Day 3 Month 3 Year 2016 in BookThree: Flight Log 2016

I’ve certainly kept busy at work… at least, I did on the first of this month! In and out of so many buildings I couldn’t keep my head on straight. So Yesterday? Not surprised I slept and was slow to get things done.

Which creates a bit of a problem for today. Because… it’s cold again (20s) and I would love to go back to sleep, wrap myself in the blankets and not have to worry about prisoners today. But my bosses want 5 RAP interviews done by noon. And this time it isn’t their fault. Yes, technically, they asked me to do double the amount of interviews this week… but I could easily have gotten through them yesterday and I did not. So on one hand: I totally created this “tough position” for me where I need to get a bunch of work done quickly. On the other hand: three to five interviews is standard; and they’ve asked me to do 11 for the week. Largely because I’m the only person that does them and instead of transitioning it so someone can start learning and doing these interviews during my final two weeks… they would rather try to get as many as possible through this week and next and then worry about what to do when I’m gone when I’m gone. The typical lack of forethought and foresight that has rather defined this department.

Of course, I’m excellent with rationalizations… so I’m thinking “One, Two, Three: Go to work!” But I’m also thinking “After four years and the kind of shit I’ve gone through for them; I should be able to somewhat coast through my last 7 days.” I won’t. It isn’t who I am. I’ll go in through the cold… put in 3 hours of interviews; two hours of Law Library; and another 2 hours of interviews. I have to confess… the few days after I’m thoroughly done with the job, I’m likely going to sleep SO MUCH. Consider it… I’ve been working this job since the first May of Law School. And while I had moments of break… I’ve been doing Law School/Job Bar Study/Job Job Hunt/Job for the last 4 years. And as stressful as the job hunt will continue to be… there is certainly something to be said for getting out from under the stress of this job.

That being said… Wife is very worried that I’ll quickly get bored without the stress of the job. And she may well be correct. I really don’t do well when I’m not doing something. “Be still” has certainly never been a strong suit for me!! But… perhaps that is something I need to learn. Perhaps that is what I should focus on when the time is available. While I’m not working… I should still look for work, try to be more dedicated to working out and eating better, visit family and friends a bit more.... I’ve also plans to read books, play video games, and go to a Continued Legal Education program for a few days to keep my certifications up. But still… there will be time. And… ineffably difficult as it may be… I should use that time to learn that I don’t have to be go go go all the time. I don’t have to feel guilty for taking time to myself and I don’t need to make that time Sleep Time. I can (or at least, should be able to) sit in a quiet place and be relaxed. Something to try, I suppose.

Here’s 2 Facebook Etiquette Questions:

(1) (The) Facebook has instituted a new system for “Likes” called “Reactions.” These reactions include things like love, like, haha, wow, sad, and anger. The other day I posted In some ways, I will miss my current job. But I have to admit… I’m excited to see how this change will effect my perspective. The post garnered the expected Likes from Co-Workers and Loves from friends excited for my return to Iowa. But then a surprising reaction came from a surprising source. A law school colleague (the law school colleague who set up the Class of 2014 FB Page, in fact) reacted with “Anger Emoji.” Typically… it wouldn’t have even crossed my mind to care. I didn’t know him well, we weren’t exactly friends, and it can’t be jealousy he feels as he is a father happily working for a firm in TX. The Etiquette Question, though, is… should I bring it up? If he shared the reaction for a specific reason, I’m curious. But… in the new age of Internet Social Interaction… is it expected/accepted to say “Ha ha, Person, why the angry face?” Or… is that bad form? (Silly world, I knew all of the old etiquette rules and now they’re all switching up again!)

(2) My family has recently started a whole “Get Outside and take Pictures” thing on Facebook. Not sure if people have seen this but the challenge reads as follows: “Today I nominate for the challenge: Felix Blaq. If you accept the challenge, please post a photo of nature for 7 days, and invite someone else to participate with each post. Rules are: it must be a photo of nature that you took. Enjoy!” While I am not averse to posting the photographs; I’m still not entirely thrilled with Facebook items that require nominations. Ice Bucket Challenge or whatever. Perhaps this is just an Old World Etiquette discomfort… the “invitation” versus “challenge” wording. If I invite someone to do something; they can politely decline the invitation and there is no implied or inferred determent to them for that decision. If I challenge someone to do something; I feel like I’m not being polite and I do not give a polite way of declining the challenge. Maybe it’s just me. What do other people think? Is it rude to randomly Challenge friends/acquaintances/semi-strangers on Facebook with things like this?

Reading up on Iowa News… it isn’t as bad as Omaha yet; but shootings are on the rise. I know that there are a number of factors to this but the big ones I immediately look to? Economics… when people have no jobs and no hope of getting a job, crime rates go up. Mental Health… when state governments begin to shut down all access to mental health facilities, more MHI cases become violent criminal matters. Education/Social Structures… when it makes more sense to sell drugs than finish school, or join a gang than go to college… violence will erupt as territory disputes turn into revenge slayings. Genuine Anger… lots of people I know personally are furious with how things are going in this country/world and feel powerless to do anything about it… powerlessness can create desperate, violent acts of aggression. There are more, obviously, but these are the ones that really come to mind based on what I’m seeing in the streets and in the jail.

And now to end this with a little potential misogyny.
Work Crush was more than just attractive, or cute, or adorable today. She was hot. She. Was. Hot. Her hair was lightly styled; her face makeup was well applied; she had manicured pink fingernails; a purple sweater/hoody thing; appropriate but semi tight jeans; high heeled black boots. She was working it. Normally, I can be ludicrously lecherous on here or predictably pervy in private… maybe even semi-salacious in social settings. But in a professional setting? Hells no. I try very hard not to succumb to that side in professional settings. And… honestly, it wasn’t like Work Crush was showing any skin. She was fully covered. But… she looked good and I noticed myself glancing at her chest, checking out her butt… I honestly kind of wanted to take a picture of her for posterity… partially because she, much like my Wife and Sister In Law… don’t take good Posed Pictures but take great candids. That whole subconscious thing where you don’t think you look good so you unwittingly somewhat sabotage photos of yourself thus proving you don’t look good in photographs. But… uh.... yeah. Work Crush was HOT today and I wanted to preserve the image for her, for me, to show Wife. Obviously, I didn’t… I’m not that much of a creeper. But… I was also a little surprised at myself. Normally, when someone walks in… their tits almost hanging out, their skirt super short… all that.... if I catch myself looking… it is obvious why. But today was… different. She really was completely covered up… not even wearing anything particularly flashy… but… certainly captured my attention.

And lets end with the two countries, cultures, regions I am inexplicably fascinated by.... I love the cultures, the traditional clothing, the traditional songs, the food, the modern expressions.... I don’t know how or why but I am obsessed with Ireland and Japan (Asia in General). AND I don’t know which came first… the interest in the Countries and Cultures… or the interest in Red Heads and Asian Women.