New(ish) cat in my yard

 

I like cats.

A few years ago, I helped someone from the West Seattle Time Bank move boxes from their basement to their yard sale, and she insisted I take something in reward. This cat called to me, of course, but it has taken years for it to find its spot.

Simple Cotton T-Shirt and Me

I'm taking at least 1 picture of myself a month, as a way of accepting and enjoying my continuing growth beyond my mental age of about 23. 

 In this image I am thinking, after getting all sweaty at the Y, that I like my simple cotton t-shirt better than my fancy synthetic wicking sleeveless jersey, if only because these sleeves are useful for mopping sweat off my rapidly expanding forehead! 

(Are you ready to photo your monthly progress?)

Thanks, Pete!

My first full-time job in the private sector was in the 1980s, as a computer programmer for Coleco Industries of West Hartford, Connecticut - the Cabbage Patch Kids company. Our systems analyst’s name was Pete, and our senior programmer was also named Pete. I don’t think I was hired just because my name is not Pete, but it may have helped.

Every year we got forms to fill out concerning how much of our pay to put into a defined contribution retirement plan. One of the Petes asked me how much I was putting in. I said, “I'm gonna put that off for another year. Right now, I’m just making expenses but I’m sure I’ll get a raise next year and I’ll save most of that.”

“Randy, that will never happen. Your lifestyle will always rise to match your paycheck,” said one of the Petes. “When you get a bigger paycheck, you’ll find more to spend it on.”

I bristled inside. I knew in my heart that I had all the virtues and was a mountain of self-discipline. I definitely would save prudently when the time came … just not now.

Pete quietly said, “They match your contribution. 100% match for the first 3%.”

That got my attention. Free money got my attention. I signed up for the max.

Years went by. I got raises, but Pete was right: my lifestyle expanded to fit my paycheck. There was always an opportunity, a need, or just a chance to enjoy life a little that coincidentally fit the amount of money I had saved at the credit union. That mountain of self-discipline was a comforting illusion, good for my ego but not so good for my savings.

Then came the housing industry collapse around 2008. This was a tragedy for millions or maybe tens of millions who lost everything, but for me it was an opportunity to stop paying rent and start paying a mortgage - therefore building equity. I had not been willing to risk my retirement savings on the theory that housing prices would keep climbing - I knew from experience it ain’t necessarily so - but buying into a depressed market was attractive.

And … it was possible only because of that 3% every paycheck going into an account.

(The full story is more complicated due to employer changes, but just roll with it, ok?)

I pulled out enough for down payment, paid taxes and penalties, and moved into the house I live in today. After refinancing during the 2020 collapse, I am now paying less for my 4-bedroom house than I would pay to rent a 1-bedroom apartment 3 blocks from here.

The lesson I’d like to pass on is not that you should hope for financial collapse. That is a bad plan for many reasons.

I feel that waiting until you make enough money to start saving is not going to happen. There will always be something else to spend on - especially if you have kids or other responsibilities.

What might work is to take that money out of your paycheck before you see it, and adjust your lifestyle to what you got left. Nothing in life is certain, but this worked for me and might work for you.

I appreciate that too many people are working too many hours for too little pay to get by, and I don't have an answer for that. But if you can put that 3% away before it hits your paycheck ... and especially if you have employer match ... it might pay off for you as it did for me.

I have lost track of most of my Coleco buddies, but I owe them this: Thank you, Pete, wherever you are. And whichever one you were!

Blooming today what?!?

 

Jim O'Grady replied to this photo with "Camellias are early bloomers, but seem to be even earlier this season."

IYKYK: Button Jar

When I was a kid, families always had these. When shirts and things need repair, a button from the button jar is cheaper and faster to get than one from the store. It's probably a Depression-era/WW2-era practice from my mom, but who knows?

Even today, when I decommission a shirt because it's worn out, I habitually scissor off the buttons into a jar and every 10 years or so give the jar to someone who I hope has a use for its contents. Is this reasonable? who cares!

My friends on Facebook responded to this photo with more than 20 comments; people like to talk about things like this and have many memories.

Accidental Illusion

 I was aiming for an image of Ginny overflowing the front window bed, but upon review, noticed the reflection of the lamp appearing in the photo. Perhaps I'll try again at a different angle to improve the illusion.

Soft Focus Hawthorne

We've still got a few hawthorne fruit on the branches. It's a pretty spot of color on these grey days.

 If they look a little out of focus, just take your glasses off and you'll see them the way they look to me 😉

Blooming January!

 

I used the Timestamp feature to verify that today, a drizzly winter day in Seattle, someone just doesn't know how to quit blooming!

Free CLE Webinars January 2025+

 

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

I'm excited to share this month’s Free CLE Webinar calendar with you. Use it and share it with your network! Please note that while all listings are free, not all are approved for credit in every jurisdiction. For events that don’t list your state, you may be able to self-apply for credit depending on your jurisdiction's rules.

If you discover any new programs, tell me about them - I continuously update the webinar calendar throughout the month at  http://4freeCLE.blogspot.com .

January 2025 Free CLE

January 2:
* The 2025 Real Estate and Economic Outlook. By CES.
January 7:
* Marijuana in the Workplace: An Update and a Look Forward. By LexisNexis.

* Supreme Court Review. Minnesota State Law Library.
January 9:
* Marijuana in the Workplace: An Update and a Look Forward. By LexisNexis.

January 10:
* The Dawning of a New Era: Combining Extractive and Generative AI for New Possibilities. By LexisNexis.
January 14:
* The Dawning of a New Era: Combining Extractive and Generative AI for New Possibilities. By LexisNexis.
* How to Create High-Impact OKRs and KPIs for Mid-Sized Firms. By Clio.
January 15:
* Marijuana in the Workplace: An Update and a Look Forward. By LexisNexis.
* Financial Management Essentials for Small Law Firms in 2025. By Clio.

* Minnesota Digital Exhibit System (MNDES): New Requirements for Exhibits in Evidentiary Proceedings. By Washington County (MN) Law Library.
January 17:
* Diving Deeper into Legal Research Potential: Advanced Online Legal Research Concepts. By LexisNexis.

January 21:
* Marijuana in the Workplace: An Update and a Look Forward. By LexisNexis.

* Getting Trade Ready in 2025: Strategies to Navigate Tariff Impacts. By Cozen O'Connor.

January 22: 

* M&A Year In Review: Utilizing Research Tools To Identify Trends in the Deal Market. By LexisNexis.

January 23: 

* Outsmarting Implicit Bias: How Bias Shows Up and Strategies to Counteract its Impact. By National Conflict Resolution Center.

January 24:

* Bankruptcy Fundamentals. By LexisNexis.

January 27:
* Artificial Intelligence in the Workplace: Legal Implications of Using AI in Employment Decisions. By LexisNexis.
January 29:
* Breached! Cybersecurity 101. By LexisNexis.

* Artificial Intelligence in Employment: Emerging Laws and Compliance Requirements. By LexisNexis.
January 31:
* Diving Deeper into Legal Research Potential: Advanced Online Legal Research Concepts. By LexisNexis.

* Research Skills for IP Litigation. By LexisNexis.

* Forms, Forms, Forms! How to Find and Create the Legal Form That You Need Right Now. By Alameda County Law Library.

February 2025 Free CLE

February 3:

* Breached! Cybersecurity 101. By LexisNexis.

February 4: 

* The Dawning of a New Era: Combining Extractive and Generative AI for New Possibilities. By LexisNexis.

February 5: 

* Preparing Your Client for Mediation. By WSBA.

February 6:
* Bankruptcy - The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. By CES.

* Resistance to Results: How to Drive Change At Your Mid-Sized Firm. By Clio.

February 7: 

* Moneyball for Civil Litigation. By LexisNexis. 

February 10:
* Clio's Legal AI Virtual Summit. By Clio.

February 11: 

* Marijuana in the Workplace: An Update and a Look Forward. By LexisNexis.

February 12: 

* Ethical Dangers of Isolation in the Profession. By Minnesota State Law Library.

* ESG and the Climate: Emerging Risks & Compliance. By LexisNexis.

* Balancing Artificial Intelligence Innovations, Best Practices, and Ethics in Legal Proceedings. By Veritext.

February 13: 

* The Blue Prints: Advanced Strategies for Resolving Construction Disputes and More. By National Conflict Resolution Center.

February 14:

* The Dawning of a New Era: Combining Extractive and Generative AI for New Possibilities. By LexisNexis.

* Research & Drafting Techniques For Corporate Law. By LexisNexis.

February 18: 

* The Dawning of a New Era: Combining Extractive and Generative AI for New Possibilities. By LexisNexis.

February 19: 

* Check, please! Ethical Billing Practices To Avoid Fee Disputes. By AttorneyProte tive.

* A Handy Primer on Drafting and Updating Employee Handbooks. By LexisNexis.
February 20:
* Ethics Jeopardy: Answers and Questions. By Clifford Law Offices.

February 21:

* Cyber Law and Cybersecurity Insurance 101. By LexisNexis.

* Diving Deeper into Legal Research Potential: Advanced Online Legal Research Concepts. By LexisNexis.

February 24:

* Breached! Cybersecurity 101. By LexisNexis.

February 25: 

* Marijuana in the Workplace: An Update and a Look Forward. By LexisNexis.

February 26:

* Artificial Intelligence Key Legal Issues. By LexisNexis.

March 2025 Free CLE

March 5: 

* Research Skills for Litigators. by LexisNexis.

March 6:

* Why Lenders Miss Closing Dates. By CES.

March 7:

* HIPAA - Understanding Enforcement, Penalties & Research Strategies. By LexisNexis.

March 11:

* Use of AI and ChatGPT/LLM In the Law Profession. By Alta Pro.

March 12:

* Artificial Intelligence in the Energy Sector. By LexisNexis.

March 19: 

* Groundbreaking Video Technology: From Advanced Web Cams to Detecting Deepfakes. By Veritext.

* Cybersecurity and Data Breaches. By LexisNexis.

* Evaluating Hospital Procedures for Authorizing Emergency Abortion. By Case Western Reserve University School of Law.

March 21: 

* Researching Experts and Judges. By LexisNexis.

March 25:

* The Future of Legal Pricing: Exploring Value-Based Models. By Perrin.

March 26:

* Introduction to London Arbitrations. By Perrin.

March 28:

* Due Diligence in Intellectual Property Transactions. By LexisNexis.

* Trends to Watch in Antitrust Law. By LexisNexis

April 2025 Free CLE

I am puzzled about the lack of listings so far for April - REW.

May 2025 Free CLE

May 1: 

* Being an Advocate and Shaking Hands Afterwards.  By National Conflict Resolution Center.

May 22:

* The Role of Civility in Negotiations: Engaging in Collaborative Discussions and Dealing with the Challenges of Inflexible Negotiators.  By National Conflict Resolution Center.

June 2025 Free CLE

June 26:
* Probate Pitfalls: Understanding the Impact of Elder Financial Exploitation.  By National Conflict Resolution Center.

That's it for now! Share this information freely, send me any updates, and best of luck to you and yours in the year upcoming - REW.

P.S. If you're in Texas, subscribe to Abdul Faraki's Free CLE for Texas Lawyers.

P.P.S. If you're not in Texas, why not create a Free CLE for Your State website? You must know your state better than I do! If you have technical questions about setting something up, let's we'll chat!

Warmly, 

Randy Winn 

http://4freecle.blogspot.com/