Not everyone goes out and boldly changes the face of the world. Some of us just find a niche where we're comfortable and stick with it. Back in college I thought I was going to be making breakthroughs in advanced physics, not programming financial services. But I'm much more temperamentally suited to this. (Heck, my Dad's a double PhD in math and physics, and he wound up working for the oil industry for 30 years.)

People don't get to be hermits with lofty goals without some sort of societal safety net--unless they really are dressed in the skins of the squirrels they've killed themselves with a rock and eating berries and tree bark.

Coming here for some sympathy (which feels like a redundant statement somehow).

I finished with H&R Block. My return cost $480 to do. Even the preparer was taken aback and didn't hide it well.

Holy shit, people.

I am getting back about $1800 though, so my refund will pay for this, but shit. I am not sure I would have felt comfortable doing this all myself with 2 states in the mix, but $480????

???

And I doubt I'll be able to take it off next year's taxes since the chance of my itemizing is likely nil.

I know I'm being an asshole, but that one encounter with the gypsy boy really burned me.

I'm doing precisely what I wanted to do for a living when I was 13, so as far as living your dream goes, I'm in the industry, and although the precise bits I'd focussed on aren't part of my day to day, that's because they didn't live up to the hype, not because I don't love computers.

I do wish I had paid more attention to other stuff too, but, fuck! I got to teach martial arts for actual (pittance) money too! That was a way more wild dream than also wanting to get paid for drawing and photography. Two out of four and a steady paycheque are nothing to sneeze at.

I wish I could order off the kid's menu. Anywhere. It's been forever since I finished off a burger and fries, and it's not like they're doggy-baggable. Silly waste.

I hate coming back to my desk and my screen is unlocked. Not only do I deliberately try and do that (it's company policy), but it should do so in my absence! Account profile policy...

You can order off the kids' menu at McDonald's! Or any fast-food place, I'd bet.

I doubt there's a fast food place in the world that would say "No, we don't want your money." Just say your kid is in the car or something.

I reheat half a burger and fries all the time. Is that gross?(admittedly, the texture leaves things to be desired)

I've never had my taxes professionally done, but $480 sounds like a huge price to pay for that! Is that based on how much you're getting back, or something else?

Totally! My mother bitches about the $150 she paid.