California Living

Pictures

2010-08-13T17:44:00.001-07:00

He's Here!

2010-08-12T11:47:00.000-07:00

Andrew (Drew) Joseph was born July 19 to Joe and Ellie! A week later, Jim and I were there holding him and admiring him. Of course, we were also holding and admiring big sister, Leah, and cousin, Elsa. Yes, Tim and Sara were there also. We had all of our kids and grandkids in one place. What fun! We hadn't seen any of them since Christmas, Elsa was just 5 weeks old. It was fun to see how much she had changed. She looks like her Mom, but she had a lot of Tim's "baby" mannerisms.
My camera and computer aren't cooperating these days so I will post pictures as soon as I can get them to get along.
Leah will turn 3 next month so I will be going back to St. Louis shortly. And then, we'll all be together again for Thanksgiving. Elsa turns 1 the week before, so we'll have a party for her.
In the meantime, it's work, work, work.

Sonoma Valley

2010-06-20T19:36:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Jim and I went for a drive over to Sonoma Valley, more wine country. Sonoma also is a big producer of olive oil and cheese. We went to our favorite winery there, Viansa, for the view, some wine and food.

We went into Sonoma to the Square and walked around, checking to see if anything had changed. There are numerous art galleries, restaurants, and shops of all kinds. In the middle of the Square is a park. There were a lot of people there enjoying their picnics. At one corner of the Square is a Mission. There are dozens of these Missions all up and down the California coast. It's pretty interesting, if you're into history at all.

It was a beautiful day and felt good to be out and not thinking about work and business. Enjoy the pictures.

Did You Know?

2010-06-05T18:06:00.000-07:00

Here's a little bit of humor from our local winery, Wooden Valley.

A herd of buffalo can only move as fast as the slowest buffalo, and when the herd is hunted, it is the slowest and weakest ones at the back that are killed first. This natural selection is good for the herd as a whole, because the general speed and health of the whole group keeps improving by the culling of the weakest members.
In much the same way, the human brain can only operate as fast as its slowest brain cells. Excessive intake of alcohol, as we know, kills brain cells. However, it naturally attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first. In this way, regular consumption of wine eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine.
It is for this reason that you always feel smarter after a few glasses of wine.

Do You Skype?

2010-05-15T19:30:00.000-07:00

If you don't Skype, you're missing out on a great thing. I got a webcam for Christmas and signed up on Skype. I have great fun with Leah every week. Sometimes we just sit and chat, sometimes I watch her color while we chat and sometimes Joe is following her around with the laptop while she shows me stuff. I really look forward to our weekly gabfests. Elsa, at 6 months, hasn't got it figured out yet. She just stares and stares, doesn't even crack a smile. But at least I have her attention. One of these days, something will click and she'll giggle and laugh. I do my best. I can actually see how much she has grown and changed. With the new baby coming in July, I'll be able to watch him grow also. Skype is a Grandma's best friend.

More Pictures

2010-02-13T16:02:00.000-08:00

Let's Catch Up

2010-02-13T15:29:00.000-08:00

Hi! I'm back! It's been a crazy 5 months but I'm ready to get back into the blogging business. This will be a loooong one.

Surprisingly, we were busy all summer and fall with the Roni Deutch Tax Center. That didn't leave too much time for other stuff but I did manage to squeeze in a few things.

In Oct. a group of us from the Newcomers Club spent a day in San Francisco touring the sites of movies made in the city. We met the bus at the Ferry Building. They were having a Farmers' Market. It's always interesting to see the different varieties of everyday fruits and veggies. Inside the Ferry Bldg is a foodie's dream. All kinds of shops related to food. I think I mentioned this place in an earlier blog. The movie tour was really fun. It was a gorgeous day to boot. We got a quick peek of George Lucas' place where he does some film editing.

In Nov. we became grandparents again! Elsa Maxine was born to Tim and Sara on the 16th in Philadelphia. We finally got to meet her when we went out there for Christmas. More on that later.

In early Dec. another group from New. Club went to SF to tour the Palace Hotel. They celebrated their 100th rebirth. It truly is a beautiful place. It survived the 1906 earthquake and fire that just about did in the whole city. After 3 years of renovations, it was reopened, bigger and better than before. We had a very nice lunch there.

Christmas! We went to Tim and Sara's for Christmas. Joe, Ellie and Leah were there also. We had a great time. It had just snowed a bunch so it was beautiful. We entertained Leah, she entertained us and Elsa was passed around and around. And, we got some great news. Joe and Ellie are expecting another baby in July! Oh joy!

So that brings us to now - Tax Season. Guess where I spend most of my days (& evenings). We're actually doing quite well. A lot better than last year, but I guess that's to be expected. So, until next time.........I promise it will be soon.

Leah's Birthday

2009-09-27T13:52:00.000-07:00

Over Labor Day weekend I was in Missouri for Leah's birthday. The weekend was full of activities. Fri. evening and Sat. morning Leah helped Ellie make her birthday cake. She was so excited. Ellie found this recipe for a 12-layer cake! It was white with chocolate frosting and it was good. Sat. was the big party. It was family, with cousins from Chicago and lots of aunts and uncles and grandparents. Leah and her cousins "painted" Mickey Mouse Rice Krispies bars with choc. syrup, strawberry syrup and caramel sauce. Joe barbequed and we all ate well.

Sunday, the whole gang went to an apple orchard over in Illinois. We crossed the Mississippi on a ferry - the kind you drive your car onto. The orchard was really nice. We got apples and blackberries. There were fun things for the kids. Even some little farm animals to feed and pet.

Monday, Labor Day, was Leah's birthday. We went to the Science Center in St. Louis and checked out the Dinosaur exhibit. There was also an exhibit about polar bears and penguins. Leah enjoyed it but I think she was more interested in all the kids that were there.

It just amazed me how much Leah had grown, even since I was there in May. She is a talker and doesn't miss anything that goes on around her. We will all be together for Christmas in Philadelphia. By that time, Tim and Sara will have their little bundle of joy. I can't wait!

Philly: Babies to Star Trek

2009-08-24T17:06:00.000-07:00

Earlier this month, I went to Philadelphia to see Tim and Sara. I was way overdue for a visit. They are expecting a baby in Nov. and I wanted to help in some way to get ready for the blessed event. They don't know yet if it's a he or she so shopping for clothes was a challenge. There aren't as many gender-neutral clothes out there as there was for my generation. But they're still so tiny and cute. They are getting the room ready in primary colors with white furniture. Very sharp. We'll all be together for Christmas, a perfect time to welcome a new baby to the family.

While in Philly, Tim took me to the Franklin Institue, a science museum. They have a Star Trek exhibit going on right now. We saw lots of memorabilia from the TV shows and movies. I even sat in the Captain's chair on the Bridge of the Enterprise (The Next Generation). Very cool. I'm keeping an eye out to find out when it will be in the Bay Area. It's worth another look.

We went to the Jersey shore one day - Atlantic City, to be exact. We thought it would be cooler over there but it was not. Very hot. We walked up & down the boardwalk, stopping for lunch, checking out a casino (lost $5) and getting something cool to drink. We didn't make it to the actual beach.

It was a good visit. The next time I see Tim and Sara, they will be Mommy and Daddy.

Fisherman's Wharf

2009-08-23T16:56:00.001-07:00

I know this is really late but I was looking through the pictures on my camera and came across these. The Saturday before Father's Day, Jim and I went over to San Francisco and visited the Wharf. We hadn't been there since last summer and were due for a visit. Lots of other people had the same idea - it was a gorgeous day with no fog. We saw something new. The long speed boat for tourists. I'd never seen one so big and could it move! We tried to watch it leave the pier and make its way into the bay, but we couldn't keep up. Looked like fun.

Of course, the sea lions were there, just hanging out. It's always fun to watch them and listen to them. The lighthouse on the other side of the sea lion area has a restaurant beneath it. Some day, I'd like to go there. The view has to be great.

Alcatraz Island was in full view. We've been there a few times, but they've opened a couple of areas that were closed before. They restored them to make them safe. Also, they've restored the many flower gardens that covered the Rock when the guards and their families lived there. That's another trip. Anyone else interested?

Missouri Visit

2009-06-14T13:39:00.000-07:00

The last week in May I went to Missouri to visit family. Leah was baptized. I was glad to be there for that. Tim was her godfather so I got to see him also. Sara was in Philadelphia, teaching. Leah is so much fun and can talk your ears off. I understood most of it. She definitely knows what she wants and doesn't want. She'll be 2 in September and I will be back then to celebrate with her.

I saw my Dad also. He's doing alright, but was still very weak. I talked to him yesterday and he said he felt like a different person. A few days before he woke up and it was like someone had flipped a switch. He feels good, is stronger and getting his appetite back. Finally!

We got some exciting news. Tim and Sara are having a baby! She's due around Thanksgiving. Don't know if it's a boy or girl yet. We're all going out there for Christmas this year. It will be an extra special holiday.

The Castle in Napa Valley

2009-05-25T19:53:00.000-07:00

This past weekend we had a couple that used to live here and now live in Idaho come and visit. They just stayed one night but on Saturday we went to Napa Valley to visit a winery/castle we'd heard about. It's called the Castello di Amorosa (Castle of Love). It was brought over from Italy, piece by piece. It's a really neat place. They give tours, have wine tasting and you can even go on a horse-drawn carriage ride through the vineyards. We did the castle tour and tasting. No one lives in the castle but they use it for big parties, fundraising events and the likes. It's definitely our new place to take visitors. It has some incredible views. Enjoy the pictures.

RDTC Convention

2009-05-25T19:37:00.000-07:00

Last weekend Jim and I went to a convention in Reno for the Roni Deutch Tax Centers. There were 2 days of meetings and plenty of time for play, as you can see from the pictures. The theme was "Surfing to Success". Roni Deutch is a huge surfing fan. The convention was held at the Peppermill Casino/hotel. That is one huge, fancy place. We didn't spend one penny gambling. We work too hard for our money to watch it disappear. We're still getting people coming in to get their back taxes done. Hope it stays consistent through the summer and fall. Right now it's just our manager, who does the taxes, and me (answering the phone, etc.). About once a week we have the young lady who was our receptionist during the tax season come in because she's Hispanic and can translate for us when we get Spanish-speaking clients. We hope to get a bilingual tax preparer or two for next season. It sure makes it easier.

I'm Still Here

2009-05-02T16:48:00.001-07:00

It's been so long since I've written I'm not sure I remember how. Where to start? The tax season was busy but not as much as we'd hoped. Next year will be much better. We're still doing returns - extensions and past years. We'll probably be in the office til the end of this month. In a couple of weeks we'll be at a convention for the Roni Deutch Tax Center in Reno. Should be interesting.

In March my Dad had a heart attack. That first day they didn't think he'd make it but he pulled through. I spent a week with him and my step-mom at the St. Louis hospital. He had a defibrillator put in and has been home for a couple of weeks. Next week he goes back for by-pass surgery. It's been a rough road for him but he's determined to get through this. Even the doctors at the Cardiac Unit in St. Louis told him he was a miracle. I'm going back to MO the end of May so I'll see for myself how he's doing.

Another reason I'm going back to MO is for Leah's baptism. Can't wait to see my little girl. We "talk" on the phone almost every week. One of these days, we'll have a real conversation.

That's all for now. I won't wait so long til the next time and I'll have pictures.

Our New Life

2009-01-21T21:05:00.000-08:00

Tax Season is here! We had our Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening so now we are officially in business. We've had about a dozen clients come in. We're expecting the big rush in about a week. Should be pretty steady after that. I was so busy for a couple of weeks after Christmas, I didn't know if I was coming or going. I even lost a couple of pounds because I didn't have time to eat. That's not normal!

Jim is enjoying his new job at the Wonder Bread bakery. He's back in his element, Plant Operations.

Hopefully, when things settle down a little, we can get back to exploring and enjoying the Bay Area. I miss my old haunts.

Bread and Taxes

2008-12-28T19:45:00.000-08:00

Well, the holidays are just about over. It was a quiet Christmas for us. Since we went to Missouri for Thanksgiving, we stayed here for Christmas and the kids were with their other families. Actually, it worked out fine because we are still busy as can be getting the store set up. As you can see, we have our sign up. Tomorrow the furniture will be delivered and then comes getting the computers and phones hooked up and running. Monday, Jan. 5 will be our first day with business hours. Our manager and I will be training the new employees on Policies and Procedures and the computer programs. We have a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on the 8th and the Grand Opening on the 10th. A few days after that we'll be doing taxes.

Jim is enjoying his new job. He's learning all about baking bread. It sure smells better than soybeans or sugar beets. He brings home some bread now and then (the baked kind and the green kind), which is nice.

Have a safe and happy New Year!

Whoa!

2008-12-03T18:11:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it's been over a month since I checked in. I guess I have been busy. We are making progress at the store. It got painted last week. Next week we hope to have the carpet in, furniture delivered and computers delivered. We have lots of advertising lined up for this month and working on some more. The ribbon cutting is on Jan. 8 and the Grand Opening is Jan. 10. The first day of filing taxes is Jan. 14. When the sign is put up outside and the inside is done, I'll post some pictures.

We were at Joe and Ellie's for Thanksgiving. Tim and Sara were there also. We got to spend lots of time with little Leah. She sure is growing up. She's just about 15 months old now. I'll be sending a family picture to everyone for Christmas. Jim's Mom and siblings were all at Joe's also. It was a houseful.

Jim and I will be here for Christmas. We've got lots of work to do yet and then once tax season starts, there's no time for vacation until the middle of April. Although, I might sneak in a couple of days off to see you-know-who.

Halloween Scrooges

2008-11-02T11:20:00.000-08:00

Jim and I were Halloween Scrooges on Friday night. Not in costume, in spirit. We went to the Mall and a movie to avoid the little trick-or-treaters. The movie theatre is in the mall so we killed time before the movie doing some shopping and having a bite to eat. We didn't really avoid the trick-or-treaters. I think they were all at the mall. The stores were giving out candy and the place was packed. It wasn't just little ones dressed up. They were all sizes and ages. Those bags looked pretty full by the end of the evening. Of course, all this reminds me of when Tim and Joe were little. It never failed, Halloween night in Minnesota was cold and raining or snowing. Have you ever tried putting on a costume over a snowsuit? A few times I gave out little boxes of raisins instead of candy. The parents appreciated it but Tim and Joe were mortified.
Oh, by the way, the movie we saw was "The Changeling" with Angelina Jolie. Very disturbing. I don't recommend it if you are gentle-natured.

A Day with Oprah's Magazine

2008-10-26T14:38:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was another fantastic day spent in San Francisco. Oprah's magazine had a full day of seminars and fun things to check out. Peter Walsh told us how to de-clutter our lives. He's actually pretty funny but is serious about what he does. "Cutie Pie" Nate Berkus encouraged us to make our homes reflect ourselves, not someone else's image. Art Smith shared some recipes with us - Roasted Pumpkin and Butternut Squash soup, Tomato Pie and Chocolate Pecan Pie. They were all yummy. Marianne Williamson nourished our spirtual sides with love and hope. Dr. Martha Beck (a life coach), Jim Karas (weight loss and fitness expert), Stacy London (fashion diva), and Suze Orman (financial advisor) were also there. There were 3,986 women and 14 men there! It was unbelievable. And guess who showed up at the end of the day? Oprah! She talked to us for almost half an hour. It was a great way to send us all back to our own lives, full of encouragement and inspiration. This was the 3rd year for this event here in SF. I don't know how I missed the first 2 but I will be there for the next one. Next month they will have the whole day's activities posted at www.oyouonline.com. Check it out.

Progress

2008-10-20T15:43:00.000-07:00

We are making progress! First of all, I passed the State exam to be a Notary Public. Now comes the fingerprinting and background check. As for the tax business, we've got the lease all taken care of. They are going to do some construction work and we should have the keys the first week of November. Then we can get the painting and carpeting done and order furniture and equipment. Sounds pretty mundane but it all has to be done and in the right order. The most challenging part is being patient. In the meantime, I'm working on the advertising and marketing. It's all in the timing. Who's thinking about getting their taxes done now?

Millionaire Minds

2008-10-12T16:38:00.000-07:00

I mentioned in an earlier blog that Jim went to Las Vegas for a convention. While he was there, he went to a seminar put on by T. Harv Eker. He wrote a book, Secrets of the Millionaire Mind, about how he became a mulitmillionaire. It's about changing your mindset. Jim signed us up for a 3-day seminar taking place in San Francisco in Nov. I guess he's serious about making this new business venture work. I'm all for that. Besides, I'll take any excuse to spend time in San Francisco. The Hyatt is just a couple of blocks from the Bay and close to some major shopping meccas. It also has a revolving restaurant on the top floor. The views have got to be spectacular. I'll keep you posted on how the seminar works out.

Oops!

2008-10-07T17:38:00.000-07:00

I tried to scalp Jim today. I've been "cutting" Jim's hair for a couple of years now and today I goofed up. Usually he does as much as he can do and then I finish up in the back. Today he started and, for whatever reason, took off the guard. Well, when I took my turn, I just started buzzing up the back like I always do. One swipe and I realized it was the bare blades! There was no way we could disguise it so it was off with the rest of his hair. Thankfully, it will grow back. That reminded me of the time Tim decided to cut his hair when he was 4. He cut a chunk out of the front down to the scalp. That's when he got his first professional cut at the salon. I couldn't salvage it. I bet every family has a story like that.

How to Become a Notary Public

2008-10-04T19:15:00.000-07:00

Today I took a 6-hour course to become a Notary Public. I plan to do this out of our tax preparation office when we get up and running. It is a huge responsibility but I think it will be a good fit. The whole process was a little more involved than I thought it would be but I think I did okay on the State exam at the end. It will be a week or so before I know if I pass or not. Then there's the background check, getting my official notary equipment, getting bonded and taking an Oath. It could take 6-8 weeks. Plenty of time to memorize the Notary Public Handbook. I guess now I know what I'm going to be when I grow up.

In Foodie's Heaven

2008-09-27T15:36:00.000-07:00

Earlier today I picked Jim up at the San Francisco airport. He'd been in Las Vegas for a Restoration Business Trade Show. That's another story. Before I went to the airport I stopped at the Ferry Building, just about a mile from Fisherman's Wharf, and visited the Farmer's Market. Oh glorious food! You wouldn't believe the selections of fruit, veggies, cheeses, meats, and breads. Have you ever tasted a fresh fig? Yum-my! My new favorite fruit. A few years ago, they refurbished the inside of the Ferry Building and have dozens of businesses that are food oriented. Restaurants, fresh food markets, a chocolate shop, mushroom shop, olive oil shop, wine shop, fresh herbs, kitchen store, fresh fish market, cheese shop, bakeries. Heaven forbid we should live closer. Being a ferry building, it was right on the SF Bay and the views are great. It was a beautiful day and the crowds were out to enjoy it. If they weren't shopping at the market, they were walking, riding their bikes, or jogging along the waterway. Across the street is downtown San Francisco, all the skyscrapers you see in pictures of the skyline. Oh, it was fun. I'll have to get to the city more often.

Birthday Party

2008-09-17T15:57:00.000-07:00

I was in Missouri over the weekend for Leah's 1st birthday party. Needless to say, the party was a big hit. Joe and Ellie planned every detail and it showed. Everyone had a good time. Leah took it all in like a pro. I couldn't believe how much she had grown up. I'd forgotten how much they can do and understand at that age. She constantly amazed me. And amused me. I'm looking forward to seeing them all again at Thanksgiving.

Happy Birthday, Leah!

2008-09-07T13:40:00.000-07:00

Today is Leah's 1st Birthday! Where did the time go? Seems like yesterday I was getting ready to fly to Memphis to see her for the first time. She's in Orlando this weekend with Mommy and Daddy so the birthday party is next weekend. I'll be there and I can't wait. It's been over 3 months since I've seen her. She's grown up quite a bit in that time - walking and talking. We get pictures of her every week and have seen her change from a baby to a little girl. I've "talked" to her on the phone a few times. Do you think she'll recognize my voice? Hi Leah! Grandma's coming!

Taking Care of Business

2008-09-05T19:01:00.000-07:00

This is so weird. I'm out in the business world. Today I was invited to a meeting of business people who get together every Friday at noon at a local restaurant and network. We exchange business cards, talk about our own business and learn about the others. We joined the Fairfield Chamber of Commerce a couple of weeks ago and have attended a couple of events already. There's a big event coming up on Monday evening. There will be 200-300 people there. Through both of these groups we have met people who can help us with our new business and we don't even have a location yet. This is exciting. Did I say that out loud? Not that long ago the biggest decision I'd have to make any given day was "Does this picture look better on that wall or this one?" or "What to make for supper?" Plus, as President of the Fairfield Newcomers Club I have to oversee a couple of meetings a month and "handle" 21 Board Members who all have different opinions about what is to be done and how it is done. No wonder I'm tired at night. But it is a good tired. Til next time...

Happy Anniversary

2008-09-01T16:43:00.000-07:00

Saturday was our anniversary. 33 years. I can't believe it. Sometimes I can't remember what it was like before we were married and then it seems like we're just getting started. We have had quite a few new starts. We're in the middle of one now. That's what keeps it interesting. We didn't go out to a fancy restaurant. We had 3 other couples over for a BBQ and had a blast. We're still recuperating. Here's to the next 33 years, Jim!

Our Back Yard

2008-08-29T14:52:00.000-07:00

It's small but just right for us. Jim spends time every day watering, picking tomatoes or just checking everything. This is the first place we've ever had that he's gotten to know so well. We have a beautiful view on the other side of the fence since it's a hillside. The back neighbors have really fixed it up nice. They do all the work but we get to enjoy the views. Right now everything is a little parched. We've had several days of temperatures over 100 throughout the summer. Since it doesn't rain here from April to Nov., you have to water and water so more. The previous owners of our place put in some rose trees and lots of other greenery. We may replace some of it with fruit trees. I'd like to have an orange tree, lemon tree, lime tree and fig tree. It would be so much fun to just go out and pick what I need, when I need it. I've started an herb garden. Rosemary grows like crazy out here. Some homes have hedges of it around their property. It smells so good. I also have basil and sage. I'd like to add Italian parsley, chives and thyme. We have a hummingbird feeder and it gets lots of action. I'll keep trying to get a picture of one or two at the feeder. They are fast. We are entertaining tomorrow, in our back yard, so I'd better get busy and get ready.

Bodega

2008-08-23T20:02:00.000-07:00

Today was our "day off". I told Jim we need to go out and have some fun and remind ourselves why we like it here so much. So we went to the Bodega Seafood, Art and Wine Festival. Bodega is a very small community about 65 miles northwest of here. About 5 miles from the coast. They had a wine and beer tasting tent. Jim tasted some beer and I tasted some wine. One was called Barefoot and I tried the White Zinfandel Champaigne. Very nice. We both had a brat for lunch as soon as we got there so didn't have any room for seafood. I wish we had looked around first. Some very interesting selections. That's a great thing about this area. The food. Fresh seafood, vegetables, fruits, cheeses, nuts. You name it.

Another little interesting thing about Bodega. Ever hear of the movie "The Birds"? Of course you have. Well, it was filmed here. We drove by the school building where much of the film took place. It's a museum now. The rest of the town consists of a church and a few shops.

We drove through Petaluma going there and back. Two other popular movies were filmed there. "American Graffitti" and "Peggy Sue Got Married". I told Jim it looks like a California version of Mayberry.

Netflix

2008-08-19T18:04:00.000-07:00

I finally bit the bullet and signed up for Netflix. Jim and I have so much trouble finding a movie that we haven't already seen or want to see again that a trip to the video store is a waste of time. But...with Netflix we can get as many as we want (3 at a time) for one low price and take our time viewing them! It's fun to watch some old movies I'd forgotten about. I thought Big Trouble in Little China was hilarious when the boys were young, not so much this time. I'm looking forward to seeing The Cross and the Switchblade again. I haven't seen it since High School. One of the stars is Eric Estrada, pre-Ponch. Another movie is Jesus Christ Superstar. This was the first movie Jim and I went to see when we started dating. He bought the album for me for Christmas that first year (I still have it). Some twenty years later I saw the play with the original actors playing Jesus and Judas. There have been movies in recent years that we missed at the theatres so I'll be watching for them. We still love to watch movies on the big screen, some are just better that way, but it is expensive. Excuse me, I think it's showtime!

Tomatoes

2008-08-17T19:31:00.000-07:00

Today we went to the Tomato Festival. Did you know there are hundreds of varieties? They come in various shapes, sizes and colors. We saw Strawberry Tomatoes (big as pears but shaped like a strawberry), Sweet Peas (pea size in yellow and red - so cute), Accordions (hard to describe - rippled?). I wish I had taken my camera. I'll have to start carrying it around with me all the time. This was on the main street in downtown Fairfield so we took the opportunity to check out the store fronts. There were a few empty ones that are possible sites for our new business. We'll check them out this week. This is a whole new way of thinking for me. It's going to take a little getting used to.

Let's Try This Again

2008-08-16T16:43:00.000-07:00

As I was trying to say...I've joined the blogging world. I love to read them so why not have my own. I think I have a pretty interesting life. It's always changing.
Jim and I have started a new venture. We're opening a tax preparation center here in Fairfield. We just completed 5 exhausting days of training, just to learn how to run the business. Being a franchise, they have certain things to be done their way. That's okay - we can do it. Next, is locating office space and learning to do taxes.
The name of this blog is California Living but I'll be sharing all kinds of things with you. If you have any questions about the Bay Area or Napa, just ask. I love to talk about these places.
I'm President of the local Newcomers Club so I may talk about that from time to time. It's a social club and not just for newcomers. It's fun, challenging and full of fun ladies.
Other future topics could be my love of cooking, eating, reading, Leah, Tim, Sara, Joe and Ellie.

Introducing....

2008-08-16T16:06:00.000-07:00

Hi All! I've joined the exciting world of blogging! I love to read them so I to