The Fate of Xenson

So things have been busy around here, I've started a new job and have been working 24 7. Aside from being busy with work, I also passed all sections of the CPA exam...I found out awhile ago but things were so busy I couldn't even post.

The main reason why I am posting tonight is to let you all know about the fate of xenson.com.

Earlier today I received this message from blogger, the service we use to post to this website:

...we are announcing today that we will no longer support FTP publishing in Blogger after March 26, 2010.

Yeah, this is pretty crappy news though I have thought that this would happen for some time. The problem is I haven't had time to adjust xenson.com. So, really while we don't post often, this is just a message to let you all know it may be less often for some time till I can find a proper alternate site.

That's about it for the post, sorry it wasn't more but hopefully things will calm down sometime in the next 3 months and I'll be able to fix the site and post more often.

Back from our trip abroad / Another exam closer to being a CPA

Hey all, Jessica and I returned from our trip about 2 weeks ago. It's pretty sad being back in real life but all good things must come to an end.

While we were away hardwoods were put into our bedroom floor (downstairs). While the floors look beautiful, the cleanup process has been less than fun. We were lucky enough to solicit some help for this process :)

I can't post about our entire trip now as it's getting late but I wanted to be sure to let everyone know that pics can be found on the picture page (link found on the right border). Jessica took some time and paired them down, she also spent alot of time placing comments on each of them so that you the viewer will know what you are looking at. While viewing, please note the number of times Jessica tried to place a dome/bird/etc on my head in pictures...

Finally, after much waiting, I found out tonight that I passed another section of the CPA exam. I took the exam about 1 month ago and was pretty nervous about receiving the score...lucky for me it was a pass. For those keeping track, that's 3 down (REG, FAR and AUD) and 1 to go (BEC).

Wish me luck....Oh and please wish Jess a Happy Birthday, it'll be here before you know it.

Off to Eastern Europe!

Thought I would write a quick post to say bye to everyone before Jessica and I catch a flight today to fly to Prague. We're traveling by car through several Eastern European countries. The answer to the question is yes. We like to challenge ourselves and our love for each other by driving in places where we don't speak the language or know where we are going :)

From the Czech Republic we'll be driving to Budapest (Hungary), then on to Ljubljana (Slovenia), onto Lake Bled (still in Slovenia) then back to Prague (well outside of Prague for one night) then staying a few last days in Prague before flying back home.

We're both really excited about the trip and can't wait to share the pictures. Hope everyone around here has a wonderful Memorial Day weekend.

been some time since I posted...but I have a good excuse

So, it's been a long time since I posted on the web. In fact, Jessica was the last person to post on the site for the 2 of us. One of the reasons is that we really don't have much going on, there are no kids to speak about and my/our weekends have pretty much been filled with work.

For those who don't know, I've been studying for the CPA exam since pretty much after New Years. The process is long and difficult (just ask Jessica) but it seems to be paying off.

To date, I have taken 2 sections of the exam Regulation (tax, business law, partnerships, etc)and FAR (Financial Accounting and Reporting, basically anything and everything GAAP related). I just found out this week that I pass FAR, probably the most difficult section of the exam (at least for me), I also found out (about 2 months ago) that I passed REG.

What's the big deal? I'm now 1/2 of the way through the CPA exam with the 2 most difficult exams behind me. It's a pretty good feeling.

Anyway, I hope everyone else is having as great of a week as me (well work sucks but at least I learned my score).

BTW, Carrie, sorry I didn't tell you in person, I am in California this week and get out of work after you and the girls go to sleep :) tell them I said I.

Proud Aunt and Uncle Welcome Liam Albert Christenson!

That's right folks, we have a 2nd nephew. First Anja, then Connor, then Emma, now Liam. The folks in FL just keep them coming! We don't have any details right now but as soon as we have details and pictures we will put up another post. I can't wait to get my hands on him sometime this summer! It's hard to be so far away. Sending our love to all...

Christmas on the Beach - New Years on the Mountain

Life is good, yes it is. As the title suggests, Jessica and I spent Christmas this year with my family down in Florida and then spent New Year with Jessica's family. I guess technically their both considered our families but to better illustrate the point lets keep is as hers and mine.

That is not how our holiday season began though. No, infact, it wouldn't be Christmas if it weren't for our annual trip to see the Boston Pops with Ashley and Rob. The Pops put on another great show and played their 12 Days of Christmas compilation again as well (I'll post it when I get a chance, it's a huge file so I may never get around to it). And in typical fashion is snowed the night of the Pops, it seems to be part of the tradition at this point.

While the Pops were fun, the several Lemon Martini's I enjoyed after the show were not necessary, especially since Jessica and I had to wake up at 5 in the morning to catch our flight to Florida.

What was so nice about Florida this year was the length of time we actually spent there. On average we probably spent about 3 days down there for the Holiday, however, this year we stayed for 5. This allowed us time to see the family, spend some QT with the parents, go on the boat and sit on the beach. Steve and Zoe did Christmas at their house again this year and as mentioned several times that night, the food was wonderful and the kids are adorable. It was particularly fun as they are growing up and really enjoying the idea of presents, it almost brings you back to the days of waking up on Christmas morning yourself and playing with all the toys you got from Santa.

When we left Florida we were headed up to upstate NY to visit Jessica's family for Christmas but when we found out that her father had the flu, we turned the car around and went to breakfast instead. We decided to then post-pone Christmas in NY for a few days and decided to celebrate New Years instead.

By that time, Jessica and I had also finally found a Nintendo Wii (after searching some 15-20 stores) and the New Year was brought in whilst playing a 'Wii' little Bowling (pun definitely intended). After the New Year, we all decided to Ski at one of our favorite mountains (Gore) and on Saturday we skied. The conditions were decent, considering the wintry mix storm the northeast had the week before, but rather than downhill 2 days in a row, it was suggested we cross country.

I don't know if we'll be able to rope everyone into a cross country ski trip again the next time we ski, however, it is an experience. We were also fortunate enough to take the dog with us via a converted boot bag / doggy backpack (see the pictures on the picture page).

That brings us to this week where we both returned to work full time and reality set back in (it's a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there).

Hope everyone enjoyed their Holiday's and has a happy and healthy new year.

PS - my resolution was to update the page and add a family tree....we'll see if I get around to it this year.

Get out and vote already....

Jessica and I went this morning to vote and were not very happy to see that a person that is currently in a scandal here in Boston, Sal DiMasi article here, can possibly run unopposed! I mean, what has the world come to? Can anyone really be in politics in this country as long as you have the money to campaign?

Luckily, a State Senator here in MA, Dianne Wilkerson article here, took her name off the ballot.

On pondering all this, I have decided to write my name in the place where Sal DiMasi currently runs unopposed. I ask that everyone else I know does the same in MA. To be honest, I am thinking of sitting outside a few polling centers to publicize myself a little.

Ugh, politics smolitics. Here's to a historic election and a new 4 years, whom ever it may be with.