Luxury Taxes

Last week someone mentioned that women's sanitary hygiene products are taxed as a luxury item.

I laughed at what absurdity the statement was...then I researched it.

OMG!

The UK defines tampons as "non-essential luxury items" and are taxed an extra 5%.

Australia taxes women's hygiene products by 10%, again, because they are "non-essential".

In the States there is a luxury tax on products that are not considered to be essential which the lawmakers say affects the wealthy as the products taxed are fur coats, expensive automobiles, jewelry and, oh yeah, tampons. The government actually collects over 19 million dollars a year on tampon taxes.

As long as I was researching genitalia related items, I checked out jock straps and protective cups. Now these two items are not used for everyday life but for sports and to protect the almighty male package. There is no jock strap tax.

I checked out electric shavers. Men have facial hair. Shaving it is a choice. Using a razor or an electric shaver is a choice. Why are electric shavers not taxed as a luxury item?

In 2008 the state of New York was considering adding an extra 5% luxury tax on jewelry and furs that cost more than $20,000 and fun stuff like airplanes or helicopters that cost more than $500,000, yachts that cost more than $200,000.  The rich dodged a bullet on that one because the proposal was struck down.

There are even states that grant 'tax holidays' (Alabama, for example). On the holiday, say, July 4th, no taxes will have to be paid that day, except for tampons, they are still taxed.

I propose that all menstruating women visit your state capitol tampon free. Wear a dress or skirt and lift them as you sit on the benches (make sure to bring some sanitizing wipes, not sure if they are taxed or not). Attend legislature assemblies, again, wipe the seat with a sanitizing wipe, lift your skirt and leave a little non-essential luxury on the seats. Same for buses, trains and planes.

Sorry ladies, this is one of those biases we are going to have to take 'sitting down'!

Warning

 I believe my label would be a soft rose color and the steel-blue, bold print would read:

Really, what would your label say? Would it be a large red font or small print to bring others in close?

11 Questions

Not my award, just playing along

Bob Slatten from I Should Be Laughing

was nominated by Anne Marie for the Liebster award. Liebster is German for 'dearest' and there are 11 questions about things near and dear to ones heart (and soul).

Sidenote about Anne Marie: She describes herself as 'straight but not narrow' and I find that a completely delicious way of defining oneself and may (shh!) start using the phrase to describe myself! She is the author of  From My Brain To My Mouth.

Bob answered the 11 Questions and then, to follow the rules (though from what I've read of Bob's blog, I don't believe he is much of a rule follower) one needs to share 11 Random things about oneself.

Then you are supposed to nominate 11 other blogs for the award. Here's where Bob's tendency to pick and choose rules comes in. He didn't nominate, he simply put the worm on the hook and cast it out. 

Hooked, here are the 11 Questions and my responses.

1] Which literary genre do you prefer?

Non-fiction is my typical choice, though I love a good novel. I like to juggle my reading matter, including memoirs, biographies, philosophy, metaphysics and world religions.  I am in a book club which meets twice a month. We are currently reading Gloria Steinem's book, My Life On The Road but on the side I am reading, Ravensbruck by Sarah Helm (about a women's concentration camp) and Holy Longing by Ronald Rolhiser. I have David Brock's book, The Road To Character waiting in the wings.

2] Why did you start blogging?

I blog because I can't not write. In high school, I used to actually write the Friday English Lit essay in class. I had Study Hall second period, so would write two more essays from different viewpoints and sell them to other seniors during 3rd or 4th period.Great way to make lunch money.

          One of my blogs describes several different aspects of my personality. I named
         them, fleshed them out and write about the drama of living in
          my head when it comes to  decision making, keeping schedules and who wins out; artist, responsible adult, concerned advocate or toxic older sister! 

3] Order or chaos?

This would be my driveway!

I love order but have a household living with me at this time, so my house is more like a storage unit than it is a home. While I do like order, I do not like straight lines or rigidity. Unlike Mary, Mary, quite contrary, I do not like me flowers all in a row. I go for the flow.

4] Where would you like to live?

Mountains, mountains, mountains. My dream is to live on the south side of a rolling hill with my home built into the hill. I need running water nearby and I need to swim. If I can see anyone's house, they are too close.

           5] Starry sky or sunset?

Sunset for photography. I love the challenge of catching the two or three minutes of brilliant beauty. Starry, starry night for laying on the ground, looking up and talking to the All There Is or sitting around the campfire, passing around the Jack and telling stories of wild youth.

6] Paper book or e-book?

I have a gazillion books in my house. There are bookshelves overflowing with books in every room and boxes and boxes of books in the garage. I seriously need to purge BUT, I love the energy of books. I love to feel the energy of those who have held the books, who have read the books, who have written in the margins and highlighted meaningful lines. So, until I can get myself to purge, all my new books are on my Kindle.

7] What is the writing for?

Writing is to keep me sane...oops, too late!

8] TV or not TV?

I am too old to participate in Survivor and am actually quite afraid of intestinal parasites, therefore, I watch and imagine and occasionally cuss out the players who can't see the obvious (editing be damned). Because of Survivor, I have a severe addiction to television. I also have that poo-poo-pee-doo attitude that if I use the word television rather than TV there is a degree of sophistication to my being glued to the tube every Wednesday from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m.

9] What do you think about social networks?

Love, love, love the people I have met in the blog networks. You all rock.  I started Twitter kind of by accident several years ago and every now and then get a message that someone has recently whatever someone does on Twitter. I have a love/hate relationship with Facebook. Love to keep in touch with friends and family, hate politics and being told that I'm going to hell if I roll past another Jesus Loves You post. 

          I guess I'm going to hell but it looks like I'll have plenty of company.

10] Favorite food?

Top of the list: Cheesecake.  Then Mexican, mostly Ceviche, Chili Verde and my grandson's Chicken Enchiladas.  Then Steak. Really, really good pork friend rice, homemade soups and fresh veggie juices.  I am also partial to baloney, potato chip sandwiches on white bread when on road trips (memories).

11] Favorite music genres?

Music. World Music, R and B, Some Country (its easy to sing to and I'm a sap for lost dogs and lost love), Big Band, Old Standards, Pop, Indie, Rock, Classic Rock,   Classical, absolutely no heavy metal though Sammy Hagar's I Can't Drive 55 is one of my theme songs. Love Cello, piano, violin and acoustic guitar. Good drums turn me on. 

11 Random Things About Me

 1. I often smile at very inappropriate times because my mind finishes people's sentences with quotes from movies. I find it very amusing but people tend to look at me with serious concern or disdain (and that's okay).

2.  When I am writing or working with clay, I lose all concept of time and can look up and realize that 10 hours passed in what seemed like an hour (and that I have to pee really, really bad!)

3.  I think the sexiest part of a man is his forearm, from wrist to elbow, then his eyes. Long sleeve shirts rolled up just to below the elbow turn me on.

4.  I am a introvert and could live in a hut in the mountains alone (except for my books and my clay) for months at a time. Heaven forbid if Bigfoot should stroll by in a rolled up long sleeve shirt!

5.  I was once madly in love with a man who was going to be a priest "when he grew up!' Still one of my best friends and never did become a priest. Great line for men with commitment phobias!

6.  Whiskeytown Lake is my favorite spot to think things through, that's only if I don't have time to drive to Mt. Lassen.

7. Driving from Colorado in the middle of the night, when I was a kid, my mom and dad went into a cafe to have coffee. We were in the Rocky Mountains. I got out of the car and stared at the clear sky and was scared to death by the overwhelming number of stars but was hypnotized and paralyzed and couldn't move. The sky was overwhelming.

8 Body surfing in Puerto Rico was one of the most fun things I've ever done. Though water skying at Lake Shasta was pretty damn awesome and swimming in the Bio Bay was incredible.

9.  When I met my husband, he was in color and everyone else in the room was in black and white.

10.  I am a great-grandmother in my mid-sixties but I swear like a rogue truck driver. My goal is to clean up my language but my mouth keeps cashing checks my brain hasn't validated.

11.  I've been thinking about cheesecake the whole time I was typing this.

Not sure if I can nominate anyone, since I myself was not nominated but, what the hell. If Bob doesn't have to follow the rules....

I would really like to nominate learn more about:

Bouncin'Barb @ This and That as I bounce through life.
Martha @ Plowing Through Life
Debra @ She Who Seeks
Giggles @ Happy Tiler 
Michael @ View From The Brier Patch 
Greek Witch @ Dreaming of Rosemary
Ken @ Ken-atractor
Michael @ A Life Examined
Jaclyn @ Raviolis and Waterworks 
Pat @ Bertram's Blog
Baili @ Baili and Me

Stop The World....

....I want to get off.

We spent the evening with my 11 year old granddaughter. What a blast.

We talked about fashion.

We talked recipes and cooking.

We discussed leadership qualities and team projects.

The conversation veered off to stupidity and ignorance.

With the best (and most practiced) eye roll ever, she informed me that they can't sing Deck The Halls at her school anymore.  Apparently "don we now our gay apparel" is too offensive.

Pull your heads out of your butts people!

Another Saturday Night

Kids in bed. Husband in bed. Pandora and earphones plugged in to keep me company while I sit,  enjoying the solitude, candles burning, a glass of wine at my side. As I listen to my tunes. each song opens up the doors to incredible memories.

I can even smell the shea butter, thick on my body, while I float on my air mattress on Whiskeytown Lake with a bottle of Gallo wine or Almaden French Colombard tied to a ten foot rope floating in the cold water under my cheap flotation device.

Music is a marvelous gift for the soul. It reminds me of a Saturday evening, a long time ago, when I listened to some good tunes and tried to think of who sang what and who sang it the best. I thought I would share it, just in case you want to trip down memory lane during the Jurassic Period.

"Saturday Night and I ain't got nobody...."

I hope you enjoy and it brings back some good times for you.

                                                                     


                                                                          Sing it, sweet Sam!

Were those brothers delicious or what?

                                  

 




 Maybe I shouldn't have had the wine?

"Goodnight, sweetheart, well it's time to go."







What is your favorite oldie but goodie? When is the last time you listened to it? When is the last time you danced to it (even if it was just a pillow or your puppy as your dance partner?

Oh! Oh!

My last post had two words in it that probably got me (and those who visited) on the secret 'watch list'!

Wandering and Wondering is typically visited between 22 and 28 times a day. Yesterday it had 55 visits!

Dang! FBI and NSA, believe me, the only thing radical about me is my love for cheesecake and Amaretto.

Okay, there is my extreme distaste for stupidity and lima beans, my truck-driver's talent for artful swearing and my incredible ingenuity for not getting to my To-Do list until it morphs into a Should-have-but-didn't list!

Radicalized?

Okay, I don't get the term "radicalized"!

It's a little like someone is casually trekking down the road when someone in a rusty, beat up, 35 year old Toyota Corolla rolls by and BAMM! A couple blasts from some weapon (ray-gun, blow-dart, cross-bow) and one is radicalized!

Give me a break! Please, media jockies, come up with a word that doesn't sound passive. Going ape-shit crazy radical is a choice. You don't get radicalized by sharing a soda with an extremist. Radicalization doesn't happen because some jihadist sneezed on you.

As long as I am ranting, what about the stupidity of excusing the drunk 19 year old who killed three people because of his 'Affluenza"? Growing up with too much money and too little parental guidance! So he gets 10 years of probation! Really?  If he was a kid without the money for a great attorney, he'd be in jail for 20 years minimum!

"It's not my fault I killed them, I was too rich growing up and my folks bought me the damn truck so it's their fault....can I go now? I don't want to be late for beer pong at my friend's house."

We make up so many stupid 'victim' type words in our culture so no one has to be responsible for their choices or actions.

Radicalized! Affluenza!

OMG, I just got it!  We are in the middle of the zombie apocalypse  and they've eaten most of the brains.

Nevermind!

P Words...Priorities, Prejudice, Phucked-up

Our book club just finished reading and discussing Maya Angelou's I Know Why A Caged Bird Sings. We had all read it years ago but we have found that revisiting some of the books that had impact on our lives or the lives of others is vital.

Angelou describes the excitement abounding for the black families over 8th grade graduation? They were getting an education and all the promises that academia promises. The white speaker, Mr. Donleavy, then makes his speech, breaking the hearts and crushing dreams.  His words pour water on the fire and passion of the black families and their graduates. Heads and shoulders hang low, they know they have just been told to remember 'their place'. Unless you are an incredibly gifted athlete, you are never going to be anything but a 'service' person.

How many students and families heard those commencement pronouncements all over the country, especially the southern states over the years? Good thing that doesn't happen anymore, right?

WRONG!

Our book club moved on to Gloria Steinem's latest book, "On The Road". Steinem writes that we, the United States, declare that we are all about freedom yet we imprison a bigger percentage of our citizens than any other country. Our college graduates are stuck with "crippling debt". We build more prisons and less schools. We are also "spending an average of fifty thousand dollars a year per prisoner" yet no where near that amount on students.

When we build more prisons and jails, when we spend more of our assets and resources on housing a large population whose criminal actions begin with inadequate education, disproportionate  availability to health services and safe housing, and inadequate availability of employment opportunities.

We don't put the money into education. We don't invest in people's lives. We are still telling Blacks and Latinos. Women and little girls, and impoverished Caucasions to remember their places, to stay small. We are just more sophisticated by how we communicate it.

"Sorry we can't afford a new science lab or new books at YOUR school, we need to build a big house to keep you in when you grow up because you will never amount to anything."

Is that our legacy?

According to the graph below, my state, California, spends less than $10,000 per year on elementary and secondary school students, yet almost $50,000 per year per inmate.

Can I just interject a little personal prejudice here? If this is what our country thinks is the most important, no wonder Trump is at the top of the polls!

Graph courtesy of CNN Money

We continue to cut education funding, cut Head Start funding. Corporations now have 'sentient being' status. Time for the other "P" word. This thinking is all phucked-up!

Making Do

Okay, so he worked today. So did I. He sold cameras. I worked on flyer and workbook....but,
the minute he walked through the door, we tossed the cameras into my car, gloves, hats and Rex, our border collie.

We hit Highway 44, headed east to Mt. Lassen. We needed to get a couple of pics of the mountains first snow.

We didn't hit snow until about 2000 feet. We hit ice about 2500 feet. We only lost traction once. If I remember correctly the words, "Holy shit!" passed my husbands lips. Yeah, that was reassuring.

The mountain was just donning her sunset colors, which means, photographically, we have about 3 and a half minutes to catch the color. I think we did a fairly good job.

Replay is planned for next Sunday, that's if I dont' just jump in the car and go myself!

She was beautiful. Her reflection in the frozen ice of Manzanita Lake was magical.

This mountain is so magical, her beauty sometimes challenges Mt. Shasta, a mere 6o miles north.

A new storm is expected this week and we might have to head north instead of east. As dad used to say while we were young, "We'll see!"

Rex would have nothing to do with staying couped up in the house today. He was at the car door, claiming his right to an adventure. We agreed. He needed some good running, off leash.

He loves the snow. He likes to eat it, he likes to dig in it, bury his face in it and his favorite....dying it spring colors (if you know what I mean).

He found a great little burrow to bury his nose in. Thankfully nothing snapped or sprayed back.

The evening was beautiful.

We even caught night shots of the valley lights below. Okay, Frank got those shots. I stayed inside the car just enjoying the view.

If you haven't visited Mt. Lassen or Mt. Shasta please come. Please see our purple mountains majesty!

To-Do Lists: Preparing for 2016

Many of you are dedicated list makers which, in turn, makes many of you much more efficient than me. Kudos to your organizational skills.

I make lists but I wouldn't exactly call them TO-DO lists as much as and Things-I-Forgot-TO-DO-MUST-DO-NOW lists.

The one list that I am dedicated to accomplish every year is my Packing For The New Year list.

Truly, this little list is one of the most important lists one can do, in my opinion.

There are two columns.

Must Have             Verboten Objects

Remember that what you decide to leave behind is just as important as what you choose to pack! Some of the items are the same as last year and some items are new.

Must Haves:

Integrity and Good Music,

Etymology Dictionary and  New Words

Imagination and Good Books,
.
An Open Mind and a Soft Shoulder.

A big bag of  Yes's for things untried.

My unopened box of No's! (going to use some of them-there NO's this year!)

Smiles When Sadness Intrudes.

Creativity, Spirituality and Good Humor.

Paint and Brushes,  Blank Paper and Colored Pencils.

Courage and a New Bathing Suit, Bird Seed and Bubbles.

Skate Key, Lightening Rod and Lip Gloss.

Purple Nail Polish and Body Shoppe Africa Spa Body Butter

My crystal door knob in case some doors have no apparent means of entry...(always carry an extra door knob with you; they are much less cumbersome than windows).

Good Wine and Good Friends.

Soft, soft, soft sheets, a feather pillow and a promise to remember my dreams.

A warm, time-worn quilt, aged cheese and apples just in case a spot of Earth invites me to a little picnic.

Soft, worn pajamas, cuddles and hugs and my favorite mugs.


Verboten Objects ~ What I am prepared to leave behind:

Maps unless it is a map I am drawing for myself.
Whining, on my part or anyone elses.....NO WHINING!

Bad Attitude, Brussel Sprouts, Judgemental People and unfair judgements on my part.
Grudges, Clothes that itch or bind, Excuses for not being Authentic.


I Promise To Be On The Lookout For:

Every Opportunity to tell my children and grandchildren and family and friends,
"I Love YOU" ~"You are Special" ~ "You are important to me"

Adding the opportunity to encourage others, "You can do it!" to those moments telling others: 
"Good job"
"I am proud of you"
"Hot damn" and sometimes giggle at myself and say..."man, that was stupid!"
I promise to leave enough room in my bags for sea shells and leaves and rocks and lost puppies.
...and to be on the lookout for
Miracles and Angels,
Sunrises and Sunsets,
New Friends and Rare Birds.
Fairies and Brownies

What's left packed from last year?

Good Books, Good Music, "Good Waves, Man"
Hugs, Kisses and Macaroons, Vintage Linens and Gin and Tonics for hot afternoons,
Crystals, Naps under the sky or completely naked under the covers in the middle of the day.
Opportunities for Growth, a chance to make my own path Out of the Box and Outside the Envelope.

What are you going to pack?


What are you going to leave behind?


What are you watching for?

Doors

Time to get out the Christmas decorations and do the house up! My favorite part of all the decorations is the garland around my red double entry door.

I love my doors. The red is bright, bold and hints or color and fun past the threshold.

BUT, if I could have any door, any door in the world, inviting guests to come on in...oh there are so many choices.

The tree door on the right would be a perfect fit for me.  Some of my best friends are trees, I love their majesty, their dignity, and their auras.  This carved door would absolutely be perfect except for the small part about knocking the existing house down and building a new, more appropriate house behind it. One cannot have this door and all it promises and have only two rooms with vaulted ceilings and the rest of the rooms graced with ceilings a mere 8 feet high. Even the vaulted are only 14 feet (and, for the most part, still have the icky cottage cheese texture...what were the builders thinking?)

Would my house embarrass this magnificent door?

 Would my little house be embarrassed by the door on the left, even though the size and lack of majesty
may be more appropriate?  I love, love, love the transom-ish windows above, but honestly, it looks a bit prickly. Yeah, I know, some of you are thinking or might have even said out loud, "but you're prickly, too, you old....(shame on you, Santa is watching!).

I love teal and turquoise and trees but if this one has to have all the gaudy carved stone work around it, It would become a condo for spiders of all kinds, and we've got spiders in northern California...big, giant creepy ones...(wish you could see my goose bumps). Yup, we're gonna pass on this door. Prickly spider condos are right out!

If I had a secret garden, I would definitely make the entrance special. Maybe a little purple door surrounded by jasmine and honeydew. the pathway leading to it would be lined with lavender and deep velvet purple verbena trailing from orange pots filled with violets and johnny-jump-ups.

You are probably asking yourself, "Doesn't she know that spiders can spin their webs in the greenery surround this garden door?"

Yes, I do, but spiders in the greenery, where they belong is natural. they have to hunt for their own meals. When they are clinging to the house, around the porch lights, it's as if I am an accomplice. Again, goose bumps and heebie jeegies. Yuck.



Many people say that our eyes are the doorways to our souls.
 
If the eyes didn't have it (doesn't mean the nays have it either) what would the doorway to your soul look like? 





Would it be wide open to the world or would it be tucked into the surrounding greenery?

Would it be hand carved oak?

Would it be wrought with iron? (get it!)

Can you imagine the handle to the doorway to your soul? Is it from bin 24 from the corner hardware store or is it beautifully customized?

More importantly, is the door open and inviting or is it locked up tight and the key heavily guarded? 

The "OTHER" Question Of The Month

Michael D'Agostino has a 'question of the month' on his blog. You've probably wandered by it a time or two. As I am jamming through my email, checking FB (thinking about checking out of FB until after the elections) and making my final final list of to-do's for Thanksgiving preps, his most recent question popped into my gmail.

Question: "Which one social convention would you get rid of?"

Oh My God! Why? Why would he ask such a question while I'm in the middle of 'doing'. I promised myself only 'doing' today, no 'thinking' today. No time for contemplation, except which red wine can I serve with turkey because my dad prefers a robust red to white. (Maybe I'll just get Dad a steak and let my grandson BBQ it).

My list-making is bogged down with social conventions and here I sit, needing a shower, three bottles of wine, celery and the chipped purple polish to be removed from my toenails to be replaced with less chipping color.

Social Conventions.

Our culture or other cultures?

Significant demands or insignificant details of an OCD Emily Post?

Speaking of Emily Post, I find it very comfortable with elbows on a table during a meal. No elbows on the table is definitely O-U-T!

It is nice when a man opens a door for a woman but I find it a waste to stand by a door waiting for him. My husband also says that he has been verbally flogged when opening doors for women. Why can't whoever gets to the door first, open it? Who walks through the doorway first is up to the two people at the door. No rules, just people being nice.

I love to see a Father walk his daughter down the aisle during a wedding but to be perfectly honest, when the pastor starts with the who-gives-this-woman stuff, I want to throw things! That convention needs to hit the road, Jack!

Damn list is calling my name, so is the shower and I need a cup of coffee. Got to get to the agenda of the day.....which brings up one more social convention. Responsible adult! That one really sucks!

I know D'Agostino asked which "one" convention but I've got more, so many social conventions and so little time!

So, Which one ( or dozen) social convention(s) would you get rid of?