Congrats go out to Cara & Dave on the recent birth of their son, Matthew!!! Yay you guys!
They are now officially the second pair of my law school friends to have a child.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Friday, January 25, 2008
Brilliant Observation
From a few moments ago: Sane people are asleep right now. Therefore, I must be not sane or insane.
More specifically, I am at work attempting to finish a provisional application draft that *must* go out. *sigh*
More specifically, I am at work attempting to finish a provisional application draft that *must* go out. *sigh*
Friday, January 18, 2008
Wake Up Call?
Wow. I very nearly screwed something up today. As in I almost irrevocably fucked something up big time.
These days, something is wrong with me. I've accepted that. It primarily manifests as a distinct desire not to do work and a distinct lack of work output. Whereas the vast majority of people share such sentiments and still manage to have a productive work day, I do not.
I've been on & off with productivity for a while now. It is bad. I suspect my firm keeps me because: the work I do is very good; the work I do is very fast; I'm smart and capable; I have potential; I make them money; and the firm is short-staffed for attorneys. However, as soon as I start costing them money (which I'm almost to the point of) and/or start becoming a liability (which, apparently, I'm at), my tenure here is no longer certain.
I think I know what's wrong. I don't like my job. The people are great. My boss(es) are fantastic. The firm is wonderful. The compensation, while not actually competitive, is very nice. The benefits are good. There is no other patent firm I would rather be working for, truly. It's just I don't like my job.
I don't have another specific job in mind. I would love to work with graphic novels or books or toys or action figures. I'm not sure I have the background to transition into any of those fields, but I'll have to try at some point.
The real problem is that if I don't want to do something, very often I just don't do it or I put it off further and further. I did this in college and law school. I didn't just graduate from the latter, I survived it. Barely. For whatever reason, sometimes I have a big problem doing work that I don't enjoy. And I don't really know how to fix it. I tell myself things. I see problems looming. I say "this day will be different," but it isn't.
I thought I had a "wake up call" when I canceled meeting up with good friends in NYC due to too much work. Nope, didn't do it. But today, this morning, wow. So close to irrevocable failure that it was extremely bad.
I've written a version of this post at least 3 times before and never posted it. I don't like it when my blog devolves into emo rants and self-pitying or worrying. And honestly, I don't really worry all that much. But today was so bad, so very bad, that I couldn't withhold it.
See, no one knows me. No one sees what I actually do or how little I do. I keep so much of myself bottled up. I'm largely unhappy, but no one really knows that. I haven't actually told anyone. I complain about work and how much of it there is to be done, but I don't do anything about it. This also ties into the reason I'm not dating. If I'm not happy, if I'm not in a good place mentally, then how can I try to meet a woman and have a relationship? I'm in enough trouble as it is, I don't need to compound things or make myself any crazier. I just don't see how I can date until I figure out what to do with myself.
I'm tempted to set goals for myself. I recently paid off my credit cards, so my only sizable debt is my outstanding law school loans which really aren't bad. I'm starting to save up some money. I know a recession is on the way, and I'd like to save up more money before I attempt anything, so one theory is to tell myself that I'll stay at my current job for one year from the time I get my own apartment (which would match a 1-year lease). I have some not-insignificant expenditures on the horizon (possibly a new car, trip to England next Fall, weddings next Fall), so the more I can earn (and not spend), the better off I imagine I'll be.
I've heard people say: "Take the money. It's not worth a lower pay." But I don't think I really have much of a choice. I'm clearly unhappy here. I feel like other people would know that if they opened their eyes, but maybe it's not that apparent. I don't think I want to be a lawyer. Law school was the right move at the time, but I don't think law is what I want to do.
Sometimes I feel like I'm crazy. Sometimes I feel like I'm trapped, though I know I'm only as trapped as I want to be right now (no S.O., no kids, no pets of "my own", no house or real estate). Sometimes I feel like... I don't know, like everything is wrong and I see things in a way that others don't and no one really "gets" me or sees what I see.
I see the rat race. I mean I see it, unfolding around me, encompassing me, trying to trap me as it has so many others. I like some of it – I like having money, not worrying about a budget, buying what I want and knowing I can afford it. I know that counts for an awful lot – it's a rare luxury. But I also know that I can't sustain it, not like this. And the fact that others encourage me to follow this path of career and unhappiness and life bothers me. I'm not worried that I'll let them down. I'm worried that I'll buy into it and settle for a life that I don't want in the slightest. And since I don't know what life I do want, it's all the harder to find my way.
I titled this blog "A Season of Mists." It was part homage to the illustrious Mr. Gaiman and part descriptive of how I felt. I still feel that way. I'm still trapped in a season of mists. I haven't found my home yet. I'm not ready to settle down, for this to be my life. I don't know where I'm headed or where I should be headed, I just know that this is only a stop along my way. I can't stay here indefinitely. I can't. I just hope I survive long enough to figure out what my next stop is and maybe, just maybe, where I'm headed.
So was this a wake up call? Did this morning's moment of madness mend my maladjusted mind? Considering I just wrote this thing, probably not. Hopefully I'll put my nose to the grindstone and get to work next week on my numerous nearly-deadly work items. I better. I'm a little too close to failure for my own comfort (and clearly I feel pretty comfortable around failure so that's saying something).
These days, something is wrong with me. I've accepted that. It primarily manifests as a distinct desire not to do work and a distinct lack of work output. Whereas the vast majority of people share such sentiments and still manage to have a productive work day, I do not.
I've been on & off with productivity for a while now. It is bad. I suspect my firm keeps me because: the work I do is very good; the work I do is very fast; I'm smart and capable; I have potential; I make them money; and the firm is short-staffed for attorneys. However, as soon as I start costing them money (which I'm almost to the point of) and/or start becoming a liability (which, apparently, I'm at), my tenure here is no longer certain.
I think I know what's wrong. I don't like my job. The people are great. My boss(es) are fantastic. The firm is wonderful. The compensation, while not actually competitive, is very nice. The benefits are good. There is no other patent firm I would rather be working for, truly. It's just I don't like my job.
I don't have another specific job in mind. I would love to work with graphic novels or books or toys or action figures. I'm not sure I have the background to transition into any of those fields, but I'll have to try at some point.
The real problem is that if I don't want to do something, very often I just don't do it or I put it off further and further. I did this in college and law school. I didn't just graduate from the latter, I survived it. Barely. For whatever reason, sometimes I have a big problem doing work that I don't enjoy. And I don't really know how to fix it. I tell myself things. I see problems looming. I say "this day will be different," but it isn't.
I thought I had a "wake up call" when I canceled meeting up with good friends in NYC due to too much work. Nope, didn't do it. But today, this morning, wow. So close to irrevocable failure that it was extremely bad.
I've written a version of this post at least 3 times before and never posted it. I don't like it when my blog devolves into emo rants and self-pitying or worrying. And honestly, I don't really worry all that much. But today was so bad, so very bad, that I couldn't withhold it.
See, no one knows me. No one sees what I actually do or how little I do. I keep so much of myself bottled up. I'm largely unhappy, but no one really knows that. I haven't actually told anyone. I complain about work and how much of it there is to be done, but I don't do anything about it. This also ties into the reason I'm not dating. If I'm not happy, if I'm not in a good place mentally, then how can I try to meet a woman and have a relationship? I'm in enough trouble as it is, I don't need to compound things or make myself any crazier. I just don't see how I can date until I figure out what to do with myself.
I'm tempted to set goals for myself. I recently paid off my credit cards, so my only sizable debt is my outstanding law school loans which really aren't bad. I'm starting to save up some money. I know a recession is on the way, and I'd like to save up more money before I attempt anything, so one theory is to tell myself that I'll stay at my current job for one year from the time I get my own apartment (which would match a 1-year lease). I have some not-insignificant expenditures on the horizon (possibly a new car, trip to England next Fall, weddings next Fall), so the more I can earn (and not spend), the better off I imagine I'll be.
I've heard people say: "Take the money. It's not worth a lower pay." But I don't think I really have much of a choice. I'm clearly unhappy here. I feel like other people would know that if they opened their eyes, but maybe it's not that apparent. I don't think I want to be a lawyer. Law school was the right move at the time, but I don't think law is what I want to do.
Sometimes I feel like I'm crazy. Sometimes I feel like I'm trapped, though I know I'm only as trapped as I want to be right now (no S.O., no kids, no pets of "my own", no house or real estate). Sometimes I feel like... I don't know, like everything is wrong and I see things in a way that others don't and no one really "gets" me or sees what I see.
I see the rat race. I mean I see it, unfolding around me, encompassing me, trying to trap me as it has so many others. I like some of it – I like having money, not worrying about a budget, buying what I want and knowing I can afford it. I know that counts for an awful lot – it's a rare luxury. But I also know that I can't sustain it, not like this. And the fact that others encourage me to follow this path of career and unhappiness and life bothers me. I'm not worried that I'll let them down. I'm worried that I'll buy into it and settle for a life that I don't want in the slightest. And since I don't know what life I do want, it's all the harder to find my way.
I titled this blog "A Season of Mists." It was part homage to the illustrious Mr. Gaiman and part descriptive of how I felt. I still feel that way. I'm still trapped in a season of mists. I haven't found my home yet. I'm not ready to settle down, for this to be my life. I don't know where I'm headed or where I should be headed, I just know that this is only a stop along my way. I can't stay here indefinitely. I can't. I just hope I survive long enough to figure out what my next stop is and maybe, just maybe, where I'm headed.
So was this a wake up call? Did this morning's moment of madness mend my maladjusted mind? Considering I just wrote this thing, probably not. Hopefully I'll put my nose to the grindstone and get to work next week on my numerous nearly-deadly work items. I better. I'm a little too close to failure for my own comfort (and clearly I feel pretty comfortable around failure so that's saying something).
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
MORE WEDDINGS!
Congratulations go out to Rochelle-Rochelle and Greg-Man on their engagement! Greg-Man, you better save me a dance!
The Actuaries Are Multiplying!!!
(Well not really, but it sounded amusing in my head.)
Congratulations go out to The Actuary & Soon-To-Be Mrs. Actuary (f.k.a. gamer.girl, I think) on their engagement!
May your gaming & movie-watching be long-lived and plentiful!
The Actuaries Are Multiplying!!!
(Well not really, but it sounded amusing in my head.)
Congratulations go out to The Actuary & Soon-To-Be Mrs. Actuary (f.k.a. gamer.girl, I think) on their engagement!
May your gaming & movie-watching be long-lived and plentiful!
Life in the Household
This past weekend, my mom had a date.
While this should not be unexpected, shocking or weird, it is, in fact, all three (for me at any rate). I've gone out on a few dates while living at home these past 2.4 years (1 blind date, 2 JDate dates), but I've been reluctant to strongly attempt any sort of dating at least partially due to my living at home with my mom (and dog, formerly dogs). I also don't talk about any of this with my mom. We've never spoken about my dating and I don't really expect to talk with her about hers. I generally find it to be uncomfortable.
In any case, she had a lengthy date on Saturday with some guy she met over eHarmony. I didn't really interrogate her about it, just hearing of the where's and what's more than the will-there-be-a-second-date sort of things. (The repeated comment was that he is quite a "talker" – as in talking a lot.)
I'm sure there's no small amount of irony here, but now I really feel like I need a place of my own. We've been slowly working on getting the house in condition to sell, but if my mom is dating, I don't belong under the same roof. I'm now hesitant to answer the phone if it's a number or name I don't recognize. I know she's likely told him of me, but has she told him I live at home? And I don't quite feel like broaching that one with my mom, particularly since she never really expected me to move out... ever. (Where that last sentence alludes to her surprise when I informed her that I would not be moving with her into the presumed condo she will next be inhabiting.)
It was all the more odd in that her date started that afternoon (around 1pm, say) and she didn't get home until 10:30-11:00pm. I was debating if/when I should call her cell. Do I worry that she hasn't returned home or called? Do I call her at 11pm? Midnight? The next day? It's a bit weird to be worrying about my mom like that as I haven't before. Part of me probably wants to move out because I can't handle meeting her dates, just as I can't handle my mom meeting mine.
Anyways, enough with the analysis. I need my own place. Pronto.
While this should not be unexpected, shocking or weird, it is, in fact, all three (for me at any rate). I've gone out on a few dates while living at home these past 2.4 years (1 blind date, 2 JDate dates), but I've been reluctant to strongly attempt any sort of dating at least partially due to my living at home with my mom (and dog, formerly dogs). I also don't talk about any of this with my mom. We've never spoken about my dating and I don't really expect to talk with her about hers. I generally find it to be uncomfortable.
In any case, she had a lengthy date on Saturday with some guy she met over eHarmony. I didn't really interrogate her about it, just hearing of the where's and what's more than the will-there-be-a-second-date sort of things. (The repeated comment was that he is quite a "talker" – as in talking a lot.)
I'm sure there's no small amount of irony here, but now I really feel like I need a place of my own. We've been slowly working on getting the house in condition to sell, but if my mom is dating, I don't belong under the same roof. I'm now hesitant to answer the phone if it's a number or name I don't recognize. I know she's likely told him of me, but has she told him I live at home? And I don't quite feel like broaching that one with my mom, particularly since she never really expected me to move out... ever. (Where that last sentence alludes to her surprise when I informed her that I would not be moving with her into the presumed condo she will next be inhabiting.)
It was all the more odd in that her date started that afternoon (around 1pm, say) and she didn't get home until 10:30-11:00pm. I was debating if/when I should call her cell. Do I worry that she hasn't returned home or called? Do I call her at 11pm? Midnight? The next day? It's a bit weird to be worrying about my mom like that as I haven't before. Part of me probably wants to move out because I can't handle meeting her dates, just as I can't handle my mom meeting mine.
Anyways, enough with the analysis. I need my own place. Pronto.
Next-Gen DVD Format Wars Coming to an End?
Big news – Warner (owned by Time Warner) has announced that later this year it's going Blu-ray exclusive. Some are suggesting that this is the deathknell for HD-DVD, the other competing next-gen DVD format.
While HD-DVD is far from dead (yet, anyways), I suspect that this announcement will be the (next) nail in the coffin. Personally, I'm happy if Blu-ray wins since PS3's come with a Blu-ray player and I will likely be purchasing a PS3 some time in the next foreseeable future. (I already bought 300 on Blu-ray, as well as on regular DVD.)
While HD-DVD is far from dead (yet, anyways), I suspect that this announcement will be the (next) nail in the coffin. Personally, I'm happy if Blu-ray wins since PS3's come with a Blu-ray player and I will likely be purchasing a PS3 some time in the next foreseeable future. (I already bought 300 on Blu-ray, as well as on regular DVD.)
Saturday, December 8th
(I wrote this shortly thereafter and did not post it.)
This past Saturday, I had two interesting events planned – meeting up with law school friends (aka a Gathering) & my 10-year high school reunion.
The Gathering was alright. There were only seven of us there (including those under the age of 1) – Capt. Kate & Sneaky Pete & Adorable Anna, The Actuary & Soon-To-Be Mrs. Actuary, and movie.girl & myself. We had a good time – eating & talking, talking & eating. Lasted until 4pm-ish. Afterwards I hung out with The Actuary & Soon-To-Be Mrs. Actuary for a bit before driving back home. I'm glad we all met up though I'm also a little disappointed more people didn't show up. It was the first Gathering in 1.5 years. I'll set another one next year sometime.
The reunion was a mild exercise in pain. None of my friends showed up. None. So I spent my time there (all 2.5-3 hours of it) either talking with semi-random people or standing alone. I really didn't have anything to say to anyone. It was good to see a few people, but only a few – the ones who I was interested to hear about. As for the rest, I really just don't care.
Sometime on Saturday, and I can't recall if it was before or during the reunion, it dawned on me that except for a handful of people (friends and "interesting" people), I really just don't care about anyone there. "Hi, how are you? What are you up to? Where do you live? Oh, that's nice. Have a nice life." I just didn't care.
I don't think it's a fault of mine, per se, but rather a simple extension of my more pragmatic self. Sometimes I'm happy to ignore pragmatism and just role with things. But this time, that night, that reunion, I just couldn't bring myself to really take interest in more than a few people. As for the ones I didn't know and never knew and will never know, why would I inquire? I'll see them again in 10 years at the next reunion. *shrug*
I think one other guy there (not a friend) felt similarly. As I left, I said to him: "See you in 10 years." He replied: "See you there."
This past Saturday, I had two interesting events planned – meeting up with law school friends (aka a Gathering) & my 10-year high school reunion.
The Gathering was alright. There were only seven of us there (including those under the age of 1) – Capt. Kate & Sneaky Pete & Adorable Anna, The Actuary & Soon-To-Be Mrs. Actuary, and movie.girl & myself. We had a good time – eating & talking, talking & eating. Lasted until 4pm-ish. Afterwards I hung out with The Actuary & Soon-To-Be Mrs. Actuary for a bit before driving back home. I'm glad we all met up though I'm also a little disappointed more people didn't show up. It was the first Gathering in 1.5 years. I'll set another one next year sometime.
The reunion was a mild exercise in pain. None of my friends showed up. None. So I spent my time there (all 2.5-3 hours of it) either talking with semi-random people or standing alone. I really didn't have anything to say to anyone. It was good to see a few people, but only a few – the ones who I was interested to hear about. As for the rest, I really just don't care.
Sometime on Saturday, and I can't recall if it was before or during the reunion, it dawned on me that except for a handful of people (friends and "interesting" people), I really just don't care about anyone there. "Hi, how are you? What are you up to? Where do you live? Oh, that's nice. Have a nice life." I just didn't care.
I don't think it's a fault of mine, per se, but rather a simple extension of my more pragmatic self. Sometimes I'm happy to ignore pragmatism and just role with things. But this time, that night, that reunion, I just couldn't bring myself to really take interest in more than a few people. As for the ones I didn't know and never knew and will never know, why would I inquire? I'll see them again in 10 years at the next reunion. *shrug*
I think one other guy there (not a friend) felt similarly. As I left, I said to him: "See you in 10 years." He replied: "See you there."
Useless Trivia
"The average smell weighs 760 nanograms." -- Snapple Raspberry White Tea Cap
So sayeth the Snapple. ("So say we all!")
So sayeth the Snapple. ("So say we all!")
Ecch!
I just ate a strawberry yogurt-covered pretzel and thought to myself: "Hey! This tastes like vomit!"
Maybe not the best "I have returned (maybe)" post, but I have additional posts on the way.
Maybe not the best "I have returned (maybe)" post, but I have additional posts on the way.
Monday, December 31, 2007
Happy New Year!
Yes, this post is about 12 hours too early. Deal.
Within the next hour or so, I shall be on my way up to Hartford to rendezvous with movie.girl. 1-2 movies today, at least 2 movies tomorrow. Tonight I believe we shall be attending: a party she was invited to and a party at the actuary's (technically, at the actuary & his fiancé's). I'll crash up there for tomorrow's movie-goings. Should be fun! I'm just hoping my cold stays mild for today/tonight.
Cheers to all & may 2008 bring you a bright and happy future!
Within the next hour or so, I shall be on my way up to Hartford to rendezvous with movie.girl. 1-2 movies today, at least 2 movies tomorrow. Tonight I believe we shall be attending: a party she was invited to and a party at the actuary's (technically, at the actuary & his fiancé's). I'll crash up there for tomorrow's movie-goings. Should be fun! I'm just hoping my cold stays mild for today/tonight.
Cheers to all & may 2008 bring you a bright and happy future!
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Happy Holidays!
& Merry Christmas!
(A mildly ironic post given that I didn't post a 'Happy Chanukah!' this year.)
Cheers!
(A mildly ironic post given that I didn't post a 'Happy Chanukah!' this year.)
Cheers!
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Holy Crap! (Woot!)
Year-end review today. Sweet bonus + salary increase = yay!
Drinks are on me.
P.S. Minor backlog of additional posts. Will follow shortly (for varying definitions of "shortly").
Drinks are on me.
P.S. Minor backlog of additional posts. Will follow shortly (for varying definitions of "shortly").
Saturday, December 08, 2007
An Interesting Day
Today should be fun.
This afternoon I'm meeting up with law school friends (or some of them, at any rate) for the first gathering in about 1.5 years. Oh I've seen some of them in the interim, of course (e.g., weddings, few people I've met up with), but this is the first group-gathering I've put together in a long while. I hope to do more of these in the future.
Then tonight I have my 10-year high school reunion. I'm mildly apprehensive but not much. I've always taken a loose approach, figuring that people I really care about are those that were my good friends back in high school. So I'm hoping that the few of them miraculously show up. As for everyone else, hehe, while it will be nice to say hi and see what they're up to, I couldn't care less. If I wasn't friends with you in high school, why should we start being friends now? *shrug*
Fun, fun, fun.
This afternoon I'm meeting up with law school friends (or some of them, at any rate) for the first gathering in about 1.5 years. Oh I've seen some of them in the interim, of course (e.g., weddings, few people I've met up with), but this is the first group-gathering I've put together in a long while. I hope to do more of these in the future.
Then tonight I have my 10-year high school reunion. I'm mildly apprehensive but not much. I've always taken a loose approach, figuring that people I really care about are those that were my good friends back in high school. So I'm hoping that the few of them miraculously show up. As for everyone else, hehe, while it will be nice to say hi and see what they're up to, I couldn't care less. If I wasn't friends with you in high school, why should we start being friends now? *shrug*
Fun, fun, fun.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Hazy
A fair amount of things since the last post.
Saw Wicked at the Bushnell Theater last night with movie.girl. Amazing show! I highly recommend catching it if they come to a theater near you. This was a rather spur of the moment viewing that she arranged last weekend.
Funny (to me at least) "incident" with movie.girl on Tuesday night. Apparently she'd e-mailed her most recent former fiancé (with whom she broke things off back in Spring of this year) in an attempt to obtain "closure." The discussions this and the subsequent e-mails fostered was nothing short of fascinating. I'll summarize by noting that I eventually asked the silver-bullet question that managed to help her put this guy in suitable perspective. I have to remember how to do that so I can do so again in the future (i.e., ask the "right" question).
Also on Tuesday, in company of movie.girl, I bought too many movies, something like 10 or so. I have far too many to watch. Also need to see a few in the theater, namely Enchanted and Hit Man, though I believe others will be opening soon.
I'm very tired today. I've been operating on too little sleep this week due to: late night working on Monday (not as productive as I'd hoped), usual late night hanging out with movie.girl on Tuesday, and mildly late night with movie.girl last night for Wicked. I'm exhausted. I will get a good night sleep tonight because if I don't I will keel over tomorrow.
Tomorrow night I get to play boardgames. Yay!!! This is fun.
Way too much work to do at work. Waaaaaaaay too much. I am sinking beneath a sea of office actions and applications and it's not getting better. Granted, writing this post is not helping.
Thanksgiving was the usual affair. Turkey, relatives & pie. Notable items this year include my older cousin being 3-4 months pregnant with a boy, my younger cousin going for surgery this Monday to work on a keloid thing with his ear, and my aunt being a little more crazed than usual. Grandparents are doing alright. I bought some DVDs and games on Black Friday.
Traded 2-3 e-mails with a woman on JDate. Currently waiting (hoping?) for her to reply. Will probably suggest a phone call before a meet up as she lives out in central Long Island. Google Maps has it at a shade over 2 hours by car (up to 3 hours if traffic). I'm wondering if taking the ferry (from Bridgeport to Port Jefferson) wouldn't be preferable. I checked and it would only be cost-worthy if I went as a passenger (i.e., too expensive with my car). This is far from an ideal solution for a first meeting, but then we're not there yet, not at all.
Okay, back to work.
Saw Wicked at the Bushnell Theater last night with movie.girl. Amazing show! I highly recommend catching it if they come to a theater near you. This was a rather spur of the moment viewing that she arranged last weekend.
Funny (to me at least) "incident" with movie.girl on Tuesday night. Apparently she'd e-mailed her most recent former fiancé (with whom she broke things off back in Spring of this year) in an attempt to obtain "closure." The discussions this and the subsequent e-mails fostered was nothing short of fascinating. I'll summarize by noting that I eventually asked the silver-bullet question that managed to help her put this guy in suitable perspective. I have to remember how to do that so I can do so again in the future (i.e., ask the "right" question).
Also on Tuesday, in company of movie.girl, I bought too many movies, something like 10 or so. I have far too many to watch. Also need to see a few in the theater, namely Enchanted and Hit Man, though I believe others will be opening soon.
I'm very tired today. I've been operating on too little sleep this week due to: late night working on Monday (not as productive as I'd hoped), usual late night hanging out with movie.girl on Tuesday, and mildly late night with movie.girl last night for Wicked. I'm exhausted. I will get a good night sleep tonight because if I don't I will keel over tomorrow.
Tomorrow night I get to play boardgames. Yay!!! This is fun.
Way too much work to do at work. Waaaaaaaay too much. I am sinking beneath a sea of office actions and applications and it's not getting better. Granted, writing this post is not helping.
Thanksgiving was the usual affair. Turkey, relatives & pie. Notable items this year include my older cousin being 3-4 months pregnant with a boy, my younger cousin going for surgery this Monday to work on a keloid thing with his ear, and my aunt being a little more crazed than usual. Grandparents are doing alright. I bought some DVDs and games on Black Friday.
Traded 2-3 e-mails with a woman on JDate. Currently waiting (hoping?) for her to reply. Will probably suggest a phone call before a meet up as she lives out in central Long Island. Google Maps has it at a shade over 2 hours by car (up to 3 hours if traffic). I'm wondering if taking the ferry (from Bridgeport to Port Jefferson) wouldn't be preferable. I checked and it would only be cost-worthy if I went as a passenger (i.e., too expensive with my car). This is far from an ideal solution for a first meeting, but then we're not there yet, not at all.
Okay, back to work.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Rantings & Ravings
Because it's really starting to get to me.
I've been extremely crunched at work of late. Back on Monday 10/29, I billed about 14 hours, working from 6:25am-6:30pm and from 10:45pm-2:30am. This past Thursday 11/08, I billed about 10.5 hours, working from 9:15am-7:30pm and from 10:45pm-2:45am. I've been semi-frantically trying to get 3 critical application drafts out by the end of today. One has gone and the other two are (hopefully) in good shape to be finished today and sent.
In other words, it's been pretty bad of late.
The fun really starts to pile up when I finish something that's critical. See, although I prioritize everything I do (I have to), previously-not-critical things become critical while I'm working on the then-critical things. I'm pretty much in a never-ending pile of critical work that gets worse and worse every week. It's been like this for at least the past 1-3 months, with me being behind on work since May of this year.
We simply don't have enough people at my firm. I am absolutely swamped, yet I keep getting new work. A while back, I spent a Saturday or Sunday just updating up my docket - adding new things to it, updating my time entries, etc. When I tallied my items, I came to a total of 64 things, including about 10 applications to draft (provisionals, nonprovisionals and conversions). While I'm probably down to only--Crap. I just counted. 64 items, including preliminary amendments and random "check this" things, but not including IDS'.
Ugh.
I'm stuck in this horrible work cycle that's really starting to piss me off.
My bosses did higher someone new who started about 2-3 weeks ago, but he has no experience with patent drafting or prosecution so he won't be "up to speed" (i.e., to lighten the aggregate firm workload) for at least a few months (and I'm dubious beyond that, though I won't go further into detail here).
And there's a new secretary starting Monday, which does me (personally) no good at all.
*sigh*
Well, I need to get to work. Hopefully I'll be done in only 5-6 hours, though I wouldn't place any bets.
Oh yeah, since she got back stateside, I've been hanging out with movie.girl at least twice a week. We speak on the phone pretty often. I'm meeting up with her on Sunday, presumably to watch more of Doctor Who Season 3. She just bought a new laptop (after at least 8 phone calls with me about it in the past 3 days).
Haven't been playing WoW since I hit 70. Have been playing MTGO (Magic the Gathering Online) and spending way, way too much on it. Did go to a boardgame meetup last Friday 11/02. Lots of fun.
I really don't want to do work today. Too bad I really don't have a choice.
I've been extremely crunched at work of late. Back on Monday 10/29, I billed about 14 hours, working from 6:25am-6:30pm and from 10:45pm-2:30am. This past Thursday 11/08, I billed about 10.5 hours, working from 9:15am-7:30pm and from 10:45pm-2:45am. I've been semi-frantically trying to get 3 critical application drafts out by the end of today. One has gone and the other two are (hopefully) in good shape to be finished today and sent.
In other words, it's been pretty bad of late.
The fun really starts to pile up when I finish something that's critical. See, although I prioritize everything I do (I have to), previously-not-critical things become critical while I'm working on the then-critical things. I'm pretty much in a never-ending pile of critical work that gets worse and worse every week. It's been like this for at least the past 1-3 months, with me being behind on work since May of this year.
We simply don't have enough people at my firm. I am absolutely swamped, yet I keep getting new work. A while back, I spent a Saturday or Sunday just updating up my docket - adding new things to it, updating my time entries, etc. When I tallied my items, I came to a total of 64 things, including about 10 applications to draft (provisionals, nonprovisionals and conversions). While I'm probably down to only--Crap. I just counted. 64 items, including preliminary amendments and random "check this" things, but not including IDS'.
Ugh.
I'm stuck in this horrible work cycle that's really starting to piss me off.
My bosses did higher someone new who started about 2-3 weeks ago, but he has no experience with patent drafting or prosecution so he won't be "up to speed" (i.e., to lighten the aggregate firm workload) for at least a few months (and I'm dubious beyond that, though I won't go further into detail here).
And there's a new secretary starting Monday, which does me (personally) no good at all.
*sigh*
Well, I need to get to work. Hopefully I'll be done in only 5-6 hours, though I wouldn't place any bets.
Oh yeah, since she got back stateside, I've been hanging out with movie.girl at least twice a week. We speak on the phone pretty often. I'm meeting up with her on Sunday, presumably to watch more of Doctor Who Season 3. She just bought a new laptop (after at least 8 phone calls with me about it in the past 3 days).
Haven't been playing WoW since I hit 70. Have been playing MTGO (Magic the Gathering Online) and spending way, way too much on it. Did go to a boardgame meetup last Friday 11/02. Lots of fun.
I really don't want to do work today. Too bad I really don't have a choice.
Sunday, November 04, 2007
"Everything You Never Wanted To Know About Crohns Disease"
Via Boing Boing I found: "Everything You Never Wanted To Know About Crohns Disease" by Tom Humberstone (21.10.2007).
As BoingBoing explained:
On a broader scale, his comic is an absolutely fantastic look into what life is like for someone with IBD/ulcerative colitis/Crohns. Furthermore, the comments left by others with IBD/colitis/Crohns are incredible. As the author explains in the comic, it's a very.. difficult disease. You don't want to mention it to others, to have to explain what's going on. It's humiliating in many respects. But the comments from others.. sometimes you forget there are others out there dealing with the same problems. It's very encouraging.
I left my own comment there but I want to thank Tom (can I call you Tom?) again. His comic was personal, revealing and honest. His sharing was, in many ways, brave. The comments it inspired (and continues to inspire) are reassuring in so many ways. You're not alone. A simple message but one that is too often forgotten.
So thank you. And if anyone out there is curious what life is like with IBD/colitis/Crohns, read the comic.
As BoingBoing explained:
Tom Humberstone produced this wonderful comic for last week's 24-hour-comic challenge, called "Everything You Never Wanted to Know About Crohn's Disease." It's an intense and touching personal memoir about life with Crohn's.As someone with ulcerative colitis, I could relate to what he describes. I experienced symptoms very much like that during the 1-2 months before I was diagnosed. Fortunately I've been in remission for about 1.5 years now and have to contend with very little these days.
On a broader scale, his comic is an absolutely fantastic look into what life is like for someone with IBD/ulcerative colitis/Crohns. Furthermore, the comments left by others with IBD/colitis/Crohns are incredible. As the author explains in the comic, it's a very.. difficult disease. You don't want to mention it to others, to have to explain what's going on. It's humiliating in many respects. But the comments from others.. sometimes you forget there are others out there dealing with the same problems. It's very encouraging.
I left my own comment there but I want to thank Tom (can I call you Tom?) again. His comic was personal, revealing and honest. His sharing was, in many ways, brave. The comments it inspired (and continues to inspire) are reassuring in so many ways. You're not alone. A simple message but one that is too often forgotten.
So thank you. And if anyone out there is curious what life is like with IBD/colitis/Crohns, read the comic.
Monday, October 29, 2007
LEVEL 70!
Last night, I FINALLY got to level 70 with my Warlock in World of Warcraft! The expansion came out on January 16, 2007 (thank you Wikipedia). I guess it's taken me 9.5 months but I finally did it.
I s'pose the next step is to get a (regular) flying mount. Do some instances if I can find PUGs for them. Maybe some PvP. Could also work on other characters but I'm not sure if I want to. I'm partly tempted to try and craft some new gear, but there's another WoW expansion in the works (Wrath of the Lich King). No clue when it'll come out, but when it does purples will be the new greens.. again.
Anyways, YAY!
I s'pose the next step is to get a (regular) flying mount. Do some instances if I can find PUGs for them. Maybe some PvP. Could also work on other characters but I'm not sure if I want to. I'm partly tempted to try and craft some new gear, but there's another WoW expansion in the works (Wrath of the Lich King). No clue when it'll come out, but when it does purples will be the new greens.. again.
Anyways, YAY!
Errata
Correction for the previous post that I don't feel like inserting as an addendum.
Dancing with LF was not the first slow dance at the 4 weddings this season. It was the second.
This morning as I was getting ready for work, I remembered something from Mattman's wedding in Michigan last month. At the dance portion of the evening, not long after it began, they played a slow song. Some woman I had never met before asked me to dance. I believe she was married and her husband gave his permission or consented or however one wishes to phrase it. She was Indian (I believe?) and pretty attractive. It was one dance, but it struck me as a rather strange occurrence. I can't recall the last time a woman asked me to dance, let alone a woman I'd never met before, let alone one who's married. Probably had something to do with me being the best man, but I appreciated it. I thanked her and her husband afterwards. (I was a bit formal - how could I not be?)
This is probably one of those things I'll remember because it seemed so unusual.
Dancing with LF was not the first slow dance at the 4 weddings this season. It was the second.
This morning as I was getting ready for work, I remembered something from Mattman's wedding in Michigan last month. At the dance portion of the evening, not long after it began, they played a slow song. Some woman I had never met before asked me to dance. I believe she was married and her husband gave his permission or consented or however one wishes to phrase it. She was Indian (I believe?) and pretty attractive. It was one dance, but it struck me as a rather strange occurrence. I can't recall the last time a woman asked me to dance, let alone a woman I'd never met before, let alone one who's married. Probably had something to do with me being the best man, but I appreciated it. I thanked her and her husband afterwards. (I was a bit formal - how could I not be?)
This is probably one of those things I'll remember because it seemed so unusual.
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