I'm starting to dislike this time of year...

First of all, when I started this blog, I promised myself I would do my best to keep it from being emo. I love to complain, but that was not the purpose of why I began writing here. However, sometimes a few boundaries need to be temporarily forgotten. I apologize in advance.

I really am not a fan of spring. Granted, the slightly warmer weather is nice, when there actually is some, but it's usually coupled with rain and mud, both of which end up on the floor. When I mop it up, it returns a day later. Maybe the floor generates mud - I knew something wasn't right!

Also, it's tax time. I wasn't approaching this tax season with a sense of foreboding, as last year we pulled a near $1000 refund.

This year, we owed almost that much.

Imagine my surprise, and sinking hope. Apparently, in the state of PA, the state gets approximately 25% of a small businesses income, unless you claim losses.

We managed to claim some losses from the business and have the interest payout on student loans cover some more, so the federal tax that we owed is taken care of, but we still owe state and local tax.

We're struggling to pay the last month in rent. Now we owe more money to more places. Those economic stimulus checks can't come fast enough (if they show up at all). Granted, I'm sure we'll get taxed on those next year too - just more stuff to have to pay for.

I think I've learned my lesson - don't rely on a tax refund, chances are, one won't be incoming if you do.

Mmmm...cake....

I hate American Idol. But I absolutely love Edy's Take the Cake flavor.

Yellow cake flavored light ice cream with frosting swirl and multicolored sprinkles.

Seriously. This is some of the best ice cream I've ever had, and much more affordable than Coldstone Creamery. And it was voted as the best flavor, so hopefully it will be around for a long, long time.

It's also one of the reasons I'm overweight. But that is besides the wonderfully delicious point.

The Lost Baldwin...

I've been replaying Final Fantasy X (please, don't ask me why. Soooooo boooored.), and this has been bugging me quite a bit, so I thought I would share my theory with the world.

Click for larger view

Removed glasses for more proof!

Auron...overpowered yet pain in the ass party member...or....lost Baldwin brother? I think my images speaks for itself.

Willpower, or eating the last cupcake while no one else is looking...

In response to my husband's post here, I have the following to say:

Whether he chose to undertake quitting smoking cold turkey due to our lack of cash or some other personal goal, I haven't a clue. I have a feeling it's the former. He's secretive about these things. I don't even bother asking anymore, because he just flashes me that maddening smile of his and goes back to whatever previous activity he's partaking in.

I'm certainly not making the smokeless crusade any easier. For one, being jobless as I currently am, the lack of cash inflow is directly my fault. For the past month he's shouldered the responsibility of making ends meet. And done well enough, given the thousand pound lemons that life has handed us these past few weeks. For another, I am constantly reminding him that it was HIS choice to stop smoking, and that if it were up to me he'd have a cigarette between his lips at this very moment. If we only had the money to buy a pack of cigarettes that is. Yeah, I'm a bitch.

The combination of the stress life has dumped on us and the amazing amount of patience it takes to live with someone like me, I'm a little frightened he's going to explode any second. Not in the spousal fury kind of way, more in a disintegrating from all existence kind of way.

He's made it six days now, which is impressive sheerly due to the fact that he's rarely in the company of someone who's not smoking. If I had his willpower, I would be at least a size 4. I mean, if everyone else is eating a cupcake, it's obviously implied that I should be eating one too.

Anyways, I guess all I can do is try to make sure all the open cigarette packs aren't left lying around, hole myself up in a room with him while others are smoking and try and keep him entertained, and work at keeping Limp Bizkit off the playlist. Because no one should have to suffer though my horrible taste in music, especially if they're trying to quit smoking.

Happy St. Patricks Day

Happy St. Patrick's Day, everyone. How did you spend your day/previous night/entire weekend?

I usually avoid any St. Patrick's day celebrations - I'm hardly a partier by any means, and when I do party, it's pretty low key. (Give me two drinks and I'm drunk or asleep.) Likewise, Pittsburgh itself on days of boisterous celebration feels hostile to me. Maybe it's my aversion to drunks when I myself am not drunk. Maybe it's because I'm an anti-social twit. Either way, I stay far away from places of celebration on days like this.

Or course, I didn't have much choice this year anyways, being as we have relocated (or are slowly relocating I should say) back to Greene County. The seemingly ultimate of all failures, we are in the process of moving back in with my parents where we will stay until we are back on our feet (read: Lessen our outstanding debt and are able to survive on our own without drowning in bills). We're here most of the time now, and only visit Pittsburgh when we have the gas money to see our friends, which recently has not been happening.

So, on this fine, chilly St. Patrick's Day, I spent my day job searching and doing laundry. I hope your celebrations, today or this past weekend, were not as tame as mine.

I hope you this recent bit of artwork, which was initially inspired by the thought of this holiday.