Beauty

[just bee]

So to bring down my blood pressure and raise my spirits after finding out how much I owe the Feds, I repaired (maybe) my eyeshadow.

I had to buy a bottle of rubbing alcohol for $2.49.  The eyeshadow was $0.74.

Don't mock me.

Anyway, I'm going to let it sit out overnight and wait for the alcohol to evaporate.  I could have just bought replacement eyeshadows while I was at Walgreens but that would have made way too much sense.

[just bee]

So the one step I had trouble with was compression.  Online instructions recommend using a coin to push down into the shadow and alcohol soup, but I was dealing with a square, not round, pan.

I opened the closet and found the perfect tool: The rectal thermometer case.

The thermometer was for our previous dog.  Good thing I hung on to it -- perfect fit for a wet n wild single!

[just bee]

One day left!

I'm ready for a new month; how 'bout you?

(Hoping that @aprilskies returns for Accountable April.)

[rnmom]

Bummer about the taxes @just bee. I really hate taxes. Income tax, property tax, sales tax. Sometimes it feels like there's nothing left to live on after we pay all the taxes.

I'm ready for a new month too! Looking forward to some warmer weather and maybe being able to get outside a bit. 

I hope aprilskies comes back too, I wonder where she's been? I hope everything is ok. 

[just bee]

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@rnmom wrote:

Bummer about the taxes @just bee. I really hate taxes. Income tax, property tax, sales tax. Sometimes it feels like there's nothing left to live on after we pay all the taxes.

I'm ready for a new month too! Looking forward to some warmer weather and maybe being able to get outside a bit. 

I hope aprilskies comes back too, I wonder where she's been? I hope everything is ok. 

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@rnmom 

Good thing I got the makeup splurge out of my system in March because I won't be splurging in April.  I owe a thousand more than last year and then property taxes are due in May.

My tax person suggests I get married (too late for any kiddie deductions) and alter my W-4.  Changing a number on a form doesn't change the amount I'm paying.  I just wouldn't be paying it all at the same time.  I don't see the point.

I really wanted to put some money into the yard this spring but now I have to give that some thought.

We had four days in the 70s this week and now it's cooling down.  Good chance for rain today and I have my fingers crossed.  Need to soften up the ground so I can pull some weeds.

Ah, spring.

[rnmom]

@just bee - We actually had a couple of nice days this past week too, 50's, close to 60 and sunshine. It felt amazing! First time in many months where I was able to go outside without a heavy winter coat on. We got a start on doing some outside clean up from the winter. Yesterday and today, back to a high in the 30's. Wind chill of 17 right now. I'm so over this. 

I want to put a bit of money into our yard this summer too, we could really use some new mulch and the grass is horrible, half mud and weeds. I partly blame that on the dogs, partly on the fact that we don't do a lot to maintain it.

Plus we have some other home maintenance projects that need to get taken care of this summer, so I'm going to try to continue to keep the unnecessary spending to a minimum as much as we can, because the necessary spending is going to be more than I want. 

[just bee]

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@rnmom wrote:

@just bee - We actually had a couple of nice days this past week too, 50's, close to 60 and sunshine. It felt amazing! First time in many months where I was able to go outside without a heavy winter coat on. We got a start on doing some outside clean up from the winter. Yesterday and today, back to a high in the 30's. Wind chill of 17 right now. I'm so over this. 

I want to put a bit of money into our yard this summer too, we could really use some new mulch and the grass is horrible, half mud and weeds. I partly blame that on the dogs, partly on the fact that we don't do a lot to maintain it.

Plus we have some other home maintenance projects that need to get taken care of this summer, so I'm going to try to continue to keep the unnecessary spending to a minimum as much as we can, because the necessary spending is going to be more than I want. 

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@rnmom 

I know.  When @Oshare-girl  mentioned carpets and refrigerator replacement, I started panting and my eyes glazed over.  I could see my future.  I just don't want that to be near future.

We already invested in that leak project.  The drywall guy did a great job but we didn't realize until after he left that he covered the existing holes for the grate screws.  BH has been trying to replace the grate and every time he drills into the wall, pieces of it fall to the floor.  We can't seem to find those original holes.

He just keeps repairing the damage.

Until that grate goes back up we're stuck.  I just hope he doesn't drill into a pipe.

This is why people rent.

[just bee]

Gosh, I had so much fun repairing my broken eyeshadow yesterday that I'm tempted to fix the other two.

When I compressed the brown goo with the thermometer case, I put a paper towel between it and the shadow, leaving a texture that almost looks like it had never exploded.

This is going to pay off big time, I can tell.  I suspect it's good practice for the upcoming drywall project.

[geezerette]

@just bee 

Like you, I’ve always understood that being married lowers your taxes.  But just the other day I heard a news segment that said just the opposite—that you now pay less by being single.  Who knows?  Probably not even the accountants anymore.  I don’t know what mine will be yet because I haven’t gotten them back from my accountant.  This year will probably be a little wonky, and it won’t be until next year that I’ll be filing as single.  I don’t really have much income anymore, but somehow the taxes keep going up.

My gripe this week is not with the government, but my bank.  Last year, after I got “my affairs” in order, I had my friend added to my safe deposit box.  She is my executor as well as my health care advocate and has power of attorney.  So she needs access to the original copies of all those documents if anything happens to me.  

Anyway, earlier this week I went to my bank and my box.  No record of my friend being added!    First, I was livid.  Then, I was leary.  These people have my money!  So, now I have to go back this week with my copies and see if they can find the missing paperwork.  If not, I’ll have to ask her to go back yet again.  Incredible.  Can no one do their jobs properly anymore?

Good thing I didn’t get sick before I found that out.

[just bee]

@geezerette 

I have become a paranoid freak in my old age because I have to check, double-check and sometimes triple-check others who promise that something has been done properly.

Why is this so?

Lack of ACCOUNTABILITY.

We are just so timely here, aren't we?