Day 1372: Week Fifteen and Counting
The Good:
Thanksgiving! With my parents. Even though traffic was rough we drove safely. We had dog-sitters. I got to spend time with my mom, and we went shopping for baby things (oh man the look on my husband's face when I came home with a fully-stocked diaper bag). Also we did a baby shower registry, partially because there will be a baby shower, but also anything not purchased off the registry I can get later at a discount.
There was so much good with at my parents' house, and I slept super well, and I think I really did relax.
Also my bio Aunt and Uncle stopped by to meet my mom (my dad was out all day at his weekly volunteer gig at the temple) and we talked and it was great. Also I am now Facebook friends with my younger half-brother who is in the Army and currently stationed in Poland. Admittedly I didn't friend him on FB at first because I thought he was just some teenage friend of my younger bio sister going on an FB friending spree (in my defense he looks like a teenager, which I realize is pretty rich coming from me has also been mistaken for a teenager), but then he sent me a message and I realized he was the brother my bio Aunt had mentioned, so now we are FB friends! I'm excited to get to know him. I think he's probably the most American of my other bio siblings, so that will be interesting indeed.
I have been finding words! That's been fun. Also I started watching Berlin Station after
smallhobbit mentioned it, and I've been enjoying it! Because Richard Armitage, and also generally good performances. Also I started watching Whitechapel with my mum, which was fun, because Rupert Penry-Jones!
Baby Seedling is doing well! Had a doctor's appointment yesterday, and my husband came along, and baby's heartbeat sounds good, so we are excited! Also my father has started construction on a piece of baby furniture. I know he's excited to be able to build stuff for baby. I anticipate some fun homemade toys in future. I need to knit at least one cute baby thing in addition to a blanket, and also see about knitting a stuffed toy.
The Bad:
A philosopher whose name I cannot remember once said "hell is other people". I've had two nasty long days in a row, all with complicated, difficult, and frustrating cases.
Pro legal tip: children are not chattel or property, parents do not own them, and you certainly cannot have a secured financial interest in children. I took a poll of one lay person, and he agreed that children are not financial assets. I was bored. He was bored. We shared a chocolate bar.
While I respect a person's right to represent themselves in court, I certainly do not subscribe to their ignorance of the law whatsoever. Truth is, so many of the Founding Fathers were trained legal minds, and when they approached drafting certain things, it was with a lawyer's perspective.
Another pro tip: If you live in one state, the laws of another state, or even model laws, or even many federal laws, are not controlling. If you want to make a legal argument, you need to cite applicable law.
Also child custody tip: if not all the children have all the same parents, they may not all end up together despite being a sibling group.
It's cold and rainy, and also I am not sleeping well. Baby Seedling is choosing to exercise her super personal heater powers in the middle of the night.
Asking for abbreviated briefing timelines that force the rest of us to work weekends and evenings is not very courteous, especially where the issue being briefed is without merit and also I know you have espoused the completely opposite position where it has suited you.
Lawyers are bad at math: 32 weeks is a very different timespan from 52 weeks.
Do not forget: the judge is also a trained lawyer, and he's at least as good at legal arguments as the other lawyers, and probably better at them than parents.
Pro evidence tip: a handwritten note from your primary care physician 24 days after an ER visit does not carry equal weight to actual detailed ER records.
Pro child welfare tip: drug use is not the only thing that makes a parent potentially dangerous to their children. Also, sending threatening messages to a foster parent does not make you seem safe or stable.
Can you tell I am frustrated with my job? I cannot wait to quit. For reals.
Check-in:
Fitness! Well, I went to water aerobics with my mom. That was an adventure. I enjoyed it. I might do it again if my schedule permits.
Spirituality! Better but not great. Needs improvement.
Writing! Finding words. Woohoo!
Work! Yeah. My insane court schedule is murdering my study time, but I do plan to take the exam, and also I plan on getting licensed in NY so I have that up my sleeve should we need it.
This week is halfway done, Baby Seedling is doing well, I had French fries with my prosecutor friend and also got a free candy bar from the bailiffs, so things will be okay! I think.
Also...also I'm going to the Metallica concert on Friday with Naomi! Gonna be wild times. :)