Grumps can suck it, it's Friday!

[mainemike]

There are some great new pics of Jessica Simpson on the internet today, in Daisy Dukes no less.

[maunahaole]

PV panels getting slapped up on the roof this morning.

[72gmc]

^^^ Looking forward to doing the same someday. I'd also like to use the sun to charge my truck. Just need Wrightspeed to make a powertrain for a 1/2 ton pickup.

[mjbabcock]

Rode over a mountain to get to work on a great bike in even greater weather. What a fantastic commute.

[xjoex]

The new Star Wars is on Amazon streaming right now. I'm sick and my evening has now been made 200x better.

-Joe

[EightySixer]

New to me bike day.
I am overwhelmed with gratitude this morning. After selling my bikes, the last one being my XC Race rig last year, all to help with medical bills from an out of network surgery. Forced to leave my well paying job at the power company in high voltage utility and now working for 70% less than I used to make which is barely enough to make ends meet. A by chance stumbling upon, having been looking for a "budget" bike to get back on the trails for three months now. All the good deeds, the fixing friends bikes for nothing, giving away parts to people that needed them, selling things to complete strangers for half what I could command just to see them smile and hear the gratitude when they thank me. That has all come full circle and I was the one needing a hand. Will Jr. from South Jersey, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. She will be loved, she will be ridden oh so hard.

I must say, just to put it in perspective. Guy got it as a present from his family, tried to get into riding and just wasn't his thing. I gladly handed over $500 bucks for this puppy.

2012 GT Zaskar Pro
Mavic Crossmax ST
Fox 32 Kashima TA15
Full Shimano XT
Formula R1's
EC90 Flat bar
Overwhelmed. I can't wait to clean, tune and then introduce her to Brandywine Creek.

Attachment 91619
I was too excited to big ring and all that crap.

[ldamelio]

Flying home dog tired, poorly fed, sleep deprived and constipated from work travel yesterday. Cranky from no riding x 5 days. Morbidly obese guy plops down next to me on crowded, tiny commuter jet. Four hundred pounds if he's an ounce. Eff me; I'm pushed out halfway in the aisle. Turns out he's in the wrong seat and moves up a row. His replacement is a fit looking guy and I eyeball a RAAM sticker on his laptop. I'm watching Scheldeprijs video on Youtube on phone at that point. He asks me if I'm watching Flanders and this strikes up a very pleasant two hour conversation about all things cycling related. Turns out he's a strong cat 2, president of an area club, and RAAM finisher despite similar work/life balance issues to mine. We know a lot of people in common and do many of the same rides and races (albeit at different ages and levels). Very impressive, grounded guy and it was nice to make a new friend unexpectedly.

[Tom]

Plans for this weekend, in no particular order:

- Finish up a minor bathroom overhaul.
- Go out to see a local jazz band with a ringer in from the city
- Ride outdoors twice
- Pay off the mortgage four years early

[davids]

The problem employee is gone. After all my prep work, the HR Director decided that the actual dismissal meeting would be smoother if I wasn’t there (so the incompetent couldn’t focus his anger on me.) Mr. Problem argued about every specific incident I cited, until my boss confronted him about a couple things he knew were lies. That finally shut him up. He was offered the opportunity to resign rather than be fired, and he took it.

And less than three hours later, I promoted a wonderful guy who’s worked for me for eighteen years into the open position. He’d more than stepped up as the situation had deteriorated, proving to me he’s got what it takes to do the new job.

And hey, it’s a long weekend here in Boston. My wife & I took advantage of the holiday to schedule meetings with two landscapers and two architects. Time to get serious about turning this new house into the home we want.

[mmoore]

Heading to the airport tonight with the wife and kid. Heading to California for a week departing tomorrow morning bright and early.

*could also be a grump for next week but im optimistic that the baby will play and enjoy the trip!

[Tom]

In no particular order:

- Riding outside twice and the two mornings will be crisp but beautiful.
- Unpacking the shed, putting the outdoor furniture and barbeque in place.
- Snowblower in the shed, lawnmower out.
- Picking up all the blown down sticks, raking the lawns, weeding the gardens.
- Spreading fox pee. The enormous woodchuck that lives under the shed is the rodent version of a threshing machine.
- Celebrating the demise of the mortgage Saturday night with somebody who can be crisp but is beautiful.

[robin3mj]

-going to NJ this weekend to see family
-will be walking my dog on the beach tomorrow and Sunday
-bringing my IF home after a long exile at my folks place
-finally have the bulk of our nanny situation sorted out
-I'm sitting on a job offer. Not sure if I'll take it or not but nice to have the option

[joosttx]

taxes done

[Matthew Strongin]

taxes done

Extension filed!

[davids]

taxes done

Extension filed!

For the first time, we paid an accountant to do our 2015 taxes. Despite the fact that we got a small refund, he's having us make quarterly estimated payments for 2016. I feel like I'm getting hosed by both our accountant and the IRS...

[EricKeller]

riding the eastern PA fleche tomorrow, from State College to Quakertown, 230 miles. It's a full-up mixture of stupidity and epicness. Hopefully the wind cooperates.

[oopfoo]

For the first time, we paid an accountant to do our 2015 taxes. Despite the fact that we got a small refund, he's having us make quarterly estimated payments for 2016. I feel like I'm getting hosed by both our accountant and the IRS...

Simplified our complicated multi-company tax filings this year by removing an S-Corp, then changing Partnership LLCs to Sole-Proprietor LLCs. Have about 3 fewer filings to deal with. Accountant saves me a LOT of time and headaches, and will go to bat if the business is audited.

Consider your refund an interest-free loan to the government and it'll change your attitude. You want to PAY your taxes, not OVERPAY get them back. Your accountant can help.

[Brandon White]

Extension filed!

You should use our tax accountant! Yes, he is actually good at taxes and being a "super-fan".

[Matthew Strongin]

For the first time, we paid an accountant to do our 2015 taxes. Despite the fact that we got a small refund, he's having us make quarterly estimated payments for 2016. I feel like I'm getting hosed by both our accountant and the IRS...

You should use our tax accountant! Yes, he is actually good at taxes and being a "super-fan".

My accountant is actually fantastic. One of the best around. He's also my father, which means I go after paying clients so extensions are the norm. I just got my refund from last year a few months ago, so I have no problems waiting this time around either.

[ron l edmiston]

For the first time, we paid an accountant to do our 2015 taxes. Despite the fact that we got a small refund, he's having us make quarterly estimated payments for 2016. I feel like I'm getting hosed by both our accountant and the IRS...

-- welcome aboard my brother...
ronnie