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December 3 - December 31, 2023 
See below my first pizza using a new Baker Stone Pizza Oven box that sits on my BBQ with burners at full blast and gets up over 700 degrees. Look at the nice bubbles!!
Monday, December 4, 2023
So like said two weeks ago, the state of California wants to look at every thing I do. So 2 people including Trevor, senor Tax Auditor, California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, will be in here tomorrow and we will see what they find.
Tuesday, December 5, 2023
There were 2 CDTFA reps here today............State sales tax..................
Of course they tried to convince me I under represented my total sales to California. I asked them did you confirm on Shopify?:.....I let them look at my computer, my Shopify account for 2 hours. So then they came into my office..........They said they just took what I sent them days ago, and that is the only thing they need. I asked them why are you here today!!!..you already know what you want. (I WAS VERY UPSET!!).............................................
I told them, that is just my first take on Shopify, they said "Well you do not know how to report the sales tax?"
They were here about 6 hours or so, they will not come back for a long time, but they are suggesting that I may have underestimated my sales to California so I may owe $30,000.......this very controlled Guy, Trevor, said we will need an explanation if anything you send is changed.......Hello, they believe what I would send them in the Future.......no, they want explanations of any thing I sent before otherwise I owe them about $30,000..........................................
I have several days until we head off to Hawaii so I will spend every waking hour up until I go through thousands of orders, I can do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I do not like what Elon is saying at MOST times lately, but the book is interesting and I can see where I am like Elon in a few ways. He is an asshole, read the book, but I hope most people do not think of me that way BUT, I am driven like he was at certain times and this is one of those times.........I look forward tomorrow to look at Shopify which they did not want..........................Tomorrow Is Another Day??
Wednesday, December 6, 2023
So today I had to approve all our labels for the upcoming 2022 16 Month bottling which will be in January. It takes awhile to approve and scan 30 mg..........
That said I did spend a few hours on the problem with the CDTFA .... I have found a few things, so nothing is changed much. But the past ones back as far as the 4th quarter of 2020 are concerning, I am convinced it will not be $30K...........they have the right to go back 12 quarters. I will spend 9 hours tomorrow. The Clubs are the key, did I account for shipping which was free, so it needs to be deducted for all clubs.........................
Friday, December 8, 2023
For the last two days I have been working on my sales tax reports and I have amended the last quarter and asked for a refund. But I have also started on the 4th quarter of 2020, and It looks like I will owe some money for that 4th quarter.
Saturday, December 9, 2023
With this Problem with my sales tax, I get a break off to Hawaii on Dec 14, Susie's birthday and SHE rented a great place on the big Island, not the one with the fire, but the one with the volcanoes......I will be fine escaping from the State of California, should I fight it? Probably not.
So I did some preliminary revisions on what I sent to the State Sales Tax......and I see that I will owe a lot of money, don't worry we have plenty of cash flow............BUT....That means I will lose my argument with Pat, my wife of 50 years, darn...........I won't be able to buy another Tesla Model S in Ultra Red, Oh well I like my last model S........2 years ago and I only have 11,000 miles on it, but gee, Ultra Red!!
Monday, December 11, 2023
So we have a problem with the CDTFA, sales tax, they want money from me. I found out today, I have a customer who used to work for the CDTFA so maybe he can help me?
Our Family is heading off to KONA, Susie my second born has paid for a nice House SO we will be gone from Dec 14 until the 23rd.
As you may know, I have big problems with my back!! I have tried everything!! Injections, the box on my back so I live with it.........
I usually take 6 Ibuprofen a day and I have decided a few days ago to cut all ibuprofen out........Let's see how I feel tomorrow, but so far, I am still alive with pain......Tomorrow is another day.
Tuesday, December 12, 2023
So today I tried to figure out more to be accurate in the sales tax with Shopify and I am not doing well. I may need some help from the customer who worked for the CDTFA or maybe other sources I am looking into. I will go off to Kona and I hope I can forget some of this, but I doubt it...........
Wednesday, December 13, 2023
We are off to an escape tomorrow........So Susie's Birthday is tomorrow!!!! , my second born and she is the one to rent this great place on Kona, a big house so hopefully I can escape from the Sales Tax audit. We will be back in our office on the 23rd, but will monitor emails on vacation.
I HATE airports, I am paying for First Class, not worth it, but far better than coach. I have not flied for 4 years, but for the Family and especially Susie I will do it, bad back and all other pains. Don't worry I still love making wine so I will look forward to coming back and bottling wine in January.........
Also Hawaii, means Kate the First born who along with Bryan made an interesting child, Maia who will be 2 years old on the 28th of January.....she WILL be there........SO I get to see Maia for 6 days, I will make it fun!!.......Enjoy
Sunday, December 24, 2023
We are back from our trip to Hawaii. Nice sunsets because there is always some clouds in the sky, but the last two days were cloudy all day and we did not see the sun BUT, still 78 high and 68 low in the night, great for tank tops!! Now I have to get ready for bottling in January and dealing with the audit by CDTFA...............Happy Christmas to All.
Thursday, December 28, 2023
Tonight, I had 5 cabs, 2017 including mine, it was surprising, it included an Opus One, 2017.........More tomorrow, after all, I will be tasting these bottles for another 5 days..........I love what I do........thanks to Tesla stock
All the wines were over $200 a bottle except for ours which sold for as low as $17 with the Futures Club. The Almaviva was actually a 2018 since wines in Chili are harvested in April so the 2018 was harvest about 6 months after the 2017 vintage here. The Almaviva has 19% Carmenere in the blend which actually is a rare Bordeaux grape. I am thinking of planting some.
Friday, December 29, 2023
I tried these wines after a second day Blind and I had different opinions so as I said, I will taste again for more days. Tonight, I liked the Opus One because of balance. I liked our wine because of intensity and also balance. The MM had nice fruit but the Almaviva was less interesting in the second day after picking it up as my favorite the first day. The Ramey was the least interesting, nice wine, I still rated it 93, but compared to these wines it was less......... Wines as you know can last for ever, but why do some wines fade according to me. I do know wines go over times and improve or not.........Tomorrow I will taste again and give me a new impression. Pizza, but only after a blind tasting before dinner, only a little cheese and a glass of white wine before the blind tasting of these great Cab.....................
I have NEVER seen anything on a video of Taylor Shift, I am tonight checking it out............
Saturday, December 30, 2023
Is everyone having fun? I had a nice asparagus pizza tonight since I have to pace myself tomorrow with some light snacks all day, not big meal!! I know I am the only one to stay up until midnight my time. I have been doing it since I was 10 years old and never missed one. My Mother insisted we go to the big city and see a first run movie. I will be seeing Swift tomorrow evening..............
Dave
For any comments or questions I encourage any of you to e-mail.....david@coffaro.com
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