Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we diet!

This has been a reception weekend, a dessert weekend, a gain-back-all-the-weight-you-worked-so-hard-to-lose weekend. Firstly at the reception after yesterday�s memorial service, and today at the reception following the local musical festival gala concert. This year their mystery composer was none other than my dearly beloved. They had sprinkled clues in the programme, played his music, and generally left little actual mystery about who it was. Besides, the contestants all know and talk to each other, and word spreads quickly. But, nonetheless, it was a very nice gesture, and Hubby got to go up on stage and draw entries out of a drum with the correct answer on them, for nine prizes of $25 each and one grand prize of $100.

The gala was long, but fun, and the tiny little kids playing were delightful. There was one girl playing cello who couldn�t have been more than nine years old, with long curly blond hair and a tiny stool to sit on. She was adorable, and played in tune too! The pi�ce de r�sistance was a young woman playing marimba. She was an incredible performer, and also walked off with the grand $1000 prize. Afterwards there was a reception with free wine (I only had one glass--stop looking at me like that!) and sandwiches and salads, and pastries (okay, so I overindulged�again) and it was very pleasant.

My taxes are inked and must be mailed tomorrow. Since the 30th fell on a Saturday, the government in all its magnanimousness gives us an extra day to mail our returns. I don�t think I have ever let the process draw out this long. You can tell I really wanted to unload more money for roads and waste management. Did you know that only 17% of charitable contributions can be deducted from your taxable income, but you can claim 100% of donations to political parties? Is there something wrong with this picture? It doesn�t make being charitable all that attractive.

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