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Day #351 - Taxes
I did my taxes today. I thought it would take two hours, it took more like six, with breaks, so all day. And my return was less than last year. And I put in more information, and deductions. Oh well, at least I got a little higher than the standard deductible.
Mother: Hi, thought I'd call -
Me: Doing my taxes, it's a nightmare - I'm trying to put in the costs of telecommuting from home.
Mother: Oh, that would complicate things.
ME: And I'm frustrated because getting the information on how much I spend on electricity is almost impossible.
Mother: Is it even worth it?
Me: I don't know probably not.
It wasn't worth it. I didn't have enough to get a deduction for home office usage. I was annoyed, I wanted to deduct my office chair and wifi, and computer costs - but alas, it didn't hit the legal standard. The US tax code is a nightmare.
Also discovered that I made more money last year than the previous year, yet expended more in charitable donations. Very odd. Apparently working remotely from home is profitable on some level?
And..when you get older? Taxes get more confusing. But the tax returns get smaller. I miss the old days, when they were less confusing and I got higher returns.
***
Spoke with Wales, who wants to get me something for my birthday, I told her she didn't need to.
Wales: I decided I'm going to get you a treat - a sweet item.
Me: That's very nice of you - but kind of a bad idea. First it's hard to get it to me logistically, and I have a weird diet - also I'm trying to reduce the whole sweet bit. Besides you don't need to get me anything.
Wales: But I really want to.
Me: I didn't get you anything.
Wales: But you don't understand - you've become really important to me this past year and this one - you've been like my lifeline. I don't know what I would have done without you to talk to occasionally.
Me: Oh that's so sweet. Okay, well get me a book or scarf or something from Amazon. Bakery items are kind of dicey.
I don't feel like I'm helping anyone sitting alone in my apartment. I do my work. I answer questions. I send out money. I write posts. I post pictures.
And I talk to folks intermittently on the phone - trying to keep the lines of communication open. I also try to be kind and not let my fear, anger, and frustration get the better of me. I've come to realize anger is often a result of fear or frustration.
***
The folks on the GH fan spoiler board are trying to figure which male main character the show is plotting to kill off.
Since roughly 2002-2008, I've found myself looking at a lot of television series and saying: "Do not kill off my favorite character show!"
Or
"You better not kill off my favorite character show! If you want to kill someone off, I can give you a list!"
OR
Damn, the frigging show killed off my favorite character AGAIN, why am I watching this stupid show again? I've got better things to do with my time. Stupid lazy writers who can't come up with better stories than killing off favorite characters.
_
I think it has leveled off a bit. Because after a while, people would go - oh you killed off our favorite character? Bye now. I'm going off to Netflix to watch that limited series, I've been putting off.
Or, I don't believe this character is actually dead. You will most likely bring them back as a ghost, vampire, werewolf, evil twin, lost memory, or just have the whole thing be a dream. I'm onto you, you idiot writers.
It should be noted that soap operas and comic books have been in the - I'm going to kill off a character to be shocking trope - long before anyone else came up with it. The X-men did it so often, that the new head writer came up with a way to bring back all the characters. (Mainly because the previous writers had killed off about 85% of them, and the most interesting ones at that. Also, the leads at this point had been killed off five times or thereabouts and brought back to life.) So the new head writer decided to write in a process that would resurrect the X-characters or mutants whenever they died, and make it part of the plot and ethics, and theme, and general character development. Bright move. The soap opera writers aren't quite that creative - they still rely on the old stuff - oh character fell off a bridge into a raging river and is presumed dead, when in reality he just lost his memory and is living an alternate life as a bartender and chef at a local bar in a neighboring state, which apparently never saw pictures of or head of a major mob boss from upstate NY. Or oh character fell off a 20 foot cliff into a raging river, and her body was found - but hey we can still resurrect her.
It's become a joke on the soap opera fan boards.
Fan 1: Nell is dead, she fell off a cliff, into a river, and they found her body and confirmed it.
Spoiler Source: She's not dead. She'll be back.
Fan 2 : See she's still alive.
Me: Okay, okay, let's agree she's dead until such time that the writers decide to magically resurrect her for contrived plot conflict.
The plus side of long-running serials like comics and soaps, is no one really every stays dead for long.
Mother was depressed today. But my brother managed to talk her into trying her cane - which made her a bit more mobile and that cheered her up greatly.
I've been watching 9-1-1 and 9-1-1 Lone Star off and on today - it's one of the few procedurals that I enjoy. It's show-runners are Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuck, Tim Minear, and David Fury. (Basically the Glee meets Angel in procedural format.) But the executive producers include Angela Bassett, Peter Krause, and Rob Lowe. Also it stars folks like Angela Bassett, Gina Torres, Rob Lowe, Peter Krause, Jennifer Love Hewitt, and with Connie Britton and Liv Tyler in guest roles in the first seasons. It's well written, the characters are likable, and it's kind (which you wouldn't expect from those writers, I know), also progressive and diverse.
I'm hoping my binoculars come on Monday. Deliveries are weird at the moment. Some things show up immediately, others show up months later - after you've given up on them.
Life in a pandemic.
I was thinking about this time last year - on March 7, Saturday, I saw the movie Emma, and went to get a desert and wine with Wales at a cafe nearby prior. Wales was nuts that day, so left the movie theater. I was actually relieved when she did - because our close proximity was making me edgy. Actually sitting in the restaurant on the 7th made me edgy - I got as far from folks as I could - although hardly anyone was in there. And Wales was making fun of me for washing my hands constantly.
On the 9th, I had a great massage. But even then everyone was taking precautions - lots of washing hands. And I kept hunting for hand sanitizer everywhere. Back then it was impossible to find, along with cleaning wipes. Now - hand sanitizer is everywhere, in multiple brands. They have whole shelves dedicated to it in the pharmacies, along with masks. Also hand soap.
And it's easier to find wipes. Back then, even finding toilet paper was a problem.
The last time I got my hair cut was Feb 29, 2020, the last time I was touched by another human was March 12, 2020 - an accidental handshake. The last time I had a massage or a hug, was March 9, and March 7. The last time I ate in a restaurant - March 7. The last time I saw a movie in a movie theater - March 7. The last time, I went anywhere without a mask? March 19.
The world changed in March 2020. And it changed the week of my birthday.
Next year, I hope to go to Peru or maybe Hawaii or somewhere far away and warm and interesting on my birthday. But that is next year. For now, I'll be happy if I can see my parents in the summer or at Christmas, and I can get a hair cut in a salon after March 19 - after I get the vaccine.
The only plus side of the pandemic is the working remotely bit. But I could deal if that changed - it would take some time to get used to, but I could.
I'd rather be able to visit family again, and friends, and go to theater and movies, and travel - then well, work at home indefinitely. Besides, it's killing my eyes.
Mother: Hi, thought I'd call -
Me: Doing my taxes, it's a nightmare - I'm trying to put in the costs of telecommuting from home.
Mother: Oh, that would complicate things.
ME: And I'm frustrated because getting the information on how much I spend on electricity is almost impossible.
Mother: Is it even worth it?
Me: I don't know probably not.
It wasn't worth it. I didn't have enough to get a deduction for home office usage. I was annoyed, I wanted to deduct my office chair and wifi, and computer costs - but alas, it didn't hit the legal standard. The US tax code is a nightmare.
Also discovered that I made more money last year than the previous year, yet expended more in charitable donations. Very odd. Apparently working remotely from home is profitable on some level?
And..when you get older? Taxes get more confusing. But the tax returns get smaller. I miss the old days, when they were less confusing and I got higher returns.
***
Spoke with Wales, who wants to get me something for my birthday, I told her she didn't need to.
Wales: I decided I'm going to get you a treat - a sweet item.
Me: That's very nice of you - but kind of a bad idea. First it's hard to get it to me logistically, and I have a weird diet - also I'm trying to reduce the whole sweet bit. Besides you don't need to get me anything.
Wales: But I really want to.
Me: I didn't get you anything.
Wales: But you don't understand - you've become really important to me this past year and this one - you've been like my lifeline. I don't know what I would have done without you to talk to occasionally.
Me: Oh that's so sweet. Okay, well get me a book or scarf or something from Amazon. Bakery items are kind of dicey.
I don't feel like I'm helping anyone sitting alone in my apartment. I do my work. I answer questions. I send out money. I write posts. I post pictures.
And I talk to folks intermittently on the phone - trying to keep the lines of communication open. I also try to be kind and not let my fear, anger, and frustration get the better of me. I've come to realize anger is often a result of fear or frustration.
***
The folks on the GH fan spoiler board are trying to figure which male main character the show is plotting to kill off.
Since roughly 2002-2008, I've found myself looking at a lot of television series and saying: "Do not kill off my favorite character show!"
Or
"You better not kill off my favorite character show! If you want to kill someone off, I can give you a list!"
OR
Damn, the frigging show killed off my favorite character AGAIN, why am I watching this stupid show again? I've got better things to do with my time. Stupid lazy writers who can't come up with better stories than killing off favorite characters.
_
I think it has leveled off a bit. Because after a while, people would go - oh you killed off our favorite character? Bye now. I'm going off to Netflix to watch that limited series, I've been putting off.
Or, I don't believe this character is actually dead. You will most likely bring them back as a ghost, vampire, werewolf, evil twin, lost memory, or just have the whole thing be a dream. I'm onto you, you idiot writers.
It should be noted that soap operas and comic books have been in the - I'm going to kill off a character to be shocking trope - long before anyone else came up with it. The X-men did it so often, that the new head writer came up with a way to bring back all the characters. (Mainly because the previous writers had killed off about 85% of them, and the most interesting ones at that. Also, the leads at this point had been killed off five times or thereabouts and brought back to life.) So the new head writer decided to write in a process that would resurrect the X-characters or mutants whenever they died, and make it part of the plot and ethics, and theme, and general character development. Bright move. The soap opera writers aren't quite that creative - they still rely on the old stuff - oh character fell off a bridge into a raging river and is presumed dead, when in reality he just lost his memory and is living an alternate life as a bartender and chef at a local bar in a neighboring state, which apparently never saw pictures of or head of a major mob boss from upstate NY. Or oh character fell off a 20 foot cliff into a raging river, and her body was found - but hey we can still resurrect her.
It's become a joke on the soap opera fan boards.
Fan 1: Nell is dead, she fell off a cliff, into a river, and they found her body and confirmed it.
Spoiler Source: She's not dead. She'll be back.
Fan 2 : See she's still alive.
Me: Okay, okay, let's agree she's dead until such time that the writers decide to magically resurrect her for contrived plot conflict.
The plus side of long-running serials like comics and soaps, is no one really every stays dead for long.
Mother was depressed today. But my brother managed to talk her into trying her cane - which made her a bit more mobile and that cheered her up greatly.
I've been watching 9-1-1 and 9-1-1 Lone Star off and on today - it's one of the few procedurals that I enjoy. It's show-runners are Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuck, Tim Minear, and David Fury. (Basically the Glee meets Angel in procedural format.) But the executive producers include Angela Bassett, Peter Krause, and Rob Lowe. Also it stars folks like Angela Bassett, Gina Torres, Rob Lowe, Peter Krause, Jennifer Love Hewitt, and with Connie Britton and Liv Tyler in guest roles in the first seasons. It's well written, the characters are likable, and it's kind (which you wouldn't expect from those writers, I know), also progressive and diverse.
I'm hoping my binoculars come on Monday. Deliveries are weird at the moment. Some things show up immediately, others show up months later - after you've given up on them.
Life in a pandemic.
I was thinking about this time last year - on March 7, Saturday, I saw the movie Emma, and went to get a desert and wine with Wales at a cafe nearby prior. Wales was nuts that day, so left the movie theater. I was actually relieved when she did - because our close proximity was making me edgy. Actually sitting in the restaurant on the 7th made me edgy - I got as far from folks as I could - although hardly anyone was in there. And Wales was making fun of me for washing my hands constantly.
On the 9th, I had a great massage. But even then everyone was taking precautions - lots of washing hands. And I kept hunting for hand sanitizer everywhere. Back then it was impossible to find, along with cleaning wipes. Now - hand sanitizer is everywhere, in multiple brands. They have whole shelves dedicated to it in the pharmacies, along with masks. Also hand soap.
And it's easier to find wipes. Back then, even finding toilet paper was a problem.
The last time I got my hair cut was Feb 29, 2020, the last time I was touched by another human was March 12, 2020 - an accidental handshake. The last time I had a massage or a hug, was March 9, and March 7. The last time I ate in a restaurant - March 7. The last time I saw a movie in a movie theater - March 7. The last time, I went anywhere without a mask? March 19.
The world changed in March 2020. And it changed the week of my birthday.
Next year, I hope to go to Peru or maybe Hawaii or somewhere far away and warm and interesting on my birthday. But that is next year. For now, I'll be happy if I can see my parents in the summer or at Christmas, and I can get a hair cut in a salon after March 19 - after I get the vaccine.
The only plus side of the pandemic is the working remotely bit. But I could deal if that changed - it would take some time to get used to, but I could.
I'd rather be able to visit family again, and friends, and go to theater and movies, and travel - then well, work at home indefinitely. Besides, it's killing my eyes.
no subject
Yay for your mother's cane, though. (-: They can indeed be a real help.
no subject
Canes are certainly easier to deal with than a walker. You can drive with a cane.