Spring Break 2K9!

Well, yet another spring break has come, and I think I love them more each year. Originally, I was hoping to go to Colorado this year to do some skiing, but plans fell through, and economics just weren't on my side. In addition, I decided I need to remain a disciplined academic this week, as I have a big six-hour conference presentation next Thursday in Charlotte, North Carolina. I'll be quite thankful when that's done and off my plate.

One of my yearly spring break traditions in recent years has been to try and get my taxes done. Yesterday, I sat down with a fresh batch of iced coffee and all sorts of W-2's and other forms that keep showing up in my mailbox with pretense and presumption. For extra fun this year, I get to figure out how to take care of taxes in three states: Illinois (where we lived in 2008 until mid-August), Ohio (current residence), and Indiana (where Joy works). Needless to say, the frustration mounted to a level where even my hazelnut iced latte made it difficult to recover. So far, I think Illinois and Indiana state taxes are both done. Ohio kicked me out of their online system and told me to call them; when I did call them, they were no longer open, so maybe I'll try again today. Now I need to figure out this whole county tax thing in Ohio and Indiana that they don't do in Illinois, which is like an extra lap in the game.

But for now, I'm content in the world of academic student, where my funding is guaranteed for at least 3 or 4 or even 5 more years. I was reminded of my thankfulness for this last night when I read this article on the New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/07/arts/07grad.html?em. Do you think the job market will change before I'm done? Otherwise, maybe I'll just become the world's worst tax-accountant.