Well, the traveling court reporter hasn't done much traveling this month. I've stayed local - spent some time at the NC Business Court reporting motions hearings. I attended an interesting Case Management Session in Vance County last Friday.
Next week, though, will be fun. I'm headed south to Moore County (think: Golf - that's where Southern Pines and Pinehurst are located) to spend the week reporting the criminal session of superior court. I'm told - but there's no guarantee - that I'll get transcripts. However, meeting the different folks in the courthouses makes this job so much fun.
Driving 90 minutes one way, though - considering I'm north of Raleigh - in rush hour should be a challenge. The truck has just gotten an oil change and tire rotation, so we're ready to go.
Woo-hoo. I wonder if I should try to play a round of golf... well, probably not since I've not played any golf since I was 15 years old. But I bet the area will be beautifully lush.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Friday, April 11, 2008
Cancellations still happen!
Even in the court situation, sometimes you get sent home. I was all dressed up and ready to work on Wednesday for a hearing in Wake Superior Court. I got myself to the courtroom about 30 minutes early - rode up the elevator with the clerk, also a friend of mine - and found out that the hearing was off.
How? The attorney met the clerk and me in her office and said they'd taken a voluntary dismissal. Bummer! I drove all the way in, got psyched to work... and no go.
That's the world of court reporting. Some weeks you're writing hundreds and hundreds of pages; others you're barely writing tens and tens. The beautiful thing is it's never the same day twice - you're never, ever bored.
How? The attorney met the clerk and me in her office and said they'd taken a voluntary dismissal. Bummer! I drove all the way in, got psyched to work... and no go.
That's the world of court reporting. Some weeks you're writing hundreds and hundreds of pages; others you're barely writing tens and tens. The beautiful thing is it's never the same day twice - you're never, ever bored.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Post-Convention Reality Check
Going to convention just gets me all jazzed up.
I bought the new writer and saw that fantastic program - and now I'm going to order it. But first I have to unpack and answer all the voicemail/email messages that accumulated over the weekend.
I cannot begin to share how uplifting and invigorating a convention experience is. If you were a little burned out, you see people really excited about the profession; if you're in need of a new piece of equipment, there's all kinds of stuff there; and just talking to people who "get it" is so reaffirming.
Today I'm back at the computer, getting out transcripts, meeting those deadlines, but also taking stock of my next few months and where I want to go with my training. New writer, CRR test, local conventions, hopefully to the Anaheim national convention in July. Wow.
I love my profession - even when there's a bad day from time to time.
I bought the new writer and saw that fantastic program - and now I'm going to order it. But first I have to unpack and answer all the voicemail/email messages that accumulated over the weekend.
I cannot begin to share how uplifting and invigorating a convention experience is. If you were a little burned out, you see people really excited about the profession; if you're in need of a new piece of equipment, there's all kinds of stuff there; and just talking to people who "get it" is so reaffirming.
Today I'm back at the computer, getting out transcripts, meeting those deadlines, but also taking stock of my next few months and where I want to go with my training. New writer, CRR test, local conventions, hopefully to the Anaheim national convention in July. Wow.
I love my profession - even when there's a bad day from time to time.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Boston Convention & Airport Olympics
This traveling court reporter made her way to Boston for the NCRA Midyear Convention. A nonstop flight on a Delta connection got us to rainy, cold Boston on Friday morning around 9 a.m. Al and I played most of the day, doing the tourist thing (albeit we were on the Trolley Tour and not hoofing it as it was about 38 degrees and pouring) - stopping at Fanueil Hall and Quincy Market, having a cup of clam chowda, cruising past all the historic sites.
The convention was AWESOME! Saw a lot of my friends, gave a presentation (well received, thankfully), had a fantastic meal at Oleana in Cambridge, and, alas, watched the Tar Heels get crushed by Kansas. Even bought a new steno machine (the Light Speed) and plan on signing up for a new program for transcript delivery with electronic signatures.
Sunday found us back at Logan airport for the quick trip home. And then, the adventure began! The flight was exactly ONE SEAT oversold. Al had to be home for his on-call shift, but I thought, HEY, I could use a voucher for travel... so I said I'd take the hit.
They rerouted me home via LaGuardia airport in Queens. My 5:15 connection never left the ground (they canceled it, finally, at 9:37 p.m.) in New York. First they told us there was a ground stop in NYC - which we found out wasn't the case as folks called friends who were flying out of JFK - and then we found out, finally, that it was really an equipment error. Of course, nobody wants to fly on a broken plane; it just would've been nice to find out about that a little earlier. After the cancellation, 70 passengers had to spend time finding new flights, getting luggage - though mine was already in Wake Forest, as it made it back with Al on the original flight - getting toiletries (as I had no luggage, remember), getting our hotel vouchers and food vouchers. Spent about 90 minutes between getting our hotel voucher and making it to the hotel.
Back to the airport Monday morning for an 8:10 flight, nonstop to RDU. They took our boarding passes, drove us to the plane, then told us we had to go back - the crew was going to Richmond, not Raleigh. Back to the terminal. We left LGA at 9:30 a.m. and I made it home, finally, to Wake Forest and my BED, by noon.
Moral of the story: NEVER EVER give up your seat on a nonstop/direct flight; ONLY give up your seat on a flight where you were going to have to have a layover anyway.
But, despite all the anguish, those of us waiting for the plane had a good time - we realized there was nothing we could do but "make lemonade" out of our bad (lemon) day.
The convention was AWESOME! Saw a lot of my friends, gave a presentation (well received, thankfully), had a fantastic meal at Oleana in Cambridge, and, alas, watched the Tar Heels get crushed by Kansas. Even bought a new steno machine (the Light Speed) and plan on signing up for a new program for transcript delivery with electronic signatures.
Sunday found us back at Logan airport for the quick trip home. And then, the adventure began! The flight was exactly ONE SEAT oversold. Al had to be home for his on-call shift, but I thought, HEY, I could use a voucher for travel... so I said I'd take the hit.
They rerouted me home via LaGuardia airport in Queens. My 5:15 connection never left the ground (they canceled it, finally, at 9:37 p.m.) in New York. First they told us there was a ground stop in NYC - which we found out wasn't the case as folks called friends who were flying out of JFK - and then we found out, finally, that it was really an equipment error. Of course, nobody wants to fly on a broken plane; it just would've been nice to find out about that a little earlier. After the cancellation, 70 passengers had to spend time finding new flights, getting luggage - though mine was already in Wake Forest, as it made it back with Al on the original flight - getting toiletries (as I had no luggage, remember), getting our hotel vouchers and food vouchers. Spent about 90 minutes between getting our hotel voucher and making it to the hotel.
Back to the airport Monday morning for an 8:10 flight, nonstop to RDU. They took our boarding passes, drove us to the plane, then told us we had to go back - the crew was going to Richmond, not Raleigh. Back to the terminal. We left LGA at 9:30 a.m. and I made it home, finally, to Wake Forest and my BED, by noon.
Moral of the story: NEVER EVER give up your seat on a nonstop/direct flight; ONLY give up your seat on a flight where you were going to have to have a layover anyway.
But, despite all the anguish, those of us waiting for the plane had a good time - we realized there was nothing we could do but "make lemonade" out of our bad (lemon) day.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Easter Week Travels
So Maundy Thursday (or the Thursday before Easter...) I get a call from the scheduling coordinator. You're assigned for THE WEEK in Randolph County. I call hubby immediately and say, "Refresh my memory. Where is Randolph County?" To which he replied, "Asheboro." And I about croaked. Let's just say it's not an easy place to get to from Wake Forest!
But I'm always game for an adventure! So this morning, 6:50 a.m., I hit the road. Raleigh is NOTORIOUS for its bad traffic - now, not so bad as DC or LA, but for the lack of infrastructure, it's pretty horrendous. Anyway... the map I got from online told me to go to Greensboro, then south; I thought, nah, that's not right. I ended up taking the new "Northern Wake Expressway" to its western terminus, drove down NC 55, and then west on US 64. Took me an hour and 45 minutes to reach my destination. It was raining. However, I was about an hour and 45 minutes early! (Hey, first day of court I like to be at least an hour early, so it wasn't horrible).
Court was great. I met Judge Hardin (former prosecutor in Durham County - Michael Peterson case???!!) and the resident reporter (Mona) and all the other GREAT people in state service. From lawyers, to clerks, to bailiffs, everyone greeted me warmly and treated me kindly.
I think that's what I like best about the job so far - the people are SO friendly! Compared to my freelance life, where you rarely got a thank you, court is just a big happy family. :)
PLUS I got my very first "official" transcript ordered today!! Woo-hoo!
But I'm always game for an adventure! So this morning, 6:50 a.m., I hit the road. Raleigh is NOTORIOUS for its bad traffic - now, not so bad as DC or LA, but for the lack of infrastructure, it's pretty horrendous. Anyway... the map I got from online told me to go to Greensboro, then south; I thought, nah, that's not right. I ended up taking the new "Northern Wake Expressway" to its western terminus, drove down NC 55, and then west on US 64. Took me an hour and 45 minutes to reach my destination. It was raining. However, I was about an hour and 45 minutes early! (Hey, first day of court I like to be at least an hour early, so it wasn't horrible).
Court was great. I met Judge Hardin (former prosecutor in Durham County - Michael Peterson case???!!) and the resident reporter (Mona) and all the other GREAT people in state service. From lawyers, to clerks, to bailiffs, everyone greeted me warmly and treated me kindly.
I think that's what I like best about the job so far - the people are SO friendly! Compared to my freelance life, where you rarely got a thank you, court is just a big happy family. :)
PLUS I got my very first "official" transcript ordered today!! Woo-hoo!
Monday, March 17, 2008
I love weekends
I have had some great weekends!
The 'traveling court reporter' was able to travel to Washington, DC - well, really Vienna & Reston, VA - last weekend, the 7-9, to volunteer at NCRA headquarters. Every year I make the trek up I-95 to see my friends and call countless reporters from across the country to remind them to re-up with our national association. It's a long and grueling couple of days, but so rewarding. It's nice to see folks realize what exactly our association does behind the scenes for court reporters.
This weekend was my favorite liturgical holiday - Palm Sunday. Such wonderful music - and the memories from my youth of palm fronds and my sweet kitty, Dusty, playing with the frond after church. All glory, laud, and honor to Thee, Redeemer King.
We had our wine party this weekend too. Spanish reds shared with neighbors. Great food and conversation.
And, of course, the ACC tournament. What a weekend!
The 'traveling court reporter' was able to travel to Washington, DC - well, really Vienna & Reston, VA - last weekend, the 7-9, to volunteer at NCRA headquarters. Every year I make the trek up I-95 to see my friends and call countless reporters from across the country to remind them to re-up with our national association. It's a long and grueling couple of days, but so rewarding. It's nice to see folks realize what exactly our association does behind the scenes for court reporters.
This weekend was my favorite liturgical holiday - Palm Sunday. Such wonderful music - and the memories from my youth of palm fronds and my sweet kitty, Dusty, playing with the frond after church. All glory, laud, and honor to Thee, Redeemer King.
We had our wine party this weekend too. Spanish reds shared with neighbors. Great food and conversation.
And, of course, the ACC tournament. What a weekend!
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Employee from Self-Employed
Going from being self-employed to being an employee is a change! Time sheets, mileage logs, state emails, protocols, training. Wow!
I turned in my first time sheet in 15 years on Monday. Got a paycheck too. A real, official check where some RETIREMENT savings was taken out automatically. That felt pretty awesome.
What I'm finding hard in this transition is really paying attention to my time and where it goes. Freelance, as long as you get your transcripts out, it doesn't matter when you do it; here, for the State, you're pretty much on-call for them from 8:30 to 5:30, so while I can run errands, I'm not really free. My weekends are now full of all the stuff that I used to do during the week - and I find I'm grumbling a little bit. It seems I'm now like everybody else. LOL.
The days when I'm on the Board are challenging. I try to spend at least a few hours upstairs in my office - filing, editing the hearings I've taken, getting paperwork done - but I'm still procrastinating on stuff that needs to be done: Taxes. I got my extension filed and even though I'm not in court today (or possibly tomorrow), I'm looking warily over at my table, knowing that I have to sort through all my reports and receipts and make sure the numbers tally with my QuickBooks.
Maybe I'll get called for court tomorrow.
I turned in my first time sheet in 15 years on Monday. Got a paycheck too. A real, official check where some RETIREMENT savings was taken out automatically. That felt pretty awesome.
What I'm finding hard in this transition is really paying attention to my time and where it goes. Freelance, as long as you get your transcripts out, it doesn't matter when you do it; here, for the State, you're pretty much on-call for them from 8:30 to 5:30, so while I can run errands, I'm not really free. My weekends are now full of all the stuff that I used to do during the week - and I find I'm grumbling a little bit. It seems I'm now like everybody else. LOL.
The days when I'm on the Board are challenging. I try to spend at least a few hours upstairs in my office - filing, editing the hearings I've taken, getting paperwork done - but I'm still procrastinating on stuff that needs to be done: Taxes. I got my extension filed and even though I'm not in court today (or possibly tomorrow), I'm looking warily over at my table, knowing that I have to sort through all my reports and receipts and make sure the numbers tally with my QuickBooks.
Maybe I'll get called for court tomorrow.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)