(no subject)

[vicarz]

I don't care about the water because I live on a hill. I chose to live on a hill, and am not sympathetic to people that live in flood plains and act surprised when it comes. I am against federally sponsored flood insurance - it is used to take money from responsible taxpayers like myself and used to subsidize irresponsible building.

I get really aggravated when people say "Well you've got it like that." No I don't have it like this, mofo, I made it like this. I chose this. I got a job, lived beneath my means, saved and scraped every damn penny for years to build up a wad-o-cash. I then shopped for a place to own - weighing very heavily on where that place was in relation to my current employment, access to metro rail, and ability to commute should where I work change. I picked very close to the city where I worked, but noted that I could always be going against traffic no matter where work might move to. Now, this stupid trip through the entire city to go to Beltsville is a bit odd, but it's not usually longer than an hour and is only 35 mins in the AM. I may move to MD if this turns out to be a long term thing. Still, my plan worked. I have a short or reasonable commute. Don't whine to me because you live in Frederick or Fredericksburg and have to commute for hours. It's not unreasonable, you were. You don't deserve special consideration due to your "circumstances," because you made them yourself. Don't forget the dumb priorities you show, the choice you made. I chose this. You chose that. Don't fucking tell me I got it like this. Yeah, I had some breaks, got some luck, and had some support as a kid. But today, this shit I got, I earned this. I chose this.

It's an old nerve. When the government furloughed years ago, a coworker who found out that I wasn't stuck with bounced check fees said "Well, some of us got it like that." Mofo. I laid into him, as we were making the same amount! I noted I lived in a crappy apt with dumpster dove furniture, rented out a room, drove a ten year old car - while he sported a new acura. He had that race thing going, not bad - not bad at all, but sometimes you just had to bitch-smack him. Like when he noted all the white folk were hired at a GS-7 while the blacks were hired at GS-5. Well, if you were an honor scholar, with GPA 3.5 or higher, you were hired as a GS-7. It so happened the whites (which included hispanics and asian, white was used a lot as "not-black") were picked up as honor scholars, while the blacks were picked up earlier with lower gpas. When called on this issue, he immediately backed down admitting that was something he could have done if he had tried. Grr. I made it like this.

See, this is that dangerous place where people start to take so much pride in their work and decisions that they blame the poor for being poor. Not that some individual poor don't sometimes deserve their plight, but by and large the same actions have different results based on your initial socioeconomic standing.

I mean to stick with this litigation branch for at least a couple years, as I'd be insane to give up an opportunity to do actual litigation work. I checked out http://www.shawbransford.com/ and http://www.passmanandkaplan.com/ , two firms which do federal employment law. PK only has about 7 attorneys, but they seem pretty good. Someone told me SB is one of the biggest firms in the arena, but I can't say I've heard of them. They are currently hiring an attorney - one with 3 or more years experience before MSPB, & EEOC (no FLRA?). Couldn't tell you what kind of money either group is paid - neither was listed in the salary charts of findlaw.

Still no grade in evidence. This is comical now.

I read a bunch of my old "memories" posts. Huh. My writing has improved (though today is not a shining example). Been posting a lot of text lately. Why? Eh, who cares (said in the voice of Vivian from the Young Ones voice upon discovering the hoards outside were about to storm the house, which had been mysteriously transported to medieval England...)

I have more than one icon that show butt-sex between non-humans. Oh dear.

Nation - more than unlikely.

Comments

[transentient.livejournal.com]

I think there are probably cases where houses were built in places that weren't flood plains until someone re-routed or dammed a stream. I don't imagine this happens very often, but it would suck.

[vicar.livejournal.com]

Oh now that is a very good point - flood plans are much larger than before due to development. I think it actually may happen a lot, or rather a place has been made flood-prone that is not in a traditional flood plain.

[joanarkham.livejournal.com]

They are thinking the Wilson Bridge construction screwed up the drainage in some parts of Alexandria...neighborhoods are flooding that never did before.

[cristiex.livejournal.com]

all i can pull out of this is "Vivian from the Young Ones"

gg

[vicar.livejournal.com]

Well, that's an important cultural reference point!

[vicar.livejournal.com]

Well had I actually been paid more due to my race it would be a point. If he had to work full time during undergrad due to his socioeconomic status while I partied and sunbathed due to mine, he'd have a point (race-related but not solely based). Some people's 24 hours are very different than others and I'm not going to minimize that. I never had to work for food as a child.

[shadow27.livejournal.com]

I own a house on top of a very large hill above the flood plain. It's basement is full of water.

[eac.livejournal.com]

Yes, indeed. Sometimes following codes and making reasonable accomodation for potential disasters doesn't actually keep you from having a problem.

(And, uh, hope your basement dries out properly.)

[vicar.livejournal.com]

Oh crap! Not the new home I hope.

Maybe this is the new flood damage from overdevelopment too.

[blindtillnow.livejournal.com]

3rd year litigation attorney? Big firm? probably in the 175-200 neighborhood.

*grin*

-S

[vicar.livejournal.com]

They're not really big. They list like 5 partners and 5 associates. Seems teeny weeny to me, but I don't know the field well.

175-200? I might not avoid that kind of money depending on the hours.

That's a big 'depending on'

[panthergirl.livejournal.com]

Having traded by life for $$$ in the computer world for years, I'd recommend thinking carefully about it. My buddy Phil switched from one of the really huge firms to being a government lawyer, and he's much happier. So, nothing wrong with paying off the Beamer/house for a few years and then switching if it's killing you....

I have the same feeling about people who whine about their circumstances. Probably more so because I did actually work those full time hours to get through undergrad. :-) (Up to and including three jobs when things were tight...) Where do you live?

Re: That's a big 'depending on'

[vicar.livejournal.com]

I'm in Arlington, near Ft. Meyer, about 2 blocks from Iwo Jima / Marine memorial.

I'm not about to slave away for any amount of money - that's why I am government. I just keep my eyes open for opportunties. I'm more likely to take a lower paying job for reasonable hours...but if I can increase the amount I'm paid by hour, with everything factored in, then I could jump.

Now at least, I have a figure. 3 years of experience - that's a measure to keep in mind about how long I might do this if leaving the government becomes a consideration. To double my salary might be a reasonable trade if hte hours are reasonable. Generally it seems for 200k the hours are not reasonable.

Sorry.... :(

[anarcha.livejournal.com]

Actually, probably not. A big firm litigation associate in DC will be pulling $150 max, plus bonus (of course, Bonus is potentially $50k or more, so if you're an absolute superstar, you could break 200k as a 3rd year).

And the two firms discussed above are NOT biglaw firms. You will be making significantly less that what you would make at biglaw.

Also (and I'm sorry to rain on your parade here) but your years of experience in the government would most likely NOT translate into you being put into an advanced class at a big law firm. Especially since, even though they're arguably legal experience, they were accrued BEFORE you got your degree and passed the bar.

I'm not saying don't do this or consider this; I'm just saying that your take on the opportunity is probably a little too rosy.

Re: Sorry.... :(

[anarcha.livejournal.com]

Sorry, didn't look at the charts closely -- $150-170 is a much better estimate for what a third year pulls at DC biglaw. But I repeat, I'd be shocked if the firms you list above would be paying anywhere near that much.

Re: Sorry.... :(

[vicar.livejournal.com]

My feeling as well, no need to be sorry. The only oddity is that these groups do specifically look for people with MSPB and EEOC experience, which I shall have. At the $150 level, even with bonus, it's highly unlikely to be worth leaving the government.

It's true - I hear a lot about the big law firm $, but when I inquire about areas I can go with my particular school, grade/rank, and experience, it's usually not the rosy picture. However, I did watch a coworker from the OFCCP go straight from GMU law to a big firm - only because she openened a new door of clients to them. She's not a great motivator though. She worked big law for big bucks so much her um...husband left her for a secretary. She took him for most everything, and then shifted down to a mid-level firm for like $150 at only 50 hours a week or so. She then got nudged into partner, worked long hours for a while...then fell in love with a bartender, quit, sold everything, bought a boat, and sailed around the world.

I think she returned to law when she ran out of money, but we're out of touch.

Re: Sorry.... :(

[blindtillnow.livejournal.com]

yeah. what you said. you know way more about the firm world than I do. (though i _was_ considering bonus :)

-S

[ellipsedream.livejournal.com]

on environmental considerations during living site selections... and it and that. :::applauds your soap box::: thank you.

[kelowna.livejournal.com]

I liked this one.

Tho it should have stopped half way through.

Two very different accurate points that don't flow well together... should have been seperate posts because by the end of the whole thing the original point had faded slightly.

But damn, yes, work hard thank you!

--kelowna

[vicar.livejournal.com]

It wasn't meant to be well written - just a random bit of stuff. The fact the beginning made some sense was merely a coincidence.

You've said before I should stop my work earlier, that I beat points to death - and I agree. I've made decent points when I've shown some focus. Oh look, a lightning bug!

[tiana67.livejournal.com]

Well you've got it like that." No I don't have it like this, mofo, I made it like this. I chose this.

That so pisses me off. I get that a lot, and I get people that say things like "You, of all people I know, are in the best position to afford this or to buy that".

That is so not the point....sure, maybe I can afford a 30 or 40 thousand car, but wtf should that obligate me to buy one?

[dhairya.livejournal.com]

I think this may be a new record for comments to a serious post. These numbers usually only roll out when you are demanding people lick your hedgehog.

We suffer and strive by our choices.

Good post, you.

[pmhrh.livejournal.com]

I don't care about the water because I live on a hill

man, you should see the hill we live on! never would I have expected the need to deal with flooding aftermath.
apparently, in our case, it was the previous owners' ghetto renovation skills. ya see, they finished the basement and put down wall to wall carpet. however, they never sealed the drain in the center of the floor first. we know the water didn't come in through the walls, instead, it managed to back up and flow right in from the drain.
hell, we don't even know where the drain goes.
who doesn't seal the drain before putting down the carpeting? *bangs head on desk*

[vicar.livejournal.com]

I can actually see some utility to saving the drain, and can also see how it is unexpected to have the thing back up. This rain is ... not just unusual, but as some others pointed out to me - has resulted in flooding previously unheard of due to irresponsible development. The ground can't absorb the rain when we pave everything.

I guess now you have the ability to seal the drain when you want, and if you flood for plumbing issues you can unseal it? Must be some use to the thing.