Well well well, who do we have here

It's me! Sorry for the really really long absence, but I just got really really busy! While we were on hiatus, the following happened:

• The boyfriend's sister had a beautiful baby girl.
• I finished the semester.
  
• I took my Real Estate exam. It went OK.
• I took my Tax exam. It was insanely hard. More on that later.
  
• Finished the Court internship. Judge said he would happily give me a reference. Great!
• Holidays were fun. Spent time with family. Mildly irritated by some in-laws.
  
• Got Wii Fit. In pain from Wii Fit.
  
• Tonight is New Year's Eve. Going out to dinner with some wonderful people, than drinks here at the apartment. Still feeling the holiday vibe.
  
• No job yet. Actually, not much available in the way of jobs for me yet, but I knew that choosing gov't or public interest would cause that. Still hanging in there.
  

I keep getting teary-eyed about Obama's win

So, I kinda knew I would cry when Obama won the election. Actually, while I hoped he would win, I was still skeptical that we could pull it off. I think that I was a little burned out after 2 terms with the Moron. I also think that's how I kept getting dragged into phone banking and GOTV calls for him and HeadCount.

What I wasn't expecting is how touched everyone is about this victory. I feel so proud of our country for picking the smarter candidate and seeing past the Republicans' poisonous rhetoric.

I have been watching news shows like crazy (we cancelled our cable TV, effective tomorrow so we could still get election coverage) and every time they show someone else cry about this election, I do too. I even cried watching Jesse Jackson and he gets on my nerves normally Who knew that Oprah's runny mascara could move me so much?

I guess I am the official election crybaby. And damn proud of it.

Obama's grandma passed away

Sometimes, life just isn't fair. After sacrificing for and encouraging Obama so much, his grandma died last night/early this morning.

I can't imagine the terrible and strange mix of grief and anticipation for tomorrow that Barack and family must be feeling. It seems like such a shame that his Grandma won't get to see him become president.

Rest in peace Grandma Dunham.

Justice for workers = exciting for lawyers!

Some deliverymen in New York City were getting ripped off by their employer. The guys were working tons of hours and only getting $520 per month from their employer, the Saigon Grill. Turns out that they only made about $2 an hour. They sued with the help of a public interest law organization and won a multi million dollar verdict.

Check out the New York Times story.

This is the kind of thing that makes me excited to practice law!

So close, yet so far away!

Graduation is less than 6 months away now, but I still have a ton to do.

Found out recently that I might be able to do some updating to my law review article and get it published in a different journal or even the newsletter for an organization I am in. That involves a TON of work, but I might do it.

I also am up to my ears in regular school work because I took a 4 day "vacation" to Detroit to attend that conference. I am planning to stay at the library until 9:30 tonight as part of my "catch up" plan. Same with tomorrow. Hopefully, I can manage not to flunk out before I graduate!

Going to the Motor City

So, I am going to a conference this weekend in Detroit. In a Toyota Corolla. I don't care what the motor city thinks about my foreign car. It gets damn good gas mileage.

I have to laugh about how a momentary decrease in gas prices makes everyone forget that last month, that stuff was $4 a gallon or more. I haven't forgotten, and my hatred for spending money on stuff that is consumed means that I will drive itty bitty cars the rest of my life!

New school year, new jobs, new hope?

So, I am finally quitting my legal research job to work as a project assistant for the school's volunteer lawyer/law student partnership project. I am excited for the new opportunity and because this job enables me to do something other than staple printouts.

I also am working with another student at school to get the law school to offer a new class. We were thinking of "Survey of Public Interest Law." Basically, we are trying to get some clinical profs to teach us a little bit of what we missed when the school decided never ever to offer 80% of the public interest classes listed in their brochure.

An email to two of the professors today yielded really enthusiastic responses. I am really excited about the prospect of being taught stuff I want to learn for once! I hope we can make this happen.

Back on the voter registration bandwagon

So, I am getting back on the horse so to speak, and registering voters again tonight at a show here in town. I said that it was time for me to direct my energies elsewhere, but the org really needed help, and I couldn't say no.

However, I am not sure how I am going to feel watching someone else do the job that I used to have. Ah, nostalgia.

Well, at least this makes me feel like I am doing SOMETHING about this election. Seems like most of my peers, for all their shit-talking, don't get involved at all, in anything, other than just...talking.

Blog readers, post in the comments about how you are getting involved this election season.

Can I please just shut the hell up?

If I am not the one in charge, and the one in charge isn't doing a splendid job, why can't I just shut the hell up? I have no idea, but I really wish I could. It's not my fault that things might be a little screwed up, and I don't have to make sure that every damn thing I am involved in is just exactly perfect. Who the hell died and made me judge? No one, that's who. So I am just going to have to learn how to be a "member" of things, and not in charge of them.

I was the one who wanted to be more employee and less boss. Why is it so hard for me to get used to this?

I am getting published!

An article I co-wrote on debt management is going to appear in my state bar's monthly magazine. I am pretty excited about this development. However, there have been recent changes in the law (the prez recently signed HR 4137 which gives debt relief in exchange for 3 year commitments for prosecutors and public defenders) that aren't covered in the article.

For some odd reason, the bar is publishing it as is.

I am just happy that something I contributed to is getting published.

Dear summer....why did you leave me?

Apparently, summer is packing its bags and is on its way out the door. Why oh why does it have to leave so soon? I was just getting the hang of grilling my meals outside instead of cooking them on a stove. I had just gotten used to spending more time outside my apartment than inside. I was done working and had nothing in front of me but two weeks of relaxation.

Now, I have an afternoon today to get organized before I leave for my vacation. I return Friday to book buying, reading assignments and job hunting. And then school starts.

I am just not ready.

Fame!

Actually, Hall of Fame. Or "Halls of Fame" as the case may be. I am going on a road trip next week to see the Rock and Roll and Football Halls of Fame. I am totally psyched. I think this will be a great pre-school road trip and the perfect start to my 3L year!

If you have been to either one, or are from Ohio, please leave info/advice/warnings/etc in the comments.

P.S. Though it looks odd, it is correct to say "Halls of Fame" and NOT "Hall of Fames."

Grammatically yours,

Improvilaw

Book sale!!!!!!!

Oh yes, it's that wonderful time of year again, when I unload a whole bunch of books that I don't need anymore. My readers were very kind last year, and helped take a bunch of these off my hands.

Buying used books is environmentally friendly, as you are helping me "recycle."
Buying used books helps you save money
Buying used books means that you don't have to trudge to the law school bookstore.

Check out the list of books below:
Listed as Title/Edition/Author/Retail/My price

Evidence: Exam Pro 2^nd Michael Graham $30 $20

Civ Pro: Legalines 5^th Keyed to Yeazell $20 $1

Anatomy of a Lawsuit Revised Peter Simon $23 $12

Contract Law/Prob& UCC 3^rd Scott and Kraus $40 $5

Contract Law:Capability Problem 2^nd Danzig and Watson $31 $10

Contracts: Examples & Explanations 2^nd Blum $40 $15

Contracts: Casenote Legal Briefs Keyed to Murphy $28 $15

Understanding Torts 2^nd Diamond/Levine $25 $12

Black’s Law Dictionary Deluxe 8^th Garner $108 $75


Contact me if you are interested.

Job market looking bleak for "firmies"

For my classmates who are looking to work in big firms after graduation, things aren't looking so good this year. Only one or two local firms were on the 3L OCI list.

That means that these people might actually have to use their brains, and come up with a list of firms and addresses to send *gasp* snail mail resumes and cover letters to. Oh the humanity! They are going to have to do a real job hunt, not just go across the street to interviews with 2nd year associates who don't have a clue about what's going on.

On the other hand, I feel like I should be more worried about finding a job, but I am not. Many of the public interest employers I want to work for need more help in a bad economy. They also don't hire until winter. For now, I am just making my mail merge list of employers, and doing a lot of networking.

Questions about UW Law

I have had a couple inquiries via email and one in the comments about UW Law in general and my situation specifically. I can tell you that the one thing I have learned in law school is that you just never know.

I have gotten interviewed for jobs where I didn't meet their criteria at all. I have been not been offered positions that I was qualified for because of not having grades the employer wanted, but exceeding all other qualifications. I have had employers offer me paying school-year positions based on my summer work when I least expected it.

I don't know much about law firm jobs because I rarely apply to any. I like 40-50 hour weeks, and think that I didn't bust my ass at law school just to continue to do so as a nameless cog in a giant legal machine for the next 30 years. I have a ton of interest in doing very "non-traditional" stuff with my degree. Like starting a non-profit which saves other non-profits time and resources. Or counseling other people considering a second career. Or working on the technology side of law practice. Or saving the world.

I have a lot of dreams, but not many solid goals, other than following my passion for people wherever it takes me.

If you are seeking further information about UW Law, feel free to email me. Or leave your email addy in the comments and I will get back to you. I love talking to people about my experience, but I want to remind my readers that every person is different, and so are their job prospects and hopes and goals and thoughts about law school, the legal profession and success.

My biggest education in law school has been the one I gave myself - about it being a great thing to be different. About shattering the status quo. About going against the grain and doing my own thing.

Are you gonna vote?

So, I am going to be adding a "Register to Vote" button for HeadCount to my blog. As some of you may know, I started working for HeadCount in 2004 when the org first started, registering people to vote at music concerts and festivals all over the midwest. I had a great time doing this, and eventually worked my way up to Outreach Director in 2007. However, being in charge of outreach at a time when the organization needed to grow exponentially to prepare for the 2008 election and law school didn't go well together. My grades took a big hit from working so hard for HeadCount and I resigned my position in January 2008 to let more available people take over.

The good news is that HeadCount is still going strong, and voter registration is a cause which is still near and dear to my heart.

So, please click on the button on the right side of the page, and check out the site. You can register to vote, or even volunteer to help others exercise their own right to vote.

This is outrageous [attempt to go green content]

My boyfriend and I are trying our best to recycle everything and to stop using so much stuff. So, we are now trying really hard not to buy bottled water. We got a Brita filter for Christmas and have been refilling water bottles or using Nalgene bottles for our daily intake of H2O.

We had to replace the filter today and I discovered that Brita filters can't be recycled here in the U.S. Chlorox owns Brita in the U.S. and they haven't started a recycling program here like they have in Europe.

There is a petition online to get them to recycle these plastic things. Check it out.

Time to start working soon

So, I start working on Monday. Many of my friends at school started over a week ago. My employer for the summer wanted me to wait (vacations or something for my supervisor). So I have had some time on my hands. I went camping for a few days. I went to the Chocolate Festival in Burlington. I went to a fabulous dinner with my mentee. I got to spend my best friend K's birthday with her, and commisserate and have a great time talking about the "good old days" before both of us started collecting all these degrees and life got so crazy. I have read one mystery novel already and am in the middle of another. I have done a lot of shopping for work clothes.

I still haven't found my damn passport yet though. I have to get on that.

Monday is coming too soon!

Hillary for....Supreme Court?

This article in the ABA Journal intrigues me. It discusses the possibility of Barack Obama cutting a deal to get Hillary Clinton out of the race by promising to make her his nominee for the Supreme Court. This would be more exciting for me personally than her being President. For some reason, a SCOTUS Justice is much more intellectual and interesting than a President. I think that our friend George had a lot to do with my perceived "dumbing down" of the Presidency.

Bo-battiness

I found today that I have gained 25 pounds since I quit smoking. Add that to the few that I gained in the first part of 1L just from eating crap, and that makes me about 30 pounds heavier than when I started law school. And, I was already heavy.

I am now at the "Fatty Bobatty" stage. I don't like it. My brother gets married in July, and I had to admit to his finance that I was just too fat to fit into the bridesmaids dresses she selected. (She responded by kicking me out of the wedding party. Nice - huh?)

Now, I either need to drop some weight or buy something to wear to the wedding itself. I am afraid that I won't be able to find something suitable. So, it's workout time. And stop eating swedish fish because they are easy to sneak into the library. Time to buckle down.

Time limits and law school exams

For the second time this semester, I took an exam that I could have used at least another half hour to complete. Professors write exams where most students write until the very second time is called. As a result, I usually submit answers that are formatted poorly, and that include either too much information, or not enough.

I am a "ponderer." I like to think things through and determine the best course of action, not just a "good" course of action. This personality and law school exams are like oil and water. They just don't mix. This means that I take exams in areas of the law that I am familiar with and enjoy, but give the professor the impression that I am clueless about them in the end.

Why can't they just give us more time on the exams? If they are worried about those students who write too much, they can give us a word limit. That won't hurt anyone. I welcome it actually. The real skills they should be testing are those that apply to the real world. In real life, a client doesn't ask your opinion and expect a thorough response in 3 hours or less. They want an idea of their options during the meeting, and a well thought out response later. What we really should be asking of students is that they THINK about things and keep written work to a reasonable length.


What do you think?
Discuss.

Panic at the library!

No, it's not a hip new band, it is a plague upon my law school. It's happy fun finals time, and I made the mistake of staying in the law school to study because I didn't want to get rained on.

Then people started rolling in here at about 10am. My 2 hours of beautiful quiet and solitude with Trusts and Estates were destroyed in a matter of minutes by the palpable anxiety of my fellow students.

This semester I had managed to stay out of the fray. I even studied near the undergrads yesterday. Why did I deviate from my plan?

Oh the humanity! I just want to be somewhere laid back and calm.

I am going home to take a nap.

Semester, quit ending so fast!

Dear Mother Time (I am a feminist - get over it!),

I am not ready for exams. I am however, ready for spring (that means no frickin' snow). I am totally ready to work, but I am not ready to finish school. What I am asking here is that you either slow down, or grant me that additional hour or so that I desperately need.

Especially because I have a trusts and estates exam this weekend.

Sincerely,

Improvilaw

Professor, quit talking so fast

I hate that at the end of the semester, when you start feeling a little worried about exams and the depth of the knowledge in the course, the professor starts talking really fast. They always try to cover material that they really don't have time for at this point in the semester and it is infuriating.

Dear Professors: Stay on task early in the semester so you have PLENTY of time to get through the material. Alternatively, you can just not test us on the material covered the last 2 weeks of class. You have at least 2 degrees. Get your shit together and follow your own syllabus - please! Your failure to shut down stupid questions the rest of the semester and to allow the class to lag isn't my problem or my fault. Quit punishing me for your lack of time management.

Sincerely,

Improvilaw

Sorry about the lack of posts

Sorry about not posting for a while. Life got in the way of blogging. I also have been a little overwhelmed lately. The end of the school year brings a lot of work with it. I have classes where I missed some reading and need to make sure I have looked at everything. I have outlines to make. There are end-of-year parties and dinners to attend. Clinic clients' cases needed to be wrapped up if possible.

That means that a lot of stuff falls by the wayside. Like getting my hair cut. For some reason, I haven't been able to get a haircut appointment that will stick. I have had stylists cancel my appointments twice this month. I am thinking that I don't have time to make a new appointment now, so cute hair will have to wait until the end of May.

I am looking forward to camping season already. I am thinking about taking off for the woods right after my last exam.

I forgot how much I like doing plays and stuff

Last night was our law school's annual "skit" show. Basically, we poke fun at law school classes, professors and culture in general. I got "excused" to get out of the law review election a little early to do the show. I played a "Gunner Phone Sex" operator (on stage) and a talking locker (Offstage). It was a ton of fun. I got to enjoy my inner "ham" and really enjoyed it. When I was younger, I used to do that kind of thing all the time. It was nice to do something through the law school that had nothing to do with academics, or my career or even social justice for once. Not that I don't love being in those kinds of things, it is just a different thing.

This was just for me.

Speaking of which, I gave myself a gift this week and decided not to run for SBA again. I just gained a few hours a week back! The rest of 2008 is going to be about me taking back my life from the beast of law school.

As the law review election turns

Never before has any event been so fraught with intrigue and drama. Never before has doing so much work been so unrewarding. Never before have I soooooo not wanted Mr. T and Mr. R to be my bosses.

What am I talking about? The upcoming law review elections. The most qualified people are too socially inept to run for anything. The egomaniacs are out in full force though, shaking hands with members who they never had time for before, and saying childish things like, "you should vote for me because my shoes are cute."

Personally, since the Editor in Chief of this thing is my likely boss, I would really like someone smart, but also a skilled manager. This is hard to find in law school. Many students call "extensive work experience" the one summer they spent stuffing envelopes for some senator, or the one year they worked as a paralegal at their dad's law firm between undergrad and law school.

They also foolishly hold the elections the same day as our annual skit show. That means that I only could be cast in two skits. They had better finish this lame election by the time the show starts!

White women can jump

Sometimes, my trusts and estates instructor will jump up and down with excitement. She also refers to her husband and two dogs regularly and liberally. She should probably lay off the caffeine. While some people get really irritated with her over-enthusiasm, at least it keeps us awake! She also uses a lot of overheads, which I like.

Do any readers want to comment on what they like/don't like in professors?

Student (dis) Organization

I am a joiner. I love joining all kinds of groups. I am a social person. Here at law school, I have been involved in SBA, a journal and all kinds of student organizations.

The one thing I have learned is that getting a group of flakey 20 somethings to make a decent effort at anything is nearly impossible. One-upmanship tends to carry the day, rather than actual accmplishments.

It is exhausting.

My friend has cancer and it sucks

My friend has cancer. Prostate. He's only 41. He has a new wife and two daughters and they just had a new baby, and it just isn't fair.

This isn't one of those stories where he starts treatment and the cancer retreats into oblivion, off to victimize someone else. This is a story where the fucking cancer hangs on, and spreads and scares the shit out of me and the rest of his family and friends. This is a story about what happens when you watch David battle Goliath, but you are so close, you see the fear in his eyes and it makes you doubt whether everything really will be OK.

But this is no time for fear and doubt. So you both buck up and try to act like those feelings don't exist and keep shoving hope in their place.

So anyway, my friend has cancer and it sucks. But he won't for long. And maybe the one good thing about this is that for all of us, it puts all of the petty bullshit back into its place - to the "it doesn't matter" pile, and reminds me that the really important stuff are the simple things.

Family, friends, laughter, love. Hope.

The Oscars

Unlike the more prolific blogger, Ms. Althouse, I don't think this show sucks. Their little montages of past Oscar telecasts have actually been a welcome relief from the poorly written, and not very funny little vignettes they normally do.

I also found some of the past speeches (and the one by the girl from "Once") to be very inspiring. Must be because law school isn't providing much inspiration these days.

My life has turned into a Hitchcock movie

I have been having sinus headaches of increasing intensity all month. On Thursday, everything really got bad. I woke up with a killer headache. I threw another fistful of ibuprophen in my mouth and went on with my day. I have gotten used to having a slight throbbing under my cheeks all day. I went to my 4:30 meeting, but was feeling a bit nauseus, which I chalked up to over indulgence in coffee.

Then, I was sitting in the law library afterward, doing some reading and taking notes. I looked down at my book, and it looked crooked, like things do when you are drunk and get bed spins. I felt incredibly ill, like I was about to pass out. I was so dizzy, it took me a few minutes to collect myself enough to go outside and call the school health clinic.

The nurse who called me back says that I probably have an inner ear issue caused by the sinus trouble, which is causing (wait for it) Vertigo! I have seen the Hitchcock movie before, but I never realized what was involved with this ailment until it happened to me.

Needless to say, I haven't been able to work on the second draft of my law review article, which is due tomorrow. I haven't really been able to read anything at all. Just typing this blog post is making me feel sick.

I am rocking the earth

Rock the Earth is a grassroots organization started by my friend Marc to respond to threats to the environment by using the legal system to create change. It raises funds and educates people about its mission by tabling at music concerts and festivals all over the country and by partnering with a variety of musicians. The dedication of Rock the Earth's staff and volunteers is truly inspiring!

There is a contest by Patagonia to give a non-profit $5,000. All you have to do is click the radio button for "Rock the Earth"

Please click here and help a terrific organization get more funding!

The legal clinic

This semester, I am working one of our school legal clinics for 3 credits. That means 12 hours week, I have to be in the clinic working on cases. The problem right now is that I only have one case. And there is nothing to do for it right now. I have a letter to the client that is awaiting approval from my supervising attorney, but that's about it. I haven't talked to the client in over a week because I have to send the "Terms of Representation" letter first.

We are also required to keep a journal of our experience. While blogging is kind of like keeping a journal, my blog is about law school and life during law school, not a super narrow topic like the clinic. Our journal entries have to be turned in weekly, in "memo" format, and include suggested topics like, "things that made me feel like a real lawyer this week" or "what being a good lawyer means to me." Very corny, and very difficult to write when my clinic experiences have been so limited.

I am hoping that I get more clients soon. I consider the clinic to be another "job" and don't like being idle during my workday.

Forced participation

My unpopular opinion: I love it!

I love the Socratic method or having members of class "on call" but I greatly prefer to "suprise" method most.

I think that forcing people to participate makes the class go faster, and raises the bar as far as my own learning. Sometimes, I think you need to be "under the gun" in order to make sure you do your reading on time, and actually think about the material.

It can be downright painful when a professor asks a question and no one answers. While other students seem to hate being called on, I would rather be slightly nervous about it than be embarrassed that people don't respond.

Have to vote today

So basically, my disappointment in the Obama rally means that I will probably vote for Clinton, but I am not 100% right now.

I really wish that I felt more strongly about either one.

I did laugh at the student who had a banner on the overpass this morning reading, "Hope doesn't pay my tuition."

Have an opinion on the policies of both? Comment and help me decide!

Is the legal profession filled with ignorance?

I found many of the comments regarding this story at Abovethelaw.com to be terrible.

The post describes a student at the University of Alabama law school having what appears to be a problem with mental illness during class. Funny that a few people use the archaic term "nervous breakdown." I find it interesting that a profession so obsessed with using exacting language is so sloppy when referencing what occurred with this poor student.

The comments seem to reflect a lot of ignorance regarding mental illness and a TON of insensitivity. I worry that I will be practicing law with these people in a few years. The worst part is that many of them seem to hide behind the anonymity of the internet. What does that concern me? I would rather know who the jerks are rather than have them hiding among us.

Another view is that the posters who were so rude may have been expressing fear of mental illness couched in insensitivity. Maybe the ignorant comments were really made by people suffering from some type of stress disorder themselves. It's a shame that the members of this profession can't be more sympathetic and put competition aside in favor of collaboration and caring.

I am an emotionless robot (aka: I wasn't moved by Barack Obama)

So, I went to the big Barack Obama rally here last week. After standing in a really really long line and getting to my seat, only to have to sit there for another 2 hours, I will admit that I wasn't in a great mood. I was hoping I would be inspired though. I also incorrectly assumed that I would be treated as an educated American and have the candidate's policy positions elaborated upon. I was wrong on both fronts.

The rally was aimed at brainless college students. There was no real policy discussion at all. Just Mr. Obama saying the equivalent of, "war sucks, and I am cool" and "I will help you with stuff you want." I was unimpressed, but this strategy seemed to work well on the army of 18-20 year old students there.

I know, I know - I live in a college town and candidates cater to their audience. I just felt like I was in the midst of a commercial, not a political event. They even alternated songs from various music genres to ensure that everyone would feel "included." This just felt fake to me.

Hillary Clinton was supposed to be here today, but that was canceled due to bad weather. I guess I am going to continue being undecided and make a game time decision at the polls on Tuesday.

Please dear readers: convince me! If you feel strongly about either candidate, please comment. I need help making a decision and soon!

I am an undecided voter

For the first time in my life, I am an undecided voter. I know! It shocks me as much as it must surprise you. I try very hard not to make politics about stupid stuff - whose hair is cuter, or who can spew the most rhetoric. I try to make it about issues, but the candidates sure don't. Primary season seems to be more about sound bites than anything, and that doesn't make it any easier to make up my mind.

When I do those "candidate selection tools" they always seem to say that I should vote for Hillary Clinton. But she was on the board of Walmart, and we all know how much I (and others) hate Walmart.

It seems that Obama has "captured the youth vote," but he kinda freaks me out. He is pretty young (46 or so) to be spouting all of this MLKish rhetoric. Hillary is only 5 years older, but isn't fortunate to have the "boyish appeal" that Obama does. Many of my classmates seem decided already, and they are voting Obama. I am nervous about his lack of experience. I just can't see myself voting for someone who has only 3 years of Senate experience. I am not convinced yet.

I also find it funny that people don't call him by his first name. Only her. I wonder why that is? To differentiate from Bill Clinton, or is it something else.

Anyway, Barack Obama is going to be visiting on campus today, and I want to check him out in person. Maybe my women's intuition will tell me who to vote for if I am in the same auditorium as he is. I want to see a Democrat in the White House again, but is Barack our man? I think I should see for myself!

Give me oatmeal or give me death

I am so in love with these Quaker Oatmeal Express Cups right now. They are sweet without being too sweet, mildly nutritious (4 grams of fiber!). HOT, and filling enough so that I am not eyeing the candy machine before lunchtime.

For some reason, the only place to find them is at Target. So, I am forced to go to Target more often now. Oh, the humanity! (I love Target)

I just wanted to ask a damn question!

Many times, as soon as the class ends, a bunch of students rush up to the professor with questions. Today, I had a question and decided to be proactive by letting the prof know (before class started) that I wanted to talk to her after class. I asked if I could avoid the crush of students and if I could "sign up" for the first slot and ask my question and get out of there. She agreed, and told me we would meet in another room as soon as she got packed up.

Then class ended and I stood there waiting for her to get "packed up" while a crush of students rushed up and asked their questions. What did being proactive get me? A 28 minute wait to ask a simple question.

I wasn't happy.

Then, got an email from a friend (someone who asked a question of the prof after class) "apologizing" for me having to wait, and saying that she heard I "was mad at those who rushed up to the prof." Now, the only people who heard me complain about the professor being tardy for her office hours were two people I would call acquaintances. And I never complained about students - only about the professor herself. Why would my classmates try to stir up fake drama like this? See, this is what I don't like about law school. It's not the work, it's bullshit like this. Let me tell you, it is not an isolated incident. People have so little contact with the real world, that their only topic of conversation is each other. I just wish they would leave me out of it. I am sick of hearing others' gossip and I don't want to be included in it either!

To avoid being the victim of gossip and dragged into drama created by a classmate's need for "excitement", I have been withdrawing from a lot of socializing with people at school. This goes against my natural personality, which is to want to be friendly and chatty. It's sad that I feel this way about my fellow classmates.

Class at 8:50 a.m.

When I worked full time, I had to be there at 9:00 am and usually barely made it there on time. Now, I have class at 8:50, and while I get here early, I still hate waking up earlier than 7:30 am. I am not a morning person. Ick!

Right now, at the beginning of the semester, everyone is here on time. In another month, this room will be half full. Why even have class this early? Whatever happened to night classes?

Oh, and about New Orleans

Readers who know me in 3D also know that I made a second trip to New Orleans the week before school restarted. I was working with a terrific organization called the Student Hurricane Network. As its name suggests, the org was started by a bunch of law students and has grown into a national movement of sorts.

It was terrific to be there again. I even ventured out by myself to a show at the legendary Tipitinas. Since I was 18 years old, I have been hearing about this place and to see a New Orleans-based band there was Epic for me. I didn't even mind that I was by myself, I just let the music carry me away to funkland. Glorious!

Someone asked me the other day, "why New Orleans again?" I went originally out of maybe a sense of morbid curiosity and a willingness to help some people who seemed to need it. I now consider myself to have a special bond with that place.

It reminds me of myself. Screwed up but lovable. Old, but not in a bad way. Colorful, and sometimes over the top. Gaudy and garish but lovely and unique. Maybe needs some work, but at least the work is worth doing. There is something great there that is still worthwhile. :)

At least that's what I see.

I was so moved my first time there by the sights and sounds and feelings and a feeling of "we have to do something about this" that I couldn't wait to return. I was hoping the other students who went felt the same, but I am not sure they did. Maybe I would have felt the same way about the city 13 years ago. We shall see how many return for the next trip.

I spent way too much money eating and drinking. Now, reality has set in, and it's time to buckle down.

Back to school

This semester I am taking:

• Trusts and Estates (3 credits)
• Constitutional law (3 credits)
• Equal Employment Law (4 credits)
• Bankruptcy Law (3 credits)

I also have

• Law Review (2 credits)
• A clinic (3 credits)

Doing the math, that's 18 credits. I was never even brave enough to attempt 18 credits in undergrad! Well, for someone who hasn't been in school full time since 1993, I think I am doing OK.

Now, for balancing all of those credits with Student Bar Association, a job with a legal research company and working for the legal writing department in the law school...

Well, at least I am not bored!

Despite stomach virus, I keep writing, and writing....

Somehow, the significant other and I caught some kind of stomach virus. He has been sick for 3 days, but I just started feeling icky night before last. It sucks, because I just cannot afford to be ill right now.

I couldn't go to the library yesterday because I, um had to be near....well, you know.

Now, I am scrambling to write 16 pages in two days. Yikes! If this were undergrad, no problem. But these law review people want actual quality work. What were they thinking when they let me in?

Well, back to drinking pink medicine and wishing I could trade tummies with someone.

I have to write at least 25 pages in the next 4 days

Before law school, the longest paper I had to write at my undergrad (other than a sloppy 20 page independent study paper) was about 8 pages. I have to produce a 200-footnote, coherent, logical and hopefully publishable 40 page Comment by the 7th. I have made significant progress, but sometimes the fear that I won't complete it on time scares the hell out of me. I woke up this morning and immediately thought, "holy sh*t, I have to find a new source for the statistics in my paper!" before I even lifted my head off the pillow.

Maybe I need more sleep, or I just need to get this paper done!