The Tax Man

 I just got done sending in our tax forms for last year. I don't normally wait this late, but instead of a refund, we had to pay extra, and I had to make sure I could cobble together the money to pay the bill. I finally got the money pulled together, and sat down with my computer to get the forms efiled.

It didn't go as smoothly as I'd hoped.

First, the tax program kept sending me into a loop, having me double- and triple-check information I had already double- and triple-checked before today. After answering the same questions for the 4th time, I finally found a way to get it to move on to prepare the document for efiling.

Then, because we didn't use this tax program last year, I had to prove that we are who we are. It was about that time that the overcast skies opened up and threw a bunch of water and thunder and lightning all over the place. In order to read the information on our driver's licenses, I had to turn on a light AND get out a magnifying glass to work with my 'cheater' glasses so I could put that information into the computer. I sat there chaffing at each little delay, yelling at my computer to hurry up because there was no telling if the next lightning bolt might disrupt our power.

Luckily, power was not disrupted, and at approximately the same time as I finally got the forms ready to go, and provided our bank information so they could debit our checking account for what we owed, the storm abated. Whew!

So, that's done, at least for another 9 months, when I get to start the process all over again. Until then, I get to move on to other things on my To Do list. Hmm. Like filing my quarterly state sales tax report.

This Week

I've had a relatively calm, work-on-your-projects type of week. Mainly, I've been editing, formatting, writing, and working on a new website for a new marketing campaign. I like writing and editing; I think they're fun. Formatting is... okay. It's not the pits, but it's not exhilarating, either.

The worst has been the building a new website. While it came pretty much pre-built, with the anticipation I would personalize it to suit myself, even that much has not been easy. I've been at it about 4 weeks now, and I'm still not done.

It's built using WordPress. I do not know WordPress. I have watched all the 'help' videos that came as part of the support package, and I have reached the point where what I'm trying to do isn't covered by those videos. I can flounder around for hours trying to find the secret location to insert a button's link, or place to upload an e-book file. And still not find it.

Don't get me wrong, the support people have been wonderful. All I have to do is tell them that I can't get a picture in the position I want it, or a link takes me to the wrong place, and they will fix it for me. I feel stupid writing them 2 emails a day listing the things I've managed to flub up that day, but they fix it cheerfully. Unless it's a weekend. They don't work on weekends. I'm so jealous of that.

I thought I would at least be nearing the end of building this website by now, and it sounds like I am. All I have left is to input the links to 2 buttons and upload the ebook files for 6 books. Oh, but that's 5 formats for each of those 6 books. It could take me another month to get it all done. {No, it won't, I just did one book, and it wasn't that hard.}

And that's just for the books by John Shoberg. He has the most books published, so we're concentrating on getting the website up and running for his books. Later, we'll add books by Trudy Myers and Linda Joy. And then, of course, every time we publish a new book, we'll have to update the website.

It really is a never-ending job.

Oh, we did take a couple evenings to tear apart a Darth Vader costume. The pleather we had used to make the body suit had begun to seriously deteriorate, so we tore out the seams of the body suit to use the pieces as a pattern. This is the 3rd time we've rebuilt this costume, I think. We're going to use real leather this time, see if it lasts longer.