"Last published: April 16, 2012"

I KNEW I was going to be terrible at this.

So what's new with Mrs. Eybrow? Well I have about fourteen knit projects currently going on. I bought materials to sew a quilt for Esme and also bought fabric to make her a robe. She is growing up SUPER fast by the way. She is a little Chatty Cathy, and Singing Cathy, and Yelling Cathy... She is also giving her mother and Jason and I a run for our money with regard to discipline. My husband told me she got three corners this morning for naughty behavior, and that was after I left for work.

We are also potty training. Which has turned into an exercise in which Esme says she needs to use the bathroom, she gets on the toilet, nothing happens, and she asks for a piece of chocolate. (Yes, bribery is an approved potty-training method.)

Here is Esme being read to from her new favorite book. The weird stuffed animal she is holding is actually the star of the book, Skippy Jon Jones, a Siamese cat who spends all his time imagining he were something else. Watch as she raptly pays attention to the story. Not bad for a two year old. Added bonus: you get to hear Jason's "mom" voice, as well as his rendition of a Hispanic accent.


Oh, and I have changed jobs again. I am the Membership Outreach Manager for the Minnesota State Bar Association. It is a non-practicing job, and doesn't even require a JD. I grew up wanting to be a lawyer. I always thought that meant helping clients and appearing in court. Should I had a crisis of faith in third year about the practice of law in general, but I just chalked that up to general bitterness and exhaustion.

Turns out, those feelings might have gone deeper. After a year of practicing in a few different fields, I was miserable still. Constantly stressed, my stomach and throat were always tight with anxiety. I hadn't slept well in ages and often woke up in the middle of the night, unable to fall back asleep. Meanwhile, Jason and I discussed the possibility of little ones in the not-too-distant future. Seeing as how I couldn't go a weekend without doing some type of work, and none of my employers offered health coverage or vacation, let alone maternity leave, that prospect seemed remote.

To top it all off, I have no ability to set boundaries with clients (and struggled setting boundaries with unreasonable employers). I have a serious guilt complex. So when a client is calling at 7:30 on a Wednesday or has an emergency Friday evening that I can't do anything about til Monday morning, I would feel terrible. "Bad lawyer, what's wrong with you?!" Added to that was the fact that most of my clients have been low income, ill/disabled or both. Anyone who spends a significant time of their practice in that area knows that these types of clients are almost always in crisis--not through any fault of their own necessarily. It all makes for a very exhausting and emotionally draining career.


So when I saw the listing for a Membership Outreach Manager at the bar association, I grasped for it. And after some jostling and toggling, I am here now. I have to say that it has been an absolute blessing. I am working for a great company (still a non-profit!) with great benefits AND vacation! Obviously those aren't the only important things to me, but after the last year they certainly are.

And I can leave work at work at the end of the day. I have noticed an actual, physical change. I am no longer plagued by daily anxiety attacks. Sometimes I check in with myself during the day and can't believe how easy it is to breathe.

Now I am not naive enough to think everything will always be peaches, but my quality of life has increased exponentially. I was worried and getting down on myself thinking I left practice because I just wasn't tough enough. Apparently this is a genetic thing because my father did that self-doubt thing for years. When I told him about it, he told me to "knock it the fuck off," and told me what a great opportunity this was and how well it fit with my skills.

I am glad I listened to him [for once]. And like he said, I have 40 years to practice law if I want.

Access Justice and other things...

I found my dream job! Okay, so it's not dream-like compensation, but it is exactly the type of work I wanted to do for exactly the clientele.

I am currently an contract attorney for Access Justice, a full-service, reduced-fee legal services non-profit. Our goal is to serve people in what I have termed the "not poor enough" gap. These are folks who have "too much" money and/or assets for free legal services through legal aid or the public defender's office, but can't afford to retain a lawyer. We accept cases ranging from family law to criminal law to disability claims. We even help with small business issues.

The offices are very busy! We just moved downtown to the Flour Exchange building at 310 4th Street South. I am very excited for this opportunity, and to be getting in at the ground floor here.

I hope to post again soon. Another project on my docket is to build up some stock and open an Etsy Shop!

Well ain't that a pip?

My my, how things have changed.

I am no longer a semi-unemployed law school graduate. I am now a lawyer, and one might argue, overemployed--though not by legal profession standards. I love the work, but the job is an adjustment. Clearly it takes up much of my time since I haven't blogged since I have been employed there.

But as I was bitching to a co-worker today about another co-worker's annoying habit of always having something to say when he picks up his documents from the printer, she told me I should keep a journal of his comments and blog it. Which reminded me that I have a blog. And that I am a horrible blog-keeper.

So, I have this co-worker who WITHOUT FAIL always has something to say when he is at the printer. Most of the time it is whining about how a document did not print. As it is the end of the world that he has to walk back to his desk to click a mouse one more time.

Today he inexplicably says: "That whole big stack is all my stuff. I fee like an asshole."

A) Sir, I believe the word you are searching for is "jackass."

B) Why would a large stack of documents at the printer make you an asshole?

 That's all for now.

Dontchoo Get No Ugly Tractor...

My time in the south is coming to an end unfortunately. I have been doing reconnaissance in the deep south and I have some things to report to my northern brethren. (Also, if you are offended by my referring to Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi as deep south, please see my comment on geographic insults below)

1. Do not stay at the Hotel Preston in Nashville, TN.

I have been booking most of my travel through Hotwire.com in an attempt to find nicer hotels at a less costly price. In Nashville, the Hotel Preston seemed to have good rates and good ratings by guests. I disagree. My experience at the Hotel Preston added a lot of features to my "not desired" list for hotel amenities and features.

I realize it is a boutique hotel, so it thinks of itself as different and creative. That amounted to the lobby looking like a stage set-up for the cast of Mad Men. That is not altogether offensive, I don't mind the styling. However, I didn't see how the paneling in the elevators matched the lobby...

Yup. That is real animal skin. I am pretty sure it's cow, even though the picture would seem to indicate dalmatian. The black spots are not fur, but are actually places where fur has been removed. Blech. :P Oh, also, the elevators were not air conditioned, so it always smelled like hot leather in there.

The decor was actually not my biggest problem with the hotel, and it didn't extend into my room, so I didn't have to look at it much. Security seemed a bit of an issue. My door to my hotel room was not heavy enough to close on its own, meaning if I didn't physically pull the door shut myself, it would likely stay open.

Since I am staying in strange places completely on my own, I have taken to using the security chain and the deadbolt when I go to bed at night. I was extremely grateful for my foresight as I was awoken at 5:30 in the morning during my stay to the sound of someone attempting to access my room with a key card. A little terrifying when you're in a strange place with no husband, or over-protective, 100 lb. dog to protect you.

I called the front desk who promised to send security. I never heard anything more about it, which was a little disconcerting. But in my Minnesota Nice fashion, I didn't make a huge deal about it.

Apparently security is lax all over the hotel though. I realized after I had moved on to my next hotel that I had left a drawer of clothes behind. It's my own stupid fault but I figured since I was calling within 24 hours the likelihood that I would recover the items was good.

I was given the runaround every time I called, and it was only after I e-mailed the general manager that I got any type of response at all. I was informed the situation would be take care of. Housekeeping e-mailed me asking for descriptions of my clothing. After I replied I got no response. When I e-mailed again to follow-up I was informed they had exhausted every avenue and could not find my clothing. Needless to say I was really disappointed with the whole situation.

Do not stay at Hotel Preston in Nashville, TN.

2. Be careful what you say about the city/region someone is from.

When I got to Mississippi, I was greeted by super-friendly student members of the Lamar Chapter. I really enjoyed my time with them. One of the nights I was there, we all went to dinner. At dinner, the topic of the neighboring state of Florida came up. Two of the ladies did not realize each other were from Florida. One was from Sarasota, and another was from a more affluent and further south region of the Sunshine State.

The lady from the southern region began to talk about how Sarasota was not even a part of Florida. And that Gainsville was dirty. And both should be considered "North Florida." Having no frame of reference for any of Florida geography, I was unsure how to react. Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, the Sarasota-native reacted enough for the entire table.

A debate about the merits of Sarasota and whether is should be considered "North Florida" ensued immediately. Noting the growing tension, I quickly excused myself to use the restroom, as did another gal at the table. As we were using the facilities, she was texted by a person still at the table that the discussion had become a catfight. Shortly after that, Sarasota stormed into the bathroom with nothing good to say about the snobby South Florida-native. I laughed out loud when she called her a See You Next Tuesday.

Be careful when insulting someone's hometown or region...

3. No black leather seats in the rental.

Do I really need to explain this one?


I have learned a ton in the last two weeks. I am very much looking forward to a week at home. My own bed, my own kitchen, my own pets and my own husband! See you all very soon.

Several Days of Labor

On the road again, I just can't wait to get on the road again... Oh wait, I already am.

It's been an eventful and liberating week. Navigated a totally foreign airport just fine. Got my first car rental. First night in a hotel all by my lonesome. Not too shabby.

I did get scolded by the baggage handler for my bag being too heavy. Had to unzip it in the middle of the terminal and put a bunch more crap in my carry-on, that's always fun. At least I didn't get searched at security. Beyond the normal I mean. I still think it's totally nasty that I have to walk through security barefoot.

My plane was one of the smaller types and one of the first things the captain says is we should be expecting turbulence for the first half of the flight. Excellent. But we made it to Louisville just fine, even a little ahead of schedule. Then I found the car rental place, and they upgraded me!

I am excited to test drive a few different types of cars, since mine shit the bed and we have yet to get a replacement. Though with us living practically on the lightrail, I am going to go for as long as possible before getting a new car. Still, a two week test drive sure beats a one hour test drive with a salesman yapping in your ear.

I got the new Ford Focus, in pretty white! I like the new model because it's a hatchback now! That's one of my must-haves on the next vehicle I buy. This bad boy has leather interior. Not something I would choose again in the south. Especially not BLACK leather interior.

I made it to my hotel with no problems, even though I forgot to pack my GPS. It helps that my hotel is about two exits from the airport. Hard to miss.

The morning of my very first visit, I woke up late. As I was hurrying to get ready, this blaring sound came from the bedroom area. I thought maybe it was some ridiculous setting on my alarm clock, sounded a lot like the "chime" my husband has on his alarm clock ( the "chime" that sounds like a blaring foghorn and makes me want to kick him out of bed myself so he hits "snooze" faster). Then the chime turned into an automated voice, informing me that the hotel was being evacuated. That was fun. I am still not sure what happened... Firemen came though.

That made getting to Brandeis Law School a little tougher than I meant the first morning. Still I managed to set up my recruiting table.

I tabled in this little mosaic lobby area. To the right edge of the picture, just beyond the table is a staircase. It's mostly open, so you could see people walking up and down. I realized after the first few classes let out, that it was an uncomfortable place to be. Only because it had a certain vantage point that made me better acquainted with most of the female students than I would have wished. Even the knee length skirts! I was shocked. And I will be definitely more conscious of my wardrobe AND open stairways.

I finished up my time in Louisville and went on to Nashville. Navigating is a little tough, but I still made it to hotel number 2 just fine. Oh wait! I almost forgot...

HAD to take a picture of this because it reminded me of that scene with the creepy twins in The Shining. REDRUM!

And I will end with some of the more interesting bumper stickers I have encountered on my travels.

First trip

I have been hired by Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, International as a Membership Services Consultant. Sounds fancy, right? It is basically a job where I get paid to do my favorite thing that I did as an officer for the Pierce Butler Chapter at William Mitchell College of Law. That is, they are paying me to recruit. I get to travel (flight, car rental and hotel paid, plus a per diem for food) around the country to weaker chapters of the fraternity and try and help them reactivate by recruiting new members. I leave for my first trip today.  I am headed to Louisiville, Kentucky. I will spend a couple days there and then move on to Nashville. I will be there over Labor Day weekend so I will have a little time to see the sights. Unfortunately I will be missing my husband's birthday on September 6. :( It is too expensive for me to fly back home to spend it with him.

After Nashville, I am moving on to Oxford, Mississippi. Did you know the best hotel you can get near Ole Miss is a Super 8? And you get to choose between smoking or non-smoking rooms! Can't wait for that one. Lastly I will be in Alabama. From there I fly home to my hubby!

I get a week at home before I take my next trip, which will be to Indiana. My little sister Ruthie is getting married this winter and all she wanted to do for her bachelorette was go to a Colts game. But there were none near MN. So I decided to invite her to drive down with me to Indiana (I hate to fly so I am renting a car). I bought us two tickets to a Colts game. She will fly out after the game. I told her it is a combination birthday-bachelorette-bridal shower gift because each ticket is $150!!

My last trip is in my own back yard, which is great because I get paid like I am traveling, but I can be at home. I will visit the U of M, St. Thomas, and Hamline law schools.

This will be my first time traveling alone for such a long period of time. I studied abroad for a month in England and Ireland in college, but I was with a professor and a whole class, so that doesn't really count. I am nervous and excited. I hope to post about my travels. I also have several knitting projects that I will update on as their finished!

Oh! And we moved! It took a lot of work, but the house looks pretty good so far...

The office/craft room (my husband is awesome) still has to be put together, but everything else is pretty much finished. I like it better than any house I have ever lived in, and I will miss it while I am traveling!

Speaking of traveling...


“No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow.” – Lin Yutang

Scale Buster

So I've had a busy year. Which makes it hard to notice things. Like how all my jeans feel like they just came out of the dryer, no matter how many times I've worn them. And I certainly haven't had a lot of time for the gym. And who wants to (or even can) diet while they are studying for the bar? Comfort food reigns in times of stress, and It takes me less time to order pizza then it does for me to cook dinner for my family.

So when I got on the scale at my mom's house earlier today, I didn't expect it to be good. But I definitely didn't expect it to be THAT bad. I was shocked. I am not revealing any numbers, but I am currently the heaviest I have ever been. And here I had thought it couldn't get much heavier. Of course I ran to the gym to make sure my mom doesn't have an old wonky scale. Turns out she doesn't. In fact, my mother's scale was a little kinder to me than the scale at the gym.

All this amounts to a resolve to do better. I don't want to have to buy new clothes (and we couldn't afford to, even if I did).  Time to buck up. And get a new plan to help me to feel better about myself.

The way I see it, this plan has three main components:

1. Track my food with Weight Watchers, AND STICK TO IT. I have used Weight Watchers before. The first time was before my wedding. I lost ten pounds in about two months. Not too shabby. So I know the system works for me. And I enjoy eating fruit (zero points) so the diet isn't too restrictive. Except when it comes to cheese and carbs. But hey, stuff doesn't come for free right? And I can still enjoy the occasional slice of pizza, just maybe not five slices every other night. And okay, liquor eats up a lot of points too, but it won't kill me to drink less and drink less often.

My problem is falling off the wagon. No, I don't mean falling off the sobriety wagon. We're not there yet. BUt I start to cheat on my diet, or get lazy about it. And there are no immediate consequences. No one knows, and I don't visibly gain weight. But it all adds up, and before long, I am not tracking at all.  A few months of that and I end up where I am right now. Feeling bad and wearing sweatpants. So this time I will go to the meetings every week. And do the dreaded weigh-in. That way I can track my progress, or lack there of... I will also be accountable to someone other than myself. And my husband, but what can he say about how I look except "great"?

2. Exercise. Duh. But I hate to run. Hate hate hate. I was one of those kids that walked for half of the mile run in elementary school. And I only half-heartedly jogged the other half. My best friend had asthma and she still beat my time. Recently I discovered the C25K app for the iPhone. And I am in love. It turns running rejects like me in to stars! Well maybe not stars, but certainly into someone capable of huffing their way through a 5k without needing a break. And it's not intimidating. I can track my weight and it plays my music through the app, and "pings" when it is time for me to pick up the pace, or slow it back down.

I just have to stick to it. To keep the pressure on, I am planning to run the Anoka Grey Ghost run in late October. Plus I get to dress in a costume. It's a win-win.

3. Cook healthier! I won't have to make my points stretch as far if I use them more wisely. And I love to cook anyway. This will give me an opportunity to try some new recipes.

That's the plan anyway. Here's hoping it works!!