Sometimes you gotta go bold

It may come as no surprise, but girls face many challenges that a guy will/would never even think is a challenge. One of those challenges occurs when we wake up and have to head to the closet to pick out an outfit for work. There are many factors that can hinder a girl from making this decision in the morning (i.e., what's the weather going to be today, is the boss in or out of the office, do I feel bloated and can't wear a particular outfit, is the cute guy in whatever department going to see me, what's going on after work, I think you get the idea as the list can go on forever).

This morning I faced this issue and had it resolved in all of 2.2 seconds when I decided to go BOLD. As I was flipping through my closet contemplating what to wear I decided to just do it. The thought that it is winter did cross my mind, but with the weather we have been having right now I figured why not.

It would take some confidence to pull it off, but without a doubt I was feeling it this morning and the thought of it just put a smile on my face. I knew it would draw attention to myself and I am not one that typically likes to do that, but hell everybody deserves that every now and again. I also had an inkling that it may just put a smile on others faces as well...yes, some of those smiles may be induced by laughter, but as I always say "laughter is the most important part of the day and if you weren't fortunate enough to laugh at least once during the day, then you had a very bad day!" and if they laughed I served a good purpose! :)

By now you are probably wondering just what I did in fact wear to work. I wish I had a picture to post b/c a pictures speaks louder than words, but since I don't I will just have to tell you...I went for the green pants. I am not talking about your ordinary winter green pants either, I am talking green so bold that one would wonder is it spring or St. Patrick's Day or is this girl just nuts? My thought was to just brighten up the day. In Boston and especially this time of year it is a sea of black, grey and khakis colored pants and I felt like brightening my life up a bit and the life of those around me.

In the end I did get looks of wonderment, joy and some hidden laughter, but I also got many smiles including the one on my own face that made it worth it! Now if it were only Friday it would be even that much better. ;)

Uncle Sam gives back...what?

I just received this email from my Uncle Brian and thought that I would share it with everyone...happy tax filing to you! Feel free to pass this on or make copies for family and friends who don't have computers. Click on the blog title for more information.

A SPECIAL ONE TIME TAX CREDIT ON YOUR 2006 TAX RETURN

When it comes time to prepare and file your 2006 tax return, make sure you don't overlook the federal excise tax refund credit. You claim the credit on line 71 of your form 1040. A similar line will be available if you file the short form 1040A.

What is this all about? Well the federal excise tax has been charged to you on your phone bill for years. It is an old tax that was assessed on your toll calls based on how far the call was being made and how much time you talked on that call.

The IRS has now conceded this is obsolete. Phone companies have been given notice to stop assessing the federal excise tax as of Aug 30, 2006.You will most likely see the tax on your September cutoff statement, but it should NOT be on your October bill.

But the challengers of the old law also demanded restitution. So the IRS has announced that a one time credit will be available when you and I file our 2006 tax return as I explained above. However, the IRS also established limits on how BIG a credit you can get. Here's how it works.

If you file your return as a single person with just you as a dependent, you get to claim a $30 credit on line 71 of your 1040.If you file with a child or a parent as your dependent, you claim $40.

If you file your return as a married couple with no children ,you claim$40.If you file as married with children, you claim $50 if one child, $60if two children.

In all cases, the most you get to claim is $60.

One final point - this credit is a refundable credit. That means you get this money, no matter how your tax return works out. If you would end up owing the IRS a balance, the refund will reduce that balance you owe.If you end up getting a refund, the credit will be added and you get a bigger refund by that $30 to $60, depending on how many dependents are on your return.