Income tax filing

Yesterday, I was on a quest to complete my annual TurboTax purchase. I went to Costco first because I had a rebate coupon to redeem. It didn't have what I was looking for.

I then visited Staples, which has been my go-to store for tax software for the last few years. Sure enough, it had the software that I was looking for. It was too bad that I had to shell out for it, as opposed to using my rebate coupon.

Tonight, I filed my tax return. I'll do my parents' returns later on this week. I'm a bit late this year completing them, especially mine.

I'm glad that mine is done. I feel accomplished.

I'm back!

Hello! It has been a while.

I spent the last ten days in the Twin Cities. I ended up not posting a thing.

I should get back to writing about having one of my social media accounts hacked. A local business with cool owners reached out to me yesterday when I returned. Their business account got hacked and wanted to know how I got mine back.

Getting you account hacked is scary and frustrating. More later.

Have a great day!

Food perk and a mini socialization session

I picked up a food perk on Monday. It consisted of two fancy, gourmet hot dogs and a free beverage. I also managed to run into two people that I haven't seen in over a year!

It kind of felt like pre-pandemic times chatting with people at a food event. We all have had two vaccination shots. Yesterday marked two weeks since I got my second shot, so I'm officially fully vaccinated.

I have been indulging in a lot of good food before and after my birthday. I can proudly say that I exercised every day during this period, so I don't feel bad about it. I'll get back to my regular eating habits soon.

Income tax return - filed!

On Sunday, I filed my income tax return. I like that I got it over with.

My parents still haven't sent me all their tax slips and such. I tend to do theirs in April. We have until the end of April to file our tax returns. For a few years now, I do mine in early March, but I slipped a bit this year.

It was a productive Sunday. It's one less thing to think about.

Just went I thought I was out, I'm back in

It's funny how my previous post described two people who have taken over a portion of my workload. We'll, I'm returning to that world to help them out for the next two weeks.

The woman, who took half my duties, cannot handle the next three software releases. When she first started out with the company, I nicknamed her the diva because she has that vibe. I see it again. So, I will be pulled in for a bit, along with the incompetent woman.

I dislike bailing people out because they are incompetent. Ugh!

Frankly, my manager is worried that these two people can't pull off our major release. I have been told that I won't be there 50% of the time. I pointed out to my manager that I have regular development work that I can't let slide. He understood.

On Friday, my manager confided during our weekly chat that he doesn't feel comfortable giving a specific task to the other person who is taking over my duties. He feels that I am the best candidate. Although it was a nice compliment, I can't handle everything. It explains why I used to always be exhausted after a major software release.

I don't want to be cloned, but it sounds like a fun idea to explore in this scenario.

One year later, being on my own, and being okay at home for months

Yesterday was exactly a year when my ex called it quits with me. I was aware of this date towards the end of a long workday.

During our text chat in April, he didn't once ask me how I was doing. Rather, he said that he missed me and wanted everything we once had, minus travelling together. It was odd. It was all he wanted. So typical.

I am better off being on my own right now. I don't have any inclination to meet someone special, especially when we are all self-isolating at home.

My manager asked our team whether we wanted to go back to the office during the first phase of this so-called plan. I let him know that I need to know what safety precautions will be in place at our office before I can make an informative decision on whether I want to return. It seemed to be a premature question, especially when we are all working from home till mid-June right now. This date continues to get extended.

I don't mind working from and being at home. I'm a homebody who likes to see the world now and again. Going out a couple of times a week is a good balance.

Grocery shopping, cart return, and car compliment

On Saturday, I went grocery shopping. Every couple of week, I drive into Toronto to hit one particular grocery store that has specific items that I can't get in my neighbourhood. I like this store a lot.

I had a small cart. After I had paid for my groceries, I rolled a small cart with my items over to my car, unloaded them into my car's trunk, and proceeded to put my cart away. There was a nice man who spotted me returning my cart.

"I can take that," he said cheerfully.
"Thanks," I said, leaving the cart a few feet from him so he could sanitize it.
"That's a beautiful car," he said, looking at my blue Corolla hatchback.
"Oh, thanks so much!"

I have to agree with him. It i a good-looking car.

My friend, elephants, and a case

My colleague and friend returned home to be with her mom, who was sick, in late November of last year. My friend has been away from work for nearly two months. Her mom is doing much better.

On Monday, my friend returned to work. She got me a present. I let her know quietly that she shouldn't have. She got me a cute bag with elephants on it. She knows that I love elephants. It was thoughtful and sweet of her.

A couple of weeks ago, I ordered a case for my cell phone. Last week, it arrived. I ordered it in rose gold. I got a grey and green one. Obviously, my order was messed up.

I tried putting the case on my phone. It fit. The problem was that the volume keys were on the other side of the case. I basically could not use my phone with this case on.

I contacted support on how I could return the item. The company refunded my money and said that I could keep the case. It was generous, but what do I do with a phone case that it useless to me?

I didn't know what phone model this case was for. It certainly was not for a Google Pixel 2XL.

I brought this case into work. I asked my friend whether it would fit her iPhone 8 Plus. It was like Cinderella's slipper, but for a phone. It fit! I gave it to her. She was happy. So, I was I to have her back.

Tax return and financial health

On Sunday, I filed my tax return. It's nice to get it out of the way. I am roughly 1.5 months early filing it.

I am pleased with how things are going with paying off my debt and getting back on track. This year has some exciting changes:

• Number of credit cards paid off: 2
• Number of loans paid off: 1

I will also be focusing more on saving money. It's sad that I have had to abandon this practice for a while to pay off debt. It's important to have a decent reserve for emergencies. These days, it's my retirement savings and I don't want to dip into it.

I'll need to build up my retirement savings, which I am looking forward to. I'm optimistic and excited! It's nice to feel good about how far I have come.

Unexpected money

Something unexpected happened to me the other day. I'll need to explain a bit of background.

On Wednesday, I received a notification e-mail from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), indicating that I had a new message waiting for me. I was pretty busy with work that I didn't have a chance to log on to the site and check my account.

I check my finances fairly often. I logged into my bank account after work and noticed that I had more money than usual. I looked closer and it said that I got a tax refund. That's funny. I haven't filed my tax return for 2018 yet.

I didn't know if it was a mistake with the deposit. Years ago, my back accidentally deposited $15,000 into my chequing account. I didn't touch it. A day later, the amount reversed by my bank. I wasn't sure if it was the same thing.

I finally got around to logging on to my CRA online account. My tax return for 2017 got reassessed and I ended up with a refund, including interest. Nice!

The amount pays for my recent round-trip flight to Dallas and my car rental. Yay!

I'm back and am doing laundry

I had a long travel day on Monday. It was pretty uneventful, considering that I drove through pouring rain and a bit of snow. I cut through three states and ended up in my home province.

I got back at a decent time. It was enough time to pick up my friend, have a bit of a chat in her living room, and head over to a restaurant for dinner. It was a nice evening.

After work on Tuesday, I went home and did laundry. It's exciting stuff! I have always been the type of person who needs to do laundry as soon as I can after some time away from hom. I find it relaxing.

My guy and I share that same love for doing laundry. He is preparing for a business trip and leaves on Saturday. I am hoping that we can squeeze in some time together before he leaves.

Chatting with my guy about stick shifters

My guy called me as he was driving back from a small town forty minutes away from where he lives.

"What were you doing there?" I asked him.
"I'm getting a shifter for my classic car," he said.

He explained that he can't shift between gears well on the existing one.

"The shifter needs to be tight," he explained.
"Yes, I have lots of experience with your shifter being tight," I teased.

He was telling me that he found some in the States, but duty and shipping fees would kill him. I reminded him that I was driving over the border in less than two weeks. I advised that he could ship it to the hotel where I am staying and I'd drive back with it.

He loved that I would do that for him. I just asked him to let me know when he has completed his order. I'd then drop it off to him when I return from my weekend getaway.

Staycation in less than two weeks

My guy returns home in roughly 1.5 weeks. Although it's never easy when he is away, this trip has been more bearable. It helps that he calls me every other day. Additionally, since he bought me a plush purple sheep, Woolly, hugging him when I need to helps.

"What time does your plane touch down?" I asked him.
"My flight arrives at around 7:30 am," he replied.
"I can book a room for that weekend," I suggested.
"That would be great. I can't wait to see you," he said.
"I'll be nice to see you, too," I said.

I have booked a weekend for us. We are both looking forward to our mini staycation.

Teasing my guy over postponed date and being happy caressing his head

On Friday afternoon, at around 4:20 pm, I pinged my guy on our work instant messaging app. Sadly, my manager also pinged me to indicate that he wanted to spend a minute to talk to me about not getting a bonus within our entire location.

Anyway, my guy was okay with waiting a bit. I was finally all packed up and ready to head over to the Chinese restaurant for an early dinner. 

It has started to rain. By the time I got to the restaurant, it was pouring. I sat in my car for about five minutes until my guy parked next to my car.

We both got out of our cars. We both took out black umbrellas.

"Wow, my umbrella looks nonexistent compared to yours. It's big," I replied.
"I got it out so that you could come under it," he replied.
"Where did you get yours?" I asked curiously.
"Costco," he replied.
"Ah, of course," I pointed out. "Mine, too."

We walked into the restaurant. It wasn't too busy. We got a booth and sat down.

My guy wasn't all that hungry. He had had a light snack at Burger King an hour beforehand. He didn't have lunch and couldn't wait this late. I was bloated, as it is that time of the month for me. However, I was okay to have dinner.

He ordered a bowl of hot and sour soup. I ordered spicy garlic chicken.

"I wasn't expecting to scramble and get lunch today. You left me all alone to find lunch. You ditched me," I teased.
"I'm sorry," he said. "I took some of my students out to Costco and one of them had to return three shirts."
"You ditched me for Costco?!" I joked. "That day has finally come."
"Oh, no. I am never going to hear the end of it," he said, smiling.

My guy is a good sport when I tease him. He genuinely was sorry and would have rather been with me. He is his usual sweet self by making sure that his student could do his shirt exchanges before flying back home.

I looked at my guy's head. It was nicely shaved. I caressed it from across the table. He smiled lovingly.

A bracelet for my birthday

My guy gave me an early birthday present on Friday. He tends to steer away from getting me jewellery. However, he took the plunge and got me a nice bracelet.

He knows that I used to have an evil eye bracelet. Several months ago, it broke and I couldn't get it fixed. He got me a sterling silver bracelet (all I wear is sterling silver) with blue beads and a blue evil eye.

The problem was my trying to wear it. It felt like rocket science trying to put it on. He figured it out for me. I then told him that it wouldn't fit me.

I have a large wrist for a woman. It's not an unusual size, though.

"My wrist is 7.5 inches," I said.
"I didn't know that bracelets have wrist sizes," he admitted.
"It's okay. It's the sweet thought that you had that counts," I replied.

It was a romantic, thoughtful gesture. It was a shame that he had left the price tag on the bracelet. Then again, he is returning it, so it all works out.

Seeing my guy on Saturday and getting a spanking

My guy misses me a ton. The feeling is mutual.

"I get to see you on Saturday," my guy said.
"What time do you arrive?" I asked him.
"19:30," he said. "I can meet you somewhere."
"Sounds great. It'll be nice to kiss you again," I replied.
"It'll be nice to punish you," he stated seriously.
"Why? What did I do now?" I asked him rhetorically.
"You couldn't talk to me when I wanted to talk to you on Sunday," he reasoned.
"But, I asked you if it was okay and you said not to worry," I replied, in a mild whiny tone.
"I just wanted to make you feel good about being out with your friend," he replied.
"And, you're breaking the news to me today?" I asked him.
"Yes, because you're at work and work isn't fun."

That's true, especially when he isn't there with me. Of course, I am excited about seeing him and having a sore backside this weekend. The weekend can't come any sooner!

I'm back!

It has been way too long since I wrote. I'm sorry.

It took me forever to figure out what my username is to log into my Blogger account. Yes, I have been absent for far too long.

In a nutshell, I dissolved my marriage to G last year. We had been married for nearly fifteen years. We are still on speaking terms and our split was for the best. Unfortunately, my realizing that our marriage was not a healthy one took far too long for me to figure out. Better late than never, I suppose.

Sadly, as a result of separating from G, I have not been spanked for quite some time. I miss being bent over a warm lap and having by bottom spanked. I miss my skirt being lifted up, my underwear being taken down, and my bottom being repeated smacked until it hurts like crazy.

I'm back. You won't hear too many stories about getting spanked these days, but I hope to find a decent man. Perhaps someday, I'll have someone else to spank me and vice-versa.