Birthday Post!

Another year! I am getting older, hopefully wiser. I've never been a huge fan of big birthday celebrations, but moms are really into them. So, mine is coming to Columbia today, with my brother and niece, to help install my birthday gift, a ceiling fan for my bedroom. See, this is what happens when you get older. You ask for practical gifts. Things like ceiling fans and robotic floor sweepers (which I got for Christmas and is WONDERFUL for picking up stray Emma hair). I have become very pragmatic in my old age.

While the ceiling fan is awesome, the thing I am most excited about is hanging out with some of my favorite people in Carrboro this weekend. I can't wait. I am so so glad that H and B moved down south. So glad. I am going to make a concerted effort to spend many weekends with them this summer. I hope they don't mind, because I have made this plan without telling them first. :).

My last day at the Public Defender's office is Wednesday. I have been trying to tie up as many loose ends as possible, and I have spent hours writing transfer memos that no one will read. It is impossible for me to just leave things hanging. I am excited to see what my new job will entail. I feel pretty comfortable with my new bosses. I think we will get along just fine and I plan on kicking ass. Here is to new things!

I best get to cleaning house for my mom's arrival. Have a great day everyone!

and then there was this

Ms. H just told me about this band called Braveyoung. Swoon!

Anyway....On to other things that make my heart happy...

So, a few months ago a rottweiler started showing up over at my aunts house across town. My aunt is an animal lover, noticed the dog looked hungry and was desperate for attention, so she started feeding her and loving on her. She eventually found out who her owners were, and brought the dog back. Turns out, when she brought the dog back, the owners basically told her they weren't interested in the dog anymore. They had been using her as a puppy mill, basically, and she was past her prime. My aunt left the dog with them, but continued to worry about the dog. A few days later, the dog shows back up at my aunts house, and my aunt feeds the dog and the dog ends up staying for a few days. My aunt already has three dogs and couldn't take on another. After a few days, she brings the dog back to the owners. They tell her they are thinking of taking the dog to the vet to be put down. So, my aunt doesn't leave the dog there this time. Around the same time, I end up dog sitting for my aunt and I get to meet Diamond. I fell in love with her right away. She is so sweet, and just rolls over at your feet, and was so good with the other dogs. I seriously thought about taking her home with me. However, I was talking to my friend Cathy that night, and told her about Diamond and she seemed like the perfect dog for her. So, the next day we went over to my aunts house so Cathy and her son could meet Diamond, and moments later we were driving off, dog in tow.

 Unfortunately, the vet visit wasn't so great. It turns out this lovely pooch was suffering from heartworms and had multiple cancerous tumors in her breasts. She had surgery and is on meds and is doing really well, despite the prognosis.  At least she has someone to love her. She is the sweetest thing ever. I just wanted to share. Diamond and Emma met for the first time yesterday. I think Emma could sense that I was a little in love with Diamond.

Cathy is under there somewhere, getting slobbered on.

yikes!

First asparagus of the season

It's been almost an entire week without a post! Sorry. I have been slacking off. Daylight savings time has really messed with my sleep schedule. I have also been waking up in the early early morning hours and find myself unable to go back to sleep. I keep thinking about work and all the stuff I have to do before I leave. I have decided my last day will be March 30th, and my first day at the new job will be April 5th. Not much of a break really, but I will be in NC for most of it spending some time with some of my favorite people.

Today I am going to try to get my bike to the bike shop for a tune up and a new tube. Unfortunately, the bike shop is in 5 Points, and they are having a massive St. Patty's day celebration today. I also need to get my hair cut and get some other things done. It's going to be a busy day.

The other day I successfully completed my first major run of the season. There is a 5 mile paved walkway alongside the canal leading from a dam to Columbia's water plant. A lot of people go out there to walk or run or rollerblade. On Wednesday, I ran 3.5 of the 5 miles continuously, walked the rest. I am going to try to run the canal again today, even though my ass still hurts something fierce.

Also, in case anyone is wondering how my no-shampoo experiment is going, here is a recent pic. I haven't "washed" my hair since January. I will probably let them wash it when I go to get it cut.

It's pretty raggedy. Need haircut stat.

Daylight savings....

Daylight savings has already kicked my ass. I woke up about 30 minutes ago, which, under normal circumstances, is already sleeping in really late. Add DST, and wham! Half the day is gone already. Today's to do list is pretty long too: taxes, clean house, take dog to the river, wash dog after taking her to the river, grocery shop, etc. Taxes...for the last few years I have done my federal taxes with Turbo Tax, and then, in the interests of keeping it free, I have done my state taxes on my own. No biggie, right? I absolutely loathe doing the state taxes. There is usually a 2 month gap between doing my federal taxes and my state taxes. So, I am determined to get my state taxes done today, before April at least.

I am meeting up with my new boss tomorrow to discuss stuff and junk. I haven't decided yet when my last day/first day will be. I have a trip planned to NC the weekend of April 1st...but do I take a week off, or a few days, or something? I am so used to running from one thing to another. It seems so decadent to take an entire week off for no reason. Unless someone out in the interweb can give me a reason? 

So, last night...well, good music makes me happy. Sad music even makes me happy, if it's good. I've been listening to this song all morning:

Sweet Tooth Nelson 

They are on there way from NY to SXSW, and decided to stop by Columbia (where he is from originally) for a quick show at Bluetile:

And I feel like I am abandoning children

and I feel like I am losing all feeling....

Let me tell you about Dirk.

One of my co-workers found this painting of a guy at a yard sale. The guy is shirtless, has one arm up over his head. He is showing armpit and nipple hair. The painting hangs up in our office on Fridays. For whatever reason, he is deemed too unprofessional for the other days of the week. He hangs right outside my office, and from my desk I get a perfect view of his armpit. Curious, aren't you? Well, fear not. I am going to bring Dirk to you.

Dirk, and my co-worker Jay

As seen from my desk.

I took this picture over the weekend, a weekend I spent at the office. From 9am until 10pm, and on Sunday night until 1AM. I brought Emma with me because I knew I wouldn't be around all day, so she got to explore the courthouse. So, my co-counsel Ana along with Emma and Dirk were my sole companions this past weekend. The trial we were preparing for, of course, was continued Monday morning. We had to move for a continuance because on Friday at 4 we received the DNA report, and on Sunday we received a packet of letters our client had written the victim from jail. That, and we also received over 70 hours of jail phone calls made by our client. Needless to say, we weren't able to deal with all of that, so we moved for the continuance. However, just in case the judge didn't grant it, we prepared for trial like our life depended on it. I am still exhausted. The trial was continued until after I start my new job....so all my preparation was for nothing. Bleh.

Things are really starting to bloom around here. I am hoping to get a bunch of seeds started this weekend. I am already late, but I guess it's better late than never. Here are some peach blossoms as a parting gift.

Trial mode

I may be sort of absentee for the next week or so. I have a rape/kidnapping/armed robbery-ish trial next week. It isn't my case, but I am on it as co-counsel, and lead counsel has decided to, uh, go out of town until Sunday night. Trial starts with jury selection Monday morning. Seriously? The last three days have been 12 hour days at the office followed by working dinner and working drinks in a bar. The last part sounds way cooler than it really is. My ears are bleeding from the hours and hours of jail phone calls I am listening to to determine if our client said anything dumb/awesome that could be used against him. I am sorta losing my mind, and I haven't even started preparing witnesses or working on pre-trial motions.

So, have some fun this weekend, for me. 

This just in....

I got the job. More info to follow.


Fuck yeah!