And then there were none

My wife is in a bookclub that formed at the beginning of my second year of law school. It consists of wives of law students. After the second year, two of the husbands graduated. They each had jobs lined up. They took the bar and started practicing. Within six months, both had quit and found new jobs. This year, there were five of us who graduated. Within two months, one quit his job. A month later, another quit and found a new job. A few weeks later, another person left his job. Now, it's my turn. I gave notice at my job yesterday. I found a new job that I'll be starting in about a week. It just wasn't a good fit for me, but I guess a lot of people feel that way about their first job out of law school. If you know my real name and happen to care, look me up on the bar website after next week because I'll change my contact information as soon as I'm no longer on the payroll at my current job.

Here's why I love my law firm

It's 2:30 p.m. on December 24th. More than half of the attorneys are gone and about 75 percent of the support staff aren't working today. Several hours ago, we got an e-mail that the office will close at 2 p.m. today for those of us who bothered to show up. The reception area is dark. The place is deserted. I can't wait to get home to my wife and baby. I'm getting in the elevator when I hear, from down the hall "hold the elevator." I hold it. In walks a certain partner in the firm.

The following conversation:

Him: Ready for your first Christmas as a family? (he knows about my new baby)
Me: No. I'm Jewish (a fact he knows given that we've discussed my going to Synagogue on the high Holy Days a few months ago)
Him: So? You guys don't get a tree?
Me: No. We don't celebrate Christmas.
Him: So why are you leaving early on Christmas Eve?
Me: [speechless, staring at him, looking for a sign of a smile, some indication that he's joking, and finding no such indication] Um, the office is closed
Him: So? You just said you don't celebrate Christmas
Me: [staring at him in wonder and silent the rest of the way down, then for the walk through the lobby, the walk to the parking garage and the walk to the elevators in the parking garage]

The little princess!

Thursday November 29, 2007. 7 pounds, 14 ounces. 19 inches long. Beautiful!