Just Call Me Jean

Total Black: -$124.84
Total Red: $269,947.64

I noted in Pocket Full of Change that I was a bit short on cash this week due to ironing out the kinks in getting set up on a budget.  What I didn’t note there—or in similar posts—is that in the past I’ve sometimes had to subsist on borrowed bread during these times of lean.  But I’m no Jean Valjean, stealing a loaf of bread.  Or am I? 

My First Car

Total Black: $85.38
Total Red: $242,876.35

Today I purchased my first car.  At thirty-four years old.  My first automobile.  Not Grandma’s ol’ wheels no longer needed.  Not a hand-me-down from mom or dad, so to speak. Mine.  Granted, of course, that I purchased it with an auto loan and loaned funds from my mother, but it’s still my car.  Title in my name.  And I hugged it before I climbed in. 

Time to Shine

Total Black: $3,789.90
Total Red: $243,714.55

Not to toot my own horn too much.  But I’m thinking that there may very well be quite a few opportunities here to advance my career.

Finances, Finances

Total Black: $1,097.64
Total Red: $235,215.12

Co-Clerk’s advice, mentioned yesterday in A Nice Gesture has been weighing on my mind.  I’ve got to a lot to finance in a very short period of time: pack and move my belongings to Pennsylvania, fly myself (and probably another person) to the new location with two cats in tow, put down first month’s rent, security deposition, and possibly last—and, given what Co-Clerk mentioned in A Nice Gesture, probably second month’s rent too.  Just to be safe.  And then there’s any other incidental expenses along the way, like buying a car.  I’m starting to get more than a bit worried about financing this move to get to the clerkship.  But first I need to deal with my apartment.

A Nice Gesture

Total Black: $1,247.35
Total Red: $235,215.12

I’ve become a bit jaded with lawyers these past few years.  My troubles with the Colleague and his refusal to pay me.  Then there’s the landlord’s lawyers and all of their shenanigans involving my apartment and the numerous rent demands and then proceeding initiated back in October or November; although I may have been late, I always paid.  No matter to them though.  And we can’t forget the ol’ pals at my former law firm and how they kicked twenty of us (and many more since) to the curb because of the Great Recession.  And last and least are many of the contract attorneys I’ve had to work around or even with in some cases.  Not many bright and shining stars of the profession there.  So today when I met with my future co-clerk here in Manhattan I was touchingly surprised.