Do You Like Your Vacuum?

I rarely use the shampoo attachment on my Kirby vacuum. This weekend, however, I am earnestly preparing for Graduation parties. It is not difficult, and it didn't take too long. I suppose I saved a fair amount by doing it myself. The whole time I was thinking, "I should be listening to a book on tape." and "I never should have bought the Kirby vacuum even though it has a shampoo attachment." I fell for the sales pitch many years ago. Even though I already had a decent vacuum from the classifieds. I had four small children, and a college kid came and shampooed the dirty stairs as part of the demonstration. WOW! I felt sorry for him and was overly glad to talk his adult supervisor. Any adult, really. In the end, it has been too heavy for stairs and too complicated with all its attachments and too expensive (especially compared to elbow grease and rental shampooers).

What Does it Mean to be American?

The Government is more afraid of
Unborn Babies
and
Religion of Homeschoolers
than
drugs,
nuclear weapons,
extremist terrorists,
or rising deficits borrowed against the future.
Dangerous culture war.
Really biased.
and Sad.
I can hear Lesa saying:
"You Republican."

Big Hockey Honors

Captain received an important email from the USHL. The summer before a hockey player turns 16, he is eligible to be recuited to the "USHL Futures Combine" for five exhibition games. That means he may be one of the top USHL prospects at age 18. Knowing only 300 players are chosen nationwide (in combined birth years of 1998 and 1999), we panicked because the email didn't indicate which son was chosen!?! After some hours of worry, Captain received a call back from the scouting director saying BOTH our sons were picked. (*whew*) YES!! Polar Bear and Winger feel on top of the world. This is another confirmation that they are pretty terrific on the ice for their age. For me, the thing about having twins is that they are different, but they are both good and you hope the things that one does better than the other won't be the dividing line. Especially during those teenage years when you are unsure about where you fit in, the twins hoped their hockey skill and efforts would lead them to the next higher level. I say: "Congratulations!" to them, and to Captain: "You know the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull? Lipstick."

All Eyes on Augusta

It's hard to get Dorito to study for his College Algebra exam when he has live streaming with "The Masters App." Same for the twins! First thing they noticed was the LARGE crowds compared to last year. They should have gone last year when Tiger was "out," and the crowds were much small. We don't like Tiger anyway. Today, they are hoping for Mickelson, Rose, Lynn, Garcia, Westwood, and the 14-year-old Chinese amateur to make the first cut. I gave in at lunch time and they watched for awhile. We also looked up the story behind the naming of "Amen Corner." Counts for a little learning, but now we are back to our regularly scheduled homeschool programming.

Thyroid Troubles

Meggar was back to the Student Health Clinic this week since her bronchitis was not better after a round of antibiotics. The doctor immediately noticed her thyroid was swollen. A blood test confirmed slightly low thyroid function, but they don't want to start her on Synthroid yet. She is worried, but we have had her tested twice in the past three years and everything was normal both those times. So I am hoping to talk to her regular physician, too. Meanwhile they are giving her a B-12 shot to help with energy levels. We are praying for her. It is hard to hear about limits when you are only 20 years old.

Margaret Thatcher's Story

If you travel to England, you will see the legacy of Margaret Thatcher everywhere. If you travel in England, I mean. The privatization of the British rail stations seems so natural to Americans, but I recall when Nancy, Blair, and I always had to pack a sandwich and book along because you could hardly buy gum or a newspaper at train stations. Today they have built up mini-malls in many stations with cafes, druggists, book stalls, and boutiques selling china or clothing. They are one-stop-shopping destinations now! Reaganomics certainly had its ally in the "Iron Lady."
Guess this will prompt me to read that biography which has been on the shelf these 25 years.

Taxing the Brain

I buckled down and got the taxes done all in one day. Captain is a big help with Quicken, and I sort the receipts. We do Schedule A and itemize, but there is never "enough" to take a decent medical deduction (though we spent a large amount out of pocket = more than $10,000). We also do Schedule C because we own an airplane as a side business. Then there's Meggar's forms with scholarships, books, and tuition. Plus I'm filing for Dorito who had a real job in 2012. UGH!
Update: It seems a shame that we have to pay taxes on our own money that we use for health care, especially since one-third of Americans get tax-free healthcare for free, using other taxpayer's money!