The Taxman Cometh and sundry thoughts

It's that day again.  Why, oh why, are we surprised every year when this deadline rolls around?  We know it is coming.  We see it happen each and every year.  Silly procrastinators.

This is not me that I was referring to.  I am related (by blood and marriage) to a great many procrastinators who would never finish anything if it weren't for the last minute deadline.  Not me, it makes me nervous, anxious and extremely agitated for things to be put off to the last flipping second.  And yet, everyone around me does this.  It's like they thrive on the tension of "will I make it or won't I?"  Nope, not for me.  Get it done and get it over with.  That way you can relax and do the things you want to do.

Right now on my desk are all my papers and forms for my DONA recertification.  I have been working on this for the last 2 or 3 weeks.  Guess when it is due?  Would it be today?  NO WAY!  That would make me Mr. Big Ed.  No, this is due in July.  But it is a process.  And it takes time.  So I am trying my best to methodically get through it all and have it ready to go in plenty of time.  I want the recertification people to have all the time they need to wade through it and not put my licensing in jeopardy quibbling over getting my paperwork in just in the nick of time.  Let's face it, I am an anal-retentive dork.

I noticed that since I posted about the little returned Russian boy, no one has come back to my little pink blog.  I waded in where I shouldn't have, I guess.  I certainly hope I stepped on no toes or offended anyone.  That was certainly not my intention.  But unintentional offenses are still offenses in my book.  So please accept my apologies if you were offended and you are still around to receive these apologies.

I went out to one of the local universities last night for part of a literary event they were holding.  Two of my favorite authors were there.  One was introducing the other.  It was really wonderful.  Her remarks were really for the students who are wanting to pursue writing.  I was going to say "writing as a career" but that is wrong.  How many writers pursue writing as a career?  John Grisham, Nicholas Sparks, Danielle Steele.  But really good writers who have a need, a longing, a desire so strong they can't ignore it, those writers might be offended by the phrase "writing as a career".  So anyway, she was addressing these students who have a passion to write (better, yes?).   Even I got something out of it.  Aside from a bit of hero worship by getting to sit at her feet and listen to her read her work and then talk about how she came to this particular idea and answer questions about what happened to characters.

And what I know is that she would have never apologized for offending readers.  She would want you to be offended and sit in that feeling and figure out why you were offended, what bothered you about what you read, and to then get mad and translate that to your own life.

There is nothing like a feisty, strong-minded Southern woman, is there?