Blog

This has been a week of “attack of the killer CPA”.  I have been on the warpath against the spotted lantern fly nymphs that appeared on my fig tree Saturday afternoon and the green/white aphids which showed up on my tomato plants Wednesday morning.  I am so grateful for the many garden blogs and articles I have accessed this week. I started with a spray bottle of white vinegar and graduated to a pump…  Read more

Much of my and other’s focus this week has been taken up by the Canadian brush fires, the broader implications and the effect of the smoke on the air quality on the north east coast of the United States.  While I, as well as most of us have considered news reports and the families affected by wild fires all over, we have only rarely experienced the effects.  With the winds…  Read more

We have good news this morning as the debt limit bill, (H.R. 3746), the Fiscal Responsibility Act passed the senate and house and is being sent to President Biden for his signature; the nation’s debt limit ceiling will be suspended until January 2025.  This may be just what economy needs in order to stabilize. This morning I read The Motley Fool blog about the market and Warren Buffet’s advice to buy and…  Read more

Many really nice bosses (hint, hint) are wrapping up a week of work with a short Friday so we can enjoy this 3 day weekend honoring our Veterans and spending time with friends and family at the beach, park or attending bar-b-ques. I am happy to share some cool construction photos as the beach conservation continues, these cranes are just on the next block… New beach preservation jetty construction Jetty…  Read more

I am thrilled that the nice weather is finally here and the sand is warm enough to walk on it barefoot.   I am glad I am following my April 21st Take Away with a twist, we now take “barefoot breaks”… Beach Break Get ready for the fig reports, I am not sure if we will have a “crazy” crop like last year but…. It’s Spring & it looks like we will have…  Read more

We met our tax season 2023 deadlines by filing tax returns and extensions as needed; it’s time to focus on new tax laws, tax plans, and regular monthly and quarterly filing deadlines.  As a tax nerd I love joining panels and speaking with small business owners highlighting rules, trends, and situations to beware of.  Just this week I was thrilled to be included on a panel with Karen Tenenbaum, esq and…  Read more

Today, Cinco de Mayo actually marks the anniversary of the 1862 victory by Mexican troops over invading French forces at the Battle of Puebla. The triumph over the better equipped and more numerous French troops was an enormous emotional boost for the Mexican soldiers led by Gen. Ignacio Zaragoza. Today Mexican American’s  get together with friends and family to celebrate. Enjoy! Home sweet home! No matter how great a time we have, …  Read more

As much as I love non-stop work, deadline pressures and stress, a week of vacation first skiing in amazing conditions with my kids and longtime friends then on to southern California for a long weekend is just what I needed. On Tuesday morning we carved “first tracks” yes, fresh powder in April at Snowbird mountain in Utah.  I followed my pre-weekly take away and didn’t “overdo it”.  I even joined morning yoga…  Read more

A huge thanks to my brilliant, loyal. hard working, amazing staff, thanks to your efforts and support we successfully navigated yet another tough tax season.  Now it’s time for a vacation, a few days off, and some relaxing “me and family time”.  I am heading out to Salt Lake City Utah for a short ski week.  Snow in April? Yes this year they recorded over 900 inches this season (approximately…  Read more

Taking cues from my prior blog posts I have kept up my daily walks on the beach at sunrise followed (most day’s) by a high intensity indoor workout.  This week I increased my walk by 1 jetty which added to my miles and photo ops.  Just a few more days to go as I look forward to our “after tax season ski trip” to Snowbird Utah and then a visit to my…  Read more

It’s been another crazy, busy week between the holidays and the countdown to the April 18th tax filing deadlines.  I am so glad to have good friends who are the family we choose; who we joined for a seder on the first night of Passover enjoying a night of tradition, laughter and great food, what could be better… From our Passover Seder Dark chocolate fondue with fruit, shmura matzo and afikomen…  Read more

A week of sunrises and a shout out about my pod cast interview with Marielle Segarra and her team who produce Life Kit for NPR.  I love how they were able to take some very complicated issues and create a segment that was so concise and understandable.  Here’s the link to the segment… and now for a week of sunrises, with a sunset and a sunrise omelet substitute tucked in… Red Sky,…  Read more

Is it cheating if I fill our weekly blog with photos and go lite on tax details as we count down the remaining available days to complete our work before the next deadline or until we go on vacation?  This week we celebrated our 42 anniversary and welcomed our new grandog Rory into the family. How does a CPA plan a wedding during tax season?  We got married before I entered…  Read more

We in the Northeast were hit with some stormy weather this week, we got rain, but those north of us were hit with multiple snow stoms.  The snow looks so beautiful as long as it’s not your job to shovel… Sunapee New Hampshire Over 2 feet of snow this week in New Hampshire, look at those snow banks! We here in southern Queens received many inches of rain, while friends…  Read more

Today I got up early to run, yes run on the beach for a short stretch, then head home to another fun day in the office at tax deadline crunch time…  Just like yesterday, it is great to be able to do the things I used to do.  So I am picking out what I think are my best shots of the week and sharing them with a huge smile.…  Read more

We had some crazy weather this week here by the beach we received a dusting of snow which melted right away.  I was hoping to see a bit more as someone who doesn’t have to shovel or brave icey roads to get to work.  For me a nice tax season 15 minute break would be a cup of hot chocolate as I watch the snow fall.  So thanks for sending…  Read more

Sometimes my only incentive for getting up at 6AM is to walk on the beach at sunrise.  Even when I know the clouds will block the sun like this week on President’s Day, when many people celebrated with an extra day off and some extra sleep.  Even with no sun I was able to take some cool photos and my phone showed them as black and white…   No sun…  Read more

I know I am a bit crazy, but I really do feel there are certain benefits to getting up and out by 6:30 (even when on vacation,) and earlier when you have an early morning commitment.  Today it was a 1 hour trip to downtown Brooklyn to the Long Island University Brooklyn campus to participate as a judge for the  Virtual Enterprises International, Inc. (VEI) NYC Business Plan Competition.  The last opportunity I…  Read more

I am excited to be writing and posting this week from my AirBnB in Brickell Florida, with a beautiful view of the bridge to Key Biscane; I am here for a special family friend’s wedding… Rickenbacker Bridge, Miami, FL My daughter Emily is in the weeding party, she and my son-in law Jeff extened their trip and have been down on the West coast for a few days, thank you Jeff…  Read more

I started writing this week’s blog/newletter while on the water heading into “the city” for a few meetings ; I feel so lucky to be able to take the NYC Ferry to peir 11 in Manhattan.  I took this shot as we passed under the Marine Parkway-Gil Hodges Memorial Bridge as we started our journey… Marine Parkway-Gil Hodges Memorial Bridge Than as we continues on we traveled under the Verrazano Narrows Bridge, the…  Read more