Merry Christmas

Took my Mom shopping for Christmas presents and mailed her great-grandchildren gifts in the box I sent mine in. We had some warm temperatures at the beginning of the month, I saw people wearing shorts in December. Then it rained and overnight switched to winter snow. We got a few inches. Had to buy a couch cuase the springs in the old one broke to give me a bad back. Found out a coworker was getting laid off for 6 weeks so hurried up to finish my Christmas treats before their last day. Brought my homemade treats to work for coworkers to enjoy. I brought Almond Bark Pretzels, Fudge, Pink Champagne Cupckaes, Peanut Butter Cookies with a Hershey Kiss, Sugar Cookies, and Gingerbread People. 3 out of 5 containers I held the treats disappeared. Next year I will stop brining treats. I can't afford to keep buying new containers. Made my deliveries of a box of treats to my mechanic, chiropractor, postal carrier, and receptionist at my Mom's senior living center.The governor released soem of the Covid Restrictions so people were happy to eat in restaurants again. Discovered the taste of hot green tea at my hotel front desk job. I rather like this hot green tea, don't even need sugar added. My hotel job gave the Christmas Bonus of a turkey and gift card to a chain store. I got online and ordered myself a new comforter. I put the old one in the ferret room for them to cuddle in. It is a warm blanket, but the padding had crushed down so much I can't feel it. We had a blizzard with 50 mph winds and low temperatures to give us a White Christmas. Worked the overnight shift on Christmas Eve and opened the pet gifts from Santa when I got home. I went to bed for a goo 5 hours to wake up to go visit my brother's house. Spent quality time with brother, sister-in-law, sister, brother-in-law, niece, nephew, our Mom, and our Aunt. They enjoyed my treats. Then at bedtime, I returned to work to work the overnight shift. Merry Christmas Everyone.

Christmas Story 2020

Twas the night before Christmas and I could hardly bare it

Not a creature was stirring not even a ferret

The stockings were hung on the bookcase with care

In hopes that St. Nicholas would bring toys to share

The ferrets were nestled all snug in their bedspreads

While visions of red balls and feathers danced in their heads

I Bilbo was curled up on Mama’s pillow

With Misty on her feet like a fluffy marshmellow

When out on the lawn I heard a dog bark

I sprang from the bed after viewing a bright spark

Away to the window we pounced in a flurry

The ferrets jumped out of the sheets in a hurry

The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow

Covered up the leaves where raccoons like to go

When what to my wandering cat eyes should appear

But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer

With a little old driver so bright red and quick

I so badly wanted to give that toy a lick

More rapid than ferret bites his coursers they came

And he whistled and shouted and called them by name

Now Sparkle, Now Snowball, Now Ivy and Holly

On Mittens, On Tinsel, On Jingles and Jolly

To the top of the porch, to the top of the wall

Now dash away, dash away, dash away all

As dry leaves that before the snowy hurricane whirl

We kitties danced and the ferrets twirled

The Santa trap had sprung when Misty drank the milk

And the ferrets licked the cookies in a shady bilk

Then, in a twinkling we heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof

As I drew in my head and jumped over a ball

St. Nicholas tripped over the light cord to fall

He crashed to release out a loud yell

And the decorations shook on the wall like a bell

I took the opportunity to explore his sack

And Santa got up to see Misty getting him an untouched snack

His eyes twinkled as Eowyn got more milk in a wag

Luthien gave him a napkin, then Boromir pulled me out of the bag

His droll little mouth shouted Ho, Ho, Ho

And the hair on his chin was as white as the snow

The stump of his pipe he held in his teeth like a charm

And the smoke encircled up to set off the smoke alarm

Away to remove the battery he swiftly rushed

Then looked at us and rightly blushed

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf

And I squeaked when he petted me in spite of myself

We rubbed our fur on his boots with a purr

Then we heard Mama beginning to stir

He finished his milk and cookies

Then filled all the stockings next to the ferret dookies

Then laying a finger on the side of his nose

And giving a nod, out the door he rose

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a holler

And away they all flew as we furbabies got taller

But I heard exclaim as he drove out of sight

Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night

2020 Christmas Letter

Merry Christmas to all my Friends and Family.

2020 started with me watching TV and kissing my cats at midnight. The next day I returned to work at the tax place. Killed my fish Achilles Jr while changing its water. I realized later his tank heater was turned off and holding tank water was too warm for him to handle. Heartbroken with a side of guilt. Soon after Leda Jr died. We had such cold temperatures outside that the ferrets and cats refused to go play in the snow. Soon, my lone Beta male fish Aeneas Jr started lying on the rocks. Thinking he was dying I got a male and female fish to put in my empty tanks named Perseus and Andromeda. Two days later, Aeneas Jr perked up watching a new female Beta next door. Amazing how one little fish can change another just by being there.

Ordered the traditional Heart Pizza and brownies to be delivered to Mom on Valentine's Day since I had to work all day. Celebrated ferret Boromir's 3rd Birthday. Sister celebrated her 51st birthday without me since I was working. Our Mom told me all about their restaurant dinner. Celebrated ferret Luthien's 4th Birthday. The Corona Virus arrived in my state and the governor shut down non-essential businesses, organizations, and medical procedures. Next, the St. Patrick's Day parade was cancelled in Des Moines. Mayor of Des Moines and Governor of Iowa declared State of Emergency: So, people were required to stay home, work from home, and only go out for necessities. Places everywhere closed and essential workers pertaining to manufacturing, food, and medical can be open. I did taxes, which is required by the government, so I was considered an essential worker. Mom got trapped in her senior living center not letting them leave so sister had to bring groceries to the receptionist at the entrance. Mom suffered with the center’s gym, pool, and hair salon closed, plus activities canceled and dinner was delivered to their apartments. I asked relatives to call her, so she had someone to talk to. We discovered when they finally let her leave how all the sitting alone in her apartment affected her health.

April 15 the tax sites closed except our year around locations. Sure, they could have kept them open until July 15, but most people had already filed their taxes to make the decision to close the other offices on schedule. I was suddenly unemployed and quarantined. For Easter, I delivered dinner to my Mom since she couldn’t visit us. Spent the holiday alone with my pets eating ham and bunny cake. Spent my quarantine months writing on my stories. Nearly finished another novel about the Civil War era. I got a job interview and received the rejection the next day. Sitting at home, I decided to share my recipes on social media and made various Youtube videos on various topics. Pruned my rose brushes and my only joy (besides my pets) was watching all my flowers grow this spring and summer.

Enjoyed looking at photos of my great-niece's 1st Birthday Party in their living room since they can't go anywhere. She was born on Star Wars Day, so they got a Baby Yoda cake. Mother's Day was traumatic for my Mom since we usually go out to eat. Senior living center finally let them leave the building and I drove up to the front door to have Mom sit in my car for a good half hour showing her photos off my smartphone while holding her gifted flowers and card. Visited my Dad and relatives on Memorial Day with Mom. Visited my Dad on Father’s Day. Lost my female Beta Andromeda. Got a new baby girl named Persephone. Spent the 4th of July at my sister's home cause everything but the fireworks show was canceled. Made smore's over a candle. My male Beta Aeneas Jr died and got a new male fish Ares. Celebrated Mom’s 81st Birthday at my sister’s house.

Visited the local amusement park with sister's family to celebrate my brother-in-law's birthday. Celebrated my nephew's Sweet 16 at a restaurant with family and met their newly adopted dog. Visited the local living history museum with niece and sister. Left my phone on top of the car so lost the photos and videos I took that day. Next day we had a Derecho, which nobody but meteorologists knew such a term existed. Picture this: I came inside from feeding the birds. Cats had refused to come outside. Next thing I know the front yard pinwheel is spinning like crazy and boom, a huge gust of wind shook the trees. Then pow, the electricity went out and the sirens wailed. Garbage cans fell over with loud thud. Next came the downpour like a hurricane. Electricity flickered back on and off again. After a long wait, the rain moved on and I came outside to take photos with my camera since I left my smartphone on top of my car at the museum. Neighbors were all gazing at the tree that fell on the power line, thus knock out the electricity for the whole block. Plus, it blocked the entire dead-end street so nobody could get in or out. One neighbor wondered if we had a tornado. One house had a gutter come off while another had a tree fall on their garage. Luckily, no damage to my house. Spent the day without electricity and can't call anyone from cordless phones needing power. Ate my Popsicles and ice cream bars, drank the milk before spoiling. Played games alone and read a book when too dark to play games. One good thing was I could see the stars at night from all the neighborhood streetlights out.

Next morning a neighbor wanted to leave so he chain-sawed the tree blocking the street to make room for a car. I drove to the museum to collect my phone that shattered and bought a new one at the mall. Then went to Target for candles and a non-digital phone with a cord that doesn't need electricity (yes, they still make them) so I can call people. Grocery stores and gas stations were sold out of ice to keep food in fridge cool so stored my food at my sister's house who had electricity. 5 days without electricity was endured before the power came back to my block. Ate a lot of crackers and peanut butter sandwiches. Recharged the smartphone in the car at night. Retrieved my food from my sister's house and greeted my brother with his wife visiting my sister this week. On a good note, my marigolds were starting to bud, and miniature roses were still blooming.

After the derecho branches were carried away, I had family over to enjoy grilled food. Got a call for an interview at a hotel as a desk clerk and got hired right before my birthday. Celebrated my 45th Birthday with family at my sister’s house. Lost my Beta fish Perseus and got a new one named Poseidon. Had a phone interview for a payroll job. Got another interview at a car dealership registering license plates. After 3 years of planting morning glory seeds, I finally got one to bloom. Celebrated ferret Eowyn 6th Birthday. Halloween during Covid, I set out candy and stickers inside in a bowl outside. 16 packets disappeared with 4 groups of kids stopping by. No costumes allowed for my new job so wore cat ears with a black mask with embroidered cat face on it. Covered exposed skin with silver and black cream eyeshadow. After Election Day, celebrated cats Bilbo and Misty’s 2nd Birthday. Missed niece's 17th Birthday Party. I got off the overnight shift at 7 AM and slept through the party at home. Visited her the next day to give my gift to her. Spent Thanksgiving Day working to put up the hotel Christmas Tree in the lobby and brought dinner for the coworkers to eat since we can't have a potluck due to Covid. Coworkers enjoyed my homemade food. After work, went over to sister’s place. Took niece and nephew out Black Friday shopping. Intended to stop by my Mom's to put up her Christmas Decorations, but Covid halted those plans when the senior living center stopped allowing visitors. Great-niece celebrated her Fifth Birthday via livestream at home. Took Mom shopping for her grandchildren since we don’t like her driving anymore. Brother and his wife are hosting Christmas Day diner at their new house.

Have a Wonderful New Year. Praying 2021 is much better than 2020.

Jordan

Cats: Bilbo, Misty Ferrets: Eowyn, Luthien, Boromir Beta fish: Persephone, Ares, Poseidon

Deck the Halls

Great-niece celebrated her Fifth Birthday via livestream at home. Next fall she will start Kindergarten. How fast kids grow up. Had to buy new icicle lights for my roof and a couple new lawn ornaments to replaced the old stuff no longer working properly. Worked on my tax classes once got all my decorations aroudn the house up. My Mom says I have too many decorations. Gotta take Mom shopping (for my sister's kids) and perhaps since I can't come up to her apartment and she is too crippled to haul out the boxes, I'll give her some of my decoartions in a sack she could easily put out. Then have to write my Christmas letter, send out cards, bake treats, and deliver treats. I think for Chritmas Day, I'll set out treat bags for my coworkers to gather what treats they want and hopefully won't steal my containers this time.

Happy Thanksgiving

Election Day came and went to find a new president has been elected, even if the current president denies this declaring he is the only person allowed to win. Whatever. American people will not permit a dictatorship or a monarchy, we cherish our freedoms too much. Even more amazing, other countries were setting off fireworks celebrating who we elected president. I don't think that has ever happened before in history. Celebrated cat's Bilbo and Misty 2nd Birthday. Missed niece's 17th Birthday Party. I got off work at 7 AM and slept through the partyat home. Visited her the next day to give my gift to her. I gave her a journal with cats on the cover.

Spent Thanksgiving Day at work to put up the hotel Christmas Tree in the lobby and brought dinner for the coworkers to eat since we can't have a potluck due to Covid. People enjoyed my homemade food and took home my containers, thus denied other coworkers the pleasure of eating it. Yes, 4 food containers I just bought went missing. Next holiday will be more careful about being nice to these amazing people.

Took niece and newphew out Black Friday shopping. Mall had many stores with lines to get inside. We were browsing so skipped those stores. Eventually I said "Screw It" and went to Target. That place has everything. They bought gifts for their little cousins from their hard earned money. Intended to stop by my Mom's to put up her Christmas Decorations, but Covid halted those plans when the senior living place stopped allowing visitors.

Happy Halloween

Had a phone interview for a payroll job, but then they neever called back. Getting accustomed to an erratic schedule bouncing from morning, afternoo, and overnight shifts. One person works mornings, another afternoons, and another overnight. I work their days off. I hope that means I'm a valuable employee. Ceased putting the ferrets away in their room at night and let them run around the house while I'm not home. Got another interview at a car dealership registering license plates and they never contacted me again. Watched fashion shows on youtube. Just because I can't afford Chanel doesn't mean I don't like fashion. After 4 years of planting morning glory seeds, I finally got one to bloom. Won another instant win scratch card for $50. Went to pay bills. Celebrated ferret Eowyn 6th Birthday with cupcakes.

Sent in my absentee ballot. I voted a straight Democrat ticket and I have never done that before. I can't have respect for politicians who kiss a president's a**. Only people who want something in return give fake loyalty. If this upcoming election is rigged as the clown in the White House declares and every ballot for the opposing side is illegal, then all I can say is that is the definition of a dictatorship. My family has been in this country all the way back to 1630 and I lived in my house and pay property taxes for it the past 4 years, Do Not Try to Convince Me My Absentee Ballot is illegal because of my decision to make.

Shared spice cupcakes with coworkers to celebrate Halloween. Set out cnady and stickers inside in a bowl outside. 16 packets disappeared with 4 groups of kids stopping by. Hopefully they only took 1 package per child. We had snow fall overnight and then melted when the sun came out. Had guests at the hotel job say they never had seen snow before. Yep, it's not white sand. If they think it is cold outside now, just wait until December. Discovered a hawk sitting above my bird feeder. Not only do I feed birds, dquirrels, and chipmunks, I am feeding raptors too. No costumes allowed for my new job so wore cat ears with a black mask with embroidered cat face on it. Covered exposed skin with silver and black cream eyeshadow.

Happy Birthday to Me

I walked outside to view marigolds blooming that my sister planted last year. They came back and a wonderful birthday present. Got $5 from an instant win scratch off card, even better presnet. City truck came by to take away fallen branches from the derecho, then 2 days later my sister offers yard help. Sorry, branch pile is gone, but you can visit for teatime and chat. Had family over to enjoy grilled food. They had a good time chatting while I spent most of the time in the kitchen. Finally got to eat my hamburger and it was cold. Got a call for an interview at a hotel as a desk clerk and got hired right before my birthday. Hopefully my luck is changing. Celebrated my 45th Birthday with family. The bad part of turning 45 is your time of the month stops meaning you have reached menopause. No children for me in this lifetime. People tell me to adopt, but being broke and in debt, How would I take care of a kid on my own? That is depressing. I wanted to be a mother since childhood, but God said not for me. Lost my Beta fish Perseus and got a new one named Posidian. He is buried in the flower pot. Happy Birthday to Me!

End of Summer Approaches

One night had an interesting bedtime snack. Go into my cupboard for the last 3 chocolate chip cookies in the package. There are ants all over my cupboard and all over the cookies. Hold package under the kitchen sink to wash away the ants. Cookies dissolved until only the chocolate chips remained (which I tossed in the garbage can). Set out the ant traps before hosing it down in oily ant spray tomorrow. Rest of the cupboard food is on the stove in sealed packages. Discovered their trail to the nearby window. Have a great evening. Soon after ants were by the pet food so had to spray again and placed water on the pet food mats to help kill the ants. I don't mind ants crawling up trees outside, I just don't liek them in the house.

Visited the local amusement park with sister's family to celebrate my brother-in-law's birthday. I overheated and feel sick from a migraine to go home early. I didn't want to be a party pooper. Migraine misery lasted a week. Celebrated my nephew's Sweet 16 at a restaurant with family who decided to visit my sister's new home and new dog they adopted. Let's just say I spent the visit with the dog and then asked nephew about his gifts since I was occupied. Nephew came over to mow the grass. I finsihed my house cleaning and it weird walking across a clean floor.

Noticed a red tail hawk perched on top of my bird feeder. Not only do I attract birds, squirrels, chipmunks, and rabbits, but birds of prey as well. Visited the local living history museum with neice and sister. They made a few changes due to the pandemic and added a few new exhibits. Left my phone on top of the car so lost the photos and videos I took that day. Had to buy a new phone, but first I had to wait for a tree to be removed that was blockign my dead end street.

We had a Derecho, which nobody but meteorologists knew such a term existed. Picure this: I came inside from feeding the birds. Next thing I know the front yard windmill is spinning like crazy and boom, a huge gust of wind shook the trees. Then pow, the electricity went out and the sirens wailed. Garbage cans fell over with loud thud. Next came the downpour like a hurricane. Electricity flickered back on and off again. After a long wait, the rain moved on and I came outside to take photos with my camera since I left my smartphone on top of my car at the museum. Neighbors were all gazing at the tree that fell on the power line, thus knock out the electricity for the whole block. Plus it blocked the entire street so nobody could get in or out. One neighbor wondered if we had a tornado. One house had a gutter come off, another lost their roof vent covers, another had a tree fall on their garage, and one more lost a few shingles. Spent the day without electricity and can't call anyone from cordless phones needing power. Ate my Popsicles and ice cream bars, drank the milk before spoiling. Played games alone and read a book when too dark to play games. One good thing was I could see the stars last night from the neighborhood streetlights out.

Next morning a neighbor wanted to leave so chainsawed the tree blocking the street to make room for a car. I picked up my yards. I drove to the musuem to collect my phone that shattered and bought a new one at the mall. Then went to Target for batteries for lights above my stove, candles, and a non-digital phone with a cord that doesn't need electricity (yes, they still make them) so I can call people. Grocery stores and gas stations were sold out of ice to keep food in fridge cool. Two days after derecho I had to store my food at my sister's house who didn't loose electricity. 5 days without electricity was endured before the power came back to my block. Retrieved my food from my sister's house and greeted my brother with hismwife visiting my sister this week. I never lost power for so long before, at most overnight. On a good note, my miniature roses bloomed and marigold buds are coming up. Now just waiting for this year to get over with and hopefully next year a vaccine will be approved for the masses so we can begin to return to normal.

Apple Salad

Last recipe to share: My Mom's Apple Salad 1 apple (she uses Red Delicious) 1 banana 1 bunch of red grapes (the purple kind and my Mom prefers the seedless kind) 1 container of Whipped Topping Cut fruit into bite size pieces and mix together in a bowl. Add whipped topping and stir around to your satisfaction. Viola! My Mom's Apple Salad my family loves to eat when we get together at holidays.

Chicken and Noodles Recipe

Today's Recipe: Chicken and Noodles (Not Chicken Noodle Soup) Mom's version feeds family of 6: Step 1: Place a whole chicken with skin (or several pieces of chicken with skin) in a pressure cooker and fill with water to cover chicken. Place on lid. Turn on stove top burner and boil chicken until cooked (stops being pink). Cooking time will depend on how much chicken you put in, but usually she boiled it for about an hour on medium heat. Checked the internet and a whole chicken take 90 minutes to boil and 6 chicken breasts take 30 minutes. Step 2: Remove chicken from water and place in a bowl. If any skin is left on chicken, remove it and put in the water (the fatty skin is needed for the broth otherwise you just have chicken water). Put in chicken flavor bouillon cubes that can be found at grocery stores in the water following directions on box. Chicken flavor cubes provide the onion, parsley, thyme, etc. to flavor the broth or it will be just chicken water. Step 3: Broth is complete when the cubes are dissolved and stirred into the water. Then, put in noodles and cook in the broth for about 20 minutes, or until cooked. Large noodles take longer to cook than Medium size noodles. Step 4: While noodles are cooking, cut or rip apart the meat off the bones into small bite-size pieces to your liking. Step 5: When noodles are done, put in chicken pieces, and stir around. Voila! You have my Mom's chicken and noodles.

My version about 3-4 servings depending on my appetite since the fad is skinless chicken at the grocery store. Step 1: Buy a box a broth (I like Swanson's Chicken Broth) and pour the whole thing into a large pot. Place in noodles 3/4 of the broth. Large noodles take longer to cook than medium size. Step 2: While noodles are cooking without the lid on pot, cut up pieces of chicken to bite size and place in the pot (I prefer tenders cause more flavor than breast meat). I use about 5 or 6 tenders, but you can use whatever you like. Step 3: When done cutting up chicken, put lid on pot and in about 20 minutes noodles and chicken should be done. And Voila! My version of Chicken and Noodles.

French Toast Recipe

Today's recipe: Jordan's French toast. It's been approved by niece and nephew when they used to spend weekend nights with me. Weekends I cook fancy breakfasts. Makes 3-4 slices 1 egg (size doesn't matter but I used a medium egg today and got 3 slices, large egg might stretch it to 4 slices) 1/2 cup milk (whatever milk you put on cereal) 1/4 teaspoon vanilla Ground Cinnamon Sliced bread (whatever kind you eat) Step 1: Put a skillet (size doesn't matter) on stove top and turn on burner. This is called Preheating. Step 2: In a dish that is wide and flat, I use sandwich storage container, crack the egg and drop the yolk/white in dish, toss the shell. Remove any egg shells that fell in the dish (now you know why I crack eggs first before adding ingredients). Sure people like my mom use a separate bowl for cracking eggs into, but I hate doing dishes so my way dirties less dishes. Step 3: Put in milk, vanilla, and 2 dashes of cinnamon. If your cinnamon container doesn't have the normal holes like a salt shaker, then 2 pinches will do. Step 4: Mix ingredients with a fork. If you never made scrambled eggs before, then beat eggs in a circular up and down motion that is quick and makes it bubble. I believe some cooks use a whisk instead of a fork to create more fluffy eggs. Use whatever suits your pleasure of air bubbles in your egg mixture. Step 5: Place a slice of bread in bowl and quickly flip it over with fork. Lift from center with fork and let excess drip off. Place bread on skillet. Don't leave bread in mixture very long or the bread will absorb the whole mixture. Also, wet bread is soft so don't stab it and pick it up cause it will likely fall apart. Step 6: Skillet should be hot by now so set the bread in the skillet and flip over when stops sizzling. If not hot, it won't sizzle and will take longer to cook. Remove from skillet when cooked (aka brown). Step 7: Continue with other slices until mixture fails to cover both sides. On last slice, put the slice covered in mixture on bottom of skillet and pour the rest of the mixture on the dry side, using fork to spread around on the bread. Step 8: Optional, sprinkle powdered sugar on slices you eat like you sprinkle regular sugar on cereal. I noticed a restaurant put powdered sugar on their waffles and French toast so I copied it. Enjoy!

Salmon Patties Recipe

Today's recipe: Salmon Patties (makes 4 small patties or 2/3 large patties) 1 egg (white or brown or size doesn't really matter) 1 can of salmon (most are 5 oz.) Saltine crackers Step 1: Turn on stove top burner on medium and place a skillet (any size will do) on it. This is called Preheating the Skillet. Step 2: Open can of salmon (can opener may be required unless you get the cans with the pull tab). Place lid on top of meat and squeeze out the water into a bowl to feed the cat or drain it in the sink. Step 2: Scoop out salmon from can with a spoon into a bowl, add the egg. Stir around. Step 3: Take a few saltines at time and crush between fingers to drop in bowl, then stir. Keep adding saltines until the yellow yoke isn't viewed and still moist (if add too many, the patties will be dry and not stick together). Step 4: Scoop out small balls and mold in your hands like a snowball, place on skillet outer edge, and squish flat with your hand or spoon. (Yes, your hands will get DIRTY). Keep placing patties on skillet not touching each other and stop when run out of room. Step 5: If skillet is hot by now, the patties will sizzle. Flip over patties to cook other side when one side stops sizzling. If skillet not very hot, these will take longer to cook. Also smaller patties cook faster than larger ones. Cook time is short so flip over every minute until done (aka brown). Step 6: Remove from skillet when cooked and Enjoy my Mom's salmon patties.

Tuna and Noodles Recipe

Since everybody is sharing cook at home recipes, I will share some of mine. Tuna and Noodles (Serves 2, though if hungry I'll eat the whole thing) 2 Tablespoons Margarine/Butter 2 Tablespoons All Purpose Flour 1 cup milk (whatever milk you put on your cereal) 1 can of tuna (most cans are 5 ounces) Several handfuls of Medium Egg Noodles (Large egg noodles take longer to cook but can use instead) Step 1: Fill medium size pot half full of water and add at least 3 dashes (shakes of a salt shaker) of salt (salt alters the boiling point to heat water faster). Set on stove top burner under medium heat. Put on lid crooked so steam can escape. Step 2: Either wait for water to boil (bubbles) and then add noodles to cook for 20 minutes, or put in noodles right away and cook for 25 minutes. Noodles will expand as they cook so fill pot with noodles 3/4 of the water. Step 3: In a small sauce pan (lid to the side), pour in milk and add 2 dashes of salt. Also turn on stove top burner to medium heat and set sauce pan on it. Watch the noodles so don't boil over and if water get lots of foam in pot then lift lid of pot and turn down the heat a little. Be sure to stir noodles occasionally so don't stick to bottom of pot. Step 4: Add margarine/butter and flour to the milk. Be sure to constantly stir (flour will burn and not dissolve well if just leave it sit floating on the milk). Be sure to squish the clumping flour against the sauce pan to help it dissolve. Step 5: While everything is cooking open the tuna can (this requires using a can opener) and use the can lid to squish the can water either into a bowl to feed the cat or into a sink. Step 6: When the milk sauce comes to a boil (bubbles), then add the tuna and stir around. Turn off the sauce pan burner and remove the sauce pan to cool down with the lid on. Step 6: Once milk sauce is finished, noodles should be ready. Drain noodles in a colander (aka large strainer made of plastic instead of metal) or hold the lid to drain the water out of pot (2nd way does take some skill not to let out the noodles to lose them going down the sink). Rinse noodles in cold water to cool down. Step 7: Mix noodles and milk sauce together and Viola!, You have my Mom's Tuna and Noodles. Enjoy.

Middle of Summer

Sorry it's been a while since I have posted. Not much happening job ended in April 15. We also got powdered sugar snow that day after that melted once the sun came up. Welcome to Spring in Iowa. No damage to my tulips. I planted 6 tulips plants last spring and only one sprouted this year. Sigh. Got daffodils, hyacinths, roses, irises, lilies, and peonies planted in my yard. Got my stimulus check and it went straight to the credit crads. I owe $17,000 to my 4 credit cards so $1200 didn't mean much. Then it snowed agin Aril 16. Ferrets had a good time playing in the snow (ferrets love snow and dig tunnels when it gets deep enough). Signed up for unemployment. When the warmed up, I started eating breakfast on the patio. Watch the bird feeder with the cats who insist on sitting on my lap as I eat. I love you furbabies, but I can't pet you all day. Put away the Easter decorations and got the summer decorations out. Teenage Nephew was eager to make money mowing my lawn. He has issues of other lawn chores like pulling weeds if he can't use the weed whacker. He loves machines so much I wonder if he will grow up to be a mechanic. My teen niece and nephew applied for jobs, but nobody has hired them. Guess there was just too many applicants for them to compete. I got tickets to see the Elton John concert, that was cancelled thanks to the Corona Virus. Have to wait until next summer to attend it. I received the message that all tickets will be honored. Tossed an old sweatshir with a stain on it (charities don't take stained items they can't resell) and put it in the ferret room. It is now the ferrets favorite sleeping spot.

I got a job interview last week and received the rejection. Oh, all you did as accounts payable clerk was sort out invoices and send them to their proper departments. What exactly did this person think Accounts Payable clerks do all day? It's the Accounts Payable Specialist that matches purchase orders with invoices to okay the payment and codes it into the general ledger. I believe the cash department cuts the actual checks and send them to the proper recipients. Since I've been sittign at home with no place to go during encouraged quarentines, I shared recipes on my social media. I can put them on here too. Pruned my rose brushes and watched them grow. At least those came up.

I joined Instagram and immediately had scame artists messaging me. The "My wife died in a terrible crash, single parent with kids in boarding school, born in one country, work in another country, but I'm in the US Military so a USA citizen" is good giveaway they conning me. They must read the same textbook on romance scams cause they all give the same script. Then their only conversation they are capable of is telling me I'm beautiful 20 times. That is not a conversation and from my 15 years of customer service I know I'm being conned. Nobody tells a stranger 20 times they are so beautiful unless they want something.

Next came the high adventure of receiving emails of newly opened online accounts and one already created online account requested to change my password. I didn't open any of these accounts and called the companies to close them as "unauthorized account" and then changed the password of my prior used account cause I had to get on it. Then my credit card messaged me to call them about strange activity. I called the credit card 800 number and stated something weird was going on with someone opening online accounts using my email address and requested a password change on one account I already had. I did figure out somebody reactiviated an online I had closed last year (free trial was over) and got my credit card number that was saved on that closed account. The credit card closed my account and issued a new card so had to redo the saved credit card on my utilities (like water, phone, internet, etc.). When I got my card statement, I had to dispute someone's shopping spree on my credit card days before they called me and received emails stating they determined the disputed charges were not me. Hopefully that adventure is over.

To continue the adventures of being me, I took lots of photos of my pets and flowers to share on social media. Even took some videos of the ferrets wrestling in the living room. Enjoyed looking at photos of my great-niece's 1st Birthday Party in the living room cause they can't go anywhere. She was born on Star Wars Day so they got a Baby Yoda cake. Mother's Day was traumatic for my Mom. For weeks the retirement community kept them locked inside and my sister had to deliver the groceries to the receptionist desk cause she wasn't allowed beyond that. Poor Mom went stir crazy without any activities and visited her friends' apartments to play cards. No swimming pool, no exercise room, no supper with other residents (meals are brought to their door), and no hair cuts. Around Mother's Day Day, the residents were allowed outside so my sister cut my Mom's hair for her at my sister's apartment. I drove up to the front door and Mom sat in my car for a good half hour for her Mother's Day visit. I gave her flowers and her card to then show her photos on my smartphone my niece posts of her children on social media. Mom loves photos of her great-grandchildren who live in another state.

Been spending much of my unemployed and broke days working on a story I started a while ago. It's about Antebellum South and the Civil War. I'm sure nobody will read it cause nobody likes history plus with all the Black Lives Matter marching in every city my novel will be criticized as glorifying racism. Whatever. Never judge a book it's cover. With all this tearing down statues of Confederates over slavery, it makes me wonder: Is it really slavery that upsets people when they don't demand the 12 presidents who owned slaves be demonized by tearing down their statues and rename places named after them, like our capital Washington, or is it the violence against freed slaves and the Jim Crow laws that followed the Civil War is what that upsets people. And By the way, segregation and Black Codes took place in the north and west too. Our founding fathers took away Native American lands and massacred them when they fought back and many owned slaves, and they also founded our country's independence from Great Britain. Everybody has a good and bad side. Are we going to demonize everybody in American History books now? Visited my Dad and relatives on Memorial Day with Mom. I visit Dad on Father's Day and play Taps on my smartphone for him (he was in the Air National Guard).

Then came the Black Lives Matter movement protesting in my city's streets rioting and looting retail stores in their peaceful protests. Some people getting on TV declared their message is being highjacked. Well then, maybe you should not conduct your protests right next to a shopping mall or a shopping district where opportunists smash and grab under the cover of a protest, then complained about being tear gassed. One store I shop at got hit, then another. I'm just glad I was home at the time or I might be on the news from being attacked while grocery shopping. Single white lady loading her groceries into a car trunk would make a perfect target for assault. The city put out a curfew for the residents and removed it when the riots ceased for a week. The governor was on TV asking, "What do you want?". Apparently your message is not getting through if the top state official is asking this question. Many older people are hearing young people whining, not solutions being suggested. The state congress passed legislation hoping the protests would end, but they did not. In, fact, the protests continued and attacked police officers. Then got angry the police officers fought back to arrest people. Seriously, you actually expect not be pepper sprayed and arrested when you jump on a police car and cheer setting it on fire, or when you attack police officers at the state capital you actualy expect to stop an arrest from happening and call it de-arresting (What fantasy world do you people live in where you think you are in charge of the justice system?). I'm sorry to say it, but racism will never disappear. You can't control what people think, feel, and experience. You can only control your reactions to others. That's all I have to say about that.

Had a submersible pump replaced when started makign a ton of noise that I had to unplug it to get any sleep. More money down the drain. Lost my female Beta Andromeda. Got a new baby girl named Persephone. Had someone service the A/C to find out why it was running. Turned out the switch on the furnace was on "Off" so didn't get charge for the repairman to flip a switch. Must have gotten bumped. Sister moved into a new place so had to mow my own lawn since nephew was tired from unpacking. Watched the neighbor fireworks shows even though they prohibited in my city to set off, but you can buy them. Scared the bejesus out of my cats and ferrets listening to nightly booms for weeks. Spent the 4th of July at my sister's new place cause everythign but the fireworks shows was canceled. Made smore's over a candle. Bought a mask from a charity raising funds and wear them to the grocery store. The retirement place allowed Mom to finally have visitors so wore it visiting her. Niece and nephew won't hug because of the corona virus. I explained sitting at each other's homes that we already have shared germs and give a hug good-bye. My male Beta Aeneas Jr died and got a new male fish Ares. Mom had her 81st Birthday and celebrated at my sister's place. Niece and nephew made a cake for her. Then stayed to have grilled pork ribs and watch movie "Once Upon Time in Hollywood". Left when movie finished.

Well, nothing else to report. Post later.

The master of weird dreams

I am the master of weird dreams. Sorry for burdening you, but I wonder if they stop recurring when I write them down. Tonight's dream I just had and can't fall asleep now is me walking in the middle of a street surrounded by parked cars on both sides of the street. License plates look European. Trees have been planted on the sidewalks on both sides. A black iron fence is to the left and concrete buildings to the right. A cloud of smoke comes towards me taking up the whole street. Can't smell it so don't know what it is. I hear people screaming in the smoke and see people running away from the smoke. Next hear, boom, boom, boom, and more screaming as people lie on the ground and ducking near the cars. Next a burst of fire explodes upwards in the middle of the street almost reaching.the street lights. Silence. The smoke surrounds me so I can't see a thing. I hear a few scattered coughs and people mumbling to each other asking if they are alright. A child cries for mama. The smoke clears and men in black suits, white shirts, and black ties are in the middle of the street talking to each other. One says, There's nothing we can do, he's gone. I notice another man in a black suit, white shirt, and red tie lying on the street on his back. His face is wrinkled and has light colored hair, but can't tell who it is. I hear a woman shout in hysterics, the president is dead! and people nearby start to whimper in horror. People start to get up from around the cars in shock staring at the dead president in the middle of the street. Hope it is just a bad dream

Tax Season finished and Corona Virus Quarantined

Sorry I have not kept up my blog the past 4 months. I've been busy being a tax preparer often working 45 hours a week, 6 days a week. Peak ended so hours went down to 40 hours, 5 days a week. Peak runs Jan-Feb when most people get their W-2's and people usually getting refunds come in. People who tend to owe or have a business wait until the last minute to file.

January

Killed a fish while changing water. Poor Achilles Jr was placed in dramatically warmer water than his tank and fluttered around. Not understanding the motions, I thought he was agitated by the male fish I set him next to. Then he sunk to the bottom and thought he was sleeping. He was boiling to death and I didn't realize it until I put him back in the clean fish tank and noticed he was dead. Even worse was his heater for his tank water had been turned off. Heartbroken with a side of guilt.

Worked at the tax preparation company that felt more like the free info desk. Can you renew my ITIN? What do I do if I get a letter from the IRS? How can I file taxes if my past employers won't send me my W-2's? Can you look up my refund status cause I can't figure out what the refund amount is? What's the phone number to the IRS? BTW, the IRS has their own website to find forms, instructions to forms, phone numbers, and addresses at www.irs.gov. That is where I get my answers I give others. Though the most popular question was "How much do you cost?" and "You actually do taxes here?". Sure people think I'm expensive, but I always say that if you want to do you taxes for free then do them yourself. However, I do answer questions for free.

Lost Beta female fish Leda Jr. Saw her swimming around before bed and wake up to her dead. I think I'm cursed. I keep loosing my fish and they live 3-5 years. Had such cold temperatures outside that the ferrets and cats refused to go play in the snow. Ferrets love to dig in the snow. Well then my lone Beta male fish Aeneas Jr. started lying on the rocks. Thinking he was dying, I got a girl and male fish to put in my empty tanks. Two days later, male Beta perked up and sleeping on the top of the tank instead on the bottom. I think looking at a new female Beta next door helped lift his spirits. Amazing how one little fish can change another just by being there. Names are Perseus and Andromeda.

After requesting the manager that I move to another location, I change locations to do taxes. As I told the manager, my lone coworker is driving me nuts. I have no problem covering them once in a while. but 3 times a week, every week, wears me out. I was driven to turn off my phone on my days off to not receive their calls and texts. My Mom asked me to take her somewhere and I couldn't commit to taking her because I was unsure if coworker will call to cover them that day (and they did). Got much relief and more training at the other location working with other people instead of by myself.

Had another freaky dream, I saw Joe Biden celebrating with Hillary Clinton at his side. Balloons in red, white, and blue falling from the ceiling, people cheering in a stadium, and Biden/Clinton were happy waving to the people. That would amusing if that dream came true. I am the master weird dreams.

Took Mom grocery shopping (she's old and should not drive). My sister and I take turns.

February

Indulged on Girl Scout Cookies from 2 coworkers. Total of 10 boxes. Then when the corona virus shut down the social gatherings, stores had them on the shelves. I bought 2 more boxes.

Took Mom to the grocery store again. Ordered our new traditional Heart Pizza and brownies to be delivered to Mom on Valentine's Day. I was working all day. Realized I forgot to put out the V-Day decorations after the holiday so brought them out until I got out the Easter decorations.

Celebrated ferret Boromir's 3rd Birthday with cupcakes and cocoa (ferrets love frosting and cocoa w/marshmellows).

Had the awkward experience of listening to my new coworkers answer the phone the exact same way I do instead of the their usual phone answer.

Sister celebrated her birthday without me since I was working. My Mom told me all about their restaurant dinner.

Had leaking utility sink so changed the washer hose, then the valve it was attached to, and then the pipe under the sink and stopper parts.

Receptionist at new tax site decided to change locations and I was moved to my old tax site. Schedule was different than before and coworker only works weekends. This led me to keep my phone off on weekends in case of a rerun of "Can you cover me?".

Had 2 store employees ask my number, I gave them my home number, they call the number, and then get mad it wasn't my cell number I gave them. I'm sorry, is this a new dating game I haven't heard of before. I haven't had a guy interested in me for years and usually it's someone who expects me to support and take care of them so I loose interest very fast.

Had someone offer employment, selling life insurance. I sold 1 life insurance policy in the 2 months working for a financial advisor company 7 years ago and I'm not going through that again.

Celebrated ferret Luthien's 4th Birthday with cupcakes.

March

My 2 suitors asked me out of dates. One guy sent me a photo of his car and asked me to have lunch at the restaurant in the background. I said no. I'm sorry, was I supposed to fall in love with his new car? The other guy, asked me to a dinner and movie 3 times and I said no 3 times. He explained he doesn't mind a strong woman to take charge. Now see, that is exactly why I turned him down 3 times. I am not strong, I'm exhausted. I have a house, yards, pets, and myself to take care of plus pay the bills so I don't need another chore, like babysitting him, to stress me out.

Took cats to the vet for their shots. Misty is 11.8 lbs. and Bilbo is 17.9 lbs. Had a dentist appointment and the day before had the dentist call stating they moved to another office so no teeth cleaning for me. Before finding out where this dentist is located or find or another one, Corona Virus arrive in my state and the governor shuts down non-essential businesses, organizations, and medical procedures. Teeth cleaning will have to wait until the pandemic is over.

Can't visit my Mom anymore cause the Senior Apartments she lives in has to protect their people from the virus. Sister took Mom shopping to discover this new rule. Soon after, Mom wasn't allowed to leave the place so sister has to deliver her groceries to receptionist to give to her. Next, the St.Patrick's Day parade was cancelled in Des Moines. Mayor of Des Moines and Governor of Iowa declared State of Emergency so people required to stay home, work from home, and go out for necessities. Places everywhere close and essential workers pertaining to manufacturing, food, and medical can be open. I did taxes, which is required by the government so I was an essential worker. That is until April 15 when the tax place closed the offices, except our year around office. Thanks to hoarding supplies, I was forced to stock up on food, pet food, and cat litter.

Flowers started to bloom at the end of March. Purple Dutch Iris and Purple/Pink/White Hyacinths came out to say hello.

April

Got blooms from Yellow Tulips and White Daffodils. For Easter, I delivered dinner for my Mom since she can't visit us. Spent the holiday alone with my pets eating ham and bunny cake. Sister had turkey with her family. Completed my Annual Bunny Trap story my niece and nephew love hearing. Since the Bunny was caught in a pet carrier and tackled by Boromir last year, Bunny left the Easter basket on the patio. Can't catch him every year. Sent the great-nieces Easter books and they loved them.

Tax job ended so unemployed and quarantined. Don't get unemployment cause didn't get fired from corona virus nor work for 6 months before loosing job. Got the stimulus so good for a few weeks. Pray for a miracle, but the miracle never happens.

Happy New Year

Year started with me watching TV and kissing my cats at midnight. The next day I returned to work at the tax place and had my Beta male Achilles Jr die while changing his tank water. Got the weekend off so enjoying it before working 2 weeks nonstop.

My Christmas was good watching the new Star Wars movie in the theater and spending time with family. Days later had the extended family Christmas and got to adore my great-nieces.

Worked for the tax place bouncing from site to site in preparation of Refund Advances. People seem to think we just give away money to whoever walks in the door. Not exactly. It is not like a bank loan where they check your income to see if you can pay back the loan. It is a cash advance on your potential refund so they guess your refund based on your pay stubs and determine if approved or not from that. I had people who were denied advances come into another location trying to reapply. Sorry, we use the same bank and if they say no advance then they don't get one. I also got plenty of people just wanting the money, without any intention of filing their taxes through us. Well, granted I can't force someone to file their taxes with us, but next year the bank will most likely deny them any advance since they didn't come back the year before. After the new year, plenty of people come in wanting tax refunds, right now. Well, sorry but the IRS and my state tax office haven't announced when they will be accepting tax returns and when they do, it will be about 21 days after that before the client would get their refund. If they need money so bad, they can get a personal loan off the internet, I did with a bank from NYC.

Immigrants often confuse the tax office with immigration office. Sorry, I can't help you with green cards, or apply for citizenship, or apply for ITINS. That is another government office, I just file income taxes and offer refund advances.