Just back home from the finest place on Earth, the West Virginia Baptist Camp at Cowen. With 209 5th and 6th graders including my youngest! This is my 3rd year at this Camp again, after a long hiatus. I counseled it every year from 1974-1995 and directed it in 1989. Last month, I was there for the Sr. High camp, which I've been blessed to counsel each year since 1981. My goal is to serve at the camp at least until 2015, when my youngest is scheduled to graduate high school. Lord willing!
Nothing else new. A lot of thinking, to be sure!
More travel is ahead. On Friday, we're leaving for Knoxville and my son's home there, to celebrate his (my oldest) and my youngest's birthday (July 30) with the whole family. Then, back on Sunday, and then to Morgantown for a week of mediation training.
Now to rest!
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
The Ides of July
Well, here we are at July 15th. I attended a two-day seminar yesterday and today and saw many, many old friends - several of whom did not know about the election outcome. So explaining the lay of the land all over again was fun - ah well.
I worked till 9:00 p.m. last Friday, then at least four hours each on Saturday and Sunday. My hearing/trial schedule the next two days is fairly heavy but Friday should be clear. My goal is to get three decisions that have been burning a whole in me (overdue since before the election) out by the end of this week, even if it means working all day this Saturday. All three cases have attorneys on both sides and the lawyers have been very understanding - I've been keeping in touch and letting them know of my progress. I know people want closure but these three particular cases each had enough complexity that a quick decision likely wouldn't have been a very good one.
It's now just over two months past the election, which means we have 5-1/2 months left on the bench. It's been quite a two months! People still ask me, of course, "what are you going to do?," to which I generally answer, "I don't know and haven't taken much time to think about it." In reality, I think about it all the time, so maybe it's more accurate to say I haven't felt like I've had the time or information to formulate anything definite. As I have been, I still am focusing on opening my own office, because I have control over that. My big concern there is cash-flow and benefits, since I'm the principal breadwinner and the provider of health insurance, etc., at least at this point.
What I know is - a lot has come to my attention in the past two months, and a lot more will come to my attention in the next five-plus. So we will see - this evening, feeling a bit impatient just to know(!) but I must focus my energy on the folks coming to see me tomorrow and Thursday and getting the "big three" decisions out this week. The short-term goal must trump the long-term for now.
I worked till 9:00 p.m. last Friday, then at least four hours each on Saturday and Sunday. My hearing/trial schedule the next two days is fairly heavy but Friday should be clear. My goal is to get three decisions that have been burning a whole in me (overdue since before the election) out by the end of this week, even if it means working all day this Saturday. All three cases have attorneys on both sides and the lawyers have been very understanding - I've been keeping in touch and letting them know of my progress. I know people want closure but these three particular cases each had enough complexity that a quick decision likely wouldn't have been a very good one.
It's now just over two months past the election, which means we have 5-1/2 months left on the bench. It's been quite a two months! People still ask me, of course, "what are you going to do?," to which I generally answer, "I don't know and haven't taken much time to think about it." In reality, I think about it all the time, so maybe it's more accurate to say I haven't felt like I've had the time or information to formulate anything definite. As I have been, I still am focusing on opening my own office, because I have control over that. My big concern there is cash-flow and benefits, since I'm the principal breadwinner and the provider of health insurance, etc., at least at this point.
What I know is - a lot has come to my attention in the past two months, and a lot more will come to my attention in the next five-plus. So we will see - this evening, feeling a bit impatient just to know(!) but I must focus my energy on the folks coming to see me tomorrow and Thursday and getting the "big three" decisions out this week. The short-term goal must trump the long-term for now.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Rumors and Reality
So far, I've heard these rumors about my future:
1. I am going to work in the Federal Prosecutor's Office.
2. My family and I are moving back to Elkins.
3. I have a "big administrative" job waiting for me at the Supreme Court in Charleston.
Apparently, someone thinks they know something I don't know - none of these are right as far as I know. When I know - you'll be the first to hear!
1. I am going to work in the Federal Prosecutor's Office.
2. My family and I are moving back to Elkins.
3. I have a "big administrative" job waiting for me at the Supreme Court in Charleston.
Apparently, someone thinks they know something I don't know - none of these are right as far as I know. When I know - you'll be the first to hear!
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Readers
It never ceases to amaze me when I learn about a new reader, or a new group of readers. Apparently, my blog has gotten some publicity, and not a surprise at all to me, not all the comments have been positive.
Some have, though, and I'm grateful for the understanding and the nice thoughts. For those who think I haven't been understanding, I'm sorry. 'Nuff said about that.
We're moving on and as I know I've said - I'll miss the bench. But we're continuing to move toward the point of being ready for the next adventure. Until then - much work left to do as Harrison County's only Family Court Judge through the end of the year, part of which will be to make as easy as possible the transition of the Court to my successors.
Some have, though, and I'm grateful for the understanding and the nice thoughts. For those who think I haven't been understanding, I'm sorry. 'Nuff said about that.
We're moving on and as I know I've said - I'll miss the bench. But we're continuing to move toward the point of being ready for the next adventure. Until then - much work left to do as Harrison County's only Family Court Judge through the end of the year, part of which will be to make as easy as possible the transition of the Court to my successors.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Seven, seven, o-eight
My wife, youngest son and I saw "Wall-E" yesterday. Nothin' like a good Pixar movie to lift the spirits! I am not a movie person normally but this one was enjoyable and there are a couple others out, or about to be out, that I'm interested in - super-hero stuff ("The Dark Knight," "Hancock") and spy stuff (James Bond).
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Independence Day After Eve
It's July 5 so hope everyone had a good 4th. It was rainy, rainy here. Today's sunny, not too hot but pretty humid.
Finally, on Thursday, I had my much needed "Friday" - in other words, a day without hearings or trials. Although I still have much paperwork to do, and have brought a good bit of it home with me this weekend which I have yet to start on here, I did get quite a bit done on July 3 at the office. And in case you're wondering if I deserved a day like that - I was in Court from 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 p.m. Wednesday! Tuesday was a more normal day - solid hearings from about 8:30 - 5:00 with a lunch break - but Monday was a mega-domestic violence day, in Court until at least 7:30. Some things about this job I won't miss - like this Wednesday - but still, most things I will miss. Ah well.
Still thinking a lot about the next step, and hearing of new possibilities all the time. You'll be the first to know when I know!
My daughter's three friends from college are visiting for a week starting this weekend, so we've been on a cleaning/repair frenzy. My youngest and I had the pleasure of re-caulking our shower yesterday. The part that took the longest by far was removing the old, yucky, mildewy caulk. A bonding experience in more ways than one (pun intended).
Busy week at work next week and Friday should be fairly free for paperwork except for my dental appointment - at least it's very early in the day, so won't interrupt things too much. My teeth do need cleaned, I drink a lot of coffee (like right now).
I'm attending an abuse-and-neglect seminar at the WVU Law School - my alma mater - July 14 and 15, and a week-long family-law mediation seminar Aug 4-8 at the same location. Getting ready for the future as best I can. Also will be meeting with my successors to get started on scheduling for them - they don't yet have the authority to schedule, so if I don't do it for them they'll start the new year with nothing set for hearing or trial. That would be a big problem in more ways than one - my secretary already has a stack of things that need to be scheduled. Except for domestic violence and a few other things, we're not scheudling anything else for me -we're booked thru mid-November and the rest of the time will be needed to finish things. I'm determined to make the transition smooth and positive and definitely not to leave the Family Court in a shambles.
By the way - my courtroom is not going to be used for the Family Court anymore so I don't have to give up my courtroom to anyone! I've got a copy of the plans for the new space, in the Court House Annex, and I don't like them at all. It's a modern space, not at all like the original Court House space I'm in, and I think will have much less of a "court" feel. Hey! Maybe I'm looking for reasons to feel good about leaving this job - but if that helps me over the hump, so be it. The fact is, there are advantages, and I am looking forward to doing something new, interesting and hopefully helpful to people. Now doesn't that make me sound noble? But I mean it. We'll see what God does. A friend of mine pointed out that it's somewhat frustrating to know that God already knows what's going to happen, but He won't tell us when we want to know! True - but also true that He is the Master of all timing, including when it's time for us to know the next step. Good to know that He does know already and that He can be trusted!
Oh - we have two new family members, cats. Twins. My secretary's neighbor had them and we were just going to get one but as I should have predicted, my wife and daughter and youngest son couldn't bear the thought of separating them. So, I made this deal - we could get both, but I had final say over the names. RIGHT! It's not that I don't like the names, they're fine. Hugo and James. Something to do with "Lost" which members of my family (not me) are addicted to. I think it's probably a great show but I limit my addictions to Survivor and Amazing Race.
Finally, on Thursday, I had my much needed "Friday" - in other words, a day without hearings or trials. Although I still have much paperwork to do, and have brought a good bit of it home with me this weekend which I have yet to start on here, I did get quite a bit done on July 3 at the office. And in case you're wondering if I deserved a day like that - I was in Court from 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 p.m. Wednesday! Tuesday was a more normal day - solid hearings from about 8:30 - 5:00 with a lunch break - but Monday was a mega-domestic violence day, in Court until at least 7:30. Some things about this job I won't miss - like this Wednesday - but still, most things I will miss. Ah well.
Still thinking a lot about the next step, and hearing of new possibilities all the time. You'll be the first to know when I know!
My daughter's three friends from college are visiting for a week starting this weekend, so we've been on a cleaning/repair frenzy. My youngest and I had the pleasure of re-caulking our shower yesterday. The part that took the longest by far was removing the old, yucky, mildewy caulk. A bonding experience in more ways than one (pun intended).
Busy week at work next week and Friday should be fairly free for paperwork except for my dental appointment - at least it's very early in the day, so won't interrupt things too much. My teeth do need cleaned, I drink a lot of coffee (like right now).
I'm attending an abuse-and-neglect seminar at the WVU Law School - my alma mater - July 14 and 15, and a week-long family-law mediation seminar Aug 4-8 at the same location. Getting ready for the future as best I can. Also will be meeting with my successors to get started on scheduling for them - they don't yet have the authority to schedule, so if I don't do it for them they'll start the new year with nothing set for hearing or trial. That would be a big problem in more ways than one - my secretary already has a stack of things that need to be scheduled. Except for domestic violence and a few other things, we're not scheudling anything else for me -we're booked thru mid-November and the rest of the time will be needed to finish things. I'm determined to make the transition smooth and positive and definitely not to leave the Family Court in a shambles.
By the way - my courtroom is not going to be used for the Family Court anymore so I don't have to give up my courtroom to anyone! I've got a copy of the plans for the new space, in the Court House Annex, and I don't like them at all. It's a modern space, not at all like the original Court House space I'm in, and I think will have much less of a "court" feel. Hey! Maybe I'm looking for reasons to feel good about leaving this job - but if that helps me over the hump, so be it. The fact is, there are advantages, and I am looking forward to doing something new, interesting and hopefully helpful to people. Now doesn't that make me sound noble? But I mean it. We'll see what God does. A friend of mine pointed out that it's somewhat frustrating to know that God already knows what's going to happen, but He won't tell us when we want to know! True - but also true that He is the Master of all timing, including when it's time for us to know the next step. Good to know that He does know already and that He can be trusted!
Oh - we have two new family members, cats. Twins. My secretary's neighbor had them and we were just going to get one but as I should have predicted, my wife and daughter and youngest son couldn't bear the thought of separating them. So, I made this deal - we could get both, but I had final say over the names. RIGHT! It's not that I don't like the names, they're fine. Hugo and James. Something to do with "Lost" which members of my family (not me) are addicted to. I think it's probably a great show but I limit my addictions to Survivor and Amazing Race.
