A New Badge

It's a bit of a misnomer to call him my little brother, even though that's what he'll always be to me.  As demonstrated in this photo, my sister and I have learned that if we don't want him towering over us, it's necessary to wear heels around him.

He graduated from the Police Academy last week, and we can now officially call him Officer Nick. The Academy ceremony was very cool, as my father presented my brother's badge to him.

Here we are, our little law enforcement family. I think my dad has the biggest smile of the bunch. He's one proud papa.

Occupations, according to Lola

Lola grabs her purse and announces, "I'm going to work."
"Oh yeah?" I say. "Where are you going?"
"To the office. I'm a lawyer." She smiles.
"Hm. What do lawyers do?"
She opens her purse, and pulls out a pencil. She holds it out toward me, and confidently says, "They count pencils!"

Not quite sure how she arrived at this conclusion, I ask another question.
"When your Daddy goes to work, what does he do? Is he a lawyer?"
"No," she says.  "He's a genius!"
"A genius?  Well, what kind of work does a genius do?"
"Nothing."

 

The Last Few Weeks

Leaving town when you feel overwhelmed by work is probably not the best idea, but when you know the relentless pulse will continue regardless of where you are, the idea of sitting in a hot tub on a cold mountain night is very persuading.

And so, we packed up and escaped to Truckee for two nights. Our friends Alex and Valerie rented a house and invited us to stay with them.

Lola is good friends with their son Zander, and the two of them had fun exploring outside. They were highly disappointed in the lack of snow. Lola was so bummed that she started her own "Occupy Snow" movement and refused to move off the snow rock she had so carefully climbed onto.

 

 

The next weekend, after yet again another stressful week at work and also a visit from my mother-in-law (who was wonderful, but I have no photos of her visit. Insert sad smiley), I went to Pajaro Dunes for a girls' weekend. There were margaritas, wine, good food, and board games. Oh yes, and a pretty view from the balcony. I took this photo while sitting on the patio, drinking my morning coffee.

It was great to get away, but as always, a little rough to return to reality.

If You Like It, Then You Should Have Put a Ring on It

On my way into work this morning, I listened to Beyonce.

What, you say? Beyonce? Yes, in fact I did. I listened to Beyonce, then some Britney and Rhianna. Rounding out all the hip hop was my favorite angry girl rock song of the moment by Metric. In the past, this playlist was reserved for the 45 minutes leading up to kick-off or the start of a 100 meter sprint. Today, it was used for lawyering.

It's funny how you revert back to the things you know best during the times when you don't know what to do.

See today, I spoke at my very first hearing. I presented two cases during oral argument. In both cases, the board's votes were in my favor. I won.

When I write it out, it sounds very simple.

In some ways, it was simple. Months ago, I read the files, determined what issues existed, researched the law, applied the law to the facts, and came to a conclusion. And while today, I knew the facts, the issues, the law, the application of it all, I was still nervous about the oral arguments.

Minutes before I was called to speak, a familiar feeling crept into my stomach. It was the same feeling I used to get when it was time to crawl into the blocks on the track. I would go through a routine. Jump. Jump. Stretch. Knees pressed to the all-weather surface, hands steady on the line. The official would say, "SET." A rise to the starting position. Then, the gun and a race to the finish line.

One of the principles that I loved about track & field, was that the focus was always about obtaining your personal best. It was a battle of You versus The Stopwatch. While medaling was ideal, it was also an afterthought of sorts. The goal was always to do the best that YOU could do.

With my stomach turning, I focused on what I knew and tried to do my best to clearly articulate this content to my audience. A few minutes into my opening statement, I relaxed and everything flowed. I was able to confidently answer questions. I put together coherent sentences. I didn't stumble over my word choices.

I believe today was a successful start. It was not perfect, but I'm okay with a satisfactory performance. It was good enough to set a standard for myself, one that I can work to improve upon with each new opportunity. And, believe it or not, I did it all with a Beyonce song stuck in my head.

Wave of Relief

I AM NOT GETTING A LAYOFF NOTICE.

Oh, thank God.

Earlier today, my boss informed me that employees with seven months or less of "service credit" would receive a notice. To qualify for a months of service credit, you must work eleven days in a month.

I started July 21, so July didn't qualify.

1. August.

2. September.

3. October

4. November

5. December

6. January

Lola was born February 7. I worked until February 5. But, even in February, I was concerned that if my employer were to conduct future layoffs, the layoffs would be based on these state service credits. So, I read the fine print of the HR documents and I posted 6 days of vacation, therefore "working" 11 days in February before going on maternity leave.

7. February

In March, I planned on taking a full 12 weeks of maternity leave. This would have kept me out of the office until early May. But then, in early April, the combination of financial need, slight boredom, and fear of the ever looming service credit, made me re-think my early position and I returned to the office on April 16th -- just in time to post 11 working days in April.

8. April

Lo and behold, I made it.

I also received two months of service credit from when I worked in the office as an law school intern. So, technically, I have 10 months of service credit.

I am safe. (For now.)

What a Difference a Year Makes

Today is Day 1 of the February Bar Exam.

(just writing that made my stomach turn a little sour).

One year ago, I sat through the first day of the February Bar Exam 2008. I was a mess. I was stressed, sleep deprived, and depressed. Josh and I were living in a dinky townhome located behind a 24-hour taco shop and every day I doubted whether my law degree was worth all the time, money and effort that I put into it.

Since February 2008, so much has happened:

• I was in a car that caught on fire


• While surfing, I broke my nose


• I passed the bar exam!


• I was sworn into the California State Bar while wearing my lovely nose cast (which made for great photos)


• I accepted a job with an employer in a legal field that matched my education


• Josh and I moved 500 miles away to a new city


• We found out I was pregnant


• We spent Thanksgiving and Christmas on our own


• And, most importantly, our little Lola arrived.

It's amazing how much my life has changed in the past year. I might still be sleep deprived and stressed, but I would much rather be sleep deprived and stressed with a little baby than the bar exam. Sometimes its hard for me to believe that now I am lawyer, living a in new city, and now, a mother. I feel like life is just SO different.

On the other hand, Josh keeps it real. He has adapted to fatherhood by simply adding Lola to his normal routine. For example, here he is, playing on his xbox while simultaneously sharing his lap with our napping babe.

Some things never change. :)