I Love Mondays

Why all this angst about Monday? Just because it's the start of the workweek and Friday seems a thousand miles off? Why not look at Monday as each week's new beginning, a new chance to change people's dark opinions about you, each week's "restart" or "refresh" button. Imagine if you came in to work next Monday feeling chipper and enthusiastic and full of plans to make your job better and more enjoyable. Wouldn't that make Monday more fun?

But on the other hand, there's that whole getting out of bed at nearly dawn, due to the daylight savings travesty. There's that whole "I can't just sit around today watching football in my underwear" because there is not football and your underwear is in the laundry until Wednesday. Don't even tell me what you do on Monday and Tuesday before the laundry is done.

My "mysterious business" in Monterey seems not, sadly, to have borne fruit. But it was an interesting up and back for a day. I had enough time before my meeting to wander through the John Steinbeck museum, a very tight little tribute to the people's novelist. It cost me $10 to get in, but when I did it was lots of fun wandering through the old man's books. They've set up the museum so that each room is dedicated to one of his novels, and it's like travelling through the story. Only a writer can have fun walking through a writer's words, but I'll bet lots of folks in Salinas think that the Steinbeck museum is worth the hour.

I also was able to see my old friend Don Landis, who used to work with me in the Orange Public Defender. Don told me that a relative of his cruises the blogs looking for names of people he knows. I mentioned Don some time back in this blog and noted that he was one of the more expert motion and writ writers for the OCPD, one of those guys who remembers case names and citations by heart, who can quote you from something Justice Brenner wrote in 1973 and if you look it up, you'll find it's accurate to the word. Anyway, Don thanked me for mentioning him in my blog. Well, there you go, Don. Another 20 seconds of fame. You have 14 minutes and 20 seconds left. Use it wisely. Please, please, don't put out a disco record.

So it's back to Eureka/McKinleyville, where I am plowing through the mountain of stuff. I've been thinking of moving the whole operation to Eureka, as the rents are cheaper there and I can get one of those divided offices just in case I ever take on a secretary again. That's still in the works.

As to my weekend, I vistited with my client (set to go to trial today) on SAturday morning; then went to lunch with the boy; then went to buy an appropriate pair of shoes for my Mardi Gras costume; then dashed to church to play the 4 p.m. mass (we practice at 3); then put on my old purple Shakespeare costume, with the shoes and a pair of Mardi Gras jester glasses and went to assist at the Arcata Rotary Mardi Gras Fireman's Fundraiser. Yes, I know Mardi Gras was last month. I didn't come up with the theme.

I helped people get around the floor at the event, then went home to have dinner with Adam, then back at 11 p.m. to help with the cleanup. I don't know why I like cleanup. I guess putting things back in order appeals to my lawyer's soul.

Sunday I awoke sore and beaten but I still had to go do more fol-de-rol during the day: Grocery shopping and stuff. Adam and I did take advantage of the gorgeous day to take a walk down by the beach. But at the end of Sunday night--with a new Simpsons and a bit of work on the trial case--I felt justified and tired and ready to get up this morning at 6.

Just in time for Monday. Woo Hoo, Monday. What would we do without it? And, let's face it: Monday takes the heat off of Tuesday.

So here I go into the week. Lots to do, lots of folks to see, and a little money in the bank to pay bills. As the old saying goes, Monday's not so bad when you think of the alternative.