Tax time...

Well, I know tax season is almost over, but I procrastinated this year about getting our taxes done. I guess it was due to the fact that I have little time at home and didn't want to spend my quality chill time getting things organized for taxes. I also procrastinated on finding a CPA in the area to do our taxes, so by the time I got around to calling a few, they were not accepting anymore clients:( The one that was still taking clients wanted $600-700 to do my taxes! I could understand if I had a business or something, but no this was just for my personal taxes, and then they wanted another $500-600 for Mikhail's return. See normally I just do my own taxes, but since we now own a home, but we are not married, I really wasn't sure what to do with the Mortgage Interest and how to split the First Time Homeowners interest free loan that we were taking advantage of. So what did I do? Well, I didn't call them back! But one of my customers at J.Crew heard me complaining about the cost and advised me of this great tax guy, who ended up being in the same area I lived and he was very reasonable. We went to see him yesterday to get the returns done and WOW am I getting a fat return!! Can't wait to see this enter my account....counting down the next three weeks...should hit right before I leave for the ECCS. Time to pay off some credit cards!

Well all this tax organization, got me thinking about my horse expenses, so I got very organized and created a spreadsheet to track everything!! Well its good to help me stay organized, but very scary to see how much I spend every month....Anyway, if anyone is interested in it, you can download it from here. It's scary when you see everything in black and white, huh! Or should I say purple;) With every entry I make, I also create a comment so I can match those numbers to my recipes and checks I keep. If you have any questions, please let me know. It's really not that hard to use.

Did I mention that I got around to ordering the Q-Baby Jeans and got them in very quickly from Rods. The dark wash was back ordered, but I got them in Black and they seemed a little big. So I found out that the Tractor Supply carried them and made a trip down to one last weekend. Of course they don't carry the 38" inseam, but the 36" are actually long enough for everyday riding. Amazingly enough, in the dark wash I can fit in both the 9 and 11. Of course the 11 has a little more breathing room, so I have worn them to the barn a couple times to see how much they stretch, cause I hate when my jeans stretch out too much. They don't seem to stretch too much, but I still went ahead and ordered the 9 in a 38" inseam from rods since the 11 were back ordered. I also need to exchange the black ones for a size smaller as they are actually a little bit larger then the dark wash. I also ordered black CG Low Rise jeans in slim as they are on sale at Rods. I asked around to see if the slim cut is smaller in the hip/waist area to make sure to order the right size. Everyone assured me that the thigh area was the only area that got smaller, well not true. The 11's were too tight, like major muffin top going on. So I need to exchange these for the next size up. These sizes are crazy!! Oh I also bought a pair of the Cash jeans as well which are similar to the CG Georgia's without the stretch and a pair of the Wrangler Premium patch. Well the Premium patch are going back. I realized when I got home, they are just a little too low for what I like in riding jeans.

On to saddle shopping...not doing so great. Phil sold a bunch of his saddles at the Spring Breakout. He did get some on trade ins, but nothing that catches my eye. Actually a lot of the used saddles he has right now are below $5000 which is unusual, but nothing I like. As for the private sales, well there is not much out there either:( Right now there are two that I am considering. They both were custom made. One has a silver horn with the 45* corners, but it has minimal silver and an unusual tooling design that I am just not crazy about. Plus he is asking more then what he paid for it brand new four years ago!! Phil advised me that it should be in the $4500-5000 price range but since he hadn't seen it, he can't say for sure. This guy is asking $6500. The saddle cost $6400 new. I haven't talked price to the guy yet, cause I am just not in love with the saddle and if I am going to spend all this money on a saddle, I want to be like "That's the one!" Spike Robert's also has her custom for sale. I had seen it a while back on tack trader, but thought she had sold it since it is no longer on there. It's pretty and different. It has silver conchos on it, but no silver horn. She is asking $6000, but I haven't talked to Phil yet to see what he thinks the price should be on it. I'll probably call him on Monday, since I have already bugged him enough this week. If Phil doesn't get any saddles that I like before and during the ECCS and no one else approaches me with a saddle they have for sale, then I will probably just go with Spikes. That is if she still has it. Oh I forgot, someone going to the ECCS has a Harris for sale too, but I haven't gotten much details about it yet. But seriously, this should be this hard!!! It's not like I am looking to stay under $2000 or something. Well I would love to find a saddle that I like for cheap, but I doubt it is going to happen.

Connie had us working on some horsemanship patterns this past weekend. Kind of helps us determine what transitions we need to work on. He really wasn't that bad and was catching on fairly quickly. Every time I ride, I also trot poles with him. He's not a natural, but is coming along nicely. I just need to figure out the correct pace with him so he gets his striding correct until he learns to adjust his pace better. Overall, Woody is improving every time I ride him. I am very happy with him and can't wait to start showing! Connie also believes that he is just starting to get over his injury, that the laser therapy is really helping him. I had the vet come out today to adjust him again, so he should be really good this weekend. Hopefully I will have time tomorrow to work on showmanship before I leave to go to a wedding. I think I really need some one on one time with Connie on this, as I feel I need some work on finishing touches.

Oh Amy....I know Mono is nothing to mess with. The funny thing is, when I had it, I didn't know I had it. What the doctor told me in December, that this was like a flare up and that it wasn't contagious. But recently getting out of bed has become ridiculous. I really need to get back to the doctor to have my blood work done again to see what is going on!

Christina