Wednesday, May 28, 2008

The Infernal Revenue Service and (Minor?) Whining

At some point in the past I think I mentioned I still keep my RV club’s mail service active, along with the fact that 90% of my mail goes to Texas first and then is forwarded on to me by the service, to wherever I might be. And for the past five-plus years “wherever I might be” has been Beautiful La Hacienda Trailer Park. The mail service was a necessity during my “on the road” days, given I rarely spent more than a month in any given location. These days it’s just a vestigial hold-over and the biggest reason I keep it is to maintain my Texas residency. Which is important to me for a number of reasons, the biggest of which is tax considerations. But I don’t wanna talk about my mail service; this is just preamble. Digression, in other words.
I got a Love Letter from the IRS in my mail bundle last week, letting me know I’m gonna get “stimulated” to the tune of 900 Yankee Dollars. That would be $600 for me and an additional $300... only because this happened to be my year to claim the Bobby (SN3) Exemption. That didn’t seem quite fair to me, so I fired off a note to The Second Mrs. Pennington explaining my views and further asking if she would accept my check for $300, which I would write as soon as the IRS sent me MY check. TSMP graciously accepted my offer.
Further review of the IRS’ Love Letter revealed I wouldn’t have to “do” anything…as the IRS intended to deposit this money in my bank account via direct-deposit, just as they did with this year’s refund. So, quick like a bunny after re-reading the form letter I called my credit union’s interactive voice response system and… imagine my surprise! The frickin’ money has been in my account since the ninth of May. I'm SO clue-free at times.
The gub’mint is oh-so-quick about collecting what they think you owe ‘em every year, but this is the first time I can remember them being equally quick about giving me my money back. Good on ‘em, in other words.
I still think the whole “stimulus” thing sucks. Big Gub’mint meddling in the market economy and all that… aside from the fact it's the frickin’ Chinese and Korean economies that will be “stimulated,” not ours… unless you spend the money on beer and hookers. A great portion of my “stimulus” will go for the former. I don’t feel up to a road-trip for the latter. Which is probably just as well. (I hope you realize I’m joking, Gentle Reader. Sorta.)
(Image from fusilly.com)
―:☺:―
Miscellaneous Moans, Groans, Bitches, and Complaints Dept: Forgive me, but I’m gonna whine for a minute or three.
First: The weather sucks. It’s hot. It’s humid…which is oh-so-rare for The High Plains of New Mexico. The wind is up and therefore so is my awning…which leaves El Casa Móvil De Pennington bearing the brunt of full sun on its flank. Which, in turn, makes my AC run continuously. And makes me warmer than I wanna BE.
Second: I’ve had neither beer nor cigar for nine consecutive days, which may be some sort of record for me in my retirement. This, too, sucks.
Last: I still hurt but I’ve managed to avoid the industrial-strength painkillers for the first time since my procedure. Dunno how long that’s gonna last, though. The post-op pain is much worse than I thought it was gonna be, by an order of magnitude. Constant pain is psychologically debilitating, or at least it is for me. I don’t “do” sick and/or pain very well. I’d be a lousy hockey player.
There. I’m done. Dunno about you, Gentle Reader, but I feel a little bit better.
And the Wings play tonite, too. I might try a beer along with the game. Maybe. Maybe not.
(Image from art.com)

12 comments:

  1. I like a little extra spending money. I try not to worry about the why's and how's of the gub'mint. I'm a blonde and I can play dumb anytime.

    Maybe a beer and a hockey game is just what you need to make the whine go down easier.

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  2. I'm glad they paid it to you they fail to understand AMENDED INCOME TAX RETURN....as they claim that my husband failed to earn any money this year, thus we do not qualify for the package...um HELLO......refer back to your own advise, we filed an amended return......idiots....

    SUCH is life as we currently know it.....beyond all reason and f'ed up.

    You don't have a spare beer you could toss cross country do you, the idiot mentality seems to be widespread of late!

    ~ASW

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  3. Buck - I liked my stimulus check. It's been spent and it was nice.

    Sorry about the continuing pain. I live with chronic pain from an old back/hip injury so I know what you mean about the debilitating psychlogical affects, not to mention the physical stuff. Hang in there - it will get better for you eventually.

    Just sucks waiting for that to happen, doesn't it.

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  4. I have not received any love letters from the IRS nor any money. I'm pretty sure we qualified, but oh well. I'm not going to complain much about something I didn't have in the first place. However, if they really feel I must have the money and are sending it my way anyway, I won't complain then either. LOL!

    It is a bit breezy today. I was in town myself and didn't think til just now that I should have gone by to check on you. Ah, but I didn't have any soup to give! Maybe I'll have to bring you something a bit more substantial next time, like BBQ and mashed potatoes or something along those lines.

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  5. Lou: I'm a blonde and I can play dumb anytime.

    That made me laugh.

    Buck, I think your whines are quite amusing.

    I did not get a "stimulus" check. I don't think I made enough to get one!

    As for you dental woes. I feel for you! The worst dental experience I have had was getting my wisdom teeth. And that is nothing compared to what you are going though.

    I hope you can have you beer and enjoy your hockey game.

    Blogger will not let me comment!

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  6. I hope your hot Wings win. :)

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  7. First - I hope you feel much better, very soon. I'll say a prayer for you.

    Second - Any money out of the government's hands and into mine is a GOOD THING. Of course, it shouldn't have gone into their hands in the first place, but that's just minor quibbling :-)

    Third - When the Wings win, you'll feel much better.

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  8. Lou sez: I'm a blonde and I can play dumb anytime.

    Key word: play. Nuff said!

    ASW sez: You don't have a spare beer you could toss cross country do you, the idiot mentality seems to be widespread of late!

    "Spare" beer is ALL I have at the moment, ASW. None of it is getting drank (drunk? drinked?) at the moment. I didn't wanna even try one last nite... things are that bad.

    Kris sez: Sorry about the continuing pain. I live with chronic pain from an old back/hip injury so I know what you mean about the debilitating psychlogical affects, not to mention the physical stuff. Hang in there - it will get better for you eventually.

    I sympathize, Kris. I have that tee shirt, too. But it's an old one and my back pain was eventually resolved by surgery and physical therapy... not to mention lotsa good drugs. Constant pain really, really sucks. I feel for ya. And thanks for the good words.

    Jenny sez: I have not received any love letters from the IRS nor any money. I'm pretty sure we qualified, but oh well. I'm not going to complain much about something I didn't have in the first place. However, if they really feel I must have the money and are sending it my way anyway, I won't complain then either. LOL!

    It is a bit breezy today. I was in town myself and didn't think til just now that I should have gone by to check on you. Ah, but I didn't have any soup to give! Maybe I'll have to bring you something a bit more substantial next time, like BBQ and mashed potatoes or something along those lines.


    Didn't you file early coz you guys farm? I'd look into this were I you, Jenny. It's a substantial sum of money if I understand the program's intent correctly.

    And thanks for thinking of me! You are just too cool, Girl!

    Ashley sez: Buck, I think your whines are quite amusing.

    Thanks for that, Ash! Whining generally puts me off, and I try to keep it at a low level. Unsuccessfully, you'll note. ;-)

    Phlegmmy sez: I hope your hot Wings win. :)

    Not last nite... but they WILL prevail in the end!

    Jim: Thank you...and I agree wholeheartedly with points 2 and 3!

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  9. Dang Buck, ya got more money than I did! I only got $300 for me, plus $300 for Cody.

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  10. Buck, are you gonna make me leave my canyon, stop by the big box store to pick up on roll of mylar bubble insulation and head to Portales? Honestly, this stuff is an incredible insulator and reflector (in the sun-side windows right now). I can't stand the thought of you sitting there roasting when you are already in pain and misery.

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  11. Becky sez: Dang Buck, ya got more money than I did!

    Senior-citizen discount (or whatever the appropriate term might be)? Or maybe it's coz the gub'mint thinks I'm really poor. Which, of course, I am...

    Lin sez: Buck, are you gonna make me leave my canyon, stop by the big box store to pick up on roll of mylar bubble insulation and head to Portales?

    I looked into this a while back, Lin... when you first mentioned it. I can't do it, though. I NEED my window! This is a very small space I live in, and covering up the window would make me claustrophobic. I DO have the darkest "limo" film on the windows money can buy, tho. It's only on days when the wind is too high for me to put my awning down that things get a lil warm... the rest of the time I'm fine. Yesterday we nearly hit 100 degrees and we'll get there today. But I'm cool: no wind, to speak of. Awning in place. Life is good. ;-)

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  12. I don't think it's cause the gubmint thinks your poor. I'm poor, too but still only got $300. I know people who (married) made like 3 times as much as I did, and they got the full $1200.

    Who knows what evil lurks in the minds of the IRS.....

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Just be polite... that's all I ask.