You are currently browsing the category archive for the 'Holidays' category.
I kept wanting to add a post, but I wanted to upload some photos, then I wanted to upload a new photo for a header. Then it became a hassle with all the pre-requirements I was putting on myself. I really am a head case. Upload the photos later, change the header later for Chrissakes!
The holidays were great, with our weather being the only exception. The recordbreaking, over 5′ of snow in a couple of weeks, caused a lot of problems with getting to work. Now, I don’t necessarily feel incomplete if I can’t work, however, deadlines march on whether I can get to work or not. It was a stressful couple of weeks. We’re in a “tropical” phase right now with no snow, but rain. Rain is fine. Of course, we have flood warnings, but I can live with that. I don’t live anywhere that will flood so the solution is simple – avoid places that will flood!
During the holiday stretch I decided to indulge myself in taking the guitar up again. I played when I was a kid and then abandoned it as other things became more important (cars, boys, being stupid). Then I took up piano in young adulthood and really liked it. However, I don’t own a piano and to have the type of electronic piano I want, I’d have to come up with a pretty hefty chunk of change.
So to get back in touch with the side of my brain devoted to less serious things, I decided to try out the guitar again. I made the fatal mistake (and I suspected it was a mistake when I did it) of buying a really cheap starter guitar. Well, that lasted about a week. I now have a lower-end, but awesome Martin DXM which is so much easier to play I find myself playing for hours non-stop and I have to literally force myself to put my toy down.
And finally, I’ve decided to move my physical office. I found a great location walking distance from the courthouse. I’ll be roomies with another attorney who shares my practice area. I wanted to move into an office sharing arrangement where I had other attorneys nearby with which to commisserate. I’m excited and nervous at the same time because I’ve raised my overhead. But it’s been a year (gasp) of running my own practice so it’s a good time to upgrade.
This post will make no sense in a few months. So if you look up at the top and what I’m saying is there isn’t really there, you aren’t crazy. It means that by the time this is read, I’ve changed what’s up there.
So what is up there? It’s a Pouting Papillion named Patch who owns my parents. Patch is a habitual pouter. However, in the photo he is pushing the Pouting envelope because he is wearing a festive necklace for the holidays and it’s pissing him off. It’s one of the joys of the holidays – draping canines in embarassing accessories and documenting it for posterity.
Sorry for dropping off the face of the earth for the holidays. It was one of those years where the holidays were all-consuming.
We did the usual trip to Montana, leaving our dogs and parrots in a petsitter’s care (she does a really great job). Travel was precarious with snowy roads and freezing rain. We played with the Papillon puppy, Smudge, and I have some more photos to post once I yank my memory card out of my camera. Read the rest of this entry »
The past 24 hours are very newsy:
The state bar has finally assigned my bar number. I’m officially an attorney. Watch out world.
I assembled our brand new fully lit, hinged Christmas tree all by myself.
We had our first snow.
Sallie Mae sent me my first loan statement. I sent Sallie Mae my first deferment request.
All four dogs had a bath.
Proof of first snow:
I’m going to break my very brief tradition and post the Random Dog Photo right here up front. This is Smudge.
Smudge is a 3-month old Papillon puppy who has taken over my parent’s household. Smudge also took over J and I during Thanksgiving – that’s J’s arm in the photo. We fought over who got to play with puppy on an ongoing basis.
I’ve redecorated for the holidays. The template comes from Pyzam.com. The post area is a little skinny for my taste, but hey, moochers can’t be choosers! The chances of my sitting down to code a new template are pretty much nil.
On the way out of town I got a call scheduling an interview for a position I really want. I’m keeping the contract/sole practice on the down low for a couple of weeks to see if the interview results in a job. Job with benefits definitely trumps self-employed, broke sole practitioner!
My newly consolidated federal loans come due soon and they will promptly be placed in deferment. Sound familiar to any new J.D. graduates?
I showed my brother this blog over the weekend and he was duly unimpressed with the big white nothing this blog has become.
I guess I’m just sick of thinking or talking about law school. Maybe I’ll try to post something, anything just to keep this blog going. Occasionally, there will be law school type stuff on here – such as I am getting ready for a final mock trial exercise this coming week and then diving into finals after that for two weeks.
Thanksgiving was awesome. Unfortunately, J had to stay home with the kids (of the furry/feathered species). But I think he had a good time getting me out of his hair for awhile and being King of his domain (that’s over – I’m home).
Thanksgiving holiday is no longer about outlines.
I did not outline at all. In fact, I ignored law school from Wednesday to Sunday. Last night I finally sat down and did my reading for today.
Instead of law school, I got life back in order. J and I cleaned house. The house is such a wreck, it still isn’t done. But, we really weren’t pushing too hard. For example, Friday I came home with a bag full of movies and we just took the day off watching back-to-back creepy movies. I loved it.
Around that time I began to wonder about my lack of outlining. I kept putting it off until “tomorrow.” Finally, I had a revelation. I needed a break! Time to REcharge and RElax. My worst finals are in the second week of finals. I’ve got plenty of time to prepare for those open-book monsters. The easier (if there is such a thing) exams are in the first week.
Last night it also occurred to me that my pre-exam panic was simply gone. At one point in the past few months, I was fretting about whether or not to work this coming Friday (my last day of work before finals). Suddenly, that angst seems ridiculous. Of course I can work Friday. For crying out loud, it’s just one day.
Yep, I needed the break.
In other news, I wrecked my lower back during the housecleaning spree. I forget that I’m woefully out of shape and then I act as if I am in shape. I bent and pulled and pushed and tugged without thinking. Now I’m permanently hooked to ibuprofen and a heating pad. Putting on my backpack today is laughable. Wheelie bag is going to be back in fashion for a couple of days.
I’m in the midst of finals panic. Biggest concerns: Evidence midterm (second) today; legal writing final motion due next week. Once Evidence midterm is completed I must get cracking on the final paper. I’ve boxed myself into having to rush the thing. I have a huge stack of “maybe” research and nothing more.
To make this pre-finals period even more interesting, I came down with a head cold on Friday. I struggled through the weekend lugging my kleenax box and evidence flaschards around. I shouldn’t be freaking this badly over a midterm worth 30% of my grade, but one word…
Hearsay
Oh how I loathe the hearsay rules and exceptions. Hearsay insidiously takes up most of the forebrain leaving the character, impeachment, lay witness opinion, and expert witness rules very little space.
I tried taking some CALI lessons and really shouldn’t have. The hypos were markedly different from my prof’s and used more case law theory than my prof teaches (she pretty much just uses the rules with a smattering of case law). I bombed out badly before I realized that the CALI lessons were very different from the way my Evidence class is constructed. It still stung.
I’m skipping Thanksgiving. Mr. Jackal could care less which is fortunate. I could take the day off and wrestle with a turkey, but the entire time I will just feel guilt, panic, guilt, panic. I don’t like turkey that much. Maybe I’ll do the turkey thing the weekend after finals ends. The eccentricity is appealing.
Last night I made a perfect turkey. It was a masterpiece. I should have taken a photo, but I was greedily slicing into it before I could stop myself.
Now begins serious business-the outlines. But, I’ve been stalling with the following techniques:
1. Clip fingernails to make keyboarding more efficient.
2. Polish the laptop.
3. Clean off my desk to make room.
4. Polish the laptop again.
5. Realize that I must get a load of laundry in NOW.
6. Review my calendar just to confirm final exam dates.
7. Read blogs.
8. Run spyware killers.
9. Update my Windows and Office programs.
10. Make another pot of coffee.
This is getting ridiculous. I just have to dive in.
