April 15

The official deadline for filing taxes. :( We've had our paperwork ready for a while now . . . but we found it hard to bring ourselves to file until the deadline. I wouldn't say we're procrastinators based on this, just unmotivated because although we get a return this year, like many it's already spent. So what's the point of hurrying up the transferring of money when there's no immediate need, right? Vanessa picked up on her daddy's routine for doing taxes pretty quickly. She wanted to sit at the dining room table with her paper and crayon just like her daddy (although he chose to use a pen since the IRS might frown on big chunky colorful words and figures all over the forms. No need for drawing attention to us. :)

For some April 15 is a great day. I have a friend whose birthday is today. Corrie ten Boom and Leonardo da Vinci were also born on this day. In 1923 insulin became generally available. Rand McNally published its first road atlas in 1924. And in 1947 Jackie Robinson broke a racial barrier in baseball when he made his debut for the Dodgers on this day. And on another positive note, many food places and stores are offering Tax Day deals. So keep an eye out! (Hey McGraw-Hill friends -- I hear P.F. Changs is giving 15% off today, not that I'm available. :)