My second installment in the monthly EtsyBloggers blog carnival had two topics to choose from: write about anything work related that is outside of Etsy or write about what you do to relax. Well, since making jewelry for our Etsy shop is part of what I do to relax, I chose to write about work. So, hang on, this is going to be so exciting! 
For the past 10 years I have been a CPA with a public accounting firm in Colorado (see, I told you it'd be exciting!). Ever since high school, accounting came easily to me so naturally I'd pick something that didn't require much effort to do! I went to college at Washburn University in Topeka, KS, and got a D in my first accounting class. Whoops! Change of plans! Of course it was due to a horrible instructor - seriously! I think it was his first and last class he taught but it turned me off of accounting so I majored in finance although I didn't like it and certainly wasn't going to manage other people's money in case they lost their investments such as what is happening today.
After a move to Colorado right after college and attempts at doing something in banking - I was too "qualified" for a teller because I had a college degree but not qualified enough for anything else because I had zero banking experience. I went to work in insurance and that was certainly not the place for me. Since we lived near Colorado State University, I decided to give accounting another try so I enrolled in their Masters degree program in accounting. Come to find out, if I had lasted past that first class back at Washburn, I would have discovered that I didn't like the "financial" accounting they teach at the undergrad level in preparation to become an auditor. It's boring and leads to numb butt!
It was a struggle to continue at CSU and to figure out what I wanted to be when I grew up until I took a tax class. Talk about being born to do something! I didn't even have to study at all because tax was fun and like second nature to me. I graduated with an M.S. in Tax and have been working as a tax accountant in public accounting ever since!
I started working at a local firm which then merged with a regional firm but then after four years I left with one of the partners when she started her own firm. For the last five years, I've been telecommuting to Colorado since we moved to Oregon. I prepare all of the business, non-profit, deferred compensation, estate and trust returns for our firm. Exciting huh?
During tax season I work 55+ hours a week but in the off season I work 24 hours a week which makes the long hours worth it I suppose. I also love being able to work from home with the furbabies and checking in on blogs from time to time in between tax returns. Anyway, that's what I do for my day job! Congratulations if you made it all the way through this post! I appreciate it!
For the past 10 years I have been a CPA with a public accounting firm in Colorado (see, I told you it'd be exciting!). Ever since high school, accounting came easily to me so naturally I'd pick something that didn't require much effort to do! I went to college at Washburn University in Topeka, KS, and got a D in my first accounting class. Whoops! Change of plans! Of course it was due to a horrible instructor - seriously! I think it was his first and last class he taught but it turned me off of accounting so I majored in finance although I didn't like it and certainly wasn't going to manage other people's money in case they lost their investments such as what is happening today.After a move to Colorado right after college and attempts at doing something in banking - I was too "qualified" for a teller because I had a college degree but not qualified enough for anything else because I had zero banking experience. I went to work in insurance and that was certainly not the place for me. Since we lived near Colorado State University, I decided to give accounting another try so I enrolled in their Masters degree program in accounting. Come to find out, if I had lasted past that first class back at Washburn, I would have discovered that I didn't like the "financial" accounting they teach at the undergrad level in preparation to become an auditor. It's boring and leads to numb butt!
It was a struggle to continue at CSU and to figure out what I wanted to be when I grew up until I took a tax class. Talk about being born to do something! I didn't even have to study at all because tax was fun and like second nature to me. I graduated with an M.S. in Tax and have been working as a tax accountant in public accounting ever since!I started working at a local firm which then merged with a regional firm but then after four years I left with one of the partners when she started her own firm. For the last five years, I've been telecommuting to Colorado since we moved to Oregon. I prepare all of the business, non-profit, deferred compensation, estate and trust returns for our firm. Exciting huh?
During tax season I work 55+ hours a week but in the off season I work 24 hours a week which makes the long hours worth it I suppose. I also love being able to work from home with the furbabies and checking in on blogs from time to time in between tax returns. Anyway, that's what I do for my day job! Congratulations if you made it all the way through this post! I appreciate it!
My name is Isabella and I approve of this message!
Mystery solved!
As you can tell, it's missing a tail and looking pretty shabby so we searched high and low for a replacement but couldn't find one anywhere. I even sent pictures to my mom in Las Vegas and had her search for one. One day we happened to walk into a store in Lincoln City, OR that sold all things for pets and lo and behold they had the mouse! It's actually a rat - Rosie Rat to be exact! 
Do your kitties have a most favorite toy?
We also have a "small" stash of toys to play with and keep us all entertained throughout the day. I gathered up most the toys (yes, there's more!) and took the picture while Isabella and Angel were sleeping upstairs. 
Then here came Angel. 
How'd they know I was messing with their toys?
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Angel
