Reflections

Well, for the past 2 years (since I became a homeowner), I’ve been doing my taxes using TaxCut. Last year, I got both my federal return and my state return in less than 2 weeks. I was MORE THAN PLEASED with my return for only owning a home for 5 months of the past year.
So, I expected similar amounts this year, but in proportion to the whole year. Um… WRONG!!! I ended up getting a little bit less this year. I’m confused, but at least it’s a return, and I don’t have to pay them.
Well, I’ve already submitted my tax returns this year, and have already received my state refund, when I get something interesting in the mail…
I got a 1099 from the state of Virginia, saying that I got a refund of $540 from my taxes last year… and that I need to claim that on my taxes this year.
WHAT???!!!??? You’ve got to be fucking kidding me!!
I have to claim an additional income of $540 that was a return to me because I overpaid my state taxes last year? Didn’t I already claim that amount as income last year? And pay taxes on it? Overpaid it, even? And now I have to claim it this year? Even though I’ve already filed my taxes? FUCK THAT!!!
That sounds like I’m having to pay taxes on the same income twice!!!
If anyone who reads this knows any more about this, please email me at BCunningham2 (at) gmail.com, or click on the Comments link below.

Sorry for the delay in adding updates.
First of all, Bo is back home now. He got to go home last week on Thursday. It’s simply amazing to me that someone can have brain surgery on Tuesday and go home on Thursday! Simply amazing. When I got to see him on Wednesday night, he was in great spirits! I also just happened to be there when they switched him from the ICU to a normal hospital room. I had no idea that when I’d see him the next day, it would be at home!
While Bo was in the hospital, Missy’s mom (who was watching Jeremy) got a little sick (probably more from worrying than anything). So, when Bo came home from the hospital on Thursday, he walked in to the house, and told her that he was back home to take care of her. Typical of Bo’s sense of humor!
The doctors said that the tumor looks benign, but that they had to send it to the laboratory for testing to be sure. As I mentioned before, he’ll be taking anti-seizure medication for the next 6 weeks, and that’s pretty standard following any neurological surgery.
He’s got 35 staples in his head, going from between the ear and sideburn, across the top of the head, to between the other ear and sideburn. He originally had some swelling on one side of his head and face (including a swollen and black eye), and when they removed the bandages, swelling began under the other eye. The doctors say that’s pretty normal for after these types of surgeries. Bo tells me the face and eye swelling has pretty much gone away, although he’s noticed some swelling in his forehead area — again, normal. He’s supposed to have his staples removed on Thursday, and the doctors and nurses have said that removing staples is less painful than removing stitches.
Although Jeremy acted a little angry when Daddy came home, it wasn’t long before he was back to normal. I think he gave Missy a harder time for being away, while she was spending time at the hospital. When I came by on Thursday, Jeremy was still brdiging the gap between being angry at Daddy for being away and glad that he was home. So, I asked Jeremy if he wanted to go upstairs and give Daddy a hug and a kiss, and he shook his head no. And when I asked him again, he said “OK”, and went upstairs to give him that well-needed hug and kiss. From then on, he was Daddy’s buddy again.
At any rate, Bo’s home and doing fine! He’ll probably be out of work for 2-3 months (although he doesn’t know that yet), but I bet he’ll be riding around in the work truck sooner than that!

Bo’s surgery went very well today. The doctors removed all of the tumor, and it looks like it’s benign. They won’t know for sure until Friday.
At any rate, Bo was a trooper. Once he got out of the recovery room, he’s been pretty close to his normal self — joking around with the doctors and nurses.
He’s awfully sore right now — his face is somewhat swollen and he has a black eye. The doctors say that he shouldn’t be surprised if he swells more, even to the point where both eyes could swell completely shut. He also says that he’ll probably be more sore (in pain) tomorrow as well. My mom mentioned that when she kissed him on the forehead, that he remarked that it hurt.
He’s also very tired. The unfortunate part of this, is that the nurses have to wake him up and check on him about every 2 hours all night long tonight.
But, in good news, he’s had an IV removed, as he’s eaten a meal (albeit a liquid meal). They’re going to wake him up tomorrow morning at 6 am and see if they can get him moving around and to try to use the bathroom. If all of that goes well, he’ll probably have his decatheter removed and be moved out of the ICU into a regular room. But the best news of all, is that if all goes well, that he might be able to go home on Thursday!
That is simply AMAZING to me!!! Having Brain Surgery on Tuesday, and going home on Thursday!!! Simply amazing!!!
At any rate, it’s definitely good news on all fronts! The surgery went well, and the recovery is well on its way. No one could ask for anything more! And I know that everyone’s prayers, Bo’s good spirits, and lots of love, made all of this happen!
Needless to say, I’m really ready to see him while I’m in town on Thursday. Depending on how my day goes tomorrow, I might make it to the ‘burg in time to see him then, too. But, if all continues as it’s been going, I might just be able to see him in his own home on Thursday! That’s got to be great!

For the past couple of weeks, my brother, Bo, has had some double-vision problems. He’s also coincidentally been taking an asthma medication for the same time span. So, it was natural for him to assume that the double vision was a side effect of the meds.
So, on Thursday, Bo went to the doctor to request a different medication. But the doctor said that double vision wasn’t a side effect of his medication. So, he sent Bo to an eye doctor. The eye doctor found that there was an enlarged nerve between his eye and his Brain (side note: I originally typed the word “Brian” instead of “Brain” — damn habits, huh?).
So, they took an MRI and a CT Scan, and found that Bo has Brain Tumor. They’re very surprised, as brain tumors don’t appear very often in 30-year olds. They guessed that it may have had something to do with Bo’s former smoking (he’s quit for a little more than 3 years now), but a lung X-ray didn’t turn up anything. For now, they’re pretty puzzled why he has a brain tumor.
So, on this coming Tuesday morning, Bo’s going to have surgery to have the tumor removed. Bo tells me that the doctors guess that he’ll have to spend 5-6 days in the hospital for recovery.
When speaking to Bo, you can tell that he’s a little concerned, but he’s also very confident and very laid-back. He’s still joking around like usual — he told me that he even saw the inauguration ceremony twice (double vision joke). He just wants to get the surgery done, so things can get back to normal. I don’t blame him there.
But, it seems like his more daunting challenge is keeping other people from worrying or even over-worrying on his behalf. He’s mentioned that his wife is really upset (and understandably so!), but he’s said that her worrying is upsetting him! And that’s making things harder.
I’ve also spoken with our mom, who’s also doing the worry thing (again, understandably so!), and I’ve tried to alleviate some of those worries the best I can. Bo doesn’t need us to worry about him right now, he needs our strength.
At any rate, this IS a major surgical procedure! Brain surgery is not easy (it’s not rocket science, but it is Brain Surgery — ok, my joke wasn’t that good, there). And I’m guessing (I haven’t done my research) that there are some bad possible outcomes.
And for that reason, and for the mere fact that he has a wife and son who love and need him very much (as well as tons of family members and tons of friends), just try to keep Bo in your prayers. And also, keep Missy and Jeremy in your prayers too — they’ve got to be just as strong as Bo is for a little while.
I have to be in Lynchburg for a meeting on Thursday, so I’m hoping that I can stop by the hospital to see Bo on Wednesday night (depends on how soon I can get on the road), and if not, then definitely on Thursday afternoon.
I’ll definitely post some progress reports as we know more.

I think that one of the jobs that I envy most is the weatherman. He definitely doesn’t have to know what he’s doing. He can botch a prediction and even joke about it. There’s no other job that I can think of that has such leniency.
So, we were supposed to get 24 hours of snow, starting at 7:00 this morning, and having a total accumulation of 6-12 inches. Bold prediction!
In reality, it started snowing around 11:15 this morning, and we got maybe 2-3 inches, and the snow stopped around 3:30 or 4:00. So much for that call, Mr. & Mrs. Weatherman!!! Great job! At least there was SOME snow, huh?
I’m just glad that it wasn’t enough to necessitate me going into work!
BTW, the picture (above and to the left) was one I took off of my balcony this morning while it was still snowing.

WHFS is no more… well, they’re not rock and roll or alternative anymore.
Today at noon, WHFS changed its format from “The True Rock Alternative” to Hispanic music. WHFS is now known as El Zol (“Siempre de Fiesta”), 99.1, and will feature Salsa & Meringue dance music.
It was announced sometime last year, that the Hispanic Community had outnumbered the Black/African-American/”Whatever the cliche group name is now” Community. Now, the Hispanic Community is taking over radio.
… definitely a different world these days.