Skip to Content
  • Home
  • About the Bar
  • Mission
  • Forms
  • Sitemap
    • Member Directory
      Last Name:
      First Name:
      Bar Number:
      City:


    • Login
OSB Logo

Oregon State Bar Bulletin — FEBRUARY/MARCH 2015



Parting Thoughts

Laugh and Learn
By Bernard M. Levy



Those of us who work at home can exhibit idiosyncratic behavior not allowed in the conventional workplace. This free-spirit behavior has its downside, too. Less discipline in the workplace — shoes off or laces untied and torn sweatshirts — can present problems. However, after spilling a mug of coffee at my desk for the third time this week, it struck me: Such a faux pas is not cause for crying, but laughing.

Okay, let’s get the cliches out of the way. Necessity is the mother of invention, and when dealt lemons, make lemonade.

Sorry for that, but I had to do it. Coffee spilt at a workstation is a blessing in disguise; it forces you to clear off as well as clean your desk. Recognizing this valuable tool in home office cleanliness, I began to think of other lessons I’ve been forced to learn that could be communicated to others who work at home. I made a list, although I have not checked it twice. Neither naughty nor nice, here it is:

Shave and shower in the morning, or it’ll never happen.

Your attention span is directly proportional to the number of coffees drunk. Confine your coffee drinking to the morning hours, and productivity in the afternoon will measurably improve.

Hide the phone when working on a deadline. A variation of “hide the phone” is to place it in a plastic bag and give it to Cheddar, my Golden Retriever writing companion, to hide upstairs. It also turns into a game when a deadline is met.

Dedicate a daily or weekly time period for anal retentiveness. These “A.R.” activities include counting paper clips, checking to see which pens are almost out of ink and preparing lists that are the product of other lists that have been delisted. A.R. “time-out” is also called A.R. “time alone.” Significant others should not be included.

Snacks, particularly crackers, should be eaten directly over a pre-lined wastebasket. Also, it doesn’t hurt to teach a canine companion to eat his portion over the wastebasket, too. Dogs can be taught; cats cannot. Teaching time should be included in your A.R. time allocation.

Shredding is both entertainment and exercise. Materials should be shredded during your exercise period. Exercises that can be done while shredding include balancing on one foot, waving fingers in the air and leg stretches. Make sure your shredder has a finger guard.

If these activities do not provide enough exercise, there’s always the opportunity to run around the house with scissors in your hand. Although frowned upon by parents, I’m at an age when I can do this with impunity.

Dancing is not only permitted, but encouraged. Dancing is always an acceptable form of exercise, and uninhibited office dancing is the best. If you’ve got hardwood or concrete floors, try a little tap dancing to Sibelius’ Second Symphony. Magic, pure magic.

Mental exercises are also necessary while working at home, and I suggest juggling assignments and jumping to conclusions.

As you can see, if viewed in the proper light, home office activities can be fun and productive. Intra-office communication is also very important. Cheddar and I have it down pat. Two thumps on the rug with his tail means either a cookie, or outside duty calls. A whistle or two from me and the display of a plastic bag means getting ready for a walkie. Key jingling signals our daily trip to the post office and, hopefully, the bank.

The opportunities for office procedure improvement never cease. I sent away to petsofficepersonnel.com for “Large Dog Opposing Thumbs.” They fit Cheddar, and his keyboarding is passable, although he refuses to use spellcheck.

Hope springs eternal, and it’s all in a day’s work.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

The author is an inactive Oregon and California attorney and a CPA. He is a former private practitioner and in-house counsel who filled a variety of roles in the corporate world, including outside auditor, CFO and controller of private and public corporations. A published columnist, Levy is currently working on several projects, including a book of conversations with his office mate, Cheddar.

© 2015 Bernard M. Levy


— return to top
— return to Table of Contents



  • For The Public

      Public Legal Information

    • Public Information Home
    • Legal Information Topics
    • Juror Handbook

    • Getting Legal Help

    • Finding The Right Lawyer
    • Hiring A Lawyer
    • Lawyers Fees

    • Client Services

    • Client Assistance Office
    • Client Security Fund
    • Fee Dispute Resolution
    • Public Records Request
    • Locating Attorney Files

    • Unlawful Practice of Law

    • UPL Information
    • UPL FAQ

    • Volunteer Opportunities

    • Public Member Application
  • For Members

    OSB Login

    • Log In To OSB Site
    • Member Account Setup
    • Non-Member Account Setup
    • Reset Password

    OSB Resources

    • Attorney's Marketplace
    • Career Center
    • Events
    • Forms Library
    • Online Resources
    • OSB Group Listings
    • Performance Standards
    • Rules Regulations and Policies
    • Surveys and Research Reports
    • Unclaimed Client Funds
    • Voting Regions and By-City
      County Information

    Fastcase™

    • Log in to Fastcase
    • Overview
    • Scheduled Webinars
    • Inactive Member Subscriptions

    Legal Ethics

    • Legal Ethics Home
    • Find an Ethics Opinion
    • Bulletin Bar Counsel Archive

    Company Administrator

    • Company Administrator Home
    • Company Administrator FAQ
    • Authorization Form

    State Lawyers
    Assistance Committee

    • SLAC Info

    Volunteering

    • Volunteer Opportunities

    Court Information

    • Judicial Vacancies
    • Court Info | Calendars | Jury Info
    • Oregon Attorneys
      in Federal Court
    • Tribal Courts of Oregon

    OSB Publications

    • Bar Bulletin Magazine
    • – Bulletin Archive
    • – Legal Writer Archive
    • Capitol Insider
    • Disciplinary Board Reporter

    PLF Programs

    • (OAAP) Oregon Attorney
      Assistance Program
    • Practice Management Attorneys
    • Malpractice Coverage
  • CLE/Legal Publications

    CLE Seminars

    • CLE Seminars Home
    • Online Seminar Registration
    • General Info/FAQ

    My Account

    • My Content
    • My Events
    • Order History

    Legal Publications

    • Legal Publications Home
    • Log in to BarBooks
    • BarBooks FAQ
    • Online Bookstore
    • Legal Pubs Blog
  • Bar Programs

    Diversity & Inclusion

    • Diversity & Inclusion Home
    • Diversity Story Wall
    • D&I Programs
    • ACDI Roster
    • D&I Staff Contacts
    • D&I Links

    Legislative/Public Affairs

    • Legislative Home
    • Committee Contacts
    • Legislative Sessions
    • Staff Contacts
    • Useful Links

    Legal Services Program

    • LSP Home

    Oregon Law Foundation

    • OLF Home
    • Partners in Justice

    Fee Dispute Resolution

    • Fee Dispute Resolution Home

    Pro Bono

    • Pro Bono Home
    • Pro Bono Reporting
    • Volunteer Opportunities

    Lawyer Referral and Information Services

    • RIS Login
    • Summary of Referral and Information Services Programs
    • Lawyer Referral Service Info and Registration Forms
    • Modest Means Program Registration Forms
    • Military Assistance Panel Training Info and Registration Form
    • Problem Solvers Registration Form
    • Lawyer To Lawyer Registration Form

    (LRAP) Loan Repayment Assistance Program

    • LRAP Home
    • LRAP FAQ
    • LRAP Policies
  • Member Groups

    Sections

    • Section Info/Websites
    • Joining Sections
    • CLE Registration Services
    • Standard Section Bylaws (PDF)
    • Leadership Resources
    • Treasurers Tools

    Committees

    • Home
    • Leadership Resources
    • Professionalism Commission
    • Volunteer Opportunities

    House of Delegates

    • HOD Home
    • HOD Resources
    • Meetings
    • Rules (PDF)
    • Roster (PDF)
    • Staff Contacts

    Board of Governors

    • BOG Home
    • Meetings & Agendas
    • Members
    • Liaisons
    • Committees
    • Resources
    • Task Forces

    Oregon New Lawyers Division

    • ONLD Home
    • Law Students
    • Student Loan Repayment
    • Committees
    • Upcoming Events

    Task Forces and Special Committees

    • Task Forces Home

    Volunteer Bars

    • List/Contacts
    • Leadership Resources

    Volunteering

    • Volunteer Opportunities
  • Licensing/Compliance

    Admissions

    • Admissions Home
    • Alternative Admittance
    • Applicants for Admission
    • Admissions Forms
    • Past Bar Exam Results

    Licensed Paralegal Program

    • LP Home

    Pro Hac Vice/Arbitration

    • Pro Hac Vice
    • Arbitration

    Lawyer Discipline

    • Discipline Home
    • Disciplinary Board Reporter
    • Disciplinary Boards
    • Client Assistance Office
    • (SPRB) State Professional Responsibility Board

    Membership Records

    • Address Changes
    • Good Standing Certificate
    • Request Discipline File Review

    MCLE

    • MCLE Home
    • Program Database
    • Forms
    • Rules (PDF)

    IOLTA Reporting

    • IOLTA Home
    • IOLTA FAQ

    Membership Fees

    • Member Fee FAQ
    • Member Fee Payment

    Status Changes

    • Status Changes FAQ
    • Inactive Status Form
    • Retired Status Form
    • Active Pro Bono Status Form
    • Reinstatement Forms
    • Resignation Form A
    • Pending Reinstatements

    Unlawful Practice of Law

    • UPL Information
    • UPL FAQ

    New Lawyer Mentoring Program

    • New Lawyer Mentoring Program Home

    Professional Liability Fund

    • Professional Liability Fund Website
For The Public

Public Information Home
Legal Information Topics
Juror Handbook
Finding The Right Lawyer
Hiring A Lawyer
Lawyers Fees
Client Assistance Office
Public Records Request
Unlawful Practice of Law
Fee Dispute Resolution
Client Security Fund
Volunteer Opportunities
for the Public

For Members

BarBooks™
Bulletin Archive
Career Center
Fastcase™
Judicial Vacancies
Legal Ethics Opinions
OSB Group Listings
OSB Login
OSB Rules & Regs
SLAC Info
Surveys and Reports
Volunteer Opportunities

CLE/Legal Pubs

CLE Seminars Home
Legal Publications Home

Bar Programs

Diversity & Inclusion
Fee Arbitration/Mediation
Legal Services Program
Legislative/Public Affairs
Loan Repayment
Assistance Program

Oregon Law Foundation
Pro Bono

Member Groups

Board of Governors
Committees
House of Delegates
Volunteer Bars
Oregon New
Lawyers Division

OSB Sections
Professionalism
Commission

Volunteer Opportunities

About The Bar

About the Bar
ADA Notice
Contact Info
Copyright Notice
Directions to the Bar
Meeting Room Rentals
Mission Statement
OSB Job Opportunities
Privacy Policy
Staff Directory
Terms of Use

Licensing/Compliance

Admissions
Client Assistance Office
Client Security Fund
IOLTA Reporting
Lawyer Discipline
MCLE
Member Fee FAQ
New Lawyer
Mentoring Program

Professional Liability Fund
Status Changes

Oregon State Bar Center

Phone: (503) 620-0222
Toll-free in Oregon: (800) 452-8260
Facsimile: (503) 684-1366

Building Location:
16037 SW Upper Boones Ferry Road
Tigard, OR 97224

Mailing Address:
PO Box 231935
Tigard, OR 97281

Oregon State Bar location Map

Copyright ©1997 Oregon State Bar  ®All rights reserved | ADA Notice | Mission Statement | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use