You will be missed.

While the rest of you enjoy your new year celebrations, please keep in mind those that have given everything that matters so that we can enjoy our new year.

Damien was a friend that I met through other friends in the fraternity my freshman year. I would describe him as a truly genuine guy who made sure everyone around him was ok. Damien was the guy that cheered you up no matter how foul a mood you were in. He was a husband to a wonderful woman named Kayla.

Last night Damien was killed in Iraq.

Right now there are too many conflicting emotions to write coherently. May Damien rest in peace. You will be missed.

Get a Life

I was reading a fellow legal blog and it donned on me how often people comment just to say that the content of the blog was worthless. Of course the commenters remained anonymous. Some commenters even went as far as to say that sites such as these should even be on the net. Are these people for real? Do they think that we are just sitting here trying to think of words to write so that a completely anonymous stranger will write a couple words of two saying how much our blog means to them? Get real.

The numerous legal blogs that ive read have contributed quite significantly in my law school experience so far. They shape my attitude and even give real life advice on how to deal with law school dilemmas. Legal blogs are so inclusive in the guidance they provide, im satisfied that if we combined all the legal blogs into one mega-database of information, it could successfully raise a newborn child alone. You dont believe me? Here's a list of things that blogs have taught me in the first term of law school:
1) How to apply a firm wedgie to that annoying gunner in the front row of class.
2) Which sets of flashcards to buy that you never opened but still feel justified that you bought them.
3) How to live solely off of nachos, caffeine, and spamwiches for the entire week before finals.
4) When purchasing your final exams in advance, never pick it up in person or your teacher, i mean anonymous test seller, might recognize you.
5) Ashlee Simpson is not a robot sent back into time to break up nick and jess, but more likely a robot sent back into time to make sure all the eligible batchelors in this country wish they were deaf.
6) Telling people "Im a lawyer" is the single greatest pickup line, and is most effective when wearing an initialed sweater vest.
7) How to spend 10 weeks outlining a class, only to find that an upperclassmen has an even better one that makes all the hours you spent on the other one useless. When you upperclassmen say its the process of outlining that makes you learn the material, this is the equivalent of running your nails on the chalkboard.
8) When someone says they are hot, 18 and single on the internet it really means large, hairy and old. From what i hear....
9) The OC really isnt real, but I still dont believe it.

Beaver Believer

For the 2nd time in the last 5 years, my Beavers played Notre Dame in a bowl game. Each year the damn leprechaun wanders onto the field prancing around looking for his lucky charms, only to be sent away by another Beaver spanking. This year was no different. My Beavs had a great throwing game, making for a memorable sendoff of graduating senior quarterback Derek Anderson. Coupled with the occasional threat by Running Back Dwight Wright, the fighting irish didnt stand a chance. In fact the only thing favorably memorable on Notre Dame's side was the hot readhead reporter that kept interviewing Notre Dame people throughout the game. She neglected to interview any Beaver coaches, fans, etc the entire game. Thats ok. We werent really listening to what you were saying anyway.

As vacation winds down it is time to focus. I have 3 of my 5 assignments done for the first week of school. I have an extra class this term, but I know how to study effeciently now. I am looking forward to checking grades, although the anticipation is killing me.

Hope everyone has a safe new year.

Herbie Goes Bananas

You all might hate me for saying this but im bored. Ive spent way too much time at my damn laptop and cant find anything better to do. I did a little homework, but I feel a little too guilty doing anymore. Plus, my attention span is ridiculous. I ate breakfast while reading a magazine, while watching the OC that my mom taped for me, all while she was talking to me.

I've been working out daily, slowly getting back my prelaw abs and biceps. Whats more impressive is that I have barely drank any caffeine this whole vacation.

I watched Mulholland Drive yesterday. A very strange, yet amusing movie.

Also watched swingers. Vegas baby. Miss those Socal days when a vegas trip was four hours away.

Flashback

Remember that first day of law school? That nervousness in the pit of your stomach, the feeling that has been absent in your life since the first day of highschool. Looking all around paranoid that everyone is smarter, better looking, and more successful. Envious that maybe their mullet might scream Nascar louder than yours. Your first few hours in class you found a deep respect for someone who answered a question brilliantly, only to learn later in the term that they are a f'ing moron and you would love to see them drop their laptop.

That first case you briefed looked the the entire restatement of contracts, but no one, not even your mother could have told you that it had too much information in it. I put mine up on the fridge for all the cockroaches in my apartment to see. Hell, even the crackhead that lives in the dumpster behind the apartment said my briefs were good; He used them to roll a joint.

But here we are. I thought i knew everything before school started. Now, after one term under my belt, I definitely know everything. Just two years ago I was sitting with my frat bro's pondering the theme of the next party (what you non greeks call a meat market). My point is this, choosing whether to have guests wear saran wrap or togas is hard when you have no clue where life will be taking you in a few short months. Knowing that life was going to twist us all in different directions, made each and every keg stand that more precious.

Its really kind of sitcomish how things turned out. Me, i chose law school. One friend chose Jr. Investment Banking, another marketing. A real close frat friend of mine now sings opera at at top rated music school in the country. Get us all in the same room and you would never tell that we have ambitions for success. After all look at Britney. She found success and she cant shake the trailer park.

Anyway, to make a long story even longer, im noticing law school changing my peers and I. Its nice to have good friends and memories to look back on, even if most of them involve extreme amounts of alcohol, and the distinct odor of vomity mouthed sorority girls. Hope all my friends are enjoying the holidays, and to my readers, thanks for the support.

To my law school buds: Here's to another successful term and a long cold winter, only comforted by the fact that we still have two more years of this crap and we aint getting any younger.

Betty Ford meets Betty Crocker

You should be proud. Its day #4 that I have kicked the sweet nectar known as caffeine. At least until finals next term. You didnt think i could actually walk away from the juice for good?

Being home is great. Instead of hearing my mom's long, drawn out stories about her daily escapades over the phone, I get all of that in person (you try acting interested for 2 hours about a grocery shopping story). Her wonderful cooking though makes up for all of that, and after all, i hear she went through a little trouble while in labor with me, so the least I can do is listen.

Civ Pro prof assigned us a 300 page novel about a coal mining accident that we have to read before the first day of class. It isnt bad so far, but didnt make for good reading on the plane. Parts of the book explaining about twisted bodies covered in coal dust being pulled out of the flood werent the best thoughts to have running in my head as we encountered turbulence at 37,00 feet.

Went to starbucks last night with my Jr. Investment banker friend. We talked about life, the good ol' fraternity days, and finalized our plans to take over the world. Yep, we are gonna take over the world, so any of you planning on doing that can just give up now. And as future rulers of the world here are a list of things that will change:

1) Jessica and Nick must divorce at once. Nick will be sent to the south pole, his 98 degrees melting the polar caps, causing global warming, thus pissing off the hippie neighbor that used to live next to my fraternity.

b) I will be allowed to bring a super soaker to class to douse annoying gunners and their laptops when they say stupid stuff in class. My junior investment banker friend will accompany me with 5 vats of evian water to refill the supersoaker because we all know that there are numerous gunners in our class. Why evian you ask? Because Catherine Zeta can, and so can I.

4) There will be no class on Thursdays so that everyone may watch the greatest show ever; The OC. Happy Christmakuh everyone.

5) Guns N Roses will be forced into coming out of retirement. Axl Rose will apologize to Slash, Duffy, Izzy and Matt. He will also have to apologize to us for that last attempt at a comeback.

6) All the individual study rooms at the law library will be dedicated solely to Billy Madison style reviewing.

7) All of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure will be transcribed from the text to the stomachs of ample bodied cheerleaders, bringing irony to the term coined in Turow's 1L, "learning to love the law".

8) And finally, to that annoying girl who walked in late everyday but did so only because you are hot and could get away with it, a seat next to me.

Because you never get a 2nd chance to make a 1st impression.

Xzibit never showed up to pimp my blog, so it looks like i need to learn how to do that on my own. Apparently it is easier to become an oil boy for the Hawaiian Tropic Bikini Tour than it is to figure out these blog templates. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I just want to make it sparkle a little. You know, so when you see it, your like, "Hi. Whats your name?".


Yes, i am bored. I know you can tell.

Letting go

Im having a harder time letting go that i though i would. i keep thinking that i should be in the library reading or something. This town is dead and my flight doesnt leave till 5pm tomorrow. Its snowing buckets here making me miss home even more.

Watched White Chicks and Scary movie 3 tonight. Good for a few laughs. The comforts of home are only a few hours away. Looks for some good blogging material in the next week. I plan to unwind completely. Approximately 1 hour party for every 10 hours that I studied this term. By my calculations that will give me exactly 5 hours to sober up before my first class next term.

Sayonara first term

Its done, and i really cant believe how melodramatic it feels. Where's my damn button to wear that says im not a first termer. Wheres my cake with hot 2ls jumping out. This town is dead. Honestly thought finals were going to be a little more intense, but maybe ive actually learned to deal with stress better than most.

Now off to my doggie and fam and some real home cooked food. As chick hearn used to say. The door's shut, the lights are out, the eggs are cold, the butter's hard, and the jello is jiggling. Im out. See you all in vacation-land.

Cant breathe

It seems to me that studying the night before the final is like those cups of water they give you when you are running a 5k. The water is a nice gesture, and probably would be helpful if you werent running. Instead you choke and aspirate most of it, wishing that you hadnt drank that water in the first place.

Im sitting here cramming the damn MPC into my head. This test will be my hardest because I am very disinterested in crim law. Very ironic considering 4 months ago i started law school wanting to be a prosecutor. I suppose everyone is entitled to change their mind. Im even banking on that with that hot 2L sitting nearby.

3 down, 1 more

Torts is famous on this campus for kicking people's asses. All the 1ls thought it was going to be easier than Scott Peterson in his first jail shower. All i can say is that most people had their asses handed to them. That test was hard. I will be happy with a B.

Only thing left is crim. One last evening of studying, then im off to the place where the beer flows like wine.

Blog Candy

I feel bad. I showed a friend of mine the Hot Librarian's blog. He's wasting away time, laughing his should be studying for torts ass off. So depending on how you look at it, i could be helping my grade out. If i could just stop bidding on Richard Simmon's Dvds on ebay.

Blog du jour. MMM, I'll have that.

Its funny how finals have changed our class. Many are distraught and convinced that they need to pack up and move home while others are more confident than ever. There are bets on grades from some very overzealous students who really have no way to know how they do. Me, im humble. While i feel confident that i did ok, there is no way to know for sure. That is the nature of the multiple choice tests. You think you know the answer but you could be selecting the red herring. Speaking of red herrings, i would really like to know where that originated from. Why is it red? Why not green? And why a herring? An anchovie would be more obvious.

I was studying at the coffee shop for a little earlier today and i couldnt help but overhear an annoying girl, well she looked more like a wildebeest, talking about how bad life as a law student is. She claims to have a fiance that works at a firm in NY making 150k straight out of law school. He had a 2.3 gpa. Right. And scott peterson's innocent. I can see the firm that hired him now. "Lets hire dumbass because his demonstrated capabilities shown in law school make him worth of a job here, and a salary 10k above the minimum average entry level salary". Hertz said it best...

Whichever way grades turn out I will be happy knowing that i put my best effort forth. And by best effort i mean worked my tail off. Vacation will be nice, at least until i start next term's assignments, and by looking at what we have to read by then, i should be starting those assignments no later than 56 minutes after my last final.

2 down, 2 to go

Just got done with contracts. Another easy essay, which makes me mad because then the multiple choice determine the test. I think i hit every issue but the multiple choice were hard.

Im keeping track of post mortems. That is law dork jargon for talking about the exam after you are done taking it. Yesterday was 6 people in the first 15 minutes after the test. Today its only been 4 people so far.

Torts is tomorrow and i am looking forward to it. Prof torts hates reading so we have 50 multiple choice questions and 3 essays. The kicker on the essays is that our answers have to be 5 sentences at most. Hopefully this is where my writing skill will help.

Vacation is almost here and i cant wait to go visit my friends, family, and my dog. My first term of law school is almost over. Its been a hell of a trip. Too bad i cant write about it all. You would salivate.

1 down, 3 to go

Property is spanked. It felt good to get that one out of the way. I felt good about it, but i was kinda hoping for a harder essay question because that is where i was going to differentiate myself. Prof Property is known for hard essays. This time the m/c were the hard ones. 30 m/c, and an essay in 165 minutes. Its hard to believe that my first law school final is done. Time to focus on Contracts now.

It really is hard to study after taking an intense 3 hour exam. Its a good thing the cheerleader is in the library.

SHH. Just Go.

i promised myself that i wasnt going to study to much today. My first law school final exam is tomorrow. Im ready. Hell, ive studied more this term than in my entire undergraduate career (explains why im at a T4). Im motivated though. Trying so hard not to be one of the many running around here with little confidence in their abilities. People beat themselves before they even see the test. I know my stuff. I feel good about it. I suppose that it is impossible to feel like you have done everything you could have done. I did that. And i still feel like i could have done more. Either way, i put in my blood, sweat, and tears. Good luck to all my classmates and thanks for the support from my friends, readers, and family. Im a lucky guy to have you all. Wish me luck.

Jerry, Jerry, Jerry

(what is going on in my head)

Who is she (Torts book pointing to Property book in my hand)?
That? Oh thats nothing (I gently put Property book down)
Hola, bitchola (Property book in Yenifer Lopez voice to Torts)?
Shutup Culo! (Torts to Property)

Then they fought. It was a hell of a slapfight. Hair flew, curious nerdy gunners came by hoping a body part would fly out. I snuck out during the fight and moved tables.

As i sit down, Ms. Contracts approaches.
Mind if i sit with you, she says?
I guess i have room for one more in my life. Besides, crim is outta town for another few days on a girls trip.

My precious

Good morning babe (To my torts book).
No reply.
I missed you last night (lie)
No reply.
I promise your the only one.
(Evil stare)
I think i have been caught. She has to take me back before next friday.

The wall

Ive hit the wall. Almost fell asleep talking to a friend on the phone. No use studying anymore tonight. Im going to get some shut eye so I can get the library when it opens tomorrow morning. I was productive this week. Next week will really be the test of that, but I feel good. Good luck to all law students all over, I know this week and next are exams. Except for you Yalers. Damn you for your no grades crap. Whats next, no bar exam?

Pimp my blog

XZibit is coming over later to pimp my blog. What should I pimp it out with? How bout the usual? A fishtank, a stereo, leather seats, and some spinning rims. Yah, that would make it the coolest blog ever.

The crack rock

I didnt really want to get up this early. Most of my friends will tell you that i was delerious last night when i called. But im here. There is something about the library, almost pavlovian, that makes me feel normal while i am sitting here.

Im not sure that I am in full control of my mind. My thoughts are scattered. I only need to put in a few (12) hours today which im sad to say is less than I have been putting in all week.

In more exciting news, i heard 6 gunshots last night while starting to fall asleep. My first thought was to ignore it and fall asleep, but then my lawyerly instinct kicked in. I scrambled all over my apartment and looked for my business cards, but to no avail. Another missed opportunity.

Time to bury my face, one way or another, in property. Need that gold star on my fridge. Thank you to my friends and family for all the support.

Im dedicating this award to my Jr. Investment Banker friend, who decided to stop towing the anchor and get a job with JT Marlin.

Gotta run. My dealer is here.

Is a negligence Tattoo overkill?

So my buddy S and i were in the stairwell. I asked him to go upstairs (the computer lab) to do it (type an attack outline) . He said that we should go do it because if we did it at our table, it would make a commotion (by us talking aloud), when a fellow student walked by and overheard what she thought was a solicitation for some action.

Sometimes the best jokes arent even told at all.

Who's wazzoo, and where is all that money?

I hate to bring up money during a study crisis, but i just found a firm back home that pays 1.4k a week for their 1L summer associates. That is crazy money for that city. im not that shallow, but damn, i could buy a nice suit, and some morals with that kind of money. now, if only i had the answers to my finals. there has to be someone to bribe around here.

99 degrees

Had a lovely dream that Jessica Simpson and I were married, only she wasnt the same intellectual that we all love her for, she was a lawyer. She whispered sweet terms of art in my ears. I on the other hand was a complete Mimbo. For you non seinfelders, that is a male bimbo. We were studying all curled up on the couch, when I was woken up by my annoying, piece of crap alarm at 6am. I just needed 10 more minutes and im sure Jessica would have answered my fee tail question.

Is this thing on?

What did the crackhead say to the speed addict?

"Have you seen my Torts book?"

Shark bait

Im trying to be Zen. Its not working so well. Im not sleeping enough and this caffeine isnt helping my nervousness. Im lucky to have good friends here that are there for me. Four days till the big dance begins. I will be ready. Right now I am not. I feel crazy and these words probably dont convince you otherwise. Ace ventura might have kissed a man, but there's no way that pressure is worse than this.

Be afraid. Very Afraid.

Found this on Red and Blue. That pretty much sums everything up.

You're right to be scared.
Grades count. Big-time. Every first-year professor will tell you they don't matter. Just by being admitted here, you've won the game.
Bullshit. No one believes that. If grades didn't matter, why bother grading us? If grades don't matter, why do firms, judges, and future in-laws ask to see your law scshool transcript? Because grade count. Big time.If you'd gotten into Yale, then you would have won the game. They don't have grades. They don't need grades. Everyone already knows how smart they are. You got rejected from Yale. For us, the game continues. You need good grades. And I'm not gonna lie to you, I don't think you can pull it off. I don't think you have what it takes. Did you join a study group the first week in September? Did you brief every case, including the squibs? Did you start outlining by mid-term? Have you taken every available prior exam, including the unpublished ones? Did you go to office hours? Did you write out the answer to every example and/or explanation in Glannon?
Open-computer, open-book, open-notes? Don't mean jack shit. You've got three hours to answer three issue-spotters with between 8 and 12 issues per question. You've got three hours to write between 15 and 20 pages. You have no time to look back at your notes. Everyting must be memorized. Case-names. Dates. Venues. Dissenting judges. Procedural postures. And Jesus if you don't know the FRCP downfuckingcold by now, you can call back those 200 mail-merged resumes you just sent out and start applying directly to taxidermy school.
You don't belong here. Your classmates are all smarter than you. And better looking, too. I've seen you. You're fugly, and you'll probably never be loved.
There's only one hope. You've got to put your game face on. Show me your war cry. Make it happen. Always Be Closing. And don't leave home without your A Game. Grades count. Big time. And anyone who tells you diferently is trying to get an edge on you.

Its about that time kids

Yes my friends, it t'is that time of the year. Retails stores are filled with idiots rushing to buy that last minute gift. People in the gym are rushing to lose that last pre-holiday pound. Me and my fellow compadres are rushing to learn that last bit-o-info before monday's finals. Its the proverbial checkered flag for you Nascar fans; the End of the Road for you Boyz II Men fans; the "i got some ice cream" time if you are an Eddy Murphy fan. So here we go. Fasten your seatbelts and hang on to your mullets. In your best Dick Vitale voice, lets all say "Its finals time Babeeee"

26 and counting

It isnt my first choice to study on my birthday, but its not an uncommon occurence. I've had finals for the last 6 years of my life on my birthday. At least in undergrad I didnt have to study for them. Today, however, I am in the library. All my friends are here too, so it is like a birthday party, but with no people singing to me. And im not wearing a silly hat. There could be worse things in life, and it made me realize how thankful I am to be in law school.

If David Hasselhoff was president...

Do you ever wonder why O only conveys to A for life? I suspect that he is sleeping with B and that is why B always gets Fee Simple Absolute. If I were A, I would be pissed.

In other news, people are flocking the the ABA review sessions like they are the best thing since sliced bread. That cant be possible. Why? Because the best thing since sliced bread is the AMP energy drink. Guess who had one today?

Sharks with frickin laser beams attached to their heads

I cant tell you how much i wish i would have invented the question mark. So instead at being at the library this lovely 27 degree morning, i could be at my crib, counting sheep. i think the caffeine is wreaking havoc on my sleep. i stayed up last night until 2, dead tired but unable to sleep. Torts is much different in the morning. Im not as sympathetic for the victims at this hour. I suppose i will lay off the caffeine today.Yah right. Saving the detox for winter break. This blogging thing is getting addictive.

Caffeine rage

After dinner i guzzled 20 oz of black coffee. Got the old ticker up to 120 bpm, perfect for studying. Until a dipshit, who we will call "dipshit" for our purposes decided he would have a full volume conversation with his table mates 3 tables away. Not the smartest thing to do with a room of overworked, uptight law students. He continued to talk as he walked past me and i said, "you could try whispering dipshit". Apparently he had an even shorter fuse than me. He then swung his fists at me. I yelled, "battery, assault, apprehension of contact" in an effort for the steriod enhanced androgenous mustached librarian to notice the melee and save me.

Ok that part was a lie. Dipshit got mad and told me that i was in fact disrespectful. So i dropped my torts book on his toe. And by toe I mean his head. And by head, i mean that i reiterated to him that i though he was a dipshit and that he needed to learn how to whisper. That went on until another law student who we will call "girl that loves to yap" decided to tell us that we were both being disrespectful. The hypocrisy dripped off of her every word. So much for the altruism of my acts. She certainly didnt care. And bye the way "girl that yaps", good issue spotting. Way to point out that i was being disrespectful. Do you also tell your mother that she is looks old?

More to come. This dipshit and i are in the library alot. Maybe he will apologize tomorrow. Maybe i drink too much coffee...

Im not gonna do what you all think im gonna do... and freak out!

The burner is on and its hot. Very hot. I promised myself i wouldnt freak out, but one crappy meeting with my crim law prof and im worried. I dont know the stuff as well as I want. Not even close. It was embarrasing having him grade my practice exam. But i am not one for self pity. A wise ex girlfriend once told me that the longer i feel sorry for myself, the longer people were going to walk over me. My 20 minutes of crying about it are over. Time to focus and as my buddies from texas say, "Git 'er done". But first, time to punish the ab machine at the gym.

Contract Killer

It snowed another 5 inches last night. A perfect white coating to this town. Makes my occasional glance out the cell, er, i mean window, that much better. Sitting down for some contracts today. The class is my hardest. The material is so dry. Our Prof is nationally respected and he has a way to make the most complex issues sound easy. Sound is one thing but applying it is another. Its like telling someone how to make creme brulee. Not the easiest thing im guessing.

Back to the books for me. Where is my friendly caffeine dealer?

Study Break

Im taking a little study break and I wanted the chance to reflect on this past year.

One year ago I was living in SoCal working in the entertainment industry as an administrative assistant (executive's bitch). I was surfing 4 days a week, living check to check. Life was one big melancholy trip. I was having fun and broke. No real chance of advancing in my career, that is unless I spent more time on the casting couch. Not my style. So I decided to study for the LSAT.

Now im in the library 10+ hours a day. Hell, i dont even wear clean clothes every day (Sorry, but you all know im not the only law student who does this). My college buddies are all having a good time. I sacrifice mine because I know in a few short years I will have my dream career. And if i dont, im gonna sue someone.

Is my butt really glued to this chair?

I came across this post on Buffalo Wings & Vodka for 1Ls in their first term. Found it particularly inspiring. Either that or lunch is acting up again. For the second day in a row, I have too much caffeine in my system and not enough brain power to use it.

I study for this exam.

I study for this exam knowing that it will be arbitrarily graded, that 125 papers is too much for any man to stay awake through (let alone care about), that my professor’s four-year old will be given free reign with a gigantic red crayon, and that a slight hitch in the wrist of the blindfolded chimpanzee throwing my particular dart could mean the difference between an A+ and a C+. But still, I study for this exam.
I study even though there are important football games to be watched, real books to be read, terrible wrongs to be righted, flowers to be smelled, babies to be kissed, animals to be petted. I study knowing that all over the world there are people who wake up each morning thinking “My God, it is great to be alive!” instead of “My God, there are only two days left until the exam and I haven’t done a single practice question yet I am totally fucked and should probably quit right now to save myself the pain and humiliation of being the ballast at the ass-end of the curve and flunking out after only one semester please someone, anyone, HELP ME!” I know this. And I know it is wrong. But still, I study for this exam.
I study for this exam in the hopes that it might impress someone, that the girl from my section in the coffee shop will think "My, isn't he dedicated," so that my professor might, upon reading my exam, declare that I should immediately be given not only an A+, but a JD, an LLM, and a tenured professorship. I study because I believe, on some deep, visceral level, that my studying will yield an exam so perfect, so sublime, so deserving of the highest imaginable praise that Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. himself will show up on my doorstep and ask to shake my hand. And I study because I have not yet let go of the delusion that I might be the one who breaks the cycle, who ends up pleased with his grades, who makes it to February still liking law school. Irrational? Yes. Delusional? Certainly. Will that stop me? Not likely.
Because as the hours continue to melt away, each one taking with it another ounce of self respect, another shred of dignity, I am certain of very little. I'm not sure why I came here, I don't know where I'm going, and as of this moment I'm only marginally confident that I can remember my own name. But, when this is all over, let it not be denied that, if nothing else, I did indeed, study . . .for this . . . exam.

Are you kidding me?

Been in the library almost 10 hours already with a lot of contracts getting done. Im looking around and the usual people are here looking depressed and uptight as ever. I noticed one girl playing solitaire. Are you kidding? She must love the library to the point where she doesnt mind staying an extra long time just so she can get her daily fix of card shuffling in. I guess to each their own, but solitaire would make me more crazy than I already am.

16oz of coffee, extra black and 20 oz of mountain dew have me jittering like a crackhead. But can a crackhead move and shake like this (insert Jon Lovitz shaking his belly).

Would ritalin be considered the anabolic steroids of law school?

Backdraft

I feel like if you opened my brain a huge backdraft would send all the information in my head out. Putting in more time in the library in one day than Kathy Lee's kids work all week.

Today, the terrible contracts class. For some reason this class is hard to me, and its boring. A bad combo. Nothing like the fear of failing to have my ass here at 7am. The only other person here on this floor is my buddy S. Its nice to find real people here in law school. People that arent selfish. Most law students are selfish. Thats why they turn into greedy lawyers. So S and I are here kicking some ass, so dont forget to give us your name later.

Coffee, youre my only friend.

The best part of waking up is folgers in your cup

How many of you sang the jingle in your head when you saw the title? Guilty as charged. Im in the library at 7 am today. Not the most exciting place to be, especially if youve been to vegas, but at least im not doing labor like i was before college.

I will be here studying all day. It was dark when i arrived and it will be dark when i leave. In 16 days when i walk all over my finals, this will all be worth it. Years from now when i am sprinting after that ambulance, knocking over old people as I reach for my business cards, this will all be worth it. Whos gonna have the last laugh? Me. I tend to laugh longer than most people.

Stuffed and Mounted

I think I ate a week's worth of food yesterday. We had a pot luck dinner with some friends that were all stuck in town like me. We all needed the study time, and home was just too far away. This is was the first Thanksgiving that i have been away from home, and it was weird. Good friends are a close substitute but nothing beats family.

17 days till finals. Long hours until then. Vacation is for sleeping. Wrapping up Crim law, so I can concentrate on Torts, Prop, and Contracts. Looking forward to finals. It will be time to see the fruits of my labor.

Speaking of fruits, I saw Alexander last night. Waste of a movie. 3 hours of homoeroticism stuffed with bad dialogue, little plot, and poorly laid out action sequences. We almost walked out. In fact, the only reason why we didnt is because we were smack in the middle of the entire row.

Back to the books. Hope everyone has a trip back.

When it rains it snows!

We finally have snow on the ground. Tons of the fluffy white stuff. It keeps coming down and down. I am putting in some time in the library tonight so I can watch some football and eat some good food tomorrow without the worry of studying bothering my digestion. Its unfortunate that i cant be home for thanksgiving, but it is for a good reason that I am not. I miss all my friends and it will only be 3 weeks until I see them. Until then, I came here to do two things. Study hard and kick some ass. Looks like im almost done studying...

Who's the Turkey Now?

This town is particularly annoying. No grocery store in walking distance, no starbucks, and a whole lotta annoying law students. It seems like everyone gets to go home for turkey day. Except me. Im not going to whine about it too long. I guess this is the point in the term when a four day weekend can come in handy. The only problem is that im stuck in this town with nothing to do except study. Ghetto. The marketing dept at this school is great. The brochures make this place look like the streets are paved in gold.
So now, ironically it seems, that i am working hard to get out of the ghetto. I plan on using this weekend to my advantage. A little turkey with some friends, a little football, and a crapload of studying. I figure that if i time it right, i will be perfectly nuts and burn out as i hit that last sentence on my friday exam. Then 13 days of detox and back to the grind. I cant tell if im nuts or everyone else is. Caffeine is my alter ego.

Maybe i shouldnt blog when im in a bad mood?

Soakin' it Up

There is nothing quite like a 12 hour day in the library to make your brain feel like mush. What better than to go see a movie that requires little thinking at all. Spongebob Squarepants is hilarious. I would say that its aimed middle of the road, not too childish, not too raunchy. This was the perfect break I needed to vent some law school stress. What could be funnier than a sponge with an anxiety disorder, a plankton with a napoleon complex, and a mysterious Krabby Patty recipe? There were many parts of the movie aimed at adults, including a hungover Spongebob from eating too many ice creams the night before. Anyway, this was a well deserved break.

3 weeks till finals. thats about 300 hours left to study. Hope thats enough time. Tear.

War Update

In other news, the war of attack outlines is raging in full force out here. False pretenses just moved in and surprised Marketable title using a flanking move used most notably by the great Mike Ditka. Many elements were lost, but unfortunately this is a repercussion of war. On the eastern front, Strict liability used its broad liability to corner False Imprisonment. Battery moved in to help FI but Assault came in and used the "no damage required for assault" technique to eliminate Battery.

President Barbri said the war on outlines will continue until we find weapons of stupid gunners. While we are not sure that these weapons or even the outlines are responsible for the mass terror of law students. A wide search of all the law schools has not produced any of these weapons so far, but this hasn't stopped president Barbri from furthering his "cause", leaving more elements subject to death. Proximate cause became mad at the claim that law schools had weapons of stupid gunners so he decided to run for president. Alas, the elements were split and PC did not win, so Barbri will be in office for 4 more years.

Meanwhile, the war continues. Negligence continues to be the all encompassing force to be reckoned with. Negligence doesn't have much to live for and has cost our elements many lives at the hands of suicide bombers. How many more elements will die before the war is considered futile and all an effort to further enrich President Barbri's assets? Only time will tell. Im Rodger Lodge, and until next time, stay beautiful America.

Grow Up

We are sitting here in the library, clicking away on our comps when we hear a loud thud. The sort of thud that is unmistakeable. The sound of a person falling. Now an ordinary person would instinctively turn and look to see if someone is alright. We law students apparently have forgotten the humane instincts that keep us from being loathed. A perfect example: After the poor girl fell, everyone that was in a close vicinity began laughing. Students cheered. People came from other sections of the library to join in on the festivities. It was hard not to smile, and even giggle a little inside, but I wasnt going to add to the girl's embarassemnt. Remember in the movie Titanic (you know ive only heard about because i dont watch chick flicks) when people were throwing others out of the way to get to the life rafts in a hurry? Those people were all lawyers. Law school has a way of making some people lose their sense of humanity. Im suprised a few 3Ls didnt walk over to her and coerce her into suing the school for negligently having carpeting installed that would clearly trip someone with rubber soled shoes. I wonder if self loathing is part of every lawyer's transition into this noble profession?

Stupid Phrases

For a profession that teaches one to communicate concisely, effectively, and powerfully, it sure has some stupid phrases common to the law school culture. What the hell is an attack outline? I don't see william wallace yelling "hold" while your elements of larceny fight against accomplice liability sneaking out of a Trojan horse. Dumb phrase. Reasonable man? Please. Everyone is reasonable. "a reasonably prudent buyer"- isn't this redundant. Isn't this redundant. Just kidding.

I understand the reason to coin a term to popularize a style, but attack outlines mean nothing. Why don't they call it "shorter outlines", or "less than a damn treatise outline". Or "bet you wish you would have written more so you don't miss big arguments outline".

Flashcards are my best friend right now. Itching for the OC on Thursday, even though I wont get to watch it until Sunday. I called Fox and asked them to switch the day so that I can stay current. I didn't think that was too much to ask. Still waiting for a call back. Back to the casting couch.. I mean studies. hehe.

The OC(D)

From a marketing perspective, the City of Orange County is stupid for not advertising during the OC. They could have a 30 second spot with a montage of the beach, women, lifestyle, etc, and a slogan saying, "Yes, its really like that ". Simple, effective, and would allow them to raise property prices ensuring that no kids our age would be able to buy a home in this lifetime without two incomes, no kids, and no sushi addictions. Dont even get me started on the sushi prices.

Thursday's OC was great. Marissa is charging the yard guy for double duty. Very cliche hollywood. Predictable but still highly entertaining. Fox seems to know exactly how to keep us tuned in, glued to the tv until the following week. There is "OC night" everywhere. Be lucky. Where I live this is what people are talking about. Dont even think about clothes for my birthday...

"The only thing worthwhile in life are the people in it". Jimmy from the OC

Goodbye ODB

Another music legend has died. No, im not talking about Axl Rose. Think gold teeth. Think 14 illegitimate kids. ODB has left us. Its unfortunate about the kids also. He has so many, they are each likely to get about $18 dollars after probate, assuming his gold teeth were paid for. Changed the context of "Baby i got your money" doesnt it?

They say celebs die in threes. Rick James was first and now ODB. Who is next? They did have one thing in common though. Cocaine was one hell of a drug.

My Junior Investment Banker friend decided to stop towing the anchor and look for better employment. Its nice to see people sticking their necks out there to search for happiness.

Once when asked why I liked living in California, i replied, "If you're gonna sit in traffic, it might as well be sunny outside". Happiness for our generation will be what we make of it. Property is all bought up, jobs are few and far between. Find a career that makes you happy in some aspect, because realistically, that perfect life is alot different now that we are grown up. Isnt it? I love the fact that I am chasing the dream. Not knowing how this term will turn out is scaring the crap outta me but it makes me feel alive. That is more than i can say for all the days I woke up, dragged myself to work and wondered how my life would be if I accepted the fact that I wasnt happy with my career choice. So here I am. And here are all these books im supposed to be reading. I will leave you kids with a quote that a wise cheerleader gave me.

"Following the path of least resistance is what makes rivers and men crooked."

Ps. More to come tomorrow. Im watching the OC my friend taped for me tonight.

5 weeks to go

The library at 8 am is great. I can yell. I can run. I can eat food. I am more productive at this hour before all the kiddies show up and start chatting. I never quite understood going to the library to talk. 4 weeks till finals. The burner is heating up.

The Peterson verdict was a nice way to end the week. In my mind and the jury's, there was enough circumstantial evidence to nail him. Even while circumstantial still very compelling. He was not a family man. He sold manure. Looks like shit, smells like shit, probably is shit. And now he's going to get what he probably deserves. Most doubtedly not quick enough.

Britney Spears has a greatest hits album. Shouldn't it be a Greatest Hit album. I didn't know she had more than one good song. Proof that this country is only concerned with making money. Years from now, when we are old and gray, our grandkids will look at the classics and see trailer park. Maybe that alone will motivate them to vote. Back to the books...

Quote of the day:
"Sometimes the majority only means that all of the fools are on the same side."

Technology is not our friend

My school decided that it would revert to age old law school exam techniques by requiring the majority to take their exams handwritten. They leave the option to type your exam with the caveat that there is a limited number of spots. Very limited indeed, creating a mad panic to turn in applications for this as soon as the application process began. Being 50+ wpm typer, it would be a great disadvantage if I could not type my exam, so the pressure was on. In the process, I pissed off some friends and I still dont know if my application was received in time. Damn computers. We are better off without them. Friends would not be mad, law students would not be panicked, and Washington would still be known as that state above Oregon, not MicrosoftLand.

Inspiration or Just Bad Chicken?

As tensions mount every 1L on campus, I find myself more inclined to become stressed out. Until now. I just finished an appointment with a TA for my property class. He explained to me that he used to be a cardiovascular technician before he came to law school. Countless times he had to resuscitate a flatlining patient while having doctors screaming orders at him. Many patients died. After that, he said, there was no pressure walking into a law exam. "It just an exam. You don't die if you fail" he said. The words couldn't ring truer.

Its time to be the Zen law student. Unaffected by class gossip, untouched by rumors of assignments, and finally, untouched by lack of sleep.

Week 10

Its getting to be that time of the term. Those that are near dropping are collapsing, people are drooling on their books in hopes that Property 1 will provide a good pillow while catching a little shut eye at the library. I feel good about where im at. I could be further but that is always the case.

The one thing that ive noticed the most about studying law so far is how much it opens your eyes to the crap of society. I have always had expectations for the general humanity that are rarely met, and the curriculum certainly qualifies my opinion. In fact, it even makes me feel worse about the world. Daily we read about lawsuits, torts, adultery, injuries, deaths and pretty much everything else you can argue about. Its hard to think that its possible to have a personal influence on the world when you see so much crap around you. Maybe the lawyers who only do it for money have something going for them. I have lately decided to explore public interest law, aka "working as a waiter on the weekends, just so i can pay my rent, but its ok because im saving the world" law. We shall see how that goes. On the other hand, maybe the world just needs another greedy asshole wearing a $300 dollar tie, splashing the treehuggers waiting for the bus as I drive by in my M series. It could go either way. More on that later...

My republican friends are loving it lately. For the most part they are gracious winners. Lets see what W does for the economy and for the troops overseas. Im not putting my Alex P. Keaton sweater yet.

This study break is over. I hear an ambulance coming. Better lace up my Nikes.

Weezin' the Juice

No OC for me. Ive got more important things to do. Yep, you heard it correctly folks. Law school beats trumps the OC. I keep envisioning the kick ass lawyer on the show "Sandy" missing out on all the fun while sitting through all those years of law school before he could get the 35,000 square foot house on the beach in the town where everyone looks good, even the hired help. And yes, everyone from California does look good, at least on TV. You dont agree? Two words. Anna Nicole. (barf)

So tonight, while everyone is watching the OC, talking about how surfing is this year's trendy sport, I will have my gluteus maximus parked on my less than cushy chair in the library, reading about Insanity Defenses.

Good things come to those that wait...

Red Headed Stepchild

also known as RAP. The rule against perpetuities. Im told that it is used in the real practice of law very rarely. Rarer than a prom night virgin. Rarer than a cool law student at this school. Why not study something for 59.2 hours that will comprise at the very most, 4 percent of our final. Why you ask? Because we are all insecure. I see those gunners eyeing my study habits, wondering if I am the only one who understands it. The truth is that no one really does. Not attorneys, not students, and definitely not myself. But I wont tell anyone else that. Law school on a daily basis is a pony show. It doesnt matter what you know, it matters how you carry yourself. Much like the real world, the majority of students here spend more time bragging about outlines, test supplements, and how much lipstick they left on the prof's ass after their office hour. I try my best not do immerse myself in it, but i am only human. Of course I tell them im acing everything. Anything less would be uncivilized. Let the peons think they know it. Exam time is what counts. The big dance is what counts. So for now, RAP gets pushed to the side for more important matters. The attractiveness of Torts seductively eludes me. Im not the only one though. Such easy material that gets complex based on the hypo. Very tough to study for.
Tonight, my first law school halloween party. If i make it there. My friends and i have been sitting here sticking post its on eachother for hours. Torts is coming along. I think i am going to dress up as a salt shaker/battery and go to the party as Assault and Battery. (drum solo). And most of you thought I was incapable of telling a good joke. Normally there is usually someone that tries to dress up as a play on words. I once saw a man dressed up as a table with a condom, a beer, and a alarm clock on it. He was a one night stand. Pretty creative, but no one wants to dance with a guy wearing a table. Then there always the guy who dresses up as a very distasteful character. A had a black friend of mine who showed up at our halloween party as a slave. The proverbial music stopped at that moment and everyone blushed. Hopefully my costume of Richard Simmons wont be too offensive.

Blonde moment of the week

We are all entitled to a moment like this. I have been hunting for a good 2nd restatement of contracts that can be easily accessed. Little to my knowledge there was an excellent one in the back of one of my textbooks. Serves me right for not looking through the entire part of the book.

Caviar and Nyquil Dreams

Everyone is sick. Im at that point where it could go either way. Dose after dose of Vitamin C and lots of water. This nyquil is really making my thoughts strange. I wonder why so many people in law school are unhappy but yet they keep doing this over and over. Everyone claims to dread going to the library. This is the stuff dreams are made of. We get the rare chance to have a career where you can be paid to argue, if you so choose. People will pay you tons of money to get up there and roast someone. Granted, you have to develop the skill, but I believe that when push comes to shove, no amount of schooling will replace instinct. The day I get to dance in front of the jury is going to be a good day.

AT&T is the devil

The only goddamn phone call i was waiting on went straight to voicemail. Ive had it. Enough with their fucking microsoft tactics. "we are the biggest company, so we can deliver a shitty, product, have subpar customer service, and we will get away with it because your alternatives are even worse." Im done with below the belt companies. I signed up to be taken of ATT's specific mailing list and what did i get? More emails, text messages, and junk mail ads from them. The devil works for ATT. They shouldnt have messed with my personal life. They will be sorry...

Gaining Momentum

Midterms are finally over. With a good grade in each, I feel confident that I am picking up the relevent topics in class. Today I went and met with Professor Property who happens to be the son of the founder of our school, a judge, and a very interesting well spoken guy. We talked future interests for a while, then transitioned into litigation, and eventually it came to the finer things in life, women and beer. His advice was simple, which I am reluctantly sharing with you all. Find a part of the law you love. Shh, dont tell anyone. I am looking forward to being a litigator, and hope that my contribution to the court room will be both entertaining and inspiring as the lawyers I am posturing myself around are.

Its time to start building momentum to head into the last part of the term with. Many students in our class are dropping like flies. We are covering the most substantive parts of the curriculum and many students are gone, absent, and not paying attention. A little extra work now should help in the long run. The one thing 1L's forget, or maybe even dont know how to do, is relax. The insecurity of leaving your books behind and relaxing eats away at you. It nags your soul into submission. Ive learned to take breaks. Ive learned that the weekend can be catchup time, but it also can be get ahead time. What is the point of studying 8 hours after class when your brain is not ready to learn? Its almost futile in my opinion. So this week I put the pen down early, relaxed, and planned my next few weeks. Saturday morning, bright and early, I will be in the library blazing ahead, and solidfying the material.

I remember reading 1L the summer before I came to school. The chapter about learning to love the law really stuck with me. I am at that point, maybe for the first time in my career when I am actually interested in the material, and for all the right reasons. I dont look at a long assignment anymore with dread. I look at it as a chance to know something not too many people get to know in their lifetime. Cheesy, I know, but true. When you go through this year of hell, you will understand how it changes the way you think.

My favorite uncle sent me 86lbs of canned goods in the mail today. I would say that if anybody in the local midwest needs some soup, or chili, c'mon over. Life is good. Hope it snows soon.

Amerikuh, F*%# Yeah!

Team America is the funniest movie I have ever seen. The comedy gets pretty silly, but Parker and Stone's timing is impeccable. I have never laughed so hard in my life. The marionettes were done beautifully and the soundtrack added to the hilarity. I might even go to see it again.

Sitting here chugging through Future Interests. Not the most exciting stuff in the world, and not the simplest either. Add a few hot chicks sitting in the library, coupled with my hangover and we have the right ingredients for a very unproductive day.

Blew off some steam last night and went clubbing. Drank canadian beer until it gave us accents, and then walked home in 35 degree rain. My Beavs are playing horrible this season so the game isnt even televised this weekend.

Gonna sit in the hot tub tonight and chill.

Party Time

Midterms out of the way, Mock trial meeting done, its time to unwind. Almost halfway through the term. I feel confident that my study habits are good, but are they great? I need that extra edge.

The hype of Team America will hopefully live up to the expectations i have for anthing the south park creators produce. Its been a while since ive seen a truly funny movie.

Miss my dog, family and friends, but know this will pay off big time in the near future.

2nd Down and Goal

midterm two is out of the way. I only have Torts left tomorrow. Most schools dont give midterms exams, but im glad that mine does. They are only 10% of our final grade, so the outcome is negligible for the most part, but the motivation that they inspire is worth many more pecentage points.

It will be nice to take a break for a few hours this weekend and catch up. Gonna go watch Team America tomorrow and then back to the grind stone. Im loving this experience, even in its temporary mediocrity. It beats working.

The psychic Midterm

Well, I just got done taking my midterms for next week. Thats right. They were tough. Oh wait..I forgot that it isnt possible to know how a test is until you take it. Your tuned in to, yet again, another installment of my "daily interactions with Morons." A classmate came up to me and actually wanted an answer. Im really not trying to be cynical, but if we dont prescribe a small dose of darwinism, these people might actually look both ways and not get hit by that train. When did lightning's aim become so off?
So, I let the student have it. "how the hell should i know how midterms are gonna be?", I replied. "well, um, i guess i". I didnt even wait around for the answer. The point to this true story is that there is only so much crap a reasonable person can take, and I had reached my fill that day. I suppose there are some that would say im an asshole for this, but then again, you are the same halfwits that keep asking me if i think class will be hard tomorrow.

I wonder if kerry will be good next november?

Magic Beans and Nemesis II

Im halfway through a bag of chocolate covered expresso beans, and time is breezing by. Wired to the point that i cant stop drinking water. Torts outlining. Midterms next week. Everyone here is frazzled. Whats the big deal? I wonder if I had gone to a more prestigous school would they still use the school name in the multiple choice questions? Probably not. I shouldnt have rejected harvard.

My nemesis is now my good buddy. We even exchange outlines. I have a new one though (we shall call him Nemesis II)and i punked him in class the other day. He tried claiming that he figured out something, which in fact, our contracts prof had actually pointed out. I timed my remark just right, and the class was laughing on my command.

I think i will be a worthwhile citizen and watch the debate tonight. I think law students contribute more to the gross GDP of Columbia more than they do the US. May the rest of this country drink a cup and realize how bad W is messing up this country. At least he's giving Leno job security.

inspiration and perspiration

A friend of mine sent me this quote that I liked. It is true and shapes my daily life. Back to the books.

"The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company...a church...a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is attitude...I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me, and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you...we are in charge of our attitudes." -Unknown

life is good

i feel guilty leaving the library at 10 pm. The pervasive insecurity monster that all law school students face snuck up behind me last night and scared me too. Classmates are dropping like flies. Suddenly the cool club hoppers arent so cool anymore. In fact, they arent even here anymore. You ever read flashcards while you brush your teeth? I put the Model Penal Code up in my bathroom, and Common law homicide next to my sink. Every inch i can gain over that next test taker. I dont wish them failure. I just want that internship waiting for me at the firm after i get a 3.5+. As if that was easy enough. Throw a cheerleader in the mix. Man, I love law school.

Pressure Cooked

I suppose we all have our bad days. I havent really had one in a while until today. Cant really pinpoint all of whats pissing me off. Everything just seemed snowball from the time I got up this morning. Ive been eating pretty crappy too. Im sure that is partly to blame. The sacrifices law students make on their personal lives, bodies included, is immense. I guess I will feel a little less bad (great grammar huh ?) taking my clients money when I get done with all of this. Im the one sitting in that damn chair for 12 hours a day. My back is killing me. Im pissed off about a writing assignment i bombed. The hardest part of law school is not knowing how you are doing until the absolute end. This is too anti-climatic for me. I need to know. Enough about that.

Its funny being the only democrat out of all my law peers. I enjoy debating 2 even 3 of them at a time. This helps my adverserial skills by leaps and bounds. I didnt catch the debate tonight, but hear that Kerry spoke well. I wonder if all the GOP's do the elephant walk? I bet they do. Frat boy initiation week style. Probably even just for fun. It does take a sick person to love the right wing. But God bless this free country and the 1st Amendment.

Friday Night Fights

You know its Friday when the library has empty tables and the only people studying there are the ones that care. So it shouldnt come as a surprise that some people get ticked off at minute annoyances. The guy sitting 3 tables away from me just told some fellow classmates of mine to "shut the f up or he was going to make them". It was kinda funny simply because:
1) it was two guys to the one complaining, so no amount of "making" would suffice
2) its week 4 and the tension in the library is worse for students than for a prom night virgin
3) if you are really going to study on friday, the library isnt the best place.

On the other hand, I think i have what i am calling the "Henry VII complex". I have a hard time not getting heated in lecture these days. There are so many morons here that I feel like I should just start chanting "Jerry, Jerry" instead of reading my casebrief. I wish I had a shark with frickin laser beams swimming around my classroom killing all my idiot classmates. I guess that is what i deserve for telling Harvard to kiss it.

Looking forward to a nice relaxing weekend in the library. I just love the crisp pages in a new book.

Cruisin

Felt good today. Walked to the library and realized I forgot my coffee on the kitchen counter. Needless to say, I made it another 12hrs. Did some more outlining, although I think I am going to wait until later on to start contracts. This should be an easier outline, so I think i will focus more on the other classes.

A good buddy of mine is contemplating going to grad school. As much homework as I have, I would rather do ten times more of this than have another crappy, low paying job. He just needs to realize to do it. Do it. Anyway, im a zombie and its time to go nighty night.

slacker

I really didnt get much done today. Im kinda in a little funk. You know where you go to the library, and look at your books and really dont even remember a think you read. Im just a little stressed today. Not having a social life kinda makes it worse. I blew off some steam today playing some basketball. that was fun. Hoping I can get energized and start fresh tomorrow. Lots of work to do. It takes a lot of courage to realize that most of your classmates are full of shit on how they are doing. They all say they are ahead. Heck, I am too. But what does that matter when you have one exam? There is insane jealousy, combined with the pressure to do well that keeps people glued to their chairs (myself included) even when you are not studying. The insecurity of having fun when you see your classmates hitting the books is mind numbing. Tonight, im going to go home, put on some good tunes and relax. Tomorrow, its on like donkey kong.

We be clubbin'

I caved last night and went clubbin. Nothing like going to "the vegas", but still rocked the clubbing attire. Jack daniels was a good clubbing partner last night. The funny thing was the club was full of law students. Nothing like grinding on someone that you have Torts with. Then again, you can never run away fast enough from the gunners that love to talk shop in the middle of the club. "Do you think she has given me mutual assent by asking me to go home with her"? what a moron. I wanted to kick him in the nuts, but didnt. The way some classmates danced last night might very well have made them torfeasors in their own right. We got outta the club early, like a rat on a cheetoh, so we could study today.

The smell of torts in the afternoon is nice. I need a drink.

Draggin A$$

Its friday and ive slept 5 hrs a night for 5 days straight. I cant think straight, and im pretty cranky. All the gunner's are talking about a power session at the library, the slackers are talking about clubbing it up, and im talking about some sleep.

I drank an amp instead of taking a nap. Bad idea. Now im staring at my Torts book, unable to think, wondering why the person typing next to me is typing so loud. Now would be a perfect time to sell me something I dont need. I guess thats why infomercials are so successful.

Prof Torts has a system where he calls on a row at a time, and goes down the row. I was up next today and he kept me on the burner for 20 minutes. I was ready to answer, making direct eye contact with him, and evertime i thought he was going to call on me, he hesitated. At least i know for sure it will be next class. Time to go stare at my book some more.

Anecdote of the Day

"A" students make good law professors. "B" students make good judges. "C" students make good money...

Bad news Bears

It was a bad day. Got word that my ex has moved on. Im hurt, especially since it has been a whopping month since i left. Im lucky that i am focused. i have good friends here too that keep me on track. Reading contracts isnt my idea of dealing with anger, but i stuck through it. tomorrow will be better. good luck to all 1Ls. They are gonna need it.

Library Etiquette

Ive figured out that im a cynical humanitarian. I love to help people but I am really annoyed by almost everyone. I've known this for a while now, but im starting to realize it more and more as I study here in the library. Almost everyone here annoys the living crap out of me. Maybe its because my nerves are frazzled, or maybe I am just a dick. I suppose I will bring my ear plugs so I dont have to listen to people whisper about the latest reality show. I mean c'mon. There arent really any good TV shows except The OC and Northshore. right?

Evil hula girl has some good lawyer pickup lines here. I will hopefully being finding a few soon too.

Punk'd

Check out the last page of GQ this month. I would love to write articles like this for a living.

Scholar's are us

Im pulling another 11 hour day, which isnt bad by gunner standards but just enough to get me over the guilt of not spending enough time studying. I had the luxury today, of meeting #1,2, and 3 of the class ahead of us. Very bright young ladies, humble in every aspect. Their advice was simple. Hahaha, you thought i was going to share. Silly you. I will tell you this. Put in the time. Efficiency. Its been working so far, and im ahead right now.

Had a beer with the guys last night and it was funny that we could barely talk about anything other than law. We have no ladies, no sports watching time, barely any workout time, and really no current event knowledge. I think it would be funny for Leno to do Jaywalking with only law students. It would probably make us feel like the average blonde.

Beavs lost to Boise State. WTF! 0-2. ? National Championship dreams are crushed.

Friday night fever

I think i am going too hard. 11 hours a day monday thru friday. a little too much. i need a break. i passed some people drinking a beer today and i was envious. I feel so guilty passing by the library and not going in. Sad. I think tonight i will relax and chill with some friends. No law related discussion, just the usual. T+A, sports, and the OC. Im going to have my friend tape if for me and I will watch all 14 episodes that I will miss in a row. I think i even might re-enact a few scenes myself, so I guess i should start casting for the part of marissa. But none of those lamp shade skirts with heels. that is one thing i dont miss bout LA. People wear underwear on their heads and call it fashion, then sell it for $300 on Melrose.

Miss my buddies back home. I know they will be waiting for me when i get back. Hopefully not as my clients.

Midnight Madness

My stupid ass looked at the wrong assignment for Torts. So about 14 hours away from class I realized i should probably read the remaining 23 pages that i forgot to read earlier in the week. maybe it would look better on my part if i show up to class prepared.
Experimenting with different briefing styles. Using IRAC but it doesnt seem to be my school's preferred choice. Neither did a quick, relevant, orientation. Did I mention that I have to carry a fucking knife to class with me. Its funny how the school forgot to mention how dangerous the local community was, or how loud the car factories are at night, or how there isnt a grocery store within walking distance of the school, or how there is only one damn restaurant open past 6pm near the library, or how the library doesnt even have a coffee shop. Im delirious, mad, homesick, blah blah blah. Im a whiny little bitch complaining because thats what I love to do. I couldnt be happier. Seriously. Now all i need to do is figure out how to get 20 pages read and briefed before 9 am. Oh Rom Law, where are you? Genius little program if you ask me. Whats that? Oh you didnt.
They say that 80 percent of 1L's are clinically depressed. Does that mean that the other 20percent are clinically insane. I have never in my life been so happy to watch tv as i was for the hour i did last weekend. This is the post that never ends, it goes on and on my friends. Im thinking of going back and suing all the people who gave me wedgies in jr high for assault and battery, and that damn guy who always made me flinch. I wonder what those kids are doing right now. Where are people supposed to pick their nose if they dont have a car? loco, and im loving it. nite.

Gunner's anonymous

Class is awesome. Prof contracts and Prof Property are great. Their teaching style fits with how I learned. The made the material fun so far. Prof Prop grilled the hell out of this kid that was unprepared. Wonder when my time will be?
So many damn gunners I dont know where to start. How do these people not know that they are annoying. Again, I am trying hard. Ive been putting in 11 hours a day so far. I will mention though, that I am not, however wasting my peers' time by asking ignorant mindless questions. Since when did "Just the facts mam" become "And one time at band camp..."?
I need a break and some caffeine. It looks like Torts will be the toughest so far. Most interesting to say the least, but so many more elements.
I have no idea of any movies coming out, current events, who won the election, why you cant stick a laptop in the microwave, or where my clean underwear is. I AM A 1L.

The 25th hour

Remember when Eddie Norton had one last day of freedom before he knew he was going away for a while? Thats how I feel. All my assignments are done for now, even have a color-coded schedule that i am going to try to stick to. Fighting homesickness. The cliche about making law school your girlfriend is true. i hope she likes cheap restaurants. thats all she's gonna get.

Damn Beavs

Who loses a football game by missing three PAT's? What a shitty way to end the night.

The nemesis Part 2

We were bound to run into eachother given how small the town is. Im a firm believer that you keep your friends close, and your enemies closer. So I made an effort to get to know Mr. Arch Nemesis. The funny thing was he was incredibly wasted so he couldnt tell how sarcastic I was being. He was actually a decent person, despite his stupid rude comments earlier in the week towards me. Fully taking advantage of his being drunk, I made him a bet entailing a woman wearing a cowboy hat at the bar. Needless to say I won, and yes, I am proud of that. The goal was to wear the cowboy hat, and this lady was not giving it up. Anywhoo, a fun break from studying. Time to hit the books.

A necessary Evil

The toughest part of studying Friday night is getting to that hour when its time to go out and have some fun. A few invites by some hotties have all of us sweating Crim Law. Women seem to be the worst part of law school, simply because they are such sweet compliments to a shitty day of class. But like wine, the good ones take time to get. Time we dont have.

Arch nemesis

i think i also found my nemesis. That person that you love to hate. The one who bad mouths you when you are not around. Yup. I found him. The cool part, his girlfriend flirts with me. Gosh, I cant wait to give her my letterman jacket. Time to go stuff a freshman in a locker. Oh, wait, I mean go read contracts.

Loudmouth Chowder

im beginning to think that the hardest part of law school is not putting a bullet in your brain everytime someone stupid talks. my pain tolerance is going waaaay down after orientation today. Why does everybody feel compelled to ask stupid questions? It took half a brain to get here. How do these people not get hit by trains, or struck by lightening?

Blazing saddles

Sitting through pre-orientation wasnt bad today. That is, until the gunners spoke. The entire front row, 40+ seats, was full of people who thought they were on some kind of american idol lawyer tryout. Ridiculous questions were asked, one lady even had the audacity to ramble on and on with the microphone that was being passed out. After a few minutes, my colleagues turned to me and asked who the fuck she thought she was. Damn Gunners. Nothing wrong with trying hard, just dont make other people have to wallow in your perceived "time to shine".

Met some nice study partners, all share the likes and motivations that i do. And I am still overwhelmed by how many hotties we have in our class. Thats the tough part. Needless to say, i have my game face on and am ready to do battle.

Curious as to how many peeps use the IRAC method to brief their cases? This has been working much better than the silly acronym that the school gave us. I cant even remember what it is.

Unrelated, I just finished listening to Chris Rock's new standup. A little too militant, but Chris had me crackin up when he was talking about married folk. Im not married, but can imagine. Come to think of it, I read about a guy that was married. No? Ok, I know a guy who read about marriage. Hava agood weekend.

3,2,1 Contract

If you even remember that show then I am not the only dork alive. Toyed around with my contracts book today. For what i thought it would be, it turned out to be some good readin' so far. Got tougher after the 12th pabst blue ribbon, but then again, i couldnt really concentrate with my sister/wife tuggin on my mullet.

Have a pre-orientation orientation tomorrow. Probably should make some friends so i stop talking to my kitchen utensils.

just kidding about all this. having a blast. going crosseyed reading but living the dream....

Am I really ahead?

Day 3 of first assignments. I am done with torts for now, 2/3 done with con law. With a week and some change left over I am wondering how any of the students at my school will have those first assignments done by the first day of class. Im no slowpoke but will need at least a week to get a weeks worth of work done right? It seems like even longer since all the material is completely new to me. I guess most of them will show up without having done it.

In a little better mood that I was last post. Maybe thats cuz im strapped now. Does anyone know if amendments to articles of the constitution count as articles? Im supposed to brief 1-18 but there arent 18 articles in my book. Maybe Im just clueless.

my vida loca

Im sitting here in my apartment listening to the goddamn freeway that runs right next to the complex. Its funny how the brochure for these apartments forgot to mention this detail along with a warning that if I left my apartment I could be shot. I have lived through many, many years in Los Angeles, even having my car shot up while I was in it. But never in my life did I think that I would have to carry a weapon on the way to Law school. Im not a wuss. I just know when im living on the wrong side of the tracks. Guess thats what i get for choosing an apartment from the internet, 2300 miles away.

I studied my first assignment for torts. Felt pretty good about it, and even felt that my writing is improving, even if only marginal. Tomorrow starting Con Law, and im actually jazzed about it. For the most part I am kind of homesick and bummed that I am living in a bad neighborhood. Im an optimist and hope that things will get better. In fact, im sure they will. I just don't have many friends here yet, and talking to myself all day and my friends on the phone won't suffice for too much longer. I read a couple more blogs talking about how much they hated practicing law, and it wasnt the most opportune time to hear all that crap. Why do people do something they hate so much? I went to a trial with the summers in my last week at the firm, and loved it. That experience solidified why I wanted to be a litigator. Just gotta get through these tough times. Good luck to all and if you know where I can buy a flack jacket let me know.

Loving the Wifi

Im sitting here in my apartment, homesick as hell and hating the new time difference. I click the little blue button on my laptop for wireless internet and voila. Free internet. Now i know this isnt ethical, and there is a while smattering of things that can be done to me and my computer, but I just cant resist. How traceable is this.

The Good ol' USA

What a road trip? Saw every state on the east route of Highway 80. Got stuck in Laramie, Wyoming for a night due to a 33 car pileup involving 6 semi trucks. My heart goes out to the people who lost their lives in that wreck. The fire from the wreckage was so hot it melted the pavement, causing the road to be delayed opening for almost 30 hours.

Made the whole trip in 4 days, and have now settled into my apartment. Not as close to school as I had hoped but still part of the adventure.

Bought my books for $664 dollars today. Ouch. But I am in town two weeks early and am going to get a jump on my classes. Hopefully the little boost that I need.

Winterized

48 hours and i'm outta here. I hate the feeling of leaving. My dream is to be a kick ass lawyer, but the feeling of being left behind is still aching inside of me. It bothers me that everyone will be having fun while I am studying my ass off. This is completely immature but I hate those phone calls of "Were having fun man, wish you were here".

Bought a nice Columbia jacket to keep me warm in those minus temps. Going away party went horribly wrong, as most of my friends got into drunk arguments. At least I got to see them.

Napoleon Dynamite is a funny, feel good movie. Brought back memories of my nerdy days (some would say they arent over), although ND is a much better dancer than I ever will be. Made me wish I had a dirtbag uncle Rico so I could steal his clothes everytime I need an outfit for the pimp and ho party at the frat.

Step Aside Commoners

Kerry (Mr. how can you not like me? W is a damn moron!) and W are in town today. Completely shutting down traffic everywhere. I mean everywhere. W is going to a Q & A at a high school nearby my house. At least he will be in comparable company. Hopefully the class valedictorian wont be there or W might start sweating and blurt out another ridiculous comment like earlier this week. I am wondering how many people change their political vote based on how inconvenienced the candidates make them? Not subscribing to this ideology myself, im sure there is a small percentage of people that do this.

I hate goodbyes

Last day at the firm. I never thought it was possible to like co-workers so much, but I actually am going to miss them. Went to dinner with a few partners and the summers last night. I cant believe how exponentially the fun grows when you can fall back on an expense account. This was by far the most expensive meal I have ever eaten and I loved every minute.

The entire experience of working at the firm is the single most important thing I have done for my legal career. I sat in a trial this week, which solidified my wanting to be a litigator. Dancing in front of the jury and getting paid for it is my dream. I suppose it will be even better to actually win the trial so I better study hard. As one attorney said, "It's game time."

I believe that I am suited up, ready to go. Lawsclbarbie said it best with her post about being single in law school. Don't make relationships happen. My best ones have arisen with little effort. The ladies I have chased and forced the issue with have never turned out the be the princess I deserve.

I suppose that my mood is a little altered considering I had some drinks last night and very little sleep, but the sentiment is real. I am going to miss this place. On to bigger and better things though. Stay tuned.

Homework

No one ever said there would be homework in law school. I just received the assignments for the first day of school. The time to begin has finally come and im pumped.

Collateral was another great Dreamworks production. How many shameless plugs for Bacardi do we need in one movie though? Ridiculous.

the big one

I finally mustered up enough courage to ask the hiring partner for a clerkship next summer. Im a firm believer that you don't get what you don't ask for. Approaching him, I had the biggest knot in my stomach. We started with a little small talk and then I told him how much of an asset I felt that I could as a summer clerk. With horrible agony he calmly smiled and told me he thought it was a great idea. What a relief. The caviat- I have to send him my transcripts after my first term. I'm pretty sure that he's expecting me to be in the top 5% of my class. No sweat. er, I mean... Oh crap. What have I got myself into?

Mental Midget

If life is 90% mental and 10% physical, then I should have won the race this weekend. I prepared hard for this race, envisioning myself leading the pack, while flock of seagulls blared in the background. What a crock. 23 minutes isn't too bad for 3.1 miles but it aint what it used to be. No more 5 minute miles for this guy. It is very humbling to get passed by overweight 12yr olds.
Saw the Manchurian Candidate. I had no idea that it was really a documentary about the last four years. After this performance, I am convinced that Jon Voight is the next Vin Diesel. I would pay to see a Geriatric James Bond kick some a$$.
Bought my laptop for school too. Pretty impressed with it. Now all I need to find is someone to do my homework and take my exams for me.

Another One Bites the Dust

The list is down to one. As of earlier today, there were two partners that were insistant on ignoring me regardless of how many times I said hi to them. That all changed when one of the secretaries forced me into one of the partners' office so he could explain how cold the winters were in Michigan. He had no idea who was about to walk into his office and judging by the look on his face I could tell that he was annoyed for breaking his vow of silence. I walked into his office with a smile on his face and rattled off a list of questions. Every time he ended the conversation, I would get in another question. After about 10 minutes, I decided that he had had enough and I let him carry on. Inside the whole time laughing my a$$ off.

I've continued to browse various chat rooms and still cant believe how pessimistic people are over law school. Constant bickering over how a 161 3.4 is better than a 158 3.8. People actually let their lives be tormented by these scores. Yes, I am going to a lower ranked school because I played grab a$$ in college. But if you are so neurotic that the only way you can be a good lawyer is by going to a specific school, then I am glad that my school isnt prestigious. Some of you people are nuts.

Run Hit Wonder

Run Hit Wonder. Again, Nike is brilliant with their marketing. Combine a bunch of B+ bands from the 80's, with a beer garden and a good cause, and it should be a blast. 10,000 runners deep. Im pretty sure that Tone Loc had two hits, and so did Flock of Seagulls, but it will be nice to see if they still have "it". I bet those flower pot hats drive the groupies wild. The t-shirts are even cooler than your standard charity run t-shirts that are 4 sizes too big. Wish me luck. http://running.nike.com/nikerunning/runhitwonder/main.jhtml

Heartbreak With Extra Butter

I got a letter last night. Not the one I was hoping to receive from that particular school. Didn't make it off the waiting list. So back east it is. I was pissed for a few minutes, then relieved because it wasn't the fact that I got another reject (9 this application season), it was actually bad sushi. The truth is that I am excited to go to back east. A cold winter will park my overly-social butt in the library hopefully learning civ pro instead of how a verbal contract can land me dinner with the hottie from civ pro.

Ive been getting pretty chummy with the Hiring Partner at the firm. Not in a fake, i need a job sort of way, but he actually is a really cool, down to earth guy who happens to have gone to the same undergrad as me. As I told him about my third-tier school that I got into, I braced for the worst. I prepared for him to tell me that the firm would not be interested in me. Instead he cheered, and was more excited than any of the other people I have told about school. What a relief. Furthermore, he reiterated that grades count way more than the school you attend. I plan on transferring, which means my first term grades need to be stellar. Pray for a VERY cold winter.

Silent Partner

Getting onto the elevator, it was just me and the only partner in the entire firm that will not awknowledge the administrative staff. I say hi to him all the time and he simply looks the other way. He is not hearing impaired, probably just low on fiber and from a silver spoon upbringing. It is people like this that remind me to remember my roots. Never forget the people who make it easier to get through the day. Your success is attributed at least partly to them.

3 weeks

So i have about another week until my deposit at my accepted school is not refundable. My last and only waitlist left is no where close to getting back to me. In the grand scheme of things this money wont affect me too much, but it would mean the difference of having a nice laptop vs. an average one if my waitlist school miraculously offers me a seat.

Tying up loose ends, anticipating August 18th. A nice cross country drive to the other not so warm coast. This will be my first winter in negative temperatures. On top of that, I wont even have any furnishings for my new apartment. Inflatable mattress, inflatable furniture, and a laptop. Combined with the harsh winters, camping out in the library and studying might be the best thing about going to school in this particular part of the country.

Its hard to leave again, considering I just moved back up here from soCal. Leaving all my good friends, family, and dog. Its funny how much a dog can make you miss home. I dont think its abnormal, but I miss him more than most of my friends.

Saw The Bourne Supremacy. Not a bad flick. Too open ended, and the camera work made me a little nauseous.

Got some case studies from the law school that i am supposed to read before orientation. Took a quick glance at them and all i can say is "WOW". It sure is going to be a transition into reading like a law student. Do you think they make law textbooks into magazines? Maybe a Civ Pro book in a GQ format. That would be more digestable.

Still buttering up the firm for a clerkship. I think it is contingent upon our upcoming softball game against the DA's office. Hopefully my Live Strong bracelet will bring me luck. All for now.

PS. if you live in soCal, please go surfing for me. The Oregon "Coast" sucks. 

 

to type or not to type?

Im debating purchasing a laptop, but im really not sure whether its worth the investment. I dont think that I will really use it to take notes, but would like to have it during exams. Does anyone out there use a laptop only for exams and outlines?

Wadda Country

Fourth of July is the quintessential American holiday. Independence Day. Feel free to shoot fireworks at people, they wont mind. My "friends" even went so far as to disable the propellant on one of those large flying colorful fireworks, and proceeded to ignite it in the middle of the party. It was pretty surreal seeing blue flames flying right next to my face, smacking most people with burning schrapnel. I got away with just a small burn on my arm. Most of the partygoers thought this was hilarious and wanted more. It was at this point that I savored my pretentious "im going to law school and that's why im better than you" attitude. I don't really believe that, but sometimes it gets hard not to.

My fun part of the weekend was seeing Spiderman 2. A cute Mexican family sat behind me with a little girl no more than 2 years old. The little girl talked through the entire movie, but actually made the movie even more fun that it already was. Every time Spiderman would fight the bad guy, the little girl would yell "El Monstro !!!". When spiderman was sad, she simply asked "Que Pasa". It was hard not to laugh and I must say that it made my weekend.

A month more of filing at the Firm and I am ready for school to begin. I have buttered up most of the attorneys, in hopes that I can gain a clerkship after my 1L. This is not really common practice at the firm, but I hope that 6 months of ass kissing and hard work will payoff.

The Firm softball team is probably the best tool for smooching buttay. Having beers with the partners afterwards has given me a good look at what the firm expects from its employees. Plus, I hope that I will be at least partially judged based on my performance on the field.

More to come later in the week.

Hard Work

In a little under two months, I will be starting my 1L. To gain as much information as I can before I go, I am constantly scouring the web in my free time. Site after site, I am overwhelmed by the rampant pessimism from most students. Its not that they hate studying law. The just cant get over the fact that some people have better grades and go to better schools. Prestige and salary seem to be the dominant reasons for working in biglaw.

I never thought I would see the day when my crappy grades and middle class background would serve me well in the legal field, but I have found it. I will tell you why it serves me well. While other students are crying about their tier 2 law school slipping rankings, I am thankful that I got into law school in the first place, no matter what tier school I am attending in the fall. Other 2 and 3Ls complain that they will only be making $$$ when they work for the 2nd best biglaw firm in their city. I've heard of associates turning down jobs at firms where they could be happy at, just so they can go make 9k more at a larger, "cooler" firm, that will work them 20 more hours per week. There is more to life than money. I dont have very much money, so I had to find other things to love.

Don't get me wrong. I want to be rich. Hard work lies ahead. And if for some reason I don't have money flying out every orifice in my body, then the fault will lie in my own hands. From all my experiences, hard work will eventually overcome any obstacle. Sadly, I will not be quitting law school to play in the NBA, nor will I be a traveling oil boy for the Hawaiian Tropic Bikini Team. These are achievements that very few attain. Every Partner at the firm has reiterated the same thing. Schools matter a little. Grades matter the MOST. I presented all of the Partners with my background, school, etc., and they all agreed that being at the top of your class no matter where you go is better than being average at a great school.

With enough encouragement and motivation to last me a while, I am on cloud 9. Determined to be successful at law school, I cant wait to give a pessimistic 1L some advice. EAT MORE FIBER.

The Three S's

Surf. Sand. Sex. I tried to stay away, but the geniuses over at Fox figured out the right combo of surfing and orange county'ish bad acting and got me hooked. Its bad. Guys aren't supposed to have tv nights...Unless it for sports. Most of my buddies made fun of me. That is, until I sat them down in front of the TV and got them hooked too. So ladies, if the bar is empty, we are probably glued to the television eating our bon bons.

Moore is better

Fahrenheit 9/11 is hot. So hot, in fact, that I started an argument at work with a paralegal just by telling her that I enjoyed the movie immensely. I don't agree with everything in the movie, but I felt that Moore tied together quite nicely Bush's prior oil affiliations, and how the liberation of Iraq might stand to help profit those in Bush's company. Not only did Moore provide a convincing argument, he did so with the panache that a top box office smash should have. Critics rely heavily on blaming the "editing" of the movie, portraying Bush in a bad light. True, to a very minimal extent, it is hard to edit that fact that GW is not a good public speaker. In fact, most of my college professors have better communication skills. Am I, an educated individual supposed to believe that someone not capable of articulating smoothly and coherently, is dually capable of running this complex economy? That is what I have been led to believe so far. It is sad that people are so quick to condemn what they don't understand. For a man that has never been interested in politics, I am genuinely looking forward to learning more about both candidates before the upcoming election. I do believe that Ketchup is easier to get out than oil is.

It's getting hot in here

The weekend is finally here. After working all week and going out with the guys two nights this week, I am bushed. With the release of Farenheit 911 today, you would assume that bushed means that I am a crooked, scheming, liar. Nope. Just tired.

Gotta rest up for independence day. This one should be good. Going to a luau with a fire pit and a whole pig roasting away. Add 50 college buddies and a handful of kegs and it should make for a real intellectual crowd. After working all week with high-power attorneys it is kind of nice to hang out with the buds. Need to get all of my socializing out of my system now or my 1L is going to be even tougher.

Its funny how these blogs seem so interesting in your head, and then when you read what you wrote, it seems to have lost all its snap. If at the very least I help someone drift off to sleep then I have done my job. I can still rest knowing that I am still more eloquent than that damn hypo we have for a President. And the answer is yes, I can do better. Just let me try. There would be no monica's. There will, however, be a Jessica Simpson.

I'm a good cause

For many many years, rich people have been buying their way around society. Using their money to sneak through the door literally while the common folk such as I are left to pay the cover charge. I wonder how much would have to be donated on my behalf to get into one of the schools that waitlisted me? It might be cheaper to donate the money to the school than to move all the way across the country to attend the other school. This donation would also provide the donor a tax write off becoming an even more favorable option. So would 5k get me in? Has anyone out there heard of someone whose done this?

Another thought: Kids always have fundraisers for school. Candy bars that are ridiculously overpriced are pushed more aggressively than cell phones. I am always the first in line to support these kids. I regularly buy more chocolate than any 9% body fat person in the country.

So how come it is not acceptable for me to sell candy to pay for law school? Since when did "poor starving college student" not be the omnipotent excuse for everything? I could see it now. I would buy a variety of candy at Costco, selling most for 3x what I paid. Using my marketing degree, we would have maximum product visibility at the office, promotions and even student discounts for the candy. I would design some ridiculous but genius upsell idea, like t-shirts or hats. I would even have my law schools tuition pricing in close view of the candy. But, im pretty sure that the partners and everyone else would think I was scumbag for doing this. It would be labeled "tacky".

This situation also reminds me of my undergrad alma mater contacting me for a small donation. Where were they when I needed help paying for my undergraduate degree? Oh that's right. They didn't have any financial aid for me. The Dean happens to make almost 300k at my school. What a fuc*ed up world we live in.

Ivy league material

The hardest part about making up lost ground is explaining to Stanford, NYU, Princeton, etc, grads why I chose to go to a Third Tier school. I am eloquent, but still have a hard time explaining why frat boys have such average gpa's. I am not choosing. Law school is the cream of the cream. I fully intend to prove this with success there. But getting into a school has proven to be a huge task so far. At least the possiblity of transfering is there.

Waitlist's suck

I really decided to go to law school on a whim. I studied two solid months, 8 hours a day, and scored decently. The problem is that I took the February LSAT and applied pretty late in the year. So now I am accepted at one school and waitlisted at two others. The problem is that the school that I want to go to, which is 30 min from here waitlisted me too. I am accepted to a school back east. I hate to sound like a wuss but these west coast winters are about all I can handle. I have never even lived anywhere that was colder than 30 degrees in the winter, and I am about to move to a place that is subzero for a quarter of the year.

After reading that last paragraph, I realize that I sound like the biggest wimp. You try living in sunny soCal all your life, then moving to Oregon. I picture myself to be one of those guys who buys a huge, puffy, over-insulated jacket and roasts everywhere. Maybe a crappy winter is just what I need to keep my social ass in the library.

Trying to plan my life right now stinks. I just started dating someone really cool. I am so picky that I rarely meet someone who grabs my attention, and here she is, two months before I have to leave.

Another thing that stinks are the Lakers. Phil is gone, Kobe is leaving, Shaq wants out. Does anyone remember the Chicago Bulls legacy because the Lakers are going to be crappy just like the Bulls. Some people call it rebuilding, I call it bad business. Why cant they all just get along? I hear Kate Faber is going to be a Laker girl. Either that or Kobe will get traded to the Nuggets.