Taxes, Rainy Day & Movies

Yesterday was a taxing day here. Our county property and personal property taxes are due semi-annually in June and Dec (town taxes annually in Dec). There’s NO benefit to paying early as in NO discount. But, there is a surcharge for those who pay with a credit card. There IS the choice to pay the entire year’s taxes at once – again NO discount. 

So NO benefits (or discounts) for early payment, means we procrastinated on purpose and paid at the tax office a day ahead of the due date. There are penalties for being late, so we avoided those.

Shortly after leaving the tax office and heading to the county library, the rain started and soon turned into downpours that consumed most of the day. This was the first rain we've had in a couple of weeks, so it was not unwelcome. Sadly, many areas of the U.S. have TOO much rain and we hope they do not get more. 

Our county library is near the tax office. A rainy day was a great time to select some films. The library only had a VHS collection until recently but s-l-o-w-l-y acquired some DVD movies. There's now has a drop box where folks can donate them. I found some favorites to re-watch. We didn't get to ALL of these in 1 day, but will the next couple of evenings.

Maybe you've seen some of these films too?

Bridget Jones, The Edge of Reason is a 2004 comedy sequel to the 2001, Bridget Jones's Diary with Renee Zellweger again in the title role  and with romantic interest provided by co-stars Colin Firth and Hugh Grant. The plot isn't the best, but it's lightweight fun.

Calendar Girls is a 2003 comedy based (true) story of how a group of Yorkshire women become nude calendar pin-ups in 1999 to raise money for Leukemia Research. Veteran actress Helen Mirren heads the ensemble cast, so what’s not to like.

The Thomas Crown Affair is a 1999 heist film and (thankfully) not  the Steve McQueen version, but a steamy remake with Pierce Brosnan and Rene Russo that is nothing like the 1968 version. This sexy crime caper/seduction film just happens to include pricey artwork theft. Favorite scene is the seduction on the steps ... (you'll have to see it to know WHY).

Chariots of Fire this 1981 British historical drama tells the fact-based story of two athletes in the 1924 Olympics. Eric Liddell, a devout Scottish Christian, runs for the glory of God, and Harold Abrahams, a Jew, runs to overcome prejudice. Nominated for seven Academy Awards, it won for Best Picture and Best Original Score by Greek composer Vangelis. (If you have not seen the 2006 film,The Holiday where Jack Black hums the theme to Kate Winslet in a video store, do yourself a favor and watch this one too, if you enjoy romantic comedies, as we do.)

Tax paying and rainy days don’t usually go together. Rainy days are OK, but the tax ones can stay away, at least for another 6 months.