Taxman

I have a long, sordid history with the IRS. In my opinion, I was the victim of stalking. In their opinion, which is the one that matters, I was breaking the law (note to everyone: NEVER ever ever EVARRR Telefile!). Oops! We resolved our differences via a cash settlement and now I'm about to settle down and do my patriotic duty and file my taxes for 2007.

My relationship with Math is a lot like my relationship with the IRS, so this should be interesting. I fully expect to get a refund this year, the majority of which some of you will literally taste when you sip the champagne and bite into the filet of beef at my wedding.

The 2008 tax year will be my last year filing as "single." After that, I will forever be screwed by the IRS because I married a freelancer, but it's worth a lifetime of beard-sniffing.

After I finish my taxes and send them out, I'll begin studying for the written test which will hopefully get me my California Driver's License on Monday, March 24 at 8:15 a.m. As of now, I'm still rocking my NJDL - not for sentimental reasons, because I'm not terribly sad to be far from New Jersey, nor do I wish to walk around with a photo of me about 50 pounds ago in my wallet, but because, I think, I wasn't ready. Does that make sense?

Filing your taxes on time and getting licensed to drive in the state you live in are things everyone does every day throughout the entire country. For me, these were once MONUMENTAL tasks with which I did not have the bandwidth to deal. They were things I just never did, or never did properly. Why? Maybe because I'm a procrastinator, maybe because I had developed a giant bubble of denial and these things just weren't worth what little brain space I had.

Whatever the reason, being proactive about those things now, as well as other things currently going on in my life, really demonstrates to me how much more "well" I am now than I have ever been. Before, I could barely deal with the requirements of daily life without enormous effort.

Now, I understand the rules and I'm ready to play the game. I'm ready to do what I have to do to be a contributing member to society. These mundane tasks may seem so commonplace to some of you, but I assure you, for me, this is huge.

Happy Tax Season! And remember to spend your stimulus rebate actually stimulating things, whatever that means for you. In the words of MFDC, "I would rather spend it buying armor for the soldiers in Iraq." Word.

But also? Mama needs a new pair of shoes!