Back in court!

     Today was my first day back in the courtroom after a long well-deserved retirement.  I was fortunate enough to be close to the courthouse when the phone rang for a sub court reporter.  Of course, I fit that profile, since everyone else in the room was busy.  I packed my machine and misc. power cords and walked back up the hill to the Smith County Courthouse.  As I entered the 321st District Court, a sense of excitement overtook me.  I completed my setup which included a laptop, one steno machine and a comfy cushion for my chair, and that my friends is the recipe for an afternoon of listening to attorneys advocate for their clients as the all too familiar pain creeps up the small of your back.  It sounds like I'm complaining, and I am.  (Just a little bit.)  
     Watching the different attorneys, such as, Mike Hogan, Alicia Cashell, Bo Sinclair, Eric Jensen, Cynthia S. Kent, just to name a few.  Listening to family law makes me appreciate the years I spent in Felony Criminal District Court.  I longed for the murder pretrial, the aggravated robbery plea, the revocation of probation, DWI cases, and many others that are so engrained in my mind. 
     Today I heard cases such as fighting over where to drop the kids off at a mutual public place full of witnesses, and the admonishments to be good as you're doing that.  Please, we're talking about adults.  Somebody needs an ass-kicking.  I heard a case where the Judge raised child support on a father and the surprise that was so apparent on his face.  I listened to a little squabble over who gets junior this weekend instead of next.  I even got to sit and listen to a case involving CPS and all of the entourage that comes with that including CASA workers, case workers, lawyers representing the State of Texas, lawyers representing both the deadbeat woman and man that has the lable of biological mother and father.  There were lawers, called "ad litem" that appear and represent the child or children and only serve to advocate for the best interest of the misfortunate children of the aforementioned woman and man. 
     All in all it was a pleasant afternoon.  I define "pleasant" as a trip to the endodontist for a root canal or a cozy afternoon in an IRS audit, just to name a couple.  I think you get the idea. 

I also want to say that I miss my lil' ms. b.  My favorite person!!!  You know who you are!     

For now those are my thoughts.....