I'm writing this post about two people, myself and a classmate. First, I should know better than to post snarky comments on Facebook about classmates when they do not know me well enough to know that I snark with love. So, drunken frat boy, comment was made with the best of intentions. And really, you were doing a funny face in the background of the pic thing that 2nd graders do. You set yourself up for some snark by being a stealth snark yourself. Anyhow, Facebook is not my personal little playground-- everyone plays in that sandbox!
I was heading to class today and stopped in the court yard to read (err, gchat) right before class. As soon as I read 1 page, it was time to go to class. I ended up mentioning that I hadn't read for class and another girl said something like right on because she hadn't read either. Well, she got called on in class. From what I heard come out of her mouth (don't really remember cause I don't really pay attention), it sounded like she did, in fact, do the reading. Maybe not all of it (Prof. aimed his line of questioning at her neighbor when she failed to continue coming up with answers). Why did she tell me she didn't do the reading? Was she laughing at me in her head for not doing it? I certainly was not encouraging anyone to not do their reading (I'm totally against not reading, kinda). Stupid shit like that makes me not trust people.
Perhaps it is my personal problem with suspicion. I haven't seen any daggers come out yet, but we are getting close to finals. In all honesty, I do not think that this person likes me -- we never talk. So when we do talk and she lies to me I just have to think that it was malicious. This is why I do not study with anyone and will talk about stuff until I am blue in the face but generally leave school stuff out of it.
I'm going to put a string around my finger and hopefully I can remember to do a better job of keeping my business to myself. And to not say stupid things. Hopefully.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Saturday, October 25, 2008
and the winner is
We had a party at Prof. Property's house last night and I was wondering who was going to get really drunk first (if at all). And the winner was --- Prof. Prop herself. Good times. Hell, if I had to hang out with a bunch of people 1/2 or even 1/3 my age who would be eying me suspiciously and making judgements about my house and every little tile selection (lots of tiles in the house), I'd get a little loose first too. Everyone else was on their best behavior. I had my money on a classmate of ours who is quite the cheap date (she doesn't spend much money on herself) and is prone to getting embarrassingly drunk. (In all honesty, the night I saw her embarrass herself, I had just as much to drink as she had. We are distinguished by the fact that I have been doing this -- public drunkenness-- probably 7 or 8 years longer than she has. I know how to blend in with the vibe of the party and not get out of control unless everyone else is out of control.)
The party was great. BitterNY took the night off to come which was good because I was able to hide behind him as he chatted people up about basketball, motorcycles, boats and wine. We talked to the Prof. about boats and wine. I think that she lives the life we would like to have. Beautiful house, modest enough in size and warm feeling but big enough so that 5 or 6 friends could stay comfortably. We monopolized Mr. & Mrs. Prof for for quite some time talking about boats and wine. BitterNY really wants a boat. Hope we don't have to wait till we are their age to get one.
I've got tot put a plug in here for my class of truly diverse and interesting people. I haven't really talked to everyone, but I'm working on getting to know more of them.
Oh yeah, I brought a bottle of wine. She had no idea that it was mine and Mr. Prof brought her over a taste and she made the most horrible face and said, "Yuck! I don't think I'd like that." Wow, I was bummed. Hurt. Especially since the whole point of bringing the bottle was to score points. I want to be her research assistant (if she even needs one, but I have a plan for that too). So I was trying to do a little nonchalant sucking up. But really, if someone invites you over to their house for dinner, one should at least bring a bottle of wine. Maybe it would have hurt less if my budget weren't so tight, but I doubt it. I tend to take things personally and be overly sensitive.
Well, I've wasted a good 23 minutes of library time. No one else is up here on the 4th floor because its 9:23 in the morning. Good thing I wasn't drinking last night -- I could never have gotten up at the crack of dawn to write this post.
The party was great. BitterNY took the night off to come which was good because I was able to hide behind him as he chatted people up about basketball, motorcycles, boats and wine. We talked to the Prof. about boats and wine. I think that she lives the life we would like to have. Beautiful house, modest enough in size and warm feeling but big enough so that 5 or 6 friends could stay comfortably. We monopolized Mr. & Mrs. Prof for for quite some time talking about boats and wine. BitterNY really wants a boat. Hope we don't have to wait till we are their age to get one.
I've got tot put a plug in here for my class of truly diverse and interesting people. I haven't really talked to everyone, but I'm working on getting to know more of them.
Oh yeah, I brought a bottle of wine. She had no idea that it was mine and Mr. Prof brought her over a taste and she made the most horrible face and said, "Yuck! I don't think I'd like that." Wow, I was bummed. Hurt. Especially since the whole point of bringing the bottle was to score points. I want to be her research assistant (if she even needs one, but I have a plan for that too). So I was trying to do a little nonchalant sucking up. But really, if someone invites you over to their house for dinner, one should at least bring a bottle of wine. Maybe it would have hurt less if my budget weren't so tight, but I doubt it. I tend to take things personally and be overly sensitive.
Well, I've wasted a good 23 minutes of library time. No one else is up here on the 4th floor because its 9:23 in the morning. Good thing I wasn't drinking last night -- I could never have gotten up at the crack of dawn to write this post.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
cold. hot. cold. hot.
I'm blogging from the library. Usually iy is freezing in here. Right now, even my ears are hot. I am having a dangerous week of I-don't-wanna!. I can't really fight the urge to sleep. And when I finally closed my eyes at 9:50 PM last night, I commenced a night of left-right-left tossing and turning. Didn't get up early to do my reading as planned. Things are a bit wack with me to say the least.
This week has also been the week of amazing speakers (and great free lunches). I have been to 2 ACS presentations and I am now excited about public interest lawyersing. Or, at least what would be my brand of public interest lawyering since I am going to the biggest and baddest firm that I can find. (Antonia Hernandez was talking yesterday about the need for PI minded people in big firms to help guide and foster their pro bono efforts.) Monday was a panel of lawyers working in city government all over California. They had different paths to their jobs and one even started at a big firm (the myth is that you can't get a public interest job if you go to a firm because that demonstrates that you are not comitted). They all spoke of the progerssive possibilities in governemnt doing thigs that sound pretty basic -- like getting the government to enforce its own laws (like preventing credit card companies from taking advantage of the citizens of a praticular locality, election adn voting issues, and environmental issues where action might mean suing the Fed or the EPA).
What I came away with is that a progressive agenda does not have to look freakishly liberal. There are lots of smaller battles to be won in the war. I also came away with excitement and a warm heart. There was so much positive energy and (dare I say it) love in the rooms for both days of presentation. Here were people who loved their jobs. They were fighting the good fight and had time to spend with their families. They also were part of a larger community of people (like-minded or not) working for the greater good. So maybe there is something to this lawyering thing. Looks like there are so many more options than I have ever imagined. I will keep going to these lectures to hear about the paths taken by those before me (who maybe can now help me get a job!).
This week has also been the week of amazing speakers (and great free lunches). I have been to 2 ACS presentations and I am now excited about public interest lawyersing. Or, at least what would be my brand of public interest lawyering since I am going to the biggest and baddest firm that I can find. (Antonia Hernandez was talking yesterday about the need for PI minded people in big firms to help guide and foster their pro bono efforts.) Monday was a panel of lawyers working in city government all over California. They had different paths to their jobs and one even started at a big firm (the myth is that you can't get a public interest job if you go to a firm because that demonstrates that you are not comitted). They all spoke of the progerssive possibilities in governemnt doing thigs that sound pretty basic -- like getting the government to enforce its own laws (like preventing credit card companies from taking advantage of the citizens of a praticular locality, election adn voting issues, and environmental issues where action might mean suing the Fed or the EPA).
What I came away with is that a progressive agenda does not have to look freakishly liberal. There are lots of smaller battles to be won in the war. I also came away with excitement and a warm heart. There was so much positive energy and (dare I say it) love in the rooms for both days of presentation. Here were people who loved their jobs. They were fighting the good fight and had time to spend with their families. They also were part of a larger community of people (like-minded or not) working for the greater good. So maybe there is something to this lawyering thing. Looks like there are so many more options than I have ever imagined. I will keep going to these lectures to hear about the paths taken by those before me (who maybe can now help me get a job!).
Sunday, October 19, 2008
10,000 things
I am in the library taking a break before I dive back into the memo. Ah sweet little memo. I know it is easy. There is a formula. I know how to do it. But why is it so hard? Maybe because I am over thinking it. Under thinking it? Maybe because I hate following rules? Dunno. Not gonna dwell on it, it will only get me down.
This week is shaping up to be a big one. Because I have taken so much time to do nothing this past week, I have a whole lot of outlining and practice testing to do next week. (Ans this evening if I can finish outlining the first few topics in contracts).
I went to an event yesterday and experienced my first bit of school classism. I volunteered at an event with a classmate and there were other students there from another law school (4th tier to our 1st tier). I am a generally friendly person. I often feel awkward in social settings so I go out of my way to be friendly and engaging when I meet a new person. Last night I had to execute the kill em with kindness strategy. This one guy (a 2L much much younger than I) just would not play nice. He even made a few digs at the school related to how coddled we are (sorry if my school does not have a policy of not asking back a certain perscentage of the 1L class). We did talk about how this disproportionately affects black students. It seemed to me that his point was that he had to work harder for what he got (which was into a not so good school) and that someone is gonna hold the hand of all the black kids at my school so we don't have to worry about being kicked out or that our friends will be. WTF?
Even I am aware that Southwestern if a difficult school because of the curve. People must know that before they go, right? I was totally put off by his demeanor. I intorduced him to another woman working with us who, up until then, he was not paying attention to (he was way too good to talk to any of us, really, but I don't give up). He perked up and was all about her once I told him she worked in the music business, the field he aspires to enter. After being a stiff prick, he had the audacity to ask for her business card. She said she didn't have any. I find that hard to believe as we were all there hoping to make some contcts. I'm ashamed to say that that made me feel a little happy.
Just a little.
So that's it for now. I'm going to do some more research on the possibility of transferring schools next year (only if I do very very well b/c I am trying to get into one of the top 3 schools that waitlisted me). I've read that it can be difficult to get on to law review and make meaningful connections with teachers as a transfer student. If I do well enough to transfer, I'm sure that I'd want to be on law review, so that might be a deal breaker. I'm getting way ahead of myself here -- I need to finish my memo and study.
This week is shaping up to be a big one. Because I have taken so much time to do nothing this past week, I have a whole lot of outlining and practice testing to do next week. (Ans this evening if I can finish outlining the first few topics in contracts).
I went to an event yesterday and experienced my first bit of school classism. I volunteered at an event with a classmate and there were other students there from another law school (4th tier to our 1st tier). I am a generally friendly person. I often feel awkward in social settings so I go out of my way to be friendly and engaging when I meet a new person. Last night I had to execute the kill em with kindness strategy. This one guy (a 2L much much younger than I) just would not play nice. He even made a few digs at the school related to how coddled we are (sorry if my school does not have a policy of not asking back a certain perscentage of the 1L class). We did talk about how this disproportionately affects black students. It seemed to me that his point was that he had to work harder for what he got (which was into a not so good school) and that someone is gonna hold the hand of all the black kids at my school so we don't have to worry about being kicked out or that our friends will be. WTF?
Even I am aware that Southwestern if a difficult school because of the curve. People must know that before they go, right? I was totally put off by his demeanor. I intorduced him to another woman working with us who, up until then, he was not paying attention to (he was way too good to talk to any of us, really, but I don't give up). He perked up and was all about her once I told him she worked in the music business, the field he aspires to enter. After being a stiff prick, he had the audacity to ask for her business card. She said she didn't have any. I find that hard to believe as we were all there hoping to make some contcts. I'm ashamed to say that that made me feel a little happy.
Just a little.
So that's it for now. I'm going to do some more research on the possibility of transferring schools next year (only if I do very very well b/c I am trying to get into one of the top 3 schools that waitlisted me). I've read that it can be difficult to get on to law review and make meaningful connections with teachers as a transfer student. If I do well enough to transfer, I'm sure that I'd want to be on law review, so that might be a deal breaker. I'm getting way ahead of myself here -- I need to finish my memo and study.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Lack of Sleep
Wow, long time since I last blogged. Probably cause there is so much for me to do these days. I've been going to class, studying, seeing lunch time speakers, socializing and occasionally sleeping. I'm beat. Now I know what everyone meant when they said law school is hard. Yeah, there's a ton of info to digest, but mostly, for me, it is the constant pressure of always having something to do. Always.
I took a practice midterm in Property last week. I am dying to get it back. Property is by far my most faveorite course. The Prof wrote our book and she is just a really good, straight forward (read no Socratic) prof. We do lots of discussion of authority cited and historical precedent for the rules. I love that shit. So yeah, mid term. Took me so long to get my notes together into something that resembles and outline. I have no idea how people do outlines over Thanksgiving break. I do not think that is enough time. I also type really slow and have nothing typed out.
I am having a lot of success with the library. It's gotten to the point where I just cannot work at home. I am supposed to be reading materials for my memo and I just ended up futsing aroung on facebook and checking (and re-checking) my email. Now that I have another email, there's so many more distractions to be had.
Earlier in the semester, I was having a problem with a gunner. I like her but she was constatnly talking over my faveorite prof. She seems to have mellowed out. I think that she is young and used to being the smartest person in the room (with her pedigree, I don't blame her). I found out today that she made a pretty cute gaffe at a social function the other day. Seems that she did not realise that a classmate is a lesbian and when she say her holding hands with her girlfriend, she skipped up and said she wanted to hold hands with -------- too. Now I really feel bad for her. But, I said a bunch of really stupid shit a lot of times when I was younger. While it has not made me any wiser, I am more prone to keeping my mouth shut for a few extra seconds.
wow, almost bed time. I was too tired to do my reading for class today, so I am getting up really really early to get it done.
I took a practice midterm in Property last week. I am dying to get it back. Property is by far my most faveorite course. The Prof wrote our book and she is just a really good, straight forward (read no Socratic) prof. We do lots of discussion of authority cited and historical precedent for the rules. I love that shit. So yeah, mid term. Took me so long to get my notes together into something that resembles and outline. I have no idea how people do outlines over Thanksgiving break. I do not think that is enough time. I also type really slow and have nothing typed out.
I am having a lot of success with the library. It's gotten to the point where I just cannot work at home. I am supposed to be reading materials for my memo and I just ended up futsing aroung on facebook and checking (and re-checking) my email. Now that I have another email, there's so many more distractions to be had.
Earlier in the semester, I was having a problem with a gunner. I like her but she was constatnly talking over my faveorite prof. She seems to have mellowed out. I think that she is young and used to being the smartest person in the room (with her pedigree, I don't blame her). I found out today that she made a pretty cute gaffe at a social function the other day. Seems that she did not realise that a classmate is a lesbian and when she say her holding hands with her girlfriend, she skipped up and said she wanted to hold hands with -------- too. Now I really feel bad for her. But, I said a bunch of really stupid shit a lot of times when I was younger. While it has not made me any wiser, I am more prone to keeping my mouth shut for a few extra seconds.
wow, almost bed time. I was too tired to do my reading for class today, so I am getting up really really early to get it done.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
the teaches of peaches
So law school. yeah. So far so good. I have no life, I see no one who is not in law school unless forced to. And I think I have a lot of new friends. There is something about this forced closeness that is actually really working out. All ofthe older students ask me how things are going, how am I doing. It's starting to drive me crazy because honestly, I am starting to crack a bit. I think that they ask because they are so glad that they are no longer in this position. They have made it to the other side.
This week it was the urge to cry while visiting a prof for office hours. Why? I have no idea, we were talking about property but I just wanted my momma.
I have more black friends than I have ever had in my life and this is a new and positive twist.
Say some wedding photos on my cousin's facebook. I look absolutely horrible. I look better from far away so you can just see my curves in my dress. My hair was awful and I look like I am always pooping -- not smiling. SHIT. And since it was all my family at the wedding, I went around socializing w/o BitterNY and therefore we are in NONE ofthe candid shots together. There are tons of pics with him and all out frineds and where am I? Probably trying to get the caterers to buy more wine cause we ran out.
that makes me really really sad. The whole night was like a blur. Iremember the dance and the cake cutting but I was too excited to eat and that's it. It seems like 80% of my night was dealing with the damn wine. That's the one really big down side to doing everything yourself and having no money to back it up (and thereby having to do it all yourself . . .)
So law school. I think that I will be better at it in a few weeks when I have spent more time sleeping. Took this week off of work because Iknew Iwould be too tired if I didn't (and now I have no money, i hate that). Well, I was mega tired without work anyway.
At least I got elected 1L rep for BLSA. People like me, they really really like me.
This week it was the urge to cry while visiting a prof for office hours. Why? I have no idea, we were talking about property but I just wanted my momma.
I have more black friends than I have ever had in my life and this is a new and positive twist.
Say some wedding photos on my cousin's facebook. I look absolutely horrible. I look better from far away so you can just see my curves in my dress. My hair was awful and I look like I am always pooping -- not smiling. SHIT. And since it was all my family at the wedding, I went around socializing w/o BitterNY and therefore we are in NONE ofthe candid shots together. There are tons of pics with him and all out frineds and where am I? Probably trying to get the caterers to buy more wine cause we ran out.
that makes me really really sad. The whole night was like a blur. Iremember the dance and the cake cutting but I was too excited to eat and that's it. It seems like 80% of my night was dealing with the damn wine. That's the one really big down side to doing everything yourself and having no money to back it up (and thereby having to do it all yourself . . .)
So law school. I think that I will be better at it in a few weeks when I have spent more time sleeping. Took this week off of work because Iknew Iwould be too tired if I didn't (and now I have no money, i hate that). Well, I was mega tired without work anyway.
At least I got elected 1L rep for BLSA. People like me, they really really like me.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
of weddings and friends
I always wondered why people writing blawgs never seemed to be in class. Why they were always watching tv or something. I get it. You just cannot stop life to go to law school. I flew to the Bay and back today to go to a wedding. A friend from high school and her partner, geting it legal before the right is gone. I spent more time traveling than I did at the wedding. But it was great fun. Lots of kids -- babies and teenagers. They are both high schol teachers and the party was at the school where they met. I say some friends from high school that I haven't seen in a while. It's amazing to me how no one ages. One of my friends gets more beautiful each year -- truly like a swan.
But that means the here is another day where I have not devoted enought hours to studying. I could read now, but how much would I retain? I took Monday off from work so I will make up the hours then. Can't believe I am rolling into week 8 far behind from where I wanted to be. NOt a single outline to speak of. SHIT.
But that means the here is another day where I have not devoted enought hours to studying. I could read now, but how much would I retain? I took Monday off from work so I will make up the hours then. Can't believe I am rolling into week 8 far behind from where I wanted to be. NOt a single outline to speak of. SHIT.
Friday, October 3, 2008
This is why I came to law school
Last night I had a hiuge debate party. I squeezed 18 people into my little livingroom around my huge tv. We watched the debate and ate a spaghetti dinner (fed everyone for $7!) A friend brought a friend who had been working in DC. She was sitting next to another woman who had just worked in DC. I made everyone d a little intro and turns out that the women had talked many times on the phone while working at 2 agencies in DC. How small is the world.
Today instead of outlining (I know that it has to be done, but I just neer have any time to do it!) I went and worked the prisoner reentry clinic. We basically help people get their felonies lowered to misdemeanors and have them expunged from their records. We do it for free, paralegal services charge $500 - $1000. I was working with a guy who wanted to get a government job (????Why?) and needed to have his record cleaned up. I was really happy to be able to help him, but the wife beating conviceitons were so not cool. But it was a long time ago and who am I to judge. I've done a lot of shit myself (no record!).
One supervising attorney was amazing I am going to look her up. She had all the right answers. She was asking my participant (not client, I'm not a lawyer) how he got such a cute girlfriend. When he said he's a good man and tries to treat her right, the lawyer was right back (swet as can be ) with a your have to treat her right. She was asking everyone their birthdays and telling them their signs and playing with the kids and really just an awesome human being. Turned out that she got a masters in film at my law school before going to law school. Didn't really get a chance to talk ot her but I am going to look her up.
I think half the battle today was talking to people. Honestly, I had no idea where to start. I followed my partenr's lead. She's someone I really like. And really respect. So she was showing me the ropes and I think I can handle it on my own next time. But as far as how to phrase the whole exchange -- I had no idea where to start. There is a ton of paperwork and we have to talk about all sorts of things and I usually have lots to say. But I'm getting used to this whole being shy thing. I am coming to terms with the face that I just don't have as much (energy, desire, fearlessness) gumption to talk to people.
Not gonna do the 4 hours of studying that I thought I would tonight. That means I only have sunday to do 2 days worth of reading as well as the rest of my property outline. Shit. where does the time go? fuck it. i'm gonna go watch a movie. i've been dying to see the other boelyn girl cause i love scarjo. Bitterny won't watch it with me so I'm gonna do it now.
Today instead of outlining (I know that it has to be done, but I just neer have any time to do it!) I went and worked the prisoner reentry clinic. We basically help people get their felonies lowered to misdemeanors and have them expunged from their records. We do it for free, paralegal services charge $500 - $1000. I was working with a guy who wanted to get a government job (????Why?) and needed to have his record cleaned up. I was really happy to be able to help him, but the wife beating conviceitons were so not cool. But it was a long time ago and who am I to judge. I've done a lot of shit myself (no record!).
One supervising attorney was amazing I am going to look her up. She had all the right answers. She was asking my participant (not client, I'm not a lawyer) how he got such a cute girlfriend. When he said he's a good man and tries to treat her right, the lawyer was right back (swet as can be ) with a your have to treat her right. She was asking everyone their birthdays and telling them their signs and playing with the kids and really just an awesome human being. Turned out that she got a masters in film at my law school before going to law school. Didn't really get a chance to talk ot her but I am going to look her up.
I think half the battle today was talking to people. Honestly, I had no idea where to start. I followed my partenr's lead. She's someone I really like. And really respect. So she was showing me the ropes and I think I can handle it on my own next time. But as far as how to phrase the whole exchange -- I had no idea where to start. There is a ton of paperwork and we have to talk about all sorts of things and I usually have lots to say. But I'm getting used to this whole being shy thing. I am coming to terms with the face that I just don't have as much (energy, desire, fearlessness) gumption to talk to people.
Not gonna do the 4 hours of studying that I thought I would tonight. That means I only have sunday to do 2 days worth of reading as well as the rest of my property outline. Shit. where does the time go? fuck it. i'm gonna go watch a movie. i've been dying to see the other boelyn girl cause i love scarjo. Bitterny won't watch it with me so I'm gonna do it now.
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