Keith Channing is still getting settled in the UK after his move from France. He does not yet have broadband, so his Kreative Kue feature is again paused.
Today’s finger point prompt comes from that best selling book, Circumstances of Childhood by that internationally known author, John W. Howell. The idea is to open a book, close your eyes, and point to a place on the page. This time my finger came to rest on bothered, so that is the prompt.
Since today is the anniversary of the establishment of the first income tax in 1861, I thought it would be fun to travel back there and take in the atmosphere of what had to have been an eventful time. The income tax was established to pay for the Civil War. Of course, there are some time travel rules that we must abide, so here is a list that will hopefully keep us from creating a time disruption or tear in the continuum.
Top Ten Things Not to Do on the First Tax Day in 1861.
10 On the first tax day, do not try to find an H&R Block office for relief. If you do, at best it will be an ice supply house. At worse, you will raise so much concern from those you ask that they will point you out to the tax collector. (The belief that you are trying to avoid your tax obligation is what ended you up behind bars, Issac. Just tell them you made a mistake and intend to pay, and maybe they’ll let you go.)
9 On the first tax day, do not tell Tiny the WWF champ that he can’t come in to assess your net worth. If you do, at best he will come in anyway. At worst, Tiny who just left his rejection support group meeting will reduce the place to sawdust. (The upside to Tiny’s visit, Iulio, is you have no assets and therefore don’t owe any tax. Let’s not talk of the downside.)
8 On the first tax day, do not try to deduct your stay and meals as a business expense. If you do, at best you will be laughed out of the room. At worse, the tax collector will call the Marshall, and you’ll be labeled as the first tax fraud case in the US. (The first tax was a 3% flat rate over 800 dollars ($13,000 today) of income, Iwdael. There are no deductions. Now tell the man you are sorry and cough up the money.)
7 On the first Tax day, do not carry your “No Taxation Without Representation,” protest sign. If you do, at best, no one will be able to read. At worst, you will be invited to spend the night at the Hoosegow Hotel. (These new revenuers have no sense of humor, Izeyah. I wouldn’t press my luck any further.)
6 On the first tax day, do not try to pay for your tax with corn. If you do, at best the agent will think you are joking. At worst, the interpretation is that you are trying to evade your taxes. (You have to admit, Izreal trying to unload 100 bushels of corn in the tax office looks a little suspicious. You’ll find a broom and shovel in the corner. Best to clean up the mess before you leave.)
5 On the first tax day, do not try to convince the tax collector that you are part of the 97% of the population that does not earn 800 dollars a year. If you do, at best the collector will respect your attempt at avoiding the tax. At worse, the collector just declared to his staff that the next person who tries to lie about their income will be shot. (I think you better cough up the tax quickly, Ian. That collector is resting his hand on a very big six-shooter.)
4 On the first Tax day, do not show up in your most elegant clothes on the best horse. If you do, at best the collector won’t notice. At worst, since your clothes and horse are better than the collector’s, your bill will be higher than it should be. (At this stage, Ibrahim you might as well just pay it. Why you didn’t think to wear those old shoes and overalls is beyond me. You could have parked your horse down the street too.)
3 On the first tax day, do not try to dazzle the tax collector with stacks of paperwork proving your lack of income. If you do, at best, you will be ignored. At worse, the agent will assume you are up to something illegal and double your tax assessment. (It would have been better just to tell them the truth, Igore. After all, 3% is not a lot to pay.)
2 On the first tax day, do not put in an application to join the IRS. If you do, at best no one will understand you. At worst, you’ll give away your time traveler status since the IRS wasn’t established until 1862. (Well easy come easy go, Ishmael. It is now time to hit the bricks and get back to your own timezone. Otherwise, you might be spending a lot of time in a very damp and chilly place.)
1 On the first tax day, do not think you can tell the tax collector to send you a bill. If you do, at best the collector will share a laugh with you. At worst, the collector will take measures to collect the tax today. ( That big guy in the corner is the enforcer, Ignatius. It is his job to extract the payment right now. He has been known to hold some by their ankles until the money falls to the floor. Just save us all the misery and pay the bill.)
A lovely way to spend a Sunday. My two daughters and I visited two wineries. The first is named Spicewood. I’ll show you the second next week.
Here is a blurb from the website.
Since 1992 Spicewood Vineyards has been producing distinguished Texas Hill Country wines that are known for their timeless appeal and exceptional character. Beautifully nestled in the serene surroundings of the Texas Hill Country among 32 acres of vines, our family winery draws on both our Texas roots and our Spanish inspiration.
Spicewood Vineyards
A shot of a metal cluster of grapes and the vineyard.
More vineyards
Six massive live oaks growing together with the vineyard in the background.
Roses
Front patio entrance
Barrel stave chair
The tasting room bar.
Some meat and cheese. I like the sign. Be careful with water.
You know you are in Texas.
Nice paintings
More of the tasting room. That is a slab of granite on top of those barrels.
Lovely little stream outside the tasting room.
Cute fountain.
This is an event center that can be rented.
We sat on the patio of the activity center and shared a bottle of wine.
This is the entrance gate to the folks who used to own Spicewood winery. They sold it in 2007.
It is Stream of Consciousness Saturday time again and this weeks prompt is — wait let’s have Linda Hill describe it. Her words, “Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “astronomical.” Use it any way you like. Have fun!” There you have it. If you would like to join in go to Linda’s blog and read how easy it is to slip off the edge. Here is the link.
“Here we are standing on the precipice of space witnessing the first human beings to—”
“What are you doing?”
“I’m announcing the first humans on Mars.”
“While standing on a chair in the kitchen.”
“Well. I had to simulate being on the precipice of space.”
“The what?”
“Precipice of space. You know where no man has gone before.”
“I think you are mixing your metaphors.”
“What is that in your hand.”
“My microphone.”
“Looks like a whisk to me.”
“Whatever. You are taking the joy out of space travel.”
“From where I stand, you’ve already done that. I suppose that the gauze mask is your oxygen supply.”
“Well, at least you can give me that.”
“Where is your space ship?”
“Out back.”
“Out back?”
“Yes, It’s parked on a crater.”
“Near that old bike?”
“Not a bike but personal Mars rover.”
“Why the mummy wrap?”
“Spacesuit.”
“You are astronomical.”
“Thank you.”
“Not a compliment.”
“Anything with “astro” in it is a compliment. Seems you are getting into the spirit.”
“The only reason I came in here was to get some ice for my spirit. Thanks to you, I will need several sessions with the spirit to get this picture out of my head.”
“Hey, Lucy, its Friday. Want to ruckus?” “After my nap, Little One. After my nap.”
Another Friday is here and thank goodness for it. As you know from last week. I was on a break. It was terrific having mt eldest daughter visit. We did so many things, and she was a delight to have close.
I didn’t do any writing on the break. My goal was to be with my daughter, and that was accomplished. I did get back to work on Wednesday and have managed a thousand words a day since then. So in all, I took a break of six days, and I worked on my WIP for five days. I was at 28,000 words when I last reported, and I’m now at 34,000. That means the days I worked, I did a little over 1000 words a day. You may wonder why I am going through these gyrations? To stay on point is why. If I have to report my output to you guys weekly, then I’m more dedicated. So I think you for keeping my nose to the grindstone.
I am so pleased to welcome Harmony Kent to Fiction Favorites. Besides being an accomplished author, Harmony is also a terrific editor. She describes her new book.
Hi, everyone. Harmony here. Many thanks to John for hosting me today. I have a new book on pre-order called FALLOUT, which is a post-apocalyptic dystopia. This novel started out life by playing a little game. I sat and closed my eyes and imagined an empty room … in that room, a vial appeared. A dull orange plastic thing covered in scratches. It sloshed when I shook it. From that tiny beginning, the world of Exxon 1 and its deadly virus was born.
How come there’s only one vial?
How does the virus and antidote work?
WHEN EVERYTHING FALLS APART, WHAT CAN YOU DO?
The year is 3040.
The location is Exxon 1, part of a six-planet system in settled space.
Determined to avoid the mistakes of old Earth, the surviving humans avoided democracy and opted, instead, for a non-elective totalitarian system.
The new way worked well, until now.
A crazy, despotic president releases a nano-virus on the population.
No one was ready for the fallout. It came anyway.
In this post-apocalyptic world, can you stay safe?
Excerpt
Nobody knew her. And she intended to keep it that way. It’s easy to fool others. All you have to do is believe it yourself, and you make it real. People want to be manipulated. It keeps life simple for them. You watch and learn what their desires are, what their morals are, and what you can give them in return for what you want from them.
For the time being, it worked for Sasha to sleep with Ellie’s husband. And she enjoyed keeping the true nature of the lab project a secret, even from the boss. It was too funny: the lead scientist not having the first clue.
Sasha set up the accident perfectly.
Author Bio
After spending around thirteen years as an ordained Buddhist monk, living in a Zen Buddhist temple, and six years after a life-changing injury following a surgical error, Harmony Kent returned to the world at the tender age of forty.
Now, she is famous for her laughter, and has made quite the name for herself … she’s also, um, a writer … and fairly well known for that too. She’s even won a few awards. Harmony lives in rural Cornwall with her ever-present sense of humour, adorable husband, and quirky neighbours.
Harmony is passionate about supporting her fellow authors.
Twiggy and Lucy don’t like the heat much. They are both sub-snout dogs and shouldn’t be in the weather because it is very hard on them to be able to vent correctly through panting. Does that mean they don’t want to go out? You be the judge.
“Hey, Lucy. Come here.”
“What Little One? I’m busy scratching my ear.”
“Do you see em?”
“I don’t see anything.”
“Look harder. Over there past the lamplight.”
“Sorry Potato, but I don’t see anything.”
“Just turn your head slightly. They are right there.”
“Okay. I still don’t see anything.”
“Maybe we are at the wrong window.”
“So let’s go to the Boss’ office.”
“There. Lucy, Do you see it?”
“Is that a squirrel?”
“Oh, boy lets go get it.”
Not so fast ladies. According to my watch it is 101 degrees out there. You’ll have to wait a little. Also, it looks like the DOW has reacted to the interest rate cut. But that’s not your worry”
“Aw, dad. We just spotted some interesting game. What is a DOW?”
“Never mind the DOW. Besides the temperature, the squirrel is in the front. You never go out front without a leash.”
The man makes sense, Little one. I think I’ll catch 40 winks.”
“Yeah, I could use a few myself. I’ll bet a DOW is something fun to chase.”
“I’m telling you, Twiggy. You can knock all you want but Friday is not going to answer. It’s still Wednesday.”
It is Wednesday story day again, and I am so glad to be back. I had a wonderful time with my oldest daughter, but now it is time to return.
Last week we were surprised to find Christine wasn’t lying dead in her house after offering to speak to Larry and Andrew about Rafferty’s murder. We were also ill at ease with Christine’s lassiez faire attitude once the boys came to her place. She went off to change clothes and asked our heroes to make her a drink. Some of us wondered if she was setting our guys up for a drive-by. I think we better get back there and hope no one comes through the door with a blazing automatic. I see Christine is returning to the living room where Andrew waits with her drink.
“Oh, my goodness this drink is exactly what I need. Aren’t you guys having any?”
“No thanks, Christine. We need to drive tonight.”
“You need to drive Larry. I could use a drink.”
“Yes, Larry. Please let the man have a drink. There’s some nice Willet Special Reserve bourbon over there.”
“Thank you, Miss. Don’t mind if I do.”
“You can call me Christine. So, Larry. Where was I?”
“You were telling us that you thought the reason Alexis was killed is he found out that his wife and a guy named Ned Dixon were in partnership together and out to defraud Cortez.”
“Ah, yes. You have to understand that the reason Alexis was not faithful to his wife is she took up with that Dixon guy. He actually was very upset about that.”
“So he took some comfort with you?”
“Well, in a manner of speaking. He used to come into the bar, and one thing led to another, and we struck up a relationship.”
“When was the last time you saw Mr. Rafferty?”
“The night he was killed. He and I got together, and then he said he had to go to a meeting.”
“Did he tell you who the meeting was with?”
“No, but the way he talked, I assume it was with Cortez.”
“Had he been drinking?”
“No, not at all. Alexis was not a big drinker. He would have maybe a glass of wine, but I never saw him drink more than one.”
“Okay, so he had a meeting with Cortez. Did you see him after?”
“No. He was supposed to come back to my place, but he never showed.”
“Was that unusual?”
“Larry. Take a look at this body. Would you not come back to my place?”
“Er uh.”
“Yes, it was unusual. I stayed up until two o’clock and finally fell asleep. When I got up in the morning, there was no Alexis. I only found out when I got to work what happened.”
“So what makes you think he was killed due to a plot on the part of his wife and Dixon.”
“he was on the phone with his wife before he left my place. He was telling her that he knew about her and Dixon and that her “little Ponzi scheme” wasn’t going to work.”
“Ponzi scheme? Is that what he called it?”
“Yes. Then when he got off the phone, he was agitated. In frustration, he told me that his wife and her lover were going to make a run at getting money from Cortez.”
“Did he say he was going to tell Cortez?”
“Oh, heavens no. Alexis would never do that. He would meet with the wife and threaten to expose her.”
“Is that what he said he was going to do?”
“In so many words.”
“Do you know if they met.”
“I’m not sure, but I have a theory.”
“What’s that?”
“I think he set up the meeting and she and Dixon did him in. Could you make me another drink please.”
Friday is here. I guess it is cause for celebration. A perfect time to let you know I’m going to be away from my post for a few days. My daughter is visiting from Indiana. In fairness to her visit and the quality of the posts, something has to give. I will be taking a social media hiatus to concentrate on her. This will be the first break I’ve taken since I started blogging in 2012. Makes me a little nervous but think in the long run it will be best. I apologize in advance for not visiting your posts, but time will be a premium. I may get there but not as often.
I’ll be back on Wednesday the 31st. I have disabled comments here since I won’t be available to answer. Today’s JohnKu Talks about trying to do too much.
