Law School Update

Before law school started I was going to write a blog post about my expectations for the upcoming semester. I never got around to actually writing it because I was so "busy." A funny notion looking back, now that I really know what it is to be busy. Thanks law school!

I'm only about halfway though my first semester of law school and it's already a little too fuzzy for me to remember all my expectations but here's a quick summary:

Pre-Law School Me: "All the law school students I've met are all such Negative Nancys about the first year, always complaining and whining. It's just a lot of reading, it can't be that bad. All you have to learn to do is not procrastinate and get stuff done. No big deal. I'm so excited, whooo hooo, can't wait!" 

Now for the reality...

Weekend before first day of class: Started the seemingly harmless first day reading assignments only to find out that when reading a dense law opinion, three pages can take up to an hour to brief, let alone understand. This was a frustrating kick in the butt. Spent all weekend reading and then when I was finally finished for Monday's classes I was terrified that I didn't understand the cases I had read to the extent that my classmates might. This would all be well and good if it weren't for the infamous Socratic Method I knew was awaiting me.

Side note on the Socratic Method- I'm not a fan of public speaking, or even speaking in groups. I'm also not really a fan of small talk. I don't like expanding on my verbal answers and I hate BS-ed responses. I like simplicity and getting to the point. Either I know the answer or I don't. But when  you're called on in law school "I don't know" is never an acceptable answer. Considering the amount of times you're called on, it's not possible to know all the answers. You are supposed to reason your way to some answer. Definitely not something I'm good at on the fly. I'm fine at it if you give me some time and I can write/edit it, but I can't talk it out in front of 70 people. Basically, I have the fear of being called on in public, PLUS the fear of trying to BS some type of response, which makes the Socratic Method more than a little daunting. 

Once JD classes began: No matter how much reading I did, the stress was immense. I was so terrified of getting called on and not knowing the answer. After reading 35+ pages for each class, the professor would then ask about one specific word that a judge used to express XYZ. He would even goes as far to make the whole class wait until you re-read the entire case until you found that one little word he wanted. No matter how detailed your reading was there was always more the professor could expect you to explain to the class. 

I couldn't eat some mornings. I was a monster on the metro ride to school. Arya had to learn to stop trying to engage me in any conversation because of the inevitable attack that would come out of me. (I've learned that I need to deal with stress better...).

And all of that was only the first week. Then my legal writing course began. It was probably the class I most looked forward to. The practical layering skills, unlike what was taught in my core classes. These 2 credits seemed manageable until my first memo assignment came around and I sat down at 7pm to begin and wasn't done with a basic draft until 4:30am.

That's enough complaining. Most of the above was drafted around the end of the first month of classes. I've learned to manage it all much better now. Still TONS of work, especially since I have many outside of school obligations this month (more to come on that stuff later). Even though law school hasn't been all rainbows and butterflies,  I really do love the academic challenge. I love that the first year is a tough/dark time for even some of the more brilliant law students and the fact that it's so difficult makes it all the more rewarding for me to get through each week. Then again, I may change my tune and want to quit again by tomorrow morning.

Now back to my infinite amounts of reading. I've learned a lot so far, but I still haven't managed to stop procrastinating (see evidence above). The hard part of the semester hasn't even begun yet... studying for finals. Wish me luck! Hopefully I come out alive in December.

"The Big Easy"

reat music, great food, and great fun was what made my 4th of July weekend trip to New Orleans way more than great. My amazing friend, Kait, and her hubby (both visiting from Australia) met me and Arya down in Louisiana for a long weekend adventure.

As a warning, this post is just going to center on pictures. Some taken with Kait's awesome new camera and some from Arya's iPhone camera. So please be forgiving if there is a difference in quality... some of us are just too lazy to carry around nice cameras. ;)

Five Years Without You

Dear Daddy,

Today officially makes it five years since you died. In some ways I cannot believe it's been that long and in other ways I feel like I've lived three lives since. But no matter how many years pass by, your place in my life is still empty.

After you left I literally cried every day for six months straight. Then when I realized I hadn't cried one day I freaked out, fearing that I was forgetting you, which of course led right back to those familiar tears. I couldn't even watch Grey's Anatomy at first because the hospital scenes reminded me too much of the three uncertain days of waiting by your ICU bedside before it took a turn for the worst. I definitely did my share of private grieving but have come a long way since, even though I still have my occasional moments.

Of course, I would still do anything to talk to you now. To hear your thoughts on the the current debt ceiling crisis, my life choices, or even just the weather. Anything.

Although you are always with me, I still miss you every day. Thank you for being such an amazing father and friend who loved me unconditionally and in so many ways gave me such a solid foundation of love and support to start my life from. I am so grateful for the years I got to spend with you, to know you, and to learn from you. But when the missing gets too tough I try and remind myself of what your brother said to me the night before your funeral, "Some people never get to have a dad as great as yours. In some ways you're lucky to have had him for even as long as 18 years." While he had a point, I think I might still prefer that conversation about the weather.

Loving you always,

Christina

Probably not the best picture of either of us, but pictures of us on my computer are pretty limited.

LYLAS! ;)

t first glance Stephanie is your typical pretty girl. Knows how to look cute, dress cute, even smell cute, but you assume it stops there. Except that under that lovely surface is confidence that keeps her going through all odds, ambition for only the best, and the drive that can actually get it all. Her giggly demeanor is just a guise she hides behind. She is not easily flustered, takes a pragmatic approach to problems, and is always by your side when you need her most.

Although she is younger by five years, in so many ways she has been the one helping me grow up. Over the past couple years I have watched Stephanie transform from the annoying baby sister to a real friend and even equal. Yes, we’ve definitely had our differences, verbal and physical, but in the end she is always there for me. At times, Stephanie is my most important voice of reason and blunt honesty even (or especially) when I don’t want to hear it.

I am just so proud of who she's become. Stephanie is one of the most well rounded people I know. She finished her freshman year of college with amazing grades, elected to offices in multiple student organizations, and is now working at an impressive summer internship. During her down time she hangs out with her many adoring friends with whom she pursues her love of fun, spontaneity, and life. I’m not surprised by how many guys have quickly fallen for her outer charm only to later see that her inner personally matches or even exceeds her outside.

I can’t believe my little sisters turns 19 today. It feels like only yesterday we would dress up and dance to the Aladdin soundtrack when she was four and I was nine.

Stephanie, I know you think that after the eventful birthdays of 18 and 21 life only goes downhill. I want you to remember that that’s not true. If you want it to, Life only gets better. Every birthday brings you “a whole new world.” Or as Aladdin and Jasmine would say:

A whole new world

Every turn a surprise

With new horizons to pursue

Every moment gets better

=)

Happy Birthday Stephanie!

Sorry sissy, I know you hate this old picture,
but I think it's just so darn cute!

A Few of my Favorite Things

n honor of the song, My Favorite Things, from The Sound of Music (which has been stuck in my head for the past couple days), I want to write about a few of my own favorite things.

But first, a little on how picking favorites also happens to be a favorite thing of mine. Whenever I find a new category of things/ types of people/ activities/ anything really, I find myself immediately picking a favorite. I'm scared that this may be a habit I need to get over before I have multiple kids, especially if it translates into picking a favorite offspring. Later on it could cause them some major psychological damage… whoops. Anyways, my natural gravitation towards favorites fits well my other obsessive tendencies. I feel strongly about what I like, I usually either hate or love things (rarely for logical reasons), but these strong inclinations are never set in stone. My feelings change often, so in the end there should be no hurt feelings, right?

Accordingly, here are a few of my favorite things… of the moment.

Walking

This is something fairly new, and honestly I am not sure how much of it is leftover from my days of trying to lose weight. I would count every calorie consumed and subtract that by the estimated calories burned throughout the day. (Of course, I chose the nerdiest way to lose weight.) But no matter the root, now I truly love walking. I even like choosing the slightly farther parking spot just to walk more.

I love walking my dog even after he is so worn out and panting that he takes every opportunity he gets to lay down in the shade of every tree we pass by.

I love walking and just appreciating that I have the physical ability to do so. That it’s not difficult for me to walk because of old age or some injury. I love the feeling of movement. But sometimes I love taking walks because it gives me the opportunity to do my next favorite thing…

Looking up at the Clouds

When people actually take the time lift their eyes towards the sky, I don’t think anyone is really ever disappointed. At least, whenever I look up I am never disappointed. I always think the same thing, “Why don’t I do this more often?” I love love love the sky. Yes, trees are pretty, flowers are nice, oceans are relaxing, but the sky is nice from everywhere. You don’t have to travel anywhere to find it. Pretty from any angle, any distance. Plus, it spends more time looking amazing than flowers are even in bloom. Looking up at the pretty in the sky always helps me remember how petty problems can be down below. That’s what I love most about the sky, how it can be such a nice pick me up from above.

Healthy, Loving Relationships

I know everyone probably likes healthy, loving relationships, but I REALLY like healthy, loving relationships. I never was that impressed or excited about the idea of young love. Too fleeting, meaningless, shallow even? My favorite is seeing much older couples out in public holding hands, who still seem very much in love. That never gets old to me. ;)

Maybe that’s why I love the Obamas so much. Barack is such a contrast to so many other American presidents in respect to how his personal life appears. He seems to really truly love AND still be in love with Michelle. They make time in their crazy hectic White House schedules to have private date nights. There are pictures of them with his Secret Service men looking away as the two of them share an intimate moment where they rest their foreheads against each other. They just seem like such an indestructible partnership, supporting each other through it all. If that’s not actually the reality of their relationship, then I guess I’m impressed with the show? Either way they inspire me to never settle for anything less than the true love they seem to share with each other.

Last (but probably least important), since we started with The Sound of Music, it's only appropriate to end with my favorite song from that musical, “Sixteen Going on Seventeen.”

And wow, I just listened to it again for the first time since my childhood, and wow. I guess from now on I will just focus on the dancing and love in their eyes, and ignore pretty much all of the lyrics.

I need someone
Older and wiser
Telling me what to do
You are 17 going on 18
I'll depend on you

I don’t even know where to start with that. Definitely not my favorite anything…