Advance notice: I'm a long time Bronco's fan...blame my dad.

Well, the outcome was what I desired, but the path to get there was, at best, tedious.  C'mon, when the most memorable event of the Superbowl was Beyonce almost biting it on stage, things were moving slow in Arizona.

And yet, the outcome was pleasant, if not satisfying.  Sort of like business.  I'd LOVE to hit the big one, over the fence, out of the park, split the uprights, whatever.  But the fact is, most of business is boring.  Doing the next right thing.  Making smart decisions, and getting up and doing it all over again then next day.  Your team suffers some injuries, and even replaces players throughout the year.  In the end, what we normally get, if we are lucky, is results that are pleasing, but not earth-shattering.  So yeah, as much as I hate to say it, like the Broncos yesterday, it's doing the small, daily tasks and processes the right way, every day, to provide the desired outcome.

​Kind of like life, eh?

In the past year my wife and I moved from the Monterey, California area, to Ocean Springs, Mississippi, and then back to California.  But this time we aren't in the sparsely populated (by comparison) Monterey Peninsula.  Instead, we are in Van Nuys (part of the Greater Los Angeles Metropolitan Area).  Now, just as a point of reference, there are approximately 19 million people in the L.A. area.  There are 3.5 million people (give or take) in the entire state of Mississippi.  Human Density is, well, something I don't do particularly well with.  (Forgive me Dr. Looper for ending a sentence with a preposition.)

Having said that, I'm amazed at how much I enjoy living with and near all these crazy people.  From the window I'm sitting near, cars are whizzing by and I can see Thrifty Telephone Answering Services, a shop simply called "Donuts", an insurance company called "Insurance", apparently, a Clinica Medica, the New Style Beauty Salon, something called "Ria", and a 7-11.  

And all that is just on the corner I can see.

Yet, a couple miles from here is my apartment that offers me a 200+ degree view of amazing mountains, palm trees, and a never ending landscape of the tops of homes from my third story balcony.  I've had the best mexican food in my life by accident a couple weeks ago here, and there are too many independent restaurants for me to possibly eat in over the next several years....within walking distance from my apartment.

So, maybe something has shifted in me.  I'm digging the variety, the diversity, and the possibilities.  I"ll put up with all you people in the meantime.  

At the time of this writing there are 34 days until your tax return is due (for an individual). This is when most of us get that nagging feeling that sounds something like, "yep, I should get on that".  Then, of course, we do nothing for a few more weeks.  Not judging, just stating the obvious.  

I have a confession.  As a former tax accountant (and thereby unable to do MY taxes during tax season), I ALWAYS filed for an extension.  Now that tax accounting is not my primary profession, I always file by April 15th, right?  Ehhhh, not so much.  The truth is, it's easier to put it off because the IRS is so willing to let me wait until October 15th to file my taxes.  Take two minutes to file an electronic extension, and then forget about it for another half year.  Ahhhhhh....back to the beach.

One small problem though...while you can get an extension to FILE your taxes, you can't get an extension to PAY your taxes.  Oh, and then that other nagging problem...another deadline, and six months longer to forget where you put receipts, W2's, 1099's, bank statements, etc., etc.  So, while I'm never going to be the poster child for filing and paying by the 15th of April, I will encourage you to "do as I say, not as I do".  You'll save yourself a little panic, and hey, who knows?  Maybe you'll get a refund and be able to afford another trip to the beach.