Competing?
Now that i feel like my life is settling down a bit, Im thinking about putting the posing trunks on again. Or as Deez puts it, the banana hammock.

Some would say why put yourself through the dieting and training? Its really hard to explain. But, picking a show date, gives me focus, drive, and a goal. It usually helps me tighten up in all aspects of my life.

Im meeting with my competition advisor next Saturday. He may tell me to wait, since ive lost some size. But, Im also leaner than I normally am when i begin dieting, so he might say Im better off. Well see how it goes.

The bad things is Ill be dieting through tones wedding and homecoming. But, I if Im ahead of the game, one night of boozing probably wont hurt me too bad. Well see how it pans out.

Snacks

Victory, somewhat
At the hearing today the child support was lowered to 540 per month. A victory. But, that means ive overpaid her by 3500. The court did not address me being credited, and I think my attorney should have pressed it more. That ball was dropped in my opinion.

What sucks is, today another pay period ends, and my check will be docked by the old amount. And it could take 30 days to get the order sent to my work. Therefore thats another two pay periods where Im once again overpaying her.

Im still so frustrated, but I guess Ill deal with it.

Just wanted to update you all if i havent by email already.

Snacks, the victor

One Word, BULLSHIT
$7,382.26

Nope thats not the amount of money ive made since December, but it is the amount of money Ive paid to the royal pain in my ass since March.

My hearing is on July 14th. If you arent praying people, then please do, the voodoo, that you do, so well on her.

Broke, but happy, Snacks

New discoveries
Ive recently realized, with the help of a certain loved one, that Im not always 100% open and honest about everything in my life.

In the past I lived by the idea that if something wasnt going to directly affect my loved one, why tell them. For instance, you want to apply for a job out of the city. You obvioulsy havent even been asked for an interview, and in all liklihood you wont get it. Do you tell your loved one, or just wait until you get the interview. If you think you wait, I think you are wrong.

That would have been my answer in the past. Rationalizing that why create conflict where there may be no reason. I think a lot of men do this. However, Ive recently realized that if you are going to be in a really close relationship you have to be up front about these types of situations. Its better to deal with it head on, than to wait until it might be an issue, then have to deal with the issue, and dishonesty, or at least not 100% forthwrightness.

The odd thing is, if you ask my close guy friends, I dont pull many punches with them. If they ask me something, Ill tell them my opinion even if it hurts, and sometimes Ill offer it anyways. Im pretty blunt with my friends. But, for some reason when it comes to romantic love I clam up.

My parents relationship growing up wasnt always the best. I witnessed many many fights, and shouting matches. I vowed to never let that be me. I think that vow to myself created a tendency to avoid conflict in my romantic life. But, of course, once the cat is out of the bag, you have the conflict and added problems from hiding stuff.

Ive been told the trick is locating that feeling of anxiety that you encounter when you learn something that may make you weary of telling your significant other. Once you feel that anxiety, thats the cue, that the issue is something that needs to be discussed, and not hidden. I used to use that emotional cue to sweep things under the rug, and now i have to reprogram myself to let that be my signal to tell my significant other.

27 years of programming wont be easy to overcome, but I know I can do it. It will inevitably bring me close to Steph, and thats worth it.

Snacks, reflecting

Whats New?
Just thought Id update many of you, read 4, of whats going on lately in my life. Ive been to busy to reflect on the headlines...so you get this dribble.

1) My relationship with my son, Ayden, is growing. Although there is still a part of me that wishes I didnt have to deal with all this bullshit (money issues namely), Im glad I decided to be a part of his life. He is a cute and happy little boy.

2) A while back I mentioned I was gonna start taking cases from the public defenders office. I was assigned an appeal. That means I basically get the record and write a brief to the Ct of Appeals of Ohio. I started here because I can do these at night, and it pays about $1500.00 per brief. If I could do four per year that would be a nice supplement.

3) Im running in a 5k race this weekend, well actually on the 4th of July. I have to be there at 7AM, whats that shit all about?

4) My child support appeal is on July 14 at 10 am. I am not asking to low ball the mother, Im just asking she cover her share. At this point in her life I asked for a 40/60 joint venture. Basically I want the court to impute about 35k to her, instead of the 13k they used based on her salary as a freakin barista. She has not responded to my brief as of yet, but i cant help but believe she will have some attorney friend respond. I dont know the rules, but I thought a no response means i pretty much get what i ask for if within reason. Well see, and Im keeping the fingers crossed that she doesnt respond.

5) Working a simple divorce or a dissolution and helping a small business owner get set up as an LLC with an operating agreement etc.

6) Steph and I are still moving forward and doing well.

Im sure I forgot something, but Ill update later.

Snacks

Ive Been Thinking Alot Lately
I know, when I do that you better watch out.

But, in all seriousness Im trying to come to some understanding about what I want to do with my life on the professional level. Here are the options.

1) Stay in the current position, put my attorney license in inactive status to avoid CLE requirements, and just dont practice. Focus on my job with the government.

2) Stay with the government, continue to take cases from the pd's office that dont require much court time if any, and try to build a practice slowly. In one year I will be able to work from my house with the government job, and could then take even more cases with court time.

3) Quit my government job, hang a shingle, take cases from the pds office, and try to make a go as a solo practioner. This would probably require moving back home and renting the condo out to others. A move Im not sure I want to make. To compound things are my liabilities which come due every month.

4) Just take an associate position with a small firm, making less money, and still answering to someone in order to get the legal experience I need to open a solo practice.

Decisions, decisions, and my answer changes from hour to hour. But this is really consuming right now. Currently im leaning towards #2. What do you think?

Snacks

I'm Baaacckkkk
Im back by popular demand. No, not really. I think I had two curtain calls from the same person, thanks locks, for making my useless posts seem missed by someone.

I was in Arizona for two weeks with work. Not quite a pleasure trip, but hey, I work for the government, we definitely dont overwork ourselves.

It was a really nice trip, and I stayed away from the computer as much as possible. Everyday at lunch I went to the pool. And when I got out of class I went to the pool. When the weekend rolled around, I went to the Grand Canyon. Which by the way is a true sight to be seen. I recommend everyone see it once in a lifetime. But, its colder there than you think. It was 60, windy, and rainy. We were not dressed appropriately. So if you go give yourself a week, and pack jackets and tents.

Ill post a few more times today to let you all know whats up in my world.

Over and out.

Snacks

Deep Throat
Im not talking about the wonderful act of sticking a banana down one's throat, although Im not trying to take away from that skill either.

What Im actually talking about is the pivotal informant in the Whitewater scandal that brought down 40 White House officials and led to the resignation of Richard Milhouse Nixon.

Deep Throat was the name of the informant that the two main writers at the Washington Post gathered all their dirt from. They vowed to never release his name until he died. Well Mark Felt, at the age of 91, felt it was time to reveal the huge role he played in revealing the Whitewater scandals.

I wonder what his motivation was after all these years? I think its purely money motivated. I mean why not come out? He is about to die anyways; his health and mental apptitude are failing. He might as well tell the story while he still can, and profit from it. Im sure in a couple years there will be a book, and then a movie. Im sure of this.

I dont know how he kept the secret this long. I think by the time I was 70 I would be shouting the truth. If you were a snitch you might as well own up to it.

There are many that feel he betrayed his government and his leader. Im not sure how I feel about that. On the one hand a crime is a crime, but on the other he was 2nd in charge at the FBI, and maybe he should have been focused on how to serve his president. But still, I cant help but think he did the right thing. I dont believe anyone should be above the laws of the United States. Thoughts?

Snacks

Hiatus
Sorry for the hiatus, but its been a busy ten days. I was out of town last week for a case, and at night I was driving back to the nasty to ref and coach. When I finally got a free night on Thursday, I vegged and watched television, and thats it.

On Friday night I got a limo for myself and some friends. My buddy deez was in town from FL. Steph and I, with some help from a couple others, killed a fifth of vodka at the beginning of the limo ride. I then proceeded to have at least four yager bombs at the bar and a couple more mixed drinks. I was blado to say the least. There were a few rocky spots in the night due to my extreme drunkeness, but they were worked out:-)

What else is new? Im off tomorrow for a golf tournament, but the weather looks crappy. I then leave on Saturday for two weeks in Tempe, AZ, all expenses paid. I will be in training Mon-Fri from 8-3, but thats not to bad. Steph is coming with me for the first week, and it should be a nice hiatus.

I finally meet with the head of the Public Defender's Office today at 1PM, wish me luch. Im not going for a job, Im going to try to be placed in the appellate work rotation. Im hoping to work two per month and see how that goes.

Tonight is a boys night out, and it should be a decently relaxed evening. Not too much boozing, just some testosterone filled conversation.

Well I better get some work done.

Snacks

Ponderings
I once heard my grandpa Theobald say, "no man will truly become creative until he has the creditors breathing down his back."

He is a self made millionaire who never really worked a day in his life for other people. He has owned real estate, sold watermelons out of a truck to the citydwellers (im not kidding), sold washing machines to the citydwellers, and opened and operated a creamy whip. Im sure he has done other things Im unaware of, but those are just a few.

Whats my point? My point is, Ive largely found myself in this situation. Ive had to become resourceful and somewhat creative in bringing home the bacon, so to speak. I thought if I landed that position with a law firm I would be set. Well that fell through. And so, its on to plan B. Plan A will remain looking for firm positions, but only ones that I want, not just any position to say Im with a firm.

Plan B is to stay in my current position with the government at least for another year. In that time I will receive about 19K in raises. By next July I will be making more than many of my friends practicing law and working more than 40 hours per week. Instead of sitting on my hands I just registered with the Public Defenders Office to do appellate work. Basically Ill be writing briefs for criminals who already lost in court. An error was committed below, and they filed an appeal. Most of the cases are losing ventures, but I like a challenge, and Im paid either way. You earn $45 per hour, and can charge up to 15 hours per brief, or so Ive been told. If there are evidentiary issues you can bill up to 30 hours. There is little to no court time, so i can largely do this at night. Just two per month would cover child support and allow me to quit refing or back it down to maybe one night per week for dinner and weekend bar money.

I meet with the Public Defender today to discuss this venture. Well see what happens. If this does not pan out, on to Plan C.

Snacks