It's That Time Again

Welp, this is my 5th year using TaxAct, and once again... I TOTALLY recommend it.  Which is saying something, because we are always wrangling with some annoyingly complex tax return issue, like multiple State returns, freelance income for both of us, investment loss/gains, amendments because Mr F forgot about some of his 1099s, etc.

So far so good, anyway.  Plus, you really can't beat the $17.95 price tag.

Just to be clear, I am just this much of a nerd.  No one is paying me to endorse TaxAct.  

But, I wish they would...

Oh, Goody!

Another numbered post!

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

#1  The other day, when I was at Starbucks, I got one of their iTunes giveaway codes (does everyone else know about this? Get on it.  I have gotten so many great apps this way).  It was for KAMI a puzzle game, which I would never have known about or tried on my own... but, as it turns out, I love.  Plus it's too hard for Mr F and that's always a bonus for my self esteem.  Anyway, I've been meaning to tell you, 2 thumbs up on the KAMI app.

#2 This is the best I can do for a wedding shot of the Furious Clan:

Sorry about the sun in our faces and the weird angle... 

there were only drunk people around to take photos.

(P.S. doesn't Mr F's arm around my back look REALLY weird??)

#3  I have finally convinced Mr F to try concrete finish on our hideous flesh toned laminate countertops.  I'm so excited!!  Thank you, Katieo for helping me convince him it was doable.  We are going to try them with a stain that looks a bit like soapstone like these folks did.


#4 Kid DID put the cannibalism bit in her essay for her test.  We laughed all the way home. And now she's got $20 in her pocket.  (FWIW, She got an A+, but her teacher did not remark on the cannibalism)

#5 Spring Break starts tomorrow for us.  I am so excited to have the break, but also that it means we are almost done juggling this crazy school year with the two schools situation.  I cannot wait to give up this ridiculous school run I have to do. Anyway, the real news is that we are going to visit Mr F's mom in CT.  (What the what?!?!)  This should definitely be interesting.  I have to say, I am not as nervous about that as I would have been when his father was alive.  In many ways, we think that maintaining a relationship will be easier now.  We'll see... in any event, we are taking the northern route and stopping half way in Niagara Falls. Unfortunately, the falls are still kind of frozen and the Maid in the Mist boat isn't running yet, which explains why the hotels were so cheap.  Oh well, hopefully it's still impressive.  We need to stop somewhere anyway, it might as well have a view.

TTFN

Things To Know...

#1  Yes, this is a numbered post! (you are welcome)

#2 I am suffering from violent hiccups.  Do you remember when there was that teenage girl that had hiccups for like 2 straight weeks (was it longer?!) and it made the national news?  Well, that terrified me.  Now, whenever I have hiccups I get a little stressed that they really might not ever go away.

#3 On a related note: when I was first dating Mr F... (oooh, the intrigue)... I had a bad case of hiccups.  For some bizarre and unknown reason Mr F became really pissed and told me to stop "milking it!".  I was like "What?!!!".  I mean, who milks hiccups??  Who is going to prolong diaphragm spasms... on purpose?  Is this something someone can even physically do?  So, I was all..."Thanks for the sympathy... sorry to annoy YOU."  This rather bizarre and rude response to my discomfort has thankfully proven to be a deep comedic well that I return to, again and again.  There is not a time that Mr F has hiccups that I don't shout out "Stop Milking It!!" (For the record, I think he feels deep shame about the incident)

#4  I watched Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead which made think... I should get a juicer.  But then I thought.... "You always think you should do something super extreme... why is this different?"  And that stumped me.  Because, of course, it's not.  And I had recently promised myself to be more food normal and stick with what I know works for me... which is not doing extreme diets!!  Micro nutrients are good, no doubt.  But can't I just eat the food?  Do I have to juice it??... if I'm not doing a cleanse.  Because I am SO not doing a cleanse.  Me and my blood sugar don't cleanse.  We morph into the angriest drunk man you ever saw.  It isn't worth it.    (But, maybe I'm still thinking about it...)

#5  I would really like to live in a luxury hotel room made out of concrete:

I never thought I'd say that, but it is 100% true. 

 Yes, Baby is crying... 

she just found out we had to leave her bouquets behind

It was quite the mourning process.

#6 I styled the girls' hair for my brother's wedding:

I think I should go pro.  Did I ever tell you that I've always wanted to be a hair stylist?  

Or a private detective?  Or a bank teller?  Or a bakery counter person?  Or a mailman?  

Or a flight attendant?  Or a dance instructor? Or an accountant?  

When did this list cross over into weird?  

After bank teller??  

I still want all the jobs I thought were awesome when I was a kid.  

I have also always been smitten with jobs that require a uniform (I am what I am). 

Ok, I think that's enough weird for one night.  

See you tomorrow.

100% Awesome

Before a test, Kid takes notes on the essay questions, 

then we edit them and she writes out a sample essay.  

Often, as is the case tonight, 

her notes include more detail then you will find in the textbook.  

Guess what she added:

(click on image to make it bigger)

I'll Be Back...

Jet lagged.

For reals.

Barely Alive

After 29 hours of trying to get home... we finally are.

Thank God next week is Spring Break,

because, at this point,

 I definitely need a vacation from this vacation.