In past years I couldn’t believe how many people waited until the last minute to do their taxes. Invariably, every year on the evening news of April 15th (tax deadline here in the U.S.), the big story would be the lines of people at the post office, mailing their tax returns at the last minute. When I worked at the public library I was amazed by the number of people we would get the last few days before tax day, frantically searching for the tax forms they needed.
Tag Archives: Life
Designing in my sleep
I’ve been creating and working with websites for about the past 8 years or so. Most recently, I started the first stages of designing a site for the library where I work.
Last night, I had my first web design dream. In fact, I had a small web design revelation last night — while I was sleeping. In my dream, I was working on the library website and I came up with what I think is a pretty good design idea. It wasn’t a big idea, just one for a particular aspect of the design. Is it conceited to be impressed with an idea your subconscious came up with?
Dreaming is something that I very much enjoy doing. Quite often, I find the experience similar to watching a really good movie. Be it conceited or not, the idea I had last night was a good one and I got a kick out of dreaming it into existence.
Good day sunshine
What a pleasure it was to see the sun shining in Madison after about a week or so of cloudy, overcast (and sometimes snowy) weather. It’s during this time of the year when I can understand how people can become depressed and suffer from things like seasonal affective disorder. During these months (late February, early March) I always feel like my batteries are in serious need of recharging. On days like today I genuinely get an emotional lift from the sun shine.
Midwinter ponderings
There are a few things I’ve been pondering lately.
- Why does a meager two-inch overnight snowfall cause massive traffic jams during the morning commute in Madison?
- Bob Marley would have turned 60 years old a few days ago, were he still alive. Way back in the late 1970’s, his music served as my introduction to reggae music. I wonder how my music collection (and my fondness for reggae and other world music) would be different if Bob Marley hadn’t been around.
- Is it feed a cold, or starve a cold? With all the liquids I’ve been drinking (and subsequent bathroom visits) I’ve decided it should be drown a cold.
- Using Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft FrontPage at work only reinforces my dislike of Microsoft products. At least I’m able to use Firefox there.
- What are Asian beetles doing in North America? More importantly, what are they doing in my attic? Hopefully they aren’t inviting the African, Australian and the South American beetles to come over too.
Thanksgiving thoughts
Since yesterday was Thanksgiving Day here in the United States, I thought it might be good to post some things I’ve been thankful for recently.
- The exciting opportunity of a new job.
- Being supported by family and friends.
- The beauty of the natural world.
- The opportunity to travel.
- Music and all of its charms.
Get the grump out
Wouldn’t the world be a whole lot better if people just wouldn’t be grumpy? That might be asking a lot for some, so how about just one day? Surely you can be pleasant for one day. Okay, you’re thinking, I can try (and don’t call me Shirley).
That’s the premise of the third annual Great American Grump Out next Wednesday. For 24 hours on May 26, people are urged to abstain from being grumpy or crabby. Can YOU meet the challenge?
Who do you trust?
A recent visit to a new auto mechanic (for an expensive repair) got me thinking about trust. How do you decide to trust someone? Once you get to know a person that decision does get easier, but what about the people you’re unfamiliar with, or those you are unable to get to know? There are a lot of people in our lives we must trust, even though we have very limited information about them. Having to decide if the car mechanic is trying to rip you off, if your doctor is the best qualified to treat you or if a certain politician is the best leader can be very difficult.
Always look on the bright side
I generally think of myself as a positive person. Although lately I’ve found myself giving things a bit of a negative spin. It is so easy to get sucked into that deep pit of negativity. At first you let some little thing make you grumpy, then another and the next thing you know you’re grumpy at the whole world. When you have that negative attitude, you begin to see everything that happens to you in a bad light. I’ve known people that always seem to look to the negative. If they find twenty dollars, they’ll complain because they really needed the extra money last week. If you make a comment about how nice the weather is, they will tell you it’s supposed to rain tomorrow. Even worse is the fact that negativity can also be contagious. Hang around negative people long enough and you start to be negative yourself.
Daylight again
Today while I drove home from work I saw the most beautiful sunset. The sun was just above the horizon and was shining with a gorgeous, golden-orange hue. It’s great to see the sun after I get out of work again. The worst part of winter for me is when my workday ends at 5pm and night has already brought its dark shadow upon the landscape. Seeing the sunset today reminded me that I made it through the darkest period of winter. Another month or two and I can start thinking about real important matters — like where to take my first camping trip of the year.
Random thoughts
Here’s a few random thoughts that have been on my mind lately — some are important in the grand scheme of things, some aren’t. I’ll leave you to decide which is which.
America the Beautiful should be the national anthem of the U.S.A.
With the recall election mess currently going on in California, I’m grateful I live elsewhere. I only hope the Wisconsin legislature looking at tax freezes and budget cuts here realize why things in California are such a mess right now.
Is French Toast really French? More importantly, who wants to make French Toast for me tomorrow morning?
How can President Bush call it the “Clear Skies” plan when it actually allows more pollutants and greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere?
When the blacktop sealer they just put on your driveway is curing, it is very stinky.