Tom,
  Not me! I didn't ask. But since you mentioned it....
  A hint for next year. Increase withholding and reason #6 will go away! You
won't have to "shell out" on April 15.
      Reasons #1 and #2 are a little more complicated.  Reasons #3, 4 and 5,
show an admirable sense of priorities.
 
  So, next year, manage your boss, try to avoid pregnancy, pay your taxes
early and no more excuses. Be there.
 
   George
 
At 07:39 PM 4/10/98 -0400, you wrote:
>Some people, including you (but I know you were just being nice) have asked
>about my attendance at COA. Well, I can't be at COA this year, because:
>
>1) My boss is still bitching about last year
>2) It's at DizzyWorld - I was just there last year and NO WAY my boss is
>going to fall for that
>3) My field season has been moved up due to son/daughter's impending birth
>in August (September & October are the best times to survey unionids here)
>4) My daughter was 5 weeks premature (so there goes July)
>5) We are having some complications with the pregnancy, mostly placenta
>previa - already had one scare
>6) Mondo money to the IRS
>
>So, alas, alacky, I won't be there.
>
>