Changes

I will confess I've been horrible at updating my "blog"(if I can even call it that yet!).  Since my last blog post lots of things have happened.  I've settled into my apartment.  This has taken some time and adjustment.  It wasn't exactly homey.  I am renting it fully furnished so I didn't have to buy furniture for one year and then sell it on Craigslist when I move again next year.  I knew the girl who lived here before me, she graduated a year before me at Vermont Law School.  That made me feel better to know she lived here.  But I was surprised when I got to the apartment after my long flight.  After I got the keys to my apartment from the landlord, I quickly went to Wal-Mart in my rental car and bought a memory foam topper for the mattres and a thick mattress cover.  I didn't sleep at all that first night because the mattress was like sleeping in the Grand Canyon.  There was no support at all.  I'm happy to report that I've since bought my own bed and I'm waiting on it to be delievered.  I bought it from the Sears store here, but it is arriving by barge from Seattle! Life is just different up here.  

My landlord has also upgraded my shower and couch since I've moved in.  A furniture store was going out of business, so she bought a brand new matching red couch and love seat.  My bathroom has also been fixed-up.  After a month, the place is finally starting to feel like mine.  I'm slowly decorating and adding my own touches.  

I started my new job since my last post too.  I love my job.  It is so exciting that I'm finally getting paid to do things I learned in law school!  Everyone I work with is wonderful and have been great at teaching me the ropes.  I really only had one day of training.  The outgoing law clerk was there for one day, then I took over the next day.  It was daunting at first, but after a month I'm feeling comfortable and confident.  

There are six judges here, and two other law clerks.  The other law clerks and I have quickly bonded.  One law clerk is from Cincinnati.  It is a small world.  The other law clerk is from Vermont Law School, so I knew here before we moved here.  Speaking of Ohio, I met a relative here to one of my closest friends back in Dayton, Ohio.  We were talking about Ohio and she told me the names of her relatives who live there.  It just so happens that I knew her family in Ohio, and my friend's sister is married to her uncle! Crazy! 

I have also been on some fun adventures in my month here.  The first was a fishing trip to Homer over Labor Day weekend.  The other law clerks and I went out on a charter halibut fishing trip.  It was a 1/2 day trip.  I caught a total of four fish, three halibut and one shark.  It was rainy and cold out, we were about two miles out in the ocean.  But once I had a fish on, the adreline kicked in and it was so much fun! I kept two of the halibut (daily limit) and had them fileted and vacum sealed.  I now have 16 pounds of halibut in my freezer.  I have never cooked seafood in my life, so I need to learn.  

The judge I am working for also invited the law clerks to go bear viewing with him.  It was one of the most exciting things I have ever done.  We observed seven bears in their natural habitat feeding on salmon at the Russian River.  I was very nervous and scared, but once I saw the first bear I knew they were not interested in the humans at all.  The bears were walking down the river playing and feeding on the salmon.  The salmon run is almost over and the fish are slow and easy to catch.  There were fisherman in the river with their backs toward the bears.  The bears could have easily charged, but they didn't.  Perhaps it was a false sense of security, but I was not as scared as I thought I would be.  We did encounter a sow and cubs which can quickly turn into a dangerous situation.  We backed off and waited for the bears to clear the area.  

I have also seen caribou, moose, and bald eagles.  The nature and wildlife is beautiful and very refreshing! 

Although I was extremely overwhelmed and exhausted when I got here, I've settled into my job and apartment and am enjoying my time here.  I know I made the right decision to accept the job and move here. I am going to try and post some pictures.  And I promise to start blogging on a regular basis!