Friday, April 15, 2005

Tax Deadline

This is it folks, April 15th, a date each year that will live in infamy in the hearts of American's the world over.

I have really come to dread tax day. For the past 5 or 6 years, I've been behind in my taxes. I owe quite a little bit, due to my own fault of course. For several years I didn't have enough money withheld from my paycheck to cover the year's taxes. These last two years I would have gotten refunds, but the IRS kept the money to pay the back taxes, which actually is fine. This year, I think I'm finally back on track.

I remember an episode of "Little House on the Praire" where they were discussing the Federal Government, and the high taxes of, what... 1880? A fellow says the government was talking about taxing the money a man earns, and another fellow says, "tax my earnings? Over my dead body!!"

Sigh.

Anyway... I hope you filed you taxes on time. It's bad news if you don't. Trust me.

Faith In Action

Citrus Heights - Surprise makeover - sacbee.com

This is a great story. Heartwarming. Reminds me why Christianity is still a driving force in this world.

Said the pastor, Rev. Dan Roberts, "You can't just say you care about a community - you have to do it,".

I like that. That's the spirit of the faith that I have come to embrace.

Tuesday, April 12, 2005

Post-u-lates

I'm glad that last topic generated so much debate. I almost deleted it when I wrote it, thinking, naw.... this is stupid. The debate is one of the things I enjoy the most about blogging, so I'm glad that topic worked out.

I've been working a bit of OT lately, and actually, I'm pretty darn tired. I think I've discovered the secret to happiness in life, aside from my faith that is. Its sleep.

Yes, sleep.

I've been pulling some weeks lately where I only get 4-5 hours of sleep, for several nights in a row. It's my own fault, I know, but it happens. Seeing as how I wake up at 4:30am for work, it's hard to get a good night's sleep unless I go to bed at about 9pm, and with kids, that just ain't happening. But I'm finding, as I get...... gasp.... older, the sleep-loss takes a much heavier toll than it used to.

I used to work graveyard shift. Worked it for over 11 years, till about 3-1/2 years ago. I used to be able to come home on the Friday of my work week, stay up all day (who wants to sleep, now that it's the weekend?), and pull a 40 hour day, all awake, with ease. Now... I'm lucky if I make it to 10pm without being just dog tired.

I know it's just me getting a little older, and slowing down some. I'll be 41 next month, after all. And I know that's not OLD by any stretch, but I can sure appreciate that I'm not 21 anymore, ya know?

So, in honor of my new revelation.... I'm off to sleep. Tomorrow is a day off, and as is my custom on Wednesdays, I'm going to go have breakfast with my dad, drink coffee, and, with him, solve all the world's problems during the course of our two hour discussion.

I'll let ya know if the world survives.