Same here. I actually save money by paying him to find all the things to reduce my tax liability. He definitely knows more about all that than I do.

 

I've used Turbotax 31 years - since 1992 (one year prior to Intuit ownership). The first year was the most difficult because I had to enter a lot of data (couple of rental properties, itemization, etc.), but once all the relevant data was entered, each following year was made easier since the s/w automatically rolled everything up into the next tax year from the previous (filing) tax year. As s/w technology became more advanced tax preparation became a TON easier every succeeding year. The s/w has grown leaps & bounds over the years and examines every IRS tax reduction possibility for everything you can imagine. The relationship between Intuit (Turbotax), but also other tax s/w companies has been one of contention with the IRS since the IRS now provides "nearly" the same s/w online. Anyways, today's tax preparation s/w is very, very, very easy.

 

I figure my own taxes. I don't have that much going on and it only takes me a couple hours at the most. The federal form is easy but the state form is a giant pain. I'm missing several things so far and it seems to me I'm supposed to have everything by the 31st of January. Hope it all comes today.

We are lightyears ahead of yesterday so we took an hour lunch. The lead told us that around 10 after 10 and that equated to everyone taking lunch immediately. So I watched Highway Patrol. No roadblocks in this one. I think we're down to needing less than 10 wheels.

Another cartoon I'll watch forever is Speed Racer.

Over 60 and cloudy. Gonna run a couple errands after work. Wonder when the rain will come back. If I were king, rain would need a permit.

 

John - We got lucky here at our house and missed last night's wave of ice that started about 40-miles south of us, extending southward. Hope it's not too bad there!

 

Hi guys,
Wife got out of her test early. All went well. She's now had about every gastro intestinal test known to science. She's been scoped from both ends. She's also had multiple Hi-res images of it all, and flow rate tests of both upper and lower GI. The only thing they've been able to find is a small hiatal hernia between her stomach and esophagus. I'm hypothesizing now, and betting the doctor is going to say the hiatal hernia is the cause of all her stomach issues. Guess we'll hear from him after he gets the results of today's test. Also guessing at this point that he'll suggest she have surgery to repair the hiatal hernia if she wants to eliminate the stomach issues. Guess we'll see???

After picking her up we went and got our glasses without issue. Ran over to Walmart to get a few painting supplies for my wife, several frozen pizzas, and some eggs. Left Walmart about 45-minutes later, but $240 lighter in the wallet! Sheesh, I know the price of eggs has skyrocketed, but I didn't think they had gotten that high! . Seriously though, that's the frickin danger of even stepping foot in Walmart, impulse buying is almost a certainty, especially for my wife! Not saying I never impulse buy, but I'm alot better at holding back than she is.

 

Short, quirky yet meaningful adage my Mom taught me - she read Reader's Digest religiously.

Never go grocery shopping on an empty stomach (reduces impulse buying).

 

Glad there is progress on the better half's issues.

I shop at high priced Schnucks. There is no wal mart out north of Evansville. While there is one five miles further north of my plant, and there is one some ten miles to my south, I don't commute north of the plant, or south of my house, and Schnucks is something I drive past. I figure an extra 20-30 min of time and a gallon of gas to get there justifies the offset in prices.

I bet a wal mart will come out here eventually. I am hoping this area stays the same till I retire. A good auto parts store would be nice on the way home, but a good auto parts store in general would be nice, as they are all pretty lame these days.

 

So true!!!

 

Thanks John, and you certainly got it right referring to her as my better half!

 

Well I been sitting in the jury pool room all day. Hopefully they will send me home this afternoon. Maybe if I show the defense lawyer my computer bag?

 

Well surprise, I got released. Interestingly, it was my vacation (trial expected to last 3 months) and not that my wife worked for the CA for 20 years and is best friends.

 

So I’m watching the local evening news and at one point the anchor says “Go go Gadget”. I laughed and also wondered if most of the viewers knew the reference.

 

Kenneth - Glad you don't have to go sit for a 3-month trial!

 

What is the reference?

 

The movie Inspector Gadget starring Mathew Broderick from 1999.

 

I remain 100% clueless even w/ this information.

 

No, it was a 1980s cartoon series. The Matthew Broderick movie was much later.

 

The character would say Go Go Gadget Timing Gun, for instance, if he needed to tune an Oldsmobile, and out of his head an armature with a timing gun would come, and a inductive clamp out of his belt. It was a kid's crimefighter cartoon. His computer hacker daughter, and...a dog, I think, would actually save the day. The bad guy, Dr. Claw, was modeled after Ernst Blofeld of the Bond franchise, with a cat, and only seeing his hand in a chair.

 

OK. I saw one or two episodes of this guy back then. Seemed pretty cool.

 

You young whipper snappers are really dating yourselves

 

Jim - That's one I have not thought of in ages.

 

Good morning everyone.

Okay start to the day. The big washer broke down either yesterday or this morning and there are precious few wheels. They are coming sporadically, so I've been working on some training I had due this month. Might as well get it out of the way. No one seems to be in a big hurry today.

I was a little ahead of Inspector Gadget. Seems to me in the movie his Gadgetmobile was a Lincoln convertible. Jamesbo I don't think I've ever seen that.

Laundromat after work today. I absolutely loath that place. One of these days I'll get to work on my laundry room and then I can get machines of my own. I'll make that a priority this month.

Okay hope everyone has a good day.

 

You guys are all missing probably *THE* biggest part about the Inspector Gadget cartoon... he was voiced by none other than Don Adams, of "Get Smart" fame.

 

And, Jim Backus (Thurston Howell III - Gilligan's Island) did the voice of Mr. Magoo.

 

Which brings up the question Ginger/or Mary Ann

 

Any of y'all recall Dobie Gillis (Dwayne Hickman) who played the beatnik Maynard G. Krebs between 1962 - 1963? I was 10 yrs. old but I knew he was trying to get into Tuesday Weld's pants. And, talk about a gal who dated & married some really interesting people, Tuesday Weld was hot.

 

Mary Ann (Dawn Wells)

 

Worth a squirt...(Tuesday Weld)

 

And, maybe the ultimate amazing thing about the vast majority of popular cartoons, Mel Blanc was the voice of almost every popular character.

 

Definitely, Mary Ann!

 

Good morning guys,

Wow, I can't believe it's February 1st, but glad we're progressing towards Spring! I must have been tired because I slept in until almost 0830, very late for me! Wife even beat me out of bed which never happens, but only because she wanted to watch Court TV which is showing the trial of that Alex Murdaugh guy in South Carolina that allegedly murdered his Wife and Son.

It's still very cold this morning, only up to 20° at 1000, but sunny out. No big plans for today.

Hope everyone has a great day!

 

Fun facts to make you feel old (or young?):
Jim Backus who played Thurston Howell was only 51 when the series started. Natalie Shafer who played his wife, Lovey, was 64! She was a cougar apparently.

I am Team Mary Ann, btw.

 

Both at once?

 

 

Norm - Are those Craisins on the salad?

 

 

I've had my fill of courtrooms.

 

Yep, "Craisins", dehydrated cranberries! You've got to make oatmeal cookies with those in them some day. The oatmeal cookies my wife makes with those in them are tied for my favorite cookie with her Chocolate Chips.

 

I never cared for the word "craisin", since it isn't a word but instead a portmanteau invented by Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. Add to the fact I'm inclined to think more like a botanist than a business monger, I actually prefer to call them for what they are - (dehydrated) cranberries. To each their own, but they're not even closely related to a grape.

 

I always knew they were dehydrated cranberries and thought the nickname was kinda catchy! To each their own, that's what makes the world go round! I think we both agree they're delicious in many recipes!