<p>arabrab – congrats to your D; terrific news!</p>
<p>Congratulations to your daughter on the great news,arabrab!</p>
<p>Fabulous, arabrab!</p>
<p>congrats arabrab, you and your d must feel so relieved and proud!</p>
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<p>When I was a young lawyer, I was going to an ophthalmologist, who, when he found out I was a real estate lawyer, spent every appointment trying to get free advice on his various real estate investments. To deflect his questions, I finally told him that lawyers know nothing when they get out of law school and don’t for many years. I eventually got so sick of him that I switched doctors. About 20 years later, I had a minor eye emergency and he was able to fit me in. He looked at me and said “I’ve always remembered what you said about new lawyers not knowing anything. I’ve told that to so many people.”</p>
<p>Great…someone remembered what I said 20 years later and it was a lie I told to get him to stop asking for free advice!</p>
<p>Congratulations to arabrab D!!! Great news! I bet she is so relieved to have that behind her. But seriously…worried about sunburn?!? We still have snow here!!! It is warming but the piles of snow beside the driveway will be there for a while.</p>
<p>Thank you for your kind heart Z! Poor puppies!</p>
<p>missypie…I was hoping for better news re pieson’s studio. So sorry.</p>
<p>That made me laugh, Missypie. But, at least you’re now not one of the new lawyers. Did he try to pump you for more RE advice this time? (And very sorry too about PieSon’s studio. That’s frustrating.)</p>
<p>NM - Coachella is in the desert east of Palm Springs, and 3 days in April camping out – yes – sunburn. And scorpions. Ick. But, the music lineup is supposed to be great and she got the tickets the day the festival sales opened up last summer. But she’s young and going with a group of friends, so I’m sure she’ll have a blast – especially knowing that the thesis monkey is off her back.</p>
<p>Hi Everyone
Sorry I’ve been incommunicado but I’m crazy busy at both of my jobs and it’s so boring even I don’t want to talk about it so I won’t burden you folks! HA!
Glad to hear from long-lost posters too!
MP and kmc …your posts are tooo funny!
KMC - you just earned a special place in puppy lover’s heaven.
Awesome news for D, ararab! Whew!
:)</p>
<p>Congrats to your D, arabrab!</p>
<p>Z - I hope those puppies find good homes. Glad you found them.</p>
<p>missypie- sorry to hear of your S’s studio. (but laughed out loud at your lawyer/opthamologist story).</p>
<p>congrats arabrab. </p>
<p>lindz, very nice to hear from you and glad to hear your kids are doing so well.</p>
<p>I interact with a lot of people and sometimes discover that I’m credited with profoundly affecting someone’s life with something I discussed with them years ago (and sometimes I don’t even remember the person). I was also once told that one of my books affected how they set of labor negotiations and labor dispute resolution in a country – and I know very little about labor relations. </p>
<p>ShawSon is working away on thesis with four weeks to go. He wants to complete a draft this weekend and get it to committee for a reading. It will be a prodigious amount of work. He’s also doing a trial with a prospective client who was introduced to him by someone I met when I gave my career choices talk and getting a business plan out to angel investors. And playing intramural basketball. No wonder he’s exhausted. I think I’ll pay for a trip to visit GF after he hands in his thesis – if that is what he wants.</p>
<p>I am still here. Going through another dark time. It will pass. I have been keeping up with y’all, though.</p>
<p>Eddie–good thoughts sent your way!</p>
<p>Step into the light, eddieO!</p>
<p>Sending the warm spring light towards you, Eddie.</p>
<p>Sendin Eddie the light, and kudos to arabrab’s d!</p>
<p>Missy, you southerners are so gracious. I’d have just as likely said to the doc that I’d be happy to discuss his real estate issues on his dime, not mine 
unless he had a knife in his hand…</p>
<p>I get that from people a lot even now and pretty much explain that I’d be happy to execute a retainer if they’re interested, because of course people pay good money for my thoughts That will usually steer conversation back to topics that don’t feel like work when in a social setting or on my dime. I do, however, occasionally give a tip here and there if I’m liking someone, and just had one of those turn up as a new project this week – a year later and completely unexpected I like working for people I like, so in that case, I’m glad I’d given the tip ;)</p>
<p>Back from our trip to the west coast. MIL actually was laid back, found a dress for the wedding and a top to wear to either the rehearsal dinner picnic or the breakfast/brunch on Sunday as well. Weather was delightful and I can see how easy it would be to enjoy life in southern California (except for the taxes). Also… you can’t buy gas except with cash and debit. H wasn’t fond of that one.</p>
<p>We spent the last night there in Santa Monica near the pier. Had a facial and H had a massage (mostly because he racked his shoulder when the flight attendant ran into him with her cart). </p>
<p>Had an offer on the house while we were away. It was lower than we’d like but thought we had some negotiation room. But then they didn’t counter our counter. Of course, this was not helped by another neighbor putting their house on the market. Ugh. Such a follower. Always has been. So we’ll see. finally saw a thaw big enough to bury our St. Joseph and my stager told me to take our brochure and write SOLD across the pic. Somewhat like a vision board. So we’ll see! I have to admit it was awesome to come home to a spotless house!</p>
<p>Had a showing yesterday, but all in all have only had a few. Realtor says it’s spring break issues and it will pick up next week. H left today to go on a golf trip with the boys - his best friend from HS. He’s gone almost every year since before we were married. I will paint the deck railing and maybe further clean out the kitchen cabinets. Woo hoo.</p>
<p>S has an interview on the 11th. I think he’s hopeful, but since he’s moved off campus, I rarely hear from him this semester! Most of my time has been sucked up with wedding stuff, house stuff, younger D stuff. Would have been great to have had this house sold, but i have no interest in giving someone a great deal when we essentially have no idea where we’re going and no need to get there in a hurry.</p>
<p>Eddie - I have been thinking of you lately, it’s been such a long winter. I hope you feel the light soon. You remain in my thoughts and prayers.</p>
<p>moda- Good luck on the house sale and also to your S.</p>
<p>Also sending you the light eddieo! Miss you!!!</p>
<p>Moda…surprised your prospective buyers didn’t counter although H and I did that on the house we live in now. We threw out a low offer because we weren’t in a hurry, they countered, we walked away. The owners were building a new home and when there were no other offers as they approached closing on their new home their real estate agent contacted us and asked if we would resubmit our original offer. We did and got our house. I think selling homes is a crazy business! Wishing you much luck!</p>
<p>Was up late trying to fix my Ipod. Kept saying it was corrupted. It wouldn’t reset for the longest time and then magically rebooted on the umpteenth time I tried. I have a love/hate relationship with Itunes and Ipods.</p>
<p>Thinking about you, eddie! You obviously have more dignity than I do, because when I am troubled, I tend to wallow in it on this thread and let my '13 buddies act as my counselors. Everyone is probably way sick of me but are too kind to say anything.</p>
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<p>I think it’s Midwestern guilt that keeps many of us from moving to a place where the scenery is beautiful and the weather delightful.</p>
<p>Had a little “autistic moment” with Son last night at dinner. We went to a restaurant - thank goodness quiet and not crowded, because the inlaws are quite hard of hearing. Son was talking on and on about something related to school and kept looking at me in a way where the inlaws couldn’t see his mouth. I told him that they couldn’t understand what he was saying if he didn’t face them and he said “I wasn’t talking to them, I was talking to you…” Logical, but still not considerate.</p>
<p>It actually is difficult to have hard of hearing folks as house guests, because of all of the normal “household business” chit chat. So I’m asking H if a bill got mailed or if we’re out of sour cream…do I say it super loud because they’re in the room, even though the comment is not directed to them?</p>
<p>Thank you all so much. Yes, it has been a very long winter. Come on SPRING! Where is my sunshine and warm weather? Hopefully here in Maryland this weekend.</p>