1. Congrats to my friends who completed the bar exam. Now comes the anxious period of waiting for the results, but I'm sure they all did fine and will be excellent lawyers.
2. Bend was a bit of a bust. Out of the three trials I had prepared for, two defendants entered plea agreements prior to trial and a third didn't show. At least the preparation for trial was a valuable experience.
3. Missi is in Seattle this weekend so I'm running a "Daddy Daycare." Wish me luck!
Saturday, July 29, 2006
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Heading to Bend
I'm going over to Bend tonight for court tomorrow. I've got three trials tomorrow before a U.S. Magistrate Judge.
More info later...
More info later...
Monday, July 24, 2006
My black and white weekend
They say that a picture is worth a thousand words...So here is my weekend in over 20,000 words.
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Football was great
The flag football game I organized yesterday evening went really well. We had 14 players show up and we played for almost 2 hours. I really appreciate everyone from my school and others I know here in Eugene coming out to play. It was a beautiful evening but two "lessons learned" for next time include: (1) try to schedule it for a field where there is not a huge community event called "Touch-a-Truck" going on at the same time; and (2) try to orient the field so the sun isn't beaming directly into one team's eyes the entire time. That made things pretty difficult for whatever team had the sun going against them.
All in all, a really great time and I'm looking forward to doing it again later in the fall.
Pre-game photo
"Should we try the 'hook and ladder'?"
One of the favorites for the MVP Award - T.A.
All in all, a really great time and I'm looking forward to doing it again later in the fall.
Pre-game photo
"Should we try the 'hook and ladder'?"
One of the favorites for the MVP Award - T.A.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
A lesson in government
Among those 5 people who read my blog regularly, a few of you know that I enjoy following government and politics. Here is an interesting article that describes the veto process likely to take place (for the first time during the GW Bush administration) later this week. It doesn't get into the politics/moral issues surrounding the stem cell debate, but rather focuses on the process. I thought it was interesting and informative.
Monday, July 17, 2006
Highlights
Some highlights from the last week or so.
We had our last T-ball game and our parents vs. kids All-Star game. It was a really fun season and I am glad I coached. I started out with about 20 players and it was really tough to manage all of the players. We split the group into two teams and things became much easier. We didn’t keep score on any of the games so I don’t know what our record was, but it was a really fun time.
One more thing on this point…Coaching Drew’s team this season gave me an increased admiration for those parents who can effectively coach their child. At times Drew had difficulty seeing me as a “coach” and instead wanted to look at me as “dad.” He would not want to accept suggestions or he would mope if he didn’t get to play the position he wanted – behaviors that almost certainly wouldn’t have surfaced if someone else was coaching.
On Thursday my friend Jeff drove down from Portland for a work meeting in Springfield. Despite a very busy schedule, he was kind enough to hang around Thursday afternoon and evening. We met at Fiddler’s Green, where Jeff was checking out new hybrids. Missi was in Portland so Jeff and I took the kids out to Orchard Point Park on Fern Ridge Reservoir. After that it was Burrito Amigos for dinner and then to the Ems game. We left after 7 innings and the score was 2 – 0. Wouldn’t you know it that the Yakima Bears scored 2 runs in the 8th to tie it up and then the Ems hit a go-ahead home run to take the lead heading into the ninth. What great timing for our departure! It was really fun to hang out with Jeff for awhile.
Jeff and I at the game. Photo credit to Drew.
This past weekend was a full one. On Saturday morning we stopped by our friend Monica’s apartment for awhile to help her move and then we headed up the McKenzie River to meet Missi’s dad and his family. Every summer they spend 5 days at a The Wayfarer, a quaint resort on the banks of the McKenzie. We floated the river, laid in the sun, played croquet, and relaxed. We set up a tent there and stayed Saturday night and returned to Eugene Sunday. Sunday evening we gave Drew the option of either cutting his hair short all over or trimming up the mohawk that we had given him on a whim a few weeks earlier. He chose the mohawk. See below.
Sam at the River
The fearless rafters
This week I am organizing my inaugural Eugene flag football game. I’ve already got a good number of people who have confirmed so it should be fun. Email me if you’re interested in playing. Tuesday I will be receiving a tour of the new federal courthouse here in Eugene. On Thursday the whole family is going to Portland for a friend’s wedding this weekend.
We had our last T-ball game and our parents vs. kids All-Star game. It was a really fun season and I am glad I coached. I started out with about 20 players and it was really tough to manage all of the players. We split the group into two teams and things became much easier. We didn’t keep score on any of the games so I don’t know what our record was, but it was a really fun time.
One more thing on this point…Coaching Drew’s team this season gave me an increased admiration for those parents who can effectively coach their child. At times Drew had difficulty seeing me as a “coach” and instead wanted to look at me as “dad.” He would not want to accept suggestions or he would mope if he didn’t get to play the position he wanted – behaviors that almost certainly wouldn’t have surfaced if someone else was coaching.
On Thursday my friend Jeff drove down from Portland for a work meeting in Springfield. Despite a very busy schedule, he was kind enough to hang around Thursday afternoon and evening. We met at Fiddler’s Green, where Jeff was checking out new hybrids. Missi was in Portland so Jeff and I took the kids out to Orchard Point Park on Fern Ridge Reservoir. After that it was Burrito Amigos for dinner and then to the Ems game. We left after 7 innings and the score was 2 – 0. Wouldn’t you know it that the Yakima Bears scored 2 runs in the 8th to tie it up and then the Ems hit a go-ahead home run to take the lead heading into the ninth. What great timing for our departure! It was really fun to hang out with Jeff for awhile.
Jeff and I at the game. Photo credit to Drew.
This past weekend was a full one. On Saturday morning we stopped by our friend Monica’s apartment for awhile to help her move and then we headed up the McKenzie River to meet Missi’s dad and his family. Every summer they spend 5 days at a The Wayfarer, a quaint resort on the banks of the McKenzie. We floated the river, laid in the sun, played croquet, and relaxed. We set up a tent there and stayed Saturday night and returned to Eugene Sunday. Sunday evening we gave Drew the option of either cutting his hair short all over or trimming up the mohawk that we had given him on a whim a few weeks earlier. He chose the mohawk. See below.
Sam at the River
The fearless rafters
This week I am organizing my inaugural Eugene flag football game. I’ve already got a good number of people who have confirmed so it should be fun. Email me if you’re interested in playing. Tuesday I will be receiving a tour of the new federal courthouse here in Eugene. On Thursday the whole family is going to Portland for a friend’s wedding this weekend.
Friday, July 07, 2006
Ah, summertime...
I'm not going to start this blog entry out by apologizing for the long delay in posting, because it seems that this is becoming the norm rather than the exception.
I guess I'll just start with this past week. I had to go into work for a few hours on Monday because the office (for some unknown reason) was closed. It actually turned out to be a great day as I was able to go out to coffee with my favorite attorney from the office.
On the Fourth of July we decided to have a BBQ at our house with some friends. We thought about going to Alton Baker Park or some other "big" fireworks show, but we weren't sure how Sam could handle it. We made the right decision. It was a great time with good friends at our house and we apparently have some pyrotechnic experts in the neighborhood who were sending up huge fireworks all night long.
Other highlights from the week included going to Fern Ridge Reservoir with the family, watching Snatch with Missi, doing a bunch of yard work, having some great "daddy time" with Samantha, and playing some 1-on-1 baseball and basketball with Drew. Another fun thing has been my buddies Charlie and Harvey finally getting their clearance to begin work. It's nice to have them around.
It was a long day today. I was in Albany all day at the Linn County DA's office (a long and somewhat complicated story) and then I rushed back to Eugene only to be about 15 minutes late for Drew's T-ball game. After the game it was Subway for dinner, watched some of the Red Sox-White Sox, put Drew to bed, and then had a long conversation with my mom.
This weekend is the "world famous" Oregon Country Fair. I've been told by a lot of people that I HAVE to go to this while I live in Eugene just for the experience, I just don't think this is the year. I don't want to freek out Drew with what he might see there, if you know what I mean. If you go, let me know how it is.
I guess I'll wrap up this rambling entry with a short thought on the World Cup: Overall, it's been really great. There weren't really any "surprise" teams, save for the disappointing Americans. I think the best goal of the tourney was scored by Argentina when the guy trapped it off his chest and volleyed it into the "upper V" from the edge of the 18. Although Zidane and his French team have been inspiring, I have to take the Azzurri in the final. The Italians have only allowed one goal all tournament (an own-goal to the Americans) and I don't think Thierry Henry, as good as he is, is quite enough offense to carry the French. Italians 2-0.
Me and the kids at Fern Ridge Reservoir
Daddy's little girl
Drew and his buddy Carlos on the Fourth of July. Note Drew's Jedi robe and Carlos' breastplate. These boys were equipped to fight the Dark Side.
Sam roasts a marshmallow. The sunglasses add to the effect.
Drew and I with one of his favorite fireworks, the "Queen of Hearts"
I guess I'll just start with this past week. I had to go into work for a few hours on Monday because the office (for some unknown reason) was closed. It actually turned out to be a great day as I was able to go out to coffee with my favorite attorney from the office.
On the Fourth of July we decided to have a BBQ at our house with some friends. We thought about going to Alton Baker Park or some other "big" fireworks show, but we weren't sure how Sam could handle it. We made the right decision. It was a great time with good friends at our house and we apparently have some pyrotechnic experts in the neighborhood who were sending up huge fireworks all night long.
Other highlights from the week included going to Fern Ridge Reservoir with the family, watching Snatch with Missi, doing a bunch of yard work, having some great "daddy time" with Samantha, and playing some 1-on-1 baseball and basketball with Drew. Another fun thing has been my buddies Charlie and Harvey finally getting their clearance to begin work. It's nice to have them around.
It was a long day today. I was in Albany all day at the Linn County DA's office (a long and somewhat complicated story) and then I rushed back to Eugene only to be about 15 minutes late for Drew's T-ball game. After the game it was Subway for dinner, watched some of the Red Sox-White Sox, put Drew to bed, and then had a long conversation with my mom.
This weekend is the "world famous" Oregon Country Fair. I've been told by a lot of people that I HAVE to go to this while I live in Eugene just for the experience, I just don't think this is the year. I don't want to freek out Drew with what he might see there, if you know what I mean. If you go, let me know how it is.
I guess I'll wrap up this rambling entry with a short thought on the World Cup: Overall, it's been really great. There weren't really any "surprise" teams, save for the disappointing Americans. I think the best goal of the tourney was scored by Argentina when the guy trapped it off his chest and volleyed it into the "upper V" from the edge of the 18. Although Zidane and his French team have been inspiring, I have to take the Azzurri in the final. The Italians have only allowed one goal all tournament (an own-goal to the Americans) and I don't think Thierry Henry, as good as he is, is quite enough offense to carry the French. Italians 2-0.
Me and the kids at Fern Ridge Reservoir
Daddy's little girl
Drew and his buddy Carlos on the Fourth of July. Note Drew's Jedi robe and Carlos' breastplate. These boys were equipped to fight the Dark Side.
Sam roasts a marshmallow. The sunglasses add to the effect.
Drew and I with one of his favorite fireworks, the "Queen of Hearts"
From Actual Court Records
1.
Counsel: "All right, I want to take us back to the scene of the bar for a moment again." (The witness starts to leave the stand)
Counsel: "No, you don't have to get up. I just want to take you back there mentally."
2. The young attorney, engaged in her first jury trial, nervously commences her portion of the jury selection:
Counsel: "This is called voir dire, and this is my opportunity to speak with you as jurors. At this point in the trial, I won't have any opportunity to ask you any questions or to have any intercourse with you."
Counsel: "Discourse."
Counsel: "I didn't mean that."
The court: "And we sent them to law school to learn all these words."
District Court Judge John Anderson, Canon City, Colorado
Counsel: "All right, I want to take us back to the scene of the bar for a moment again." (The witness starts to leave the stand)
Counsel: "No, you don't have to get up. I just want to take you back there mentally."
2. The young attorney, engaged in her first jury trial, nervously commences her portion of the jury selection:
Counsel: "This is called voir dire, and this is my opportunity to speak with you as jurors. At this point in the trial, I won't have any opportunity to ask you any questions or to have any intercourse with you."
Counsel: "Discourse."
Counsel: "I didn't mean that."
The court: "And we sent them to law school to learn all these words."
District Court Judge John Anderson, Canon City, Colorado
Monday, July 03, 2006
Week-to-week
That's right, it's been over a WEEK since my last post. I guess I can justify it since I added something like 3 posts last week. The reason for the delay is because I have been reading (and finishing) a really good book, Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer, work has been fairly busy, and I've had a lot of family stuff going on in the evenings when I would have otherwise written a post.
All that being said, I'm still alive and still planning on updating my blog with a substantive post...just not right now. Check back in a few days.
P.S. I watched a couple of great World Cup games over the weekend. I was as shocked as the rest of the world when France beat Brazil and the Brazilians looked very uninspired and the Germany-Argentina game was a great one as well. I thought it was really interesting when the German keeper took out his notes with scouting reports on each shooter prior to their PK. I've never seen anything like that in soccer before.
All that being said, I'm still alive and still planning on updating my blog with a substantive post...just not right now. Check back in a few days.
P.S. I watched a couple of great World Cup games over the weekend. I was as shocked as the rest of the world when France beat Brazil and the Brazilians looked very uninspired and the Germany-Argentina game was a great one as well. I thought it was really interesting when the German keeper took out his notes with scouting reports on each shooter prior to their PK. I've never seen anything like that in soccer before.
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