We Have a Winner

Now don't get too excited...someone (not me) bought a winning Mega Millions ticket worth $319 million at Coulson's near the State Capitol. When I heard the news I couldn't help but think: "it could have been me" since I walk by that icky newsstand twice each week day. However, since "you have to play to win" and I haven't bought a lotto ticket since 2007, it's unlikely I'll be winning Mega Millions anytime soon.

Still, it made me consider what I would do with my winnings after taxes and this is what I've come up with:

1.  Tell Jim, hyperventilate, check the numbers a 1,000 times, joyfully dance around the family room and hunker down for a few days while we plot our strategy. Make an appointment with my financial advisor and CPA. 

2.  Retire! This would certainly go a long way to helping me read all of the books I've accumulated over the years. Maybe I would even splurge on a Kindle!

3.  Pay off the mortgage and my student loans. Six years out of law school, I still owe the government $89,000 and am not projected to finish paying off the debt until 2027! Also, pay off Julie's student loans, which amount to slightly less than mine, but she has to handle them on a teacher's salary :(

4.  Book trips to places I have been dying to go (in preferred order): Italy, Australia, National Parks in the southwestern US, Greece, a wine tour in Napa Valley, a safari in Kenya or Tanzania, Spain, Yellowstone National Park, Iceland, Alaska, Fiji, Brazil, and the Maldives for starters. Egypt is near the top of the list too, but because of the civil unrest, I wouldn't be booking it at this moment.

Return to some places I fell in love with: Bora Bora and Moorea, St. John, Jost Van Dyke, Virgin Gorda and, of course, Hawaii.

5.  Go on a furniture and house decorating shopping spree. It would be so nice to buy anything I wanted at stores like Stickley, Neiman Marcus and Thomasville with no strings debt attached. The living room, study and guest bedroom are in desperate need!

6.  Hire a personal trainer and set up a true workout space in the basement. Buy some new equipment, including an arc trainer, elliptical and weight bench.

7.  Buy new, used cars for Jim and I. His Exploder has 111,000 miles at last count and my Accord has just over 90,000 -- ouch! Yes, I think we would still buy slightly used even if we were millionaires. I just can't justify the depreciation that happens the minute you drive a car off the lot. Jim's eyeing a purchase this fall, whereas I may hold onto my car a bit longer because I can't seem to find anything in my price range that I love. The two cars in the running are the Acura TL and Lexus ES, but I'm just not overwhelmed by either. My dream car is the Infiniti G37 coupe...not a smart plan considering that family expansion is a future goal.

Dream car

8.  Enroll in an interior design program. If I could have a redo (and assuming I could be as secure financially), I think this would be my career of choice.

9.  Buy an oceanfront home in Maui and spend the cold winter months there. I think we would probably choose to live in Kapalua (West Maui) or Wailea (South Maui).

Check out this view...this house on the market in Maui for $3.3M

10.  Donate a certain percentage each year to charities near and dear to my heart: environmental protection, wildlife preservation, Red Cross, those to benefit children and any that help deserving students offset the costs of college.

 C'mon dream with me...what would you do?

Silver and Gold

Most of you have heard the Girl Scout saying "make new friends but keep the old, one is silver and the other gold," right? Today, I reflected on this little gem a bit after I realized that Jim and I have a pretty packed social calendar this month. This is partially attributable to the fact that I've made some wonderful new friends in the past year, namely Melissa, Erica, Susan and Kara. In fact, I/we already have dinner plans with all but one of my new friends and their significant others this month. I feel so fortunate that I have the opportunity to check out new restaurants while spend  
quality time with some of my favorite people. 

2011: Melissa & I at our housewarming party

Thinking about this quote was also bittersweet because making new friends sometimes means that  you have less time to devote to your older, golden friends. We're all grown up and the reality is that no one has an unlimited amount of free time anymore. After both college and law school, I swore that I would keep in touch with my closest friends regularly, but time and distance have taken a toll. (As an aside, I'm already starting to see this phenomenon unfold with Julie and, in some ways, it makes me feel better since she only graduated two years ago.)  However, one thing I adore about my old friends is that I always feel like I can pick up with them wherever I left off regardless of when we last saw one another.

Now that the warmer months are almost upon us and driving conditions will improve, it's time to make plans to visit some of my favorite girls! Though there are several people I wish I could maintain closer contact with, Nicole (best college bud) and Mel (law school kindred spirit) are the two who I miss the most. So, if you're reading, I'm dedicating this post to the two of you! Hope you'll still speak to me after you see that I posted these old pics :) Miss you!

2002: Nicole & I at the Senior Wk booze cruise with 2 of our favorite guys (plus a random drunk)

2009: Nicole & I with Bekah at my bridal shower...still lookin' good 7 years later, right?

2005: Mel & I at law school graduation sweating to death under those robes

2009: Mel & I with Jim on her wedding day!

Do you manage to keep in touch with your nearest and dearest as much as you'd like?

My Buddy

At my bridal shower last year

Birthday Buddy that is...Happy 32nd Carin!!! I can't believe we've known each other over a decade...from RPI to Albany Law to the professional world, wine tastings, movies, sister dinners, bridal showers,  buying and selling houses, baby showers, wedding planning, baby Jack, good times and bad we've been through it all!

Here's to MANY more decades of friendship!!!

Do you have a birthday buddy?

Exciting News for the New Year

     As most of you know, I've been looking for a different position within the  Unified Court System for about two years.  Even though clerking for Judge P. was better than private practice, it left MUCH to be desired. In the midst of our move, three weeks ago my prayers were answered! I was offered a court attorney position in the 3rd Judicial District Office based in Albany.  Of course, I said yes!  I start on January 3rd  -- what a great way to ring in the New Year!

Goodbye Schenectady...I won't miss you!

     What makes this job so wonderful you ask? It is a PERMANENT line item in Albany handling overflow for Supreme Court Chambers throughout the 3rd JD (Albany, Rensselaer, Columbia, Greene,  Schoharie, Ulster and Sullivan). This means I can kiss Family Court and the instability of working for a Judge who is subject to re-election and  a mandatory retirement age goodbye! 

     My building in Albany is infinitely more safer and desirable than my current location in Schenectady where we can often overhear gunfire from the hill (a/k/a Hamilton Hill).  Jim and I will be a block apart from one another and can drive to and from work together most days. Plus, I will be close to all of my friends and former colleagues from law school and the Appellate Division for lunch and cocktails.

     This Wednesday, my new boss is introducing me to the other attorneys in the office and, on Friday, I'm heading to Albany for the District Office holiday party at Envy Lounge. I'm really fortunate that the timing worked out this way, so I can meet my new colleagues in a fun setting! Based on my interaction thus far, the 3rd JD seems so organized and seamless (reminiscent of the efficiency at the Appellate Division). Plus, my new boss told me "we do have fun here once in awhile." She seems really great! 

  

How I will look back on my years in Schenectady

     I keep telling myself that there must be something worthwhile I can take from my experience in Schenectady County and all I've come up with is learning to work with difficult people and creating and protecting a record for appellate purposes (i.e. the difference between writing a decision at the trial level vs. the appellate level). I have a feeling once I arrive back in Albany it will feel like the past three years never happened, as if I'd always been there...kind of like the Twilight Zone :)

     And, really that's ok with me because my career is still young and there will be many more opportunities for growth in the new position since I will be the baby of the group -- youngest by about 20 years!

    

Can professional women really have it all?

     This past weekend, Marianne, a blogger and second year med student, had another thought provoking blog post: "Am I EVER going to have time to have a baby?" (Click the link to read her entire post.) Marianne's question definitely hit home and, notwithstanding a couple of insulting comments about overpopulation, I really enjoyed reading the responses by others.

    Of course, I was compelled to add my 2 cents -- "Lawyers in private law firms have the same dilemma (4 years of college, 3 years of law school, and 7-10 years until you make partner). The career path cuts into your most fertile years. Fortunately, I was able to find an alternative to the law firm lifestyle with a decent compensation structure. My OB/GYN has two young children…I agree that some specialties must be more taxing than others. You just have to find one that affords some work/life balance."

     As most of you know, I devoted two years to the private law firm litigation lifestyle before joining the Appellate Division's group of pool law clerks in 2007. I haven't looked back on that dark, dreary period of my life since, except when I'm thanking my lucky stars and a few influential people that I have moved on. In addition to late nights, I usually had to work at least one day of each weekend just to keep up with the motions that were constantly streaming in. I think the worst part was having my life revolve around the 17-day motion procedure (or 12-days if your adversary was a jerk and felt like personally serving the papers). For instance, I began working at the firm in September 2005 and didn't take a week of vacation until six months after I departed. I know I could have NEVER maintained that lifestyle and have children. It was absolutely an either or decision. I feel terrible that I still have a few friends trapped in that scenario.

 
     On another note, it is really discouraging that our country is so backwards in terms of maternity leave, as well as paternity leave. In some European countries, all working mothers are entitled to a FULL year of paid leave, in addition to childcare benefits.  Then, there's the issue of work/life balance, i.e. juggling it all. Based on my observations, I think it is possible to maintain some degree of your former productivity while working full-time if you have a supportive husband. It's inevitable that more of the day-to-day tasks will fall on the woman, but having another person  who is wiling to pitch in makes all the difference. What do you think?

My Life Changed Seven Years Ago this Weekend

   Exactly seven years ago, a new man entered my life. I named him BUSTER and he has been a constant source of love and amusement ever since.  Believe the hype, if you ever get an English Bulldog, there will be thousands of dollars of vet bills, but their cuddliness and personality makes it ALL worth it. He has seen me through so many ups and downs and has always been a reliable listener. 

     Although his actual birthday is on August 6th, this day is just as important to me. I'll never forget driving home from Iris Farms in Orange County with the smooshiest, wrinkliest eight-week old puppy in my lap. The entire time I pleaded with him not to pee on me and, to my surprise, he didn't! That's when I knew he was a keeper! 

P.S. In case anyone's wondering, Buster and Jim crossed paths 3 1/2 years later and it was love at first sight!

Procrastination and Thoughts on MD to Be

     Last night, when I was grading bar exams procrastinating, I started reading an interesting blog called "MD to Be" written by a second year medical student at Albany Medical College. I was initially attracted to the blog because part of me still wishes that I had the stomach for medical school. However, I eventually remember that I can't stand the smell of formaldehyde or the sight of blood being drawn.  I couldn't even handle dissecting a frog in high school biology...my lab partner did all the work! 

     In short, I am convinced "you've either got it, or you don't" and I  absolutely would've been a med school disaster.  MD to Be provides excellent insight into the real life of a med student and I'm now able to live vicariously through her! Even though I love indulging in Grey's Anatomy on Thursday nights, deep down, I recognize it's just a soap opera with actors dressed in scrubs.

     On that note, years ago, I used to get so frustrated when random people I encountered found out I was a law student and would immediately start offering their legal "opinion" on the latest media sensation. I was always polite, but inside my head I was screaming "you idiot, watching the latest episode of Law & Order does not render you qualified to offer an opinion on one's sanity or the propriety of admitting a certain piece of evidence!" 

     I was astonished this summer when a young woman sitting next to me during jury selection in Rensselaer County Court told me that she didn't realize lawyers practiced anything other than criminal law! I had to explain that there is another whole realm out there called CIVIL litigation, not to mention administrative proceedings. I didn't even try to go there since I think her head may have exploded!

     What is the biggest misconception about your profession?