It's been a little Hectic with Taxes, Birthdays and Traffic, Oh My!

So, my January is shaping up to be the busiest month I've had in a while. Let's see, I started off the month by volunteering my time at the VITA/TCE tax specialist program. It sounded like a great idea when I signed up and sounded even better when I realized I would get two weeks out of work to learn about specific tax policy that impacts my co-workers. I even convinced my work B.F.F. Kelly to join in with me because as long as you've got a buddy it can't be that bad right? Wrong. So the class was taught by actual IRS employee's, I'm talking about 18 plus years of service, but every time we would ask a question they would stare at us. It's not like they stared and then answered like we were idiots, they pretended like they never heard the question because they had no idea what the answer could possibly be. For anyone who is currently unemployed, I suggest checking out the internal revenue service because they obviously don't require much experience. After two weeks I have learned the difference between refundable and non-refundable credits, deductions, itemization's, IRS and additional taxes. I have also learned that my tax guy (yes, I have one and no he doesn't come from H&R block!) has been screwing me for years! The most important lesson I've learned is that everyone should take a tax class if you want to learn what you are entitled to otherwise the IRS is going to take you for everything you are worth. The classes were so bad I dreamed about taxes for 3 days in a row. Do you know how sad it is to crunch numbers in your sleep! I like to dream about things like David Beckham and a new purse not making sure someone has declared their interest on a CD by using a 1099INT form.Sigh.

To make matters worse, the whole entire week has been plague with temperatures in the teens. You know the kind of temperature that makes you tear up on contact. I called my friend back in California only to be told she was enjoying 80 degree days and had not only been to the beach twice but had accomplished a tan!!!!!!!! This girl was vampire white when I saw her last month and now she is a golden shade of brown. I woke up last week to a layer of frost on my car and ground which gave me flashbacks to my slip from last winter.

Traffic has been crazy the last few days due to the inauguration. I've camped out in my house for the last day for fear of getting stuck on the 495 for hours. On a happier note, I did get Tuesday off because of the perpetual parking lot that is the DC area freeway system.The future in-laws (The sane ones) came down for the weekend. That was awesome. They came bringing makeup xmas gifts that filled up my entire living room. They are so thoughtful it is insane. Chaz and I got all new winter running gear and Doc got a basket full of kitchen appliances. Destructo got a cache of awesome toys I have never before seen in my life.He has spent the past 2 day tinkering with his new play things. The future in-laws in return received authentic Harley Davidson pictures to hang on in their new downstairs bar. These people love Harley Davidson, so much so that every time they come down we spend the weekend visiting different Harley shops in the area (never the same, I hear its a big Harley thing). I thought I was slick this time because I worked on Friday and they came in on Thursday. They called while I was in class to ask about a spare key for the door so I assumed they were well on their way to a shop but when I walked in the door they were home and waiting for me to join them. Wamp Wamp!

I also had a chance to work on invites for Destructo's B-day. I found an awesome place in DC that entertains children from 1-5 years old which is great. Now all of my friends can bring their kids and not have to worry about them being bored. It's a little pricey but I love it. Let's face it, there's no way I would be able to entertain 15 kids for two hours! I'm a firm believer in paying someone who can. Besides its his first birthday so I have to. Which leads me to his awesome birthday card I made on snapfish. Maybe not that awesome, but anything with his face on it makes my heart swoon (I'm such a Mommy and yes I will excuse you while you gag!). So without further ado, may I present to you parts of Destructo's B-day Invite:

I know its way blurry. This isn't the actual card but a copy of the last draft I saved before ordering it. They turned out really awesome and now I just need to deliver them.Well I hope everyone else is having a great month and I promise to blog more diligently...Pinky Promise!

From the Land of Flannel Pajamas to the World of Morning Commutes

4 am wake up. 5 am departure.6am drop off to daycare. By 6:30 bums were in the seat while cups of coffee were snuggled and coveted. Conversations were had by old friends who had been missing from my life for what seemed like ages. Email was read and deleted because it was no longer pertinent. Witty banter was thrown across the cubicles like a riveting game of catch. Christmas trauma's were shared as secretly, lucky stars were thanked. Paychecks were earned as analysis was conducted and reports were written. Oh it feels good to be back in the land of adults.Until next time Christmas vacation.

NYE Run Results

Hey Cosmo, how was your NYE run? Well glad you asked. Hands down the worst run I've ever done. How? you ask. Well lets see, when I woke up in the morning it was 45-50ish degrees (the day before was close to 60).Great temp for a run right?By time 4pm rolled around the temp had dropped to 34 and continued to decline. Living in this area, I have run in colder but this time the temperature came back with a friend. Meet Mr. Wind. Mr. Wind carried a punch of 35-50 miles per hour and terrorized the local area with downed trees, powerlines and anything else he could knock over and bully. Doctor Doctor checked the racing web page and even though there was a down powerline in the middle of the course, the powers that be (greed) decided the race must go on.

At six o'clock we left the house. I double checked this list of things for Destructo:Jogging stroller-check, wind protective covering-check, Snow suit-check, Bottle and diapers-check. Everyone had on their traditional race gear. Chaz wore his Firefighting jacket (don't ask), I wore my fuchsia fleece jacket an doc wore her matching electric blue jacket. This is the only way we can find each other during the race or at the end.

As soon as we park and step outside, the wind hits us. Mr. Wind obliterates my fleece and goes straight for the heart. His buddy cold follows close behind. My poor uncovered hands never had a chance.They only suffered for a few seconds before I lost all feeling in my fingers. I scramble to the trunk to look in my backup closet and then it dawned on me. Due to unfair pressure to conform and clean (Chaz, Doc) my trunk was completely empty except for my jogging stroller. I silently cursed them (maybe not so silent). We all scrambled to switch accessories in a moment of true family bonding. Chaz wore my pink gloves (he'd forgotten his), I wore Doc's heavy winter coat (she took pitty on me) and she double layered by wearing my fuchsia jacket under hers. I personally wanted to get back in the car but then I realized I wouldn't be able to redeem my nike hoodie unless I crossed the finish line.By that time the temp had dropped to 28.

Since the original course was unfit to run they altered it to four huge (mile-ish)laps around the heart of downtown. Chaz and I started off in the back because of the stroller and zig-zagged diligently to make up time and reclaim our rightful spots towards the front. First off, it took over a lap to pass all of the walkers which tells me they lined up in the front. The powers that be (at greed) weren't prepared to close both lanes of traffic so only one was completely shut down. I can now say I know what it feels like to be herded like a cow. The wind blew so hard at times my shoe was thrown into my other ankle (ooowww). By lap three Chaz and the baby committed mutiny and stopped mid-race (fine). We tried to get the baby out of the stroller but since our hands were frozen and it was dark, it was nearly impossible. 5 minutes later I was back on track..... with the jogging stroller. Don't ask me why he didn't take it with him, I don't know delirium from the cold! People do stupid things when it's cold! The wind was so bad at that point everyone was at a stand-still. There was actually a point were I could do nothing but try to keep my footing until the gust of wind passed. I spent the majority of lap three making up for lost time and hiding my face as people stared at the girl with the empty stroller. That's when I realized they had opened the finish line and everyone was running in. Under normal circumstances ok, but not today. 95% of the people were unaware of the fact that you had to do 4 laps so they were coming in with the gazelles. Look if you power walked the whole time, there's noway you did 4 miles in 25 minutes. Being the honest person that I am (I so wanted to quit but I thought it would be too obvious!) I pushed my stroller for another lap. I promptly gave everyone else stank eye as they lied to themselves and came in a lap early. By time I finished the line to the sweatshirt was out the door. I continued to push my stroller into line. I actually had someone tell me my baby was really quiet as she looked in to see emptiness. It was really awkward! I finally picked up my sweatshirt and walked back to the car with Doc. On a funnier note, it was really funny watching Doc cry over the prospect of frost-bitten fingers(don't worry I knew they weren't). The fear in her voice was priceless!I think I almost peed myself. I know, I'm a mean sister!