Ignorance Doth Not Bliss Make

I really love learning new things. If there is something that I don't know but am interested in, my auto-response is to be immediately challenged to tackle that unknown subject, and to dominate it.

There are 3 things, however, that have lingered on my list of things that I should know but I don't. Part of me just becomes frustrated and uninterested, and the other part of me says, "Come on, get it together and just learn it already."

1. Taxes
I have moved to so many different states and countries, and have been in different schools getting various scholarships, grants, loans, etc...that when it comes time to do taxes every year, there are so many "gray areas" that I have no idea how to answer the questions on my tax forms. The answer could be yes, but if you take into account such-and-such, then the answer could be no. Drives me insane. So, as ashamed as I am to admit it, I've never done my own taxes. We have a family friend/"tax guy" in Ohio who's always done them very cheaply for me, but this year I went to Jackson Hewitt in Michigan and got completely ripped off. HALF of my tax return went to them (granted, this year's tax return wasn't that large). So infuriating. I am hoping that now that I am settling in one state with a steady job, that next year I can tackle my own taxes.

2. Driving stick shift
Do I really need to know how to drive a stick to survive in this day and age? Absolutely not. I'm not into super fast sporty cars that would require this kind of knowledge, and now that everything is electronic, cars will probably be driving themselves before we know it. But since it is so stereotypical of females to not know how to drive stick, I feel like I should know how. I have a handful of female friends who do drive stick - so good for them! Who knows if I will ever care enough to actually learn (especially since neither Luke nor I have a manual car), but still -it remains on the list.

3. Play chess
My dad tried to teach me when I was little, but every time I tried to learn I would get bored so quickly. I haven't tried to learn in several years, so maybe it's time I give it another chance.

To my credit, I feel as though I've unexpectedly learned a lot of new things in the last few years, so I can't say I've been a complete failure ;) Most of these accomplishments are thanks to my wonderful boyfriend: golf, poker, how to build a stone wall, how to build a deck, how to tile, how to make sushi, how to drive a boat, how to ski, how to be responsible for another life (a dog, but nonetheless, she's still alive, healthy, and happy), and much more!