Not Much Going On

Bad news, for my very short sister, Silverado winery was destroyed. This will ruin her day. It was one of her favorites. If anyone sees her, please tell her all her relatives are ok, in case she cares.

The day is very smoky today. And a funny color. The smoke makes morning look like night. Freaky. Everyone who does not live here has finally figured out there were a bunch of fires here and near here and people they know were in peril, sort of, and actually. Marika got more calls and texts today from people she knows in other states. Checking on her welfare. Nice to know people care. TRhough some are a little screwed up honking Anaheim and Sonoma are next to each other. Hey, 600 miles apart. Pay attention in geography class next time.

It really smells like a campfire whenever I go outside. It stinks. Inside is a little better. A little. There is something about the way this day is unfolding that makes me want to skip work. I do not know what it is. Maybe the smell that makes me think I’m camping. And when I’m camping I’m not working. Don’t know. Would rather sit at home.

I left the house with enough time to drop off a tax return but still make it to the dealer to get my wife’s car serviced. Stopped in at a clients business, one of her employees is a client as well. I stopped in and sat down and the inevitable happens, we get into a conversation and I use up all the time I have and then some. Oh well gonna benlate to dealer. The boss, Karstin, came in and I realized how long it’s been since I have seen her. Several months during which she has divorced her husband of 16? 20? years. And been diagnosed with breast cancer and had a double mastectomy. She, of course, looked different. Who wouldn’t. She did not look bad. There was something that took me aback and worried me. She was thin and did not seem as strong spiritually as she always was. I always thought of her as a superhero in terms of what she has done in life. Maybe now life is beating on Her just a bit. I can only think she will beat anyone and anything but now I’m worried. I met her first when she was 19 and within 30 seconds she laid out her entire life to me. She knew where she was going and what she was gonna do. This part of her life was not on the schedule. But that sheer vision and determination makes me believe she still has a hell of a future. But I worry a little anyway.

After my visit, I drove to Sacramento to the MBZ service for Em’a car. Regular service, a Dee items to check, all feee, and check the brakes. That last had an $800 estimate on it. No thank you. I picked up a ride to the office from their shuttle.

Spent the day doing taxes and phones and crap. Our copy machine guy finally showed up and now I can scan again. I forget how important little things are. Scan is the fax for the new millennium. Can’t function without it. Had a backlog of things to scan but all done now.

Had one appointment today with a client. He is a fleet sales manager at a local Ford dealer. The go to guy for car stuff. Any car stuff for any car. He is the guy who called the MBZ dealer and forced a deal on them so we could buy our Mercedes. Anyhow, he needed a couple tax returns done and a checkup in all the things I already did for him. When I first met him he was in a world of tax hurt. I have managed to calm that roar to more of a whisper. Not all done but getting there. He was in my office for three hours as I worked on that and everything else he could think of. He might be crazy. We got all done, at least the returns, and checked up on all the rest. At a quarter to six I made him drive me to the MBZ dealer to pick up the car. Hey, I needed a ride.

Dealer was free, they said wait on the brakes. So no harm, free service. I thanked my client for the ride and he went on his way. I went back to the office and used the now working scanner to finish up all the backlog.

Rqc snout at about 7+ish and to home. No one home when I got there. Soninpremade cocktails and shots for everyone when they got home. About 15 minutes later. Em and Marika brought home Mexican take out. Not as good as Lupitas, our fave, but for a made up Taco Tuesday it was fine. Especially with the liquor. We managed to clean all plates, no chile left behind.

It’s Tuesday so I put out all garbage. Marika volunteered to help, which is great, I did it all. But she meant well. I am now sitting in this smoky smelling dining room writing these bits of wisdom. Because I can. I stay up late because I like to provide this to whoever wants to read it. Or not. I am hoping the smoke blows out. Tomorrow Marika is heading home to help with the clean up in Santa Rosa. Where does she get this volunteer bent? She is more likely to end up at the animal shelter helping dogs and cats. She has her interests. I won’t be helping out that way, I will be doing more tax returns. Yay. I help out by supporting her efforts. That’s important too