Taxes and...

We got all our tax information together and made an appointment at H&R Block.  This is for the years 2009, 2010 and 2011.  It sounds bad but we're early for the 2011 returns.  The other two years we are thinking we don't owe on.  We'll see in a few days.  Every year when tax time comes around there is nothing but stories about the deadline.  Everyone is told what they must do and how bad they are to be procrastinators. The pressure builds(if you allow it) and most people break and(as in school) cram and get it done.  Often we just don't get it done.  Then we worry about consequences.  If you have a refund coming though, you aren't in bad shape.  I'm really glad to get caught up again though.  I am a true believer in a simplified, possibly flat tax, system.  As citizens we shouldn't be put under such stress and  we shouldn't have to hire someone to do our taxes.

It is a little disturbing to hear that almost half of the citizens of the U.S. don't pay income tax.  It seems that maybe the lowest rate should be about 10%. Just so you feel like you're participating.

The weather here has been warm and sunny most days.  We've been out raking and cleaning out beds two or three times already.  I pruned the grapes today.  No sign of hops above the soil yet.
 The weather puts one in a warm weather frame of mind.  We might visit the grand children this week end.  I haven't seen Gabe in a couple months.  That's too long.  

I'm looking forward to seeing how Michigan does in the NCAA Basketball Tournament.  That starts this week end also.  I don't have a bracket to fill out this year.  I'm not sure how much interest I have in any of the other teams.  

I cooked a pork tenderloin tonight with asparagus and sweet potato.  Brooke had bought it and thawed out the meat.  She was just too tired to cook though.  She overdid it working in the yard.
The meal was great.  Later, Ken.  
This Just in!!
Have you heard of SUD or SUDS. It's the Subjective Units of Distress Scale.
10 = Feels unbearably bad, beside yourself, out of control as in a nervous breakdown, overwhelmed, at the end of your rope. You may feel so upset that you don't want to talk because you can't imagine how anyone could possibly understand your agitation.
9 = Feeling desperate. What most people call a 10 is actually a 9. Feeling extremely freaked out to the point that it almost feels unbearable and you are getting scared of what you might do. Feeling very, very bad, losing control of your emotions.
8 = Freaking out. The beginning of alienation.
7 = Starting to freak out, on the edge of some definitely bad feelings. You can maintain control with difficulty.
6 = Feeling bad to the point that you begin to think something ought to be done about the way you feel.
5 = Moderately upset, uncomfortable. Unpleasant feelings are still manageable with some effort.
4 = Somewhat upset to the point that you cannot easily ignore an unpleasant thought. You can handle it OK but don't feel good.
3 = Mildly upset. Worried, bothered to the point that you notice it.
2 = A little bit upset, but not noticeable unless you took care to pay attention to your feelings and then realize, "yes" there is something bothering me.
1 = No acute distress and feeling basically good. If you took special effort you might feel something unpleasant but not much.
0 = Peace, serenity, total relief. No more anxiety of any kind about any particular issue.

Hope your SUD is hovering around zero.