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NortonAccountingServices.com 985-640-6072 Info@NortonAccountingServices.com MAY 2020 NORTON NEWSLETTER EASE OF MIND • AVAILABILITY • FLEXIBILITY • INDIVIDUAL APPROACH • EXPERIENCE • TAX SAVINGS OPPORTUNITIES THE REAL ESTATE TAX PRO ™
FROM THE DESK OF Bob Norton
Several years ago, I bought a house for my parents to live in so they wouldn’t have to pay rent increases
each year. After they were in the house for a couple of years, their area suffered a hail storm that damaged the roof. We filed a claim and discovered that the insurance would only pay for a portion of the damage because I had “actual value” coverage on the house. This means that the insurance company deducts “depreciation”, then the deductible, and pays the net result. If the house had burned down instead, I would have not have been able to rebuild it with the insurance I purchased to do just that. I called the insurance agent to find out that a “replacement cost” policy would have cost me only $200 more per year. I found a new agent who would offer me options, instead of trying to “save”me money. During tax season, I see a lot of homeowner policies. Very few have replacement cost coverage. Please check your policy and with your agent to determine if you have the right coverage.
Celebrating May’s Impact on the English Language MAYPOLES, MAYFLIES, ANDTHE MAYFLOWER
Not to be confused with the international phrase for help, May Day is a cultural celebration dating back millennia. For some cultures, May Day, traditionally held on May 1, is an important day signifying the halfway point of the year. Other cultures celebrate and honor fertility on May Day with maypoles that represent male fertility and wreaths and ribbons that depict female fertility. Today, May Day celebrations continue in their traditional format, while some people celebrate the holiday by simply doing kind deeds for their neighbors. Thankfully, there’s little cause for mayday on May Day.
There are many reasons to celebrate in May. Among thanking Mom, honoring those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country, and embarking on postgraduation adventures, there’s no shortage of importance when it comes to May. And the English language makes this pretty clear. Check out these unique facts about English words or phrases that use the word “may.”
Avoiding Mayday on May Day
About 100 years ago, the English and French faced quite a dilemma. As aircraft paths were more frequently crossing the English Channel, the countries needed to develop a distress signal that could be easily distinguished over the radio. While SOS was commonly used by armies across the globe as a sign of mayhem, “S” sounds were hard to hear over the radio. The French reverted to using m’aidez , which means “help me.” Soon, the English added their own spin, deciphering the phrase as “mayday.”The new phrase went global thanks to bulletins posted in popular publications, and today, it’s known as a worldwide distress signal.
May’s Most Famous Ship
-Bob Norton
The Mayflower, named after the English word for the small, white hawthorn flower, served as a merchant ship before making its biggest voyage in 1620 from England to the eastern coast of North America. But the Mayflower was one of many. There were actually dozens of English ships named Mayflower, and in 1620, today’s most famous ship in the bunch headed down the River Thames into the English Channel with another boat, the
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In November 1620, after a treacherous, dangerous, and deadly journey, the Mayflower finally landed in present-day Cape Cod. The rest is history — literally.
Speedwell. A group of Puritans and others fleeing religious persecution boarded the vessels, hoping for a new home in the West.
But there’s a reason why we only recognize the Mayflower and why the Speedwell has been forgotten for most of history. Just as the two ships began their journey in August, the Speedwell sprang a leak. Waiting for repairs pushed the journey’s start date to September, and that attempt was just as unsuccessful. After this second leak on the Speedwell, weary travelers either gave up on the trek altogether or joined the hopeful Pilgrims on the Mayflower.
Living Like a Mayfly
Life is short, especially if you’re a mayfly. To no surprise, mayflies hatch in May, but they traditionally only live a few days. Most of that time is spent mating and reproducing, which mayflies are particularly skilled at. The average female mayfly can lay anywhere between 400–3,000 eggs. After being dropped in water, the eggs grow and mature before hatching every May. Many people who live near rivers have come to expect the mayflies’ uncanny ability to blanket entire towns in a mask of creepy- crawlies when they hatch each spring. Despite their short lifespans, mayflies are actually powerful little creatures. Fish feed on the insects and their carcasses, making them popular bait among fishermen. Scientists even use mayfly eggs as a marker for water pollution and clarity. The eggs are extremely sensitive to pollution of any kind, and only one-fourth survive mild pollution. Still, researchers believe mayflies are evolutionary wonders. They are believed to have been around before dinosaurs, and the famed Greek philosopher Aristotle even mentioned mayflies in his writing.
If there’s one thing you take away from this article, it should be that we could all live a little bit more like the mayfly and seize the day. Has Breakfast in Bed Gone Out of Style?
WHAT MOMS REALLYWANT ONMOTHER’S DAY
Serving breakfast in bed to moms, especially on Mother’s Day, has been a widespread tradition for years, but have you ever wondered if it’s what your mom really wants? Here’s a look at the Mother’s Day breakfast in bed tradition and some recent insight into the popular trend. According to Heather Arndt Anderson, author of “Breakfast: A History,” the popularity of breakfast in bed became widespread during the Victorian era, but only for married, wealthy women who had servants. Those women would enjoy their first meal of the day in bed, and then their servants would handle all the spilled scone crumbs andmessy breakfast residue. In 1914, President WoodrowWilson dubbed Mother’s Day a national U.S. holiday, and a few years later, the aristocratic English tradition of breakfast in bed sailed across the pond to America. By the 1930s, food and bedding companies capitalized on the tradition and the new holiday by running ads in magazines and newspapers encouraging children and fathers to serve their matriarchs breakfast in bed. Since then, serving mothers breakfast in bed has become a popular Mother’s Day ritual around the world, and it remains so today. However, there is one group whose voice has been left out of the breakfast in bed conversation: mothers.
Yes, you read that right. When you factor in the mess of syrup, crumbs, and coffee spilling over clean sheets, it’s understandable. Today’s mothers usually don’t have servants to clean up afterward. The study also revealed what most moms prefer to do for breakfast on Mother’s Day: 53% of mothers like to go out, and 39% prefer brunch instead of breakfast. While breakfast in bed seems like a nice gesture, statistics show that it’s probably the last thing your momwants to wake up to on May 10. This Mother’s Day, show your appreciation for your mom or the mother of your children by asking her what she would like to do. She deserves the holiday morning she desires, whether that includes a full breakfast in bed or a trip to her favorite brunch joint.
In a recent study conducted by Zagat, a well-known dining survey site, researchers found that only 4% of moms polled want breakfast in bed.
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THE TIMELESS CHARM OF THE DRIVE-IN MOVIE Plus, How to Create Your Own Outdoor Cinema
to purchase at most big-box stores. For playing the movie, you’ll need a laptop and streaming service or a DVD or Blu-ray player. You’ll connect these devices to your projector through an HDMI port. As long as you’re not broadcasting to the whole neighborhood, stereo or computer speakers should be just fine, but you can also opt for a Bluetooth speaker that will give your audio a big boost. Next, you’ll need a flat surface to display the movie. A plain, white bedsheet makes a good screen, or you can make your own with white fabric from craft stores or online. Cushions, blankets, and outdoor hanging lights add a fun touch to your cinema. Just be sure to turn the lights off before the movie begins — and silence those cellphones! Once your setup is complete, select your movie, get the popcorn popping, and enjoy some movie magic right in your backyard.
The first drive-in theater opened in 1933 in Camden, New Jersey. At the time, films cost 25 cents per person, plus 25 cents per car, and drive-ins usually got movies in the second run, after they’d shown at indoor theaters. The trend started off slow, but by the ‘50s, Americans had fully embraced the outdoor theater experience. The ‘80s brought a charismatic Michael J. Fox to audiences in “Back to the Future,” and shortly after, “The Sandlot” hit the big screen and gave us lines that we’d quote for the next decade (“You’re killin’me, Smalls!”). As of 2018, USA Today estimated that only about 330 drive-in theaters still exist in the United States. But if you don’t have one in your area, there’s a way you can
Summertime is synonymous with many childhood experiences: hours splashing in the pool, sleepaway camp, and snow cones, to name a few. A quintessential summer destination that isn’t as common these days is the drive-in theater, yet many childhood memories are built on this little bit of nostalgia.
enjoy the outdoor movie experience without having to leave your backyard.
Your outdoor cinema starts with a projector. If you don’t have one, they are readily available
Take a Break!
Inspired by Primal Palate
Grilled Prime Rib
Who says the cookout has to ruin your diet? Try this paleo-friendly recipe for a main dish that’s worthy of your next barbecue.
Ingredients
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1 1/2 lbs beef rib roast 1 tsp Himalayan salt
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1/2 tsp black pepper
Directions
1. Take rib roast out of the refrigerator 30 minutes prior to grilling. 2. Season roast with salt and pepper and allow it to rest for 10 minutes while you heat a gas grill to 600 F. 3. Sear roast for 3–4 minutes on each side. 4. Turn off the grill but continue cooking the steak, flipping every 4–5 minutes, until it reaches an internal temperature of 125 F. Remove from grill. 5. Allow the roast to rest — its internal temperature will continue to climb — for 5–10 minutes. Slice and serve.
OUTDOORS POLLEN SUNSHINE TAURUS
MAYFLY MEMORIAL MEXICO MOTHERS
BUTTERFLY FLOWERS JEDI LADYBUG
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE From the Desk of Bob PAGE 1 Facts About Words That Start With ‘May’ PAGE 1 Has Breakfast in Bed Gone Out of Style? PAGE 2 The Timeless Charm of the Drive-In Movie PAGE 3 Take a Break PAGE 3 Grilled Prime Rib PAGE 3 The Best Grandfather a Kitten Could Have PAGE 4
THE STORY OF GRANDPA MASON How a Feral Cat Came to Care for Orphaned Kittens
Given his health conditions, veterinarians predicted the battle-scarred Grandpa Mason didn’t have long to live, so TinyKittens’ founder, Shelly Roche, took him in and provided him with a comfortable place to sleep, plenty of food, and time to relax in the last months of his life. Grandpa Mason had a hard time adjusting to domestic life and would often shy away from being petted. In an interview with The Dodo, Roche described him as “an elderly gentleman [who] lived his whole life a certain way, and then, all of a sudden, [was] forced to live completely differently.” After Grandpa Mason grew accustomed to his home, Roche took in several foster kittens, and those new roommates completely altered Grandpa Mason’s behavior. Roche expected him to hiss, swat, or growl at the kittens when they invaded his space, but he didn’t. Instead, he allowed them to crawl all over him and appeared to enjoy it when they licked his ear.
When cats are orphaned as kittens, they don’t get the chance to develop all the skills needed to become successful cats. Just like human children, kittens need older role models too. The most famous cat role model had a rough start in life but became an inspiration for kittens and humans alike. His name was Grandpa Mason, and during the last years of his life, he stepped up and gave love, care, and guidance to the orphaned kittens that lived with him. The Canadian animal rescue group TinyKittens rescued Grandpa Mason in 2016 from a property that was scheduled to be bulldozed. The poor feral tabby was suffering from many health problems, including severe dental issues, a badly injured paw, and advanced kidney disease. Since TinyKittens is a no-kill rescue organization, euthanization was out of the question.
Suddenly a playful, affectionate, and gentle personality came out of Grandpa Mason as he played with, bathed, taught, and cared for the orphaned kittens that Roche welcomed into her home. Potentially due to the kittens’ influence, Grandpa Mason surpassed his prognosis by more than two years. During the last few years of his life, Grandpa Mason passed on important lessons and good manners to the kittens he looked after and adored, as a true grandfather should. He passed last September, but he spent his last night in his ultimate happy place: snuggling in his bed surrounded by kittens.
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