Springing into a New Body...

Okay, I'm not exactly springing into my new body, I'm pulling myself there every inch of the way. But I'm having fun. Yesterday my trainer tried to kill me at the dip station, though. I usually do 3 sets of 10 reps. On my last set yesterday she put a 20 pound weight in my lap...and made me do 5 extra reps. I screamed through every flippin' one, but I did it. And I felt so accomplished after that I was ready to do another set. She didn't let me.

Boy am I glad because today my arms are killing me!

Why the PS3 Should be a Tax Deduction...

Yeah, can you tell I'm doing taxes? Sure, a little early but (so far) worth the effort. Thanks to adoption credits and finally figured out self-employment pre-paid taxes (at least I think I have) it looks like I've got a refund coming. Nice, eh? As I was going through my deductions, though, I came to electronic equipment. Used the deduction for my phone, work printer (higher quality than the ancient, only-used-for-personal-stuff printer) and started wondering about gaming devices. Sure, they don't help with work, but they do help with mental health...and that's work-related, right?

For instance I play Professor Layton when I need to puzzle over an obscure topic. When I need a total mental health break I pull out the playstation 3 for a little Jak & Daxter time. Nothing like whipping the butts of mutants to make me feel like a better human being. And the hubster uses it, too, for mental health breaks. Although he plays basketball or football, beating up on other teams rather than the mutants inhabiting my J&D steampunk world.

But I don't think the IRS would agree...so that deduction stays OFF my taxes. At least for this year.

Spring - and Weddings! - Are In The Air...

My writing business expanded a bit this year (yay!) when I was contracted by a weekly shopper to write blurbs in their lifestyle section. Usually I contribute 2-3 articles each month about local happenings, home design, relationships and that kind of thing. But this month I'm doing a four-part series on weddings and plans...and using my personal experience as a bride-on-a-budget to get things moving. When the hubster and I got married we were both in communications (him, radio an me, television) in a rural area. So we didn't make a lot of money. That was fine by us because we knew how to stretch a dollar. One thing I did splurge on, though, was a unique wedding cake toppers. Instead of the traditional bride-and-groom, we used a Precious Moments statuette of the bride and groom driving away in their getaway car. Fun! It fit us...and I still have it sitting in my keepsake cabinet. People always ask if it was a gift and most are totally shocked when I tell them it was the topper.

This Could Be Helpful...

So most of you know by now that not only am I freelancing full-time with my writing business, but the hubster went freelance last year, too. He's designing websites, mobile sites and mobile apps (fun stuff...I have a new app for my fiction writing coming out soon). As part of that we've been contemplating writing a book together - non-fiction about running a business and life from the road. The premise is that for a year we live and work from our RV as we travel the country. Sounds fun, right? We're still discussing costs and how exactly it will work because there are times when he needs to meet with his clients in person.

As I was doing some research about different types of insurance, rates and other things I came across this Good Sam offer for emergency assistance. Basically, if you're an RVer and need medical assistance, they come to you...there is a premium but it seems very reasonable to me, especially considering that most times when we're RVing we are hundreds of miles from our local doctor, hospital and medical staff.

My Insurance Went Down!

I like it when a plan comes together. What plan? The no-accident plan. Seriously, as a younger driver I got into all kinds of accidents (most minor) or ticketing incidents (I am an admitted fast driver)...to the point that my insurance rate spiked a few years go. So I chatted with my agent about how to get it down or if I needed to go with a different car insurance company - kind of wipe the sins of the past out. She advised me not to, but to make actual changes to my driving. Including how and what I listen to on the radio. I know it sounds weird and stupid, but since making those changes - no cell phone talking/texting, etc - I'm accident free. And in my bill today was a notice that my rate is going down - by more than $100! Nice way to wake up my day!