We Sprung A Leak.

Clerk: They have the basement full of sandbags.

Me: What? I was just down there. What's going on?

Clerk: We're getting water from somewhere. Someone thought it was the air conditioning condenser.

Me: This building isn't that big. If a condenser is producing water it would be from the humidity in the air, not the a/c itself. Are we leaking from the flood?

BIG BOSS: Hey if you have any files downstairs you might want to get the upstairs. The pump isn't keeping up with the water. Oh yeah we're shutting off the a/c so just open up your windows if you want air.

Me (under my breathe): You've got to be kidding me.

*Goes downstairs to see what's going on.*

Clerk: You think it's okay to use the restroom?

Me: Nothing wrong with the water that I've heard. I wouldn't use the one down here though without a life jacket.

My Philosophy Of Life, The Job, And Likely Everything Else.

"A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it. "
Agent K to Agent J
Men In Black

If I could explain how my day was a true reflection of that quote I would. Right now I'm going to collapse into bed.

Break Out The Defibulators!

It finally happened. I've been trying to avoid it. I've lucked out a few weekends and find cheaper sources. This time I was SOL. I paid over $4.00/gallon for gasoline.

I'm glad I don't have an SUV, but I still burn 2.5 to 3 gallons a day just for my commute. I can only go 3 or 3.5 days without filling up. If we had a light rail system between Big City and Small Town I would get a rail pass in a heartbeat.

Speaking of heartbeats mine stopped when I realized I was going to pay $4.09/gallon!

What's In A Name?

You Like Names That Are Classic and Timeless

You prefer quality names that have stood the test of time. You don't like anything that's trendy today and outdated next year. Names are important to you, and naming someone should not be an social experiment. You are the type most likely to name someone after a family member. Some female names you might like: Andrea, Elizabeth, Hannah, Julia, Marie, Nicole, and Victoria Some male names you might like: Aaron, Benjamin, Christopher, Jonathan, Matthew, Thomas, and Zachary

What Kind of Names Do You Like?

Rain Rain Go Away!

I'm tired of heavy thunderstorms every few days. I'm tired of the occasional tornado. I'm tired of hearing about all the flooding. I'm tired of driving around Small Town and seeing the contents of an entire house on the curb. I'm tired of hearing about people that work with me who have lost everything. I'm tired of hearing about friends in other nearby small towns have flooding in their homes. I'm tired of driving in a storm so fierce I wonder if I should stop on the side of the road or continue on at 20 m.p.h. with my flashers on.

I love the stark beauty of a good storm, but enough is enough.

I Can't Get There From Here.

It's been a long day in Small Town. I get on the highway and within a few minutes stop. What's the cause of the hold up? I have no idea and the radio isn't giving me any useful information. I do a u-turn and figure I'll take some backroads to bypass the mess and go home. I don't know the backroads at all, but I figure I can navigate by the sun.

After 15-20 minutes on the twisty, narrow, sunny, shady, and partially washed out roads I ended up exactly where I started. I have NO IDEA how I ended up in a loop, but some of those roads curved all over the place.

A second highway out of Small Town will get me to Big City; however, it takes me to the wrong side of town. It also has some severe construction on it and the back ups have proven most frustrating. I decided to take the long way around. It would take me over 10 extra miles and through another small town, but at least I would be going in the right direction. Sort of the right direction. At least this highway is well marked and I know it goes somewhere useful.

I'll admit is was a nice drive. The temps had dropped, and several caravans of Harleys were on the road. The highway had quite a few curves so I had to downshift and drive the road a bit. It's just a shame it took 3 hours to get home!

What The Legal Profession Will Evolve Into.

I try to spread the word. Don't go into law school, it isn't worth it. Too many law schools generate too many graduates and the job market simply isn't there to absorb the newbies.

To prove the point take a look at what the profession will be.*


*Yes that was Bill Nye The Science Guy.

I Could Use A Good Vacation Beach.

For janiejane to swipe if she pleases :-)

What the Beach Test Says About You

You like people, but you're careful about who you get close to. Friendship is important to you... so important that you aren't just friends with anyone. You fall in love with ease and confidence. Even if you've had bad experiences in the past, each new love is a reason to start completely over. You are deeply passionate about several things in your life. You're not passionate about much... and the few passions you have are truly obsessions. Your sense of humor is goofy and silly. You are good at making almost anyone laugh.

The Beach Test

The Cupid Shield.

The third date brought out the first kiss. Two weeks later it brought the email. She enjoyed her time with me, but with her job taking her to conventions all the time she just didn't want to devote time to dating. Intellectually I completely agreed with her line of reasoning. She traveled a lot for her job. Our three dates were over a more than two month period because of her conventions. I was worried about the amount of time I spent on the job and commuting to the job. It was hard for me to find a clear time in my schedule for a date. Despite all that, I still hated getting the rejection email. The human heart is an emotional thing, not a rational thing.

While I'm glad in some ways I'm tired of this romantic netherworld I inhabit. I used to work nights so I couldn't meet anyone unless she had my vampiric tendencies. Then I went to law school. Law school is not conducive to meeting anyone. The pressure makes people psycho and isn't a relationship nurturing environment. The one fellow student I tried to express an interest in gutted me in way I didn't know possible. Then it took several years just to find a job that used my degree. Unemployment gets in the way of dating. It's too expensive and women tend to frown on deadbeats. It isn't very good for the self esteem either. Now that I have the full time job I still don't want to get into the dating pool. I can't meet the time and money commitments right now. I'm still trying to rebuild my life from the 5 year school/unemployment hole that was created. After the hour commute from Small Town the last thing I want to do at night is stay out for awhile longer, no matter how cute she may be.

Yet I'm lonely. I was okay with being alone, but I've been lonely for a long time now. I'm tired of waiting for my life to get back together enough that I can be with someone again. Please don't think I'm asking for my life to be perfect before I reenter the dating pool. Far from it! I would like it to be relatively normal and have no more than a typical amount of stress. I don't know when it happened, but I stopped looking for a woman to date a long time ago. I'm looking for a mate at this point in my life. I'm looking for someone to share this live with. I suppose that's when I started to become lonely instead of alone.

I'm starting to feel my age. I'm starting to feel time slipping from me, time I can't get back. I put up a jokingly false bravado about my old man status. I can't let my friends see that I truly understand the importance of our finite time. In the time since my last major relationship I've known people to first meet their future spouse, get married, and already have one or two children. I have no desire to rush into anything. A bad relationship is far worse than no relationship. I've lived that enough times. Yet when can I start sharing my soul with a companion? When can I start to think in terms of 'we' and 'our'? When will my life be stable enough that I can offer someone a piece of me?

For too many years my life went backwards or nowhere. I'm slowly feeling some forward progress. I wish I could feel more progress. I wish I could finally share my life instead of coldly observe it. For so many things in live I prefer that cold rational mode, yet in the end I secretly crave the warmth of an emotional love. We all have our secrets, even me.

IronMan vs. Indiana Jones

IronMan: I give it an 8.

Indiana Jones and The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull: I give it a 6.

I don't think Indiana Jones was a bad movie. It just wasn't an Indiana Jones movie.

Quote Of The Day.

Me: I'm trying to reduce the amount of caffeine in my life. I had the morning cup of coffee and the driving cup of coffee, but I haven't had any since then.

Fabulously Gay Roommate: That might be a good thing. How is it working out for you?

Me: I was doing okay until 3:14 when I shot a disgruntled postal worker.

Quote Of The Day II.

Friend: Yeah I was surprised my little brother was sometimes in charge of the nuclear weapons aboard the ship. They had a 4 to 6 month supply and I guess the only major difference was a few extra pieces of paper.

Me: Hold on! What exactly constitutes a 4 to 6 month supply of NUCLEAR weapons?

Quote Of The Day.

I can't believe that lady gave you lip after you told her to leave. You're the deputy! Next time just break out the tazer and show her what the law truly feels like.

You Don't Always Get What You Want.

Pissed Off Lady #1: He just skirts the system and never gets in jail.

Me: Ma'am if you can show me where being irresponsible dumbass who can't hold a job is reason enough to send someone to jail I'll gladly ask for it.


I agree some jail time would be a good attitude adjuster for the guy, but I need more reasoning than, "He should go to jail so he'll get his life in shape!"

The Eyes Say It All.

This is DogHound's say of saying, "No one loves me. I haven't been petted in 5 minutes." Needy little bugger isn't he?

I Can't Wait For Dr. Jones To Come Back.

T-minus 3 days until the new Indiana Jones movie. I'm so stoked! I am so stoked that I'm afraid the movie won't measure up to my expectations. I grew up with these movies. I've waited 19 years for this comeback. Between Indiana Jones and Batman The Dark Knight I don't really care about any other movies this summer.

PS: I hope this comeback is a wee bit better than the Die Hard comeback last year.

PPS: Indian Jones and The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull is too long a title. Indiana Jones and The Crystal Skull would work so much better.

PPPS: Thanks to janiejane for the reminder! How could I have forgotten about The X-Files sequel as well? I hate to say this since I loved early X-Files, but I've only seen the movie once. It didn't make that huge an impression on me. On the other hand anthing that gets David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson on the big screen I'm all for.

A Mustang Convertible Would Be Perfect.

Courtesy of janiejane at So many books reviews.

You Should Spend Your Summer on a Road Trip

For you, the summer is all about possibilities. And you're not going to be tied down. This is the time for you to embark on an epic road trip, with no ultimate destination in mind. You know you'll have a ton of crazy adventures... at least until you run out of cash!

Where Should You Spend Your Summer?

If I Didn't Get Over 30 Miles Per Gallon I Would Be Hurting Even More!

I'm one of those guys who keeps track of his gas mileage. I just filled up and out of curiosity was curious how much I've spent on gas this May. With the long commute between Big City and Small Town I'm spending around $10/day on gasoline alone.

Yet another reason I'm in favor of regional rapid transit.

To Be Fall

You Belong in Fall

Intelligent, introspective, and quite expressive at times... You appreciate the changes in color, climate, and mood that fall brings Whether you're carving wacky pumpkins or taking long drives, autumn is a favorite time of year for you

What Season Are You?

I love the colors. I love the brisk breezes.

Things I Need To Know Ahead Of Time.

Court staff: Oh he's not coming to the hearing Wolfrham. He'll never be in court again.

Me: Why not?

Court staff: He died 2 months ago.

Me: Oh! I wish someone would have told me that earlier.

The Fraggles Are Coming! The Fraggles Are Coming!

Strangely enough during a long road trip Fraggle Rock did enter our conversation. I'm not sure I would go to a feature length movie full of the buggers though. If only I could dance my cares away. Life would be so much simpler.

Quote Of The Day.

Playing music is supposed to be fun. It's about heart, it's about feelings, moving people, and something beautiful, and it's not about notes on a page. I can teach you notes on a page, I can't teach you that other stuff.
- Mr. Glenn Holland
Mr. Holland's Opus

Mother Nature Does Not Like Mother's Day.

Cold, windy, heavy showers. What a mucky Mother's Day. At least Mama Hart enjoyed her lunch. No movies to enjoy though. We looked through everything and nothing looked good.

Quote Of The Day.

Yeah it's a little hard to do work when the fire department evacuates you to the lawn.

The First Rule Of The Checkbook.

Friday: get direct deposit of paycheck.
Saturday and Sunday: write checks.
Monday: realize most of the pay check is already gone.

Between paying paying taxes, football ticket season renewal, rent, a MasterCard full of gas receipts and one splurge on a real digital camera, one oil change, license plate renewal, and who knows what else my checking account is feeling extremely violated these past 30 days.

I'm really hoping there aren't any more large or surprise bills coming in the next few months. I was hoping I got away from the bad old days of living paycheck to paycheck.

Philosophy Of The Day

Chuck Norris can dribble a football.

Umm...Chocolate

Courtesy of So Many Book Reviews.

What Your Taste in Chocolate Says About You

You are sophisticated, modern, and high class. Your taste is refined, but you are not picky. You are often the first to try something new. You are passionate and full of life. You fall in love easily, and you tend to have whirlwind relationships. Your passion sometimes does get the better of you. You have a crazy temper! You love being by yourself and thinking. Developing your own theories and ideas is fun. You feel lost when you're forced to be social. Being with other people can be lonely for you.

The Chocolate Oracle

Tequilla And I Created A Non-Aggression Treaty My Freshman Year.

You Are Tequila

When you drink, you're serious about getting drunk! You'll take any shot that's offered up to you... Even if it tastes like sock sweat! And you're never afraid of eating the worm.

What Alcoholic Drink Are You?

Spring Is In The Air.

It's a light thunderstorm now. A light rain with an occasional burst of thunder. It sounds nice. You smell the dampness in the air. For a few minutes I can relax. I can feel the echoes of elements. I hear the murmur of rain drops on the ground. I feel the breeze coming through the window.

I need more moments like this. A little yang to all the wrong ying.

We Should Be The Poltical Analysts On TV!

Sometimes the friends and I get political. But this response was the beauty of the email string I thought. I wish I wrote it. I wish we were on TV instead of the usual empty talking heads.

"Honestly, listening to her is like being nagged by my wife. I'm tired of seeing article after article basically saying I am a cro-Magnon knuckle dragger for not being a male Dem willing to support Hillary.

Look, how could I not be Obama, I fit all the groups. I have a (useless) education [he's an attorney], I like brie, wine and the idea of San Francisco. However, I can bowl and can probably consume more beer in one sitting than Obama has had in 20 years."

The Obvious Problem.

Clerk: I think is worth doing criminal [charges] on.

Me: I agree, but we need to find the guy first or there's no point!


Sometimes I'm just the pragmatist.

Wolfrham The Vampire. Leave The Slayer At Home Please.

You Could Be a Vampire... If You Had To

Like most people, the thought of being a vampire has crossed your mind. But you're not sure if you'd do it, even if you could. Living forever doesn't sound half bad, if you could live forever with the people you love the most. But do vampires even love? And would the vampire version of you even be you? It's all too much to contemplate. Luckily, the chances of you ever becoming a vampire are astronomically low. What you would like best about being a vampire: Living forever What you would like least about being a vampire: Blood stained teeth

Could You Be a Vampire?

Home Improvement Is Such A Pain.

Especially when the pliers slip from the leaky facuet and snap the webbing between your thumb and palm.

If you ever wanted to know how loud I can drop the F-bomb, the answer is VERY LOUD!

The Burden Of My Life Is To See And Speak Of Things Others Won't.

You Are Disturbingly Profound

You're contemplative, thoughtful, and very intense. Taking time to figure out the meaning of life is a priority for you. Because you're so introspective, you often react in ways that surprise people. No one can really understand how you are on the inside... and that disturbs them.

Are You Disturbingly Profound or Profoundly Disturbing?

Spring vs Long Working Hours.

I spend a lot of time at work. I don't want to, but I have to just to try and keep up with our paperwork. The reality is we need at least one more attorney and two more assistants, and the space to house them. Yet those who rule Small Town and the surrounding areas won't do that. I stay late and sometimes come in on a weekend. I've learned to pay attention to the network broadcast messages. I've been very annoyed when I come in on a weekend only to discover the database is down for backup. That database is the key to my job. I literally can't do anything without it. In some ways it is a blessing. Many lawyers take work home with them. For me that isn't even an option. Of course working from home isn't an option either so it cuts both ways.

Yet now Spring has finally sprung. We've had a warm sunny week. I see convertibles with their tops down, and motorcylces on the road. In the winter it wasn't so bad doing 10 or 11 hour work days at times. At least I really had no where else to go. Now I don't want to be in the office at all. I want to recharge my soul outside.

Since a few trials are going on it's been a fairly light week for me. For the entire week I'll barely hit double digits with the number of hearings I had to do. Once I was sure the taxes were paid I stayed late yesterday and today. Without other hearings to prep for and once the office shuts down it's amazing how much work I can get done. No phone calls to deal with, no one wants to chit-chat, and the general public isn't let in the building. Amazing how my job is the greatest distraction from getting work done! I really work two schedules. The first schedule is during working hours and I get done what others want done. The second schedule is after working hours and I get done what I want to work on.

I can't go into the office this weekend. That database is down again. Good, for once I'll enjoy the weekend. Yet I see next week as all 11 hour days. If I commit to one grinding, horrific week I may finally get those files out of my office. I've tried it before, but it's hard to maintain such a grinding schedule. The hour drive from Big City to Small Town is a deterrence. The winter weather was sometimes a deterrence. The sheer exhaustion of such a long schedule is a deterrence.

I have to do it. The people need their cases worked on. They have no idea how much work we put in to try to give them what they want. Or at least try to give them what they need. For once I wish we would get a thank you. I'll settle for the deadbeats and dumbasses just doing what they're told to do. That would make things easier.

I've wandered off my thoughts for this post. I'm way too tired and I know I want to put 10 hours in tomorrow. Have a good night folks.

Tax Day. Ugh!

This is the most complicated tax year I've ever had. Given I was unemployed and looking for a job you would think I wouldn't owe any taxes. WRONG! I converted my retirement next eggs to a Roth IRA and if you ever took a tax class you know what that means: ordinary income! With 401Ks, 403Bs, and ordinary IRAs the government taxes you when you make your withdrawals. When you convert that to a Roth IRA the government wants their tax money NOW! It's a fair deal when you remember the growth and withdrawals are tax free. Besides, given how little I earned in 2007 the tax hit should be minimal. Right?

Watching TurboTax go from a refund amount to a payment amount hurt. The only thing that helped me was the fact that student loan interest is tax deductible. It wiped off $400 from my bill. I don't believe I've ever owed the Feds any money so this is a first.

The State decided to play too. I coughed up a lung when I saw what I owed them. In fact since I owed over $400 the State is allowed to tack on a $10 penalty for insufficent tax payment during the year. Hey why not pour more salt into this wound bitches? Isn't it enough penalty to pay you money in the first place?

I could just mail in a check, but I would have to print off a form. Oh wait, my old printer won't talk to my new laptop. Even after I find a Vista compatible driver online it won't install. I swear Vista is a computer virus, not an operating system! I could pay by credit card online. Oh wait, they would charge me a 3% fee. I'm not paying 3% extra just to file online! I could have the government do a direct debit out of my checking account. Oh wait, that might work! Good thing I anticipated having to owe some money this year. Who needs a reserve in their finances anyway? Just hand it all over to the government yeah! */end sarcasm*

Can someone explain to me why TurboTax charges me a fee to file online? Shouldn't that be included in the purchase price of the software?

Oh well it's all over now at least. The government vampires should be gone for another 9 months are so. At least THIS YEAR I plan on working full time the entire year on a real job and having taxes withdrawn. I want my refund again.

Why Do I Hear Jazz In The Background On This Walk?

Now someone can attribute to me, if more than two people knew about this blog.

What Your City Walk Means

You are thoughtful and contemplative. You enjoy spending time alone with your thoughts. You are generally confident and friendly with strangers. You are well mannered and sociable. Money is not important to you at all. In fact, you tend to reject material concerns. You are curious about ideas. If you had the means, you'd like to explore the whole world.

The City Walk Personality Test

Movies Are My Life

When I copy I like to attribute. Thanks again to Janiejane at So Many Book Reviews. I have to admit I've never seen any of those movies before. My life has to be a tragic comedy though. My dark humor is the only thing that gets me through the day with all the deadbeats and dumbasses I deal with.

The Movie Of Your Life Is A Black Comedy

In your life, things are so twisted that you just have to laugh. You may end up insane, but you'll have fun on the way to the asylum. Your best movie matches: Being John Malkovich, The Royal Tenenbaums, American Psycho

If Your Life Was a Movie, What Genre Would It Be?

Final Four Is Set And I'm Still In The Hunt

UCLA vs Memphis and North Carolina vs Kansas. Okay I had Kansas and UCLA in my pool so I'm still alive. I can't believe all #1 seeds make it to the Final Four. That simply doesn't happen. I wonder how much money I could have made if I bet one dollar on that before the tourney started?

As long as UCLA wins I have a shot at the pool.

UPDATE: 14:16 to go and UCLA is still down by 9 points. Oh this is going to hurt!

UPDATE PART DUEX: Yep that hurt. I'm out of the pool now.

Modern Dating Sucks.

*The sound of a record needle sliding off a vinyl record.*

"I'm sorry, did you say your husband wouldn't like that? I know it's April Fools but you seriously shouldn't joke about that."

It wasn't a joke. One of my biggest rules in dating is I don't date anyone who is married or getting a divorce. If the divorce has been final for awhile that's different. Gah!

I'm Not Quite Dr. Gregory House-like Yet.

I hate to say this, but it's true!!!

You Are 61% Misanthropic

Here's the truth: Most people suck. You are just lucky enough to know it. You're not ready to go live alone in a cave - but you're getting there.

How Misanthropic Are You?

Where's That Damn Diploma?

Since the full time job seems pretty stable I thought about decorating my office. Unlike many compatriots I believe in a fairly sparse office. However I'm not opposed to a few personalizing touches. Since I'm finally a real lawyer I could display the appropriate diploma.

One problem is that I can't find the damn thing!

I thought I placed in a cheap frame to finally get it out of the cardboard tube the school gave me. I thought maybe I finally put it on a wall around my home. It appears I was wrong. I was very ashamed of that piece of paper during my job hunt. I felt incredibly unworthy of it. I was quite mad at it. That diploma was a physical manifestation of a horrible time at school and a worse time looking for a job.

Yet thanks to the initial part-time job and the current full-time job there are people that have never known me to not be an attorney. I'm slowly feeling like a lawyer. A very inexperienced, unsure of himself attorney, but an attorney nonetheless. Some people look at me for legal advice. They are so screwed, but hey I offer my opinion.

So where's that damn diploma? I need it on the wall to keep some screwups in their place.

I Think This One Is Wrong.

Courtesy of JanieJane at So Many Book Reviews. I do respond to impulses, but no one would say I'm overall an impulsive person. I plan things out and account for lots of flexibility in my plans!

Your Mind is Red

Of all the mind types, yours is the most impulsive. If you think it, you do it. And you can get the bug to pursue almost any passion. Your thoughts are big and bold. Your mind has no inhibitions. You tend to spend a lot of time thinking about love, your dreams, and distant places.

What Color Is Your Mind?

Cool Science Facts.

Just learned this on The Universe. The planet Saturn as a hexagonal shaped feature at it's north pole. Imagine a hurricane shaped like a hexagon, a perfect hexagon! It could fit four Earths in the game, and is sixty miles deep.

DAMN!

Do You Get The Feeling "The Book Of Teal'c" Would Be A Dark Read?

Teal'c: Nothing I have done since turning against the Goa'uld will make up for the atrocities I once committed in their name. Somewhere deep inside you you knew it was wrong, a voice you did not recognize screamed for you to stop. You saw no way out, it was the way things were, they could not be changed. You're trying to convince yourself the people you're hurting deserved it. You became numb to their pain and suffering, you learned to shut out the voice speaking against it.

Tomin: There's always a choice.

Teal'c: Indeed there is.

Tomin: I chose to ignore it.

Teal'c: Yet you sit here now.

Tomin: I sit here, and I cannot imagine the day when I will forgive myself.

Teal'c: Because it will never come. One day others may try to convince you they have forgiven you, that is more about them than you. For them, imparting forgiveness is a blessing.

Tomin: How do you go on?

Teal'c: It is simple. You will never forgive yourself. Accept it. You hurt others, many others, that cannot be undone. You will never find personal retribution, but your life does not have to end. That which is right, just and true can still prevail. If you do not fight for what you believe in all may be lost for everyone else. But do not fight for yourself, fight for others, others that may be saved through your effort. That is the least you can do.



If you're a Stargate fan, then I give The Ark Of Truth dvd two thumbs up. Go rent or buy it now please.

I Know Who I Am.

Your Intrapersonal Intelligence Score: 80%

Your Intrapersonal Intelligence is High You have a great understanding of who you are, and your place in the world. You know what path you're on. And you are excited about your future. You're always deepening your inner knowledge and introspection. And enjoying it every step of the way.

How Does Your Intrapersonal Intelligence Rate?

The Incredible Edible Egg!

What Your Easter Egg Says About You

You are responsible, loyal, and a true leader. You are able to pick up the slack when needed... And you never feel resentful for helping others. You are a true friend. You enjoy knowing that people can count on you.

The Easter Egg Personality Test

March Madness Baby!

Normally I take great pride in my NCAA Tourney picks. This year is a problem. I didn't see much basketball so I'm not familiar with how a lot of teams played. I think the NCAA gave North Carolina and Texas golden roads to the Final Four by allowing those teams to have two weekends in their home states.

Last year had so many upsets I think I overcompensated. Not many upsets at all. In fact I have two #2 seeds (Tennessee, Texas) and two #1 seeds (UCLA, Kansas) in the Final Four. I see Kansas as the weakest team, but unless Kent State does a major upset I simply don't see anyone else who can beat them before the Final Four.

Aside from one clerk no one in the office seems to care about having a pool. The clerk and I will talk some smack and wager $5 and bragging rights. I feel like crap on these picks, but I'm saying UCLA over Tennessee for the national championship.

We'll see how I do in a month.

Happy Multinational Irish Day?

The best St. Patrick's Day celebration was in a German bar. Go figure. Irish beer combined with German bratwurst. Ummmm!!! The only problem was the faux-Mexican afterwards. Taco Hell sounded like a good idea at the time. It was a great killer of hunger. It also felt like death on the ride back home! Booze and Taco Hell just don't mix together like they used to. For fifteen minutes I felt as if a lead balloon was implanted in my stomach.

I'm getting too old for this. Rather, I'm out of practice. I need to drink more often to get my conditioning back.

Spring Forward My Ass!

I love the extra hour of daylight for the drive home, but now the drive to Small Town will be in the dark. The fact is screwed up my sleep cycle won't help. I just know I woke up at Oh Dark Thirty.

Where's my coffee?

Going In Early Was A Bad Idea.

It simply prolonged the torture. I have three types of files: Easy, Hard, WTF! Today was nothing but the third type.

The good news was I'm starting to figure things out enough that I can resolves problems I run into. The bad news is every time I had a solution I ran into another problem. I should be happy I managed to get a few files out of the office, but DAMN it looks like I used a teaspoon to dig into a mountain.

I Think I'm More Vorlon Than Anything Else.

Which sci-fi crew would you best fit in with? (pics) created with QuizFarm.com

You scored as Babylon 5 (Babylon 5) The universe is erupting into war and your government picks the wrong side. How much worse could things get? It doesn’t matter, because no matter what you have your friends and you'll do the right thing. In the end that will be all that matters. Now if only the Psi Cops would leave you alone. Babylon 5 (Babylon 5) 88% FBI's X-Files Division (The X-Files) 88% Deep Space Nine (Star Trek) 81% SG-1 (Stargate) 75% Moya (Farscape) 69% Galactica (Battlestar: Galactica) 69% Serenity (Firefly) 69% Nebuchadnezzar (The Matrix) 56% Enterprise D (Star Trek) 56% Millennium Falcon (Star Wars) 38% Andromeda Ascendant (Andromeda) 31% Heart of Gold (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy) 25% Bebop (Cowboy Bebop) 25%

Can Cheesehead Survive?

Brett Farve decided to retire today. I should call my Packer friend and see if his body is now located in a Wisconsin snow bank.

Ice. Why Did It Have To Be Ice?

I can handle snow. I can deal with cold and brisk winds. Ice is the most dangerous expression of winter. In some ways I like the sound of ice hitting the windows. I like looking at the normal things covered in ice. I do hate driving in the ice. I do hate driving with others in the ice.

Ice is wonderful as long as you're inside and don't need to be in the middle of it.

Paying The Bills With The New Salary.

*Puts down the pen, checkbook, and roll of stamps.*

Money. It comes in and it goes out, yet I get no enjoyment from it. Sounds like a Coors.

This Monday Just Plain Sucked!

The only way I can explain today is nothing went right and it was a battle to get anything accomplished. Computer problems, unscheduled hearings, printer problems, having to do work for the old job I transferred out of, co-worker problems, and more!

I went in yesterday (yes a Sunday) to get two stacks of files prepped. Since I had nothing on the calendar I honestly thought I would blow through the two piles and get them out of my office. How wrong I was. I barely got through half of the first pile.

Some days it doesn't pay to get out of bed.

Even The President Doesn't Get Mail Today.

All those bills I wrote checks for last night should have gone out today. Oh wait, it's President's Day so the mail lady isn't making her rounds.

I had to work today, you think the post office would as well. Ya right.

As long as that bitch VISA gets her money I'll be fine. I hate late fees. I really hate them.

I Knew It Was Too Good To Be True!

I'm sorry I haven't posted much lately. I've been insanely busy with work. The hour commute to Small Town doesn't help. The weekends I've either been out of town or sick. It's just been a busy time. Very few hours aren't committed to something.



I also had one other distraction. We started to date a few years ago, then she gave me the let's just be friends speech. I decided I wanted nothing to do with her and that was that. Back in January I restarted my online personal ad. I wasn't sure if I really wanted to do that, but I figured why not. She responded to my ad again. She said she thought of me the past 2 years and was curious if I wanted to reply.



We had some fun. We had a lot in common. I was patient with her slow get to know you process. The truth is she was awesome and I was pissed when suddenly she changed course and game me the let's be friends speech. I replied to her email.



We've meet a few times during the weeknights. Long enough to have a meal or do a quick activity. However she's a early to bed person so she started turning into a pumpkin around 8:30. Fair enough since everyone had to work the next mornings. I wasn't feeling any chemistry or vibes but she had such a weird style I wasn't sure if I should be concerned by that.

At this point we've gone out a few times in a month, but I'm no closer to figuring out what she wants. Is she wanting to be friends first and see if I'm "the one" or is this her slow steady style again. Of course she could just want me as a friend period. I finally just asked her. Nope she wants me just as a friend. "Couldn't you tell?" Given her screwy slow system and whatever weirdo rules involved in dating now, honestly no.

At least I have certainty. I know I don't really need to invest any energy into her. I just wish I wasn't a friend. She's way too great to be a friend. Cie la vie indeed. I knew it was too early to get back into the dating scene. Too much chaos at work, too much time involved there, and too much VISA debt. Yeah this sucks no matter what.

I Didn't Mean To Be Dead!

I'm doing insane hours to try to tidy up my job and try to have a head up on the new position. I want my old files to be as done as possible so no one has to touch them for a bit. Part time my ass! Whatever sickness I had I passed onto the Fabulously Gay Roommate. He's call in dead since Monday afternoon. Everyone seems to have this death germ.

Somehow I got the death germ back. Thursday I was so nonfunctional I simply slept once I got home. I thought I was better Friday morning, but the long drive down to Small Town proved me wrong. I was dying. I had fever and chills, along with a wonderful cough. I wanted to last until my one afternoon hearing, but I couldn't make it that far. I left before lunch and wanted to die.

My goal the past few days has been to sleep or rest as much as possible and to do as little work as possible. Given how crappy I felt this was an easy plan to do. I even found The Black Hole on tv. Oh dear that movie sucks once you account for all the scientific inaccuracies. I didn't believe it was possible to get tired doing nothing, but I needed a nap after that movie.

I think I turned the corner today, but I'm still going to rest as much as possible. I want to watch the SuperBowl and pray for a Giants victory over the evil Patriots. At least I'm able to eat solid food again. I want to know how the human body can produce gas with so little solid matter breaking down my intestines. Sounds like a job for the Mythbusters.

There Better Be A Payoff Soon.

I'm getting ready to transition into the other position. What's happening is I'm really working two jobs it seems! I shadow the person I'm replacing to observe those hearings while trying to do my own job. I've put in tons of overtimes to get my files up to shape before they're handed off to others or whoever they get to replace me. For a part time position I've been putting in more hours than anyone else there since after Thanksgiving.

I need a break soon or I'm burning out before I get transferred.

They See Me As Worthy!

The office in Small Town is going to have some turnover. Some of this was expected, but some was not. I didn't see any of this affecting me. I was wrong. For once I'm glad I was wrong. The bosses pow-wowed a bit and did some horse swapping. I'm going from a part time position that I work full time for already to a full time position. Hey I'll be getting paid for more of the hours I actually work! I'll even get benefits! I haven't had benefits in 5 years. I haven't had a vacation in 5 years. I haven't contributed to a retirement fund in 5 years.

Crap I've been royally screwed for 5 years!

Is this what good luck feels like? Feels weird so I need to double check.

This Is Supposed To Be Part Time Right?

I don't have to come in until after lunch. Sweet! Part time my ass!!!! At least the all the trials scheduled over the past few weeks were continued for various reasons. I'll consider all the unpaid overtime as trial prep once the damn things go through.

I think I'll watch the snow gently fall for a few minutes.

You Are The Reason These Things Never Work.

A No-Contact Order means NO FRIGGIN' CONTACT between the two parties. The problem is they're only one way contracts really. "Man shall not have contact with woman." What it really needs to say is, "You two need to stay away from each other. Period! Don't be weak and invite him back into your life."

I thought I had some leverage. The scumbag already had one case so I'm happy to see Invasion Of Privacy by violating a No Contact Order. Of course, some facts don't make it into the police report.

1. She invited him back into the apartment a few weeks ago.
2. They got into a verbal argument. I admit that's an improvement. No fists were involved this time.
3. Suddenly she realizes she has a No-Contact Order against him and the police can be called.

Sometimes victims are their own worse enemy. Sometimes victims know how to play the system. Sometimes victims leave out inconvenient facts when they talk with me. I don't mind a judge berating some bitch who wants to have it both ways. I do mind being yelled at for something that isn't my fault and I have no control over.

I'm not taking it personally, but I'm not happy about it either.

Such A Waste.

The Fabulously Gay Roommate tends to forget where he places things. Items such as cordless phones, his watch, his glasses, and other small items are found all over the place. This morning after I got out of the shower I found a coffee mug full over coffee on the kitchen counter. The steaming hot mug was next to the coffee maker and somehow he forgot to take the mug with him.

I wonder about FGR sometimes. What a waste of coffee!

Just Play What's On The Page.

LSU vs. Ohio State. I hope for the best, but I expect the Buckeyes to be down by 3 touchdowns by the 2nd quarter. This will by yet another boring BCS game to end the year.

I have a problem with the national anthem: no one actually plays it at a televised sporting event. It's always a funky version the band plays and the singer sings. Just find a good version and play what's on the page please. I want my national anthem quick, angry, and bombastic!

That is all.

Happy New Years

2007: the year that was.

Underemployed or unemployed for the vast majority of it. Quite frankly I was about to give up hope. My job hunt wasn't producing results at all. Even after putting the career consultant's fee onto my VISA I still seemed to have nothing but back luck. Living on $150 at a time on small jobs just wasn't working.

October I finally get a break and a job offer. It's a very imperfect job, but at least it's in my field. It's a good resume builder job. The pay sucks, but at least I won't slip any further in debt. The last few months have been hell just learning my job. I fear I've forgotten so much of my legal education. At least I'm learning something useful.

With luck 2008 will be the year I get to put my life back together. This is the first New Years where I have a hopeful outlook. It isn't based on a prayer that things have to get better, but the fact that finally some things are going my way.

2008: cautiously optimistic.

Die, Patriots, Die!

I hate them. Nearly everyone in football hates them. The Giants put up more fight than anyone expected, but those damn Patriots are still 16-0. Cheaters! Who did they videotape this season? Brady doesn't deserve the touchdown record. Unworthy! The man has no honor. All he does is date supermodels and knock them up.

Boston has used up all it's sports sympathy. Oh we hadn't won a World Series in forever. Whoopee, they still had those damned Patriots the last decade. The Red Sox won and one city should not be allowed to have multiple championships in one year.

The Jaguars are a very physical team. With luck they'll break Tom Brady's leg and tear Randy Moss in half.

Some Filing Systems Don't Work Well.

Boss comes into my office.

Boss: Wolfrham, do you have the such and such file?

Me: Yeah it's in that file cabinet.

Boss starts thumbing through the drawer looking for the file.

Boss: How do you find anything in here?

Me: It's all alphabetical order.

Boss: No wonder I can never find anything. I don't understand your filing system.

Me: The alphabet?

What Happened To All The Snow?

Last weekend we get around 8 inches of snow. This weekend it's in the 50s temperature wise. Somehow I doubt we're having a white Christmas by Tuesday. It's just too weird to walk downtown in Big City and be comfy in short sleeves. At least short sleeves for only a few minutes is comfy.

Only within the last few days have I wanted to hear Christmas music. It's Christmas, but I never seem to really get into the mood for the holiday. I love the time off, but it's not a very special day for me. I don't know why. I do like seeing the lights on other homes and around town. The Salvation Army bells always bring a smile. Even though I was insanely poor this year I try to put in a few coins. No matter how bad it was for me lots of people had it worse.

While I may not get into the spirit of Christmas at least I understand it.

The Good News About Snow & Ice.

At least the waves of snow and ice came on a weekend instead of before a Monday rush hour. The street crews had a few hours to push the snow and ice out of the way so I made it to the mall to finish up my Christmas shopping. I swear it was half as fun the week before Christmas as it normally is. SWEET! Most of my dad's gifts I ordered online, but my mom's gifts require shopping in person.

At least it is done now. I shall rest.

Shiny New Toy.

The new laptop is sweet! It arrived about a week ago. What can I say about it? It works! Just having a functional computer that I can use is a nice change of pace compared to the last month or so. The fact it runs modern software is nice. Modern antivirus softwares are such system hogs the old laptop couldn't handle it. Now I can run a scan in the background and continue on with my work and online play.

I haven't had a chance to see how fast it is yet. Word docs open up pretty quickly though. Perhaps I'll load up a game around Christmas and blow stuff up quickly. The biggest was figuring out how to hook up my old printer. New laptops don't have parallel ports anymore. Luckily Printer/USB converter cables do exist. At $15 quite a steal too. Now why did the printer driver load up in Spanish?

How Not To Start A Trial.

I hate having a jury trial dumped in my lap with slightly more than 2 weeks notice. Oh great. The last time I did a trial was my trial prep class a few years ago. On the plus side I've been teamed up with a senior attorney. I have help and guidance through this journey. Am I nervous? Hell yes! Do I know what I'm doing? Hell no!

Needless to say I would like to think I would have prepped a few things in the file differently had I been given it earlier. I would like to think I would have gotten some evidence ahead of time. Getting medical records is a pain. Do we need an actual medical witness or can we just use the records? Getting a medical witness around the holiday season is beyond pain. Many doctors love to take long vacations this time of year.

Why the hell did this case not plead? Is there any legitimate reason that will allow me to get a continuance until after the holidays? Bloody hell what are the rules of evidence again? Oh this will be a learning experience, but can I get some justice out of it?

Special Powers Can Be So Much Fun.

It's always good to have dinner with friends in downtown Big City. Working in Small Town is nice, but it has no friggin' culture at all. We left the Irish pub stuffed from Shepard's Pie and beer. Some of us, those without children, decided to head up a few blocks to a martini bar. The cold November air was nice. It made a nice counterpoint to my slightly beered up and warm condition.

Our conversation went something like this:
Friend: So Wolfrham congrats on the job. Does this mean you can arrest people now?

Me: Yeah, one of my special powers is that I CAN ARREST PEOPLE NOW!

About 10 feet in front of us two young black males, age 18-25, stopped what they were doing and looked around. The three of us walked right by.

Me: OMG! Did those two black guys just stop when I said I can arrest people?

Friend: YES! That was pretty cool. You should say that again loudly so we can see what people likely are troublemakers.

Christmas Comes The Day After Thanksgiving.

I bought my laptop before going back to school. It was a factory refurbished model to save a little money. The laptop is well over 5 years old and I wouldn't be surprised it it was 6 years old. In laptop years that is ancient. A 800 MHz Celeron with 384 MB of RAM (memory) simply can't handle modern antivirus software or modern webpages. If I could run an antivirus program without bringing the laptop to a grinding halt I would try to postpone buying a new laptop. The money isn't quite there for a decent replacement.

However what was 'old reliable' in law school is now quickly dying. While Dells kept dying among my classmates my Gateway hummed along. This week I had to salvage my data to an external hard drive and reformat and reinstall Windows. This is the second time in six months I've done that. While not chattering currently, I hear the hard drive chattering excessively this week. A few times this week Windows has booted up and shut down in the span of an hour instead of a few minutes. The Gateway is on life support even with my best tricks.

The internet is a beautiful thing. I brought up the websites for Gateway, Dell, and HP. Laptop shopping is like shopping for a car: you'll never get a true apples to apples comparison. It took some time but I managed to configure a laptop from each that was roughly the same. The Gateway I liked ended up $200 more than the HP. The Dell I created was $50 more than the HP. The HP had what I viewed as a superior processor, a new Core 2 Duo from Intel. It was the slowest version of that most current chip, but it is the most current tech out there. The HP had a separate video card with 128MB RAM so it wouldn't share memory with the system. A free upgrade to a 120GB hard drive. Built-in wireless LAN, USB 2.0 ports, and 2GB RAM so Microsuck Windows Vista will run nicely. Holy crap it was a great laptop! I'm amazed at the amount of hardware you can get for well under $1,000 these days. Even with shipping and handling it's still a 3 figure deal.

The killer part is my parents decided to make it my Christmas present. I was speechless. I give my parents grief at times. They love me but don't understand how my world works. The legal world and my life is so different than their simpler world. But they love me and they want to see me happy. I wish I could say a material possession like a new laptop isn't the key to my happiness, but right now it is. Thanks Mom and Dad.

Black Friday

No way in Hell am I going out near a shopping mall or a strip mall with a large big box like Best Buy or Buy More today.

Shopping online is my friend.

I Already Knew I Was Going To Hell

The Dante's Inferno Test has banished you to the Fifth Level of Hell!
Here is how you matched up against all the levels:

Level	Score
Purgatory (Repenting Believers)	Very Low
Level 1 - Limbo (Virtuous Non-Believers)	Very Low
Level 2 (Lustful)	Very High
Level 3 (Gluttonous)	Very High
Level 4 (Prodigal and Avaricious)	Low
Level 5 (Wrathful and Gloomy)	Very High
Level 6 - The City of Dis (Heretics)	High
Level 7 (Violent)	High
Level 8- the Malebolge (Fraudulent, Malicious, Panderers)	High
Level 9 - Cocytus (Treacherous)	High

Take the Dante's Inferno Hell Test

Springing Around

Yet I love autumn as well. The pretty colors, football, and all. However I do love spring because it means winter is over.

Your Power Element is Wood

Your power colors: green and brown Your energy: generative Your season: spring Like a tree, you are always growing and changing. And while your life is dynamic, you are firmly grounded. You have high morals and great confidence in yourself and others. You have a wide set of interests, and you make for intersting company.

What's Your Power Element?

The Dark Side

Ugh. I feel like I've been hit from 20 different directions for the past few days. My time is not my own. I realized that going in, but to actually live it is a eye opening experience. Random phone calls, random pieces of paper, random extra files just pop out of nowhere. Instead of being paid as an attorney I should be paid as a fireman. I've been putting out lots of fires lately.

For some reason one judge is most unfriendly to the types of cases I handle. Everyone says he's a great judge, but he isn't the most understanding person for certain things. Of course those are the things I handle. Who knew he was a firestarter? Friday he let me know he had a problem with a case. The case didn't have a real problem; it simply ruffled his feathers. I would get one chance to fix the problem. Judicial discretion, what a pain! It took a lot of sleuthing, but I found my victim. I hoped my victim would be cooperative. My victim decided against cooperation. I understood the reasoning. Sometimes you are faced with a no-win scenario so the victim wanted to select the least worst option.

I win some, I lose some. I accept that. I hate losing before the battle begins.

It Sounds Like A Joke But Isn't.

I had to explain the new job to some friends. To truly explain the more interesting aspects of the job I gave 4 factors for my friends.

When in doubt every file has at least one, if not two, of the following:
1. Alcohol
2. Meth
3. Cocaine
4. A trailer

Monday Monday

I can't say today was a bad day. It was certainly a rough day. Things that take 15 minutes took 60 minutes. Things I've done once or twice before I completely forgot how to do today. A deposition I was covering for took twice as long as I expected.

The one file that I didn't get to last week because it was a guilty plea I got to today. About 10 minutes before the hearing I noticed the guilty plea was to a charge not originally filed. That might be okay if an amended charge was in the file, but I didn't see one. I saw some trial notes so the case looked like it was going to trial before a plea was accepted. Okay why was the accepted charge so low compared to the original charges? The attorney in that court noted that I would have to file a continuance and amend the charges. The judge lightly grilled me. I hate not having answers to questions. Thankfully defense counsel supplied a few answers. Ugh. At least no jail time is involved for this case so the defendant isn't getting screwed that way. I'm sure he just wants some finality.

"Can you fill in for a few hearings?" It sounded like a simple request. I could take notes about dates and times of the next hearings. Oh wait here's a surprise probation violation with the probation officer here. I'm so glad the defense lawyers do most of the work in the hearings. I'm hoping my deer in the headlights look wasn't too obvious.

I've never cross edited two documents at the same time before. After 3 or 4 hardcopies I managed to get both docs straightened out. It didn't help they were the same motion for 2 different cases.

Mondays just suck sometimes.

Nerd Test

What Be Your Nerd Type? Your Result: Science/Math Nerd   (Absolute Insane Laughter as you pour toxic chemicals into a foaming tub of death!) Well, maybe you aren't this extreme, but you're in league with the crazy scientists/mathmeticians of today. Very few people have the talent of math and science is something takes a lot of brains as well. Thank whosever God you worship, or don't worship, so thank no deity whatsoever in your case, for you people! Most of us would have died off without your help.
Social Nerd
Literature Nerd
Musician
Drama Nerd
Gamer/Computer Nerd
Anime Nerd
Artistic Nerd
What Be Your Nerd Type? Quizzes for MySpace

Call Me Spock

You Should Be a Mechanic

You are logical, calm, and detail oriented. You're rational when things are chaotic, and for you, reason always prevails. And while you are guided by logic, you aren't a slave to it. You're flexible when it counts. You are always open to being wrong. You do best when you: - Work with your hands - Can use tools, machines, or equipment You would also be a good architect or carpenter.

What Should You Be When You Grow Up?

A Cool Breeze.

Speaking of the new fan, it feels great in my office. A coworker thought it was a great fan. If I get the hottest office then I need the coolest fan. FYI: the low setting has he power of a jet engine. High is a mini-tornado.

Oh well back to the paperwork tomorrow.

Beer!

If I could figure out a way to embed the video I would.

Finally Some Climate Control.

My office is hot. I'm talking jungle hot. The rest of the offices have decent air conditioning. When the temps outside are below 80 my office ends up around Death Valley instead of solar surface temps. All I wanted was a fan.

Sadly those are out of season. Target, Wal-Mart, and a few other big box stores didn't have a medium-sized oscillating fan that would fit on my desk. I guess they're just summer items. On a whim I tried Fry's Electronics. They seem to have plenty of small electric devices, perhaps fans would be one of them. Fans were in the very last row.

I found one that wasn't made of plastic, but metal. For $30 it seems a very nice fan. I can't wait to try it out tomorrow. Sometimes it is the mundane things that are so important.

The Paycheck Is Not In The Mail.

A good thing too since I wrote some checks last night. Direct deposit is a beautiful thing. If I found my paycheck on the desk Monday I think something would have bounced. I wish it was a full paycheck and not a partial one. Once I know what to truly expect paywise then I can work on a budget. I'm going to take a guess that the numbers might work out okay, but the real issue will be timing of outgoing bills and incoming paychecks. I'll find out soon enough.

Day 6: A Little Bit Of Justice?

This would be my third(?) hearing. No wait, I think it was my second hearing. The guy already accepted the plea agreement so I needed to just answer a few questions and say a few major words. The judge, defense counsel, and the defendant would do most of the heavy lifting. I may be new to this real world lawyer thing, but I've been around the block a few times.

Most people say they're sorry when they get caught. This guy was different. His rehab had been going well for the year. He was on Step 8 on the 12 Step Program. Even the judge didn't know what Step 8 was since no one ever seems to get that far. The sponsoring witness remarked how much more mature and less angry the defendant was compared to the beginning of the program. Could this be the 1 in 100 guy who realizes that is downward slope in life really needs to be stopped before he hits rock bottom?

Few people live a charmed life. My own life has lots of rough patches. When looking at these people I know my life could be like theirs but for a few choices or circumstances difference. On paper I wanted to throw the book at him. I had to press for a severe punishment, but I was curious about the ruling. The judge was crafty and came up with something just and fair. He had to stay in rehab, that time would count towards his sentence, but it wasn't good time so no days off the sentence for good behavior. If he screwed up the full sentence would be imposed.

Okay sir you get a shot to better your life. I hope you make good use of your second chance.

Cutting The Safety Line.

I haven't worked since mid-June. Needless to say money is tight. When the roommate's rent check comes in I dance an Irish jig for joy. Last year I was working that first job my degree opened up for me. I was scheduled for a night job as well. I decided to work the night job as well. It would only last 4 or 5 weeks and I could use the extra money. Then the day job disappeared through no fault of my own. Stupid non-profits never have good cash flow. I was suddenly very happy to have that night job. It was a good safety line to have some cash coming in.

In a twist of fate I was scheduled to work that same temp night job again starting Thursday night. I'm not certain what hours and days my upcoming new day job will have, but I'm pretty certain I couldn't get to the night job by 5:30. It starts at 5:30 and there is no way around that. They're very draconian in many ways. I admit it: I'm paranoid. Far too many times what I thought would be THE JOB was yanked out from underneath me. Sometimes after the job starts, sometimes before it started. Regardless I'm tired of being yanked around as if I were the chew toy to the fates.

Day job should be my first real start in my legal career. Their funding is secure (relatively speaking) and provided I learn quickly and don't screw things up my job should be secure as well (relatively speaking, security is ultimately a illusion we delude ourselves with). Yet I was very nervous calling the night job to let them know I wouldn't be starting. I explained that I found a new day job and there was no reasonable way I could get to their place by 5:30. All true and the lady congratulated me for my good luck getting the job. The night job doesn't really need me since they have a few hundred of us doing their grunt work. Yet that safety cord felt good to have. I always fear getting screwed over because so far I have been.

Pretraining

I have this job offer. The laptop keys are silent. The printer isn't printing off any resumes. The stamps aren't being used. The email server is not sending anything from me today. It's such a weird change of pace compared to before. I couldn't help it, but I had to check out one website. I saw a few new ads there. Both looked very interesting. Both would be full time positions. Yet I've verbally accepted this one job so I should stick to it.


It'll be a long drive to this job. I decided to do a test drive to see how long it would take and what the traffic would be like in the morning. The rush hour traffic is flowing the other direction, but there are some natural bottlenecks that slow things down. The trip is slightly less than an hour. I don't see any way to significantly reduce that time. Almost as important a question is what quality of radio will I have for such a long drive. I like the local AM station for their traffic reports. Once I get off the interstate I won't care about traffic reports. My fav FM station does surprisingly well through most of the journey until I get right into Small Town. The last five minutes are what a CD player is for!

I'll start reviewing some class notes and PMBR CDs tomorrow. I haven't touched certain areas of law since the bar exam.

The Light At The End Of The Tunnel?

He left a message on my cell phone. If a potential employer is calling back to leave a message to call him back it must be good news. Sadly I just got the potential employer's voice mail when I called back. Oh great we're playing phone tag. He was rushed when he called back, but he asked if I was still interested in the job? Naturally I said yes. It isn't as if I have any other offers. He wants me to come in next Friday for paperwork and stuff with my first official day being the following Monday.

Am I happy that I have a job offer? Yes. Am I disappointed that it's merely a part time job and one heck of a commute? Yes. Will I get good experience? Yes. Why do I sound so depressed about such good news? Simple, I've had lots of good news yanked out from me before. Will something go horribly wrong before I start? It's happened before. Will I get started working and then get screwed again in a few weeks? It's happened before. Right now I feel a cautious and weary optimism. If things go well I'll believe it when I see it. Until I start seeing positive things in my life I'm going to be weary though. If this opportunity goes through I intend to make the most of it, but I suspect it'll be a long time before I stop worrying about when the other shoe will drop.

I'm So Tired Of This.

Sorry, but the client is going with the team members they currently have. If they expand the team we'll be let you know.

Okay it wasn't phrased like that but that was the jist. Dammit give me a job even if it is a temporary position!

It's sad when the checking account gets to $64. At least there was some money in savings and a small check to deposit. How the hell can things be this bad for me?

Movie Review: The Simpsons Movie

The problem with many movies made from a TV show is they don't scale up well to movie sized plots and times. A half hour comedy is only 21 minutes once you get rid of the commercials. That and after 16 seasons The Simpsons is well past it's prime. Seasons 4, 5, and 6 are generally regarded as the high watermark of the series.

Oh dear was it disappointing. They had some funny stuff and a couple of good jokes. Just not enough of them. After the movie I felt like it would have been funnier if they condensed into a 21 minute episode. It's a shame to watch The Simpsons now. It's only a shadow of itself. You don't want to see the things you used to enjoy go, but sometimes you have to know when to say goodbye. Perhaps the time has come for Fox to finally let go of the classic.

Why Don't People Keep Their Promises?

If you're say you'll call me regardless of the outcome of the interview even though it'll be late then fucking call me. I'll settle for an email. Even if the message is, "Hey they're taking longer than we expected." I can accept an excuse if someone will just give me an excuse.

This Takes Real Talent.

"I'm sorry but the client decided to not go with all 12 members for the team so not everyone is gets the assignment."

At least that was the jist of the email. Wow I'm laid off from a job before the job even begins. That takes fucking talent. Seriously, how fucking talented am I when I can be accepted for a job, fill out the W2 and confidentiality agreement, and still be laid off 24 hours before the job begins?

What the fuck kind of luck is this?

Wunderlust

What Your Soul Really Looks Like

You are a wanderer. You constantly long for a new adventure, challenge, or eve a completely different life. You are a very grounded, responsible, and realistic person. People may not want to hear the truth from you, but they're going to get it. You believe that people see you as a bit small and insignificant. People pay more attention to you than you think. Your near future is all about change, but in very small steps. The end of the journey looks far, but it's much closer than you realize. For you, love is all about caring and comfort. You couldn't fall in love with someone you didn't trust.

Inside the Room of Your Soul

Insomnia

Sleep. Sometimes it's the only thing I crave. Times like now. I don't know why but my sleep cycle was completely trashed this weekend. Friday night, or was it really Saturday morning, I simply couldn't fall asleep. Last night I got to play counselor and the late night session worked with my insomnia too well. On the plus side when I got home at 4am I was ready to crash.

I'm hoping the sleeping pill I took an hour ago start working. I hate chemical wonders, but I need to get on a normal human schedule. Waking up at 11am isn't conducive to normal working hours.

Up late at night I wonder why I can't fall asleep. Is it too much caffiene? Was it the nap I took in the afternoon? Was it all the stress in my life, a life of unsolvable problems at the moment?

I keep yawning. That's a good sign. Let me have at least one thing that I crave in my life. Sometimes the simple things are the only things that matter.

Assault And Barkery

You know it's a bad day when your human gets your leash, walks you down your own driveway to pee on your own mailbox and you get assaulted on your way back by another dog. She came from behind so I didn't see her. She had his jaw around my neck but I have a thick neck. She couldn't really close his jaw with any pressure.

My human was startled by this shocking attack. He started shouting and coming towards us. I think my human scared the foul beast. I got out of the jaws and turned around. Crouching and growling I was ready for Round 2 with the bitch. My human picked me up and took me inside. I was a little sore and had slober all over my neck, but I was okay. I rather liked the attention the humans gave me. I'm cute. Love me, pet me.

I Need To Be The Daniel Jackson Of Languages.

Daniel Jackson to Jack O'Neill: I know 27 languages. Pick one.

Your Travel Personality Is: The Sophisticate

You're well educated and cultured, and the places you travel to reflect that. You appreciate the best art, food, architecture, and local flavor. A true traveler, you are destined to be multi-lingual and very worldly.

What's Your Travel Personality?

The Final Countdown.

I'm supposed to find out today about the BIG JOB. I'm only competing against 2 other candidates. I don't see how I can't be the one most qualified. I'll get an email later today. Here's the funny thing. I'm heading to a reception dinner tonight the next state over. A friend and I are heading over this afternoon. I'll see if I can plug my laptop into the free hotel network.

EDIT: ha ha I got to the ethernet port first. Still no email though.

EDIT: Still no email. Okay this is damned annoying.

Saturday June 16 EDIT: And yet again no damned email. Come on lady how hard is it to pick the person? The wedding festivities went well. The groom's parents have a large suite and several coolers are full of alcohol due to the groom's sister. Now this is a good time all things together. I just get anxious every 90 minutes or so and want to check my email.

EDIT: The reception was a pretty good time, but still no email. *Deep sigh*

Sunday June 17 EDIT: We're checking out of the hotel. Still no email.

Unexpected Guests.

I opened my front door to reach my mailbox. A neighbor was walking his dog, a small chihuahua that would fit in my palm. The dog wasn't leased, ran up my sidewalk, and through my open door right next to me. I was shocked. I figured it would stop to investigate me. Nope, it wanted to go inside.

I heard the pitter patter of toenails on my floor. The dog did a lap and went out my open front door.

That was just plain weird.