In Celebration

Of getting my taxes done, we went strawberry picking... And right next to there was this huge Flower field. I guess it's a really big deal, since it has a name, and it's acres of flowers and they charge admission. $10 a person, so we did the hillbilly checking it out by driving by and taking pictures. And here I'm sharing them with you...

Every year I say I'll get them done sooner and every year it's right down to the line. Well.. that's since we have the business. It used to be so easy- plug in the W2's a few more numbers and voilla- done.

I think in a record for us, our tax returns were over 30 pages. And there were 3 returns- 2 state and 1 federal. Business expenses, sales, selling a home partially used for business.. and then there was the filing as a part year resident of 2 states for me, while Larry can maintain 1 state residence, yet there's common law rules saying 1/2 of his income is taxable under my CA residence.. UGH. Who made up these rules?!! That's double taxation- because he's taxed in VA on his income and then the state of CA thinks they can tax 1/2 of that again???

Figures. And in case you didn't hear- I got pulled over, in my neighborhood for not stopping long enough at a stop sign. I stopped, it felt like an eternity, since the kids were screaming - JM was tired and I was hoping he'd fall asleep and the kids were yelling that JM as crying and they couldn't hear their music on the radio. It was in my neighborhood, there are 6 stop signs I stop at to get out of the neighborhood. And the cop LIVES right there, at the stop sign, we see his car parked right there all the time.

So he pulls me over, tells me I rolled through the stop sign (which I don't think so...I swear I stopped, but I didn't stop a full 3 seconds...) And THEN tells me I need to get a CA drivers' license unless I'm active duty. VA let me keep it no problem. It's CA that the problem. The same CA that took some unique tax out of my paycheck that I'd never hear of before. The same CA that our car insurance tripled because there are so many THOUSANDS of Mexicans here illegally driving without a license.. you get the picture...

And I got the summons for that ticket- $255!!!!!! Are you KIDDING?!!! And.. in true CA fashion... you have to pay it even if you're going to go to court and plead not guilty. I am SO mad at that. And that is was in my neighborhood and the cop lived right there saying "we're getting alot of complaints about people not stopping here" Whatever. You'd think being a neighbor, you'd let them go with a warning.. or less than $255 ticket. And then he goes and parks a camper in the street in clear violation of the Homeowers assocation rules. I hope someone reports and fines him on that. Only I don't think the fine is as high as my ticket. Grumble grumble grumble.

On, and I get to pay for my drivers license and traffic school on top of that. At least we're getting some taxes back to pay for it... I would rather have spent that money on a trip to Disney... which I was contemplating for Sonia and Joey's birthday next week...