No Bullshit, Please

Yesterday was a full docket in our courtroom, a mixture of civil motions throughout the morning, and a loaded afternoon of criminal hearings.  After taking one look at the size of our docket yesterday morning, I'm thinking:  RIGHT.  All of this in one day?  No way.  We'll never get done.  Where's the coffee!

But as I've long since learned, my judge is a no-nonsense judge.  He has cultivated an extremely sensitive bullshitometer.  He doesn't let people ramble on and on ad nauseam, he gets right to the point, and he makes sure they do likewise.   As he's known to say, "Let's get to the rat killin', Counsel."  Brevity rules. 

And as a seasoned veteran judge, he's not worried about speaking his mind.  Does it bother him that an appellate court might some day see his colorful remarks in the record on a case up for review?  Nah.  He's "the Duke" of Justice around here.  He boasts a reputation for "telling it like it is."  I like that in a person.  Got something to say, say it.  Don't mince words.  And then we can all move on.  No more burning daylight.  No pretense.  No guessing.  What you see is what you get.  He's the real deal. 

I ADORE HIM!



I should have begun long ago preserving excerpts of the record into some sort of earmarked archive, his more comical manifestations and witticisms.  The apocalypse bombshell moments of courtroom history.  That is what keeps my job exciting.   His own personal touch of melodrama to an otherwise tedious, humdrum day in court.

We made it through the docket in record time -- rocket-docket style.  Not easy on a court reporter by any means, but I'm not going to complain.  He's delightful.  And sometimes you gotta take the good with the bad.  I'm blessed.



MS. PROSECUTION:  Your Honor, do you want me to amend the Petition to include the [___] or just give them leave to attend the proceedings?

THE COURT:  Do I want?  Why would I want anything?  I'm not in the business up here of wanting.

MS. PROSECUTION:  Well, perhaps that was --

THE COURT:  I am here in the business of occasionally permitting, granting, or denying.  But I don't want. 

What is it you want?

MS. PROSECUTION:  I would prefer not to have to amend the Petition.

THE COURT:  Well, don't.

MS. PROSECUTION:  Thank you, Your Honor.

~~~~~~~~~~

THE COURT:  Put it in the Order, Counsel, that I consider this to be a medical necessity.  They will be ordered to provide the transportation. 

MS. ATTORNEY:  The Court is ordering them to provide transportation for the Respondents? 
THE COURT:  Yes.  And if they don't like it, they can come in here and bitch.

I Run Because

After my morning coffee and a skim over emails, my body was raring to go.  I quickly checked the outside temperture.  Six o’clock a.m., and 61 degrees.  Sweet.  We’ve been so blessed this week with beautiful weather.  It twitterpates me. 

Twitterpated

”to giggle or tremble with excitement or the like;

to be in a flutter…”

I changed into my gear and finished up my last sip of coffee.  I grabbed my iphone and arm band, my water, and stepped outside into the darkness.  Only a slight hint of morning sky to the east.  Good.  I’m just in time for the “coming attractions.”

After a brisk five-minute warmup walk, I began my run.  Slowly at first, paying attention to my not-30-something-anymore body, and waited for the signals to switch gears, rev the engine.

The morning was my own.  A pink wash filled the sky.  The cleansing had begun.  Like a sublime sanctuary.  Ethereal.  My mind and body transcended with each step into my own private universe of light, sound, air and tailored cadence.  Waves of symmetry elevating me to an inner sense of peace, balance, strength and power.

I’m alive!  

This is living at its best.

And when I finished up my run, I walked for a couple of minutes allowing my heart rate to return to normal – what is normal, anyway?  I stopped at my back steps and stretched.  And stretched...and stretched.  Slowly...my eyes shut... opening now and then to drink in the beautiful morning sky. 

This.  All of this.

This is why I run.

Laugh of the Day

Remarkably, a subtle sense of humor 

can be even more amusing

than direct wit.

Last night was Bunco night.

It was my turn to host Bunco at my house.

We had such a great time!

A warm and inviting spring night 

allowed us to leave the family room door open

onto the screened back porch for one of our table setups.

Everyone wanted to be (and stay) at THAT table.

Conversations, wine, and laughter flowed freely throughout the night.

The perfect fix.

Laughter, 

good food, 

good wine, 

good weather and 

friendships.

Mercy, it feels good to laugh!

FNL - Never Say Never

The Fray

Love their sound

the voice

the infectious

passion in his voice

the message

the urgency

to make love last…

Happy Friday, World

Never 

Say 

Never

Take it Back!

I've taken the day off since my boss is on vacation.

And the sun is shining.

What BETTER reason?

Chessie is getting clipped and I'll need to pick her up soon.

And what else is on my agenda?

Goals.

Wednesday was glute & ham day.

Thursday delts and arms.

Today is Friday.

Back day.

A morning walk in the sunshine for starter cardio...

Time to work it.

Can you see it?

Then believe it!

A Call to Arms

Getting lean is 80% diet

I'm striving to revisit a goal...

This.

 you know what to do, t

feed your passion

exceed your limitations

push

"Discipline is doing what is hard and necessary rather than what is fun and easy
and doing it when it’s necessary,
whether you feel like doing it or not."

~ Brian Tracy

The Wedding Dance

So why do I always cry at weddings?

I do.  I will myself not to -- in vain.

Intermittent tears from the deepest places of my heart.

And as the father danced with the bride,

I found myself wondering how I would feel

when I dance with one of my sons

on their wedding day.

A bittersweet moment of memories, beginnings, hope & wonder.

And then it was time for all the guests to dance

as we celebrated

love

and life

and laughter

and happiness

as we made memories,

and recalled distant ones.

We should all take time to dance.

But when you dance, dance with heart.

It is a life lesson all its own.

“"Dancing with the feet is one thing, 

but dancing with the heart is another."

While I dance

I cannot judge,

I cannot hate,

I cannot separate myself from life.

I can only be joyful and whole.

That is why I dance.

~ Hans Bos

“To dance is to be out of yourself.

Larger, more beautiful, more powerful.

This is power, it is glory on earth, and it is yours for the taking."

 

"You must understand the whole of life,

not just one little part of it.

That is why you must read,

that is why you must look at the skies,

that is why you must sing,

and dance,

and write poems,

and suffer,

and understand,

for all that is life."