Saturday, July 14, 2007

What A Week!

Where do I start? This has been one hell of a long week...I'm not even sure where to start. What day is it, anyway?

On Monday (I think it was Monday) Shawn and I went to Revenue Canada to see just how much they think he owes on back taxes. The first number that they gave us was pretty high...$15 grand, but, I thought, managable. I wasn't sweating like a whore in church just yet. I really thought we could deal with that amount. Well, as it turns out, that amount is WRONG. The nice lady that we spoke with thinks that a more accurate number is actually about $50 grand, which is what I have been saying all along. She informed us with a big smile on her face that she will from this point on be taking 50% of Shawns paychecks to recover the debt. Starting July 31st, if we haven't cleared it up, she will begin to "squeeze a little harder" and take 75%.

I think at this point that Shawns chin literally hit the floor. I had to pick it up for him. We had gone it come in with some kind of repayment plan, and this is what was offered to us. Of course, she knows what our total income is, because she works for Rev Can. She knows that my income is NIL, and that Shawn is the sole support of our household.

There is good news. Shawn is NOT going to jail. This is something that he was afraid of. It could have happened. The Canadian goverment has done it before. I think that the powers that be KNOW that by putting in the clink, they will never collect on this debt, or collect ANY tax money from him again. Thank God for that.

So, yesterday, on Friday the 13th, we went to see some Bankrupcy Trustees. NOW I was sweating like a whore in church, let me tell you. I had heard horror stories about claiming bankrupcy. The truth is, it's not that bad. We own NOTHING. Not one thing. Two nasty divorces wiped me out, and Shawn? He's got nada. I have a lot of paper work to get together, and Shawn has to get his tax information in order, but the bottom line is way less scary then the altrenative.

We will pay the trustees $160 a month for 9 months. If our income surpasses the $3787 a momth that we are allowed by the gov't (yeah, right), then we pay the trustess half of the surpluss. That's IT. By doing that, we will wipe out ALL of Shawns debt. We don't stand to lose anything. Our credit rating is shot, so starting over doesn't scare me. The day that the papers are filed, then NOBODY can come after him for any money owed. Not even RevCan.

I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off of my shoulders. I really don't care if money will be tight for nine months. Money is ALWAYS tight. The past few months have been awful, and we have been hiding from RevCan anyway. At least this way, we can clear it all up and start over.

My Aunt Kaddy passed away late on the 12th. I was relieved. She was in pain, and it was hard to see her like that. I spent her last 3 days at the hospital with her, and I am SO glad that managed to make it there. Sometimes, you just have to kick that anxiety in the ass.

Of course, this means that Betty, Stan, and TMOC are all on their way here from Nova Scotia. I think that I could deal with Betty much easier if TMOC weren't here. It isn't his fault, but his being here will make it even worse for me. She will spend every minute with him, and I will be the odd man out. I am not thick skinned enough to ignore it. I will try, but I know that she will get to me. The best that I can do is not to let her know it.

We got an eviction notice on Monday, too. It just keeps getting better, doesn't it? With the bankrupcy looming, there really isn't a way for Shawn to even work overtime and make up what we owe on the rent. I don't know what we'll do. I feel like we have been given a fresh start with the bankrupcy, and I practically floated home yesterday. I am really hoping for a miracle, here. Karma, maybe. I dunno.

Shawn and I had to pick up insulin and we missed the bus...We were at the bus stop, and had been there about 40 minutes...my ankle was killing me, Shawn was tired...crazy tired, when a taxi pulled up and offered us a ride. For FREE. After the week that I had, I thought it was a mirage. It wasn't, though, it was, it was my favourite cabbie that drives me home most Fridays from the grocery store. He drove us to the pharmacy for free because (he says) I always leave him a nice tip.
As I was leaving the taxi, I found a purse, kind of tucked in the seat. It might have been stuffed with money. I need money. Alot of it. Nobody would have known that I had the purse, and I could have gotten away scott free.

Well, nobody would have known but me. I gave the purse to cabbie, who told me that it belonged to a little old lady that had forgotten it earlier in the evening. And, yeah, it probably was stuffed with cash.

Karma, Baby.

31 comments:

katy said...

Shit hope you dont plan on having anymore weeks like that one girl! sorry to hear your aunt has died, but glad you managed to spend time with her.
well my friend things will now start to look up for you, maybe you can start to enjoy life again, here's to you and Shaun :-)

Biddie said...

her indoors - Well, the week could have been way worse. Like I said, Shawn isn't going to jail, and I think that maybe Karma is coming back my way again! If I can just things worked out with my landlord, I'll be happy as a clam..well, except for Betty being here and losing my Aunt. That sucks, of course....

Anonymous said...

Hi Biddie,
That was one hell of a week, but you survived. I'm sorry to hear about your aunt.
I went through the bankruptcy thing (consumer proposal, same dif) in 2002. It IS a relief when its all said and done. I was kinda wondering how Shawn ended up owing revenue canada so much. That is such a huge amount for someone to owe.

Biddie said...

catherine - The whole RevCan thing is nightmare...Shawn has been self employed for most of his adult life. Some of has been poor money management, and some of it has been the employers themselves..Sometimes, we were under the impression that the tax WAS being deducted..sometimes it was, but not enough...
Anyway, starting the day after we file, Shawn will (hopefully) be a fulltime empolyee and we won't have to worry about this anymore.
RevCan has gone back about 10 years on his taxes, so it's almost impossible for us prove or disprove anything. I really don't care anymore. I just want it to be over.
Stick a fork in me, I am DONE :)

Anonymous said...

No doubt :D LOL
Well shortly, it will all be nothing but a bad dream . You will get back on your feet soon, especially without all that stress pulling you down.
With that eviction notice I believe you have 15 days to clear it without any penalties. I'll do some brainstorming on how you can get that paid. If I had the money I would give it to you, but I'min the same leaky boat, lol.

Biddie said...

catherine - Thank you very much. It means alot that you would even say that!
The hard part for us is going to be apying anything off with the Trustees getting 50% of everything over our allowable amount, and with being a regular, REAL employee, taxes will be coming off...It will be bloodly hard to make anything. I just don't know how to work this...
We can include the money owed to the landlord in our claim, but then, we will be out on our ears for SURE. We do have 15 days, and we have already used up about 7 of them...In the meantime, everything that Shawn earns will be taken by RevCan at 50%...Doesn't give us many options. I don't want to screw the landlords over, that is the last thing that I want to do..Even if we include what we owe in our claim, we still have to come with first/last, and moving expenses...That is probably the ONLY drawback with this whole thing right now. I will gladly take any prayers that anyone will offer.....:)

Anonymous said...

Don't know what to say Biddie, except big hugs and red balloons for you. Sorry to hear about your aunt but am glad you got to spend the time with her .
Thinking of you xoxox

Canadian flake said...

Any chance there might be an organization willing to help?? Maybe the Kiwana's or Lion's club? Maybe explaining the situation might allow them to assist you with the rent situation?? Or a local church perhaps? If I think of anything else, I will be sure to let you know. In the mean time, I hope you don't mind if I send some prayers up for you.

Biddie said...

kate - I'm happy for the time I spent with her, too. It was well worth the bus ride and anxiety.
The week could have been way worse, but I am SO glad that it is over!

Canadian Flake - I have to laugh...Our landlords are a church! :) You can pray, for sure, I would be very grateful. Other than the rent issue, I am very happy with the outcome of everything....My aunt is no longer suffering, and Shawn is NOT going to jail! THAT is good news!

Michael Colvin said...

WoW, what a week for you and Shawn. I am sure you will all find a way through this and it will come right eventually. Just keep holding on :)

captain corky said...

Damn sister! Someday your going to walk in the rays of a beautiful sun.

Biddie said...

Tod - I'm waiting for that Karma to come my way. It has to, right?
SIGH...
In the meanwhile, I'm hanging on.

corky - Well, I feel good about alot of things..Not going to prison is ALWAYS a bonus. I just have to figure out this rent thing. :)

Coffeypot said...

You know what they say (who ever “they” is) that it is always darkest before the dawn. Well, hopefully this is the darkest it will get for you and yours. The dawn is coming, bring with it a new chance at peace and happiness. As difficult as it is, keep a positive, upbeat attitude and it will make the struggle better (not easier, just better.) As for the folks coming in, just accept the fact that they are totally beneath you and that you only have to endure them for a short time. It is you thoughts and emotions. They can only get to you if you let them. If it gets too bad, remember that I love ya, and hundreds of thousands in the blog world loves you too.

Biddie said...

coffeypot - thank you :)

Heidi the Hick said...

New start, no more hiding. It's good. Scary but good.

HOld your head up high and remember that you have worth even if that woman doesn't care about you.

And I can't even begin to tell you how proud I am of you for kicking that anxiety in the ass. It meant way more to go visit your aunt when she needed you. I"m so glad you did that.

You know that I always pray for you and love you lots. And now look at this, all these people who have'nt even met you yet are all cheering you on!

whimsical brainpan said...

Sweetie you really amaze the hell out of me. I would be a neurotic mess after a week like that. You are so strong. I truly hope that things get better for you soon. You deserve mucho good karma.

Biddie said...

Heidi - No hiding is good. I like it. Scary, yes. Good, yes.
Keep praying for me. It has to work. It just has to. I don't have the money to move, and and I can't see a way out of this mess, but I still feel good. Strange, isn't it? Thanks for all of the support. ALL of it.

Whimsical - I AM a mess. LOL. Truly. This has got me chasing my own tail. I wasn't going to bnlog about it because all I do is whine, but it really helps to just vent. I am SO stressed about the rent. I see no way out of this unless the church decides to work with us. Once my Mum leaves town, and our rent is worked out, I will be fine, really.
Truly.
I think that you deserve something good in the karma department, too. :)

dilling said...

HOly crap...I go away for a couple of days...if you were closer, we have a basement suite and one extra bedroom...but that does you little good here, eh?
don't know what to say that might help...

Biddie said...

Dilling - Thanks for the offer..I am really hoping that we can work things out. Once we do, it will be a fresh start, and WHOO HOO !!! I am feeling good about that.

Heidi the Hick said...

Anything really good is kinda scary, don't you think???

It is good, right now. Not everything and it's not perfect but it's good. Take a deep breath.

And for cryin out loud stop feelin guilty about spending $30 on new pants!!!!

Biddie said...

Heidi - LOL. Ok. No more guilt.
Tomorrow is the wake and I am SO freaked out. Big time. Scared outta my mind. Keep praying, ok..I just need to figure out thi srent thing,and the rest the will work itself out. I just know it.

FOUR DINNERS said...

They can do that over there?????

Bloody hell. Over here you offer an amount - say £30 a month - and they accept. They tried takin' 50% of anyones wages over here n we'd petrol bomb the bastards!

Marni said...

What a week! I'm here for ya honey, you know it...

Biddie said...

4D - Revenue Canada can do just about anything. Even if we kept up with the 50%, we would never be paid off. I don't feel bad about the belly flop, I really don't. It has to be done. It just doesn't leave us a way to pay off the rent OR come up with 1st and last if we have to move. I fucked myself bigtime. Can't see a way out this time.
Cripes.

Marni - Thanks..I'll gladly accept any prayers that anyone has to offer. :)

Liz said...

God, it's like reading my life story over here. Financial problems-check, family illness-check. I think returning the purse is gonna put into motion some great karma over your eviction I can feel it.

Mermaid Melanie said...

karma is a good thing. I am happy to hear that you got the kind of settlement that you can live with.

Gardenia said...

Things will turn around. I remember times like you are having (about 17 years ago). We went to something called Consumer Credit Counseling - in 3 years I had everyone repaid except IRS. IRS was a different story. We paid and we paid and we paid - and paid somemore. After ten years we still owed them the same. They have interest and penalties that at the time would have been illegal for a business. LOL, now its legal for businesses!

But we lucked out and some obscure law prompted them to drop the liens after 10 years. The only problem now is the credit bureaus will not remove the lien report even though it is law that they do so, but I have the paperwork in hand which I have to whip out occassionaly.

Then, when I lost my job in 2002, H panicked and filed BR. I found out with mixed feelings it was easier to purchase a car and get my credit back after the BR. On top of that my daughter and I were diagnosed with Crohns (oh my gosh we were sick), my other daughter had her second back surgery, and my son passed away. I went for counseling to a pastor and he told me this would not last forever. Well, it had lasted from about the time I married H. to about 13 years ago. But it DID pass! It did pass. It just takes hanging in there even when you feel like you can't hang no mo'.

But there were times I felt like walking into the Gulf and swimming out further than I could get back. However, I'm too chicken for that!

Really, despite this new thing, it sounds as if you guys are slowly digging out from under. It doesn't happen fast, but it can happen. It will happen.

I will say a prayer after I sign off that the Church will have mercy on you!!!!! Perhaps they will let you add a little onto the rent each mo. and gradually catch it up - a landlord did that for us once.

Again, hang in there!

Biddie said...

nonny - I hope so!
I was so temtped to take just a peek, but I didn't..not one peek.
Funeral is today...SIGH..The worst is nearly over now.

melanie - I can live with the settlement, no problem. No, if I could just figure out a way to pay off this back rent...

gardenia - Yesterday was BAD. Awful. I know that we are digging out, slowly, but it feels, some days, like we are almost moving backwards.
I do feel good about the bankrupcy, tho. I'm just praying, praying, praying, that the church will be kind.
I can't believe that you paid for 10 years. 10 years! What a nightmare. Must've been a huge relief when you got that settled..

Camie Vog said...

Have you noticed on the Likeness thingy on facebook that we are listed as twins??

I read your words on this post and went through so many emotional shifts... I wish I could offer you a real hug in real life! I am still serious about my invite to have you come chill at my pad for a few days...as soon as the dust settles I am going to go into serious mode about making that possible! I still haven't sent the belated bday gift, but I promise to have it in the mail by the end of the month.
I love you Biddie!

Biddie said...

Camie - Thanks! I sent you a quick little update on facebook this morning..I'm runnning behind - what else is new!?
You have lots on your plate, too, no worries! Talk later, big hugs right back!
xxxx

Molly said...

Hey Biddie,
I guess that working through these matters step-by-step actually works. But all of that does seem like a lot of effort. My thoughts are with you and Shaun. Take care.