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Listen Here, Mr. Attorney, Esquire

Part of our job as auditors is that we must receive legal confirmation letters from any attorneys involved in pending or threatened litigation affecting our audit clients. We must receive this letter before we can issue our opinion on the financial statements.

Usually this letter is sufficient. But due to blah blah, it’s been two months since we received said letters, and we need another update before we issue.

We don’t have the time to send out our request again and wait for the mail, so this means making phone calls. No, this means me making phone calls.

It’s pretty cool, though, kind of, because I’m calling to speak to these attorneys directly and the secretary can’t help me. They think they can at first, but it always ends in, “oh, I’ll put you right through.” How often do you get a direct line to an attorney? Normally they wouldn’t give you the time of day.

So I will admit there’s a little bit of a power trip in that. But, that’s not the point.

I talked to one attorney today who told me he couldn’t give out that information over the phone. (Keep in mind, we have a written request signed by the client saying that the attorney can speak to us about litigation, thus no breach the client-attorney privilege is happening). I say to the guy, “That’s interesting because I’ve talked to six other attorneys today and they’ve all spoken freely.”

“Oh, well, uh, our firm has 600 attorneys and there’s a good chance there were others who are working for this client. I’d need a formal request either by email or fax so I have time to corroborate any information.”

That’s fine. I PDF’d him a copy of the original letter we sent to him, as well as his original response, and told him to update it to reflect any changes. Two hours later, I had it. We’re good. Our partner can now go to the client’s board meeting tomorrow and tell them we’re good to go.

So that’s two days in a row where I haven’t let someone get away with b.s. (see previous post). In the past, I think I would have just gone along with it, but I knew this guy was just blowing smoke up my proverbial butt. Busted.

Nice Try, My. EZ Lube

As many of you know, I had Mable’s entire radiator replaced last month. She’s been running pretty great every since.

Today I went to get my oil changed at some 15 minute place because it’s close to work and I have a coupon. When I went to pick it up, the fella working there tries to tell me I need my radiator flushed. Ha!

I told him, “funny, I just had the radiator replaced a month ago.”

“A year ago?” he says.

“No, like, 4 weeks ago.”

“Oh well, uh, I used to work at a radiator place, and when they replace them they don’t put in the proper mix of coolant and water; it’s mostly water.”

“Okay, sure, I’ll have that checked out?”

Idiot. No. In fact, I looked at my coolant later this afternoon. It’s full. Completely fine. And as green as Ecto Cooler®.

***Remember, this post is also available on my newly redesigned website, coming soon to brenthellickson.com. Bookmark it here.

Overhaul (New Website!)

I've decided to finally give iWeb a go. It's an application on the Mac as a part of iLife '08 and it's pretty ridiculous. I created a whole website in about an hour. You can't beat that.

As of now, when you come here, it won't automatically come up. I need to have Pat, my webmaster, find my password to the server so I can change the path brenthellickson.com directs to, blah blah blah.

So, until then, I will keep updating this page, otherwise, if you'd like, you can bookmark http://web.mac.com/bhellickson because that will be updated to. Once I get access to the server, that's the URL that it will be redirecting to, anyways. So do whatever you like.

Like I said, what's up there now took me all of an hour. I intend on importing all of my blog posts from the last 8 years or so and also add all my flickr photo galleries. I haven't decided if I'll use the "my album" type gallery or iPhoto's "web gallery," but I don't need to decide that now.

I hope you all enjoy the new website. It's going to offer me a lot more functionality to make it my own. The one and only drawback is that I can't update it away from home with my work laptop (unless I bring my Macbook, too), but y'all will survive. I think the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks.

I'm Partying With the United Nations

Well, that may be a stretch.

I got an email today from a gal who works for the U.S. Mission (Embassy) at the U.N. in Geneva, Switzerland. She wants to use a photo I took of the Alamo for a poster featuring some of the most beloved U.S. landmarks that is going to be given to U.N. diplomats at a July 4th party.

What? Yeah, I know.

So of course I said yes, just give me credit and send me a few copies of the poster. I don't receive any money for it, of course, but I don't care. This marks the 5th picture of mine that's been used for something or another. It's kind of cool that flickr has offered me that kind of exposure (pun). Sure, it'd be cool to make money off of it, but it's pretty neat just to have my photography validated in a way.

I'll take a picture of the poster once I get it so y'all can see. I'm hoping she sends me a copy with a bunch of diplomat guys signatures. How cool would that be?!? Well, it wouldn't be that cool, because I wouldn't know any of them. I should get her to send me a picture of the display they have up at the party though, with some "dips" (I call them dips) in it. That would be pretty cool. Yeah, I think I'll do that.

Lunch With the Dead

I don't really talk about dark topics on my blog, so this will be a first.

I bring a sandwich for lunch every day in an attempt to not spend money eating out all week. Well, I don't really want to sit at my desk or in the break room and eat. It's depressing. I want to get out of the office for an hour and just chill.

I used to go home for lunch every day but that was before I moved further away. I miss that. This past winter, I'd drive to the Target near the office and just park there, roll down the windows, and read. Well, now it's too hot in the direct sunlight. I decided I should maybe find a park with a picnic table in the shade. That would ideal.

I Googled for some parks around the office. The closest one is tiny and has no picnic tables. The next closest one is bigger, but is wide open with hardly any trees. I kept on driving around and stumbled upon what seemed like a real find. It had big gates, a clubhouse, and looked really wide open. They call it "El Toro Memorial Park." Well, little did I realize until I drove in that "Memorial Park" is a nicer way to say "cemetery."

There wasn't anywhere to turn around once I entered this memorial park, so I just kept driving. Then I saw it. A tree! A place to park my car in the shade! I thought, ya know, it's not so bad to just sit here for today and eat my lunch. I won't bother anyone, and nobody will certainly bother me.

It was nice. Pleasant. Quiet. Pretty. I felt so good when I went back to the office. It was such a nice break.

Today I went back. My spot was available again. I think it's going to become a regular thing. Is that creepy? I don't know. If a loved one was buried there, I'm sure it would be okay. So what's the big deal? I got a little crap for it back at the office. I probably didn't need to tell anyone, but I thought it was kind of funny, plus I probably like the attention.

Besides, it's better than sitting at my desk for an hour I don't need to be. I'm using this hour to listen or read to motivational/encouraging/inspiring material and eat my sandwich. It's time in my day to improve on myself and get motivated for the rest of the day.

I'm not going to stop going...as long as the residents of El Toro Memorial Park will have me. I have a feeling they won't have too much to say about it.

My Fiscal Year (FYE 6/3/08)

The title of this blog is pretty geeky and accountant-y, I'll be the first to admit. But hey, it's fitting.

I've decided that it's more appropriate for me, at this time in my life, to mark my year end not at December 31, but now.

Last Monday marked the one year anniversary of my time at Almich & Associates (I'm one of the associates...for now). It also marks the little over a year anniversary of me moving to California. It's no surprise the last year is pretty much a blur. I guess that's how life is once you finish school. Kinda sad now that I think about it.

A lot has happened to me in the last 12-13 months. It really started when I graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio last May. After that my Dad accompanied me out West pulling a U-Haul (Go Mable!) through the desert to my sisters place in Las Vegas. I stopped there for a couple of weeks while I did my apartment search in Orange County. It was the first time I'd lived by myself. And I had no furniture to furnish my apartment (still don't!). I really look fondly upon that time, and it seems like just yesterday -- still so vivid in my mind. But anyways...

Looking back, I know I made the right decision in taking this job, and making this move. I accomplished more in the last fiscal year than I could have even imagined. I've traveled to places I've wanted to go my entire life (for free!), multiple times, with more to come. I've learned a ton. I've talked to CFOs, CEOs, and Controllers and been in the position of power. Weird. They probably think I'm some young punk or something, but I get the respect, baby! It's still kind of hard to be assertive with these types, though. I need to keep working on that.

Come to think of it, I could have probably met more goals this past year, but I think to have made it as far as I did is quite an accomplishment.

I moved across the country for the second time in two years, again, not knowing a soul. I'm very proud of myself for doing that and making a living and not getting homesick and scared. It's not always easy, but my family is a wonderful support, and I guess I'm just wired for it. It just confirms to me that I'm following the right path.

I survived the 2007 California Wildfires in my fiscal year.

Now, on to the fiscal year ending in June 2009.

I have even higher expectations for the next 12 months. It blows my mind thinking about where I could be this time next year. The biggest change will be the end of this month when I move to Orange, Calif. with my buddy Don. It's kind of weird; when I started at the firm I had an inclination that we would hit it off. At first I sort of joked that he needs to get rid of his roommate so I could move in. Well, I gave up on that notion after awhile, then after several months, Don brings it up, and now it's happening. I'm looking forward to it. I've never moved in with a friend before. I feel like I've been missing out.

Next up, I have all four parts of the CPA exam scheduled. I take the first part on July 12th and the final part before the end of 2008. I fully intend on having my CPA license before the end of the year. I can't believe that.

Some other things that I plan on doing are:

-put together a rough draft for a book (non-fiction)
-visit the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif. (!!!)
-visit the Richard Nixon Presidential Library in Yorba Linda, Calif. (!!! too!)
-learn to really cook ('Top Chef' inspired me)
-visit Boston again
-make some friends outside of work

Well, now that doesn't seem like as much as I had in my head. All I know is that the next year is shaping up to be better than the last. I'm very much looking forward to it. It'd be nice, too, if I can make some time to meet one of those "California Girls" the Beach Boys hyped so much all of these years.

Thank you to everyone who supports my writing by reading this blog. It keeps me motivated to keep writing. Please keep visiting and feel free to comment or e-mail me. I will definitely appreciate it.

Celebrity Sighting!

Okay, be ready to be disappointed, though, because most of you won't even know who I spotted is.

Brian Posehn.

Who?

I know.

I was walking through the Oakland airport yesterday afternoon, when I saw this tall, balding, lanky beanpole with horn-rimmed glasses. There was no way this was a look-a-like. It was certainly Brian Posehn, comedian, actor, weirdo. I suppose he's best known for the VH1 "I Love The..." series and also "The Sarah Silverman Program" or that guy from "Just Shoot Me."

I did a double-take because, even though he's not real well known, I don't see celebs very often. Well, never, really. But it was definitely him. I mean, he's like 6'7". He looked like every other traveler who just stepped off of a plane, interrupted by their cat-nap. I suppose I could have approached him and said hello, but I don't really think that's cool. Plus, I don't really care about him too much.

So that's it. My celebrity sighting.

Operation: Surprise, Part 5

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Thursday started out with a long drive across eastern Iowa. I had a site visit at an old university in Clinton, IA which has since been sold by the nuns to a venture capitalist group. It was very enjoyable to visit because most of our clients are trade schools, not universities. This place had dorms, athletics, and a real college feel.

The ladies who gave me the tour were your typical small town people: born and raised in Clinton, went to the university in Clinton, and now work at the university in Clinton. They spent much of our tour reminiscing about old college memories. I think they really enjoyed themselves, I know I did. We ended up walking around the campus for over an hour.

After my stop in Clinton, I continued onto the western suburbs of Chicago to see my friends Chris and Erica. I haven’t seen them since Christmas, so it was really nice to visit. I got to Chicago around 5PM, so we had several hours to hang out before I had to continue on to Milwaukee for the night.

Chris took me to some out of the way brewery for some microbrew. It was in an office park of some sort. There was no signage of any kind. It seemed kind of shady…like invitation only or something. I wasn’t so sure about this place. But when we walked in, it was your normal bar & grille. I guess they survive on word of mouth only. It’s called Two Brothers, if you’re interested.

After that we met Chris’ wifey and went for dinner to Giordano’s or something. It’s one of two famous pizza joints in the Chicagoland area, I guess. It was really good.

By about 10:30PM, I needed to get back on the road for the two hour drive to Milwaukee. As soon as I got on the freeway there was construction all the way to the Wisconsin border. It was ridiculous. One of the worst drives I’ve ever been on. I nearly killed myself veering off to the right through construction cones and traffic to exit to the toll plaza that was poorly marked.

When I finally got to Milwaukee, I-94 was closed. A good way to end the night. I ended up having to take a detour, but thankfully my GPS didn’t run me in circles this time.