Vernal Equinox 2006

Sat 18 Mar
As the tax season winds into its last month, I am happy to report that the tests are over. We waited 47 minutes for a six-minute CATscan yesterday. Meanwhile I managed to go a full week without a client. There are just no clients to call tonight, because the receptionists have been busy on the lists.

I changed the decorations from Saint Patrick's to Easter today as we moved within a month. Chuck White showed up for 1962-3 with two adventures. We're now just five years away from where I came in. I purchased more language software for Chinese and Japanese. The secrets of Moe Berg continue to elude me!

Sun 19 Mar
I just finished reading BusinessWeek, as the day is proving to be one of endurance. We have a goal of two clients today!

Last night, when I came home, Mom was in a demented state, which included another demand for the keys to the vechicle to go somewhere at 10 PM! I just ignored it and went to bed.

Just after I was told I could go home tonight, some fool came into Block to get his taxes done. Where the hell was he all day long? I fell asleep in my chair at least twice, and I had only one client in the eight hours I was there. Anway, he's rescheduled for Tuesday. I don't have to be at Block until Wednesday.

As Spring Takes Over from Winter in 2006

Mon 13 Mar
Last night ended a long dead day at Block. I was there nearly eight hours without a client (whch I have equaled with Monday and Wednesday). We didn't even reach our low goal of four clients in the office. I made 63 calls to all the not yet returned clients from last year who had come up to 12 March, but had not yet come this year.

After my round again with "Flipper" in French, I began to realize what I'd like to do in a few years. If I could generate enough unearned income, I could write and do other things I want to do in retirement. With only five weeks left in the tax season, I must be ready when it ends. It would return me to my days in graduate school when I didn't waste so much time making a living, and I spent much of my leisure time in learning. All those books remind me of those ambitions, every time I see them unready and unused.

Wed 15 Mar
My other work seems to pile up while I'm trying to keep up after taking a day off. The day started off very windy as the lion roared. For weirdness, it was very warm yesterday morning before the temperature fell last night. Flurries scattered about leaving no trace with the wind and sun.
I was tempted to go to Tastmasters tomorrow, but it's quirky that I even have a Thursday off during tax season. I have 26 March off, so I purchased "The Man Called Flintstone" to watch on the thirtyninth anniversary of the last time I saw it. Perhaps I'll get lucky and have it in other languages as well.

Thu 16 Mar
Punxsutawney Phil declared winter over, and "The Matthew Shepard Story" débuted in 2002.
I spent much of the morning on the internet, at PathMark, and now at Frankford Hospital. It turned out we need referrals for all these tests, which I had to fix to get the procedures done. The neurologist's office was virtually inaccessible this morning.

Block again remains problematic, maybe due to the bad publicity in New York State -- accusations about Express IRA's mostly. I haven't had a client since Saturday (Fortunately I have no work tonight.), and the one I'd scheduled for yesterday wanted another preparer, who wasn't there that night. I didn't even have calls for the customers from last year!
I did catch an error from 2004, which will cost Block. How could anyone miss having gambling losses without any winnings?

The March Lion in 2006

Mon 6 Mar
Finally someone came to look at the fence, and I should've known; termites are eating it. Instead of woodrot, the insects are devouring it. How much is this replacement going to cost?
One of my coworkers received a change from the IRS, which placed her as head of household without a dependent. The flowchart at Block clearly shows the need for a dependent of some kind.

Wed 8 Mar
I called the optometrist and confirmed the appointment tomorrow. It will cost $1765 to replace the damaged fence, probably with wood! Undless I can use creosote, I don't see any advantage with replacing the fence with more wood. Also I must contact the neighbors, especially the one in the back.

Thu 9 Mar
Once again, no one knows anything at the optometrist's. Someone told me the appointment was today, yet it is tomorrow.
Meanwhile, I am trying to confront my demons from 1964 by buying "Flipper", the original movie. I have bad memories of being pushed into the movies when I lived forlornly at my grandparets'. I am watching it in Frnch with French titles.

Fri 10 March
The work doesn't look bad the day after I took one off, but it took me late afternoon to break. I'd almost forgotten to get my personal order -- two noiron dress shirts for Block, with 38 days left of tax season.
Last night, I made many calls to clients from last year. I suppose I'll be doing the same this night as well. I don't seem to be prospering at this juncture.

Sat 11 Mar
My cousin looked at the fence and said that there is no sign of termites. Actually the posts are too short to stay in. The back neighbor was gracious enought to tell me that the fence is actually along the property line. I will have to find the costs for new poles.
Psychologically I have altered my perception form 1964 of :"Flipper". In fact, I've been rejuvenated by enjoying the movie as I should have in 1964.

I talked to my sister tonight. I no longer blame my misery on a fictional dolphin. Unfortunately, the smells of the setting are missing. Of course, I look at the movie very differently than I would have then. Luke Halpin reminds me of my character Pete Royer, another lentigenous xanthacroid with gelasins and chin cleft.

Sun 12 Mar
I really must sit down and elaborate on my entries. I should image stream and try to allow my feelings to emerge and purge some of my inhibitions.

Image streaming -- only five weeks left until Easter...no clients so far...only one has come into the office and the goal for today is merely four.
I continue to watch "Flipper" in French, similarly to what I've done with other movies, and I've noticed that only the common words are what I've grabbed. Perhaps I should stop it and say the words I don't know. A more active participation would help me master the language.

Last night I had the same crazy dream about living in Wilkes-Barre and State College. I need Sigmond Freud to interpret this kind of dream. Does it mean I must go back and start over, or does it mean I regret my decisions back then?

In with the Lion of March 2006

Thu 2 Mar
I began my second half of the tax season, the beginning of Lent, and March, off to a bad start. I could have stayed home it was so bad. I had three clients: one on a COD, and the last owing much to the federal due to married filed separately. The middle one just antagonized me. He should have gone to one of my coworkers, who had all the material. The one belonged to the hillbillies. He was so naïf and overly demanding as to cost, I was prepared to let him walk out. They ended up giving the brat a free return, only after my coworker blew up at me. I still have a number of problematic clients tonight.
I awoke at 3:30 this morning, and I bathed before going back to bed at 5 AM. Therefore, all I'll have to do is put out the garbage tonight. Ihave only six more Thursday nights to go!

Fri 3 Mar
Last night was worse profitwise. I made a few calls to former clients, called a hold, and I fixed a comeback. I'll have fewer tonight, especially if I have no clients. I was available for the next walkin from seven o'clock. A fellow Toastmaster came in for another coworker, for he'd sold a rental property.
Today at the main job brought more grief. A relative of the owners had passed my office many times over the past months, during which I had my legs up over my desk. I was not working at the time, and I don't do it otherwise. Finally she told my boss on Wednesday. At the time, I suggested I simply keep the door of the office closed. She objected to that remedy, even though no visitors can see me, and I told my boss so.
I am presented with a way to get even. Given she assumes what I'm doing behind the door at a certain time of day, I will take the opportuntiy to close the door when I'm not even it my office. I should have done this stuff four decades ago!