Happy New Year!

Wishing you prosperity and happiness in the New Year.

Post-Christmas Shopping

I was raised with the tradition of going shopping downtown both the day after Thanksgiving and the one after Christmas. It started before there was a mall in our suburb. I did go shopping, as mentioned before, but didn't buy much. The sales ahead of time were wonderful, so wonderful that they say the post-Christmas sales won't help retailers much. There's a lot of doom and gloom prophecying out there right now and I don't have anything really positive to add.

There were a ton of people shopping when I was out, and they seemed to be buying a lot of merchandise. As is typical, most seemed to be half-price Christmas loot, which can be a dangerous game; if you're organized it can be great, but in the wrong hands it can be deadly.

My grandma was on the organized side and started her Christmas shopping on Dec. 26, which was supplemented throughout the year, with other items. She remembered what she bought, where it was and the intended recipient. One of my friends went overboard on more than one occasion, influenced by a family member whose economic situation was far better than her own; thus, shopping for family became a detriment to her finances. At one point, she had bought pairs of Christmas pillows, half-price, intending to give one the next Christmas, and the other the Christmas following. Fast forward to the next year. She had given the first pillows but neglected to keep records of the recipients thereof or to label the second pillow with the recipient's name. So there she is, with a stash of pillows that don't do much good.

Christmas decor is a dangerous gift to give; unless you know it's something that someone wants, it can be the next item donated to the thrift store, in which case it doesn't matter whether you figure out which pillow was given to whom last year. People aren't necessarily going to share your taste.

Cutting Back

I didn't do so well on cutting back for Christmas as I ended up donating to charities. I took ornaments from my church's giving tree, so bought presents for a few strangers and aren't there laws about Barbie requiring a change of clothes? In addition, I bought things for the Salvation Army adopt-a-family, and went a bit overboard.

The family we were assigned is a single mom with two teenagers. We looked at their list and everyone had different ideas about the most important thing to have at that age; because programs for the needy have other focuses, we knew we had to buy bedding. If there is any available, it won't be new. We ended up buying everything on the list, and making an effort to find things that teenage boys would like.

I wasn't raised in a wealthy family, but we always had what we needed. I can't imagine not having decent bedding. I now have new flannel sheets for the rest of the winter, courtesy of Kohl's after Christmas sale.

Dining Out

Last year I worked on a project on which we dined out frequently on the corporation's dime, since we traveled on business. This year, if I dine out, it's on my dime. Because I'm trying to cut inessential spending, I don't dine out a lot; when I do, it's usually because I'm going somewhere after work and it seems foolish to first go home.

I seem to be a bit ahead of the curve on some of my changes, because I've been working on this for a couple of years. Dining out adds up and is less necessary than some people believe.

With the current economic uncertainty, I foresee more restaurants having trouble. I assume every area is like mine, with nests of chain restaurants near malls and freeways, and a few local places thrown in besides. For a long time I have thought there were too many restaurants and the restaurants are likely to learn the same.

Building has slowed down lately, but some of the people who built or signed leases are going to be stuck with opening their places, whether it makes sense or not.

Commuting

My commute to this place is vastly different than before; the distance is comparable, but that's about it.

Before, I took the bus; transit station is a straight shot from where I live, and is conveniently accessible; I pass it on the way to the freeway and the bus dropped me off near where I was working. For about two hours morning and evening, there are buses to that downtown.

Now I work somewhere else and the transit station isn't very convenient; it's down the freeway from me in the other direction. Which would be fine if it stopped near where I work, but 6 blocks that include a walk over the freeway bridge, isn't terribly convenient.

As a result, I entered in to a parking contract and am driving; the transit station is about 1/3 of the way to where I'm going, so doesn't save me that much.

Settling In

Holiday season is a strange time to start a new job and a bit disconcerting; on the plus side is qualifying for holiday pay without worrying about the thousand or so hours one must first log through an agency, and having a respite from the fatigue of learning all the new information and systems.

On the down side? Not knowing the people or having any idea what the vacation patterns are, so no idea whether the people you need are going to be available when you have a question. I'm working with people who have been here, for the most part, forever, so take off when they want to as they have a large amount of time with which to work.

While I still think this is more secure than contract work, there's a huge budget shortfall in the state that has the potential to affect a lot of people.

Me? While I get vacation time, I can't use it until I've been here 6 mos.

Christmas

Christmas Eve

Gift Cards

Gift cards are the non-gift this year. I don't like to give them because it isn't a personal gift. This year, with all the bankruptcies and lessons learned from previous years bankruptcies, along with value-reducing fees that diminished the value thereof, gift cards don't seem to be the way to go.

One thing I've noticed is that grocery stores and convenience stores now sell gift cards for other stores, which adds to the convenience; for those who shop late or early, you have a 24-hour option available. Thrift stores are now also in on the act and sell gift cards for their stores.

I would expect a spike in sales of gift cards for grocery stores and gas stations. People seem to be more focused on the basics, at least for right now.

Workspace

I've become aware that some companies don't provide a set workspace for at least some of their workers; in a bid to migrate to the so-called "paperless office" as well as to eliminate employee personal possessions, some companies provide workspace that's available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Meaning that you must bring everything you'll need from home because you're no longer allowed to stash it at work. I don't know if I could work like that in a permanent position; it reduces the worker to a commodity even more so than the conditions at a document review.

How do I reach that conclusion? In a document review, temporary attorneys are a commodity. We're there for the length of the project and don't necessarily have the ability to leave personal items in the workplace. My personal items are limited to small, inexpensive items, easily replaced and not at all personal. This is due to the nature of the work and the sort of workspace that has been provided to us.

It would be much more difficult to work under circumstances like this in a permanent position; with the first-come, first-serve workplaces, I would feel that I was ahead of the game at the document review, because I was at least returning to the same desk every day. I would feel like I was definitely a commodity because the company doesn't care enough to provide me with a consistent workspace. That's not a good message to share with employees.

Another trend is for companies to have workstations available for people who aren't generally in the office, such as sales people who come in a few days per month, rather than having an unoccupied space all the time. That makes far more sense to me.

Things People Carry on the Bus

I carry a gigantic red purse, large enough to contain my lunch, a book and a pair of shoes. Since we have snow now, that last item is helpful. I deliberately carry a large bag, so I don't need to carry multiple items with me. I end up carrying more to a contract position with no real place to keep anything than I would if I were in a permanent position, or even one in which I have space to put stuff.

Many people on the bus carry multiple bags, but I have the strange feeling that most of them are going to a so-called permanent position; which leads me to wonder what on earth they're carrying back and forth each day.

Men used to carry hardsided briefcases, which have gone by the wayside and been replaced first by softer cases, now primarily by high-end, Tumi or Swiss Army backpacks and may be also accompanied by a computer bag. Along with a duffel bag.

Women are loaded down even more; I have seen people carrying a purse, lunch bag (either fabric bag or small handled store bag obviously containing lunch), a tote bag and a handled grocery or shopping bag.

It's way too much stuff.

Losing Interest

Shockingly, as I move toward my last day here, I'm losing interest in the process. I got a job at a good time as the project is winding down in parallel to my interest level. Every click seems more tedious than the last.

Hopefully the new job will provide me with some interesting work and will do more than generate an income. Because there are benefits attached, I realize that no matter what, it will be more than an income. The downside is that there's a huge budget deficit and someone is talking hiring freeze.

While a hiring freeze can't get enacted soon enough to affect me; the project needs to be done, no matter what, I'll still be in a better position on the inside. Frequently, a hiring freeze doesn't affect internal movement, just movement in from the outside. This may benefit me in the long run as more positions are likely to be limited to internal candidates.

Frugal Parties

Frugal parties are making a comeback. No more excess, because not as many people can afford excess in these turbulent economic times.

I'm aware that there are shows focused on decorating, throwing parties, and memorializing the efforts of party planners in the land of celebrities; I think it was brilliant both on the part of the writer and of the party planner, to get together and make suggestions for a party that's realistic.

People have been vying to outdo the neighbors for years now, even with children's parties. It's absolutely nuts that one would do so. I'm all for a party being special, but for me that's more about the people who are there than it is about the money that's been spent or the activities that are paid for.

Recently, a California friend of mine commented about a birthday party her children had attended; the mother broke from the pack, invited everyone to the park and provided pizza, cake and ice cream. The kids had a ball.

Retro Shopping

Have you ever bought something on layaway? Didn't think so. I remember layaway being around when I was a kid, but wasn't in a position to use it, though I'm aware of people having done so.

It's an alternative to paying insane amounts of interest on consumer goods that one doesn't really need. Because most things we buy aren't necessities.

I'm still trying not to buy random things and some days am quite successful. I haven't been to the mall once in the last month but have been to Target and Kohl's. I still have some shopping to do; I have one gift to order online, a couple that need shipping and several to buy to stay locally.

I haven't used my credit card for anything except online purchases and am still paying it off immediately that the next billing cycle starts.

Being a Conscious Consumer

There was a really interesting article about consumerism and paying more attention to what you're buying.

When I was a kid, my aunt would buy gifts, but she had to spend the exact same amount on everyone. Which means that people received some random little trinket just to get the bottom line to match up. Crazy.

My Christmas list is small but has expanded this year between the giving tree at my church and adopting a family through the Salvation Army. The presents from the giving tree are basic; pick a construction paper ornament on which is written a request for a certain gift. Return the gift, wrapped or unwrapped, depending on the program it's for, together with the ornament that identifies the recipient. Most of the gifts can be had for $25 or less. I took a few ornaments.

Together with my mom and sister, I have adopted a family from the Salvation Army. For those of you who think you're poor, you're probably not; the family is a single mother with two teenage sons. Their list includes bed linens. Spoiled suburbanite that I am, I view gifts as something I don't need but rather want. Bed linens in my life are a given.

Security

In this day and age, security was everywhere; a few years ago, when I was in law school, we could get in any door. Now the place is in lockdown. The main entrance is open to visitors, who are now asked to sign in; it isn't an absolute requirement, as I have yet to sign in for my class. Technically, I'm not a visitor, since I'm in a class; however, I don't have entrance credentials for other doors. It's card technology, like everywhere else. I don't think there had been security in place the last time I had taken a CLE; however, it was a morning class, so I may not have noticed.

Most reviews on which I have worked have had a card for entrance; one place had a keypad for after-hours entrance, but otherwise nothing, and another place had an old-fashioned lock and key system, in which we carried an actual key. I don't know what the penalty would've been for losing the key though; would they have been sufficiently concerned to re-key the lock and provide everyone with new keys? Not likely in my opinion.

A corporate client used biometrics so we were furnished with a photo id that had a chip and had fingerprint recognition. We had to flash the card at the light and put an index finger on the pad. Sometimes it wouldn't take, especially in cold weather. As a result there were sometimes lines to get in. Especially at peak start times. I never forgot my badge, but someone else found out that you could get a pass three times if you forgot it. After that you had to be escorted in by your manager. Because I'm no longer on that project, I don't know if she's had to be escorted.

Now I'm in a place with different security; we have a photo id and need to flash it at the reader upon entrance. The twist? The badge is also used to make the elevator move and to go to another part of the building. I don't know how many sections are in the building. So far I've only had to go a few places outside of my immediate work area, most of which have been in the next section, so only one activation each way. Someone told me that the staff pass I had on my first day probably had better access than the official ID.

If I lose it? I have the ability to get a day pass but don't know if there are restrictions or whether there's a charge for a replacement badge.

Start Date!

I start my new job on Dec. 15th and so far the time is moving slowly. I'm not nearly as excited as I was when they initially called me; the process has taken so long that the excitement has worn off. At one point I wasn't sure the position would go through; I've known of cases in which an offer has been rescinded prior to the start date due to changes in budgeting. Which is really awful.

In fact, that happened to the woman I sit next to for the job she accepted upon graduation from law school. Yikes!

Hopefully nothing will go wrong; in any case, they like me here and have told me that I should stay in touch and let them know if I'm ever in the market for projects. Which is nice, though not what I want.

Proof of Juror Misconduct

Here's a strangely obsessive story of one woman's attempt to prove juror misconduct in her son's trial.

While I can sympathize with the idea that a mother wouldn't believe her child is guilty, she went to great lengths to call the juror into question.

Good Idea?

Lately I've been reading about kids who are philanthropic, donating money received from Bar Mitzvah or asking for toys to donate rather than toys for themselves for their birthdays. Now this.

While it seems like a good idea to make a donation rather than to give gifts, it would be difficult to retrain people. My mom currently regrets not having children for whom to buy gifts; this desire can be easily satisfied by donating to Toys for Tots or the giving tree at church. This Sunday I plan to pick up a few paper ornaments and provide a gift for a stranger.

Most of my shopping has been done; I only have a few people to buy gifts for and am a year-round shopper, so no problem.

I didn't go Black Friday shopping at all this year. Nice to sleep in.

Lawyers Exported

According to the New York Times, Lawyers who previously wouldn't consider overseas work, other than in London, are now being shipped out to where their firm has available options.

Not that it hurts their resumes!