Some of you may have known that I have been at the NJSCPA 2011 Annual Convention in Atlantic City this past week.
It was a great week of education, reconnecting with old friends and acquaintances, meeting new friends and fun. Yes I said fun. We accountants really do know how to have fun. We are not your father's (or grandfather's) accountant. We know how to let our hair down and have a good time.
As evidence of this good time ....... here is a short video of my friend John Szczomak, an accountant that was never a dancer - he may be the ultimate "connector" but dancing .... well even his girlfriend says that is just not his thing (hmmm sounds just like my husband). This year's convention has been eventful for John - he can now check off "learning to dance" off his list.
You really should check out this short clip of John's accomplishment. forever highlighted on YouTube!
Here is a great video of the winner of the cup stacking challenge.
See I told you we know how to have fun .......... Can't wait for next year!
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Have you tried Groupon.com?
You are not still paying full price for your purchases, are you?
I'm sure, if you have looked at my blog at all, you know how much I love The Fresh Diet, but it can be expensive, if you don't hit on one of their deals. When Jenn made the Dean's List this past Fall Semester, she really wanted to try The Fresh Diet, since she thought my meals looked great and the convenience would be good for the Spring Semester.
Right about that time I hit on a wonderful deal from Groupon.com for just what I needed - 2 weeks of The Fresh Diet at a fantastic price!
But that was just the first deal. There are always great deals at Groupon.com that you really should check out. Trust me it has some fantastic deals that are always changing - so keep checking them out.
I do.
I'm sure, if you have looked at my blog at all, you know how much I love The Fresh Diet, but it can be expensive, if you don't hit on one of their deals. When Jenn made the Dean's List this past Fall Semester, she really wanted to try The Fresh Diet, since she thought my meals looked great and the convenience would be good for the Spring Semester.
Right about that time I hit on a wonderful deal from Groupon.com for just what I needed - 2 weeks of The Fresh Diet at a fantastic price!
But that was just the first deal. There are always great deals at Groupon.com that you really should check out. Trust me it has some fantastic deals that are always changing - so keep checking them out.
I do.
Friday, June 3, 2011
86-year Old Lady's Letter to Bank
Shown below, is an actual letter that was sent to a bank by an 86 year old woman.
The bank manager thought it amusing enough to have it published in the New York Times.
Dear Sir:
I am writing to thank you for bouncing my check with which I endeavored to pay my plumber last month. By my calculations, three nanoseconds must have elapsed between his presenting
the check and the arrival in my account of the funds needed to honor it..
I refer, of course, to the automatic monthly deposit of my entire pension, an arrangement which, I admit, has been in place for only eight years.
You are to be commended for seizing that brief window of opportunity, and also for debiting my account $30 by way of penalty for the inconvenience caused to your bank.
My thankfulness springs from the manner in which this incident has caused me to rethink my errant financial ways. I noticed that whereas I personally answer your telephone calls and letters, --- when I try to contact you, I am confronted by the impersonal, overcharging, pre-recorded,
faceless entity which your bank has become.
From now on, I, like you, choose only to deal with a flesh-and-blood person.
My mortgage and loan repayments will therefore and hereafter no longer be automatic, but will arrive at your bank, by check, addressed personally and confidentially to an employee at your bank whom you must nominate.
Be aware that it is an offense under the Postal Act for any other person to open such an envelope.
Please find attached an Application Contact which I require your chosen employee to complete.
I am sorry it runs to eight pages, but in order that I know as much about him or her as your bank knows about me, there is no alternative.
Please note that all copies of his or her medical history must be countersigned by a Notary Public, and the mandatory details of his/her financial situation (income, debts, assets and liabilities) must be accompanied by documented proof.
In due course, at MY convenience, I will issue your employee with a PIN number which he/she must quote in dealings with me.
I regret that it cannot be shorter than 28 digits but, again, I have modeled it on the number of button presses required of me to access my account balance on your phone bank service.
As they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
Let me level the playing field even further.
When you call me, press buttons as follows:
IMMEDIATELY AFTER DIALING, PRESS THE STAR (*) BUTTON FOR ENGLISH
#1. To make an appointment to see me
#2. To query a missing payment.
#3. To transfer the call to my living room in case I am there.
#4 To transfer the call to my bedroom in case I am sleeping
#5. To transfer the call to my toilet in case I am attending to nature.
#6. To transfer the call to my mobile phone if I am not at home
#7. To leave a message on my computer, a password to access my computer is required.
Password will be communicated to you at a later date to that Authorized Contact mentioned earlier.
#8. To return to the main menu and to listen to options 1 through 7.
#9. To make a general complaint or inquiry.
The contact will then be put on hold, pending the attention of my automated answering service.
#10. This is a second reminder to press* for English.
While this may, on occasion, involve a lengthy wait, uplifting music will play for the duration of the call.
Regrettably, but again following your example, I must also levy an establishment fee to cover the setting up of this new arrangement.
May I wish you a happy, if ever so slightly less prosperous New Year?
The bank manager thought it amusing enough to have it published in the New York Times.
Dear Sir:
I am writing to thank you for bouncing my check with which I endeavored to pay my plumber last month. By my calculations, three nanoseconds must have elapsed between his presenting
the check and the arrival in my account of the funds needed to honor it..
I refer, of course, to the automatic monthly deposit of my entire pension, an arrangement which, I admit, has been in place for only eight years.
You are to be commended for seizing that brief window of opportunity, and also for debiting my account $30 by way of penalty for the inconvenience caused to your bank.
My thankfulness springs from the manner in which this incident has caused me to rethink my errant financial ways. I noticed that whereas I personally answer your telephone calls and letters, --- when I try to contact you, I am confronted by the impersonal, overcharging, pre-recorded,
faceless entity which your bank has become.
From now on, I, like you, choose only to deal with a flesh-and-blood person.
My mortgage and loan repayments will therefore and hereafter no longer be automatic, but will arrive at your bank, by check, addressed personally and confidentially to an employee at your bank whom you must nominate.
Be aware that it is an offense under the Postal Act for any other person to open such an envelope.
Please find attached an Application Contact which I require your chosen employee to complete.
I am sorry it runs to eight pages, but in order that I know as much about him or her as your bank knows about me, there is no alternative.
Please note that all copies of his or her medical history must be countersigned by a Notary Public, and the mandatory details of his/her financial situation (income, debts, assets and liabilities) must be accompanied by documented proof.
In due course, at MY convenience, I will issue your employee with a PIN number which he/she must quote in dealings with me.
I regret that it cannot be shorter than 28 digits but, again, I have modeled it on the number of button presses required of me to access my account balance on your phone bank service.
As they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
Let me level the playing field even further.
When you call me, press buttons as follows:
IMMEDIATELY AFTER DIALING, PRESS THE STAR (*) BUTTON FOR ENGLISH
#1. To make an appointment to see me
#2. To query a missing payment.
#3. To transfer the call to my living room in case I am there.
#4 To transfer the call to my bedroom in case I am sleeping
#5. To transfer the call to my toilet in case I am attending to nature.
#6. To transfer the call to my mobile phone if I am not at home
#7. To leave a message on my computer, a password to access my computer is required.
Password will be communicated to you at a later date to that Authorized Contact mentioned earlier.
#8. To return to the main menu and to listen to options 1 through 7.
#9. To make a general complaint or inquiry.
The contact will then be put on hold, pending the attention of my automated answering service.
#10. This is a second reminder to press* for English.
While this may, on occasion, involve a lengthy wait, uplifting music will play for the duration of the call.
Regrettably, but again following your example, I must also levy an establishment fee to cover the setting up of this new arrangement.
May I wish you a happy, if ever so slightly less prosperous New Year?
Your Humble Client
And remember: Don't make old People mad.
We don't like being old in the first place, so it doesn't take much to piss us off.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
My Fresh Diet meals from Tuesday May 31st
It was really nice to see my little buddy sitting outside my door early in the morning. My great Fresh Diet delivery person (Hi Owen) had left my TFD bag sitting right outside my kitchen door. Not only does he bring me my little buddy with my meals for the day - he takes such good care of me and my buddy. He is just so sweet!
Breakfast was Cinnamon Swirl Multi-Grain French Toast with Fresh Apples and Blackberry Ricotta Cheese. This was a new item for me and I have to say it was pretty darned good. Since I had increased my calorie range to 1600 - 1800calories per day, I received almost 3 halves of the toast. The Apples were exceptionally good this time. They were nicely firm, almost like a mix of apple and pear, and they had not turned brown as they usually do once they are cut. I really need to find out what kind of apples these were - I want more! I so love the flavored Ricotta Cheese ...... I WILL figure out how to make this.
Lunch was a Tuna Burger on Whole Wheat Bun with Cucumber and Avocado Salsa. This was an interesting burger - I really just wish they had a real Whole Wheat Bun and not a bun made with "Enriched Wheat Flour" which if you have done any reading about flours you know that this really isn't whole wheat and therefore doesn't have the benefits of whole wheat. I do love Avocado Salsa.
My snack for the day was a Low Fat Passion Fruit Yogurt Mousse. This was exceptionally firm so it was easy (ok reasonably easy) to slip this one out of the container to plate. It did have a grainier texture than a regular mousse but the flavor was very intense and I did enjoy it. I believe I have had this before, and wasn't terribly enthused about it - this time however it was great.
Dinner was Roasted Pork Loin with Pineapple Mango Chutney with Roasted Bell Peppers and Roasted Fennel. I have had this before, and it was rather tender despite the thick slice. I liked the combination of bell peppers and fennel that were roasted ...... they had the same textures but the flavors came out much better this way. I think they complemented each other very well. The Pineapple Mango Chutney was sooo good. I really need to find out how to make the chutneys and sauces from The Fresh Diet. I can't say that I like all of them, but I bet its probably close to 90% of them.
Rumor has it they are going to come out with their cookbook sometime this year ......... it will be worth the price of the book just for the chutney and sauce recipes!
Dessert was Apple Cinnamon Cheese Cake ...... what can I say? Cheese Cake? Was very good, nice flavor without being overbearing with either flavor. I was so tired by the time I was ready for dessert (I had finished planting all the herbs and flowers and seeds I have for the deck) I forgot to take a picture. I even looked to see if I had one from one of my other deliveries ...... nope sorry. Trust me it was good.
If you are ready, give them a call at 1-866-FRESH50 and tell them that I sent you (or you could just give them my referral code - K2M4T) - Sales and Customer Service ROCKS! And if you are looking for some great support ....... check out The Fresh Diet Facebook Page - we are one big happy (well most of the time) family. And they have some awesome contests that the Fearless Leader likes to run.
Breakfast was Cinnamon Swirl Multi-Grain French Toast with Fresh Apples and Blackberry Ricotta Cheese. This was a new item for me and I have to say it was pretty darned good. Since I had increased my calorie range to 1600 - 1800calories per day, I received almost 3 halves of the toast. The Apples were exceptionally good this time. They were nicely firm, almost like a mix of apple and pear, and they had not turned brown as they usually do once they are cut. I really need to find out what kind of apples these were - I want more! I so love the flavored Ricotta Cheese ...... I WILL figure out how to make this.
Lunch was a Tuna Burger on Whole Wheat Bun with Cucumber and Avocado Salsa. This was an interesting burger - I really just wish they had a real Whole Wheat Bun and not a bun made with "Enriched Wheat Flour" which if you have done any reading about flours you know that this really isn't whole wheat and therefore doesn't have the benefits of whole wheat. I do love Avocado Salsa.
My snack for the day was a Low Fat Passion Fruit Yogurt Mousse. This was exceptionally firm so it was easy (ok reasonably easy) to slip this one out of the container to plate. It did have a grainier texture than a regular mousse but the flavor was very intense and I did enjoy it. I believe I have had this before, and wasn't terribly enthused about it - this time however it was great.
Dinner was Roasted Pork Loin with Pineapple Mango Chutney with Roasted Bell Peppers and Roasted Fennel. I have had this before, and it was rather tender despite the thick slice. I liked the combination of bell peppers and fennel that were roasted ...... they had the same textures but the flavors came out much better this way. I think they complemented each other very well. The Pineapple Mango Chutney was sooo good. I really need to find out how to make the chutneys and sauces from The Fresh Diet. I can't say that I like all of them, but I bet its probably close to 90% of them.
Rumor has it they are going to come out with their cookbook sometime this year ......... it will be worth the price of the book just for the chutney and sauce recipes!
Dessert was Apple Cinnamon Cheese Cake ...... what can I say? Cheese Cake? Was very good, nice flavor without being overbearing with either flavor. I was so tired by the time I was ready for dessert (I had finished planting all the herbs and flowers and seeds I have for the deck) I forgot to take a picture. I even looked to see if I had one from one of my other deliveries ...... nope sorry. Trust me it was good.
If you are ready, give them a call at 1-866-FRESH50 and tell them that I sent you (or you could just give them my referral code - K2M4T) - Sales and Customer Service ROCKS! And if you are looking for some great support ....... check out The Fresh Diet Facebook Page - we are one big happy (well most of the time) family. And they have some awesome contests that the Fearless Leader likes to run.
A 'Modern Family' for the 21st century
I've only seen this show a few times - not exactly sure why but hey thanks to Archie's review, I will have to check it out and be a little more careful on what channel the TV gets set on tonight.
Contribution by Archie Watts
Not since my favorite show about nothing (Seinfeld) have I looked forward to watching a sitcom about something, ABC's Modern Family on Wednesday nights. The mocumentary style of following this hysterical family around an L.A. suburban neighborhood is fraught with the type of real human events that well, make for comedy.
I mean, this is a great take on a modern family. You have an older guy (Jay) married to a much younger woman (Gloria) and she has a son who is pre-teenish but acts 20 (Manny). There are two gay men (Mitchell and Cameron) who have adopted a Vietnamese baby (Lily). Mitchell is the adult son of Jay, who also has an adult daughter Claire.
Claire is an over-reactive homemaker with three typical and not so typical kids. Her husband is the biggest nerd in the world who thinks he is the coolest dude in the world. Yes it is quite the conglomeration of type A's and type B's, over zealous and laid back, serious and funny, nerdy and kind-of-hip people.
Even with all these cast members you never miss seeing any of them in every episode as it is set up in three vignettes, one for each family yet intertwines them all into a slice of life. If my satellite TV from Direc4U.com ever goes out on Wednesday nights, someone is gonna pay big time.
Thanks again Archie!
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Happy Monday
Oh wait - It's Tuesday ...........
Gotta love those long weekends -
they make for great short work weeks!
Gotta love those long weekends -
they make for great short work weeks!
Energy Foods
On Healthmad.com I found a great list of foods called
1)Oatmeal
2)Peanut Butter
3)Avocado
4)Blueberries
5)Citrus Fruits
6)Watermelon
7)Yogurt (mmmm I love Greek Yogurt)
8)Apples
9)Sardines
10)Spinach
Ok I'm good ... I actually like all of these foods (and eat them as well). Well I can't do number 9 .... unless of course its "hidden".
But it says ... don't forget
1)Figs
2)Beans
3)Lentils
And .........
4)Coffee (Ok I'm set)
1)Oatmeal
2)Peanut Butter
3)Avocado
4)Blueberries
5)Citrus Fruits
6)Watermelon
7)Yogurt (mmmm I love Greek Yogurt)
8)Apples
9)Sardines
10)Spinach
Ok I'm good ... I actually like all of these foods (and eat them as well). Well I can't do number 9 .... unless of course its "hidden".
But it says ... don't forget
1)Figs
2)Beans
3)Lentils
And .........
4)Coffee (Ok I'm set)
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