Jury duty.

Ugh.

Why is it that I’m always on juries?

If you’re like me, seeing the numbers on your 1040 tend to make your blood boil.

My husband and I paid over $35,000 in Federal income taxes for 2007. That’s more than some of my friends make in a year.

We paid $15,000 in Social Security and Medicare taxes through payroll deductions and self employment taxes. A big fat piece of our pie given to someone else, as we’ll never see any of that again. Both programs will be insolvent by the time we retire. Senator Hope and Change would be proud, no?

The state of Arizona took $5,700 in income taxes and the county and other localities hit us up for $3,500 in property taxes. I chose to live in a state with low income and low property taxes. Lucky? No. Good life choices.

Before factoring in sales taxes on the things I buy and gas taxes on every gallon of gas I use…I’ve given government $60,000 this year.

$60,000 and Senator Hope and Change and his lovely bride think I should pay MORE?

How much more?

No, seriously. I’m asking.

How much more of my pie should I give to someone else?  I work over 2400 hours a year for my salary (normal full time is 2080 hours a year), plus extra time outside my W-2 job to help out with our side business.

How much more should I be paying? How much harder should I be working to give my pie away?

Look at me! So self-important, so full of myself!

Ok, not ‘demise’. I’m not important enough for anyone to want to destroy me. I just got tired of trying to think of witty things to say day after day. Burn out set in, and I tuned out pretty much all of blogdom.

Thing is…I missed it. I missed blogging and writing about random things that amused or irritated me. My journal writing was sporadic at best, spasmodic at its worst. The need to write never went away. And with election season heating up, I figured now’s a good a time as any.

So hide the sharp objects ladies and gentlemen, I’m back.

I know I’ve said that before. I’ve let you down in the past. I’ve left you hanging, wanting more. But don’t worry, I’ll make it up to you.

So my Mother will stop nagging me.

He gets his table manners from his father.

….that really should explain my lack of posting.

It is now time to admire my son. He will be 18 months on Thursday.

The big cheesy grin is courtesy of his mother’s genes. Unfortunately, his taste in baseball teams comes from his father’s side of the family.

I taught my son how to say ‘SNOT’ today. He prefers to shout it in your face while you’re laying down on the sofa.

He’s also developed an appreciation for Saliva. No, not the bodily fluid. The band. There’s only so much Wiggles Momma can take before the wiggly sweetness makes me want to vomit.

How many of y’all had the typical New Year’s resolution to be more active/lose weight? How many of you are still sticking to it?

Well, for those of you that are, I’m inviting you to join me on April 7, 2007 for Pat’s Run. Pat’s Run is a 4.2 mile (yes MILES) run through Tempe, Arizona as a celebration of Pat Tillman’s legacy.

Normally, I wouldn’t set foot in Sun Devil Stadium willingly, being a Wildcat and all. But some things transcend rivalries, and this is one of them.

If you’re interested in forming a race team, drop me a note at farrah-at-raisingfarrahzona.com.

My home town is FINALLY known for something other than the Rodney King trial. Forget the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, Jack Bauer just put Simi Valley, CA on the map.

I am a dork, but this is not news.

I’m traveling this great country of ours once again. Just spent some time with Cam & Family, and now I’m spending the rest of my week in the lovely Midwest.

Is it just me, or does anyone else see the curve of the earth when they look off into the horizon out here? It’s so darn flat I worry if I walk too far, I’m going to fall off the planet.

EDIT TO ADD - Please kill me now. There are only two options for news channels at my hotel - CNN and MSNBC. I am in hell. Hell I tell you!