Happy Halloween!

If you are busy like me and don't have time to go get a pumpkin, scoop out all the innards, and carve it, try this fast and easy online pumpkin carving!

After our costume party the other night, I made a deal with hubby, who had dressed as a cowboy, complete with fake mustache. I will never color my hair black if he never grows a mustache. We were both only too happy to agree!

I did my first cite checking assignment for law review today. I had anticipated it taking me several hours, as I have NO experience doing that, and am not familiar with the cite forms. However, the author had done a great job in organizing her materials, so it really went pretty fast and I was done in an hour. I think (assuming the others are at least semi-organized) it will go even faster next time, since I feel like I at least know (at little) about what I'm doing.

Nice to have the evening off from class tonight. Just planning on doing some reading and passing out candy. Though, I may have to revive the costume for one last time....

I am Morticia

I have an uncle who has Down's syndrome. He lives in Phoenix with my cousin, but he visits my mom (his sister) here is town a couple times a year. He has certain things he really likes, one of which is Halloween, including dressing up and having parties.
............
About a dozen or so year ago, the sequel to the Addams Family movie was going to be filmed up in the mountains near here and a casting call was put out in the paper. A bunch of us in my family thought it would be fun, so we went. They were apparently looking for several hundred "rich, WASPY- looking" parents to be in some scenes at the expensive camp Wednesday and Pugsley were sent to. They ended up calling me to be one of the dozen stand ins because I am the same height/build as Christine Baranski, who plays the camp director in the film. (It was a fun 2 weeks working on that! Hey Barry.....call me!)

Anyway, the result of this was my uncle, when he found out I had worked on the movie, insisted on calling me "Morticia", even though that is not who I was or standing in for. But, there was some words my uncle just can't say. "Morticia" is one of them. To him, it is "Teresa".

Ever since then, when he sees me, I am "Teresa", but he means "Morticia". (And of course, to him, daughter is "Wednesday", and my son is "Pugsley", so we all get different names when he is in town!) So, when my mom decided to have not just a party, but a costume party this year for my uncle when he is here, my choice for a costume was easy. : ) I have a long black wig, fake eyelashes, and a tight black dress. I tried it all on this afternoon and think I freaked out my son! LOL He has never seen me without blonde hair. It should be fun on Sunday, though I think this will only cement my name as "Morticia" forever to him.

Overheard in Tax Class

In trying to convince us to hand off any case involving depreciation when we are in practice:

Tax Professor: "It's like in elementary school when they tell you "Don't do drugs." I'm telling you, "Don't do depreciation." Now, I know, some of you are going to want to get into some experimentation......"

It's Not Just That I Miss Her.....

But it is also that she doesn't need me anymore........I guess I should be happy for law school, because maybe it's the only thing keeping me sane right now.

70 Applications for 3 Jobs!

I admit, I was feeling kind of bummed last week after getting my rejection letter (even though it was very nice). But I found out today that the first company I interviewed with had 70 applicants for only 3 positions, and they didn't even hire anyone from my school. That made me feel somewhat better. However, I don't hold out much hope for the second company I interviewed with, so I am going to arrange something else for clinical units over the summer.

My sweet kitties were taking a nap together when I left for school this afternoon. (They have such a hard life!) The older (dark) one was napping on my bed first, when the younger (white) one came up. She usually prefers to sleep on a blanket at the foot of the bed, but she decided to curl up with the other cat instead. Notice the older cat's hind leg on top of her....she had to assert her dominance even when taking a nap. LOL!

Picture Post

Here's a few pix:
From the Civil War Revisited today





















From the Prudential building in Boston, looking towards the dome at MIT (taken by my daughter last weekend):


















And a few of my cats looking out their favorite window:








If you guessed that I didn't do any law school stuff today, you guessed correctly! : )

Well, What Do You Know?

I haven't made a secret of how much I dislike my Tax class. Nothing personal against the professor. It just is a boring subject to me. To make it worse, it is a night class on Thursday, the end of my school week. I have the hardest time paying attention in there.

Now that I am not doing Small Claims on Tuesdays and Thursdays, my Thursdays aren't quite as dreadful as they were. And for some strange reason, I wasn't even tired when Tax started last night. (Normally, I feel ready for bed when class starts!) The class was about charitable deductions and depreciation. Not particularly exciting, but maybe something from my year of accounting classes I took during undergraduate studies kicked in or something, because for the first time this semester, I found myself raising my hand and answering questions!

I had kind of made an informal deal with myself. The professor awards 5 extra points toward your final grade if you can accumulate 100 "basis bucks". He has this little system rigged up....you get 20 bucks for "introducing yourself" to him the first time you answer in class, and 5 bucks for each class session you attend, and a buck or 2 for each time you share in class. I really hate this sort of thing. To me, it is worth not getting 5 points to be relieved of the stress of trying to volunteer all the time. The class seems easy enough. I don't even bother reading for it since I have some decent outlines and notes from previous students. I told myself I could forget about the points and just show up for class each week and not worry about it.

I doubt there is enough time left for me to volunteer enough now to get the bucks I'd need to get those 5 extra points, and frankly, I don't want to stress about it. If it happens, it happens. But I think I surprised myself when I answered a few times in last night's class. Maybe it's a good thing. At least the professor won't think I'm a total slacker.

Civil War Revisited

Every year the largest Civil War reenactment in the country is staged at a local park. We have gone several times and always enjoy it. Since it will be gorgeous weather this weekend and since my son gets extra credit if he goes, we will go again this year. They are having several new things this year, including horse races and an artillery demonstration. And of course, that is in addition to the battle and field hospital reenactment. Sounds like fun to me!

It is hard to believe my first midterm is less than one month away. I've been working on my outline for Business Organizations (next month's exam), and actually starting to feel like I understand it some now. We only have one more "real" class before the test, with 2 review sessions. My outline is probably much longer than it needs to be, but it will get refined a lot in the next few weeks.

I feel such a sense of freedom now that I am doing my outlines on my own. Sure, it is a lot of work not to just get a completed outline by email, but I love being able to structure it how I want to, without worrying about what other group members are going to say about it. I know it isn't as "pretty" of an outline as it could be, but I don't think I need it that way in order for it to be effective for me.

I now need to work on updating my Con Law outline (since we have another practice test in a week and a half), and finish working on my Crim Law outline. I haven't even started outlines for Property and Tax yet. Property will take some work, but Tax, ugh, I hate that class. I'm not sure I'm going to do a real outline. Mostly I need to figure out what notes to write in my book (which we are allowed to do to use it in our exam).

Ok, enough for now. Time to wrap this up and get upstairs for class.....

Law Review Topic

I've been doing some preliminary research to figure out exactly the scope of my law review article. It turns out that some legislation that recently passed makes what I was going to discuss pretty much a non-issue. In addition, a student from my school wrote an article on a very similar subject last year, so it's not like I can just take a different slant on the issue, because her comment covered the main legal issue there.

Luckily I had a second idea and it seems to be a lot more wide open. So open, in fact, that I'm going to have to probably research some to find out how, or if, I need to limit it some.

I'm glad that as far as law review goes, I'm on my own schedule. Last week, I needed the time to prepare for my interview, so I didn't have to stress that I didn't spend any time on law review. My goal is to have my final draft done by May 1, though ideally I would like it done by April 1.

For now, I just have a lot of research ahead of me so I can get a handle on the topic and make an outline of my comment. Sounds like fun, huh?

Second Interview

I just found out I have a second interview with this Friday. I suppose getting interviews with 2 of the 4 firms I applied to isn't too bad. One firm decided to only interview graduating students, so really, there was only one firm that saw my letter and resume and didn't want to see me. I guess that should make me feel a little better. Not sure with only 2 firms how likely I am to get an offer from one of them though. Mostly I am looking at this as a learning experience. And I'm just feeling lucky to have 2 of these opportunities!

Happy Blogiversary to Me!

Yesterday was the one year anniversary of me starting this blog to document my law school experience. It really was a way for me to review everything I go through, and I suppose, savor my successes and rejoice in being beyond my failures. That others even bother to read it kind of stymies me. Anyway, here's to that completed year, and to less than 2 more to go! :)

38 Instead of 68

Originally when I took my daughter to school at MIT in August, we planned for her not to come home until Christmas. She didn't think it would be practical to try to come home over the short Thanksgiving break because she would end up spending 2 of the 4 days traveling.

I have secretly contemplated maybe flying out there myself. I can hardly stand it as seemingly everyone else in the family has been going back there over the last couple weeks, while I am stuck here in school and not able to get away.

Last night while talking to my daughter, I asked her if she had met anyone who lives on that side of the country that might invite her home for Thanksgiving. Nope, the girl that she is most friendly with did invite her, but she lives in Texas. Heck, I said, if she wants to fly that far, she is coming home. So then we started talking. She has a class that ends at 5pm on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, but if she skipped that, she could leave at 1pm. Hmmm..

I checked into flights after getting off the phone. Ouch! Darn, I wish she had asked about this earlier. Oh well. To me, it doesn't matter because I miss her SO much, and it is much cheaper to fly her here, than to fly hubby, son and I there (along with 4 nights at a hotel). I wasn't sure though, if she really wanted to come home or not. I did finally get her to admit that she does miss everyone and want to come for a visit. : ) Sounds corny, but as a mom, you live for your kids saying that kind of stuff.

So, I booked the flights (which is going to mean some very traffic-filled drives on that busy weekend up to the bay area airports) and listed a few things on ebay to pay for them. And now, I only have to wait 38 more days, instead of 68, to see her!

On Campus Interview DONE

I had my interview this morning. It's hard to say how I did. I think I did well. But I did find out that this firm has already interviewed at several other schools, and so my competition is more than just the 3 other interviewees from my school. They are willing to hire more than one student for the summer program, however, if they feel that there are more than one that is a good match for them. They have previously hired up to 3 or 4 students per summer.

There will be a second interview for those they want another look at. Since they have finished interviews at other schools, this will apparently happen rather soon, and they expect to have letters out to us in 7-10 days.

I'm not really expecting anything, but from what I found out about the firm at the interview, it does sound like a very cool place to work and I would love to have the opportunity there. We'll just have to wait and see.

The Saga of My Starbuck's Card

Last November, hubby and I went to Hawaii over Thanksgiving break for our 10th anniversary. The week before, while talking to the girl at Starbuck's about the trip, she suggested getting a card while there, as Hawaii's designs are unique and not available in the rest of the country. Of course, I couldn't resist and made a stop while there to do that. Not only was this an exclusive Hawaii card, but it was the Christmas Hawaii card. Every time I use it, people comment on it. I admit it is dumb, but I like having one that no one else has. ; )

Since then, I have used the convenient online reloading feature on this card. It saves time since most of the clerks seem to have a difficult time combining the task of adding money to the card while charging me for the drink I'm ordering. Anyway, the week after I got back from Boston, I couldn't find my card. I had it in Boston for sure, so after searching for it through all my purses and pant pockets, I assumed I had lost it and called it in to report it. Because I had registered the card, Starbuck's sent me a new (plain, boring) card with my remaining balance. No one had found and used my card, because the balance was the same.

About a week later, I was cleaning out my car and found it! I was so happy. In the meantime, I've been working down the balance on the plain card. Today, I finally needed to reload a card, so I went to do so online, using my favorite Hawaiian card number. But, to my dismay, it said the account was closed and wouldn't let me.

I didn't want to give up so easy. I called their 800 number, and after sifting through voicemail and waiting 10 or more minutes, I finally got someone who unfortunately told me that once a card is cancelled, it is dead and can't be reactivated. I must have sounded very disappointed because she asked me what card it was. When I told her it was the Hawaii Christmas card, she put me on hold for another minute. Then she came back and asked for the card's numbers. She said they don't normally do this, but a manager was there, and since it was a special card, they would do so for me. : ) Apparently it takes about 3 days before it will be back in the system, but I get to use my favorite card again!

How's that for a totally useless story?

Got an Interview!

Remember I submitted resumes and writing samples to 4 firms a couple weeks ago? One of the 4 is holding interviews this Friday, with the remaining doing so the following Friday. I got a call this morning saying the firm that is interviewing this Friday wants to speak to 4 students, and I am one of them! :)

The Big Fresno Fair

It's tradition to visit the fair every year, at least in our household. Hubby, son and I went yesterday. It was perfect weather, and we went early enough that we missed the crowds for the first few hours. I controlled my urges to give in to a cinnamon roll, but I did eat a soft taco (just one!).

I always like looking at all the different displays. Every year, I tell myself that someday, I am going to learn how to quilt after seeing all the gorgeous ones in the home arts building. And I was impressed by some of the photographs and art by local high school students. Most of all, I think, I was impressed by the fairgrounds itself. It's hard for me to believe those grounds are the same ones I visited as a child. Now, there are pools/fountains scattered all over. The pavillon area is so nice too, and now in the area just south of the Paul Paul theatre, they have a huge child's play area. They started last year, but greatly expanded it this year, included a large pirate ship to play on. It is really nice, and like I said, didn't seem like the (crappy) fairgrounds I remember going to when I was little.

Anyway, here's my favorite cookies I saw. Aren't they just so cute and too perfect?

Bipolar Disorder Awareness Day

I just found out about this, so in my small and late effort to help, if you don't know about bipolar disorder, please read and inform yourself here.

2 Units of Clinicals- DONE!

My shift today wrapped up my second unit of clinical hours at Small Claims. It was a pretty uneventful few hours. I did have to take home my plant and 2 framed photos that I had brought in to liven up the place. (I was only trying to make it bearable, not making a donation to the county!) I really enjoyed working there, both in helping the clients and working with my fellow advisors. Just a great experience.

Now to move on to my next resume building activity- law review. Yes, I thought I had written it off (ha ha) as something that wouldn't really work with my 3 year plan, but I was persuaded otherwise. I have an excellent idea for a topic, so hopefully that will work. I need to meet with my mentor and discuss it with her. My plan is to devote the 2 mornings a week I used to be at Small Claims to writing my comment. Of course, in reality, I'm sure I'll end up using weekends and much of my other time as well. I'm anxious to get my topic approved and get moving on it.

Overheard in Business Organizations

Professor: "We don't talk about the real world in our exams. No, no no!"

More From MIT

My daughter sent me this picture of just one of her homework problems in her Physics class. Interesting stuff, huh??