Yesterday it was finally time to get a grip on taxes. They got me again, three years running - for cold hard cash out of pocket. Buckets of it. I thought the AMT ordeal was over, but check this out... I paid out $82,000.00 last year in AMT. It's not all that bad because in any subsequent year where you don't pay AMT you can deduct that amount on your normal tax bill. Cool. But the devil is in the details. Because of the way line 26 was subtracted from line 10, I didn't have to pay AMT this year. So I get the credit, right? Nope. I already had a larger tax liability and if the difference is less than zero you don't get the credit this year. Oh and check this out - because of the way the lines are subtracted, they don't allow me to forward the credit onto next year like all the good tax books say. I don't get to take the credit and it's gone forever. The operative word for the day is pissed off. Oh, and I have to pay through the nose out of pocket again because I didn't qualify for the credit. Heck - I'd consider joining the Taliban about now.

The only positive thing about this is that next year I get to file as a small businessman with a legitimate store front. We're second only to oil companies and frozen chicken distributors in the sections of the U.S. Tax Code which are favorable to us. Or I'll be homeless. The only thing that could screw me up for a fourth year is if AOL stock suddenly goes above 50. Then I get to sell all my currently worthless shares and of course old Uncle Sammy boy will step in to scoop up his share of the profits. Over time that works out to be about 75%. Or was it 175%? I forgot.

One of my piano teachers was forced to leave today due to health reasons. I mean like leave as in clearing her affairs and commitments for six months. Ouch. There are already other things looming in the studio arrangements and this was quite sudden. Yikes. She was pretty teary eyed and I was naturally at a loss for meaningful words. She loves to teach piano. Can't imagine what she must be going through. The store lost another life-long teacher just a few months ago and the spot still isn't filled. One day his brain just short-circuited. He's currently learning how to walk again.

And the weekend arrives. Wondder how lung beforre shizh rumm kiks in...