Taking care of business!

I have missed blogging for over a month, now.

What have I been doing that must be more important than blogging?

Taking care of business. Businesses that I once owned and operated for several years both failed a couple of years ago due to several distinctly different reasons. When the real estate market was up and people were flocking to Martha's Vineyard Island on vacations and deciding they wanted a summer home, or perhaps they wanted to live here year round, my businesses were growing. We hired more employees and purchased more vehicles and tools to increase our income and had dreams that WE would become the largest electrical contractor on the island. What was I thinking?

Anyway, over 2 years ago, as the markets started a decline and several customers decided not to pay their bills, I found myself in huge finacial crisis. I had no idea how bad this situation really was. Now I know and now I have to deal with it, alone, at a rapid pace to avoid bankruptcy and federal prison. Yes, I said prison.

See, the person entering things into my accounting program did not quite place things in the right folders. Not all her fault,as she was young and inexperienced. My fault for hiring her and giving her free reign, without monitoring every step she took. I lost control of my business matters because I was not "Minding my own business".

Today, my living room has a new floor covering. There ae still some visible parts of the carpet, but most of the floor is covered with stacks, piles and boxes of papers. Receipts, pay stubs, IRS forms, Massachusetts Department of Revenue forms and kleenex boxes which I keep close at hand just in case. In case I lose it! Happens everyday, several times a day.

I have thought for a few years that when I turn 55, I would celebrate with enthusiasm that I have done so well at that point in my life. Ironically, on my 55th birthday, two IRS agents arrived at my house and served me with a summons to appear in federal court in one month to answer the two counts of Federal Tax Evasion. They assured me it was just a formality, as long as I turn in completed, adjusted, honest to goodness 1120S, sch-K, sch-B, sch-C for each business and a 1040 for myself to reflect the profit/loss of each business for 2006, 2007 and 2008.

A few hours after that pleasant visit, another knock on the door from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue, handing me pretty much the same demands, except:
They had been sending their notices to me via my businesses' physical address as of 2005 at the airport industrial park, instead of using my mailing address. "HELLLOOOOoo!" What morons... Anyway, on that same day, as this second wave of Trick-or-Treaters arrived, I was informed that my driver's license had been suspended until all of this state tax mess is taken care of.

Let me summarize for those of you sitting at home:
#1. Happy Birthday to me!
#2. IRS has a few things for me to sort out (19,200+ pieces of paper).
#3. The Mass DOR wants more of the same.
#4. Can't drive legally. (I could drive carefully and probably not get caught, but why push the envelope? especially with the recent developments)
#5. I had a bicycle and this seemed like a good opportunity to get in shape!
#6. On day two of getting in shape and getting things done, the bike broke, horribly!
#7. Taking the bus isn't really that bad, other than the off-season reduced schedule.
#8. I walk.
#9. Ocassional taxi rides are a luxury, but $8.00- $13.00 each way to various locations is digging into my non-existant income.
#10. I have resigned myself to staying home and spending on average 16 hours a day on #2 and #3.

My health is fabulous. My outlook is good, because I know this is temporary and I am able to get it all done, not when the powers to be want it, but I can communicate with them on a daily basis and keep track of my contacts and discussions we had, to hold them at bay until everything is filed and my tax problems are finally resolved.

After that, I feel the need for a serious road trip! A really seriously long road trip...

Hope to see you all soon, on the road to somewhere.