Lindsey’s 21st Birthday

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Originally uploaded by Ned Campbell

Wow, it is Lindsey’s 21st birthday tomorrow and tonight we celebrated with family and friends at Bonefish Grill. It was a lot of fun to be there with all of my girls, Kaitlyn, Lindsey and Lisa and Lindsey’s friends, Lindsay, Chris, Matt, and Andy.

Tonight was all about Lindsey as time slowly marched towards the bewitching hour. She eagerly awaited gift giving time and was truly intrigued by how Chris was able to successfully navigate the streets of Tallahassee on his motorcycle with the two large boxes (we all still wonder how he did it). We presented her with a new iPod to replace the one she lost on our wedding day. Of course, she found her long lost iPod on Thursday but it was fried from hanging out in her car for the past 3 months.

Lindsey is such an impressive young lady…maybe older than her 21 years or maybe just more serious than the normal 21 year old. She has a great head on her shoulders. She is smart, FUNNY and beautiful.

I’ve always gotten along well with Lindsey and I hope this never changes. Who knew that I would become so attached to her? She reminds me of me sometimes…tentative, waiting to see how things work in a new social setting. Other times, she blows me away with her in your face, line in the sand attitude (and of course this makes me laugh).

I’m so pleased to be in her life and I’m glad she is my 21 year old daughter!

I love my family!

Getting Ready for the FABexpo

Well, this is the weekend prior to the FICPA’s FABexpo.  This is my 38th show as an FICPA staff member.  There have only been 39 shows and I attended the first one with my father and I think it is safe to say that I’m the only one who has been to every show.

Even with all of the similarities, each one of these shows have been unique.  With 60+ speakers and topics each show, I have to admit, I can’t remember them all although some are oh so memorable (Barbara Bush, Lou Holtz, Stuart Varney).  The impact of weather from hurricanes on several of the Ft. Lauderdale shows stick out.  This year, the memory will certainly be on Robert “Bob” Harris, a former FICPA president and incoming chair of the AICPA (the first AICPA chair from Florida).  Also it will stand out because it will be our last show at the Gaylord Palms.  After many many years in Orlando, we will return to Tampa in 2010.

Some of the speakers and topics will stand out this year as a transition from old to new.  XBRL is required now for many companies and certainly the future of financial reporting is in XBRL.  Tom Oschenschlager will update everyone on the tax changes under the new administration.  The form 990 changed for the first time in over 30 years, so an update from Charles Whetstone will be of interest to anyone with working for a nonprofit or with nonprofit clients.  And finally, fair value seems to be in the press on a daily basis with changes proposed by banks, insurance companies and others as politics and accounting standards clash.

XBRL Issues and Application
Neal Hannon, CMA
Consultant, XBRL Strategies / Gilbane Group

Tax Law Update
Tom Ochsenschlager
Vice President – Taxation / AICPA

Understanding the New 990 – Changes Needed in Accounting Information Systems
Charles Whetstone, CPA
Audit Partner / Carr, Riggs & Ingram LLC

Economic Update
Mark Vitner, MBA
Managing Director & Senior Economist / Wachovia Corporation

Fair Value Accounting – General Methodology

Morrie Hollander, CPA Partner, Anthony R. Banks, CPA Manager, Marta Alfonso, CPA/CFF Partner

Rachlin LLP

For complete details on the FICPA’s FABexpo see www.ficpa.org/fabexpo and follow us on twitter at @ficpa or @ned_c and the hashtag #fabexpo.

Working on logistics issues for the 2009 Florida Accounting and Business Expo (FABexpo) www.ficpa.org/fabexpo

Countdown to marriage

Not long now…in a little over a week, I will be married to Lisa. 

This afternoon we both had our hair done. Lisa’s took three hours and involved a team of specialists to see what would look best during the wedding.  Mine took approximately 20 minutes.

Over the next week, family and friends will begin to arrive.  Part of our excitement is having all of our friends/family in the same place and getting to see them together.  Many will meet for the first time this week.  In fact, my parents will meet her mother for the first time and I will see her mother for only the 2nd time.  I wish her father was able to be here.  I’m sure he will be here in spirit, but they can’t make the trip from Oregon.

On the wedding day, besides saying “I do”, I am coordinating cake, flowers, etc by arriving three hours early.  I’m going to take a book.  Lisa on the other hand will spend her morning and early afternoon with several friends and family, arrive in a caravan amid giggles and excitement.  Not that my book won’t be exciting but I do believe that my pre-wedding excitement will be slightly different than Lisa’s.

So, not long now…in a little over a week, I will be married to Lisa. 

And I can’t wait!

Positive things

Positive things happen to positive people.

I took Zoey for a walk around Lake Ella, unfortunately she took me for a run around the lake. Amazing how fast a tiny dog can go!

Catching up on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and the news. Question, is the news still necessary? Or relevant?

Remembering Italy

I had an opportunity today to have lunch with a long time friend, Keith. He was in Tallahassee for work this week and we took the opportunity to get together and catch up from the past two years.

We were able to catch up on our families, mutual friends and big trips we’ve both been on since we last saw each other. Keith took his family to Alaska to sleep with the bears! He has a history with the wilds and bears of Alaska as he spent a summer as a ranger in the Wood Tikchik State Park.

I reminisced about my trip with Lisa to Italy in 2006. We spend two weeks in Italy visiting Piacenza, Florence, Siena and Rome. By far it was the best time of my life.  We went to her best friends wedding.  Steve and Mari were married in Piacenza, Italy. 

It was nice to see Keith and catch up on our lives.