Leaderboard

Next to the ones who bring in the info with key parts missing, the other favorite group are those who call in Feb just to let you know they will be in to see you soon. Then when they show up with it in mid-to-late Mar and you tell them they're going in extension they reply "But I called you last month to let you know I was getting it together." Apparently some people think that letting you know they're working on their stuff equates to your beginning work on their return or at least getting it into the queue. Thanks for the call - I remember getting the message. Anyhow, here's your extension...

Two old guys, one 90 and one 87, were sitting on a park bench one morning. The 90 year-old had just finished his morning jog and wasn't even short of breath. The 87 year-old was amazed at the guy's stamina and asked him what he did to have so much energy. The 90-year-old said, "Well, I eat rye bread every day. It keeps your energy level high and you'll have great stamina with the ladies." So, on the way home the 87-year-old stops at the bakery. As he was looking around, the lady asked if he needed any help. He said, "Do you have any rye bread?" She said, "Yes, there's a whole shelf of it. Would you like some?" He said, "I want 5 loaves." She said, "My goodness, 5 loaves ... By the time you get to the 3rd loaf, it'll be hard." He replied, "I can't believe it, everybody knows about this stuff but me.

Isn't that always the case? I don't mind finding an error on a complicated return and then have to re-do it - that can happen so easily. But having to re-do a simple return because I omitted something silly is frustrating, even if it takes half the time to correct. Can't say I ALWAYS manage to do this, but as the deadline approaches I try to slow down the pace while lenghtening the hours. All the while keeping in mind it's important to get rest, and there still has to be some life balance. Otherwise it's easy to become resentful and that can too easliy spill over into a conversation with clients - never a good idea. Personally, I'm spending more time on extensions than actually completing returns for the next week or so. If all is handled correctly, "deadline day" is nothing but a final review of all extensions that have been filed - no actul return preparation unless I feel like doing one or two just to amuse myself.

We have two hams in the fridge. I won't have to cook either of them. My bf made chocolate chip cookies tonight. I got to lick the bowl. And got to redo a return that was not that complicated that I totally screwed up. It was a big wake up call to slow down and not worry so much about the pile that's left to be done, just the one in front of me.

Must be the weather, this has been unreal this year. J

I did the weepy thing yesterday. And then I got this from a client this morning: "Good morning, Joan. Thanks for the email. You told me that you'd be back to us in 2 1/2 weeks and TO THE DAY you're a woman of your word. Thanks for that too. " Of course that is one good thing about working in the middle of the night....people don't call you and you can't call them. Nearly all my correspondence is by email. But that one was a really nice way to start the day, and I had no idea how long it'd been...I've stopped giving estimates as to how far behind I am. but now I know!

I know. Get off the phone so I can work on your return! I started letting my office phone go to voice mail trying to save time. I listen to messages late at night, too late to telephone back, so email them a short response drawing attention to the time as to why I'm not responding via telephone. But, I need to start listening to the messages earlier. Had a couple that really needed an immediate telephone call to benefit me, more involved by delaying. Gotta screen calls. Or, maybe get hubby to do that...