I never understood why people got excited about a massive refund. If you get $6,000 back, it means the government got to hold onto $500 per month. Even if you're not a big investment person, it likely would have made things a little nicer each month. On the other hand, I guess some people like the Spring Splurge, or don't think they could do more with the money during the year. Still, you're letting the government hold on to your money for a year rather than being able to do something with it yourself. I always aim for a zero return.
There is a continuing education tax credit that is $2000 added to whatever your refund is that I've gotten for the last 2+ years I was in grad school. That always makes me happy.
Pretty decent skiing up at Tremblant so far this weekend. Whee! Also I'm off to visit a friend in Montreal this week. And then back to Toronto for Easter this weekend because, well, fuck, you can't miss Easter in a big Catholic family, right? Working my way through some 9% beer right now. Holy fuck. And I have a big ass bottle of La Fin du Monde waiting for me as well. Nice.
Can we all collectively agree to stop with The Color Run bullshit? Stop trying so fucking hard to be happy. Your life does not carry any meaning because you listened to some techno and got Peter North'ed by some guy with a pink paint can. You are not celebrating individuality by showing up somewhere with thousands of other folks all wearing the same color only to run the same gauntlet of unicorn shit so that you end the day looking like the star players of an acid trip dream.
I kind of feel the same way but at S-1 on my W-4 I get about a $1100-1300 state/federal combined refund, but at S-2 I end up owing money - and I'd rather get money back than have to cut a check, especially since I'm not always diligent about getting my return in on time.
Hey, I really appreciate the themed 5k runs that have been popping up lately, Color Run included. I fucking hate running, so anything that makes it more interesting than me + road + iPod is welcome news to me. Dress up like a zombie and chase me, throw paint on me, tie my wrist to another person, whatever. I like it.
To: The world at large From: Gravitas Re: Happiness Happiness is now on hold because I'm grumpy and should change my avatar to a picture of Clint Eastwood with rabies. Fuck you for trying to be optimistic and improve yourself rah rah ANGRY HULK SMASH. Now to make this post self-contradictory (and because I've been listening to Jar of Flies and it is so. fucking. good.)
Fair enough. But just to be clear I don't begrudge people for going running or improving themselves. That's great. I begrudge people who have to let the world know that they are running. There could be a slight difference there, or I could just be a cynical asshole who needs a hug. But you won't catch me paying $40 to go do that. So I guess you can say that I'm a cheap, cynical, asshole who needs a hug.
Thanks. I feel better already. I just looked at a picture of a smiling toddler and felt no emotion instead of my usual overwhelming urge to curse at it and write a diatribe about how unfair life is. In running news, I think my little brother and I may have just decided to run with the bulls in Pamploma this summer. I'm not sure if we are being serious or not.
Make it a tomato. When in Rome and all. Or you could just buy me a beer or 10 after I get gored. That would be cool too.
Man, this board has gotten a bit kinkier since I last visited regularly. Leave it to one dirty Aussie to make everyone jaded, and now nobody on TiB can get off without a pint of hot candle wax and a belt sander.