Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Today marks exactly one year on the job as an immigration trial attorney for Department of Homeland Security. It was one of the busiest and most stressful days I’ve had in a while, but also exhilarating. Though I get really nervous before certain cases, when I start talking, I don’t sound nervous, which is half the battle. Nevermind that my hands are cold and shaking under the counsel table.
Another thing that made today memorable was that the newest attorney came with me to court to observe. None of the cases went forward with trial, but it was still interesting to think how I was once in her position, still trying to figure out the meanings of hundreds of acronyms that we throw around in our normal office speech.
“Did he have ABC registration?”
“Do an FDL or ROI on that.”
“She’s not eligible for NACARA, 42B or VR.”
“What did the BIA say about CIS’s NOID?”
“He can adjust with a 212(h) and I-212 waiver.”
“Murder is clearly a CIMT and an agg fel.”
I love it!
| Tags: young bureaucrat
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
I surprised Dave with an iPhone for his birthday, which was today. That’s right – he turned THIRTY today! He was totally unsuspecting. I knew I had to be careful, since he is not as gullible as I am.
I knew he either wanted an iPhone or a camera lens for his digital SLR. Since I don’t really understand lenses and didn’t feel like doing the research, I decided to buy an iPhone on the sly, then wrap and hide it just before his birthday.
I did this with an accomplice, Dan. Dave handles my finances as well as his own, so I knew I couldn’t go buy an iPhone with my credit card because he would possibly see the credit card statement. I also didn’t want an online order to arrive at an untimely moment.
So Dan bought it yesterday at the Apple Store in Pasadena and brought it over while I was sick at home (not planned). I wrapped it in three layers of wrapping paper, stuck it in a different-shaped box, and wrapped that. Then I hid it in the coat closet, where Dave would never look for anything.
We went to dinner tonight at Mi Piace in Old Town Pasadena. Instead of giving him a card, I told him 30 things I love about him. On our way home from the restaurant, I kept saying things like, “Did you have a good birthday?” When he answered in a perfectly normal way, I knew he didn’t suspect a thing. I shouldn’t have felt paranoid that he would notice the wrapping paper had changed positions in the living room, or that the checkbook that I’d taken out to pay back Dan was on the couch, or that he would look in the checkbook and see the carbon copy of $400-odd dollars made out to his brother. He tells me now that he didn’t notice anything.
From the moment of the unwrapping, he has been bowed over that thing, tonight’s plans to watch the third season of The Wire totally forgotten. It’s so cute to see the kid in him, haha.
| Tags: memories, married life
Monday, January 07, 2008
This Christmas was very busy with parents (both sets of them). I’ve put together a couple slideshows to show the highlights of the last 3 weeks. Just click on the arrow to see the next photo.
Dave’s parents came into town on December 17 and took us to Las Vegas for three nights. We stayed at The Hotel at Mandalay Bay, ate at the Wynn and Bellagio buffets, played slots, visited Red Rock Canyon, and outlet shopped. (8 photos)
A slide show will appear here shortly.
Then on the night before New Year’s Eve, my parents arrived from Baltimore and my brother from San Francisco. We had our traditional gift-opening sitting around the 3-foot tree I had bought from Target, then left for a four-night cruise to Mexico aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship. (23 photos)
A slide show will appear here shortly.
The best Christmas present I got was a portable GPS from my dad. I haven’t tried using it yet, but it should get me out of tight spots in downtown or help when I get lost. I think I’m still a little resistant to the whole idea, since I believe in the Thomas Guide.
| Tags: family, memories