MVM TUESDAY

[zip2play]

Good morning everybody,

I've gotten used to NO SALES TAX on food (except restaurant) and clothing because that's what NJ has and PA had when I lived there. Not sure what it is now in Pennsy.

New York CITY is 8.3% total on everything but food (except for these "special" weeks.

NJ tax on other than food and clothing is 6% but there are several "enterprise zones" in which any merchant can applt for a 3% rate. Jersey City is an EZ and all merchant's comply (or soon go out of business), so I never pay more than 3% unless I'm desperate and buy in Manhattan (I HATE the 8.3% added to our restaurant meals. With tip it makes the meal a quarter higher!)

Linda, Do you pay separate City, County, and School RE taxes? (How much was the county???)

Hey kids, who here has her own well? I've been meaning to ask.

Bob is dooing an all day frolic and I will do a 45 minute bike aerobic workout (I hope)...It will seem like 45 HOURS, so I;d better find some good reading or an involving CD!!!!!!!!!!

More later if anything happens.

[BarbCO]

Well -- like in water? We do!! Actually we have two because of increased water needs. Water in the West is more precious than gold! (What a pun)

Later, need to work for a living (yet)

Barb

[Loretta V]

Zip when my x and owned a resort and campground we had our own well. IT was a good one too but we had to keep up with quality assurance on the water and have samples tested monthly.
Thanks for the tax info. Just recently I had to pay a KY tax on some shoes I purchased on the internet. I got by without paying taxes on my new computer that I purchased online.

Dh asked this am did I bring his cigar. I told him that his birthday was yesterday so he missed out. I went to get him some.

Hope you have a great day at work Barb. If you enjoy what you are doing you have it made............ well almost.

Later

[LoveMontana]

Happy first day of February everybody.

Roger, PA still has no sales tax on clothes. We shop there on occasion for just that reason.

We pay town and county ( just paid it yesterday...$1300.00) and School tax in Sept. Right now NYS has something called the STAR program which saves a small percent on School tax only. Still almost $3,000 is too much. My friend just moved to KY and will build a half million dollar home. Their estimated total property tax will be in the neighborhood of 1,200. It makes me SICK. They have a small monthly tax on autos that takes care of the school tax. It's much more fair because it spreads the burden fairly and not just on the property owners.

We have both Well and septic. Great water. There are no public services out here. We don't even have natural gas,but we do have cable, fortunately.

It's such a lovely day, why don't you take a walk along the Hudson?

Barb, yes water is more important than gold out there. It amazes me when we are in Montana. Everyone has lawn sprinklers going. What a waste.

Loretta, Aww you are a good person. Bet your DH is going to be so very happy with that cigar.

Funny how some INTERNET sites don't charge your state tax but some do.

Gotta try a really simple recipe for a crock pot swiss steak. You just place two medium onions sliced thin in the bottom, add salt and pepper then add Round Steak cut into pieces. Add one large can of tomato sauce and top with three stalks of celery and cook all day. It's simple but tastes like there are many more spices in it.

More later. I must check some more motels for our trip to the Carolinas.

[zip2play]

Hi again,

Here's how internet and mail order state taxes work:
IF the sending company has a presence in your state, then the company MUST charge you state tax.
IF NOT, then you pay THEM no tax but you are supposed to declare the amount and pay a USE tax on your state income tax filing.
Of course we ALL do that, right?!

Linda,
If you brown the round steak with some onions beforehand and deglaze with an ounce or two of liquid, it's a tastier dish...but another pot to wash!

We got up to 40 today, whoop de doo.

[OrchidCactus]

Hey gang,

Just popping in for a minute....been a bit busy these last couple days. MIL's service was yesterday, went very well, more a celebration of her life than a mourning of her death. All of us are doing ok, some a little better than others, but we're fine.

Hope everyone is happy, healthy and content! I'll check in as time permits.......

[shawneesioux]

Hi Y'all

Not even gonna comment on Taxes; it depresses me to (@$!^$!! much.

back to the ol BB, Ginny. Bless your heart, I'm glad ya have good memories of a Great MIL to cherish.
Missed ya

Montana, your crockpot recipe sounds good...when's Dinner?

I forget to get out my crockpot (outta sight, ...) but do like to cook most meats slowly in a big pot on the stove with some acid-based juices, like tomato or lemon...

Loretta, are ya happy with your purchase? Are they waterproof?
Hope your DH enjoyed that cigar. Bob stopped smoking almost 30 years ago, but still sometimes "wears" a cigar when fishin' or washing a vehicle. (He lights it, it goes out...he chews on it...says he likes the odor out in the fresh air)

Zip...we're gonna be wishing we had a well before summer is over ...
Barb's right about the value of water in the west...its looking really ickky right now for us, with only 19% of normal snowpack in the mountains.

BTW, shame on me ...belated Thanks for the good wishes re my 4th LC Anniv.
I got to Goal without a lot of support ( I actually avoided the Main Board waay back then, it was vicious to folk like me who did not follow a definite PLAN!) So maybe I "goaled" just to spite the nay-sayers there
Can't help feeling a bit smug bout that, proving I could actually think for myself
But sure glad we formed our tight group of Maintainers...it has helped keep me accountable, besides all the other good stuff we share. So...THANKS !

To everyone, be safe and healthy.

Shawnee

[zip2play]

Welcome back Ginny,
Phonecia's been asking about you. I'm glad you and your husband have it all behind you.

Shawnee,

Don't you guys have resevoirs to hold the Jillion gallon of water you get all Winter and Spring? I know that all of Barb's water goes directly to the pools and sprinklers of Beverly Hills and Palm Beach. (They should be forced to use EVIAN!)

NJ has resevoirs on every pokey stream...Jersey City actually owned 2 biggies unti one of the mayors decided to balance the budget by selling the water supply (the ONLY Republican mayor since the Civil War!)

Workout on the bike was TOUGH...got 1/2 hour but I think I left a pool of BLOOD on the carpet .
Steam and Sauna was nice though .

Making Ziti Bolognese with Meatballs as I type.

[Loretta V]

Welcome back Ginny. What a wonderful way to look at someone's death as a celebration of her life I think that is the most positive approach. Keep those memories alive.

Shawnee good to hear from you too. Yes I was worried about those rain shoes fitting me and low and behold they do and I like them. Here is some info on them.
http://www.zappos.com/n/p?dp=1154924 I ended up getting the brown ones.

Dh has smoked his cigar in the house. Whoooooeeeeeeeeeee. I forgot about that odor. Sure hope it is out of his system. He was a very heavy smoker and everything reeked of stale tobacco. He quit just 3 yrs ago this month.
I am about 1 yr behind you on the maintaining. Isn't this wonderful????

Zip what prompted your question about the wells to beging with?

L retta

[shawneesioux]

Hey Loretta
those are some very serious shoes! The description makes them sound like they are built for a 4 x 4 mountain goat ...should get the job done. Hope they are comfortable for ya...been on a Road Test yet?
Three years already? Wow, did those years fly!
Bob is very interested in seeing a pic of your new boat when its delivered.

Zip....yeah, we have more dams/ reservoirs than brains out here. Problem is, we've had high temps and low rain/snow amounts this winter; the res will be held at top capacity and released as needed thru early Summer...but with NO melting mountain snowpacks available for run-offs to resupply the res, by July we are gonna be hurting.

That sauna sure sounds good....love to get the pores opened up.

Shawnee

[BarbCO]

You are SO right Roger about where OUR water goes!!

Ginny, you have such a great attitude and doing well with MIL and all that has happened. to you and hope you can help me when that time comes!!

You know Shawnee -- we have a lot in common!! I never did follow a plan except my doc's and people just don't take likely to that kind of advice!! One must ALWAYS follow a plan put out by the media !! Oh well, we are at goal........

One of our employee's (followed low carb for a year and lost) had a heart attack yesterday!! Now I would be running scared except.... he was a smoker!! But I'm still a little concerned about doing a little bit more low fat. Thoughts?

Where did Julie say she was going?

I forgot how a cigar smells -- pipes I can take!!

Is the Hudson frozed over???
Why did you want to know about wells?

More later if ANYTHING happens!! We did have an Ultralight Accident on Sunday (2 dead) -- you could NEVER get me to fly off some cliff!!

Barb

[SuSUN]

Hi Gang and a Special Back to our Ginny!

Ginny, Do take it easy and lots of TLC for the upcoming weeks!

Loretta,
TO THE BIRTHDAY BOY! So sorry a day late. I can almost smell that cigar up here!

Barb,
I too try to lower the fat with our WOE. Loretta does it all the time with great results.
Physical Activity is a poor one for me too!

Shawnee,
You are way out front in this maintaining game. I only started to LC Feb/02 reached goal Sept/02. I have had my ups #s and downs since.

Linda,
I am still trying to catch up with the ribs.
Thank you so much for the swiss steak suggestion too!
Yes...I can do that!

Roger,
You deserved the sauna after all that spinning!

I was working yesterday a group, another one this morning and at the office this aft. I was drained again after work. Had a nap and now I am perking up. I am off tomorrow and working again Thursday.

Got an appointment for my hair colour, cut and stuff tomorrow, so at least that is a little treat.

SuSUN

[LoveMontana]

Back Ginny. A celebration of life is the biggest honor we can give a dear departed. I'm sure she would be very pleased. Hope you and your DH are taking comfort in warm memories.

Roger, I'm off to look and see if I can find a list through NYS that tells us what states they have that agreement with. B@stards.
For a liberal, you are quite a fiscal conservative, aren't ya?

Humm, maybe I'll try browning the round steak before. I'm really not quite that lazy. Teehee

Shawnee, my German grandmother always cooked all of her meats in a pot on the stove. Her pot roast and ham were the best I have ever had. LOL so was her apple pie.

Ah heck with the fanatics. Eating plans are so very individual. We all have to do what suits us best.

MY GOD!! only 19% snow pack I hope to GOD there aren't bad wild fires this summer. My brother in Montana is in a panic about the lack of snow pack there, even after they had all that rain this past fall.

Loretta, Bless his heart. It's great that he enjoyed that cigar even though you have to deal with the stink.

Oh I love those rain shoes. They look so comfortable. I would order some but they may charge the NYS sales tax. I'll check it out.

Barb, he probably had a heart attack because of all the years before low carb that he abused his body. Those things just don't build up in one short year. Relax.
There is nothing wrong with NATURAL fats but avoid trans fats and free radicals like the plague. Don't heat any natural oils if you can help it.

<shudder> We watched hand gliders and ultralights sail off the L.MT. Those people are NUTS!!

Julie was going to a cabin for a few days and should be back Thurs. I'll look to see if I can find out were she went.


Off to lurk.

[LoveMontana]

Hi Ya Susan, we must have been posting at the same time.
Try those ribs. They are really good.

[shawneesioux]

Hi Y'all

Julie and group were gonna be on the Northern WA Coast.

Montana...sounds logical re your German Granny...Mom was Dutch/German...kept those meat pots simmering

Lordy the Apple Pies...stacked so high in the middle,..crusts made with lard, tender and flakey...

Barb, do whatever works best for YOU re the fats. I personally need some (bacon flavor) to keep me satisfied...never able to last long on LF. My Dad guzzled fats, stayed skinny, drank and smoked til he croaked at 86...ya just never know.

Hi SuSUN....I think I was misunderstood...its 4 years for LCing, about 3 1/2 for maintenance...Montana and Ginny are waaay beyond that.

[shawneesioux]

This has made the rounds before, but still worth a second chuckle...just rec'd it from our Fav Lurker (Dawn the Mommy Dragon)

A Bottle of Wine

For all of us who are married, were married, wish you were married, wish you weren't married... something to smile about the next time
you open a bottle of wine.

Sally was driving home from one of her business trips in Northern Arizona when she saw an elderly Navajo woman walking on the side
of the road. As the trip was a long and quiet one, she stopped the car and asked the Navajo woman if she would like a ride.
With a word or two of thanks, she got in the car.

After resuming the journey and a bit of small talk, the Navajo woman noticed a brown bag on the seat next to Sally.
"What's in the bag?" asked the old woman. Sally looked down at the brown bag and said, "It's a bottle of wine. Got it for my husband."

The Navajo woman was silent for a moment, and then speaking with the quiet wisdom of an elder said, "Good trade."

[LoveMontana]

Shawnee, that was FANTASTIC Yeah sounds like a good trade to me.

<groan> Apple Pie. I would kill for one of those with that tender lard filled crust puffed up in the middle with lots of apples and cinnamon. Slobbering all over the key board right now.

Speaking of marriage, here is another one.

An aged farmer and his wife were leaning against the edge of their pig-pen when the old woman wistfully recalled that the next week would mark their golden wedding anniversary.

"Let's have a party, Homer," she suggested. "Let's kill a pig."

The farmer scratched his grizzled head. "Gee, Ethel," he finally answered, "I don't see why the pig should take the blame for something that happened fifty years ago."

[LoveMontana]

Here is another one.


The following statements about the bible were written by children & have not been retouched or corrected (i.e., bad spelling has been left in)

"In the first book of the Bible, Guinessis, God got tired of creating the world, so he took the Sabbath off.

Adam and Eve were created from an apple tree.

Noah's wife was called Joan of Ark. Noah built an ark, which the animals come on to in pears.

Lot's wife was a pillar of salt by day, but a ball of fire by night.

The Jews were a proud people and throughout history they had trouble with the unsympathetic Genitals.

Samson was a strongman who let himself be led astray by a Jezebel like Delilah.

Samson slayed the Philistines with the axe of the Apostles.

Moses led the Hebrews to the Red Sea, where they made unleavened breadwhich is bread without any ingredients.

The Egyptians were all drowned in the dessert. Afterwards, Moses went up on Mount Cyanide to get the ten ammendments.

The first commandment was when Eve told Adam to eat the apple.

The seventh commandment is thou shalt not admit adultery.

Moses died before he ever reached Canada.

Then Joshua led the Hebrews in the battle of Geritol.

The greatest miracle in the Bible is when Joshua told his son to stand still & he obeyed him.

David was a Hebrew king skilled at playing the liar. He fought with the Finklesteins, a race of people who lived in Biblical times.

Solomon, one of David's sons, had 300 wives and 700 porcupines.

When Mary heard that she was the mother of Jesus, she sang the MagnaCarta.

When the three wise guys from the east side arrived, they found Jesus in the manager.

Jesus was born because Mary had an immaculate contraption.

St. John, the blacksmith, dumped water on his head.

Jesus enunciated the Golden Rule, which says to do one to others before they do one to you.

He also explained, "a man doth not live by sweat alone."

It was a miracle when Jesus rose from the dead & managed to get the tombstone off the entrance.

The people who followed the Lord were called the 12 decibels.

The epistles were the wives of the apostles. One of the opossums was St. Matthew who was also a taximan.

St. Paul cavorted to Christianity. He preached holy acrimony, which is another name for marriage.

A Christian should have only one spouse. This is called monotony