So tomorrow is the deadline to file taxes. In our case, it also means sending in a big fat check. It doesn't matter that we paid the highest possible withholding all year. We still owe more. Now, we live a modest life. I am a teacher and my husband is an engineer. Our income isn't even in the neighborhood of that magical $250,000 that everyone talks so much about. We live in an unpretentious, 25 yr. old home and I drive a 13 yr. old Camry. We have some nice 'toys', but we aren't extravagant and we WORKED & EARNED all we have. We have always paid our bills, saved, educated our children and taught them to be self reliant. We believe in personal responsibility. We understand that paying taxes is one of our obligations as citizens...but not 28% of our income. Yes, 28%! And today I read that the average ultra rich pay only 17%...what?!?!? How does that work?!?!? I know how it works and it stinks! Then there are those who count on
public assistance as their main substance and they get a
refund!?!?! even though they haven't earned or paid in a dime into the system and may not even be in our country legally. What the....!!! Our government is messed up and I am so sick of it! And the icing on the cake is that we don't have any say in how the money is
spent wasted. Check out this
article, it's appalling to see it in print. Every politician claims that education is important, yet less than 3% of our tax dollars are spent on education. We spend more keeping down a huge segment of our population with public programs...welfare, Medicaid, public housing...I call it modern slavery, which surely isn't politically correct. So what?...the truth hurts. I believe it's time for some 'teach a man to fish...'. How will the US sustain this? Why would anyone want to stay on our current collision course? The values and priorities of the government are certainly different than mine. Thanks for letting me rant....wish it had made me feel better. My apologizes if my comments have offended anyone.
It's finally Spring Break and I'm busy making some fun stuff...bikini bags with animals instead of bikinis, koozies for a girl's beach trip....Hmmm, a beach trip would be fun! Actually, just being at home and working in the Basement is my favorite vacation!
This is the dress that College Daughter worn on the first day of school when she entered 1st grade....hand-smocked by me with soooo much love....she was precious! Still is. Today she came home and we worked on addressing college graduation announcements and decorating the top of her mortarboard (a tradition at UNC-C). Such a fun day, yet so bittersweet. Where have the years gone? My adorable, toothless 1st grader is a soon-to-be college honor graduate. (By the way, she needs a job, if anyone out there knows of something in the Public Health field please let us know!) I feel old.
Picked up these nifty little frozen pouches at the grocery store this afternoon. Have you tried them? Yummy and Oh-so-easy!...no measuring, no blender, no mess...such a treat! Hopefully it'll sweeten me up a little or at least I'll get a good nights sleep! 
graham crackers with crunchy peanut butter...how's that for healthy eating?!?! Guess I'll start that diet tomorrow...actually Monday is usually a better start day for me. Gracious! someone just shoot me! Enjoy your Saturday!
