Busy day - getting better

Its late but I've got most all work done today. Today is Wednesday - Hump Day - and it was truly a "getting over the hump". I knew I would have to do some work this evening, so I caught a 15 minute nap earlier and am now wide awake :)

Tomorrow we have a number of trials, so I want to get a good start on that. I have hired 2 new people to asisst me at work so I'm feeling good about that. It was one of my 2011 goals.

The other goal is to spend some more "thinking time". For example, an appointment with myself. I've done that in the past and would like to continue. Former President Bill Clinton looked back to say, he wished he spent more time thinking while he was President. So while motion is good, thought is also good.

Sarah brought home a new book and I'm reading it "Awakenings". Very interesting initial discussion on Parkinson's Disease and the Dr. Thomas Parkinson who "cracked the code" on it in 1820 in London.

A Day at the Alvarez Ranch

We went to my friend Oscar's ranch today where he raises Beefmaster cows. It was pretty interesting - my other friend Brent raises cattle and so there's a lot I've heard about: artificial insemination, embryo transfer, embryo wash, etc. It seems like it a question of time and trial to get the right "recipe". He was pleased to say that 3 of his cows had sold for a total of $10k at the Three Rivers auction recently, so that was a coup.

We had a nice lunch. We were there with Sarah and his son Oscar/ "Andy" who is also Sarah's new beau. So they enjoyed spending the day together as well. After a tour of the ranch by Polaris, we enjoyed sitting on the patio. Very mild day. Later some other friends dropped by so it was an enjoyable afternoon.

Nice weekend

I've caught up on some sleep this weekend. It started by falling asleep on the couch Friday night after getting home from an early happy hour. No booze, just an early dinner after missing lunch. When I got home, no one was there so I watched my new TV :) and then dozed off.

I stayed up for Sarah at 11:30 and then went to bed and sleep a bit late. I had a final 10 mile run to get ready for the Houston Marathon on January 30. The run was great, faster than marathon pace, and during the middle of the morning to get used to being out at that time.

I am doing a bit of work this afternoon, then we are going to a movie tonight
NO STRINGS ATTACHED and then tomorrow to the Alvarez Ranch in the afternoon. So lots of good times together.

I'm trying to get things squared away since I'll be gone next weekend. The week should go fast. Then we go to Scottsdale, AZ Thursday Feb. 3

Bad News - an old friend

My first legal clerk job in 1990 was with attorney John Cochran, a real estate lawyer in Houston. He was a real gentleman, old school, former president of the club. I remember going to see him about a job and he was gracious, basically hiring a person with no experience. And at a good wage as I recall. I worked there for 6 weeks and tried my best to do a good job, even though I was pretty inexperienced. I had other jobs but that was the place I remember the most.

Fast forward, his son, also a Houston lawyer, a friend of mine (although I haven't seen him in some time)...


HOUSTON - A Houston attorney is facing a lot of time behind bars. Harris County prosecutors say Robert Greg Cochran, 47, took advantage of his clients after allegedly settling their legal cases and keeping the money.

Cochran was hired to represent Houston Flower Shop owner Peter Razzouq in a dispute with his landlord. Prosecutors say Cochran learned of an insurance claim Razzouq had from Hurricane Ike and began work on that aspect of the case without his client’s permission.
Investigators say Cochran actually settled the case and never told Razzouq about the $140,000 he pocketed. The Houston business owner says he's been ruined by Cochran's actions.

There is a second case prosecutors are releasing few details on at this point.
Harris County Court records show Cochran admitted taking Razzouq's money after meeting with the alleged victim in a dinner meeting.

Cochran is being held at the Harris County Jail on a $600,000 bond.

The video referenced a gambling problem - as my sister put it, SAD!

More Q's

{one} name one thing you worry about running out of.
Pilot G-2 gel pens and yellow legal pads

{two} what is your favorite pizza topping?
Sausage

{three} what is your favorite harrison ford movie?
Raiders of the Lost Ark, but also American Graffiti (remember him?)

{four} apple juice or orange juice?
apple juice from the NYC farmer's market. Had it once.

{five} what’s your favorite thing to do on a sunday afternoon?
9 holes of golf

{six} what is the wallpaper on your cellphone of?
Corvette ZR-1 in front of the 1017 Cafe in San Isidro, TX

{seven} do you have a favorite tv commercial?
Allstate Mayhem Lawyer

{eight} what is the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten?
Octopus in Lisbon Portugal

{nine} what is one piece of clothing you can’t live without?
blue dress shirt- my "flying shirt"

{ten} if you were a character from “lost”, who would you be?
The Matthew Fox one of course. Don't you think we look alike?

To Midland and Back

One of my goals is to drive to California. I accomplished leg #1 this last 3 days by going from McAllen to Midland (590 miles) and another goal was to drive the 80mph speed limits of I-10W in the AMG. Done! The 80 mph road did not disappoint as there was very little traffic. Like most roads, left lane for passing, and everyone kept about to the limit, but I could comfortably cruise at 83 mph. Very smooth! I left Sunday at 0800 and took the back way through Freer and Tilden (Highway 16 where it is 75 mph) and caught I35 to I-10 San Antonio.

I went to visit my friend Bill W. who moved from Harlingen back to his home town of Midland. I had not seen him in a while and of course, had never been to Midland. It reminded me of Albuquerque - high plains, dry air, kind of a little big town. Sunday night we had dinner at his apartment with his stepdaughter Hillary who was visiting from Texas Tech. That was a highlight. We went out for ice cream afterwards.

Monday was MLK Day so it was a holiday and we all spent it running around to get Hillary's car worthy for the next semester (inspection, oil change, insurance card). She left and then we drove around and saw the George W. Bush boyhood home, Midland H.S., Bill and Sean's homes, the Midland Country Club and a few other neighborhoods. Sean is our mutual friend whom put us together. That night we went to the Wall ST. Bar and Grill and it was a very nice local place. I recommend it. I had the teriyaki shishkebob with fried shrimp, wild rice, bleu cheese salad, bread and strawberry cheesecake. I was a happy guy!

Today I left about 7 after a Cracker Barrel breakfast but got lost and didn't leave Midland until about 8. The GPS system went haywire, after the antenna broke. I got on track and enjoyed the drive back, going past the Table Mesa Mountains. The Pecos area is very interesting. Then back on I-10 East, very little traffic. Got to San Antonio at 1:00 with time for lunch and got to my 2:00 meeting early.

Leaving San Antonio at 4:00, things caught up to me after it got dark. I took it easy and made regular stops, but got home at 8:15. No one home! Sarah is at a basketball game and Susan a work dinner.

Now that I've show I can drive across Texas, next step, to Tucson and then to So Cal!

It's Friday

I've been working so solidly this week that now that it is Friday, I'm just about spent. Amazing how a big to-do list earlier in the week gets down to the point of "wait til next week".

I'm heading to Midland, TX for a quick trip to visit friend Bill W. or Big Bill. Bill used to live here but moved back to Midland ( his hometown) and I have never been there. So I'm killing 2 birds with one stone. Actually more - this is leg 1 of my goal to drive to the west coast. Leg 1 is McAllen/Midland. Leg 2 will likely be Tucson to California and the last one, leg 3, Dallas to Las Vegas (preferably by motorcycle!). Why Dallas? Easier to rent a car or cycle from there.

Tuesday I'll be driving back and will stop in San Antonio for a business meeting.