It is the second night of our attorney retreat. We are at the Stritmatters’ house in Maui. Listening to guitars. Watching the chefs pulling culinary delights from the pizza oven. The sun has set. And we are a smiling, talking and celebrating Paul’s 80th birthday.
We are also wondering - where are Fred and Furhad.
Read MoreEd and I started dating in Philadelphia at an AAJ convention. After a lifetime of living in Texas he moved to Seattle a year into the relationship in 2009, ten years ago this month. He office shared with my law firm and started wearing more jeans and less cashmere suiting. We broke up shy of three years later. And stayed friends.
Read MoreOh goodie. Oh goodie. Yay. Yippee.
We are up here at the cabin. Am looking out the window in the living room. Watching her carry the little blue kayak down the hill. She is trying to mimic Sol who balances the big kayaks on top of his head. Oops. There it goes over to the left. She hefts it up. Then it slops over again. She looks like a wobbly blue turtle as she makes her way down.
Read MoreWake up at 6:45. Laze around. Tonight is Hollyball. Wonder what else is on schedule. Open calendar. "9:00 a.m. hold for Court of Appeals Argument." Whaaaaaaaaaaa
Text John 7:27 - is there an argument today.
Texts back 7:29. Yes at 9:30 at first & union.
Read MorePrologue: The best and worst outfit I ever wore to the Hollyball was when I was President of WSTLA. It was an election year. We were fighting for the insurance fair conduct act. And if you added to all that -raising my girls and handling my job...well....There was no time for shopping.
The theme was the Red Hot Hollyball. And I was determined to do it right. So a few days before the big event, I went online. Promdresses.com or some such website. Found a red hot hollyball dress.
Read MoreToday is our last day to file motions. For the third time since the trial has been continued twice. Motion after motion, instructions, declarations, orders, notes. We have been working like crazy to get them all done. Garth and I have been doing all the briefing. Anne and Jody are scrambling to format and get everything filed.
Read MoreWhat is there to say. They Came. We Saw. They Conquered.
David Ball and Don Keenan put on The Reptile seminar this past week in Seattle.
You all know by now how fidgety, impatient, bored I get. Well, two consecutive days from 8:30 to 5:00, I stayed put. Absolutely enchanted. It was a record.
Read MoreGive the speech. Go for a run. Have the spinal cord litigation group meeting. Smile at the Phoenix Suns wheelchair basketball crew demo. Go on our field trip. Gawk at the brand spanking new disability center. Apparently flirt (according to Cristina) with the very handsome fitness coordinator. Barrio Queen for dinner with a lively group of 12. Arrive back at the hotel at 9:30.
But wait.
Read MoreKiss Susan goodbye. Get into her car. Take off high heels. Amaze self as type address into navigation. Am brilliant techno person. Never mind about what happened yesterday.
Back up Prius. Put it into drive and have flashback. Am 21 driving to meet Liz at the disco. All spiffed up. Flash forward.
Read MoreWe are going round the dinner table. Saying what we've liked best about our firm retreat. I'm looking at my seven partners and their wives. Listening to the variety of answers.
What will I remember the most? The fact that I will always have this special memory of us bonding with each other and being together. Our laughter, friendship, and love.
Read MoreWe really should be going to a political luncheon. One of the high points of AAJ conventions are the big wigs who come to speak. Sometimes they are phenomenal. A couple years ago we had Hilary Clinton, Barak Obama, Joe Biden and Bill Richardson one after the other. But today, we walk out into the sunshine, grab a cab and head towards the Haiti district. It is a bit out of the way and our cabbie offers to come back to get us.
Read MoreWe rush to make it on time to our last class, cut through the Luxembourg Jardin, exit and realize we shouldn’t have. We are off course, back track and eventually arrive a bit late. Hear the first speaker on Qui Tam – a subject that I don’t think I have any interest in but which is absolutely fascinating. I want to do a Qui Tam. Hear tummy rumbling. Take a quick break. Run to patisserie down the street, pick up a small (it is small – it is it is – well, ok maybe just not gigantic) almond croissant and because it IS kind of small, also get a pain d’raison just in case. Rush back to class and mange both. Much better.
Read MoreWe meet at a bistro type of restaurant. Our group fills the entire place. Tres impressive. Suddenly, we hear the sound of - could it be - an alto saxophone. Mai oui! There is a bright red headed very slim French woman dressed in a black dress and bomber jacket who has come to entertain us. She waltzes around our tables (I'm not sure how since the sax is as big as she is and there's little navigable room but she is a determined femme). Voila - she is done. We clap.
Read MoreIt is high noon and I squeeze in a run before hanging out with Cristina at the pool. With AAJ convention having occurred last month, here is what I notice. When my kids don't come with me, I socialize much more in between all the events. When they attend, I am conscious about needing to spend as much time as possible with them. I never achieve a perfect balance with work and family. I'm constantly saying to my kids - what do you want to do today. This is code for - how am I going to fit in everything that needs to be fit in today.
Read MoreI'm late. I toss on some white jeans, go down the elevator and run across the street to the other hotel. The first reception is for Mary Alice's campaign. It looks like a party planner did it. There are big vases filled with blue, white and green M&Ms in honor of her official colors. You'll be proud to know that I resist the urge to grab a handful. Ah, the temptations. It is bright, airy, filled with food and laughing people. A friend and I decide to go check out the competition's campaign party. It is across the street.
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