Your death grip is loosened, IRS

You guys. There is a light at the end of my Internal Revenue Service tunnel.
Brian and I got a letter today telling us that part of our payment from last month was too much for our balance, and so they would use that extra amount to put towards our 2016 balance.
I read it a few times, because the meaning of it is pretty huge. That letter was telling us that we have paid off our 2012 tax bill, and can now focus on our 2016 amount owed.
Wait a tick... That means that Texas is paid off. That means that in every single way, Texas is in our rear view mirror. No more Texan, dark, rainy cloud hanging out over our lives. We've been paying this bill for five years, and finally, we're done with it.
Even though we have a balance still, it's not the same balance that has been a constant drain on our monthly budget, and that is pretty liberating. And if I can make it work how I want, I should pay off the entire balance in a couple months. And that will be very liberating!
So while there is still a ways to go, a huge weight has been lifted, and that's been enough to give me a spring in my step!

Does the blog count as a side hustle? I wish

ITEM!: I wish I felt as badass as this avatar seems to portray. I don't even know why I picked it, since I'm feeling so very UN-motorcycle chick lately. In fact, I'm quite bored, and seem to be searching for something new to do and get me going. No idea what that may or may not be.
ITEM!: I enjoy the idea of having a "side hustle." At the moment, I have a couple side hustles, including the book I've written and am still editing but have not sent to anyone, and another thing that may or may not help out the family.
ITEM!: Technically, autumn begins this month. Actually, I'll be living with summer temperatures for the next several weeks. I won't see autumn until well into October. I won't lie to you, I hate the thought of not opening my windows for another six or seven weeks or so.
ITEM!: I'm finally feeling healthy enough to move on with life again, hence the return to blogging, and soon, back to the trail. I swear, this particular cold was terribly brutal, but at least, I guess, the victory is in that Sydney only had it for four days, and Brian didn't catch it at all.
ITEM!: I just finished flipping through the pile of magazines that had grown during my sickness, and I'm glad to have them exit my house. The one magazine I will hold on to is, "Halloween Tricks & Treats," that Brian and I picked up at the grocery store a week or so ago. It has some cool ideas, for sure, and is making me excited to get to the Halloween portion of our program. But I hate decorating for Halloween in the heat.
ITEM!: I just want the summer to be over soon.