Strange Weather

The Strange weather has moved in. Yesterday the wind blew like mad, and then rain overnight. Today, it is cold and rainy with possibility of snow...Except for the fact it is now completely sunny. We even had hail for a bit. Where did it the weather go? I am actually hoping for a weekend of truly bizarre weather. It would be welcomed. The snow level may get down to 500 ft or lower. I am ready!

We received a cancellation notice that cousin's Jarrett's birthday party is being postponed until the 19th. I don't really blame them since the weather is supposed to be so funky. Can't hardly have a bounce house, pirate treasure hunt, and other pirating activities out in the rain and hail. We will hope for sunny weather on the 19th.

I took my dad to the chemo doctor yesterday. They did not give him a chemo treatment because his blood counts were so low. They put him on prophylactic antibiotics and two shots to stimulate red and white cell growth. He goes back next week and may get treatment if his numbers rebound reasonably. I think we both welcomed the break this week. His appetite has been good and I am really happy about that. I "get" to take my dad to JK Harris Tax Professionals in Oxnard next Tuesday. I am not looking forward to that in the least, but it needs to be done. My dad, is well, my dad. In 1994 he was working on the carnival circuit, filed his taxes, but then later was audited (for reasons unknown, or remembered at this point) and was then informed that he owed the IRS over $10,000 for that year! As my memory serves, it came that the IRS somehow got a report from dad's employer that year that dad made over $65,000! Hello, on a carnival circuit?? I don't think so! Anyway, Dad knew this was wrong, and being who he is, promptly ignored the IRS summons for the money. Now, over 10 years later (The IRS never forgets) they are insisting they get their money (They have a war to fund you know!) with penalties and interest and the like...So, the total now is almost 20K. Dad recalls that his employer at that time got ill at tax time and may have even passed and that his wife did the filing and books for the year. So, that may be what happened. I am thinking she reported her husband's income for the entire year under dad's social security number. We called the IRS and the lady was extremely nice and we have a mess of papers to wade through, get his 1994 taxes filed because he hasn't done those either. Cancer got in the way of that. Dad is going to sign over POA on IRS stuff to me. Will make life much easier. In the meantime he may start a minimal payment plan with the IRS to keep them at bay while we get all this figured out. I mean, no doubt he will owe them something, but I don't think 20K worth. They were threatening to levy accounts, so we have to get this taken care of finally. I have been begging him for years to do this before they do just take whatever they want. So, we shall see where this road goes.

No weekend plans for me right now. I think a lowkey weekend is in order. I need to work with Lydia more on her printing. She is slow at it and the teacher is a little worried about next year. She is thinking she may have more homework than the other kids next year because she won't be getting it all done in class. Hmmm, this sounds vaguely familiar (as in myself). I recall my mother telling me she had to wait after school for me while the infamous Mrs. Goodgame kept me in to finish papers. Finally, mom had enough and told the old battle-axe off, and said she wasn't waiting any longer after school for me. I think that is where my disdain for school started, and it only increased over the years until I graduated and then went to college. I liked college a lot. Most of my k-12 years were a waste of time. Oh yeah, I learned to read and write, and how to waste a lot of time doing NOTHING while in school. My disdain peaked in my 4th-7th grade years. Some of that had to do with my own dysfunctional family as well. I can't let the public school system take all the rap. I don't recall too many homework sessions spent with my parents. My dad was working late hours a lot on Radar systems and my mom had her first heart-attack when I was in 5th grade and life became a lot different then. She never quit smoking or feeling a bit sorry for herself and drowning that out with a bottle of cheap wine. So, I guess I figured if my parents weren't going to take an active roll in my education, why should I? And I didn't. It was strange, after my mom died, I was forced to grow up a bit quickly I would guess. I didn't miss much school after that, and my grades improved dramatically. I knew I was in charge of my own destination, and it was only me at the helm. Anyway, I digress. I just know that Mark and I need to be 100% active in our children's education if we expect them to take an interest in it. It is something we both feel very strongly about and intend to remain proactive in their education. So, that means, I need to work with her on her printing and her speed at printing this weekend.