No Remaining Balance

My mom is a first grade teacher, and apparently one of her other teacher friends has a daughter who is in law school at Regent.  She is also a third year student.  On the day after my birthday when my mom played hooky and took me shopping for the day, we had to stop by her school first so she could help her student teacher with something, and I met the woman whose daughter is also in law school.  She asked me if I was having trouble with my bar application, and I responded that I had already finished it and sent it in.  Not an agreeable process, to be sure, but one that I made a priority and got done as quickly as I could.  This batty woman went on and on about the struggles her daughter had to go to to fill in the application (citing, for example, details of her daughter's messy divorce and how she had to get doctor's notes to document her bi-polar disorder) and how much it had vexed her to hear about it.

For the record, I really do think that it is awfully nosy of the bar examiners to require that we provide details of our medical records if we've been treated for certain conditions.  Luckily for me, though, I haven't.  And if I thought that I might need to be, now I would most certainly put treatment off so that I did not have to disclose it.  It seems like there ought to be some things that truly remain confidential--and what I've said to my doctor, and what he (or she) has prescribed to make my life a little easier should be my own personal business.  I understand that people with certain conditions can be somewhat unstable, but to have gotten through three years of law school (in addition to four years of undergrad) and a ridiculously complicated bar exam application suggests that these applicants do have some degree of stability and I think (of course what I think doesn't much matter) that they should be given the benefit of the doubt at the outset.  After all, we've accomplished a lot.

Enough of that.  Anyway, the woman went on to ask who was going to Roanoke with me.  With me?  I was so confused by the question.  I go to school in a different state and everyone that I know from high school or college who ended up attending law school is either a year before or a year behind me, so there's no one to really go with.  And even if I could, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't.  She then asked if my mom was going.  My mom?  Why would my mom go?  I was so confused.  She continued on, saying that her daughter (who is more than ten years older than me, by the way) was scared to go to Roanoke alone and had urged BOTH of her parents to come with her.  So homegirl is coming to take the bar exam, both parents in tow.  I guess mom can sharpen her #2 pencils before she goes in to take the exam.

It seems quite silly to me.  At this point, the only thing my parents can do to help me is to pay.  And I certainly don't need them there to do that.  In fact, I am going to need everyone to disappear for a couple of days so that I can really focus on what I need to do.  I don't need someone else in the shower when I need to get going, or someone who wants to dawdle over dinner when I need to get back and study.  I don't need people talking or watching TV or making noise of any kind when I don't want noise to be made.  Maybe I'm a hermit, but I really passionately feel like I need to be on my own for a couple days.

Today, I paid for my BarBri review course in full (thanks mom and dad)--which seems like a pretty huge milestone.  I have been worrying about which course to pick and how to pay for it for a couple years now.  I'm not exactly looking forward to it, but knowing that I will have a course on my side to help me through the process is a really encouraging thought.

I never thought that "none of your courses have a remaining balance" could be such a comforting sentence.  But it's kind of like a little virtual hug, straight from BarBri to me.  Aww, shucks.  Thanks, BarBri.

I am very optimistic.  After all, BarBri has been sending encouraging emails all along about not needing another multistate prep course.  And there's pre-course stuff I can start to do now to prepare.  I'm a little neurotic, and it really does make me feel happier, safer, and more secure to do something about the things that cause me anxiety.  This was an item on my aforementioned to-do list that I can now cross off.

Select/pay for bar review course:  check.

After I finish up, I will have some three-four weeks before my course starts to do the pre-bar studying and also to enjoy myself a little bit.  Andy is getting his stuff together to start running fishing charters--shad fishing in the James River will begin in a week or two and he also starts to run saltwater charters in the Bay (or maybe even offshore for tuna or something) before too long.  Today, he has spent most of the day tying flies--and he even made one for me!  He calls it the Elle Woods.

He is so talented!  I've never done much fly fishing, but I do love the time that we spend fishing together--it's one of the best parts of the summer.  I hope that I really have a chance to do some fishing and spend some quality time with him before bar prep begins in earnest.  I will miss him tons and tons when I have to start to spend all of my days in the library.


Here we are, with the first cobia I ever caught, right after we first started dating. Sometimes, looking at pictures of the girl I was then, I really wish I could tell her how much better it can get--even though I wouldn't have thought it was possible.

My boyfriend is sexy.  Just sayin'.

Me, with the cobia, right after it was brought into the boat.  A little blood, but I don't mind.

I really hope that I get a few weeks of fun before I have to start studying, but, even so, it's really exciting to be so close to the end.  I kind of lost sight of my goal somewhere during the intervening years and had started to wonder if this was even what I wanted.  I do wish that I had maybe chosen a different (read: less expensive) school, maybe even one closer to home, but the closer I get to graduation, the more and more excited I get about having the life I always dreamed I would have.  There will be tons of time to play (and tons of fish to catch) after I pass the bar--and get a job.  After all, I didn't go to law school for my health.  I went to law school so I could live the life I've always wanted to live.  And I'm almost there.

Frustration

Today I got my fifth (or sixth, I'm starting to lose count) consecutive "we're not hiring at this time" rejection letter.  Although everyone has been very nice and has assured me in no uncertain terms that my resume is, in fact, quite impressive, they still maintain that there is not a single place for me in their law firm.  Well, I believe it.  Who really wants an untested entity?  Personally, if I were a law firm, I would only hire old guys that I could trust and that had very impressive careers.  My mom keeps telling me that I have the benefit of being (relatively) cheap labor in comparison to the old guys with years and years of experience, but even being cheap hasn't seemed to make me more appealing to potential employers.

In the past year, I have seriously improved my resume.  I have brought my GPA waaaay up, I have gotten a couple pretty sweet awards, and I have considerably more experience with life and law.  I am, in fact, a quarter of a century old as of last week.  That has to count for something.  Right?  Well, apparently not.

Luckily for me, my cousin is very savvy at job-searching and she gave me a couple of recommendations that make me feel much, much better about life.  Of course, I still have to actually act on her suggestions, which is kind of hard considering all the other work I have left to do.  (Like the Crim Pro bench memo I have due next week, plus reading for classes, attending class, drafting contracts, and going to various law school lectures.)  But I will make it happen.  I will make it happen because I will write a list--and one of my biggest pet peeves is going to bed when there are still items remaining on my to-do list.  

I have two main steps to success that have made my life work.

Step 1: Write to-do list.
Step 2: Complete to-do list.

I can write my to-do list in class today, and then I'll get started on it after my 2-3:15 class.  That will make life a lot easier, and a lot less stressful.  If I'm stressed to the point of physical sickness, which, let's face it, happens all the time, the only thing that makes me feel better is to actually take action.  Whatever is bothering me will feel about a million times better if I take affirmative steps to correct the problem.  Is that neurotic?  Sometimes I think so.  Sometimes, I'll wake up at like 2 in the morning, freaking out about some assignment or other, I get up and spend several hours working on it before I can go back to sleep.  And job searching is much, much more stressful than any assignment I have ever had. 

It's so not fair that I have to search for a job during a recession.  So.  Not.  Fair. 

A Sweet Story

Yesterday, I went wine tasting with Andy, his dad, and his dad's longtime friend/girlfriend, Anne.  We went to Veritas first, because Anne needed to pick up her wine club wines and because we just love it there--and, I have to admit, every time I go I dream about a wedding there, even though I know it will never happen because it costs a minimum of $25,000.  I do always melt inside when Andy takes my hand and pulls me over to the wedding albums and we look over the vineyards to the mountains and the beautiful, beautiful grounds.

Anyway, on to the sweet story...

Behind the bar where we did the wine tasting, the wall was covered in a floor to ceiling mirror, with shelves and bottles of wine.  But there were little parts where you could see all the way through to the mirror.  Anyway, at one point, Andy turned to me and said, "I just caught a glimpse of this really good-looking girl in the mirror.  And then I realized it was you!"

Andy isn't super complimentary most of the time, so when he is, its something really special.  Maybe this is totally cheesy, but its nice to hear it every so often. 

Sometimes, he totally makes me sorta half-swoon.  We southern girls like to be swept away every so often.  And I totally was.

Twenty Four

Okay, childish as it is, I am really excited about my birthday.  My mom is taking off work on Friday to hang out and both my brother and my sister will be home for their spring breaks.  And who doesn't like a little bit of extra attention?

Last year, my birthday was super exciting.  On the day of my birthday, my parents sent these flowers to my apartment in Morgantown.   They were so beautiful!  Little tiny yellow roses (my favorite!) and tulips...and, not being a horticulturist, a lot of flowers that are unidentifiable to me.  But, still, totally beautiful---and so classy.  It's not every day you get real flowers from a florist. 

These are the flowers I got from Andy for my birthday!  I know its silly and girly and eventually they die, but there's something about getting flowers that just makes me soo excited.  It's one thing that a boy does, not because its something he wants you to have, but because he knows that its a sweet gesture you will appreciate.  It's something I know he did just to make me happy, and I love him for that.  Love, love, love.

Since I was going home the weekend of my birthday, I took my flowers from my parents with me.  I didn't want them blooming their prettiest blooms when I couldn't see them!  Luckily, Lola, my Corolla, has good sized cupholders, and my vase fit securely in it.  I was so excited to get two sets of flowers, so I took pictures of both of them together.

Andy's parents got me this yummy, yummy cake.  It's from Ukrops, a Richmond specialty.  Richmond people are super snobby about it; they like to say things like, "Ohhh, so you've never BEEN to Ukrops?"   Ukrops has since been taken over by Martins, which is much less good and the employees wear fluorescent green shirts.  Not a good color on anyone.

One more shot of Andy's flowers...because he loves me...

My mom made this cake for me last year--my favorite kind--yellow with chocolate frosting, and lots of springtime sprinkles.  I like sprinkles.  Behind it, see that little bracket?  That's because my little brother insisted on having an "international" dart championship.  By international, he means that everyone in the world is invited to come.  But, of course, the only people who are there are family.  Still, he insists that its a world title when HE wins.  If he loses, though, someone cheated, and we have to have the international dart championship all over again.

This year, I have a different cake to look forward to....  ice cream cake! 

This is the most recent ice cream cake my sister made.  It's messy, but oh-so-delicious.  She bakes chocolate cake, and layers it with Cold Stone ice cream (she loves me), crushed up oreos and a deliciously chocolate fudgey fudge layer.  She calls it "Sarah's Magnificent Hot Fudge Lava Oreo Ice Cream Cake" and gets very angry if you can't remember every single bit of that ridiculous title.  She says that she wants these cakes to be her specialty.  Yumm.

In the spirit of giving, I picked up a (very) small present for Andy a couple days ago, and I'm kind of itching to give it to him...  Very, very small, but he gets so excited every year around this time when they come out.

Last year I tried to make him an Easter basket, but by the time I got around to shop for it, all of these were GONE!  I went to two different stores!  So this year, even though its a bit early to be thinking of Easter (we aren't even that close to St. Paddy's day!), I figured I'd scoop them up while I still could and bring some home to him.  I think I get more excited about bringing little surprises for him than he does.  I do always try to bring a little something. 

I'm also expecting my sister's birthday present to come in the mail soon.  Her birthday is the beginning of April and, since she has so many different exams in physical therapy school, she won't be able to come back again before the end of the semester.  I'm making sure to get everything taken care of so that she has a present for her from me and my brother on her birthday.  So excited!  I think I probably love picking out presents for other people more than just about anything.

Is it childish to be excited about my birthday?  Probably.  But it will be so much fun to spend the day with my mom and to have my brother and sister home for the weekend.  Super fun!

I hope you have a great weekend full of warm weather! 

Leave the Lectures to the Intellectuals

There's a Law Review Symposium lecture today that I have to go to.  If I go, I get credit for a class period that I will (probably) miss in the next couple weeks as the weather gets warmer, my 3L-itis gets more and more pronounced, and class gets less and less interesting.

I don't know if enjoying a lecture series is something unique to the professors or to the truly intellectuals, but I have never found that I get any sort of enjoyment out of it at all.  No matter what the topic, they all seem so ridiculously dry.  I am considering bringing my new Glamour magazine with me.  Is that in bad taste?  Maybe.  But so what? 

The only good thing about having to sit through an hour of generally unprofitable boredom is that there is always a reception following these things.

I have discussed "Tang Time" before.  The receptions are so-called because of the yummy orange drink that the catering people sometimes bring.  The punch is either red or orange, but its the orange that we love.  I have to admit, even the prospect of sitting through a super boring, super long, super elitist Law Review lecture series is made slightly more palatable because I know what comes after.

Here is a picture from the last reception we had, after an incredibly boring lecture on the "vanishing" Fourth Amendment, which was really just Criminal Procedure class all over again. 

But there was bacon wrapped chicken and southwest eggrolls.  Yum. 

And flying WV cookies.  Kind of a WVU tradition.  They say that when you first start school here, you hate them--they taste like cardboard.  But by the end, they become a staple and everyone looks forward to them.  I don't think they taste like cardboard at all; they're just regular sugar cookies.  But being in the shape of the flying WV DOES make them more appealing than they would otherwise be.  Just like putting colored sugar and red and green sprinkles makes them exciting at Christmas time.

This is (obviously) not the Tang to which I referred, but the red punch is also acceptable.  Today, I am bringing my brand new Lexis Nexis Camelback water bottle to the lecture so that, when I leave the lecture and head to my next super boring appointment, I can take Tang with me.  Hopefully its orange.  Its the LEAST the Law Review can do.

Afterwards, I will have thoroughly earned the trip to the gym that I will take.  Well, its worth it for the bacon wrapped chicken.  Even if I have to go to a lecture.  I hope you have a happy hump day! 

Vacation: All I Ever Wanted

Today is a daydreaming kind of day.  I'm not cranky, but the sun is shining and I have no interest in being in class.  When your in high school or college, they call it senioritis, but there is no good word for how I'm feeling now.  The closer I get to graduation, the more I am just totally itching to get out of school and get away.  Wherever away is, I'm not really sure, but it's definitely not anywhere in West Virginia.

Today I am reminiscing on some scenes from my study abroad trip to Greece, Turkey, and Italy.  One day, when I am a highly paid and well-renowned lawyer practicing in some now-unknown area of law, I will be able to afford trips like this and I look so forward to that day.

It's funny how, in retrospect, the things that annoyed you or upset you sometimes just fade away into the background.  On this particular trip, I had a professor who I really, really hated--and who I fought with on a regular basis.  But now, looking back, I barely remember those things, and only remember the times that were totally awesome.  I wonder if law school will be that way.  Will I ever look back and say, "but there were so many good times"?  Somehow I doubt it.   But I guess anything is possible. 


It's finally March.  I'm itching for the end of Winter, the end of law school, the end of life in West Virginia--and the beginning of everything else.  If I weren't so poor, I would plan a celebratory trip.  But I am poor, and all that remains is to remember the better times, the amazing trips, and wish for a chance in the future to do it all over again.

Who wouldn't want to be at the beach right about now?

Or the Spice Market in Istanbul? 

I really, really loved the sort of eerie prayer music that played through the streets in Turkey whenever it was time for the Muslims to pray.  I will never forget that sound, and how everything would just stop.  Even though we were able to visit the mosques and see some of their holy sites, non-Muslims (and women, let's not forget that I am even worse than the regular non-Muslim simply by virtue of my gender) can only go so far.  And even then we had to cover up our bodies.  I wore a head scarf, which was pretty fun for a little while, but I kept being very self conscious that it had gotten in a weird place and wasn't looking quite as stylish as I hoped.  Oh well.

I have to admit, I really love ruins.  There's something really cool about walking through the rubble and imagining what used to be.  Also, there's not nearly as many exhibit Nazis as there are a museum or something.  You can walk around, talk in normal voices, touch whatever you want...  And, let's face it, it's hard to see something cool and not touch it, no matter how old you are.

We rode donkeys up to an acropolis in Lindos, Greece.  I don't know if it looks like fun, but it cost like 5 euro and it also was quite uncomfortable.  My donkey's name was Heracles, which I thought was kinda funny.  He had to be pretty awesome to carry me all the way up the winding cobblestone street to the acropolis. 

I'm Catholic (don't hold it against me) and something about seeing the Vatican (and the Sistine Chapel and the Pieta) that really spoke to me.  Its amazing how much art and sculpture and maps and architecture is all located in one teeny tiny little place.  Of course, cliche person that I am, I definitely tried to figure out what the route was that Robert Landgon took in The da Vinci Code book.  Failed.  Vatican City is so tiny, I still can't figure out exactly where he went.  I only wish I could have had my passport stamped there.

Back to Turkey again. 

We ate octopus in this little restaurant in Greece.  Yup, octopus.  And it wasn't half bad.  Lobster is better, but anything coated in butter and washed down with wine is pretty tasty. 

This is one of the boats that took us to the restaurant.  It also took us here, to the caldera, which is the volcano that created the island of Santorini.  We hiked up to the top of the volcano, which was really, really, incredibly tiring.  But there was no big hole in the top with magma pouring out.  A little disappointing.  But true.
After that, we went swimming in hot springs around the side of the volcano.  Pretty sweet.  Much less disappointing than the fact that volcanoes don't look like those models that you made in elementary school.

Pompeii!  Another volcano.  Well, we didn't GO to Vesuvius, but we did see part of the stuff that has been excavated, which was pretty cool.  It's so strange to think that Vesuvius could erupt again and cover the city all over again. 

I must have taken a hundred pictures of the Trevi fountain.  I definitely threw some coins in it and made wishes.  Do you ever wonder how much money really sits in the bottom of fountains and where it goes?
Also, there was a kick butt gelato shop on the corner right behind the fountain that I may or may not have visited a couple times.

It's hard to believe the Colosseum was ever flooded for naval battles.  Where on earth did the water come from in the days before piping and plumbing?  Those ancient Romans were so clever.  Except for that whole battling to the death while lots people are watching for casual entertainment thing.

Needless to say, I am feeling like I need a vacation.  But people who can't afford vacations should just be content to remember times when they DID have vacations and happily return to those memories for a few moments, just to remind themselves of what it was like.  I'm taking a little moment out of the day, a little vacation (conveniently during Jurisprudence class) to remember this vacation.

I hope that soon I will be able to plan another real vacation of my own.  It is a goal of my life to go to Egypt (you don't have to tell me that I shouldn't go to Egypt any time soon) and India.  I want to go on safari and see the Alps.  Drink some beer in Germany or eat my weight in bread and cheese in France.  I'd like to go to Amsterdam (just for funsies, not for any kind of sketchy experimentation--totally not my style).  Wish I could see Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding.  I'd also like to go to Aruba and the Virgin Islands, and probably lots more tropical places.  One day, I'd like to road trip across the country and go camping out west.

Maybe I should make a bucket list.  Maybe Andy and I should collaborate.  That will have to be a work in progress.  I think it's really important to have a plan for where you want to go in your life and what you really want to accomplish.  It would force me to really think about what's most important to me and how to make it happen.

Bucket list task #1: Get a job to fund Bucket list items 2 to __ (however many there are!)

For My Quarter of a Century Birthday

Andy says I'm difficult and that he can't figure out a single thing to get me for my birthday.  But that's just silly.  I'm a normal girl, and I want many, many things--none of which are too terribly hard to figure out.

First of all, and probably most obviously, I want one of these.  Then, of course, a little baby collar and a little name tag with rhinestones on it.  And the stegosaurus shaped nylabone I saw on Amazon.  Because every puppy needs a bone shaped like a stegosaurus, and mine is no exception.

I also desperately need a pair of nude pumps.  I love them; they are so timeless and elegant and, when I am less poor, I would like to be both of those things.  I am progressively shabbier every year, but one day I will dress well and on that day I would like these pumps.  If that day were to come sooner rather than later (like, say, this Thursday), you wouldn't hear me complaining.

It would also make my life complete to be taken here.  It's totally on my bucket list.  Sooner, though, rather than later, because I'm not getting any younger and I'm already slightly older than the typical demographic.  Fact is, though, I am a super duper avid Harry fan and I am definitely dying to take a little trip to Florida.  The older I get, the less socially appropriate.  Although, who really cares about social appropriateness?  I just have to go--end of story.

I would also like to be taken to see this show.  It's coming to a theater near me in May and I may or may not have been dropping less-than-subtle hints ever since December.  Will Andy figure it out?  (As long as he continues to not read my blog--probably not.)

I also need some ice cream cake.  My sister promises she will make me one, and she will use Cold Stone ice cream.  Yumm.  I hope she doesn't invite anyone else over, because the fewer people she invites, the more there is for me.  Just me.  And I'm the birthday girl. 

Also in the interest of decreasing my current level of shabbiness, I would like a lovely Lilly sundress to wear for various summertime events.  I have always felt that Lilly channeled my personal style but, alas, have been unable to afford it.  One day, though, I will.  Hey, I'm not in law school for my health.

A little margarita...little salt on the rim...

Mmm, tequila. 

A little pampering pedicure...  (No manicure because law school has made me bite my nails off.)   Generally I can't afford frivolity, but sometimes its awfully nice.  

Using the Katy Perry colors...  (I LOVE Katy Perry!)  I like the purple sparkly one on the left... 

Some birthday flowers would also be nice.  Last year my parents sent me the most beautiful flowers on my birthday...  Tulips are my favorite, and I love pink and yellow.  Difficult?  I think not.

Also, I would very much like to wear a birthday princess tiara and go around bossing people around.  It wouldn't be the first time.  I actually have my own birthday tiara at home that my sister and I have passed back and forth on our birthdays, so I will probably get a chance to don it this weekend.

Difficult?  I really think not.  I like fun, girly things that I wouldn't ordinarily be able to afford otherwise.  It would be convenient if Andy read this but, then again, I probably wouldn't be quite as candid.  It's better that way.

You know what else I like?  My mom took off work on Friday to spend the day with me.  It will be so much fun!  I love my Marge.  

I am also of the opinion that birthdays last until you have seen the last person who has a present for you.  Sometimes, I'm not going to lie, I have been known to drag it out a little longer than strictly necessary.  This year that may not really be an option, but I will at least get this whole weekend. 

Ahhhhhh, birthday!!!  So excited!