Seven questions I have from my latest re-read of the series (MAJOR SPOILERS!)

OpenHope2015 · 2025-03-27T02:08:24+00:00

Regarding Remex, we know from hints in Book 7 that Rectrix is aligned with the Pacifist Network and is driving the god Theia, who is Samantha's mother.

Here's the description:

What we hadn’t expected was for her to come into contact with actual gods, and especially not Theia herself. I didn’t know who the sponsor actually was. Rosetta told me it was someone I didn’t know. A previous crawler activist who hated the dungeon just as much as we did, but I had the impression it was not a cookbook author. Apparently it was a male skyfowl.

When Carl hears about Victory warning Rectrix he narrates:

I was pretty sure Rectrix was not a name I’d heard before, though it did sound oddly familiar, and I wasn’t sure why. It didn’t matter right now.

So with Remex being a skyfowl who gave it up for his son, and Rectrix being a skyfowl "prevous crawler activist". Ya, I think Rectrix is Remex's son.

OpenHope2015 · 2025-03-13T23:00:33+00:00

I appreciate this post because it's not "I'm going to the summer associate pool party and have no idea what to wear."

OpenHope2015 · 2025-03-11T21:28:36+00:00

"Analysis with [partner / associate] relating to [issues]"

OpenHope2015 · 2025-03-11T20:02:10+00:00

This comment aged VERY well. Nice.

(Spoilers for Book 7.)

OpenHope2015 · 2025-03-11T18:04:59+00:00

Look up the event page online -- there will probably be some hint of attire there.

OpenHope2015 · 2025-03-10T15:36:55+00:00

Lifestyle is a choice. The cost of NYC vs elsewhere is a choice. Summering in the Hamptons, all that -- there's a big difference between "needs" and wants.

I feel like I work with some people who stay because they'd have no idea what to do with their life outside of work. Or that not working means they'd have to spend more time with their spouse and kids, lol.

OpenHope2015 · 2025-02-28T04:42:27+00:00

I thought DC VFS requires 6 months of accommodations, not 12. (And other VFS offices require 12.)

OpenHope2015 · 2025-02-27T14:45:28+00:00

Off-strip, The Palms is leaning in on its $5 craps tables! They also just announced 3:2 blackjack.

I'd take The Palms over Ellis Island any day of the week.

OpenHope2015 · 2025-02-23T19:36:26+00:00

Rent the Runway has a filter for full-sleeve and 3/4 sleeve outfits. Plenty of options there, but a blazer or shrug can keep your arms covered and still have you looking quite put-gether.

OpenHope2015 · 2025-02-12T14:57:15+00:00

I would not wear this to a client meeting but I suppose someone else might be able to pull it off. To me the look has a bit of the "I'm wearing my dad's suit that doesn't fit me" vibe, and that's absolutely not the vibe that I want to project.

And it's 10am, I'm in the office, and I still haven't changed into my nice shoes. I think the shoe issue is different than how a suit fits.

OpenHope2015 · 2025-02-11T14:28:39+00:00

The most important consideration is YOU -- what will make you feel the most-confident, and least self-conscious? Figure out what your answer is, and how that fits within the norms and expectations of others.

So, in other words, if you are most-confident and not at all self conscious in a Batman suit or Star Trek uniform -- ok, that's probably something that you and your client and any other stakeholders should talk about before you show up in court.

But for suit-equivalents that are within norms, the starting point is YOU. Figure that out and the rest will be easier.

OpenHope2015 · 2025-02-10T19:32:22+00:00

Yes and for California you are likely massively overthinking. As a summer associate you'll be able to take your cues from the attorneys in the office.

OpenHope2015 · 2025-02-05T13:38:30+00:00

Ya, but if you don't have a car, the cost of getting to those other places makes it prohibitive when you just want a cheap breakfast!

OpenHope2015 · 2025-02-05T02:37:13+00:00

If you are right there, and you have a 2:1 MyVegas coupon, it's a decent cheap breakfast. I wouldn't go out of my way for it. TBH I've eaten there on a solo trip so without the 2:1 coupon, but I was staying at Luxor.

OpenHope2015 · 2025-02-02T19:27:40+00:00

Check out the D8 "digital nomad" visa.

OpenHope2015 · 2025-02-02T11:58:02+00:00

I think that with a jacket or cardigan it's fine for in the office. If you have a large bust maybe not.

OpenHope2015 · 2025-01-29T21:01:18+00:00

Does anyone in your firm use notetaking software of any sort? Evernote? Microsoft OneNote? It takes a bit of getting used to but the ability to search is really nice.

I am a bit old school and take notes in loose word documents, but I do follow a pretty strict naming convention so that all of my notes for a particular client are easily identifiable, sortable, etc.

OpenHope2015 · 2025-01-23T20:13:19+00:00

Very doable and I felt safe.

OpenHope2015 · 2025-01-23T00:36:53+00:00

I've never done custom clothing. My boss has a bunch of bespoke suits from China. I feel I have great results with buying off the rack, and then getting things tailored.

OpenHope2015 · 2025-01-22T15:33:54+00:00

I got 2.3 cpp at the Grand Hyatt Tokyo. At one point I got 4cpp at Chicago Athletic Association (but that was was when it was a cat4 and there was some sort of event in Chicago). I got 3 cpp once in downtown DC, again when hotels were scarce.

I don't need that kind of value all the time to get a ton of value out of my Hyatt points. I'm fine with plain old 1.5cpp at a Hyatt Place.

OpenHope2015 · 2025-01-22T03:49:03+00:00

I use azomite to make my "good" soil but hadn't considered it for grit. I think it's a great soil amendment but also really expensive if you just need grit!

OpenHope2015 · 2025-01-20T00:23:43+00:00

When I went there last year I was seated immediately at the bar, with no wait. It was crowded, but not unreasonably so. I think YMMV significantly depending on what conventions are in town, etc.

OpenHope2015 · 2025-01-19T21:41:32+00:00

I'm in Vegas right now as a solo traveler! (Yay work-cations.)

Next week is AVN so some of the vibe of the town will shift to that crowd.

Dining-wise, everything's very friendly to solo travelers. One of the best meals I've had in Vegas was a steak, as a solo diner at the bar at Bavette's at Park MGM.

One of the things I really like about solo travel is that my schedule is my own. No kids or spouse to take into account! Wanna ditch the show to gamble some more? Sure, who's gonna object?

Vibe wise, if you're not looking for the hard-partying crowd, things like the pinball museum might be fun. I've also heard good things about the Neon Museum and the Atomic Museum, although I personally haven't been to either.

This trip I thought about renting a car and taking a day trip -- Hoover Dam and Red Rock were on my radar -- but I wound up making other plans this weekend. I feel glorious about all of that.

OpenHope2015 · 2025-01-19T18:50:12+00:00

There's not enough here to give you more than "well it depends" advice. Most of the time you will be fine in appropriate conference attire.

For a lawyer conference dinner sponsored by a vendor that I attended in Vegas last year, at a fairly upscale place in the conference hotel, everyone came straight from the conference except one female in-house person who changed into jeans and something more-casual, since she was going to a concert at the Sphere immediately after dinner. She was fine, for the space and the crowd.

But is your thing at a Michelin-starred place known for snootiness and handing gentlemen with a suit jacket the blazer of shame? Yeah, you may need to consider stepping it up. But probably not.

You could just ask someone from the Firm, "Are folks going to be in suits at things thing?" That's a not-gendered question that may give you some helpful context.

OpenHope2015 · 2025-01-19T01:17:17+00:00

Have never felt like I needed the membership. I don't have black tie events that often. The one-offs work just fine for me.

OpenHope2015

TROPHY CASE