Tag: taxes

Seven Weeks…

by annemariedemyen, posted in Health and Fitness, March 2023

I am only three weeks into Year Two of my health and fitness program, but it has been SEVEN WEEKS since Molly and I collided and I walked away with a broken arm.  (Literally walked away!  We were at the dog park a few blocks from home, so we had to walk home. Ouch, ouch, ouch!)

Molly racing with a little French Bullie at the park last week.  I stayed outside the fence with my broken arm.

I think that I am healing quite well. The fractures in my proximal humurus and humurus head do not bother me at all.  I do feel frequent and considerable pain in my shoulder, elbow, and wrist.  Go figure.  I am pretty sure I pulled or tore something in my shoulder, but I am three weeks from getting my ultrasound report so who knows.  This morning, I had ripping pain down my right side from my shoulder, down my arm, and down my side from my armpit to under my ribs.    Since I did not injure my right side in my fall, I have to assume it was either sympathy for my left side or something I pulled compensating for my left side.  Who knows?

Either way, that brings me to where I am at with my physical health and fitness levels.  I think I am doing okay all things considered.  I work out, try to sleep well, try to eat healthy, take my vitamins and beet juice, and try to get outside for a bit of fresh air every day.   🤗

Mentally and emotionally, I have struggled a bit this past week.  It’s nothing serious – just frustration, sadness, and good old grumpiness.  Nothing debilitating for sure, but something I have had to work on.  

  • I have backed away from checking my online ‘Fractured Humurus Group’.  There is way more bad news than good and it just isn’t helping me.  I do still drop in once or twice a day and send ‘Caring Hugs’ to those who are struggling, but I don’t let myself get too engaged.
  • I have made daily accomplishments a priority.  Yesterday I made breakfast for Dan and I, did dishes, vacuumed, dusted,  cleaned and re-assembled our humidifier, made a dental appointment, AND I did our taxes!!!
  • I have been meditating every day.   I think that is really helping me to feel more grounded and focused.  It also is helping me to sleep better.
  • I have been watching You Tube video clips of comedy sketches – mostly ‘Golden Girls’ and ‘Bob Newhart’.  I wasn’t really a fan of ‘Golden Girls’ when it was on tv, but their clips are funny.  I always loved ‘Bob Newhart’ – especially Larry and his brothers Darryl and Darryl.    🤣🤣🤣

My efforts seem to be helping to get my mental and emotional self in a better place.    And… Our March sunshine isn’t hurting the cause. 🌞

That is my health and well-being update for this week.  

Take care and have a great week! 💞🤗

Our flowers are still seeds, roots, or bulbs buried under feet of snow and ice, but I thought this photo from my archives would make a perky and promising Header Photo for March.  ☺️
Advertisement

September 3rd – Off Leash Dog Parks

by annemariedemyen, posted in A Piece of My Mind - September 2021

Today the ‘Piece of My Mind’ that I have decided to share, is the piece that holds my opinion on the proliferation of off-leash dog parks in our city.  Apparently this is a trend that has been spreading across North America for some time, but as usual we are running a few years behind.

For the record – I am against off-leash dog parks.  We certainly do not need seven (and counting) off-leash dog parks anywhere in Regina. We definitely do not need one in our neighborhood (which is currently in the works). There are as many dogs as people in our area. While we have many responsible dog owners, we also have those who can barely control their dogs on a leash, much less without one. When our neighbourhood off-leash dog park opens, I for one will not be taking Kat into that gong show.

But, we will be helping to foot the bill to build and maintain yet another off-leash dog park that this city does not need. As will everyone else in our neighbourhood – the petless, the cat people, the bird and reptile lovers. We will all foot the bill because some dog owners and city politicians have decided that dogs need their own parks so they can run free and socialize in urban areas. 🙄

Kat – Safe, staying out of of trouble, and happily out walking on her leash.

I realize there are a lot of dogs that are far larger and more active than our Kat. They may well require more intense exercise. In a small city like Regina, it is blocks to the rural area surrounding the city – with ample opportunities to run a larger animal. If that is not an option for anyone (anywhere), than maybe they should have made a more responsible choice when adopting a pet. Just saying!

Patricia Park – acres of on-leash walkways – a couple of blocks from the soon to operate off-leash dog park.

So, that is my ‘piece of mind’ for the day.

Have a great day! Take care and see you tomorrow.💞

Taxes Are Filed!

by annemariedemyen, posted in life

Completed Net Filing our taxes and applications for a government senior drug plan. Whoo Hoo! Just a few thoughts on the subject:

1) I, like millions of others, hate filling out government forms. I also hate, and again I am not alone here, the challenges of using technology to do virtually anything. Having filled out the government forms of the day and receiving confirmation that they went where they need to be, I am feeling quite accomplished. Celebrating with a glass of wine accomplished, but since it is only noon, I settled for a mini cupcake.

2) As bad as it is to complete government forms, some of today’s forms were exceptionally bad. It was not that they were any more incomprehensible than usual. It was just due to the reason for filing them. Being as I am turning 65 this summer, I had to submit an application to be covered by our government senior drug plan, plus I had to submit an application for a my husband for spousal coverage because he is over 60 but under 65. Here is the thing though – neither my husband nor I qualify for this plan. My husband still works – and will work for another 4 years. He makes too much income from his employment for either of us to qualify. We have to submit our applications so that we can receive a denial for coverage from this plan, that we must send to his company’s insurance company so they will continue our health coverage because we do not qualify for government coverage, because his employment income is too high for us to qualify. They have his employment records. They know he works. They know what his wage is and they know his wage would disqualify us. So, why??? Why do we need to do this?

3) I do not hate paying income taxes. 😛. I am not thrilled that our provincial government squanders a LOT of our tax revenue and that much of it does not go where it should go. I am not thrilled with our provincial government for a LOT of reasons. That is a whole other blog. But, I do not hate paying income taxes. I have been paying taxes since I started working. I have always felt that I was fortunate to have employment that covered providing for my family – as well as allowed me to contribute to our country & province as a whole. Even as a single mother, I contributed to schools, hospitals, highways, law enforcement, social programs and the like through my taxes. I was pretty proud of that actually. Still am🙂

4). Finally, I am glad that I finished doing and filing our taxes and drug plan applications in a timely fashion. I used to be terrible for procrastinating on things like this. I was scrambling on April 30th for years and years. I have learned to get on it and get it done! Finally! 🤸🤸🤸