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Taxing Times

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It’s that time of year again — Tax Preparation Time!  I’m not one of the procrastinators who waits until the last moment to prepare and file my taxes.  I like getting it over with as soon as February begins.

To be frank, my taxes aren’t complicated.  No second homes (darn!) or overseas accounts in my life.  I can usually complete them in one evening.   They aren’t 1040EZ easy, but they aren’t as involved as say – President Trump’s taxes.  Although we haven’t seen them so who knows?

I have a great respect for the Internal Revenue Service.  My uncle worked for the IRS until he retired.   I think they have a terribly difficult job, and think about it, most people don’t want to have any dealings with the IRS.  That can be a lonely feeling.  They should have a “Be Kind to your IRS Agent Day”.  We have Nurses’ Week, Administrative Assistant Week, Buy Your Boss Lunch Week (What!  You mean it isn’t a WEEK!  It’s a day…  I’ve been had.)

20 Minutes Later…

Sorry about that.  I needed to call my therapist.   So, remember the IRS doesn’t call you as a first contact.  They will send you a letter.  Don’t let your neighbor, Jack, do your taxes for you because he’s a nice guy and likes to use a calculator.  It happened, I don’t like to talk about it, okay?   Anyway, back to my tax preparation advice.  Don’t use pretty pink ink on your tax forms.   IOU’s aren’t accepted in lieu of a payment.

I hope this was a helpful blog.  Tax deadline for this year is April 18th.  I hope you get the refund you want instead of the one you deserve.  Disclaimer:  I do not have any expertise in regards to tax preparation.  This blog is meant to be humorous (I apologize if you didn’t find it so) and not to be taken as serious advice.  

And Jack, I hope you aren’t mad at me.

 

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A Tableau of America

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Ah, the quintessential sporting event of the year had the nation enthralled for the evening.  Super Bowl Sunday.  I know there’s also the World Series, Wimbledon, and the Masters, and they are important events.

But, the hoopla around the Super Bowl is different.  Million dollar plus commercials have some people just tuning in to see the unique, but always memorable marketing masterpieces.  Who can forget the little lost puppy and the Clydesdales?

They opened the roof for Lady GaGa and her army of 300 synchronized lighted drones dancing in the sky above her.  Followed by the entertainer rappelling off the roof and onto the stage far below.  I’ve never seen dancing drones at the Masters — only hideous green jackets.  It’s a tradition, I know, but who thinks those jackets are spiffy?

Last night was the first time ever the Super Bowl went into overtime.  At the half, the Falcons were ahead 28-3.  I’m sure some people thought the game was over.  I’ve learned the game isn’t finished until the final buzzer.  The momentum and the score can change quickly.  It can be won in the last minute as it was last night.   I’d like to extend my congratulations to the Patriots and the Falcons for making it to the big game and playing with heart and determination.  The only thing I would change is having the Packers playing.  Go Pack!!

Another surprise were the political statements contained in the commercials and performances.  I don’t remember seeing anything similar during the commercials in previous years.  Unless nacho chip eating in a laundromat and Betty White undergoing a transformation after eating a candy bar has political undertones I’m not aware of.

I can’t wait until next year!

 

Blog, What Kate's Reading

Women’s March Reflections

I saw this post and had to share it.  Poetry, photos, and writings from participants in the Women’s March on Washington on January 21, 2017 are highlighted in this blog.

 

Millions of people marched on January 21, 2017, to oppose the new Trump administration in the US — and wrote about (or photographed or sketched) the experience.

via Why We March: Reflections from Women’s Marches — Discover

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A Community of Writers

Today, I’m saddened. After being a part of the Write On by Kindle community since 2015, Kindle announced it is closing the forum. Many say it was time, but I wanted to express how important a role it played for me.

I loved to write when I was younger.  As I entered adulthood, I had other responsibilities which took precedence over my writing.  Decades later (four to be exact) I received an email from Amazon Kindle about a new website they were developing.  I went online to check it out and began to read some of the posted stories.  Reading the stories and comments left by other writers and readers inspired me, I knew I needed to take a chance.

I began to write Exodus.  It took ten months to write, proofread, revise and edit.  In August of 2016, I self-published my first novel on Kindle.   During the months I wrote I also messaged back and forth with various authors helping them proofread and suggest possible edits of their works in progress just as they had helped me.  Without their support, I wouldn’t have gone through the steps it took to finish the book.

Encouragement between writers played an important role in the forum.  I learned to take constructive criticism with more grace than I would have before I was a participant in the forum.  While writing and rewriting paragraphs and chapters, I discovered I was my greatest critic.   Through this journey on Write On, I have become a better writer.

It saddens me to know this forum will not be available for others in the future.  Yes, there are other forums, but Write On was special.  The bonds we’ve formed with our fellow indie authors will hopefully last.  The books we have written are proudly published on Amazon so others can enjoy them.

I may never be a best-selling author, but it’s nice knowing my book has entertained those who have read it and hopefully will for years to come.

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Football, Facebook and Family

Families.  So many words describe them — loving, supportive, close-knit, and warm.  In January, some families can be described in less than flattering terms as the countdown to the Super Bowl begins.

Our family isn’t any different.  My husband, sons and myself are avid Green Bay Packers fans while several other family members are Minnesota Vikings fans.  My younger brother is such a fan, he has a large Vikings insignia tattooed on his upper arm.

Facebook has become Ground Zero for jabs, trash talk and a whole lot of crowing when someone’s team is doing well.   My feed gets blown up with every snide meme about the Packers on the internet.  The closer it gets to Super Bowl Sunday — the crazier the antics become.  The dinner table is surrounded by purple jerseys and green and gold t-shirts. Conversations go from current events to stats, game plays and predictions about the outcome of the next NFL game.

Plenty of beer, pizza, mini tacos and a boat-load of appetizers make the rounds as all eyes are zeroed into the action on the TV.  We even have soft miniature footballs we throw at the television when we are unhappy with the play-calling or disagree with a penalty the referees have called on our team.

The competitive spirit between all of us ends with the end of the football season; at least until March Madness begins.  But that is another story…

Blog, Uncategorized

Sticking By Your Resolutions

Each year millions of people make their New Year’s resolutions vowing to lose weight, get rid of clutter, etc.  I am definitely not an exception.

Yet by the end of January, most of us have given up on those future endeavors.  Again, I’m not the exception to this statement.

So what can I do this year to change my past behavior.  This is also a resolution…  This year I kept my resolutions simple, and only focused on one resolution instead of two or three.   dumbbellsMy resolution is to utilize the quiet hour from 6 am – 7 am on fitness or writing.   Seemed easy to do when I made the resolution.  Not always so easy to do when you live with an energetic Labrador retriever.

I tend to exercise more in warm weather because I love walking outdoors.  Over the last few weeks, I’ve dusted off my unused exercise equipment and worked up a sweat on the elliptical and my Airdyne bike.

Writing early in the morning is more of an issue.  Our pup leaves me alone during the time I work out, but if I’m sitting in front of my laptop, all bets are off.  Apparently, our dog doesn’t respect my literary efforts.

Some folks will say our dog is untrained.  I agree to that assessment but only to a certain degree.  He is very well behaved most of the time.  But labs need a lot of attention and sitting at my feet while I write about Clare Thibodeaux and her adventures isn’t the same as playing ball.

I have my work cut out for me, but I hope to keep my resolutions this year.  Hope all of you are having a great 2017 thus far, and if you haven’t kept the resolutions you made…you still have time to start again.

 

Stories that thrill with a kiss and chill with the promise of danger