Thank You Sallie Mae.

Normally I would never, ever, EVER, utter those words, but this once I'm allowing it.

I installed TurboTax and started preparing my returns. I knew I wouldn't owe any money unlike last year. I really needed to have a good idea how much of a refund I would get back. Any refund is going towards the VISA bill I racked up during my multi-year job hunt. I'm at the point I can see the light at the end of credit card tunnel. If my refund can accelerate my debt relief by a few months it'll be worth it.

I place all my tax documents into a folder, but I didn't have anything from Sallie Mae concerning student loan interest. I ran the numbers I had and TurboTax said I had a good federal refund, but owed the state money. WTF! Is my home state taxing the hell out of me or is the W-4 situation all screwed up?

I went back to my inbox and rummaged through the old mail. I found the Sallie Mae envelope. Problem: it didn't say important tax information, but merely, "important information about your student loan." Hell that's usually something somebody wants to sell you so usually I confirm that's a sales pitch and then shred it.

There was how much student loan interest I paid. I plugged the numbers into TurboTax and suddenly life got really good. The proposed fed refund is now very sweet and the state owes me some pocket change now. How sweet is my refund now? The added numbers will allow me to pay off VISA an extra month early. The combined refund will take off an entire season. But for my student loans I could be officially debt free by the fall. I'm looking forward to that. A net worth of zero will be a good thing and be like my old pre-law school days of no debt. I miss those days.

Light at the end of the tunnel indeed. Who knew working on taxes could be a good thing.

You Can Use A Technicality To Get Things Done.

*After watching a hearing before mine.*

Lawyer: I didn't know you could throw a person in jail for being stupid.

Me: Technically no, but stupidity was the root cause of that guy's actions.

Lawyer: You mean his lack of actions.

Me: Eh same difference.



*During one of my hearings.*

Me: So you're getting disability benefits. What is the nature of your disability?

Witness: I'm stupid.

Judge and I share a look of DON'T LAUGH NO MATTER HOW TRUE IT MIGHT BE!

It Is A Time Of Mourning.

I'm tired of 10 episode seasons for television series. Just when the series gets good the series is finished for a few months. Leaverage is over (haven't seen it yet). Burn Notice will be over soon. The grand dame of currently awesome TV, Battlestar Galactica, is over in 4 more episodes.

I guess I'll just have Mythbusters and Monsterquest for my video entertainment. Yep I'm a geek.

That Is The Best Thing You Ever Put Into A Crock Pot!

That's what the roommate said as I opened the front door. The smell wafted through the air and the taste was just as good. I'll share the recipe with you.

Around 5lbs of pork shoulder roast on sale for 98 cents per pound.
3 or 4 small red potatoes chopped
Lots of peeled baby carrots.
A sauce and spice packet for pork roasts.
1/2 cup of water
Some thyme.
Some garlic.
Some oregano.
1/2 cup or so of ketchup on top of everything.

Put in a crock pot and let simmer for over 8 hours.

I Admit I Like The Cold And Snow.

It isn't so much snow to interfere with driving, but enough to be pretty. I like the fact the cold keeps people inside. To me the air is brisk and forces me to feel alive. I have to fight the cold and the wind. I love it. Cold enough to feel alive, but not so cold it makes you want to immediately retreat back inside.

I'm weird and I know it.

Friday Quotes

"I won't be wronged. I won't be insulted. I won't be laid a-hand on. I don't do these things to other people, I require the same from them."

John Wayne in The Shootist.

I Guess This Is The Precursor To Astronomer.

I preferred astronomy as a child, but that didn't exist back then. I miss thinking about "billyons and billyons of stars!" Carl Sagan ruled!

You Are an Astrologer

You tend to be a fanciful, spiritual person with many interesting theories. You are always trying to figure out how all the pieces of the world are connected. You have a knack for predicting the future and reading people. In modern times, you would make a good self help guru or a director of a non profit.

What's Your Medieval Profession?

We're Taking Friendly Fire!!!!

Me: Why is the court making us do their work?

Clerk: Because they can?

Me: This job sucks enough when we have to do our stuff, but doing the court staff's work will make it impossible.

Clerk: I don't know when they stopped doing their job.

Me: Someone needs to go up there and remind them that they can't do our job and we can't do their job. Court stuff needs to be handled by court staff. If the guy I'm having a hearing against is calling for a continuance the staff should explain how to do it. It isn't legal advice. We don't represent them and I'm not going to do the work for opposing parties. Just because someone is pro se doesn't mean they can't ask for a continuance or petition for a hearing on some issue! Staff sure as hell shouldn't ask us to do it for them.

Clerk: You want to go ahead and tell them. Go right ahead.

Me: If I could figure out a way to do with without stepping on their territorial landmines I will. Maybe we can sucker the Boss into doing it.

Best In Show!

I think DogHound should win that Westminster Kennel Show. He's over 12 years old so he still has a shot. So DogHound doesn't do tricks and barely walks due to his arthretis. Still he's just cute and fuzzy and so friendly. I may not be able to convince the judges DogHound is the best dog, but he works for me.

Unemployment Is Going DOWN!

The Fabulously Gay Roommate found a job! He starts tomorrow. FGR is disappointed in that the job "is a lateral move" and very similar to his last job. I explained he's been unemployed for at least 6-7 months and he's really moving up in the world by simply having a job in his field. At worse he's holding steady and in this economy that is saying something.

Sometimes I wonder about his perspective on things. He seems rather disappointed.

In some ways I sympathize with him. I recall losing a job with one contract firm. A few months later another contract firm signed me up for the same position I was let go from, for worse hours and less money. I was happy for the money and the employment, but I knew I was going to loathe the situation. I don't know. My experience was a 3 month layoff in a mediocre economy. FGR has been out of work since June or July of last year in the worst economy since the Great Depression. Hell it took me 2 years to find work in MY NEW FIELD after I graduated!!! Perhaps he didn't hit near rock bottom like I did and doesn't realize how lucky he is. The young do lack experience.

Oh well. He'll figure it out eventually. Sometimes the only goal is to have a paycheck. In a year or two both of us can move up the job chain.

I Don't Want To Grow Up.

You Were an Achieving Kid

When you were a kid, people often remarked on how mature you seemed. You acted quite adult. You excelled at school, and you actually enjoyed it to a large extent. No one had to ask you to do your homework. As a kid, you were probably a bit picky. You liked structure, schedules, and organization. You had trouble being friends with regular kids. You probably were only friends with other serious children.

What Kind of Kid Were You?

I Want My DTV!

Actually I'm still using my old Sony 27 inch TV so I won't see too much picture improvement when broadcasters switch to digital TV. Still the Fabulously Gay Roommate and I got the digital converter box for our cable subscription about 6 months ago. Why did we get the box? Because broadcasters have been telling the American people they needed to make the switch over a year ago.

So I'm not feeling sorry for the people who hasn't got some converter box or bought a new TV. They've had a year or two to get ready. It wasn't like the switch to digital was sneaking up on anyone. If you know a hurricane is coming and you don't do anything about it then you're an idiot. I just don't feel sorry for idiots.

Does Congress honestly think the idiots that aren't ready in February will be any more ready in 4 months? I hope a lot of TVs go to static when the conversion does happen. It might force people to read a book or talk to their spouses and children.

I Think I'm Getting Used To The Arctic Blast.

You know you've seen too many arctic blasts of cold air when you can tell the difference between 10 degrees and 0 degrees.

*Stepping outside when the temperature is only 10 degrees.*

WHEW! Damn it's cold!

*Stepping outside when the temperature is only 0 degrees.*

F&*$@#!!!!!!!!

This morning was at 0 degrees so you know what I said.

The Last Football Post.

Now begins the most depressing time of year. NO MORE FOOTBALL!!!!! Pro-Bowl doesn't count. Oh well the college season starts in August/September.

You Are a Touchdown

You're the type of person who can work steadily toward any goal in your site. You don't lose hope when things look bad, and you're able to keep moving forward. You are an excellent strategist. You can think a few moves ahead, anticipate problems, and develop solutions. You work well with a team. You trust your teammates and have no problem handing off tasks to them.

What Football Scoring Method Are You?

SuperBowl Sunday Selection.

I'll watch the big game with my parents. For some reason no one is hosting a party this year. The Hart parental units are having some BBQ ready so I'm sure DogHound will be in the kitchen begging.

So what is my pick? How does the Traditional of Excellence Pittsburgh Steelers stack up against the Wonderteam of the Playoffs Arizona Cardinals?

With apologies to my favorite reader in Arizona, but I'm picking the Steelers over the Cardinals. I don't think it will be a blowout, but the efficient offense of the Steelers and their crushing defense rings true to me. Should be a great game though!