What?

What I'm doing: studying for Monday's Sexual Harassment exam.

What I'm eating: jelly beans left over from Easter. The Peeps are long gone.

What I'm listening to: lawn mowers. What else?

What I'm wearing: my favorite Indiana (pink) sweatshirt, shorts, fuzzy socks and a sunburn. I decided to stand in the tanning booth yesterday and my legs are hot as hell. And don't leave lecturing comments about the perils of tanning. I'm well aware, but I seriously needed a shot of Vitamin D and a seratonin boost, and nothing does it like a 20-minute tan.

What I saw this morning: A massive bubble mountain across the street. Someone (probably high school kids) put some kind of soap/bubbles in the fountain at the entrance to the subdivision across the street from my backyard. When I opened the backdoor this morning, the suds had overflowed the fountain, the landscaping, the yard, and were creeping toward the street. It was a 30-foot-wide, 20-foot tall bubble extravaganza. Brilliant prank, if you ask me.

What I'd rather be doing: Anything but studying, including eating grilled pork chops with my parents and grandparents, who invited me up for dinner, but I declined out of study guilt. I'd also rather be drinking, walking the dog, sleeping, watching TV, poking my eyes out with shrimp forks.

What I'll be doing tomorrow: repeating today.

Lawnmower Man II and amateur law school commentary

People mow lawns like nobody's business around here. I shouldn't complain - everyone's front yard is currently sporting those lush, green, spring stripes. I love those stripes in a freshly-mowed lawn or baseball field. But now the guy across the street is going at it with his mower, and it is so loud.

Anyhow, I finished my second exam today - Environmental and Toxic Torts. The exam was fair, and that's all I will say since I took the exam early and most of my classmates have yet to take it. Two down, three to go next week.

There's a bit of bouhaha going on over at IndyNet, our law school's "official" blog, regarding some faculty issues. I read the blog regularly, but I comment infrequently. I requested that my personal blog not be linked directly from there because I wanted to speak my mind here without feeling like I was somehow associated with the law school's blog. I am a student with a student's perspective on law school, but my page is primarily personal thoughts and not law school commentary. That said, occasionally I do comment there, particularly when an issue arises that I feel needs another voice, or in this case, some voice of reason.

The current controversy has to do with a student-driven petition regarding a young professor's bid for tenure. I am neither for nor against his tenure, although he has only been teaching for three years, and that seems quite young to me to be expecting, or even requesting, tenure at any law school. But what do I know? Not much about faculty/administrative procedures, and I would not even question the faculty/administrative decisions to grant or not grant tenure. I am not an insider, and I don't pretend to have any greater perspective.

What is noteworthy regarding this particular controversy probably has more to do with my coming to the end of my law school experience and less to do with any insight I might offer regarding the young professor in question. What troubles me about the comment string to the post is that many of the current and prospective students have this misplaced sense of entitlement and disrespectful attitude. The comments deviate from the young prof's tenure to bashing the academic instituion here to bashing another controversial professor, who is a seasoned staple at our law school. She is one of those professors who you either love or you don't. She's tough and opinionated and difficult and stubborn in her views. She can be offensive and abrasive, and she's hard as hell to please. But she's brilliant and stead-fast in her position. Simply put, you may not like her, you may not agree with her, but she's certainly not afraid to stand her ground. And she can support a position with such ferocity and force that you just might eventually back down. And if that is not a positive attribute of an excellent attorney, I don't know what is.

I should note that I haven't had this particular professor. I know her only in passing and in reputation. But I certainly wouldn't go onto a blog and disrespect her, or any other professor for that matter.

My point is this:

Just because you have the ambition and opportunity to go to law school and achieve a higher education doesn't make anyone better than anyone else. Whether your parents are footing the bill for your degree and throwing in a condo on the canal to boot, or you are working two jobs and sleeping little in order to make your lawyer dreams come true, no one owes anyone anything. Most of us fall in the middle of that spectrum, and most of us take it in a respectful stride. Those students who think they are "buying into" a law school education and as such, they are entitled to not only pick their professors, but bitch endlessly and disrespectfully about every little thing they don't agree with, and then demand that they are owed something because they bought into this program, are approaching law school from a skewed point of view. Fortunately (or maybe not so), law school academia allows and fosters such independent thought. Maybe it's old school, but I completely disagree.

IU-Indy has top-notch professors. It is a top-notch school, regardless of where we are ranked. Yes, I'm nostalgic at the end of my time here. But I also see this crap attitude from a select group of students, and I don't appreciate having that negative attitude following in my footsteps.

Law school is tough. It may or may not be reflective of what one experiences out in the working world of the justice system. Current and prospective students shouldn't be so quick to pigeonhole the experience. It is a privileged opportunity, one that I am forever grateful for, and what comes with that privilege is a diverse group of professors and experiences that allow one the opportunity to make their own path.

I couldn't have asked for a better environment or better professors than what I've had here. The good, the bad, and the ugly all have made me the graduate that I'm about to be. The students who are fighting against the flow of the system for their own ulterior motives are simply asking to miss out on experiences that would likely make them better off in the long run.

The Lawnmower Man

Is it possible to mow your yard with a weed-wacker? Well, I'll let you know once my neighbor gets done doing just that. That damn garden weasel has been buzzing for almost an hour now.

The noise is interfering with my study of environmental and toxic torts, and the distraction is just adding to my temptation to take a break and watch Oprah (instead, I'm taking a break and bloggin this). The previews indicated Oprah would be discussing dating, relationships, and break-up sex. And seriously, break-up sex is way more interesting than the statistical anlysis of epidemiological studies that I am currently stuck on for tomorrow's exam.

I just can't be one of those students that takes their last exams lightly, but today I really wish I could be. I won't, but I wish I could be.

Garden weasel is still at it, eatin' up his lawn...

Stir it up, little darlin'

So here's how I ended up in law school:

I was 28 and burning out fast in my job as the executive director of a very public and very political non-profit organization when I registered to sit for the LSAT. I signed up 4 weeks prior to the exam with no concrete plans to do anything with the results, whatever they may be. I didn't study for the LSAT, and I barely knew what to expect from the exam.

Over the next couple of months, I tossed around whether or not to apply, whether or not to attend if I got accepted. I had a busy life in my hometown - my job, my friends and family, my condo, my on-again/off-again boyfriend. While I knew that I needed a challenge and I desperately wanted a chance at a career I would love, I knew that going to law school would lead to some pretty significant changes in my life. I had been batting around the idea of law school since my first days as an undergrad, but I always found some reason to put it off.

I applied to one school within commuting distance, and I was accepted. I still hadn't decided for sure whether or not I should go. I remember discussing the dilemma with one of the members of my board of directors, and he said, "Amanda, not going to law school would be like playing baseball your entire life, getting called up to the big leagues, and turning them down. You have to go. You'd be a fool to pass up the opportunity." And I knew he was right. I decided to stop putting it off, take on the law school bull by the horns and hope for the best.

So I started law school in the fall of 2002. And the significant changes I anticipated materialized in more ways than I imagined over the next three years. Eventually, I left the condo, the boyfriend (after I married him and divorced him in my second year of school - he hated everything about my being in law school), and finally left my hometown. I kept the dog and moved to Indianapolis. The physical changes alone were significant.

But what I have personally gained in law school has been beyond my expectations. I have made wonderful friends and have had the opportunity to meet, be taught by, and work with amazing and brilliant minds. I have had excellent job opportunities teaching me about the practice of law outside the classroom. I have not always been the most dedicated or the brightest student, but I have worked my ass off interning at a prosecutor's office and clerking for two great firms, and that hard work has paid off for me. I am a very different person today than I was three years ago, and those changes have been for the better. Most of all, I am happier than I can remember being in a long time, and I am optimistic about my professional future. Being an attorney will be a good thing for me.

A friend of mine asked me a couple of days ago if I would do it all over again. I didn't hesitate in saying that I would.

No surprises here!

Your brain is 86.67% Female, 13.33% Male

Your Brain is 86.67% Female, 13.33% Male

You have the brain of a girly girl Which isn't a bad thing at all You're emphatetic, caring, and in tune with emotions. You're a good friend and give great advice.

What Gender Is Your Brain?

Almost there...

I just finished my last class of law school. My last class.

More on how I feel about that later on...

*snicker*

So, every time I hit up my blog today and see "turd" front and center on that postcard, I crack up (scroll down to the next post to see the postcard). And it probably won't lose its humor - I'll still be laughing at it tomorrow and the next day. I have such a juvenile sense of humor.

At least it appears that I'm not alone. A couple of my law school girlfriends are also sharing in junior high giggles. Deb posted about how her copyright class was discussing "boat hulls" the other day, which would have made me snicker every time the prof came so very close to uttering every 12-year-old's favorite insult. And Kelly has posted about the similar appearance of our graduation apparel and some velvet purses made to mimic some very intimate female anatomy. And I just laugh and laugh.

Maybe it has something to do with the fact that all of us are otherwise completely submersed in black letter law, legal theories, public policy analyses, outlines and notes and and everything else related to studying for final exams that we see humor in such silly places.

Nah. It's just that we still think silly things are really funny!

This is not my secret, but it made me laugh ~

PostSecret posts new secrets every Sunday. Today's collection is worth checking out!

Spring in Indiana

I just put Milo outside, and the look on his face was pretty funny when I opened the door. The deck is covered with a layer of snow and it feels like it's about 10 degrees outside, although my laptop says it is 31 degrees. I think the weather has the birds pissed off, too. I can hear a few of them making a loud fuss in the lilac bush outside.

It's a good thing I have no plans but to stay inside and study for finals all day. It's freakin' cold and windy and wet out there. Yuck.

Found

Deb lent me a book called Found last week after I told her about my fascination with the PostSecret website. The book is a collection of notes, letters, photographs, and other stuff that the author has found on the ground, in the trash, on cars, etc. As the author traveled around the country, he handed out fliers inviting people to send in stuff that they had found as well, and he received an overwhelming response and then compiled what he'd received into the book.

This book is something else - other people's thoughts and messages, scrawled on grocery lists, junior high notes, letters to unborn children and lovers and dying parents. While you can't get the full effect without seeing the handwritten notes themselves, here are a couple of simple ones that I found amusing:

Mario,
I fucking hate you. You said you had to work then whys your car HERE at HER place?? You're a fucking LIAR. I hate you. I fucking hate you.
Amber
PS - Page me later
The author found this note after leaving a friend's apartment in Chicago. The note, obviously intended for the guy named Mario, was on the windshield of the author's car. The "page me later" part is such a riot.

I wish I won't flunk sixth grade.
This note was found attached to a balloon in someone's backyard in Houston, Texas.

Amos,
Last night was terrible! I'm so mad at you. I thought we agreed about that thing you do... you know? It's not kinky - it's GROSS!! You need to get over this phase of yours. If you don't, well then you can just sleep alone! Sorry that I couldn't say this to your face, but I can't bare to look at you right now. I have to go, I have calculus next period. Don't call me, I don't want to talk to you or see you later. You better get over this, it's really damaging our sex life.
Mary
This note was found in Hoffman Estates, Illinois scrawled on a piece of notebook paper, obviously before a high school calculus class. I would love to know what exactly Amos was trying to get away with!

Goals:
1. Go to church. Find God, then find myself through him. Get baptised.
2. Party a lot. Meet new people. Start drinking once a week. Be social. My mom met my dad at a party... don't forget that.
3. Start exercising with my mom this week (March 10th - March 14th)
4. Spend a lot of time alone. Find myself. Figure out a way to be happy alone. I need to know that I can be content by myself. I know I am beautiful. I know that I have a wonderful personality. I know that I'm smart. I know that I'm worthy of being loved.
5. Find a new job. Tomorrow, I will call back all my places that I applied to. I will turn applications into new places.
6. Go to the Zoo Bar alone; get soaked into the music. Go to a lot of small concerts alone.
7. Take one class at SCC on March 31st. Debt Free Living $45 Sec:SA Monday, March 31, 2003, 7-10PM Rm A-1, Inst: Meyer
8 Go home and visit w/ family more often. At least 3x/week
This note is appropriately titled "Find God, Start Drinking." It was found in the bushes outside an apartment complex in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Before the rain...

There's quite the storm blowing in here. I've got my front door and deck door open, and the wind is whipping through the living room. The air has that funny smell that happens just before the downpour.

I love it.

The Awesome Puffy Gown

So, I got my cap and gown for graduation yesterday. It came via UPS, and my neighbor boy couldn't wait to run down the sidewalk and inform me that I had a gotten a package while I was gone walking my route with Milo after work. That has nothing to do with the gown, but it is further evidence that neighbor boy spies on me.

Anyhow, I immediately busted the gown out of the box like a kid at Christmas. This is not your standard flimsy graduation gown. No way, kids. This is a big, ceremonial get-up that is actually real fabric with black velvet lining and stripes, and the sleeves are puffy and gathered. The gown weighs more than my dog. Awesome.

And then there's the hood. It's quite ceremonial and regal, with deep purple and magenta silk lining. But I sure as hell couldn't figure out how it all goes together with the snaps and the turning the colors the right way. I had to call Kelly and ask for guidance but she hadn't received hers yet. She wisely suggested I read the directions, which would obviously be a good place to start, but in all my excitement I had flung them aside.

So I put the whole thing on last night with the hood probably inside out or backwards, and I stood in front of my bathroom mirror and admired the look. I know what I've been working so hard for, but seeing myself in that gown made it all seem very real and almost incomprehensible that I have nearly earned the J.D. For the past three years, I just studied and worked and moved forward toward the goal, but until now, I hadn't imagined what it would feel like to actually graduate from law school.

It feels good. We deserve the puffy sleeves.

April 19, 1995

I was 22 years old, a senior in college. I vividly remember sitting on the couch in the living room of 1221 W. Abbott Street, eating a bowl of cereal and probably trying to decide whether to go to my morning class. My boyfriend was in the shower, and his radio was competing with my morning news. It was a Wednesday, I think, and it was a really pretty spring morning. I used to pack a back pack with books, pull my long hair up in a ponytail, and ride my bike the mile or so to campus, and I loved spring mornings then, too.

I was watching TV when the news came on with footage from Oklahoma City. I remember being so shocked and sad, especially for those children. I sat on the couch, captivated, crying, and missed my morning class so I could stay home and stare at the television and try to comprehend why something like this would happen.

My life has always been one of relative innocence, untouched by such horrible tragedy as those in Oklahoma City or New York City. Yet I will sit and watch coverage and cry and grieve for all of these people as if I knew them myself. And I still cry today for their loss, ten years later. There's something about the magnitude of the tragedies that I just can't wrap my mind around.

Why do people want to blow us up just to make a point? Why is that?

For Sale

I am worth $1,953,568.00 on HumanForSale.com

WTF?

Who walks their dog at 3:45AM? Seriously - WHO DOES THAT?

Well, apparently someone in my neighborhood decided it was a good time to walk not one, but two dogs. And thanks to the diligent dog-walker, Milo went insane with the barking and running from window to window. I, of course, had to get out of bed and make sure the boogie man I've been waiting for wasn't actually trying to break in.

Then Milo wanted to go outside, too. Unfortunately, dogs have no concept of time.

On the flip side, it is another incredible, sunny spring morning here!

Free Your Mind *

I had lunch plans today with three prosecutors and a police officer from the county up north where I worked last summer. While I miss seeing these guys, I was not too disappointed when they called to reschedule for next week due to one of the attorneys freaking out about getting assigned to do bench trials in a new court this afternoon. Besides catching up, the other purpose of our lunch was for me to tell them that I have accepted a job offer from the firm where I am currently clerking, which means I will not be returning to the prosecutor's office after graduation. I am not looking forward to dropping this bit of news on them. They are a persuasive group and simply will not let me off the hook with a "Hey, that's great! We understand why you can't possibly pay back your monumental loan debt as a single girl on a prosecutor's salary!" No, these guys will guilt me the entire time about selling out to firm work and how miserable I will be, which is not true except in their prosecutorial minds.

Anyhow, I'll tell them next week. Not that they need to be told again - I have told them before that I will not be coming back after graduation, but until recently I didn't have a concrete offer to back up my decision, so there was still some possibility that I might go back. There's a part of me that would absolutely love be a prosecutor, especially with these particular guys in that particular county. And they know that, which I suppose is what makes it hard to let go.

So instead, Kelly and I walked to Acapulco Joe's. We sat outside and shared three pounds of cheese and a margarita. On the way back to the law school, we got complimented by some guy walking by who said, "Good God almighty!!" as he passed.

And we jaywalked, too! Woohoo!

* This title has nothing to do with this post, other than Kelly mentioned that she had been listening to En Vogue and now I can't get the song out of my head.

Secrets

A couple of other people have linked to this site, but I really wanted to link it here as well. As one person said about this blog, "Its hard to find anything in life that's truly original, and I think that you have hit upon somthing special."

Fascinating, and very touching.

Facts and Fiction

Since I just finished reading my Toxic Torts assignment for tomorrow, which incidentally means I can watch Survivor tonight guilt-free, I can now answer the E. Spat to Kelly P. to me blog chain letter sent to me this morning.

1. You're stuck inside Fahrenheit 451, which book do you want to be saved?
I haven't read this book, so I am a bit clueless on this question. Unlike E. Spat, I am not taking the time to Google it or figure it out. If I had to save a book from anything, it would be To Kill a Mockingbird, which is without a doubt my most favorite book.

2. Have you ever had a crush on a fictional character?
Of course. I don't think it would be a stretch to say that nearly all of my crushes are on fictional characters since I tend to turn most of the real men I know into fictional characters in my head. I prefer to admire some people from afar and not really know how jacked up someone really is, even if that includes making up attributes that they may or may not really have. And yes, I am well aware that I have issues. That said, I can fall in love with a very wide myriad of fictional characters, none of which will ever break my heart. A few of my favorites include Atticus Finch, Superman, Jack McCoy from Law & Order, any character Andrew McCarthy has ever played, John Cusack's character Lane Myer from Better Off Dead, and Tom Sawyer or Jem Finch all grown up.

3. The last book you purchased?
It is downright shameful to admit that I have spent nearly three thousand dollars on law books in the past 3 years but have trouble remembering the last book I purchased that was not associated with a class. I bought The Bitch in the House at an airport last time I travelled (which was about 18 months ago, unfortunately). This book was a collection of essays from women ranging in age from early 20's to mid 70's about balancing career/family/life issues. Most of them I enjoyed; some were downright feminist hate crap. I skipped those. I bought a cookbook - does that count? And one about mixed drinks, too. Those were on sale and mostly for decoration in my kitchen, though. This is so pathetic, really.

When I was a kid, my most favorite reward and gift was when my mom would take me to the bookstore. Sometimes she would take me when I was feeling bad or got my feelings hurt at school or when I got in trouble with my Dad (which was often). There was no better feeling than buying new books and going home and submersing myself in a storyline filled with vivid characters and plots that stole me away from my own world. I read Sweet Valley High and Judy Blume and Beverly Cleary. And then Stephen King and Mary Higgens Clark and John Grisham. I have always been an avid reader. Being a law student steals a lot from your life, and I'll be glad to re-claim that small part of getting lost in a good book.

4. What are you currently reading?
A Purpose-Driven Life. I borrowed the book from my mom, and I am committed to making it a priority in my life right now. And I read newspapers, but I don't consider that particularly substantive.

5. Five books you would take to a deserted island?
1) The Bible. If I could only have one single book, it would be the Bible.
2) To Kill a Mockingbird. I have read this book a zillion times. It never gets old.
3) Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein
4) At Kelly P.'s brilliant suggestion, An Idiot's Guide to Being Stranded on a Desert Island.
5) Different Seasons - a collection of short stories by Stephen King, which includes Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption and The Body, which was made into the movie, "Stand By Me." I love all of the stories in this collection because they center around pure humanity rather than horror.
6) Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. Again, I love the story and it never gets old.

I'm sure there are more profound, meaning-of-life books I could choose. Not only can I not think of any right now, I probably wouldn't want to read them once I was stranded. I would, however, also request a subscription to "O" magazine.

Oops! I did it again...

Remember some time ago when I ate half a box of Girl Scout Thin Mints? Well, I did it again. And then I ate a can of pears. This was after a power walk around the neighborhood that left my legs feeling like they needed cookies and pears.

Unfortunately, my stomach did not need the cookie/pear dinner of champs combo. ugh.

8 years, 11 months, and 19 days

On July 25, 1984, a nine-year-old girl was found murdered in a wooded area outside of Baltimore, Maryland. She had been sexually assaulted, beaten with a rock, and strangled.

Less than one month later, Kirk Bloodsworth was arrested for the crime. After the press released a composite sketch compiled by five witnesses who claimed to have seen the suspect with the victim, a tipster called the police and said that the composite looked like his neighbor, Mr. Bloodsworth. Mr. Bloodsworth was a former marine with no criminal record. He was married, and he worked as a commercial fisherman. He said he had been home on the day of the crime.

The prosecution based its case against Mr. Bloodsworth on several points:
* An anonymous caller tipped police that Bloodsworth had been seen with the girl earlier in the day.
* A witness identified Bloodsworth from a police sketch compiled by five witnesses.
* The five witnesses testified that they had seen Bloodsworth with the little girl.
* Bloodsworth had told acquaintances he had done something "terrible" that day that would affect his marriage.
* In his first police interrogation, Bloodsworth mentioned a "bloody rock," even though no weapons were known of at the time.
* Testimony was given that a shoe impression found near the victim's body was made by a shoe that matched Bloodsworth's size.

On March 8, 1985, Mr. Bloodsworth was convicted of the sexual assault, rape, and first degree premeditated murder of the nine-year-old girl. A Baltimore County judge sentenced Mr. Bloodsworth to death.

In 1986 Bloodsworth's attorney filed an appeal contending the following:
* Bloodsworth mentioned the bloody rock because the police had one on the table next to him while they interrogated him.
* The "terrible" thing mentioned to acquaintances was that he had failed to buy his wife dinner as he had promised.
* Police withheld information from defense attorneys relating to the possibility of another suspect.

The Maryland Court of Appeals overturned Bloodsworth's conviction in July 1986 because of the withheld information. He was retried, and a jury convicted him a second time. This time, Bloodsworth was sentenced to two consecutive life terms.

After an appeal of the second conviction was denied, Mr. Bloodsworth's lawyer moved to have the evidence released for more sophisticated testing than was available at the time of trial. The prosecution agreed. In April 1992, the victim's panties and shorts, a stick found near the murder scene, reference blood samples from Mr. Bloodsworth and the victim, and an autopsy slide were sent to Forensic Science Associates (FSA) for DNA testing.

On June 3, 1993, FSA issued a report concluding that Mr. Bloodsworth's DNA did not match any of the evidence received for testing. The report further stated that Mr. Bloodsworth could not be responsible for the crime. A Baltimore County circuit judge ordered Bloodsworth released from prison on June 28, 1993. Maryland's governor pardoned Bloodsworth in December 1993. Mr. Bloodsworth was the first man to have a capital conviction overturned based on DNA evidence.

In 2003, the Maryland State’s Attorney announced that a DNA match had been made in the nearly 20-year-old case. That person pled guilty on May 20, 2004 to the murder for which Bloodsworth had been wrongfully convicted. The person who committed the crime had been brought to the attention of the police in 1984; however, the police disregarded the tip and focused on Mr. Bloodsworth instead.

Mr. Bloodsworth spoke at the law school yesterday, along with John Terzano from The Justice Project. As Mr. Bloodsworth told his story, many of us were moved to tears. Mr. Bloodsworth spent 8 years, 11 months, and 19 days in one of our nation’s most brutal prison for a crime he did not commit. Eight years, eleven months and nineteen days. Two of those years were spent on death row.

All moral arguments aside, the truth of the matter is that we cannot create a fool-proof system that ensures with 100% accuracy that every single person on death row is in fact guilty of the crime they are accused of committing. This story is why I am opposed to the death penalty.

The Way I See It #38

From this morning's Starbucks:

"After traveling to and performing in more than 50 different countries, I've realized that no matter what laws were created for the people, songs and music seemed to transcend everything. Government can be cancerous to civilization; therefore I've also realized that although born in one country, I claim to be a citizen of the world instead of arrogantly above it."
-- Chuck D, musician

Weekend Redux

I am currently holding back an intense urge to run over to Best Buy and get myself a digital camera so I can take pictures of the daffodils in my front yard. Seriously, folks - they totally kick ass, and I didn't even have to plant them myself. They are huge, giant-sized daffodils, and some of them are white with bright orange middles. Orange!

Also, I wanted to take pictures of the two new babies (yes, horses again) that were born this weekend up at home. Although not nearly as fabulous as my sister's new baby, these two - a filly and a colt - were pretty darn cute. And I got to see them within 24 hours of being born, which made them all wobbley on their legs and goofy-looking, too. Adorable stuff right there.

So yeah. Flowers and horses. This weekend has been a variation on last weekend's theme, including all the pesky studying hanging over my head.

Friday night, I hit the local watering hole for yet another birthday celebration with my hometown friends. We always go to the same spot on the courthouse square where many of the local attorneys, judges, politicians, and various other small-town yuppies tend to hang out for a excessive guilt-free drinking at what most people in my town consider a "fine dining" restaurant. Many years ago, I bartended and waited tables there, so I have a particular fondness for the place. And even though I don't get back as frequently as I used to, most people there still know me, and that's always fun even though I have to repeat the same things over and over - still graduating in May, still not coming back home to practice.

After a few drinks, we unfortunately decided to hit the karaoke hole-in-the-wall bar on the other side of the square this time out. It was scary, really, with all the mullets and drunken stupidity and really horrible renditions of already-bad country songs. I only lasted about 30 minutes, if that. Too much smoke, unspeakable masacres of a Neil Diamond tune and that bluegrass song from "O Brother, Where Art Thou", and besides, I really hate that bar. Really.

Anyhow, the rest of the weekend was busy with other things - studying, picking Dad up from the airport, picking prickly burrs out of Milo's fur (because he always feels the need to get into shit), sleeping in, and lunch with the grandparents today. Speaking of lunch with my grandparents, apparently my grandfather, who had a stroke last year, has no memory of my ex-husband. My grandma said something about my ex the other day, and he said, "Who's that?" He seriously has no recollection of my dating him, marrying him, or divorcing him. How great is that?? I adore my grandfather, and would have preferred for him to live the rest of his life in ignorant bliss as to that little fiasco in my life. My grandma wasn't going to tell him anything about it (more out of spite, really, because she was mad that he didn't remember), but my dad got caught off guard when my grandfather asked him, and he filled him in. Well, at least Grandad doesn't personally remember all the gory details.

Yeah, I wish I had that particular memory loss myself, actually.

Anyhow, it's Sunday afternoon now. I'm back home. Milo is barking at nothing. I have things I really ought to be doing.

Because I like everything about this picture...

TGIF

Keeping with being behind in just about every single aspect of my life, here are the Friday Spies from last week, compliments to Heidi and BTQ one week late:

1. Have you ever been in a car wreck?
Yes. A couple of weeks after I got my license, I borrowed my sisters way cool Dodge Charger to go hang out with boys at the high school tennis courts. On the way back toward town (I went to a county school), I took Dead Man's Curve (doesn't every small Indiana town have one of these?) too fast, spun out, and nailed a cement wall. It was, unfortunately, a small abutment next to a cemetary, and there were a few flowers smashed in the grill of the car. That really upset me. No one was hurt, but the car was totalled. My sister was pissed and my dad never recovered his confidence in my ability to drive.

I've had a couple of other minor fender-benders, including one last year. I rear-ended a doctor in a BMW, no less, at Meridian and 86th near downtown Indy. It was raining outside, and I was stopped at a light. The light turned green and I gunned it, but he didn't move as fast as I did. I neglected to tell him that I was also reading the newspaper at the light, too. That little mistake cost about $500, which wasn't bad considering his BMW and all.

2. Sunrise or sunset?
Either. I'm a morning person, and I love to be up before sunrise. However, I'll take a sunset anywhere, anytime, with just about anyone. The prettiest sunsets I've seen were out in Denver, but Indiana sunrises are breathtaking.

3. If you could change, amend, delete, or pass one law, what would it be?
Good grief, this is too broad. I'd like to change, add or delete a whole bunch of laws. First of all, cruelty to animals ought to have much stiffer penalties. And I'd do away with the death penalty. And I think jaywalking ought to be legal, although done at your own risk.

4. What is your favorite single article of clothing?
Pajamas. I also like the aformentioned wife-beater tank top, in white. I love my Indiana sweatshirt, and for work I love my pin stripe suit. I also have this one pair of black pants that I just can't part with, even though they really are getting kind of ratty. I love them.

5. If you could/had to spend the day hanging out with another blogger(one you don't already know), who would it be and what would you do?
I would like to hang with the entire anonymous crew over at Clearly Erroneous someplace hot and sunny, by the ocean, drinking beer. Let's say Mexico. And why? Because they are filthy and funny as hell. I also would love to hang out with E.Spat at WWFFD, and we would definitely go to a Buffett show, again someplace hot and sunny, by the ocean, but drinking margaritas.

Survivor, baby!

Last night, Survivor totally rocked. I passed up an opportunity to go singing at the Moon with the Kellies, and it was well worth it. Not to mention that I got a full night's sleep, too!

Anyhow, a couple of thoughts:

* I like Coby. I loved his comments about being a feminist and not being able to stand how the women on Koror are lazy and allow the men to cater to them. But I have to say that Coby's crying jag was a bit much for me. I know it was a moment for him, but it made me want to vomit.
* Stephanie has got to be the strongest woman, both mentally and physically, ever on Survivor, and maybe the most competitive, too. Last night she completely won my vote to win the game.
* Did Bobby John really blow his nose OUT one side like that?! Again, vomit. His mother must be so proud.
* I was shocked to hear about the Tom/Ian/Katie/Stephanie alliance. I don't understand when and how that happened on the second day. More importantly, Katie? Seriously? She does nothing. They better have a plan B because she's likely to get the ax. I would, however, like to see Tom/Ian/Stephanie get to the end.
* The only person more annoying than Katie might be Jen. Or Janu. Or Caryn. Koror really needs to start weeding out some folks.
* Those huge clams are something else. I think I would be a bit scared of them.

Lost & Found

Has anyone noticed that Blogger has a new feature called "recover post"? I wonder if it actually works.

I hope they did that just for me, queen of the lost posts...

How much do I love my dog?

No one should be surprised that I would do this if I found myself in a similar position. Of course, I would hope that my bank account would be in a similar position as well. Interesting article, though.

As for the lack of posting, I've been coming up empty the past couple of days. It's blogger's block or something.

AI goes B'way

If you're looking for a great re-cap of last night's American Idol, there's a brilliant one here at Kelly P.'s place.

I don't watch AI regularly. However, I spent the first half of last night's show on the phone with Kelly P. and the other half with Chuck, both of whom are the bitchiest Broadway junkies I have ever met. The catty comments were a flyin'. Kelly knows her vocal technicalities better, but Chuck is way more snarky.

I was just trying to figure out if Paula really is drunk and what the hell was going on with that ugly sweater Seacrest was wearing.

Who's shocked here?

My favorite skank, Britney, has finally sold herself to reality TV. Apparently Brit and that dirty husband of hers have teamed up with UPN to do a reality tell-all about their marriage, including "exclusive private home videos" and commentary from the gruesome twosome.

I'll admit it. I'll probably watch the trainwreck that is sure to be this show.

A scrub is someone that can't get no love from me...

I spent some time at the medical school library this afternoon doing research for work. I did not find exactly what I went looking for, unfortunately. However, I made an observation regarding attire:

I would have been a HELL of a lot more comfortable had I been doing such research in scrubs. My ideal outfit: scrub pants, my fun slip-on Sketchers, a "wife-beater" tank top (I realize how very red-neck that term is, so excuse me for not knowing how better to describe this particular garment, of which I own about 20. Odd for a girl, maybe, but they are so comfy), and a scrub top. Instead, I have on "law student" attire, which isn't nearly so comfortable. I would have had more patience with the medical books in scrubs. That's all I'm saying.

Just checkin'

Hey - is there like some big basketball game on TV right now??

Someone told me today, "Amanda, you're from Indiana. You have to love basketball." It's not that I don't like basketball, I just don't like it as much as I like football. Or baseball. Or brushing my teeth.

If I were at a bar, though - say, Champps - drinkin' cold beer, soakin' up the frenzied atmosphere, makin' bets with the bartenders, cheerin' for whoever is ahead or behind - instead of sitting here 20 minutes away from downtown Indy, then you might swear I love basketball. Really.

I'm shootin' for Illinois tonight.

UPDATE: So I guessed wrong. UNC just won the game by 5. I turned it on with less than two minutes to go. The game was tied. I was hooked. Don't tell me I'm not a basketball fan!! :)

Feelin' groovy (and earthy)

I just pulled weeds. Well, I am relatively sure what I pulled were weeds. They looked weed-like and were dead, and once I pulled them, the flower bed along the walk looked much better with the new flowers not pushing their way through the old stuff. There is a garden out front, and one in the back, and it's a damn shame I know next to nothing about gardening, or even basic garden maintenance. At the very least, I will try to first do no harm to the gardens, but I really can't make any promises.

This place is such a haven. I will be sad to give it up in June when I have to move. I love being here - so much that I think it takes the sting out of being alone, on the occasions that I get to feeling a bit lonely. I've looked around this neighborhood to see what is on the market, but it isn't practical for me to think of buying right now. I better wait to see if I pass the bar exam and get settled into a job before making that kind of commitment. But if I were going to buy a house, this neighborhood would be at the top of my list. Maybe this time next spring...

Anyhow, sticking my hands in the dirt was a good excuse to spend some time outside after being cooped up in a law office all day. I love spring.

The most terrifying thing happened as soon as I stepped in the door tonight. I had my hands completely full coming in from the garage - bookbag, purse, large load of dry cleaning hung over one arm, expanding file folder in the other, and my empty coffee mug. Milo always greets me at the door, and I could hear him on the other side of the door, barking up a storm. As I came inside, he ran between my feet, tripping me and all my crap and sending him tumbling down the basement stairs, which sit right next to the garage entry. My beloved little dog tumbled all the way down the stairs, and slid right into the wall at the bottom. As you can imagine, I almost passed out right there. But he bounced right up, ran up the stairs into my arms, and seems to be just fine. I made sure he wasn't limping or anything, and then I took him for a walk to see if he was favoring his legs, but he appears to be perfectly okay. It was enough, however, to give me a freakin' heart attack. That dog is this girl's best friend, and I really don't want to think about anything happening to him.

So, speaking of the little monster, while we were walking we passed a young couple with another yorkie. Theirs, however, was about 4 lbs and had a bow in her hair. I wouldn't do that to Milo, who, at 9 lbs, thinks he's a big bad-ass dog. It was cute watching them sniff and then play around in the grass while we talked dogs and weather. It was way more cute than when I passed the jogger with the doberman. I waved as I crossed the street to the other sidewalk before Milo decided he wanted to play with the doberman, too.

So yeah. What's happened in the past hour and a half has been much more interesting than the rest of my entire day.

The Way I See It #41

"In order to secure our own children's future we have no choice but to contribute to a common destiny for all children. As a father of seven children from 11 years old to 50, this has become my top priority." -- Quincy Jones, Composer

So my Starbucks cup isn't as inspirational today as some. Securing our children's future by contributing to a "common destiny for all children"? What does that mean, really? And seven children from 11 - 50. FIFTY?! I would suspect, simply based on numbers, that all of his children are not from one woman. Hey Quincy, how about trying to have a solid family in order to secure your own children's future?

Okay, I'm a bit cynical this morning, but just about Quincy's prolific procreation. I'm not being fair, I know, as I certainly don't know the guy or the good deeds he probably does.

Oh, and I spilled some of that Starbucks on my white sweater twinset this morning. Hey, it's a Monday! :)

Hooray for being productive!

15 minutes to The Contender, so this will be brief. I have been studying nearly the entire day, and I am so close to being finished with this case outline that I feel perfectly not guilty in putting it away and finishing tomorrow night. What a beautiful day, not completely wasted as I am pleased with how much is behind me, at least in one class.

I took a break this afternoon and posted the Friday Spies, two days late but I really don't care. Unfortunately, after finishing a rather lengthy post, Blogger ate it. Damn! You'd think I'd learn to draft somewhere else, but I like the spontaneity of impulse posting. Maybe I'll get a chance to re-post it later this evening or tomorrow, just in case you can't live without knowing about how I wrecked my sister's first car or that my favorite sweatshirt is the white hooded one with "Indiana" across the chest in pink lettering.

For now, I am headed to the couch. Oh, and the sun tea turned out nicely - not as strong as I'd hoped, but green tea never makes sun tea as good as the ol' Lipton kind. And guess who couldn't resist bringing the pitcher to my door this evening? Yep, the neighbor boy. I chatted with him out on the porch, but didn't invite him in this time because he wasn't wearing shoes and his feet looked like he'd been running through the streets. Not that I don't occasionally like to go barefoot and get my feet dirty, but I don't go knocking on my neighbor's door like that. Yuck.

Good day, Sunshine

I just set out a pitcher of green tea on the front porch to steep in the sun. How very Martha Stewart-like, huh. In order to bring the nice day inside, I opened up the house and took out the storm door, leaving the open screen. I cut some daffodils from the front yard, and I set some plants out back on the deck. At least they should enjoy today's rays.

Back to the books. I am making substantial progress so far. It is about damn time, though. :)

Fresh start

It is the most stunning morning - perfectly sunny and crispy cool. All the flowers out front seem to be extra perky and vibrant, reaching up toward the sun. The sky is blue, and breeze has died off. It's definitely a good morning for a walk, and Milo seems to feel the same as he's been laying in front of the glass doors, looking back at me as if to say, "Hey!! Get off your ass and take me out to chase those birds!!"

Horsin' around

So once again, my follow through on today's goal of getting a solid start on my case outline didn't work out for me so well. Good thing there's always tomorrow, right?

My sister, Jen, called around noon, and I ended up meeting her and her boyfriend, Spencer, down at the Hoosier Horse Fair and Expo at the Indiana State fairgrounds. I had an absolute blast looking at exhibits, lovin' on the horses, watching demonstrations, and doing a bit of shopping. Jen and Spencer are horse people through and through, and they know the business end of things. They are also so much fun to hang around a barn with. We looked at horse trailers and trucks and tack and talked to other horse people about horse things. Well, I stood around talking to the horses while Jen and Spence talked to horse people about horse things. I can find my way around a barn just fine, but when it comes to the serious side of the business, I am comparatively clueless.

The highlights of my afternoon included buying a new pair of boots, which I have been wanting. They are very cool cowboy boots. Spencer pointed out that they are not exactly "in" - I wanted the classic cowboy boots, not the newer rounded toe chunkier boots. I don't care if they are in or not. I think they are fun. I also entered a raffle to win a pretty yearling Haflinger pony, not that I have a clue what I would do with her if I actually won her. I'll cross that bridge if I get lucky enough to come to it. I kept Jen and Spence laughing all afternoon by being my typical silly self and saying "that's hot" about a million times, mostly about the cowboys. And I bought Jen an early birthday gift - a show halter for the new baby horse. She's named him Harley, by the way, and I really should post some pics of him. He is beautiful. And I had a lemon shake-up because you can't go to the fairgrounds without having one.

All in all, a very fun Indiana afternoon. I love the smell of the barns, the feel of a horse's breath on your cheek, getting dirty and not caring one bit, hanging out with my sister, who is so very different than I am. I think it did me a world of good to get out of my typical element, if just for the afternoon.

Saturday in the park...

Well, it's Saturday morning, and today has thus far been more productive than most weekend days as of late. I've been up since about 5:30am, thanks to Milo who apparently felt the need to go outside in the rain. I stayed in bed and watched the news until about 6:30 or so, then got up and began the day. So far, I have done two loads of laundry, cleaned the kitchen and bathroom, taken Milo on an quick walk around the neighborhood, sorted through the 3 pages of e-mails from yesterday, and gotten a good start on my studying. I am planning on spending the rest of the day working on a case outline for my Freedom of Speech class, and I have a couple of errands to run this afternoon. Maybe. Or maybe I'll just stay here at my desk in my sweats.

About this time each semester, I switch gears from keeping up with weekly reading to looking forward to final exams and getting outlines and such in order for those finals. I find myself this semester in the unenviable position of having 5 final exams. Unbelievable, really. When I put my schedule together, I felt I had no other choice, but now I wonder if there was something I could have done to avoid this pressure. Three of the five are sure to be incredibly difficult, and I have a lot of catching up to do with the material before I even begin the larger task of studying for the exam. Luckily for me, I tend to be quite good at locking myself down and cramming for hours and days on end. I have found in my last few semesters that this strategy always seems to be my last resort, although I swear at the beginning of each new semester that I will not get behind and end up playing catch-up at the end. My intentions are obviously better than my follow through regarding class work, though. At any rate, I have consistently maintained a GPA within hundredths of a singel point each semester (not counting the semester I took Income Tax, which nearly killed my GPA alone), whether or not I wait until the last minute to get caught up, so perhaps my strategy isn't all bad.

For those of you wondering, the Food & Drug presentation went well, although Kelly P. and I were a bit rushed. The Amstel Kelly brought was a hit against the Ice beer someone else brought, and apparently everyone thought the cake went well with the Amstel. After class, Kelly, John C., and I attended the Women's Caucus action and bid on some interesting items. I won a "dogs and suds" day at Victory Field to watch an Indianapolis Indians game with three friends and a local judge I am very fond of. It should be a fun day this summer, and I'm looking forward to going to an Indians game again. A couple of summers ago, I attended around 15 games in one summer and became a huge fan, but I always went with my ex. Once that ended, so did the games, and I just didn't get myself back to the ballpark at all last year. I love going, though, and honestly can't imagine a more relaxing place to be on a sunny afternoon or warm summer evening. Victory Field is an absolutely fabulous ball park.

Last week was a rough one for me. I'd rather not go into it, but I am hoping this next week is much better.