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....

Baby No More

My baby graduated from high school yesterday. I suppose he hasn't really needed me for a while, but I don't appreciate the reminder that I'm a little less necessary in his life now. I'm proud of him, and am anxious to see what things he will do in his life, but I can't help but look back and miss things. There's nothing like having your baby wake up and smile when he sees your face, or having him squeal with excitement when he discovers something new, or listening to him laugh for the first time.

I know there are other things in the future, I suppose equally exciting things, that I will be able to share. But it just isn't the same. It's hard to look forward without glancing back over your shoulder sometimes.

I'm Just Saying...

If your name happens to be "Litigatia", "Demogoga", or "Felonious Punk", you can pretty much count on being a party in an MBE fact pattern.

Bar review sucks. I'm studying until about 10pm every night and feeling more stupid every day because all I seem to learn is how much I don't know. Very discouraging. I suppose it is part of the process of preparing, but at this point, it seems hard to imagine I will know enough to pass in 7 weeks.

My daughter leaves to go back to Boston tomorrow morning. In addition to feeling bad about my bar preparation, I feel bad that I haven't been able to spend time with her. She won't be back until Christmas, so I'm taking this afternoon off to have a little fun with her. Of course, that will only make me feel guilty that I'm not studying. Ugh.

Nine Weeks

The bar exam is 9 weeks away. I've done over 500 MBE questions this past week as a warm up, but it gets serious tomorrow when my bar review classes begin.

Because I anticipated having little in my life other than studying and sleeping the next 2 months, I spent a couple days at the coast this weekend. It was soooo nice! This picture is a poor representation, as the colors were so much more vibrant in person. I don't know if I've ever seen water so emerald green before! Incredibly gorgeous!

In other news, my daughter is coming home from MIT this morning. She is only going to be here for 12 days since she has a job back in Cambridge this summer, but I'm looking forward to seeing her. It's hard to believe she is half way through her years at MIT. I suppose that isn't necessarily true. Perhaps she will end up going back for graduate work some day. That would not surprise me.

I should get a little studying in before she arrives, as I doubt I'll get anything done for the rest of the day once she is here. Ok, off to do a few MBEs...

Sooooo Very Cool!

I haven't bragged about my daughter on here for a while. I'm sure most readers know she is at MIT, studying Math and Computer Science. I mentioned previously that she had applied for an internship with the NSA, where she would be doing all sorts of secret stuff. : ) This internship is SO amazing! It pays for the last two years of school (which for MIT is $50k a year) and a hefty salary during those 2 years.

My daughter is so incredibly amazing and brilliant, and even though I'm her mother, I say that honestly and not with bias. (Well, ok, maybe just a little.) But I knew the odds were against her just because of the sheer number of applicants and positions available. I also have been trying to figure out exactly how I would pay for her last 2 years, considering my circumstances are not going to be the same now. I didn't want to hope for something if it wasn't a sure thing, and then be disappointed.

But, she just called. THEY OFFERED HER THE INTERNSHIP! I'm so excited for her, and relieved for me! Both of our futures just got brighter.

Mother-Daughter Fed Team

I haven't talked about my daughter on here for awhile. For those of you that don't know, she is absolutely brilliant and in her second year at MIT in Cambridge, MA, majoring in Math and Computer Science. I hate having her so far away, but I'm so incredibly proud of her and I know she needed to be exactly where she now is.

Anyway, she applied for an internship at the National Security Agency (NSA) and they sent her a huge packet to complete after making it through the first hurdle. She apparently passed that check as well, because they are flying her to Maryland next week for interviews.

This is so cool! And I'm hoping she gets this. It would be an incredible opportunity for her, and basically start her in her career now. What would she do there? Oh just cryptology and other interesting secret stuff! If she got this, she would be in the Department of Defense, and I'm in the Department of Justice- pretty cool.

Changes

This is hard. I struggle because part of me feels like this is no one's business. But the other part of me knows that people make it their business when they talk and assume things. I don't wish to be the subject of gossip, so I suppose I'd rather put it out there myself.

I didn't spend the last week having a spring break. Instead, in order to protect myself and my son from a threat that I considered very serious, I filed for divorce and moved out. There. I said it.

If you feel that you need more information about my situation, please come and talk to me privately. I would rather that than have people talk about this behind my back.

All I ask is that you show a little compassion to someone who is feeling hurt and emotional. It's hard enough to prepare for finals and study for the bar, but to do so in the midst of all of this feels nearly unbearable right now.

Super Sunday

My parents have had a Super Bowl party for about 20 years now. I always enjoy it, not because I care about football, but because it is a family event that is just fun and easy. No fancy food, no gifts, no dressing up- just hanging out together, snacking, enjoying the game, commercials and each other. It's a nice break from the stress of school, which along with work, has been keeping me very busy. Doesn't seem like there is much new- just always tons to do. I think there are about 6 trials currently scheduled for my department for the next couple of months, but I believe most of them will reach an agreement before trial. I could be doing a couple of them though. We'll see. Love the experience, but don't like to get too excited about the possibility, because I don't like being disappointed when they settle or get continued.

Roman Holiday

My daughter is in Rome with a group from MIT. Her Roman History professor is their tour guide. I'm so jealous! Here's a couple of my favorite photos from when I was there a few years ago. The first is of the Pantheon. Leading up to arriving at the site, you meander through these narrow Roman roads, which are lined with tall buildings. You kind of get this closed in feeling and suddenly, it just opens up to this huge square with the Pantheon sitting there. I remember my breath just being taken away! There are so many things in Rome to be impressed with, but this was at the top of my list. It's hard for me to explain how much I loved it, but I feel compelled to see it again someday.

Something else I loved almost equally as much was the typical Roman neighborhood portrayed by this photo. At first, I was kind of surprised by the amount of graffiti and general "dirt" of the city, but Rome just isn't the scrubbed clean kind of city. It didn't take long to fall in love with the real-ness and the beauty of it though. I suppose I crave both the spectacular as well as the normal everyday beauty that one finds there. Sigh.....

I Should Be Excited

The trial I was supposed to have last September which was continued until this month was confirmed today for the 22nd. When I started this internship, all I could think about was this trial. Now that it is actually going to happen, it doesn't even seem like it matters. I'm just feeling really sad. My daughter leaves to go back to school on Sunday and other issues have come up that make it even harder for me to have her go. I'm having a hard time thinking about anything else. : (

The Gift That Keeps On Giving

Yesterday we visited some family members out of town and exchanged gifts. We don't see them often, and I think it is fair to say they don't really know our likes/tastes, etc. When I opened my gift from them, it included 2 bottles of perfume. (I must add that I think a fragrance is a very personal thing to give to someone, and unless you know for certain that they like a particular one, I think it is best to give them something else!) I did not recognize either name (I tend to like ones by Ralph Lauren and Dior.) Rather than opening it and spraying some on right then and there, I merely sniffed the bottle and graciously thanked the giver.

While that little sniff lead me to believe I would not like it, I did want to give it a fair chance. So once we got home, I opened it up and sprayed a single shot into the bathroom air (NOT on me!). I cannot fully describe how horrible it was! To say it smells like something only an 80 year old woman who was hard of smelling would wear doesn't quite capture it. Over the next couple of hours, it seemed to spread and everyone else in the house was complaining about it.

This morning I woke up and it is still here! I'm seriously afraid this smell is never going to leave. I sprayed some good smelling room spray in there, and it seems to have lost the battle. I think some of it may have gotten on the sweatshirt I was wearing at the time, so now I'm washing not only that, but everything else that was in the hamper with it overnight.

I triple boxed both bottles and put them out in the trash can at the side of the house. I couldn't risk them breaking and making my trash cans smell like that. I can only hope that with the passage of time, my life will return to normal and this scent will somehow dissipate. But after over 12 hours since spraying that one little spray and I'm still smelling it, I'm beginning to wonder!

I'm Tired of Being Busy

You would think having a couple weeks off would mean things would be different. Sure, I'm not in classes right now, but I'm still working, and it seems like other activities just take over for the school ones. I'm so tired of just running from one thing to another. I was going to go out of town for New Year's, but now I'm rethinking that. Just staying home and having nothing to do actually sounds good. Plus, I start classes on the 2nd, and my daughter leaves on the 6th, so I'd rather have time hanging out with her at home.

I know this last semester should be my easiest in many ways- I only have 4 classes, I know the drill, etc. But it seems like my motivation level is not high. I'm tired of classes, tired of exams, tired of studying, tired of being tired. Seven months just seems like forever. But that is how long it will be before I can really relax. Sigh....

All Is Right With My World

Yeah! My daughter is home!

Elf Work

I took the day off from studying today, bought a Christmas tree and decorated. Now that my kids are older, I don't put out as many decorations as I used to. It's just not the same without my daughter here to do it with me. (Boys just don't get into it the same way!) Other than the tree and stockings, I really only put out my collection of Nativity sets. Still, it's nice to have it feeling more like Christmas!

Tomorrow I need to work on Community Property. I'm not very motivated right now. I'll just be glad to have that over with and have a few weeks off.

Two and a Half More Weeks!

My daughter is coming home in 2.5 weeks and I can't wait to see her! I know I haven't really posted about her since the semester started. Being busy has helped in keeping my missing her from getting out of hand. But it was extremely hard to have her diagnosed with cancer (3 hours before the Moot Court competition!) this summer, care for her after surgery and during treatment, and then ship her off back to MIT. As a mom, I can't help but want to just be where she is to make sure she is alright.

Yes, she is doing fine, and luckily, I guess, quite independent. But still, I'm just so excited to have her home for a couple weeks. It makes me realize that first and foremost, no matter what else, I'll always be a mom. It's really the best job there is.

Mmmmm, Fair Food!

Yesterday we went to the Fair. Having grown up here, it's just something you have to do. They have really improved the fairgrounds a lot over the last decade, and continue to add new exhibits. Of course, it is the traditional things that we go back for, year after year.....cinnamon rolls, soft tacos, corn dogs. Hubby and son got adventurous and tried some of the fried food (twinkie and oreos), but those just didn't seem appealing to me.

The weather was perfect yesterday too! It seems like it is normally 90+ during the fair every year so it would delightful to have to about 70. Additionally, it didn't seem to be as crowded as it usually is. My only real complaint was that they didn't have enough officers doing the wanding of the crowds at the entrance. There were TWO officers when we arrived shortly after the 10:30am opening. It created quite a backup and I do not understand why they didn't have at least 5 working. And I also found it curious that some of the apparent security patrol on the inside of the fair looked like the type of hoodlums I would usually avoid getting anywhere near. Whatever. I get out of there long before dark and any shenanigans begin.

Since I had already spent most of the day at the fair, I decided to make it a totally school-free day and then watched the remainder of the Bulldog game once we got home, and later made enchiladas and margaritas. Pretty much a very pleasant day.

This afternoon I need to work on Community Property. We have a midterm in about a week and a half. I did spend a few hours going through and organizing all my notes on Friday, but I need to get more prepared for the actual exam.

Tomorrow, I have the day off since the feds get Columbus day off. Yeah! I'm planning on spending the entire day working on my paper for AR&W. Normally I would have had to do that this weekend, but the day off let me enjoy the fair yesterday instead.

Oh, and before I forget, I finally have a trip planned in my future! I was so disappointed not to be able to go anywhere this summer, and I'm so used to traveling. It's nothing big, but I'm happy. Our anniversary is in November, and because it falls on a Monday and in a week that I have a paper due, we're going a couple weeks earlier. We're going to one of my favorites, the Ritz Carlton over in Half Moon Bay. It has incredible views, a wonderful spa, and it has been way too long since I've been there. Always nice to have a trip to look forward to.

Speaking of trips, we still haven't figured out what we're doing next summer. We had thought about going back to Italy and seeing more there, but we're also considering going on a cruise in northern Europe (possibly seeing my relatives in Sweden), or going to Tahiti. How's that for options? At this point it all sounds good, and I'm not sure which I'd rather pick.

I'm hungry....time for breakfast!

To Try or Not to Try

As you may have guessed, the fate of my trial is up in the air. It probably has a good chance of being delayed. Either way, I should know more after a hearing Tuesday morning. Nothing like going down to the wire! We're basically ready to go. We organized all the exhibits this morning, and I have my opening and closing ready, though haven't really practiced them. If we get the go-ahead on Tuesday, then I will be rehearsing those like crazy!

I'm really glad I scheduled my classes so I don't have any on Monday. It's actually nice to work a full day then and feel like I start off the week productive, as it seems like the 4 hours shifts later in the week fly by way t0o fast to get much accomplished. I'm also really glad I only have 2 evening classes this semester. Even better is that they don't meet every week. Last week, neither met, and this week only one does. I've never liked evening classes, so I'm much happier not to be at school then.

I finished my paper for Advanced Research and Writing yesterday. It's not due until Tuesday night, but I wanted to just get it done. I did a minor edit on it already and am not sure if I'll end up doing any more or not. It's only worth 10% of our grade, so I'm not very motivated to put much more time into it. I think it is decent, but I really need to get some feedback on this one so I know more about what this specific professor looks for.

In other news, my daughter IS back at school at MIT and is doing well. She does have to be careful not to get too tired, but other than that, everything seems to be normal. Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers for her!

Not too much else going on. Just seems once the week starts, it is pretty much a blur until Friday afternoon. At least it is going to make this year go by quickly!

Sigh......

She's gone. I woke up yesterday morning at 3:30, even though my alarm was set for 5:30. My son and I got home from taking her to the airport about 7. I just hate going into her empty room. She's not even going to come home for Thanksgiving this year. It's just too hard to spend two days traveling for a four day weekend. So, it's four months until I see her again.

For all my thinking that I'm not as emotional as most other females, I certainly don't seem to stay in that category when it involves my kids. I just can't help it. Being a mom is the only thing I really wanted to do since I was little. Yeah, I'm on my way to becoming a lawyer now, but that whole thing is just a recent idea. Nothing I had dreamed about for years. So it's just hard to have what makes you a mom being so far away, and once again, not really needing you a whole lot.

Somehow I thought that because this was her second year away it would be a little easier. Yeah, I didn't cry quite as much at the airport yesterday as I did last year, but I'm still crying today. Ok, so four months.....let the countdown begin.

One Week Down

And I'm still alive, despite having 5 classes and working 20 hours (and however many hours of commuting between 3 places, all a half hour apart). It wasn't really bad. Ok, so I'm tired and wish I could sleep for more than 6 hours at a time, but it's not as bad as I thought.

I absolutely LOVE my new internship at the US Attorney's office! It's the kind of thing that even though I'm going to be working 20 hours a week there, I feel like I could easily work 40, and still not get everything done, but still love it as much. It's hard to explain exactly WHY I like it so much. Everyone there is very nice and helpful; I am given REAL stuff to do; it is interesting; I feel like I'm learning tons of stuff; the building is beautiful.........honestly, I cannot think of any internship that I'd rather be doing this year. I feel so incredibly fortunate to have this one!

For this weekend, I need to do a little reading, and a written assignment for Advanced Research and Writing. Hopefully I will get that all wrapped up in a few hours tomorrow. Then I need to spend the rest of the weekend going over materials for my Sept. 17th trial. I'm probably going down to Bakersfield this coming week to interview and prepare my witnesses for trial, so I need to get all that stuff organized.

The sad thing for me is that my daughter is leaving to go back to school tomorrow morning. While I'm thrilled that she is well enough to go, it is still extremely hard to let her go, especially after all that she has gone through this summer. I will admit that I didn't mind having to "take care" of her this summer. I haven't felt needed by her in a long time, and as a mom, I relish playing that role and actually getting the chance to do things for her. The scan she had the other day showed that the cancer did not spread, but just keep her in your prayers that she will continue to do well. I'm not sure I'm ready to have her leave just yet. Unfortunately, I don't have any choice.

At least I'll be so busy the next 4 months that it will fly by, and hopefully before I know it, I'll be picking her up and it will be Christmas......