I just got the okay for the time off for my Portland/Seattle trip. YAY.

So, online tax programs: TurboTax or H&R Block TaxCut?

Up until last year I used TurboTax then I tried out HR Block and liked it better so this year I'm going with HR Block.

The DH won't use TurboTax because there was spyware on their disks one year, so he boycotts them. I used TaxCut for my mom's taxes and it was pretty straight forward but really I could have done her taxes by hand (she's retired and widowed). P-C thank you for reminding me to bug the DH to make an appt with the tax lady!

Yeah, I've used TurboTax two years in a row, but a couple of my co-workers also recommend HR Block, even though it's a little more expensive.

Heh, no problem, Dawn! I'm planning on using my refund to continue to knock down my student loan, so I want to get it taken care of earlier.

I always do my own taxes. Not like it's hard to add together the W-2s, subtract the tax withheld, then smile at the refund on the state form and glower at the fed refund that's going to be withheld for Hubby's ancient student loan.

continue to knock down my student loan

P-C you are such a good, responsible person! I swear if I didn't bug the DH till he was sick of hearing about it, we'd still be filing extensions for 2004 -- he hates gathering all the info. Then he always wants to use the refund on the stupid boat (I've found that boat = Bring Over Another Thousand)

The thing is, it IS easier to stop worrying. It's just not healthier. That's what makes it such a pain in the ass--at least for me.

I find that I need to think about what I eat more now that I am getting older. Or at least that I do think more? I'm sure I'd be healthier now if I had thought about it more back then, but I just didn't. I ate what I wanted for the most part. Now I try to keep in mind things like what kinds of fats I'm eating, salt content, cholesterol content, etc.

My toddler's naked again. Third time today. *sigh*

I'm totally in awe of all y'all's determination and diet/exercise thoughtfulness and hard work. And, shit, Andi, that's got to be so incredibly frustrating and discouraging. FWIW, we've all seen pictures of you and think you're beautiful (and, obviously, Daniel thinks you're a queen and a goddess rolled into one), but none of us have to live inside your body. It's so hard to feel uncomfortable and unhappy in your own skin.

Andi -- what JZ said, above. I hope you find a way through this that works for you.

Gah. I am totally, hugely missing Matilda. Work is stupid and boring and I hate it.

Oh, JZ. I'm sorry it's so hard going back, for you. I hope it gets easier for you, and super quick. I wouldn't let you in this house to have coffee right now, babe, but I appreciate even the idea of it.

Sorry Ben is so sick, Cindy. Cox -ma to the pede so that he can get him better fast.

Thanks, erika. They've been back home for a while, now. Ben was seen by our pede's partner (who I like just as well). She is confident this is a virus. Scott discussed the fever with her, and that it seemed to be getting higher during its high points, and seemed to be slow to respond to anti-fever medication, but she wasn't particularly worried about it. She said if he's not better by Friday, we should bring him in again, and they will run blood tests. Scott suggested they do the blood work then and there, but she was really confident it's simply a virus.

His ears are fine. His throat looks great. He has a little wheeze left, but since the Xray on Sunday was clear, we'll just keep giving him nebulizer treatments.

We can give him up to 500mg of ibuprofen, which is a relief. We'd only been giving him 300mg, until I upped it to 400 on my own, last night and this morning. The correct dosage of Acetaminophen is 650mg. He's getting 640 in the amount of Tylenol we're giving him, so no change there (I'm glad I didn't experiment with it).

I mostly agree it is a virus. He seems in a condition similar to the one Christopher was in with the fever virus. Except for his fever, he is still very much acting himself (if a bit more subdued and less active). He's not that lethargic sort of sick that scares me. I just hope we don't have the fever roller coaster, tomorrow.

My fever is up to 100 now and I have a headache. Feh.

Well, for what it's worth, I'm glad that Ben isn'tthe lethargic sick. That sick sucks. So worrisome.

Much get better ma to him and stay healthy ma to you!

I'm suppoed to go downtown for drinks with a friend from high school. It means changing into something more adult and less soccer-mom-ish as she's at the Biltmore. I haven't seen her in almost three years, but I am so freaking exhausted. Going downtown feels so daunting and yuk right now...