The Australian Open started yesterday! I'm sure you can understand how over the moon I am about this!! So, since this will be my first "AO" post, I believe it's only fitting that I post about Roger, right? That's what I thought. So Roger played a relative unknown, a qualifier, Kudryavtsev, beating him in 3 straight sets, 7-5, 6-2, 6-2. Enjoy!
Click on the above stills to see something cool! :-)
I watched this spoken word a while back that not only lays it out right, it shows you the alternative. There's no grey area...religion is what is plaguing societies, communities, countries and the world today! Denominations, doctrines, what to dos and what not-to-dos are what is driving man away from God and He is forever trying to connect with us. Once the religiosity veil is removed and BURNED, there will always be a rift. Religion is the foe...a relationship is the key.
With the new year for some of us comes Tax season!!! Fun!
There are a few changes to filing this year and I thought to share them with you. Yes, the accountant in me is showing....even though I don't actually file taxes at work at all (EVER)
- Deadline to file taxes this year is April 17th (April 15th, the usual day is a Sunday and the 16th, Monday, is a public holiday, so there you go). You, of course, can obtain for an extension to FILE till the 15th of October. Now this is for filing, not paying taxes. So, if you owe the state or the federal government taxes (Hopefully, not the case), deadline to pay or make payment arrangements is still April 17th in order to avoid penalties and additional interest.
- Business mileage rates changed for 2011 mid year from 51 cents per mile to 55.5cents per mile
- For the self-employed, the health insurance deduction no longer offsets the self-employment tax. Previously, workers were able to reduce their taxed amount on the Schedule SE by the amounts paid for health insurance premiums (bummer). You, however, can still take the deduction on your Form 1040 as an adjustment to income (which only goes so far...again..bummer).
- If you're considering doing your own taxes, consider Turbo Tax. It's an online tool that helps you get the most bang for your buck. It's ridiculously user-friendly; it opens up options that you would ordinarily not think about that usually adds to your bottom-line. I use it and I love it! It's fantastic!! Try it out and let me know how it panned out for you. If you have any questions on how to use it, or if you have any tax questions at all, feel free to add a comment or email me at tabiola1029@gmail.com
I've had quite a few people (a lot of whom I didn't think knew I had a blog!!) ask me " Tola, wassup with your blog? When are you gonna post somethin'?" My sincerest apologies for the break in transmission, I was away in the motherland....and twas a grand ol' time!!!
This trip home was definitely more fun-filled and fulfilling than my last. I had a lot of weddings and engagements that I attended from the mainland to the island, I met a lot of new and awesome people and reconnected with my old friends. My girl, Ope was a stunning bride (picture below), Lola was beautiful (as usual), Sister Titi was absolutely gorgeous, Kehinde was the quintessential gushing bride!
I love Nigeria! There's always something to do, somewhere to go, people to see. Believe me, all that applied. I got to see my Yoruba-turned-Ghanian friend who I lost contact with since 2001 (one of the highlights of my trip), attended over 5 weddings and 6 engagements, went to various parties, mixers and sometimes, just plain went out! It was fantastic.
I think the downside of living in Lagos is the horrendous traffic! The traffic is SICK! I had three unfortunate encounters with the third-mainland bridge traffic. Needless to say, it is absolutely important to plan your trip around the moods of the outside! Because if you don't, you'll end up in stand-still traffic for upwards of 4 hours for a trip that should've taken only 45 minutes! Imagine that! Now, if you had the bad luck of getting into a car with spotty air-conditioning, then you're toast 'cos the heat was another matter!
I do not kid when I say the minute you step out of your door and you come in contact with that heat, you begin to melt..literally! I usually run into the car to avoid the trace of sweat that runs down my back if I spend more than two minutes in the heat. Now, don't get me wrong, I don't mind the heat! No, sirey! It's just as bad as summer in Maryland. It's the traffic and heat combo that I can't deal with! I mean, come ON!!
Gosh, I miss that place!! I miss it soo much! And I left only 5 days ago. It's so tough to think about it! I had sooo much fun! Any more fun and it'd have been illegal! I can't wait to get back....!
Here are few pictures chronicling my beautiful time in the Federal Republic of Nigeria!
Looking forward to going back...soon!!
Spent a grand ol' time with Pirate and TJ
Leaving Sister Tyty Akinyosoye's wedding
With my one of my bestest friends, Ronke!
The beautiful Ope Awosan and her husband
Mr. and Mrs Awosan
The Akinyosoyes
Elgizzle and Ariztos
Look at my cuzzo's expression..priceless!
PS: This song was played at literally EVERY PARTY I attended...now I'm hooked!
