Happy NYE!

 Dear Reader,

I just wrapped writing an entire article highlighting some “interesting” behavior I’ve seen over my years in the CPA industry/funny stories (including “movie-like” gross behavior…). And then “lost” the material, just like that - I suppose that’s combined risk of choppy wifi and a few unintended keyboard backstrokes, though!

Rather then spend the energy to rewrite these stories, including calling out the "Picture-Perfect Prius" lifestyle that is a cover for immoral behavior conducted by many toxic CEOS, VCs and others in the SF Bay Area, I'll end the year on this note: 

Good, solid moral gentlemen and women still exist in great numbers, but they can be hard to spot at times (they were for me, at least!). Don't start or spread rumors - or be prepared to face karmic consequences... sometimes those fires you start don't burn the way you intend. As I've said for many years, in a world where you can be anything, choose to be yourself and kind - that's what the world truly needs.

Lastly, if you want to be entertained by bad characters/behavior and see what happens when irresponsible egos takes over a large population, watch the 2015 film: "The Big Short" - featuring the burst of the US housing bubble. My real life persona is a mix of many featured characters and I gotta laugh at my bold "Steve Carrell" moments over the past year. As many people agree, the sad part of the ending, though, lies in the gov't bailouts. Funnily, on the contrary, 17 years after the 2008 housing/economic crisis, I predict a different outcome for 2025 and agree with the 'politicians are temporary' billboard on the 101. I noticed this entertaining billboard returning from my last trip to the SF Bay Area (from yet another frustrating, expensive experience!). Numbers don't lie, do they? If you closely review which parties & individuals own the largest share of US land and the growing demographics of certain race populations, you may agree… change is actually coming: a revolution, many predict. I'm no mathematician by trade, but my friends & benefactors are.. and oh, I've been to college a few times! :)

*I dedicate this blog post to the lovely couple from Idaho I met in April of this year, in SoCal. These gentlemen took their savings and decided to travel, after one dealt with health issues. They blended Airbnb rentals with car camping and while we never exchanged contact info, their resilient, adventurous story made an imprint on my heart.

Be Well & May you party like it's 1999! 

~Heidi