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It’s countdown time here again with extended 2023 trust returns due Monday the 30th, but we made it to this deadline too. Yes, it seems it’s always tax season here as we start the next countdown for extended 2023 individual and C Corporation tax returns, due October 15th.  It’s also green fig season in my garden, we have harvested over 200 super sweet ripe ones and have run out of…  Read more

With summer coming to an end and fall closing in the sun is rising later each day (sunrise was 6:42 today), I can take my time starting off on my morning walks.  This morning at 6:25, I was admiring the cloud formations and sky as I walked to the top of the berm at the beach. The sky looked ominous but beautiful while the water was smooth, just right for…  Read more

Let’s call it Lucky Friday the 13th as we accounting professionals get an extra day to meet our major deadline this Monday and it’s a beautiful day out as well!  Monday September 16th is one of our hardest deadlines to meet as extended S-Corporations and Partnerships are due along with business and individual estimated tax payments for 2024 tax returns.  I am so grateful to be able to walk on the…  Read more

Our Labor Day weekend has stretched through this upcoming weekend, end of summer…not yet please.  Even with the unofficial last day of summer, the first few days of the school year, and the last few days until our major deadline, I am not ready to give up yet.  Just this morning, I skipped my walk to sleep in a bit so I could continue to enjoy our guests over a…  Read more

It’s Labor Day weekend (already/finally-take your pick) and I can imagine that many families are planning a long weekend as our NYC school children will be heading back to classrooms next week.  Labor Day marks the end of the summer for many; observed on the first Monday of September, with the tradition based upon celebrating “workers and their achievements during the industrial revolution“, acknowledging 12-hour days, seven days a week.   I…  Read more

This was a cool week for me, starting with Saturday evening catching up with some high school friends and my cousin at our Far Rockaway HS reunion, followed by an afternoon of harvesting a bumper crop of purple figs, beefsteak and San Marzano tomatoes at my friend’s house on Sunday (after picking greens in my garden that morning).  During the week I hosted/attended 2 really great accounting webinars, then checked…  Read more

Some summer mornings it just feels good to burrow down under the covers with the A/C blasting and no scheduled appointments.  When I walked to the beach this morning it seemed the sun had a similar idea.  My weather app did say it would be overcast at sunrise with partly sunny skies at 8 AM and full sun starting around 10 AM.  I was hoping for a brilliant sunrise as…  Read more

Is it really mid-August already with summer in full swing?  For me, several planned vacations have come and gone with more on the horizon, gardens are blooming, parents are busy planning for summer camp to end soon and families are focusing on preparing for “back to school” season as well.  I am glad that my family has more planned vacations and get togethers, the next few will be here in…  Read more

I looked up my blog post from last year (July 28th)  and see that some things never change.  Wednesday morning was a bit hectic as I prepared for my trip to Detroit for the 2024 annual Certified Tax Coach Reunion.  I woke up early, walked on the beach, took a 45 minute workout on my “pele”, then re-packed, printed some paperwork for the plane and headed out to JFK.  Thanks to Raquel…  Read more

Sometimes all I need is a mini vacation, a long weekend, or visit with good friends. Living by the beach is great; many people (including me) take advantage of opportunities like:  week-night kayaking, morning walks/runs, surf fishing , whale/dolphin spotting, beach volleyball, surfing, ocean swims, etc.   Time away from home rather than a “staycation” can be more than a change of location and might afford us time to reflect as…  Read more

With summer in full swing and no immediate deadlines it’s sometimes hard to “buckle down ” .  We’ve created some “fake deadlines” but have not kept to them.  It seems we are not alone though. We really have tried, we’ve reached out to our clients whose returns are on extension; we might be missing one or two pieces of information and are reluctant to finalize the return without it, but…  Read more

Like the song: “It’s summertime and the living is easy…” I’m not singing, but I am finally feeling like its summer!  Without the pressure of tax deadlines, I actually enjoy coming to work.  The longer daylight hours make it easy for me to “putter” in my garden a bit before going to the office. During our weekly huddle we continue to share stories of recent social events and plans for…  Read more

Happy Birthday USA!  I was so glad to celebrate July 4th in my traditional manner once again; with friends who are family, enjoying the evening in Queens.  Depending on where you were last night you were caught in a rain shower ⛈️ or caught a shower of fireworks 🎇 in the night sky. We had a lovely evening with friends who have a vacation home in a building right on…  Read more

School may be out for the summer, but for me it feels like this is conference season.  Since the beginning of June, I have attended several seminars or conferences each week and have plans for more through the end of August.  Several of them are in person, which lately seems like a treat as I catch-up with some of my professional friends.  Last night was a wonderful evening as many…  Read more

I know where I was 37 years ago today; Happy Birthday Jessie🎂; I already texted her birthday wishes from the beach this morning along with a sunrise photo. She had great timing back then too; we had a very special Father’s Day 🕺🏼gift🎁👼🏼 and good reason to celebrate🎆.  This week I have been “sleeping in” a bit and using my walks to add some strength and stretching to my morning…  Read more

It’s Friday and the start of Memorial Day Weekend – Reminder that although this weekend may be the unofficial start of the summer for many of us, however, it‘s significance is actually in remembrance and thanks to our brave soldiers and war heroes: Thank You for Your Service!   You are very much appreciated and not forgotten.  Thanks to those who defend our country we are able to go about our lives,…  Read more

Mother’s day weekend did not disappoint.  Early Saturday morning my friend Edith and I took our annual trip to the Brooklyn Terminal Market for flower and vegetable plant 🌼🪴shopping; then stopped in the huge Caribbean supermarket on site where we shopped their amazing spices, rice, flour and grains sold by the pound from large barrels.  At home we prepped the soil and then relaxed for the rest of the weekend……  Read more

Congratulations to the new graduates 🎓and their families.  I’ve been hearing about the great trips up to school for celebrations and packing marathons.  I remember those days and how we helped empty the dorm rooms of all that “stuff”.   I am sure more trips and celebrations are planned for this weekend and the rest of May, enjoy! Some weeks and days the weather just doesn’t cooperate but it’s nice to…  Read more

This morning we are headed home after a much needed after tax season vacation; it’s so much easier to pack when all we are adding to our luggage are a few logo tee shirts (heads up NYS they are each under $110 so no additional sales tax is due, but I do check the box each year on my personal tax return to report the recommended sales tax). It’s been…  Read more

The April 15th 2023 tax deadline is in my rearview mirror and it’s definitely time to relax, reflect, party and take a much needed vacation. For me that all started Tuesday, with a long walk at sunrise followed by a nap, soak in my whirlpool tub, leisurely bagel brunch and then another nap.  What, no workout, NO, I needed a break from that too.  I am glad I was able…  Read more