Quite a month so far! I've spent three full days hearing Family Court cases for other judges, and have several more scheduled this month and next. Work at the church is going fine - a lot to do there. My only little girl got engaged last week! And - also last week, the windstorm that wreaked havoc in several states uprooted our 60' spruce which slammed into our deck and knocked it off our house! The deck was over a carport and yep, our Uplander van was there. Although it didn't look that bad, the adjuster totaled it - so we're getting a new car! Our homeowners insurance adjuster came today and among other things, we're getting a whole new roof! Annette and I had been talking about work we needed to have done on the house but we weren't focused on the deck - but now, of necessity, we are. We're hoping to replace it and the carport with a garage and a lower covered back porch.
The whole family was home the weekend of Feb. 6-8 and we celebrated Colleen's 21st b'day, which was Feb. 10. That was also the day she got engaged - Cevin, her fiance, asked me for her hand in marriage the weekend before. He's a great guy, we're very happy. He will be our third great kid-in-law! They're planning an August 15 wedding -yikes, that's less than 6 months from now - but we'll pull it off. A lot of plans already in place. Fast work, eh?
Interesting things on the job front - sorry to have to continue to be so obscure but really can't be too disclosive yet - we'll see how it all plays out in due time.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Saturday, February 7, 2009
First February Post
Hmmm...much to report, and not that much to report. Work at the church going fine but I'm concerned about the status of the programming I'm responsible for if there's a hiatus between my leaving this interim position and the church's finding someone else to fill the gap. Not that I think I'm indispensable in any sense! Have to be realistic and know that if the gap is not filled and the programming has to be modified, that's all in the plan.
Regarding the permanent future career-wise - much happening, and not much happening. (Yes, I'm trying for parallelism throughout this post - HA.) Actually, it's really not fair to say not much is happening. Better to say nothing to hang my hat on permanently is happening. Not complaining! For instance - had a very interesting meeting on Thursday about one part-time possibility. And, this past Monday, I received confirmation that I've been approved as a Senior Status Family Court Judge and that I've been assigned several cases to hear in other counties, to cover conflicts of interest for other judges. Had to wait for paperwork to get started officially but received that yesterday -- so I am anxious to get started on these 25 cases this coming week. I'm hoping to be able to handle them along with my responsibilities at church - should be able to. I am glad to get back into the law business for sure!
Regarding the permanent future career-wise - much happening, and not much happening. (Yes, I'm trying for parallelism throughout this post - HA.) Actually, it's really not fair to say not much is happening. Better to say nothing to hang my hat on permanently is happening. Not complaining! For instance - had a very interesting meeting on Thursday about one part-time possibility. And, this past Monday, I received confirmation that I've been approved as a Senior Status Family Court Judge and that I've been assigned several cases to hear in other counties, to cover conflicts of interest for other judges. Had to wait for paperwork to get started officially but received that yesterday -- so I am anxious to get started on these 25 cases this coming week. I'm hoping to be able to handle them along with my responsibilities at church - should be able to. I am glad to get back into the law business for sure!
Sunday, January 25, 2009
????
Well...still waiting on the Lord for wherever it is I'm going to wind up permanently. Don't mean to seem or be impatient, truly, but I'd sure like to know.
Since my last post, I decided for many reasons it would be best not to do any court appointments at this time. The two judges who had appointed me to cases were kind enough to release me. One major point - it would complicate my serving as a senior status judge, which I'm hopeful will come to fruition shortly.
Some more permanent and full-time things still pending that I'm very interested in. In the meantime, status quo. Sorry not to have a more detailed or upbeat report!
Since my last post, I decided for many reasons it would be best not to do any court appointments at this time. The two judges who had appointed me to cases were kind enough to release me. One major point - it would complicate my serving as a senior status judge, which I'm hopeful will come to fruition shortly.
Some more permanent and full-time things still pending that I'm very interested in. In the meantime, status quo. Sorry not to have a more detailed or upbeat report!
Thursday, January 8, 2009
And so it begins...
I promised you'd be the first to know...
Life takes a strange twist or two, doesn't it. I was unemployed for exactly one week. (Actually, not at all - see end of this paragraph.) Today, I started a new job - but it's not one I would've expected, and it also is temporary. I'm the interim kids' ministry director at our church. The hiring was made retroactive to 1/1/09 -the very next day after my judgeship ended - because I'd been meeting and working with our children's minister and others both before the end of 2008 and between 1/1 and today, in anticipation of the possibility of being hired. God is good!
It's not such a stretch for me - I've been a volunteer in ministry for years and actually did something similar to this twice before, when I lived in Huntington. So I'm grateful for the chance to serve and of course, for the additional income it will provide my family. It definitely has a couple of nice practical features - very flexible, allowing time for me to do some other things on the side (read on...) - and also "no strings attached" meaning that if the church finds a full-time person, my assignment is over, and if I find a full-time legal position, my assignment is over. (That sounds a bit abrupt - one way or the other, I'd expect to be a part of the transition. I'm into paving the way for successors these days :)
Also today, I got my first court appointment, to represent the interests of a kid in a guardianship case. And, a call from someone I may accept as a client on a rather simple paperwork matter. I anticipate more court appointments and also assignments as mediator in Family Court. My bar membership officially changed today from "judicially inactive" to "active" and my malpractice insurance is in process.
There remain some interesting opportunities on the horizon and I intend to keep this blog updated. But for now...even though this turn was not expected, I'm very grateful.
Life takes a strange twist or two, doesn't it. I was unemployed for exactly one week. (Actually, not at all - see end of this paragraph.) Today, I started a new job - but it's not one I would've expected, and it also is temporary. I'm the interim kids' ministry director at our church. The hiring was made retroactive to 1/1/09 -the very next day after my judgeship ended - because I'd been meeting and working with our children's minister and others both before the end of 2008 and between 1/1 and today, in anticipation of the possibility of being hired. God is good!
It's not such a stretch for me - I've been a volunteer in ministry for years and actually did something similar to this twice before, when I lived in Huntington. So I'm grateful for the chance to serve and of course, for the additional income it will provide my family. It definitely has a couple of nice practical features - very flexible, allowing time for me to do some other things on the side (read on...) - and also "no strings attached" meaning that if the church finds a full-time person, my assignment is over, and if I find a full-time legal position, my assignment is over. (That sounds a bit abrupt - one way or the other, I'd expect to be a part of the transition. I'm into paving the way for successors these days :)
Also today, I got my first court appointment, to represent the interests of a kid in a guardianship case. And, a call from someone I may accept as a client on a rather simple paperwork matter. I anticipate more court appointments and also assignments as mediator in Family Court. My bar membership officially changed today from "judicially inactive" to "active" and my malpractice insurance is in process.
There remain some interesting opportunities on the horizon and I intend to keep this blog updated. But for now...even though this turn was not expected, I'm very grateful.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Happy New Year
Last Wed. Dec. 31 was my last day on the bench. Beginning Dec. 27, Sat., I worked every day between then and the end of the year, finishing things up, cleaning things out, etc. But on Dec. 31, I did 8 weddings, and they were fun - all very interesting, all very different. Channel 12, WBOY-TV, covered them, and I not only made the news that evening, I made West Virginia Media's statewide newscast. Last night, I watched West Virginia Media's "week in review" which features one story of note around the state for each day of the previous week - and guess what? Yup, my weddings were the feature for Wednesday! It was a nice way to go out.
My staff took me out to lunch, which was wonderful but bittersweet, and then I headed back to the office about 3:00 to finish clean-out. My wife and youngest came about 4:15 and helped me finish - we left about 5:00 p.m. Busy since then! We had a party New Year's Eve here at home that started about 6:30 and ended just after midnight - a lot of fun and nice to have something to occupy my time and mind that evening. New Year's Day, I lazed around and watched football. Then Friday - had a nice dinner and movie date with my wife! Saturday, we had a visit from some dear friends, but also had some family matters to attend to. And leading us to today - this is the first day the Court House has been open since I left my job. Yes, I did call my staff today - they're there, waiting for my successor judges to actually start. The judges are in Charleston all week this week for training.
I'm trying to keep myself occupied, active and productive! Today, I've worked out, paid bills, made arrangements to get my bar membership reactivated, talked to my new malpractice insurance carrier, and taken care of umpteen other things. Working off a long list on a legal pad! It'll take me several days to make a dent. I haven't yet started cleaning out my boxes from the office or setting up the new office space for me we're planning for our attic.
Hopeful that we'll have more clarification of what's really going on here soon!
My staff took me out to lunch, which was wonderful but bittersweet, and then I headed back to the office about 3:00 to finish clean-out. My wife and youngest came about 4:15 and helped me finish - we left about 5:00 p.m. Busy since then! We had a party New Year's Eve here at home that started about 6:30 and ended just after midnight - a lot of fun and nice to have something to occupy my time and mind that evening. New Year's Day, I lazed around and watched football. Then Friday - had a nice dinner and movie date with my wife! Saturday, we had a visit from some dear friends, but also had some family matters to attend to. And leading us to today - this is the first day the Court House has been open since I left my job. Yes, I did call my staff today - they're there, waiting for my successor judges to actually start. The judges are in Charleston all week this week for training.
I'm trying to keep myself occupied, active and productive! Today, I've worked out, paid bills, made arrangements to get my bar membership reactivated, talked to my new malpractice insurance carrier, and taken care of umpteen other things. Working off a long list on a legal pad! It'll take me several days to make a dent. I haven't yet started cleaning out my boxes from the office or setting up the new office space for me we're planning for our attic.
Hopeful that we'll have more clarification of what's really going on here soon!
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Christmas
It's Christmas Day, everyone, and hope it's been a merry one for you. We've had a good one - traditional morning with gifts, then this afternoon we headed for Pittsburgh where we had a nice dinner and enjoyed some of the city lights. Now we are at the Hyatt Hotel at the airport which is NICE. My daughter is flying out for Japan early in the a.m. from here - she's spending three weeks there to meet the requirements for her January-term class for her university. She'll be living with a missionary family and recording their life and work on film. I'm proud of her!
Still lots of Family Court work to do through the 31st - I didn't work yesterday or today, of course, and also don't plan to work tomorrow. But I'm working Saturday (no doubt with the Meineke Car Care Bowl on in the background - yes, there's a TV in my courtroom (sometimes needed for video exhibits) - and Sunday. Monday is my last day of hearings and it should be a booger - about 40 domestic violence. Tuesday is my final paperwork, etc., day, and Wednesday morning I have 10 weddings scheduled. My staff is taking me out for a nice lunch and then in the afternoon and evening I'll finish cleaning out my court room and office. No doubt I'll write more of my thoughts before all that is done - goodnight for now and once again, Merry Christmas to all.
Still lots of Family Court work to do through the 31st - I didn't work yesterday or today, of course, and also don't plan to work tomorrow. But I'm working Saturday (no doubt with the Meineke Car Care Bowl on in the background - yes, there's a TV in my courtroom (sometimes needed for video exhibits) - and Sunday. Monday is my last day of hearings and it should be a booger - about 40 domestic violence. Tuesday is my final paperwork, etc., day, and Wednesday morning I have 10 weddings scheduled. My staff is taking me out for a nice lunch and then in the afternoon and evening I'll finish cleaning out my court room and office. No doubt I'll write more of my thoughts before all that is done - goodnight for now and once again, Merry Christmas to all.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
One week 'til Christmas
Man! Cannot believe time has gone this fast, and that Christmas is one week away. I haven't had my head around Christmas this year like I normally do - no surprise maybe.
Took my staff to Deer Park Inn near Buckhannon for a nice dinner, last Saturday evening. It was for Christmas, it was to say thank you for all your hard work on my campaign, and also to say thank you for being great co-workers and good friends these past many years. Judy has been with me almost 14 years and Kellee, almost 10. My current bailiff, Chad, who's been with me over a year was there too. Deer Park is a beautiful place - my wife kidnapped me there for an anniversary getaway several years ago and we've been back twice before last week, once for a romantic Valentine's Day dinner and once for a Christmas Day buffet with family and friends.
Our tree is beautiful and I got a special early gift - an automatic tree-watering device cleverly disguised as a beautiful package. There's a big tag on it, "To Dad, from Your Family." No more squatting under the tree and getting everything wet! :) It's working great as long as I keep the "package" filled which I have to do about once a week.
We're having a lot of our Christmas celebration this weekend. My oldest and his wife are coming in from Tennessee - they are spending Christmas Eve and Christmas with her family in the Nashville area this year. #2 son and his wife usually have still spent Christmas Eve and Christmas morning with us but this year, will be with her family in Wheeling. #3 son is on duty from early Christmas Eve till 3:00 p.m. on the 26th at the residential home for troubled youth where he works! And so...on Christmas Eve night and Christmas morning, it'll be my wife, my daughter, our youngest son and me. Very, very different - but we'll have some semblance of a traditional celebration by going to church Christmas Eve and opening some gifts Christmas morning. Then, that afternoon, we head for Pittsburgh, since my daughter is flying out for Japan about 6:30 on the 26th. She'll spend three weeks there with a missionary family, documenting their life and work in photographs and film, as part of her Independent Study/"J-term" class with her college.
I had domestic violence hearings on Monday of this week and have a "rocket docket" today. We opened the day to the local bar to bring us cases which really can get in and out quickly. After today, I have one day of hearings set - December 29 - and it should be a doozy! It'll be a domestic violence day and from what we can tell, there will be a bunch.
On the 31st, my last day, the Court House closes at noon but I'll be here afterwards, still cleaning out, etc. During the morning, I'm opening my Court Room for weddings and so far nine have been scheduled. The press has done a nice job of giving us publicity on this and also the TV and print news have told me they plan to be here some that day to get some coverage. It's a nice way to say "thank you" to the community and also a nice way to "go out," doing weddings which definitely are one of the more fun and positive things I get to do in this job. I'm glad I'll still be able to do weddings after 12/31 since I have a ministry license - hey, I could even get paid for them in that capacity!
Oh, you're wondering about my job after 1/1? ME TOO! There have continued to be things come up even after 12/6, when I last posted - and I may have something firm though temporary. Not sure yet at all though - I am planning to try and do some mediations, and court-appointed guardian ad litem work, and things of that nature to keep busy and earn a little income. There are four or five things I am very, very interested in, but none of them will be open till after the first of the year. Many of them won't be available until summer or early fall at the earliest.
To all of you, have a blessed Christmas and a wonderful 2009.
Took my staff to Deer Park Inn near Buckhannon for a nice dinner, last Saturday evening. It was for Christmas, it was to say thank you for all your hard work on my campaign, and also to say thank you for being great co-workers and good friends these past many years. Judy has been with me almost 14 years and Kellee, almost 10. My current bailiff, Chad, who's been with me over a year was there too. Deer Park is a beautiful place - my wife kidnapped me there for an anniversary getaway several years ago and we've been back twice before last week, once for a romantic Valentine's Day dinner and once for a Christmas Day buffet with family and friends.
Our tree is beautiful and I got a special early gift - an automatic tree-watering device cleverly disguised as a beautiful package. There's a big tag on it, "To Dad, from Your Family." No more squatting under the tree and getting everything wet! :) It's working great as long as I keep the "package" filled which I have to do about once a week.
We're having a lot of our Christmas celebration this weekend. My oldest and his wife are coming in from Tennessee - they are spending Christmas Eve and Christmas with her family in the Nashville area this year. #2 son and his wife usually have still spent Christmas Eve and Christmas morning with us but this year, will be with her family in Wheeling. #3 son is on duty from early Christmas Eve till 3:00 p.m. on the 26th at the residential home for troubled youth where he works! And so...on Christmas Eve night and Christmas morning, it'll be my wife, my daughter, our youngest son and me. Very, very different - but we'll have some semblance of a traditional celebration by going to church Christmas Eve and opening some gifts Christmas morning. Then, that afternoon, we head for Pittsburgh, since my daughter is flying out for Japan about 6:30 on the 26th. She'll spend three weeks there with a missionary family, documenting their life and work in photographs and film, as part of her Independent Study/"J-term" class with her college.
I had domestic violence hearings on Monday of this week and have a "rocket docket" today. We opened the day to the local bar to bring us cases which really can get in and out quickly. After today, I have one day of hearings set - December 29 - and it should be a doozy! It'll be a domestic violence day and from what we can tell, there will be a bunch.
On the 31st, my last day, the Court House closes at noon but I'll be here afterwards, still cleaning out, etc. During the morning, I'm opening my Court Room for weddings and so far nine have been scheduled. The press has done a nice job of giving us publicity on this and also the TV and print news have told me they plan to be here some that day to get some coverage. It's a nice way to say "thank you" to the community and also a nice way to "go out," doing weddings which definitely are one of the more fun and positive things I get to do in this job. I'm glad I'll still be able to do weddings after 12/31 since I have a ministry license - hey, I could even get paid for them in that capacity!
Oh, you're wondering about my job after 1/1? ME TOO! There have continued to be things come up even after 12/6, when I last posted - and I may have something firm though temporary. Not sure yet at all though - I am planning to try and do some mediations, and court-appointed guardian ad litem work, and things of that nature to keep busy and earn a little income. There are four or five things I am very, very interested in, but none of them will be open till after the first of the year. Many of them won't be available until summer or early fall at the earliest.
To all of you, have a blessed Christmas and a wonderful 2009.
