Yesterday I mailed in my federal tax return for 2005. Thursday I mailed the state return. This is a hell of a turn for me.

For several years I simply didn't get the taxes done at all. The year before last I employed an accountant to bring me up to date, and last year I had him to the 2004 returns. Both times he filed for extensions and got them done later than April 15.This year I threw caution to the winds and said I'd go back to doing them myself. I was soured by the incredible cost of having someone else do them.

So I'm proud. Just not as amazed at myself as I think I should be.