My name is Mark Goodfield. Welcome to The Blunt Bean Counter ™, a blog that shares my thoughts on income taxes, finance and the psychology of money. I am a Chartered Professional Accountant. This blog is meant for everyone, but in particular for high net worth individuals and owners of private corporations. My posts are blunt, opinionated and even have a twist of humour/sarcasm. You've been warned. Please note the blog posts are time sensitive and subject to changes in legislation or law.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Confessions of a Tax Accountant & an Ode to the Toronto Maple Leafs

For all those readers waiting with bated breath, yes, Confessions of a Tax Accountant will be back by popular demand (if two emails requesting such constitutes popular demand).

Those misguided individuals who have been reading my blog from the beginning will recall that last year during income tax season I wrote a weekly piece called Confessions of a Tax Accountant. These posts highlighted contentious personal income tax issues that arose in my practice during tax season and personal income tax issues that I thought would be of interest to readers.

I will start this year’s series next week (I will try and clarify the confusion surrounding the interaction between the new Children's Arts Amount, the Children's Fitness Amount and claiming child care). However, my first confession of the year is that because of client projects, integrating a new practice into our firm, the ridiculous amount of personal income tax returns now done in April (because the T-slips are often issued so late) etc. my confessions may be more sporadic in 2012.

Ode to the Toronto Maple Leafs


One advantage of having your own blog (besides the groupies) is that you can blog about whatever is on your mind. So last week as yet another Toronto Maple Leafs season appeared to be dissolving in front our eyes, I felt compelled to write this ode to the Maple Leafs, based on the Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons song, Oh What a Night. After writing this ode, the Leafs fired Ron Wilson and hired Randy Carlyle, so I thought maybe this ode may be a bit premature. However, after observing the Leafs terrible defensive zone coverage against the Bruins last night, winning a Stanley Cup would seem to require Divine Intervention, so I am still posting this ode, as the sentiments unfortunately appear to still be valid.

Don’t ask me how this crap, I mean prose, pops into my head, I have no idea. Hopefully, the above noted Miracle on Ice takes place and I can write another verse about how the Leafs rose from the dead to make the Playoffs and win the Cup (I am on some strong cough medicine). So here it goes:

Oh, what a night
Early May back in '67
A little boy saw the Leafs win the cup and felt like he had gone to heaven
What a very special time for me
Cause I remember what a night

Keon, Mahovlich, Baun, Horton and Bower were just some of the names
When Armstrong scored to make it 3-1, who knew it would never be the same
45 years and counting without a big game
Oh, what a Cup, Oh what a night

Oh, I was 8 and got a happy feeling when they drank from the Cup
It was great beating the Habs and we did not even need to use Duane Rupp
I darted like Red Kelly about the room
As I recall, the celebration ended much too soon
Oh, what a victory, Oh what a night

Forty-five years later it is still a mesmerizing sight
It was everything I dreamed it would be
Sweet Stanley, Oh, what a night

Early January, 2012, I felt a rush like a rolling bolt of thunder
Playoff hope spinnin' my head around and taking my body under,
The Leafs looked secure atop the standings, Oh, what a heady month

But I got a funny feeling as February grew longer
In the dressing room the boys looked tense and somber
The hope of January ended much too soon.
Oh, just another sad season ending with a swoon

Why is it taking so long to see the playoff lights
Now it all seems so wrong, when things looked so bright
Oh, what a team, what a drought

Okay, I know what you are thinking; Mark stick to the tax, estate and financial blogs. I know, I know.

The blogs posted on The Blunt Bean Counter provide information of a general nature. These posts should not be considered specific advice; as each reader's personal financial situation is unique and fact specific. Please contact a professional advisor prior to implementing or acting upon any of the information contained in one of the blogs.

6 comments:

  1. I think you might have found a plan for retirement Mark!

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    1. Jim, only if I plan on eating dog food in my retirement :)

      Your Oilers are unfortunately 20 years and counting, not quite the futility of the Leafs, but they are working on it, although they have a great young nucleus.

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  2. I think you can stop holding your breath for the Leafs this season. They showed some early promise, but they still have major issues on the backend. At least your team has won many cups in the past. I'm rooting for my Canucks to finally break through and win their first cup this season.

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  3. I'm not a Leafs fan, although I grew up in Southern Ontario. I remember that the Leafs were maybe a good forward away from a cup. This was when they had a good team of Sittler, McDonald and Palmateer. Then there was that brief period under Sundin that the Leafs became surprisingly competitive, again.
    Sadly, Burke has pretty much put the dagger into the heart of the leafs. I really think the only reason Wilson remained for four dismal years was that Burke and him were old friends. The new owners of the Leafs really need to clean house, starting with Burke and getting fresh new blood into their organization.

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  4. Hi Goods. I just wanted to let you know that my brother told me his daughters were behaving badly so he punished them by taking them to a Leafs game. Ouch.

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    1. Hey Kool, I hope Kimberly is treating you well. I guess I finally posted something you understood :)

      Leafs suck and Raptors suck. Where are the days of Bill Walton and Dr J?

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