We more or less live in a time where we have come to expect a quantum of leisure time and a variety of experiences. I recall early in the primary grades reading comments about how Americans had more time and more money than ever before to pursue relaxation and generally fun activities. What was not … More Men at Work
Suddenly the skies opened up this week and we had a taste of high summer. No better time to get out on the bike and find out how rusty the muscles became over winter. It is pretty bad but not irreparable. On the waterfront I encountered the art work that represented my body, the rusty … More The Rusting Seagull
There are just so may sound bytes from family law that stick with a guy after a few decades of practice. “Mr. Patterson, Control Your Client!” the guy says to me. Couldn’t see who it was but I think it was my clients ex-husband. The hearing had not gone well for us and his former … More Sound Bytes from Family Law
I decided to drop my portable digital recorder into one of the Ford’s cup holders again and give a running commentary on my commute. Hey now, that’s entertaining; Pete Patterson drives to work; some fun, some serious events. One woman in an aging sedan honks at me as she speeds past. Her bumper sticker: “Co-exist.” … More The Pete Patterson Commute
Recently, in my homey podcast studio, I was pleased to invite a remarkable local talent in to talk about his career, life and the best a man can offer, an individual guitar style that leaves the listener with the knowledge that it is all going to turn out OK. Like a music locomotive Ford … More Ford Giesbrecht – Guitarist
( About 9 minutes of Audio ) Doing the work of lawyers one finds that normally the head is down and the eyes are on whatever is in front of the advocate; a book, a client, the pavement. Yet this week after court, eyes fixed down and brow appropriately wrinkled, I somehow I noticed everyone … More It’s Been a Quiet Week in Everett, My Hometown
In the summer of 1986 a movie was released called “Top Gun” . It’s about naval aviators, staring Tom Cruise. It’s about testosterone. And it is about a time when my cohorts and I were still young men. And leaving the theater we all wished we had made other career choices. During this time I had client … More Top Gun Call Sign: Maddog
I grew up in a village called Immaculate Conception Parish in the 1960’s. We had a fundamental narrative about how life was supposed to be, where your place in the universe was, and a sense of right and wrong. Ultimately this was shattered by a remarkably critical world that tossed that narrative aside without much thought and … More But it is 1978!
Scene: Barber shop with men waiting. Monsignor Mattie’s is there for a hair cut as well, reading a newspaper. A spread of Playboy magazines lie on the table in front of him. “Padre”, one of the other patron’s ask him “what do you think of all these dirty books?” The day this place loses it’s dirty books is the day … More Everett Elks Club : Man Cave From A Different Time
“We was in Agree-ence” the man standing pro se before the Court Commissioner says, as he tries to explain why he has not returned the child of which he seeks “custodie” to the child’s mother. That is how “custody” is spelled in his pleadings. Being a lawyer means one is a wordsmith, and at times the use … More The Street Language of the Courthouse
Lawyers Road Review 