December 3, 2011

Two years ago today our beloved American Bulldog passed away. he would have been nine years old in January. In September of 2010 we brought Lucy into our family. Lucy in now sixteen months old and is a wonderful addition. She too is an American Bulldog; a wonderful breed.

December 3, 2011

University of Kentucky 73 University of North Carolina 72. Go cats.

Worked madrigal at First United Methodist Church in Frankfort. I had kitchen duty. Probably my tenth consecutive year. The turnout was a little lighter than in the past.

On Friday the Friends of the Paul Sawyier Public Library had their annual volunteer appreciation luncheon. Pretty good turnout.

We are putting up small tree in my office. We have hung some wreaths out front along with three small, lit Christmas trees that chime carols upon a sudden sharp noise like the clap of the hands.

November 24, 2011 Thanksgiving Day

First off I have much to be thankful for. I have a wonderful family although it is one that has shouldered a fair amount of grief this year. I do miss my sister Sharon on this day of thanks and this holiday season that she so much enjoyed.

I had a wonderful birthday yesterday along with mom. It is not that common to share a birthday with a parent. Jan and I went out to see mom and took her a pretty blue cape and a cup of decaff with some petit fours. We both blew out two candles and Jan sang some of happy birthday.

Billy and Mike Chadwell stopped by to see mom after they ran into me in the parking lot.

A good day.

November 13, 2011

Nice day. Somewhat overcast with the temperature in the high sixties.

Yesterday Jan and I went to the book fair. Picked up some nice books. We heard Richard Taylor reading at the civic center and then went over to the Old State Capitol for a panel of historians discuss the civil war and primarily as it was in Kentucky.

It was beautiful Saturday.

November 7, 2011

I took Debbie to the oncologist today. Decent news, she will be taken Chemo by pill for a while.

I got David and Tammy hooked up with Skype and the Web Cam.

Rainy November 3, 2011

I took my morning hike with am. bulldog Lucy. About three-quarters of a mile from the house it started raining. Not a gully washer but still pretty hard. There was enough tree cover so we didn't get totally drenched but still we were pretty wet. All along the cliffs Lucy would find a ledge stay beneath it until she had to go forward.

I have a tax client who is going to owe quite a bit of money. He makes a lot of money. He was audited for the three prior years. I went on the audit (appeals level) with him even though I did not do his taxes in those years. I thought the appeals officer was fair enough. However, he has to change the way he was classifying a few things and that is going to change his expenses for now and in the future. He is scrambling to find some more deductions. I don't think he has them and the ones he finds are going to have to pass my smell test. He will have to swear and sign off on them.

Halloween Eve

Finally got around to carving the pumpkin. Nothing fancy; jagged teeth, crooked eyes and nose, slightly twisted mouth. Lights up well. It will do.

Beautiful day, high fifties, lots of sun. I went to Tam's and Dave's had a good time.

October 29, 2011 Part II

Jan and I went to Lexington. Good day. Cats were playing this evening but the traffic wasn't that bad.

Meet and Greet on October 25

The Friends of the Paul Sawyier Public Library had our annual meet and greet in the community room down at the library. We had around 69 attendees including State Representative Derrick Graham.

Shakertown on Thursday October 27.

I forgot to mention Jan and my busy Thursday. We drove to Shakertown (Pleasant Hill) for the State Archives annual symposium. I was not a member (friend) but I did join.

We had a wonderful meal and then went to a building distant to the main grounds. I was surprised I never had any idea that they had a meeting hall that substantial off the main grounds.

We heard Doug Boyd speak and demonstrate a power point program regarding his most recent publication "Crawfish Bottom". I have read the book and highly recommend it. I remember the "bottom" in Frankfort.

Later that evening Jan and I drove to Versailles to the Woodford County Historical Society for their open house. The society is located at 121 Rose Hill avenue in downtown Versailles. We got to connect with some new people as well as see some of our friends from the Kentucky Genealogical Society. A good day.

October 29, 2011

Cool but sunny and bright this morning. I will be heading out to see what the day brings. We are prepared for Halloween. There is a fall ensemble of gourds, leaves, and pumpkins on our porch. We also have a nice witch's hat hanging suspended form the front porch ceiling. Just below it is a broom leaning behind a bench that is holding a pot of mums right next to a skeleton head. Quite a study!!!

I still haven't heard from a tax client or two. I'm about to wrap up one and really dread taking him the bad news.

A genealogy friend called about setting up a 501 c 3. She is working on form 1023 and is finding it somewhat daunting. I will help but probably not volunteer beyond advice, I have enough of those already. It is for a good cause though.

October 28, 2011

Cool, rainy with the reds and oranges and other late fall colors blending well with a deep grey sky. Some parts of the state have a trace of snow.

I have a few outstanding returns. I need to get some of these folks moving. I guess at this point in time they really don't care about being late. They are past the last extension deadline.

I spoke with Will from San Fran last night for about two + hours. We use the web cam this time with Skype. I think I like the g-mail transmittal better. He is doing fine. He has said nothing about coming home for Thanksgiving. He has several friends out there who are from all over the country and all over the world. I would think many of them will be staying put for Thanksgiving.

October 22, 2011

Excellent fall morning. Cool but not too much so. Should reach the low sixties today. Should get some yard work done.

I re-read E.B. White's "Memorandum". It was in a collection entitled, "One Man's Meat". It was written in October, 1941. White writes of the things he needs to do, we presume because of the oncoming winter. After reading a paragraph or two you begin to realized that he most likely has a years worth of work to do.

It is a great read not just because of his wonderful writing style but also because of the listing of the various chores that a gentleman farmer had gotten himself roped into when he purchased that rural farm. I recommend it.

Will called from S.F. the other day and we talked on the Webcam. That is a wonderful device. It is pretty clear and right on time. He is changing his webpage and wants me to focus the webcam on my screen so he can see how his web changes are working on my browser. That seems to be a prevalent problem for web designers. The site might vary in appearance from one browser to another.

October 20, 2011

Late filers some on time for extension. Some not. Filed a 2553 today.

Received my treasury card the other day. PTIN renewal went through smoothly. I can't complain at this point.

October 20, 2011

Yeah, it has been awhile. Son still out west. In San Francisco and appears to enjoy it.

Here autumn is in full force. Windy, cool and leaves beginning to carpet the yard. Soon Halloween, then Thanksgiving, then Christmas, then..........and somewhere in there is my next birthday. Yikes!!!!

September 25, 2011

Great day, sunny and in the mid-seventies. We went to Boyd's Orchard. It is their "tax season". This is when they rake it in before closing sometime in late November. The apples are in, the pumpkins were on display. Children were playing in the haystacks, it was all fall today. We bought some apples and I picked up a jug of apple cider. The orchard in on Pinckard pike, outside of Versailles.

We then went over to Lexington to the arboretum. There were a bunch of folks there, many children. Just a great day to tour the gardens.

We did a little shopping in Lex then came on back.

I miss my sister.

September 23, 2011

Yesterday was the twelfth anniversary of the debut of West Wing one of the finest programs ever on Television.

Son still out on the west coast, San Francisco to be exact. He plans to stay there at least one more month. He is seeing a lot of the city and plans to get out to Napa Valley. Safe travel to him.

All though it is sometime away thoughts are already turning to tax season. PTINs should be ready for renewal in October. At first it was slated to begin on October 1 but now I'm hearing October 15.

It has been rainy today but it is clearing and expect some more cooler weather. Today's high was around 65.

September 12, 2011

Somber day yesterday. In memory of those who gave all.

Today seems to kick off the fall income tax season. Several calls and information dropped off.

Today my wife and I took the boat tour of the Kentucky River. We started at the dock at Riverview Park and went up stream as far as Big Eddy. Tom Fugate was our tour guide. It was very informative and I would highly recommend it. For those who have not been on the river at Frankfort it gives a different visual perspective to the city. The tour took 1.5 hours and is free.

Four weeks and a day since we Sharon left us. It is still very difficult to deal with. I miss her so much.

September 4, 2011

Three weeks today we lost Sharon. I think of her all of the time. I spoke with her son Jeff tonight. He is managing ok.

More on William. He told me last week that he would be subletting an apartment in San Francisco until early October. Who knows what is next. He is having a great time. He is working on his laptop. Things will start to pick up with his work around the first of September so he needed a more stable location. He is looking for more contacts. He wants to work and travel some more.

Might be back at the end of September or later. Who knows?

More later

August 24, 2011

Update on Will Wright's odyssey. On July 21st Will started out for the west coast. He stopped at a friends house near Branson, Missouri, spending the night there. On August 1 he has a slight delay until he repaired a damaged front axle. He continued west stopping at Joplin, Missouri; some destination in Oklahoma; Flagstaff, Arizona; another stop in New Mexico before driving to his Uncle's house south of LA.

From his uncle's he drove down to San Diego and around LA. After a week he went up to Long Beach where he stayed with a second cousin for several days and also slept on several couches.

When my sister passed away he flew in for the funeral then headed back out. Our last communication had him in the bay area.

More to come.........

August 24, 2011

Celebrated Wil's 28th birthday at Gibby's. Jan and I along with Wil and his lady friend Mandy had a good meal and some excellent conversation.

August 16, 2011

RIP Sharon Wright Lee:January 26, 1950-August 14, 2011. I found you, we will miss you and what a wonderful sister you have been.

August 6, 2011

Kentucky Genealogical Seminar 2011 was a success. We had just under 160 registrants. The program was graced by the presence of Elizabeth Shown Mills, who is arguably one of the genealogical greats now practicing. She delivered a four part presentation and kept the audience's attention the entire time.

Also, happy birthday to my one-year old American Bulldog, Lucy.

Will Wright will Celebrate his 28th birthday on August 8.

August 4, 2011

Lucy took a tumble in the woods today. Vet said it looks like it could be a strain in her left shoulder. She will have to take it easy for awhile. I wonder how she is going to get used to missing a few walks in the woods. She be on pain relief medication for about two weeks.

The last seminar meeting met tonight. It is coming together in fine fashion. It looks like we have around 155-160 participants. Less than what we hoped for but not bad considering gasoline prices and a weakened economy.

August 3, 2011

Debt ceiling fiasco over, at least for now. More hard work to do and explanations to make.

Thunderstorm this morning; not a lot of rain just lightening and thunder.

July 30, 2011

Maybe the debt ceiling crisis is about over. It deal is in the offing according to Senator Mitch McConnell.

Another hot one today. We are approaching the August 6, Kentucky Genealogical Seminar,to be held here in Frankfort. Elizabeth Shown Mills will be the speaker. She is a renowned genealogist and researcher. Thus far the registration numbers are lower than we thought considering her elevation as a speaker. However, gas prices might have something to do with it.

Will is now in California. He is staying with his Uncle Barry, at least in this part of the journey. My sister, Sharon, called him yesterday. He told her he might be gone about a month. That is the same as I was told earlier. I talked to him when he arrived at Barry's.

July 22, 2011

More of the same on the debt ceiling. Super grid-lock.

Some crazy has gone off in Norway. The dark hearts out there are willing to kill the innocents in droves.

The woods were hot and sticky this morning. The fawns I have been seeing are staying close to their beds. It might be after Lucy gave heated chase several times last week. She is better at answering the command to return. With a little persuasion added.

July 18, 2011

Debt ceiling fiasco; Murdoch hacking scandal; scorching hot mid-July weather in the bluegrass state.

The Franklin County fair is rolling right along. I helped at the Paul Sawyier Public Library tent as a representative of the Friends of the Paul Sawyier Library. We gave away a few trinkets and had a few people stop by and enter the raffle for a Nook. I went from 6-8:30.

July 16, 2011

Another hot, humid scortcher. The temperature is in the low nineties.

The debt ceiling fiasco lingers on. More and more opinions and speculation.

July 15,2011

Another day and the debt ceiling debate rages. Time is growing short and Moody's threatens with a bond rating downgrade. All the rest of us have to try to wade through the complexities of the arguments.

Today we are taping a program here in Frankfort at Cable 10. It will be called @ Your Library and will be in regard to the future events and programs at the Paul Sawyier Public Library. I will be making some opening remarks on behalf of the Friends of the Paul Sawyier Public Library.

July 11,2011

Maybe I can start making regular postings beginning today. Don't keep your fingers crossed.

The debt ceiling debacle rages on. A big meeting today at the White house. Will it be the big deal or the small deal?