Life, A - D

Is this a really cool thing, or a big red flag:

There are at least 12 bottles of Corona in the office refrigerator, along with a bottle of margarita mix and two bottles of tequila on top.

This will probably be a recurring blog entry.

For this week:

You know you’re a baby PD when a client you represent on a misdemeanor charge has to explain to you the difference between a cap of 6 years and a stipulated 5-6 on a pending unrelated felony charge - and thus why he thinks the stipulated 5-6 is a bunch of crap and he’s not taking the global disposition that your boss asked you to relay to him.

I’m sure he was thrilled to have to teach his lawyer the law and now has complete confidence in my ability to represent him in his misdemeanor matter.

Feel free to add your own:

You know you’re a baby PD (Green PD - whatever you want to call it) when:

that the people in my new office are awesome. Seriously. There is no tension between the staff, at least not that I can sense. Everyone works together, helps each other out, has each others backs. It’s really nice! The boss is laid back - but on top of everything. He seems to be the type of man that won’t watch the clock and will trust you are doing what you need to do, but will whoop some ass if you’re not doing it.

The secretaries and support staff are so nice and super smart. They are the go-to people. They are appreciated and respected in that office.

It seems like a great environment.

My eyes are dropping on me. It’s waaaaay past my bedtime. I must post more tomorrow.

My first week. I survived. Amazing. I knew it would be a lot of work but I guess I really didn’t know what “a lot” of work was.

I walked into work on Monday and I swear to God people in the office acted as though I’ve been there for years. Everyone said “hello” if they happened to notice I was in the room - but most were much too busy to actually stop and welcome me. No offense was meant or taken - their calenders are that crazy.

And so is mine. I spent a total of one day shadowing someone before I was thrown to the wolves. Motion hearings, jail meetings, office meetings, pre-trial conferences, settings, …..I did it all this week. My first jury trial is next week. Holy crap.

I surprised myself, really, by not freaking out. I think I’ve handled it fairly well. But ya wanna know why? I don’t think I have any idea the amount of crap that I don’t know. You know what I’m saying? Over the next few weeks I suspect I’m going to have a “Good GOD!” moment where I realize that I have way more to learn than I originally suspected.

This is going to be quite an adventure.

a Public Defender.  Today was my first day.  If I were not so damn tired I’d tell you all about it.

More to come………zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Every other day, it seems, I get a flyer in the mail from Sam’s Club for a “one day membership” pass - but you have to pay an extra 10 or 15% on your purchases if you chose to use this one day “pass”.

Our family has grown to the point where I thought buying some things bulk in would be a good idea. Saving money is good. I was also told Sam’s has a larger - not large, just larger than what it used to be - selection of organic food.

Well - after dropping Ce off at preschool I stopped at Sam’s club to check it out. I figured since they so ruthlessly solicit me by mail at home that it would not be an issue if I didn’t bring along the guest pass.

Little De and I strolled in to the mega beast of a store where we were promptly stopped by the vested senior working security at the door. The gate keeper insisted that no one shall pass without a membership card and ordered us over to member services.

I grab a cart to put De in and head over to member services where we were again accosted by the vested one.

“Ma’am! You can’t shop unless you have a membership!”

I don’t know if she’s yelling at me because she’s upset or because of her hearing loss.

Either way - I assure her that I’m only using the cart to transport the runaway toddler and we’re heading right over to member services.

I’m surprised we were not escorted there by the other onlooking vested people.

So I go to member services where I start to wonder if there is a minimum age for workers at Sam’s club. I politely tell the woman that I did not bring along one of the thousands of invitations sent to me and wondered if we could be guest shoppers for a day anyway.

How dare I.

Seriously - “we don’t just have those passes sitting around up here. If you didn’t bring it you can’t shop unless you purchase a membership.”

Wow. Um, OK - well my husband mentioned something about his company having a membership.

“Well, what’s his name?”

“Well, he wouldn’t be on the membership since he just started the job.”

“Well he’d HAVE to be on the membership to use the membership.”

“OK, nevermind,” I’m starting to get highly annoyed at this point, “how much are your family memberships?”

She starts to run down a list of options for business memberships for me - which I told her I didn’t need. She then starts the hard sales pitch on the $100 per year membership.

I told her I just wanted to know the basic membership price.

“It’s $40 - but only two people can use it.”

Great - so I ask if we can just look around the store to see if it’s worth it - if we’d even buy enough crap to make up for the $40 annual fee.

“Go ahead, but you can’t buy nothin’ without a membership.”

The hostility was a bit too much for me.

My mind was already made up at that point - but we took a quick look around anyway.

It seriously amazes me the people that are allowed to work in customer services/sales positions.

I shan’t purchase a Sam’s Club membership anytime soon - ok, ever. I had no idea how exclusive the club really was. Maybe I should start selling my countless mail invitations on ebay! I’ve probably been blacklisted by the vested ones.

I forgot to mention that I’ve lost 5lbs on my new “lifestyle eating plan”. I’m getting closer to my fighting weight. Unfortunately, I fell off the new “lifestyle eating plan” wagon when I went to the public defender conference recently.

Even though I haven’t officially started yet they wanted me to join them for four days of drinking classes. I was able to join them for the last two days of drinking classes which included an office dinner and a dance.

For my readers (yea! I have more than one!) who are lawyers and do not have an annual conference like this, imagine law school. With a prom. And a bar. It was like that.

My whole point is that wine in itself is not part of my new eating plan - and wine induced munchies is certainly NOT a part of my eating plan. I think I’d be down 10lbs if not for that damned conference.

at a playground. It’s in the high 40’s or 50’s. Four children are dressed in pants, jackets/sweatshirts. Two children are dressed in short sleeved shirts and shorts/skirt without shoes.

There are also three parents there. Two moms and one dad - two kids per parent.

Guess which kids belong to the dad.

I’ll not be too hard on the guy. He was out doing the exact same thing we two moms were doing - just without the proper gear. It’s cold season, man! Makes me a wee bit nervous about daddy staying home part time. And if I’m chilly with my sweatshirt I’m quite sure it’s too cold for the kiddos to be out sans jacket (or at least long sleeves).

Can you tell I’m getting nervous about going back to work?

I’m excited.  I can hardly wait, really. 

 This coming Thursday night I’ll be home, ready and anxiously awaiting 

the season premiere of Grey’s Anatomy.  

Go ahead, make fun.  I care not.  

October first - I am a defender of the public. Yes, a public defender.

Wish me luck! I’m excited and terrified and optimistic and nervous………

I’ve been at home with my kids for five years. In law school I was fearless. I could do it all (I love me). I had confidence in my abilities- now I’m a big sissy. Scared of failure. Terrified that I won’t be able to juggle family and work and that one will end up suffering.

Any lawyers with young families please feel free to comment about how you make it all work - if you’re able to.

Wish me luck!