Morrissey had his thing for shoplifters, I have my thing for office supplies, and perhaps a confluence of the two would be shoplifting office supplies. Minor office supply cabinet pilfering aside (and really, it's barely a thing, maybe a highlighter pen here and there on my way to a field meeting, which I later put in my purse and forget to return to the office stash- though I admit I find binder clips fascinatingly tempting . . . but that doesn't mean one should assume I lay my sticky fingers on them for non-work purposes, ahem), I get a certain joy in buying office supplies.
Okay, I get a certain joy in simply perusing the meticulous aisles of an office supply store, especially independently owned establishments that also carry a lot of caligraphy and art supplies, neither of which I have any use for, and Japanese stationary stores, with their variety of colored filing folders and colored notebooks and erasers in the shapes of hamburgers or maki rolls that send me into an over-stimulated, mouth-gaping trance. I have a love for things I do not need, and even after considering how I can find a way to need the object in order to justify it's purchase ("Hmmm...this graph lined notebook would be perfect for trigonometry class, but I don't take trigonometry class . . . But!! I could use it to practice perfecting my Hebrew script, each letter perfectly spaced, height and width . . . like Jewish serial killer handwriting . . ."), still do not need.
But the fantasy of a streamlined, organized life lures me in, so I am forever struggling with the inclination to buy versus the inclination not to add to my clutter, which, more than separation of Church and State, is the quintessential American struggle. And which is ironic, since the appeal of the stationary and office supplies, which add to my clutter, is the promise of a more organized, birthday-remembering, filing system wizard, everything-has-it's-place-and-is-exactly-there, Me.
But! There is nothing wrong with looking, right? And I found my new favorite place to peek. Under "Shop by Product," they actually list a category entitled "Life Organization" (cue angels singing). They sell punctuated page marks! What the hell are those?! Something I've never thought of in my life but suddenly am very desirous of, for Lord only knows what purpose. It's not only full of pretty office supplies, but it has all these great articles about getting organized that I plan to print out, read, and file away right on top of that mountain of paper on my desk.
6.20.2007
Might as well start talking to myself, that way I'm guaranteed an audience.
A couple of weeks ago, Mr. Hottie and I were doing some shopping at Trader Joe's. We were meandering along each aisle, and when we reached the dried fruits and nuts (I feel like there should be a joke there, but nothing comes to mind just yet. Probably for the best.) I faced the shelves and commented, "I love cashews but I can't buy them because I never stop eating them." The inventory clerk who was standing next to me, restocking the dried peaches, paused and slowly turned to look at me, and said, "Uhh.....Oh."
Puzzled, I turned to the my right, looking for Mr. Hottie, who was nowhere to be found! I had inadvertently been talking to myself (Don't you hate when that happens, and doesn't it seem to happen most often in grocery stores?). I realized how strange my cashew nut announcement must have seemed in the absence of my intended audience, so I laughed and told the clerk that I was talking to my friend, who must have headed in another direction. He laughed in relief, and I said, "Oh, you must have thought that I just make random announcements in the grocery aisles!" We contemplated a visit to the dairy refrigerator, where I would stare straight ahead at the milk and announce, "I like the organic milk, but I never seem to finish it before the expiry date" and off to the sauces aisle where he would share his feelings on stocking glass jars.
Puzzled, I turned to the my right, looking for Mr. Hottie, who was nowhere to be found! I had inadvertently been talking to myself (Don't you hate when that happens, and doesn't it seem to happen most often in grocery stores?). I realized how strange my cashew nut announcement must have seemed in the absence of my intended audience, so I laughed and told the clerk that I was talking to my friend, who must have headed in another direction. He laughed in relief, and I said, "Oh, you must have thought that I just make random announcements in the grocery aisles!" We contemplated a visit to the dairy refrigerator, where I would stare straight ahead at the milk and announce, "I like the organic milk, but I never seem to finish it before the expiry date" and off to the sauces aisle where he would share his feelings on stocking glass jars.
6.13.2007
5.21.2007
Hearsay, Relevance, and Business Records
Well, after a hellish couple of months and some crazy interactions with my unprofessional boss who took his vacation while we had a couple of cases up for trial....I had my first trial today. I wasn't lead counsel, so I didn't present the opening argument, or ask the witness questions, or present the evidence, but I did most of the work and all of the research that lay the foundation for our argument. My crazy, newly-tanned boss, who just got back this weekend, wasn't even familiar with the underlying case or any of the case law that set precedent until two days ago, when he read my summaries.
Anyways, while it was not fun having to prep for trial with neither the proper support staff nor guidance, not to mention a lack of proper research tools, presenting the actual trial was invigorating and gave me a shot of much-needed inspiration to continue in my profession. It turned out fine because my first time in trial, I didn't actually have much pressure to perform so I was able to concentrate on everything that was going on and review the proceedings with a critical eye. And it was validating to see my research, arguments, and words make up a strong case. I was also waiting for my first chance to exclaim, "Objection!" but nothing came up that I needed to object to.
Anyways, while it was not fun having to prep for trial with neither the proper support staff nor guidance, not to mention a lack of proper research tools, presenting the actual trial was invigorating and gave me a shot of much-needed inspiration to continue in my profession. It turned out fine because my first time in trial, I didn't actually have much pressure to perform so I was able to concentrate on everything that was going on and review the proceedings with a critical eye. And it was validating to see my research, arguments, and words make up a strong case. I was also waiting for my first chance to exclaim, "Objection!" but nothing came up that I needed to object to.
4.20.2007
The Secret
A couple of months ago, I happened upon an Oprah episode that was actually an update show on a previous show she did on something called "The Secret." It seemed very interesting, and to have inspired quite a response from her viewers, so I watched and tried to figure out what this secret was. It turns out it is a movie, and a book, and an audio CD and a huge cash cow for those involved in disseminating it. ;) But it's also worth looking into, with a skeptical eye and an open mind.
The basic premise is that there is a universal "law of attraction" at work in the world, and the energy you emit directly influences the energy that returns to you. The friendly metaphysicians who bring you "The Secret" focus a bit too much on the direct impact of our thoughts, instead of explaining more that our thoughts drive our actions, and our actions are also key in bringing about the results we hope for in our lives.
I do recommend the movie, however, because there is value in any kind of philosophy that leads us to question our own approaches to our lives and our attitudes. There is also, in my opinion and my experience, some truth to what is being taught in "The Secret." It's interesting to me how spiritual truths are arrived at by different paths, and that common answer points to a universality that cannot be denied.
The Hasidim teach that G-d is a mirror, and the face with which you look upon G-d is the face with which G-d will look upon you. Not only your perception, but your actual life experiences are impacted by your attitude.
There is a story in Native American history that teaches the importance of recognizing the power of our thoughts as well. An Indian chief was talking to his tribe one night and told them there were two dogs inside his mind. One was a white dog who was good and courageous, the other a black dog who was vengeful and spiteful. He told the tribe the dogs were fighting to the death. A brave, not able to wait for the end of the story, asked, "Which one of them will win?" The chief responded, "The one I feed."
The basic premise is that there is a universal "law of attraction" at work in the world, and the energy you emit directly influences the energy that returns to you. The friendly metaphysicians who bring you "The Secret" focus a bit too much on the direct impact of our thoughts, instead of explaining more that our thoughts drive our actions, and our actions are also key in bringing about the results we hope for in our lives.
I do recommend the movie, however, because there is value in any kind of philosophy that leads us to question our own approaches to our lives and our attitudes. There is also, in my opinion and my experience, some truth to what is being taught in "The Secret." It's interesting to me how spiritual truths are arrived at by different paths, and that common answer points to a universality that cannot be denied.
The Hasidim teach that G-d is a mirror, and the face with which you look upon G-d is the face with which G-d will look upon you. Not only your perception, but your actual life experiences are impacted by your attitude.
There is a story in Native American history that teaches the importance of recognizing the power of our thoughts as well. An Indian chief was talking to his tribe one night and told them there were two dogs inside his mind. One was a white dog who was good and courageous, the other a black dog who was vengeful and spiteful. He told the tribe the dogs were fighting to the death. A brave, not able to wait for the end of the story, asked, "Which one of them will win?" The chief responded, "The one I feed."
4.13.2007
Rilke and Cookies
"Have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves, as if they were locked rooms or books written in a very foreign language. Don't search for the answers, which could not be given to you now, because you would not be able to live with them. And the point is to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, some day far in time, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer."
~ Rilke
3.19.2007
I'll Tumble 4 Ya
Last night, I literally tumbled into Hot Date. He came to pick me up for our second date of the weekend (and ever!) and when I came downstairs, I walked towards him to give him a hug, and I must have been over-excited or something because I tripped over nothing and landed in his chest. Very goofy.
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