questions about anything I can look it up Friday to correct it.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK -
“The best laid plans of mice and men...” There are going to be times when what one plans goes awry - much more often than one expects. One just has to go with it. If you end up with time planned for one thing and then not doing that one thing, figure out what else to use the time for. I am now ahead on other things that I would have to do anyway and I am ready - except for printing the photos - for when I give the talk in May and I will be much more relaxed as I will not have had to rush to put together the talk then. Maybe I will even find some source for some things I know and cannot remember where I read them.
Thursday, February 1, 2018
HELPING MY HUSBAND ORGANIZE
Last Thursday I went to my client and of course everything went wrong - including my laptop dying and I did not have the cord with me. The drive home took 2 hours, but at least my car did not stall. I got home late and had to finish up from work around making dinner, etc. that evening. A rather anxiety causing day.
Husband is a big James Bond fan and he has a collection - of just about anything James Bond. Last year we managed to clear some book shelf space in our bedroom to move his books into there from our office as we needed the shelf space for other books. (We have LOTS of books of a variety of types, mostly informational, as opposed to fiction such as the Bond books.) I figured out I could store the stuff that had been on the shelves in the bedroom (moved there for safety when the house was treated for bedbugs) which was other assorted Bond items - magazine articles and such in plastic boxes on one side of the floor in the spare bedroom closets (a suitcase and a wheeled backpack take up the rest of the floor space - each filled with some other similar pieces we wanted to keep when we cleared out our luggage a few years ago). There are also 4 “tubes” with posters of varying subjects - including, of course, James Bond, that are stored standing on the floor.
Husband also has a shortage of space in his dresser for his clothes. One drawer was filled with additional James Bond stuff. So I had an idea. We bought 2 more plastic boxes (making 4 all together) and I fit the stuff in the drawer, the rest of what did not fit in the first 2 boxes, and some Bond items in an office closet into these 2 boxes.
I then went back to the bedroom and started going through husband’s sock and underwear drawer. He has more socks than he needs, but has trouble finding socks, so will not get rid of any. I moved the socks that he rarely (meaning never) wears to the bottom drawer that had the Bond stuff in it. I moved his junk jewelry to the bottom drawer - never used. I moved his new shoelaces “collection” to the bottom drawer (and will add the ones in my drawer when I guess a chance). I moved his warm weather socks to the bottom drawer - you know, the very heavy ones that one only wears if the temperature is really low and one’s feet might freeze. I separated the items in the bottom drawer into shoe boxes (and a space between them) to organize them for him. I then went back to his top drawer and sorted the socks so each style of socks was separate - with a space for the ones in the laundry. I had a shoe box on one side of the drawer for eyeglasses, cases for same, and pocket knives. I found a “space pen” that we had not been able to find and had replaced. Not bad for maybe 45 minutes work at most.
I was so glad that now his drawers would be neat - after all I had previously organized his sweatshirts, tee shirts and pjs right? I showed him what I did (understand he knew I was going to do this in advance) and he was happy (not egacstatic - who would be, but “great, that is wonderful” happy).. I had not been able to find some socks I knew he had for sleeping and asked him about them. He found them on top of his dresser and I stored them in the drawer. Finally, done!
Ha, ha. He showed me the tee shirts stacked on his dresser top. I thought that they were in use - no, he had no place for them. I started pulling open the middle drawers as everything used to fit. One drawer was partially filled with clothing and partially filled with electronics - mostly old electronics and some space around it all.
So, when I get another 45 minutes or so, this drawer will gone through to see what is in there and what can be done with it. I had found plastic photo slide cases (for one to set their own slide film into slides) in his top drawer - do you all remember slides? I then put them in with other photo stuff elsewhere.
I have been working on the notes for the talk I am going to give next week (hopefully it will not snow and result in a canceled meeting) at my embroidery chapter. I have also been noting photos I want to print to show the members. I was bound and determined not to rush and do this at the last minute (even this is later than I planed to do it) and I am sticking with that.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK -
Sometime someone in your household needs help with their organizing. Help them - but offer first, don’t just “touch their stuff” without permission. If you know what you will do explain it to them first. Don’t throw out anything (unless it really, really is garbage) without permission. I know that every scrap of paper was something he wanted. The one or two tiny scraps I was unsure of I asked about and was told what they were and that they needed to be kept. We all have stuff that makes no sense to others for us to keep, but we really feel those items are special.
Husband is a big James Bond fan and he has a collection - of just about anything James Bond. Last year we managed to clear some book shelf space in our bedroom to move his books into there from our office as we needed the shelf space for other books. (We have LOTS of books of a variety of types, mostly informational, as opposed to fiction such as the Bond books.) I figured out I could store the stuff that had been on the shelves in the bedroom (moved there for safety when the house was treated for bedbugs) which was other assorted Bond items - magazine articles and such in plastic boxes on one side of the floor in the spare bedroom closets (a suitcase and a wheeled backpack take up the rest of the floor space - each filled with some other similar pieces we wanted to keep when we cleared out our luggage a few years ago). There are also 4 “tubes” with posters of varying subjects - including, of course, James Bond, that are stored standing on the floor.
Husband also has a shortage of space in his dresser for his clothes. One drawer was filled with additional James Bond stuff. So I had an idea. We bought 2 more plastic boxes (making 4 all together) and I fit the stuff in the drawer, the rest of what did not fit in the first 2 boxes, and some Bond items in an office closet into these 2 boxes.
I then went back to the bedroom and started going through husband’s sock and underwear drawer. He has more socks than he needs, but has trouble finding socks, so will not get rid of any. I moved the socks that he rarely (meaning never) wears to the bottom drawer that had the Bond stuff in it. I moved his junk jewelry to the bottom drawer - never used. I moved his new shoelaces “collection” to the bottom drawer (and will add the ones in my drawer when I guess a chance). I moved his warm weather socks to the bottom drawer - you know, the very heavy ones that one only wears if the temperature is really low and one’s feet might freeze. I separated the items in the bottom drawer into shoe boxes (and a space between them) to organize them for him. I then went back to his top drawer and sorted the socks so each style of socks was separate - with a space for the ones in the laundry. I had a shoe box on one side of the drawer for eyeglasses, cases for same, and pocket knives. I found a “space pen” that we had not been able to find and had replaced. Not bad for maybe 45 minutes work at most.
I was so glad that now his drawers would be neat - after all I had previously organized his sweatshirts, tee shirts and pjs right? I showed him what I did (understand he knew I was going to do this in advance) and he was happy (not egacstatic - who would be, but “great, that is wonderful” happy).. I had not been able to find some socks I knew he had for sleeping and asked him about them. He found them on top of his dresser and I stored them in the drawer. Finally, done!
Ha, ha. He showed me the tee shirts stacked on his dresser top. I thought that they were in use - no, he had no place for them. I started pulling open the middle drawers as everything used to fit. One drawer was partially filled with clothing and partially filled with electronics - mostly old electronics and some space around it all.
So, when I get another 45 minutes or so, this drawer will gone through to see what is in there and what can be done with it. I had found plastic photo slide cases (for one to set their own slide film into slides) in his top drawer - do you all remember slides? I then put them in with other photo stuff elsewhere.
I have been working on the notes for the talk I am going to give next week (hopefully it will not snow and result in a canceled meeting) at my embroidery chapter. I have also been noting photos I want to print to show the members. I was bound and determined not to rush and do this at the last minute (even this is later than I planed to do it) and I am sticking with that.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK -
Sometime someone in your household needs help with their organizing. Help them - but offer first, don’t just “touch their stuff” without permission. If you know what you will do explain it to them first. Don’t throw out anything (unless it really, really is garbage) without permission. I know that every scrap of paper was something he wanted. The one or two tiny scraps I was unsure of I asked about and was told what they were and that they needed to be kept. We all have stuff that makes no sense to others for us to keep, but we really feel those items are special.
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