Last Days Of April

Every April Betty and I have to file tax returns for seven people, a marathon of sorts.

We crossed the finish line at around 10:00PM Thursday night when we batch submitted all the files via the Internet. In anticipation of my refund, I had placed an order earlier that day for two Pentax lenses, a 12-24mm F4 ultrawide angle zoom, and the 77mm F1.8 Limited, reputed to be one of the best lenses ever produced by any company, bar none. Very, very hard to find in stock to boot. They arrived Friday, from Edmonton. I was impressed by the one-day delivery time, and the store's willingness to price-match.

On Saturday morning, we took Matthew to the doctor's for his immunization and chicken pox shots, in preparation for kindergarten come September. Took it like a man. In the afternoon, the four of us went to Wing Nuts on Main Street for a "small bite" that morphed into our very late lunch, a decadent one at that: deep-fried chicken wings and drumettes (skin-on, of course). Twelve Honey Garlics, twelve Smokehouse BBQs, six Spicy Thai Peanuts, six Jamaican Jerks, two cans of pop, and a side of fries later, we were off to Costco. I bought the latest issue of Men's Health there, probably out of guilt.

Sunday, I went to the Fred Herzog exhibition at the Vancouver Art Gallery (my second time) with two friends from work. I think they enjoyed the photos. I, for one, enjoyed their company, especially their astute remarks about Herzog's wonderful prints. We did lunch and parted ways.

Damn glad that tax season is over. And oh yes, I won a $300 travel package at work. Can things be any better?—a tax refund, a prize, and the Canucks in the playoffs! (Tongue firmly planted in cheek.)