[PauletteGoddard]

Here's a recipe for an Income Tax Cocktail:

1 dash Angostura bitters
The juice of 1/4 orange
1/4 sweet vermouth
1/4 dry vermouth
1/2 dry gin

Shake well and strain into cocktail glass.

I just saved blog readers a moany groany post (for a change. usually I am not that generous) and will focus on my successes. My failures I revisit and berate myself mentally daily, in lieu of parents to do it for me (which is why I drink an Income Tax Cocktail):

40% hourly rate increase since November 2005
Get occasional recognition awards at work for superlative customer relations and service: believe it or don't!

Best year ever for adjusted gross income: saved 20% of gross outside retirement accounts, 20% of gross inside as well...
Made maximum contribution to Roth IRA for 2007

Started Direct Stock Purchase Plans for some recession-proof, global companies, others in blue chips.

Went on vacation of a lifetime: driving down and up Pacific Coast in a convertible, visited some wonderful locations and stayed at marvelous accommodations. Now I know what sunshine looks like!

Made energy efficiency improvements. Shame they're not really showing up on my bill... However, I am spending $584 less per year on energy than the average residence in my area.
Reduced # of car tank fill-ups per year from 70 to 17.

Went back to church, alone, last month for regular service. Now the husband and boy, unwashed heathens, want to join me.

Reconnected with friends of my late parents. They recognized me right away, after thirty-two years!

Grew yummy tomatoes.

Found time to volunteer at child's school, despite working full-time.

Am steadily finding local kindred spirits, despite having so little time.