Ok, I’m spoiled by my boss. Not only does he believe in the “entrepreneurship” style of management (ie. if you can justify it, get away with it, and bring some benefit to the office, you can do it), not only does he encourage to fill my days with archaic real estate reading, but he then got me a Super Duper art glass vase today. It’s that whole “professional assistants” day type thing, and while I don’t think of myself as an assistant, apparently he does.
Now I’ve made out like a bandit this week – a massage and a sexy peacock colored vase. Apparently they like me and my partner in crime, B, who keep this place running. It’s rather tasty to be appreciated! I’ve never gotten anything for this quasi-secretary’s day thing before, so it’s rather exciting! I’m planning to have my massage once exams are done. Nothing like happy things from people who appreciate what you do! Usually no one notices until something breaks or gets FUBAR’d. And then I swoop in with my tool kit, tech skills, and phone headset. Half the time, no one even knew something broke. They’re crafty, but I tend to be 2 steps ahead.
So all in all, a fabulous day, good workout, tasty lunch, pretty gifts, and screw it, I’m skipping the damn Con Law review session to spend some quality time on my flash cards instead. Maybe write a sample answer or two to get a feel for it. Life, my friends, is good!
Thursday, April 27, 2006
There are some things that are just amusing... It's good to be a Buddhist
Stolen from an email sent to me by Gulenay. I have no idea where it came from! Call me Sister Daisycutter of Patience...
The following is the first communique from a group calling itself Unitarian Jihad. It was sent to me at The Chronicle via an anonymous spam remailer. I have no idea whether other news organizations have received this communique, and, if so, why they have not chosen to print it. Perhaps they fear starting a panic. I feel strongly that the truth, no matter how alarming, trivial or disgusting, must always be told. I am pleased to report that the words below are at least not disgusting:
Greetings to the Imprisoned Citizens of the United States. We are Unitarian Jihad. There is only God, unless there is more than one God. The vote of our God subcommittee is 10-8 in favor of one God, with two abstentions. Brother Flaming Sword of Moderation noted the possibility of there being no God at all, and his objection was noted with love by the secretary.
Greetings to the Imprisoned Citizens of the United States! Too long has your attention been waylaid by the bright baubles of extremist thought. Too long have fundamentalist yahoos of all religions (except Buddhism -- 14-5 vote, no abstentions, fundamentalism subcommittee) made your head hurt. Too long have you been buffeted by angry people who think that God talks to them. You have a right to your moderation! You have the power to be calm! We will use the IED of truth to explode the SUV of dogmatic _expression!
People of the United States, why is everyone yelling at you??? Whatever happened to ... you know, everything? Why is the news dominated by nutballs saying that the Ten Commandments have to be tattooed inside the eyelids of every American, or that Allah has told them to kill Americans in order to rid the world of Satan, or that Yahweh has instructed them to go live wherever they feel like, or that Shiva thinks bombing mosques is a great idea? Sister Immaculate Dagger of Peace notes for the record that we mean no disrespect to Jews, Muslims, Christians or Hindus. Referred back to the committee of the whole for further discussion.
We are Unitarian Jihad. We are everywhere. We have not been born again, nor have we sworn a blood oath. We do not think that God cares what we read, what we eat or whom we sleep with. Brother Neutron Bomb of Serenity notes for the record that he does not have a moral code but is nevertheless a good person, and Unexalted Leader Garrote of Forgiveness stipulates that Brother Neutron Bomb of Serenity is a good person, and this is to be reflected in the minutes.
Beware! Unless you people shut up and begin acting like grown-ups with brains enough to understand the difference between political belief and personal faith, the Unitarian Jihad will begin a series of terrorist-like actions. We will take over television studios, kidnap so-called commentators and broadcast calm, well-reasoned discussions of the issues of the day. We will not try for "balance" by hiring fruitcakes; we will try for balance by hiring non-ideologues who have carefully thought through the issues.
We are Unitarian Jihad. We will appear in public places and require people to shake hands with each other. (Sister Hand Grenade of Love suggested that we institute a terror regime of mandatory hugging, but her motion was not formally introduced because of lack of a quorum.) We will require all lobbyists, spokesmen and campaign managers to dress like trout in public. Televangelists will be forced to take jobs as Xerox repair specialists. Demagogues of all stripes will be required to read Proust out loud in prisons.
We are Unitarian Jihad, and our motto is: "Sincerity is not enough." We have heard from enough sincere people to last a lifetime already. Just because you believe it's true doesn't make it true. Just because your motives are pure doesn't mean you are not doing harm. Get a dog, or comfort someone in a nursing home, or just feed the birds in the park. Play basketball. Lighten up. The world is not out to get you, except in the sense that the world is out to get everyone.
Brother Gatling Gun of Patience notes that he's pretty sure the world is out to get him because everyone laughs when he says he is a Unitarian. There were murmurs of assent around the room, and someone suggested that we buy some Congress members and really stick it to the Baptists. But this was deemed against Revolutionary Principles, and Brother Gatling Gun of Patience was remanded to the Sunday Flowers and Banners committee.
People of the United States! We are Unitarian Jihad! We can strike without warning. Pockets of reasonableness and harmony will appear as if from nowhere! Nice people will run the government again! There will be coffee and cookies in the Gandhi Room after the revolution.
The following is the first communique from a group calling itself Unitarian Jihad. It was sent to me at The Chronicle via an anonymous spam remailer. I have no idea whether other news organizations have received this communique, and, if so, why they have not chosen to print it. Perhaps they fear starting a panic. I feel strongly that the truth, no matter how alarming, trivial or disgusting, must always be told. I am pleased to report that the words below are at least not disgusting:
Greetings to the Imprisoned Citizens of the United States. We are Unitarian Jihad. There is only God, unless there is more than one God. The vote of our God subcommittee is 10-8 in favor of one God, with two abstentions. Brother Flaming Sword of Moderation noted the possibility of there being no God at all, and his objection was noted with love by the secretary.
Greetings to the Imprisoned Citizens of the United States! Too long has your attention been waylaid by the bright baubles of extremist thought. Too long have fundamentalist yahoos of all religions (except Buddhism -- 14-5 vote, no abstentions, fundamentalism subcommittee) made your head hurt. Too long have you been buffeted by angry people who think that God talks to them. You have a right to your moderation! You have the power to be calm! We will use the IED of truth to explode the SUV of dogmatic _expression!
People of the United States, why is everyone yelling at you??? Whatever happened to ... you know, everything? Why is the news dominated by nutballs saying that the Ten Commandments have to be tattooed inside the eyelids of every American, or that Allah has told them to kill Americans in order to rid the world of Satan, or that Yahweh has instructed them to go live wherever they feel like, or that Shiva thinks bombing mosques is a great idea? Sister Immaculate Dagger of Peace notes for the record that we mean no disrespect to Jews, Muslims, Christians or Hindus. Referred back to the committee of the whole for further discussion.
We are Unitarian Jihad. We are everywhere. We have not been born again, nor have we sworn a blood oath. We do not think that God cares what we read, what we eat or whom we sleep with. Brother Neutron Bomb of Serenity notes for the record that he does not have a moral code but is nevertheless a good person, and Unexalted Leader Garrote of Forgiveness stipulates that Brother Neutron Bomb of Serenity is a good person, and this is to be reflected in the minutes.
Beware! Unless you people shut up and begin acting like grown-ups with brains enough to understand the difference between political belief and personal faith, the Unitarian Jihad will begin a series of terrorist-like actions. We will take over television studios, kidnap so-called commentators and broadcast calm, well-reasoned discussions of the issues of the day. We will not try for "balance" by hiring fruitcakes; we will try for balance by hiring non-ideologues who have carefully thought through the issues.
We are Unitarian Jihad. We will appear in public places and require people to shake hands with each other. (Sister Hand Grenade of Love suggested that we institute a terror regime of mandatory hugging, but her motion was not formally introduced because of lack of a quorum.) We will require all lobbyists, spokesmen and campaign managers to dress like trout in public. Televangelists will be forced to take jobs as Xerox repair specialists. Demagogues of all stripes will be required to read Proust out loud in prisons.
We are Unitarian Jihad, and our motto is: "Sincerity is not enough." We have heard from enough sincere people to last a lifetime already. Just because you believe it's true doesn't make it true. Just because your motives are pure doesn't mean you are not doing harm. Get a dog, or comfort someone in a nursing home, or just feed the birds in the park. Play basketball. Lighten up. The world is not out to get you, except in the sense that the world is out to get everyone.
Brother Gatling Gun of Patience notes that he's pretty sure the world is out to get him because everyone laughs when he says he is a Unitarian. There were murmurs of assent around the room, and someone suggested that we buy some Congress members and really stick it to the Baptists. But this was deemed against Revolutionary Principles, and Brother Gatling Gun of Patience was remanded to the Sunday Flowers and Banners committee.
People of the United States! We are Unitarian Jihad! We can strike without warning. Pockets of reasonableness and harmony will appear as if from nowhere! Nice people will run the government again! There will be coffee and cookies in the Gandhi Room after the revolution.
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
From my boss..
Stephen Von Neipping is the owner of Canon-La Gaffaliere, a prominent winery in Bordeaux. He lost a child to illness a few years back. In a recent interview he was quoted thusly. “I live in a more profound way now. I am more present. I look only for what is most important in each day and I accept more readily the faults of other people. Our lives are complex. We have pain. You have to be kind.”
Average White Girl
Hmm, this is what happens when I’m bored stuuuupid despite an interesting legal research issue, invoices and other paper to process, and plenty of things I should be doing..like studying for exams! I think. I’m female, so for you men out there, add an exponential mark thingie on the end of that “think”. Women think way too much at times. My brain is just racing around looking for something to do, like a 3 year old on sugar. And I have a whoooooole summer to look forward to of the same thing. This, my friends, is why I have 40 bazillion things going on at any given time. Otherwise, well, I get into trouble.
So I’m sitting here sorting invoices and just having a ball, when I consider my current workout/diet/weights thingie I’ve been pursuing. Now, I know I’m slightly overweight according to the medical texts. This is not fishing for complements; this is a medically measured fact. My BMI is too high for a chick my height. Simple fact, and actually very little emotion attached to that. This is who I am, I’m good with it. I’m proportionate. My goal is to build strength and not look like an ass holding a spear. Likely, I’ll trim down while doing so. Not a bad side effect. But I’m done starving myself into a size 2. I was a complete bitch and freezing all the time at that size, why would I want to be that person again? And yes, some of the bitchiness had to do with malnutrition. Ask me what I subsisted on in college, it sounds like I lived in a third world country.
But I realized today that I don’t get as much of the weird “stranger crap” that my thinner girlfriends seem to get. Here’s a great post that illustrates that situation from Fish Needs a Bicycle's blog: http://thisfish.ivillage.com/love/archives/
2006/04/not_waiting_for_guillermo.html (yes, you need to cut and paste the whole thing)
Now, this is a good thing. I’d rather not have to deal with random strangers bugging me, and I have no romantic notions of some random stranger being the man of my dreams, as not yet acquainted with. But, the question is, what DOES this say about my appearance? Now, while I’m not obsessed with being a thin size, I have spent a lot of time and money on my appearance in general. I used to have a distinct problem with dressing to blend in. I'd disappear into the background in every social situation. I’ve been trying to break that habit for years, and it’s a persistent bugger to break. I can melt into the background like a chameleon on a tree branch. If I don’t want you to notice me, you probably won’t. But it sucks when I want to be noticed. I’m better at being out of the limelight than in it.
But apparently, I’m completely average. Utterly middle America average. Not the hot chick who looks like an anime character, not the bigger girl in the low riders with the mushroom above the waistband, not the butch, muscley chick who looks like she can crush your head with a bicep. Just average. Unremarkably so, to the unacquainted. Now, if you know me, I’d like to think that’s not the case. I’m definitely an acquired taste. My friendships with people tend to develop like Polaroids lately. It takes a bit of time, but wow, the colorful relationships that ensue. It’s a good thing, or at least in my opinion it is. I’m not into cheap and easy. Nor easily definable, shallow, superficial relationships based on us liking the same color. Try harder Sparky..
So what is it? Am I terrifyingly unapproachable? Am I too direct? Is there anything really wrong with not being approached by strangers and not making the most friendly impression when I first meet someone? Am I just all business? I hate being solicited for money or surveys, so generally I'm not saddened. But it does make me wonder how I come off to others...
Eh, thinking too much. See? Trouble I tell you...
So I’m sitting here sorting invoices and just having a ball, when I consider my current workout/diet/weights thingie I’ve been pursuing. Now, I know I’m slightly overweight according to the medical texts. This is not fishing for complements; this is a medically measured fact. My BMI is too high for a chick my height. Simple fact, and actually very little emotion attached to that. This is who I am, I’m good with it. I’m proportionate. My goal is to build strength and not look like an ass holding a spear. Likely, I’ll trim down while doing so. Not a bad side effect. But I’m done starving myself into a size 2. I was a complete bitch and freezing all the time at that size, why would I want to be that person again? And yes, some of the bitchiness had to do with malnutrition. Ask me what I subsisted on in college, it sounds like I lived in a third world country.
But I realized today that I don’t get as much of the weird “stranger crap” that my thinner girlfriends seem to get. Here’s a great post that illustrates that situation from Fish Needs a Bicycle's blog: http://thisfish.ivillage.com/love/archives/
2006/04/not_waiting_for_guillermo.html (yes, you need to cut and paste the whole thing)
Now, this is a good thing. I’d rather not have to deal with random strangers bugging me, and I have no romantic notions of some random stranger being the man of my dreams, as not yet acquainted with. But, the question is, what DOES this say about my appearance? Now, while I’m not obsessed with being a thin size, I have spent a lot of time and money on my appearance in general. I used to have a distinct problem with dressing to blend in. I'd disappear into the background in every social situation. I’ve been trying to break that habit for years, and it’s a persistent bugger to break. I can melt into the background like a chameleon on a tree branch. If I don’t want you to notice me, you probably won’t. But it sucks when I want to be noticed. I’m better at being out of the limelight than in it.
But apparently, I’m completely average. Utterly middle America average. Not the hot chick who looks like an anime character, not the bigger girl in the low riders with the mushroom above the waistband, not the butch, muscley chick who looks like she can crush your head with a bicep. Just average. Unremarkably so, to the unacquainted. Now, if you know me, I’d like to think that’s not the case. I’m definitely an acquired taste. My friendships with people tend to develop like Polaroids lately. It takes a bit of time, but wow, the colorful relationships that ensue. It’s a good thing, or at least in my opinion it is. I’m not into cheap and easy. Nor easily definable, shallow, superficial relationships based on us liking the same color. Try harder Sparky..
So what is it? Am I terrifyingly unapproachable? Am I too direct? Is there anything really wrong with not being approached by strangers and not making the most friendly impression when I first meet someone? Am I just all business? I hate being solicited for money or surveys, so generally I'm not saddened. But it does make me wonder how I come off to others...
Eh, thinking too much. See? Trouble I tell you...
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Upcoming parties at Sammy's party patio...
Ok, so when I can't travel, I'll be social and have folks over to enjoy my happy place.
Here's a few themes I've come up with:
Senior Prom
Beer Tasting
Sammy's grown up dress up party (oh wait, that's every party at my house :-)
Blender tournament
Look, we're not dressed up in funny costumes party
I think a tequila tasting is asking for trouble.... Ditto with the toga party.
God, I am utterly bored at work. You know I'm bored when I'm attacking the "I have no clue what to do with it" pile of paper....
Here's a few themes I've come up with:
Senior Prom
Beer Tasting
Sammy's grown up dress up party (oh wait, that's every party at my house :-)
Blender tournament
Look, we're not dressed up in funny costumes party
I think a tequila tasting is asking for trouble.... Ditto with the toga party.
God, I am utterly bored at work. You know I'm bored when I'm attacking the "I have no clue what to do with it" pile of paper....
Garb?
Ok, so now I'd really really like to get to An Tir Crown in a few weeks. The issue is getting my plane ticket. Tickets cost money, and I need to acquire more of that, please!
Anybody need more garb? I have time now, and I really need the cash.
You have a wardrobe in need of spiffing up and no time or patience to make it better.
Allow me to bridge the gap between fashion and $$ :-)
Anybody need more garb? I have time now, and I really need the cash.
You have a wardrobe in need of spiffing up and no time or patience to make it better.
Allow me to bridge the gap between fashion and $$ :-)
*&^&^%*(&$( formatting....
Ok, I know I'm not the brightest cookie in the world.
There are smarter ones out there: http://tequilamockingbird.blogspot.com/
However, I did dream about fixing the damn formatting on my blog so that the sidebars actually lined up with the blog instead of being the forgotten realms on the bottom of the page.
If you know how to fix this, please have pity on me and send me how that chunk of code works. In small sentences. I am not a code monkey, I'm a hacker. Huge difference :-)
There are smarter ones out there: http://tequilamockingbird.blogspot.com/
However, I did dream about fixing the damn formatting on my blog so that the sidebars actually lined up with the blog instead of being the forgotten realms on the bottom of the page.
If you know how to fix this, please have pity on me and send me how that chunk of code works. In small sentences. I am not a code monkey, I'm a hacker. Huge difference :-)
Monday, April 24, 2006
Missle systems and dancing
There's something amusing about searching for your favorite Middle Eastern band and coming up with surface to air missle systems.
Apparently Al Samoud, besides being the name of my friends' band, is also a very effective surface to air missle system.
Always exciting when planning one's dance schedule for the week, and coming up with explosives.
Time for more ibuprophen...
Apparently Al Samoud, besides being the name of my friends' band, is also a very effective surface to air missle system.
Always exciting when planning one's dance schedule for the week, and coming up with explosives.
Time for more ibuprophen...
More Sleep Please
Had a great weekend, despite some major physical pain. SF was gorgeous, not raining finally, and much fun. T is such a joy, and I’m so glad to see her happy in her home and career. Her friends were so wonderfully welcoming and a boatload of fun to be around. T and I had the world’s best Thai food on Saturday, and then tooled around some of the neighborhoods soaking in the atmosphere. Boy, if CA is full of freaks and crazy people, there’s definitely a concentration of such in SF! Whew! Not sure I can handle that special mix of crazy+traffic+activism+loopy fruity goodness. It was a bit much at times. But I did appreciate the city – it is gorgeous, and those folks are active! Dinner party was wonderful Saturday night, then Sunday I was back on the plane and back to sunny SD. Much fun, and it was good to finally see SF instead of just going up for an event.
Unfortunately, it seems I barely slept due to my midsection cramping horridly all weekend. I crawled home and went to bed. Now, I have a pretty high pain threshold. If I actually notice being in pain that’s not acute and caused by some immediate issue, I usually don’t notice it until I notice that I’m pissy. If I’m pissy and crabby, it’s usually because I’m in some acute physical pain that’s not going away by itself. If I think about it, my ankle still hurts, but for the most part I know it’s ok, and it’s just that healing sort of pain. My middle was different. I lived on ibuprophen and alcohol all weekend. Not a good mix for my innards. I’d gone to the doctor last week to get the one medication I am on adjusted. Long story short, I was treated by an intern and ended up in pain and back on my old meds because of it. Not ok.
Negotiations are ongoing with the doc, but now I’m exhausted. I can function, but it’s interrupting my sleep now. Spiffy. And I’m eating those little orange ibuprophen pills every 4 hours just to keep going. So I’m probably dumping all the medication, it’s not critical for my health and it’s making me fatter. Better than being in pain, and I’m just sick and tired of the side effects. I’ll sit down with the doc and inform them of my choices later in the week. Things should calm down by themselves, and I’m going through all my usual mind-body exercises to get things back to normal. But sleep is the one critical element in my universe. Without sleep, I don’t heal, think, or function normally. So I’ll be taking it easy this week, getting my exam stuff ready, and just concentrating on what’s good for me.
I’ll be dancing Wednesday at Ali Baba’s with Al Samoud! Wish me luck, I should be better by then!
Unfortunately, it seems I barely slept due to my midsection cramping horridly all weekend. I crawled home and went to bed. Now, I have a pretty high pain threshold. If I actually notice being in pain that’s not acute and caused by some immediate issue, I usually don’t notice it until I notice that I’m pissy. If I’m pissy and crabby, it’s usually because I’m in some acute physical pain that’s not going away by itself. If I think about it, my ankle still hurts, but for the most part I know it’s ok, and it’s just that healing sort of pain. My middle was different. I lived on ibuprophen and alcohol all weekend. Not a good mix for my innards. I’d gone to the doctor last week to get the one medication I am on adjusted. Long story short, I was treated by an intern and ended up in pain and back on my old meds because of it. Not ok.
Negotiations are ongoing with the doc, but now I’m exhausted. I can function, but it’s interrupting my sleep now. Spiffy. And I’m eating those little orange ibuprophen pills every 4 hours just to keep going. So I’m probably dumping all the medication, it’s not critical for my health and it’s making me fatter. Better than being in pain, and I’m just sick and tired of the side effects. I’ll sit down with the doc and inform them of my choices later in the week. Things should calm down by themselves, and I’m going through all my usual mind-body exercises to get things back to normal. But sleep is the one critical element in my universe. Without sleep, I don’t heal, think, or function normally. So I’ll be taking it easy this week, getting my exam stuff ready, and just concentrating on what’s good for me.
I’ll be dancing Wednesday at Ali Baba’s with Al Samoud! Wish me luck, I should be better by then!
Friday, April 21, 2006
Paper topics....
So just when you thought I was just going to sit on my ass and drink all summer, I say au contraire mes amies!
I think I'm a gonna write a paper or two. Then send them off to law reviews and see about publication. No clue if they'll publish my crap, but I need the practice...
So I'm looking for topics. What do YOU want to know about in the legal world?
I'm thinking:
"1st Amendment rights in a socially drinking society: aka. America's right to gossip about their friends"
"Legal ramifications of blogs on one's privacy" - oh so applicble :-)
"Why California sucks: a legal analysis and comparison"
"Aardvark regulations and their effects on office harmony - a primer for the Girl Friday"
"Period torture devices and organized crime in Medieval France"
Ok, so the last two aren't terribly legal....
I dunno, whaddya think?
I think I'm a gonna write a paper or two. Then send them off to law reviews and see about publication. No clue if they'll publish my crap, but I need the practice...
So I'm looking for topics. What do YOU want to know about in the legal world?
I'm thinking:
"1st Amendment rights in a socially drinking society: aka. America's right to gossip about their friends"
"Legal ramifications of blogs on one's privacy" - oh so applicble :-)
"Why California sucks: a legal analysis and comparison"
"Aardvark regulations and their effects on office harmony - a primer for the Girl Friday"
"Period torture devices and organized crime in Medieval France"
Ok, so the last two aren't terribly legal....
I dunno, whaddya think?
Ahhhhhhhh.....
Hey, you know what? I was all stressed out! I hadn't realized how bad it had gotten until I finished my argument last night! So much for self-awareness...
I survived, nay, did well at my oral argument. Here's the scene:
A bunch of students all dressed up in suits is waiting patiently for the professor to finish with the last group of victims. I'm in my quasi-suit - casual pants and velvet jacket. Sometimes it's good to be a woman! I'm definitely more comfortable than my peers in ties and jackets. As the appealing party, I have the joy and rapture of going first on the stand. My job is to state my case, explain my arguments, and answer the questions the judge is going to throw at me. And I'm first, and I've never seen one of these done. Oh goody!
Mind you, I tried to prepare. I think my total prep time was about 2 hours of reading cases and 1/2 hour of pulling quotes out of my brief and my opponent's brief. And all of that was scattered and unfocused due to my lack of interest in in vitro fertilization. Yes, in vitro fertilization. That's the topic. I just couldn't care less, but I have to feign an impassioned response.
So I stepped up to the podium, signalled the timekeeper, and jumped in. And promptly turned red. I hate that. I always turn red, unless I completely have everything prepared and I'm comfortable. Heck, I turn red for thinking. Much less standing up in front of my professor and peers and give a crappily prepared speech. Thank goodness for all that media training.
Lo and behold, I get through 10 minutes of presenting with a reasonable amount of coherence. My opponent goes and I remember all the things I could have said. And then the evaluation. Apparently I looked competent and sharp. I was told "I'd hire you". Teehee... That is good, as I kind of need to get hired eventually. Hmm, perhaps this whole trial thing isn't so terrible. Especially now that I've managed to write a coherent brief or two. What a concept.
Hey, whaddya know - I was kinda lawyerly last night! One class down, two more to finish. Thank goodness I'm taking the summer off...
I survived, nay, did well at my oral argument. Here's the scene:
A bunch of students all dressed up in suits is waiting patiently for the professor to finish with the last group of victims. I'm in my quasi-suit - casual pants and velvet jacket. Sometimes it's good to be a woman! I'm definitely more comfortable than my peers in ties and jackets. As the appealing party, I have the joy and rapture of going first on the stand. My job is to state my case, explain my arguments, and answer the questions the judge is going to throw at me. And I'm first, and I've never seen one of these done. Oh goody!
Mind you, I tried to prepare. I think my total prep time was about 2 hours of reading cases and 1/2 hour of pulling quotes out of my brief and my opponent's brief. And all of that was scattered and unfocused due to my lack of interest in in vitro fertilization. Yes, in vitro fertilization. That's the topic. I just couldn't care less, but I have to feign an impassioned response.
So I stepped up to the podium, signalled the timekeeper, and jumped in. And promptly turned red. I hate that. I always turn red, unless I completely have everything prepared and I'm comfortable. Heck, I turn red for thinking. Much less standing up in front of my professor and peers and give a crappily prepared speech. Thank goodness for all that media training.
Lo and behold, I get through 10 minutes of presenting with a reasonable amount of coherence. My opponent goes and I remember all the things I could have said. And then the evaluation. Apparently I looked competent and sharp. I was told "I'd hire you". Teehee... That is good, as I kind of need to get hired eventually. Hmm, perhaps this whole trial thing isn't so terrible. Especially now that I've managed to write a coherent brief or two. What a concept.
Hey, whaddya know - I was kinda lawyerly last night! One class down, two more to finish. Thank goodness I'm taking the summer off...
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Better without the blockage
Well, there's a certain amusement in moving one's blog. Folks get kinda used to seeing things in certain places and then I go and screw with it all. Well, let's just say I'm paring things down a bit.
So I went strolling through the Internet looking for advice for law students working their way through school, older students with prior work experience, etc. There ain't much folks. Kinda sad. That's the group of students that easily has the most experience, the most workplace skills, and a more realistic view of what's expected when they emerge from law school with a shiny new degree. And from my personal experience, they tend to have average grades, little time to do internships and networking opportunities, and not a lot of help in that job placement department. And no one is really available to say "Gee, have you packaged yourself up as the new legal guru in this field?"
Let's be serious folks: Mommy and Daddy aren't subsidizing my weekends. The money I spend, I work for at a relatively low paying job(compared to what I could get before I went to school). Why? Because I can't work the hours I used to. I can't be available for travel. I can't just stay late and think about stuff once I leave here. In theory, school is supposed to improve my earnings, right? That would be fabulous, as after all of these gov't loans, I'll need help. Not as much help as my classmates going full time on borrowed money, but then I can't get private loans. That's both a blessing and a curse.
And I did try the Career Services route. Those folks mean well, but the advice is rather generic. Shotgun resume and letter blasts aren't exactly fruitful here. I've applied for something ridiculous like 50-100 internships. Haven't gotten one yet. Would be nice if I knew why, but if I hear "you're overqualified" one more time, I may end up shovelling laundry in an orange jumpsuit next to my girlfriend Marge. I'm not a cookie cutter sorority girl, giggling through my cheap beer and flirting with the USD law students who will be many of our bosses someday. Frankly, I've got the skills to surpass most of them, and the nutty track record to stand on. But I'm sick of being the "gee, not quite what we're looking for" girl.
So if anyone has any brilliant ideas, I'm just a bit discouraged. I'm really sick of hearing how fabulous I am. Yes, I have a shitload of interesting experiences. That and $3 will get me another crappy assistant job once I'm out of here. I'd rather be an Associate than and Assistant, thanks.
So I went strolling through the Internet looking for advice for law students working their way through school, older students with prior work experience, etc. There ain't much folks. Kinda sad. That's the group of students that easily has the most experience, the most workplace skills, and a more realistic view of what's expected when they emerge from law school with a shiny new degree. And from my personal experience, they tend to have average grades, little time to do internships and networking opportunities, and not a lot of help in that job placement department. And no one is really available to say "Gee, have you packaged yourself up as the new legal guru in this field?"
Let's be serious folks: Mommy and Daddy aren't subsidizing my weekends. The money I spend, I work for at a relatively low paying job(compared to what I could get before I went to school). Why? Because I can't work the hours I used to. I can't be available for travel. I can't just stay late and think about stuff once I leave here. In theory, school is supposed to improve my earnings, right? That would be fabulous, as after all of these gov't loans, I'll need help. Not as much help as my classmates going full time on borrowed money, but then I can't get private loans. That's both a blessing and a curse.
And I did try the Career Services route. Those folks mean well, but the advice is rather generic. Shotgun resume and letter blasts aren't exactly fruitful here. I've applied for something ridiculous like 50-100 internships. Haven't gotten one yet. Would be nice if I knew why, but if I hear "you're overqualified" one more time, I may end up shovelling laundry in an orange jumpsuit next to my girlfriend Marge. I'm not a cookie cutter sorority girl, giggling through my cheap beer and flirting with the USD law students who will be many of our bosses someday. Frankly, I've got the skills to surpass most of them, and the nutty track record to stand on. But I'm sick of being the "gee, not quite what we're looking for" girl.
So if anyone has any brilliant ideas, I'm just a bit discouraged. I'm really sick of hearing how fabulous I am. Yes, I have a shitload of interesting experiences. That and $3 will get me another crappy assistant job once I'm out of here. I'd rather be an Associate than and Assistant, thanks.
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