OMG Bar Results

Not today, but tomorrow.  Or at midnight.  Soon.

I'll know in just a few hours if I passed the bar or not.  For the most part, I have ignored the bar since I took it in July.  I don't think about it, don't talk about, and certainly don't worry about it.  What is done is done.

And then I started this job.  The bar is something that all lawyers can talk about.  No matter when they took it, the horror was similar.  It's a great conversation piece when you have nothing else to talk about.  And it tends to come up when you are just out of law school and meeting other lawyers for the first time.  You know, like when you just started at a new court and are meeting new lawyers every thirty seconds?

I've gotten into the habit of hedging my bets.  I tell everyone that I meet that I really shouldn't have worked this summer, and that if I don't pass I certainly know why.  Which is definitely all true.  But I say that in case I don't pass.  And that is a possibility folks.  If I don't pass, I've already brought this up, so it should be easier, no?

So that's where I've been.  Until today.  Today?  I'm this guy.

I should already be in bed.  I have tons to do tomorrow.  But, instead of that, I just keep sitting at my computer.  And now, it's already 11:00 pm.  So I feel like I should just wait until midnight and stalk like crazy, no?  Ugh.

Bathroom

Well, one room in the apartment is "done."  Of course, that is because I really didn't do a darned thing to it!  The rest of the place still isn't fit for viewing.  Nope, not at all.

So, without further ado, the bathroom!

For the most part, I dug out my old towels, which were pink, yellow, and orange.  Most of them date from my first "real" apartment, which has been a while.  These sucker have been everywhere, I just add  few new ones as I need too.  Of course, I thought that I had more of the yellow striped towels, so I picked up a yellow bathmat at Ikea.  Turns out I only seem to have one of those towels.  Oh well.  

The shower curtain is plastic.  I picked it up at Target because it had the colors of the towels, as well as some turquoise (which is in all of the other rooms, not that you'd know that).  It turns out to be a map of the London underground.  I mean, I knew it was *some* subway, but didn't figure out what was what for a while.

And a close up of my little "station."  Steen, you will note that this is the tub thingie that you got me two or three years ago.  It is now my ultimate lifesaver!  Good news is that the landlord put in that double towel rack, and that the shower curtain keeps them dry!

So my friends, that is the bathroom.  Thoughts?

FYI

Just a warning.  A lot of these posts have been going out on the fly.  Stream of consciousness and all.  Heck, one was even written off of my phone last week.

Not much editing going on here, if you haven't already notice.  When you notice issues, please don't call the grammar police!

So, the new job.

Since that is the reason that I moved to KCMO, maybe I should talk about it?

So far, everything seems to be great.  The first week was definitely weird.  The previous Attorney Advisor was there to "smooth" the way.  While it was great to have someone to show me the ropes (at one point I didn't think that I'd have ANYONE there), it was weird because he was so clearly on his way out.

Other weirdness includes the office dynamic, which for the most part is fine, but it's a small office, and not everyone gets along.  Everyone is cordial, polite, and works fine together.  But between you, me, and the wall - there are some people in the office that aren't as respected based on a perspective of their work product.  It seems to be understandable, and this isn't a gossipy place.  But at the same time, it creates some pressure to make sure that you are competent...don't want to be on the same list!

The job is what I expected, but more so.  I don't know that that makes sense.  I spend my day primarily reviewing records of cases, listening to the hearings, doing some minor research, and writing.  And there are a lot of cases.  Kansas City has two judges, and has a case load of 3,700.  That means that at any given time there are about that many cases OPEN.  Nuts, huh?  Not every case gets a written decision.  Some of the decisions are oral - which sounds difficult for the judges. Other times, if the judge decides for the Respondent and DHS hasn't reserved appeal, the judge can just "grant" the application.  In addition, the judges will do some of their own decisions.  But it's a lot!

The outgoing Attorney Advisor was pretty worried for me last week.  Not that I wasn't smart enough, or that I couldn't do the job, but just that I would get swamped in the first few weeks.  It is certainly taking me longer to handle a decision, so I can understand that.  But he kept wanted to pull things to himself to try to make it easier.  Heck, he worked the weekend!  I told him to just let it be, that I had to learn the ropes sometime, and that the judges would forgive slowness and mistakes more in the beginning, but he couldn't let go.  Funny enough, all of his worrying had the opposite effect from what he intended.  The more he told me how bad it was, the less I was worried.  You know me, if someone points out a line, I have to cross it on principle.  Oh well.

Today went well as my first day "on."  I'll be on a compressed work schedule, so I work 9 hours a day and have every other Friday off.  Since I seem to stay late most days, the extra hours aren't causing an issue yet.  And it is great to have extra days, especially with all the flying to Chicago!

I'll get more feedback as time goes on, but I have my fingers crossed.  I know that I am going to miss clients, just as I missed being in court for the last year.  But I already realize that there is no way that I won't come out of this clerkship raring to go.

My Internet Friends

This probably comes as no surprise to most of you, but I have Internet Friends. I'd say that I have more of them than I do "IRL"  friends, except that they are friends in person as well.

It all started when we were planning our weddings on the knot, which is a wedding website where brides can kill their employer's bandwidth looking at photos of 10,000 different bouquets. It is also the site responsible for my keeping my non-married friends from killing me before the wedding. Anyway, after our weddings, we all stuck around. Eventually we started a Google Group, and then our own private chat board. Glossing over some drama, most of us are still friends more than five years later.

I can't imagine my life without these wonderful, beautiful, talented, smart, diverse, and loving women. We don't always get along, because that would be impossible. But I have watched these women support each other through job changes, marriages ending, children, infertility, family issues, medical problems, new loves, and Kim from Dove. I should be embarrassed to admit the amount of class and office time I have spent online with them. But I am not.

Now that I am in KCMO, I can truthfully say that I don't know where I would be without the women on the Board and those that I met through the Board. I miss my husband and my cats terribly. But I can reach out to through the wonders of the Internet and keep in touch with these women as though I was still down the street. Continuing to be involved in their lives keeps the loneliness at bay. It's hard to miss them, because they are still there.

Thank you ladies.  Thank you for my sanity. Thank you for your thoughtfulness. Thank you for the laughs and the tears.

I will never be ashamed to admit to having Internet friends again.

Moving Day!

Well, moving day was Saturday.  But, in the world of moving, and then attempting to blog about it, these things take time.  Mostly because I cannot stand what a mess this place is!

Packing the truck started on Friday.  Which was good, because I don't think that Nick and I could have lived in the condo one.more.day. with the way that it was.  I meant to take a picture, but did not.  Believe me, there were boxes and boxes and furniture stacked everywhere.  Everything started smoothly.  I walked down to the Uhaul and picked up the truck.  I successfully drove it back without cramming anyone, and then even managed to back it into our spot.  Again, imagine the picture that I did not take!!

This is where things get a little whack.  The movers were scheduled to come at noon.  Carissa stopped by, and we were chatting.  At 12:30, I decided to call to see what was up.  Um, I accidentally booked the movers for SATURDAY.  In Chicago.  Just three hours before I booked the movers in Kansas City.  Thankfully, the awesome folks at Windy City Helpers agreed to help me out and come over after their last move of the day.  So, I sat at home, freaking out for a bit, and they came around four.  Boy, could those guys move.  Carissa just sat and watched them.  They hauled it all out and down to the truck, and had everything packed before six.  It was seriously amazing, our movers in Kansas City even commented on how great the load-in was.

Friday evening was a bit rushed with all of the delays.  We scrambled to get the house in some semblance of order, because we had the signing agent from our refinance coming at six.  Thank goodness that she was late, because there was no way that we would have made it by six!  After God only knows how many months of trying, we finally closed on our refinance.  I'm sure that Nick is just thrilled.

Saturday morning we were up and out of the house by 4:30 am.  We had to swing by North Riverside to pick up a dresser, and then we were on the road a little before 5:30.  I took the first leg of the drive, thinking that Nick and I could switch a few times throughout the drive.  It's about eight and a half hours from North Riverside to Kansas City.  I had told the landlord that I'd be there between 2:00 and 3:00, and had scheduled the movers for 3:00, so we wanted to make sure that we had some built-in time in case we hit traffic or had a delay.

After about two hours, I had Nick take over the drive so that I could rest my eyes.  The goofball ended up doing the rest of the drive!  He's definitely more comfortable with the truck, and he actually enjoys driving, so it worked out in the end.  Not to mention, there was zero traffic cutting through southern Illinois and then through Missouri.  And the speed limit is 65.  In the end, we made the drive faster than Mr. Google said and arrived at about 1:15 or so.  Good news was that the movers called on the way and let us know that they wanted to start early.  In the end, we were all unloaded by four.  Of course, then the real madness started with trying to get anything we needed to pick up, unpacking boxes, etc.  But no one wants to hear about that (all three of you that have occasionally peeked at this blog that is).

Just as we started the unload, I ran upstairs and grabbed some quick photos.  I swear that this place looks bigger on camera than it is.  Not that it is terribly small, but OMG does this look spacious!

Last Day

(Parden my random train of thought and rambles.  It's all a bit stream of consciousness.)

Tomorrow is my last full day in Chicago.  It's hard to believe.  I had a moment earlier this week where it hit me that I was moving.  Away.  Alone.  Then I decided that denial was a better place to be.

I went out to Minooka yesterday to see my mom and my sisters.  It was great to spend the afternoon with them.  We didn't do much but hang out, which felt just right.  Heck, I even got a blowout and my makeup done.  When I left, it felt like a normal goodbye.  My sister Ericka leaves in Minooka (near Joliet) and my mom and sister Cat live in Bloomington.  It's often weeks or even longer between visits.  But now that I think about being so far, it's hard.

I spent today seeing a few friends and taking care of some business.  I had lunch with a few friends, and then I walked back from River North to the Loop.  It was probably the last time that I will be able to do that for a while.  It's funny the things that we take for granted.  I just wandered on State St. for a while.

I spent some time at school too.  A friend from the Institute had found some posters I left behind, and I visited with some old coworkers.  I haven't spent too much time there since graduation, and its amazing how surreal it was.  Especially now that the school year has begun and there were students everywhere.  After four years at DePaul, three of which I was also working at the law school, it's weird to realize that I am no longer part of the crowd and that I don't belong there anymore.  I had a meeting and then met a friend for a few drinks.  It was great to catch up with him, but bittersweet to know that I won't see any of my friends for a while.

It's nice to know that I have a job and a really great opportunity at that, especially since so few of my graduating class has a full time legal position right now.  The numbers are DISMALLY low, and it looks like 2012 is going to make 2011 look rosy as far as employment goes, which is truly frightening.  But it is hard to know that I have to go so far away to find that opportunity, and that I have to leave so much behind.  I know that I will survive, that my marriage is strong, and that my friends will always be there for me.  But I don't want to go.  It definitely seems harder than my move to D.C.

Tomorrow I pick up the truck, and the movers come to load it up.  I'm half worried that everything won't fit, although I know that it should.  For now, I'll focus on that and getting my house clean.  That will fill some of the void.  We have the refinance for our closing, and then I need to take my super skinny husband to buy some work clothes that aren't

We leave Saturday before 5 am.  It's a minimum eight hour drive plus stops, and could easily be even longer with traffic.  The goal is to be there by two, and by three at the latest.  It seem so imminent, and yet so far way.

To all of those who I am leaving behind, please know that I will miss you dearly.  You are loved.

The Glories of CL

My house looks like a storage unit.  For Realz.  My husband is probably thinking about moving out himself, as he hates clutter.  I'm excited to get everything back to normal, even though I know that I won't be around for it.  :(

But what is in the condo?  Well, there are boxes.  Lots of boxes.  And some donated furniture and kitchen stuff (which is mostly in boxes).  My old bed frame from my single gal days.  Furniture I had in storage and forgot I had.  Now, there is a mattress in the hallway too.  And then there are my craigslist finds.  I love CL.  I also hate it sometimes, but I mostly love it.  CL is glorious stash of junk, with just a few jewels mixed in.  And, it's the only way we can afford to furnish a whole new apartment.  Well, that and my in-laws.  Even our condo here has a large quantity of second hand finds, and most are CL.  Like my table, and my dining chairs, and my couch, and the buffet, and the storage console in Nick's office, and most of our dressers...don't forget the coffee table, and the half finished arm chairs.  Wait, maybe I'd better leave it there.

But, on to the new stuff.  I decided to buy in Chicago because honestly the KCMO CL does not seem as friendly (where do people buy used furniture in KC?) and I won't have a car.  Transportation is a vital part of the CL hunt.  So, the plan is to pack up the old and the new, and haul it all down with us.

Like my new couch?  Sure, it isn't in perfect condition, but it was a steal for a pullout.  Literally, I think I grabbed it and ran down the hallway.  Or maybe I just trotted alongside the buys while they lugged it.  And it's nice and soft.  She's a looker.

This couch is actually staying in Chicago.  I'm taking our old one with me.

Or my dining set?  This is likely to get painted at some point.  I mean, it was only $75 for the set (table plus two leaves, 2 arm chairs, 4 dining chairs, and the pads) so I can totally handle that.  It isn't exactly what I want, but the price was right and I can make it work.  What do you think about a white table with turquoise chairs?

Table with no leaves...I'll probably leave at least one in.

There's also my console / occasional table.  This is the one where the seller wouldn't believe that it would fit in the Fit.  Ha!  I fit it in, plus an Ikea run, plus three people in the car.  Never doubt the clown car.  Of course, the console is a great example of the deals to be had and the frustrations.  $200 table from Ikea for $50.  WHY GOD did the previous owners give it the worst paint job ever?  It's actually a wood piece (and oddly matches our kitchen table in Chicago - same line).  It was pretty on its own.  And I love painted furniture.  In fact, this may eventually be painted.  But why this?

It doesn't look nearly as bad in person, but I'll have it stripped within a week.  Then it will be great!  Then I'll figure out a bold color to paint or stain it (well) and it will be even better.

Last night I picked up a chair, since I realized that the chair in my floorplanner didn't exist anywhere but in my head.  It's a little beat up.  Someone's cat loved it even more than my two do (seriously, they only way they have left this chair since I bought it was a forced migration).  It needs some repair of the big scratches/tears and a recondition to hide the smaller stuff.  For $15, you can't really be picky.  A faux leather chair is minimum $100 plus tax, and leather is even more.

Well, maybe that isn't a ton.  But it feels like it!  Especially when you're packing up other CL finds, like my sewing table.

I know that some folk don't love the CL.  It takes a lot of time and energy (search through ads, send emails, go to see furniture), and sometimes the item just doesn't work out (like the sectional couch Nick wouldn't let me bring home just because it was freakishly large for our space).  But the SAVINGS.

Now, don't get me started on my new boyfriend Ikea.  He's an expensive date, but fun to mix in!  And contrary to popular belief, his stuff can be reused at a later date (I don't care what the guy in the yellow shirt says, if you take it apart carefully, it can be stored to be used again at a later date.  So there.)

I realize that the home decor stuff is a little heavy these days.  Candidly, trying to figure out a great apartment design has been one of the brightest spots of the move.  As a result, I've focused a lot it.  Okay, and maybe I read too many decor blogs so that is what I think to post about!  Can it be both, maybe?

And it begins. Ish.

So, blogging.  This is one of those things that I always say I'm going to do, and I don't.  You know, like those diaries from my youth where only two pages are filled out because I lost interest or lost the diary.

But, on Friday I pack the truck and Saturday we move (Happy five year anniversary honey!  I got you an 8+ hour drive!).  I assume I'll have tons of time in KCMO, and hopefully some fun too.  So maybe I'll stick with it this time.  Just a warning, my adventures are going to be a bit tame.  In the beginning, don't expect much more than decorating.  I'll also try to keep you all updated on work and life, and hey adventures happen to a Chicago girl, right?

Supposedly, the lease is all figured out.  I mean, I mailed it back and he cashed the check - we're good, right?  Actually, I've been the official leaseholder since September 1, despite the fact that I won't move in until September 15.  We only saw the apartment once, when it was full (and I mean full, she ran her business out of it) of the other tenant's belongings.  In August, we flew in for our whirlwind tour of apartments.  It was tough - a lot of apartments were moving and fast.  But we did eventually find one that worked for us, in the right neighborhood, a decent amount of charm, and for the right price.  Cost of living is MUCH lower in KCMO, but since Nick is staying in Chicago we're running two households, which gets pricey quick.  We lucked out on the apartment actually.  I had contacted the landlord about another unit on Monday hoping to schedule a viewing for the weekend.  Greg asked me to call back on Friday because it was likely it would be rented by then.  Unfortunately, it was rented by the time we got into town, but his other tenant had just given her notice that week, so another unit was available.  Are you following this?  We saw it on the last day we were in town, and filled out the application right there.  I don't have any pictures of the actual unit because it's a faux pas to take pictures of an occupied unit, but I do have some of the other apartment.

Everything is mostly the same.  The layout is the reverse (this is a south unit, and I'm a north unit) and the kitchen has slightly different materials, although the age is the same.  The apartment has a private front balcony that is HUGE, and a secured back porch.

So there we have it.  The new Casita Graf.  I'll try to snap some pictures on Saturday before it is full of my shit stuff.  In the meantime, I've got more boxes to fill.  And some people to see.  And a chair to buy.  And if you ever can imagine a full apartment's worth of furniture and boxes INSIDE an apartment full of furniture, you'll pity my husband.