I was just sitting on my porch yesterday, going "What is that bird? And that one, what is it?" A few blocks away, the first softball game of the season was underway. Kids yelling and screaming far enough away to make it pleasant.

doing taxes. I have more forms than normal and I am sure I am missing something. Currently TaxAct shows me owning $750, which cannot be right. right?

Also? I got something from the IRS asking about my 2012 taxes, so I need to go dig those up and send them in again or something.

Got all your deductions? Childcare, medical, tuition, charitable donations...

We just did our taxes, too. Getting a refund, somewhat to our surprise. I still wish the process wasn't so complicated.

I am NOT organized paperwise, what a nightmare. I have kinda got everything in, but need to gather charity stuff for a real number. Now I am getting a small refund.

Apparently being an adult and going to bed at a decent hour last night meant I woke up at 7:45 this morning. Which I would be okay with, if I didn't want to take a nap now.

Finally home after a great weekend visit with Leise, Zenkitty, Kate, and Amyth in Nashville. The cats took advantage of my absence to go crazy - the living room was a repeat of the faux crime scene I found earlier this year, and there's cardboard in my kitchen sink and litter scattered all over the floor of my office area. I don't lnow if they were in hiding because Mom feeding them this morning was upsetting, or if they realized the jig was up when I opened the door.

For anyone traveling in central Tennessee, I highly recommend the Best Western at the I-40 exit for Loretta Lynn's dude ranch and kitchen. It was half the price of the low-end places I looked at near the Nashville airport, and the room's furnishings and decor looked like they were from a Westin resort rather than an economy motel. (Apparently their head of housekeeping is more or less Mary Poppins. The manager told me it had been eight years since their last reno, and the only sign that the entire room interior wasn't finished earlier this week was a worn light switch in the bathroom.)

documents question:

old 401(k) info (everything has been rolled into a new account) - any need to keep?

any need to keep water bills for more than a couple of months?

I just pulled the most god-awful amount of hair and carpet fuzz out of the roller on my vacuum. Must check that more often.

I have stopped with taxes for the day. I think they are complete, but I am going to give myself another day or two to uncover medical, charitable, or other posit deductions.

The air is clear, the late afternoon light is illuminating the valley beautifully, and for the first time I can see the entire valley in sharp, clear definition. It is glorious.