Gettin' taxed

Yep, I guess you could say I'm getting taxed. Actually in more ways than one when the truth be known. Yesterday I had a total of 3 clients that I did tax returns for and I was really busy all day. Karen, on the other hand, had 10 clients done and I don't know how she did it. True, since I'm new at this I take a little longer getting through the process to make sure I don't forget anything, but having 10 clients in one day seems almost super human. We haven't even gotten to peak yet and then it is going to be much busier and back to back tax returns I'm sure. I guess back to back returns will be ok since when you are busy the time goes by pretty fast and with this job the faster it goes by the better.

So for now the saga of tax guy continues and every day is a new learning experience since in many ways taxes are like putting out forest fires, you never know what is going to happen.

Memory lane

So who are these jokers anyway? I think these guys worked together sometime in a past life.

Yep, Pete and his wife Paula were on their way to Montana and they happened to be passing through Idaho Falls and they called and ended up stopping by for a visit. It was great to see them and hear what they have been up to. This was the first time anybody from my past life has visited me here in Idaho even though I had them come to Karen's house since I don't have a place for visitors of my own. I could just imagine them coming to see me in my tiny apartment with no furniture. Anyway, it was a nice change of pace and even though we missed church that day it was well worth it getting to see old friends.

January 1st of a new year!

Snowing a bit this morning adding to what was already on the ground. The temperature is nice and balmy at 28° so it's not very cold, but that will change soon I'm sure. The snow is supposed to stop maybe by tomorrow but I'll need to get out this morning and do a little shoveling. I hate doing that until it's all done dropping, but then the other school of thought is that it's easier if you get it started before it gets too deep. Karen has a nice snow blower but I prefer the old fashioned snow removal process. If it gets too deep then I'll use that noisy thing.

Tomorrow is my first day of work at the tax office where I'll be working this year. I don't know anyone so it will be a crash course in trying to remember names for me. I'm planning on walking the 17 blocks to work even if it is snowing.

Karen and I got the cross country skis down from the attic yesterday now all we have to find is the boots that go with them. I have to get to doing something physical before I get too sedentary and cross country skiing is a good thing to do in the winter. Unfortunately we are restricted to going somewhere in town until the roads clear up enough to drive out of town to someplace else. Oh well, that's the breaks living in the big city.

Christmas is over for this year

Another year almost past and on we go down the river of life. This morning Karen and Krista had to go shopping for those all so special after Christmas sales so it's quiet around Karen's house at the present time. Yesterday we had a house full with her grand kids and their respective ladies and Debbe and Eric came by in the evening.

It's a balmy 5° outside and the snow is as bone dry as it can be. It's interesting how the snow gets so powdery when it's so cold... well at least I find it interesting. Driving over here this morning the roads around town are still snow covered in most places and I suspect that will be the case for a long time to come if it doesn't warm up. That's ok, it's to be expected around here so you just deal with it. At least the sun looks like it might make an appearance and I can see a little blue sky out there but the sun doesn't have much heat in it this time of year. One good thing though, the days are starting to get longer again since we passed the winter solstice. Ya gotta love that, don't you?

Class is over!

Today was the last day of class... well, sort of. We have one more training day on January 2nd when we have what they call the dress rehearsal. That is the day we find out how they do things in the respective offices that we work in. My office is over on 1st St. and the only person there that I will know is my boss Peggy. That's going to be a weird day for me to be sure, but I'm feeling pretty good about knowing how to do my new job so we will see how things go.

The weather forecast is calling for snow starting tonight and continuing through Tuesday. We have church tomorrow afternoon but after that we are planning on getting a few movies and watching them for something to do. I am terrible at remembering the names of movies I see but I have a list that I take with us of the ones we've seen trailers on that looked interesting. Last week we saw The Cube, Shattered Glass and Rounders. All of them were pretty good and we even got another one that was a good one called The Canyon. (I had to go consult Karen to remember the name of that movie.) So, big sigh of relief that tax class is over and now on to the next tier.

Warmed up some!

Things warmed up a little around here. There is still 3-4" of snow on the ground and I assume that will be here till spring, but at least we got out of the single digits for a while. Tonight we have class, this being the last Tuesday class. I'll really be glad when this is over, I'm a little burned out with all the stuff I've had to cram into my head the last couple of months. From now until after the first of the year I have to try and remember all that stuff so I'll be able to do taxes. Karen assures me that it will come back when I need it and I certainly hope so.

Christmas is coming up and Krista and family are coming for a couple of days. It will be nice to see them but I guess I wish I was getting to see my kids too. I used to go to Tracey's on holidays but now it's a little too far for me to do that without going on a major trip. One of the down sides of living so far away I guess. Well, we are into the winter doldrums here even though winter is still a few days away officially but you know, ya gotta love it anyway!

Man, it's cold!

Well, seems like another indoor day to me. Actually I don't think getting out and riding my bike will be in the cards for some time. It's between 5 and 8 outside right now and as you can see the forecasted high for today is 6°. We have to go to the Post Office but other than that no need to get out today and that suits me just fine. Global warming, huh? Yep, no doubt about it, the global icecaps are melting but they are reforming here in Idaho. Ya gotta love that!