The Great Flea War of 2024

Hey, gang! Welcome to my life – where anything is possible and nothing is as it seems. I’m Freedom and I’ll be your host, coming at you from within the depths of Geistopia. 

DOC: Velcum To My Life ees a prochect, un experiment in Life unt ART. A living storyboard, if you will. Its premise ees zat life ees experiential, unt zat you can, unt do, experience ze life you choose. It ees based on Ze Veel of Life unt Ze ARTs for Ze New Millennium as life building tools. Ja, it’s true! 

WALT: Welcome to my Life is a Geist…House Players Production, in association with the Center for Creative Inspirationalism. JustUs Productions, the parent company, would like to give a ‘Shout-Out’ to the following for their ongoing, and oft-times unknowing, inspiration and support:

Princess Cuddlebug

Princess Sunshine

Company

The Shaman

The Pillar

F’n Bob

The Entire Putt-Putt-Putter Clan

The Warden

FaeriePrincess

Professor Siggy Chong

Sparky Wentz-eclaus

The VanMan and General Ralph Glossop, and Craze (may they R.I.P.)

The Messengers of The Galactic Federation

 Looch

BJ & The Bull

Ace

Bert-On

The Baker of the Cornbread

Andy Pandy

The Mudder

Wilson

Zason

St. Diane & You (5)

Brother John & Sister Jen

The Bee Man

Spooky Queen

Boom-Boom Snuffbox

The Nameless One

Tim-Bo

The Mayor & The Turkey Man

The Rox

PDT

Sir Richard Slouch

The Wix-ians

The Socialite

The Village of Idiots

Piz-Niffer

Dancing Queen

Downtown Encyclopedia Brown

Chicken Witch

Dick Pointer

Soup, the Son

The Legendary Pink Elephants

Baby-Mama Rabbit

Wisconsin Belle

The Babes

Aaaand, of course, a very generous sponsor who (not-so-much) wishes to remain anonymous.

It is…Sunday, September 8, Two-Thousand and Twenty-More. Time...???

Theme – Pros & Cons

 Everything has Pros & Cons. It's never cut and dry or an easy choice. I find that lately I have been looking at my life in these terms. My job for instance. It has Pros & Cons. The biggest con is financial. I just can't seem to make quite enough to do my life properly. I can skate by [for the most part,] but I can't seem to get over the hump. The wear and tear on my car. I put just so many miles on that things. [15,000 in 3 months.] I work every day. The bulk of my day is focused on work. On the pro side - I really do enjoy what I do in so many ways and on so many levels. I'm in charge of my schedule. I may work every day but I start when I want and stop when I want. For as much as I'm lacking, my life is better than I ever thought it was going to be [and it all started with this work.] I started thinking about this when I applied for a job. The big pro was that it would pay me enough of a base to start straightening myself out. I would have still had to drive my days off, but I would have been in better shape. The con was that my schedule, my life essentially, would belong to the company. I could go on and on with examples, I'm sure. But I am just as sure that you get the point, Fellow Travelers.

Lesson – Acceptance

 I'm certain I have mentioned before that every so often I receive emails, "Today G-d wants you to know..." The most recent one I received basically said that in life we sometimes come upon a situation. We pray and pray and ask and try and push and search. Still - nothing changes. Nothing happens. We just can't find the solution to the problem. In those moments, we should just accept it all as it is. Accept the problem. Accept that there is not currently a solution. Accept the course of things. Needless to say, I deal with this on a daily basis with my finances. I push and I try and I pray and I beg. I apply for jobs. I added the third app and I have been slowly learning to use it slightly more to my advantage. I still scrap metal when I can and as it comes. I try different schedules and delivery areas. I always look at my other "side gigs" but just can't seem to really move on them. I accept it every day. I just keep going doing my best to hold it all together. I am currently facing a similar situation with My Latest Challenge. I have been doing what I can, when I can, to take action. I have had no luck as of yet and time is running out. In fact, time runs out this week. I have two more paths to look at and possibly try. After that, I got nothin'. All I can do is wait and see what happens next.

Observation – Don't Think About It

 This is one of those things that is tough to do in "real" life. It's easy to say and even easier to write down. But it can be so very hard to put into practice. Whatever it is - Don't think About It. Don't think about the bills and obligations and what time it is or is going to be. A pro to my life is that I have a little bit more flexibility than most in feeling this way. A con is that I have to feel this way. If I don't, I'll go insane...and get a whole lotta nothing done along the way. I know this because it's what I've been dealing with. I have worried about what time to go to sleep and what time to get up. What time to get out on the road. What time to end the day. I have worried about how much money I have to make and by when and how to juggle things in between. I find that life seems to work smoother when I Don't Think About It. When I just do it. Just get up when I get up and go to sleep when I go to sleep and take care of things along the way. This is not to say that I go around all happy-crappy, just a guy dopin' along. I think about it. I just don't dwell on it. There is a time and a place for looking at the finances and the schedule. Once it is done then until it is time once more I just Don't Think About It.

The Post

 Another deep sigh

[I'm having issues with that italic. I wanted to put it in asterisks but apparently that turns the text to italic. 'Tis a puzzlement.]

Nonetheless, deep sighs are always how I feel on a Sunday night. The week is behind me. What has happened has happened and I am still standing. [Well...sitting.] It's just that pause in life when I can stop and say I got through another week.

I always have a plan going into a week. That plan changes constantly along the way. I can't control it so, anymore, I just roll with it. I truly adopted that attitude, that mindset, this week.

Just Don't Think About It.

MOnday was the start to things going awry already. My plan was to work most of the day and then in the evening cook some burgers. [Since wwe didn't cook on the grill once all season.] The first part of the day went according to plan. Then around break time it shifted.

There was an errand Cuddlebug wanted me to run with her. So, I called her from the road and asked if she wanted to meet at the store. She didn't know where it was or how to get there. I tried to explain. She didn't understand. We gota lil snippy. Then a lil more snippy. Then a bit more. Finally I broke and I yelled a bit.

I'm glad I did because that's when she broke and told me what was really bothering her and on her mind. The fleas were out of control. She had to move to the main floor to study because they were attacking her in the basement. So, my first step was to come home and help calm her down a bit. Then we ran our errand. Then we came home and busted out a cleaning.

This wore me out a bit and I just didn't feel like going back out on the road anymore. I was tired and worn. I hadn't had a rest. I still had to clean the grill up in order to use it. [Cuddlebug bought it second hand last year and after the one time we used it last year I discovered that the previous owners never gave it a proper cleaning before selling it.]

So I stayed home. I'm glad I did. It was nice to unwind and relax a bit. It was nice to cook the burgers on the grill. It was nice to sit outside with Cuddlebug and her new beau and eat them as we sat around the lil metal firepit I found along the side of the road last week. It was nice to enjoy just a bit of the holiday.

Then life would move on.

For the most part it was business as usual. I got up. I went out on the road. I came home. I ran errands and tended to what I could along the way.

I got caught up a little longer than expected at The Mechanic on Friday. I had gone in just to get the brakes replaced [and ooh boy did they need to be replaced.] However, he discovered that he had to replace something else ASAP. Some busing or other. We knew it was going to need to be done and that was actually slotted for this coming Friday. But, it degraded quickly and needed to get done immediately.

Yesterday morning, I got up but couldn't quite function right. I had no motivation. No oomph. So I didn't think about it. I just went with it. I enjoyed my coffee and some tobacco and just chilled till I felt motivated. I actually didn't get out on the road until 1430.

Looking back, it was all perfectly timed. I didn't leave as early as I normally would have. So, I was home when Cuddlebug and her friend got up. Cuddlebug was having more flea issues and I was now home to help her with some cleaning and laundry and stuff. But then I was worn out again. It was getting later in the day. I decided to just wait until lunch was over and start with the afternoon and try to work later. [I still can't get myself to be able to try the really late shifts. I just get too tired too early.]

I tried to rest but I couldn't. So, I left, got gas, went to the tobacco store. Then I tried to rest again. I got a call from SpookyQueen and that had me up. I wasn't really falling asleep anyway. I drove a couple of orders and then I did finally sleep for 30 minutes.

BUt, if I hadn't stayed home I wouldn't have been able to help Cuddlebug and the problem would still be getting worse. [Not that I know if it's actually getting any better.] So that was good. Also if I had left earlier I would have been dressed all wrong. It was cooler early in the morning then by mid-morning it was warm and very humid.

In fact, it poured around noon. Again, if I had gone out even at my adjusted time, I would have been dressed wrong for that kind of rain. [Working would have also been harder in that kind of rain.]

Today was similar. Cuddlebug needed help with more cleaning this morning. I stayed home long enough to help her get it under control.

Yet, with all of the interference and shifts to my schedule, somehow I managed my week. I got the bills covered. There is no shortage being carried over. I thought for sure there would be. After all, I spent extra money this week as well.

I needed jeans. i've needed jeans for months and I have been putting it off. I could not do that any longer. I had budgeted $30. I thought maybe up to $15 per pair at Goodwill. When I finally decided to go, I wasn't sure I could do both pair. Then I got there and learned they were much cheaper. I could get the two pair for $16. However, I had thought that morning how three pair was the perfect number. So, since I had budgeted $30 originally, I decided I was just going to get 3 for $24.

Of course, I had my lottery experiment. That was a good bit of money out of my pocket. I didn't make it all back. Just a slight more than half. So, I lost money there [depending on how you want to look at it.] But, I did make some money that I didn't really know I'd have. Not to mention, my curiosity is just a lil more satisfied.

I even spent $10 unexpected dollars when I ran with Cuddlebug on Monday.

Still, here I sit. The bills have been covered for the week. I even have the $8 that did not post this week all set and ready to go for when it does actually post. On top of that, I have $42 in cash - $32 from my winnings and a $10 tip. That is moeny to take into next week. I already know how I plan on using it. I am not officially counting it in the budget so it will almost "magically" change my numbers that are in Quicken at the moment.

I'm OK with that because, financially, this is my hardest week of the month. it always is and I always carry over a shortage into the following week . [Which is almost just as challenging without the shortage.] I do not anticipating making all the money I need for the week, but right now the outlook is hopeful. There are little things that will shift along the way, saving a few dollars here and there. But, here and there adds up. The cash buffer will help quite a bit. There's a whole $86 in the budget that I have labeled as 'Unassigned.' All of that can go if that's what it takes to make the budget. I just have to try to keep the days as strong as possible.

I have some schedule interference again. Tomorrow I am helping Cuddlebug with another round of deep cleaning in her bedroom. We have determined that that is Ground Zero. It's the worst room in the house. I actually saw my first fleas yesterday after being in her room. They just hoarded on my socks.

I hadn't seen one before then. I've had no bites. We are going itno our 3rd week of this fight and until yesterday I saw no indication of fleas except for Cuddlebug. For some reason, this is all about her. I haven't been bitten. the cat doesn't seem to be bothered. Her friend. her new beau. None of us have been bitten and yet Cuddlebug gets multiple bites at a time several times a day. It doesn't matter what room she is in.

We cleaned down in the barroom yesterday and in minutes she was covered again. She came up to use the bathroom and got a bite in there. The cat and I both live on this floor and don't have any problem.

We have tried every natural method we can find. We have been trying spray. Our next step is a bomb. We're going to do some more cleaning tomorrow. And we set up trap lights yesterday that seem to be catching at least some. So, I think if we don't see an improvement by mid-week, bombing is next.

I told her that this is going down in the family history books as The Great Flea War of 2024. I also told her that she needs to start taking a spiritual approach to all of this. It really is just her. I did look up flea as a totem or spirit animal. Some of it made sense for her. So we are looking at that closer tomorrow as well.

Finally - My Latest Challenge.

I owe the IRS some money. Not something I'm proud of. In fact I have always been very particular about my taxes. I have always claimed every dollar I have made. I do mean every dollar. Even cash things that others might not claim.

I'm not proud of it, but it is what it is. It takes everything I make to keep this home. I can't even set some aside to for the taxes. There's nothing left to set aside. I have crunched numbers over and over and I need to make about $300-$500 more a week to really take care of things. I don't know where to come up with it.

So that brings me to my problem. My Challenge. This last notification I received was a notice of levy [or some wording like that.] Basically, they were giving me time to try to resolve the debt and then they were taking further action, possibly levying my bank account.

I have had no luck so far. It's one of those things I have tried to approach one step at a time but only have so much time to take a step.

I found a tax assistance organization through the IRS. I faxed them my application for help. I even emailed them later that day. I have heard nothing back so far. Today I just found a number I can call.

I looked at the Offer for compromise. I do not qualify.

My last hope is that I can take advantage of the payment plan. I don't know where I would actually come up with the money each month but if I can set one up maybe miracles will happen. My concern with that is that the first payment will be due soon or even immediately and that would take it off the table as an option.

At this point, all I can do is accept it. See how it all plays out.

If you’re not already there, go to the Welcome to my Life Facebook page – WTML. Or the YouTube channel – WelcomeToMyLife08. You can also find me on Facebook under Rev. Matt.

Wherever you are and whenever you are – Like, Comment, and Share – we’re on a Journey and it takes you to get there.

So, without hesitation, for now and for always, from here in Geistopia, this is your beloved Rev…

WALT: And Walt…

DOC:  Unt Doc…

JOHNNY: Aaaaand Johnny…

And those guys, saying, “Stay Tuned-In, Fellow Travelers,” and wishing you Peace, Love, Light…

WALT: And Freakishness, Baby.

The Totems & Archetypes

from Ted Andrews’ Animal Speak

Flea

Hawk

Fox

Eagle

Deer

Cardinal