drama-rama

Over Christmas I went with my mom to visit a family friend who lives in a assisted living center. And while we chatted, this dear friend regaled us with tales of carolers going rouge, venturing out of the common areas, and harassing residents with their unwelcome merriment. And while I stuggled to hold in my laughter, I thought to myself, "I guess we all have drama in our lives."

I count myself lucky to have a life with very little drama and not so much stress - aside from the occasional worry over money or maybe when the neighbor's workmen carelessly drive into my vegetable garden (still a little steamed about that one). And yet today felt oh so dramatic. This morning I got an email requesting my help on a project and I gladly put away my online furniture shopping and offered my assistance. But no sooner had I done so than I learned that I had no idea what I was doing. And after scratching my head, exhorting assistance from my coworkers, imbibing the contents of a chilled can of diet coke, and consulting with IT, I finally realized that I didn't have access to the files that I needed to complete this "15 minute project". Oh dear, I imagine the only thing that could have made it worse were if a bunch of strangers had chosen that moment to park themselves outside my cube and sing the little drummer boy at me. (Go ahead and laugh at my drama, I certainly did as I refuse to cry over this stupid job.)

Alas, we got it all straightened out in the end and 3 hours later (remember this was a "15 minute project"), I had received access to the necessary files and somebody else had completed the project in spite of my attempts to help. And so I chalk this one up to experience, thankful that someone else was able to cover for me and that I'm may be better prepared to help next time.

You see, I posit that drama is good for the soul. Though unpleasant, it's generally only in times of crisis that I ever accomplish anything and as illustrated by this story, even then there's no guarantees. But as an inevitable part of life, I strive to learn from it and learn through these chunks of drama in my life. But now that the moment has passed, I wonder if there is anymore diet coke in the fridge.

because it's june

I'm not quite sure where the lovely month of May went, but June 1st finds me employed once again.  The last two and a half weeks of funemployment were both enjoyable and productive, but the Dread Pirate Roberts calls again.  Today I am employed, tomorrow who knows. 

Between jobs, I worked on getting my front beds looking a bit more presentable and delved into the neverending task of painting my bedroom.  If I'd known what I was getting into, I may have let the tan walls and peeling paint be.  But though it's still not all put together and I'd like to put another coat of paint on some of the trim, it looks so. much. better.   

So, here I sit, waiting in my cube.  Chillin' and billin'.  Ready to spring to action as soon as somebody finds something for me to do. Thank heavens I brought my knitting!

payday!

I've been doing everything I can to stay positive these last few days and I couldn't help feeling that my glass might just be half full of poison*.  It's sort of felt like everything in my life was falling apart piece by piece and all my plans were collateral damage.  On top of that, I wasn't playing well with others - I've been cranky and generally unpleasant.

Well, today was payday and I can't tell you what a relief it was to see that money deposited into my account this morning - just in time to pay my rent.  Here's hoping I've turned a corner and Murphy's law doesn't follow me into April.  

* giving credit where credit's due, this is from a line in Scoop (btw - an excellent movie).  Ashley challenged me to name the movie and I have to admit, I googled it.  Ashley - 10 / Maggie - 0. 

doh!

When I first started looking for work in DC, I was told that the first thing I should do is get my application for the DC bar in as soon as possible.  And so I started working on it.  And then I got a job and put the application on the back burner.  A few months later I found myself unemployed for a few weeks and thought about the application but never got around to it.  Again I find myself unemployed and after a few weeks, I finally open up the folder that I so neatly filed away in September.  

I start reading through the directions.  Page 1, I find neatly prepared in the folder.  Page 2, a form that I had to request from my law school, is still in the envelope but in the folder like it should be.  Page 3, also neatly prepared.  I'm thinking, hey, I'm on a roll, I'll have this sucker done in no time.  Page 4, MPRE scores (ethics test) - I panic, I have no idea where those test scores are, maybe in Utah, I check my files, nope.  I go to my computer and start googling, prepared to request a new copy - light bulb: check your emails.  I search MPRE (name of the test) and the first thing that comes up is an email from myself, subject: MPRE.  I open up the email and it says "just in case you need it" and the very form that I need is attached.  It was a surreal moment, probably the closest to time travel that I may ever experience.  I thank my past self profusely as I print out the form.  

I'm thinking, this is in the bag, well done, past self.  Until, Page 5, Certificate of Good Standing.  Uh-oh.  This I don't have and I'm pretty sure I never got this far the first time around.  I go to the Utah State Bar Association website and find a link - oh good, there's a form.  Oh good, I have to mail it in and it's going to take 5-7 business days (which means it could take up to 2 weeks with shipping time on each end) - fail!  Thanks a lot, past self.  I rush off to the post office, hoping they're open til 6 - they're not.  On my walk home - light bulb: fax it in the morning.     

Good work. Sleep well. I'll most likely kill you in the morning

My new roommate is also a contract attorney, so we've had LOTS to talk about.  She compares it to working for the Dread Pirate Roberts.  

As Wesley tells Buttercup in the Princess Bride, at the end of each day the Dread Pirate Roberts would say: "Goodnight Wesley.  Good work.  Sleep well.  I'll most likely kill you in the morning."  And this went on for years.   

And so it is with contract work.  We go to work everyday with the sure knowledge that it could be our last.  And we're all the more neurotic for it.  

Such was yesterday.  I went to work.  Diligently stared at a computer screen all day.  And at 8pm I got a call from my staffing agency that I'd been cut from the project.  while it was no surprise, it left me rather stunned.  Funny how knowing that something is coming doesn't really take away the sting.  Unemployment is incredibly dissettling. 

I won't miss the project, but I will miss my coworkers and the paycheck.  I really bond to the people I work with everyday - maybe it's the close quarters or maybe it's something to do with misery loving company.  But I can also say that I've made some really good friends that I wouldn't have otherwise gotten the chance to get to know so well, but for working together as contract attorneys.  The people are what make the job bearable.   

On the bright side, I was able to move up my trip back home and now I leave tomorrow!  (Gotta love Southwest - did you know that they'll let you change the dates of your trip after you buy your tickets? Revolutionary idea, right!?) Can't wait to meet my new little niece, Sofie. 

pounding the pavement

You know how last week I was all gung-ho about my job search? Well, everything changed when my temp job ended suddenly on Thursday.  Here I am unemployed again and doing everything that I can to avoid the actual task of applying for a job.  In my defense, there are a lot of things that I have needed to get done that I had put off that I have happily marked off my list.  But the fact remains that job hunting is one of the most odious chores imaginable that just can not be ignored. 

clicking

Since it's been a while since my last post, I thought I'd update y'all on all the fabulous happenings in my life.  This will be short because for the past 2 weeks or so I've been clicking.  You know that temp job I told you about? Well, I'm pretty sure that I mentioned it in my last post and well, this is what I'm talking about.  They call it clicking because that is all we do.  They load 50 attorneys into a large room with computers set up on folding tables and we read document after document and click the appropriate buttons.  It requires a license to practice law and the ability to use a mouse - it's about that simple.  Surprisingly, it's really not as bad as I had thought it'd be.  The hours are long but the pay is good and it really isn't all that boring because the  people I work with are really pretty cool and they break up the monotony of the whole thing.  Oh, and did I mention that the hours are long and my commute is insane?  We work 11 hour days and when you add on my commute (about an hour depending on traffic) on to each end, that makes for one heck of a long day.  So that is why I haven't found much time to blog lately but I think you are just about caught up.... No wait, I forgot to tell you, I'm moving.  Again? yes, but this is the real deal. I could live in this place for months and maybe even longer.  And I am super excited to have my own place again.  (My own place that I will share with 4 roommates.)

I'd stay up and chat some more, but I've gotta get to bed.  

the temp

One of the first things I did upon arriving in DC is apply with a few temp agencies.  There are loads of agencies that specialize in legal work in the DC area and there are even more attorneys that are unemployed.  Also, there are firms and companies that are looking for temporary workers because they are cheaper.  Gotta love this economy!

So today, I got my first contract and I start tomorrow.  I am relieved.  Although I have a nice little nest egg that I am prepared to live off of for the next while, I have been feeling rather uneasy about the finiteness of this sum and the added income takes the pressure off.  And I'm getting bored and need a change of scenery.  I will most likely hate this job, as it will be document review of some sort and possibly the most tedious task that a lawyer could be asked perform.  However, the beauty of temp work is that it pays alright and won't last forever.