It's been almost a week since my last final. Yesterday I finally felt clear-headed, like I was getting back to my old self.
I may not be completely out of the woods, though. Right now I'm listening to a podcast on Constitutional Law and over the weekend I read Getting to Maybe, so there could be cause for concern. I think it's just a winding down thing. There's always a period of adjustment at the end of the semester when that hundred million pound weight known as schoolwork and exam pressures comes off my back.
Anyway, LRW final. I studied for it. I actually made more flashcards for this exam than I did even for Civil Procedure. I knew the flashcards the day before the exam. I made charts of the Texas court system and the federal court system. I listened to LRW podcasts. I did CALI lessons. Who knew there were CALI lessons on LRW? I sure didn't. My friend, A, clued me in around noon the day of the exam and it was a GODSEND when it came to the citation questions.
In other words, I took this exam as seriously as any of the others. Well, almost. I thought it would be a little tough. I studied as if it were going to be VERY HARD. It was actually EXTREMELY DIFFICULT.
Two hours, ninety multiple choice questions. I had about five minutes at the end to correct a couple of answers I figured out that were wrong in the process of working through the exam.
One of my classmates said, "It was so hard that I just gave up and put all B's toward the end."
One thing about law school that I will have to admit is kind of nice. I have yet to finish an exam thinking, "Gosh. I could have studied about eight hours less for this and still gotten an A+."
And it's over. I survived my first semester of law school. And in the words of Martha Stewart, that is a very, very good thing.
Monday, December 18, 2006
Saturday, December 16, 2006
I'm Marianne Dashwood!
I found this at Knit and the City.
Which Classic Female Literary Character Are you? |
 You're Marianne Dashwood from Sense and Sensibilty by Jane Austen! Take this quiz!  Quizilla | Join | Make A Quiz | More Quizzes | Grab Code |
Christmas Song Tag - I'm It!!!
I still haven't written about my last final. I will. I think I'm still recovering from the whole three weeks of hell that was my finals experience.
Thanks to Meg, I'm out of my hole at least for a little bit.
Here's how it works:
I name five of my favorite Christmas songs and then tag five people to do the same.
My Favorite Christmas Songs:
Adeste Fideles
Winter Wonderland
Sleigh Ride (I don't know if this is the name of the song. The lyrics start out, "Just hear those sleigh bells jingling, ring ting tingalin', too...")
Good King Wencelaus
Little Drummer Boy
And I'm tagging:
Butterflyfish
Miss HB
Ana
Katlet
1L Wannabe
Thanks to Meg, I'm out of my hole at least for a little bit.
Here's how it works:
I name five of my favorite Christmas songs and then tag five people to do the same.
My Favorite Christmas Songs:
Adeste Fideles
Winter Wonderland
Sleigh Ride (I don't know if this is the name of the song. The lyrics start out, "Just hear those sleigh bells jingling, ring ting tingalin', too...")
Good King Wencelaus
Little Drummer Boy
And I'm tagging:
Butterflyfish
Miss HB
Ana
Katlet
1L Wannabe
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
I Can't Stop Watching This!
I've watched this again and again. I can't decide if it's the music, the library ceiling, the utter ridiculousness of it all or a combination. Maybe it's post final hysteria. I just finished LRW, but I'll post on that one later. Right now, I'm going to watch those kitties sniff at the little monster....
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Crim Law - Eight Hours
Torts was awful. Really bad. Like so bad I had to force myself to remain in my chair and not just get up and leave. However, I think I did reasonably well on the second essay. I don't know if it will make up for the disastrous first essay or the crazy multiple choice.
I didn't finish 30 minutes before the exam was over, either. When people finish and leave before time is called, I just shake my head. I don't know what that means. Are they so fast and accurate that they spotted all the issues and wrote such fabulous essays that they checked and double checked? Or is it that they've just reached that screw it point and wrap it up. I don't know. I'm one of those people that usually takes the entire exam period, especially on an essay exam.
Today is Crim Law, the exam for which I am least prepared. This prof has a reputation for giving a very fair exam and having extremely fair grading practices. I think that will work in my favor. He did a really, really good job of drilling things into our malleable little brains in class. I also realized toward the end of the semester that if I sat in rapt attention, my mind NEVER wandering from what he was saying even for a nanosecond, that I would not get called on! It never failed that the instant my mind would briefly wander, even to something Crim related, that I would get called on.
Yesterday I spent wallowing in depression, the same way I spent the day after each of my other exams.
Law-rah posted some 1L advice yesterday that was really helpful for me. I don't think it's sunk in all the way yet, but one thing rang true for me. She talked about having the firm belief that if you want something bad enough and work hard enough, you will get it. That's me! I still think that way, though. I still think that next semester, if I work harder and smarter, I'll do better. However, what she said planted a seed. I'm a muller. I have to think for some time and let them rattle around in my head.
And gosh, grades aren't even out yet. I could still do okay! Actually, right now I just want to pass, or get B's. Please, please, please.
I didn't finish 30 minutes before the exam was over, either. When people finish and leave before time is called, I just shake my head. I don't know what that means. Are they so fast and accurate that they spotted all the issues and wrote such fabulous essays that they checked and double checked? Or is it that they've just reached that screw it point and wrap it up. I don't know. I'm one of those people that usually takes the entire exam period, especially on an essay exam.
Today is Crim Law, the exam for which I am least prepared. This prof has a reputation for giving a very fair exam and having extremely fair grading practices. I think that will work in my favor. He did a really, really good job of drilling things into our malleable little brains in class. I also realized toward the end of the semester that if I sat in rapt attention, my mind NEVER wandering from what he was saying even for a nanosecond, that I would not get called on! It never failed that the instant my mind would briefly wander, even to something Crim related, that I would get called on.
Yesterday I spent wallowing in depression, the same way I spent the day after each of my other exams.
Law-rah posted some 1L advice yesterday that was really helpful for me. I don't think it's sunk in all the way yet, but one thing rang true for me. She talked about having the firm belief that if you want something bad enough and work hard enough, you will get it. That's me! I still think that way, though. I still think that next semester, if I work harder and smarter, I'll do better. However, what she said planted a seed. I'm a muller. I have to think for some time and let them rattle around in my head.
And gosh, grades aren't even out yet. I could still do okay! Actually, right now I just want to pass, or get B's. Please, please, please.
Monday, December 04, 2006
Torts in Nine Hours
Nine hours from now I'll be taking my Torts final.
Saturday I was so blue I only studied for a few hours. I couldn't make myself do it. Mr. D cheered me up, though and Sunday I was back on track and studied for about twelve hours.
I've been stressed during these exams, but not like I have been in the past. Mostly I've just been depressed.
My dad doesn't like to play games where he doesn't win. I can be the same way, unless I'm really trying to learn from someone and my losing doesn't really matter to me.
I think school is that way for me, too. This semester I don't feel like I have a chance to get the best grade in the class, so I've basically taken my ball and gone home. If I can't do REALLY well, I don't want to play.
I need to get over that. I have more to say, but I have a stack of flashcards left to learn.
How did your exam experiences differ in undergrad and law school? I know I'm not the only one struggling with these perfectionist tendencies. Does it get easier? Do you know in advance that you're going to do well, or is it a guessing game til grades come out? *sigh*
Saturday I was so blue I only studied for a few hours. I couldn't make myself do it. Mr. D cheered me up, though and Sunday I was back on track and studied for about twelve hours.
I've been stressed during these exams, but not like I have been in the past. Mostly I've just been depressed.
My dad doesn't like to play games where he doesn't win. I can be the same way, unless I'm really trying to learn from someone and my losing doesn't really matter to me.
I think school is that way for me, too. This semester I don't feel like I have a chance to get the best grade in the class, so I've basically taken my ball and gone home. If I can't do REALLY well, I don't want to play.
I need to get over that. I have more to say, but I have a stack of flashcards left to learn.
How did your exam experiences differ in undergrad and law school? I know I'm not the only one struggling with these perfectionist tendencies. Does it get easier? Do you know in advance that you're going to do well, or is it a guessing game til grades come out? *sigh*
Friday, December 01, 2006
Two Down, Three to Go
Well, I survived my Contracts final. I thought it was going to be the worst one. It wasn't tooooooo bad. There were only a few multiple choice questions where my answer didn't match any of the options given.
Now I have to prepare for Crim and Torts, which like I said yesterday, I am nervous about since I didn't have my study game on at that point.
I'll be so happy once next week is over with. My LRW final is six days after Crim Law, so that should be AMPLE time to prepare for that exam.
Then I guess it will be time for the Waiting Game.
Now I have to prepare for Crim and Torts, which like I said yesterday, I am nervous about since I didn't have my study game on at that point.
I'll be so happy once next week is over with. My LRW final is six days after Crim Law, so that should be AMPLE time to prepare for that exam.
Then I guess it will be time for the Waiting Game.
Thursday, November 30, 2006
One Down
I had my Civil Procedure final Tuesday. Wednesday I was so tired I could barely study for Contracts today. I went to bed at 8pm and didn't get up until Mr. D dragged me out of bed at 6am.
Mr. D's been kind of worried about me. He says I seem really defeated.
In the old days (because it DOES feel like eons ago), when I would finish a test, I would feel like a champion. I would have complete confidence in myself. I'd feel like a champion, like I'd kicked that test's ass.
My non-law school acquaintances eagerly ask me how I did on my test. My reply is, "Well, I don't think I failed it."
This feeling sort of reminds me of how I felt after my first upper level history exam. I made a B+ and my study partner made a C. Neither of us had made such low grades on essay exams before. We got our grades back, reconfigured our study strategy and I made an A+ on my final in that class.
The Torts tutor gave us a finals study schedule that began the month before school ended. We were supposed to study for the last final 3-5 hours a day for that week, then switch to the second to last final the next week, etc. Well, that week sucked for me study-wise. It took me that week to figure out how I wanted to prepare. My second week was better. By the third and fourth week I had my plan down. That was Contracts and Civil Procedure. I still didn't feel prepared enough for Civil Procedure.
I'm worried about Crim Law and Torts. They're on Monday and Wednesday, only three days after this.
Like I said earlier, I don't think I'll fail. But that's all I think. It makes me sad.
I know what to do for next semester to feel more prepared by this point. I feel confident that by then I'll be able to do far better.
Unfortunately, everything seems to ride on this semester. That stinks.
I'm a good student. I work hard and study a lot. I just need to focus the whole semester on preparing for the exam.
And don't get me started on how almost nothing in class helped me for the exam.
Mr. D's been kind of worried about me. He says I seem really defeated.
In the old days (because it DOES feel like eons ago), when I would finish a test, I would feel like a champion. I would have complete confidence in myself. I'd feel like a champion, like I'd kicked that test's ass.
My non-law school acquaintances eagerly ask me how I did on my test. My reply is, "Well, I don't think I failed it."
This feeling sort of reminds me of how I felt after my first upper level history exam. I made a B+ and my study partner made a C. Neither of us had made such low grades on essay exams before. We got our grades back, reconfigured our study strategy and I made an A+ on my final in that class.
The Torts tutor gave us a finals study schedule that began the month before school ended. We were supposed to study for the last final 3-5 hours a day for that week, then switch to the second to last final the next week, etc. Well, that week sucked for me study-wise. It took me that week to figure out how I wanted to prepare. My second week was better. By the third and fourth week I had my plan down. That was Contracts and Civil Procedure. I still didn't feel prepared enough for Civil Procedure.
I'm worried about Crim Law and Torts. They're on Monday and Wednesday, only three days after this.
Like I said earlier, I don't think I'll fail. But that's all I think. It makes me sad.
I know what to do for next semester to feel more prepared by this point. I feel confident that by then I'll be able to do far better.
Unfortunately, everything seems to ride on this semester. That stinks.
I'm a good student. I work hard and study a lot. I just need to focus the whole semester on preparing for the exam.
And don't get me started on how almost nothing in class helped me for the exam.
Saturday, November 25, 2006
In honor of approaching finals, a quiz
Thanks, Ana!
You scored as Dante Alighieri. According to you most of humanity will spend at least some of their afterlife in hell. You have a high likelihood of being exiled, but anyone as bloody fucking romantic as you deserves what they get. You have an exceptional moral code, overshadowed by the fact that you yourself cannot uphold it.
What Pseudo Historical Figure Best Suits You?
created with QuizFarm.com
C.G. Jung | 83% | ||
Dante Alighieri | 83% | ||
Friedrich Nietzsche | 67% | ||
Adolf Hitler | 58% | ||
Mother Teresa | 58% | ||
Miyamoto Musashi | 50% | ||
Sigmund Freud | 42% | ||
Jesus Christ | 33% | ||
O.J. Simpson | 25% | ||
Charles Manson | 25% | ||
Stephen Hawking | 25% | ||
Steven Morrissey | 17% | ||
Hugh Hefner | 0% | ||
Elvis Presley | 0% |
What Pseudo Historical Figure Best Suits You?
created with QuizFarm.com
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Mistaken for a Homeless Person
Last week I was having a particularly blue day. I sat down in front of the law school building waiting for Mr. D to pick me up. My school, like many others, is not in a particularly classy part of town. While I was sitting there, an intoxicated man strolls up to me and asks me if I need some money. I thought he asked me if I was with someone, so I said yes. He pulls a dollar bill out of his pocket and tries to give it to me!!!!!!! I declined his offer. Then he asked me if I had a place to go!
I know that finals are stressing me out and that I'm looking a little worse for wear, but I didn't know I looked that bad!!!!
On the finals front, I have my first final, Civil Procedure, on Tuesday. I was such a good studier in undergrad. I don't know what's wrong with me now. I'm studying, but it all seems so futile. It's really, really hard to get that good study groove action on. In undergrad I knew the amount of studying required to get the best grade in the class or close to it. Now I don't really know what that amount is, only that it has to be more than undergrad. In undergrad I used to get really stressed out. Now I'm stressed out, but it's more of a defeated stressed out, like - it's useless stressing out because you're not going to make As anyways, or you might make one A.
I know that finals are stressing me out and that I'm looking a little worse for wear, but I didn't know I looked that bad!!!!
On the finals front, I have my first final, Civil Procedure, on Tuesday. I was such a good studier in undergrad. I don't know what's wrong with me now. I'm studying, but it all seems so futile. It's really, really hard to get that good study groove action on. In undergrad I knew the amount of studying required to get the best grade in the class or close to it. Now I don't really know what that amount is, only that it has to be more than undergrad. In undergrad I used to get really stressed out. Now I'm stressed out, but it's more of a defeated stressed out, like - it's useless stressing out because you're not going to make As anyways, or you might make one A.
Monday, November 13, 2006
Me me me me me me MEME!
Thanks to Zuska for helping me avoid studying for contracts! :)
"What Have I Done?"
Stuff I've done is in bold, stuff I'd like to do is italicized.
01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
02. Swam with wild dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
06. Held a tarantula
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
08. Said “I love you” and meant it
09. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game (and survived the crush afterwards)
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby’s diaper
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states
41. Taken care of someone who was drunk
42. Had amazing friends
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched wild whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your CDs
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Played touch football
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on television news programs as an “expert”
83. Got flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Kissed on the first date
89. Gone to Thailand
90. Bought a house
91. Been in a combat zone
92. Buried one/both of your parents
93. Been on a cruise ship
94. Spoken more than one language fluently
95. Performed in Rocky Horror
96. Raised children
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Touched a stingray
110. Broken someone’s heart
111. Helped an animal give birth
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a facial part pierced other than your ears
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had major surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed
132. Touched a cockroach
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad - and the Odyssey
135. Selected one “important” author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone’s life
"What Have I Done?"
Stuff I've done is in bold, stuff I'd like to do is italicized.
01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
02. Swam with wild dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
06. Held a tarantula
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
08. Said “I love you” and meant it
09. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game (and survived the crush afterwards)
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby’s diaper
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states
41. Taken care of someone who was drunk
42. Had amazing friends
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched wild whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your CDs
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Played touch football
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on television news programs as an “expert”
83. Got flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Kissed on the first date
89. Gone to Thailand
90. Bought a house
91. Been in a combat zone
92. Buried one/both of your parents
93. Been on a cruise ship
94. Spoken more than one language fluently
95. Performed in Rocky Horror
96. Raised children
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Touched a stingray
110. Broken someone’s heart
111. Helped an animal give birth
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a facial part pierced other than your ears
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had major surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed
132. Touched a cockroach
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad - and the Odyssey
135. Selected one “important” author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone’s life
Sunday, November 12, 2006
My Goodness, What Language!
I always look up words in the dictionary (or a suitable facsimile) with which I'm not familiar. Usually I can derive the meaning of the word from context clues, but if you walked up to me on the street and asked me what that word means and I can't tell you, I'm going to look it up. I copy all these words and definitions into the back of whatever journal I'm writing in at the time.
Now that I'm reasonably well-versed in all the legal lingo, I don't have to run to Black's as much. I just ran across a new word while perusing cases during memo writing.
Meretricious: 1 : of or relating to a prostitute : having the nature of prostitution meretricious relationships
2 a : tawdrily and falsely attractivemeretricious trash
who hooo!!!!!
Note: Blogging about a word I saw in a case is satisfaction of the element of PROCRASTINATION. ha ha
Now that I'm reasonably well-versed in all the legal lingo, I don't have to run to Black's as much. I just ran across a new word while perusing cases during memo writing.
Meretricious: 1 : of or relating to a prostitute : having the nature of prostitution meretricious relationships
2 a : tawdrily and falsely attractive
who hooo!!!!!
Note: Blogging about a word I saw in a case is satisfaction of the element of PROCRASTINATION. ha ha
Age Regression
I talked to my mom last night and she wanted to know why I sounded so funny. I told her that exams were looming on the horizon and I was getting more and more anxious about it.
I could hear her rolling her eyes through the phone.
"Loco, honey," she said, "I've been going through exams with you and your sister for nearly three decades now. It's always the same before, during and after. I hear the same things. Oh, no, Mom, this time it's different. These kids are smarter. These exams are important. All the tests are sooooo different and special. It's funny how the results are always the same with these new, different, extra super duper hard tests. You always do at least as well, and more often than not, better than everyone else. You're almost (insert your idea of really old age here) years old. Haven't you figured that out yet? Or are you still smarter than me and know everything and I'm still always wrong?"
She continued....
"Loco, these are essay exams. You've been winning writing awards since you were eleven. Your first writing thingy in law school was used as an example of a good memo. Stop worrying and just keep studying. Plus, you're really cute. (Her solution for everything.)"
I responded by slamming my bedroom door and turning up my music really loud. She doesn't understand. These tests are really hard. They're really, super important. Everyone is soooo smart.
Like, totally.
I could hear her rolling her eyes through the phone.
"Loco, honey," she said, "I've been going through exams with you and your sister for nearly three decades now. It's always the same before, during and after. I hear the same things. Oh, no, Mom, this time it's different. These kids are smarter. These exams are important. All the tests are sooooo different and special. It's funny how the results are always the same with these new, different, extra super duper hard tests. You always do at least as well, and more often than not, better than everyone else. You're almost (insert your idea of really old age here) years old. Haven't you figured that out yet? Or are you still smarter than me and know everything and I'm still always wrong?"
She continued....
"Loco, these are essay exams. You've been winning writing awards since you were eleven. Your first writing thingy in law school was used as an example of a good memo. Stop worrying and just keep studying. Plus, you're really cute. (Her solution for everything.)"
I responded by slamming my bedroom door and turning up my music really loud. She doesn't understand. These tests are really hard. They're really, super important. Everyone is soooo smart.
Like, totally.
Saturday, November 11, 2006
A Dying Dream
I've been studying Torts all week. I feel asleep reading about Negligence last night. Yes, I've studied for several hours each night and as of Friday night I was only to Negligence. When I did practice multiple choice questions Thursday night, I was getting a significant number wrong.
I feel like I should kiss those top 10% dreams goodbye and focus on passing. I can see possibly an A in LRW, but that's it.
The times I felt like this in undergrad, the solution was to study more, longer, harder. I don't know how to possible squeeze out any - "more."
I feel so lost and behind that I almost just want to give up.
I have two practice exams, neither of which are on the material I've studied this week. One is for last week's study materials and last week I felt like I was just beginning to get geared up. This week was much better studywise, but still I am having a lot of trouble entering the study zone. I think it only happened once or twice this week. Last night I was so tired that I'm not sure I got a lot out of it.
I know these freak out feelings are normal.....everyone is feeling the pressure.
I feel like I'm constantly fighting giving up. I know that law school makes you doubt yourself. I guess I just wasn't prepared for that.
Yesterday my friend asked me a question about felony murder something or other and I said I really wasn't sure. She said, "But you know everything! You always have the answer."
Ha. I must be faking a lot of people out. It's not going to work on the exam, though.
I feel like I should kiss those top 10% dreams goodbye and focus on passing. I can see possibly an A in LRW, but that's it.
The times I felt like this in undergrad, the solution was to study more, longer, harder. I don't know how to possible squeeze out any - "more."
I feel so lost and behind that I almost just want to give up.
I have two practice exams, neither of which are on the material I've studied this week. One is for last week's study materials and last week I felt like I was just beginning to get geared up. This week was much better studywise, but still I am having a lot of trouble entering the study zone. I think it only happened once or twice this week. Last night I was so tired that I'm not sure I got a lot out of it.
I know these freak out feelings are normal.....everyone is feeling the pressure.
I feel like I'm constantly fighting giving up. I know that law school makes you doubt yourself. I guess I just wasn't prepared for that.
Yesterday my friend asked me a question about felony murder something or other and I said I really wasn't sure. She said, "But you know everything! You always have the answer."
Ha. I must be faking a lot of people out. It's not going to work on the exam, though.
Thursday, November 09, 2006
It's List Week!
Meg has declared this list week! Here are some of the lists going around in my head this week.
A List of Intentional Torts
False Imprisonment
Trespass to Land
Trespass to Chattels
Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress
Conversion
Assault
Battery
A List of Defenses to Intentional Torts
Consent
Self Defense
Defense of Others
Public Necessity
Private Necessity
Defense of Property
a list of the elements of battery
a list of the elements of assault....
the lists go on and on!
A List of Intentional Torts
False Imprisonment
Trespass to Land
Trespass to Chattels
Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress
Conversion
Assault
Battery
A List of Defenses to Intentional Torts
Consent
Self Defense
Defense of Others
Public Necessity
Private Necessity
Defense of Property
a list of the elements of battery
a list of the elements of assault....
the lists go on and on!
Sunday, November 05, 2006
Sleepyhead
The major thing I've accomplished this weekend is sleep. I've taken long naps and gone to bed at 8:30pm, sleeping til 8:30 the next morning. I've had two naps today.
Is this normal three weeks before finals? Maybe I'm just stocking up on sleep. I have low level anxiety right now. I feel like I should have more rules memorized, done more reading, more studying.
Instead of studying and memorizing, I'm sleeping!!!!!!!
It's not even that I'm kind of tired and sort of want to take a nap.... I just fall asleep. My eyes close while Mr. D is talking to me.
It's really hard to be motivated. I want to do well in school. I can't believe I'm sleeping so much.
Where is that burning, fiercesome motivation of undergrad? Right now I just feel beat down. In undergrad I would intentionally wait to study, relishing the stress. I know that won't work now. I can't just study all night the night before and make the highest grade in the class. However, at this point I feel like no matter what I do, it's too late to do really well.
Mr. D says he's seen this semester after semester....the naps, the blues, the defeatism. He says I go for a week wearing sweats everywhere, then one day, the fire is lit and it's on.
I think that comes from knowing exactly what was entailed to be the best. I'd just buckle down and do it.
Now the thought of memorizing a 30 page outline seems impossible. Never mind that I would learn 250 paintings for an Art History exam. For some reason, that just seems like no big deal.
Blah. Blah. Blah. Blah. Blah.
Law school sucks. I don't regret my decision to be here, but it sucks ass.
Another thing - could people please stop asking what makes law school so hard? Or if people won't stop asking that, could someone in law school tell me how to explain why it is? The explanations coming out of my mouth aren't met with any understanding. I say, "There's one test. Everything is new. It's a lot of pressure. Everyone wants to do well. You don't really know what to expect. You're not regurgitating material, you're applying rules to a new fact situation." No one I know seems to think that's a big deal.
Is this normal three weeks before finals? Maybe I'm just stocking up on sleep. I have low level anxiety right now. I feel like I should have more rules memorized, done more reading, more studying.
Instead of studying and memorizing, I'm sleeping!!!!!!!
It's not even that I'm kind of tired and sort of want to take a nap.... I just fall asleep. My eyes close while Mr. D is talking to me.
It's really hard to be motivated. I want to do well in school. I can't believe I'm sleeping so much.
Where is that burning, fiercesome motivation of undergrad? Right now I just feel beat down. In undergrad I would intentionally wait to study, relishing the stress. I know that won't work now. I can't just study all night the night before and make the highest grade in the class. However, at this point I feel like no matter what I do, it's too late to do really well.
Mr. D says he's seen this semester after semester....the naps, the blues, the defeatism. He says I go for a week wearing sweats everywhere, then one day, the fire is lit and it's on.
I think that comes from knowing exactly what was entailed to be the best. I'd just buckle down and do it.
Now the thought of memorizing a 30 page outline seems impossible. Never mind that I would learn 250 paintings for an Art History exam. For some reason, that just seems like no big deal.
Blah. Blah. Blah. Blah. Blah.
Law school sucks. I don't regret my decision to be here, but it sucks ass.
Another thing - could people please stop asking what makes law school so hard? Or if people won't stop asking that, could someone in law school tell me how to explain why it is? The explanations coming out of my mouth aren't met with any understanding. I say, "There's one test. Everything is new. It's a lot of pressure. Everyone wants to do well. You don't really know what to expect. You're not regurgitating material, you're applying rules to a new fact situation." No one I know seems to think that's a big deal.
Friday, November 03, 2006
And We're Back!
Okay, sick of worrying about people at school reading my blog. If you're in my section and you read this, you're probably sick and tired of the same people I am.
Anyway, back to more important issues....
Exams are rapidly approaching.
Oh, ye wiser 2L's and 3L's, share your exam preparation tips and exam taking tips for a lowly, humble 1L who wants to make good grades.
My outlines are all current. I have Emanuel's outlines and all the E&E's. I've read most all of all of them.
Why is it that I'm having so much trouble getting myself to study? I don't want to work on this stupid memo, either.
Mostly, I'd just like to sleep.
*sigh*
Anyway, back to more important issues....
Exams are rapidly approaching.
Oh, ye wiser 2L's and 3L's, share your exam preparation tips and exam taking tips for a lowly, humble 1L who wants to make good grades.
My outlines are all current. I have Emanuel's outlines and all the E&E's. I've read most all of all of them.
Why is it that I'm having so much trouble getting myself to study? I don't want to work on this stupid memo, either.
Mostly, I'd just like to sleep.
*sigh*
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
How many?
| HowManyOfMe.com | ||
|
Thanks, Law Bitches!
How many?
| HowManyOfMe.com | ||
|
Thanks, Law Bitches!
Monday, October 30, 2006
No Longer Anonymous
Someone in my section just asked me if I had a blog. I should have just said no, but I was taken aback and not sure what to say.
I'm more than a little weirded out. I mean, I don't think I've said anything offensive and I don't think that would bother me if I had.
I just don't like it. It makes me feel like now I need to censor what I say.
It makes me feel as if I need to be careful as to who I bitch about.
All this is probably exacerbated by the fact that people are starting to get really wound up about finals. The tension level has increased dramatically just over the weekend, it seems.
The thought of memorizing all those outlines is nerve wracking, but hey, at least mine are done.
I'm more than a little weirded out. I mean, I don't think I've said anything offensive and I don't think that would bother me if I had.
I just don't like it. It makes me feel like now I need to censor what I say.
It makes me feel as if I need to be careful as to who I bitch about.
All this is probably exacerbated by the fact that people are starting to get really wound up about finals. The tension level has increased dramatically just over the weekend, it seems.
The thought of memorizing all those outlines is nerve wracking, but hey, at least mine are done.
Thursday, October 26, 2006
No Class Tomorrow!
Prof K cancelled class for this Friday. We convinced Prof Civ Pro to let us off, then Prof LRW emailed us and said we could have class on Monday instead of Friday. Yay! I have a Friday off!
What will I do with all of that wonderful time???
Go to the library. Work on my final memo. Get my Crim Law outline updated. Read E&E's. Try to start memorizing outlines.
What will I do with all of that wonderful time???
Go to the library. Work on my final memo. Get my Crim Law outline updated. Read E&E's. Try to start memorizing outlines.
Sunday, October 22, 2006
A Chill Day
I am sort of taking the day off. I haven't had a blow off day in a long time. I go to school six days a week and study seven days a week.
All my outlines are current. I think I've done all the research I need to do for my final memo. I am also almost current with all my E&E's.
After this I'll have to kick things up a notch, I know. My finals will start in five weeks. I should be taking practice tests and reading more of my E&E's.
Sometimes a break is not such a bad thing though, right?
My shoulder is so knotted up that I can't turn my head. It's nice to just spend a lazy Sunday sitting next to Mr. D playing Heroes of Might and Magic and not worry about making top ten percent.
So far today I've gotten completely caught up with many favorite blawgs. I've also managed to catch up here, here and here. I also bought Mr. D a nifty present that I think he'll like. :)
*sigh* It feels quite nice to wile away a day.
All my outlines are current. I think I've done all the research I need to do for my final memo. I am also almost current with all my E&E's.
After this I'll have to kick things up a notch, I know. My finals will start in five weeks. I should be taking practice tests and reading more of my E&E's.
Sometimes a break is not such a bad thing though, right?
My shoulder is so knotted up that I can't turn my head. It's nice to just spend a lazy Sunday sitting next to Mr. D playing Heroes of Might and Magic and not worry about making top ten percent.
So far today I've gotten completely caught up with many favorite blawgs. I've also managed to catch up here, here and here. I also bought Mr. D a nifty present that I think he'll like. :)
*sigh* It feels quite nice to wile away a day.
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
At Long Last
Time is flying by so quickly that I didn't realize how long it had been since I'd posted until Ana gave me a nudge. Thank you!!!!!
Guess what, folks? I'm in law school! I'm busy! I study A LOT!
I'm slightly drunk posting, so I'll keep it short and sweet and try to work into my schedule a regular time for blogging.
First memo's were returned two weeks ago. I received a "check-plus" and the prof asked if he could use parts of my memo as an example for other students working on memo #2. Memo 2 was turned in Friday and now I'm working on the real deal.
I got my Civ Pro practice mid term back. He wrote lots of "good analysis" and "good argument" on it.
I'm struggling with scheduling and time management. I guess that's normal. I'm getting my outlines in order and wondering when I'm going to memorize them.
I've had the experience now of not knowing the answer in class and not knowing where in the case the answer might lie.
I've laughed when Crim Law prof nailed the lead gunner.
I've gotten drunk at happy hour.
I've done work for K's during Civ Pro.
Guess what? I'm in law school!
Guess what, folks? I'm in law school! I'm busy! I study A LOT!
I'm slightly drunk posting, so I'll keep it short and sweet and try to work into my schedule a regular time for blogging.
First memo's were returned two weeks ago. I received a "check-plus" and the prof asked if he could use parts of my memo as an example for other students working on memo #2. Memo 2 was turned in Friday and now I'm working on the real deal.
I got my Civ Pro practice mid term back. He wrote lots of "good analysis" and "good argument" on it.
I'm struggling with scheduling and time management. I guess that's normal. I'm getting my outlines in order and wondering when I'm going to memorize them.
I've had the experience now of not knowing the answer in class and not knowing where in the case the answer might lie.
I've laughed when Crim Law prof nailed the lead gunner.
I've gotten drunk at happy hour.
I've done work for K's during Civ Pro.
Guess what? I'm in law school!
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Gunnerrhea
My section has one gunner and two junior gunners. They were tolerable at first, but now I want to stab the main gunner in the eye every time he opens his mouth.
My irritation reached new heights the day he sat down next to a junior gunner and said, "What are we going to argue with the professor about today?" Junior gunner, recently shot down for his idiocy replied that he'd learned his lesson and was going to keep quiet. My friend and I argued whether stabbing the gunner in the eye with a pen would be justiable homicide.
My irritation reached new heights the day he sat down next to a junior gunner and said, "What are we going to argue with the professor about today?" Junior gunner, recently shot down for his idiocy replied that he'd learned his lesson and was going to keep quiet. My friend and I argued whether stabbing the gunner in the eye with a pen would be justiable homicide.
Friday, September 08, 2006
To Brief or Not to Brief
The first four weeks are now over. Yay!!!!
It's come to my attention that some people aren't writing out separate briefs. Is this a common practice? Am I wasting valuable time? Right now I read the case and highlight the different elements with different colored highlighters. Then I go back and type up a brief. In class, I write important notes that we discuss in class on that piece of paper.
Should I just be reading and highlighting? It seems like having a typed brief for the cases seems like a good study aid....not that I have a chance to really go back and look at them.
It's hard for me to shift my procedures, often to my detriment. My first couple of years back in school I taped my classes and then went back and transcribed them. You read correctly, folks. It took some time to wean myself away from that, but my grades didn't sink.
Please share your wisdom!!!!!
To brief or not to brief, THAT is the question!!!!
It's come to my attention that some people aren't writing out separate briefs. Is this a common practice? Am I wasting valuable time? Right now I read the case and highlight the different elements with different colored highlighters. Then I go back and type up a brief. In class, I write important notes that we discuss in class on that piece of paper.
Should I just be reading and highlighting? It seems like having a typed brief for the cases seems like a good study aid....not that I have a chance to really go back and look at them.
It's hard for me to shift my procedures, often to my detriment. My first couple of years back in school I taped my classes and then went back and transcribed them. You read correctly, folks. It took some time to wean myself away from that, but my grades didn't sink.
Please share your wisdom!!!!!
To brief or not to brief, THAT is the question!!!!
Sunday, August 27, 2006
30% Dixie
Your Linguistic Profile: |
| 55% General American English |
| 30% Dixie |
| 10% Yankee |
| 0% Midwestern |
| 0% Upper Midwestern |
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
I'm so Tired, My Mind is on the Brink
I am so tired - physically and mentally.
Yesterday morning I couldn't remember any of the cases I'd briefed the night before.
I'm worried I'm not learning anything because I never have a chance to go back over anything I've read to study it. It all just seems like a struggle to get as much out of the cases as possible to write briefs and then pray I don't get called on.
I'm completely exhausted.
I know this is normal 1L experience, but could someone tell when (like what day number) it gets better. If I just knew when that day was, I could hang on by my fingernails until then.
I have about six cases to brief now. Hopefully I'll make it to bed before 1am.
*sigh*
Yesterday morning I couldn't remember any of the cases I'd briefed the night before.
I'm worried I'm not learning anything because I never have a chance to go back over anything I've read to study it. It all just seems like a struggle to get as much out of the cases as possible to write briefs and then pray I don't get called on.
I'm completely exhausted.
I know this is normal 1L experience, but could someone tell when (like what day number) it gets better. If I just knew when that day was, I could hang on by my fingernails until then.
I have about six cases to brief now. Hopefully I'll make it to bed before 1am.
*sigh*
Sunday, August 20, 2006
I'm a Survivor
I have completed my first week of law school. Whew!
I have had all sorts of adventures.
I missed a class. I had looked at my LRW schedule wrong and thought it started at a different time. I arrived about thirty minutes before it was over. I pressed my ear to the door and listened to the last part of class. Afterwards I went and talked to the prof, who said I was more than welcome to come to his later section and I could sneak out when I needed to go to Civ Pro. I think Prof LRW is going to be my favorite. It's my smallest section and he really seems to want to be available to us.
That same day I forgot one of my books. Mr Delictis kindly brought it to me after I broke down and called him. I thought about buying a copy from the bookstore then returning it after class, but it wouldn't have my highlighting and notes in it.
I got called on in class by Prof CrimLaw, who I think is the most hardcore. I got called on and had the right answer!!!!!!!!! who hoooo!!!! I wanted to stand up and do the happy dance right then and there, but deemed it inappropriate and quelled that desire.
I feel exactly the way they said I would at orientation - like I'm merely treading water. I'm not briefing every single case. I'm worried that I'm not understanding everything (anything?). I am doing all the reading and I highlight the cases with different highlighters (blue for procedural history, yellow for reasoning, etc etc). This weekend I started making flashcards. It's too early for doing outlines, right? I'm worried I'm not doing my briefs correctly, although I feel more adept than some of my classmates who've never done it before(thank you, Delaney!).
However, I made it through my first week. I think I'm officially a 1L now.
In other news, LawMommy had her first day of orientation yesterday and I can't wait to hear all about it!
I have had all sorts of adventures.
I missed a class. I had looked at my LRW schedule wrong and thought it started at a different time. I arrived about thirty minutes before it was over. I pressed my ear to the door and listened to the last part of class. Afterwards I went and talked to the prof, who said I was more than welcome to come to his later section and I could sneak out when I needed to go to Civ Pro. I think Prof LRW is going to be my favorite. It's my smallest section and he really seems to want to be available to us.
That same day I forgot one of my books. Mr Delictis kindly brought it to me after I broke down and called him. I thought about buying a copy from the bookstore then returning it after class, but it wouldn't have my highlighting and notes in it.
I got called on in class by Prof CrimLaw, who I think is the most hardcore. I got called on and had the right answer!!!!!!!!! who hoooo!!!! I wanted to stand up and do the happy dance right then and there, but deemed it inappropriate and quelled that desire.
I feel exactly the way they said I would at orientation - like I'm merely treading water. I'm not briefing every single case. I'm worried that I'm not understanding everything (anything?). I am doing all the reading and I highlight the cases with different highlighters (blue for procedural history, yellow for reasoning, etc etc). This weekend I started making flashcards. It's too early for doing outlines, right? I'm worried I'm not doing my briefs correctly, although I feel more adept than some of my classmates who've never done it before(thank you, Delaney!).
However, I made it through my first week. I think I'm officially a 1L now.
In other news, LawMommy had her first day of orientation yesterday and I can't wait to hear all about it!
Monday, August 14, 2006
School Daze
Here I am, sitting in the library after my first class, which was Contracts. I have several hours to pass before Civ Pro, so I thought I'd update before hitting the books.
Last night I felt like it was the night before my first day of middle school. I had a zillion folders spread all over the bed, was looking exasperatedly at my schedule and wondering how everything was going to fit into my backpack.
All weekend I thought I had Torts and Contracts today. Sunday night I discovered I had Contracts and Civ Pro. I realized that USC does NOT stand for United States Constitution, it stands for United States Code! I learned that I had purchased ANOTHER incorrect book, this time from the bookstore where I misread what book went with what section. What else, what else.....
However, once I identified the panic with the crisis of middle school, I calmed down considerably. Middle school sucked at first, running around trying to find my locker, carrying tons and tons of stuff around, walking up and down stairs and generally just going crazy made up the first week or so. After a few false starts things evened out.
The girl sitting next to me in Contracts a great organizational tool that I already said I was going to utlize myself. Stuck to the spine of her Contracts books she had a piece of green paper with a "C" on it (I realize it should be a K though, right?) and - this is the genius part - her Contracts binder was green. My complete OCD/anal retentive freakishness was ALL OVER that. How perfectly divine! I have been worried sick about grabbing the wrong materials for class one day and just being stuck.
It made me think of some things that can help me stay calm and organized during this first couple of weeks. First of all, it's driven me crazy that I can't remember my schedule (or even read it correctly, it seems!), where my classes are, who the profs are. Well, that's because this is a new environment. At UH, (where I'd been going for the past, uh, 17 years) I chose my classes and created my schedule. I knew who the profs were in advance for the most part. I knew where the classes were. This is a whole new ball game. So....I'm going to put a copy of my schedule next to the bookshelf so that I can pull everything the night before. I'm going to color code everything.
And I'm going to take some more deep breaths so I can relax....hopefully.
One final note, and really the most important one. Thank you so much for all your words of support. Ana cracked me up, and you better believe the promise of that glass (bottle) of wine at the end of the day is tiding me through. It was nice to look and find more and more comforting words each time I checked my email over the weekend. Cella, thank you for the outlining tips. My degree is in Art History, so attaching pictures to cases is a PERFECT idea for me. Thank you, thank you! Kat and Law-rah, thank you for your good vibes as well!
Okay, the USC and I have a date for the next couple of hours.
Last night I felt like it was the night before my first day of middle school. I had a zillion folders spread all over the bed, was looking exasperatedly at my schedule and wondering how everything was going to fit into my backpack.
All weekend I thought I had Torts and Contracts today. Sunday night I discovered I had Contracts and Civ Pro. I realized that USC does NOT stand for United States Constitution, it stands for United States Code! I learned that I had purchased ANOTHER incorrect book, this time from the bookstore where I misread what book went with what section. What else, what else.....
However, once I identified the panic with the crisis of middle school, I calmed down considerably. Middle school sucked at first, running around trying to find my locker, carrying tons and tons of stuff around, walking up and down stairs and generally just going crazy made up the first week or so. After a few false starts things evened out.
The girl sitting next to me in Contracts a great organizational tool that I already said I was going to utlize myself. Stuck to the spine of her Contracts books she had a piece of green paper with a "C" on it (I realize it should be a K though, right?) and - this is the genius part - her Contracts binder was green. My complete OCD/anal retentive freakishness was ALL OVER that. How perfectly divine! I have been worried sick about grabbing the wrong materials for class one day and just being stuck.
It made me think of some things that can help me stay calm and organized during this first couple of weeks. First of all, it's driven me crazy that I can't remember my schedule (or even read it correctly, it seems!), where my classes are, who the profs are. Well, that's because this is a new environment. At UH, (where I'd been going for the past, uh, 17 years) I chose my classes and created my schedule. I knew who the profs were in advance for the most part. I knew where the classes were. This is a whole new ball game. So....I'm going to put a copy of my schedule next to the bookshelf so that I can pull everything the night before. I'm going to color code everything.
And I'm going to take some more deep breaths so I can relax....hopefully.
One final note, and really the most important one. Thank you so much for all your words of support. Ana cracked me up, and you better believe the promise of that glass (bottle) of wine at the end of the day is tiding me through. It was nice to look and find more and more comforting words each time I checked my email over the weekend. Cella, thank you for the outlining tips. My degree is in Art History, so attaching pictures to cases is a PERFECT idea for me. Thank you, thank you! Kat and Law-rah, thank you for your good vibes as well!
Okay, the USC and I have a date for the next couple of hours.
Friday, August 11, 2006
Orientation Part One
My orientation days are Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. I've been through two days of orientation so far. After I got home on both days I went straight to bed. I'm just emotionally exhausted and stressed out.
Yes, I'm so stressed out that instead of reading, I'm blogging. I know that's not unusual. I don't know how many times I've read, "I should be studying for finals, I should be reading, I should be...." I can at least take some comfort in that, I suppose.
I've bought the wrong books twice - once from the bookstore, once from Amazon. *sigh* That's not helping my stress level. I'm not used to having to buy books from the bookstore, I'm used to knowing what to get in advance and getting it from Amazon and saving a TON.
Orientation has been okay. I've met only *one* person from my section, though. All the C section (ha ha!) people I've hung out with are really nice. It seems as if law school is composed of guys and tan, blonde haired girls.
We have classes with our LRW profs during orientation, so I've met one of my profs. Prof LRW seems nice, relaxed and funny. I even answered one of his questions. I was going to write it down so that I could share it with y'all, but I told myself, "Certainly I won't forget this momentous occasion." Certainly I did less that ten minutes later.
I'm glad that I read about briefing during the summer, because we didn't really go into it in detail. I wish they'd show us something about outlining. I'm not sure how detailed or general to be, only that I need to do it!
So to combat my anxiety, I'm going to put clean sheets on the bed and go for a run. I'm going to put all my law school books on a shelf in the library, just like I did in undergrad, pulling off only the book I need for the next hour.
There's a couple of links I need to add to the 1L advice list. Maybe I'll do that later and actually go read some of them. I know they say to just relax. Maybe that word will sink into my thick, anxiety addled skull. Relax. R-E-L-A-X
I see that I haven't talked a lot about orientation. Maybe I'll do that on one of my study breaks later today. When I do that, I'll be able to discuss the new zen mind I will have developed.
Yes, I'm so stressed out that instead of reading, I'm blogging. I know that's not unusual. I don't know how many times I've read, "I should be studying for finals, I should be reading, I should be...." I can at least take some comfort in that, I suppose.
I've bought the wrong books twice - once from the bookstore, once from Amazon. *sigh* That's not helping my stress level. I'm not used to having to buy books from the bookstore, I'm used to knowing what to get in advance and getting it from Amazon and saving a TON.
Orientation has been okay. I've met only *one* person from my section, though. All the C section (ha ha!) people I've hung out with are really nice. It seems as if law school is composed of guys and tan, blonde haired girls.
We have classes with our LRW profs during orientation, so I've met one of my profs. Prof LRW seems nice, relaxed and funny. I even answered one of his questions. I was going to write it down so that I could share it with y'all, but I told myself, "Certainly I won't forget this momentous occasion." Certainly I did less that ten minutes later.
I'm glad that I read about briefing during the summer, because we didn't really go into it in detail. I wish they'd show us something about outlining. I'm not sure how detailed or general to be, only that I need to do it!
So to combat my anxiety, I'm going to put clean sheets on the bed and go for a run. I'm going to put all my law school books on a shelf in the library, just like I did in undergrad, pulling off only the book I need for the next hour.
There's a couple of links I need to add to the 1L advice list. Maybe I'll do that later and actually go read some of them. I know they say to just relax. Maybe that word will sink into my thick, anxiety addled skull. Relax. R-E-L-A-X
I see that I haven't talked a lot about orientation. Maybe I'll do that on one of my study breaks later today. When I do that, I'll be able to discuss the new zen mind I will have developed.
Sunday, July 30, 2006
It's My Favorite Drink!
You Are an Appletini |
 Most of the time, you're a typical party girl / guy. But when you get super sauced, you really up your sex appeal. |
Stolen from Fox Law
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Collection of 1L Advice
I've assembled a small collection of 1L advice that I've stumbled across at some point or another. This is not an endorsement, but I thought it might be useful for myself and maybe others at some point. If I've left out any advice, please let me know and I'll be happy to add it.
Prof. Lois Schwartz
Dahlia Lithwick
Garret Moritz
3L Epiphany
more from 3L Epiphany
A Mad Tea Party
Will Work for Favorable Dicta
Passionate Discourse
Magic Cookie
more from Magic Cookie
Wish I Would Have Known
My So-Called Internet-Based Life
Collateral Evidence
Soap Box Lawyer
more from Soap Box Lawyer
Confessions of a Sober Law Student
Peanut Butter Burrito
Burning Light of Reason
Modern Acropolis
Prof. Lois Schwartz
Dahlia Lithwick
Garret Moritz
3L Epiphany
more from 3L Epiphany
A Mad Tea Party
Will Work for Favorable Dicta
Passionate Discourse
Magic Cookie
more from Magic Cookie
Wish I Would Have Known
My So-Called Internet-Based Life
Collateral Evidence
Soap Box Lawyer
more from Soap Box Lawyer
Confessions of a Sober Law Student
Peanut Butter Burrito
Burning Light of Reason
Modern Acropolis
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Law School is Easy
A former co-worker came by the other day to say hello to everyone. I knew that he was planning on going to law school after graduation, so I immediately hit him up about it. He rambled on about how easy it was and it was mainly kids. He told me that I would do just fine and not to worry about it. He said that as much as I studied in undergrad, this wouldn't be any worse.
Did he finish the first semester? No. Was he going full time? No. He was working full time and over the course of the semester, his job began requiring lots of travel, so he decided to quit. As he admitted, one really needs to be able to attend class and do the reading to ensure success. Also, he was travelling to really cool places and the job pays well, so law school didn't seem as important.
Did I feel any better after his visit? Nope!
Hmph.
Did he finish the first semester? No. Was he going full time? No. He was working full time and over the course of the semester, his job began requiring lots of travel, so he decided to quit. As he admitted, one really needs to be able to attend class and do the reading to ensure success. Also, he was travelling to really cool places and the job pays well, so law school didn't seem as important.
Did I feel any better after his visit? Nope!
Hmph.
Sunday, July 23, 2006
Haircuts All Around!
Haircuts for everyone! I've noticed a few posts lately mentioning trips to the salon including Frequent Citations, Cella Bellum, and Divine Angst. A week ago I too changed my hair. I wanted something that would be cute and easy to take care of during school, so that I wouldn't feel like a hideous gross-out if I didn't spend an hour blowdrying it. I'm thinking that if I have to be at work at 6am once school starts, I might want something a little less high maintenance. I've gotten lots of compliments, so I'm reasonably pleased. Mr Delictis smiled when he saw me, so that's a good thing. It's a little above chin length, shorter than I've had my hair in years and years and years.
In other news, this being the one of two kid free weekends before school starts, Mr D and I spent our time snuggling and playing lots and lots of Heroes of Might and Magic. I have a strict policy of no computer games during the semester, though, so we have to play all we can before August 9. Yikes! It's coming too quickly!
I can't believe it! I have been working on this for more than two years and now it's just about two weeks away.....
In other news, this being the one of two kid free weekends before school starts, Mr D and I spent our time snuggling and playing lots and lots of Heroes of Might and Magic. I have a strict policy of no computer games during the semester, though, so we have to play all we can before August 9. Yikes! It's coming too quickly!
I can't believe it! I have been working on this for more than two years and now it's just about two weeks away.....
Friday, July 21, 2006
Blogger Woes
Blogger has been giving me fits. I'd go to my page and it would display code rather than the lovely blog you see now. I am moderately well versed in html and I discovered that when I edited the template, the code towards the bottom of the page was being deleted for some reason. Too bad I didn't figure that out until after I redid my links for the second time. Now I'm keeping a copy of the template on my desktop. I'll edit that and then cut and paste it each time into blogger rather than wasting my time editing only to have to redo it later.
Has anyone else had these problems and knows of another way around this besides the old-fashioned wordpad fix? This doesn't happen in Dreamweaver, so I'm somewhat at a loss.
Unfortunately, because of these incarnations I managed to lose some of those original links from the first version. If anyone has been left out, please let me know. I was actually thrilled to hear from Anastacia who wondered why she had been deleted. I really like her blog, especially since she's a fellow Houstonian and a Montrosian. I didn't realize that anyone besides Kristine had looked here. Well, her and Mr Delictis, that is. ;)
Has anyone else had these problems and knows of another way around this besides the old-fashioned wordpad fix? This doesn't happen in Dreamweaver, so I'm somewhat at a loss.
Unfortunately, because of these incarnations I managed to lose some of those original links from the first version. If anyone has been left out, please let me know. I was actually thrilled to hear from Anastacia who wondered why she had been deleted. I really like her blog, especially since she's a fellow Houstonian and a Montrosian. I didn't realize that anyone besides Kristine had looked here. Well, her and Mr Delictis, that is. ;)
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Law School Roundup
Well, well, well. I feel somewhat famous. It seems that I have already made Weekly Law School Roundup. Perhaps this is an indicator of future law school greatness.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
22 Days til Orientation
This morning I counted the days until orientation. I'm getting close to the deadline. Tomorrow will only be three weeks until school starts. I'm almost ready to get started just so that getting started can be over with!
Have I done all the things I'd hoped over the summer? No. Hardly. The summer before last I accomplished everything I wanted. I have spent my time wisely though, I believe. Mr Delictis and I gazed into one another's eyes, played Heroes of Might and Magic, laughed, loved and all of that love stuff. I love him endlessly and I would rather wile away my summer in his arms.
I have felt some redemption by reading on other blawgs that I should not spend this summer pouring over material for the upcoming school year. I had that feeling myself. Going in to a rough year drained and burned out because I studied all summer does not sound like a wise move. I've read most of DeLaney's Legal Reasoning so I have some idea how to brief a case.
One thing that I feel is necessary to finish before school starts is having my iTunes organized. When I moved my music over to my new laptop (a lovely gift from Mr D), much of my lyrics, artwork and album info disappeared. That will not do. A major source of procrastination for me is to spend ages looking up all the aforementioned information so that all my boxes are filled in iTunes. Yes, it's incredibly anal retentive. I get such a sense of satisfaction when someone happens to look at my iTunes and sees how I have ALL the artwork and ALL the lyrics for ALL my music. Right now I'm on the f's.
I'm going to try to get in the habit of updating more frequently. I get the idea that nothing exciting has happened, when in reality, nothing exciting really has to happen for me to post. I love reading the minutae of people's lives and perhaps if anyone's paying attention to this, they'll enjoy reading mine.
Have I done all the things I'd hoped over the summer? No. Hardly. The summer before last I accomplished everything I wanted. I have spent my time wisely though, I believe. Mr Delictis and I gazed into one another's eyes, played Heroes of Might and Magic, laughed, loved and all of that love stuff. I love him endlessly and I would rather wile away my summer in his arms.
I have felt some redemption by reading on other blawgs that I should not spend this summer pouring over material for the upcoming school year. I had that feeling myself. Going in to a rough year drained and burned out because I studied all summer does not sound like a wise move. I've read most of DeLaney's Legal Reasoning so I have some idea how to brief a case.
One thing that I feel is necessary to finish before school starts is having my iTunes organized. When I moved my music over to my new laptop (a lovely gift from Mr D), much of my lyrics, artwork and album info disappeared. That will not do. A major source of procrastination for me is to spend ages looking up all the aforementioned information so that all my boxes are filled in iTunes. Yes, it's incredibly anal retentive. I get such a sense of satisfaction when someone happens to look at my iTunes and sees how I have ALL the artwork and ALL the lyrics for ALL my music. Right now I'm on the f's.
I'm going to try to get in the habit of updating more frequently. I get the idea that nothing exciting has happened, when in reality, nothing exciting really has to happen for me to post. I love reading the minutae of people's lives and perhaps if anyone's paying attention to this, they'll enjoy reading mine.
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Law School on the Brain
I eat, live and breath law school. What will it be like? What will I be like while in it? What will my grades be like? Will I do well? Will I do poorly?
I dream about school almost every night. Last night I wore some fabulous clothes in my dreams, I might add.
I work very hard not to talk about school _all_the_time_, but it's always on my mind: paying for it, finding a job, working during it, my grades.....
It's just a little over a month before it starts.
I dream about school almost every night. Last night I wore some fabulous clothes in my dreams, I might add.
I work very hard not to talk about school _all_the_time_, but it's always on my mind: paying for it, finding a job, working during it, my grades.....
It's just a little over a month before it starts.
Saturday, July 01, 2006
Law School on the Horizon
It's been some time since I kept a blog, probably since I was taking web design classes. I became interested in the blogosphere once again with the onset of law school. Somewhere in the world, I mused, there must be other people hoping to attend law school. And so I discovered the "blawg."
During that time I was moving, beginning a relationship, taking the LSAT and then taking the Princeton review. Let's not forget taking 15 hours, opening an exhibit of medieval illuminated manuscripts, working and hoping to spend time with the future Mr. Delictis. Some time in all of that I had to write the dreaded personal statement and actually apply to law school.
There was no time for blogging then.
I've graduated now, summa cum laude, I might add with a double major. After almost twenty years of attending college off and on, I am quite proud of myself. I managed to be accepted into law school.
My next hurdle has been paying for law school. With my less than stellar credit, I don't qualify for private loans. A co-signer, you might say! Your parents! My parents - unwilling. Enough said. I have managed to scrape together almost all the money necessary for the first payment due on Friday. A loan from my 401K should cover the rest of the year.
That hurdle crossed, I now HAVE to do well enough this coming year to be able to transfer to my first choice school. Right now I'll be attending a private school downtown. I would rather be attending the cheaper and more prestigious school farther away from downtown. Stafford loans will then cover my financial aid needs.
There you have it, my law school story in a nutshell. It's a little over a month away from orientation and I've stressed so much that I have a rash. I can't wait to see what I'll be like once school actually begins!
During that time I was moving, beginning a relationship, taking the LSAT and then taking the Princeton review. Let's not forget taking 15 hours, opening an exhibit of medieval illuminated manuscripts, working and hoping to spend time with the future Mr. Delictis. Some time in all of that I had to write the dreaded personal statement and actually apply to law school.
There was no time for blogging then.
I've graduated now, summa cum laude, I might add with a double major. After almost twenty years of attending college off and on, I am quite proud of myself. I managed to be accepted into law school.
My next hurdle has been paying for law school. With my less than stellar credit, I don't qualify for private loans. A co-signer, you might say! Your parents! My parents - unwilling. Enough said. I have managed to scrape together almost all the money necessary for the first payment due on Friday. A loan from my 401K should cover the rest of the year.
That hurdle crossed, I now HAVE to do well enough this coming year to be able to transfer to my first choice school. Right now I'll be attending a private school downtown. I would rather be attending the cheaper and more prestigious school farther away from downtown. Stafford loans will then cover my financial aid needs.
There you have it, my law school story in a nutshell. It's a little over a month away from orientation and I've stressed so much that I have a rash. I can't wait to see what I'll be like once school actually begins!
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