I’ve been so excited about the return I knew I’d be getting from the feds that I completely forgot to do anything about my state return. I’ll probably owe because they don’t take out taxes properly. For those of you looking for forms, go to the website for your states Department of Revenue. If you’re in Arizona, make a note of the date on the ‘December Tax Facts’. When they got behind, why didn’t they just skip a couple months?
Archive for February, 2008
State Taxes
Friday, February 15th, 2008lifeknot.com
Thursday, February 14th, 2008In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, this post is for those still looking for their special someone. Sometimes it can feel like you’re in a rut, seeing the same people, doing the same things, dating the same type of person over and over and over – but you can break the cycle. Meet new people by stepping out of your safety zone and into the social network of lifeknot.com.
Unlike other dating services that ask just superficial questions about yourself, lifeknot asks what you like to do. They believe that to make a good match, you have to live your life and let love follow. In other words, don’t try to conform to the likes of someone else – be yourself and allow people to come into your life who like to live life like you do.
People connect be looking for others who share the same passions and do the enjoy the same activities as they do. It just makes sense that if you actually have something in common, you’re more likely to hit it off. Even if it doesn’t turn into a romantic relationship, you haven’t lost when you’ve made new friends.
Will You Write a Will?
Thursday, February 14th, 2008I got my tax refund today so I decided to use a little to update my Quicken program. Apparently, after a few years they stop allowing you to use the old program to download your financial info which is pretty much the only thing we use it for. So I plopped down the $40 to update it into a sleek new red ‘Q’ on my Start menu.
But that’s not the best part. The best part is that I got a free version of Quicken WillMaker at the same time and I’ve now written my will (how morbid). It’s surprisingly easy when all you have to do is click ‘give it all to my kids’ here or ‘don’t give it all to my kids’ there. Now I just have to print it out, sign it, witness it, have it notarized, notify people ….. Maybe this is why no one writes their will in a timely fashion – all the add ons.
Car Insurance, Anybody?
Thursday, February 14th, 2008Maybe you’re thinking about getting one of those smart cars this year. They have good fuel economy and they’re kinda cool looking just because they don’t look like every other car on the road. On top of that, you KNOW no one is going to ask to borrow your car to help them move.
Well if you get a new car, you might decide you want new car insurance. Perhaps your current company is too big and impersonal? Try looking for a company that is going to be there to help if something goes wrong. Cost-U-Less insurance has been around since 1980 and have offices in Southern California to help you out. Maybe you thought Ukiah car insurance (for example) would be hard to come by? With Cost-U-Less, it’s not. You can go online and get a quote, or call their offices and get a quote over the phone.
Either way, make sure you check them out before you get that new car so your insurance is ready when you drive off the lot.
It’s Finally Here
Thursday, February 14th, 2008Whether you’re ‘with someone’ or by yourself today, Happy Valentine’s Day. Don’t forget that anyone can be your Valentine and if it’s appropriate for a first grader to say ‘Be Mine’ to all their classmates, it’s certainly ok for you to do it to all your co-workers. But don’t do it with those chalky tasting hearts – splurge and get the Sweettarts hearts (if you can find them). Just my two cents worth.
Kiosks and booths
Wednesday, February 13th, 2008Whether you’re on your way to the next trade show, trying to sell your wares at the mall, or looking to set up a customer interface in your lobby, you’re going to want to take a look at the display systems available from Nomadic Display.
The options that you have when setting up trade show booths vary in many different sizes and price ranges. There’s no need to worry about looking like you brought in your fifth grade science fair presentation. There are many great options that include graphics and video presentations.
King Me – Board game review
Wednesday, February 13th, 2008Another board game that has come across the pond from Europe and taken our gaming group by storm is King Me. This simple little game can be played in 30-45 minutes and is fun for all sorts of gamers from the serious strategist to the most casual, even girls.
The game consists of 13 characters (each with a colorful Italian name) that are vying for the throne. Each of the 3-6 players take a card that lists out 6 of the 13 characters. These 6 characters are the ones that will give you points at the end of the game. Each player takes turns placing the 13 characters on various levels of the board. After they’re all placed, everyone takes turns moving the characters up the levels and towards the throne. You can move any of the characters that you want, not just the ones that are on your card. When a character is moved onto the throne, everyone votes whether that character becomes king. When someone gets a unanimous vote for king, the round is over and points are totaled.
The goal of the game is to have your characters in high point levels on the board when a king is elected. If any player votes against a character being king, the candidate is killed and gives no points to anyone. Each player only gets a certain number of no votes, so they must be used strategically. Eventually they’ll run out and someone will get elected.
The player with the most points at the end of three rounds is the winner.
There is even a special rule for the last round that will give you the maximum number of points if you can manage to get zero points with your six characters. Sort of like shooting the moon in hearts.
Pet Information Blog
Tuesday, February 12th, 2008Lately my kids have been trying to get me to buy a dog. I’m definitely a dog person (no matter what a quiz I recently took says) so I’m very happy they are interested in getting a dog over a cat. But it’s not time for one yet. I told them that when they are willing to clean up after a dog, I’ll get one. I have two more kids to potty train and I don’t think I’m ready to try to do that with a pet. Fortunately, the kids will give me the practice I need so that one day, I’ll be ready for one.
In the mean time, if I (or you for that matter) need pet information I can check out informational sites and blogs. For example “Thoughts Fur Paws” (cute name) helped me learn about car insurance for pets. Who knew there was such a thing? I know there is medical insurance for pets but this is a new one for me.
I also learned more about pet mills. I’ve always heard that you should get a pet from the pound but now I know it’s not just to save ‘pound pets’ but to decrease the demand for milled pets.
Federal Rebates
Tuesday, February 12th, 2008How much do you think your rebate will be for? They can range from nothing (for the young who don’t work) to an unknown amount for couples with lots of kids (today that means you have more than one, but I’m using that in the old school sense where you have more than 7).
Whatever you get, keep all the paperwork you get with it and read it carefully. One (and only one so far) article out there says that the rebate will be coming off any money you would have been getting next year. If true, I don’t know what that means for people who who owe or who wouldn’t be getting as much back as this rebate is for. I would GUESS that it doesn’t have to be paid back because it seems there would be more information about that if it did need to be paid back next year.
Anyway, make sure you read the information really well and keep it with your tax records.
And if the IRS doesn’t have your current address, make sure you send in a change of address form.
Window Replacement
Tuesday, February 12th, 2008Did you know that replacing old single pane (or should I say pain) windows can save you money on your electric bill? They can also add value to your house because potential buyers know they don’t have to spend the money to replace them soon. K-Designers has windows and windows installers to help you achieve your home remodeling goals. They even offer discounts if you turn in your old windows when you buy new ones. Why wait? the summer months are just around the corner and with them come huge electric bills. Avoid them by replacing your windows now.
A Story That Didn’t Need More
Tuesday, February 12th, 2008Everybody has heard about the incident on the ice Sunday. Zednik had his carotid artery cut upon in a freak accident. Actually, it was the second of its kind – an almost repeat of a 1989 incident when another player’s carotid was cut by an ice skate.
Apparently, this heart stopping story wasn’t enough for someone in the media. The author of one article I read on the matter said that this was just “inches from his jugular”. Very true but then anything in your neck is just inches from your jugular. It seems like the story would have been good enough for even the most jaded and bloodthirsty among us, there was no need to add the histrionics of saying it was “inches from his jugular”. It was just “inches” from his brain and heart as well.
This is something that you can add to a boring, less heart stopping story like, “He had a sore throat. The throat is just inches from the jugular.” This story just didn’t need it.
Save on Car Insurance
Monday, February 11th, 2008If you like to drive insurance is a must. It protects you from life’s little accidents. Cost-U-Less has insurance that can fit into a student’s budget. They’ve been helping people get coverage since 1980 and they specialize in giving insurance to students. If you have questions about insurance, they have answers.
Hair Dryer, Anyone?
Monday, February 11th, 2008The weather is wonderful! I don’t have to run the heater; I don’t have to run the air conditioner. Too bad this will only last for a couple days. Then again, I could be in International Falls, MN where it’s -40. That’s the actual temperature, not some weird ‘wind chill’ temperature.
Here’s something I found out when I lived in Michigan for a year – hair freezes in cold weather. Just a little tidbit for those of out there who don’t understand the cold like we people who’ve really lived through it (actually, I heard it was a mild year that year).
Enjoy the Show
Monday, February 11th, 2008Are you planning a get away to New York and hoping to see a show while you are there? You can get Broadway theater tickets from the premium online ticket source before you head out and not have to wait in a ticket line when you get there. TickCo Premium Seating has premium seating Broadway theater tickets for Young Frankenstein, wicked and more. They have Broadway theatre tickets for all theater locations.
But what if you are more interested in a trip to Las Vegas to see a show there? This is still the ticket place you want because they have those seats too. They also have tickets for NASCAR, concert tickets (Hannah Montana anyone?) and sporting event tickets. Basically, if you want to go see something that needs a ticket to get in, TickCo Premium Seating is your ‘ticket’ to a ticket (great pun, huh?)
What if there is absolutely nothing happening that you are interested in seeing or watching right now? Sign up for their e-mail newsletter and they will keep you informed of events as they are announced. (Don’t worry that it will come with alot of spam because they don’t share their e-mail list with others.)
Lions and Tigers and Hives, OH MY!
Monday, February 11th, 2008Oh, what a weekend for my older son. We had one dose to go on the 10 day course of antibiotics he was taking for an ear infection when his body decided he should be allergic. No hospital necessary but the boy got hives and spent the weekend scratching. Actually, just the time between when the Benadryl wore off and when he could have another dose without overdosing.
When he first started scratching, I just thought it was because I told him something he didn’t want to hear – that makes him itch. But when he woke me up at midnight and said he couldn’t stop scratching I took a look and it looked like he had welts all over his body! It wasn’t until morning that I managed to put the word hives to it. Then the call to the doctor (“Hi, I’m not going to give him the last dose of antibiotics even though I know I’ll be creating a super-bug that will end life on this planet in doing so.”) and the wait for a return from the on-call nurse to say what he could have for the itchiness.
Good times. Too bad for him, they cleared up in time for him to go to school today.
Contest for College Money
Saturday, February 9th, 2008Calling all parents! Here’s a chance to enter the PGP College Education Sweepstakes and win $50,000 for your child’s college education. You have to watch either Guiding Light or As the World Turns on Feb 11th, 13th and 15th and find out who says the opening line of the show. Then enter the info at the web site by the 22th of February (6pm ET to be exact) and you are in. They also have a second prize of a 6 month supply of Pampers diapers. Either one sounds great to me!
You can only enter once and they will hold a drawing for the winner on the Feb 26 (approximately). And you have to get the answers for all three dates right for you to get into the drawing so make sure you know your characters!
That’ll Be HOW MUCH?!
Saturday, February 9th, 2008My mom offered to buy cupcakes for my son’s Valentine’s Day party at school. I want to make it clear, she picked the place to buy them. It’s a specialty store that just makes cupcakes. They look very lovely, though I haven’t tried any.
Looks aside, when she put in her order, I looked for pricing. I’m used to products that have the price right next to them so it was time to leave before my discerning eye finally found it. Then it was good we were leaving because that eye almost popped out of its socket.
Suffice it to say that Grant wasn’t going to cover it. Grant and Jackson together wouldn’t have covered it.
That just seems wrong somehow…
Two Wheel Cruising
Friday, February 8th, 2008Every time I make it out to the beaches of Southern California, I can’t help but notice all the people walking, running, or rolling along the sidewalk. There are lots of people at the beach, but it seems like most of the natives walk, bike, or skate down the wide sidewalk in front of the row of houses closest to the beach. And if those people cruising down the boulevard are riding a bike, chances are that it’s one of those two wheel cruisers.
The mens’ beach cruisers are the bicycle version of the chopper. With thick tires and wide handlebars they create a unique look for a two-wheeler for cruising along the beach or down the street of any city or town in the country. The options available on these cruiser bikes are the same as any other style of bike with one speed and multi speed models. The coolest looking models are without a doubt the lowriders and choppers. There are even beach cruisers for kids.
My next bike is definitely going to be a cruiser mostly because it has a cool look and a relaxed feel. I’m not going to be racing anywhere in a hurry, but I will be cruising there.
Painting the Town Red on $20
Friday, February 8th, 2008Woo Hoo! I’m going out for a night on the town! I’ve got $20 in my pocket and haven’t called anyone to see if they can go out too but I don’t care if I eat dinner alone and watch a movie alone! I’m busting free for the night and I’m going to try to find something new to do.
Obviously I’m more excited than any person should be faced with a night of aimless, lonely wandering. But considering I’ve spent the day saying “What” to my children’s “Mom?” over and over so they could zero in on my location and then have nothing to say or ask, I’m ready for some alone time.
Who am I kidding, I’m probably going to take at least one with me. They’re too cute to resist! That’s why the whole “resistance if futile” thing with the Borg is so unbelievable. Resistance would only be futile if they were as cute as my kids and obviously they aren’t.
Flowers Are Always a Perfect Choice
Friday, February 8th, 2008Valentine roses are a MUST for a guy who has a special someone to shop for. Maybe you think you got her the perfect gift and you don’t need to get flowers as well – WRONG! Flowers should accompany any gift to a lady.
It’s your birthday sweety? Here’s your gift and some flowers.
I’m late again? Here’s a gift and some flowers.
I don’t know what I did wrong but I know it was me who was wrong and, oh yeah, here’s some flowers.
And OF COURSE on Valentine’s Day flowers just have to be a part of whatever it is that you are going to give her. It’s the icing on the cake – sometimes it’s the cake as well. That is to say, if you are a part of what is probably the vast majority of us and you have no idea what to get her, you can make the flowers the gift.
At www.1800flowers.com you have a variety to choose from. There’s the classic dozen (always an excellent selection). Or you can get a little daring by combining roses with other flowers. There are long stemmed roses and short stemmed roses. They have red vases and clear vases. They even have plants. And whatever you choose, you can get chocolates to go with your selection.
Better get the ball on the road and don’t try telling her that you decided to wait for the after Valentine’s Day sale to save money.