| Wow. |
[
02.25.08 @ 9:24am
] |
| [ |
mood |
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relaxed |
] |
So....I think it's about time that I shut this blog down. I'm going to start posting again in my old (password-protected) journal. Those of you who had the password previously will of course be welcome to read it...once I figure out what the new password will be. Before law school, I was posting almost every day, and I miss that. I can't talk about personal stuff on this blog.
I leave you with some recommendations: --The Office (I know...I'm late to the party) --No Country for Old Men, or anything with Javier Bardem (hotness) --Books about pop culture criticism by Chuck Klosterman --Blogs about tv and celeb gossip: televisionwithoutpity, tvgasm, ohnotheydidnt --For the love of God (and Tim Riggins)...WATCH FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS!! I've been telling you people that forever! And you haven't listened! And now it might be canceled and it's all your fault!
Love 'n stuff, me
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| Amuse my bouche |
[
12.17.06 @ 10:28pm
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| [ |
mood |
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distressed |
] |
| [ |
music |
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Wait (the whisper song) by Ying Yang Twins |
] |
Quote of the day: In my first year of law school, everybody loved everybody else because we were all studying the law and the law was a noble thing. By my third year, you were lucky if you weren't murdered in your sleep. Such is the nature of the profession.
So, at this time last year, I was in Texas on break, planning to hang with my best friend to ring in the new year, about to enter my last semester of law school, and getting ready to spend four months in London. And the Longhorns were about to play in the Rose Bowl. We had Vince Young, the team was a powerhouse, all was right with the world, and...where was I? Oh yeah, my happy place.
This year? Hm. Anyone that has more than a passing acquaintance with me knows that I consider New Year's Eve to be the most important night of the year. And this year is going to be tough. I don't have plans. I just finished freaking out about the company holiday party (eek!), and now I've got some new drama. The few people I know in Milwaukee will be out of town or otherwise busy. My friends in Chicago will be in another state. I'm nervous. I am wildly superstitous about New Year's Eve. If it doesn't go the way I want it to, my year will be terrible. I'm not sure what to do. I think this may be the first time since I was 15 that I don't have something to do. I'm considering paying lots of money to fly out to Texas or somewhere else but I can't take time off work. I've tried to get people to come visit, but to no avail. What to do?
Don't even get me started on the Alamo Bowl. Before anyone asks, I plan to and will ALWAYS root for the Longhorns. No question. New recommendations for you - Movie:The Holiday; Book: Garlic and Sapphires; TV show: Top Chef.
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[
11.07.06 @ 10:58pm
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| [ |
mood |
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crazy |
] |
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music |
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"Smack that" by Akon feat. Eminem |
] |
Quote of the day: Here's to God and football, and in 10 years, good friends livin' large in Texas.
If you aren't already watching it, set your TiVo (or DVR) for Monday to record Friday Night Lights. That is the best show I've seen in a long time, and it accurately portrays the joys of Texas high school football. Plus Mack Brown had a cameo. And one episode had a Pearl Jam song. And Kyle Chandler is the head coach. Hottie!
Another good show to watch is Dateline: To Catch a Predator. That cracks me up. It's like porn and Candid Camera rolled into one. Hilarity ensues.
My little brother came to visit this weekend. He didn't bring me any Chick-fil-A like I asked him too. Which reminds me of something...my friend G is not a fan of Chick-fil-A because they are closed on Sundays. When we went to Chick-fil-A in Ohio with A, he ranted on about this issue for a good 10 minutes, while I was trying to enjoy my waffle fries. G was highly agitated about this entanglement between church and chicken. I'm not that bothered by it. I'm considering opening my own Chick-fil-A here in Milwaukee. Then I wouldn't have to drive 30 miles to Racine to get a freakin' chicken sandwich fried in peanut oil.
One more recommendation. Go see the movie "The Departed" if you haven't already. Great acting, terrific plot, and Marky Mark.
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| I met BD Wong today! |
[
09.30.06 @ 6:22pm
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| [ |
mood |
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hopeful |
] |
Quote of the day: There comes a moment when it's more than just a game, and you either take that step forward or turn around and walk away. I could quit but here's the thing, I love the playing field.
BD Wong was 2 feet away from me! Dr. George Huang, fools!! I love Law and Order: SVU. Who doesn't? Today I spent most of the day at AIDS Walk Wisconsin. It was a pretty long walk (10K, yo) and the weather was dicey at first. I raised $300, and my teammate (can you have a team of two? I guess so) and I raised over $1,000 as a team by having a "Denim Day" at work. KK, a coworker and my lone teammate, and I walked together, and along the way we met this great guy, AT, who was walking alone and started chatting with us. Somewhere around mile marker four, he told us that he has been HIV-positive for over 16 years. As I nurse the blisters on my feet (I think I wore the wrong kind of socks), I am so glad I did this walk. I was feeling a bit out of it lately, but today gave me some much needed perspective. AT gave us his business card and a hug at the end of the walk and we promised to all meet up soon for some wine and cheese at Trocadero.
Here is my honor roll of AIDS Walk pledges, in alphabetical order by last name: Zoe Dani Mom Edward Sofia Denise Gene Anne P. Molly Thanks a million, y'all. I'm very grateful that you were so generous and supported me in this worthy cause. And I'm sure AT thanks you too.
I have to post soon about my birthday in Texas, and my trips to Ohio, and Arlington, VA. Random, yes, but that's how I roll.
And happy birthday (yesterday) to my BFF!! Welcome to 30, baby.
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| YES! YES! YES! |
[
09.08.06 @ 2:53pm
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mood |
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ecstatic |
] |
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music |
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Margaritaville |
] |
I got a letter in the mail today that said:
By this memorandum, the Board of Bar Examiners certifies that ME! ME! ME!, a successful July 2006 Wisconsin bar examinee, is eligible for admission to the practice of law in Wisconsin...
I passed the bar. Life is good. I'm going to get super drunk and buy myself a new Coach purse.
Hell yeah I am.
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| This is it! |
[
07.23.06 @ 12:58pm
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| [ |
mood |
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determined |
] |
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music |
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"American Girl" by Tom Petty |
] |
Quote of the day: I have not examined the history of how and why the bar exam developed as it has, but I suspect that its purpose is to restrict entrance into the profession and to convince the public at large that lawyers are an elite group worthy of the enormous fees you pay us. The difficulty of the bar exam is also a macho thing, a hellish rite of initiation into a privileged and powerful circle.
Tomorrow I leave for Middleton, WI, where the bar exam is being held. I have done all I can do. I have now completed 1,200 practice multiple choice questions and read, outlined, and studied 72 previous WI essays. I've studied in my apartment (upstairs and downstairs), at 3 different libraries, in coffee shops, on a balcony, and any place I could grab a little privacy and some desk space.
I need to keep Professor Whitebread's words in mind: All you need is a glib understanding of the law, and there is always someone who knows less than you do.
Things I'm looking forward to: 1. Wednesday at 4:00 pm. 2. Seeing G next week. 3. Getting a paycheck again. 4. My birthday next month in Austin. 5. That first sip of alcohol after the bar exam...man, that's gonna be sweet.
Things I'm dreading: 1. Torts 2. Secured Transactions 3. Property 4. Civil Procedure 5. Secured Transactions
Thanks to all of you who sent me good wishes. Here goes nothing....
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| T-minus one week.... |
[
07.18.06 @ 10:39pm
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| [ |
mood |
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anxious |
] |
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music |
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"Beaches of Cheyenne" by Garth Brooks |
] |
Quote of the day: The truly depressing thing is that by passing the bar the big payoff is that...you're a lawyer. And an alcoholic.
It's now one week until the bar exam. I've studied for almost two months, done 900 practice questions (more to go), made hundreds of flash cards, and I'm now studying 8-10 hours a day. I'm doing all I can and I think I'm going a bit crazy. I'm still careening between ok-I-can-do-this to ohmygod-I'll-never-remember-all-this-I'm-just-going-to-curl-up-in-the-fetal-position-and-hide. No in between. Here's a pic of my study space upstairs. Note the Barbri studysmart software on the computer screen, post-its reminding me of things in Con Law and Torts that I keep forgetting, and the unused PMBR books. 
This is my downstairs study space...note the stereo where I listen to PMBR cds, the thick books (that's not even half of them!!) and the chair where I sit and cry.
 This will all be over soon, and I know it's a rite of passage, and I'll be a better person once I get through it. But, good lord, this is torture. Am I doing enough? Am I studying the right things? Can I trust Barbri? What should I wear to the exam? On the rare occasions I venture out of the apartment, I'm outraged to see people having fun. How DARE people be playing volleyball or sunbathing when the bar is one week away?!? Don't they know how miserable I am?
I still manage to watch Project Runway. And Hell's Kitchen. And So You Think You Can Dance. But it's all through DVR only...I have no time to deal with commercials. On a different subject, I did end up cutting my hair and dyeing it black. I'm not totally used to it yet.
Wish me luck, pray for me, etc., etc. I DON'T want to have to do this again.
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[
06.13.06 @ 9:56pm
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| [ |
mood |
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listless |
] |
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music |
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"Perfect" by Alanis Morrissette |
] |
Quote of the day:: Even if I did get past all my problems, I'm just gonna get out and get new ones.
After two weeks of bar study, I seem to have fallen back into that inescapable mindset that descended on me in first year. The whole world is a hypo. Everyone I see is a potential tortfeasor. I analyze every situation for hidden legal implications. It's a strange way to look at daily life.
I keep bouncing back and forth between a positive, determined, hopeful mood, to abject and overwhelming fear of failing. Please, God, if I pass the bar, I will never complain about anything again.
When I was leaving bar review class the other night and walking to the parking garage, a fox ran by me. Like, the animal. I'm going to take it as a good omen.
I'm thinking about dyeing my hair black and cutting off a few inches. Comments? Questions?
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| America's Dairyland |
[
06.09.06 @ 10:32pm
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| [ |
mood |
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exhausted |
] |
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music |
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"Your letter" by 112 |
] |
Quote of the day: I mock you with my monkey pants.
The subject line up there is what it says on my new license plates. I love me some cheese curds.
I'm in Milwaukee now, studying for the bar, and let me tell you, bar prep is a special hell all its own. Can I get an Amen?!? Don't even get me started on the overpriced, underwhelming, crazy entity that is Barbri. I can't believe that Wisconsin law graduates don't have to go through this. Bastards, all of them...except the ones I actually know and like. It's going to be a loooong summer.
On the upside, I love my new apartment, and my new roommates, AP and the cat. This apartment is as big or bigger than my beloved Flat 6 in London, which I shared with 5 other people.
I did something that is a big step for me. I never did it in Iowa. I was still stuck in the fantasy that I would return to Austin after graduation. But I did it. I finally changed the presets on my car radio to Milwaukee stations. *gasp* That must mean that this is home.
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| I'm baaaaaaaack |
[
05.07.06 @ 7:08pm
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| [ |
mood |
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sleepy |
] |
| [ |
music |
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"I get around" by Tupac |
] |
Quote of the day: The underground just don't stop for hos.
So...I'm back in the US, and I still have to update with pictures of my trips,and I will, once I get over my jet lag. I had the best four months ever. I've climbed up over 300 steps to hear Big Ben chime noon, drank proper British tea just yards away from the Rosetta stone, walked through the rooms of Anne Frank's house in Amsterdam, laid on the beach in Portugal, took in Paris from the top of the Eiffel Tower, ate tapas in Spain, and stood in the Vatican on the one-year anniversary of the Pope's death. For all of these unforgettable experiences, I'm really grateful to my parents (for money!), my friends (for moral support and keeping me in the Iowa loop), and to M (for holding down the apartment 26 fort), and even to Iowa law school. London was amazing, and now it's time to graduate, say goodbye, and study for THAT big test.
One last pic of the ladies of Flat 6. Miss you guys....

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| It's Always a Party in Flat 6, yo |
[
03.05.06 @ 4:43pm
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| [ |
mood |
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bouncy |
] |
| [ |
music |
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"Goodbye my lover" by James Blunt |
] |
Quote of the day: People don't always tell you what they are thinking. They just see to it that you don't advance in life.
I know, I've been slacking on the updates again. I've just been having so much fun! So let me tell you about the weekend. No, not this weekend. Two weekends ago...
Early, early, early Saturday morning, around 4:00am, Dianna and I were awakened by a weird smell. I asked her, "Do you smell pancake syrup?" Dianna and I went downstairs, where two of our flatmates were passed out in the living room. Erin's friend S was asleep in the hallway. Dianna opened the oven door and in my sleep-induced haze, I thought, "Who's baking a black frisbee?" Smoke poured out of the oven, and Dianna yelled, "Guys, did someone try to make a pizza?" Apparantly, someone had put a pizza in the oven 2 hours before and then passed out drunk. The smoke alarm brought everyone to life, and Beth grabbed the pizza out of the oven, threw it in a garbage bag, and flew downstairs, opening windows in the apartment building as she went. I threw open windows in the apartment, and Katie ran around in circles, screaming that everything was under control. Someone dragged a chair into the kitchen and started waving a towel under the smoke alarm. About 15 minutes later, the ordeal was over. And that was the night Flat 6 almost burned to the ground with 8 people in it. I love my flatmates. :)
The next morning, Beth went with me on a London history sightseeing walk. I had planned to do the walks for about 8 hours, but Beth, still a bit drunk, convinced me to cut out after about an hour and a half. But I did get this lovely picture of...something...

We had been warned by the London program leader to stay away from certain parts of the city because of a Muslim protest going on. So of course, Beth and I headed straight for it. There were about 20,000 people in Trafalgar square, and we stuck out like sore thumbs. Was I not supposed to take pictures? :)


Afterwards, Beth and I walked to the Imperial War Museum and spent a few hours there. The Holocaust exhibit was intense. On Sunday, the gang and I went to see a football game (that's soccer to you Americans). It was Chelsea v. Colchester for the 5th round of the FA cup. The game was packed. It was a battle between the scrappy Colchester team and the millionaire boys of Chelsea. One of their football chants actually goes, "We got loads of money...lalala..." HA! That's my team.

Some of the group at a pub before the game. Back row: Weiser, Rachel, Beth, and Robert. Front row: Lacey and me.
 Spencer, Beth, Robert, and Katie apparantly posing for someone else's picture.
 Once Dianna uploads her pictures of us from last weekend at Leeds Castle, I'll update about last weekend. Happy upcoming spring break to all my Iowa law schoolers (in a week)! I'll be in Portugal for the first part of the week, then back in London to welcome some guests. Yay!
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| Motel, Botel, Holiday Inn... |
[
02.17.06 @ 6:10am
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| [ |
mood |
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impressed |
] |
| [ |
music |
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"He stopped loving her today" (Johnny Cash cover) |
] |
Say whaaat? :) Ok, I've just updated a lot, so go back and read all the entries!
About a month ago, I went to Amsterdam with 3 of my flatmates. Against my better judgement, I agreed to stay in a "botel" - a boat hostel - that had tiny closet-like rooms and shared bathrooms and showers. It was actually pretty expensive for what it was. It cost 25 euros per bed, and some of our friends had gotten a much better deal with an actual hotel, in a good location, that had beds and bathrooms INSIDE the room. It was an experience, but...never again. :) Here is the lovely Dianna showing the size of the room. She is touching both walls at the same time. The room looks a LOT bigger in this pic than it really was. For those of you in Iowa, the bathroom in my apartment is bigger than this room.
 There was a sink in the room:
 This is the deck of the botel. Amsterdam was so cold! I picked up a cough there that has STILL not gone away.
 Here is the gang at the Heinekan brewery. That was my favorite part of the trip. It was so fun! Unfortunately, everyone wanted to ride bicycles there, and I did not, because I like walking, and I have never ridden a bike in the street before. I went along with it, again, against my better judgement, and I was nearly killed at least 3 times in the road. The "bike lanes" narrowed to almost nothing in most places, and simply disappeared in others. I was terrified. Plus, I was too short for anything but the smallest children's bike, which was bright purple and had a bell. Another experience that I will never again repeat.
 Overall, it was more fun than not. At least I can say I've been to Amsterdam! Next up is a trip to the Canary Islands, then Paris, then Rome, and Barcelona for Easter weekend. Yay!
Schoolwork totally interferes with my sightseeing.
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| Hmmm... |
[
02.17.06 @ 5:21am
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| [ |
mood |
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amused |
] |
| [ |
music |
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"Mr. Lonely" by Franky B. |
] |
Speaking of pics, here is one that nobody likes...:)

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| Summary |
[
02.17.06 @ 5:07am
] |
| [ |
mood |
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chipper |
] |
| [ |
music |
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Coldplay |
] |
Quote of the day: Hey kids, there's Big Ben, and there's Parliament.
On Monday, I went to Big Ben and Parliament on a tour. It was amazing. We went up 334 steps to the top of Big Ben (pant and gasp) to hear it chime noon. We also sat in on question time at the House of Lords. While we were waiting, we realized that we were standing about 5 feet from Lady Margaret Thatcher!! She waved to us and spoke a bit. What an experience. You know how I love celeb sightings.
 L and I took another bus trip to Stonehenge and Salisbury. I think it's one of the best things I've done so far. Here is a picture of a house from the 1400s in Salisbury.
 I *think* this a church that has one of nine Doom Paintings (depicting people going to either heaven or hell) in the world inside it. I saw the Doom Painting and bought a postcard. It was quite morbid. I think I lost the postcard.
 Stonehenge! Some people were, uh, worshipping it when we were there.

 Here are my flatmates and I at Russian New Year in January. Top row, left to right: Dianna, Katie, Erin, Beth, and Katie's friend Lindsay (not a flatmate but still cool :). Lacey and I are in the front.
 Random pic of Waterloo bridge
 Here are the roommates at the musical Fame. Speaking of theater, I went with the group to see "Night of the Iguana" starring Woody Harrelson. We had really good seats and were pretty close to the stage. I took my seat and sighed, "I always end up behind a tall person." Katie offered to switch with me, and when I changed seats, I realized that the tall guy I had been complaining about was Matthew Modine! I was sitting behind Private Joker from Full Metal Jacket! I've also seen a hilarious production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and I'm hoping to see "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" with Kathleen Turner.

Y'all know it is very out of character to post pics of myself, but some of my flatmates have blogs, and they've been posting pics, so there are pics of me all over, so I might as well join the party. Here are two of my flatmates' blogs that you may want to check out, as they update more than I do (but I'm getting better....)
Lacey's blog: http://donogirl.blogspot.com/
Katie's blog: http://katieinlondon.blogspot.com/
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| Dedicated to my friend the Shakespeare Wench |
[
02.17.06 @ 4:44am
] |
| [ |
mood |
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creative |
] |
| [ |
music |
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"Roll out" by Ludacris |
] |
Quote of the day: A song and a snack can turn any moment into an occasion.
Since I haven't blogged in a long time, I thought I would include some pictures of what I've been doing in England so far. L and I went to Stratford-upon-Avon, or Shakespeare town, on a bus trip. William Shakespeare was from there. Here is his birthplace:
 And a teddy bear museum, with Paddington bear (yay for marmalade!):
 Before he married, this was Shakespeare's wife's house. I sat on a bench where they supposedly "courted." Did you know he got her pregnant when he was 18 and she was 25 and BEFORE they were married? Scandalous...
 This was somewhat of a guided tour, and the leader passed out a quiz on Shakespeare. L and I teamed up to beat the youngsters on the bus. At one point, I snuck away to a gift shop, opened a Shakespeare anthology, and looked up the answers to about 10 questions. No surprise, we won. 10 pounds for us. Yay!
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[
02.17.06 @ 4:11am
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| [ |
mood |
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busy |
] |
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music |
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"Don't Stop Me" by Queen |
] |
Quote of the day: Freedom, baby... is never having to say you're sorry.
Part of my coursework in London is a British Legal Externship Program. Every Monday, I spend time with a barrister, which is basically a trial attorney, and sometimes I get to see court proceedings. Barristers wear old school robes and white wigs. I've been to court about 3 times so far.

Things I've learned:
There are two kinds of lawyers. Barristers have all the fun and solicitors do paperwork Policemen in London don't carry guns. The jury system here is a lot...simpler. I highly recommend reading "The Juryman's Tale" by Trevor Grove. It was suggested to me by my barrister. Barristers drink a LOT. I thought American lawyers could put it away, but these people can drink Americans under the table. The first time I went out with my barrister, he ordered two bottles of wine for the table (only 4 were drinking), then he had brandy for dessert. Then we came back to the office (I was quite tipsy) and he drank some more. L went out for lunch with her barrister during the week and stumbled into class late and drunk. Good times. Defendants don't sit at counsel's table during trial. They are separated in a glassed-in dock off to the side. Many cases end up in magistrate court, in front of 3 judges that are lay people. For real. Any Joe Schmo off the street. It's bizzare.
More updates coming soon. Really soon, I promise!
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| Adventures in London-town |
[
01.23.06 @ 1:22pm
] |
| [ |
mood |
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cheerful |
] |
| [ |
music |
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"Here Comes Your Man" by The Pixies |
] |
Quote of the day: Everybody has a secret they don't want you to find.
As many of you know, I'm living in London this semester, and I love it. I may never come back to the states. Classes are easy (so far), my roommates are wicked fun (there are six of us), and living here is such a thrill. There is a Texas Embassy here! Actually, it is a restaurant called the Texas Embassy, but there USED to be one for real back when Texas was independent. I'm doing an externship with a barrister (more on that in the next entry), and the legal system here is so different.
For now, take a look at these tiny pics of my fabulous four bedroom flat in Marylebone...where Madonna lives, yo! And Jude Law and Gwen Stefani are close by too. Come visit and we'll do some celeb-stalking.
My bedroom (I have the bed on the right):

L's master bedroom:
Living room: 
Bathrooms: 
Kitchen and foyer: 
The steep, narrow, tiny stairs leading to the second floor:

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| What a way to start the year!!!!! |
[
01.04.06 @ 11:38pm
] |
| [ |
mood |
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indescribable |
] |
| [ |
music |
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Texas Fight Song |
] |
I just watched the Rose Bowl, aka the Vince Young show, and it was beyond incredible! It was a nailbiter until the end, and I wish I could have been there. My Vince ran for a touchdown in the last 19 seconds to win the game...how is it that this man didn't get the Heisman?!? Well, M and T and I know that he is the proud owner of a much BIGGER trophy. :)
I'm off to London (yeah!) in about 5 hours, so I better get some sleep. I'll miss y'all, but I'll try to update with pics soon.
LONGHORNS ARE THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!!!!!!! HOOK 'EM HORNS!
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| Ya think? |
[
12.15.05 @ 11:17pm
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| [ |
mood |
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drained |
] |
| [ |
music |
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Leslie and the Ly's |
] |
| Your 2005 Song Is |  Since You've Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson
"But since you've been gone I can breathe for the first time I'm so moving on"
In 2005, you moved on. |
I'll update more tomorrow. Exams are done, finally. FINALLY!
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[
11.07.05 @ 11:33am
] |
| [ |
mood |
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thankful |
] |
| [ |
music |
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"Prove my love" by Violent Femmes |
] |
Quote of the day: You're a fake and a phony and I wish I never laid eyes on you!
October seems to be the last month o' fun for law students, then pre-finals panic sets in. I had a great October. I went to Milwaukee to look for an apartment (more on that in another post), to Chicago to get my hair re-straightened (bad memories mixed with good), and did some cool things in Iowa.
I went to Oktoberfest again and it was kitschy fun. I went with a group, and we wandered around, looking at jewelry and food (see H's blog for pics). At one point, AT and I were sitting outside a Cheese Haus, munching on fresh kettle corn and watching people go by. All of a sudden, a small child ran by. His mother yelled, "Anakin, get back here right now!" AT and I stopped mid-crunch and looked at each other, wondering if we had heard correctly. Then the mother yelled again, "Anakin, I mean it!" I nearly choked. Who would do that to a child?
I ended the month by going to the law school Halloween party. I love seeing people in costume. I wish I could post pictures, but I have to protect people's privacy. :) There were quite a number of 3Ls there. Someone dressed as a pink locker room. I'm sure I'll miss Iowa when I'm gone.
All in all, a good month.
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