I just completed our tax returns this afternoon setting a new personal best for earliest filing (a solid three weeks prior to the deadline, which is approximately three weeks earlier than my previous best). After submitting my return TaxAct.com gave me a neat little breakdown of how my tax money was spent this past year. As follows…

National Defense
$1,215.00

Veterans and Foreign Affairs
$243.00

Medicaid, Food Stamps, and Related Programs
$851.00

Unemployment and Social Services
$365.00

Social Security, Medicare, and Other Retirement
$2,248.00

Interest Payments
$425.00

Law Enforcement and General Government
$122.00

Physical, Human, and Community Development
$608.00

Now, I am not a wealthy man by any stretch. I mean I do fine. My debts are paid. I live simply and comfortably and am generally content with the things I own. But boy oh boy I sure wouldn’t mind not spending a thousand bucks to fund someone else’s lack of employment. Of course I’m not too keen on twelve hundred dollars going toward spinning tires in the Middle East either.

…

The neighbors next door acquired a couple of pit bull puppies this spring. They have been insistently and passionately dismantling the dirt beneath the fence that separates our two yards. It’s cool though. It’s fun to watch the little one interact (clubbed in the head by massive paws) with our dogs when she squeezes under the fence.

Five of my last seven birthdays have been spent not at home. That’s been a surprisingly solid run. Two birthdays in Florida during spring break in college. Then, one in Africa. One in California. And one in Peru. A combination partly of timing with the spring break thing and partly with the generosity of airlines handing out flight vouchers (that seem to only get used at the very last minute – ie, March). I also had a flight booked into Vegas during one birthday week during that seven year stretch, but couldn’t find anyone willing or able to make the trip and ended up staying put in GR. That would’ve been nearly Lance Armstrong status, given that trip.

Oh well, at least this year I have thunderstorms and a full day of work to look forward to.

Happy Pi Day everyone!

Well, we’ve had two straight days of reasonably lovely weather here in GR. Upper fifties, low sixties. Nothing spectacular, but at least the snow is nearly melted in the backyard. Windows are open again. Warm enough to wear shorts and sandals to work yesterday. Still waiting on the ice shelf to melt out on Lake Michigan though. A little bit of rain with a nice easterly wind will take care of that in short order. Actually it was raining/hailing when I came back from the gym tonight so we should be getting closer. Can’t come soon enough for me though as I am absolutely itching to get back on a wave (even if it’s a lake wave for the moment).

Speaking of waves, I’ve been seriously toying with the idea of purchasing a small plot of land in Nicaragua near the ocean. I say toying, because for the moment Mary is less than enthused about the idea. It’s not super cheap, but we could definitely swing it, and in terms of ocean view property near a quality surf break, you really won’t find much cheaper. Even if it is a third world country that only recently established some semblance of stability.

Oh, I also want to buy a house that looks like a barn Philomath, Oregon and a new bike. And while we’re at it, I wouldn’t mind a trip around the world, please.

You know, normally I’m all for a good Meijer brand product. I like their baked chips as much as baked Doritos. They make yogurt that tastes just like Dannon. And really how much difference is there between Meijer paper towel and Bounty? So I few weeks back I was in the market for a new pair of running shoes given the havoc that twice-a-week basketball games have wreaked on my old New Balances and while wandering through Meijer I happened to notice a pair of MTA Pro running shoes for like $16. So I was like, “What the heck, the Meijer chips are good, so I’m sure these beauties will hold up just fine.”

A day later the air pocket on the heel had collapsed and some stitching had already worked loose. I don’t know where Meijer outsourced their shoe manufacturing division, but I imagine it’s not a shiny new factory in Germany operating under the latest advances in efficiency.

Anyway, a couple days ago the dogs finished off the work that poor product design couldn’t. Lesson learned.

And then there are days that make owning dogs completely worthwhile. As I sat here in the bedroom tonight amid a swirl of robust dog flatulence, Nora walked in from the kitchen where she had been eating, jumped up on the bed, and promptly puked up the recently consumed dog food onto the sheets near my feet. She hesitated briefly to hack and sputter, licked her chops, looked up at me, then proceeded to re-consume the disgusting goo. Then she hopped off the bed leaving a film of saliva and dog food flecks behind. Moments later she returned to whimper and claw at my face so that I would be alerted that it was time to stumble down to the freezing cold basement so that she could be let outside to pee and bark at things. Man’s best friend.