Income Tax

Okay, this is it. The last break before I finish my income tax. Yup, if you read the date you know that I am just going to make it. Can not help myself. I am very good about most other things but income, tax I hate it. I started doing income tax for my father when I was sixteen. I had no trouble with the forms. Easy and manageable. Somehow, the government bureaucracy has managed to create an incredible jumble. There is no flow and the forms make no real sense. It is a total mystery if you owe or will receive a refund.
Here's hoping for a refund.

Gardening in July and August

Those of us who are gardeners love July and August. However, a garden that is started at a school usually is neglected during those holiday months. What to do? Well, a school in the west end of the city has an answer. They turned the garden over to students whose families are Karen from Burma. The families tended the garden and enjoyed vegetables during those months. What a wonderful idea.
Eventually, more gardens will be started and we will enjoy more fresh food during the summer.

Creativity

I am reading a book about Creativity by the author who wrote about Flow. He makes the interesting observation: "And what holds true for the sciences, the arts and for the economy also applies to education. When school budgets tighten and test scores wobble, more and more schools opt for dispensing with frills-usually with the arts and extracurricular activities-so as to focus instead on the so-called basics. This would not be bad if the 'three R's' were taught in way that encouraged originality and creative thinking; unfortunately, they rarely are. Students generally find the basic academic subjects threatening or dull; their chance of using their minds in creative ways comes from working on the student paper, the drama club, or the orchestra. So if the next generation is to face the future with zest and self-confidence, we must educate them to be original as well as competent."
Now that is certainly an argument for the arts!

Help needed!

I met a friend for dinner and to discuss what she needs to do with her father's furnishings. It has been awhile since I have seen her so I lost track of the fact that it has been some time since her father passed away. Seven years to be accurate.
In those seven years, she has stored his furniture and clothing and paid for the storage. ($150- she was not even able to accurately account for the money spent on storage! Now, that is a problem to begin with. No math skills.)
We are not discussing a wealthy person. In fact, she lives in subsidized housing. She hid the fact that she inherited money from the sale of her father's house. The house was $150,000 and divided with her sister who it sounds like did not need the money.
I had to tell my friend not to expect a great deal of money for some of the items. She had a vacuum cleaner and was hoping for $150. I suggested that $20 was more realistic.
She is going to take the train to Halifax where she is taking of these affairs. She does not drive which means if she wants to bring anything back, there will be major expense involved.
I felt like a genius as I discussed her options. She has no idea. Oh well, I tried.

Ludditite

Just read an article Why Social Media Matters that suggests that in addition to Blogging, I need to twitter, join Linkedin, and Facebook. Oh my goodness, when do I find time to do these things. Went to a meeting on Saturday and several people said that when they are bored with work they check facebook and other social networking sites. Now, how productive is that? I appreciate the fact that we need to be connected but can't we just use contact lists on our e-mail sites?
How many people are checking these twitter accounts. Are people surfing them looking for interesting topics that appear in under a certain number of letters. Sorry but I forgot how many letters can be used.
Seriously, those people who check my blog have noticed that I have days and sometimes it is almost a week between postings. This is because I run out of time and sometimes, I know that this is hard to believe topics that I think will be of interest.
Will continue to blog but must think carefully before I twitter or participate in other social networks. Letters and cards still work for me. I love mail.

Big Sisters

This week, I received a thank you from a friend who is involved with Big Sisters. They held a Bowlathon and she managed to raise $1195 for the cause. What an impressive effort. She is good at raising money. Must admit that I have never been good at getting people to sponsor me.
I must say congratulations to her for her effort. Guess more of us need to try to do as well.

Spring is here!

After a mild winter at least in terms of snow, Spring has arrived. I would love to take pictures of the spring flowers and post them, and I think that will be my mission later today. The temperatures have been warmer. A sure sign of spring, indoor tennis ends today. We are going to play and then have an end of season luncheon. At that time, we will already book for the next season. Always nice to have something to look forward to when the weather gets nasty again. In the meantime, going to enjoy the lovely weather that we are having.
Hope that you manage to do the same.