A Media Ban On...

1. No more political coverage. Please. For like a week. Let the politicians get some sleep, let us all get some distance.
2. Just one day without coverage of the economy being in the toilet but we're not in a recession. I think we could use the break.
3. Let's not give Jeremiah Wright another media outlet. In the grand scheme, he's not very important.
4. Miley Cyrus. No comment needed here.
5. Mortgage foreclosures. One, it's exhausting (and old) news. Two, I work on the mortgage side at my bank. Please do not make me bring my work home with me.

I'm sure there's others; I just can't think of any right now.

It's Just Good Manners

Please, everyone out there - if you say you're going to do something, please do it. If you change your mind about being willing to do what you said you'd do, please own up and tell the person so she can make other plans. Don't just forget about it; don't be rude.

Yesterday I got a Final Notice from the Bar, telling me that I had to get my 3rd attorney affidavit in to it. In Alabama, on top of the other hoops, you must have 3 attorneys who have been licensed for at least 5 years write affidavits on your behalf attesting to your good character. These attorneys must be from your state of residence. Since I went to law school in Ohio, I thought, OK, I can get my professors and others I met along the way to write for me. Wrong. They are licensed in Ohio, and I never changed my residency from Alabama.

This makes my search much more difficult, and makes me rely on those who agree to write these affidavits much more. When there's no follow-through, my stress level essentially triples. And since we're 2 1/2 months from the test, and these affidavits were due at the end of January, my fear just keeps rising.

But never fear. I will try very hard not to talk about the bar that much. I know that for everyone who's not me, the topic grows thin quickly.

While It's Working...

Thought I better try to get a post in before the machine collapses again. I'm very afraid that my computer will die. I can't afford a new machine right now, and all of my files and study materials are on here. And no, like 99.999% of the population, I do not back up my files. My fault, yes, but I wanted to get that out of the way before some smartass decides to tell me to do so. And now, it seems pointless to try if the machine is going to crap out each time I try to perform 2 tasks at once.

I'm thinking I'll have to take this little monster over to a local repair shop. Looks like I can get it fixed for about $35/hour, which is, from my research, quite a steal.

Talked to my sister about pa this morning...couldn't talk as long as I wanted because talking about him fills me with so much anger that I just become pretty much non-verbal. I felt badly about hanging up, but there's a long day ahead of me and I just don't want to spend it furious.

Next week there will be no J at the office, and for the last 2 days, no one but me! Yea!! I'm pretty excited about this - I can slam in a lot more studying with a quiet office.

Blackout

I haven't been writing lately not because I don't want to, but because my computer is having issues. For the past couple weeks, it can only run for about an hour before randomly shutting down. Believe me, I'm typing as fast as I can.

I hope to take her to the repair place over the weekend. I'm hoping it's an issue with the fan or the thermostat.

Close To Porn...

Today I was working on a contact list for my boss. My goal was to find email addresses for realtors with which she's worked. And then I ran into my favorite...

Now, you know that I've considered trying to get fired for accessing the most "unavailable" websites. However, today got a tinge too close, yet for legitimate reasons.

One of the local realtors here has a website called, I shit you not, http://www.allfour.com/. Seriously. How easy is that?!? One little typo and I'm dust. I was quite tempted to make that typo. Yet, we all know that going to whitehouse.com is porn, and whitehouse.gov is not. But it cracked me up when I had to find that site.

My Letter to the Clinton Campaign

I got an email from the Clinton campaign, asking me to voice my opinion. So I did:

You know, I'm not exactly sure what to think. I don't understand the appeal of Obama. He strikes me as a very decent fellow and someone who will achieve in his life.

However.

I support Clinton (I find it offensive that the media uses his last name and her first - it's a slight against her) because I believe that she can achieve her goals. I support her because she has the know-how that no other candidate does. I believe that she has weathered an unbelieveable storm and has emerged stronger, better, and amazingly, more hopeful for our country.
I relish the idea of having a female President. But just being a female isn't enough. It takes her.

Our country needs Clinton to know how to get results. She's done some seemingly impossible things, like working with Richard Shelby (R, AL) to ensure that soldiers receive their incentive re-up packages. She can work with everyone. And, she's not afraid to speak her mind, even when the view may be unpopular (although probably correct).

I believe she would surround herself with the best and brightest and not with those who are yes-men. That's what our country needs, a person with a strong voice and and even stronger ability to listen.

Thank you for reading this. Mrs. Clinton, please don't drop out. Please.

Best,
Christine

Here's the site: Comments

If you use this site to suck, I will be disappointed in you.

Work Update

I just went back and re-read my posts about Charming and Hag. There's definitely some updating to be done. Charming is actually turning into the correct definition, and not my sarcasm. We seem to get along well - we joke and laugh, and talk about our lives more.

Hag will now be known as J. She has become more pleasant and more personable. I am learning that not everything is about me. She is learning that I am capable and competent and actually useful to her work. These are definite pluses.

My boss, for the first time, invited me to take a break with her. I think these are all good signs. My fear now, for I cannot let anything just lie, is that by writing this, I have thoroughly jinxed myself. But hell, I'll take it for a day.

But, in my keeping of trying to get blocked from work Internet as many times as I can:
- 8 year old gets divorce. From her husband. EEWWWW!!!
- Wii fit is coming. I am interested.

Comment

I got a comment on my blog from someone who speaks Portuguese. I wish I could read that person's blog, but I can only kinda figure it out. I can read a decent amount of Spanish, so that helps, but it's not enough.

My question is, to all those out there who blog as well, do you get comments from people who clearly are not your normal readers? I mean, sometimes I still use the "next blog" to look around at what others are doing. Maybe I should comment on what I read there too.

It's a little bit flattering. But I wonder if it's just a lure to get me to link to that person's blog. That I won't do until I know more.

Boring

I officially feel boring and dull. There's very little going on in my world. I had a great chat with my sister tonight. I talked a bit with my great aunt, who is incredible awesome. I know she's ready to go - but I'm not ready for that at all.

Congrats to Ali, who won Biggest Loser. I'm really happy for her, and it was nice to see a lady win. I do have to wonder, though - the past few weeks she looked ragged and old, and yet last night she looked much more age appropriate. Interesting.

My job is silly, yet studying is not fun. I hope I get it all together.

Post

Today there's not much happening. I'm waiting for my food delivery. Yes, I know that I probably shouldn't spend the money, but I'm cutting back in other areas, so it'll be OK.

I'm sure that given some time I'll have stories. It's just that lately there really aren't any that are interesting.

Random

1. I’m trying to watch my calories. I’m not doing any restrictive, exact-number-count diet or anything like that, because if I do, I will immediately break my pact to myself. Case in point: today has been a frustrating day, where everything seems to just be running about 70% of normal, including me. So after having to drive 2 extra blocks just to try to get into Subway, I was inches from just going through Taco Bell, because it’s on the same side of the street as I was. I had to literally talk to myself to calm down and go get the damn sub with 500 calories instead of the soft taco and taquitos that I knew in my heart I deserved. But I did it. I got to the subway and had to sandwich. Yea for me. However, on my way out, I was damn near accosted by a giant cardboard Jared who was holding out his fat pants. On any normal day, I would have laughed hysterically and made the other diners nervous. Today I glowered at him and went back to my car.

2. Here’s a tip for all those who are dealing with new hires at work: Don’t assume they know anything. Especially if you work somewhere which actually has an online glossary to explain all its acronyms. I wish I were kidding. And, after you’ve determined that said new hire does in fact know nothing, don’t go over her head to send a form that new hire needs to her boss. Really. It’s just not good form.

3. Everyone lies during a job interview. I’m curious to know what your lie would be. Mine is very simple: I always say that I’m detail-oriented. This is a big fat lie. I am the opposite of detail oriented. I am not fastidious or careful or cautious. My goal is to get the project done so I can get on to the next project. To be honest, my goal is to come up with the great plans and let others implement them for me. I am not details, I am ideas!! Even my report cards from 3rd grade say – Not detail oriented. Does not complete tasks. Nope, never have, never will. So how in the world did I end up in the most nit-picky career path? I have no idea.

Money

The past few days, in my copious downtime at work, I’ve been playing on the websites I’m allowed to visit. (Needless to say, the bank has a very strict policy on what sites are appropriate. When I try to get to an unapproved site, a big black page comes up with red flashing letter, “NO ACCESS!!!! Any access is being monitored and recorded. Of course, how tempting is it to see how many times I can get blocked each day?)

One of the sites I like to read is cnnmoney.com. The latest on that site is a series of I-Reports, where people are sending in their stories about life during this recession. Yup, I said it – recession. ‘Cos we’re in one, people. Most people write about struggling by, trying to decide whether their kid’s prescriptions are more important than utilities. It’s sad to read. It’s even sadder to see the (oh, about 2 of the 50) people who write in with what is essentially a f-you to everyone else. Must be nice to be so perfect and capable in hard times. Just about everyone I know is holding back on spending in some form or fashion. For me, this means no eating out, and checking out every deal I can. I also try to not drive as much. It also means that I know my law school lender’s customer service reps by name. Seems like I’m going to have a very long Christmas card list this year. I’m trying to convince the reps that rent comes before repayment, despite what their bosses say. Wish me luck on this, because I’m going against a powerful machine.

I’m curious though – how did the private lenders get so powerful? I think it’s bad public policy to allow private lenders to join the party when it comes to bankruptcies. I do understand (somewhat) the policies behind not discharging federal student loan debts. After all, the interest rates are lower and there’s more flexibility involved. But why do private lenders, who can charge whatever interest rates (and adjust them!) any way and time they want, get to ensure that those debts will be paid?

I also wonder, given the cost of a private school education, just how much money from these loans are going into the schools’ coffers. I can almost guarantee that at least one of the many associated “fees” I pay is going to my law school alma matter. How can I find this out, without subscribing to conspiracy theories? I’m all for making money – I’m on Team Capitalism. But I have to wonder what can be done to fix this system.