a pro of the home office and some updates

When it is raining in hurricane proportions, I don't have to sit in traffic to get to the office.

I simply walk down the hall, look out at the street flooding and am thankful that I don't have to try to explain to anyone that even if I wanted to I can't back my car out of the driveway at the moment. There is even a large AT&T truck stranded across the street. I can provide photos to prove it.

Other updates -
the wedding is coming up quick. I think we've got something less than 6 weeks - eek. But most everything is done - even though the plan was to have it done 3 or 4 months ago - it didn't happen. We didn't book a photographer until last Thursday. At least I've got a dress, there will be food to eat and a DJ to play some music. Now how we are going to get there, or whether we are going to have menu cards, favors for the guests. . . . we'll have to see.

In the mean time I am trying to get all the doctor's appointments, dental appointments, optometrist appointments . . . yearly violation . . . . in within the next 48 hours - despite the downpour, so that I can benefit from the insurance that I have been paying for for the past 16 months, at least once.

Ridic

Before I left the Firm I let one of my clients know that I would send them a copy of some of my own personal materials so that they might better understand the law behind what it is that they do.

The people at the Firm that make massive copies of things hadn't finished making the copies on Friday before I turned over all of my belongings and was no longer allowed in the building. I was charging this copying to my personal account as a favor to a client that is still a Firm client and that I was not attempting to take from the Firm.

Apparantly though, now that my personal account has been erased they cannot send me the materials in the mail via anything (Fed Ex, UPS, USPS) because there isn't an account to charge.

We are talking $10-15 tops, maybe, to send a stack of papers, albeit in a binder.

I would spend twice that on gas and parking to go pick up the damn thing.

Seriously. It's my book of materials.

First Day at the New Gig

Location: Home Office

Attire: (changed three times)
(1) PJ sweats and huge sweatshirt to take out trash and recycling and until temperature inched above 70 degrees in the house
(2) jeans and Boy's shirt until lunch time
(3) white bikini, denim skirt and hoodie type shirt - easily removeable for outdoor telephone calls, outdoor document review, etc., just do that I can multi-task and get a tan at the same time

So far. I have called in attempt to roll-over my 401(k), but apparantly need a PIN, that can only be delivered via postal mail in 2-10 business days.

Checked my stock to see if it has gone up enought to sell. Hasn't.

Set up outlook to check mulitple accounts and link to my blackberry so that I can receive email while sitting by the pool. Not much email coming in.

Worked on writing a bio.

Called to make sure I am up to date on all CLE requirements.

Called all doctor's to have prescriptions re-filled asap in hopes of getting before insurance is cut off.

Spoke to potential source of contract work, but don't have an appointment until Thursday or Friday.

We are back folks.

Once the lone associate at a small firm in a big city. Then we tried the Big Law fiasco.
Today was my last day!!!!!

We are not the lone associate, we are now the lone attorney, the lone counsel, the lone practictioner at my new own firm, currently located at my home office. Soon to be expanding.

There will now be updates.

For those that have stuck around (um no one), we'll thank you and for those coming back, thank you about that too.

There were many issues why I could not continue the blog for a period of time and wow . . oh those problems are resolved.

No more blackberry buzzing every 15 seconds and tracking me on GPS. No more being chastised or not "releasing time" on a daily basis simply because I couldn't because the damn conflicts wouldn't clear and the attorney in charge hadn't done a damn thing about it.

Enough raving.
Happy times, hopefully ahead.

And tonight is a night of a bonfire, of slowly burning of hundreds of my old business cards.

Also interestingly, we usually get a notice via email when someone is leaving the firm, usually that morning - mass email, congrats on the new prospect, lets all go say goodbye. Today, nothing.

wowza

It has been a very long time.
Sorry folks.

Work has been sticky. I have been looking for a new job.

Wedding planning is a lot more difficult than I originally thought. So many decisions. So much money. Another reason for the job search. So many options of shoes. . . . Which the first ones I wore to the first dress fitting and nearly fell off the podium stand onto the alterations lady. Uhh. . . 4 inch heals, heavy dress, not a good idea. Plus I am a klutzoid.

The wedding in Jamaica was fun (and hot) (and filled with lots of rum). I returned with not only a sunburn, a hangover, but strange bumps all over my hands and feet. Our neighbor, the nerosurgen (probably not the best source) thought that it was from being overly sunned and hot - the sweat was trapped underneath the layers of dead skin. Ick!!!!

So if this new job thing pans out, I will let you know. But right now I am trying to keep everything on the DL.

In other news, Ben is moving in with us tomorrow. He still has a semester left at school, however Pops has officially cut him off for the time being and his options are (1) move in with Pops (oh yeah like living with FiFi and her kids would be a hoot), (2) move in with Mom (who is now here every weekend), or (3) come chill by the pool at the casa of BC and Boy, along with the margarita machine that is currently filled with hurricanes . . . . hmm, tough decision.

I am excited. Now I have someone to send to the grocery store during the day, watch the chit-lins (dogs), except fedex and ups packages, occasionally do laundry, drop off the dry cleaning, vaccum, more the lawn, and cook dinner. Did I mention that Ben is a fablous cook, trained in France? I mean, I am good, but not that good. He does this thing with potatoes which makes you never want to eat a french fry or a regular baked potato ever again.

Promise not to be long.

the gym and me

For the past coupla of weeks I've made an effort to go run outside versus at the gym. In the mean time apparantly a wonderful group of individuals has joined our gym. Yeahh. . . . .

One of which is a guy, fairly buff, but insists on not having to wait on anybody and asks one insistently "are you done with that?", when I am obviously Not.

Then the large older woman that proceeded to sing out-load the lyrics of her song that was playing on her ipod.

Then there was the huffing man that joined me on the bikes, the only available equipment, and attempted to huff along with the female's lyrics.

then R accidently flung a weight and pissed off the first buff guy, oops, who then stalked us for the rest of our venture.

huuuuuh. just happy to be home.

easter date family weekend

Originally the plan was to have ALL the family (minus Poppy and Fi-fi ) for Easter dinner. It would be nice to have everyone together, but I think that given the anniversary of the split inviting everyone would be a tad akward. Plus, Poppy and Fi-fi are buying a (large) house together and can no longer afford to contribute to our wedding, which originally he was going to help with, and I don't want to make the situation worse.

and also plans changed.

We had a nice family dinner on Saturday with Mom, Kevin & Ben, and Boy's brother & Fiancee & old friends & Mr. Oceania.
But Poppy called Ben upset about something mom did in the middle of dinner. Cell phones were thrust against the house. Tears were shed. Family members were cut off.

On Sunday, I cooked once again for Boy's parents, Boy's brother and Fiancee.

Instead of blogging here, I have been messing with our wedding website, that even though save the dates have been sent (with the website address), no one has checked.

According to my boss, "the picture is just soooo cute, i guess i didn't notice the rest." that was not my intent.

oh. and I just love sitting in the office all week without anything to do until Friday afternoon. . . . and then have to work all weekend. makes me happy. . . . at least I have a job to pay for the wedding.

lunch date with a potential new hire

So I had lunch this week with a more senior associate who might make a lateral move to The Firm. I was nervous as hell because I really didn't want to blurt out anything super negaitve, like the majority of thoughts that run through my mind every night while I am asleep (and throughout the day).

I liked him. He was nice, personable and I would love to work with him, more so than many of the younger first year associates that have a stick up their ass. He has been around. He has made the lateral move before.

Is it bad that I tried to convience him it would be a good idea? His ship has taken on water and is half sunk, ours is still treading water?

another one (or many) bit the dust

In the midst of actually trying to get work done, I apologize for the complaining, three shareholders resigned last Friday. One more today.

If I am on a sinking ship, how long should I stay?

And I will try to not complain so much for at least awhile, whatever that means.

urg.

credit when due?

Back around New Years one of the shareholders at The Firm asked if I would like to help write a paper for a conference this March. Being the love of researcher I am, I jumped at it (foolishly). I didn't really "help" write the paper. I wrote it. Re-wrote it. Re-wrote it.

The shareholder then, about a week or so ago, asked if I could help prepare the power point presentation for the paper. "Sure" I said.

So the conference is this week. I don't even get to go. The firm won't pay the fee and I don't have the $$$ (or at least would rather spend it on shoes).

And The Firm is contemplating having us pay for our own parking. On my current salary, I can't afford it, gas, toll fees. Don't even get me started on the potential bus options (like 5 different changes).

Looks like I will be working "remotely", if that is the case.

thanks pops, once again.

I had been trying to get ahold of my father for a few weeks now.
It turns out that he passed out at CVS (and hit the door of the nurses station with his head).
and was in and out of the hospital for a few days.

and therefore couldn't take my (or my brothers') phone calls.

and apparantly Fi-Fi didn't think that we were on the "on call" list. Only 911 was that important.

I am sorry. This is MY father (and MY BROTHERS' father). He is just your boyfriend.
I won't be a major bitch, just call and let me know.

and in other news, Boy got me a new laptop and I am now re-connected with the outside world.

finding the flower lady

Over the past two months I have re-scheduled meeting with the florist for our wedding because usually the day of or the day before some meeting, some luncheon, some event has come up to make it impossible to make it to meet.

Today was supposed to be the day. I didn't care if I missed lunch, put deadlines on hold, by golly I was gonna make it.

Until I couldn't find the stupid shop.

I drove up and back and up and back, actually looping around due to the one way street factor until I wasted an hour of billable time and gave up and went back to the office.

I've emailed the florist and asked to re-schedule but I highly doubt that she really wants to do it the fourth time.

it's official . . . .

I am not on "the list".

I have been on a blogging hiatus. Somewhat because my personal laptop crashed and at the same time The Firm announced that layoffs would be happening in the next few weeks and were based upon performance, which means displaying effort and extensive face time at the office.
And just about all internet access is blocked. Actually, all of it, other than mapquest and local court information.

My billable hour number is horrible. Things had been off and on slow since we moved to the Firm.

I was on the "potential list."

This I didn't find out directly, but by accidentally grabbing the wrong papers off the copy machine. This didn't make me feel so hot.

Associates have been resigning. Partners have been leaving. Paralegals have been simply disappearing.

One associate with whom I am good friends found out that the partners above him were looking for work elsewhere - and taking his clients.

Friends have been let go.

Things were not on the up and up.

Today I found out that I am not on the list. I don't think I am 100% safe, but safe for the next cycle and at least a month or so.

In other news Mom and Mr. Oceania had an official date. She spent the night at his place. She is coming into town this week for a job interview.

Oh. yeah. and I am supposed to be planning a wedding . . . . .

who said that getting married was a good idea?

The paper I volunteered to write, for which I get no pay and no credit turned out to be a nightmare. Partner in charge waited until the last minute, after I gave him my draft, to request revisions. In the mean time I got some horrible stomach flu and attempted to finish all citations while lying on the couch, existing on Pedilyte, with my laptop by my side.
It is done.

Next is this whole wedding planning thing. Something I have learned, others, like you have to call weeks in advance to get a Saturday appointment to look at dresses, was not in the "guide book." Add to that, once you've found that chosen dress, it takes 4+ months to come in. Really? So if I wanted to get married any sooner than next year, I am screwed. Because I've also been informed that once the dress comes in, it can take another 4-6 months to finish alterations.

I am going to have to just quit working at work and become a full-time planner to get everything arranged - catering, booze, entertainment, flowers, centerpieces, . . . .

It is a good thing that work is so slow that I might not have a choice. But then again, I am going to have no money to pay for the wedding in the first place.

I got an award. No really.

Courtesy of Legally Blonde Ambition. apparantly I show either great gratitude or attitude or both. Who woulda thunk?



And there are rules.

The Award has some rules:

1. Put the logo on your blog or post.
2. Nominate at least 10 blogs which show GREAT ATTITUDE and/or GRATITUDE!
3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.
4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
5. Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received your award.

And so I nominate, in random order:

Yeah. That is about as far as I have gotten.

Work has been crazy.

My mom came back into town for a conference.

My personal laptop died.

I am working on a paper for an upcoming conference and a draft needs to be finished by Monday. I have a nice outline in the works.

This week they moved my office again. I was without a computer for almost two days.

And I just haven't read any blogs lately.

I am going to get to it. Just after I finish this paper (and get my hair cut).