It’s the refund meme! Here are the questions:
1, If you could do whatever you wanted, how would YOU spend an income tax refund?
2, Is that the same or different from how you actually plan spend it? (Psst, you can say that you’re not getting one – that’s a valid answer.)
And there’s a twist this year… The first ten readers to comment will each win a copy of TaxCut software, compliments of H&R Block.
Here are some additional rules:
- To qualify for the free software, entries must be posted in the comments section below by 11:59 p.m. EST on March 22, 2009. However, the first ten qualified entries – as determined by the time stamp – will win the software.
- Time stamps apply whenever you leave your comment, not when your comment is approved. If your comment goes to moderation, don’t panic. A comment waiting in the queue will still qualify.
- Offensive comments – or comments that otherwise violate my comment policy – will be deleted and will not be considered valid for purposes of the contest.
- Pingbacks and other links will be disregarded for purposes of determining the first ten qualifies entries.
- If any person declines their prize or fails to qualify, the next qualified entrant will win.
- Due to shipping considerations, only those residents of the US can qualify for the prize.
- One entry per person.
- You must include your full name and your email address with your entry. I won’t publish your email address, but I do need contact information for the winning entry. I respect your privacy, and I will not send you anything unrelated to your entry in this contest.
- By entering the contest, you agree that I may post any part or all of your submission including your name as a part of the contest announcements or promotions, with the exception of your email address.
Whew. So get ready, steady… and go!
And don’t give up early. Even if you’re not one of the first ten readers to leave a comment, it’s fun to play along!
I’ve been tagged to participate in “5 Blogs & 5 Blawgers.” And it’s just what it sounds like. I have to name five fabulous non-legal blogs and then tag five blawgers to do the same. Sounds easy, right? Not so much. I have lots of favorite reads. The real difficulty is narrowing it down to five of each. Here’s my attempt…
1, One Vote Matters. This has been my “go to” blog for election news this season. It’s authored by Thursday Bram and Madeline Martin, one of which is an attorney (but I’m not saying which), but she doesn’t qualify as a “blawger” since she’s not blogging about law, right?
2, Flyaway Cafe. Travel news and tips from someone actually in the industry. Mary Jo knows whereof she speaks – she’ll even answer your questions.
3, Citizen Mom. Okay, so I’m a little annoyed at Amy’s take on Philadelphia public schools. But she’s smart and witty and clever and I just can’t stay away…
4, Urban Garden Casual. First of all, it’s stunning. Visit for the pics alone. But there’s lots of great tips, too. I find myself sucked in every.single.time.
5, Brew Ha-Ha. Is it wrong to choose a blog that I write for? I’m doing it anyway. I write a beer blog with my hubby over at Brew Ha-Ha – what could be better than being paid to drink a beer with your husband?
And now the blawgers (hey, blame JD Scoop, I’m just doing what I’m told): Alexis Neely (who I met at BlogHer), Carolyn Elefant, Lisa Solomon, Joel Schoenmeyer and Blonde Justice.
Enjoy!
I’ve been tagged by Tracee at blogfabulous for a meme. I’ve memed before here and here. Hopefully, you’ll learn something new! Enjoy, it’s the weekend… enough of this economic stimulus talk!
1, When I was little, my great-grandmother told people in Greenville, South Carolina that I talked just like a Philadelphia lawyer. Apparently, she was right.
2, When I was checking out law schools, my college roommate and I drove my 1984 Buick Regal to Philadelphia. As I handed my keys to the valet and walked away, it dawned on me that I had never parked valet before and had no clue if it was legit or not. Brenda and I thought that I might have just given my car away and we could end up staying in Philadelphia…
3, I did stay in Philadelphia – but without my car. I sold my Buick in NC (yes, someone actually paid for it). I didn’t own a car in the City until my grandfather sold my (now) husband a 1977 Fiat Spyder which we drove back up from Pumpkintown, SC. My husband still owns the car.
4, I never drive the Fiat because it’s stick shift and it’s tricky stick shift. I hate to drive stick shift in the City because it requires too much multitasking with all of the stops, hills and grumpy drivers. I have only ever successfully driven stick shift in rural Maine.
5, Considering how little I drive, I have ridiculous amounts of road rage towards drivers who don’t follow the rules. I don’t understand why people won’t stop at stop signs, why they insist on turning left when it says “no left turns” or why giant SUVs park in compact car spaces. I know it shouldn’t bother me, but it does.
6, Despite my penchant for following rules, I have been ticketed for speeding – while in college. When I got my first ticket, I knew I’d be in big trouble at home. And yet, when my father asked me what I learned from the incident, all I could think to say was “if I’d been going a bit faster, I would have made my exit.”
7, I used to love to drive on the highways in NC because of the open roads but in Philly, the Schuylkill makes me crazy. I’ll do almost anything to avoid taking it – including snaking around in not so great neighborhoods. When taking my daughter home from Children’s Hospital in October, I got lost in the projects (again). As a result, my husband bought me a GPS for my anniversary. It was very romantic, really!
I’m supposed to tag seven more blogs for the meme. I’m going with Jeanne at Idol Stalker, Jennifer at My Organized Biz, Farley at Behind the Vines, Jim at BossHatch, Mary Jo at The Seattle Traveler, Julie at Disney Society and Liz & Laura from Business and Blogging.
(Photo – this isn’t our Fiat, but looks remarkably similar!)
I found out from Kay Bell that I’ve been tagged for a meme. According to Kay, I’m supposed to share seven random things about myself that y’all might not know. And you know, you don’t mess with taxes… so here goes.
1, I probably would never have gone into law except for two fictional people: Carson Drew (Nancy’s father) and Perry Mason. Perry Mason used to air on TBS, just before Atlanta Braves games. I am now not allowed to root for Atlanta because…
2, I live in Philadelphia. I live in the City, not in the suburbs. My house is full of one dog, one husband and three crafty little children…
3, One of my crafty little children has an imaginary friend who causes quite a bit of trouble in the house. “Mary” is a flat out trouble-maker. She has broken a lot of things and started many fights. My father believes that I am entitled to claim Mary as a tax deduction for my troubles.
4, Fortunately Mary requires neither food nor clothing. This is a good thing because the amount of food consumed in my household is crazy. We are up to about 3 gallons of milk per week. I am considering buying a cow for the backyard (lawn care and source of beverages at once) though I am not sure that my neighborhood is zoned for cows. If not, we may have to move to the country just to save money on milk.
5, If we did move to the country, I would want to open a winery or bed and breakfast or both. Again, I blame TV. Too much “Newhart” and “Fawlty Towers” growing up, I suppose.
6, Speaking of “Fawlty Towers”, my family is addicted to BBC programming. My oldest daughter – who is just 5 – considers “How Clean is Your House?” her favorite TV show. It is quite embarrassing as she does now go into people’s homes and tell them that it’s “filthy” a la Kim and Aggie. She does not do it with a British accent.
7, Children from Britain always sound smart to me, I don’t know why. When I lived in Britain, I assisted in an elementary school and thought the children there must be geniuses based on the way that they sounded. My youngest daughter sounds as though she’s from Boston – I am not sure why. Sorry folks, it is not a pretty accent. But at least Boston made it into the post-season so I guess they can sound however they want…
And now, I’m charged with tagging seven more people. I’m choosing some newbies at the Business Channel…
Tom
Ali
Kristen and Bridget
Dan
Celine
Shannon
