FDNY

I was given a temporary password by EServices and told to wait on confirmation letter that never arrived. Now I am finally thinking like Jack and Lion, let the client get it, they didn't keep track of everything so why should I fret about it.

I've already worked on 2 S Corps and 1 709. But I am enjoying the slow days and arranging my pads, pencils, and paper clips, knowing that in a couple of weeks my life (and everyone else's here) will change for months to come.

Ahhh....thank you, that makes sense.

In NYC we had channels 2 WCBS 4 WNBC 5 WNEW 7 WABC 9 WOR 11 WPIX and 13 WNYC (PBS). There was one UHF but it was always fuzzy, I think it came from CT. Now we have advanced so far as a society that we have hundreds of channels, remotes, and Bitcoins to buy the TVs. So my question is, if a Bitcoin is worth so much, how do they make change?

Oh yeah, and we were our parent's remote controls.

Looking forward to next year's edition. Might be another panel or two.

I wish S &H Greens Stamps would come back. Wasn't that like a currency that could be traded and exchanged for goods?

Aren't there others?

I listened to an explanation and discussion of Bitcoin on PBS for an hour and I still don't get it. Although I understand the principles, I just don't get the why of the whole thing. What's wrong with a credit card and why get involved with something that reminds me of a certain bubble in 1637.

I use pdfFactory, $50/yr. Very satisfied and no issues with any client complaints.

I'll never forget when many a firefighter or police officer decided they would become ministers and had their church in the living room with their kids as their communicants. One of the guys asked me to accompany him on an audit. We sat down and the big burly auditor with hair growing out of his ears and nose just shook his head and said, "I wish you never got into this." My friend said nothing and I just asked if anything could be done about the penalty and interest. Everyone was happy at that point. I'm sure IRS went after all the fire eating preachers that year.

Most of my career was in busy houses in Brooklyn and the South Bronx. But I remember many a night when it was quiet in the winter that after about 3am I would manually prepare one of the guy's returns. Talk about on the job training, I wouldn't give that up for the world. And I must tell you, there were plenty of imaginative deductions these guys would come up with or maybe it was the $ amounts, I guess things haven't changed. When I think of charging $20 for a basic return in the 70s and 80s (of course these guys were like brothers to me) I am amazed how far that $20 went the next day. I don't miss getting up for fires in the middle of the night, now I get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom.

I went to a retirement party last night for a friend who retired from the fire department as a deputy chief. I was really proud of him because he was one of my rookies (probie) when he got to my firehouse. He is also a CPA and has a tax practice where he says he does close to 500 returns. I always found that amazing as there are only so many hours in a day. He claims by using Ultra Tax it is easily done because the program is so good. I know his wife is his assistant. So last night I meet his wife for the first time and I asked if he pays her. Said, No! Last year he made me take the HRB course and now he has me doing input. Now I can’t wait to get home to tell my wife, wish me luck.

You can easily verify this by inviting yourself to their next pool party. But seriously, I’ve found this to be a big problem in the past with a few clients that are serial refinancers and always taking out more cash along with a HELOC that is over 100K. They never want to accept my explanation as how the limit works. I know they need the cash, but the law is the law.

From time to time I get the flash player update pop up. I know not to click on it and have tried to remove it as per instructions I found online, but every so often, it’s back. No clicking on surveys or links unless they are from trusted sources like those from you guys.

This is one enormous reality show, the first I have ever seen (I'd rather be watching the Golden Girls). There is going to be plenty of gesturing and maneuvering going forward as some states believe they have been unfairly targeted and its taxpayers are victims. I agree with Bulldog, can't go political, but really folks, is this surreal or what?

Great news to start the day Bonnie. There's usually nothing we won't do for our pets. As a veteran of keeping many rescue dogs alive with a good quality of life, I know the feeling when you find the right doctor and medications, pure elation. Yes, it gets very expensive, but the reward can be immense. All the best to Hobbes and you and your family, you've done a great job helping Hobbes, what would he do without you? Bill

Beef chuck if I don't mind simmering for a long time, otherwise grass feed ground beef.

I put carrots in my chili to soften the heat. Bacon Jalapeno? Yes! Why didn't I ever think of that?

As soon as the airport opens I'm there. Do you have enough cayenne? I could also pick up some crusty pancetta and parmesan bread from Little Italy.

Snowing (and wind) to beat the band here. Benefit of a home office is the 2 flight commute. I heard Jacksonville had snow, hope it didn't impact the early bird specials.

Yes, going to get very interesting. With so many millions paying more due to all the re-jiggering the lower withholding may not reflect reality. A colleague of mine in Westchester, NY, another high ST and RE tax area said she sees a tax revolt (or at least a tea party) once all these people get their tax bill in 2019. She thought that year would be a good time to retire. As Thunderclap Newman sang...Call out the instigators.....Because there's something in the air. I sense this too, depending on how expensive taxes get for those millions of taxpayers, get ready to do some 'splaining Lucy. We'll be the first sounding board to hear the complaints.

I've been getting a number of calls and yes, it is all over the map. Many clients in hi RE tax state NY (especially Long Island), many with decent income, nurses married to firefighters and teachers married to cops, and the like. Between loss of deductions and exemptions the higher standard deduction sometimes works by a little or doesn't work by a lot. Especially when they were used to getting much higher itemized deductions. And if they have a second home, forgettaboutit!

Here's to Hobbes, that he has comfort being with those he loves and with those who love him. As for a joke or two (or a half), nothing like a little pressure, but here goes. This could happen to us someday. Technically not a joke, more of a public service message. In the village of Riverwalk, an over 55 community people often eat at the clubhouse. One morning Jerry, an older gentleman didn't show up for breakfast. Some of his neighbors went to check on him and knocked on his door. They could hear him thru the door and he yelled he was running late and would be there shortly. So everyone went back to the clubhouse. An hour later Jerry was still not there. They went back to the house and found Jerry at the front door with a death grip on the railing. He was having trouble walking. They wanted to call an ambulance but Jerry said he felt fine, just help me to the clubhouse. Once there he had breakfast but could not get up from the table. His friends called an ambulance and brought Jerry to the hospital. An hour later the friends called the hospital and asked how Jerry was. The nurse said, he's doing fine, but that he just had both his legs in one leg of his boxer shorts. Moral of the story, if you get old, be careful and pay attention. The Biggest Lie I tell myself is....I don't need to write that down, I'll remember it. Gone are the days when girls used to cook like their mothers. Now they drink like their fathers. I decided to stop calling the bathroom the "John" and renamed it the "Jim". I feel so much better saying I went to the Jim this morning. I didn't make it to the Gym this morning. That makes five years in a row. Last year I joined a support group for procrastinators. We haven't meet yet. Why do I have to press 1 for English if they just transfer me to someone I can't understand anyway? Am I ready for the Catskills yet?

Must be a big "issue," I'm waiting over 2 weeks for my confirmation letter. I think there was a holiday or two in there so I'll give them a few extra days.