Decided to be a responsible citizen and handle my tax return early this year. That was regrettable. Ignorance, as it turned out, was comparatively blissful.
Also, there is no worse place to find yourself, in the first empty minutes after waving goodbye to a wad of money, than Rossville Boulevard. I found myself staring at the Check into Cash and title pawn shops, realizing that there is an increasingly fine line separating me from that level of degredation.
****
Speaking of which, if you're not reading the Pulse Blog, you should be: Bill has some striking opinions on the Terry Schiavo case, while I offer some nearly unintelligible twaddle about Updike and Kierkegaard.
Posted by mesh at March 23, 2005 05:27 PM | TrackBackHello Mr. Mesh. I'm sorry this is late but Happy Brithday friend.
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Posted by: Pablo at March 24, 2005 08:39 AMhey,
i guess i missed your bday too. hope it rocked.
and concerning your tax problems, here is the solution. find someone....anyone who will marry you. that is a good thing on taxes. want to take it to the next level? have a kid.
consider this: jess and i paid something like $700 a couple years ago when tax time rolled around. now that esther has been born, we're getting more than double or triple that amount back.
so that is your tip of the day. www.matchmaker.com
Posted by: daniel brantley at March 24, 2005 11:43 AMThanks for the insight, Daniel. I knew I was missing something in my life. Turns out it was a companionable tax shelter.
My birthday, I feel the need to clarify, is May 22. Still plenty of time left to decide how to celebrate my existence.
Posted by: mesh at March 24, 2005 02:08 PMD'OH!
::bonk on the head::
Sorry Mesh I musta just thought since the month starts with M...I didn't figure you'd give us such advanced warning. Believe me I'd forget by then.
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Posted by: Pablo at March 24, 2005 10:54 PMOkay, Mesh, let me offer this on the tax thing. The audit-targets are usually those who file early, ergo you. I've been told, and I guess my record could stand in for exhibit A, that filing late (with an extension) avoids the audit police. I know that filing late does not relieve you of payment, but then you probably have not yet staked your claim in the American Tax-Cut Dream--namely a $1,000 month mortgage and two little kiddies running around in diapers.
Posted by: Bailes at March 25, 2005 08:05 AMI'm not convinced yet about the marriage/children thing. What am I doing wrong? I got married and bought a house in 2002..had a child in 2004..we each have student loan payments..I've never adjusted my witholding from when I was single..
I haven't filed yet for '04 but I've done preliminary figuring, and we may get a slight refund.
And what's with the medical payment threshold? I can't even tell for sure yet if Schedule A will squeak by Standard.
Posted by: joe at March 26, 2005 10:50 AMJoe (& Mesh),
I thought these sample scenarios at ALLlaw.com were pretty helpful in showing how buying into the AmericaandDebtandBurdenDream could lower federal taxes: Click Scenarios.
Posted by: Bailes at March 26, 2005 07:23 PMMesh,
Do you realize that we are both Taurus'? (mine is April 20) What could/ does this reveal about us, our hopes and dreams and our seemingly parallel lives?
hey mesh, if you read this write me with your reading recommendations and address. we'll see you again soon.
Posted by: ari at May 10, 2005 01:13 PMMesh, let me be the first to blog you happy birthday on the actual day of your birth. Based on the recent frequency of your posts here, you won't be reading this until July, but nevertheless: happy birthday. Wish I could celebrate with ya'll. I shall douse the ground with a libation in your honor.
Posted by: dp at May 22, 2005 03:59 AMHappy late Birthday!! Sorry we are in Africa and couldn't celebrate your existence with you this week!!
Posted by: tim and ari at May 25, 2005 04:09 AM