bonmignon

Feeling better - scar is ugly but now only this freezing weather (or anything hot/cold like the shower!) makes it feel like it is on fire again! But, much better.

I just bought another new pair of shoes - I am a whore for Fluevog. I am going to the shoe poor house. These are the tallest shoes I've ever owned. I can't wear heels over 3" - but these are a whopping 3 1/2" - I think they are really 4". I'm 5'9" so it's not like I need tall shoes. They are SO beautiful on though!


Last weekend I got all dressed up in one of my new stop staring retro repro dresses with a swing bottom in red and black that I put a crinoline slip under, another pair of Fluevogs in red/black with retro styling, and completed the look with a pair of gloves, a small clutch purse with a vintage linen ladies handkerchief inside (along with my other items), pearl bracelets over the gloves, velvet pillbox hat with lace, a pair of black cuban heel stockings with a red heel and seem - complete with a long line piece girdle garter and matching panties and bra, a vintage fox stole (head and all), and a complimentary vintage mink capelet - If I do not say so myself - and I do and rarely will because so many others did too - it was fabulous! All my ebay and other shopping pulled together! Ah, it was fun! And, several people I know did not even recognize me! Viva Las Vegas! I have about 6 more completely separate "new" outfits and even more "vintage" awaiting "occassions".

So - Verizon sends an email that says:

Quote
Please note, starting February 20, 2005, you will begin seeing a monthly Tax
Recovery Fee on your DSL service bill. This is not a tax charged directly to
Verizon Online's customers, but the partial recovery of tax that Verizon Online
must pay when they purchase the DSL circuit from the telephone company.

This fee will be eliminated after the recently passed expansion of the Internet
Tax Nondiscrimination Act becomes effective in November 2005 until November
2007. Since this is not a direct tax but is the recovery of a tax paid by
Verizon Online, there are no applicable exemptions. More information is
available online at www.verizon.net/myaccount.
End Quote

This is the most stupid email. If I were not a college graduate and government employee - I might not understand this. Most surely they have hired a former government employee to write the damn thing! First calling something a "tax recovery fee" and then trying to suggest that it is not technically a tax because it is not directly billed to the employee is ridiculous. Then to say that this is because "Verizon Online" purchases the circuit from the "Phone Company" gives me utter stiches. Ummm - they might be separate accounting codes at their office - but I get a single bill, I call the same people for service, and they are both "Verizon"! Bastards! Then they want to notify me about legislation first indicating it is expanded but then suggesting it will be eliminated but there are no exemptions - what the hell are they saying?

I get just as irritated when Brinks sends me a bill every year for "Personal Property Tax" on the alarm system that I don't actually "own". They do this so most people will be "up in arms" at being taxed - but what I'm really up in arms about is paying for what is actually THEIR tax liability since it is THEIR property (as they immediately reminded me when I was considering selling). Of course I realize they'd just increase the fees - but don't try to suggest that government is overtaxing me - when it is they who are liable!

Yet they get to take the tax credit - not me! To top it off the link on the Verizon site for information doesn't work! Bastards! I've got a public-private partnership for them! To the FCC!