mortonfox | Entries tagged with accounting

This afternoon, I had to do accounting and weeding. What the two activities have in common is I have to do both regularly or the work will pile up. I saved the weeding for a little later in the afternoon, hoping that it wouldn't be so hot then. It still was. After an hour of pulling weeds, I had a barrel of weeds. I also felt slightly ill, possibly because some of those weeds are noxious. However, I did get rid of most of the larger broad-leafed weeds and some of the fence-climbing bindweed.

After that, I went out to do some shopping and find a geocache. Along the way, I stopped at the newly-rebuilt Delaware Welcome Center on I-95. It closed in September and reopened a few days ago. (Or at least that's when I started noticing blurbs about it on electronic signs near home.) The new design looks a lot better than the old rest area, which had gotten rather drab. The food court and convenience store are pretty standard for highway rest areas. There are also a tourist information center, and photos and historical exhibits along the walls. I don't think I'll be using this rest area much though. For one thing, if I have to go to the restrooms 6 miles after leaving home, then I have a problem. Also, as far as the food offerings go, rest area prices apply. (For example, a Burger King combo meal is $7-$9 there.)

Only did one geocache this evening and that was Just a Short Trip Away near Walmart in Elkton. That didn't take long. On the way back, I got a free McCafe mocha frappe at McDonald's in Glasgow. There seems to be one freebie in every McDonald's coupon booklet. The valid date range for this coupon is usually a lot narrower than for the other coupons, so I missed the giveaway the last time but I got it this time.

Went to find park n ride this evening at the Wayne Rt 23 train station. Did that one because it was quick and it could be done at night. After that, I went to the Chinese supermarket in River Edge to stock up on a few items. That was the errand I decided not to do on Saturday because I was tired. Also got takeout dinner from there.

Aside from that, I had to deal with a dental insurance problem. Get this: The group policy number was the same as last year and so was my ID number. The only thing that changed was the name of the insurance company during their reorganization last year. Yet they denied the claim because I'm apparently not in their records any more. Ugh. Seems like they mess up every year at around this time.

Still in the midst of 2007 year-end accounting because not all account statements have come in yet. I don't know what I was so worried about all throughout the year because it turned out to be my best year ever. (not in percentage terms, but in absolute terms) Even while the stock market was getting clobbered by subprime problems, I was doing just fine with some good stock picks, a decent-sized hedge position, and sell discipline. Of course, I did realize quite a bit of capital gain and I'll pay for it in taxes closer to April, but I don't expect to owe more than I have cash reserves for. Judging by the first two weeks, it looks like 2008 will be another wild ride. I'm ready!

Stayed home today, so it was a day for catching up on various things that I neglected because I'd not been home. Replied to email and postal mail. Did some year-end accounting and financial planning. (Yeah, I know. Accounting on Christmas Day? Very Scrooge-like.) Did some tax planning, although unless I can pull a capital loss out of my butt, I really can't do anything other than estimate how much I'll need to pay at tax time. Also checked Prosper and put in two more bids on loans. Still no delinquencies, so it's doing okay.

Just noticed that Consumerist used my photo here. It's a picture of a Staples store in Bloomsburg, PA, which I took while on my way to Anthrocon in Pittsburgh back in July. I went geocaching in nearly every town along I-80.

Thanks to