Incentives

Came into work today knowing that I would have to work on a case that is annoying me for two reasons: (1) it's a family fighting after their father died and (2) my client is behind in her payments to me.  The red message light on the phone quietly pulses and I know its my client and I know I don't want to hear it.  So I'm scared into working studiously, if not frantically, on the issue.  A miracle is what is needed.  And I am loathe to be the person responsible for it right now.  Particularly loathe because it doesn't matter what I do, if this family wants to fight, they're going to fight.  I just can't solve the problem, because the problem isn't legal. 

 

Then, the client calls.  I hate it, but I have to answer - and it turns out that a family member who is responsible to pay the mortuary/cemetery hasn't (it's been a year), and the mortuary is threatening to move the headstone.  The emotional impact of a broken headstone becomes motivation far beyond money.

 

Incentives make all the difference.

---

I Miss My Brother

That's all. I miss Bean.

My Mascot

I have adopted a personal mascot: the dung beetle. The Egyptians had a sense of humor. Because no matter how much smart people go on about ancient Egyptians comparing the scarab's "load" to the sun, it is really just a poo-ball and everyone knows it. And yes, it is truly an amazing feat for a small animal to move anything that has the potential to crush the animal. I do feel a sense of reverence for it all, but it's also funny.

And laughing helps a lot when you feel like a small little animal that has to move a lot of crap.

Things that make me go "Hmmmm."

Apparently someone thinks that this describes me. But I don't really trust the accuracy of personality tests, especially internet personality tests on free-dating sites. I'm not desperate, I promise! I'm just bored.

The Sonnet Deliberate Gentle Love Dreamer (DGLDf) Romantic, hopeful, and composed. You are the Sonnet. Get it? Composed? Sonnets want Love and have high ideals about it. They're conscientious people, caring & careful. You yourself have deep convictions, and you devote a lot of thought to romance and what it should be. This will frighten away most potential mates, but that's okay, because you're very choosy with your affections anyway. You'd absolutely refuse to date someone dumber than you, for instance. Lovers who share your idealized perspective, or who are at least willing to totally throw themselves into a relationship, will be very, very happy with you. And you with them. You're already selfless and compassionate, and with the right partner, there's no doubt you can be sensual, even adventurously so. You probably have lots of female friends, and they have a special soft spot for you. Babies do, too, at the tippy-top of their baby skulls. ALWAYS AVOID: The 5-Night Stand, The False Messiah, The Hornivore, The Last Man on Earth CONSIDER: The Loverboy

Link: The 32-Type Dating Test by OkCupid - Free Online Dating.
My profile name: Tanaquill

Interesting little political quizness.

I'm surprised to find this put me on the Democrat side of things - because when it comes to social issues, Democrats make me hurl. They do in fact, offend me. I think the person who wrote the quiz is pretty liberal because some of the questions seemed geared toward a sterotype of a stupid Republic who can't think for themself.

You are a Social Liberal (63% permissive) and an... Economic Liberal (36% permissive) You are best described as a: Centrist Link: The Politics Test on OkCupid Free Online Dating Also: The OkCupid Dating Persona Test

Breakthrough!

Been working on a memo concerning attorneys' fees. Seeing what other attorneys charge and the services for which they charge gives me a new perspective on my work. Combine that with becoming accustomed to the idea of getting paid for thinking, and I've reached a breakthrough in my attitude---I don't have a problem charging people for my work now. Clients expect to pay. I tell them up front what they will be paying. My work is worth that--as long as I make it so. It's fair and right. I'm not afraid of or guilt-ridden by charging my fee. This is extremely good news for my finances - as well as for the partners in the firm. It is a freeing feeling. And I think I arrived at this place with little or no damage to my priority or integrity. I think. But still.... I am not immune



Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all convictions, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.

Surely some revelation is at hand;
Surely the Second Coming is at hand.
The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out
When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi
Troubles my sight: somewhere in sands of the desert
A shape with lion body and the head of a man,
A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,
Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it
Reel shadows of the indignant desert birds.
The darkness drops again; but now I know
That twenty centuries of stony sleep
Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?

The Second Coming, W.B. Yeats

However, my illustration of the negative possibilities (the picture at the beginning of the post) doesn't spiral out of control---it spirals in to the center.

Also, there's an interesting Freudian slip I made at the beginning which I corrected; instead of typing "Been working," I typed "Been worming." Wonder if that's what I really think of what I do? Possible---I sift through mounds of muck, process and digest it until somthing comes out the other end. Perhaps my motto from the costume shop applies here just as well: just pushin' the crap around.