Tax Time!

If you were around last year, you know I'm a big advocate of free e-filing. If you made under $56,000 in 2008, go to http://www.irs.gov/efile/article/0,,id=118986,00.html

You'll be able to e-file for free. Once again if you live in Indiana, you'll be able to "i-file" for free no matter how much you make. www.in.gov for that one.

Last, but not least, if you have a tax question, you can go to hrblock.com and have it answered for free until Jan 31st. We all hate doing it, but knowing these tips might make it a little less painful.

But R!

Not S

I hate snow

Those of you who are my husband, and possibly any of the 3.26 of you who read this stuff know that I hate snow. I could possibly be quite happy sitting inside and ignoring it, but that's never how it goes down. I've always got somewhere to be, and snow to drive through to get there.

One day, a long time ago, at an old library job, I was really angry (okay, just slightly put off) about the amount of snow that was falling. I said to myself, self I said, I really hate snow. I wonder if there are other people who hate snow too. So, I typed into my internet browser "www.ihatesnow.com".

Time stopped. There I was, at the public desk in the public library with my co-workers standing next to me. We were all looking at what had come up on my screen. It was women. And horses. I don't think I need to explain further. In what I can only assume was slow motion, I grabbed the mouse and drug the cursor's almighty heft to the upper left hand corner and closed the window. Then I died. The end.


p.s. I checked, against my better judgment, and it now takes you to a much less offensive website, with some video. I haven't watched it, so follow at your own risk.

not Q

Hey newlywed bloggers!

I read quite a few blogs from newly-or kinda newlywed, or just weds, and last night I had a moment. I guess I have quite a few of those, but this kind of moment has only happened in the last 11 months or so. Here it is:

Last night, Jason refilled the washer fluid in my car, and filled his too! When he came in and told me, I had this moment. I don't know how else to describe this moment other than it felt like "marriage". It's a dumb, small thing, filling washer fluid. But it's the kind of mundane, every day caring thing that makes me happy. I've had that moment other, more traditional times, like when I'm introduced as his wife, or making dinner. However, they happen more often when I least expect it, like the washer fluid.

It's a completely wonderful feeling. It's like realizing your dream has come true, or it's finally real. There's an excitement to it, like the rest of your life opening up before you, and realizing that you're going to spend it with this amazing person.

So, here's what I'm asking you out there: Do you have these wonderful moments? When? Tell me all about it!

Obligatory

Year in review post. How to sum up such a year? There was both good and bad, and I think more good. But, as to leave on a positive note, I'll list the bad first.

This year I:
Wrecked the Sonata
Lost my dear Diana
Panicked about my financial future
Got several bruises, and broken nails, I'm sure

I also:
Got married to the most amazing man, I am more in love with him every day.
Went on a fabulous honeymoon, and didn't fall off of the cruise ship.
Discovered a real love of cooking
Planted a successful vegetable garden, unless you count the rabbit eaten peas
Got the awesomely purple fit!
Worked in a job I love
Calmed the panic, took action.
learned (kinda) to knit
took a sewing class


So, overall, I think, pretty dang good year! Certainly better than last year, and the year before (okay, just the end of that one)

Hope the same is true for all who read this!

RRRRRRRRRReverse

Because, see, it was supposed to be yesterday.

Friday Fiction, the return!

Chapter 6

The sand was just as hot as it had been the day before. At the first shady place, Bel sat down. She would have to do something about her feet. But what? All she had was this damn purple shirt. After a while, Bel said to herself, I guess it will have to do. She tore at the seams with her teeth until she was able to tear the shirt in two. She wrapped a half around each foot, doubling it up, so there was some protection. When she stepped back on to the hot sand, it felt warm, but no longer burned her.

Bel felt exposed without her coverup. But, then again, who was there to make fun of her stomach? NO one! Not one judgmental soul was there to see her brown and turquoise tankini So, she thought, I’m just going to concentrate on finding those coconuts.

“What the hell kind of palm trees don’t have coconuts” Bel screamed at the ocean half an hour later. She’d walked down the beach, and up the beach, and looked everywhere, but couldn’t find anything. She didn’t want to get to far from the place where she had washed up, that was probably where the boats would go by, so she carefully watched her trail of footprints making sure they didn’t stretch out too far. She walked back to her original starting place and flopped down in the sand.

About five feet from where she had stopped was a big leaf. On the leaf, was a slimy looking pile of seaweed. It was almost in the same place as the one she had kicked yesterday. She looked at it with disgust, and tried not to think about how hungry she was. What, she thought does this stuff wash up all the time? Could some takeout please wash up next?

Bel wondered if she could catch a fish. People do that, right? It can’t be that hard. But, she thought, there would be a few problems. First, she wasn’t sure if she could kill the fish if she caught it. Second, how would she cook it? She didn’t have a fire, didn’t know how to start one, and it was hot enough that it sounded unpleasant to have. So, great raw fish. Sushi.

On second thought, that didn’t sound so bad. She like sushi in the normal world. Boy, what she wouldn’t give for fish and veggies and rice all wrapped up in seaweed. Wait. Seaweed. That’s edible, right? She crawled over to where it was and looked at it more closely.

It sure smelled that was for sure. But past the briny smell and the nasty odor there was a green smell that reminded her vaguely of grass. When she reached out to touch it, she decided that it wasn’t all that slimy. She tentatively picked up one long piece and tore off the end. She placed it in her mouth.

Merry Christmas!

We're headed off to my parent's tomorrow night and then Jason's sister's for Christmas! I know I'm not going to be able to carry on the absolutely constant and regular schedule of blogging that I usually adhere to. Yeah. So,

Merry Christmas to all, and I hope you have a great time!