cramerton, NC

i think that i'm in cramerton, NC. google maps said it would take more than 8 hours, but i made it in about 6.5. yes, i break the law--i speed a little bit. my driving skills might leave you wanting. so what.

because i drove down here alone, i spent the entire time listening to music very loudly. it was a good time to think and pray. and get a suh-lamming tan. on my left forearm.



after all this lonely introspection, i've come to a conclusion. under stress, or even under normal everyday conditions, i can be astoundingly selfish. but somehow, God shows me such grace and everlasting love. how can it be?

lovelove,
tenacious T

novocaine

i love my dentist, but as i walked through the door to his office today, i whispered under my breath that i hated him! i could hardly believe that actually came out of my mouth. i guess it's a true love-hate relationship.

the whisper of hatred was a result of the sick dread of knowing that i was walking in there to get two cavities filled today. post-procedure, he told me that he actually did three for the price of two for me, knowing that i was going to be away from him for the next three years and knowing that i was already all numbed up. see, the love? he takes care of me.

plus, he runs marathons, which is, you know, super-duper cool. he's got tons of those paper marathon ID numbers nearly covering one entire wall of his private office where he discusses all the discounts he gives me. the love.

i also love that he doesn't have a dental hygenist. no offense to all of you dental hygenists out there, but i think there's something special about my dentist personally handling all the details and knowing everything about my teeth from checkup to final rinse. he also has a fantastic memory about all the details of my family (we all go to him) and makes me feel as though he really cares for all of us.

PLUS, he is generous with the novocaine (side note, i wonder how similar novocaine is to cocaine). i've had him pull two of my wisdom teeth and fill a few cavities, and i've never felt too uncomfortable... though... i still can't really feel my teeth and it's been almost 12 hours. should i be concerned?

lovelove,
the Augustine Paik DDS fanclub president

a quick fortune

from a fortune cookie from mama goo's chinese restaurant in NYC:

 

tourism

i hadn't been to see the cherry blossoms in years, and i won't be able to see them again in years, so i thought i'd make a trip today. too bad that most everyone i know is working during normal daytime hours. so i went alone. also too bad that the rains and winds have really torn off all the delicate cherry blossoms and thrown them in the tidal basin. here i am posing in front of the only branch that held on to those petals tight. it was a prime photo opportunity for many. i had to really elbow my way through the other tourists to get this shot.

here's a nice one of the jefferson memorial. note the paddleboat in front. i don't know why, but the springling of the paddleboats all over the water was really lovely to me.

these were photos from inside the jefferson memorial. i liked the ceiling, the quotes on the walls, and how jefferson was like SO tall.


lovelove,

the single among many

filing taxes

i'm so sure that many of you have already dutifully filed your taxes and are happily spending your tax returns. but here i am, in the thick of things. the good news is that i've already finished my federal stuff, woooohoooo! but now i'm on my state and local taxes... and totally regretting the fact that i worked in washington dc last year, seeing as how i reside in maryland. stupid maryland. or stupid dc, i can't decide.

i started filling out my MD form, and found out that the tax withheld was actually DC state tax withheld. so thus, i need to fill out a MD tax credit form. that form tells me i need to fill out another form, basically filing for DC state tax returns. what the hamstring is going on. i feel like i've followed this endless trail of breadcrumbs and i'm lost. does anyone actually know what things like "fiduciary income" and "aquaculture oyster floats" are?

and like the tenacious nerd that i am, i feel as though i just can't get to bed unless i tackle this monster and triumph with some returns. once you pop, you can't stop.

this entry was just my pit stop on the way to tax heaven.

lovelove,
taxilla