Friday was get up late. The kids and I are going skiing at Sugar Bowl. I am doing a half day and then going to work. Too much work as always.
Emily stayed home , she is sitting with Latte our 17 year old poodle. Latte hasn’t been eating, or moving or going outside to pee for the last 2 or 3 days. She seems sick but our regular vet was not overly concerned. He examined her by video. But she is definitely out of sorts. This morning more of the same, she is just not good.
Kids and I headed up the hill to ski. It was a great day to ski. And, best of all, I kicked Michaels ass up and down the hill. It was like being young again. Like I could remember that. But it was nice to be young again and competitive. I had a nice day skiing and watching the kid flail.
Back at home Emily had to take care of the dog. She really went downhill during the day. She has been unable to stand or walk and going outside on her own is not happening. She is going downhill. Emily is taking her to the vet this morning while we ski.
Turns out we were not alone on the slopes. Yes, I know there are other skiers but my bro in law is here today too. He has been texting me intermittently with his location. We have not been able to hook up as of yet. Not that I want to. He and his wife and my nephews are here. But it was a great day of skiing. Half day. Wait, better, when buying my ticket the cashier asked if my ticket was a senior ticket. I said…um…yes. $21 discount!! Cha Ching!! Sweet ass sweet!
Back at home, not so good. Latte was not well and deteriorating. She had stopped walking and was becoming non functional. She is adding to her problems as the minutes passed. When Emily got her to the vet she was almost completely shut down. The vet examined her and said he thought it was her time to go. Not often that a vet does not try to save every animal he sees. So Em ended up pulling the plug.
It’s difficult for all of us, the kids and me because we werent there and hard for Emily because she was. The dog was 17 for God’s sake. We have had her since the kids were little. And, she really has been Emily’s dog, they just got along together like best friends. Probably best that Emily was there at the end. It’s tough to describe all the things a dog is to you. I mean without crying. There was enough of that. Emily called each of us, and cried every time. We were still sad and occasionally crying on Saturday. Maybe not Michael, he seems emotionally stunted at times. I am still looking for her every morning and don’t find her. I know that goes away but I don’t really want it to.
I left the ski resort at about one. I have a three o’clock appointment at the office so I should arrive on time. Michael and Carly stayed the day and drove around the lake to South Shore for some party with a college friend. That means lots of drinking.
I stayed in the office till 11pm. I know fun. This tax season has been the toughest emotionally of any in my life. Not exactly sure why or what caused it. Maybe I am just easy to quit, pack it in, go home and stay there. Not sure. I still go and get work done and press on. I am responsible and will do all the work I have been asked to do. But I truly am ready to quit and roll up the tents. I may soldier on a few more years but I can see me quitting in a year or two before I go completely off the tracks. My lawyer once told me I was a stand out of the self employed. High stress, take on all risks, do all work for over 25 years. In her experience not many lay that long. I know why.
So, Saturday. My in laws are coming tonight, and sis in law Dee. The old folks are headed back home to Maine and we are their first stop. The five of us are going out to dinner, not to our first choice place, but to a wine bar in Old Town Auburn. I have never been a big fan of wine bars cuz there’s no booze. I may not even want any but want the choice.
So about 4pm I left the office. The only reservation I could get was at 5. Places up here fill up quick. You have no idea. I got to the restaurant at about 440 or so. Same time as Dee (sis in law). Hey, great news, they just got their upgrade on the liquor license and have liquor. By just I mean today. They have four bottles, vodka, rye, gin and tequila. Four. No mixers. So, dry rye Manhattan. Because I can. Dee had a dirty martini. They did have olives. Quite nice.
The other three got lost walking around looking for the place. How? I have no idea. Old Town is a 2 block stretch. How hard can that be? Very it turns out. They showed at 515 about ten minutes after we sat down. Allowing us to order apps and wine before they got here, eat some bread, usual.
Our waiter seemed quite familiar. Had an accent, maybe fake. Turns out he was the waiter at a very small and cozy French place in Folsom we had been to. By the waiter, I mean the only one. Six tables only. One chef, the owner, and him. But now he is here in Auburn. Small world.
The rest of our group joined us. It was Dee’s bday a couple days ago so there were some gifts. We read menus and drank wine and enjoyed ourselves. The dining room is is a gold rush era stone building with swinging steel doors. No one knew what it used to be either a morgue or jail or cold storage (bodies), no one sure. But it’s kinda fun. They had a propane heater running the whole time, I imagine it’s damp as hell without.
A fine time was had by all. We left full and partly drunk. Not to bad. Dee headed home and the rest of us up the hill to our house. Where we sat for a few, Em and mom had more wine, Hank and I did the sitting. We lasted about 30 minutes and went to bed.
Next morning, was the send off. I had ground up the corn beef from St Pats and we made hash. A favorite, esp when it’s so fresh. Couple lightly cooked eggs on top. Yummy. We only do this once a year and that’s it.
Folks left a little after breakfast, Hank always chomping at the bit to get going. Not sure why, he is retired over ten years and has nothing to do. But hurry off is his thing. They are going to Newport Beach to visit Beth’s sister Joann before making a big left turn and heading to Maine. Hank, again, is in a hurry. Again, why? The house is still packed in snow and the weather awful. The high there today is 34 degrees. I am sure he wants to get a jump on all the chores he won’t be doing. He is over 80 and not capable of strenuous work. He hires it out. But still needs to get them done now. Again, why?
After the in laws left, I went to work. Worked till near 1030. Had one visitor for about an hour, client with biz and personal returns. I have been doing his accounting longer than I remember, prob since 2002 or so. We get together once a year and have a talk. We see and speak only briefly during the year. So it is with most clients. Anyhow, it breaks the boredom of a long day.
Hot home about 1115. Emily had made Tandoori chicken with saffron rice and asparagus. Nice meal at 11pm. I ate quickly, cleaned up and went to bed.