I realize it's ridiculous to be excited to do my taxes, but this year we have some serious deductions and such that will create a MUCH bigger tax refund than last year, per Turbo Tax's calculators. Since we do have quite a bit of debt, this makes me monumentally happy. Paying off some big ticket… Continue reading I Heart Tax Season

It was in the 50s an 60s the entire time we lounged on the beach (in jeans and hoodies) last week in Florida.It was 73 and sunny the day we came home, to -13.*sigh*Doesn't matter though: vacation is still vacation, and it was ever so excellent to be away from work for a week.

I got SQUAT done last weekend, but I did run my butt off taking care of my sick husband, who spent the entire weekend migrating from the bed to the couch to sleep, whispering how much his throat hurt, and generally feeling miserable. Turns out he has strep, which thankfully will be knocked out by… Continue reading Monday monday…

Until Florida, THANK GOD. Between the holidays and job hunting for something in the Portland area, even my days off aren't really days off, and I could really use a real vacation. I think hubby could too.And tonight is our 3rd "Rome" date in a row...8pm, lying in bed cuddled up to my favorite person… Continue reading 9 days

I'm sort of a major scrooge on New Year's Eve. 2008 was a shitty year anyway, in pretty much all aspects of my life. Looking back was just depressing and put me in a major funk, which of course started a minor tiff with the hubby and resulted in me being even more, well, unhappy… Continue reading New Year, New Goals

The 'rents, tired of the cold after acclimating themselves to Los Angeles heat (and out of vacation time) are heading back to CA tomorrow. My vacation (haha, vacation, haha) is over and I'm back at work. The presents are opened, the tree is just waiting, awkward in the post Christmas blues, to be put away.… Continue reading Thus Ends 2008

The high today was 4 degrees above zero. 4. whopping. degrees. We were below zero until about 3pm. The temp came up as the snow fell, which was pretty and disgusting at the same time. I left work at 6, hoping if I waited the traffic would let up a little.It didn't. After a couple… Continue reading MN

I've been on the board in my homeowner's association for almost three years now. During that time I've gotten to know quite a few of my neighbors, if not by name at least by sight. Tonight's board meeting completely blew me away with the level of creepiness.We have a particular homeowner who is consistently late… Continue reading Peeping!

What is it that causes people to think more about self-satisfaction than anything else? Sure, selfishness is a standard human trait: we all have it, we all use it, we all occasionally fall victim to putting it before anyone else's feelings/needs/wants.Americans tend to open their wallets and hearts only when a major disaster happens, like… Continue reading The ME Generation

Today, I applied for a job with a company I think is truly innovative, fun, and different. It would be a huge step up for me, but more importantly it would be a HUGE change.The job is in Hillsboro, OREGON. A suburb of Portland.Certain Banditos and aunt-types are going to kick my ass when they… Continue reading The First Step