... a deviant path is the only way ...

At Tax Pro training today, we were going over how to conduct client interviews, and the instructor related a situation that happened to him a few years ago.

"... this very nice lady sat down at my desk so I started off by asking her, 'Is everything the same as last year?' And she said, 'No, last year I was a man.'" He paused a moment while the room processed that, then added, "I just sat there dumbfounded for a couple minutes!"

The co-instructor supported him, rhetorically asking, "Well, what else are you going to do?"

From the center of the room, "Congratulate her?"

Crickets.

The usual banter followed ("Did her social security number change?" "No, just her name." "That's a lot of medical expenses! "Not if it's cosmetic."), but it will be nice when I'm not the youngest preparer in the room.

Just passed Depriciation by the skin of my teeth. That's 6 hours towards Tax Pro certification, and I actually learned stuff, woo! Even if it is deprecation, blech.

Weather at Fest was beautiful, again. Next week is projected to be a little hotter, so all you festies out there, start praying for 70s again!

I'm going to celebrate my birthday at the Wabasha Street Caves. It does cost $7 to get it, but it sounds like it's worth it. It's been a long time since I've been swing dancing, and am looking forward to it. Lessons are 6:15-7 on Thursday, and then I'll be there for the rest of the evening, most like. I might be up to heading to Zero afterwards as well, if I'm not all peopled out by that point. And if I don't feel self-conscious about wearing a semi-formal dress (with floral designs!).

Stuff and blah. I wrote something like two pages of an entry while I was at work, and of course I don't feel like posting any of it.

I lie awake, the desert chill pulls the warmth from my body, and I listen to coyotes yap-yipping just beyond reach of the campgrounds.

( updates... )

HRB looks positive. I'll have 10 on the job training hours this week, and then next week is the start of Peak hours. It looks like I have a good chance of learning the electronic transfer system, and/or working as a "preparer's assistant," basically data-entering W-2's, 1040's, and that sort of thing, leaving the preparers to conduct the interview proper.

I finished my new bodice. I have no slack at the waist, the bust is a little loose, and there're some wrinkles where I didn't match things up just right, but nothing horribly obvious.

I did some awesome new things with my poi. Tali showed me a neat thingy where you spin the poi asynchronously over your head, and occasionally dip them under your arm, and I figured out how to do that, yay! I also was able to spin a bit behind my back!! I can't do anything too impressive yet, but I at least can cross both hands behind at once, and bring them back (ie, a basic X-cross) without hitting myself in the head or calves *too* much.

The drum circle this last weekend was interesting, as I witnessed my first ever almost-fight... ( details... )

- I've wrapped up my training with HRBlock, but my transfer (as the computer system understands it) is not being as speedy as I wish it to be/as it should, so I haven't gotten any hours yet. I should talk to my office manager tomorrow.

- I'm very close to finishing my new lower-middle-class bodice. I need to tip the boning, sew up the bottom seam, and put in the grommits. I need to buy tipping fluid, so I'm waiting to do that until I am earning money. On the plus side, I can buy Tool Dip at Home Depot for a mere $5, as opposed to buying professional dressmaker tipping fluid from Greenberg and Hammer for $20. Woo!

- I'm also feeling the necessity of fixing up my car, but I also feel the need to wait on that until, surprise surprise, I'm earning money. For those who don't know, I spun into a street sign my last day in Minnesota, and took out my driver's side directional light, as well as a good chunk of my front bumper, and I also bent my tire rim. I found a scrap yard here in the Phoenix area with the parts I need for crazy cheap, only about $125 for all three of those, but then I get to try and put them on. Joy.

- I went to the drum jam again on Saturday, all by my lonesome. I chatted with a few people there... scary pessimist and Rocky guy (why are they everywhere? Ahhh!) David, and Gray, whom I like better when he's not constantly hitting on me (although then the encounter is rather less amusing).

- I feel like ... half babysitter/half big sister here in the house I'm living in... very odd. Very different. I've never before had a naked three year old hug me and say "I love you Sarah. Deba. Sorry for calling you Sarah." .... I've now dressed my first three year old. I'm trying to teach her the alphabet and numbers. And I start having weird surreal conversations that would probably only be of interest to other people who interact with lisping three year olds on a regular basis.

- I spun poi at the drum jam. Nothing exciting, but it was a good conversation starter, and I enjoyed it.