March 02, 2005 - 3:17 PM

News and Notes

If I could be any busier, I'd actually be doing a typical job. Blah blah blah apology-cakes for not updating sooner. I've been doing the usual grind here at work, and my free time has been taken up with more recording of Adrianne, dinners with Tony and Margaret (we watched Troy one night during dinner and, man, was that unmemorable), taxes, moving for Matt and Sharon (their basement has flooding problems with all the rain that is falling), and mixing for Adrianne. I've barely been able to stay up past 12:30 most nights.

I have a deadline of the 9th for this batch of 9 songs to be mixed and ready to be pressed for Adri. Last night, I went over to my friend Mike's place to have him take a stab at the songs. He's been doing the music stuff consistently and constantly over the past few years while I've slowly drifted away, so I trust his skills and ears very much. He also has a better recording setup than I do, so he has more toys with which to play. We're going to finish up some of the more troublesome songs tonight.

Sunday I spent all day doing my taxes. When you have 3 different W-2 forms, a 1099 for freelance work, and another for Unemployment compensation, it gets a little tricky. I was afraid that I'd end up owing money, what with no taxes having been taken out of my freelance paychecks at Paramount from this summer, but nope, I get almost 200 back from the Federal Governemtn, and 150 from the state. Of course, there are also the various monies that I earned from working at the theater and lending out my cello and such that aren't being reported because they are each less than the minimum reporting amounts. *shhhh*

Right now, i'm debating whether I should buy a new car or purchase my Civic when the lease is up in June. The car is awfully squeaky at this point, and I'm worried that it's going to fall apart. I should have a mechanic check it out before I make any rash decisions. I'd love to not have to make any payments after June on a car, but I'd also like to have a new car with no mechancal problems and a smoother ride. Perhaps I will talk with Sharon about what options and opportunities I have with Honda.

Nick, on the other hand, is being forced to buy a new car, what with his Toyota having gone kaput last week during rush hour. Poor boy. He ordered a Scion, manual drive, and we hope he'll be picking it up at the end of this week. Other changes for Nick: LDBL and Mer found an apartment that Mer is now moving into. After their wedding in a month, LDBL will move in with her...isn't that sweet? They've already transplanted the blue couch from Nick and LDBL's place to the new abode, so I'm sure their living room looks barren now. Once LDBL moves out, we'll see how Nick likes living alone before we consider having me move in with him. That would probably be the end of me ever leaving the apartment other than for work.

Elin emailed me on Monday to inform me that she's digging one of the songs I put on her cd and that she's now engaged and has a new job lined up in DC. Way to go, girl! She's had one hell of a ride these past few weeks, and it's all been good stuff for her, which makes us all happy, right?

And finally, for those who care, good ol' Katie Lannon replied to an email of mine last week. An email I sent, like, 3 years ago after she got married. Katie is a friend of mine from middle and high school, a girl who I had a big crush on. She kinda dropped off the face of the earth after she got married and settled down in North Carolina, leaving me, Mark, Nick, and Y clueless as to how she's been doing. I hope she doesn't forget how to use a computer again, and maybe she'll come out west to visit me and Nick sometime. Or at the very least, gets her butt up to Maryland for our 10 year reunion whenever it occurs this year (you better show up too, Y!).

Now Listening To : The American President- Original Soundtrack
Random Thought : Chris Rock's Oscar monologue was pretty much the same as what he performed at the Comedy Store.

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