Post by Honeylioness on Dec 1, 2008 23:11:30 GMT -5
01 December 2008
I hope everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving. I had a very quiet, leisurely holiday. It was such a wonderful change of pace. Don't get me wrong, I love the hustle and bustle of fixing a big feast with friends and family.
This year was so calm and relaxing. I got to spend four days destressing and playing with the furbabies. Of course, Onyx now thinks she needs to go out every fifteen minutes and be held and snuggled the rest of the time. TJ made sure he got his share of lap time.
I'm kind of worried about him. Old age may be creeping up on him, he is 18yo after all. He is not grooming himself as well as he used to. The fur on his lower back is starting to mat. He doesn't like to sit still long enough to be brushed. Maybe when i am home more in January we can work at it a few strokes at a time.
*******
TJ was born under my deck 18 years ago. His mother was a feral cat. I'm still surprised that she stuck around long enough to raise a litter. He was the only one I was able to domesticate. He still isn't too fond of kids or strangers but he has come a long ways. Luckily, my vet is willing to work with somewhat wild cats.
My mother would laugh at him when he was younger because he would follow me around like a puppy. Once when she was visiting we stayed up pretty late visiting and he sat in the hallway crying and would not shut up. Finally I want to bed and he followed me and was on the bed asleep almost before I could turn off the light. He evidently knows bedtime better than I do.
He is a wonderfully well behaved cat. He never ever got onto the table or counters. It was complete disinterest-unless there was an opened tuna can in the house. Even then he was polite enough to wait until I would put it on the floor, of course he was telling me to hurry the entire time. I would fill his litter box once a year, he would pee in it once to let the world know it was his. Then he would go outside the rest of the time--except the time we had 3 feet of snow on the ground.
As you can tell I think he is a pretty special cat.
ETA He refuses to wear a collar. Every time I would put one on him he would come home without it within four hours. He is so skittish around strangers I know no one took it off. After about the fourth attempt I half expected him to drop one at my feet and stroll off laughing at me.
04 December 2008
TJ is asking to go outside. I have told him it's cold out there, but he has to find out for himself. He will walk to the far side of the deck and rush back and look at me as if to say "Why did you force me to go out there?" Onyx is smart enough to hide under a chair so I can't "force" her.
I just realized this is the first time TJ has ventured to the back of the house and be in a room with Onyx and me since September. And Onyx is trying to climb up my chair to "tattle" that he is where he isn't supposed to be (in her mind anyway). She will "charge" the chair he is sitting under and come to a halt just outside his paw reach. All he does is raise his head up and look at her. I can just hear him think "chill."
14 December 2008
Sharing--I forgot to mention the cards from Nermal and Nugget arrived and I shared them with the designated addressee. TJ was unimpressed (although I was-it could have been him in the picture). I showed Onyx her card and put it on the floor for her to examine closer. I could see her thinking--"hmmm, jewelry. I'll take a tiara, please". I guess that would be appropriate since she is such a princess.
This afternoon she insisted on going out, although she stopped a foot outside the door and shivered. Later I couldn't find her and I was afraid i hadn't brought her in, I panicked and went searching and calling through the house and even on the deck. I was about to lose it when I noticed one of the pillows on the bed had grown a black tail. She had burrowed between the pillows and under the comforter. She definitely knows how to get her creature comforts. TJ was most disgusted that I had disrupted his lap time in front of the stove. He still hasn't forgiven me, but it is not dinnertime yet.
I just watched "60 Minutes" and there was an episode about another mortgage bubble set to burst in '09 or '10. By 4-5 years from now there will be approx 8 million families lose their homes. Something called "Alt-A" and "Option ARM" mortgages that will make the sub-prime mortgages look like child's play. Although we are still just looking at a recession, not a depression. Makes me want to monitor my spending even more, no matter how much the consumer is to help spend our way out. Not this consumer.
All this cold is making me sleepy. I guess it is time to feed the kitties and get back under the comforter, maybe add another blanket tonight since it will be even colder.
16 December 2008
It is still blasted cold here and I guess there is more on the way this weekend. Both kitties just had to go out for a few minutes. I tried to tell them it was cold but neither of them listened. When TJ came in he hopped up to join me in the recliner. He snuggled up just like he did when he was a kitten with his head tucked between my neck and shoulder. He was purring loud enough to be heard in the next county. Onyx however was not so happy. She would stand up and stretch up to bat at TJ , I guess to make him go away from "her space." Then she would go around to the other side of the chair and bat at his tail. Which, I am sure, he twitched just to torment her. This went on for about 20 minutes until I came to the computer, where she joined me and has been sitting on my arms the entire time I have been posting. I think she might be just a little bit possessive.
18 December 2008
Thanks all for the birthday wishes! I had forgotten how much fun it can be to share that day with friends.
The cats decided to get me up early today. At least the temps are in positive territory for a few hours and they can go outside for a few minutes before i have to go to work (play). I like to go in early over break so I can go home early, even 30 min early makes the evening so much longer. The best part of this break is that I can wear jeans and sweatshirts to work, which is only reasonable since we will be doing a deep clean in our classrooms and building. I hope there are a few kids left when i get there to help move the student desks into the hallways so i can get ready to shampoo the carpet. I also need to take the drapes down and mend and wash them while I have time. We don't have a janitorial staff-unless you count the students and teachers.
I am being called by a duet being performed over the breakfast bowls. i guess it is time to get moving. Have a great day.
19 December 2008
I'm bundled up on the bed watching my annual dose of "White Christmas" and miracle of miracles just happened. TJ came up to snuggle. I couldn't believe it when I felt him climb up. His bones are old enough he doesn't jump up much. To be honest, he didn't jump up this time either, I keep a footstool at the foot of the bed to give him an assist.
My four-footed princess wasn't too sure he should be doing that. She jumped down from her throne (a soft sided suitcase on top of a box of books high enough that she can "supervise" everything) and paced around the bed not sure just what to do about the situation.
I'm surprised she was awake enough to realize what had happened. She was running around the yard for about an hour this afternoon having the time of her life, it was above freezing for about two hours today. Everyone knows when she is happy. Unlike most cats who hold their tails straight up when happy, Onyx curls hers over her back-almost like like a husky puppy. If she is really happy, not only does her tail curl over her back but it quivers, too.
20 December 2008
Update- TJ slept on the bed for about two hours last night! I think he is starting to get Ms. Onyx's number.
21 December 2008
Gldn--I'd gladly share a kitty if I could get one to you. Right now they are both snoozing on the bed. I was ultra lazy and did not make up the bed today, I just pushed the comforter aside and forgot about it. They both have found little nests in the folds. Actually, if the fold of the comforter were smaller and they could see each other they would realize the were back to back--almost snuggling! Maybe there is hope yet.
23 December 2008
MK--I think i screwed up on my posting. I don't have set goals. I have spent 3 days this month so that is 20/23 as of today, right?
Red--I am paid every 14 days and i hated it. I direct all paychecks through auto deposit to my savings account. Once I had a full paycheck saved up in savings then I set up an automatic monthly payment to my checking account. My deposits sort of leapfrog. For every two checks that are deposited to savings I have one months budget amount deposited into checking. I can then pay everything on a monthly basis even the amounts i need to leave in savings for those irregular but necessary expenses (ins., taxes, gifts, vacations...). I am thinking of checking out ING so I can set up sub accounts and not keep those amounts in my regular savings with sub accounts in my head. Boy that sentence is confusing! I found that by budgeting monthly I end up saving more and spend less. It causes a little stress setting everything up but works so well in the long run.
Call Fidelity and explain your situation. The customer service has always been great when I have dealt with them. I think the situation with the 401(k)/IRA rollover is a tax issue. If you can do a Roth in 2010 and have three years to pay the taxes due with funds outside of the retirement account that will leave more in the account to grow. But Ombud is right the accounts will all show up on one page anyway.
Nitza--rollovers don't count as that years contributions. You could roll over $100K and it wouldn't count as that years deposit.
Your big issue is that you can't combine tax deferred accounts (regular IRA) with taxed accounts (Roth). If there are going to be special issues in 2010 as Ombud mentioned, you could do as I mentioned to Red. I think. Always check with a professional first.
TJ and Onyx Update-- I was sooo cold I want to bed early last night. Now this fit perfectly well into Onyx's plan of action because in her world the best place to be warm is under the comforter, curled up against my back or side. She is so hot I am not complaining either. Anyway about 11:00 I sort of woke up a bit and discovered she was asleep on top of the comforter with her head on my shoulder. Then I realized " that head is too big, this must be TJ." He was on top of the comforter she was sleeping under. Neither realized they were sharing the bed with me and each other. Until about 3:30am, when there was a royal kerfuffle with hissing and growls and thumpings enough that they both could count a win. I am tired of mediating for them and figured this was something they would have to work out. They must have, because there was no more noise. Tonight TJ got to the bed first, much to Onyx's disgust and he swatted her when she tried to start trouble. Que sera, sera. (Sharing, did I spell that right?)
I hope everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving. I had a very quiet, leisurely holiday. It was such a wonderful change of pace. Don't get me wrong, I love the hustle and bustle of fixing a big feast with friends and family.
This year was so calm and relaxing. I got to spend four days destressing and playing with the furbabies. Of course, Onyx now thinks she needs to go out every fifteen minutes and be held and snuggled the rest of the time. TJ made sure he got his share of lap time.
I'm kind of worried about him. Old age may be creeping up on him, he is 18yo after all. He is not grooming himself as well as he used to. The fur on his lower back is starting to mat. He doesn't like to sit still long enough to be brushed. Maybe when i am home more in January we can work at it a few strokes at a time.
*******
TJ was born under my deck 18 years ago. His mother was a feral cat. I'm still surprised that she stuck around long enough to raise a litter. He was the only one I was able to domesticate. He still isn't too fond of kids or strangers but he has come a long ways. Luckily, my vet is willing to work with somewhat wild cats.
My mother would laugh at him when he was younger because he would follow me around like a puppy. Once when she was visiting we stayed up pretty late visiting and he sat in the hallway crying and would not shut up. Finally I want to bed and he followed me and was on the bed asleep almost before I could turn off the light. He evidently knows bedtime better than I do.
He is a wonderfully well behaved cat. He never ever got onto the table or counters. It was complete disinterest-unless there was an opened tuna can in the house. Even then he was polite enough to wait until I would put it on the floor, of course he was telling me to hurry the entire time. I would fill his litter box once a year, he would pee in it once to let the world know it was his. Then he would go outside the rest of the time--except the time we had 3 feet of snow on the ground.
As you can tell I think he is a pretty special cat.
ETA He refuses to wear a collar. Every time I would put one on him he would come home without it within four hours. He is so skittish around strangers I know no one took it off. After about the fourth attempt I half expected him to drop one at my feet and stroll off laughing at me.
04 December 2008
TJ is asking to go outside. I have told him it's cold out there, but he has to find out for himself. He will walk to the far side of the deck and rush back and look at me as if to say "Why did you force me to go out there?" Onyx is smart enough to hide under a chair so I can't "force" her.
I just realized this is the first time TJ has ventured to the back of the house and be in a room with Onyx and me since September. And Onyx is trying to climb up my chair to "tattle" that he is where he isn't supposed to be (in her mind anyway). She will "charge" the chair he is sitting under and come to a halt just outside his paw reach. All he does is raise his head up and look at her. I can just hear him think "chill."
14 December 2008
Sharing--I forgot to mention the cards from Nermal and Nugget arrived and I shared them with the designated addressee. TJ was unimpressed (although I was-it could have been him in the picture). I showed Onyx her card and put it on the floor for her to examine closer. I could see her thinking--"hmmm, jewelry. I'll take a tiara, please". I guess that would be appropriate since she is such a princess.
This afternoon she insisted on going out, although she stopped a foot outside the door and shivered. Later I couldn't find her and I was afraid i hadn't brought her in, I panicked and went searching and calling through the house and even on the deck. I was about to lose it when I noticed one of the pillows on the bed had grown a black tail. She had burrowed between the pillows and under the comforter. She definitely knows how to get her creature comforts. TJ was most disgusted that I had disrupted his lap time in front of the stove. He still hasn't forgiven me, but it is not dinnertime yet.
I just watched "60 Minutes" and there was an episode about another mortgage bubble set to burst in '09 or '10. By 4-5 years from now there will be approx 8 million families lose their homes. Something called "Alt-A" and "Option ARM" mortgages that will make the sub-prime mortgages look like child's play. Although we are still just looking at a recession, not a depression. Makes me want to monitor my spending even more, no matter how much the consumer is to help spend our way out. Not this consumer.
All this cold is making me sleepy. I guess it is time to feed the kitties and get back under the comforter, maybe add another blanket tonight since it will be even colder.
16 December 2008
It is still blasted cold here and I guess there is more on the way this weekend. Both kitties just had to go out for a few minutes. I tried to tell them it was cold but neither of them listened. When TJ came in he hopped up to join me in the recliner. He snuggled up just like he did when he was a kitten with his head tucked between my neck and shoulder. He was purring loud enough to be heard in the next county. Onyx however was not so happy. She would stand up and stretch up to bat at TJ , I guess to make him go away from "her space." Then she would go around to the other side of the chair and bat at his tail. Which, I am sure, he twitched just to torment her. This went on for about 20 minutes until I came to the computer, where she joined me and has been sitting on my arms the entire time I have been posting. I think she might be just a little bit possessive.
18 December 2008
Thanks all for the birthday wishes! I had forgotten how much fun it can be to share that day with friends.
The cats decided to get me up early today. At least the temps are in positive territory for a few hours and they can go outside for a few minutes before i have to go to work (play). I like to go in early over break so I can go home early, even 30 min early makes the evening so much longer. The best part of this break is that I can wear jeans and sweatshirts to work, which is only reasonable since we will be doing a deep clean in our classrooms and building. I hope there are a few kids left when i get there to help move the student desks into the hallways so i can get ready to shampoo the carpet. I also need to take the drapes down and mend and wash them while I have time. We don't have a janitorial staff-unless you count the students and teachers.
I am being called by a duet being performed over the breakfast bowls. i guess it is time to get moving. Have a great day.
19 December 2008
I'm bundled up on the bed watching my annual dose of "White Christmas" and miracle of miracles just happened. TJ came up to snuggle. I couldn't believe it when I felt him climb up. His bones are old enough he doesn't jump up much. To be honest, he didn't jump up this time either, I keep a footstool at the foot of the bed to give him an assist.
My four-footed princess wasn't too sure he should be doing that. She jumped down from her throne (a soft sided suitcase on top of a box of books high enough that she can "supervise" everything) and paced around the bed not sure just what to do about the situation.
I'm surprised she was awake enough to realize what had happened. She was running around the yard for about an hour this afternoon having the time of her life, it was above freezing for about two hours today. Everyone knows when she is happy. Unlike most cats who hold their tails straight up when happy, Onyx curls hers over her back-almost like like a husky puppy. If she is really happy, not only does her tail curl over her back but it quivers, too.
20 December 2008
Update- TJ slept on the bed for about two hours last night! I think he is starting to get Ms. Onyx's number.
21 December 2008
Gldn--I'd gladly share a kitty if I could get one to you. Right now they are both snoozing on the bed. I was ultra lazy and did not make up the bed today, I just pushed the comforter aside and forgot about it. They both have found little nests in the folds. Actually, if the fold of the comforter were smaller and they could see each other they would realize the were back to back--almost snuggling! Maybe there is hope yet.
23 December 2008
MK--I think i screwed up on my posting. I don't have set goals. I have spent 3 days this month so that is 20/23 as of today, right?
Red--I am paid every 14 days and i hated it. I direct all paychecks through auto deposit to my savings account. Once I had a full paycheck saved up in savings then I set up an automatic monthly payment to my checking account. My deposits sort of leapfrog. For every two checks that are deposited to savings I have one months budget amount deposited into checking. I can then pay everything on a monthly basis even the amounts i need to leave in savings for those irregular but necessary expenses (ins., taxes, gifts, vacations...). I am thinking of checking out ING so I can set up sub accounts and not keep those amounts in my regular savings with sub accounts in my head. Boy that sentence is confusing! I found that by budgeting monthly I end up saving more and spend less. It causes a little stress setting everything up but works so well in the long run.
Call Fidelity and explain your situation. The customer service has always been great when I have dealt with them. I think the situation with the 401(k)/IRA rollover is a tax issue. If you can do a Roth in 2010 and have three years to pay the taxes due with funds outside of the retirement account that will leave more in the account to grow. But Ombud is right the accounts will all show up on one page anyway.
Nitza--rollovers don't count as that years contributions. You could roll over $100K and it wouldn't count as that years deposit.
Your big issue is that you can't combine tax deferred accounts (regular IRA) with taxed accounts (Roth). If there are going to be special issues in 2010 as Ombud mentioned, you could do as I mentioned to Red. I think. Always check with a professional first.
TJ and Onyx Update-- I was sooo cold I want to bed early last night. Now this fit perfectly well into Onyx's plan of action because in her world the best place to be warm is under the comforter, curled up against my back or side. She is so hot I am not complaining either. Anyway about 11:00 I sort of woke up a bit and discovered she was asleep on top of the comforter with her head on my shoulder. Then I realized " that head is too big, this must be TJ." He was on top of the comforter she was sleeping under. Neither realized they were sharing the bed with me and each other. Until about 3:30am, when there was a royal kerfuffle with hissing and growls and thumpings enough that they both could count a win. I am tired of mediating for them and figured this was something they would have to work out. They must have, because there was no more noise. Tonight TJ got to the bed first, much to Onyx's disgust and he swatted her when she tried to start trouble. Que sera, sera. (Sharing, did I spell that right?)