Hannah vs. IRS

Phew, I just finished my taxes round two and I'm exhausted!!  I was rejected on my first e-file attempt because some of my numbers didn't match up.  So I went through each line and took pain-stackingly accurate measures to make sure that I didn't miss anything.  Hopefully this is it and I'll be getting my refund check soon.  It's going straight to my visa application fee fund.  And what's left will go towards my credit card... or a new couch.

My Aussie and I are starting the new apartment search this week.  It's exciting and awful all at once.  Exciting because we will finally have our own place and not have to share with 4 of his university friends (I will note that they are really great, nice guys but it's time, you know).  Awful because its such a freaking rat race to get to these timed inspections.  There was one today that ran from 5:00 PM to 5:05 PM, and that was not a typo.  Sydney has such a shortage of proper housing that these realtors will literally shut the door to the apartment at the cutoff time and not let anyone in, not even if you have the bank account of Donald Trump and the reputation of Mother Teresa.

So we are mapping out our Saturday and hoping to get in at least four inspections.  You have to have 100 points of identification, copies of bank statements, passports, driver's license, utility bills and a perfectly filled out application ready to hand over if you like the spot.  My last apartment was a bit of a "Monet" (nice from a distance but once you got close, it was a wreck) so my parents want me to really make sure I do a thorough check in each place.  But with the strict time limit and overwhelming turnout of interested renters, it's going to be tough.

Who knows, maybe by the end of the week I'll be holding on to my new apartment lease??  And a confirmed ACCEPTED tax return??  It sounds too good to be true but we'll see.  Say a little prayer!!!