![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
The first part of this post, back when it was the whole post in my head, was going to be titled "You've Come A Long Way, Gay-beee"- a homage to a tacky cigarette ad I still remember from growing up. Not sure where the memory of that commercial came from, as I've never smoked (least not tobacco;), but maybe it's because at midnight yesterday I ushered in the new month with a riff on my usual welcoming mantra:
Habit, habit, habit.
June 1 also ushered in Pride Month, and that's what I wanted to congratulate my LGBTQ friends on accomplishing, after I saw this lawn yesterday and finally got back with camera and words this morning:
I am a friend. I am an ally. And I am proud.
This business showed up on the street between my home and office a couple of months ago. I've seen the directory in several local businesses. Yesterday, they went all-in on their Pride. Included on those signs are other local businesses who support them- and, by extension, who support many of you who I count among my closest.
Five years ago, that truck would likely have been vandalized. Ten years ago, the house possibly firebombed. Love has won. Wins are not permanent, and there is still a Loud Not Proud minority who would do harm if they could. But they are dying out, and their hate and bigotry are heard as the ravings of a scared pitiful few, if they are even heard at all.
Happy Pride.
----
After taking and posting those photos, I got into the work at hand on the office end of that voyage. A case referred a month ago finally got to a scheduled hearing that will now lead to mucho filing of papers and service of them with likely paper cuts. I made an office supply run to replenish the envelope stock for the service. I confirmed details on my first June BK filing and progressed two others toward that goal. I also moved over to the other metaphysical side of the desk and scheduled two medical things for myself, both of which were referred from last week's physical. First was calling the specialist for the decennial census of my colon; my first, ten years ago from a different poop-scooper, was all clear, and when a new primary doctor referred me five years later to a new one as they'd referred Eleanor, I did the prep, showed up showing my "best side," and was told only then that my insurance wouldn't cover one at the five-year mark because I had no family history or prior polyps. Prep for nuthin and my poop's for free:P (I want my, I want my, I want my colonoscopy..). I called them back today, and I am good to, um, go for late August.
Our PA also wanted me to have a followup ultrasound to see if there have been any liver changes since they found some small and probably benign things on one 14 months ago, back when I had the Pain That They Never Figured Out Before It Went Away. Again, a call to the same place as last time; they were all, you wanna come in tomorrow? Friday? We settled on Wednesday of next week. Then THEY mentioned "prep." Fortunately, they just meant no eatee/no drinkee for 12 hours before the first-thing appointment. I can manage that. Probably.
----
In between all of that, I basically invited a new client to fire me.
Referral from a friend who no longer practices in this area. Met with client a few weeks ago, gave some general-principle pointers, quoted a retainer and a range for what would be required. Then I started seeing the signs. I wouldn't hear anything for days, and upon calling or emailing, I immediately got a callback. And another. Andanotherandanotherandanother with a text or two thrown in. Finally it was agreed we'd meet just to get additional documents at 12:30 today. I did the office supply run and was back before then, but no sign of client except for a large envelope on my desk. A large check-less envelope. This time, I did the texting: I was here at 12:30. Reply: I left them. Reply to reply: no check. Now, a call: oh, I was gonna mail that.
Uh huh.
I moved on to the other filings and priorities and arrangements for my upcoming photoshoot, and left a little early. After 4, another flurry of voicemails and texts. I'd had enough, so I emailed:
I need to set some limits on what we are doing here. It's a short week and I have several new filings and other time-sensitive projects in process. When I get two phone calls and a text from you all within a few minutes, it does not get your work moved along any faster and just delays the other things I've got going.
Please reserve texting for things like confirming or changing appointments. I turn off my email at the end of the business day so I can have needed time with home and family, but I try to be responsive during business hours. Also, office and cell number go to the same voicemail, so calling twice isn't going to be any different than calling once.
If you find this, or my concern about the initial payment, to be troubling, I will discontinue work on this and will return your check if you've sent it. Otherwise, I will review what you have sent when I am in my other office tomorrow and will get back Friday with my initial recommendations.
Any reply sent by email hasn't been seen, because, I do indeed turn off Incoming Outlook to my phone and don't push the pushybutton on the laptop after hours. No text or call, though, which I consider a good sign. If it's not going to work out, better to figure that out now.
Habit, habit, habit.
June 1 also ushered in Pride Month, and that's what I wanted to congratulate my LGBTQ friends on accomplishing, after I saw this lawn yesterday and finally got back with camera and words this morning:
I am a friend. I am an ally. And I am proud.
This business showed up on the street between my home and office a couple of months ago. I've seen the directory in several local businesses. Yesterday, they went all-in on their Pride. Included on those signs are other local businesses who support them- and, by extension, who support many of you who I count among my closest.
Five years ago, that truck would likely have been vandalized. Ten years ago, the house possibly firebombed. Love has won. Wins are not permanent, and there is still a Loud Not Proud minority who would do harm if they could. But they are dying out, and their hate and bigotry are heard as the ravings of a scared pitiful few, if they are even heard at all.
Happy Pride.
----
After taking and posting those photos, I got into the work at hand on the office end of that voyage. A case referred a month ago finally got to a scheduled hearing that will now lead to mucho filing of papers and service of them with likely paper cuts. I made an office supply run to replenish the envelope stock for the service. I confirmed details on my first June BK filing and progressed two others toward that goal. I also moved over to the other metaphysical side of the desk and scheduled two medical things for myself, both of which were referred from last week's physical. First was calling the specialist for the decennial census of my colon; my first, ten years ago from a different poop-scooper, was all clear, and when a new primary doctor referred me five years later to a new one as they'd referred Eleanor, I did the prep, showed up showing my "best side," and was told only then that my insurance wouldn't cover one at the five-year mark because I had no family history or prior polyps. Prep for nuthin and my poop's for free:P (I want my, I want my, I want my colonoscopy..). I called them back today, and I am good to, um, go for late August.
Our PA also wanted me to have a followup ultrasound to see if there have been any liver changes since they found some small and probably benign things on one 14 months ago, back when I had the Pain That They Never Figured Out Before It Went Away. Again, a call to the same place as last time; they were all, you wanna come in tomorrow? Friday? We settled on Wednesday of next week. Then THEY mentioned "prep." Fortunately, they just meant no eatee/no drinkee for 12 hours before the first-thing appointment. I can manage that. Probably.
----
In between all of that, I basically invited a new client to fire me.
Referral from a friend who no longer practices in this area. Met with client a few weeks ago, gave some general-principle pointers, quoted a retainer and a range for what would be required. Then I started seeing the signs. I wouldn't hear anything for days, and upon calling or emailing, I immediately got a callback. And another. Andanotherandanotherandanother with a text or two thrown in. Finally it was agreed we'd meet just to get additional documents at 12:30 today. I did the office supply run and was back before then, but no sign of client except for a large envelope on my desk. A large check-less envelope. This time, I did the texting: I was here at 12:30. Reply: I left them. Reply to reply: no check. Now, a call: oh, I was gonna mail that.
Uh huh.
I moved on to the other filings and priorities and arrangements for my upcoming photoshoot, and left a little early. After 4, another flurry of voicemails and texts. I'd had enough, so I emailed:
I need to set some limits on what we are doing here. It's a short week and I have several new filings and other time-sensitive projects in process. When I get two phone calls and a text from you all within a few minutes, it does not get your work moved along any faster and just delays the other things I've got going.
Please reserve texting for things like confirming or changing appointments. I turn off my email at the end of the business day so I can have needed time with home and family, but I try to be responsive during business hours. Also, office and cell number go to the same voicemail, so calling twice isn't going to be any different than calling once.
If you find this, or my concern about the initial payment, to be troubling, I will discontinue work on this and will return your check if you've sent it. Otherwise, I will review what you have sent when I am in my other office tomorrow and will get back Friday with my initial recommendations.
Any reply sent by email hasn't been seen, because, I do indeed turn off Incoming Outlook to my phone and don't push the pushybutton on the laptop after hours. No text or call, though, which I consider a good sign. If it's not going to work out, better to figure that out now.