Yeah, I know it’s cheating a little, but I’m the first tax professional featured in GTKYT…
1. Where are you now?
At my home computer in the family room.
2. What’s your official title and what does it mean?
I’m a tax attorney. Who knows what that means?
3. What books are on your nightstand?
Okay, my nightstand literally cannot stand under the weight of all of the books on it. I have such good intentions of reading lots of books so I keep picking them up. I just don’t have time. I’ll try and remember what’s there: Alan Titschmarsh’s How to Be a Gardener, Nathalie Dupree’s Southern Memories, John Grisham’s The Brethren, Sophie Kinsella’s Shopaholic Ties the Knot, Jan Karon’s At Home in Mitford, a lot of gardening magazines and a little journal for jotting down my thoughts.
4. If you weren’t working in the tax profession, what would your dream job be?
A writer. I mean, a published writer. I write a lot now but I’d love to publish a book or screenplay.
5. What’s the last movie that you saw (DVD or in the theatre)?
North Country. Charlize Theron was terrific.
6. Tax is a huge subject. What’s your area of special interest?
A tie: estates and non-profits.
7. What’s the best tax or financial advice that anyone ever gave you?
I’ll tell you the worst instead: when I was a student, a bank teller told me that I shouldn’t bother paying anything on my credit card if I couldn’t make my full payment. I’ve learned since then that you should always pay something even it’s a little bit.
8. Coffee or tea?
Coffee. Black.
9. Name five artists on your iPod (or mp3 player).
Gosh, I have so many. I did a random shuffle and these are the top five: The Almost, Tim McGraw, Eminem, Jennifer Hudson, and Shawn Mullins.
10. What would I be surprised to know about you?
I have two tattoos.
11. What college did you attend (in what subject)?
Meredith College (History) and Temple University School of Law (JD and LLM Taxation). I also studied abroad at Hull University in the UK.
12. If you had the opportunity to make one change in the tax code tomorrow – an extra credit, a disallowed deduction, whatever – what would it be?
I think that all charitable contributions should be deductible whether or not you itemize.
13. What’s the best thing on TV right now?
My TV watching is so scattered, depending on the season. I love Amazing Race, I have never missed an episode, which I believe is the only show that I could ever say that about. I’m looking forward to the return of Project Runway and Top Chef. Scrubs is consistently brilliant.
14. What do you think Congress will repeal first: estate tax or AMT?
AMT.
15. If Uncle Sam handed you a huge refund check right now, what would you do with it?
Plan a massive summer vacation for my family to Italy.
16. Biggest tax newsmaker: KPMG, Jenkens Gilchrist, or Richard Hatch?
Gosh, as a blogger, I am grateful for all of them. 🙂 But the biggest news in terms of a surprise for me was Jenkens folding so quickly.
17. And, other than taxgirl, what’s your favorite tax-related web site?
http://www.getsheila.com/
Hey, I am just now getting around to catching up on my tax blog reading.
Did you know you cannot give blood if you have a tattoo? I just found that out over the weekend. Who knew!
Aw, I did not realize you listed me at #17. It’s because I rarely talk about taxes, isn’t it? Heh.