The High Holy Day of Creative Writing

I have a real hate/hate relationship with the IRS. I don't mind giving them their fair share of my income, but we passed that waaaay back. Every time I turn around, it seems they have their hand out, no matter how much I give them, they always want more, and they have the power to make me very sorry if I don't give it to them.

This year I cut my taxes closest. Didn't buy Turbo Tax until the 13th. Didn't put it on the computer and download the upgrades until the evening of the 14th, and didn't actually get around to doing the taxes until the 15th.

Robert and I made our usual late-evening sojourn to the post office in downtown Tulsa to drop off the returns. I don't know if that's the only post office in the area that guarantees a 15th postmark if you get it there by midnight, but judging from the lines that are always going round the blocks, I think so. We always go to the south side -- can't imagine why, but year after year, the lines on the north side are way longer than the south side.

To celebrate, we swung by Jason's Deli on 15th for a late-night supper. While the food there is great, it was really a vanilla soft-serve ice cream cone that I was looking forward to. That would be a true reward for doing the damn taxes.

Imagine my glee (she says very drily) when I found out the vanilla soft-serve machine wasn't working. Sorry, chocolate just doesn't cut it.

However, the smoky turkey panini was wonderful, and I had half of it left over for breakfast this morning. I still want that ice cream cone, though.

Oh, hey, happy birthday to LB, my favorite niece over the age of 25. (Differentiating from KH, my favorite niece under the age of 25). (Yes, I have only two nieces, plus one niece-by-marriage.) I'm cooking dinner for LB on Saturday -- pasta fagiole, jambalaya and lemon cream cake. Italian, Cajun and sweet -- what could be better? Rachel9:32 PM