giving (tax) credit where accreditation is due

two major pieces of news tonight:

1. today, i did my taxes. i will be getting a nice refund. it took me nearly 2 ½ hours to do, on paper with pencil, the old-fashioned way. (somewhere, my friend heather is shaking her fist at her computer screen, wailing, “whyyyyyyyyy?! why will you not convert to e-filing?!?!?!”) it took me that long because, just as i was finishing up my working copy, i realized i’d left out a major deduction...one that, unfortunately, would affect my net income and, therefore, nearly every single calculation in the entire return. it was frustrating, but ohhhhhh did i ever feel accomplished when i signed my return and put it in its envelope to send off the to the government for processing. even better that they’ll be giving me money, instead of the other way around. yay! i hadn't even planned on doing them today, but decided i had no choice after i realized i'd be busy for much of the next two weeks because...


2. when the annual HotDocs film festival kicks off later this week (it starts april 19th and runs to the 29th), i will be attending...as an accredited member of the media. (omg!) :-D most of you are familiar with my annual TIFF diaries for Moviepie, and i’m pleased to announced that 2007 with mark the debut of vickie’s HotDocs diary. same location, new content! all documentaries, all the time! unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your opinion), the diary may be slightly less snarky than its TIFF counterparts, mainly because the fest is being nice enough to let me attend and see whatever movies i want for *F*R*E*E*, and i’d feel like an asshat if i turned around and bit the hand that fed me free films. plus, i find the smaller toronto film fests to be much more user-friendly and accommodating – not to mention MUCH more affordable – so there’s not really much to gripe about. i pick up my official press package, including ID badge and assorted event invitations (!), on friday...one day after the fest starts, which is sort of weird.