Wake up at 4:15 am. Didn't mean to. Go back to sleep. Wake up 4:45. No. No. No. Close eyes. Alarm rings 5:00. Slide out of bed. It is still dark out. Grope way to closet. Throw on Gray pants with little white polka dots. Flats. Soft sweater. Gray coat. Do ministrations. Zip up already packed suitcase. Hidden in closet because Nala has grown to hate it. She knows what it means. Lap top in carry on. Ipad in purse. Liquids and gels in year old ziplock. Fold up beats headphones Debbie got me. Blanket. Extension cord. Luna bars. Orange, Check off list in head.
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Here is my confession of the day. I am not only highly detail oriented at work. There is some spill over.
My girls have done their best to keep me from going over the edge into full blown OCD. We used to have a rule from the time they could walk. The house stayed clean except they had dominion over their own rooms. So long as I could close their doors they could do what they wanted. That is until I eventually couldn't stand it anymore and picked up and sorted through the various piles of debris.
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There is nowhere more beautiful than Seattle in the summertime. Decide for once, to remain here and relax rather than go somewhere else for vacation. Have many friends who do this. Watch all their good times on facebook. They explore the city. Stay home and garden. Have friends over. Hang out on the patio.
This is what happens when a trial lawyer decides to take a stay-cation.
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These are thoughts and feelings of fellow trial lawyers who sent emails following the day after a crappy jury verdict post.
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The day after.
Oprah talks about the power that our bad secrets hold over us. The amount of time and energy we spend keeping them hidden. The worrying that others will find out. The feelings of unworthiness that fester from trying to suppress our embarrassments.
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The alarm is ringing. Try to ignore it, but know cannot. Look at the phone/clock and it is 4:30. As in a.m. Put on ugly red glasses. Only wear them when no one can see me. Like now. Lie there til 4:45. Finally jump up because have to make a plane. Open the drapes. There is a gigantic full moon that seems to be shining a path across puget sound right into my bedroom.
Rush around. Put on black clothing. Tell Nala to get up. Out the door. Drop her at doggie daycare. Make it to the airport by 6. Stand in sluggish security line. Even the special Spokane shuttle line is clogged. No worries. Have time to get a scone and bottle of water from D'Lish.
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Today, someone does something that really ticks me off. Actually, two someones do.
Inside, am gnashing teeth. Mumbling non-swear words. Like Elmer Fudd aims at Bugs Bunny.
Outside, do nothing. Other than email one word to staff: Lame. Then go about business as if nothing is ticking me off at all.
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Reid is my daugher Alysha's boyfriend. He comes bearing gifts. An ornament for the tree from Denmark where he was studying abroad. And this poem that he wrote last night on his way to see The Elf musical.
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Lawyers love rules. Lawyers also tend to be OCD. Rules + OCD = an intricate, layered, never ending monstrous pile of rules that becomes increasingly difficult to navigate. The legal profession calls this - job security.
We are equal opportunity OCD rule creators. We even create rules to govern ourselves. Some of them are breathtakenly overbroad and impossible to humanly adhere to.
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My mother brought a 73 year old palm reader to Thanksgiving dinner.
Mom: I want to bring my friend Ed. He is really bright. He is an attorney and a palm reader and I share my energy with him.
Me: Mom, I have already set the tables for 27. We do not have room. I don't have any plates left and had to get extra silverware from the office.
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My parents had a pretty good strategy on how to keep the five of us out of trouble. Both of them worked. We had various babysitters (one of whom ripped us off but that's another story). This was in the days when neighbors kept a lookout for us kids as well. Still, mom and dad left nothing to chance.
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It's the weekend and guess where I am. Yes. In the office. Working on a brief. Because two defendants think they can get out of rear ending cars on the freeway. This is the story of my morning's misadventure.
Here are few details you will observe. First - yikes - no makeup. Second - am sitting on ball which apparently is bouncy. Third - have a runner's tan line.
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This is called - taking your nick name to the next level.
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We are running my favorite route. The sun is shining. Oh it is so fun to do this. Love to do this. Ooh I see you bird. Wish could jump out of this harness thing She has strapped around me. It fastens in front. She thinks it will stop me from pulling her. Don't know why She thinks that. But it does feel better than being pulled by the neck. Am not complaining. Love being outside. Even though She runs way too slow. But am not complaining.
We get to Myrtle Edwards park. Ooh I see you bird. This is where the trouble starts. Ooh that little boy wants to pet me. She doesn't stop. Nice try little boy.
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Am in an absolutely foul detestable mood. The stupid office servers have had a "catastrophic failure." 24 hours ago and counting.
Can feel blood pressure increasing. Stomach is sitting at base of throat. Have a prehearing statement of proof due today. Am growling orders. Punching numbers on the phone. One after the other. Apologize for being so awful. Then go back to being horrible.
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The clerk sends an email on Thursday. Our trial starts Monday. Or it is supposed to. This case has been scheduled for trial for over a year. But SNAP! Just like that. A criminal case pushes its way past us. This happens in November.
Fast forward. We are now set to start the same trial June 4. After a six month delay. Everyone is ready to go. Some of the witnesses have booked flights and hotels. But wait. SNAP! Just like that. We are bumped again. By another criminal case. We are now supposed to start this whole thing over again in October. Supposedly.
Read More10. Don't like umbrellas
9. Not as easy to lose as a hat
8. Doesn't smoosh hair down like a hat
7. Like versatility of putting it up or down
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On the treadmill. Ipod filling my head with music. Reading the kindle. Overhead a basketball game is on TV. The water from Puget Sound alternates between looking stormy and shimmery as the weather tries to make up its mind.
Am in Zen like happy zoned out place. Have been going for about half an hour. On this chilly Sunday afternoon.
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Don't write out "to do" lists. Don't want or need to see how much there is to do. What would be the point. Besides, the lists go around and around inside my head like a pinwheel anyway.
Lately though, have been a bit filled to the gills. Can obsess about work when the kids are away. But when they return - it is kids plus work. Add to that the house remodel and have no breathing space left at all.
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