1/31/07
Enough Already
Stinky Food Guy now has some competition for the most irritating non-gunner. We'll call her Noisy Sandwich Girl, and she is in both my T/Th and M/W 6:00 classes. Apparently, she gets this concoction with just the guts of the sandwich and no bread. Without bread, its kinda hard to hold the damn thing together, so it is all wrapped up in paper. And as she eats she just keeps ripping and crinkling paper. I honest to god do not know how she manages to make so much freaking noise. It's like letting a puppy loose in the Sunday paper. And she is apparently oblivious to the fact that no one within a 6 seat radius can hear a damn thing while she is chowing down. Good thing I'm a 3L and don't really care what happens in class anymore. And at least her sandwich isn't stinky.
1/30/07
Tip of the Day: Don't Chew Gum in Court
I attended a motion hearing yesterday. One of the attorneys on the other side was chomping on gum the entire time. This was not a young attorney--he was probably in his late 40's. It was very unprofessional and gave the impression that he just didn't care that much about the proceeding.
The hearing was in the court that I interned in during my 1L summer. I am probably more comfortable in that courtroom than any other I have ever been in, because I had the run of the place during that summer. There was no office space for interns, so we did our research from the computer at the bench and took over counsel tables to review files. (It was kinda fun when attorneys would walk in and wonder why "some kid" was sitting at the bench--especially if they did not know the judge.)
But my judge was not re-elected, so it was strange to see someone new sitting on the bench. The bailiffs were the same and gave me big hugs, but the rest of the staff replaced by the new judge. It was kind of sad.
The hearing was in the court that I interned in during my 1L summer. I am probably more comfortable in that courtroom than any other I have ever been in, because I had the run of the place during that summer. There was no office space for interns, so we did our research from the computer at the bench and took over counsel tables to review files. (It was kinda fun when attorneys would walk in and wonder why "some kid" was sitting at the bench--especially if they did not know the judge.)
But my judge was not re-elected, so it was strange to see someone new sitting on the bench. The bailiffs were the same and gave me big hugs, but the rest of the staff replaced by the new judge. It was kind of sad.
1/24/07
They say it's your birthday...
...it's my birthday too, yeah.*
I turned 27 today. At least if you use my new style of math where you start going backward the year you are supposed to turn 30.
I worked from 8:30 until 2:00, picked the kids up at 3:00, read con law till 4:30, left to to the kid swap and have dinner w/ DH at 5:00, gulped down average BBQ from the joint across the street from school and was sitting in con law from 6:00-7:15. Back home by 8:00, where I vegged on the sofa and ate a yummy chocolate cake that DH baked. I would say the day kinda sucked, but after the last two years, it was a great.
The bad part is that the above schedule is pretty much my life now, except that most nights I don't get home till 10. Work has gotten better, but I think they want more than I can give. I don't even have time to get my reading done for classes, and I feel like I never see the kids. I feel like something needs to give, but I don't know what. I would quit my job, but right now it is my best prospect for a permanent position. I can't slack off at school because I don't have a guaranteed position, and I have to keep my grades up. My down time is the weekend, but I have to work in 30 hours of public service before I can graduate, and I need that time to catch up on reading, and oh yeah, work told me today that I am more than welcome to work from home (in addition to being in the office) to get all of my projects done. This semester is just gonna suck.
OK pity-party over. I'll try to post more frequently and less bitchily. (Bitchily! ha, I made a new word!)
*A family tradition around here is to blast the birthday song on everybody's b-day.
I turned 27 today. At least if you use my new style of math where you start going backward the year you are supposed to turn 30.
I worked from 8:30 until 2:00, picked the kids up at 3:00, read con law till 4:30, left to to the kid swap and have dinner w/ DH at 5:00, gulped down average BBQ from the joint across the street from school and was sitting in con law from 6:00-7:15. Back home by 8:00, where I vegged on the sofa and ate a yummy chocolate cake that DH baked. I would say the day kinda sucked, but after the last two years, it was a great.
The bad part is that the above schedule is pretty much my life now, except that most nights I don't get home till 10. Work has gotten better, but I think they want more than I can give. I don't even have time to get my reading done for classes, and I feel like I never see the kids. I feel like something needs to give, but I don't know what. I would quit my job, but right now it is my best prospect for a permanent position. I can't slack off at school because I don't have a guaranteed position, and I have to keep my grades up. My down time is the weekend, but I have to work in 30 hours of public service before I can graduate, and I need that time to catch up on reading, and oh yeah, work told me today that I am more than welcome to work from home (in addition to being in the office) to get all of my projects done. This semester is just gonna suck.
OK pity-party over. I'll try to post more frequently and less bitchily. (Bitchily! ha, I made a new word!)
*A family tradition around here is to blast the birthday song on everybody's b-day.
1/21/07
Funeral Songs
My family sang a certain song about a frog who's name starts with J. at the graveside rites for my grandmother.* There was sheet music and everything. It was a toss-up between "Jeremiah" and "Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer," but they decided the latter was inappropriate for a funeral. No, I am not kidding.
I flew in Wednesday for the funeral. My uncle's ex-wife was on the same flight. With what appeared to be her boyfriend. Because its always appropriate to take your new boyfriend to your ex-husband's mother's funeral.
I flew back home Friday morning because I had just about all of my insane family that I could take. And I was thankful that I live 400 miles away and can leave it all behind.
* This post has been edited because I was getting an insane amount of hits searching for the lyrics to the song. Who knew it was so popular?
I flew in Wednesday for the funeral. My uncle's ex-wife was on the same flight. With what appeared to be her boyfriend. Because its always appropriate to take your new boyfriend to your ex-husband's mother's funeral.
I flew back home Friday morning because I had just about all of my insane family that I could take. And I was thankful that I live 400 miles away and can leave it all behind.
* This post has been edited because I was getting an insane amount of hits searching for the lyrics to the song. Who knew it was so popular?
1/10/07
The F Word
8 y.o. DD: "Somebody wrote the "F" word on inside the playground equipment."
5 y.o. DD: "Ya mean, Fart?"
Me: (after I quit laughing at 5 y.o. and apologized for embarrassing her) "What do you know about the "F" word?"
8 y.o. DD: "I know you say it a lot to the other drivers when we're in the car."
Oops, thought I was doing a better job of censoring myself when the kids are in the car. My potty mouth really is my biggest downfall as a parent.
5 y.o. DD: "Ya mean, Fart?"
Me: (after I quit laughing at 5 y.o. and apologized for embarrassing her) "What do you know about the "F" word?"
8 y.o. DD: "I know you say it a lot to the other drivers when we're in the car."
Oops, thought I was doing a better job of censoring myself when the kids are in the car. My potty mouth really is my biggest downfall as a parent.
Book Math
Bought books today. At about $250, it was the least I have ever spent on books for a semester. This is partly because I am able to re-use the book I had for Con Law I in Con Law II, and also because one of my profs is working on the final manuscript for the newest textbook, so we will be provided with the manuscript.
So what did I do with my savings? Went shopping, of course. I needed to have the charms that DD got for Christmas put on her bracelet, so I had to go to the mall. I got 2 suits and a sweater at Ann Taylor Loft for $250. I figure that pretty much put me even with what I should have spent on books, and I got a great deal on the suits, too. I got this suit (minus the hat) which is very different than anything else in my closet, but it was a great deal and gives me the appearance of having a waist (I'm built like a boy) and its fun to do something a little trendy every now and then. (I usually stick to very classic styles.)
But wait, it gets better. Once I got home I checked out my textbook prices online. (I can't do this until after a trip to the bookstore, because the bookstore is the only place to get textbook lists.) I found one of my books $40 cheaper at Amazon! Then, I found my Wills and Trusts book on half.com for $10, brand new--I paid $78 in the bookstore. So, I have now saved another $100 on books, which actually puts me below my semester book budget by $100 even if you add in my new duds. I think that means I can go shopping again--I really think I need tall black boots to go with the new suit.
So what did I do with my savings? Went shopping, of course. I needed to have the charms that DD got for Christmas put on her bracelet, so I had to go to the mall. I got 2 suits and a sweater at Ann Taylor Loft for $250. I figure that pretty much put me even with what I should have spent on books, and I got a great deal on the suits, too. I got this suit (minus the hat) which is very different than anything else in my closet, but it was a great deal and gives me the appearance of having a waist (I'm built like a boy) and its fun to do something a little trendy every now and then. (I usually stick to very classic styles.)
But wait, it gets better. Once I got home I checked out my textbook prices online. (I can't do this until after a trip to the bookstore, because the bookstore is the only place to get textbook lists.) I found one of my books $40 cheaper at Amazon! Then, I found my Wills and Trusts book on half.com for $10, brand new--I paid $78 in the bookstore. So, I have now saved another $100 on books, which actually puts me below my semester book budget by $100 even if you add in my new duds. I think that means I can go shopping again--I really think I need tall black boots to go with the new suit.
1/8/07
Gotta go, gotta go, gotta go right now.
Oh yeah--I totally could not get in to the ladies room today. Don't know if I forgot the combination or just couldn't work the lock. It's really hard to figure out a lock when you really gotta go. For heaven's sake, I have had three children use my bladder for a trampoline (and two of them at the same time!), I can only take so much. Finally someone else came along, and I went in behind her.
Work seemed better today. I finally got to work on something not related to galvanized steel. God, I am sick of steel. I got all of my assignments turned in (two days early!), so it will be interesting to see what tomorrow brings. (Although with my luck it will probably be revisions of what I did today.)
I saw Big Boss and he was nice to me today. Also, I did not get pulled of of anything to help Grumpy Paralegal--ha!
Work seemed better today. I finally got to work on something not related to galvanized steel. God, I am sick of steel. I got all of my assignments turned in (two days early!), so it will be interesting to see what tomorrow brings. (Although with my luck it will probably be revisions of what I did today.)
I saw Big Boss and he was nice to me today. Also, I did not get pulled of of anything to help Grumpy Paralegal--ha!
1/5/07
So, I found the ladies room
For the first time at my new job I had to use the ladies room. And at that point it occurred to me that I had never seen the ladies room. Apparently because it is down the hall from our office, which takes up about half of one floor in a medium-sized office building.
The restroom had a lock on it. Not like a privacy lock for a single stall unit. A push button combination lock to keep everybody out of a multi-stall restroom. Fortunately, it was not an emergency and the receptionist provided me with this information before I traversed the building to heed nature's call.
Now why in the heck would someone put a combination lock on the restroom? My first though was perhaps to prevent crime--is the management afraid that women will be attacked in the restroom? I'm pretty sure the men's room doesn't have a lock (it's right across the hall from our office and I have seen guys come and go without fiddling with a lock). But we're not exactly in a high crime area. This firm is in the suburbs. Off a major highway--not a lot of potential walk-in traffic. And this restroom is on the 5th floor. Yeah--if I were gonna assault a woman in the restroom I would totally pick the 5th floor of a random office building all by itself in the suburbs.
Anyway, note to self--don't want til the last minute.
The restroom had a lock on it. Not like a privacy lock for a single stall unit. A push button combination lock to keep everybody out of a multi-stall restroom. Fortunately, it was not an emergency and the receptionist provided me with this information before I traversed the building to heed nature's call.
Now why in the heck would someone put a combination lock on the restroom? My first though was perhaps to prevent crime--is the management afraid that women will be attacked in the restroom? I'm pretty sure the men's room doesn't have a lock (it's right across the hall from our office and I have seen guys come and go without fiddling with a lock). But we're not exactly in a high crime area. This firm is in the suburbs. Off a major highway--not a lot of potential walk-in traffic. And this restroom is on the 5th floor. Yeah--if I were gonna assault a woman in the restroom I would totally pick the 5th floor of a random office building all by itself in the suburbs.
Anyway, note to self--don't want til the last minute.
1/3/07
Not liking my new job
I am just not crazy about the place I am working. I am left all day in my little cubicle that I share with wayward computer parts, cut off from everybody else. There are only four attorneys (all men) who all run around and do their own thing. The support staff is all women who dote on the men and seem like they don't quite know what to make of me. Being an almost-lawyer, I'm not really one of them, but I am not another man for them to dote on, either. And I don't think they trust me--even though I have tried to be really nice.
Grumpy Paralegal keeps trying to give me assignments, and I keep dodging them (because I have a full plate of stuff from the attorneys). Today he informed me that after he met with Big Boss, I would probably be pulled off my current assignment because he needed soooo much help. Bite me. The he told me that the reason he needs soooo much help is because he is leaving mid-month and needs to get stuff wrapped up. Yea! At least I won't have to deal with Grumpy Paralegal anymore.
That's actually doubly good news. (Well, it would be good news if I ever start to like it there, anyway. ) I was told when I was hired that there was a chance this position could become permanent. They had one lawyer leave recently and really need another lawyer in the firm. I thought my chances were slim since they already had a paralegal who was in law school and would presumably be up for the job, but it looks like I am back in the running.
Anyway, despite how I feel, the attorneys at least seem to like my work. I was told my first motion was fantastic and was then gifted with a brief plus the two MSJ responses I have been working on all due by next Wed. Yea me.
Grumpy Paralegal keeps trying to give me assignments, and I keep dodging them (because I have a full plate of stuff from the attorneys). Today he informed me that after he met with Big Boss, I would probably be pulled off my current assignment because he needed soooo much help. Bite me. The he told me that the reason he needs soooo much help is because he is leaving mid-month and needs to get stuff wrapped up. Yea! At least I won't have to deal with Grumpy Paralegal anymore.
That's actually doubly good news. (Well, it would be good news if I ever start to like it there, anyway. ) I was told when I was hired that there was a chance this position could become permanent. They had one lawyer leave recently and really need another lawyer in the firm. I thought my chances were slim since they already had a paralegal who was in law school and would presumably be up for the job, but it looks like I am back in the running.
Anyway, despite how I feel, the attorneys at least seem to like my work. I was told my first motion was fantastic and was then gifted with a brief plus the two MSJ responses I have been working on all due by next Wed. Yea me.
1/2/07
The door to her heart doesn't close all the way.
The girls and I spent a good part of the day in doctor's offices today. The pneumonia twins had a recheck. Apparently Twin 1 still has pneumonia and is now up for a second round of antibiotics. She has been acting fine and I thought she was all better. Good thing I went for law school instead of med school.
The same child had her annual visit with a pediatric cardiologist. There is something inherently terrifying about visiting a pediatric cardiologist. They shouldn't even exist. Kids should have perfectly functioning little hearts. But one of mine doesn't. Twin 1 has pulmonary valve stenosis. It just means that one of the valves to her heart doesn't close all the way when her heart pumps. Fortunately, this is very mild with DD and it doesn't affect her daily life in any way. She just has to get antibiotics before going to the dentist and have her heart looked at every couple of years to make sure there are no changes.
Even though I know that DD's problem is very mild and she has been showing no signs of any problems whatsoever, there is still that moment of terror when the doctor is performing the ultrasound and doing measurements. Why is he taking so long? Didn't he already do that? Why is he leaving to do his calculations instead of just telling me everything is ok?
But it was all ok. DD's heart hasn't changed since last year, and her condition is still mild. And I am a relieved mommy.
So, I know I haven't posted in a few days. We have been visiting family. A lot happened and there was much drama, but I just haven't felt like sorting it all out yet. Maybe soon.
The same child had her annual visit with a pediatric cardiologist. There is something inherently terrifying about visiting a pediatric cardiologist. They shouldn't even exist. Kids should have perfectly functioning little hearts. But one of mine doesn't. Twin 1 has pulmonary valve stenosis. It just means that one of the valves to her heart doesn't close all the way when her heart pumps. Fortunately, this is very mild with DD and it doesn't affect her daily life in any way. She just has to get antibiotics before going to the dentist and have her heart looked at every couple of years to make sure there are no changes.
Even though I know that DD's problem is very mild and she has been showing no signs of any problems whatsoever, there is still that moment of terror when the doctor is performing the ultrasound and doing measurements. Why is he taking so long? Didn't he already do that? Why is he leaving to do his calculations instead of just telling me everything is ok?
But it was all ok. DD's heart hasn't changed since last year, and her condition is still mild. And I am a relieved mommy.
So, I know I haven't posted in a few days. We have been visiting family. A lot happened and there was much drama, but I just haven't felt like sorting it all out yet. Maybe soon.
12/27/06
Just in case you don't get enough of the law at work...
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney for Nintendo DS
I stumbled across this when DD and I were in Circuit City searching for Nintendogs. I couldn't talk her in to getting Pheonix Wright instead (Moooommm, lawyers are booooriiing--Yeah, and yelling "sit" at a cyberdog isn't boring?), but it is the funniest thing I have seen all day.
I stumbled across this when DD and I were in Circuit City searching for Nintendogs. I couldn't talk her in to getting Pheonix Wright instead (Moooommm, lawyers are booooriiing--Yeah, and yelling "sit" at a cyberdog isn't boring?), but it is the funniest thing I have seen all day.
12/26/06
Jedi's need shoes, not bare feet...
...that bit of wisdom is from 5 y.o. DD after she dropped her light saber on her foot and minutes later her twin did the same. The girls got gift cards for Christmas, and the little ones spent theirs on light sabers. Yes, we are a bunch of nerds around here.
Today we took the kids to the amusement park. On the way, traffic was at a standstill because a truck full of (previously) live chickens overturned in the middle of the highway. There were little chicken carcasses everywhere, although some were still kicking. I swear, I will not be able to eat chicken for a month. Stuff like this totally skives me out. I pass the chicken truck almost everyday on the way to school, and when I see dead chickens, with their stiff little feet poking through the cage I can't eat chicken for days afterward. (I also can't ever eat turkey or Cornish game hens after preparing it--dealing with whole carcasses just puts me too close to the origin of my food. I would totally become a vegetarian if I actually ate veggies.)
Thinking that we had our fun with the dead chicken obstacle course this morning, we weren't prepared for the flat tire on the way home. I hit something and whoosh went the tire. It was dark and cold, but not too dark or too cold. The worst was that we were on a busy highway, and I was afraid someone would veer over and hit us.
I am embarrassed to say this, but there is no way I could have changed the tire w/o DH. First, the tire is mounted underneath the vehicle, and there is a lock which hides a secret keyhole which you stick the jack handle into to lower the spare. Yeah--like I even knew the secret wench-thingie to get to the spare even existed. Oh yeah, and I think the tires weigh as much as me. And then there's the teeny little jack to lift this behemoth vehicle (Suburban). And some kind of fancy cover hiding the lug nuts. That I probably wasn't strong enough to turn, either.
I've always believed that I can do anything the boys can do, but dang it, I'm leaving the tire changing to the guys.
Anyway, DH got the tire changed in great time, considering the circumstances, we did not get smashed on the side of the road, and overall (minus the dead chickens, and the $500 we will be shelling out for new tires tomorrow) it was a good day.
Today we took the kids to the amusement park. On the way, traffic was at a standstill because a truck full of (previously) live chickens overturned in the middle of the highway. There were little chicken carcasses everywhere, although some were still kicking. I swear, I will not be able to eat chicken for a month. Stuff like this totally skives me out. I pass the chicken truck almost everyday on the way to school, and when I see dead chickens, with their stiff little feet poking through the cage I can't eat chicken for days afterward. (I also can't ever eat turkey or Cornish game hens after preparing it--dealing with whole carcasses just puts me too close to the origin of my food. I would totally become a vegetarian if I actually ate veggies.)
Thinking that we had our fun with the dead chicken obstacle course this morning, we weren't prepared for the flat tire on the way home. I hit something and whoosh went the tire. It was dark and cold, but not too dark or too cold. The worst was that we were on a busy highway, and I was afraid someone would veer over and hit us.
I am embarrassed to say this, but there is no way I could have changed the tire w/o DH. First, the tire is mounted underneath the vehicle, and there is a lock which hides a secret keyhole which you stick the jack handle into to lower the spare. Yeah--like I even knew the secret wench-thingie to get to the spare even existed. Oh yeah, and I think the tires weigh as much as me. And then there's the teeny little jack to lift this behemoth vehicle (Suburban). And some kind of fancy cover hiding the lug nuts. That I probably wasn't strong enough to turn, either.
I've always believed that I can do anything the boys can do, but dang it, I'm leaving the tire changing to the guys.
Anyway, DH got the tire changed in great time, considering the circumstances, we did not get smashed on the side of the road, and overall (minus the dead chickens, and the $500 we will be shelling out for new tires tomorrow) it was a good day.
12/25/06
Christmas at LC's Place
So it is 5:00 on Christmas Day and we are all still lounging around in our PJ's, enjoying the peace of hanging out at home, playing with all of our new stuff. All of our family lives 400 miles away in the same smallish city. We have not lived there in the 11 years (on the 30th) we have been married. We used to make the trek back home every year for the holiday. But on the twins' first Christmas, when we were required to be 4 different places in one day with 5 month old infants, I put my foot down and we have been spending the holidays at home ever since. I love it. We get to hang out together and do what we want on our own schedule.
Yesterday, we went to church in the morning and a movie in the afternoon before coming home to open our family gifts. (BTW, Night At the Museum is hilarious--it was nice to see a real movie that was appropriate for the kids. I can't remember the last time I saw something not animated at the movies.) This morning, we did the Santa thing, made a big breakfast, a bigger lunch/dinner, and have spent the day playing with al of out stuff. It is soooo much better than being shuttled from relative to relative and never having a chance to play with any of your new toys.
Oldest DD got a Nintendo DS, and a Mario game. I think her dad and I like the game better than she does--it is reminiscent of our own childhoods. The twins got portable DVD players--to make that 400 mile trek to see the grandparents a little more tolerable. They call them their laptops. And they got a ton of other toys, games, books and craft stuff. I always do too much for Christmas (but I never buy during the rest of the year--if they want it, they have to earn the $ for it. )
Of course, we're not off the hook for the trip back home. We'll go next weekend, but at least we can spread out our visits with the relatives and get to actually spend some quality time with them.
And just so that I don't leave you with the misaprehension that my day was entirely blissful, Twin 2 just walked up to Twin 1 and shoved her backward as hard as she could because Twin 1 took Twin 2's Princess Paddle-ball. (Yes, they both got paddle-balls). Back to reality.
Yesterday, we went to church in the morning and a movie in the afternoon before coming home to open our family gifts. (BTW, Night At the Museum is hilarious--it was nice to see a real movie that was appropriate for the kids. I can't remember the last time I saw something not animated at the movies.) This morning, we did the Santa thing, made a big breakfast, a bigger lunch/dinner, and have spent the day playing with al of out stuff. It is soooo much better than being shuttled from relative to relative and never having a chance to play with any of your new toys.
Oldest DD got a Nintendo DS, and a Mario game. I think her dad and I like the game better than she does--it is reminiscent of our own childhoods. The twins got portable DVD players--to make that 400 mile trek to see the grandparents a little more tolerable. They call them their laptops. And they got a ton of other toys, games, books and craft stuff. I always do too much for Christmas (but I never buy during the rest of the year--if they want it, they have to earn the $ for it. )
Of course, we're not off the hook for the trip back home. We'll go next weekend, but at least we can spread out our visits with the relatives and get to actually spend some quality time with them.
And just so that I don't leave you with the misaprehension that my day was entirely blissful, Twin 2 just walked up to Twin 1 and shoved her backward as hard as she could because Twin 1 took Twin 2's Princess Paddle-ball. (Yes, they both got paddle-balls). Back to reality.
12/23/06
Christmas Eve Eve
Spent the day hanging out with the kids. We made cookies for Santa and then picked out songs to download. DD's list includes James Taylor, Elvis, the Beatles, the Chili Peppers, Green Day, All-American Rejects, Pink and a bunch more. Can't say we aren't eclectic around here, but over all, I'd say she has pretty good taste for an 8 year old.
After the kids were in bed I found some amusing you-tube Christmas videos. If you're really bored and in the (twisted) Christmas spirit, here is my gift to you...
Ozzy & Jessica Simpson do Winter Wonderland
Twisted Sister does O Come All Ye Faithful
David Bowie and Bing Crosby do Little Drummer Boy
After the kids were in bed I found some amusing you-tube Christmas videos. If you're really bored and in the (twisted) Christmas spirit, here is my gift to you...
Ozzy & Jessica Simpson do Winter Wonderland
Twisted Sister does O Come All Ye Faithful
David Bowie and Bing Crosby do Little Drummer Boy
12/20/06
Mom, please don't call Dad all those bad words you call everybody else, ok?
That's from 8 y.o. DD when we were following DH home after he met me for shopping after work today. I tend to get extremely frustrated when driving in big city traffic, and DD didn't want any of it directed at her Dad. I have to admit that my road rage potty mouth is probably my biggest downfall as a parent. I try to keep it to, "get the Hades out of my way you stupid poopy head" when the kids are in the car,(Mommy, its not nice to call people stupid. Yeah, mom, or poopy head), but sometimes the real words just pop out. DD and I then had a lovely discussion about how damn the curse word is spelled compared to dam the beaver home, and the size of her own dirty word vocabulary (which is surprisingly small given the many opportunities she has had to learn new words from her own mother).
On the work front, today was better. I finally met Big Boss. I think I earned brownie points with him because I found a case that he didn't know about that was directly on point for his appellate argument today. It wasn't favorable to him, but he needed to be prepared to distinguish it. Then he asked me to critique his oral argument. That was interesting, but I laid it out straight and he seemed to appreciate it. Then he mentioned that he thought that his oral argument was stronger than his brief. I agreed. He asked if I thought the brief was poorly written. I told the truth--it was. (The thing was loaded with block quotes, some of them going on for an entire page). He said that it was written by a "young law student." Then we chatted for a bit.
I was also told today that there will be a party on Friday, which includes a gift exchange. Great--I hate this kind of thing with people I know--I have know idea what to buy for a bunch of people I don't know at all. Anybody with a suggestion for a $15 generic gift for a law firm Christmas party, please let me know.
On the work front, today was better. I finally met Big Boss. I think I earned brownie points with him because I found a case that he didn't know about that was directly on point for his appellate argument today. It wasn't favorable to him, but he needed to be prepared to distinguish it. Then he asked me to critique his oral argument. That was interesting, but I laid it out straight and he seemed to appreciate it. Then he mentioned that he thought that his oral argument was stronger than his brief. I agreed. He asked if I thought the brief was poorly written. I told the truth--it was. (The thing was loaded with block quotes, some of them going on for an entire page). He said that it was written by a "young law student." Then we chatted for a bit.
I was also told today that there will be a party on Friday, which includes a gift exchange. Great--I hate this kind of thing with people I know--I have know idea what to buy for a bunch of people I don't know at all. Anybody with a suggestion for a $15 generic gift for a law firm Christmas party, please let me know.
12/18/06
Day 2 on the job
So today was a little better than Friday--but not much. When I arrived, the attorney I am supposed to be working with was out of town on a deposition--surely he knew about this when he told me that he would brief me Monday am about my newest project? So, his legal assistant has to call he cell so that I would have something to do.
I was asked to draft a motion. No biggie, except that I have never drafted this kind of motion before. But what the heck--I'm smart, I can wing it. Once I finished that up, I was free to draft a couple of responses to MSJ's.
So I was moving along on my motion (not terribly exciting, but its better than printing cases and organizing a notebook), when Big Boss calls. He wants to know if I have reviewed both briefs for his appellate argument on Wed. Ummm, no. Didn't I tell you to do that? I don't believe so. Well, then what have you been working on? A motion for another case. Well, you need to be working on this and only this and don't work on anything else unless you clear it with me first! Okey dokey, then. I have still not met this man, but he is just such a little ball of sunshine.
On the bright side, today I learned more than anyone ever should have to know about galvanized steel. Seriously, the cool thing about civil litigation is that you kind of get to be a mini-expert on all sorts of strange things.
I was asked to draft a motion. No biggie, except that I have never drafted this kind of motion before. But what the heck--I'm smart, I can wing it. Once I finished that up, I was free to draft a couple of responses to MSJ's.
So I was moving along on my motion (not terribly exciting, but its better than printing cases and organizing a notebook), when Big Boss calls. He wants to know if I have reviewed both briefs for his appellate argument on Wed. Ummm, no. Didn't I tell you to do that? I don't believe so. Well, then what have you been working on? A motion for another case. Well, you need to be working on this and only this and don't work on anything else unless you clear it with me first! Okey dokey, then. I have still not met this man, but he is just such a little ball of sunshine.
On the bright side, today I learned more than anyone ever should have to know about galvanized steel. Seriously, the cool thing about civil litigation is that you kind of get to be a mini-expert on all sorts of strange things.
12/17/06
Yes, it makes me wanna barf, too
Please stand by while I figure out how to get rid of this revolting pink. And damn you Blogger for telling me I could make new and easy drag and drop changes to my blog. You forgot to mention that life could only be so easy if I stuck with your icky templates.
So, I need to feed the rugrats, and then I will dig into the html to try to make my blog look a little different from the hundred million other blogs that blogger tricked into their default templates.
So, I need to feed the rugrats, and then I will dig into the html to try to make my blog look a little different from the hundred million other blogs that blogger tricked into their default templates.
12/15/06
Today...not so great.
So I started my new job today. It wasn't great. The day started with a list of cites that I was to pull up and print in Westlaw. Menial, but easy right? But since they called me in a day early, the office manager hadn't had a chance to set me up with an office or a computer. So I got put on one of the attorney's computers, and given his Westlaw password. But no username. I couldn't get in to his account, and nobody could tell me how, because apparently none of the legal assistants get Westlaw access. I eventually resorted to my school account (yeah, yeah, I know I'm not supposed to do that, but I didn't want to look like a loser my first day). Not much luck there, either. They use Firefox, which was blocking all the Westlaw pop-ups (and I have never used Firefox and did not know how to fix this). So, against the instructions from the legal assistant, I resorted to Explorer, and finally got a doc to print. Then the attorney showed up. Told me how to get in on his password, then kicked me to someone else's office.
I was finally on a roll, when the owner of the next office showed up. He was not happy to see a stranger taking over his space. I think he was a paralegal because he was not an attorney. He kicked me to another attorney's office, and told me I only had an hour before that guy got back from his hearing. Then he said he would find out how to log onto the network from office #3. He never came back, but I figured it out for myself.
About the time I was done, the office manager set me up with my very own (shared only with wayward computer parts) cubicle and computer. At least it was big, so I don't mind the computer parts so much. It was so nice to finally have a place to stash my giant handbag that I had to tote around with me all day.
I was able to pull up all of the cites but two--one was a book not in the Westlaw database, and the other was a USC cite that must have been written down wrong. I was told to call the big boss and find out what he wanted me to do about this (because this was his little project and the reason I was called in to start early). He sounded cranky. Then he said he would go over it with me when he got in. But it was 1:30, and I leave at 2:00 (to pick up the rugrats--they don't pay enough to employ my nanny). So, he sounded more cranky. Hopefully my beautifully printed, tabbed and indexed notebook will make a good impression. If I have learned nothing else in lawschool, at least I can organize a freakin' notebook.
They wanted the job done by 12:00. I got it done at 1:30, but I totally blame the delay on all of my office hopping. Supposedly on Monday I will start working on a new case. Hopefully it will be a little more exciting. It's got to get better, right?
I was finally on a roll, when the owner of the next office showed up. He was not happy to see a stranger taking over his space. I think he was a paralegal because he was not an attorney. He kicked me to another attorney's office, and told me I only had an hour before that guy got back from his hearing. Then he said he would find out how to log onto the network from office #3. He never came back, but I figured it out for myself.
About the time I was done, the office manager set me up with my very own (shared only with wayward computer parts) cubicle and computer. At least it was big, so I don't mind the computer parts so much. It was so nice to finally have a place to stash my giant handbag that I had to tote around with me all day.
I was able to pull up all of the cites but two--one was a book not in the Westlaw database, and the other was a USC cite that must have been written down wrong. I was told to call the big boss and find out what he wanted me to do about this (because this was his little project and the reason I was called in to start early). He sounded cranky. Then he said he would go over it with me when he got in. But it was 1:30, and I leave at 2:00 (to pick up the rugrats--they don't pay enough to employ my nanny). So, he sounded more cranky. Hopefully my beautifully printed, tabbed and indexed notebook will make a good impression. If I have learned nothing else in lawschool, at least I can organize a freakin' notebook.
They wanted the job done by 12:00. I got it done at 1:30, but I totally blame the delay on all of my office hopping. Supposedly on Monday I will start working on a new case. Hopefully it will be a little more exciting. It's got to get better, right?
12/14/06
Saving the best for last
I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed by all that I've put on my plate for next semester--my last semester. I have now committed to working M, W, F 8-2. At 2 I will leave to get the kiddos. Then I will have maybe an hour or so at home before having to drive in to the Big City to do kid swap w/ DH and go to my 6:00 class. After class, I will have mock trial practice from 8:30-10:30 (yes, at night. I'm old--put a 45 minute drive home on top of that and it is seriously encroaching on my beauty sleep.) T, Th, no work, but class from 2-3:30, then from 6-9:00. Plus, I am coming back as "chief counsel" for the clinic that I have been working in, so I need to put in at least 10 hours a week in the clinic somewhere.
Oh yeah, and I haven't done any of the req'd 30 hours of public service that I need to graduate. I was planning to try to work in family violence in the DA's office, but with my crazy schedule I can't imagine how that will work. So it looks like I will be stuck doing income tax assistance. No, I have not taken any kind of tax class ever. On the plus side, maybe it will help me with the bar, since I have never taken any kind of tax class ever. And there are plenty of Friday night and Saturday morning opportunities to work. (And who doesn't love to spend their weekends helping people with taxes?)
To top things off, I have basically given away my holiday break by taking my new job. And they called today to ask me to start tomorrow instead of Monday. I think they have a research project that needs to be turned around quickly. I don't mind, but it means I will miss the twins' class parties at school, and that is kind of sad. Hopefully it won't scar them for life when I'm the only mommy not there (because everyone's mom is there in kindergarten--by second grade most of the moms have lost interest and there are only a handful. I'll be interesting to see what third grade means, b/c I have not heard a word about oldest DD's party.)
Now for a quick mommy brag. Both of my twins have been nominated for the gifted program at school. They will still have to be tested to get in, and less than 5% of students make it. But oldest DD is already in, and her G/T teacher said last year that she wouldn't be surprised to see her sisters make the cut. Also, all three of my kiddos got the top scores in their class on their standardized reading tests, and topped the tests out so we aren't even sure what their actual abilities or reading levels are (although I have complained about this to the principal.) OK, mommy brag over. Yeah, I know it's not nice to brag about how brilliant your kids are, but it's my blog and I can do what I want to.
Oh yeah, and I haven't done any of the req'd 30 hours of public service that I need to graduate. I was planning to try to work in family violence in the DA's office, but with my crazy schedule I can't imagine how that will work. So it looks like I will be stuck doing income tax assistance. No, I have not taken any kind of tax class ever. On the plus side, maybe it will help me with the bar, since I have never taken any kind of tax class ever. And there are plenty of Friday night and Saturday morning opportunities to work. (And who doesn't love to spend their weekends helping people with taxes?)
To top things off, I have basically given away my holiday break by taking my new job. And they called today to ask me to start tomorrow instead of Monday. I think they have a research project that needs to be turned around quickly. I don't mind, but it means I will miss the twins' class parties at school, and that is kind of sad. Hopefully it won't scar them for life when I'm the only mommy not there (because everyone's mom is there in kindergarten--by second grade most of the moms have lost interest and there are only a handful. I'll be interesting to see what third grade means, b/c I have not heard a word about oldest DD's party.)
Now for a quick mommy brag. Both of my twins have been nominated for the gifted program at school. They will still have to be tested to get in, and less than 5% of students make it. But oldest DD is already in, and her G/T teacher said last year that she wouldn't be surprised to see her sisters make the cut. Also, all three of my kiddos got the top scores in their class on their standardized reading tests, and topped the tests out so we aren't even sure what their actual abilities or reading levels are (although I have complained about this to the principal.) OK, mommy brag over. Yeah, I know it's not nice to brag about how brilliant your kids are, but it's my blog and I can do what I want to.
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