Let’s give a nice warm

Let’s give a nice warm welcome to Willow, who has joined the ranks (for real this time).

J holed up last night to work on our tax forms (I’m very archaic like that, throwing my hands up in the air and shoving my papers at him to figure out. My rationale is that I COULD do them if I needed to, but if J’s offering, what the hell.) After giving him strict instructions to come back with a big refund (ha), I curled up in bed with my book. He came back a while later, holding the federal tax form out for me to see and pointing at the refund line. I couldn’t believe it: $46! Then J pointed out that the staple was covering a number. $461! There was much jumping up and down. I’ve never got money back for taxes, so this is a big event. Am I not supposed to tell you how much I got? Is there etiquette here? I wouldn’t know because this is the FIRST TIME for me! Whoo! Of course, J is doing state and local taxes today, and more likely than not, I will owe $458. Just saying. Also, before you all get excited for the $461 party Liz is throwing, we should take a moment to think of Credit Card Debt, which will probably be eating all of the (possible) refund like the greedy little pig it is.

You know what’s awesome about getting married? People CANNOT stop throwing you parties. They try, but then they are compelled by the presence of love and also the desire to eat goodies and drink wine and they have no choice but to throw you an engagement/celebration/birthday/shower/present party. This is actually one of the powers bestowed upon you when you get engaged: the ability to look cute and catalyze parties. This weekend’s party was with my aunt and cousins and their kids up in Chappaqua, the land of making you want a big house and yard and also cute, intelligent children. All the kids ransacked the costume chest, and my little cousin George (who has an older sister and two girl cousins) wouldn’t be left out of the fun, and went through the whole party in a princess dress, crown, and pink high heels. And if you think there is anything cuter that ever existed you are wrong. We got these hats to wear:

and this cake to eat:

And way too many gifts. We may have to turn down our powers a bit (although not before the IRS gives me another $461 and throws us a party with cake).

If you like literary books about high school that are sleepy and utterly engrossing all at once, I recommend you check out Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld. Here’s Max enjoying it months ago in manuscript form.

He loved it, too.
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