Futurelawyer

#WhyIAmASolo - I Don't Work In A Cubicle.

And, I can put up any photo that I want. I have a signed photo from one of the Redskins' Super Bowl victories. I have several photos of the loveliest woman in the world. I have a bunch of other personal items that make my office unique. And, unlike Les Nessman, my office has a door.

Remember Those Who Have Died, And Live.

If we should Memento Mori every day, the corollary is that we should also remember those who have died. We should remember them, not for their sake; but, for ours. My favorite poet, Dylan Thomas, said it best, in his poem about the death of his father. I can hear his voice in my mind's ear, as his poetry is meant to be spoken, and heard. He lived fast, and died young; but, he "lived". Living each day well is a mantra we hear all the time. Keeping death in mind as we do it is an essential part of the mindset required. It is a short poem; but, it will make you think about how you are living your life. Do you rage at it? Will you go out, kicking and screaming, or wait until you see the blinding light of death to really see? Your call. Try to find balance between caution and foolhardy risk taking. But, live. Do not go gentle, into that good night.

 

Memento Mori. Get Over it.

I have a decal on one of my cars that reminds me. I have the inscription on both of the rings that I wear daily. I like having reminders of my mortality around me. This is not morbid. It is life affirming. Accepting this reality makes every breath sweeter, every day more joyful, and every night a more peaceful sleep. What is there to be afraid of, when we all share the same fate eventually? Now, get out there this weekend, and live.

#WhyIAmASolo - I'm Not My Toughest Critic.

It is amazing how smart you are when your only critic lives in your head.

Sometimes, Living In The Moment Doesn't Cut It.

Dealing with grief, and illness, and the current state of chaos in the world has spawned any number of advice gurus, all of whom say "live in the moment". Want to reduce your anxiety? Be mindful of the present. Want to be happy? Concentrate on the here and now. One pop psychologist once said: "Guilt about the past, and worry about the future are useless emotions". True, but the Stoics remind us that fate will bring us the future, whether we like it or not. The best remedy is to control how we react to stuff as it happens. We control that reaction. So, I'm with Earl on this one. Fantasy beats reality any day. Right now, I am floating around in the cloud, playing with gadgets. What are your plans today?

#PoetryFriday - Magic.

"Daddy, I love you, let me splash you with my magic",
she said, frolicking in the pool.
She held her rubber duckie,
which doubled as a pool thermometer.
In her eyes,
it was a magic wand capable of great feats.
In her mind, all things were possible.
How could I tell her that life would disappoint her,
in between the ecstasy and the pain,
and that the mementos of a happy childhood
would dissolve into days of sadness and hurt?

But, was that true, after all?

I looked into the eyes of a true lover,
whose purity was unsullied by the failures of the world.
I wondered if her true love would wash over me,
and transform the world into a magical place,
where unconditional caring was commonplace.

I turned away, so that she would not see the tears,
hoping that her time of magic would last long,
and that some of her magic would always be there
to splash over me.

#WhyIAmASolo - I Am The President, And Only Vote, In My Office Political Environment.

Office Politics - Are You Safely Navigating The Waters In Your Law Firm? Every time I read an article like this, I am alternately angry and cheerful. Angry because the pain of the lawyers in this scenario is self inflicted, and cheerful because the only vote that counts in my law firm is mine. As we get back to office parties, and people back to work in offices, and interacting in person, I suspect that BigLaw Associates have to worry about this stuff; but, OMG. The first paragraph of this article is mind bending:

"It’s the end of November and we’re rapidly approaching annual review season for Biglaw associates. Bill 2100 hours? Check. Complete assignments on time? Check. Turn in error-free work product? Check. Job security, maximum bonus, and promotion guaranteed as a result? Nope."

Are you kidding me? Billing 2100 hours a year? You must be single, ms. Worrying about job security, how much the powers that be will give me as a bonus, whether I will be promoted? No thanks. I think I worked enough this year, and did the best I could. I think I will give myself a promotion. I am now the President, Potentate, and King of the firm. What I say goes. Anyone who doesn't like it can hit the bricks. 

If you have to read articles like this one on Office Politics to get ahead in your firm, you probably won't. If you have to be told to be "nice" and "likable", there is no hope for you. Jeez.

 

You Don't Need The Latest And Greatest Android Tablet.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra Is Going To Be A Beast Of A Tablet. In fact, you may not need a tablet at all. However, since I am still rocking my slim, light, LTE enabled Tab S5e, which is several generations out of date, I do use it for Road Warrior stuff. I can't carry around my 3 pound 2 in 1 Microsoft notebook computer; but, it is easy to carry a light little tablet that gives me enough screen to do most things I can do on a notebook computer, in a pinch. But, the latest tablets are big and heavy and I don't want to carry them around. The S8 Ultra promises to have a 14 inch screen. That is fine for setting up at home or the office, and leaving there; but, do you really want to walk around town with it? Didn't think so. In any event, don't bother with a tablet that doesn't have a mobile chip in it. Mine is older, so it is only 4G LTE, but that is plenty for the times I use it, in restaurants, waiting rooms, etc. It would be nice to get a new 5G tablet; but, not a 14 inch behemoth that weighs too much. Want to read pleadings, newspapers, web pages and correspondence while out and about? A small, light tablet is the way to go. You can get an S5e for around $400, while the newer models are going for upwards of $1,000.

Why Married Men Are Raving Lunatics.

Hint: It is learned behavior.

Bad Retirement Choices.

When the Empire crumbled, some of the Stormtroopers made bad retirement choices. He should have considered Florida. It is 80 degrees here today.