I Survived

Sorry for the delay- I got done with 1L year and started summer classes, and well here goes.

I made it through the finals. They were tough. There were technical glitches, panic moments, and hours spent hunched over textbooks, notes, computers, and outlines.

But I made it through. And I earned a higher GPA than last semester! :)

My cumulative GPA is above a 3.0. I feel this is a success. :) Highest grade as a 1L? Criminal Law (A). Lowest Grade? 3 way tie- 1st semester civil pro, 2nd semester contracts & legal writing (C+).

Tomorrow is my summer school final for land use controls. Tuesday is my summer school final for corporations. I'm an rising 1L- though I feel because I'm in these classes I am truly a 2L. 1/3 done with law school.

Hot

So it is hot outside. And my apartment is an oven. The AC is on, high, but it isn't working very well. Which sucks. I am babysitting a kitty this summer, and she arrived at my apartment today. So far she is okay with me so long as I stay away from her. She will warm up in time. Or it will be a long summer of her in one room and me in another. :-/

I am officially finished with Contracts and Civil Procedure! Which is pretty exciting. I never have to have civ pro again! How exciting is that? I'll take more classes with my Contracts  professor, he is pretty awesome. I will NEVER (so long as I can help it) take another class with my civ pro prof. He's nuts.

My contracts exam was 20 multiple choice and 2 essay questions. Open everything, notes/books. Which is kind of a cruel joke because that means you have to know everything. But I think the exam went okay. My civil procedure exam was 100 multiple choice questions. Open everything. It was a treasure hunt. Try to find the rule that applies in as little time as possible. I know basically nothing about civil procedure, after 2 semesters of class. I'm not really ok with this. I shall have to take Conflicts as a 3L in order to learn civil procedure well enough ish for the bar exam.

I'm studying for my criminal law exam on Saturday. It is 1 or 2 essay questions. I don't remember what she finally decided. Closed book. I forgot how many cases we have read until I sat down to make a case chart. Sooo many cases. I think I know the rules etc. But I may not, idk. It shall be interesting.

I'm ready to be done, but I don't really get a break because my last exam is Wednesday and summer school starts Monday... but I shall have a nice break after summer school before I go back in for fall classes.

Speaking of becoming a 2L. I got to pick my classes. I'm taking Constitutional Law II, Criminal Procedure: Investigation, Evidence, Entertainment Law, and Sexuality in the Law. 16 credits. I will work for 10 hours a week at my GA position with the Students Legal Assistance Office. It shall be busy... but 2L year is work you to death.

So I'm going to watch "The Voice" for the first time like ever tonight. My mom really likes it, and I basically love Blake Shelton, so why not take a little break from murder and madness?

2 Finals stand between me and the completion of my 1L year. Here we go.

Winding Down

So the semester is coming to an end. Which means review questions. Which means lots of review classes. They are helpful, but at the same time when I understand something, I'm like okay stop talking... I want to talk about what I don't understand. Rather than beating a dead horse to another death. Gah. Except wait you can't kill someone/something twice. Yup that is something we have talked about. 

I am kind of excited for the semester to be over. Finals last about 3 weeks, but it is only 4 tests. There are 3-4 days between each test. So its kind of like, study your brains out, take a test. Study, take a test. It's kind of a break I guess. I start summer school right after finals are done. So that will be interesting. But when summer school is done I have a little over a month of working 15 hours a week, which is like a mini vacation as well. I'm trying to get some sort of a light at the end of the tunnel. 

I'm dreading studying for Civil Procedure. I haven't learned ANY of it this semester. Partly my fault, partly the fault of the nincompoop professor who refuses to actually teach. So I have a semester's worth of Civil Procedure to learn in 4 days. I don't even want to think about it. 

I realize I haven't posted any professor quotes in awhile so here are the latest: 

Sometimes I think, does that make sense, yes it does. Oh wait no it doesn't  Then I get a headache for like a half an hour. So just don’t think about it.

Older student in class says—sorry I’m kind of senile. Prof says: no I’m older than you so that doesn't work.

You can’t deflect it; I’m looking right at you.

Don’t you miss me? Of course you do, I can’t say the same for me.

Huge Thunder noise… “Don’t worry you’re safe in here.”

It feels weird being in jeans.

I can sue him; I can sue that son of a bitch.

Professor is talking about how he dislikes the Jeffersonian interpretation and how it comes into the 14^th Amendment. BIG thunder clap. “God’s a Jeffersonian. I still stand by what I said though.”

You Betcha—that’s technical talk.

It’s like Downton Abby telling your servants what to do.

I am not going senile I refuse to acknowledge it God Damn it!

Then we will talk about the dormant commerce clause, snaps his fingers above his head, ummm kay.

I’d like to blame my secretary but actually I did this myself.

That’s a long ass question.

Does anybody want to fight me? Well don’t cause that’s the law.

Preparing for Oral Arguments

Finished my folder just a few minutes ago. 23 Case Summary Cards. I made it backwards/upside down because I forgot when you flip index cards the cases are upside down. but whatever, it'll work. 

Wish me Luck!

Updates...

I apologize for not updating recently. Life has been very crazy the last few weeks. So lets see where to begin. 

Easter went well. Went with my boyfriend's parents to a brunch thing. The food was good, and we had fun. Then we watched Zero-Dark-Thirty. It was okay. Not as fantastic as I was hoping. 

My nephew was born on 4-1-13. I went to see him and help my brother get settled in the apartment. It was crazy. My nephew is beautiful. I hope his mom and him move far away from my brother, who I am confident is loco. 

The Appellate Brief was due on Monday April 8. I'm so glad to have it done. 30 pages. Shorter than my senior seminar but much harder to do. I have my oral argument tomorrow, which is a bit nerve racking. Well a lot nerve racking. I have the stomach flu. I'm doing good if I can make it through one class 50 minutes before I have to run to the bathroom. Its really not fun. I need to be better by tomorrow. Or at least from 1-3 tomorrow. I still have to make my folder, and well do everything. I've accomplished like nothing. Ewww. Its going to suck. 

I have my Basic Legal Research final on Monday. There is an optional review today at 1. I'm hoping to stay healthy enough to make it through. Gah I just want to go home. 

Well my professors have been saying some pretty interesting things so here are some more quotes: 

War on Terror. War on Hunger. War on Drugs. There are a lot of wars going on buddy.

I have a piece of wisdom for you; you will never make money betting optimistically on the Cubs.

Did the lights go out or was that a cloud? Or am I going to stroke out? If I stroke out class is not dismissed you have to take care of me, that’s an implied condition here.

Today I’m going to attempt to teach you attempt.

Amanda you look upset what’s wrong? I’ve been researching conspiracy and I’m contemplating stuff, sorry my mind was wondering. Well it’s a good thing it was wandering in here… and not contracts. Could you imagine wow that girl is really thinking about the UCC 2-202….

Some people work in Mexican Restaurants, others rob banks…

Moral of this story, never leave your husband alone. He might decide to rob a bank. People have interesting fantasy lives.

Why did we have a TV show called Friends? These are the real friends, instead of just sleeping with each other they shoot each other.

MPC 2.02 this is supposed to haunt you in your dreams.

Don’t start drinking in the morning until you’ve had at least 30 years in practice. Then it will come naturally.

I’m finally getting it don’t mess with my head.

Guy yawns in class… poor thing tough weekend? No the weekend ended 2 days ago.

If only criminals would all use Toyotas or Hondas. Nobody would be able to find them because they all look the same. Oh is that a racist comment? (ya she really said this... wow) 

I just lied because I wanted to ruin his life. 

Stateville

Today I went to Stateville, Maximum Security Correctional Center. It was amazing. I was a little (lot) scary and at times I kind of just wanted to cry... but I didn't, and I looked and was just inspired. I'm not sure I want to be a public defender after today, Prosecutor definent possibility. But after seeing those men today, after the cat calls, after being openly jerked off to (that's what the guard said they were doing, why they darkened the rooms in the round). I'm not sure I want to defend those people... but at the same time I think of the wrongly accused, the not guilty, the innocent and think about them living in Stateville. and well that is disgusting. If you ever get the chance to go to Stateville, go. Open your eyes to a part of the world you only see on TV. It's literally another world. 

The Round House

Sky View of the Prison 

View of the cells in the round house

An Important Day

As a strong advocate of LGBT rights, I wanted to share with you some amazing audio:

Proposition 8

I am excited to see how it comes out. 

Quotes from Class

I feel like I haven't posted quotes from class in a bit... so here goes

When Going over Midterm Exam: How is it going? How ya doin’? I’m trying to read the room… is this a suicidal moment?

Professor is going to Key West for spring break… discussing his fishing with the new developments of sharks off the coast… I say “You could catch a shark and put it in your office”… he says “no lawyers…sharks… professional courtesy not to do that…”

People who did not study grammar end up committing crimes… I see the connection.

If you like the sound of emergency vehicles… move to a senior center area, always a house for sale. My sister lives there, she went there looking for men… they are all dead.

Never get into a subway car if the only other person is a middle aged white man, because he may kill you.

We read those admissions essays… All I want to do is just serve the poor… Thank You Pope Francis. 

You are in a classroom full of people who have only gotten straight A’s. Now they are sharks. Not everyone can get an A, you’ll get eaten. Shoot the guy who got the perfect score, that’ll take care of the curve, sorry you know I love criminal law.

So you all learned a new Lithuanian word today. Bullshitius. It is what you will do in your careers, and on your exam. 

Morning From Hell

Got up at about 5:20. Checked email to see if Stateville was in lock-down. Checked thermostat, temperature 61 degrees. Brrr. Turn up heat. Get showered and all dressed up in my suit. Head outside. Wind-chill -4 degrees. BRRRRRRRRRRR. Drive to school, pay $5 to pay in visitor parking. Scurry over to the law school, put my bag in my locker and head over to the bus. It is now 7:00 AM.

Get on the bus. Bus is chilly, but not bad. Wait until 7:20 for bus to leave. During this 20 minutes the bus randomly shut off 2 times, but it didn't seem to bug the driver so whatevs. Bus pulled onto the road. Bus stopped working. Bus has now travelled about 100 feet. Bus pulled over, driver called for new bus. Sit on bus about 10 minutes waiting for new bus, without heat. Its freezing.

Get on new bus. The "new bus" is about 50 years old, and the seats are like an OLD school bus, and FREEZING. Bus gets back on the road, follows old bus to bus garage. Bus driver goes to get Ipass. Door won't open. Spends a few minutes fiddling with the door to make it open, goes and gets the pass. Gets back on, and we are on the road for real. It is now 7:45, we have about 1.25 hour long drive to get there, and about 1 hour to do it in. Okay.

Get on the interstate. Bus driver gets a phone call. Classmate checks her email on her smart phone, Stateville is in lock-down. Bus driver gets off on the next exit. Does not just get back on the I going the other way, that would be logical. Nope. Takes us home the scenic route, through pot-hole ridden roads. Did I mention we are on a freezing cold, old bus. Bounce, bounce, brrrr.

Get back to school. It is now 8:30ish. Get in my car, drive home. My apt seems colder. Text landlord to see what is up. A boiler is out. They are working on it. My apt is now 58 degrees. I'm baking and boiling water to create heat.

Worst of all? I don't get to go to Stateville any more. :'( And I'm cold!

Spring Break

Break is done. It was too short.

I spent the first part of my break with my boyfriend. It was great to get to see him. I slept in like every day and got to spend lots of time with my Jaker dog. :) That was fantastic.

The second part of break was spent with my Mom. Mom and I made some yummy food. I did some outlines and outlined my "B" argument for the Appellate Brief. In addition I spent lots of time with Dolly dog. Which was great.

I came back to DeKalb today. Back to reality. Back to reading cases, doing homework, and wishing I had more time. I know I spent most of break sleeping, watching TV and generally not being productive, which I may kick myself over soon... but I really needed the mental break. Like badly.

All my homework is officially done for tomorrow, and Tuesday I get to go tour Stateville! I'm pretty excited. Here is a link to some info about it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stateville_Correctional_Center. No wonder I'm excited!

Before break I interviewed with a great company to be a law clerk for this summer and into next school year. I really hope I got it, and I find out this week. Nervous, but hopefully they pick me.

Anyway I'm coming down with a cold, and judging from how it progressed with first my sister and then my mom I need to go to bed early tonight. Plus getting up before 9am is going to take some effort tomorrow... This song is also in my head... enjoy:

Snowy Afternoon

School was closed today at 12:30. I was going to take a nap, but alas I made Criminal Law flashcards. I turned in my "A" argument for the appellate brief on Monday. I have a criminal law midterm that accounts for 40% of my grade... so I'm studying for that. Gah I cannot wait for break. Not that it'll be that great, I mean outlining, and writing my brief... but at least I'll get to see mom and my boyfriend. That will be nice. :) Maybe a nap would be a good idea... I could use it.

In the meantime here are some quotes from classes recently:

Look at your freedom flourishing right here… bam!

I think you’ve got a little extra step there which gives me heart burn.

“Hopped Up” That’s a technical term.

They are like “hey little boy have some corn syrup.”

The professor asks for reasons for punishment, she calls on a girl in class who has a rainbow on her computer… she says rehabilitation. Professor says “I knew you’d say that, you have that pretty rainbow on your computer.”

That’s pretty much a slap on the wrist for eating your fellow sea men… ohhh God… that’s what they call it!

Who’s my favorite former politician… oh that’s right Jerry Springer. 

Tired...

The Appellate Brief's "A" argument is due on Monday... I work on it at least 2 or 3 or 4 hours a day... it is basically all consuming. 

I have a mid-term in Criminal Law on Thursday, 7 days from now... it counts for 40% of my grade. I haven't even begun to study, and probably won't until after Monday. Oh and the criminal law prof has a horrid cold... and I'm convinced she is going to infect our classroom... if she gets me sick I'm going to be pissed. 

I'm tired. I'm not sleeping well.... I think its the stress... I'm so ready for spring break. So very ready. 

Well... I guess that's all I have time for. But here are some more professor quotes from the past few days...

Administrative Law-- Get ready, cause this is going to hurt your brain

I read the statistics and am sad that 14 year olds seem to be having more fun than I do

You can rape my daughter but don’t take my F*in hub caps cause I will blow you away… maybe it was the same dad… I don’t know.

We would hope that a 20 year old who had sex with a 14 year old would get more than probation, unless he’s a cardinal.

But I’m a man so I don’t know.

Plenary power… that’s a lawyer’s way of saying doing whatever the hell you want.

Even if it’s a gun I made in my own back yard… Ok… don’t fight the hypo.

But a horse is a horse of course of course.

If I were into cross dressing I’d have a complete wardrobe… that’s the good news.

Don’t be afraid… do you think I’m going to remember tomorrow if you were wrong or right? 

Frustration and Procrastination

Frustration-
I'm working on writing my appellate brief for legal writing. I feel like I'm doing everything wrong, that I'm not going to be able to write it, that the more I work on it the more I'm sure I'm doing something wrong. I wrote point headings for my "A" argument last night, and sent them to the prof. She said I'm on the right track, but to limit it to two point headings. I had 3. Ok I can do that.

I wrote my "A1" argument tonight. I am confident I did it wrong. I am going to go in to see the prof. tomorrow to go over it, I emailed it to her tonight. Hopefully she looks at it and can get me going on a semi-right path. I don't want to write the A2 argument or the general intro until I know I'm going in the right direction. (I write introductions last...) Gah I just don't know what to do with it! I mean seriously.

I'm back to feeling like an idiot. Wondering why they even let me into law school. I mean I know a lot of my classmates are having a hard time as well, but honestly that isn't much comfort. Well it kind of is... idk

Procrastination-
I feel like a shitty student because I keep only doing the argument in little chunks and waiting to go over it. But then I think that is being smart about it, I'm not working down the wrong path... At least that's my justification.

I am done with all my reading for the week. Which is good. I'm going to start reading for next week tomorrow. Why?

Next Week I have:
1. Argument 1 of appellate brief due on Monday
2. Constitutional law take home midterm (worth 10 points... which is quite a few in law school) Received Monday, due Wednesday
3. Criminal Law Midterm worth 40% of my grade Thursday
4. Assignment 3 for Basic Legal Research due Friday.

In addition to all the reading etc. that normally absorbs all my time.

Gah this week is busy too... Wed I have night class, its part of the "Professionalism Series" usually I don't mind the lectures or the after dinner, they are fun, but it does kill my Wednesdays (which are already booked from 9-3) Thursday I'm meeting my mentor/ going to a networking pizza party thing, which means that Thursday is shot as well. Its not that I cannot do homework when I get back from these things, but my day gets so full and so stressful and there is just so much to do that by the time I get home I just want to sleep.

Perhaps I should work on some Monday reading... but I'm confident that the Contracts professor will cancel class tomorrow (there is a massive blizzard in IL right now and he hates driving in bad weather, and its a 9am class). So I'll have a little extra time to read/work on Assignment 3/meet with my legal writing prof tomorrow.

Maybe I am procrastinating too much. Writing it out like this doesn't make it seem like I am... it makes me anxious to know I have this much to do before spring break... but I mean whatevs.

I have a great plan for spring break. Its really amazing... ready?
1. Write the Appellate Brief
2. Outline all my classes up through break

I tried to set something up with my family and my boyfriends family for the first weekend... but idk if thats going to happen... we'll see. I'm planning on spending most of break absorbed in the law. I may spend it at my moms or my boyfriends... its better then chillin in DeKalb alone. My boyfriend has to clean up the house though if I'm going to stay there for a week. His roommate and he have truly turned the house into a man cave. I'm a type A personality... ya.

Ok well perhaps I shall read some more Contracts... oh plug for Economics classes, it makes understanding expectation damages way easier. Special shout out to Professors Schoofs & Hauge for helping me understand economics well enough to make law a little easier. :)

Hope its nice where you are, there are ice pellets hitting my window... eww.

Good News

I have been offered a Graduate Assistantship at the Students Legal Assistance Office! This means I will go to school next year for free! And gain valuable legal experience. I am so very excited!

And now for your reading enjoyment more professor quotes:

If you’re not in a continuous state of fear you cannot go to law school.

Sarah did you have your hand up? No I was just… Yeah well too bad.

My favorite commentary on mental illness: the most interesting man I ever dated was in the waste water treatment business. And one of the things I learned was, everything that goes into our commodes ends up in our water system. So they found a certain kind of fish that had a high level of anti-anxiety drug in them. And it turns out these fish have no fear, they swim in places where their predators live and they are eaten. So doesn't this tell you that it is ridiculous for people to take anti-anxiety drugs when all it does is make them susceptible to dangers.

I was weaned on Falstaff beer I think too.

I wanted to be a professional bowler but I gave that up when I was very young.

There was that professor who took out a 9 mm at a faculty meeting when she was denied 10 year. It’s been a fantasy of mine.

Ladies if you’re going to get drunk wear a skirt. No indecent exposure if you have to pee outside.

If you guys aren’t briefing your cases you will probably go to hell when you die.

Maybe this judge took it in the shorts during a divorce.

Stupid

I have never felt so stupid in my life. Why? I don't know. How's that for stupidity?

I read the homework for today. Then in Con Law I realized that I hadn't understood well any of the reading. Part of that can be attested to the 50+ pages. Thank God he goes over everything and explains. I mean a lot of the concept questions about why things happened I knew, but what happened in Knight? What happened in this other case? I don't know. I didn't even realize that 2 of the cases overruled 2 of the other cases. See stupid.

Money management. I'm working on it, and sticking to my budget, but (and this is going to sound childish) but being all grown up and keeping track of bills and budgets and rationing money... is HARD. I don't wanna do it no more.

Basic knowledge and common sense is leaving me. Its like see ya on spring break until then... you're just going to sound stupid. I hate having to go to my mom for help, for her to help me sort this stuff out. Its like I write papers and have her read them so she can see what I'm doing, and she cannot understand them... but I cannot seem to multi task the way I used to, to be able to grasp simple concepts. Its like impossible.

Then there are the joys of being a Lady. Gals you know what I'm talking about. That once a month when you just want to lay in bed and die. Yeah. That and law school. together. NOT COOL.

Ahhhhhhh! Anyway I'm going to finish my taco salad dinner and get back to homework... if I can understand it. grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

More Quotes From Class

My classmates and I have decided that keeping track of things law profs say is pretty entertaining... so here are more quotes from class this past week. 

Contracts: Its ok to screw 'em fair and square. Not ok to screw them unfair and un-square.

Contracts: Who’s going to go out and buy the furniture on the after market after people have been sleeping on it and everything else people do in beds for two years?

Criminal Law: I always make it difficult for my kids to commit suicide. They have to hold their breath. I don’t have a gun or aspirin or car exhaust. We can talk more later about athletes foot. I have a lot of areas of expertise that have not been tapped by NIU. (you may be wondering what she was talking about... if you know let me know...) 

Criminal Law: I hate valentine’s day I've been single for 25 years, valentine’s day? That’s why I don’t have a gun in my house. Yeah somebody gave my dog a heart shaped treat; I'm like hello give me something.

Criminal Law: In regards to Polka-- Grab somebody’s stinky smell grandpa and dance him to death. That is fun.

Criminal Law: You can find love in jail, but almost no money.

Changes

So I decided I'm not going to France this summer. I just cannot afford the flight and living there and not having any money. So I need a new light at the end of the 1L tunnel...

I applied for some internships, one with the IL Innocence Project, one with CASA, and I've talked to my mentor about working with the public defender's office. So perhaps I shall find an internship for the summer.

I'm going to take summer classes in order to get my 711 early. Which will be good.

I'm in the process of hopefully being allowed to get my dog allowed into my apartment, which would be happy.

School...

Criminal Law: I kind of love it. I NEVER thought I'd enjoy the class. But it is fascinating. The crimes, the reasons behind the decisions, why something is Murder 2 and not Murder 1... the ways that people come up with to commit crimes. The good that is done by locking up the bad guy, and the amazingness that is accomplished by helping the wrongfully convicted. I hope I get one of the internships I applied for... they are both related to criminal law... so I'll be able to tell if I really like this stuff.

Contracts: Going okay. There are getting to be so many tools, and so many of the problems are solved by "creative lawyering" and it is confusing. I mean I usually know what is going on, I just am not sure if given a fact pattern I'll know which tool to use.

Constitutional Law: Why do I dislike this so much? Ok I guess its like... I like the historical aspect (I was a history major...) but reading LONG decisions about stuff that has already been pretty set in our culture is just soooooo boring. And the prof, who is an amazing lecturer, assigns SO MUCH READING! It's kind of crazy. I think the average has been over 50 pages a class. With briefs and all that needed. blagh....

Civil Pro: No clue what's going on. Dreading the final. Yup.

Basic Legal Research: Order of Operations for Legal Searches. I get it! yayayayaya! It is also kind of fun... its like a treasure hunt.

Legal Writing: The Appellate Brief. It is so beyond crazy. So much reading. So much writing. So much thinking.... gahhhhhhhhhh and of course the issue is one of first impression which the Supreme Court has failed to rule on yet as well, oh and its in a made up jurisdiction where everything BUT the Supreme Court is persuasive. Ya.

Dealing: My mom has been very understanding lately. I think she is seeing more and more how much work school is and how hard I work for class every day. Its hard that the only people you can talk to about this are other law students, who are equally busy, so we all can't just rant to each other ya know? So Mom has been taking a lot of my confusion and helping me out... which is good.

Graduate Assistantships: Waiting to hear back from the one I interviewed with. They said they'd let me know either way... but so far its been crickets... for a week. ya. A friend of mine also interviewed for the job, we are both pretty jumpy.

More Quotes From Classes

So I feel as though I should post more quotes from professors to make up for some not so happy posts recently. Happy Reading

Can you hear the contract language screaming from the torture it has been through here?

There were 750 people in line to see a Supreme Court Justice. How cool is that? She didn't rap or take off her clothes. (Singing and shimming) “It’s getting hot in here”.

Yeah I’m an elitist but I deserve it. You practice law for 30 years, it makes you old bald and fat

Professor scratches head… “I don’t have an itch, I just don’t get it! Do you?”

Carry your Constitution with you. What’s your phone number again… I’ll put it right here next to the 14^th amendment. If you’re not married don’t get married yet. Commonwealth v. Carroll whew.

I want you to think about indecent exposure in MN, which is an interesting thought because my niece goes to school up there and they have 28” of snow so indecent exposure is a pretty brave act. 

Cry

There is a point. A point when your mind, your body just wants to quit. Just wants to cry. Misses having close friends, misses being able to say screw it for a day or two and not do homework, misses being a kid. I've reached that point. I'm trying to be normal, I'm trying to be a human, trying to participate in life...

I have depression. Sometimes I bounce back slower than others because of it.

My brother's baby has an enlarged kidney. Allegedly. By brother is a pathological liar. It makes life hard. You never know what to believe. We heard this from his girlfriend. So its true, probably. It will be amazing if this baby is born alive after all its been through.

My boyfriend. Is a dumb guy. I'm worried about us. His roommate has been treating me like dirt. Last night he called me a "ho" not once, not twice, but repeatability. Why? because I called while they were watching Gold Rush. It may prove to be the last straw in my relationship with my boyfriend. He did nothing to stop it, even after I asked him to.

Closing Argument Competition. I did it. I competed, I didn't advance to the next level, but neither did my friends. There were over 30 of us, and the next level only had 12. So eh whatevs. It meant I got to come home.

Homework. I cannot focus. Real life keeps pulling me away. I'm unable to dive into it and hide from reality as I have been doing the last few weeks. And its just getting harder. More reading. More expected. I'm catching on, getting the drift, able to handle the workload really well. Its just this semester I am not going to have time for ANY LIFE outside of school. What's to blame? 4 crazy classes, and THE Appellate Brief! AHHHHHH. Its a BOOK, literally like a BOOK I have to write this semester. Ya. In addition to Contracts, Constitutional Law, Civil Procedure, Criminal Law, and Basic Legal Research. Its just so much. It'll be ok. It has to be okay. I'll get this.

I need to re-focus on the light. My trip to France this summer. I need to just work towards that. Deep breaths. Its going to be okay. It has to be.

Exhaustion

Sleep. It eludes me. I've been laying awake at night. I'm not a fan. I've tried having a drink, taking some pain reliever PM, and even doing both.  Nada. I'm one of those people who requires 8 hours, just the way I have always been. So running on just a few hours really is getting old. Not to mention my heater is stuck "ON". This means my bedroom last night was 82 degrees. With the window open. Thank God I don't pay for heat.

Rain. Its January in Northern Illinois. Its raining. A lot. Then the rain freezes, and everything turns to ice. Then it melts, and it all starts again. I'm not a fan. I'd rather it be snowing.

Reading. So much reading to do. I've determined that professors are on a crazy roll this semester. Each class requires hours of reading almost every night. And I have a hell of a time understanding what it is I'm reading. I had to read and reread Marbury v. Madison; a 3L saw me with the Con.Law Stories book. He asked where we were, I told him... apparently I read one of the greatest stories in the book. I'm unaware of this, it was interesting... but not amazing. But to each his own.

Gunners. Really? Just stop. Nobody wants to hear you. There is this guy in Civ Pro, he finds it needed to even talk over the professor. It is so obnoxious. Hes a 2L, I don't know why he is in this class, but he is. I think he is out to show us that he is smart or something. I haven't heard a single good thing from a 1L about him. But whatever...

Appellate Brief. We got the fact pattern and info we are going to use to start our research... its basically a book.. probably 30 pages of information that we are supposed to analyze and then write our own (I've heard 40-50 page) brief. Ahhh or we could just not.

Basic Legal Research (BLR). We have a workshop today. It is frustrating how unhelpful they are at times. BLR is tied in with Legal Writing, so we are learning how to formulate searches etc. in WestLaw and Lexis. But the reps just stand there and say click here, click here, oh look what you found! And I'm like how is this supposed to help me in practice? I know how to click where I'm told so I'm all set?

1L Closing Argument Competition. Its this weekend. Wow did that sneak up on me. Yeah I have done nothing for that. Guess that's going to be interesting... Its supposed to be a good training tool for our Appellate Arguments later this semester.

Brother. Baby is a boy, due April 14th (ish). His name is Charles Edward Junior (CJ). Its cute.

Money. Disbursement Check should be in by tomorrow, which means I can buy some food! Yay! Oh and pay rent and credit cards...

I need to find a way to get some sleep at night, like deep good sleep. Yup. time to research.

Oh the Things you'll hear in Criminal Law

It occurred to me that I should perhaps keep track of some of the more funny things my professors say.  

So here are some quotes from Criminal Law today, some are paraphrased:

This is soon enough for you guys to be giving legal advice 

Someone sneezed… “don’t hold those suckers back”

Not to speak ill of the Lutherans, they did reform my church, but they left me behind unfortunately

Call me old fashioned but I usually take my clothes off pretty close to the tub.

Lutheran girls seeing men naked oh my god. I don’t think my mother ever saw my father naked, but he was catholic so maybe. But she was Norwegian… wild crowd.

So I have a pet named Misty, shes in heaven, if there is a heaven for dogs, and if there isn’t a heaven for dogs then of course there isn't heaven.

Did I tell you about the priest who called 911 over the weekend because he was gagged and in handcuffs and apparently one of his dates had left him this way? I’m supposed to confess to this guy, what could I say that would be interesting?

You know I’m in a carpool with physicists…and I’m an old lady so I can say what I want… and there are two of them… do I have to say more… all your buttons are buttoned wrong, your fly is down, I know you don’t believe in mirrors because you live in the fifth dimension.

Thank God this was an older case (US v Villegas) or the Twilight Series would have made these kids get dead, they would have drunk the blood.

Guess what happens to empty holes… oh sorry. Guess what happens to empty quarries…

My dog will die, because he does lick my boots, I’ve trained him to do that… 

I don't wanna

This is my attitude of late.

Apply for summer internships... I don't wanna.
Read for class... I don't wanna.
Prepare for oral arguments... I don't wanna.

Sounds winey this I know, but none-the-less it is how I feel at this moment. I'm tired. I want a LONG vacation. With no family drama, just me my boyfriend and my puppies. Yup that would be good.

I have been being productive, but school is all I'm doing right now... its crazy. I did have a great weekend with a nice break, but then Sunday I spent the entire day cranking out homework and getting ready for the week.

I shall make it through this week. Even if I'd don't wanna.

Real Life

9 Months Ago-- my little brother dropped out of college

In less than 9 Months-- he is going to be a dad. 

9 Months ago-- I was preparing to graduate college

In 9 months I will still be a law student. 

Look at your life, look at the changes that can occur in 9 months. 

I'm happy for my brother and terrified for him all at the same time. Mostly I know he isn't ready. He's just a kid. He cannot even keep a job yet. 

I hope and pray he finds work, and KEEPS it. That the baby is healthy. That his girlfriend and he continue to have a loving relationship. 

Advice? Stay in school. I'm not ready to be a mom yet. and I'm thankful I don't have to make those decisions yet. 

ps family drama makes law school a nice escape... a place to dive into, to try to understand why we have a bill of rights. but a scary place as well... especially when you are reading a bunch of cases about people beating babies, and neglecting them... not that my brother will do that... but it is just creepy that there are people in the world who do that... bagh heebie jeebies. 

1L Second Semester

One week of the second semester has been completed. School is school I guess. This semester is promising to be more intense than last semester; which is something I am not looking forward to. But alas, I am OVER half-way done with my 1L year, which I feel is pretty awesome.

I have also applied for a blogging scholarship. One of my classmates read my blog, said how true and honest it was, that she felt the same way at times with her experiences as a 1L, so she told me I should apply for some scholarships. So I did that, which is exciting. I doubt I'll get anything, but its worth a shot.

I was looking back over old posts, and some things deserve an update. Mainly Legal Writing. You will be happy to know that I got an A-! How exciting is that? I was hoping for a B, and did even better!

New Apartment- I moved into a new apartment. I love it. Its a 2 bedroom on the other side of town. I cannot hear my neighbors, which is so enjoyable. I also no longer live in the "party" part of town. Which is so very happy. I have an office, a bedroom, a kitchen, a living area, and a bathroom! I went from a studio to all of that! Wooowhooo. Only real problem is that my shower randomly scalds me. Which sucks.

Criminal Law- really intense. I like the professor. She is going to take us to Statesville. I'm pretty excited.

Contracts- Parol Evidence.

Civil Procedure- Petitions. People getting run down on Normal Road.

Constitutional Law- I love the Professor. He is awesome. The class is kind of like my history classes from Ripon College. I'm enjoying it.

Basic Legal Research- Workshop done, quiz to do this week.

Legal Writing- Oral argument, motion and memorandum are due on the 28th. Not looking forward to that. Our case is basically IL's version of Attractive Nuisance.

MLK Holiday- no school. How happy is that?

So now it is time to do some more homework. And perhaps watch Legally Blonde- its on TV. hmmm

Back to School

Grades. I did fairly well. I had a B average, C+ in Civil pro as the low, A- in legal writing as the high.

So its back to school... I'm in my third day... I'm tired. Exhausted is more the word. Its annoying. I hit the ground running, and haven't stopped yet. And my back hurts. I've been using a wheeley bag up to now, but there is snow on the ground so I'm carrying my bag--- its heavy. LIKE REALLY HEAVY.

So classes this semester...
Contracts: Right now we are doing Parol Evidence... it is confusing... but doable.
Constitutional Law: Interesting, the professor is kind of scatter brained... but I think I'm going to enjoy the class.
Criminal Law: The professor is a retired feminist, who loves the bloody crimes. She is going to be interesting. She assigns a TON of reading though, which is unfortunate.
Civil Procedure: ya. So not fun. More nightmares about Santa Clause. Its so hard to learn. We had 40 pages of reading for the first class today. Pleadings... I mean its ok to read and I hope to learn from reading this semester so that I can do a little better on the final this spring. He said it is more on the rules this semester, which is what the upperclassmen have stated as well.
Basic Legal Research: We have already had one fairly long workshop, which was intense.
Legal Writing: We have a motion and memorandum and oral argument due before January is done. Oh so much fun.

New Apartment. It is going well. I love it. The only downside is that my shower seems to scald me randomly... which is unfortunate.

Well it is off to Civ Pro... oh joy

Break

Its break time. Life is a little crazy. Stressful. But relaxing at the same time. I've found I cannot slow down, my brain is always going a million miles an hour. I want to do things, get stuff done, be productive. But what is there to do? Not a lot. I am applying for the IL bar, which is quite a task.

Ordered books for next semester. Going to start reading on Monday. Will be fun.

Got my first grade back. Civil Procedure. Just above Average... C+ So I'm going with it. Kind of indifferent. I'd hoped I would do better. But honestly I'm relieved I passed at least one of my classes. The other grades aren't up yet. So I'll have to wait to see.

Time to get back to doing the IL bar stuff I guess.

Here is hoping the rest of my grades are above average. :)