Aurora is no more-a

I had a car accident driving home on October 8. I am fine. My left foot is still a little sore from banging into the underside of the dash/steering column/whatever it was I kicked, and I have a bruise on my right arm, but I'm otherwise unscathed. Scout was in the car and is likewise, fine. I am incredibly lucky. My 2001 Civic, Aurora, did not come out so well. I was driving east on I-20, came up a hill onto an overpass in Roscoe, TX, started to veer because I wasn't paying close enough attention and over-corrected. I then proceeded to play pinball between both concrete barriers on the bridge and wound up on the center grassy median. Both airbags deployed and my long-suffering Civic was totaled. I was able to get a tow to Sweetwater, and the towing company gave me and another couple a ride to the Abilene airport, where I was able to procure a car from Hertz. I am NEVER using Hertz again. I'll walk before I rent another car from them. I returned the car less than 24 hours later and as of now, they've charged me $181 for less than 24 hours use of a Camry. I will be contesting this, particularly in light of the fact that, seeing as my Civic is no more, I bought a replacement vehicle last weekend. I am now the owner of a 2010 Honda Insight (black) that, so far, has gotten up to 37.3 mpg. I'm working to improve that number and hoping to beat the Honda claims of 40 mpg city and 43 mpg highway.

In other news, Greg is gone. He was the first assistant and has left to be an ADA in Llano, Texas. He was replaced by Amy, who worked with Brian in the DA's office in Lubbock. Improvement? YES. So while I would like to get back to Houston as soon as possible (and the job search is ongoing) I am happier being stuck in Lamesa than I was a couple months ago. Amy's been an attorney for long enough that she has no problem giving me the lead on trials, so I'll probably actually get some good experience with her here instead of Greg, who apparently didn't think I was ever ready to be a trial attorney. I think my 10 year sentence on a 3rd degree felony speaks otherwise, but whatever.

As for my job search, I've now sent in resumes to Galveston, Brazoria, Fort Bend, Montgomery, and Brazos Counties, as well as several Judicial District offices closer to Houston. So far, no dice. Keep your fingers crossed and/or your prayers ongoing that something comes up soon. Given the choice, I'd much rather move in winter than summer.

That's really all the big change that's happened since I last posted. Have a good weekend!

Two posts in a week?!? Whoa.

I actually intended to write this post yesterday, but I was distracted and forgot. Something that I have noticed, and lamented to some of my readers since moving to Lamesa, is the sameness of almost everyone here. There is some racial diversity, in that there's a decent mix of white, black, and Hispanic (a group which everyone here refers to as "Spanish"), but there is little to no Asian or Middle Eastern population in west Texas. Further, everyone I've come across is either Baptist or (a few are) Methodist. I realize this shouldn't really be a surprise to me or anyone else, but it makes me sad. I never realized it at the time, but I was lucky to grow up in a pretty diverse setting. I have multiracial cousins on my mom's side and diversity of religious beliefs on both sides of my family, from my parents on out. Perhaps even more importantly, my parents were always open to the idea of teaching Lisa and I about different cultures, be it in terms of food, religion, history, or anything else. My dad's best friends at UTA and Mobil were Muslim and Hindu, and my dad is somewhere between agnostic and atheist, so I've been comfortable with the idea of the validity of diverse types of beliefs since I was young.

Long story short, (too late!) I wish the people I know out here had been given the same experience. Everyone is in their little bubble of what is acceptable in terms of religion and morals and behavior, and nobody seems capable of internalizing the idea that there is more than one right way to do pretty much everything. I don't think my coworkers have any idea when they offend me: they'll apologize for making some mildly misogynist joke, but then go on to make some comment about gay people (but "gay" isn't the vernacular here) or Arabs (not that they use the word "Arab," either) or that anyone who believes in evolution is clearly going to hell, and it never occurs to anyone that these are the things that piss me off and make me want to walk out or yell at them, because they assume they are right and the Other in that context is, obviously, wrong.

I really miss living in a diverse environment, where people actually have opinions that are different from one another, and backgrounds that are unique. It seems to me that I'm the only odd duck. I went straight to college and law school, didn't get married and divorced young, no second marriage, no kids, no background in law enforcement, I don't regularly attend First or Second Baptist, etc. Lamesa is not home. How soon can I move back to a place like home? It can't be soon enough.

QOTD: "Since folks here to an absurd degree, seem fixated on your verdigris, would it be all right with you, if I de-greenify you?"

What do you take me for, a blogger?

Lisa said I should update my blog. It's been more than two months since I last wrote a post, so she may have a point. Let's see...I'm looking for a job so I can move back to Houston. I've applied to an ever-lengthening list of DA's offices and other possibilities but so far, no luck. My sister is job-hunting and, in the meantime, working at a math/science camp for girls in 4th - 8th grade. Kyle got a job in Houston, moved there last Wednesday, and started work today. Tomorrow is the first day of the last bar exam where I'm likely to know very many people taking it. I have seen Avenue Q, Beauty and the Beast, and Wicked in the last two months. (The latter two in the past two weeks.) I have visited Austin, Houston, Arlington, and will be visiting San Antonio soon.

If you want to hear about my job, that's something to be told in person and not discussed online, because it is a long and complicated tale of woe and whoa. I'm so punny. Supposedly I may be sitting second chair in trials soon, which would substantially improve my marketability, but I've been told I'd get to do that before and it didn't happen, so I'll believe it when I see it.

I finished "How to be Good" by Nick Hornby on the way to Houston last Thursday. I love his storytelling style and the characters' voice, but it was definitely my least favorite among his books. I have a stack of other books to read, including five new additions to the stack thanks to Jay (Kyle's mom). Thanks, Jay!

In other news, Scout is now a year old (as of July 2) and it appears she'll max out at around 30 pounds, which is smaller than originally expected or desired, but turns out to be good for travel. She's big enough to be a real dog, but I can still bring her places fairly easily in my car (although she's too big to fly Southwest).

People who haven't visited me yet and still want to: I have a couple probably free weekends in August, or we can start talking September. I love hosting visitors and I'd love to show you around Lamesa. It'll take 15 minutes. That's all I can think of, so have a good day and, as ever, I'll try to be better about updating.

Blogger fail

I'm pretty much the worst blogger ever. Still no trials, lots of travels, my baby sister has now graduated from college, Kyle is officially Dr. Williams, and I (rather masochistically) have decided to run the capital to coast relay with Michael's team. The last is dependent on getting enough girls to make a coed relay team, but I'm hopeful. I suck at running, but I'm going to try because I want to be able to run with Scout (although I'll never be able to keep up with her) and fit into my thin jeans again. For that and other reasons, please feel free to say a prayer, light a candle, sacrifice a virgin goat at midnight, whatever your preference for getting your requests granted as they pertain to my succeeding in life. Not that I'm self-centered or anything.

In the near future, I have lots of travels and a few visitors to look forward to: Ange and a friend are coming through Lamesa this weekend and Kyle and I are going to see Avenue Q with my family next weekend. Woohoo for people coming here and my getting the heck out (but not at the same time).

Been awhile

So it has been so long since I last posted, I forgot my password and had to get a new one. Oops. Since I last posted, I attended the NBA All-Star game, went to Las Vegas for my birthday, hosted Lauren in Lamesa, visited Austin and Arlington multiple times, reread the Harry Potter series, pre-ordered the third Lisbeth Salander book from UK Amazon (which did not work like I'd hoped...they still just sent it today even though it has thousands more miles to travel to get to me than someone who's actually IN the UK...boo hiss), downloaded Words with Friends on my phone (further feeding my word game obsession), purchased additional books and music, pissed off the judge in a big way while doing what my boss told me to do, met Tony's girlfriend, apparently developed allergies to some thing or things in River Legacy Park in Arlington, saw Spring Awakening in Dallas, spoke at the Christian Women's Job Corps about law, specifically wills and child-custody stuff (for which I am completely unsuitable but probably the best they could get in Lamesa, and the only attorney in town within 20 years of the audience's average age), and will this weekend host Beth and Echo during their west Texas adventure.

Life on the job front is pretty much the same: still no trials, I do research and plea offers. There's going to be an intern working for the judge this summer. He goes to Texas Wesleyan but is hoping to transfer to Tech because he's from Loop, one of the even-tinier-than-Lamesa towns in my district. On the one hand I'm excited because he's a not-married, under-40, doesn't-have-kid(s) person like me, and unlike everyone else I work with who are all some combination of at least two of those factors, but on the other hand all I can think is "you poor, innocent 1L...run while you still can! She will destroy any joy you once found in life!" I have to wonder how, out of all the literally hundreds of district courts in Texas, he ended up with the 106th. I know karma can be a bitch, but this guy must've killed a hooker and buried her in the desert or something to deserve interning for that woman for two months. Jeebus. She's like Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada, except she's a vocal Republican with a bit of a Napoleon complex.

In other news, I've now watched the first three seasons of How I Met Your Mother, courtesy of Erin. Thanks for the loan, I'm officially a fan. I'm currently wondering how many times I can re-watch before returning the dvds. And it's not lame of me to do that, because I'm in Lamesa and there's nothing better to do. :)

Incidentally, if anyone happens to see Black Cherry Berry flavored tea (made by Celestial Seasonings) please tell me where I can find it. Thus far I've only found it as part of a multi-flavor pack of fruit teas, and I'm hoping it's sold in boxes on its own somewhere out there in real civilization.

That's all the random news I can think of...I'll try to be better about updating. Really.

Baby prosecutor school

I spent the last ten days in Austin. It was amazing and made me realize how much I miss living in a sprawling urban area, since I hadn't realized that already. I roomed with Katie M. during baby prosecutor school and was able to spend time with several other people from UH who have ended up in various DA's offices in Texas. (Special shout out to Alli and Farnaz.) I feel like it was useful but would have been more so if my office were more misdemeanor and more trial oriented. Oh well. I was able to spend two consecutive weekends with Kyle, which was nice. Jordan's wedding was fun but kind of surreal. I ended up spending most of the time hanging out with Dr. Latimore from Trinity, which was fun but it felt weird to attend a Catholic wedding mass while sitting next to a Baptist minister. One of my favorite parts of going to a wedding is just seeing how they do the wedding and reception, because every wedding is different. I'd never been to a Catholic wedding before, so it was interesting.

In other news, I'm eight episodes into re-watching season one of Glee, which is now officially a golden globe winner, for best comedy/musical. :) I can't think of anything else particularly exciting in my life, other than the fact that I bought a lamp and an end table while I was in Austin. Both are now assembled and in my living room. Woo.

Have a good week!

Lamesa reinforces negative stereotypes

So it's been just over a month since I last posted. I've been busy. Finished the Alias series yesterday. (courtesy of Kyle, who gave me the last two seasons for Christmas...go Kyle! :) ) I officially started training for the Frisco to Ft. Worth MS-150 taking place May 2-3. I'm really out of shape and my knees are mad at me. Here's hoping I can get my shit together on that one. Scout got spayed a week ago. Over Christmas week I visited Austin, Houston, Sugar Land, and Arlington, which added up to at least 1,200 miles driving. Why yes, I am hard core, thank you. I made a batch of chicken noodle soup for my co-workers that went (almost) completely unappreciated and uneaten. My coworkers discovered that I can be entertaining when I drink. (lowered inhibitions + an ex-wife named Velvet = what would you do?!?) Last but not least, I bought my plane ticket and reserved my room for Las Vegas for my/DK's birthday weekend. If you're reading this, you're implicitly invited.

I really wish I'd ended up in a place where I don't feel like the odd (wo)man out all the time. The other two attorneys are bff's who practically share a brain, and they and the two investigators are all former cops so they have a common background there, too. I am constantly trying to catch up or get the joke or allusion and find out days later things that they tell each other but seem to forget to tell me. Palm to face. I know I'm just bitching, and I'm sorry if this isn't as clever or amusing as I'd like, but I cannot wait to work at a place where I feel comfortable around the people and don't feel off-kilter all the time.

As for the title of this post:

• Apparently PHARMACISTS in west Texas can't read, like all rednecks, since the CVS pharmacist gave me the wrong amount of my prescription despite it being typed up by the doctor's office. Not hand-written, typed. Clever.
• Based on my co-workers, everyone in west Texas is conservative, Baptist or Methodist, homophobic, and expects a woman my age to be married with kids already. At our office Christmas party, the judge was shocked that I'm a good baker "and you don't even have children." Apparently you can't have one without the other here. F you.
• Mexican food is legit "eating healthy" food, including chips and salsa, enchiladas, and sour cream.
• We drive one block to go to court when we have docket in Lamesa. (Although, to be fair, since I wear heels to court, I selfishly kind of like this even though it's completely ridiculous.)
• Girls are inherently worse at math and science than boys. Seriously, this was said by two of my coworkers in conversation today (both women.) One of whom was an ACCOUNTING major in college. OH MY GAWD THEY'RE STILL IN 1950!!!
• I'm sure there's more gems, but these are all I can think of right now. This is probably the first in a series, though...

Have a good week, a happy new year, and may your coworkers be more enlightened than mine. *plunks head on desk in disgust*