TAXES and Dungy

Sorry I'm late this morning. Did ya miss me? I tried to finish my taxes yesterday and it kept closing down because of a fault with my Ebay toolbar. I gave up after 4 tries and went to watch the game.

Sidebar........

YEAH COLTS. Great game. I almost had a heart attack in the first 14 seconds of the game but steadied myself and rooted for my "adopted" team. I was still biting my fingers at the end, even with the lead and under 2 minutes left. I'm afraid I've been watching the BUCS for to many years to feel comfortable until the time runs completely out! I told my HSS that Coach Dungy probably felt the same way..LOL!

I must say I am so impressed with Coach Dungy's grace and the way he handles himself. I was very pleased to hear him say that as proud as he is to be the first African American coach to win a Super Bowl, he was more pleased with the way he & Coach Smith showed that Christian coaches can lead a team and win without doing any of the "junk" other coaches do. He's a great role model for everyone.

BTW, who else was disappointed in the commercials? Really subpar this year. The only one I really enjoyed was the Oprah/David Letterman one. I actually laughed out loud at that one. If you didn't find it as funny as I did you must not be a DL watcher and remember the "Oprah count down". The only other one I can remember liking at all was......hmmmmmm...I can't think of another one. Even the Bud commercials weren't as good as in years past. I liked the Dog that got dirty and got to sit on the Bud Wagon.
EDIT: My DS reminded me about the Cat wranglers. That was cute. He said he wished it was a real job. LOL!

OK, back to my taxes. I tried again this morning and it threw me out again. Since I never use the Ebay tool bar I went in & deleted it off my computer and then went back to Turbo tax and it went right through. I got it done and e-filed. I'm getting back $7 less than last year, even with buying the house. Guess it will count more after a full year of paying interest on the loan.

So, taxes are filed-Colts are World Champs-I got to see my neice/nephew in law & their kids-they got home safely-my son is home-my DD got to see the family-my HSS loves me----what more could I need or want?

Til later.......

Altered Clock

I've been wanting to make an altered clock for awhile. Yesterday I found a clock for $1.50 at a yard sale and decided it would make an interesting project. It took alot longer than it should have because I wanted the "4" to be in the 4 position and that meant an odd blank space. I finally got it to where I'm satisfied. Now I just need my HSS to put it up on the wall for me. I could do it but, he enjoys doing stuff for me so why not let him?

What do you think??

Hope you are having a great weekend. Just a few more hours until the big game. I'm so excited. I sure hope I won't be disappointed when it's over.

GO COLTS!!!

Til later..............

Autism fundraiser

Anyone that scrapbooks knows the name "Ali Edwards". She is an amazing talent and an amazing mom of a little boy with Autism. On her blog she has a link to donate to a foundation created by THE Kevin Bacon. His foundation is going to match the monies raised by the top fundraisers. Please click http://aliedwards.typepad.com for more information.

Surprise visitors & Karate Boy

My mom called yesterday and asked if I was going to be home all day today? I said yes and she told me to be sure I stayed home because "someone" wanted to drop by & see the new house. She finally admitted it was someone from Georgia and that meant my neice Jenna and her family. YEAH!!!! They came mid morning today. My sister came too so she could show them how to get to our house. That turned out to be a joke because my sister hasn't been here since we moved in. She got alittle turned around and had to call for help several times.

These are Jenna's other two kids. We tried to get the baby to stand with his brothers but he was tired and hungry and cranky so no deal. Jenna took alot of pictures that she has promised to email me when she gets home so I hope to get some great ones to scrap.

DS had his third Karate lesson last night. He really seems to be enjoying it. He's at his Dads this weekend. I called him today to see how class had gone. He said good and that he got his sparing stuff last night. I'd asked his dad to get it since I wouldn't be taking DS to class again until Monday.

Guess I'll find out tomorrow how much that is going to set me back.

Better balance the checkbook before then.

I'll leave you with some pictures of the new Karate Kid.

Super Bowl Friday & other thoughts

I can't believe the Super Bowl is this weekend. GO COLTS!!!!!!! I will be so happy if Coach Dungy is vindicated by a win. No one deserves it more, in my opinion, than he does. I say that as a Buc fan who was ashamed for the team when they fired him. I say that as a former BEARS fan (loved the Ditka team when the Fridge was running for touchdowns & McMann was the Man!). I will watch the game for the commercials like always but for the first time since the Bucs went..I'll actually care about the Game.


Greys..........good grief!!!! Great show. I can't wait to see what happens next week.

ER....good grief too!!! Can we say DNA? What a mess. Next week...do we see Abby finally agree to marry Luka? She kept referring to him as her husband last night even though she has previously refused to get married.

CSI..on tape......don't tell me!

LOST is back next week!!!!

Don't ya just love SWEEPS?


My DD called me about 11pm last night. First time I've heard from her since the 22nd. I tried not to give her any MOM guilt about not calling & I didn't give her any advise except to PLEASE be smart and go to class and get some sleep!!! DD if you read this, I LOVE YOU!!!!

I tried to get to work early today. I really did. I was going to take DS to the bus stop & leave straight from there. The bus apparently came early so I ended up having to take him to school. Got there at 7am. He informs me he can't be on campus until 7:15. Luckily for him (me) there was someone in the office and I nicely asked if he could wait in there. Yep. Great. Then I headed to Tampa and found out why people hate Morris Bridge Road in the morning. The traffic was backed up almost to Cross Creek. I left my house at 6:50am and got to work at 7:50.

Speaking of work.. We have to park in a lot approximately 1 mile from our office and take a shuttle bus to the building. Depending on your luck that can mean a wait of a few minutes up to 20 minutes for the next bus. We have a parking space at the building that belongs to our boss (yep..they can park here!!!) and she agreed to allow a lucky person to use the space on the days she has to go to another office.

Guess who's day was yesterday?

Guess who didn't know that until 4:40pm yesterday?

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

We are making a scrapbook for a supervisor that is retiring and of course I've been asked to help. We are supposed to be putting it together and doing the decorating today. (Thus the reason for my early arrival) Guess that means I'd better get my work done before we start as I'm leaving at 2:40 to go get my hair done. This three color (read that as Brown, GREY and blond) has got to go.

Hope you have a great weekend. I may check in or not depending on what is happening. I would like to post a few pictures so check back & see if I do.

OH yeah.....check out the post below. I did it late last night so you may have missed it.

Til Later....................

I made the paper!

I didn't read the paper until I got home and almost fell off the couch. In todays St. Pete Times was an article on the Kidcare meeting. The very first paragraph was my comment about the Trash can (see post below).

OMG!!!!

I still have a job

so far.

I attended the meeting last night about health care for un-insured children in Florida. I finally decided to speak & was the 20th out of 21 folks that did. I told the panel of state Senators & Representatives that I worked for CMS and we hear the stories all day long of how the enrollment process stinks. I told them that we are convinced that there is a Trash Can sitting under the FAX machine the people send their applications to. Since the families are told over & over they didn't receive their paperwork & they must resubmit it...what else can it be???

I did also call the Chairperson of the Committee, a State Senator, "Girl friend" when we were talking as we were walking to our cars (You must say "Girl friend" like you are talking to a "Sister" to appreciate how funny or not that comment was) so I may not be out of the woods yet.

OH yeah, the back of my head was on FOX news at 10am when they showed film from the meeting. In another shot, I missed out because I was sitting in the first seat on the front row and they showed the front row but the other side of the aisle from me. Oh well.


If you know anyone that doesn't have or can't afford health care coverage for their children tell them to apply to the Florida Kid Care program (www.floridakidcare.org) . They are talking about giving back 20+ million dollars because they don't have the enrollment numbers to justify the budget. As a person who works in the state system, I KNOW they need the money. Families just need to be aware the program exists and then has the patience to go through the often frustrating application process.

If you apply and are told they do not have your paperwork...................tell them to look in the above mentioned trash can.

Til Later..............