See, this is exactly the kind of stuff I wanted to avoid

So, after being way too stressed out last semester, I vowed I would ease up on the involvement with a trillion different organizations and obligations and live my life more. That's not happening. Why? Because I fail to control my ridiculous need to try to get involved.

Half the time, I get involved thinking that I can make a difference. When a difference isn't what's needed, I get stressed and frustrated. It sucks.


However, I am thinking that my involvement with at least one of the student orgs I am in can end, and it really won't matter. I have a "leadership" post in a student org that doesn't really want leaders - the rest of the executive board wants to do things exactly like we did last year. Doing what we did last year was ineffective, pointless and did nothing for our members. Why repeat it? Because innovation isn't prized much of the time in law school. Being a follower is.

I prefer to not be associated with any group that would rather follow than lead. I want to be a trailblazer. I want to try new things. I want new experiences. Isn't that why I decided to pursue a law degree at age 34?

Frankly, I think that my time is better spent getting to know like-minded students better. I also plan to do more work on things that count - like my relationship with my boyfriend and family.

Well, it sounds like I will have one less stressor on my plate by the end of the week, huh? I plan to resign my position on Thursday. :)

Whatever happened to the do gooders?

My friend Erlignition posted about the rise and fall of the public interest folks at our law school here.

My response:

...as one of the people who spent last year trying to get a better LRAP (and found that the school just really doesn't give a damn in any meaningful way), I felt fear in my heart when I realized that I was going to be very very poor upon graduation and that all my classmates were not. I felt bummed that the definition of success around this school (and to many family and friends) is a big firm job that sounds prestigious and pays a lot of cash. Despite that, I still couldn't swing applying to one. I did, however, apply to a handful of small plaintiff's firms that actually PAY MONEY to summer help. Working for free is great, but it sure doesn't pay the bills! I also did the unthinkable to many of my classmates: I got a part time job!

I think that many in our class have persuaded themselves that they are taking these high paying summer associate positions so that they can "afford to work in public interest after graduation." For some reason, I just don't think that's true. I think they are kidding themselves. The same way that I was by not admitting that I wanted the recognition from my peers and others that would come if I tried for and got a prestigious firm job. For some reason, getting paid a ton of money a year for what amounts to having 2 full time jobs after graduation makes people think that you are really smart, while working in public interest makes people...well, I don't know what people think about that. In the end, I have decided to follow my gut. My gut led me here to law school, and it has been more reliable than the public service pronouncements of my classmates. :)

I don't know, because we don't see it very often. Usually for law students like for the rest of the country, greed and consumerism rule and doing the right thing is relegated to rhetoric.

A new year, a new me?

OK, that's probably not true, but it made for a great post title, didn't it? Well, in case any of you are wondering (or if any of you read this blog anymore) I did make law review. I wrote my case note while registering voters in the middle of a field in IL and partially in a hotel room in Peoria, IL and I still made it on! A miracle for certain!

Now that I accomplished that feat, I have to pick a topic to write about. Since I will be spending a long long time working on this article, I really need to make the topic a great one. I am open to suggestions, so feel free to post here.

What else is going on....

Well, I have decided to relax a bit, and I concentrate my energies on things that are a little more beneficial to me. That means that I dumped my non-profit volunteer job registering voters. I felt taken advantage of and unappreciated, and it just wasn't fun anymore. So I stopped. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done, but it also took a 100 pound weight off my shoulders.

Those of you that know me also know that I tend to be a worrier and that I carry the weight of everyone's problems around with me. That can make for a very miserable me!

I am enjoying being a 2L, and my classes seem much more pertinent now that I did some actual lawyerly work this summer.

Tonight, I have a Women's Law Student meeting, and then bar review. I really need a cocktail!

I am still alive!

Sorry for the neglect of the blog. I am not certain that many read it anyway. Summer has been busy, so I simply haven't had the time for updates lately. I will try to put up stuff at least once a week, but to be honest, I would put up more if I had more to say. Senseless drivel is pointless.

Writing on

Amazon.com: Academic Legal Writing: Law Review Articles, Student Notes, Seminar Papers, and Getting on Law Review, Second Edition (University Casebook Series) (University Casebook Series): Books: Eugene Volokh

So, it's law review write-on time. That's what I will be doing until I leave to go register voters in IL this weekend.

Sorry, but there's just not enough hours in a day for eating, sleeping, writing and getting ready to start the new job on Tuesday. Regular blogging to return soon@

It's exam time - what did you expect?

If you are reading this blog regularly, you know I am a law student, so you also should know that it is hectic exam time.

Had my Civil Procedure II exam yesterday. It went OK.

Studying for property now. Have been procrastinating a lot.

I won't be posting much for a little bit. Hang in there - I will be back!

Is anonymous a good thing?

I have been reconsidering the decision to stay anonymous. I don't think I say anything too provocative that could hurt my career. I am fairly honest, if a bit sarcastic at times. However, if people I knew read my posts here, maybe the honesty would suffer. I am not sure that I can honestly post about my fears, hopes and dreams if I know my classmates are all reading it (and knowing I am the person behind the posts). On the other hand, in 3D, my life is pretty much an open book. I tend to be a bit moody, and others' views of me must be influenced by what mood I am in that day, but otherwise, what you see is what you get.

Same with what you read here. This is pretty much who I am, anxiety and all. I think I make more wisecracks here than in 3D, but otherwise, it's accurate.

What do all of you think about coming out of the blogging closet so to speak?

Moot court

As many of my loyal readers (do I have loyal readers?) know, I was going to try out for Moot Court, but got too lazy during Spring Break and decided not to. This week, I discovered that I am an idiot. We have to do an oral argument as part of our legal writing class this semester. I didn't prepare much for mine (maybe worked for a total of 5 hours or so). I never practiced it at all. I just wrote a one page outline of what I would talk about and showed up. Surprisingly, I did a pretty good job, and I really loved doing it. (Even my teacher said so)

Now I am kicking myself for not doing to Moot Court competition. I have had an ongoing "life issue" of not trying stuff because I am afraid of not doing well. I need to get over that. It seems like I give up on things like this, and then regret it later.

Day 15 an still no cigarettes. 28 people slapped.

OK, I never actually slapped anyone, but my sense of humor has been slightly darker and more juvenile lately.

Last night was the exercise in futility known to students as the "Law School Prom." This is an opportunity for the male students to put on that same business suit we see them in every time they have an interview, and for the female students (whose main life talent is academics, not fashion) to put on dresses that are too tight, too short and show more cleavage than anyone ever needs to. Then, these socially awkward groups mingle. And drink. And drink and drink. By the third hour of open bar, I was seriously wondering if some of my classmates need rehab. When I saw them on the dance floor, attempting to dance to hip hop in their ill fitting outfits and uncomfortable shoes, I was certain they would all end up at Betty Ford by the end of the night.

Note: I do not know the people in the picture. I just posted it as representative of last night's fashions.

Laverne & Surly

I don't even know anyone named Laverne. I am just crabby because of quitting smoking. Cancer avoidance can be such a bummer. I don't want to die, but I don't want spend the rest of my life being mildly irritated either. I am worried that feeling so irate could be harmful to the health of others - even more so than the secondhand smoke.

Surprisingly, I stopped using the nicotine replacement stuff yesterday, because it doesn't make me feel any "nicer." I thought it would curb cravings, which would improve my mood.

I have found that I don't want a cig, I just want to slap the shit out of people. Is that wrong?

According to American Airlines, we haven't come far at all

This post at the Consumerist blog shows us how American Airlines feels about providing service to female passengers. Apparently, we are not that smart, and all of us really like the color pink a lot.

American Airlines is hoping to attract more women travelers with a new website "for women". "We obviously have a vast interest in women," said Peggy Sterling, AMR vice president of safety, security and environmental. "There is an untapped resource." The new "women's" site mentions women friendly things like "girlfriends" and "book recommendations."
From the site:

Check the latest carry-on regulations, find advice on travel safety and wellness, and pick up tips for a stylish and efficient travel wardrobe.

Psssst. Women like clothes. Mention that on the site. This is awesome. They're totally going to fly our airline now. Make the search box pink, and get rid of all those "tools," women hate tools.—MEGHANN MARCO

To check out the site for yourself, click on the American Airlines for Women page. I am normally not some rabid feminist, but this truly is offensive to me on quite a few levels. Mostly though, I am amused that they think this will work to get more women to fly American.

I am a female law student, but I am no Elle Woods!

The library during Spring Break

Who knew the law library could be so great during Spring Break? There is no one in here. It's quiet. No one is stopping by my study area and bugging the heck out of me. I haven't seen one undergrad girl in pink velour sweatpants with "hottie" on the ass. No undergrad girls means no undergrad guys wearing Abercrombie desperately trying to hit on those girls. I am loving it here right now. Sounds nerdy, but it's true!