I have no brilliant topic line.

[ghost2]

I finished my taxes on Tuesday (the 14th), a whole day early. My lack of enthusiasm directly correlated to the fact that I owed money, though not that much. If I'd been entitled to a refund, I would have figured out the things months ago. Anyway, they are done for another year, and I even remembered to sign the return this time. See, if you don't sign it, the IRS mails you an excruciatingly polite form letter that might make you panic, upon seeing the return address, that you're being audited. Of course, this has NEVER happened to me. ;)

Also! I won a laptop in a contest. I'm on a bunch of survey panels, and usually they hand out gift certificates. This time around, I won an actual prize of note, a laptop computer:



Her name is Gwen. Yes, after the Torchwood character. I figured with all the bashing she gets from certain viewers, something positive named after her would be a nice change. Besides, I had to name the computer. When I was setting her up, a "name this computer" screen appeared. Suggestions were things like "Work computer" and "Office computer." I couldn't name her something so bland and impersonal! "Gwen" popped into my head, so that was that.

She is an Acer Aspire something-or-other. Technical details are lost on me. I started her up and she works, and that's pretty much all I care about.

Comments

[wondygal.livejournal.com]

Hey, nice! I've never won anything in a contest ever. And that is a good name, if you ask me. *nods*

[ghost2.livejournal.com]

It's almost the only thing I've ever won in a contest, and it's definitely the best thing.

[livii.livejournal.com]

That's awesome - I'm happy for you, you were hoping to get a new computer sometime, if I recall correctly? And I like the name. :D

[ghost2.livejournal.com]

I already love the computer for its portability. I don't really like to sit in one place while using a desktop--I developed a bloodclot a few years ago that I suspect might have been caused by lack of motion while on the computer. So being in a more comfortable position while using the laptop is a very good thing.

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

Wow! I do surveys too - but I get Amazon gift certificates or £4 into my PayPal a/c. *is envious*

[ghost2.livejournal.com]

I mostly accumulate Amazon certificates, too. This is the first time I've won a real prize due to answering surveys, and I never thought it would happen.

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

Did you have to check it was trufax??

[ghost2.livejournal.com]

Yes, I did check it out right away to make sure it wasn't a scam. But it was a legitimate prize drawing from an established company. :)

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

Hee, good.

[biichan.livejournal.com]

Oh wow, that's awesome.

[ghost2.livejournal.com]

It definitely made my day. At first I thought it was a joke/scam but it was from a legitimate place where I've been doing surveys for years.

[usuallyhats]

Ooo, that's awesome! And excellent name choice too. :)

[ghost2.livejournal.com]

I don't have a Gwen-from-TW icon. I HAVE to get one now. ;)

[happydalek.livejournal.com]

Woo hoo! That is a truly awesome prize. I should look into those survey panel thingies...;-)

[ghost2.livejournal.com]

I think the best prize I ever got prior to this was a T-shirt and a $10 bar tab in a Super Bowl prediction contest.

If you're really interested, a few of the better survey places are Greenfield Online, Testspin, and Global Testmarket. Also the one at mysurvey.com

[thisbluespirit]

Oh, well done! So glad you had something nice. Gwen sounds oddly right for a laptop. :-D

[ghost2.livejournal.com]

Yeah, when I got the notice that I won a prize, I was thinking it was a scam or I'd get some piece of junk. And it totally wasn't. :D