Writing

So, as Tiffany suggested, I have been thinking about using my spare time to write. In theory, a lawyer who wants a successful career should write some stuff and have it published. I'm not sure WHY this is true, since nobody but other nerdy lawyers read anything that nerdy lawyers write, but - just like having to work until 6 - this is a ridiculous truth that I must just accept. The problem is, WHAT to write about. The legal issues that I care about are all things that will either not improve my career (wrongful convictions or sex-offender registries) or possibly get me fired (raising the amount in controversy for federal diversity jurisdiction). So what to do? I searched through a few local law blogs and a few business law blogs today (for those non-lawyers out there, these are called "blawgs" because lawyers think they are cool and clever like that), searching for legal issues that might interest me. Nada. So, maybe I will just write about myself. At least then I can be on Oprah someday....

Stupid People Making Too Much Money

The people I work for get paid a lot of money, so it REALLY bothers me when they are morons. Here is the perfect example.

Every week we get a newsletter with articles written by or about people at our firm. This week someone wrote an "article" called "If I were Obama, I would nominate..." in which he suggested who should be nominated to the Supreme Court. I was interested to see who it would be, and, therefore, was disgusted to see his suggestion: Sandra Day O'Connor.

Yes, the best person he could come up with is someone who has ALREADY been nominated, served, and then retired!! He said "there is no rule preventing the nomination of a retired justice." Well, OF COURSE NOT!!!! But the fact that she retired might suggest, to a reasonable person, that she is done with all of that and doesn't want to do it anymore!! Obama would have to be an imbecile to nominate someone who just retired to the same exact job they retired from!!! Good God.

Of course, the idiot who wrote this article is a partner, making ten times more than I do, to write these dumb ass articles. I can't imagine what his legal memoranda look like...if he even writes them!! Grrrrr.

My Dilemma

I have nothing to do at work today. NOTHING. I "spring cleaned" my office on Friday and expected to be busy today because we had a client meeting scheduled for tomorrow. The client re-scheduled, so I have no work. I've asked all the partners in the office if they need anything and they "will let me know" if they do, but so far, nothing. Now, in my old job, I would've been very happy about this and probably taken half the day off. But here, I can't do that. First of all, I have a billable hour requirement (1180 hours to go), so I NEED work and not having work is a bad thing. Second, I just had my associate review last week during which I was criticized for only one thing - leaving at five. Now, I would like to note that I was NOT accused of not doing my work, or even of not being here when needed. In fact, the "criticism" said that I leave at 5, which has not been a problem...yet. In fact, continued my criticizer, I am always willing to stay late when needed and have never turned down work. Still, "consistently leaving at 5" apparently creates a perception that I am "not dedicated" to my job. Obviously, I think this is crap. I am often the first person in the office, so it makes sense that I am one of the first to leave. Also, I work at home in the evenings and on the weekends. I simply see no point in sitting here just for the sake of sitting here. But, alas, I have been told that "strategically" this is what I should do. So, I am trying to force myself to stay until 6 from now on, but when I have NOTHING to do that is kinda rough. Especially because, also unlike my old job, I can't watch TV in my office. Well, I can, but here I risk getting "caught." At my old job my boss would just be like "whatcha watching??" And then most likely tell me I don't get paid enough and I should just take the afternoon off. Here, watching TV in my office may just increase the "perception" that I don't care about my job. So, instead, I am blogging. Sooooo much better, don't you think??

Psychos

So, I'm pretty sure I've mentioned on here that my boss is a psycho. And I mean that. Well, maybe not a psycho - but he at least has severe bipolar disorder. I've learned to deal with it. He has good days -- where I am his best friend, and bad days -- where I am the biggest moron ever. He also has days where he just hides in his office and ignores the world. Like I said, I am handling it pretty well. I think it's because I learned how to deal with this stuff by learning how to deal with my father. Living with someone like that, I trained myself to expect the worst, but not take it personally. I learned that there were some days when I could do nothing right, and to just do as I always did and not give a fuck what my father thought. Applying that to my boss is easier than to someone you have to live with -- ya know? Once I learned that he was irrational, I just turned it on. My secretary though, she is NOT good at dealing with him. He can be so mean on his bad days and she takes it so personally. I'm really thinking she may quit soon. You can see that it's taking a physical toll on her.

What bothers me is how people can go their whole lives without getting treatment for something this severe, and still be successful. Many associates and secretaries have threatened to quit rather than work for my boss, everyone knows about his "moods", but there are no consequences. I realize that it's not something he can control without meds, but he NEEDS meds, and people just putting up with his behavior doesn't help anyone. I've told him that I think he needs to see someone, but I don't think he took me seriously.

I just hope he does something responsible before we lose our secretary, or before she loses her mind!!

Ten Days

K was here for ten days!! He just left this morning. His truck was in the shop so he was pretty much stuck here. It ended up being a pretty good visit though. I had to go to North Florida last week for work and he decided to go with me. So, we had a little adventure and saw some towns that we really never care to see again! LOL But still, it was much better together than it would have been alone. We got back home on Friday afternoon, and went to pick up his truck - which is all better now!! Saturday night we had a little date night. We drove down to the beach, had dinner on the water, and then walked on the beach and watched the sunset. It was really nice. Sunday we stayed in and watched the new Jim Carrey movie, Yes Man, which was pretty funny.

It was our 3 year anniversary this month (we debate whether it is the 15th or the 23rd, but at least we agree on the month), so it was nice to be together. And then today, when I got home from work, I found the cutest little "love note" from K. So he got himself lots of bonus points this week, and I think we both feel a bit refreshed now...maybe a little less stressed.

Ouch!!

Ok, so you know what's not fun??? Getting a biopsy on your nose. Also, sneezing while they are shooting lidocaine into your nose.

As with most things in my life, this was more comical and tragic than it would be for a normal person. I almost passed out after realizing that cutting an engorged blood vessel off my face would turn said face into a fountain. Also, sneezing meant they had to inject me 3 times instead of just one. And the nurse wouldn't let me stand up because I so clearly was not doing well. I'm sure it's all fine, but it was an ordeal. And now, instead of a big red zit-looking thing, I have a black spot. Nice. You know me - always sexy!!

Measuring Up

I have been SOOOO busy this week!! Last week on thursday afternoon I had 4 "emergencies" come up at work. That meant I had to work all weekend. Which is totally fine, because I am glad to be busy, but (of course) I was sick!! Literally at 4pm on Friday my throat started KILLING me. Saturday I woke up at 3am cuz it hurt so much. So I started working at 5 and went to a walk-in clinic at 10am, which was a really great idea. I got some killer antibiotics and hydrocodone cough syrup. Still, I was pretty sick - and totally stoned on cough syrup. Apparently, though, I do my best work on cough syrup!!

I cranked out a response to a complaint; a stipulation; a motion to quash 14 subpoenas; a response to a motion to discharge 4 lis pendens; a motion to strike; an objection to evidence; a response to a motion for summary judgment; and a reply in support of a motion to dismiss all in 4 days (because I slept all day sunday). And I got great feedack on all of it!! So I am pretty proud of myself, and relieved that I can breathe a little now (literally and figuratively). But all this good feedback is coming at the PERFECT time, because....

This week I had to fill out my first set of "associate review forms." The first set of forms require us to go through a list of "benchmarks" to indicate what experiences we've had, and what we have accomplished so far. As a 2nd year associate I am a level 1, but I'v completed about half the things on the level 2 list, which is great! Along with this is a "career plan" form, on which I list my goals for the next year and make an "action plan" to reach them. It's pretty corny. Like, one goal might be "get to know more people in my office" so my action plan could be "go to lunch with 2 people I've never gone to lunch with." Kinda silly.

I also fill out a form for my mid-year associate review where I list the partners I've done more than 30 hours of work for and then they get emails requiring them to evaluate me. I really hope to get good reviews from all of them!! I think it will take about a month to find out - so keep your fingers crossed for me!!!!