Cold and Taxes - Winter is Finally Here

It's cold. It's so cold that it's the leading story for each newscast across the state and also across the nation. When I was driving home from work yesterday it was -5F (-23C) and it's colder than that today. Of course, as Murphy is obviously working in my back room, I have to get gas for the car today - the freakin' coldest day of the year and I have to stand outside and put gas in the car. I think I'll get a fancy coffee to reward myself for that torture.

Not that we're not used to this, it is Minnesota after all. We understand the benefit of dressing in layers and knitted sweaters. We understand hats, gore-tex and down coats, and scarfs. We know that at a certain point you have to spend time warming up the car before moving out, although I usually don't bother until the temps are this icy, and we understand the merits of warm boots. But in spite and despite all of the knowledge and clothing precautions, it doesn't change the fact that breathing in temps like this hurts and that I would much rather just stay home instead of go to work.

Even the dogs know how to dress for the cold...

The back room at the shop will be icy too - we get too much breeze coming through the gap in the back doorway. That means that I will take my laptop into the front room to work and rely on the wireless instead of the wired internet connection. I prefer wired - it's so much faster - but at least I have the option.

The IRS and the tax system in general have their

heads in the sand (actually in another dark nether

region, but I'll be nice...).

I found out from my accountant yesterday that due to a change in reporting, I have to change my year-end tax statements that I filed with the Infernal Revenue Service because I should have included my health insurance premiums. Now, the premium isn't taxable income, but I still have to go through all of this crap to amend what we already filed because...well, just because. There is nothing sensible about taxes, especially for businesses and even more especially for the self-employed.