Fischberg Flashback 35: I Like to Move It, Move It

Note: this was originally published to Ben Around the Block on June 2, 2025.  I have made minor changes.

 

Well, it took a while to get to and it was an arduous process, but I’ve finally moved into Alpha House!

The past week has moved right along, with work taking center stage in my life.  Some days are more intense than others, but I’m adapting and thriving.  I’m slowly being given more responsibilities, such as filing documents at the courthouse on my own and dropping off mail.  On less-work-related fronts, I’ve been taking chances and trying out as many restaurants in Salem as possible.  With so much variety, I’ll definitely be busy sampling for the next few weeks!

After my adventures at the jail annex, there was one other little bit of excitement I had this week.  On Friday, as I was coming back to the office from filing documents in court, I stopped at a mailbox in order to drop off the mail (the two aforementioned new responsibilities).  As I put the letters in the slot, I heard a voice say, “Excuse me sir?”  I turned around and saw a uniformed police officer walking towards me.  He asked for my name, which I readily gave to him.  He then asked for identification to prove that I was who I said I was, so I gingerly got out my driver’s license.  He explained that I apparently looked like someone he was currently looking for.  Sure enough, the man in the wanted poster on his clipboard did bear a slight resemblance to me, albeit without glasses or a beard (in other words, he actually looked nothing like me).  Upon inspecting my license, he concluded that I wasn’t the man he was looking for and walked away after giving me back my license.  Between this and my near-arraignment, I’ve been getting a lot closer to the criminal justice system than I anticipated.  It’s times like this that I think my life is slowly morphing into a wacky sitcom…

And now for a commercial break!

…

EAT BASKIN-ROBBINS ICE CREAM!

…

Break is over, back to our regularly scheduled program, Ben Around The Block!

Anyhoo, yesterday was my long-awaited move into Alpha House.  My hosts at Gamma House were kind enough to transport all my things to Alpha House, where I proceeded to start unpacking all of my worldly possessions, which are rather few, given my current independent status in life.

Grocery shopping was a bit of a pain; I hadn’t done it in a while and I needed to stock up on garbage bags, something I was lacking.  Also, my trusty reusable bag broke.  For now, I’ve got just about everything I need…except companionship, as this house is completely empty and very lonesome.  To fill the gap, I plan to dedicate myself to work, socialize with local friends as much as possible, and rot my brains out with video games once my new TV is hooked up.

So yeah, I’m all moved in, I’m adjusting to my new surroundings, and I am now more independent than ever before.  Now, the real fun starts.

 

Reflections from 2025 Ben:

My move to Alpha House represented the real start of independence, as I now was on my own and had to set my own routines.  Living on your own for the first time kind of feels like being 4 years old; you're learning everything about the world, experiencing things for the first time, and spending more time dealing with the toilet than you'd like.

This post originally had photos comparing my living quarters, but those photos have been lost to time. 

Fischberg Flashback 34: Arraign Train

Note: this was originally posted to Ben Around the Block on May 27, 2014.  I have made some minor edits; most notably, I've redacted all real names, as I am currently unable to get permission to mention anyone by name.

 

Hi, everyone!  After a long weekend, it’s good to be back!

After three days of relaxing, sleeping, napping, resting, and snoozing (Noticing a pattern here?), I was all refreshed and ready to get back to work…only to find myself in jail!

…Yep, this is jail.  To be exact, it’s the annex of the Marion County Jail, which contains a fully functional courthouse meant for arraignments.  Most importantly, it’s where I spent this morning!

For the less legal-minded, arraignments are a simple legal proceeding in which a defendant, detained or otherwise, comes into court, has the charges against them formally explained to them, enters a plea, and files a form to have an attorney appointed to their case if they don’t already have one.  Got all that?  Congratulations, you know more about arraignments than two of the defendants who were in court today hoping to debunk their charges then and there (I’ll elaborate on their sins, along with other cases of general dumb@$$ery I’ve seen, in a later post)!

Tagging along with M [actual name redacted], one of the legal assistants at the office, I rode along to the county jail and settled in one of the courtrooms that was specifically reserved for arraignments.  With its stone walls and somewhat dull lighting, the courtroom almost had the feeling of a medieval dungeon (The fact that there was a door in the back that led directly to the jail’s cellblock did not detract from this feeling).  The gallery was filled with people, and the arraignments were already in process.  I quickly got a seat in the gallery next to a beautiful young woman.  She greeted me kindly, waved, and smiled (dare I say it) in an almost flirtatious manner.  I relaxed and returned the greeting, wave, and smile.  Between the light flirting and the awesome jurisprudence action up ahead, I figured this was going to be a good day.

As luck would have it, she was the next person scheduled to be arraigned and pled guilty to third-degree theft five minutes after flirting with me.  And that is the story of how I flirted with a thief, something that apparently doesn’t just happen in movies.

The rest of the arraignments went smoothly and quickly (outside of the aforementioned dumb@$$ery).  For each case, the presiding judge confirmed the defendant’s name and date of birth, confirmed the defendant’s choice of an attorney, then gave them a form that explained their charges and rights, which they filled out in the gallery.  In a few cases, defendants that had been approached by the DA’s office with plea bargain deals pled guilty, admitting their guilt before the stern-yet-compassionate judge.  One of the more notable cases was a young man who pled guilty to two theft charges.  Specifically, he had stolen clothes from Sears on two separate days.  The judge let him off with a fine, a warning, and encouragement to get a job, telling him explicitly, “You’re not a very good thief, are you?”  That mild embarrassment from having his crime skills being dissed by a judge probably went well with the embarrassment of admitting to shoplifting (He was also 18, which made me feel really old.).  Overall, arraignment justice is nasty, brutish, and short.

As the arraign train chugged on (we have a title!), the gallery slowly emptied.  Turns out just about everyone in the gallery was a defendant waiting his/her turn to be arraigned.  After an hour or so, the gallery was completely empty, save me and M, who was finishing up some paperwork.  As I stood up and prepared to leave, the judge noticed me and asked me what I was here for.  When I was at a loss for words to explain, he asked if I was on the docket to be arraigned.  Maybe it was just my overactive imagination, but I could have sworn that the bailiff started towards me.  Here I was, about to be arraigned for a crime I knew nothing about!  What was I supposed to say?  What was I supposed to plead?!  WHO WOULD BE MY LAWYER?!?!  Fortunately, I was saved from misplaced prosecution by M, who explained that I was a student who was with her.  The judge approved of my presence and studies and wished me well.  As such, I was one of the few gallery members who left without being arraigned on any charges!

After that series of adventures, I accompanied M back to work and resumed my usual duties.  Because the vacationing receptionist was no longer vacationing, I now have much fewer responsibilities at work.  Although I was recruited to help process some of the incoming mail, my primary duties are now sending out outgoing mail and scanning closed case files so that they can be archived.  I gave it my all today (as I usually do, to be honest) and left work at the end of the day tired, yet satisfied.  Between the arraignments, the flirting and the evaded indictment, I had one heck of a field trip today!  My supervisor hinted that I might be able to attend more arraignments in the future.  Assuming I’m not the one being charged, I’ll be sure to enjoy such future excursions!

Reflections:

Eleven years later, arraignment justice is still nasty, brutish, and short (though I never experience flirting or near-arrests anymore).  Things are also done differently in Tillamook County, as people don't enter a plea (or enter a plea bargain) until case management about a month later (I have had to explain this to a lot of people expecting Marion County-style arraignments).  Arraignments are also done at the circuit court, not the jail.  People detained in jail used to be brought over in person for arraignments at the end of the day, but they now appear by video in this post-Covid world.  Given that I'll be returning to Marion County in a few months, I anticipate seeing what eleven years of change looks like on this front.

Fischberg Flashback 33: Reception!

Note: this was originally posted to Ben Around the Block on May 23, 2014.  I have made minor changes. 

 

(For those keeping track at home, that’s two Ace Attorney-themed post titles in a row.  Given my occupation and love of Ace Attorney, I wouldn’t be surprised if this became a habit.)

Whew!  It’s Friday!  No more work for three days!

This week has been quite hectic, as not only was it my first (and only--I start working Tuesday to Friday next week) full week at work, I was also commissioned to fill in for the office’s receptionist.  This entailed court calls, collecting and processing mail, checking in visitors, and, surprisingly, not answering any phones (everyone else has that covered).  Along with that, I was expected to handle my “usual” duties of updating the database and scanning closed cases, both of which I am getting better at.

Work has been somewhat stressful these past few days, as I’m constantly worrying whether or not I’m doing the right thing.  The gravity of these cases and the possible consequences of my errors constantly weigh on me, making me even stiffer than usual (yes, I know that sounds impossible).  Nevertheless, my supervisors tell me that I’m doing well and that I’ve been a huge help, so I guess my week of heavy responsibility worked out well!…though I’m still exhausted after a long day/week of work.

But it hasn’t been all work here (OK, it kind of has, but work with me here.)!  I’ve also been getting better at grocery shopping and laundry here at Gamma House.  I even expanded my culinary knowledge with some hard-boiled eggs, which have made for a handy breakfast (though my ability to peel them needs work).

I have also been exploring new entertainment options--namely, Netflix, which I have figured out how to use on my computer (I am truly a joke in the eyes of my generation), and new books to read (for now, a biography of Thomas Jefferson).  All of this will be useful, as I plan to spend this upcoming Monday relaxing and preparing for yet another series of work-based adventures…such as arraignments on Tuesday!  That should be fun!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

 

(P.S.: I’ve noticed some pretty crazy things over the course of seeing the criminal justice system up close.  I’ll probably post some helpful advice on what not to do when in trouble in the future.)

 

Notes from Present Ben:

Here, we see the start of my experimental cooking adventures.  This would continue throughout the summer and ended up being almost as important as my internship.

I would continue to man the phones throughout the summer, so I got early exposure to many different kinds of attitudes people have to their public defenders.  Some were negative, and some were surprisingly positive.  The most notable incident involved a man who called the office back because he wanted to talk with me some more.

Fischberg Flashback 32: Ace Intern

Note: this was originally posted to Ben Around the Block on May 15, 2014 as "Benjamin Fischberg: Ace Intern."  I have made minor changes.

Alright!  I have officially started work!

In the last few days, I’ve done more to settle into Gamma House.  This has involved learning how to do laundry here and trying to cook more things.  For example, instead of dry pasta, I made some tortellini!…I really need to add more variety.  I’m considering trying out a few new simple recipes, such as hard-boiled eggs.  Only time will tell if I become a master of the kitchen.

In my spare time, I’ve continued watching plenty more movies, some from Hatfield Library and others from my personal library.  Since my last blog entry, I’ve seen Castle in the Sky, Gladiator, Spider-Man, and Spider-Man 2 (making the title of said last entry eerily prescient).  I’m not sure why, but when I see movies nowadays, it always feels like their messages are directed right at me.  Maybe it’s because I’m at an odd place in my life where stress and excitement go hand in hand.  Maybe it’s because I’m experiencing the independence that comes with adulthood.  Maybe it’s because I’ve become (semi-)wiser and more observant.  Or maybe it’s because I’m on my own and the messages aren’t being directed at anyone else.

Anyhoo, that’s enough philosophizing for now!  On to the main event!

This morning was quite the event, as I woke up early, solemnly ate breakfast, and dressed in formal attire I am certainly not used to.  Finally, it was time to go out and embrace my responsibility.

I had a blast!…OK, not quite.  Work is work, even when it’s a dream-come-true, like the Marion County Public Defender’s Office.  I’ve only ben (er, been) on the job for one day, and I’ve already found myself scanning closed cases, checking up on databases, helping with delivering documents to the circuit court and DA’s office, handling mail, and learning how to send reminder calls/letters.  It looks like it’s going to be a busy summer…

That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy my time there!  On the contrary, the whole experience seemed rather exciting for me.  I was actually seeing cases being prepared, overhearing conversations about trials, and reading the story contained in each case file as I scanned and sealed them.  Furthermore, I spent my free time reading up on Oregon criminal statutes, as someone had left a book of them out in the open.  Now, I know the different classifications of felony and misdemeanor in this state and the differences between escape in the first, second, and third degrees, information that I will probably be sharing with any poor sap within range (Have I mentioned that I’m a looooot of fun at parties?).  Most importantly, I feel that I’ve been handed a mighty responsibility, and I look forward to meeting the challenge and doing my best to help out in the next three months.

All in all, I expect my job to get harder for a bit, as they’re preparing me for all kinds of responsibilities, but I expect it to eventually get easier when I work part-time.

One thing’s for certain: I am now much more involved in the law as of tonight.

 

Notes from Future Ben:

While this wasn't my first time working in a legal capacity (I worked as a file clerk in the summer of 2012), this was my first time working within Oregon's criminal law world.  It's weird looking back and seeing how everything started 11 years ago.

Little did I know that my plan to learn how to make hard-boiled eggs would launch into a new hobby: cooking!  Once I'm living by myself with a kitchen to call my own, I hope to get back in the swing of it.

Little did I (also) know how much the Spider-Man movies would mean for me this summer.  Suffering from loneliness and feeling a need to watch something comforting, I'm pretty sure I watched Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2, and Spider-Man 3 a combined 30 times over the summer, usually while eating dinner.  They helped quite a bit, and I still watch them any time I'm in a slump or the world seems scarier than usual.

I originally had a photo of myself dressed in a formal shirt and formal pants from my first day of work, but that photo has become lost with time.  No matter: there are a few comparable photos from that time I still do have; they will show up in later Fischberg Flashbacks.

Fischberg Flashback 31: With No Power Comes Great Responsibility

Note: this was originally posted to Ben Around the Block on May 12, 2014.  I have made minor changes/corrections.

(I have not seen The Amazing Spider-Man 2.  My choice of a Spider-Man-related quote for this post title is a happy coincidence.)

…Well, I’ve finally finished that school year.  It was rough on several different levels (including my most stressful finals yet), but at least it’s done.  Now, I can lie down, relax,…aaaaand deal with a whole new set of problems.  Eh, what are you going to do?

Aside from finals-related nervousness and a little inner turmoil I’d rather not discuss here, my chief source of stress as of late has been the act of moving into a new house, a comedy of errors I will discuss here.  Under Willamette policy, I had to leave my dorm on May 7.  As such, I was hoping I could move into my designated house (let’s call this “Alpha House”) on May 7, that day in question.  Unfortunately, the student who was subletting her house to me (let’s call her “X”) told me that I wouldn’t be able to move in until May 11.  Fortunately, she found another house for me to stay in for now (let’s call it “Beta House”), at least until the 11th.  When moving day came and I prepared to move into Beta House, I contacted X to confirm everything.  Unfortunately, she then told me that under the lease agreement, I wouldn’t be able to move into Alpha House until May 14.  X recommended that I contact the current residents of Alpha House and confirm things with them.  I texted one of the residents (let’s call her “Y”) to check and she told me that I wouldn’t be able to move in until May 18.  At a loss of what to think, I called up the landlord, who heard me out, checked the paperwork, then told me that under current contracts, I actually wouldn’t be able to move into Alpha House until June 1.

…Let me reiterate: due to some miscommunication and misunderstanding, I came very close to having no place to stay for practically the entire month of May.  Fortunately, I was saved from virtual homelessness by the landlord, who was nice enough to find me another house with residents willing to host me (let’s call it “Gamma House”) until the end of the month.  After a few days in Beta House, I moved into Gamma House, which is where I’ll stay for the time being!  Whew!!!

Moving snafus aside, I’m quickly getting used to living (mostly) on my own.  I’ve gotten the hang of grocery shopping, which will be much needed given the current quality of my diet (Sourdough bread for breakfast?  Restaurants for dinner?  Both on multiple days!).  My living space is cluttered, but I have everything I need.  In the meantime, I’ve been spending my downtime back on Willamette’s campus (because nothing says “school’s out!” like practically living on campus) mooching off the Wi-Fi (which I lack in my current residence--I am posting this blog from Willamette for now).  When back at Gamma House, I’ve kept myself busy with reading (Raising Steam--the most recent Discworld book) and movies (I’ve watched both Howl’s Moving Castle and Midnight in Paris, both courtesy of Willamette’s Hatfield Library).  My free time has been mostly leisurely, and has involved some pleasant surprises, such as attending Willamette’s Class of 2014 Commencement (Quick shout out to any graduating seniors: CONGRATULATIONS!!!) and meeting up with old friends for dinner.  I’m about to have a lot less free time soon, but I anticipate further adventures here in Salem and maybe even the Portland area!

So that’s the current state of my life: disorganized, adapting, and ready for the challenges up ahead.  I start work later this week, and I’m looking forward to contributing to society!

 

Notes from Future Ben:

Even after eleven years, I still remember how panicked I was when I was getting housing ironed out.  Thankfully, the owners of Beta House and Gamma House were extremely gracious and I am absolutely grateful for the aid they gave me.

FYI, the "inner turmoil" I hint at here relates to a bad breakup I had in the spring of 2014 and the emotional fallout.  These emotional turmoils, along with feelings of isolation, proved to be the biggest challenges of the summer.

Despite how rough times were then (and they were rough, believe me), there's still a small part of me that's nostalgic for the independence I was getting the hang of.  I didn't have access to Netflix or any other streaming services, so I made great use of my laptop's DVD drive and Hatfield Library's available movies. As I mention in later entries, I made use of my free time that summer to watch a lot of Miyazaki movies and other films I had been meaning to check out for a while.  When times get tough, my determination to take advantage of opportunities gets tougher, something that I'll likely relearn as I prepare for my challenging return to Salem.

Fischberg Flashback 30: Here We Go Again

Note: this was originally posted to Ben Around the Block on April 10, 2014.  Slight grammar changes have been made.

…It’s been four months…

…But it’s time…

That’s right, ladies, gentlemen, and everyone else: I, Ben Fischberg, am blogging again!

For those of you who didn’t follow my previous blog or don’t know who I am (if you fall in the second camp, move along; this isn’t the blog you’re looking for), allow me to introduce myself and my blogging history.  My name is Benjamin Fischberg (known to friends as Ben and to a select few as Q).  As of writing this, I am a 21-year-old History major at Willamette University studying to enter the legal profession.  In the fall of last year, I spent a semester abroad in England.  It was truly the adventure of a lifetime, as I traveled all across Western Europe, achieved a surprising degree of independence, enjoyed all kinds of amazing experiences, ended my 16-year experiment with vegetarianism, and embarked on an epic criminal justice-themed pilgrimage, filled with grim execution sites and historical landmarks.  I documented this amazing adventure in sort-of-real time with the help of my travel blog, Fisch and Chips, which enjoyed a fair amount of web traffic and was generally received well (If you want to check it out in all its glory, here’s the URL: [link no longer valid]; OK, that’s enough for shameless plugs!).  Blogging was an experience that I found pleasantly enjoyable, and I silently promised myself that I would take up the virtual pen should I ever find something to write about…

…and sure enough, I’ve found something, as my life is about to undergo a massive change.  Here’s some relevant info: as previously mentioned, I am interested in entering the legal profession.  As a result, I have held a two summer jobs in the past that reflect my ambitions, as a file clerk and a volunteer for my state representative.  Once again, I have a relevant summer job lined up, this time as a volunteer for the Public Defender of Marion County.  What makes this job different from my previous ones?  Good question, hypothetical reader (thanks for being so curious right off the bat!)!  Well, this job is in Salem, Oregon…on the opposite side of the Pacific Ocean away from my home state of Hawaii.  Translation: for about three months, I will be living on my own in the capital of Oregon with no parental figures or university oversight.  I AM COMPLETELY FREEEEEEE!!!!…and will most likely be absolutely lonely, cut off from family and friends alike.  Hence, until the summer is over and my senior year of college commences, I will be using this new blog as a portal to a normal and healthy social life, along with being a means to capture my first solo excursion into the big, bad world.

There are a few things I should probably note about this blog.  First of all, I should warn right off the bat that I don’t know how much I’ll be updating, as I don’t know how many exciting blog-worthy things I’ll run into on a regular basis.  Second, unlike my London blog, I will not be writing extensively about murder, torture, or execution.  So no white text, at least not for the time being.  Hi, people who remember this trick!  Third, because of the confidential nature of what transpires in a law firm, I will not be writing very much about my day-to-day job unless it involves a matter of public record.  Although I might write a little about work-related shenanigans if appropriate, the main focus of this blog will be my endeavor to live on my own in the mean streets of Salem, Oregon for three whole months.  When last I wrote, I wrote about living in a foreign country.  This time, I’m trying something just as alien: living in my own country on my own.

Well, I think that’s enough for introductions.  I’ve got one heck of a summer vacation coming up--employment, independence, preparation for the future--I can hardly wait!

Let the summer adventure commence!

But first, I’ve got to finish the school year.

 

Reflections:

Considering how stressful 2014 was for me, I'm pleased that I managed to keep a mostly positive tone for this introductory entry.  It's weird to see me casually name-drop the Public Defender of Marion County, a place I have worked at several times and still have professional connections to.  Given my current occupation in the legal field, I think it's safe to say my internship there was very valuable.

Nostalgic Critic

 

This blog is currently in a weird position.  As mentioned two months ago, I recently made a big decision to move to Salem, Oregon soon.  I’m hoping to do this move this summer, so there are a lot of things to do, a lot of loose ends to tie up, and a lot of changes to get used to very fast.  Suffice to say, there’s a lot on my plate right now.  At the same time, most of these things are boring, private, constantly updating, and/or involve coordinating with others.  As important as they are, these upcoming changes will not make for very good blog posts.

Since I don’t want this blog to go completely stagnant, I have an idea on how to get through the next few months.  Two years ago, I reposted entries from my original travel blog, Fisch and Chips, as part of what I called Fischberg Flashback.  It was fun going back to my original blog roots, but, to quote Grand Master Yoda, “there is another.”  A long time ago (eleven years, to be exact), I took another big step towards independence by living on my own in Salem, Oregon for a summer while volunteering at the local public defender office.  To keep myself (somewhat) sane, I dipped my toes into blogging yet again with my second ever blog, Ben Around the Block.  Much like Fisch and Chips, Ben Around the Block is no longer publicly viewable due to expired email/domain shenanigans.  It is therefore time to complete the Benjamin Fischberg blog trilogy by going back to the past.  Later this month, come back to see the return of Fischberg Flashbacks!

The Wrath of (Sakura-)Con

 

Welcome to another installment of Benjamin Fischberg’s Con-Blog!  The adventure this time: Sakura-Con in Seattle!

In all seriousness: yes, this is another blog post about a convention I went to.  What can I say?  Cons are a load of fun!  And I don’t have a lot of other things to write about because of confidentiality and the world is generally a s****y dumpster fire these days, but yeah!  The con this time was Sakura-Con, one of the largest anime conventions in the Pacific Northwest, which I have heard about from a few friends.  Pokémon and Cowboy Bebop aside, I’m not that much of an anime viewer.  However, anime conventions tend to attract all types of gaming fans and provide great cosplay opportunities, so this was a great opportunity to take a break and have some fun out of town.  Unlike the recent Emerald City Comic Con, I was in town for all 3 days, so I was going to squeeze every drop of fun possible and take my time.  The result was a weekend equal parts excellent, tiring, and completely insane. :)

The day before Sakura-Con, I drove down to Seattle with Cthulhu (you didn’t think I was going to convention by myself, did you?).  As far as long, caffeine-fueled road trips go, it went smoothly, as did checking into the hotel.  The only snag that day was that I forgot some of the components of a cosplay I had been brainstorming; fortunately, I had a reliable backup ready (my Pokémon trainer cosplay from a few previous cons), so I slept soundly that night.  Day 1 of Sakura-Con was a fun way to kick things off…in the afternoon.  The line to pick up tickets (which had all been sold online this year) was over 2 hours long, so there was a whole lot of standing around and admiring everyone else’s getup throughout the morning.  Nonetheless, once the tickets were secure, the afternoon offered plenty of opportunities to admire cosplays, attend panels (I had particular fun at a voice acting one) and get a feel of the scene for the rest of the weekend.  Here are some of the highlights:

Day 2 got really dramatic really fast; after attending a Final Fantasy-themed panel (giving advice to anyone who has never played the games…like me), the entire building was suddenly evacuated, causing everyone to go to the convention’s other building (the Seattle Convention Center has 2 buildings that are about a block away from each other).  During the walk, I saw more fire trucks in a 2-block radius than I have seen in my entire life (please note that I lived in New York City from 1993 to 2004; I’ve seen a lot of them).  There was a lot of rumors swirling around, but I gradually figured out the situation from word of mouth and social media press releases.  It turns out that a neighboring closed-down Cheesecake Factory had a grease fire break out, which caused smoke to flood nearby buildings.  Thankfully, nobody was hurt, and the building was reopened to the public later in the afternoon (where I later spent the early evening attending panels and checking out Artist Alley, where merch and fanart is for sale and tends to be a major draw at conventions).  While waiting, I spent the rest of the morning and early afternoon in the other building, all the while attending panels, resting in a manga library (which was set up in a quiet room all three days and where I went to read and relax anytime I felt overwhelmed by the crowds), and admiring more cosplay:

The Seattle Fire Department shows up in force.

Most people took the incident with some humor, like this plucky artist who sold/gave these drawings later that afternoon.

(I started getting arty with camera angles around here, as I attended a panel explaining how playing with angles can enhance convention photography.)

In case it isn't evident, Pokémon onesies were really popular here.

Here, I can be seen conducting an unorthodox kind of legal research.

I slightly changed my dress for an Ace Attorney panel.

Day 3 was filled with fun events (including a panel on building armor for cosplay and a Dungeons & Dragons improv show that made constant references to the fire), but I did my best to take things easy, enjoying my time at Artist Alley, the manga library, and anywhere I saw more cosplay:

And that was Sakura-Con 2025!  A long caffeine-fueled drive back and a whole lot of sleep later, I’m back in the swing of being a lawyer.  I’m not quite as apt with getting back to blogging; I meant to write this entry a week ago, but a trial and some new cases kept me busy.  Since I know this post has been a little light on content (I usually let photos do the talking in con-related blog posts), I’ve got a little treat.  Without further ado, I present:

 

GREAT MOMENTS IN TILLAMOOK JURISPRUDENCE

*insert sophisticated music*

Episode VIII: Mr. Mime

[during in-custody arraignment, defendant pantomimes holding a gun towards the camera/video screen with the judge’s face]

Judge: [Defendant], can you hear me?

Defendant: [launches string of profanities]

[court mutes defendant’s video feed from the jail]

J: *nonchalantly* . . . For the record, [defendant] has been muted due to using inappropriate language.  [Defendant] also appears to be pantomiming holding a gun.

[arraignment is set over due to defendant’s inability to participate]

One Short Day in the Emerald City

Emerald City Comic Con 2025 has come and gone, and I’ve had one heck of a weekend!  It was shorter than usual (I only was there for 1 day, as opposed to my usual 2 or 3 days at each con) and it brought about some stress (picking up my entrance badge took waaaay longer than expected), but I had plenty of fun cosplaying and losing myself among my fellow enthusiasts for a day!  Going through my whole day blow for blow isn’t that exciting, so I’ll let my photos do the talking:

(For those who can't tell from the Bryar pistol and lightsaber, I'm cosplaying as Kyle Katarn, the mercenary main protagonist of the Dark Forces/Jedi Knight series.)

This is the way.

First-person shooter perspective time!

FPS Perspective 2: Now With Lightsabers!

What's more dangerous than the Scarlet Witch?  Two Scarlet Witches!

What's better than an aspiring Jedi?  Two aspiring Jedi!

There you have it, I had a great time at another convention!  Best of all, I showed I can still work hard and play hard, even in the face of stressful times and massive life changes.