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Post by Deleted on Jan 9, 2015 16:14:07 GMT -5
Those of us who are not currently in such a flexible situation on one hand are envious, but all I could think about was how crappy it would be to be sitting in my crappy apartment in crapland, all alone, a few thousand miles away from home. So, as the weekend approaches, I hope you all can get home to your loved ones, and I will toast all of you. I've done the military deployment thing and lived the lifestyle - and I really don't want to do it again if I don't have to... Ohhhhh now it is not that bad. I average over 6000 miles a month in travel from office to family; the benefits on my airline membership card are great! The other difference is I have a great apartment in a decent city with a great ODAR. Yes, I am on a transfer list but in the wait time, I am greatly enjoying what I chose to receive.
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Post by moopigsdad on Jan 9, 2015 16:26:10 GMT -5
Judging the "desireability" of an office based on # wanting out is a bit tainted. Remember, 70 something new judges got hired in August and September and all are eligible to be on the list. After a big hire, where folks take slots anywhere offered, the list is going to be bigger. It isn't necessarily that the office is undesireable, just that the big flux of new hires want to get home. A look at the list just prior to the eligibility of the August new hires is probably a better indicator of desireability. It would be a picture cast before so many newbies flooded the list wanting to get home and not because they just want out of where they are. I have to agree with Gaidin as some offices are toxic and people want to get out. Cincinnati was not a big hire from the first certs yet people want out. Sometimes, the atmosphere in an office makes people want to leave. So, yes some are newbies, others want something for retirement thoughts and others just want to go elsewhere and away from their present office they dislike.
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Post by funkyodar on Jan 9, 2015 16:48:57 GMT -5
I wholeheartedly agree. I mean some offices are tigerlawed to the hilltop.
But, there are many many reasons people are on this list to transfer. I'd bet it's minority that are wanting out because the office is bad.
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Post by funkyodar on Jan 9, 2015 16:52:46 GMT -5
Stupid censors. I put in "s c r e w e d" and "r e c t u m" and It gives me "tigerlawed" and "hilltop"
Go Figure
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Post by Gaidin on Jan 9, 2015 16:59:25 GMT -5
Stupid censors. I put in "s c r e w e d" and "r e c t u m" and It gives me "tigerlawed" and "hilltop" Go Figure Bwahahahaha
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Post by hilltopper on Jan 9, 2015 22:06:55 GMT -5
Stupid censors. I put in "s c r e w e d" and "r e c t u m" and It gives me "tigerlawed" and "hilltop" Go Figure You know, If I knew a couple of board members had incriminating photographic evidence, I think I'd be nice to them. Wait a minute ... we do have photographs ... ... since hilltoppers take the high road, I'll continue to do so ... for now. Can't speak for that jungle cat. ht
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Post by jerseymom on Jan 9, 2015 22:36:47 GMT -5
Please, please stop trying to interpret motives behind the transfer list. Ranking offices based on the transfer list is speculation at best. Talk to some of the judges who have left some of these less desirable offices and you'll find out they are some of the best offices in the country. Circumstances dictate transfers-family issues, real estate commitments, etc. I am grateful every day that I landed in a less desirable office 5.5 years ago. I have said this before-low cost of living, no commute, free parking, great real estate combined with awesome staff makes my life easier everyday.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 9, 2015 22:41:02 GMT -5
However, I will say that I was reviewing the list last night and I really feel sorry for some of you newbie ALJs. You really wanted to be an ALJ, so badly that you took a job in some flyover state, in the middle of Nowhereville, USA. All of your transfer requests are for the west coast. Or the east coast. I'm not talking sexy places, I'm just talking about places near home. Wow. The fact that your family or your situation allowed you to do that is great - you are lucky to have that latitude/flexibility/an understanding spouse or family. Those of us who are not currently in such a flexible situation on one hand are envious, but all I could think about was how crappy it would be to be sitting in my crappy apartment in crapland, all alone, a few thousand miles away from home. So, as the weekend approaches, I hope you all can get home to your loved ones, and I will toast all of you. I've done the military deployment thing and lived the lifestyle - and I really don't want to do it again if I don't have to... I don't think I caught the point you were making. Don't feel sorry for me on my account. If you need to do it for your sake go ahead. Yes, I would have to agree with devildog, don't quite get the point or the need to make it at this stage of the process. I haven't seen a lot of newbie ALJs or ANY ALJs posting about their crappy situation. We have all discussed this many time in detail on this board that each must make their own choices and be prepared for the consequences of those choices.
IMHO, I would not of wasted by time with the application process to only list the city that I am currently living in as my only choice as you have about NO CHANCE of getting the job, but to each his/her own choice. Although this horse has been beaten to death, you either want the job or not, if you want it, you hope to get decent scores in the selection process for your NOR, pass the ODAR interview and pick cities that are likely to have openings that you can live in for 2 or 3 years until you can get to where you wish to be.
The selection process is TOO selective and competitive to have any chance of getting your home town as your only city on your GAL unless your home town happens to be Middlesboro, KY or another Crapland, USA town. As far as crappy apartment, that's the newbie ALJ's fault if he/she finds themselves in a crappy apartment. I rented one of the nicest apartments in my town, after all I'm making 120,000 a year, I can afford a nice apartment and I spend every night with the best person I know, ME!!!
At 53, I don't mind this the least bit as it gives me plenty of time to learn the job. And if you get Crapland with a fellow newbie, it's even better as you will probably have a close friend for life unless you get stuck with some smelly jerk in Middlesboro, KY .
IMHO, Tigerlaw
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Post by Deleted on Jan 9, 2015 22:49:43 GMT -5
Please, please stop trying to interpret motives behind the transfer list. Ranking offices based on the transfer list is speculation at best. Talk to some of the judges who have left some of these less desirable offices and you'll find out they are some of the best offices in the country. Circumstances dictate transfers-family issues, real estate commitments, etc. I am grateful every day that I landed in a less desirable office 5.5 years ago. I have said this before-low cost of living, no commute, free parking, great real estate combined with awesome staff makes my life easier everyday. Yes, thank you! Truer words have never been spoken. Tupelo, MS and Middlesboro, KY are great offices, but we joke all the time about their crapland status. Funky has sung Middlesboro's praise since the day he got there and I have said how great my office is, but I have a need to go west (at least my wife has a need and that means....). If I ever came back east across the Mississippi River, Tupelo would be one of only three places that I would want to transfer back to in the future.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 9, 2015 22:58:23 GMT -5
Stupid censors. I put in "s c r e w e d" and "r e c t u m" and It gives me "tigerlawed" and "hilltop" Go Figure You know, If I knew a couple of board members had incriminating photographic evidence, I think I'd be nice to them. Wait a minute ... we do have photographs ... ... since hilltoppers take the high road, I'll continue to do so ... for now. Can't speak for that jungle cat. ht ht, I forgot about the pictures, did you ever scan them into a jpg file, if so forward me a copy. Although I'm not too upset with the word used in my behalf now that I reread the message, but I could see how your feathers are ruffled a bit, but you know how funny the Funkmaster can be when he's on his game. I'm sure he was just having a little fun with his future home boys.
tiger
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Post by jonsprag1 on Jan 11, 2015 8:20:18 GMT -5
I don't think I caught the point you were making. Don't feel sorry for me on my account. If you need to do it for your sake go ahead. Yes, I would have to agree with devildog, don't quite get the point or the need to make it at this stage of the process. I haven't seen a lot of newbie ALJs or ANY ALJs posting about their crappy situation. We have all discussed this many time in detail on this board that each must make their own choices and be prepared for the consequences of those choices.
IMHO, I would not of wasted by time with the application process to only list the city that I am currently living in as my only choice as you have about NO CHANCE of getting the job, but to each his/her own choice. Although this horse has been beaten to death, you either want the job or not, if you want it, you hope to get decent scores in the selection process for your NOR, pass the ODAR interview and pick cities that are likely to have openings that you can live in for 2 or 3 years until you can get to where you wish to be.
The selection process is TOO selective and competitive to have any chance of getting your home town as your only city on your GAL unless your home town happens to be Middlesboro, KY or another Crapland, USA town. As far as crappy apartment, that's the newbie ALJ's fault if he/she finds themselves in a crappy apartment. I rented one of the nicest apartments in my town, after all I'm making 120,000 a year, I can afford a nice apartment and I spend every night with the best person I know, ME!!!
At 53, I don't mind this the least bit as it gives me plenty of time to learn the job. And if you get Crapland with a fellow newbie, it's even better as you will probably have a close friend for life unless you get stuck with some smelly jerk in Middlesboro, KY .
IMHO, Tigerlaw
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Post by sealaw90 on Jan 11, 2015 20:36:01 GMT -5
Thanks guys. I love it! We've actually been waiting for you all to tell us how it's going and how life is on the other side of the bench. I appreciate the truth and candor and look forward to one day joining you. Sounds like it is definitely worth the marathon.
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Post by firehouse9 on Jan 13, 2015 16:36:36 GMT -5
Hi. I had some questions regarding ALJ transfers:
1. Is it the case that an ALJ can apply for transfer any time?
2. Are transfers made throughout the year but only compiled in January or is January the only time they announce transfers?
Thanks
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Post by bartleby on Jan 13, 2015 17:03:11 GMT -5
Firehouse9, A Judge must be on duty at their first station for 90 days before they can request a transfer. A sitting Judge can request a transfer at anytime, ie., be put on the transfer list. Once a Judge is transferred, he is grounded for 2 years, after which he can request to be put back on the transfer list. The transfer list is updated monthly and published monthly. Transfers are often made just prior to hiring a class, but this is ODAR and ODAR does as ODAR wants, so there is no hard and fast rule about when transfers are made. It is at the needs of the service, doncha know???
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Post by bartleby on Jan 13, 2015 20:47:17 GMT -5
Mine would have been first, but I added more and I suck at typing... Also, used to be you could only pick three cities, not five. You kids got it made. When I got on the list I had to walk 7 miles both ways uphill in the snow with holes in my tennis shoes.. Those were the days. But we liked it like that.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2015 21:25:31 GMT -5
bartleby, Yes so much has changed in 3 short years! Tiger
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Post by bartleby on Jan 14, 2015 8:03:20 GMT -5
Tigerlaw, yes, much has changed in 3 short years. The entire application process made big changes and many of you get to go to your first selected city. I am glad we didn't have the avatar portion of the test, because I don't know what an avatar is and I suck at video games according to my 22 year old son. Devildog, you just about have it. Welcome aboard and keep on keepin' on. One of the things some of us still share with our classmates is an e-mail we call, "You can't make this stuff up". We send each other the things we hear during hearings as a way to keep in touch and break the tension and keep from going crazy. Recent one. Some of the Judges will send the parent out of the room for 10-15 minutes to talk to the child. Amazing how much one learns and how relaxed the child becomes. After the parent returned, the Judge asked the 7 year old boy, "So Johnny, do you know why we are here today?" Johnny says "Yep". The Judge says, "So why are we here today?" Johnny throws up his arms and says "It's all about the money." The Judge almost had to take a recess. The Rep almost passed out. So goes the everyday life of an Administrative Law Judge. I have often recommended new Judges to keep journals, but we are all too busy. Try to maintain your sense of humor but try not to burst out laughing while wearing the robe... (at least during the hearing)..
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Post by arkstfan on Jan 14, 2015 13:31:34 GMT -5
OK, upon request. From the home office in Shake Rag, Alabama:
Top Nine Best Things so far about being an ALJ 9. Weigh-n-Pay at Skyline 8. You still don't know how you got selected, but you don't care no more 7. You start to understand about 1/4 of what bartleby is talking about 6. "Chicken?" sandwich night at the Residence Inn 5. Don't have to be gratuitously nice to people anymore if you don't want to 4. Get to wear a dress every day at work and people don't even say anything about it like they used to 3. Some of us join an extremely elite club that knows the answer to the question "Which is colder, Room 1350 or Mount Pleasant?" 2. Start judging people not by the content of their character, but by whether they can lift a gallon of milk or not 1. The phone rings about twice a week and it actually scares you
Almost made the list, but not quite: 10. Get to help people 11. eBB 12. some of my classmates met Stedman in DC, but I wasn't there 13. some of my classmates saw Fleetwood Mac in DC, but I didn't go Heck my phone rings about four times a year. Don't forget the bountiful joy of an email with the subject 3222 - Workload Management After any vacation or hard week at a remote site.
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Post by firehouse9 on Jan 14, 2015 15:27:08 GMT -5
Thanks for the great responses. All this stuff is confusing.
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Post by shadow on Jan 20, 2015 14:05:34 GMT -5
I am on the transfer list and in good position to transfer to an office that lost two judges due to retirement at the end of 2014. The office I'm in now lost two judges at the end of '14 for the same reason. As far as I know, none of the "short" offices have heard when they are going to get replacements.
Has anyone heard when the next round of transfers will occur?
And hi to every from the old days! I haven't posted lately, but watch the board from time-to-time. Best wishes to everyone.
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