Defeated by tax software

I had that grand idea to save some money on the accountant and do our tax return by myself. I read the reviews of all the best tax software and opted for QuickTax online--works in the browser, no software to install.

Last two evenings I've spent punching numbers on the computer and going through hundreds of questions set by the program. First time it turned out that we owe the government about $3600, the second time around that we're supposed to get about $6000. Neither felt right. Finally, tonight, I fired off an email to our trusty accountant and will be sending our papers to her. After failing so miserably in the tame the tax software, I have a new appreciation for the great job she does with our taxes.

Coyotes' death sentence commuted to exile

At the Toronto's Beaches neighborhood a bunch of hungry coyotes looking for snacks past winter came across a chihuahua and turned it into chewhuahua. They did the same to some other pets and the people were outraged. The police got involved and the three culprits were apprehended. They were supposed to be put down, but the people spoke again (though sometimes it would be better for people to just shut up) to save the lives of the predators (so they can chew some more huahua).

The decision was made to take the coyotes far from Toronto. Someone pointed out that Ohio recently had the same problem and did the same thing: exiled the coyotes some 100-ish kms away from town. Next week the beasts were back. Apparently, they returned to the pack and source of fast and free food.

It remains to be seen if the Toronto coyotes will beat the time the Ohio ones clocked for the return.

Running with the book thief

I started listening to The Book Thief audiobook by Markus Zusak. It's superbly read by Allan Corduner and it made me grin all along my 16km run, so much so that the passers-by smiled and waved at me, thinking I'm grinning at them.

The book is classified as the young adult fiction (does that mean I could consider myself a young adult, since I like it so?) and is narrated by Death! I know, it should be creepy, but it's actually charming! For example, there's the part when Death contemplates taking a vacation in some densely populated tourist area, then concludes that it probably wouldn't be welcome. I'm only an hour and a half into the story and so far we're following the German side of late 1930s and during the WW2 through the main character--a 10 year old orphaned German girl. If it continues in the same manner, I will immensely enjoy next 13 hours of running.

SPA on wheels

Ah, the things people do while driving to work! I've seen it all: eating from a plate or a bowl held in lap; shaving; rummaging through things on the next seat, or even on the back seat; and, of course, women doing their hair, uncurling the curlers, applying make-up. All of that on the highway in quite significant speed.

This morning we passed by a Honda Accord with four ladies aboard and all of them--driver included--held little mirrors to their faces and were busy with brushes and pencils. It brought the idea for business--imagine a cosmetic salon on wheels! A van that would pick up a lady on her way to work, a cosmetician inside would do her hair, make-up and nails by the time she reaches her workplace. As the business grows, a massage table can be added and, for longer commutes, maybe even a soak-in tub.

Losing to win

This recession is getting the best of me. I totally neglected my blog. Pretty much like everyone else, we are laying low, trying to consolidate our expenses and not to think what would happen if either one of us loses job. Which brings me to the point--some months ago I was interviewed for a job at CBC. I even blogged about it here. I was later told by one of the interviewers that their decision came to me and one other candidate and that the other one won at the end. Well, last week CBC terminated around 800 jobs across the country and the position I interviewed for is gone. Funny, sometime losing means winning at the end.

P.S.
A colleague with an overwhelming sense of self-importance concluded that the corporation which owns our newspaper will file for bankruptcy protection this summer. Although he is not the person I trust wholeheartedly, this is not the first time such rumor circulates, but this time it was followed by unsettling news on the public TV saying that our company plans to restructure this summer. I wonder what exactly "restructuring" means.

Bunnies at large

I woke up at 6am to go for my long weekly run (29 km). As I opened the door to the backyard, a small brown rabbit looked at me. I walked toward her, but she wasn't at all perturbed and moved slowly away step by step. Or, should I say hop by hop? At the fence another brown bunny of the same size (a brother? a sister? a lover?) joined the first one, and the two of them hopped away across the neighbor's lawn and into the thinning darkness of the predawn.

That, at least, solves the mystery of the strange poop we found in the backyard a week ago.

Living in Recession

Working in a media company isn't a good thing these days. With the economy downturn advertisers, its main source of income, turned away. As a result, we are in a dire position. Banks blocked the loans. There was a deadline by the end of February to come up with a solution for the company's financial problems. That deadline is now extended for 2 weeks. There are rumors that some assets will have to be sold, and some liquidated in order to re-pay the debt. Suddenly, my job doesn't feel safe any longer. I mean, as safe as it is within the company, it won't help much if the whole firm is shut down. Of course, the situation is the same everywhere else in the industry, so chances of finding other job of the same level is literally non-existing. I think I saw a neighborhood coffee shop is looking for help. Here I come. Cafe Latte anyone?

Traffic

I don't get the traffic in Toronto! We always leave home at the same time. On Mondays and Tuesdays the ride to work is usually nice and easy. On Wednesdays, however, it's slow and seems like there are more cars on the road. Aren't those same people working 5 days a week? Where are they on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays? Maybe they are sleeping in, and wake up early only in mid-week? Whatever the explanation for this phenomenon is, I hate driving to work on Wednesdays.

A tiny satisfaction today happened during the unexplained slowdown on the road. It turned out to be caused by the police who stopped a BMW. Maggie and I both cheered them and high-fived each other. BMWs are not only a status symbol on the streets of Toronto, they are the asshole-markers. Let me explain: for example, if someone is tailgating you, or cuts you off, or simply drives erratically with no regard for others, chances are in almost 50% of those cases the car is a BMW. The brand has become a license for its owner to do as he/she pleases in traffic. It's almost like telling us "I have a Beemer, therefore I have money, and with money comes power, and with power comes importance, and since I'm more important than you, I'll drive as I please and you get out of my way." That's why every Beemer pulled aside by the cops is a small victory for the rest of us.