I forgot

Evidently, there was some kind of holiday today. Whoops, I forgot. Just about every single person in the office - attorneys, techs, secretaries, paralegals - left by lunchtime on Friday. One of the last ones out popped in and exclaimed, "what are you doing here?"

Working. Duh.

She gave me a look of pity, no doubt thinking it was sad that I would be skipping the beach that weekend.

People, I've already seen Snooki & Co.! And my skin is nearly blue. And I don't particularly care for that sticky prickly combination of crowds, bikinis, and heat. A root canal sounds like more fun than a day at the beach.

In truth, I've been getting to the office around 4am and relish having the entire building to myself. Dark and silent. The 9am bustle provides a nice boost. And all that early bird productivity means I can usually scoot out the door by 5pm. Fortunately, this firm doesn't much care when I work provided I do work (a lot).

I left the office Friday afternoon exhausted but perked up when I found a friend - loaded down with my favorite pizza (jalepeno popper) and a bottle of Riesling - lounging on the porch with the dogs. Reasoning that I could afford to take Saturday off, I did. Slept in until 11am! Puttered around the garden, did a little shopping, and a lot of eating. Oh, and caught up on the news for the past week. Something about an oil spill? Brittany Murphy's windower died? Train accident in India? Spent most of Sunday doing dictation outside, which is actually a pleasant way to pass a few hours. Church? God taught me about Himself in a garden, and that's where I've been of late:


SOME keep the Sabbath going to church;
I keep it staying at home,
With a bobolink for a chorister,
And an orchard for a dome.

The tomatoes are insane. The cucumbers are not far behind. The raspberries, spagetti squash, and summer squash are all doing well. The eggplant, peppers, and herbs are struggling a bit. Getting the watermelons set up is on the schedule for this week.

Unfortunately, a holiday does not remove my billable hours requirement, so I worked a full office day today. Doing contingency work ("we don't get paid until you get paid") is different from having to actually keep count of my hours worked in six-minute increments. Same amount of work, I think, but the measurements are different: project completed vs. hours worked. Might drive me batty. But I hope not.

I hope you all had a lovely weekend!

this

this made my day..."cat adoption ad gone wrong."

Very, very, very wrong, indeed. I do hope poor kitty found a home.

Edited to add: There is a muffled "SOB" in the very last two seconds. I missed it the first three times because I was laughing so hard.

well

Well, I made it through the first week. I've set a nice schedule of 4am-4 or 5pm, which allows me to have plenty of quiet, uninterrupted productive time in the morning while being able to have a social life in the evenings. And by "social life" I mean, more often than not, dog park time and hand-shakin'/baby-kissin' time at a variety of rather silly - but necessary - community events.

I have two paralegals, who are awesome and awesomer but I haven't quite gotten a read on my secretary yet. All I know is that she is fastidiously matches her eyeshadow to her shirt. Very, very, very fortunately, my own personal quirks (plenty of those) and practice preferences appear to align with both paralegals. Grateful that we think alike. My office is decent-sized, with lots of natural light and big windows with - get this - a pleasant view! I've been picking up on hints that the 5 people I replaced were especially well-liked by the support staff, so I've been treading carefully there.

Spent the week getting a handle on my caseload. It is always a curious thing to go through files that once belonged to someone else.

One thing that is amusing? I regularly opposed several of my new colleagues when I was at my old firm. There has been some good-natured ribbing going back-and-forth there :)

Otherwise, I've been totally left to my own devices. Haven't seen or spoken with the attorney I'm supposed to be teaming up with, though I am hoping that will happen this week.

Oh! And I did a major writing assignment for another attorney and was told I did "a very, very nice job." Now, my old firm was an old-school type of place where the only way I knew I was doing a minimally adequate job was if I wasn't getting yelled at. Eventually I figured out that I couldn't be doing a minimally adequate job - my old firm definitely would not have kept me on the payroll for that kind of quality. Took me a while to realize that. Anyway, my Precious Snowflake generation simply can't be yelled at; we will positively shrivel up and die without regular, copious injections of praise. Remember, folks, my generation got trophies for mere participation - not actually winning - lest anyone's self-esteem feel hurt and offended. At my old firm, "praise" was a grudging "you didn't totally mess that up." So to get a "very, very nice job" message this evening was, well, very, very nice :)

No good deed...and I'm nervous!

Work starts tomorrow. I had lunch with a law school friend this afternoon. Lovely boy. I think he has a Romatic Interest in me. Guess that's another story.

Chicken tikka masala, hot-from-the-oven garlic naan, and some kind of eggplant/cumin/garlic dish. As I walked back to my car, I passed a homeless man and his dog half a block down from a convenience store. I picked up water, treats, and food for the dog and water, food, and sunblock for her owner. I handed these several bags and my leftovers to the owner and chatted with him for a few minutes about his dog. So few people actually engage in conversation with our homeless! They're not invisible, people! His teeny-tiny year-old pitbull named Sherry loved on me the entire time. I like to do a quick check-up on dogs when the owner is homeless. Sherry was dressed in several clean sweatshirts (it was cold and rainy today), had great teeth, and looked perfectly healthy, happy, and cute.

I like to see homeless dog owners. I'm certainly not advocating that we give a free pup with a free meal down at the shelter, but, I imagine, pet ownership keeps the owner sane. And out of trouble.

Anyway. Then some lady passed by and clucked. "So you're giving the dog food and water and nothing for him?"

"Yes, ma'am," I wanted to say. "Exactly. I'm hoping he starves to death so I can have his dog." However, having a general policy of not engaging crazies in debate, I ignored her.

Sorta like how she ignored the owner's cup of change.

***
Work starts tomorrow. I'm nervous. I'm also nervous because just after I accepted this (defense) firm's offer, several offers with plaintiff firms came in. Plaintiff is where I want to be! Trying to trust. Trying to capital-T Trust.

I think I'll go curl up and pretend that I live in a wonderful magic land where bills pay themselves, legs are self-shaving, nylons never run, calories are just numbers on paper, and every tv station runs Milo and Otis on a 24/7 loop.

argh.

Work called this morning and asked me to come in on Wednesday instead of today as they are still in the midst of some housekeeping matters. They are letting go of five associates and, evidently, the letting-go process and subsequent re-arranging takes some time.

"But I'm all dressed and ready to go! In a carefully selected, focus-grouped ensemble! And I shaved my legs!"

Translation: "Thank you; I look forward to meeting everyone on Wednesday."

homemade laundry detergent

I've known it was possible to make one's own detergent for at least a year, but assumed it would be harsh on clothing. A little Googling revealed that most people have actually found that homemade detergent is better for clothing. I read through a few recipes and decided to go with powdered detergent. Unfortunately, the big-box stores in my area have never heard of Borax or washing soda. Amazon.com has, but I'm not paying $9 to ship $9 worth of ingredients. Ace Hardware had a free ship-to-store option and a decent coupon code, but only sold multipacks. $83 for what looks to be several years' worth of detergent is a good deal...but not for someone who doesn't even know if she will like the stuff.

Then, quite randomly, I was in a grocery store about 40 minutes away...and just happened to find all three ingredients right there in the laundry aisle. Sold!

Here is what you need: Washing soda, Borax, and Fels-Naptha soap. I believe Zote or Dove can be substituted for Fels-Naptha, but Fels-Naptha is specifically labeled a "laundry soap" and I've been pleased with it.

Grate the soap until you have 2 cups. I used a cheese grater and then food-processed it. I also tried cutting the soap into chunks and processing it that way. Either way works, but if your processor is more of a "lite" model, you should grate before processing.

In a bowl, mix 2 cups Fels-Naptha, 1 cup Borax, and 1 cup washing soda. Mix, then process. This detergent won't leave any kind of a scent on your clothing; if you want to add in some essential oils, do it while the detergent is in the processor. I used a coconut lemongrass blend; lavender, lavender tea tree, lavender lemon, or lemon would be lovely, too.

Use 1 tablespoon for a regular load and 2 tablespoons for a heavy or heavily soiled load. This detergent is not sudsy, so don't fret if you don't see bubbles. If you want nice, soft clothes, pour a little white vinegar in the fabric softener dispenser. I usually air-dry everything but linens and gym socks and plain vinegar does a great job at removing the soap residue that causes stiffness. Pardon me while I cringe at all the money I've wasted on Snuggle's vanilla sandalwood fabric softener when half a cup of cheap-o white vinegar does the job!

Honestly, this is fantastic stuff. Didn't bother my sensitive skin at all. Dirt cheap if you can find the ingredients locally. I've since been told that if your local Walmart doesn't carry all three of the ingredients, pool supply stores, stores with large Hispanic customber base, and old-timey general stores are all good places to look.

Store in an closed container with spoons for measuring. If your Lab confused a pitcher with a chew toy, this is a good use for it :)

faithful

God is faithful.


I have to say that during my FUNemployment [cue extreme sarcasm] days, I wasn't quite sure what He had planned. For example, mere days after I lost my job I interviewed with a firm headed by a mentor's close friend. Just after the interview, I heard a distinct "I have something better for you." It made no sense at the time. None! And I argued back, "but this is better! And even if it isn't better, it is just fine." only to hear, again and clearly, "I have something else better for you."

I still don't know what that meant. But I am trying to trust. With a capital T.

So, here is to hoping that the something better starts tomorrow. I'm nervous, scared, anxious. Will they like me? Will I like them? Will I trip and fall and rip my stockings?

Hopefully, hopefully, and definitely, respectively.

Gotcha

Got the job. Interview on Tuesday, a surprise second on Wednesday, hammering out the offer on Thursday and Friday, acceptance on Friday night, and then "can you start on this Monday instead of next month?" this morning. Whew. I'm dizzy just thinking about how fast that all went and it doesn't seem quite real yet. Busy freshening my work wardrobe after months of disuse, getting the dog walker scheduled, pulling files from storage for my new office, etc.

Kinda crazy how this all happened. This firm had actually come after me about a year ago and I declined. Very interesting work and the guys I'll be working with the most seem to be - and I've been assured by others that they are - fun and decent and all that. Still, I'm definitely intimidated. The firm fired several people and replaced them with...me. Just me. And not, I know for certain, because there is less business. The opposite, in fact. Now, I've always cultivated a professional reputation as bushy-tailed go-getter, but doing the work of five people? Gulp.

dinner and...

I had a lovely dinner with the defense firm's other principal and the main case manager. I had an herbed chicken breast over chopped tomatoes with a side of lemon butter and a nice Chardonnay and- what? You want to know how the meeting went?

Fabulous, fabulous, fabulous. And I learned that they do have a small plaintiff practice! They don't advertise it, but some plaintiffs' attorneys turn down emotionally tough cases involving children (especially horrific manners of death, rape, etc.) and refer to this firm. This firm considers it a moral obligation. I've done plenty of those kinds of cases - the kind that make more seasoned attorneys lose their lunch - so no problem there.

All went well and the principal said "we're planning to extend an offer."
Me: "I'm planning to take your offer."
Principal: "We were thinking maybe tomorrow."
Me: "If you offer, I will take it."
Principal: "Call me tomorrow afternoon."

So, that is the P-L-A-N. Take big boy to the groomers, run a few errands, throw the dogs in the house with a couple bones, and run out to the car where I can make that phone call in complete silence.

skip if you are tired about my job search :)

Tuesday
10:30am: Round 1 interview with a defense firm. The principal said that I was the first interviewee with several more that day and later in the week. In sales talk (because most of life is sales), I did my standard closing of "I want this job. What is the next step?" and was told to expect a call in a week. He also said I was cocky and obnoxious and he really liked that. Guess that's another story.
11:30am: Plaintiff firm sets up interview for Monday...24hrs after I sent over my resume. In today's market, that is unusual. Then again, I did have people praying that firm would set up an interview. So, really, not that unusual :)



Wednesday
7:14am: Defense firm calls. Paralegal: "Apparently yesterday went really well and another principal wants to meet you today." Less than 24hrs! I am having an early dinner with the other principal tonight.

Thursday
8am: Oil and filter change, then Jack goes to the groomer, and then...Sorry. Not relevant. Where were we?

Oh. Yes. Here is the thing. The wholly premature thing. I love plaintiff side. Love, love, love it. I got along great with the first principal at the defense firm yesterday and suspect I will feel the same way about the one I am meeting this evening. Exciting, high-profile work...just like my old firm but opposite side of the courtroom. Unlike most of my generation, I don't want to job-hop and, ideally, would stay with one firm for my entire career. I'm loyal. Not naive, not a doormat, but loyal. But if I went with the defense firm, I would probably do some time there and then leverage it to a plaintiff position. That is what the vast majority of plaintiff attorneys do anyway. Or not. I might wind up loving defense. Who knows?

Well, I think I know Who Knows. I just want it all to work out. If I wouldn't get an offer from the plaintiff firm, I want an offer from the defense firm. If I would hate working at the plaintiff firm, I want an offer from the defense firm. If I would love the plaintiff firm, I don't want an offer from the defense firm until I get one from the plaintiff firm. If this, then that, and I want.

I want, I want, I want.

Pollution

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:27.

Well. I give myself a D for that.

Life is confusing. I'm beginning to suspect that the majority of that confusion isn't confusion at all, but temptation. Isn't it easier to say "that confuses me" than to say "I know that X is wrong, but I want to do it anyway?"

Yes. The answer is yes.

The interview today went very well and the interviewer assured me that he would recommend me to round 2. Really liked the firm! The principals seemed like fun guys and all the paralegals I met could not have been more helpful, polite, and professional. The firm fairly screamed, "we have our act together!" Plenty of firms do not...

And that perfect job listing I mentioned the other day? They called to set up an interview. It is on Monday morning. Plaintiffs' side and the position would be be a lot of medical malpractice work. Fun stuff.

Keep the prayers/karma/rain-dancing/sage burning a' comin!

***
Usefulness of the day: No coffee grinder? The Magic Bullet works just fine.

garden stuff

I've been doing a ton of yard work the past week.

Jack helps.


Irises! Love them. The purple ones smell like grape jelly; the yellow ones of lemon cake. And they all look as if they lost a fight with a lawn mower.

The rhododendrons are in full bloom, too.

I put in 18 tomato plants, 6 per box. 18! I usually do 12. Guess I'm still miffed over last year's late blight. A box of cucumbers, a box of eggplants, and a box of banana peppers and jalapenos. There is a hedge of raspberry trees on the side of the house and I'm eyeing the space next to those for blueberries. What am I not growing? Zucchini. Don't care for it. And anything that I can buy cheaper at the flea market, which includes corn, garlic, onion, mango, and avocado.

Oh, and I also had the great idea of starting pumpkins, squash, and watermelons from seeds...which means that I will have to build another 2-3 boxes. I was worried that I wouldn't have space in the yard, but I had to take a chainsaw to one of the rhododendrons yesterday. She was talkin' smack to me.

Still lots more to do. I have pots and hanging baskets that need to be filled with flowers, a small porch herb garden to start, hopefully a couple boxes to build if the pumpkins and squash and watermelons germinate, and some very hard labor in tilling up a place for the blueberries.

***

Usefulness of the day: I've said it before and I will say it again: red plastic! Insulate tomatos with red plastic sheeting and your plants will be at least 8ft tall. Not white. Not black. White and black plastic only provide heat insulation. Red light, however, triggers a growth hormone. While you're picking up red sheeting, buy some taaaall support crates and strong rods - you will need them in August!

prayer request and update

Baby Ben is doing great! He is out of the hospital and doing all the things a newborn baby should be doing...including being chubby and cute :)

I have an interview tomorrow; please pray it goes well! I also applied for a job last night that sounds perfect...praying that I get an interview with them, too!

that was interesting.

The interview on Wednesday was, by far, the most bizarre interview ever.

The guy looked like and had the voice of David Puddy. I had to fight the urge to slap him a high five and ask whether he followed hockey.

Went well...I think. Another interview on Tuesday.

prayer request

I have a promising interview on Wednesday morning. Prayer warriors, good-vibe senders, sage-burners, rain-dancers, etc...DO YOUR THING!

Update: Woohoo! Another one to be scheduled.

***
Usefulness of the day: Ever if you don't drink the stuff, vodka is a rather useful item to have around the house. Swish plain unflavored vodka to remove odors in a Nalgene. Put a little fruit-flavored vodka in a glass, shape a piece of paper into a cone shape and place the narrow end in the glass with the paper just above - but not touching - the vodka. Great way to send fruit flies to a boozy death! And I've never tried this myself, but I've heard that spritzing plain vodka on musty clothing will rid the garment of storage odors. And if you actually drink it...my new favorite drink is plain vodka, plain seltzer, and a few olives. Hey, olives are good for you! Heathy fats!

argh.

This has happened at least a dozen times over the past five years. And I don't get it.

We - me, Jack, Coco - will be walking in the city. Lots of people like to stop and say hi. We like that! But a few people feel compelled to insinuate that I am making some kind of a social comment by having a big handsome fit white boy and a little, so-ugly-she-is-cute, not very fit*, black girl. One an expensive breeder purchase, one a $30 rescue dog. "What, you'll pay for a white dog but not a black dog?! Huh? Huh?" One happy and confident and lovin' life and one who isn't quite sure about life...but she will bark at it.

We're just on a walk, people! No one is "oppressing" anyone else. I judiciously avoid try very hard to avoid giving unsolicited social commentary...and I don't even know how I could use the dogs to illustrate issues on which I would opine.

The worst was Coco's Halloween costume...that one got me cussed at.

At a very crowded fundraiser for a shelter. With as many children at the party as dogs! Who does that?

I would point out that it has always been someone of a specific race and gender making these not-too-kind comments. But specifying that race and gender would, I'm sure, strike some as sexi-racist. Raci-sexist. Nothing sexi about racism!

People are ridiculous. Entirely too much "that offends me as a X" and entirely not enough common sense or manners.

Will adding a black-and-white pup next make it all better? Because Harlequin Great Danes make me smile.

* She came to me at 30lbs! Minpins are supposed to weigh 8-10. She is down to 15, so don't yell at me for having a fat dog :)

Photo from Mid-Atlantic Great Dane Rescue League.

***

Usefulness of the day: Do not put your actual home address as "home" in your GPS. Use the address of a nearby business instead. If your GPS is stolen, do you really want the thief knowing where you sleep at night?