Tomorrow!

Tomorrow is the BIG day! Tomorrow I'm having a giveaway to offset the take-away the IRS usually does on April 15th here in the USA!

Tomorrow we'll put all the entrants' names in a basket. Then my homestay students will draw one lucky person's name for my first-ever giveaway--a $25.00 gift certificate to Amazon, Staples, Office Max or Office Depot--winner's choice.

So, did you leave me a comment here? If so, you just might become tomorrow's lucky winner. If you didn't leave me a comment, what are you waiting for? Go here now! Hurry! Tomorrow is almost here!

The giveaway closes at 5:00 p.m. Pacific time tomorrow (April 15th). I will post the winner's name by 10:00 p.m. Pacific time tomorrow.

So don't let the IRS or those taxes get you down! Tomorrow will be a better day. Lately it's been grey and cold here in Seattle, but the sun is coming out tomorrow. I hope the sun comes out tomorrow where you are, too!

And, I hope you'll be the lucky winner!

Tomorrow!

Love,

Homestay Mama

Melodramatic!

I'M BACK!
MY TAXES ARE DONE! HOORAY!

And, I feel like kicking up my heels and celebrating with a contest! (More on that below.)

Some of my local friends (who read my blog) suggested that my temporary 'goodbye post' last week was leaning a bit toward the melodramatic. So, I'm sorry! Okay?

But, I HATE doing taxes! And last year was a real doozy because of losing my job, going back to school to retrain for a new career, breaking my wrist, having surgery to restore that wrist, having to repair the leaking/molding shower in the bathroom downstairs and finally deciding to quit looking for work and signing up for social security, instead! All of these incidents had to be figured into the equation because every single one of them affected my taxes. So, I was dreading taxes 'worser' (yeah, I know! ) than if I were facing a root canal! So, I hope you can forgive me for succumbing to a little melodrama (and bad English) just this once. OK?

BTW, all that 'grief' from last year added up to a refund from the IRS! So, I'll say it again, "HOORAY, HOORAY, HOORAY!"

So now, because all of you were so patient with me while I ventured into that little melodrama last week, and because I'm feeling so happy right now, here are the rules for the contest:

Just leave me a short comment (or a long one if you'd rather) and tell me whether or not you figure your own taxes, or take them to a tax preparer, or any other comment you'd rather leave.

If you do not live in the USA, you can still enter the contest. Just tell me something about the taxes in your country, or any other comment you'd rather leave.

Then on April 15th (that's tax-reckoning day here in the USA), I'll put all your names into a basket and have one of my homestay students draw out a winning name. I'll announce the winner by 10:00 p.m. PDST (Pacific Daylight Savings Time). The winner will receive a $25 gift certificate to Office Depot, or Office Max, or Staples, or Amazon--the choice is theirs.

HOORAY! Let the celebration begin!

Goodbye, My Friends!

I'm sorry to have to break the sad news, but I'm leaving. You have all become such good friends, which makes leaving all the more difficult. I have enjoyed getting to know each and every one of you--to have laughed with you, cried with you, and even e-mailed some of you. But the truth is I just can't stay any longer.

I don't want to worry you, but life is a little tough right now. No, I'm not dying or anything morbid like that. But the fact is I have responsibilities that are not being met! And being the responsibile person that I am, I can't continue slacking off any longer. I cannot continue shirking my duties. I can't allow myself to be addicted to your blogs any longer!

I'm sorry it had to come down to this--to a face off! But, it's either you or them and, unfortunately, I've got to choose them! My parents taught me to be a woman of honor--to do the right thing. And so, that's why I have to leave.

If I don't look my duty square in the face and leave now, then I am in danger of ending up here! Shudder!



So I must choose the path of responsibility. I can't take this path lightly. It is serious business.

I know all of you would do the same thing if you were in my shoes. Heck, maybe some of you have already been there and you understand exactly what I'm facing!

So, goodbye, dear friends. I'm going to miss you, but I have to go now.

But I'll be back....



....after they're finished with me.



What?!
Did you think I would leave you all forever?
Not in a heartbeat!


Hoping you won't forget me while I'm gone.

Love,

Homestay Mama


...if only it were that simple!