Monday, April 07, 2008

Just Lucy talking....

No frugal advice today, I just want to talk. So much has been going on around here that I can’t seem to get it all done. I worked for 10 days straight working on the taxes so that I could take them over to the tax man in the best order possible. We don’t have a simple tax return, we own our own business and it requires a lot of paper work at times. I am so glad that my part is done, now it’s up to the tax man to finish it before the 15th. It feels like a ball and chain has been released from me and I am free for a while.

Tomorrow night I take my General Class Amateur Radio license test. I have been going to class for five weeks now and the time has come to take the test. This is much harder than I ever thought it would be. I have had to learn all about frequencies, radio bands, all kinds of electrical stuff, propagation, antennas, safety, and all kinds of mathematical formulas. This brain of mine is having a hard time processing it all and I am not sure if I will pass this test on the first round. If I don’t pass I will just study more and take it again in May. If you would like to see what one of the practice tests is about, click here and then click on General and give it a try.

Like Diane, I have been babysitting my two grandkids here and there and loving every minute of it, well almost every minute. JJ is 6 yrs. old and Jocelyne is 2 and a half. They really are good kids but they can wear Grandma out.

With my food storage calling at church, I have been very busy. Wheat prices are up almost double. Check out this article about the rising prices.

Here is a video from a bakery about the increases in anything made with wheat. I think you will find it very interesting.

So how does this involve me? Our church group is able to go in and dry-pack (put up) wheat at last years prices. The church is going thru its stores and selling it at last years prices until they run out. All of a sudden people are worried about food prices and they are working on their food storage…. As stake Dry-pack specialist, I am in charge of several groups of people who are working on their storage……I’m busier than a wet hen. Wait till they find out that rice is about to double in price….

I’ve also been listening to some of the presidential campaign rhetoric on TV and over the Internet. This has been a crazy campaign and I am ready for it to be over….fin…done. I’ve also been watching the news about some of the sadder things that go on in this world. We had a 14 yr. old middle school student who delivered a baby in the rest room of her school and then drowned it by trying to flush it down the toilet….She “claimed” that she did not know that she was pregnant…..How can you not know? I’ve had three kids and all three were “movers and shakers” in the womb. It is such a sad situation of what is going on in our society. Also something that worried me was the news of nine third graders who had planned, in detail, how to kill their teacher. The teacher had disciplined one of the students for standing on his desk…Is this a reason to kill her??? That took me a whole day to get off of my mind. I will bet that all of these students are allowed to watch whatever they want on TV. They see violence and think that it is perfectly acceptable…

On a happier note: Bonnie took JJ down to Ellington Field to see the return of the Astronauts a week ago last Thursday. They had returned from a trip in space where they had walked in space and visited the space station. They had flown in from Florida and were coming home to debrief. Bonnie and JJ got to talk and shake hands with all of the returning astronauts. Check out Bonnies blog for pictures and a funny story.

Well, have a great week everyone! Wish me luck on the test.

34 Comments:

At 11:17 PM, Blogger OldLady Of The Hills said...

I DO wish you luck, Lucy...! My brother tokd me hje has just renewed his HAM Radio license...! He has always loved it but had not had the time to do it, for a very long time...And he does have the time now.
I hope ALL goes well with that tesy, my dear and that you will be on the airwaves soon....LOL

Thanks for your lovely words about my garden and the plants....! I LOVE THEM, a Lot!
I am preparing "Part 2" now and hope to have it ready to post early tomorrow A.M. Very time consuming, as you can imagine, but I LOVE taking the photo's and then playing with them, and THEN, sharing them!

That story of those third graders...(WHAT???????) was haunting. I read about it too, and found it almost impossible to believe, let alone fathom. It really feels like people are crazier and crazier as the years go on....! A very disturbing story--And the other one about the young girl killing the baby she didn't know she was having....HELP US!

I'm going back to my plants now....! "Crazy" is not involved with them, at all, Thank God!

 
At 11:39 PM, Blogger Cliff said...

I don't want to seem picky but it's madder than a wet hen and busier than a 'one armed' paper hanger.
Do they really take their briefs off when they get back to Houston?
Your noticing the careful wording on Jims blog, about my dream, made me chuckle.

 
At 11:22 AM, Blogger Big Dave T said...

I think I'll pass on the test since if there's math involved, I'll flunk. Yeah, I don't watch the news too much either because it's so depressing. And though I hate to say it, a lot of that depressing news comes out of Texas. What's up with that compound there with all the polygamists?

It's getting harder and harder to pinch pennies, but I've been finding money now that the snow has melted here. So that helps.

 
At 1:20 PM, Blogger Lucy Stern said...

Cliff, that'll be a piece of pie; but don't wait till the sheep come home.

 
At 1:24 PM, Blogger A Red Mind in a Blue State said...

Good luck-- I'm sure you'll do wonderfully-- but you'll be in our thoughts.

 
At 1:24 PM, Blogger Ralph said...

Good luck on your test. Also, glad you ended on a positive note. I was in the store the other day and the guy in front started up a conversation about the high cost of food. Then he paid for three cartons of cigarettes without flinching.
Ralph

 
At 3:04 PM, Blogger LZ Blogger said...

Lucy ~ I am just surprised that you don't have to do quarterly tax returns! ~ Good luck with the test! ~ jb///

 
At 3:35 PM, Blogger Oh great One said...

Good luck on your test!

The stories on the news just turn my stomach anymore. It never fails something will bring me to tears every time.

 
At 4:20 PM, Blogger Jim said...

Best of wishes for you and the BIG test tonight! You can have some luck too, that would be nice, but luck is beyond my wishing powers.

[Hint: don't copy from Charles W's answers, I think he is having troubles too! He might pull your leg about me a little tonight, he thinks you don't know that I know him. Suit yourself about telling him you know. We live in the same subdivision and the Mrs.'s are good friends also. We have know each other even before they moved here.]

I finished my federal taxes last night, I am just about ready to start on Nebraska state taxes this afternoon, maybe for the last or next to last time.
..

 
At 4:56 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

ahh Lucy...I am also one who is greatly bothered by sad happenings in the news! Things can really get to me if I don't fight it!


Take care,

Junie

 
At 1:42 AM, Blogger Lucy Stern said...

OK everyone, I have to say that I chickened out on the test......I studied the practice tests and couldn't get a passing grade. I decided that I didn't want to be the only one to fail the test so I will take it on May 24th instead. This old brain of mine can't seem to memorize as much as it could when I was younger. Bonnie is going to help me with flash cards of the electrical componants and mathematical formulas. I will study from the manual everyday and get this down. I will NOT let this beat me. I WILL pass this test. BTW: Everyone that took the test passed. I am so proud of the class for doing so well. Since I didn't take the test, my teacher put me to work doing some running around to make copies of things that needed to be done. It was a great night none the less.

Cliff, I stand corrected!

 
At 6:07 AM, Blogger OldLady Of The Hills said...

Well, I think you were smart Lucy to put it off until May....And Hopefully, this will give you the time you need to memorize all that stuff! It sounds Very Very Hard!

Thanks for your lovely words about my garden....It gives me a great deal of pleasure....And to answer your question...No, the little Lizards do not come omto my house...They come close, once in a while, nut frankly they look lost when I see them wandering close to my dining room sliding door....When they see me...They scurry and luckily, they scurry in the right direction....lol...Towards the soil and the sun.

 
At 10:05 AM, Blogger Jim said...

OK, Lucy, you will feel better about knowing more and studying a little longer.
Per my friend in Clear Lake, the ones you don't understand, just memorize the questions and answers. Use a memory aid where necessary, it doesn't even have to be related to ham radio stuff.
Will be rooting for you on May 24! In between time, we will be pretty much out of pocket (off to jail again!).

 
At 5:00 PM, Blogger Putz said...

even when you are not giving advice and just resting, the comments you give turn out to be advice tooooo...keep busy, i am going to try to do something GRAND...I need to talk at Pa's funneral monday

 
At 8:15 PM, Blogger Jamie Dawn said...

It's great that the tax work is behind you.
Whew!

Food prices and gas prices are up, up, up.

I'm sure your grandkids love being at your house.

I hadn't heard about the nine kids planning to kill their teacher. Third graders???? It's sickening to think that such behavior exists.

That is SO cool about the astronauts!

I sure hope you passed the test on the first try.
If not, you'll be ready to pass it in May.

 
At 4:14 AM, Blogger Merle said...

Dear Lucy ~~ An interesting post even without frugal advice. Thanks for your kind words on my blog. Good luck studying for your test on May 24th
which is my 74th birthday. Hope you
pass with flying colors. Take care,
Love, Merle.

 
At 10:57 AM, Blogger Granny said...

You were probably smart to postpone the test if you weren't sure.

I've stopped reading our local paper for the most part. We don't seem to be able to go through a week without a shooting or something equally grim.

Thanks for the heads up about the rice. My supply is okay but I'll keep an eye out for sales and stock up a little.

 
At 2:21 PM, Blogger Mountain Mama said...

I flunked out on your test. :( I couldn't even answer the first question!
I pray the Lord will bring to your memory all the answers and you pass with flying colors!

Cute astronaut story too. LOL

Yes prices have skyrocketed. I can't begin to imagine what is coming but it will not be pretty, I'm sure of that.

 
At 8:26 AM, Blogger Merle said...

Dear Lucy ~~ Thanks for your comments about God's Boxes and it does teach us to be thankful for our joys and to
let go of our sorrows. Take great care, my friend, Love, Merle.

 
At 10:43 AM, Blogger LZ Blogger said...

Lucy ~ Thanks for checking in. You are right! ~ jb///

 
At 11:49 AM, Blogger OldLady Of The Hills said...

I'm glad you liked the Shell Posts....It is true that there is much beauty right around us if we just take the time to look and see....! It sounds like you have a lot of Beauty right outside of your kitchen window. Enjoy!

 
At 12:27 PM, Blogger Live, Love, Laugh said...

WOW your life sounds alot like mine, we too have a heyday when it comes to taxes, we also own our own business and I also have power of atty for my mom since May 2006 and so I did her taxes the last two years, however, we just found out she didn't file three years prior so I got a tax bill for 5000 dollars, she is terminally ill and we pay caregivers 24/7 to take care of her, so we filed them and they rejected them, so we are trying to appeal now, don't know how all that will come out, but hopefully it will all work out.

 
At 1:18 PM, Blogger JM said...

Good luck on your test!

 
At 12:48 PM, Blogger Jamie Dawn said...

:-)

Hello.

 
At 2:47 PM, Blogger david mcmahon said...

Hope the test went well.

Gee, they got to MEET the astronauts .... why wasn't I there?

 
At 6:19 AM, Blogger Merle said...

Hi again Lucy ~~ I have left an award for you at my place. Tae care, Love, Merle.

 
At 7:08 AM, Blogger Merle said...

Hi yet again Lucy ~~ I am so glad you are pleased with the award. And I have posted the story of the teacher making lists that were so treasured.
A word of appreciation helps us all.
Take care, Lucy, Love, Merle.

 
At 10:14 AM, Blogger Rachel said...

I do hope you passed your Amateur Radio license test with flying colors!!

I had not heard about those kids. Gosh, that is awful. Having babies so young...sad. Plotting to kill the teacher. Again...very sad.

I know you love your time with the grandkids and I know they love it too!! They will remember the days of staying with you!!

 
At 12:52 AM, Blogger Diane@Diane's Place said...

How well I know that prices are sky rocketing! I have quite a bit of bread flour and plain white rice put aside, but I love jasmine and basmati rice which is even pricier than long grain rice. Something tells me it's going to get worse before it gets better, too.

Hope you've had a good week, and have a blessed Sunday, Lucy.

Love and hugs,

Diane

 
At 8:34 PM, Blogger Unknown said...

I have a hard time with the news. It just HURTS me, every time I read about things like that. I have decided i need to stay away from newspapers in addition to homeschooling my kids.

Thank you for the heads up on wheat. We are planning on starting our food storage this year, and we'll make wheat our first priority.

 
At 2:41 AM, Blogger OldLady Of The Hills said...

Hi Lucy....You asked about The Palms being ripe when they are yellow...I am assuming you mean those little "pods"...Well, right now they are a very bright Orange, though some of them are turning much paler...Not yellow, but almost a tannish color with a little touch of yellow....eventually they will turn brown--like a Date, and I don't know how they are at that point---But they are very very hard right now. We took three off the vine and I cut one open---Which was really very hard to do...BUT, it looks to me like it might actually turn into a kind of Date.....But this Palm is not mature yet though it is probably twenty to twenty-five years old....
Amyway....I plan to try and document the development of this fruit, if I can. I just posted a BEW post with two little videos and a few more pictures, which I took from down below--Much closer to the Palm itself.

 
At 2:43 AM, Blogger OldLady Of The Hills said...

That should read "NEW" Post....LOL!

 
At 10:34 AM, Blogger Putz said...

HAPPY birthday sil

 
At 11:10 AM, Blogger Ca... said...

Sometimes it's hard to take on the ills of the world. I thank God every day when the sun comes up and I leave the tv off as long as possible.

Hey, I tried the test and actually got a few guesses right. 'chuckle' Good luck on it when you take it. When you upgrade to a pro and get your own show, remember us, JC and Donna Lee, and plug us once in a while! Wanna feel better and get a laugh? Take a look! http://www.youtube.com/user/JCandDonnaLee

 

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