Today was a crazy day for me cleaning, laundering, and cooking. My son went to his grandma's house and, OMG, I got to take a shower ALONE!!! He usually insists on sitting in the tub playing with the faucet while I shower. It's not very fun tripping over a 15 month old while trying to rinse that shampoo out of your eyes, especially when the shampoo got there because the 15 month old turned the nozzle all the way to COLD, causing you to jump in the air mid-lather.
So yeah, the shower by myself was AMAZING.
Then I mopped all the floors in the house. And started cooking my very favorite meal- meatball sliders with galric-molasses mini-rolls (thank you Smitten Kitchen). So then I started on a load of laundery. Our couch majorly needed to be washed. I took the blanket we use as a couch cover/slip and threw it in with a load of my whites. (Amber Alert: Cee mixes her colors and whites! Alert the National Guard!). While it was drying I finished my cooking meal and got all my appetizers to the table. When the dryer buzzer went off I pulled just the couch cover out of the machine and draped it (not so) neatly on the couch. Not too shabby.
I finish up in the kitchen until the doorbell rings- woo hoo- my guests have arrived! As I walk to the door, I notice a lavender colored lacey thong static clinging to my couch!! Oh man! I pulled it off and shoved it into my pocket just as my guests were walking in. CLOSE CALL.
I kinda wish I didn't catch it in time. It would have been really embarassing but really funny to have my husband's friend sit on the couch and then pull a lacey thong out from under his butt.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Trouble In The Animal Kingdome
Jacob and I were reading an animal book this morning. I decided this would ge a great learning opportunity and I started to introduce Jacob to all the sounds that animals make.
"Look Jacob, it's a sheep! Sheep says 'baaaah.'"
Turn the page.
"This is a monkey. Monkeys say 'eeee, eee, oooo, oooo.'"
"Can you say bear? Bears say 'Grrr!.'"
"This is a hippo......um.....hippo says..... 'ROAR!'"
"And this is a giraffe, a giraffe says......um..... 'ROAR!'"
"A rhino says............?.......... 'ROAR!'?"
"Ooooh, how about the alligator! An alligator say..... wait a sec?.....um..... 'ROAR!'"
"Look at the camel Jacob. The camel also says 'ROAR!'"
"How about the lion. I KNOW the lion says 'ROAR!'"
"This is a walrus. A walrus says...........????.....ummmm......"
Jacob looks at me and says, "ROAR!"
Poor Jacob. He will have to re-learn all the animal noises in kindergarten. All his classmates will be able to correctly identify the "growl" of a platypus and, thanks to his genius and creative mother, Jacob will think it says "ROAR!"
"Look Jacob, it's a sheep! Sheep says 'baaaah.'"
Turn the page.
"This is a monkey. Monkeys say 'eeee, eee, oooo, oooo.'"
"Can you say bear? Bears say 'Grrr!.'"
"This is a hippo......um.....hippo says..... 'ROAR!'"
"And this is a giraffe, a giraffe says......um..... 'ROAR!'"
"A rhino says............?.......... 'ROAR!'?"
"Ooooh, how about the alligator! An alligator say..... wait a sec?.....um..... 'ROAR!'"
"Look at the camel Jacob. The camel also says 'ROAR!'"
"How about the lion. I KNOW the lion says 'ROAR!'"
"This is a walrus. A walrus says...........????.....ummmm......"
Jacob looks at me and says, "ROAR!"
Poor Jacob. He will have to re-learn all the animal noises in kindergarten. All his classmates will be able to correctly identify the "growl" of a platypus and, thanks to his genius and creative mother, Jacob will think it says "ROAR!"
Monday, December 28, 2009
Stay At Home Mom Fail
Some moments I love being a temporary stay at home mom. I love spending the entire day with my Jacob making each mundane activity into a wild, baby adventure. Going to the store is fun when I let him get out and push my cart, watch him point and name all the fruit and experience the wonders of new sights and sounds through his eyes. We spent all day lounging, reading books, watching Elmo on my laptop, eating cookies and chasing each other around the house. Everything in the world seems perfect and I feel like I am right where I belong.
Then I have moments like I am having right now where I would pay a million dollars to get out of the house and just get away from him. Moments when he is so tired and whinny but won't take a nap, he runs around the house screaming or crying over silly things like his sock came off or I won't let him play with a knife. And the house is a mess and I can't even get dressed without him clinging to me and all I want is to eat a stinking piece of toast IN PEACE! I put him in his crib because he is CLEARLY EXHAUSTED but he screams at the top of his lungs for 65 minutes. My patience is gone and I'm using all my excess energy (which isn't much) to will myself from smacking him in the noggin with the largest stuffed animal I can find.
I hate the person I become when Jacob has a bad day. I become a raving, savage and violent lunatic. My emotions get the best of me and I lose control of myself. I hate being this way. Jacob doesn't MEAN to make me angry but I always take it so personally- like he had this whole day planned as a personal vendetta against me. Jacob needs a mom who is always loving and kind and understanding. When he's upset he needs someone to hold him and comfort him. Instead, I force him to scream himself to sleep while I mutter swear words under my breath and lose my temper. After going into his room for the fifth time to make him lay back down, I lost control. I smacked his butt and forced his head down with my hand. Then I took off his Elmo slippers and threw them across the room.
OMG, WHO AM I?
After screaming for 65 minutes, he finally fell asleep and I'm sitting on the couch feeling nothing but guilty. I might have won considering he is finally getting his nap but an hour of hell for what I know will only be a 30 minute nap is just not worth it. Is there a scarlet letter branded on my forehead- because there should be. I feel like a horrible mom. Maybe I just wasn't cut out for this stay at hom mom stuff. Thank goodness I have the bar exam coming up to keep me occupied. I need to start work and I need to do it soon.
Then I have moments like I am having right now where I would pay a million dollars to get out of the house and just get away from him. Moments when he is so tired and whinny but won't take a nap, he runs around the house screaming or crying over silly things like his sock came off or I won't let him play with a knife. And the house is a mess and I can't even get dressed without him clinging to me and all I want is to eat a stinking piece of toast IN PEACE! I put him in his crib because he is CLEARLY EXHAUSTED but he screams at the top of his lungs for 65 minutes. My patience is gone and I'm using all my excess energy (which isn't much) to will myself from smacking him in the noggin with the largest stuffed animal I can find.
I hate the person I become when Jacob has a bad day. I become a raving, savage and violent lunatic. My emotions get the best of me and I lose control of myself. I hate being this way. Jacob doesn't MEAN to make me angry but I always take it so personally- like he had this whole day planned as a personal vendetta against me. Jacob needs a mom who is always loving and kind and understanding. When he's upset he needs someone to hold him and comfort him. Instead, I force him to scream himself to sleep while I mutter swear words under my breath and lose my temper. After going into his room for the fifth time to make him lay back down, I lost control. I smacked his butt and forced his head down with my hand. Then I took off his Elmo slippers and threw them across the room.
OMG, WHO AM I?
After screaming for 65 minutes, he finally fell asleep and I'm sitting on the couch feeling nothing but guilty. I might have won considering he is finally getting his nap but an hour of hell for what I know will only be a 30 minute nap is just not worth it. Is there a scarlet letter branded on my forehead- because there should be. I feel like a horrible mom. Maybe I just wasn't cut out for this stay at hom mom stuff. Thank goodness I have the bar exam coming up to keep me occupied. I need to start work and I need to do it soon.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Christmas In A Faithless, Consumer World
I can't believe Christmas Day is over! I spent two months waiting for it to come and then it just blew by! I barely had time to soak it all in before it was gone. I grew up Catholic and even thought I stopped going to church and practicing Catholicism, parts of my old faith tingle inside me once in a while, perhaps in the same way that a body misses and still feels a lost limb. I rarely get religious on this blog so just bear with me if you will.
When it comes to religion, it's not that I'm hell bent on not believing. It's not that I believe I am "above" religion or that I am too educated to have faith. In fact, I WISH I believed. It seems that religion is a big source of comfort for many people. Where I am afraid of dying, others are comforted to believe they will be in a better place. I love the Catholic traditions I grew up with and I know very many devout Catholics who are some of the most inteligent people I know. But I question everything. I doubt everything. My lawyer mind wants evidence and proof. The logical side of my brain rejects everything supernatural or Divine. I will never believe in ghosts or big foot. I won't ever believe in alien abductions. Heck, I don't even believe in the dog whisperer!
I want to belong to a faith. I have friends that are part of wonderful and close knit communities. I feel like a lost wondering soul that just doesn't belong. And I can't help but think most religious people are super cheesy. I respect them and I am in awe in their ability to have such deep faith. And I want to be have what they have, but it's impossible. My logical side just scoffs at it all. It's like there are two people in my mind- one religious and one atheist. Somehow, the atheist always wins.
So during Christmas, I open my mind and my eyes and I take everything in. I enjoy the traditions that I remember as a child- such as lighting the advent wreath, putting out the nativity set, attending Christmas Eve Mass and celebrating Jesus' birthday. I try to get into the mindset of what Christmas is about- one man sacrificing his life for the rest of the world. I also try to stay away from the consumerism, because it can pull you in so easily and it sickens me that buying things and accumulating objects is all to often the focus of American holidays. I focus on giving back to others and spending time with the people I love. And I hope someday, someway, somehow, I will be able to Believe with the same conviction as the childhood me.
As much as I hate focusing on presents and gifts, Jacob did make out like a bandit this year. It's so much fun watching the holidays through his eyes. Everything is new to him still. He reminds me to turn on the Christmas tree lights, and help him put on his Christmas socks each day. Being with my family was the best part of this Christmas season.
When it comes to religion, it's not that I'm hell bent on not believing. It's not that I believe I am "above" religion or that I am too educated to have faith. In fact, I WISH I believed. It seems that religion is a big source of comfort for many people. Where I am afraid of dying, others are comforted to believe they will be in a better place. I love the Catholic traditions I grew up with and I know very many devout Catholics who are some of the most inteligent people I know. But I question everything. I doubt everything. My lawyer mind wants evidence and proof. The logical side of my brain rejects everything supernatural or Divine. I will never believe in ghosts or big foot. I won't ever believe in alien abductions. Heck, I don't even believe in the dog whisperer!
I want to belong to a faith. I have friends that are part of wonderful and close knit communities. I feel like a lost wondering soul that just doesn't belong. And I can't help but think most religious people are super cheesy. I respect them and I am in awe in their ability to have such deep faith. And I want to be have what they have, but it's impossible. My logical side just scoffs at it all. It's like there are two people in my mind- one religious and one atheist. Somehow, the atheist always wins.
So during Christmas, I open my mind and my eyes and I take everything in. I enjoy the traditions that I remember as a child- such as lighting the advent wreath, putting out the nativity set, attending Christmas Eve Mass and celebrating Jesus' birthday. I try to get into the mindset of what Christmas is about- one man sacrificing his life for the rest of the world. I also try to stay away from the consumerism, because it can pull you in so easily and it sickens me that buying things and accumulating objects is all to often the focus of American holidays. I focus on giving back to others and spending time with the people I love. And I hope someday, someway, somehow, I will be able to Believe with the same conviction as the childhood me.
As much as I hate focusing on presents and gifts, Jacob did make out like a bandit this year. It's so much fun watching the holidays through his eyes. Everything is new to him still. He reminds me to turn on the Christmas tree lights, and help him put on his Christmas socks each day. Being with my family was the best part of this Christmas season.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Lust, Incest and Money- You Will Find It All Here Folks, At Starting To Melt.
To continue my theme from last post, in case you missed it, that theme would be spending loads of cold hard CASH on ridiculous things like Christmas gifts...and ME...
So I think this whole money thing is really getting to me. I mean, aside from living the next three months with my breath held until a nice little income stream starts pouring in, the whole being in debt and living off my credit cards is starting to get to my subconscious as well. I had a dream last night that I held a giant graduation party. Long lost family members from all over the country poured in to pay me a visit. And, I guess I wasn't too ashamed to show my greedy self, I had a big glass bowl on the table just ready and willing to accept cash graduation gifts.
People would walk by and drop in a one or five dollar bill as they entered my party. Then some random young dude dropped a HONKIN' wad of greens into the bowl. My first thought was, WOAH- how much was that?! My second thought was, who is this young guy that he can part with wads of money like that? My third question contained two parts: (1) is he related to me and (2) is he single? I guess my dream self was not married yet. In my dream he ended up being a far removed cousin and he resembled a quasi boyfriend from undergrad (quasi as in we had a movie date once at his condo, he took me to his room and asked for a blow job, I pretended to be tired, left and never called him again- oh and this guy supposedly knew Bill Clinton- yeah right...). Oh and this cousin, apparantly wanted me.
So, I'm not sure if that dream was good or bad. My money worries were temporarily abated by my distant hot and rich cousin who wanted me. But then I woke up and realized I didn't have a rich distant cousin. I certainly didn't have one that was hot or that wanted me. And I'm still up to my butt in debt.
Life goes on.
And with that, "Merry Christmas Eve Eve."
So I think this whole money thing is really getting to me. I mean, aside from living the next three months with my breath held until a nice little income stream starts pouring in, the whole being in debt and living off my credit cards is starting to get to my subconscious as well. I had a dream last night that I held a giant graduation party. Long lost family members from all over the country poured in to pay me a visit. And, I guess I wasn't too ashamed to show my greedy self, I had a big glass bowl on the table just ready and willing to accept cash graduation gifts.
People would walk by and drop in a one or five dollar bill as they entered my party. Then some random young dude dropped a HONKIN' wad of greens into the bowl. My first thought was, WOAH- how much was that?! My second thought was, who is this young guy that he can part with wads of money like that? My third question contained two parts: (1) is he related to me and (2) is he single? I guess my dream self was not married yet. In my dream he ended up being a far removed cousin and he resembled a quasi boyfriend from undergrad (quasi as in we had a movie date once at his condo, he took me to his room and asked for a blow job, I pretended to be tired, left and never called him again- oh and this guy supposedly knew Bill Clinton- yeah right...). Oh and this cousin, apparantly wanted me.
So, I'm not sure if that dream was good or bad. My money worries were temporarily abated by my distant hot and rich cousin who wanted me. But then I woke up and realized I didn't have a rich distant cousin. I certainly didn't have one that was hot or that wanted me. And I'm still up to my butt in debt.
Life goes on.
And with that, "Merry Christmas Eve Eve."
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Spend Now, Income Later
So I think I've mentioned before how I feel guilty that I have a job lined up while my classmates who graduated 6 months ago are still job searching. I really do feel guilty. I know I probably shouldn't, but that's just how I am- I am the person who feels so guilty using the last piece of toilet paper in a public restroom that I opt for the seat cover instead. In a world of natural selection, I'd die out first because I'd be too guilty outliving someone else.
As much as I do feel guilty about the associate positon I have lined up for immediately after the bar exam, I am SO FREAKING GRATEFUL to have potential employment. My firm officially made me an offer on fancy letterhead and everything. And I officially accepted the offer. But nothing in life is ever this easy. I have this horrible sensation in the pit of my stomach- like it's not real. It's too good to be true. My biggest fear right now is that the firm will take back their offer before I begin. It's this haunting feeling that won't go away. I think it has to do with the fact that the economy is still on the mend and that most lawstudents in my class have been unemployed for six months, and have no bites. And I've heard horror stories from others about rescinded job offers.
Thank you employment law research memo of summer 2007 for reminding me that I have no property interest in an at-will employment position.
Anyway, I need this job more than ever now. Part of it has to do with my $120K in outstanding student loan debt. Part of it has to do with the fact that I need a career and experience. But mostly, I'm worried about how the hell I'm going to pay off my Christmas shopping!! I'm relying heavily on my credit card now. I may be broke, but dang it- it's CHRISTMAS. Did you hear me? It's CHRISTMAS! If you have to load yourself down in credit card debt, CHRISTMAS is a darn good reason. (But seriously, someone take my card away because I just can't stop!) The first ten gifts for my son were completely necessary, but I'm starting to question if he REALLY needed the singing and dancing light up elf, or creepy elmo that sings when you shake him (what is THAT supposed to teach our children?), the Twilight boxed set, or the "Santa Is My Homeboy" t-shirt...
I'm saving all my receipts in case I have to prove the element of "reliance" for a restitution-breach of contract claim. (How sick am I for thinking this way- thank you law school).
As much as I do feel guilty about the associate positon I have lined up for immediately after the bar exam, I am SO FREAKING GRATEFUL to have potential employment. My firm officially made me an offer on fancy letterhead and everything. And I officially accepted the offer. But nothing in life is ever this easy. I have this horrible sensation in the pit of my stomach- like it's not real. It's too good to be true. My biggest fear right now is that the firm will take back their offer before I begin. It's this haunting feeling that won't go away. I think it has to do with the fact that the economy is still on the mend and that most lawstudents in my class have been unemployed for six months, and have no bites. And I've heard horror stories from others about rescinded job offers.
Thank you employment law research memo of summer 2007 for reminding me that I have no property interest in an at-will employment position.
Anyway, I need this job more than ever now. Part of it has to do with my $120K in outstanding student loan debt. Part of it has to do with the fact that I need a career and experience. But mostly, I'm worried about how the hell I'm going to pay off my Christmas shopping!! I'm relying heavily on my credit card now. I may be broke, but dang it- it's CHRISTMAS. Did you hear me? It's CHRISTMAS! If you have to load yourself down in credit card debt, CHRISTMAS is a darn good reason. (But seriously, someone take my card away because I just can't stop!) The first ten gifts for my son were completely necessary, but I'm starting to question if he REALLY needed the singing and dancing light up elf, or creepy elmo that sings when you shake him (what is THAT supposed to teach our children?), the Twilight boxed set, or the "Santa Is My Homeboy" t-shirt...
I'm saving all my receipts in case I have to prove the element of "reliance" for a restitution-breach of contract claim. (How sick am I for thinking this way- thank you law school).
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
We Can't Take Him Anywhere
First Jacob tries to leave the house dressed like this:
But we make him change into this:
Then at the fancy country club (husband's work party) he tries to unwrap all the fake presents under the tree.
And then he violates the strict dress code by removing his shoes.
At least he's goodfor something at home. Here he is trying to help Daddy water the Christmas tree.
Why does He always looks guilty, even when he's being good?
But we make him change into this:
Then at the fancy country club (husband's work party) he tries to unwrap all the fake presents under the tree.
And then he violates the strict dress code by removing his shoes.
At least he's good
Why does He always looks guilty, even when he's being good?
Real Life, Say Hello To Cee
I AM DONE WITH LAW SCHOOL.
DONE.
FOREVER!
No more exams (oh wait, there's a little three day thing called the BAR). No more lectures (oh wait, Barbri lectures all January). Nothing to tie me to the law school (oh wait, I owe them approximately $120K). I am a free (not-quite) woman!
Ok, so my victory is not complete nor my freedom uninhibited. But I still feel GREAT! I drank too much coffee this morning and I've been full of excess energy since. My last exam was at 8:30 and I just turned it in! The exam itself was a horrible mess. Two hours to shift through a three page hypo with a 20 page insurance policy attached. Damn. I knew the material. I rock insurance law- it's my area of practice. But I just didn't have enough time! I felt horrible when the proctor called time. But I only let myself feel bad for 10 minutes. Now I'm footloose and fancy free!
I'm going SHOPPING! I'm going to not think about law school for the rest of my life (unless it's to fantasize about my hot nerdy bowtie professor). I'm going to go home and do mindless activities like read western romance novels and watch cheesy Hallmark christmas specials. Then I'm going to make out with my husband and fall asleep early! Wow, I'm so out of control. World, are you READY for the uninhibited, sleep deprived, end of finals-induced craziness of ME?
LIFE LOOKS GOOD on the other side of law school.
DONE.
FOREVER!
No more exams (oh wait, there's a little three day thing called the BAR). No more lectures (oh wait, Barbri lectures all January). Nothing to tie me to the law school (oh wait, I owe them approximately $120K). I am a free (not-quite) woman!
Ok, so my victory is not complete nor my freedom uninhibited. But I still feel GREAT! I drank too much coffee this morning and I've been full of excess energy since. My last exam was at 8:30 and I just turned it in! The exam itself was a horrible mess. Two hours to shift through a three page hypo with a 20 page insurance policy attached. Damn. I knew the material. I rock insurance law- it's my area of practice. But I just didn't have enough time! I felt horrible when the proctor called time. But I only let myself feel bad for 10 minutes. Now I'm footloose and fancy free!
I'm going SHOPPING! I'm going to not think about law school for the rest of my life (unless it's to fantasize about my hot nerdy bowtie professor). I'm going to go home and do mindless activities like read western romance novels and watch cheesy Hallmark christmas specials. Then I'm going to make out with my husband and fall asleep early! Wow, I'm so out of control. World, are you READY for the uninhibited, sleep deprived, end of finals-induced craziness of ME?
LIFE LOOKS GOOD on the other side of law school.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Eyeball Melt
Today I reviewed 20 insurance law cases in five hours. It feels like my eyeballs are melting down my cheeks (insert the image from Raiders of the Lost Arc when the German bad dude melts after the Arc of the Covenant is opened). This explains why my eyesight has deteriorated so badly in the last three years. And I still have 37 cases left to tackle before 8:30am on Wednesday.
Hurts. So. Bad. Quick, send Chocolate!
Or Obama in a bowtie (hotness).
Hurts. So. Bad. Quick, send Chocolate!
Or Obama in a bowtie (hotness).
Saturday, December 12, 2009
The Key To Exam Success Is All In Your Panties
Is it the fact that each law school exam gets a smidgen easier? Is it the fact that I just don't care as much as I did 1L year? Is it the fact that I know how to prepare? Or is it the fact that I wore my underwear inside out?
I don't know what it is! But someway, somehow, miraculously, law school exams don't seem so hard. I completed my second exam in three days and, surprisingly, I feel very good about both exams. This never happens. I ALWAYS feel like I did terribly the second I walk out of the exam room. The main reason is that I never feel like I have enough time. Definately, I would say that time is an examming lawstudents' worse enemy (and a small bladder, and the girl in front of you who keeps blowing ridiculous amounts of snot out of her nose).
I had a Professional Responsibility exam on Thursday. It began at 8:30am (horrible!). The truth about this class is that I did not do ONE assigned reading the whole semester. Then three days before the exam, I started reading the assignments. They were pretty short, for a law school course. I learned the Model Rules like the back of my hand- by that I mean I used 10pt font to summarize the rules applicable to each "ethical problem." We were allowed to bring in one double sided 8.5 x 11 paper. I saw at least five students with miniscule, telescopic font printed in at least five columns across their page- I think they fit their entire outline on there! I zoomed through the problems and was finished with 30 minutes to go! I even had time to go to the bathroom and review my answers. But the amazing thing is that I felt confident about the whole thing. What the??? This isn't right. Something must be wrong!
Then I figured out the secret that I wish I knew all along. After my seemingly breezy exam experience, I went to the bathroom and realized that I had put on my underwear inside out by accident. (I am a lawstudent, I can analyze death defying, three page hypos in under the time limit, but I can't put my underwear on right!). Since I felt so confident about the exam, I was convinced that inside out underwear was my lucky charm. So I decided to do the same for my Trusts & Estates exam- I'm telling you, it WORKS!
This morning (8:30am on a SATURDAY!) was that Trusts & Estates exam. It was open book and open note. You all know what that is code for right? It means "Ha ha, you're f*cked! This exam is so hard it's going to extract the retinas from your eyeballs!" So, I didn't exactly study a lot, I just prepared a really basic outline of 15 pages (for a law school class, that is a SHORT outline- am I right?). It was short enough that I could easily find each topic.
Can I tell you all what I think the secret to a good law school out line is? Not thoroughness. Nope. You should try to be as brief as possible. You should take each potential issue or cause of action, write the basic rule down and then summarize in TWO SENTENCES each relevant case from your book. But only use the cases that actually help you understand how courts apply the rule or that give helpful context to the elements of a cause. If you write more than two sentences, it's just a waste of your time. Even if you have a closed book exam, this is the best way to condense the information into something somewhat memorizable.
So back to T&E, I only had one day to prepare the outline that I would bring in to the exam with me. This was a mistake. I didn't complete the outline until 11:35pm. And we don't have a printer at home and my school print center would not be available when I got to school early the next morning. So I had to ask my husband to drive 15 minutes to his OFFICE to print my outline- at midnight! After I eventually fell asleep at 12:30, my son woke up screaming at 1:30. I couldn't fall back asleep for an hour and I had to get up at 5:20. I only got 4 hours of sleep! Times like that really make me wish I had it as good as nonparent students.
I have more advice for soon to be law students. If you have the option, DON'T COMMUTE. Be as close to campus as possible! See, when I lived 1 mile from campus, I could wake up an hour before my exam started. Although I go to Seattle University, I actually live on the Kitsap Peninsula- a one hour ferry ride from downtown and a 25 minute walk to campus. And I'm dependent upon the inconvenient ferry schedules. So, to get to my 8:30am exam on time, without freaking out or feeling rushed, I had to wake up at 5:25 and catch the 6:20 boat to Seattle. Another reason not to commute is that you really miss out on on-campus opportunities and social events. I never felt it was worth commuting 3 hours for an hour long school sponsored dinner, speech or happy hour.
Ok, ok, again back to T&E. The exam was littered with issues to spot. But as I read the questions I was able to make an outline on scratch paper of all the ones that jumped out at me. Then I could immediately start to tackle each issue as identified. Later I could always go back and look for more hidden issues. When I completed the exam, I had a whole five minutes to kill! Woo hoo! I defied a reasonable lawstudent standard and instead of going back to review my answers, I sat back and chilled. It felt amazing!
If you are a 1L and think law school exams are the most horrible things on the planet, I have two things to say, (1) you're correct- they are horrible, and (2) but it gets easier! I don't think the exams themselves get easier, but you eventually learn how to prepare for them and how to take them. You eventually figure out what your professors actually want from you. You'll figure out what works best for you and it will be all right in the end. The problem is, you might just have to wait until your last semester to figure all that out. Of course, take my advise with a grain of salt until I actually find out what my grades are.
P.S. Insurance Law exam: here I come- inside out panties and ALL!
I don't know what it is! But someway, somehow, miraculously, law school exams don't seem so hard. I completed my second exam in three days and, surprisingly, I feel very good about both exams. This never happens. I ALWAYS feel like I did terribly the second I walk out of the exam room. The main reason is that I never feel like I have enough time. Definately, I would say that time is an examming lawstudents' worse enemy (and a small bladder, and the girl in front of you who keeps blowing ridiculous amounts of snot out of her nose).
I had a Professional Responsibility exam on Thursday. It began at 8:30am (horrible!). The truth about this class is that I did not do ONE assigned reading the whole semester. Then three days before the exam, I started reading the assignments. They were pretty short, for a law school course. I learned the Model Rules like the back of my hand- by that I mean I used 10pt font to summarize the rules applicable to each "ethical problem." We were allowed to bring in one double sided 8.5 x 11 paper. I saw at least five students with miniscule, telescopic font printed in at least five columns across their page- I think they fit their entire outline on there! I zoomed through the problems and was finished with 30 minutes to go! I even had time to go to the bathroom and review my answers. But the amazing thing is that I felt confident about the whole thing. What the??? This isn't right. Something must be wrong!
Then I figured out the secret that I wish I knew all along. After my seemingly breezy exam experience, I went to the bathroom and realized that I had put on my underwear inside out by accident. (I am a lawstudent, I can analyze death defying, three page hypos in under the time limit, but I can't put my underwear on right!). Since I felt so confident about the exam, I was convinced that inside out underwear was my lucky charm. So I decided to do the same for my Trusts & Estates exam- I'm telling you, it WORKS!
This morning (8:30am on a SATURDAY!) was that Trusts & Estates exam. It was open book and open note. You all know what that is code for right? It means "Ha ha, you're f*cked! This exam is so hard it's going to extract the retinas from your eyeballs!" So, I didn't exactly study a lot, I just prepared a really basic outline of 15 pages (for a law school class, that is a SHORT outline- am I right?). It was short enough that I could easily find each topic.
Can I tell you all what I think the secret to a good law school out line is? Not thoroughness. Nope. You should try to be as brief as possible. You should take each potential issue or cause of action, write the basic rule down and then summarize in TWO SENTENCES each relevant case from your book. But only use the cases that actually help you understand how courts apply the rule or that give helpful context to the elements of a cause. If you write more than two sentences, it's just a waste of your time. Even if you have a closed book exam, this is the best way to condense the information into something somewhat memorizable.
So back to T&E, I only had one day to prepare the outline that I would bring in to the exam with me. This was a mistake. I didn't complete the outline until 11:35pm. And we don't have a printer at home and my school print center would not be available when I got to school early the next morning. So I had to ask my husband to drive 15 minutes to his OFFICE to print my outline- at midnight! After I eventually fell asleep at 12:30, my son woke up screaming at 1:30. I couldn't fall back asleep for an hour and I had to get up at 5:20. I only got 4 hours of sleep! Times like that really make me wish I had it as good as nonparent students.
I have more advice for soon to be law students. If you have the option, DON'T COMMUTE. Be as close to campus as possible! See, when I lived 1 mile from campus, I could wake up an hour before my exam started. Although I go to Seattle University, I actually live on the Kitsap Peninsula- a one hour ferry ride from downtown and a 25 minute walk to campus. And I'm dependent upon the inconvenient ferry schedules. So, to get to my 8:30am exam on time, without freaking out or feeling rushed, I had to wake up at 5:25 and catch the 6:20 boat to Seattle. Another reason not to commute is that you really miss out on on-campus opportunities and social events. I never felt it was worth commuting 3 hours for an hour long school sponsored dinner, speech or happy hour.
Ok, ok, again back to T&E. The exam was littered with issues to spot. But as I read the questions I was able to make an outline on scratch paper of all the ones that jumped out at me. Then I could immediately start to tackle each issue as identified. Later I could always go back and look for more hidden issues. When I completed the exam, I had a whole five minutes to kill! Woo hoo! I defied a reasonable lawstudent standard and instead of going back to review my answers, I sat back and chilled. It felt amazing!
If you are a 1L and think law school exams are the most horrible things on the planet, I have two things to say, (1) you're correct- they are horrible, and (2) but it gets easier! I don't think the exams themselves get easier, but you eventually learn how to prepare for them and how to take them. You eventually figure out what your professors actually want from you. You'll figure out what works best for you and it will be all right in the end. The problem is, you might just have to wait until your last semester to figure all that out. Of course, take my advise with a grain of salt until I actually find out what my grades are.
P.S. Insurance Law exam: here I come- inside out panties and ALL!
Friday, December 11, 2009
You Know You're A Law Student When...
1. You frequently update your Facebook status with messages about the law or lawschool classes in order to remind people that you are in lawschool and that makes you AWESOME.
2. When other students desperately hope for snow days to postpone their final exams, you disguistingly hope that it DOESN'T snow because the only thing worse than taking a 4 hour Sales & Secured Transaction exam is to put off the pain and take it in the middle of spring semester.
3. You fight with other nonlaw students about who has it worse. "I have the worst chem test tomorrow." "Oh yeah? I was up all night reading 45 constitutional law cases on the differences between the "rationality" and "strict scrutiny" standards in preparation for my 3 hour long exam! Take THAT!"
4. In procrastinating for your studies, you are likely to do a combination of the following: (1) read up on the Amanda Knox trails and prepare an analysis of her possible issues on appeal, (2) read law blogs, (3) create a Facebook status in accordance with #1 on this list.
4. You require a copy of a fellow student's transcript and resume before you let them join your study group. (Read Divine Detail's take on it here).
5. You laugh at jokes like these:
"You're so childish, they can't even execute you!"
"Your mother's so fat, she holds a joint tenancy with herself. And she's ALWAYS in diversity jurisdiction."
6. Your backpack is half your weight but you still refuse to buy a rolly backpack because, they are SO nerdy. And from a law student, that's saying alot!
7. You consider 5 hours of sleep a good night's sleep.
8. What you owe in student loan debt, other people owe on their mortgage.
9. You can identify intruding undergrads in the law school building because, aside from the fact that they stick out like a sore thumb, they talk about frat parties, school basketball games, and not how much they hate lawschool. Damn undergrads- stop taking up all our tables!
10. There are more bags under your eyes than in the belly of a 737.
11. If you don't get coffee before class, it's a human rights violation. And not just for you but the other students who have to sit next to you.
***
Edited to Add:
12. Finally, you know you're a law student when your math is so horrible that you cannot count appropriately just to make a simple list, that is why there are two #4s on this list. Yes, I did it on purpose :)
2. When other students desperately hope for snow days to postpone their final exams, you disguistingly hope that it DOESN'T snow because the only thing worse than taking a 4 hour Sales & Secured Transaction exam is to put off the pain and take it in the middle of spring semester.
3. You fight with other nonlaw students about who has it worse. "I have the worst chem test tomorrow." "Oh yeah? I was up all night reading 45 constitutional law cases on the differences between the "rationality" and "strict scrutiny" standards in preparation for my 3 hour long exam! Take THAT!"
4. In procrastinating for your studies, you are likely to do a combination of the following: (1) read up on the Amanda Knox trails and prepare an analysis of her possible issues on appeal, (2) read law blogs, (3) create a Facebook status in accordance with #1 on this list.
4. You require a copy of a fellow student's transcript and resume before you let them join your study group. (Read Divine Detail's take on it here).
5. You laugh at jokes like these:
"You're so childish, they can't even execute you!"
"Your mother's so fat, she holds a joint tenancy with herself. And she's ALWAYS in diversity jurisdiction."
6. Your backpack is half your weight but you still refuse to buy a rolly backpack because, they are SO nerdy. And from a law student, that's saying alot!
7. You consider 5 hours of sleep a good night's sleep.
8. What you owe in student loan debt, other people owe on their mortgage.
9. You can identify intruding undergrads in the law school building because, aside from the fact that they stick out like a sore thumb, they talk about frat parties, school basketball games, and not how much they hate lawschool. Damn undergrads- stop taking up all our tables!
10. There are more bags under your eyes than in the belly of a 737.
11. If you don't get coffee before class, it's a human rights violation. And not just for you but the other students who have to sit next to you.
***
Edited to Add:
12. Finally, you know you're a law student when your math is so horrible that you cannot count appropriately just to make a simple list, that is why there are two #4s on this list. Yes, I did it on purpose :)
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Warning: Last Minute Study Prep In Session
My Professional Responsibility exam is in two days and for the first time all semester I am actually reading the Model Rules. I generally know a lawyer's professional obligations from attending my classes,but it's about time I actually read the rules. Isn't it funny how different exam prep is when you are a 4L compared to a 1L? Exams? Ha Ha Ha! They don't scare ME! I think my apathy is actually due to the fact that I always get the same grades whether I am super prepared or barely there- so why bother?
I still find it a little scary that I can be disciplined in my profession even for nonprofessional conduct and activities. Even doctors don't face professional discipline for personal conduct outside of work. This means that I can face disbarment or suspension from practice if I bribe an umpire at my kid's t-ball games. If one year I cheat on my taxes. If I steal a dollar out of the church collection basket. If I lie on my application for membership into the Seattle Astronomical Society. If I get drunk and pull a Tiger Woods. If I get pulled over for texting while driving! If I run naked down my street naked! Oh man! I never knew I would have to sacrifice so many activities in order to become a lawyer.
Along those same lines...today when I went to the public library to study, I faced a moral dilema of epic porportions. The sign on the front entrance of the library said, "No food or gum inside." But I was thirsty- so I put on my lawyer hat and started to think like a lawyer. "By specfically enumerating prohibited behavior, the library is impliedly consenting to all non-listed behavior. Conclusion: I can drink Snapple in the library."
Now I get to send myself a bill for .1 of my hourly rate. What's .1 of $0?
I still find it a little scary that I can be disciplined in my profession even for nonprofessional conduct and activities. Even doctors don't face professional discipline for personal conduct outside of work. This means that I can face disbarment or suspension from practice if I bribe an umpire at my kid's t-ball games. If one year I cheat on my taxes. If I steal a dollar out of the church collection basket. If I lie on my application for membership into the Seattle Astronomical Society. If I get drunk and pull a Tiger Woods. If I get pulled over for texting while driving! If I run naked down my street naked! Oh man! I never knew I would have to sacrifice so many activities in order to become a lawyer.
Along those same lines...today when I went to the public library to study, I faced a moral dilema of epic porportions. The sign on the front entrance of the library said, "No food or gum inside." But I was thirsty- so I put on my lawyer hat and started to think like a lawyer. "By specfically enumerating prohibited behavior, the library is impliedly consenting to all non-listed behavior. Conclusion: I can drink Snapple in the library."
Now I get to send myself a bill for .1 of my hourly rate. What's .1 of $0?
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Thursday, December 3, 2009
My Son May Be Cute But He Would Never Earn A Blue Ribbon At The 4H Fair
Pediatrician: "I bet Jacob likes to talk these days. What kinds of words can he say?"
Me: "Well, he can say 'boots,' 'hot,' 'shoes,' 'kitty,' 'duck,' 'cheese,' 'step,' 'dip,' 'no no no' and 'uh-oh.' You know, all the important words.
Pediatrician: "Dip? How did he learn the word dip?
Me: "Um...I let him coat his food in ketchup in order to get him to eat. He loves it. He thinks it's the greatest thing since butt paste. The problem is that he learned to suck the ketchup off his food and re-dip it. He is way too smart!
Pediatrician: "So does Mr. Smarty know any of his body parts yet?"
Me: "Oh yeah, he knows a couple."
Me: "Jacob, where are your eyes?"
Jacob proudly points at his ears.
Me: "Um. Ok. He really does know it, I swear. Jacob, where's your NOSE. Jacob, your NOSE.
Jacob points to his mouth.
Me: "Silly guy. Jacob that's your mouth. Where's your MOUTH?"
Jacob points to his nose.
Me: "Jacob, where is your 'wee wee?'"
Jacob correctly points to his wee wee. Go figure...
15 month stats: weight clocked in at 23 pound- the 25th percentile. Height clocked in at 31 inches- around the 50th percentile and, to continue his monstrous head trend, his head circumpherence measured 50 cm- right at the 97th percentile. I'm so glad that each check up verifies the medical necessity of my c-section.
Sadly, he had to get four shots total- his hib and hepatitis shots as well as TWO flu shots. Poor guy!
Me: "Well, he can say 'boots,' 'hot,' 'shoes,' 'kitty,' 'duck,' 'cheese,' 'step,' 'dip,' 'no no no' and 'uh-oh.' You know, all the important words.
Pediatrician: "Dip? How did he learn the word dip?
Me: "Um...I let him coat his food in ketchup in order to get him to eat. He loves it. He thinks it's the greatest thing since butt paste. The problem is that he learned to suck the ketchup off his food and re-dip it. He is way too smart!
Pediatrician: "So does Mr. Smarty know any of his body parts yet?"
Me: "Oh yeah, he knows a couple."
Me: "Jacob, where are your eyes?"
Jacob proudly points at his ears.
Me: "Um. Ok. He really does know it, I swear. Jacob, where's your NOSE. Jacob, your NOSE.
Jacob points to his mouth.
Me: "Silly guy. Jacob that's your mouth. Where's your MOUTH?"
Jacob points to his nose.
Me: "Jacob, where is your 'wee wee?'"
Jacob correctly points to his wee wee. Go figure...
15 month stats: weight clocked in at 23 pound- the 25th percentile. Height clocked in at 31 inches- around the 50th percentile and, to continue his monstrous head trend, his head circumpherence measured 50 cm- right at the 97th percentile. I'm so glad that each check up verifies the medical necessity of my c-section.
Sadly, he had to get four shots total- his hib and hepatitis shots as well as TWO flu shots. Poor guy!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Last Day Of Law School- FOREVER!
I've been counting down my law school "lasts" for about the past two weeks. But I can officially say that I have had my LAST day of law school classes. My LAST lecture by a law professor. My LAST note taking session. My LAST chance to check facebook during class discussion. My last Diet Dr. Pepper at the lawschool as a student. Sigh. When did it happen? When did law school just speed by? Remember 1L year and how time seemed to drag on. Funny how the minutes in class seem to take longer than all the minutes spent outside of class combined.
I don't know whether to be happy or sad. To celebrate or reflect. I know I will eventually, one day far from now, miss being a student. But I also know I will NOT miss the inherent evils of law school. All I can say is that my law school experience was NOTHING like I expected it to be. However, I didn't expect much because I decided to go to law school on a last minute whim.
When I started my summer criminal law class in 2006, I didn't know about the Socratic method. I didn't know what a tort was or that there were federal AND state court systems. I didn't even know what attorneys did. Words that I now toss around in casual conversation or make lame jokes about today were completely foreign to me: jurisdiction, adverse possession, due process. I didn't know what a "brief" was. I was shocked to learn that a memo could actually be 15+ pages- I thought there were just those sticky pads you kept on your desk. OMG- remember when we didn't even know how to READ A CASE? I remember my professor handing out a printed case from Westlaw and thinking, "Holy hell, what does this mean and where does it say who the winner is?" (because phrases like "Judgment entered in favor of the Plaintiff" or "Remanded" meant absolutely nothing to me, it might as well have said "rocky road is the icecream choice of south american mammals" or something.
But my last day of law school classes was sadly disappointing. It was very anti-clamactic. I didn't have any friends to share in my excitement as they had already graduated. I didn't really get to know anyone this semester (thanks to commuting and putting family time first) whom I could even talk to about it. After my last class ended today I wanted to get out of my seat and yell-"I'm done forever!" But I just kept to myself- in a room full of strangers, who would even care? It didn't help that it hasn't sunken in yet and I don't FEEL done, at least not with three finals coming up.
I will say that being a parent and a law student at the same time is one of the most difficult things I have ever done. Law school alone is enough to make you a sleepless wreck. Add an infant to that and it's like a nightmare where you have a bloody hatchet sticking out of your head and are being chased by giant, fleshless zombies who are getting closer and closer while you are uncontrollably running slower and slower and it's just a matter of any heart pounding second before they eat you alive. My crazy 2.5 hour- one way!- commute didn't help any.
I spent this semester envying the law students who only had to worry about school and nothing else. I'm crazy for willingly becoming a mom and a wife while also being a law student. But this MILP network truly helped me persevere as I realized I was NOT the only crazy one out there and that it WAS possible to do everything at the same time. But really, it is my AMAZING family that has got me through it all. My husband has been so understanding and helpful and he let me be crabby when I needed to be. My mom and mother-in-law took turns watching my son all week so I could attend class and study- they are incredible. My son was also so patient with me and cooperative (most of the time: minus the waking up at 5:30 am). My god, this is starting to sound like an oscar award ceremony.
My final reflection on law school is that despite the tough times, the occassional depression, feelings of inadeqacy, and the assload of debt, it was an overall amazing experience. I have grown so much in the last three years. I am hardly recognizable as the timid person who first stepped onto campus in 2006. I am strong. I am smart. I am capable. I am passionate. I am caring. I am an adovcate. I am soon to be an officer of the court and of justice. I am...in deep shit when it comes to final exams.
How did I manage not to do a SINGLE reading assignment in my Professional Responsibility class all semester? And they are going to let me handle million dollar insurance defense cases?
I don't know whether to be happy or sad. To celebrate or reflect. I know I will eventually, one day far from now, miss being a student. But I also know I will NOT miss the inherent evils of law school. All I can say is that my law school experience was NOTHING like I expected it to be. However, I didn't expect much because I decided to go to law school on a last minute whim.
When I started my summer criminal law class in 2006, I didn't know about the Socratic method. I didn't know what a tort was or that there were federal AND state court systems. I didn't even know what attorneys did. Words that I now toss around in casual conversation or make lame jokes about today were completely foreign to me: jurisdiction, adverse possession, due process. I didn't know what a "brief" was. I was shocked to learn that a memo could actually be 15+ pages- I thought there were just those sticky pads you kept on your desk. OMG- remember when we didn't even know how to READ A CASE? I remember my professor handing out a printed case from Westlaw and thinking, "Holy hell, what does this mean and where does it say who the winner is?" (because phrases like "Judgment entered in favor of the Plaintiff" or "Remanded" meant absolutely nothing to me, it might as well have said "rocky road is the icecream choice of south american mammals" or something.
But my last day of law school classes was sadly disappointing. It was very anti-clamactic. I didn't have any friends to share in my excitement as they had already graduated. I didn't really get to know anyone this semester (thanks to commuting and putting family time first) whom I could even talk to about it. After my last class ended today I wanted to get out of my seat and yell-"I'm done forever!" But I just kept to myself- in a room full of strangers, who would even care? It didn't help that it hasn't sunken in yet and I don't FEEL done, at least not with three finals coming up.
I will say that being a parent and a law student at the same time is one of the most difficult things I have ever done. Law school alone is enough to make you a sleepless wreck. Add an infant to that and it's like a nightmare where you have a bloody hatchet sticking out of your head and are being chased by giant, fleshless zombies who are getting closer and closer while you are uncontrollably running slower and slower and it's just a matter of any heart pounding second before they eat you alive. My crazy 2.5 hour- one way!- commute didn't help any.
I spent this semester envying the law students who only had to worry about school and nothing else. I'm crazy for willingly becoming a mom and a wife while also being a law student. But this MILP network truly helped me persevere as I realized I was NOT the only crazy one out there and that it WAS possible to do everything at the same time. But really, it is my AMAZING family that has got me through it all. My husband has been so understanding and helpful and he let me be crabby when I needed to be. My mom and mother-in-law took turns watching my son all week so I could attend class and study- they are incredible. My son was also so patient with me and cooperative (most of the time: minus the waking up at 5:30 am). My god, this is starting to sound like an oscar award ceremony.
My final reflection on law school is that despite the tough times, the occassional depression, feelings of inadeqacy, and the assload of debt, it was an overall amazing experience. I have grown so much in the last three years. I am hardly recognizable as the timid person who first stepped onto campus in 2006. I am strong. I am smart. I am capable. I am passionate. I am caring. I am an adovcate. I am soon to be an officer of the court and of justice. I am...in deep shit when it comes to final exams.
How did I manage not to do a SINGLE reading assignment in my Professional Responsibility class all semester? And they are going to let me handle million dollar insurance defense cases?
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