What a year. It started with tons of snowfall on the Sierras and some pretty good ski opportunities. I was working a temporary job for the Nevada Legislature as a Senior Research Analyst (not exactly the job you’d expect during your first year of lawyerdom). The Legislative Session in February brought blizzards of both activity and snow. This made the daily drive from Reno to Carson City and back quite the harrowing journey.
February was also the month my sister and her husband decided to move from Reno to Washington; leaving me as the sole Armstrong (at least of our family of four) in the Biggest Little City.
The spring marched on as I got used to finally living alone. It was a nice change of pace although certainly more quiet without having roomies. The tough part of having a temporary position is that you know it comes to an end. In preparation for my predetermined termination date of 6/30/2011, I applied for jobs here and there. There were hits and misses and nothing really came together in time. It is also hard to get to know your coworkers well only to ditch them once you’ve really hit your pace.
June 30 came and went and I had no job so it was time to go into super job hunter mode. I lucked into a contract position with firm doing some pretty interesting complex civil legal stuff. It was good because it at least gave me some income; oh, and the people I was working with were completely awesome too. At the same time, Senator John Ensign had resigned due to his sex scandal and an impending possible expulsion by the Senate. Governor Sandoval appointed Congressman Dean Heller triggering a special election for September. Perhaps it was my desire to have some inside info on the campaign or perhaps the house had just been too quiet but I volunteered to have some Kate Marshall staffers crash at my place. It was welcome activity in the house.
Then it happened. I was typing away at my contract job when I got a call in response to a job application that I thought had long passed by. It was for a grant position doing Domestic Battery and Sex Abuse criminal prosecutions with the AG’s office for three rural counties in Southern/Western Nevada. I drove down to Tonopah for the interview where I met with a few representatives from the AG’s office and the three DAs I’d be working under. Shortly thereafter, an offer was made, I accepted and had about two weeks to pack up my things in Reno, find a place in Pahrump and start my job.
It was not a tough decision given the current economy and the sinking feeling that if I didn’t get an actual legal job soon, getting one in the future may get more and more difficult. It was going to be tough to pick up and leave the family and friends that surrounding me (no to mention the fact that I absolutely loved living in Reno) but duty called. Would I have told you a year ago that I’d be writing this year’s post from my place in Pahrump? Hell no. Am I glad I am. Yes. The folks back up north ask how I like being in Pahrump and I tell them that while the town isn’t ideal (given my age, the lack of eligible bachelors, and the absence of other young professionals), I really enjoy my job. Not only the day to day work (which is always different) but the larger mission of combating violence against women and the great people I get the privilege of working with.
Other completely unexpected events of 2011
- my sister becoming pregnant
- a Congresswoman getting shot
- the death of a close adviser
- Tokyo earthquake/tsunami/nuclear crisis
- smooth repeal of DADT
- my ability to navigate Las Vegas
- lack of snow for this ski season
