Income tax is due on October 15^th, so this is an abbreviated version of the column this week. Sorry, but my accountant makes me follow the rules so I can visit her 2-3 times a year at her office instead of a detention center. It’s more fun this way. It was so much harder this year to find everything I needed – it all had to be accessed online. Once that involved a company sending a passcode to my office phone number in their files while I continued to hold at home where I was working at my kitchen table. So, I had to text my office that the call was coming in, get them to write down the passcode, then text it back to me so I could tell the girl that had me on hold so she could verify that it was actually me she was talking to. That was a 45-minute deal and she was the 5^th person that I had talked to that afternoon at her company – everyone else had ‘accidently’ disconnected our calls after being on hold forever. They were all like that. Oh, well. It’s over and I have the best accountants in the world.

“I live for one day. One day at a time. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it, and I hope I enjoy it for 100 more years.”  Rose Landin, 101 years-old, who has worked as a greeter at the State Fair of Texas for 25 years.

Beyoncé’s father has breast cancer. Matthew Knowles, 67, said he noticed a recurring dot of blood on his shirts and his wife noted she had seen the same on their sheets. He contacted his doctor, had a mammogram and was diagnosed with breast cancer. He has the BRCA2 gene mutation, which places him in a higher risk category for developing cancer.  “I need men to speak out if they’ve had breast cancer,” he said. “I need them to let people know they have the disease, so we can get correct numbers and better research… Men want to keep it hidden, because we feel embarrassed – and there’s no reason for that.” Since October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, let’s remember that men have breasts too, and should be included in ALL clinical trials and research.

Baby Shark LIVE on October 11^th at Smart Financial Centre in Sugar Land. Frankie Valli on October 20^th. Hmmm. The one you pick will really show your age and your place in life. ha-ha

The kids and I were looking for a place to eat a couple of weeks ago and decided to walk to one of our favorites, Phoenicia Specialty Foods, which is the coolest downtown gourmet market, restaurant and bar on Austin Street in Houston. It’s a foodie experience, nothing fancy, very casual…grab a seat and order or go through the line inside the grocery side, then sit down. We had grilled lamb pitas from the line, and it was fabulous. Oh, and our shared order of baklava wasn’t shabby either. Don’t go if you’re in a hurry because you will want to walk around and enjoy the cultural experience of the grocery store. They offer produce, fresh meats, seafood, artisan breads, rustic-style pizza, wines and craft beers, plus so much more. Oh, there’s also complimentary parking which is pretty sweet for downtown.

Debra Perry (State Farm) and I met with LJ city council last night and our tradition of ‘Santa at the Gazebo’ was approved for December 5^th right in front of our offices at the downtown gazebo. We have permission to block off the street at 2:00 instead of 4:00 since we are such a popular street now…but will wait until a little later to decide on whether we want cold or hot cider along with cookies. At this time there will be goodie bags, the trolley visiting the downtown Christmas lights, games, movies at Square3 (formally PCCare) and Leeroy’s Esports and some bouncy houses at TBT Real Estate (Tammie Bell). It’s a fun evening for adults and kids. I hope everyone can attend and help us start the holiday season by letting Santa know what you want him to bring you for Christmas.

Fun fact: Both the words zucchini and courgetti mean ‘small pumpkin’. Zucchini is Italian and courgetti is French. More useless information that tastes very good. Courgetti pasta is spiral cut zucchini used instead of pasta. H.E.B. has it already cut up for you.

There is a Pillsbury ad on TV now that says, “the average amount of quality time per day that we get with our family is 37 minutes.” When I saw that, I used the old “go-back” on the TV controls and listened to it again because I thought I hadn’t heard it right. First off, I can assure you that everyone can do better than that. Maybe not every single night, but with effort it can work. At our house, that meant that sometimes (often) our dinner was at 8:30 or 9:00 at night. BUT we ate together. We never had the TV on weekdays. Never. 37 minutes a day is just not right. Try to do better. I think that the time you spend with them when they are young determines the relationship you will have with them as adults. Just my opinion.

There will be a new newspaper called The West Brazos Tribune that will be serving West Columbia, Brazoria and Sweeny. Please support them and all the other local community newspapers.

It has taken me a while to give you this story because it shows such poor judgment on my part, but here it is. On my daughter’s 20th birthday in July, we headed towards H.E.B. from our house to pick up steaks to cook for her birthday supper. We were on FM 2004 heading west and approached the ramp to make our way up and were almost on top of the overpass onto 288, when suddenly a car very quickly sped past us on our right side next to the wall of the ramp…where there isn’t enough room to pass on the right even if it was legal, which it is NOT.  We are talking about a very small shoulder. Intelligence left me quickly and I followed the speeding car to the mall exit and on to Oyster Creek Drive, then continued for quite a while in the neighborhoods close by, including a spot on Sycamore where he proceeded to pass me on the left, this time by driving on the sidewalk and curb. Yes, I know that I should have headed back to H.E.B. but foolishly I continued looking for him. I wanted a license number and a picture of the car. I was a little ticked off about the experience of someone passing me on an up ramp…on the right shoulder, when my child was sitting in the passenger seat. Well, we just happened to find his car parked in a driveway about ten seconds later. We even saw them running into the house. So, pictures in hand, we went straight to the Police Department and reported the problem. If it happens again and someone reports it, then this incident is on file. I just get so tired of people doing stupid things with no consequences. The police told us to call them next time, but thanks for the information.

Now, about those of you that park right on top of, or way over the designated little white painted line of the parking spots downtown and other parking places, with your big cars and trucks or your little cars and trucks…where no one can park next to you without having to break a window to get in and out of their own car…you know who you are.  And in downtown LJ, there is a two-way yield at a four-way intersection down the street from our office in front of The Local. LOOK. Yield means Yield, and it means everyone including you. Yield is not just for those that happen to pay attention on special days.  And by the way, when you’re on 288 on your way to Houston, the left-hand lane is for passing – it’s not your private road to Houston. Move over so those of us that actually want to drive the speed limit, can. That’s why they painted PASSING LANE ONLY on the road. It WAS for you. Ahhhh, and while I’m at it, let’s talk about the horns that sound like train whistles. NOT right. NOT fair. For just an instant, there is a train is bearing down on me. Let’s not forget about those of you that apply makeup while driving. Then the worst thing of all – texting and driving. Let me remind you that our kids are on the road. Put your phones down. Why does everyone think that when your phone goes off, you are obligated to either answer it or look at it immediately. It’s not bad manners to make someone wait until you stop and get out of your car. When I was young (oh, boy, here it comes) we only had a phone at home, so you had to wait to return your calls. Whine, whine, whine. Have a lovely week and always remember that we appreciate you and the fact that you are reading this newspaper.

Lisa