What’s on the iPod: It Doesn’t Matter Anymore by Linda Ronstadt
Had a great weekend thanks in part to a sunny, warm Saturday and an Irish sessions on Sunday. We managed Saturday to get the yard in shape for spring, and if I’d had seeds, there would have been peas in the ground. I’ve been wanting to plant spinach too, but haven’t gotten around to getting seeds or plants yet. I’m a little afraid the deer will make short work of them – their tracks and “remains” are all through the yard. Who knew I’d need deer repellent in March?
Spent a wonderful afternoon at Molly Maguires listening to our favorite Irish sessions band and hanging out with new friends. He put the call out online for his Scottish comrades, who showed in kilts.
And of course I had time to buy shoes. I scored a nice pair of sandals. I had to get some t-shirts too, so I went on a search. If the recession is over, you can’t tell it here. Last year this mall was stuffed with stores. I walked down one section where there were six stores – now, just the hair salon. The biggest mall on the East coast is now the shell of what it once was. Let’s not mention that my Borders is going, that the Old Navy is closed (moving into the Borders space), and that there is more painted plywood on store entrances than there seem to be actual entrances. Depressing. But maybe it’s a sign that local businesses can now get a toehold.
Also, I did the totals for last year’s income. It was down, as expected, but I’d seen a few clients drop off due to the R word. Plus there were four weeks interrupted – one for surgery, three for vacation and mothers’ visits. Getting back on track in November proved nearly impossible as that’s when it all winds down. The last quarter was pretty much a wash. So the taxes I’ve paid to date may be enough to please the IRS.
Speaking of the IRS, he’s been getting a series of confusing letters from them, none of which are cleared up after hours on the phone. The first was sometime in May/June, when they suggested because of one of his income sources, he needed to pay quarterly self-employment tax. So he went through all the calculations – days worth – only to find that no, he didn’t. Fine enough. Then the next letter came – a check – for a significant amount of money. A refund. Great! Three weeks later, the next letter came – he owed them that significant amount of money, plus interest. Huh? More time on the phone, and each agent he talked to made it less clear what he’s to do. He was talking to a tax attorney and an accountant when the next letter came – basically “Forget everything; we’re square; no need to take it further.” Whew! Only…. the next letter came last week. Now they want that significant amount back including even more interest. More phone time, more confusion. Only this time the agent sent over all the calculations on their side and reams of files. Amen. Now he’s got the joyous task of weeding through it to find what he thinks is the clerical, super-imposed-number error on their end.
If it had been me, I’d have sold my car and rented my kids as cheap labor to pay everything and make them happy. He’s not easily swayed – his dad was in the Treasury Dept., so he’s not scared off when the government comes knocking with their hand out.
Today I get back to the page. I have one project almost finished that will be announced hopefully this week. Also, I’m working on a few smaller projects and continuing the constant marketing.
How was your weekend? What do you have on this week’s agenda?
11 responses to “Is it Monday Already?”
Mall stores are failing. But, around here, anyway, the small, individualized businesses are doing okay, even though "the season" hasn't started yet. People are sick of the always-changing policies and unfair treatment by the box stores, so they're going to deal with people they see regularly, both in and out of the stores. They want the humanization of the transaction again.
PS i went back into the ghostwriting post and answered some of the questions that came up, from both a writing perspective, and from my experience when I worked for a publishing house.
I had a glass of merlot, baked a batch of oatmeal cookies for my sweetie, held babies in the church nursery for an hour, and boom, the weekend is over. I could have used another week. Today, I'm putting the finishing touches on a 25-page white paper that will be used as part of a national marketing campaign. The rest of the week will be writing a couple of 1500-word advertorials and editing/rewriting some major sales pieces.
I think my part of the country has had a bit of a buffer from the recession. When you still have to wait 30 minutes for a table at Red Lobster on a Monday night, you can't convince me that the locals are feeling the pinch.
Thanks, Devon. 🙂
Eileen, I think food service is doing well. My daughter made a ton of money at her waitress gig over the weekend. To me, eating out is an inexpensive treat compared to a mall shopping extravaganza (which someday I will make, I swear!). Our locals are getting much more of my business. Maybe they fair better because they don't have greedy CEOs keeping the lion's share while laying off workers and closing stores?
Lori,
I think you've hit it. People are tired of seeing their hard-earned money go to greedy CEOs and special interests who have no interest in any economy but their own bank accounts.
Devon, it's been my peeve for decades. I'm all for profitability, but not at the expense of both workers and consumers.
I lost a couple of clients last year to the Big R, but one has recently "renovated" his business and has contacted me to start working together on some new projects. That's the beauty of operating a small business – it's much easier to hunker down and trim away the fat so that you can keep going.
I've also noticed that the food service industry seems to be fairing pretty well. As you mentioned, it's an affordable way to treat yourself. With a family of 6, we've drastically cut back on eating out so it's a real treat when we do (although sometimes my husband and I sneak away to a favorite restaurant for impromtu lunch dates during the week while the kids are in school (after all the lunch menu is generally cheaper!). 😉
I avoid malls, but had to go into one just before Christmas to get that hard-to-find weather radio for my brother. It reminded me why I like discount stores – I'm not paying higher mark-ups to cover the steep rent and overhead mall stores have to pay.
Sorry about his IRS issues. I remember my siblings "owing" the government for receiving some of Mom's death benefits (through the Social Security office) when they took a semester or two off college. Dad finally told them not to cash any checks they received when they weren't in school; when the government demanded repayment plus interest, they just returned the checks and avoided the interest. By the time I was old enough to get the death benefits the rules were changed, making me ineligible because I was 18 but not full-time college student when the new rules were inacted…didn't matter that I was still in high school. (Yeah, still a sore spot. Stupid legislators.) In short: When paperwork and rules are so confusing that even the entity that created them can't keep track of things, additional errors will probably arise. If he gets any more checks he should just hold onto them until the matter is finally settled.
Kim, that's a lot of people to take out! I can see why it's a treat for you. 🙂
Paula, I'm not a mall fan, either. I'd much rather stroll a street and walk into shops, each one different in architecture and style (meaning each HAS architecture and style). There's one shop in town that I frequent. Her prices are more than I normally spend on clothing, but I'm hell bent on helping keep her open, so I pay.
What a nightmare! I guess government "rules" that are meant to deter theft just screw up everyone.
Ended up in a mall because I had to return some stuff I bought from a catalog… hey, I'm the mother of the bride next month, so there I was in a mall I hate… but I lucked out with the gal who helped me. $100 more than I planed to spend later and I came home with 'the outfit." Took a nap!
Love shopping local, so sorry we've lost so many retail stores to corporations.
Anne, I bet you look stunning in it, too. Will you post pictures after the nuptials?