So taxes are done and I'm getting a nice refund. I filed for the second year in a row with H&R Block online e-file because it's a free service they have for people that make less than a certain amount. Actually, I think they waived that income restriction and instead will let everyone e-file for free as long as they get to "suggest" upgrading your service (for only $49.95!) every five minutes.

I'm so poor, it's annoying. I signed up for the stock investment plan at work, but I found out it's a post-tax deduction, so I don't get a savings on taxes. Anyway, the plan basically takes 10% of my paycheck into a fund, and at the end of the quarter or whenever it was, they buy as many Starbucks stock as possible with that fund, at 15% off the lowest of the opening or closing prices. All I can say is that had I started a year ago when I could, that stock would have doubled in price by now. Sigh.

Anyway, that means my paycheck is really small, and so that refund doesn't mean "extra money" but more like "keep-paying-the-rent money." Whateley talks about going to Vegas this summer like last summer, and as much as I would like to, I don't think I can currently afford to.

Spring Break has been pretty good so far. By coincidence, Whateley was over in Santa Monica for three days to train (only two blocks from my store!), so we were actually able to hang out during the week. It was cool. A lot of beer. And wine. And cider.

Speaking of wine, I watched "Sideways." Good movie. Makes you want to get into wine. I guess there's more complexity to it than I think. It made me think of the coffee tastings that we did as part of Starbucks training. Well, all I can say about that is, "Umm... it tastes like coffee?"

Another movie I watched recently was "Sin City." It was brutal, but because of the style of the movie, it wasn't gory. I was a bit ewww about Jessica Alba and Bruce Willis, but it's part of the story, so it's not so bad. And Elijah Wood! I... I don't think I can look at his baby blues and think of innocent little Frodo anymore.... I don't care if it's against protocol, I'm going to tell him he was great (and freaky!) the next time I see him... I hope there's a next time.

Anyway, to end this essay, I'm going to work on my bit for the Animation Club. I think we're going to use our funds to get T-shirts since we're nowhere near completing our movie before the year's up. I'd debating on taking a drawing class this summer. Eight all-day Friday classes... but worth it? Four animal drawing, four costumed figure drawing. I guess it wouldn't be too bad. As long as there's no homework.

I haven't been posting my schedules lately, but due to an opener quitting, I'm scheduled to open all next week (except for Thursday and Sunday), and I'm working thirty-two hours. Yipes. Well, it'll make up for the lack of hours I was getting earlier, but it just means that I will have to work on stuff more now.

Okay, off to the computer!