Dear board friends,

Mlle. de Guerre had run into the Post Office this morning, and encountered a news team from WDAM, who were filming those unfortunate last-minute tax filers. Mr. Leif Munkel, the "oh so charming young man" approached her about being filmed whilst mailing her tax papers. She declined, but we can all appreciate at what cost -- what an opportunity to voice a few well-chosen opinions. Mlle. did not give it up lightly.

(By the way, Mr. Munkel may think the blond woman in a lovely pink hat was Mlle. de Guerre. However, that is a lady we see about town but do not know. Mlle. herself was wearing a green shirt and felt that she was much too tousled to appear on camera.) On reflection, she has decided that it is no doubt best that her face not be so familiar. One does not know whom one may encounter, and Mlle always seeks to avoid unpleasantness. (Well, unless she instigates it, but that's a story for another day.)

She also wondered whether the opinions of a foreigner on the US Tax Code might be appropriately given at such a time. She has, of course, very strong opinions on the subject, which begin to strengthen each year about March and become quite pronounced by April. However, she (and I) feel that as we have each chosen this country as our own, we take the bad with the good, and are grateful to it for having saved our own homelands. Twice. So we temper our remarks.

I was quite proud of Mlle. for her decision, but even more so for actually having her taxes done early this year. In fact, she had gone into the Post Office to mail a form the state requires of one even when the return has been filed on-line. The logic of this requirement escapes one; as it was not discovered until after paying the electronic filing fee, Mlle. was more than a little annoyed. Perhaps it is best that Mr. Munkel did not pursue the issue of interviewing her.

We have returned to chez de Guerre after our outing, and Mlle. is rummaging through the bookcases deciding if she feels up to Sartre, or whether she might settle upon something a bit lighter. I hope nothing political. I don't feel up to the smashed champagne glasses today. Perhaps I shall suggest that she begin a new article for the Journal of the American Attack Poodle. Or perhaps not. Given her mood today, we might be in for something on the oppressed, buffaloed poodles who have no meaningful role in life as Dervish has, and the implications for gender, race and class. I doubt there is enough champagne in the house to see her through that.

A pleasant afternoon to you all.

Sincerely,

Hermione Angleterre, Social Secretary to Monique de Guerre