"The Velvet Hammer" Blog — Karen Koehler

The Girl Who Played With Fire

I am so enthralled with the first book that I immediately read the second. Then forget to blog about it. What sticks out in my mind months later...

This book is the revelation of the genesis of Salander. She is such an odd, intriguing character. I don't totally love her. Her awkwardness and strangeness borders on the overly contrived. I'm not sure if the author totally "gets" her. I mean, what is the point of getting breast implants given her background of trauma and attitude of utter societal defiance. But I want to believe in her so I applaud her feistiness and fortitude.

Karen KoehlerAugust 29, 2010book review

The baby

I was five months along before I told the law firm of my pregnancy. I had never been a "traditional" employee. Coming out of lawschool my then husband was a professional basketball player. So I only worked when we were in town. By 1989, he was about done and I was working more regularly.

Karen KoehlerAugust 27, 2010family, women

Discovery Park

Hempfest - Seattle's Ode to All things Marijuana - clogs up the park I want to run through Sunday afternoon. So I decide to try Discovery Park. I would actually like to run to it, but there is no trail leading into it. By now you will have noticed my running pattern involves avoiding streets. What's wrong with streets? Hmmmm. Being hit by a car is the number one reason. But also, I don't like having to turn up my ipod all the way to drown out the car noise. Plus inhaling the exhaust fumes mentally (if not physically) defeats the goal of enhancing health. Plus I don't want to get hit by a car. Nala either.

Karen KoehlerAugust 25, 2010running, nala the brittany spaniel

The Sleeper

After the weather made a fairly poor weekend showing, I wake up to fabulous blue skies. This means that I arrive at the office in a sleeveless lace t-shirt top and cropped jeans that end at the knees. As I look over my calendar I realize - darn. Double darn. We still don't have confirmation on a deposit of a verdict in a minor's blocked account. I need to go to court at 1:30. Fortunately, Ed is coming to the office so he grabs a skirt and I'm good to go. Or at least I think I am.

Karen KoehlerAugust 23, 2010jury, opening statement

E. Lake Sammamish Trail

For decades, homeowners along the shores of E. Lake Sammamish enjoyed the benefits of adopting for use, the unused railway bed. For some, it ran behind their multi million dollar houses (even a shack is worth a million on the lake). For some it ran in front. In 1996, the land reverted back to the county under the Rails for Trails program. This would create a precious link to an already extensive trail system of about 40 miles. What a wonderful opportunity for the public to get out, exercise, and enjoy the outdoors. But No. For more than a decade, the homeowners fought the county until in 2005 finally, the county was given the go ahead.

Karen KoehlerAugust 19, 2010running

Sometimes it pays to be bad

I learned about subliminal advertising when I was a kid. The concept of being subconsciously manipulated (often in a fun way), really bothered me. Actually it still does. Usually it is so obvious or poorly executed that I know what's going on and shrug it off. But there are plenty of other times when I'm definitely being had.

Karen KoehlerAugust 16, 2010insurance, personal injury

WSAJ Convention day 4 bye bye

Yawwwwwwwwn. As I'm getting ready to fly out the door I notice a not-too-terrible scratch on the front of my right leg surrounded by the beginnings of a puffy bruise. Thinking back I realize it's from when I hit the corner of the DJ platform last night when Gerhard and I were jumping up and down (to the beat) during a Black Eyed Peas song.

Karen KoehlerAugust 8, 2010lawyer convention

WSAJ Convention day 3 continued

It is high noon and I squeeze in a run before hanging out with Cristina at the pool. With AAJ convention having occurred last month, here is what I notice. When my kids don't come with me, I socialize much more in between all the events. When they attend, I am conscious about needing to spend as much time as possible with them. I never achieve a perfect balance with work and family. I'm constantly saying to my kids - what do you want to do today. This is code for - how am I going to fit in everything that needs to be fit in today.

Karen KoehlerAugust 8, 2010lawyer convention, lawyers have fun

WSAJ Convention day 3 good morning

I sleep in, look at my phone and there's an emergency message from Tasha (WSAJ staff). Today's speaker, Lisa Blue, is leaving at 10:30 instead of 1:00. Get up, eat oatmeal, have Cristina drop me off at The Homestead. Clare (WSAJ CLE) fills me in. Bob Dawson and Greg Price are pulling together a speaker lineup of WA and OR lawyers who will do 10 minute smorgasbord style presentations. So the emergency is handled.

Karen KoehlerAugust 7, 2010great people, women, lawyer convention

WSAJ Convention day 2

I have so many credits stored up I don't ever Need to attend a CLE. Where did this bad attitude of mine come from. I've never really liked lectures. I can remember correcting the grammar of my high school English teacher one too many times and being sent out for alternative "advanced" tutoring for the rest of the school year.

Karen KoehlerAugust 6, 2010lawyer convention, legal profession

WSAJ Convention day 1

I fly with my eldest daughter, Cristina, into Redmond OR. I do this not only because I have been dreading the seven hour drive, but because I was scheduled to start a trial in Idaho on Tuesday. Trial settled a few days ago but lucky us, the airplane company doesn't believe in refunds.

Karen KoehlerAugust 5, 2010lawyer convention, traveling lawyer

A world without lawyers

Karen KoehlerAugust 5, 2010legal profession

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