Winter returns

 Weather, what else?

We seem to be past "false Spring" and back to Winter, at least for a few days.  The front blew in Monday afternoon into the evening, and Tuesday morning we woke to 6℉ (that's plus 6, F, which translates to minus 14, C, for those who live by that scale).  Brrrr!  Just a dusting of snow, and thankfully, the freezing drizzle passed us by, hitting East and North of us.

See?  Just a dusting on the deck.  The streets are mostly dry.  So I felt totally OK driving to the trainer's gym.

It was really warm inside the halls of the building, but just about right inside the studio where we lift.  We could see a few flakes dancing around outside the windows.

Then on Wednesday?  Mother Nature decided she had to top herself, and I woke to minus 1℉ .  Even more brrrr!

The pride of felines

Had to capture this "landscape" of my small pride of lions.  If they are, as the documentary says, "lions in your living room", that makes The Prisoner (gray) and Rubia (ginger) my personal pride.

The return of cold weather has driven them to stay inside more.  But The Prisoner especially demands to go out a few times a day, even in the cold.

Keeping safe from the virus, as the case counts continue to fall:

I mentioned on Friday that the local mask mandate got lifted.  I'll probably once again wear mine for a while beyond that mandate drop, waiting for the risk dial to also drop before I go bare-faced in public places indoors.  I'm still masking with the trainer, for now, but hopeful that the case counts will continue to drop and we'll have a couple of months of "near normal" as we did last Spring... soon!

The other thing I usually do over Presidents Day weekend:  taxes

US Federal income taxes aren't due until April, but I like to keep on top of these things.  If I am going to have to pay in, I want to budget for it.  And since I usually end up paying estimated taxes (a feature of retirement, since much of my income is chopped up or variable and doesn't have enough withheld), I want to know ahead of time, again, so I can budget.

The financial papers are generally issued by Presidents Day.  The last one I needed showed up last week, so... tradition continues.  

Yes, I prepare my own tax return, with software, and file on-line.  Not everybody does.  Some have incomes such that they don't need to file.  Others are more comfortable hiring it done.  I managed to "do my own (and my spouse's)" all through the years.

I remember my brother as I do this.  He did not trust the software, being an expert in his own right.  We would have these conversations on the phone about how the software treated some situation, versus how he would do it!  It was only the more complex scenarios on which they might differ.  He spent many tax seasons volunteering to help low income folks with their taxes, too.  I was proud of his giving spirit.

In any case, it's done now, filed electronically, and acceptance emails received.  I'm curious about other countries and how simple or complex their tax systems are!

The need to be needed

Do you come from a long line of folks who "hate to be the one who only calls when they need something"?  Yeah, me, too.  But when someone calls with that as their opening sentence, and you know that is their nature... your heart goes out, and you want to be of help to them.  It cost them to make that call.  They would not call me unless it really was their last option.

Don't know the date or time, or even what hospital, but I am needed in someone's hour of trouble to provide transport and post surgery check ups.  I think we all need to feel useful.  And we would all like to think if the shoe were on the other foot, whoever we called as our last option would respond with the needed help.  My caller was so relieved... she thought she had no one... but she's got me.

It got me to thinking of my dad's final weeks on the planet, when he had gone to a meeting in another city, and came home musing that even this late in his life, he still had a contribution to make.  I mused on this with a wry smile: retired or not, pandemic or not, I'm still needed, too.  

Speaking of feeling needed: YOU need yourself!

Which brings me back around to the reason I blog - the pep talk.  Do you take better care of yourself when you have others to care for?  Or are you one who neglects your own well-being when caring for spouse, children, pets and work or volunteer activities?

Something to ponder, perhaps.

The argument that I used to hear was that if you don't take care of yourself, how will you be able to care for others?  So, for that useful activity you are needed to do... please be kind to yourself, and take care of your own well-being!  Nurture the body with quality "real food"... as the saying goes... "not too much"... "mostly plants".  Get some activity in, and don't forget stretching.  Drink your water, to keep hydrated.  And remember at the end of the day, to let your worries go, and relax into sleep.  You've earned it!

Life is good.  Spark on!