I Am Inconsistent

Just a few posts ago I was whining about being bored. Well, since that post I began to wallow in my open schedule. I started renewing my interest in CSS, digital photography and digital art. I picked up a few books and decided to dive into my inner geek while I had the chance.

Unfortunately, before the bar I talked with a public agency about volunteering after the bar to get a feel for the place and possibly apply when my name appears on the bar pass list. I was told to check back after I finished the bar. During my short boredom period I called to let them know I was ready to volunteer. I didn’t hear back from them right away and to be honest, I wasn’t all that eager to begin due to my sudden interest in devoting my time to self-indulgence.

Well damn, I got a call back. I have a meeting tomorrow. Before I could stop myself I said I could be available full time. Does my ambition know no bounds? Could I not be a little coy and perhaps volunteer part time?

So my play time is almost over because I wimped out on a little boredom.

In other news, I went back to moving posts from the old blog into this one. God, I did not know how to shut up during my 1L year. I posted every freakin’ day, sometimes twice a day. While such exuberance is nice for journaling purposes, it really sucks when I have to copy and paste every single entry. But I’m determined to have everything nicely tucked into one fat blog.

What dogs Do After the Bar

My schipperke, Koba, always has an uncanny ability to read my moods. This is pretty much the theme since the bar exam concluded.

Other than routine household tasks (i.e. bare minimum), I’ve been collecting resources on Photoshop and CSS. I’m going to refresh my coding skills and learn how to actually use my Wacom tablet. Meanwhile, Koba is holding down the fort and keeping it real.

Stinking Bureaucrats

I want to go on the dole, but it’s difficult to do so.

When I left my internship just prior to 3L finals, I applied for unemployment. I went to a stupid unemployment orientation meeting as required. However, my claim was denied because I was not available to work full-time and the claim was denied up until the bar exam.

Okay, fair enough.

So now I’m re-opening my claim. The snafu will be the 3 job contacts per week which are required to maintain my claim eligibility. Unfortunately, I am in the “tween” stage. I am qualified as an intern and have a limited license to practice under supervision. However, since I’m waiting on bar results, most entry level attorney employers won’t even look at me until the pass list is posted and my name is on it. And there are not 3 openings per week for either interns or attorneys in my region.

I see from reviewing the administrative code and the statutes that I can comply with the 3-contact rule by doing approved job search activities three times a week at the unemployment offices. This should be interesting. I don’t mind showing up 3 times a week if I must since I don’t exactly have a busy schedule. But I have to say that after almost 8 years of solid work history with no unemployment claims, I’m a little annoyed that claiming benefits for just a couple of months is so difficult, especially since I obtained an undergraduate and juris doctorate within those eight years. Sheesh Washington, gimme a break!

Boredom Sets In

It took a couple of days of sleeping a lot to feel recovered from the bar exam. I think I can get through a day without an impromptu nap now.

The letdown is beginning to set in. Don’t get me wrong, I so do not want to study for the bar exam ever again. But now I am at loose ends. There really isn’t much going on in the job market right now although I have a few feelers out. Otherwise, all I have to do is housework or yard work.

During bar study, even laundry was appealing. I would do anything to avoid sinking into the outlines and note cards. But the glimmer has faded from the housework. Go figure.

I Am Incredibly Dumb

Seriously. I can’t believe I was allowed to sit for a bar exam.

Driving home from Seattle, I discovered I scratched the lenses of my brand new prescription sunglasses. It was really distracting me because my vision felt blurred, especially on one side. Damn and double damn, I had to spend the money for new lenses. So I dropped by Lenscrafters today to get them replaced. The saleswoman squinted at my sunglasses and then cleaned them off. She squinted at them some more and said “I don’t see any scratches.” I took them away and lo and behold, no scratches.

It was hair product on my lenses from shoving my sunglasses on top of my head.

The saleswoman was struggling not to let her opinion that I am a complete moron show on her face. I meekly bought some lens cleaner and slunk out the door.

I topped off a trip to the mall with an impulse stop at a nail salon. I’d gone completely to seed during bar study and an overhaul was needed. One manicure, pedicure and eyebrow wax later I look less like a primate and more like a homo sapiens.

Emerald City Frolic

I’m back home after the bar exam and a couple of days in Seattle just for fun. I’m glad mom and dad decided to meet up with me to play for a couple of days. After 10 years of living in Washington I finally got to really see Seattle. I’ve been in school for 7 years out of the 10 so travel has been limited for quite some time! Onto photoblogging.

First, there are a lot of yachts in Seattle.

The rest of the photos are of our visit to Pike Street Market. It was crowded so the composition of these photos is rushed! It was also incredibly hot. But we had fun just the same.

The famous Pike Street Fish Market was the first stop. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much fish tossing going on so I didn’t get a shot of fish flying through the air. Also, it’s much smaller than it looks on T.V., so I settled for taking pics of the counters.

Look at all this crab. I love crab. I wished we could take some home.

This is taken at another fish market because I thought the sign was cute.

We tromped down to the original Starbucks. I wanted to see what started it all. I would’ve gotten a latte, but it was too crowded.

My favorite part of the Market was all of the flowers. Here’s a street view of just one of the stalls.

An inside shot of another stall.

And my favorite photo of dahlias.

I was amazed at the price of the flowers. A big bunch of flowers went for $15! Unfortunately, we had one more night in Seattle and a long car trip to follow so we couldn’t buy any.

Today I’m at loose ends. For the first time in years I don’t need to study anything. It’s a weird adjustment coming off of six weeks of intense bar prep. But, I’m sure I can get used to this new development!

Day Three. I Am Done!!!

It feels unbelievably good to be done with the Bar Exam!

Today was a good day and I feel I passed the professional responsibility portion of the exam. I wish I felt as confident about the first two days (the substantive portion), but at least I don’t feel horrible.

This morning when my alarm went off I thought I’d been hit by a truck. It took all my willpower to get out of bed. Exhaustion on steroids.

I’m off to play for a couple of days on the coast.

Day Two of Bar Exam Ugly

Okay, I’m tired. Really, really tired.

Today was just weird. Quite a few questions were strange cross-overs with bizarre fact patterns. Actually, I think I pretty much tubed the first question of the day.

Everyone I talked to felt the same about today’s questions. Yesterday everyone looked tired, yet alert from nerves, and slightly triumphant at the end of the day. Today, everyone looked wasted, resigned, shaken, grim, pissy and downright uncomfortable at the end of the day. I’m glad I’m not alone. Misery loves company.

Tomorrow is limited to Professional Responsibility occurring over two and half hours. I have to get up at the uncivilized hour of five ay-em, but it’s the LAST day and a short one.

I know you all are curious about the farter. The dweeb continued to stink up our table today, but it wasn’t relentless like yesterday. Still, my nose twitched enough to be mightily annoyed. Today at the first break he not only popped one breath mint in his mouth, but he carefully set one aside for later. It took a lot of restraint not to give him a firm suggestion as to which orifice he should place his standby breath mint.

Bar Exam Day One. Unexpected Issue.

The first big day is over. Woot! It honestly wasn’t as bad as I expected which I’ll take as a good sign. Out of the nine questions for today I felt a squishy on three and pretty confident on six. Not bad for the first day. Being able to somewhat predict tomorrow’s subjects compacted my review time tonight, which is good because my brain is most definitely not a sponge tonight.

However, I had a rather bleak experience which brings me to the Unexpected Issue. The student I’m assigned to sit with (two per table) apparently carries his nerves in his intestines. resulting in the unfortunate phenomenon of constant gas passing – and I mean constant. The wind breaking is not audible, however, it is most insulting to my olfactory senses. In other words, the dude stinks badly. It was relentless to the point of distraction.

All. Freakin’. Day.

Yes, this situation is hysterical in hindsight (did I just say “hind”) or from a distance (a big distance). But while enduring the onslaught believe me, it is most unfunny. Frankly, by mid-morning it was pissing me off.

I was amazed that he broke out the breath mints during the breaks. Pointless?

I’ll end this gross post with nod to tort law, i.e., was I battered by this gentleman? Battery is an intentional harmful or offensive contact to plaintiff’s person. It was very offensive. However, did he intend to fart non-stop, or did he negligently ingest spicy food the night before the bar exam? This could go on and I could not stand myself if I continued. Lights out.

Deep Breath

I’m in my hotel room doing last minute review. Reality is beginning to hit – the freakin’ bar exam is tomorrow!!!!!!!!!! (10 exclamation points – I counted). I won’t know how I feel about it until after tomorrow. I’m going to have nightmares tonight all starting with “you may begin.”

The following is my Moment of Zen. We host a number of chickadee nests during the spring and summer each year. I took this photo this morning before hitting the road:

Good luck to all my fellow bar examinees.