Has It Really Been That Long?

Wow! I haven't written here in quite some time. I guess that's because while nothing of particular note is happening here, neither have I managed to find time to sit and write about all the nothing. I'm fed up with winter.We haven't had all the snow that some areas south of us have seen. It doesn't make sense that one needs to head south for snow, does it? Anyway, our lack of snow is partially due to the extremely cold temperatures that we have been having. Add to those a brisk breeze and it's cold. Very cold. Just so that we don't feel left out, temperatures are supposed to moderate mid-week and allow us 6-8 inches of white stuff.

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So, the nothing stuff...I've started working on all our income tax forms. I've actually made out quite well, tax-wise, this year! Refunds will be coming to me from both the Feds and the State. This is the first time in eight years. Yippeeeeeeee! Of course doing the taxes is not without the irritation factor. For the second year in a row the government has failed to send tax forms and instruction books for each of us. I got my federal booklet, with forms, over a month ago. My mom and 'A' haven't gotten any. We've all gotten our state stuff. I ended up printing a pile of forms from online so I could get things started. So, pencil drafts are finished for each of us. Just a double check of the math and then filling out the forms that will be sent in.

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Key work has slowed down and I've been working on the Indian harmonium. I fixed all the contracted work and decided to put a bit more into it. The bellows seemed weak so I've delved deeper in to the workings to make sure that everything is as sealed up as possible. Tomorrow will be two tunings. Tuesday I'll be tuning and replacing some strings on that Helpinstiehl (sp?) electronic piano.

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Finally, I've read a couple more books. The only one worth mentioning in the sidebar is The Lost City of Z, by David Grann. (If it's not in the sidebar yet, it will be soon. Don't forget that whenever possible a link to the book/author's website is accessible by clicking on the book cover.) Do you see a little trend in subject matter here? These abandoned, mysterious places are getting to me. Anyway, an outstanding narrative of Percy Fawcett's obsession with finding the lost city of El Dorado in the early 20th century Amazon, his disappearance, and the numerous, failed attempts to find him (or his remains) over the subsequent three quarters of a century.