Procrastinating Does Not Pay

All you folks out there who have finished up the taxes in a timely fashion (in January, I'm certain), gotten your refund and already sensibly invested it in some sort of high yield thingie of a financial nature will be pleased to know that I have completed my own taxes.  It really isn't all that complicated now that we live in the good old electronic age and can just push buttons.  Frankly, I can whip out a pretty decent looking tax return in about an hour.  

I have not, however, pushed the button that will send it to the nice people at the Internal Revenue Service who are, no doubt, eagerly awaiting it so they can give my math the once-over.  E-Filing is also rather easy and the price of it is included in the cost of the tax package I purchase each year.  Well...the Federal return is.  I'll have to pay for the state one, but it's really not such a big deal.  I just haven't done it yet.  That would spoil the game.  Every year, I look forward to a nice round of Russian Roulette with my taxes.  How far can I go with it?  How long will I dare to wait before finally cracking and hitting "send?"  Just how strong is my resolve?  It's like a game of chicken with my finances and my freedom.  Will this be the year that they throw me in a Federal penitentiary for failing to report my vast riches?

I play the same sort of game with my yearly vehicle inspection.  I like to think that the rumors of a one month grace period with regard to getting that little sticker are all true.  One day, I'm sure that faith will be put to the test.  Time will tell...

But it's not as much fun as the tax game.  And, for those of you who may be wondering, that soft "thumping" you are hearing right about now is the sound of poor Kat pounding her head against a desk, a wall or any other available surface.  I am a trial to that woman.  I know this.  I feel badly about it, really badly.  But the rules of the game are clear and who am I to fly in the face of tradition?

What takes this little game from the "mildly amusing" to the "are you kidding me with this, you silly Sheepie????" is the fact that I am getting a refund this year.  A rather impressive one when compared to past years, if you want the truth.  I could get me some nice new yarn and a whole big box of cookies, if I wanted to.  Or pay off some bills.  It would be a nice little windfall.  

But, I'm waiting because tradition is important.  Our society doesn't value tradition like it used to.  I'm waiting.  My finger is on the "send" button.  But, I am waiting.  

(Um...Kat?  You ok over there?  I swear to you that they will make it on time.  Pinky swear, even!  Just think about how the battery light is back on in my truck and how I'm considering putting a piece of black electrical tape over it so it doesn't exist anymore.  That'll take your mind right off my irresponsible taxing ways!)

It's a good thing I have my little game of cat 'n mouse going with the IRS.  Work continues to vex me and I spent several minutes in the office today making sure that the school secretaries know to call a fireman and a bakery should there be reports of me on the roof.  I will only come down for a fireman with a chocolate cake.  You may think I am kidding about this but, as God is my witness, they were actually taking notes. 

I have also made some sort of odd and utterly inexplicable error on the Invisibility Shawl and will need to do a little of the tinking tonight if I want to make it all go away.  It's that or resort to the lifeline, but that is kind of far back and I just can't bear the thought of ripping back to where I was on Saturday.  I'm going to have to weigh my options here.  Deadline knitting requires efficient decision making.  I'm thinking I maybe should have started this project a little bit sooner than I did.  

Unlike the Tax Game, this is not quite as much fun.  And it doesn't come with a refund, either.

SA