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.

Tax Tips

Thought to give out tax tips before tax season is upon us again. I do tax preparation in addition to full time jobs to earn extra money. Here are some tips before getting our taxes done.

1. Know the difference between Independent Contractor and Employee.

Employees fill out W-4 forms upon being hired to declare how much taxes to take out of their paychecks. They get pay stubs along with their paychecks spelling out the deductions taken out. Employers are required to issue W-2s by Jan 31.

Independent contractors don't have taxes taken out of their paychecks and receive 1099-Misc forms if they made over $600, which means they must pay estimated taxes and/or self employment tax if they made over $400 income (meaning Sales minus Expenses equals Income). Independent contractors need to keep records of expenses, business miles driven, and separate car/home office expenses into personal and business uses (insurance, electricity, phone, etc.).

Then there is self-employment who usually hire accountants to deal with all this. If you are a professional whatever and charge your customers/clients for your services, rent out houses/offices to tenants, or own the business you work for then you are self-employed and must declare your business income and pay estimated taxes along with self-employment tax. And don't think your self-employment tax is a bad thing cause it means you can collect social security and medicare when you retire. I like these clients cause they keep good records.

And finally there is paid under the table, which means employer doesn't report your income nor pay taxes on your behalf to the government. There is a thing called Labor Laws employers have to follow so this is illegal (Unemployment taxes, Health Insurance requirements go by # of employees at the company, Minimum Wage requirements, Employer Social Security Taxes, etc.). If your payroll department doesn't have you listed as being employed by them or have records they had paid you for work, you are being paid under the table by your manager and you have to pay taxes cause payroll didn't pay them. You can report employers like this to the IRS. Check this webpage to contact IRS for anything...https://www.irs.gov/help/telephone-assistance

2. When going to a tax preparation site, remember it takes usually 1 hour to complete a tax form. If you come in asking to do 3 years of income tax forms, it will take 3 hours. Many tax places offer to drop off and pick up later if you don't wish to sit around and wait. There is also a statute of limitations on income tax forms so no tax site will do a tax form beyond 3 years old. Remember tax places are busy Jan and Feb so you might want to make an appointment cause they get served before walk-in clients. Also remember that a tax preparer will not start your return 15 minutes before closing and will ask you come back the next day.

3. Be prepared with your paperwork. I have spent 20 minutes looking up college tuition and requesting IRS transcripts online because the client wasn't prepared. Many companies do not mail paper tax forms to the employees, investors, or students and the tax payer must obtain these forms online. If you haven't received your W-2, 1099-Misc, 1099-R, 1098, 1098-E, 1098-T, etc. by Feb 6, ask your employer, bank, college, etc. for the forms and if all else fails contact the IRS since copies are sent to them. Contact info website is in last paragraph of #1. A tax preparer cannot pull these forms out of a magic hat and cannot contact the IRS for copies on your behalf (you have heard identity theft, right?).

4. To get a refund, you must pay income taxes in the first place. The 1040 form determines what taxes should have been paid and then compares the amount to what is already paid through the year (through payroll and estimated taxes). If you are retired and pull money out of an IRA, you can tell the company to take out taxes on the amount withdrawn, which is usually 10% of the amount being withdrawn. People with large refunds have lots of deductions or are poor with lots of children under age 17. Refunds are not free money from the government and it's not a contest to get a bigger refund each year (you can argue Earned Income Credit and Additional Child Tax Credits are free money, but only to people who make less than their standard deduction).

5. Audits are simply the IRS saying "You took these deductions now prove you deserve them". You won't get audited if all you have is W-2 info on your tax form. If you keep your receipts and records of your tax deductions, then you have nothing to worry about. And remember that the IRS is not the Supreme Court and their decisions can be challenged in Tax Court (to do this I recommend a Enrolled Agent, CPA, or Lawyer to defend you).

6. If your electronic 1040 form is rejected, you can send a paper return in the mail. This usually happens with new social security #s of children recently born or a parent who should not have claimed a child does before the rightful parent sends in their return. You can also complete Amended Returns (1040X) up to 3 years after the due date and these must be mailed in and cannot be electronically filed.

7.If you get a letter from the IRS, take it to your tax preparer to handle. IRS letters describe in vivid detail what their issue is and how much more you owe. IRS never calls demanding money and will not threaten to arrest you (believe me that if the District Attorney plans to arrest you for tax evasion you won't get a warning so you can flee the country). You have rights with the IRS: the right to appeal their decision, the right to representation, and they have 800 numbers you can call for assistance. IRS also will not demand you pay with your credit card number over the phone nor demand you purchase gift cards to pay your taxes due. Plus, they don't email you either demanding you wire them money.

8. All tax preparers who complete more than 5 returns must be registered with the IRS. A tax preparer must put their PTIN (Personal ID #) on the form. You can lodge complaints on tax preparers on...https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/make-a-complaint-about-a-tax-return-preparer. You can also find a directory of tax preparers on...https://irs.treasury.gov/rpo/rpo.jsf

9. State Income Taxes are not connected to the IRS. All 50 states have their own Tax Revenue Office that collects sales tax, liquor/tobacco/gas taxes, and income taxes. Some states don't tax income and usually have higher sales tax percentages. So if you move into another state during the year, state income taxes likely won't be exactly the same as each state has its own laws on deductions and income tax rates.

10. Make sure your college attending dependent knows they are your dependent because dependents cannot claim education credits on their form. I had many college students want a bigger refund by claiming the regular standard deduction and education credits and their parents get angry at the tax preparer for letting them do that cause their return gets rejected if dependent form is sent before theirs. As I said above, these cases can be handled by mailing paper returns and amended returns.

Christmas Letter 2019

Merry Christmas to my dear friends and family.

My New Year began with getting two kittens from a relative. Unsure if they were male or female so called them White Nose and Gray Nose until gender was established. Two days after picking them up, they had eye goo and vet diagnosed them with a respiratory infection. Vet affirmed their gender to name White Nose as Bilbo and Gray Nose as Misty. My ferrets were bigger than the 6-week-old kittens and would drag them under the sofa. Started tax preparation with an income tax preparation company. Lost female Beta fish Ananke that I got as a baby and was growing bigger every day. Took Mom to my Dad's cousins’ reunion at a pizza place. Lost male Beta fish Atlas Jr that I got full grown. My ferret Luthien was dubbed The Brave when she was the only ferret to go outside during the polar vortex, then I knew it was freezing when even SHE refused to go outside. Got new Beta fish Aeneas and Pandora, both full grown. Adopted 2 Bonded Buddy dogs from the shelter during one of their specials. I kept them a single day after they peed on my furniture and growled at the ferrets/kittens. Once a dog attacked a kitten, I had to take them back. I was not the right home for them.

Had freezing rain and thunder in February. I didn't know what was worse: the hills, the curves, or the potholes. Then it turned into snow to make it more fun to drive through. We finally got enough snow for ferret Boromir to experience his 1st snow tunnels. Eowyn and Luthien had to show him how to dig them first. Neighbor with a snowblower had been doing my driveway this year. Guess he got tired of watching me rest on my front stoop. I offered cocoa, but he won't accept it. Celebrated ferret Boromir's 2nd Birthday with Valentine cupcakes (ferrets love frosting) and a romp in the snow complete with cocoa (ferrets love cocoa w/marshmellows). Spent Valentine's Day working 2 jobs and dropping off candy package for my Mom in between. Sister reached the Big 5-0 to celebrate at an Italian restaurant where I tasted my first calamari (tasted like fish sticks). Lost red female beta Nyx I had a couple years and white female Beta Pandora I got a month ago. Got new female Beta adults Danae (blue) and Leda (white). My male blue Beta Erebus I got as a baby a while ago died and replaced with blue/white male Beta named Achilles. Celebrated ferret Luthien's 3rd Birthday with cupcakes.

Received my annual review from my manager to receive a raise. The Friday before my job raise was to start, I and 5 other coworkers were fired from work not coming in like they thought. I was told to gather my belongings that moment and leave. I emailed my manager apologizing for not completing my work that day. She gave me a hug good-bye. Tax manager was happy to give me extra hours since we have two weeks left of the season. Tax season ended to be completely unemployed. Had phone interviews and in-person interviews this year to receive rejection emails.

Kittens celebrated their 1st Easter catching The Bunny with help from the ferrets. The family celebrated my niece #1 giving birth to a girl named Piper Maeve. We celebrated my nephew’s confirmation. Nephew worked on my yard during his summer vacation. Then both niece #4 and nephew got jobs at the local amusement park games area so be less available. Nephew worked at the Iowa State Fair a few days skewering chickens for a vendor. Planned an 80th Birthday bash for Mom with help from my siblings and Mom's sister. Made my first gluten-free doll cake that everyone thought was beautiful. Got so much rain that I got mushrooms all over the front yard. Roses blossomed to make my heart sing. My male Beta fish Achilles and Aeneas died. New fish were named Achilles Jr and Aeneas Jr. Changed my first dimmer switch and managed not to get electrocuted (I flipped the breaker box switch). Kittens experienced their 1st fireworks. They looked out the window but couldn't see anything to cause all that noise. Kittens learned to climb the black walnut tree in back yard and climb back down. Celebrated 4th of July watching the Urbandale parade with Mom and sister’s family. Saw the fireworks half hour early when dark clouds moved in making it dark faster.

Finished the summer celebrating nephew's 15th Birthday, going to the amusement park, and Iowa State Fair with family. Had to fix the clothes washer hose connection with 5 trips to the hardware store. Sister planted marigolds near my house and those blossomed beautifully this fall. I got 2 pansies bloom, the only blooms in my flower pots this summer. My new female Beta fish Danae died, then got Danae Jr to have her die a few weeks later. My Mom wanting to thank me for her birthday party cooked a birthday dinner for me instead of going out to eat. Planted new iris bulbs and pray they bloom next year. Celebrated ferret Eowyn's 6th Birthday (ferrets live 5-8 years is she is an old lady). Received my last unemployment check and cancelled the cable TV. At least I went to the Joan Jett/Heart Concert before falling despair (I bought the tickets before losing my job). My female Beta Leda Jr died so I guess my life is just cursed.

After a hailstorm, had 2 roofing companies drive by asking to inspect my roof for damage. Sure, why not. One company I never heard from again. The 2nd had me call my insurance company to make a claim. The insurance guy came out to inspect the damage and guessed my roof was 12 years old. He must have called the roofer cause, they showed up at the same time (and I know I didn't set that up). Insurance guy agreed to a new roof so got a new roof. Bought concert tickets to see Elton John next summer with nephew. Had powdered sugar snow fall on the grass a few times, ferrets love the snow and cats not so much. Had one single Trick or Treater come to my door. Celebrated cats Bilbo and Misty's 1st Birthday. Fully grown cats now and kittens no more. Got them some new feather teasers they love chasing. Celebrated niece #4's 16th Birthday. We made a joke out of her professional made cake stating "Swee 16".

Spent Thanksgiving at my brother's house with our sister's family and Mom. Played games and looked at ads. Spent Black Friday shopping with sister’s family. Preparing to be a tax preparer next tax season. Decorated the house for Christmas and got up on my roof to put back the icicle lights that I had to take down so the roofers could replace the shingles. I hope next year is a lot better, as they say: “Everywhere from here is up”.

Have a Wonderful New Year,

Jordan

Bilbo (cat)

Misty (cat)

Eoywn (ferret)

Luthien (ferret)

Boromir (ferret)

Leda (fish)

Aeneas Jr (fish)

Achilles Jr (fish)

Happy Thanksgiving

After a hail storm, had 2 roofing companies drive by asking to inspect my roof for damage. Sure why not. One company I never heard from again. The second one had me call my insurance company to make a claim. The insurance guy came out to inspect the damage and guessed my roof was 12 years old. He must have called the roofer cause they showed up at the same time (and I know I didn't set that up). Insurance guy agreed to a new roof so got a new roof. Roofers broke my gutter guards so waiting them to be replaced. With all this snow and cold, I might have to wait a while for that. I informed the insurance guy of my plight and he agreed not to release any funds until I am satisfied.

Canceled the cable and sent back the box. It is weird watching antenna TV and some channels don't come through. I notice a lot of rerun channels that play reruns from 50's, 60's, 70's, etc. all day. Bought concert tickets to see Elton John with my nephew. Paid nephew a few times to rake leaves, mow the grass, and he winterized the mower. Put away the bird feeder and got suet cake holders out. Still toss peanuts on ground for squirrels. Took Mom to an appointment since we hate her driving alone (cataracts). My sister usually does those things, but she was busy.

Had powdered sugar snow fall on the grass a few times, ferrets love the snow and cats not so much. Had 1 Trick or Treater come to my door with plenty of decorations in the yard celebrating Halloween (which screams I have candy). Celebrated cats Bilbo and Misty's 1st Birthday. Fully grown cats now and kittens no more. Got them some new feather teasers they love chasing. After 2 years of searching, I finally found the furnace filter slot (it was covered up by a slat of metal) and replaced the filter. Old one was filthy. Celebrated niece's 16th Birthday at Cracker Barrel. We made a joke out of her cake that stated "Swee 16". Received 3 Rejections for job interviews (2 were with a temp agencies).

Spent Thanksgiving at my brother's house with our sister's family and Mom. Played games and looked at ads. Took niece and nephew Black Friday shopping and bought their Christmas gifts. Taking classes to be a tax preparer next tax season. Once home, started putting up the Christmas decorations. Finished up today. Got up on my roof to put back the icicle lights on the shingles and gutters that I had to take down so the roofers could replace the shingles.

Now watching my Christmas movies on DVD as I write out my Christmas cards.

I'm Officially in Hell

Just made the last weekly claim for unemployment I can enter. Have to cancel the cable TV tomorrow. If I have to borrow money to pay for food, I should not make my Mom pay for my cable. Sure borrowing money from Mommy sounds nice if she is the fairy godmother, but my Mommy Dearest has been called The Wicked Witch of the West by friends so borrowing from her comes with a side of emotional abuse (Why can't you normal like your sister?). At least I went to the Joan Jett/Heart Concert before falling into the abyss. My female Beta Leda Jr died so I guess my life is just cursed. And I gotten others to beleive I'm cursed cause I just can't catch a break and everything around me has to fall apart. But on a better note, I'm finishing my fall cleaning. Vacuum one floor and I'm done. It feels weird walking around a clean house.

Autumn is here

Finished the summer celebrating nephew's 15th Birthday, going to the local amusement park, and Iowa State Fair with family. Had to fix the clothes washer connection with 5 trips to the hardware store. Enjoyed my newly planted roses blooming. Sister planted marigolds and those blossomed beautifully this fall. I got 2 pansies bloom, the only blooms in my flower pots this summer. My new female Beta fish Danae died, then got Danae Jr to have her die a few weeks later. To save money, my family decided to cook my birthday instead of going out to eat. As fall approached, grilled my last hamburgers, hot dogs, and smore's before putting the grill away for the winter. Put away the dining set on the patio away too, getting too cold to sit outside to eat breakfast. Started my Fall Cleaning. Planted new iris bulbs and pray they bloom next year. Celebrated ferret Eowyn's 6th Birthday (ferrets live 5-8 years is she is an old lady). Got a phone interview today so crossing fingers. After 6 months of unemployment and out of unemployment payments in 2 weeks I need some good luck.

My letter to Senator Grassley on pending war with Iran

9/17/2019

Dear Senator Grassley,

I am disturbed at the President and Vice President affirming on TV that we are “locked and loaded” for war with Iran. Forgive me if I’m wrong here, but I do not recall the US Congress declaring war on Iran. Last I looked, it is Congress who has power to declare war, not the president.

I think many Americans would be against war since we have not been attacked, like Pearl Harbor. If we went to war, I daresay not many allies would blindly follow the piper to war, like France when we were forced to called food Freedom Fries just because they refused to invade Iraq or Afghanistan. I remember once on TV you refused to write a blank check for President Bush to run his war in Iraq and I was proud to call you my Senator. I call it Bush’s Iraq war since he lied to Congress to overthrow Saddam Hussein resulting in a civil war splitting the country in three parts (Sunni, Shite, and Kurds).

Also, we have a $22 Trillion national deficit so I fail to see how this country can afford to spend beyond the debt ceiling for a war the president initiated. American people will not appreciate their taxes increasing to pay for this war. If the president cannot win the trade war with China he also initiated, how is he going to conquer Iran into submission?

I have friends and family in the armed forces and reluctant to risk their lives, so the president gets a trophy for his ego. War is ugly, violent, traumatic, and kills innocent civilians in the crossfire: What Is So Glorious About It? Are you ready to read the casualty lists in the newspapers for the next year, ten years, or even twenty years because wars are easy to start and difficult to end? General George Custer once said he was accustomed to hearing cannons going off at West Point, but it is another sound when the cannon is coming toward you.

I will end my letter to you by quoting The Last of the Mohicans. “Death and honor are often thought to be same thing. Today, I have learned that sometimes they are not.”

I will pray our leaders on both sides of the aisle come together to deescalate the tension with Iran, and North Korea too. After all, General George Washington gave a speech at a meeting of the soldiers planning to overthrow the Article of Confederation government and crown Washington as King of America. He asserted that his soldiers did not fight and die to overthrow a king to replace him with another, there will be no King of America and the military coup d'etat was crushed in one speech. Words hold power. I thank you for reading my letter.

Sincerely,

Jordan Harvey

Senator Grassley's response and he gives me reasons to keep voting for him:

October 21, 2019

Dear Ms.(Name):

Thank you for taking the time to contact me with your concerns regarding U.S. foreign policy with respect to Iran and North Korea. As your senator, it is important to me that I hear from you.

First, I appreciate hearing your concerns regarding U.S. foreign in the Persian Gulf. In recent months, Iranian provocations and the measured U.S. response to those provocations have led some commentators to suspect the U.S. is poised for military conflict with that nation. At the outset, I want to be absolutely clear that I do not want to go war with Iran. Additionally, I do not believe that the Trump administration is actively looking for military conflict with that country. That being said, the United States must be prepared to protect our interests and those of our allies in the face of Iranian aggression. Iran poses significant challenges to the United States and those of our allies, and I would like to take this opportunity to address them with you.

Since Iran’s Islamic revolution in 1979, Iran has been a perennial concern of successive presidential administrations and congresses. Iran’s actions stem largely from its revolutionary ideology and unique theocratic governmental structure that dominates virtually all aspects of the country’s governance. The country’s supreme leader, Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, controls the foreign policies of the Iranian government. It is through the supreme leader that the country’s main security apparatuses engage in malign activities throughout the Middle East to promote Iranian influence with an intent to dominate the region.

Iran actively funds, equips, and trains a host of Shia militias throughout the region. Terrorist groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in the Palestinian Territories, various Shia militias in Iraq, and the Houthi rebels in Yemen all receive significant support from Iran. Iran has repeatedly been named the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism. Iran has maintained its capability to threaten U.S. interests and allies through the Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). A unit of the IRGC, the Quds Force, implements Iranian foreign policy goals in the Middle East by providing cover for intelligence operations and creating instability throughout the region. The Trump administration has increased pressure on the Iranian regime to cease its destabilizing activities by tightening U.S. sanctions on Iranian oil and petrochemical exports, and designating the IRGC as a foreign terrorist organization.

In recent weeks, Iranian aggression has elevated to new heights. Evidence suggests that the Iranian regime has sabotaged oil infrastructure in the gulf through selective attacks on a pipeline and oil tankers in the region. On June 18, 2019, Iran shot down a U.S. surveillance drone conducting reconnaissance in international airspace. President Trump announced that the United States had planned to initiate limited retaliatory strikes but declined to execute them for lack of adequate proportionality.

On September 14, 2019, Iranian forces struck two key oil-processing centers in Khurais and Abqaiq, Saudi Arabia. This remarkably bold act of aggression led to a spike in global oil prices and greatly heightened tensions in the Persian Gulf. In response, the Trump administration has increased the number of troops stationed in Saudi Arabia by roughly 3000 and deployed additional U.S. military assets to the country. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper characterized the deployment as a defensive measure to bolster Saudi Arabia’s deterrence capabilities against an increasingly hostile Iran.

I understand the concerns that have been raised by the American public about U.S.-Saudi relations. The murder of the Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi has led to the sanctioning of numerous Saudi government officials and remains a sore spot in our relations with that country. Nevertheless, the fact remains that Saudi Arabia remains a strategic partner in the Persian Gulf as a counterbalance to more hostile nations and U.S.-Saudi relations have advanced not only U.S. foreign policy aims, but also those of our allies.

During consideration of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2020, the Senate considered an amendment from Senator Udall that would have prohibited all DoD funds from being used for any military response against Iran. I voted against this amendment, not because I am looking for a conflict with Iran, but because it is too broad in its scope and could potentially endanger service members and U.S. personnel. If U.S. citizens, diplomatic facilities in the region, or other important national interests are threatened or attacked, the United States must be able to respond promptly and in appropriate fashion. The Udall amendment would have hampered President Trump’s Article II authority as commander in chief to respond if necessary. The president has made it clear that he is not looking to go to war with Iran and lacks the authority to engage in full scale hostilities. But, by sending a message that the U.S. will not respond to further military escalation by Iran, it would undermine deterrence and make a bad situation worse.

The Trump administration is applying diplomatic and economic pressure on Iran through the increased use of sanctions on the Iranian economy. It is the administration’s goal to modify Iranian behavior to ensure they are a responsible member of the international community. As your senator, you can rest assured that I will continue to keep your thoughts in mind when considering legislation in the Senate.

I also appareciate your sharing your concerns regarding U.S. foreign policy with North Korea. Throughout the 1990s into the early 2000s, past U.S. administrations and foreign governments have engaged in numerous bilateral and multilateral efforts to curb what was then a burgeoning nuclear weapons development program in North Korea. Under these efforts, the 1994-2002 Agreed Framework and the 2005-2009 Six-Party Talks, North Korea committed to an eventual denuclearization in exchange for specific diplomatic and economic gains. North Korea withdrew or reneged from both of these potential agreements and continued to pursue its proliferation efforts.

Since Kim Jong-un came to power in 2012, North Korea has conducted over 80 ballistic missile test launches and four nuclear weapons tests. In April 2017, the Trump administration announced that it had raised the North Korean threat to a top-level foreign policy priority due to its development of nuclear weapons and ballistic missile launches. In July of 2017, North Korea successfully tested a missile that, according to United States’ intelligence agencies, has intercontinental range.

Shortly thereafter, Congress passed the Countering America’s Adversaries through Sanctions Act. This legislation strengthens the use of sanctions on those facilitating North Korea’s nuclear weapons and missile programs. Additionally, the United Nations Security Council has imposed multilateral international sanctions to prohibit material support for the North Korean regime.

Throughout early 2018, relations between North and South Korea improved with increased diplomatic liaison. On March 8, 2018, White House announced tentative plans for a meeting between President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Following a meeting between North Korean officials and South Korean National Security Advisor, Chung Eui-Young, Kim Jong-un provided a message to President Trump through South Korean emissaries conveying his apparent desire for a negotiated settlement. According to the South Korean national security advisor, in his meeting with Kim Jong-un, the North Koreans committed to a cessation of ballistic missile and nuclear weapons tests, and to not publically object to upcoming U.S.-South Korean military drills. The Trump administration agreed to the meeting provided North Korea uphold its pledge.

The meeting in Singapore between President Trump and Kim Jong-un was met with both praise and skepticism. The summit ended with the issuance of a joint statement that stated the United States and North Korea will work towards normalizing relations, addressing issues diplomatically, and working towards the full denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

Throughout the remainder of 2018, the United States and North Korea continued to communicate in an effort to reach a comprehensive agreement regarding North Korean denuclearization. This effort culminated with a second summit that was conducted between President Trump and Kim Jong-un on February 28, 2019.

The second summit between President Trump and Kim Jong-un was intended to provide an opportunity for a comprehensive agreement leading to the verified denuclearization of North Korea. Despite numerous meetings between the U.S. and North Korean delegations and between President Trump and Kim Jong-un, no such agreement emerged. The North Korean delegation continued to press for what it had throughout 2018, which is the rapid relief of U.S. and international sanctions. President Trump stated that neither side could agree on the specific actions North Korea would be obliged to accomplish in order to achieve that goal. The Trump administration has made it clear that absent the complete and verifiable denuclearization of North Korea, the U.S. will continue its policy of sanctioning North Korea.

Following President Trump's attendance at the G20 Summit in Japan this June, the president attended a brief meeting with Kim Jong-un at the DMZ. During this meeting, President Trump was invited to cross into North Korea and discussed the prospect of peace and a political settlement with the country. I understand your concerns regarding President Trump's language during this meeting, however I am in no position to control the words of the president.

I believe that President Trump was correct to accept no deal in his second summit rather than agreeing to a bad deal given the history of past denuclearization deals. The United States must continue to negotiate from a position of strength with North Korea. That being said, neither President Trump nor Kim Jong-un have shut the door on continued dialogue and the possibility to an agreement regarding denuclearization. As your senator, you can rest assured that I am carefully monitoring the U.S.-North Korean relationship and that I will keep your thoughts in mind going forward.

Again, thank you for taking the time to contact me. Please keep in touch.

Sincerely,

Chuck Grassley

United States Senate

Tips on Preparing for College

I read how some people whine about the student loan crisis while others complain how exploitative college loans/tuition are to students. OK, less than half of a college's income is from tuition. Much more of it is from endowments, sporting events, federal grants, and state government funds. Colleges are hardly exploiting students by giving them an education. If one thinks college is worthless, then good luck finding a job that doesn't require education beyond a high diploma in this digital world. Many middle aged people go/return to college to get better paying jobs so many would disagree college education is worthless.

To pay college expenses, it is best to figure out first what occupation you want to do when you graduate. What are your interests and what are you good at? If you can't decide, work summer and/or part-time jobs until you figure it out. I have met people who didn't go to college until their late 20's when they decided what they wanted to do. If you are still a teen living in your parents' house, then exploring different occupations would be good for you and you will quickly learn what employers expect from their employees (like they are paying you to work not text your friends all day and wanting time off to attend a party mostly likely will demand that you find a replacement for your shift). And working teens learn about paying income taxes, knowledge they will need in adulthood (Children are dependents of their parents until they stop being full-time students at least 5 months out of the year or turn 24, whichever comes first, so your parents will receive any education credits and not you).

Second step after deciding on a occupation is to research what education and experience is required to get there. Not every occupation requires a PHD or professional license and of course, there are occupations that do. Some occupations require internships or apprenticeships, which are often planned a year in advance. And if income is an issue, then remember a licensed welder makes about the same amount of money as a CPA. Math and Science areas tend to make more income than English and Social Studies (History, Geography, Philosophy) areas. Brain work often pays more than physical labor.

Now that you researched what degree you need to get your foot in the door, then you research what colleges or universities offer the degree you need. Next, research how much money you need to attend your college choices. It is best to research the cost of tuition before applying for admission.

Next you figure out how to pay for your required tuition of the college/university that accepted your admission application. There are more than student loans available to pay for tuition. If your high school offers college credit classes, take them to save on tuition expenses. Many colleges will accept transfer credits up to 8 years. There are community colleges that offer classes to high school students (for a fee) so check those out in your area. Many drop out high school students go to community colleges to obtain GED certificates. Since general classes are required the first two years of a 4 year Bachelor degree, many poor students go to cheaper community colleges for the first two general studies years and state funded university the second two specialized in major years. Apply for scholarships, there are academic and athletic scholarships available. There are also scholarships for minorities, single mothers, artists, and vets. Even more scholarships can be found through businesses, religious organizations, and schools. Research all scholarships you qualify for. Some people join the military to get free higher education. Some grandparents buy savings bonds for their grandchildren that can be cashed in when attending college (Series EE bonds don't pay income tax on interest if use for education). Parents can set up education savings accounts for their children. Funds from IRAs can be used to pay for education without early withdrawal penalties. All colleges have a tutoring program so if you get an A in a class, be sure to apply to tutor other students in that class for pay.

Once all available above funds are exhausted, you apply for federal student aid. Apply to several colleges or universities and go to the one that offers the best financial aid package. Just because you get accepted doesn't mean you have to attend if you find a better deal somewhere else. Scholarships do effect financial aid in that less student loans are offered the more scholarship money you receive. There are grants that you don't have to pay back. There is work study where you work a job on campus and get paid a certain amount per semester(and looks good on a resume). Work study is set up to no more than 20 hours a week and pay rate is determined so that the allowed amount is earned by the end of the semester (so not exactly minimum wage). There are student loans for parents (PLUS). There are student loans for students (FAFSA) which have limitations on amounts given to the student depending on degree, what year the student is in, and if dependent on parents or independent adult. There are 3 kinds of student loans and must start repaying once student leaves the school whether they graduated or not. 2 kinds are government backed loans that go through government chosen banks. The interest rate on these loans is determined by Congress and can change over time (often in single digits). One type is Subsidized loans where interest does not start accruing until after student leaves school. Second type is Unsubsidized loans where interest accrues instantly so student may pay on interest while they are taking classes. Any interest accrued by the time student leaves school is capitalized, meaning Interest is turned into Principal that you have pay interest on. The third type of student loan is Private loans that are not government backed. Many banks and student loan companies offer these loans. The amount limit is determined by the company/bank which is dependent on income of the student and/or required co-signer. The interest on these loans are determined by credit scores of the applicants.

Once student leaves the college/university, there is usually a 6 month grace period before student loans repayments are required. If you are considering student loan forgiveness, then you much research to see if you qualify for that. And remember you must pay income tax on any cancelled student loan amount. If you are considering the student loan forgiveness route, then do not consolidate or refinance your loans because consolidated or refinanced loans cannot receive forgiveness. Student loans are usually 10 years in length, unless you refinance them to make them longer. If you do not qualify for student loan forgiveness, you can refinance your loan(s) at anytime during your repayment which means change the interest rate and/or repayment amount. If you can get a better rate or repayment amount, it is worth researching. If you don't like the result you can cancel the refinancing (if you say nothing then they refinance anyway). To save on interest on these student loans, you can pay an extra amount on your repayments. Repayments go to interest first and then Principal second which is why these amounts are different each month on your statement. For example, your repayment amount is $100 and you write your check for $150. That extra $50 will go towards principal and therefore, less interest you have to pay overall.