My living room is suddenly much bigger. The tree is now down and except for the inordinate number of tree needles still around, the house is oddly free of Christmas accessories. The three-year-old isn’t happy about all of this: he keeps asking when we’re going to “put the tree back together” (we hacked it up and used the branches in the backyard).
But I like change, especially the good kind. And you know January means: tax season is on the way.
With that in mind, it’s a pretty sparse Sunday mailbag this week. Most of the “ask the taxgirl” questions are very tax-related.
So, with a cup of coffee in hand (and way too much Selena Gomez blaring in the background, thanks to my girls), let’s see what’s up:
Taxpayer asks:
How is your girl???
taxgirl says:
Thanks for asking! After a rough month, we got some really good news this week. She’s finally turning a corner. Her test results were great and she’s started eating again (thank you, dim sum). Her doctor is now aiming for two clear results in a row (we’re halfway there).
I really do appreciate all of your collective thoughts, prayers, emails, and tweets. Your support has meant a lot to me and my family.
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Taxpayer asks:
You joke a lot about how much coffee you drink. How much do you actually drink in a day?
taxgirl says:
Hey, coffee is no joke. I don’t think I can say how much I actually drink (my mother could be reading). Let’s leave it at “it depends on the day.”
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Taxpayer asks:
I’m an attorney that practices in Atlanta. You mention twitter a lot. Do you actually get clients from twitter? I’ve tried it and I don’t get it.
taxgirl says:
I’ve been very open about my love affair with Twitter. But here’s the thing: I don’t tweet for clients. I tweet because I enjoy it, I love the conversation.
I don’t think you should approach twitter with a specific target in mind (though I know there are many “social media gurus” who disagree with me). I do tweet about tax but even I don’t love tax enough to make it my sole focus on twitter. I also tweet about my kids, the weather and the Phillies.
And yes, I have gotten clients from twitter. But I don’t think it’s because of anything specific that I tweeted. I feel strongly that Twitter shouldn’t be treated like a billboard. It’s not static. And it’s not meant to be an advertisement. And folks who continuous tout their legal services on twitter are not only boring and rude, they may also be violating the rules of ethics (hey lawyers, the rules still apply even on the web).
When I first started tweeting, someone once told me to think of it as a giant cocktail party. You don’t have to “catch up” on the old conversations, just jump in. And I do. So last night, I was tweeting about a recent tax court ruling about a nurse and her MBA – a link that I was sent via twitter. And this morning? Pancake Sunday. I think you need to think about twitter for what it is – and don’t take it too seriously.
If you’re just starting out, feel free to follow me (@taxgirl) and then let me know by sending me a note (write something starting with “@twitter”). I promise that I don’t bite – at least not on the first visit.*
(*bonus points if you caught the movie reference)
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Taxpayer asks:
I see your team is going to the play-offs. How do you think they’re going to do after last week’s game against the Cowboys?
taxgirl says:
I refuse to answer that question since I can’t without using profanity. I will simply say that spring training begins in 85 days.
[Editor’s note: Apparently this question – and my answer – is confusing to folks. To clarify, the question was asked last week, after the first loss to the Cowboys. I answered it after the second loss.]
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Have a terrific week!
Before you go: be sure to read my disclaimer. Remember, I’m a lawyer and we love disclaimers.
If you have a question, here’s how to Ask The Taxgirl.
