Tonight's picture was taken in April of 2006. Mattie was four years old. It was Easter and we took Mattie out to lunch at his favorite restaurant. I truly did not know they were going to have a life sized bunny! At first Mattie was scared when this big furry creature approached him, but once I explained that the bunny was friendly, Mattie was less anxious. Mattie posed with the Easter Bunny and even held his hand. Mattie was far braver than me. Because at Mattie's age, I would have dove under the table and I would have stayed there until the bunny moved away!
Quote of the day: Confidence, courage and determined spirit are vital for surviving hard times. ~ Lailah Gifty Akita
This morning, I woke up at 6am. I was determined to get through to the IRS telephone system. I wasn't sure how I was going to do it, but I wasn't giving up! Believe me, I can understand why someone would give up, because the automated phone system is a nightmare. It is NOT user friendly, you can go around in circles forever, and never get through to a live person. Instead, the system either disconnects you or directs you to their website. Which is useless if you have a specific problem!
I have been working with three different IRS telephone numbers. I gave up totally on the main number. I couldn't figure out how to break through the system to get a live person. Believe me I tried! I remember when I was a kid, my lifetime friend Karen and I played a video game that I no longer remember the name of.... Karen will, she's good like that. The point of the game was to figure out clues in order to collect items that could be used to get you out of whatever location the video person was trapped in. I can't tell you how we would work on different scenarios in order to find a way out! I felt like getting through to the IRS phone system requires similar skills.
Turns out the only number that I found helpful, was the IRS help center. Once I called it, I refused to answer the automated questions and instead said to the system.... I need to schedule an appointment. That got me in around 7am. While waiting an hour on the phone in a cue, I eventually spoke to a person. I told her my issue and she put me in a cue to talk to the refund department. I waited in the cue for an hour and 30 minutes. You want to know what happened? I then got disconnected. I was livid. By that point, I had to get my dad up, showered and dressed. But then at 10am, I started the process again, using three different phones. Not every call goes through! If there are too many people calling or too many in cue, the system literally hangs up on you. Around 10:15am, I got in with one of the phones. I was literally in a cue for two hours! Finally someone answered the phone. I lucked out.... I got the A team, or as I told her.....the IRS angel! She laughed, and was flattered.
After 4.5 hours on the phone today, I learned that this was an erroneous check which I need to send back. The IRS angel said to me.... your parents are so lucky to have such a bright and persistent daughter. I am sure the majority of people who get a check cash it. But I knew cashing a check would have ramifications on this year's taxes! I was correct! So I feel very happy that I can put this issue to bed.
While trying to get through to the IRS today, I also got a call back from Fairfax County. I left a message yesterday to try to get down to the bottom of the closing fees my bank is quoting me for a mortgage assumption. Seriously what the bank quoted me to assume the mortgage (of which I am already on!) is enough to make one physically and emotionally sick! Today, I met a county angel, and I have her direct phone number. She assured me that the state and county fees won't apply to me because I am already on the mortgage. This is important for me to know and verify independent from the bank. So two big phone calls today, and though none of this may seem earth shattering..... it is to me. I am accomplishing tasks that I never thought I was capable of doing independently.
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