Discussion:What's the Best thing that happened to you today?

Wondered what the BEST thing is to happen to everyone today.

For me, my daughter(9 years old) just gave me a foot massage. Her idea, and it was simply lovely!

Hope you all are having a nice night.

Am going to try to take this extra day to count my blessings, as I sometimes get bogged down in the trivial details of life. The stars are beautiful this morning. Clear sky, glorious heavens, and no wind.

Happy Leap Day!

If that doesn't warm a Dad's heart, I don't know what does.

Tom

Tom

Coolest comment from my granddaughter one day - she crawled into my lap and said "Gramma, I want to tell you sumpin', OK?" Me, "Sure", Her, "I love you". Melts a gramma's heart and on the really bad days brings such a smile to the face.

I like this thread. We always have to remember that even when things are bad, hectic, stressful, there's something good to look at and remember.

I agree, this is a fun thread and we should keep it going.

Whereupon months later Crow goes to med school, gets a degree in 4 days, graduates top of his class with the highest grade point average of any medical doctor in the history of mankind, completes residency in 8 days and does so well he his appointed Chief of Neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins. Sadly, his medical career is brought to an abrupt end after he accidentally drops part of a Dunkin' Donut in a patient's brain while performing arteriovenous malformation surgery and the patient is reduced to walking around saying, "Time to make the donuts."

http://www.getsmileyface.com/sm/crazy/1183.gif

Best thing that happened today: I woke up!

Tom

Tom: I had not gotten around to that yet. But, I have been called the Love Doctor by some of the ladies.

Psst: Crow's real name is Bill! I can't tell you where I got it. Super-secret sensitive government spy stuff. Pass it on!

Tom

Second best thing that's going to happen today: My daughter is going to sneak up on me later and wants me to be surprised! Can't wait!

Been "one of those days". At two o'clock the thing I was most thankful for was that my son did not want to go to a birthday party. (Too windy, he said)

And the little turd doesn't even know who chappelle or Rick James is. he is an idiot, but he's my idiot. Or I shall call him my rick james.

Of course, I was young enough for the Austin Powers trend, so I should probally just shut up.

I used to think that if I made it through the second turn of the bobsled course at age 85, I would live forever but the longer tax season goes, the more I want to wrap my mouth around the shower head and drown myself.

Best thing today -- I got several "vacuum" kisses from my youngest son!

Heads up of course.

Yes, I will report on 08 tax return.

back in school those things gave us hickeys. lol.

So far, the quiet sweet sound of nothing. Later today will be the booking of my flight to sunny florence, south carolina via myrtle beach for an extended weekend guy/brothers trip for golf and frolicationing beginning April 17th.

Already have my end of may trip to florida scheduled. flight booked.

The best thing that happens for me to day is that I get to head home to a loving husband and dinner on the table at 5pm.

The wife wanted Italian food tonight. So I made Pasta Cabonara for the first time ever. I got the ingredients and she had a craving for my homemade garlic cheese bread, which takes about an hour from start to finish. I get started on that and she cuts the bacon for the carbonara. As the bread is cooking, I start the bacon and sauce for the carbonara and somewhere along the line, I bump the burner on the stove up to medium high on the bacon. Needless to say, at some point while I am still tending to the bread, smoke start filling up the house and I don't notice. All of a sudden the smoke detector goes off. Now mind you, we have ours hooked up with a national security company that's supposed to call us first before anything else. I pull the bacon off the burner, run over to the control panel, cancel the alarm, not once but twice, but in the background I hear a strange noise coming towards my home and it has a familiar sound. It's SIRENS FROM A FIRE TRUCK! The security people then call and ask if we are okay. I tell them yes and they tell me, "We called the fire department, we will cancel them." I said, "Please do." Now we live 2 minutes from the fire house. So they are on their way with no fire anywhere in sight, but I've got a three alarm people fire in the house with the 7 y/o daughter crying because of the smoke detector alarm, the wife screaming at me over the smoke all over the house and the fire department coming and, of course, I just have to jump in and yell back telling her to go outside and wave them off because there is no fire. She yells back, "NO WAY! That's your problem! I didn't burn dinner!" I run outside and the truck is pulling up to my front door right as the alarm is canceled!

Now all of us are ticked off, dinner's ruined and we aren't happy. My daughter goes upstairs to take her bath and she comes downstairs and asks sweetly, "Are we going to have our treat?" (Our treat is to watch "Hannah Montana" and eat popcorn or a snack of some type to end our day). I said sure, but only if Mommy does it with us (my wife almost never does). So I then call everyone together, we all stand there and I apologize and so does my wife and my daughter says, "The next time you two yell at each other, you need to come talk to me and I will help you figure it out, okay?" We then sit down have ice cream and watch "Hannah Montana" as a family.

That is the best thing that happened all day. It didn't start out that way, but in the end, I still am grateful I have a beautiful wife and a beautiful little girl who is smarter than us.

Tom

The part about your daughter reminded me of an argument my husband and I had years ago, in a van with seats on either side of one of those engine cabinets which our son was sitting on (he was about 3 at the time), after we each had our very important say, there was a very pregnant pause and our son said "And that's the truth, Pfttttttt." (ala Edit Ann from Laugh In). Hard to keep a straight face after that.

It was a very beautiful day here in Kona today. Hope everyone else had a great day at work or play, whichever worked.

Yes, I did burn up the burner on the stove. Two weeks ago as a matter of fact. That was due to metal fatigue from overuse of the popcorn maker.

Cute story about your son. I remember Edith Ann from Laugh In. I also loved the two old people on the park bench, played by Artie Johnson and Ruth Buzzy. Favorite scene. He is sitting next to her and says: "Do you believe in the hereafter?" She says, "Yes, yes I do." He says, "Then you know what I am here after!" She then starts smacking him away as he tries to grab her.

Nice day here in the DC area. I got one return done and that's it. It's now 2:15 am and I am off to bed.

Tom

Natalie, I will behave. No pucker up and strange sound comments.  ;-)

BL, going to be starting in Tampa/St. Pete/New Port Richey to visit big brother. My daughter may join me. She will hang and go cruisin the clubs with her cousin while I do stuff with brother. He is in the final stages of divorce after 20+ years. Hopefully, she will be moved out of house by the time I get there. going to play some golf and try to get my bro out a little bit, maybe help him wreak a bit of havoc like he used to do in the old days. Some good ol therapeutic man stuff.

Then, drive to the other side to West Plam Beach area for a few days. Pops is out that way and he really wants us to visit, so we are going to try. Nothing planned. going to schedule a few things, but basically as we get started each morning, we will let that special day guide us.

But more importantly, will you share that garlic cheese bread recipe that takes an hour to make. I'm salivating as I type this request!

Here you go everyone!

Homemade Garlic Cheese Bread

1 Loaf French Baquette (Large loaf, not skinny)

5 cloves garlic

½ teaspoon water

1 tblsp. Unsalted butter

¼ tsp. Kosher salt

¼ tsp. peppercorn melange (I prefer peppercorn melange over straight ground black pepper, but your choice)

7 tbls. Unsalted butter softened (basically 1 stick of butter. Use the one tblsp. above; the remaining butter you use here. First time I used two sticks of butter. That was fine as well. That translates to 1 tablespoon in the pan + 13 tablespoons for the paste. If you do this, double the other ingredients above, except the bread and cheese. Makes for more buttery garlic flavor and keeps vampires away longer)

1 package 4 or 6 Italian blend cheese

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Horizontally cut French bread in half and place on aluminum foil.

Take the 5 gloves of garlic and using a rasp grater (okay, you can use a garlic press), grate until finely minced. Add to a cold non-stick frying pan. Add the ½ teaspoon of water and one tablespoon of butter. Over low heat, constantly stir garlic and butter until a paste is form, but do not overcook. This should take 10 minutes. Remove paste and add to a bowl with softened butter. Add ¼ tsp of salt and ¼ tsp. of pepper and fold together.

Spread on both halves of bread and place halves together (one on top of another). Roll in foil and place in 400 degree oven for 15 minutes. After removing from oven, let cool for a couple of minutes and remove foil. Separate the top and bottom halves, laying them side by side. Bread will (most likely) be soggy, so to dry out, put bread back into oven for ten minutes without foil on baking sheet (even if bread isn’t soggy, I still do this anyway).

Remove bread from oven. Turn off oven and turn on oven broiler to high (I've used low as well because my broiler causes the bread to burn). If top rack is too close to top of the broiler, move down one slot in the oven (of course, use an oven mitt or oven glove to do this). Spread cheese evenly over the two halves of bread. Put back into the oven for no more than 2 minutes under the broiler. It is done when cheese is melted and turning a nice golden brown. But be careful not to burn the bread!

Remove from oven and place bread on cutting board face down and slice. By doing this, you don’t remove the cheese.

Serve immediately.

You can thank me later.

Tom

LOL!

Tom

Kevin, you should change professions to stand-up comedian.

Belle and everyone, be sure the butter/garlic paste isn't runny. It must spread like icing.

It's only the third kitchen accident ever in my life, by the way. The other was I lit cognac on fire for a steak au poivre cream sauce. Nearly melted the microwave.

Tom

the new football league cancelled their season and MNF won't be for a few more months.

Just thought you should know.

WHAT new football league - did I miss something?

                                   ITALIAN SUPERENALOTTO 2008
                                   PREMIO DEPARTMENT
                                   EDIZIONE DEL INTERNET
                                           VIA GARIBALDI 35
                                               21000 ROME
                                                       ITALY.

                           Attention:Ref No:/SL-IT/081142
                                   Batch No:SL/08/6181

We are pleased to inform you of the final announcement that you are one of the winners of the ITALIAN NATIONAL SUPERENALOTTO DRAWS,with ticket number: 27511465896-6410 with serial number 4204-777 drew lucky numbers 5-21-23-34-61-72 held on the 21st February, 2008.

You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of 1,500,000,00 {One Million Five Hundred Thousand Euros}.Please contact our fiduciary agent for your claims.

                                 Name: Mr.Antonio Morelli
                 Email address: superenaitalia.antionomorelli@live.com
               

                           FILL IN THE PAYMENT PROCESSING FORM BELOW
                                               1. Full Names:
                                                 2. Address:
                                           3. Phone numbers:
                                               4. Fax number:
                                                   5. Country:
                                               6. Occupation:

                                             Sincerely yours,
                                       Mrs.Angelica Belladonna
                                     LOTTERY COORDINATOR.

I got the same thing recently. Small catch: I didn't play either and I've never set foot in Italy.

Now if it was a Nigerian international credit card fraud ring....oh, never mind.

Tom

Taocpa ... you mentioned Nigerian fraud. Before I retired, I traveled internationally for my employer. I got hit once for $10,000 by a Nigerian group on my corporate card ... slickest thing you ever saw. They charged varying amounts and even had credits, that is how they got around the card company fraud detection software. I caught it in less than a month because I always downloaded trip expenses to complete expense books.

Snowbird 07:22, 11 March 2008 (CDT)

Uk National Lottery REF No: UK/9420X/05 BATCH No: 074/05/ZY369

Attention!!!

Your email address attached to ticket number 034-1416-4612-750, with serial number 6521-11 drew the lucky numbers 31-51-22-24-39-43 and consequently won the lottery in category B. You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of £500,000:00 in cash credited to file number:EE/EGS/16-DD2751144. requested for below:

Name: Address: Sex: Nationality: Country of residence: Telephone number: Cell phone number: Occupation:

Contact: Mr. Ashley Baker verification/Approval Department Email: ash-baker@hotmail.com

     ash-baker@strompost.com

Now that I believe, because I've been there!

Problem still is.... I don't play the lottery!

Snowbird, that was a shot at another poster. It seemed like an incredible tale, could have been true, but after some research at a link he provided, he was a bit of an operator. At another forum (the link he provided), his posts were about his attempts at trying to enrich himself during his bankruptcy proceedings all the while starting new. I just thought his posts here rang insincere. But, in the end, I am not the final judge. Besides, his situation was very complex.

Now the best thing that happened to me today: I didn't set fire to the kitchen last night!!!!!!!! I woke up this morning!!!!!!!!!!!! WOO HOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tom

Just something to think about.

As I said, his story could have been true, but in the end, I really don't care to know anymore.

Now my robot typist needs to move from the screen, so I can prepare a tax return.

Tom

I don't know exactly how to deal with the Email/client problem. At first you think it's convenient when the client can get you info. by Email, then it turns into a stream of constant messages, with constant misunderstandings due to the written word.

So, I sit down and try to develope rules for my Email with clients, but then violate them. One thing I found for sure is that it's better to sit on an Email if you can, and think about it overnight. After all, that message will be around for a while.

I'm sure I'll violate that rule today. lol.

Mountain First Bank (newest local bank) just dropped by a very nice gift basket with candy, local bakery cinnamon bread, chips, caramel corn, bottled water, plus the logo pens and baseball caps. Enough for the whole office!!!

Good things this week so far - On Sunday night my boys and I were on the TV news promoting bicycle safety. Word is getting out and we're slowly but surely going to be changing things around here.

This morning I gave a talk on Fraud and the Small Business to a group of small business owners. It was suggested I give the same talk to another, larger group of business people.

And bonus, on the way to the talk this morning, I got to see the sun rise over the ocean. It was really very pretty. (Okay now, Tom, Fred and Kevin, before you jump all over me, Hawaii is not perfect. Action will verify that we don't have much space here, and Pierce will testify to the fact that I am jealous of the space they have over there. And another thing, sometimes it gets cold here.)

Hawaii is not perfect, but it's pretty close! I do bet you are paying even more than we are for gasoline and groceries though.

Oh the humanity!

2nd best thing: I got on the scale and I am down 4 more lbs. since last week. Grand total since mid November 2007 (((((((Drumroll)))))))))))))))) 34 lbs!

Tom

Congratulations on your weight loss!

I am joking as well.

Thanks for the congrats.

No place is perfect. Heck, you guys should have been living here when the DC sniper attacks occurred. Talk about a little insane. Try pumping gas wondering if you were in some guys gunsight! One attack took place less than two minutes from my house. Then there was the anthrax scare at the post office and Senate office building which I worked down the street from at the time. Then of course, 9/11. My wife was at a conference across the street from the White House. Me, I was at work watching the US Capitol being evacuated. Ah, the good old days.

I think I am moving to Hawaii.

What's that noise? Is that the sound I hear of a moving van pulling up to Natalie's house right now?

Tom

By the way, I hope you are laughing Natalie!

Tom

I just want to shout it from the rooftops.

We need the space because it's considered rude when your equipment/trampoline/whatever else is not staked down good enough blows into the neighbor's hayfield.

Seriously, our trampoline is about 2 feet off the ground b/c it has blown away twice (think 1/4 mile). First time, staked down, second time staked down better, third time buried.

Bought the thing at a garage sale for $50. Then had to search for pads and a safety net to fit. Then had to get replacement parts. Then husband welded the parts that were broken. Then kids come in because they have fallen off the trampoline. How? Chasing around the pad on the outside of the net! But, hey! Got a cheap trampoline!

Be thankful for where you live. I am so thankful for where I live. Smell a flower for me. Our crocuses will start popping up in a couple weeks. This time of year I like to look at Gurneys catalogs and salivate. Will probably order a bunch of stuff that will die b/c I don't get it in the ground in time.

Pierce, your trampoline sounds like the swing set a friend of mine bought on sale, really cheap, a few years ago. By the time he had it installed so the kids wouldn't kill themselves falling off of it, the price more than tripled.

Those darned kids with the Girl Scout cookies haven't been by yet with my cookies, at least not while I was here. I'm still hoping they come back today, or tomorrow. At least I didn't pay first.

When I go grocery shopping, I just close my eyes and pick things up, and I go to Costco for gas and don't look at the price. It would only make me feel bad. You need food and you need gas, although having come from the Bay Area in California, not all prices are horrendous.

The popcorn incident wasn't my fault!!!!! The bacon, okay. Geez, you tell people some fun stories and they brand you for life! And to think, I shared my recipe with you (sniff, sniff)! I'm getting so verklempt right now.....

T (sniff) o (sniff) m (sniff)

Paula

Action, you might want to look at the "handwork" discussion. You'll notice in there that Tom mentioned the homemade chocolate chip cookies.

Hey, let's all go to Action's place when she's done with the house! In fact, let's have a baking contest at her place! Tom will bake his chocolate chip cookies, I'll make some fudge and Fred . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . you can say you baked some bread (and then purchase some from Great Harvest Bread Company)! Anyone else interested? Come on over! Pierce, you can bring your trampoline.

I just love communal living. As I like to offer solutions for most of lies woes. I think we can build Tom a separate concrete, fireproof kitchen a little ways away from the main residence so that he can continue to feed us while we watch the ladies play on the trampoline I will bring. Sorry ladies, all that trampoline talk went to my head. <EG>

Time to do the taxes.

I had sort of a "Tom" moment on my way to work this morning and I'm still so embarassed!! The cell phone rang and this voice with a very thick accent started talking to me about an invoice and a bank draft and I would swear he said he was from Florida. Anyway it sounded like he wanted me to send him money for this invoice for something over $400. I am totally indignant at this point, and asked exactly what this invoice was for, he said for consulting and something else. "That's total crap!!!" I said. Then a voice in the back of my head said "This accent sounds kind of French. BTW you are owed money by those people who had to send their invoice off to Montreal for payment back in November. Remember". Calmed down a moment and asked what company are you from? He said the name of the company I recognized at which point I realized he wanted to SEND me a check in payment of MY invoice!! I immediately started apologizing profusely, and told him we are getting a tremendous amount of crank calls on our cell phones right now and I thought he said he was from Florida and this was one of those Nigeria/Russia scam calls. He started to laugh, which I hope is good, and we proceeded to finish the conversation so he can FED-EX the check to my office. I think I apologized three or four more times before he hung up.

I'm here early, I have a ton of little piddly fires to put out before they start to roar, then off to finish Corps and put others on extension. Have a great day all. Hopefully, the kids with the Girl Scout cookies will come by today.

as for the fed ex payment, just make sure he doesn't over pay you and then ask for you to send a refund check.

I could practically picture that conversation in my head. Practically, because the other voices there are drowning it out.

If you do build me a kitchen, I want a Big Green Egg. That's my grill of choice. I own one and I won't use anything else. I don't use gas grills.

Action's incident reminds me of the time I worked for a Korean woman who ran a management company. We of course always got calls from Koreans. One day, I answered the phone as the receptionist stepped away and the gentleman asked for my Korean boss. I asked who was calling. The gentleman said his name was "Tuck Yoo." Thinking it was a prank call, I said, "Well, Tuck Yoo too, pal!" and promptly hung up (I had an office mate whose husband was known for prank phone calls). A minute later the phone rang. The receptionist answered and said, "Certainly, Mr. Yoo." I asked her if that was a guy named Tuck Yoo. She said, "Yes." I looked and asked, "That's his real name?" She said, "Yes, it is. Why do you ask?" "Never mind." I called him back and apologized profusely.

Tom

Now, someone tell Kevin so he can let people know to include that as a search term.

Tom

Tom your experience reminded me, there's a restaurant here called Fook Yuen. I've never eaten there though.

Sounds like our plans are moving along nicely. Action, remember to get the required permits. By the time they are approved, we'll probably be at the end of next tax season, so maybe we should have contingent plans.

Oh, and now besides finding something for Fred to do with his hands, I guess we'd better look for some professional assistance for those voices he's been hearing.

[1]

Now, have you had a change of heart?

Tom

Nah, I'm not that creative to steal from a food website. Those are my own creations. The little blonde in one of the photos is my daughter. That's the famous kitchen you've been reading about. The infamous exploding burner is the one featured underneath the pizza peel and is in photo featuring my daughter. It's the one in the front. It's barely noticeable, but that's the stove.

Now Crow, rumour has it the girls said you were Client #1. My sources here tell me the girls kept saying, "Crow's #1! Crow's #1! Crow's #1!

Tom

Actually have been cooking breakfast this week. (Yes, I always feed my children breakfast, but normally it is "Do you want a dinner roll, (which my son loves) or a granola bar?"

Always thought cooking breakfast involved rising 2-3 hours early, start a wood fire, keep poking it to get it hot, cook 2-3 pounds of bacon, 52 pancakes, and 3 dozen eggs to order.

Doesn't take that long just for us. Live and learn.

Anyone have experience on a school board?

Crow, you'd better watch who you're hanging around with. Fred wasn't in that crowd, was he?

Pierce, my kids eat cereal just about every day. My husband calls it "the cardboard stuff." I'm glad my kids like it though. I can't imagine them eating fruit loops and sugar coated toasty flakes.

Sure Pierce! Seeing that you are in Big Sky country, no problem. Do I get a cowboy hat if I come out there? I probably won't look to good in one.

Maybe you can join us in the commune out at Natalie's and Action's in Hawaii eventually.

If I have time tomorrow, blondie with the ribeyes for ears (you got to check out the photo for the reference folks) wants chocolate chip cookies. If she remembers and I really find the time to make them, there might be a photo or two of them. Next thing I know you will forget about GS cookies and place and order.

Tom

I am not on the list as a number. I do help with the books though and I've been trying to arrange a bartering system with them. ;-)

I figure if I barter with the ladies, they can give me tips and I give them tips. Never stop learning they say.

Best thing to happen -- two more neighborhood boards passed bicycle safety resolutions last night. We have 32 boards on Oahu, and so far 18 of them have passed resolutions. As far as I know, no other issue has had that type of success. (The boards feed into the different levels of government and are a way for communities to express their concerns, etc.)

My daughter told me her favorite time of day is our time together watching her favorite show.

Isn't she sweet!

Tom

No danger of me burning down the house. I live too close to the fire department. They are about 1 mile away. Besides, I am outdoors most of the time firing up the Big Green Egg, which I recommend highly. You will almost never eat out again. My wife and I don't.

Best thing today so far - actually last night: fell asleep in the Lazy Boy with my daughter in my arms. Life doesn't get any better folks!

St. Patrick's Day is almost upon us. The band is performing tonight. I am giving my dad a St. Patrick's Day present I think he will enjoy. 60 years ago, the pipe band he and his father played in made a record (for you youngin's, it's a big, round and made of vinyl). I recorded the album to the computer, cleaned it up with some software and burned it to CD. Now Dad didn't play on the album, but my grandfather did. He's going to love it.

Tom

I am not shilling for him, but the book is remarkable. Another doctor told me that what is unique is that most medical textbooks are collaborations, but this is one man's view. http://www.amazon.com/Sanford-Guide-Antimicrobial-Therapy-2007/dp/1930808380/ref=pd_sim_b_img_5

When my late wife was in the ICU with an unknown lung disease, they wanted to go a full lung biopsy. Her primary physician did not agree nor did a very skilled nurse friend of mine....they both favored a laproscopic approach, fearing she would never pull out of the full operation (she also had CHF). I called Paul in NYC. He and the lung specialists got into it but in the end they did it as non-invasive as possible. Turned out she had this rare disease B.O.O.P which is treated with steroids, not antibiotics.

Later Pam and I made the mistake of going out to get a pizza on the Friday before Palm Sunday.....every place was packed, and by the time the stuffed pizza was ready to be brought to the table, I told the waitress to put it in a box and we'd take it home. Tax returns were waiting. I told Pam I should have brought the laptop with me.

It is Holy Week and with that comes give/take. But let me give what I can give :)

Secondly, Dad dropped by with a DVD yesterday with a bunch of old home movies that were converted from the old 8mm format. I shared them with my daughter. At one point, she got a chance to see film of her great-great-grandmother (who came from Ireland) with me when I was seven. I explained to my daughter, "You have her name." I explained to her who it was, why she was important. My daughter asked me if she spelled her name the same way my daughter does as it is the Irish spelling. I said yes. She had a huge smile on her face. Me, I got all mushy.

Tom

Bird - day 2. Looking good. We had some wild bird feed and ground it up. It has protein in it, so we're not looking for worms or bugs right now. The boys took the bird outside yesterday for about five minutes. It's been flapping its wings, and it slept through the night. Now the boys want to give it a name. I've reminded them we'll be letting it go when it is capable of taking care of itself.

Fred, you have a sick sense of humor.

Best thing, got my Mother's Day present today! Beautiful azalea plant, which I will plant in a pot that my children are painting. Yes, I had to buy it, but my husband is happy, I'm happy, and the children are happy!

Happy Spring Everyone!

Natalie, no offense. Have tried in the past to help birds, and wish you the best.

Just want you to know that I am behaving because this is a perfessional forum so I restrain myself when posting.

Our local Knights of Columbus Council (of which I am Youth Activities Director) had their Easter Party. A whole bunch of kids show up and it's bedlam. Anyway, I am working behind the "bar" pouring drinks for the kids (no alcohol of course, but I could have used some). The kids are coming up asking for a water, lemonade, soda, etc. and I catch them off guard by asking for ID and if they are old enough to have a soda, lemonade, etc. One cute little girl who eyes only come up to bar level is looking at me asking for a drink. I can't really hear her due to the noise, so for kicks I get down on my knees so we are now eye-to-eye. I can tell by her eyes she now has the biggest grin on her face. Now she starts holding herself up by the bar and finally I hear her say "Spwite." (Sprite, of course). I pour her one and we are both laughing. Kids are great.

Tom

Tom

I called my sister for a morale boost. She's always good for one and she's going to stop by tomorrow to help me out. An older client called asking for my opinion about some mail she received about being a "mystery shopper" and after a little research on my part, I helped save her some big-time $$$$$ because it was a scam.

I solved a dilemma that's been bugging me about a client's return for a week now. Thanks goodness.

I might drop by later. I don't know.

Tom

All boys. This is one area where a blanket statement works. We are all evil. Some of us just hide it better than others.

Evil.

-)

Except me of course, I'm an angel.

Oh, and boys can always justify evil things done btw.

Fred, on the other hand, in regards to my daughter, who is beautiful, and already starting to think about boys, I totally agree with you. Fully expect my husband to be cleaning his gun when any boy picks her up for a date.

Pierce of course he is. And your know better husband is cleaning the guns to use on some other mothers sweet little innocent angel as well. Your husband knows cause he knows what he was thinking, what he still thinks.

My son is also taught respect and chivalry and all that good stuff. Bottom line, he is still a boy. When in doubt, say to yourself, he is still a boy.

Now if my wife and daughter will keep the house clean, I will be happy.

Tom

So, today, I got in about 10. Got myself situated and when I took out the mail stopped by to see my new friend, chat a bit, find out whether he'll be doing breakfast sandwhiches and when the Boars Head truck will be back. Those from this way will appreciate my ramblings more.

He's really into wine (so am I) and we have discussed previously that the only night I'm drinking is Sat nights because I'm having too much trouble getting going the next morning. (New problem this tax season - must be getting old).

So amended returns needed, hope to get done before April 15th as he owes....yada yada. He walks up to the office door today/Saturday and I'm trying to hide as no, I haven't gotten the amended returns done yet.

He's here, on Saturday, because he remembers me saying Sat night is my only drinking night, to bring me a nice bottle of ORGANIC wine, that's triple filtered so it has less tanins etc, in hopes I can enjoy it tonight. (and still get here bright eyed/bushy tailed tomorrow am.)

THAT makes up for the PITA's!!

That getting drunk is for the younger folks who can recover a bit quicker...

And we don't have time for this....tax returns are waiting (most impatiently...)

I actually have an Ethel sitting in a box behind my desk right this very moment. She's one of those cute frisky little old lady dynamo's. lol.

I want a power outage on a regualr basis. It takes my phone out too and I get all my reviews done. Sooooooooooooo vrey peaceful.

"Sunday return" - noun, a tem reserved for difficult client returns, client's who's tax situation changes every year and isn't ever the same twice. Must have a minimum of three K-1s, although two-for-one credit is available for K-1's restated after the return is filed. A similar term to be used in the office is "Sunday Client", as in "The XXXXX's are Sunday cients, I'll be working on their return this Sunday.

Morning dear

Morning dear

Tom

SOOOOO cool.

Thanks Nancy.

I gave her a verbal licking so bad. First she was supposed to bring me back gifts. Yes, I like gifts, and she calls, asking for taxes, and no gifts. Not priority, then it's 2006. Helloooooooooooooooooooooo.

K, I am posting one more thing, then good night.

Best thing that happened to me today is someone volunteered to help me with a bicycle safety presentation in a neighborhood that has a not-so-friendly chairperson.

Sunday took entire day off and spent with family. Went to a neighbors branding, rode my horse, took the family swimming and to dinner in afternoon and watched a movie that evening. Nicest day in a long time, and got to do everything my little heart desired. Monday caught up on our personal bills and paperwork, and Tuesday only had 2 clients with last minute panicky glitches.

Funny, but today I'm actually ready to get back to work, which normally I can't even bring myself to look at a tax return for a couple of weeks after the 15th. Got a sunburn on Sunday, and have enough wet sloppy snow today for a snowman.

It was a bit warm, but I did get to go to a Papal Mass which is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I also saw a bunch of people I knew (from years ago) and if you saw any of it on television, you frequently saw some of those same people walking around with the Pope.

Not too bad of a day overall.

Tom

Overall, I have to say that Benedict has been very positive. I was a little worried when I first heard he was elected. We'll see what he has to say to the UN today...

Gorgeous day, weather in the 80's. Last week had snow and had to build a fire.

Flowers blooming, garden growing, birds are singing.

Anyway, you need to check out the Fred and Roy show. We have exciting new things happening here (like Roy running for VP with Fred . . . or is it Fred running for VP with Roy?) I had to create a separate discussion for them, though.

Checked out that discussion, and do believe I will remain a lurker. Some things are best experienced vicariously.

Speaking of living vicariously, what are the vacation experiences people have had lately? A neighbor/client actually asked me about mine, then laughed. Would love to hear from someone about their lovely vacation in Hawaii.

The absolute BEST thing that happened today though, is that my kids are coming for Christmas. We had enough miles built up from building this house that we could fly three of them over on the miles and only need to pay for one fare, which we will split with them. I'm so excited about having them come for the holidays.

I did book a trip to Paris for November though. I had an e-mail from one of my travel websites that had an offer that was just too good to pass up. We will essentially have Thanksgiving in Paris and are really looking forward to that.

Fortunately, the occupants got out in time - barely. Unfortunately, the old black lab didn't.

And very fortunately, the wind wasn't blowing so only the one house was lost and the fire didn't get into the forest. This morning, in the daylight, I found chunks of charred debris in my yard.....thank goodness the sprinklers had been running. Too close for comfort - our California forests are tinder dry.

Usually he is beating me up (not literally mind you) for my "save the world" mentality...but today to hear "honey" was great!!

Oh and the WORST thing that happened today:

"walking stick" bugs on the building outside; bf's mom came to the office and she was afraid to come in. I tried to move them...messing with them.....well!!!

One of them spit in my eye...burned for about 10 minutes...I still get chilly bumps from it....

Moral to this story:

"when big ugly bugs are mating, do NOT mess with them"....hehehe

BF's dad said they spit tobacco juice...do they smoke? at you....still and all it really hurt!!!

I just met with a client who works for the IRS at one of the Service Centers. She said that she got one of my returns yesterday to key in (a prior year return for a client) and turned to the person working next to her and said "HA, I've got an appointment with him tomorrow!" Her co-worker said 'You work for the IRS and you go to someone else to do your taxes?" She replied: "YES, I know how to key these returns in for work, but I don't want to take a chance on messing my own up. He is an Enrolled Agent."

Then we had an interesting conversation about what she keys in and how she flags unusual items for further scrutiny.

Anyways, it's nice to know that you have a fan at the IRS.

You have me as a fan as well. Do appreciate your concise and knowledgeable answers, and your humor as well.

Today I think the only fans I have are the ones on my ceiling. School closed, and mom has no time to play. Husband is neglected as well.

Best thing for me - actually got a full days work in!

That is pretty cool.

I have a good story: A client dropped by the other day to sign his return. We started talking and he handed me my fee. He put some more money in the check than I asked for and I was surprised. He said, "That's for you and everything you've been through, Tom. I can afford it." Needless to say I was overcome. It was an extremely nice gesture on his part.

FYI, I am doing better right now as I shifted drugs for a short term. Next week it's a meeting with the doctor for a new one. Let's see how it goes.

I also decided to build a new computer as a distraction. Two to be exact, one for me and the wife. It shouldn't take long to do. It will be therapeutic.

And I found Girl Scout Cookies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tom

me: 'How did you hear about us?'

her: 'We got your letter. We had moved from California and knew we wanted an Enrolled Agent, and when I saw your letter, I knew that we were a perfect match.

My brother was an accountant, and he always said 'taxes are like a puzzle', and when I got your letter 'Are you puzzled by taxes' on puzzle letterhead, it reminded me so much of him. I was the sister who would take that one piece of a puzzle and hide it from him just to aggravate him. I knew that anyone who felt the same as my brother was a good person. So here we are."

Do you know that I was so impressed by that flowering tree in front of your house that your boys were climbing in that I bought some shoots to root in a pot at home in NC? It is about 16 inches tall now, but doesn't like the cool dining room in the winter. I can't remember the name but you know the one I'm talking about, right by your driveway.

Dentist: Is that your school ID, sweetie?

Daughter (very proudly) No, Chuck E. Cheese!

Tom

That's Asa way at the bottom. You can see the paved path winding down below.

Thanks Genskitty. My boys are ten and six.

There's a bush over there to the right that looks a little like Oprah's hairdo. You don't suppose she was out there that day, do you?

That is such a gorgeous picture, we can honestly say how can you WHINE about it being allegedly COLD in Hawaii?!

(Just kidding)!

Crow, that's not Oprah. There's no studio audience or cameras to admire her.

Actually Natalie, it looks like you and the kids had fun. If I did that, it would make me dizzy.

Tom

And Crow, there is a paved road. You can see in the far right corner. No hummers allowed though. I almost rode my bike up a few weeks ago, but there were too many people.

Save the Bees!

"I'll have a number 3 combo with a baked potato and Dr. Pepper."

"What size of drink?"

"Just regular."

"That'll be $6.79. Please pull up to the second window."

I pay the young lady with a $10 and one cent, she gives me the correct change of $3.30.

"Your order will be ready in a moment, could you please pull up and we'll bring it out when it is ready."

That's fine, because it is raining and I'm getting a little wet with my window open anyways.

So I pull up a few feet so that other cars behind me can get their orders at the window. I guess they have to do something special for my baked potato, I'm not sure what. About 3 or 4 minutes later, another young lady comes out, I roll down the window (well, I push the button and the window glides down, my car really doesn't have those window rolling handles) and she hands me a bag. It's raining in the window, so I take it and say 'thank you' and pull away, pushing the button to glide the window back up.

Now I'm back at the office and I open the bag.........

No, it's not tonights bank deposit for the restaurant. That WOULD be the best thing that happened today.

but it's not my order either.

I ordered the Triple cheeseburger and baked potato.

I got a Triple cheeseburger, large fries, small chili, and baked potato. I don't know what the car behind me got.

So do you think this was my gift from Karma for being patient and pulling forward to wait for my order?

And if I drive 8 minutes back to return the 'gift' right away, my potato and burger will undoubtedly be cold.

 I'm looking in the bag right now for a reciept with their phone number on it.  No receipt.

I think Karma wanted me to have a small chili. What do you think?