Random 5 for February 15, 2026 – Taxes, anticipation, normal, routines, February

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Tax time! – I rarely procrastinate about anything but for taxes I have a ritual. I pick a weekend to start it. Then I whine about it. Then I find other “more important” things to do. Maybe I’ll do it next weekend or maybe not. The negative anticipation hangs in the air. With the on-line systems, it’s much easier than it used to be. I don’t have to worry about math errors. Maybe it’s just seeing those numbers that annoys me. I’ve whined about it so I’m in the “pull out the stuff and see if I have everything” stage.

Just a postscript – When everyone is celebrating New Year’s Eve, my thoughts are “dang it’s the start of a new tax season!”

Getting back to normal (or as normal as we get) – We are at the tail end of our cat Sasha’s surgical recovery. All that’s left is two more days of antibiotics. Gone is the basket with wraps, surgical tape, medications, treats to entice and other cat recovery tools. So nice to be done with it.

This is one routine I did not give up!

Routines – For me, routines are soothing and keep me on an even keel (or as even as I get). Various events over the winter have upset life — sick cats and relatives, ice encased snow falls and other things that have required serious decisions. Some routines I held onto tenaciously, but some had to fall by the wayside at least for now. Life has a way of providing temporary refuge. The winter Olympics have done that. Watching others traverse the ups and downs of competition has been interesting.

The end of February – We are in the second half of February which is the other winter month with 87 days. I am looking forward to March with previews of spring to come and flowers poking through the cold ground. For me, sunshine and warmth are great healers.

So how was your week?

53 thoughts on “Random 5 for February 15, 2026 – Taxes, anticipation, normal, routines, February”

  1. We actually got our taxes done already, which is a record for us. It was a lot more straightforward this year, so we got all our documentation and got it done! That is all down to Dave – if it was up to me I would still be complaining, so I have to give him credit 🙂

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    • I was expecting to finish this weekend. Just waiting for a few 1099s from one institution. Yesterday, I got a message that they made an error and to wait until they send out a corrected version. That gives me a free pass to procrastinate although I like to get done on the early side. I don’t like spending time on taxes when the weather is good outside.

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  2. We’ve already sent out tax information to our accountant, which is the earliest I’ve ever finished. I sweated this one out because it’s also the most I’ve ever withdrawn from savings to cover all the expenses we had last year. Alas, our accountant came back with good news that we’re getting money back. I’m breathing again. But because we sent everything so early, I was bound to miss something. Sure enough, a notification from AARP that I donated $70 last year; I had forgotten that one. $70 is a lot to me, but probably not Uncle Sam. Still though. I wish you well with your return. Take your time!

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    • Kudos to you. I’m missing a few forms to finish but I did the first “opening” of the file! I always sweat until I do the first draft and see that there is a refund. I don’t care how much as long as I don’t have to pay in.

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  4. I’m so proud of myself. I did my taxes as soon as I had all the documents on 2-1. I’m not usually like that. I am always sure there’s plenty of time. And I generally think that right up until 4-15 and then I still consider researching extensions. But I’m all done. It’s like I gave myself a gift.

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  5. I’m with you on tax season…….I put it off until the last minute and then it’s a scramble to get all the paperwork together. ggggrrrrrr…….

    I’m enjoying the Olympics and love the Cat version! 🙂

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    • I did the first part of taxes — making sure I had everything and I found a discount for the filing software. Now I’m in a holding pattern until the last of the forms come in. Feeling ok about it but I hate doing them.

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  8. I love the feline Olympics cartoon.

    I’ve been enjoying the real Olympics too. My favorite event is the pairs skating. But I also enjoy even a quick look at some of the other events. The snow boarders are crazy, and the cross-country skiers amaze me with their stamina.

    I’m not a sports fan, but since the Seattle Seahawks were playing, I watched and enjoyed the Superbowl, including the Bad Bunny halftime show.

    I’ve just started thinking about taxes.

    I agree that routines are soothing.

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  9. I usually wait until early March for the tax stuff, telling myself “why get it half done and wait for info that is supposed to be here but isn’t yet and then have to mess with it twice?” I went digital for everything and so it doesn’t take as long as it once did, but better to wait then leave something out. The weather has encompassed my thoughts since mid-November as several things have broken as a result of the cold weather and will be costly repairs, so I’m not happy about it. I was just grateful to get out and walk and take some photos and get some normalcy back in my life, rather than the wash, rinse, repeat cycle that has been ongoing for weeks.

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    • The first step in taxes — making sure I have all to docs — is done. I have everything but the download stuff for investments which wont be ready for about 10 days so I’m good with holding off. I found a 20% discount for the tax platform so yay for that!

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      • That’s great for the discount. My investment stuff I’m advised to wait until March 15th. It was not always like that either, but years ago, before downloadable documents were popular, my taxes were already e-filed by the CPA and then I got a document in the mail and had to file an amended tax return. I had to pay to have that done and was not happy about it, so now I wait until at least March 15th, but I essentially have it all compiled and only have to open up the packet of stuff if there is a change.

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          • I told myself last year to be smart and download statements throughout the year, when I got them. I went all digital two years ago. But did I do that in 2025? Nope. This year I’ll aim to be smarter. I wish I had learned how to do taxes years ago. My parents always went to a CPA as my father had deductions for his tools (he was a tool and diemaker) and tool depreciation and also because of being Canadian citizens here on a green card (same as my status then/now), so they and now I never wanted to mess up anything.

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  16. You reminded me of a quote I like by writer Jan Morris who said…there’s strength in routine. I think soothing and an even keel can go along with that.

    Glad the ordeal Sasha and you went though is pretty much over. All things pass…another surefire quote.

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  20. The Feline Olympics graphic was on target! They are true Olympians – cats have hidden talents that they like to pull out of their bag of tricks in the middle of the night just to creatively wake us up. Downhill Stair Leaping, Uphill Bed Sheet Pulling to name a couple. They’re ALL champions of some sort. Glad Sasha is ship-shape after her recovery…….and we’re hoping for an EARLY Spring (or if we can’t have that we’d like to get rid of all this danged ICE!).

    Hugs, Pam

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