12 More Weeks

The count continues to inch its way down.

I spoke with my contact at the DA's office the other day. Unfortunately, due to the budget problems, there isn't a paid position for me there right now. Of course, they would be thrilled to have be as an (unpaid) intern, but I'm not so sure I want to do that. It would actually cost me money (with parking, gas, etc.), and I have been urged by several people to just enjoy this time off without feeling guilty.

I'm not used to that kind of mindset. When have I ever done nothing? Out of college, I worked full time until I had my kids, then spent years chasing 2 toddlers around, and when things eased up some when they got in school, I volunteered there and at church. I've always had something going on, and it is usually something I start, organize and manage.

I'm trying to decide how to spend the next 12 weeks. You think a 3 month "vacation" would be welcome after 3 years of law school, but it's more like a shock to my system. I'd rather be busy. Maybe part of it is that everyone around me is busy. My son started college and is up early to get to his 8am class every day. My boyfriend has a job and is up early too. Maybe part of it is feeling a little left out.

At least I have used my free time to get in some of the workouts, naps and reading that I wanted to do over the last 3 years. I really need to just enjoy this. I guess it's not so bad.

MIT #4

The current annual university rankings were released today by U.S. News & World Report. Being the proud parent of a daughter at one of the top schools, I have watched this list for the last few years to see where her school ranked. MIT has bounced around the top ten, but this year came in at number 4, behind only Harvard, Princeton and Yale. Very nice!

Speaking of my daughter, she told me that her fall classes will include Intro to Algorithms, Computation Structures and Artificial Intelligence. Not that I have any clue as to what those classes will teach her, but I suppose it will be enough for her to do a little cryptology!

P.S. 13 more weeks!

I'm at Home While He's at School?

My baby started college this week. He has a pretty scattered schedule, with 8am classes every day, 2 evening classes, and another in between. It's so weird to have him rushing around to leave in the morning (ok, I admit it is more like me pushing him out the door) and gone in the evenings for classes, while I am sitting at home. Guess I know what he felt like for the last couple years.

I'm still getting used to having nothing to do. I don't really like it. I'm trying to get myself in some sort of routine every day, but other then working out, there is not much I really need to do every day. If I don't get a temporary job soon, I will probably pursue some kind of volunteer work. It just makes no sense to me to sit around and do nothing when I could be helping someone do something!

I do have a little trip this weekend though. Since I took my daughter to Disneyland for her 18th birthday a couple years ago, I told my son I would take him somewhere for his, though it would have to wait until August since his was the week before the bar exam. He wants to go to the Queen Mary, so we are going there this weekend. He has never been there, and it has been a few years since I went there as part of a Corvette cruise. (I toured the submarine then, but didn't actually tour the ship.) Here's a picture from that day:

At least this will give me something to do this weekend. My parents have a vacation house over in Cambria and since I have not been over there for a while due to law school and studying, they suggested that I may want to go over and use it. Sounds kind of cool to me. Wouldn't mind hanging out and walking on the beach there for a few days.

I suppose I should go. I think I hear Costco calling my name....

14 More Weeks

I guess since I already have a mental countdown going on, I might as well make it official and post it on here. Fourteen weeks from today the results of the bar exam will be available online. Gee, is that all??? Surely the time will just fly by, what with no job, no school, and so many interesting things to fill my days. (Um, like counting how many times a day my cat meows at me because she wants fresh food in her bowl. Yes, I have quite the exciting life these days!)

It is just so weird to have nothing, I mean nothing in my life or on my calendar. It's just such a weird adjustment from law school and bar review. Hmmm, well, my son starts city college on Monday. I guess I can read his books and stuff if I go into serious withdrawal.

(Can I admit how I embarrassed him yesterday? Neither of us had ever been to the campus before, so I took him down there, walked around, found where all his classrooms where, bought his books and parking permit with him. I would rather him do that ahead of time, than on Monday, along with thousands of other people, and end up missing classes and getting cut. My official excuse is that he is "directionally-challenged", but I can admit that I'm a mom who does more than she should or has to.)

Well, since I don't have a job or classes to worry about, I can at least get myself in better shape. I spend 55 minutes on the elliptical yesterday and should go get in today's workout now. Got to make this time count for something, right?

No "Normal", Yet

I'm back from vacation. It is very odd to have nothing to come back to- no school, no work, no studying, no assignments. I suppose in one way that should be exciting. I can now make my life into whatever I choose. Of course, more often, it feels daunting, because so much is not decided.

But, little by little, it will happen. I am joining the Bible study that I was a part of for 7 years when it starts up again next month. I'm going back to my church and am going to find some service or volunteer work to get involved with there. I feel like without that, my focus has been shifted away from what it should have been this last year. But this is a welcome readjustment.

I still need to find a job. I have several people I will be contacting to see what I can do. Not knowing if I passed the bar or not puts me in a weird position because I'm not sure who would want to hire me for 3 months. At the end of November, I will either have to quit to study again (if I failed) or want an attorney position (if I passed), which an employer may not have open or want to offer to me.

Of course, I'm also realizing it isn't the end of the world if I just have this time to regain the part of myself that I lost during law school.

Helicopter Pix

Here's some of the pictures I took while flying over Maui, Molokai and Lanai in a helicopter yesterday. Was a lot of fun!

Greetings from Maui

I've been collecting sunset photos over the last 5 days here in Maui. These are some of my favorites.

Tomorrow my son and I are taking a helicopter tour of west Maui and Molokai. Sunday we are flying out, but getting into SFO late, so I won't be back in town until Monday afternoon.

It's nice to be away, but I'm looking forward to being home-in my own bed, and living a normal life (assuming I can figure out what that is, of course).

Now What?

Ok, so I spent the last 3 years in law school, graduated with distinction, spent a grueling 9 weeks studying for the California bar exam, and just finished taking it. Now what?

I came home yesterday, unpacked, did laundry, and repacked for my trip to Maui for which I leave tomorrow. So far this morning, I've dusted, vacuumed, mopped the floors, cleaned the bathrooms and the kitchen. I've also moved all my BarBri books and bar study outlines off of the floor of my office. Now what?

Once I get back from Hawaii, I will get in touch with my contacts at various places and see if I can get at least a temporary job while waiting for the bar results (which will be posted at 6pm on Nov. 21). Other than that, there is nothing I have to do. It feels so weird.

Law school started off kind of slowly. Everything was completely foreign and most of the first year I doubted I would even pass. But as I eased into second year and then the third, it started to encompass more and more of my life- how I thought, what I did, who I spent time with, what my schedule was. Bar review is even worse. I became so totally isolated in this little world that seemed to only include studying and sleeping. All relatives and non-bar-preparing friends became a distant memory. My vision was so narrow and focused. Take the bar. Give a passing performance.

Actually taking the bar exam was rather freeing because all of a sudden, I was doing something with everything (well, some of the things) I had been learning and studying for years. At that point, the studying was done. And for the first time in a long time, I could see beyond this little world that drew me in.

Now what? Now is the time to reconnect with family and friends I haven't seen much of in the last 3 years, especially the last 3 months. Now is the time to stop being a "sheep" and get back to what makes me me. Now is the time to do the things that bring me joy, that I haven't been about to do for years. Now is the time to return to real life.