TOP DRAWER INK NEWSLETTER

 

Here's the latest issue of Top Drawer Ink, the newsletter written by author HL Carpenter that's chock full of humor and common sense information.

Share the fun! You may re-distribute Top Drawer Ink as long as the entire newsletter is left intact. Please respect our copyrights.

Top Drawer Ink is self-syndicated. Send reprint, licensing, syndication or other inquiries to editor -at- TopDrawerInkCorp.com.

***

October 22, 2011
Volume 9, Number 20
ISSN 1554-6330

In this issue:

1. Top Drawer News

2. Carpenter Country Essay

3. Top Drawer Article

4. Top Drawer Tips

5. Top Drawer Satire

***

***TOP DRAWER NEWS***

Our young adult novel, The SkyHorse, has been accepted by Musa Publishing! We expect the eBook edition to be released early in 2012. You'll be the first to know when we have a final publication date, because we're WAY too excited to keep the news to ourselves!

***

CARPENTER COUNTRY

What's Happening in Our Neck of the Human Experience

Halloween is nearly upon us, and this year I'm going to two parties.

At the first bash, I'll be one of the three blind mice. While I'm saying, "Where's the cheese?" I'll be wearing large sunglasses, a black shirt, tights, whiskers and a skull cap with mouse ears.

A farmer's wife ... dressed appropriately in a calico apron ... will be chasing me and the other two mice with a butcher knife.

Of course, I don't know how fast any of us will be able to run since as blind mice we'll be hobbling around with canes. Maybe we should all stand our ground and attack the farmer's wife with those wooden sticks.

No, no, that would ruin a good party!

A week later, at the next event, I'll be Jane Fonda. What a switch, huh?

The outfit of the evening will be aerobic wear, complete with a blond wig - if I can find one. Otherwise, I'll be wearing my own naturally curly, beautifully spiked, gray hair.

Hopefully, no one will be chasing me at this gathering since I'll be carrying a five pound weight in each hand, which would probably make running difficult, though not as hard as trying to sprint away from the farmer's wife while using a cane.

I wish I could take credit for the brilliant mouse costume idea, but the kudos go to one of the other mice, who has a young and playful mind. As for the Jane Fonda bit, that fell into place because most of the exercise gear was already in my Carpenter Country closet.

So Happy Halloweening, everyone - and please keep your fingers crossed that I get through both fun events without breaking a leg.

That would mean needing a cane big time!

***

TOP DRAWER ARTICLE

A Recordkeeping Quiz

by
HL Carpenter

As a business owner, you know you need to keep records for tax-deductible items. But do you know what records will substantiate your deductions for business expenses?

Click here to read the rest of this article

***

TOP DRAWER TIPS
Topics and Tidbits

Tip: While you have to maintain records to back up your business tax deductions, there's another deductibility test to pass first: Your expenses must be ordinary and necessary. In the tax code, ordinary generally means a current expense (as opposed to assets you should capitalize and depreciate). Necessary means the items or services you pay for are needed to conduct your business activities. Some costs are not deductible under other code sections, even if you consider them ordinary and necessary - for instance, fines and penalties.

Glossary Term: Substantiation. The proof you need to support your business expenses. Substantiation includes receipts, logs and other verifiable records.

Financial Horoscope: Give yourself credit where it's due - and that doesn't mean filling out the pre-approved offer you got in the mail. Celebrate your financial achievements by starting a success log of the monetary and other goals you reach. Recordkeeping like this is a morale booster!

***

TOP DRAWER SATIRE

Encouraging Civility

by
HL Carpenter

Raising a youngster is hard work, but the parents of Civility Inamerica believe they're up to the task.

Click here to read the rest of this satire