It Takes Me Back

Today I was instantly transported to my old best friend's basement when we were 13. I heard a song I haven't heard in years and it splashed me back down to 1997. The song is highly embarrassing but it's "Invisible Man" by 98 Degrees. Yes, my friend and I liked them and loved that cheesy song. We even tried to get to the Barnes and Noble when they were in Denver but alas, we couldn't rollerblade that far.

So much has changed in the 12-13 years since then. I'm not even friends with her anymore which in some ways makes my heart a little sad. We both had our reasons for going our separate ways and maybe in a way it's a good thing. I still miss her and think of her and worry for her though.

But for four minutes and 41 seconds, I was transport back to that basement, to a time and place that was much simpler.

Thanks Cheesy Radio Station for playing that song during a day I needed a little break from reality.

I'm On the Hunt

I need a new mp3 player. The hubs got me one about 4 1/2 years ago when I was flying to Florida to help move my sister out there. He knows how nervous I am when I fly and he wanted to get me something that would help me take my mind off being 30,000 feet in the air in a tin can that can be taken down by a flock of friggin' geese.

Color me surprised that 4 1/2 years later it actually still works. Almost no piece of technology I've ever owned still worked correctly even 2 years after I bought it. However, in the past few months I've taken up running. Yes, I know. I used to only run when chased; now I actually do it for fun. It's freeing and I love being outside with the wind in my hair, trying not to die as I round the corner and stumble over my own two feet.

The mp3 player I have now doesn't have an armband and I'm sick of having to carry it in one hand. I want something that will either fit in an armband or clip on to me. I think I've narrowed it down to a SanDisk Sansa Clip. All together..."say what now?"

This little beauty, in blue :) It's smaller than the palm of your hand, has a clip on the back for..well..clipping to things, and it's 2GB.

One might ask, "But why didn't you just get an ipod shuffle?" *Ahem* Brian. I refuse to conform to the man! Apple has gone quite far to intice people like me to buy an ipod shuffle. It's small, it comes in fun colors, it clips to your clothing, blah blah blah. To me, it's overpriced and Apple only let's you downloan specific things to it. I want an mp3 player that doesn't dictate where I can and can't get my music from.

Good try Apple. I refuse to be swayed by your fancy colors and cuteness!

The Evil Tax Man

I hate...let me repeat that...HATE tax season. I'm married with a home, a little retirement, no dependents. Basically, I should just about break even every year. However, I'm also a freelance writer and make some money doing that. It's not really enough to blip Uncle Sam's radar if I don't declare it but I'm an honest person so I do.

So apparently being honest really screws you. My hubby and I ended up paying the federal government $300 this year. Yes, I know that's better than thousands, but are you flippin' kidding me? I bust my ass all year with an hour and a half commute to a job so I can pay mortgage on my house and bills and a few luxuries I afford myself; we're already paying more in taxes for the SECOND $700 billion "stimulus"; Colorado just passed a law to add MORE taxes onto car registration; And you're telling me I owe the government MORE money??

I'm glad my $300 will go towards individuals who made bad decisions by buying a home when they couldn't afford it. I'm glad my $300 will go towards teaching kids how to live green in the midst of people losing their jobs by the tens of thousands, but at least we'll be green. I'm glad my $300 will go towards buying OTHER people out of their own greedy mistakes.