Tag: Tax Season 2022

The sukkot dinner Sunday evening was really lovely, with special red wine from the Ukraine for toasting and blessings I have also joined in for the  daily ritual of shaking the lulav and etrog.  The first 2 and last 2 days are the most strict, so I waited until Wednesday for photos. It was really nice to understand the meaning behind the traditions. Even as I am getting tired of picking, photographing, and…  Read more

All this rain brought me another 100+ fig week and I am so glad that I can trade my figs for my friend’s heirloom tomatoes… We are doing some work on my house (yes finally finishing our kitchen); the other day one of the carpenters explained that my figs and fig tree saved his hand:  he relayed that he was out in our backyard, smashed his finger with a tool,…  Read more

My daughter Jessie and her dog Sampson have been the perfect house guests but they head back to Atlanta tomorrow night. It was great that Jessie could vacation here and then work remotely. Sampson has been spending time in the office with Raquel and me as we worked towards our September 15th deadline.  So this morning I know he will be happy to resume our daily beach walks, I think…  Read more

A recent New York Times business section article “Peloton Regrets? You’re Not Alone”, featured various household items in a garage sale, so of course I had to read it.  As many of you know, my exercise equipment gets plenty of use; being able to cross train has kept me “mostly” injury free for years.  I hope the exercise equipment that others bought as an alternative to their usual gym workouts served them…  Read more

Fun fact: Beginning in 1882 Labor Day has been celebrated on the first Monday in September as a way to honor the women and men who campaigned tirelessly for workers’ rights and give most workers a three-day weekend off from work.  In the true sprit I am getting ready for Labor Day Weekend 2022, with plans for planting my fall garden, continuing my hip rehab with barefoot walks on the beach, barbeques…  Read more

Happy Birthday USA! I am expecting many are planning bar-b-ques, picnics and outings with family and friends. I hear the weather will cooperate and we can enjoy the weather, those friends and family as we watch spectacular fireworks. I am currently recuperating from hip replacement surgery so I will keep this week’s update short and sweet and lead right into this week’s take-a-way: WEEKLY TAKE-AWAY “Never underestimate the importance of…  Read more

We as family and friends been talking about our grads of 2022; making celebration and travel plans. For our recent grads these are exciting and scary times.  They are possibly facing a summer starting with a short break, then preparing for a seasonal job or the beginning of their career.  This “rite of passage” happens every year,  but for graduates of 2022,  economic uncertainty looms large. This weekend we flew…  Read more

Welcome to summer (almost), a time of graduation parties, college kids returning home, planned vacations, walking barefoot on the beach again and fingers crossed that those seedlings take off… barefoot on the beach finally planted! I am hoping you have some great plans, enjoy your weekend. WEEKLY TAKE-AWAY Sometimes less is more; the most common  items in garden stores are 3 or 4 packs, and many weekend gardeners, me included…  Read more

As we do our weekly shopping we see prices steadily increasing.  The USDA says grocery and supermarket food prices are already 8.6% higher now than a year ago and inflation remains at near 40-year highs.  I am hoping to finally plant the seedlings I purchased mother’s day weekend, maybe add a few more of those I am cultivating from seeds and then enjoy my organic garden this summer.  I keep thinking…  Read more

Just a few more weeks until summer, I have been counting the days/weeks as the weather warms up and we have “real” beach days.   I was away this past weekend so I missed the first “real” beach day of the season, although I prefer to walk the beach rather than sit and bake.   I’m happy to share this morning’s sunrise, I wore long pants and a thick fleece … Post…  Read more

It’s graduation season once again, time for celebrating our grad’s, visiting with family and friends and once again enjoying these beautiful spring days.  I am happy to take my walks on the beach and share my “photo of the week” … I am hoping you are enjoying the weather and have some great plans to safely visit and celebrate! Weekly Take-Away We are seeing stock market fluctuations daily, those caused…  Read more

Celebrating May:  Cinco de Mayo and our Mothers!!! Anyone up for margaritas with lunch to celebrate Cinco de Mayo… Cheers! Mother’s day is this weekend and I am looking forward to my annual trip to the Brooklyn Terminal Market with a good friend Edith.  We share gardening stories and tips with other amateur gardeners like ourselves as we choose non-traditional varieties of flowers, herbs and vegetables to plant in our…  Read more

Although tax season 2022 seemed to just be an extension of tax season 2020 and 2021 I am so grateful to have confirmed that many of our processes worked well with our “mostly remote” staff and clients.  One of our favorite office sayings is  “it’s not a problem, it’s an opportunity”; this tax season we learned and confirmed yet again the importance of good clear communication, proactive actions and understanding…  Read more

The good news on the travel front is that the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has removed all countries from its “Do Not Travel” recommendations. The highest Level 4 designation will now be reserved for “special circumstances” reflecting a dangerous spike in COVID-19 cases, a new variant or health care infrastructure collapse. You can find the CDC’s travel recommendations here. Monday the mask mandate for air travel was lifted as U.S.…  Read more

For once I am glad that tomorrow is NOT the filing deadline.  We accounting professionals usually look forward to closing the office and going on vacation on April 16th.  This year the deadline is actually April 18th and this little bit of extra time means that families can get together for the Easter/Passover holiday and include their favorite accountant without guilt. This lovely vase of flowers sits in my office…  Read more

During my recent trip to Florida I saw that while the mask mandate was still in place in the airports and on our flight most public spaces had dropped the requirement even as the highly transmissibleBA.2 strain of the virus continues to spread and accounts for as much as 70% of US infections.  Now health officials are recommending a fourth shot of a COVID-19 vaccine to protect vulnerable groups such as older…  Read more

Just as we were seeing news of the omicron variant surge subsiding, up pops the BA.2.  Researchers are keeping a close eye on this subvariant BA.2  reporting that this variant is more transmissible, but its rapid spread overseas also coincides with a drop in protection measures in Europe and low rates of effective immunization in Hong Kong.  This variant may not result in a new surge in the US because vaccines and…  Read more

After two years of pandemic disruptions, I am reading about people who have developed unhealthy habits and may need a reboot. Data from Nielsen shows that sales of alcohol are higher now than before the pandemic (this could be due to the ease of on-line ordering and binge watching series in the evenings while munching on popcorn).  In addition fitness trackers show that people are on the average taking fewer steps,…  Read more

One of the odd tell-tale symptoms of COVID-19 is the abrupt loss of sense of smell reported by many patients. Researchers have recently uncovered the mechanism behind this loss. While the COVID-19 virus does not infect the nerve cells in the nose that detect and transmit information about odors to the brain, it does infect supporting cells in the nose. The subsequent inflammation wreaks havoc on the smell receptors and even…  Read more

One of the side effects of the pandemic has been the expansion of online grocery shopping and speedy delivery. But in large cities, many online grocery purchases are fulfilled by businesses that have taken over retail storefronts to become “ghost stores” or “dark stores.” These are small scale fulfillment centers that serve only ecommerce customers, with most orders being delivered by bike. These dark stores have the potential to reshape urban neighborhoods,…  Read more