Berlusconi in BookThree: Flight Log 2016

No idea why he popped into my head today… other than perhaps as a Media Figure with a Scandalous Political Career. Maybe my mind is trying to make parallels.

I could simply NOT get out of bed this morning. When I turned on the weather, I knew why. We are in a Windchill Advisory… and for damned good reason. Air temperature is presently -4 F or -20 C. With windchill; we’re looking at -13 F or -25 C. Cold. Cold cold cold cold. So… despite wanting to get an early start to the day… Jack Frost was able to convince me to stay in the covers a bit longer. After finally braving the cold and getting my day going… I could feel an old familiar energy in my chest. That violent feeling. Not anger, per se… just a spark of energy in my chest that feels violent.

No word on if Cecilia will be in to work today. I’m deeply worried about her husband. He is a nice guy. Very friendly, very good at his job, and he has always been very willing to help me out… which I’ve needed as DOT Law is actually quite a bit of a hot topic in Iowa of late.

Today promises to be busy. An improvement, as I’d rather have something to do then nothing. But worrying, of course. Because the busier I expect to be; the more likely I will run into (several) things I’m not equipped to handle. As much as that can be (and truthfully is) an ego issue… it is also the sheer fact that the people of this county have been so offensively poorly represented in the last few years… I don’t want to add to that failure. Hopefully, Ran will be able to help take care of that when he takes office.

My Day:
Cecilia being gone means our Administrative Secretarial elements have been falling by the wayside. I need to go through this week’s Court Alert Files and print, erase, or file the items Cecilia would normally be taking care of. After that, I have an informal report to write for Cecilia about Collections for the week (as she is our collections specialist). Then I have that awkward meeting with a 13 year old sexual assault victim and her family where I have to find a nice way of saying “If you can’t even tell me when the alleged assault may have happened; there is literally nothing I can do for you.” After that… I have to fix someone else’s mistakes. As I’ve often said… all of the attorneys in the local area are at or past retirement age. And it shows. Defense attorney in a case was required to submit his Plea Response two weeks after Plea Negotiations. He took 6 weeks. Then when he finally did submit the documents… he submitted them to my office in paper. Instead of submitting them to the Clerk of Court electronically. So, I had to go ahead and file those documents electronically. BUT the documents listed the wrong County in every reference. So I have to go back and re-write this other attorney’s filing so I can finish out 3 criminal cases. Then, I have to file an (I honestly don’t know what) because something fell through the cracks on a case where there were 4 separate charges… 3 of which were referenced in the court documents; one which was not. Guess which one has the problem. Yeah. Then… three phone calls trying (begging) to get plea deals taken on other cases. Not that I am unwilling to go to court but.... honestly. Quick Comparison Time: Other counties have court multiple times during the week. We have court… a few times per month. Ergo we lack the fundamental resources and opportunities to take things to trial. Thus plea deals are heavily encouraged (read: required). And after that… I still have to file a few Indictments from last week as there was (1) a Laotian driving through the county while intoxicated; and (2) a Local man who assaulted his paramour because she “didn’t show (him) the proper respect.” THEN if I get all of that taken care of… I have a few other cases I’d like to see if I can get plea deals for. Then the Clerk of Court has about 57 e-mails to me and Boss asking us to resolve cases that have been left open for months. Only reason I haven’t personally dealt with those e-mails is because Cecilia said that Boss has never dealt with those kinds of e-mails. And while I am younger, and smart enough to know those e-mails genuinely NEED to be dealt with… if Boss is going to let things rot, I’m inclined to allow it.

After work today… a social engagement. Typically, I’d be thrilled. Social? Here?! But… it isn’t like that. It is a gathering of “The attorneys that remain” in this county. A “holiday party” for local attorneys. We expect between 10 and 15… including the requisite Plus 1. Because… not many attorneys in the area. And what’s more… the majority of attorneys in the area are twice my age (or more). I’ll certainly do the diplomatic, business savvy, charismatic party goer routine… but given the choice between sitting in someone’s house sipping Cider while hearing about how “this county used to be a decent place 30 years ago” or staying home playing video games? Lol. Yeah.