The leavings of the day

Well, today has been a semi-profitable day. I accomplished a little bit, but received no remuneration, so far. I awoke this morning and ate breakfast, took a shower and dressed. I thought I was together. I drove to the office and sat in my chair, reading the mail and the emails and other assorted communications. At lunch, I grabbed my coat and put it on and drove to the grocery for a few supplies. As I drove, I looked down at my coat and my pants and realized that they were two completely different shades of green. One was a blue green, the other more of a brown green. So, when I reached the grocery store parking lot, I took off my coat and entered the grocery sans jacket.

I finally made it home and ate lunch with the crew. After several communiques from wife and in laws I headed for Barnesville. In the clerk's office in Barnesville, Bill Lindsey and Norman Smith were busy searching titles. I opined that that was the most lawyers in the Lamar County Clerk's Office, at one time, in at least four months. The other lawyers agreed. I completed my work, told a story to Bill Lindsey, and drove back to the Griffin. A pleasant little interlude.

I stopped by the house to pick up a receipt from Cindy. I inquired of supper. I was told we would have pasta. I made further inquiries of possible deliveries from Becky Lane, and was told she would come tomorrow evening. I was then questioned as to whether I was looking for other alternatives. "No", I said, "I was just wondering."

I returned to the office and the uncle of someone accused of a crime in Griffin called and promised me that he would bring me a check for my services. Much can happen between promise and delivery. Apparently, his nephew is innocent and the victim of over-zealous police activities. Not so surprising actually. However, a common story. The uncle was concerned that I not have a relationship with the police. I said, no, no more than any attorney who has to deal with them from time to time, in a town such as Griffin.

I made a call to a borrower on a closing for this afternoon. I informed him that I would not be there by 4:00 as originally promised, due to the fact that I don't have the closing package yet. He said that was fine. I asked him how late I could come by. He said he was to be there all evening. I told him I would call when I received the package. He said that was fine. We then received a call from the company who employed us, the person saying that I had told him that I couldn't close the loan because I didn't have the package. Patti and I both informed the person that, no, I hadn't said that. Instead, I told the borrower that I would close it when I had the package, and that I would call him when I received the package. There was a subtle difference between those two statements which apparently was lost on the lender. The more I do this stuff, the more I realize that the people who work in this industry were seldom educated in communication skills or English. I also find that anything I say can be turned around and given a negative connotation which wasn't originally intended when I uttered the statement originally. And levied at me in an accusation which places me on the defensive unnecessarily. I think Hamlet's soliquoy contains some words on what can be done to avoid these types of situations. Where, oh, where, is my bare bodkin?

I am now awaiting the loan package for the closing in Monticello. We have been promised same soon. I will leave my writing for a few moments and drive to Verizon to inquire about Cindy's phone. I hope that when I return there will be a closing package awaiting me.