No Muse, No Problem?

Dear Friends -

I'm having a crisis of confidence here. The Muse (meaning whatever intangible mental state it is which permits me to write easily) hasn't visited me in a couple of weeks. So, I haven't blogged, because I can't imagine that anything less than well thought out and cultivated will be acceptable.

I'm taking a long chance here by sharing the ordinary ploddings of my life for the past few days.

I've been in court a lot the past week. Last Wednesday, I had a case on the motion docket at the Supreme Court, a criminal case. I wasn't trial counsel (i.e., I'm not the poor bloke who lost the case in front of the jury), and my client is so pissed off at that guy he's a handful. (My client is also suspected of founding a site on Wordpress that was the most libelous bunch of tripe I've ever seen, libeling the prosecutor, his trial lawyer and the Judge. He denies that he did it.) As I expected, I had a nasty argument with the Justice on the Court who never finds in favor of criminal defendants. My case was accepted 3-2, so the next thing will be to write a brief. I've kept researching, and my brief will be better than my petition. Then on Thursday, I had another case in Charleston (which is about 140 miles from home) at the Workers' Compensation Board of Review. I drove a bit over 2 hours each way (in really nasty weather, and I drive too fast), had the case which was dead last on a 50 case docket, so I waited for 3 hours for my case to be called. My opponent gave a short presentation, and then it was my turn. I agreed with a fact that my opponent alleged (because it was true) and after ONE FUCKING SENTENCE, the Board ruled against me. I said with a smile that "I've been thrown out of much nicer places than this," which they took as a joke. That was the height of lying - telling the absolute truth in a way that you won't be taken seriously.

The weekend was about normal. Saturday, I took off, and puttered and read. I've several books going right now, and I'm trying to finish some so I'm not lugging so many around. Sunday, I worked as usual. We represent real people, and real people have jobs that keep them busy Monday through Friday, so I had lots of clients come to the offices (which I think of as "chambers".) One of them is a woman for whom I have a sentencing next week in an adjoining county, and I'm super worried about that. Her husband was a very smart, manipulative pervert, and ran a very weird household which resulted in serious criminal charges. The husband was sentenced last week to 15 - 40 years in the state penitentiary. This guy touted his 180 IQ, and the participants in the justice system are honestly amused when someone like that finds out that the people in the Courthouse aren't stupid. Well, lawyers are from Mars, and we have weird senses of humor. (Not as bad as EMS workers' senses of humor, just ask Rox.) I went in at 9 AM and left at 9 PM, and felt that I accomplished a lot of stuff. That helps me feel good and worthwhile.

Monday, I had an all-day hearing with my buddy, a Family Court Judge. I've noted earlier my relationship with him, which is nearly multiple personality disorder on both of our parts. In Court, we are totally correct, and the fact that I know him has zero effect on how he treats me in Court or treats my clients in his rulings. Indeed, he frequently pisses me off with his rulings, which is OK, since I frequently piss him off with my arguments. At the end of the hearing, he requested "Proposed Findings," which means that this week I have to find the time to write a proposed court order. That's a pain in the ass, but in a hearing which has stretched out to more than one day spread over a few months, it's really, really necessary. We knocked off early, and he and I adjourned to the cafe across the street, where we tried to solve the upcoming issues with the Boy Scout Council, on which we serve together. (Of those problems, more on another day, perhaps.) Contrary to popular belief, not a word passes between lawyers and judges who know each other about cases that haven't yet been decided. I have another 1/2 day hearing before the same judge tomorrow. I don't know how that case will come out, but I'm totally ready for the hearing. The other lawyer was once a student of mine in college, and she will come loaded for bear. Last week at a bar meeting, I made a faux pass at her, telling her that I'd sweep her off her feet if I weren't married, which was true, and which she genuinely enjoyed.

Thursday is clients all day. Friday is 1/2 day of paper work, and a regular doctor appointment in the afternoon. The doctor's office is right beside Starbucks, and we don't have many of those.

This weekend, my wife and son will be out of town. On Saturday night, I'm going to a Masonic lodge meeting. One of the brothers there (yes, we really do address each other that way) is a lawyer who has been of enormous help to me and my partner as we work through some practice problems lately, and so my partner and I got and suitably inscribed a book, What Law There Was, by Al Dempsey, as a little token. (It's a western about how Masons banded together to bring law & order to the Montana territory.) I plan to give it to him during the meeting. I like to do stuff like that. Years ago, at a Boy Scout recognition dinner (where the volunteer adult leaders are recognized for busting their asses for years in the movement), I awarded a "Silver Beaver Award", which is a big deal, just ask Pete, to a minister who had spent the last night of my Dad's life at his bedside. The medal I hung on him was a little worn, because it was the same one which had been awarded to my Dad exactly 25 years before. Public recognition and thanks costs sooooooo little and means sooooooo much to people. With a laser printer, some $10 a box parchment paper, some clip art, and a $4 frame from Wal-Mart, you can create something that people will feel really good about.

And Sunday will be a work day, and the wheel turns again. Pippa passes.

By the way, I got that digital camera, and I need to find the time to see if the thing works and see if I am marginally smart enough to get pictures posted here.

Hope this wasn't too dull.

Mizpah!

R