As I write this I am finishing up all the loose ends to get ready to leave. Very excited (now that most of the stress or the preparations is done)!

The HSMG Annual Conference is a really big deal within the soapmaking community and for me as the President of the HSMG. Leigh O’Donnell, the Conference Chairman, has everything well under control and I expect that this is going to be a real extravaganza. My jobs are mainly talking with the members and finding out what the Board and I can do to improve the overall experience of being a member and the overall effectiveness of the organization as a whole.

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Last night I watched the 7th and final episode of the HBO Miniseries “John Adams”. While I’ve been intrigued and educated through the entire series, it was the last episode that gave me the most insight into the man himself. I attribute that to the fact that it covers the last years of his life, out of political office, spending time with his family and reflection of the history he helped create.

I know that television and movies cannot present the whole of 60 years of history in a brief 8 hour miniseries, but I have to say

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Looking out my window this morning, my level of doubt rises. Snow falling and on the ground. In APRIL!!! Doesn’t seem much warmer around here this spring, that’s for sure.

On the other hand, I can’t complain. I love the look and feel of snow. Since we don’t get it very often (maybe 5-6 times a year, max), I have to enjoy it when I can.

Sadly, as I write this post at 10:30 am, the snow is already gone.

I hate tax day. Like many (maybe most) Americans, I seriously resent the time and effort I have to spend to file taxes every year. Filling in the forms has gotten easier over the years with e-File and programs like TurboTax, but even with that I spent over 6 hours putting together my taxes last weekend - and that doesn’t count all the time through the year tracking income, expenses, inventory and the like.

What would it be like track my business and personal finances from a viewpoint of management, not taxes? Easier, no doubt, and probably more financially sound as well.

There is a system that could replace the income tax fairly -A National Retail Sales Tax.

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At long last, the 2nd edition of my book has finally arrived from the printer. Hurray!!

I have to say, I always have palpitations when something has gone to print. Waiting for it to come back, wondering what might go wrong (or what typos I missed) is hard - especially this time when it went to a completely new printer I found over the internet. So to have it in hand is such a relief.

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I posted before about my sad experience with United. I wasn’t sure I was going to use the $150 coupon they gave me, but I did. And everything seemed to be fine … for a while.

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