"It's been a long time, I shouldn't have left you without a dope beat to step to."

Hey folks!! I know, it seems I haven't blogged in FOREVER! But, I have just started an adventure in my life that is completely new and foreign and crazy. Plus, I never mentioned blogging in my title...just eat, pray, and study!

Anyhow, it's been a CRAZY few weeks! Moving across country, going through orientation and starting classes has made these few weeks feel like a few months! But hopefully now that I'm settled, time will be kinder to me. I hate looking up at the calendar thinking its September, but its still August.

Now to law school...how were my first few days?? Daunting!! Luckily I met some people who went to my law school when I went to CLEO last month (geez, that was only a month ago?!?), or else I would really be in bad shape. Knowing absolutely no one sucks. First day of orientation, it seemed like everyone else knew each other except for me and a few other dweebs. Not fun. So I get through orientation unscathed, and it's on to the first week...

Ay yi yi!! My first class, LRW (Legal Reading and Writing) started off so scary! The prof got right down to business....she didn't even introduce herself to the class...just "So we are going to start off with a few legal terms you should know...does anyone know what an appellant is?" =-/

I swear they do that on purpose for first classes to weed out the people who would have a major panic attack after the first classes and decide right then that law school isn't for them (I actually know of a girl who said she had second thoughts about law school, but she's still in classes, so I guess she made it through that episode). The next class meeting, LRW prof was so casual, sat on her desk, told the class about herself, had everyone introduce themselves, and talked about the course and other housekeeping stuff. I felt so much more at ease; it's crazy how well she scared us shitless the first day. She made an excuse of how she was rushed that day because of the other LRW class that held its session in the same room after us...yeah right. Game recognize game...(not really, but i just really wanted to say that)

I already know what classes I like and don't like. So far, I like Torts, LRW, and Property. Not too fond of Civ Pro (civil procedure) at all. The prof talks like we should already know legalese and all the Rules already! The RULES...ah, the precious!

I still really don't know what to expect out of the exams...what do the profs want? If the exams are usually hypotheticals, how come profs don't really talk about hypos in class (besides from my torts class which is full of hypos, all class long!)? I guess I should start looking at prof's exams from previous years...

...but there is SO much to do! I feel overwhelmed at times, like I'm just barely keeping my head above water reading for classes. It's like I don't have time for ANYTHING else. I understand now why a month into law school, other bloggers were like, "When the hell do I have time to do outlines??" I get it. I finally get it. But you gotta start law school to really know what you are getting into.

The one thing I wish is that I had some friends (preferably outside the law school) here. I'm the kind of person who needs support from friends, especially when I have to encounter something scary and intimidating, aka law school. I have a few acquaintances in my classes, but that's all they are. Maybe as time goes on, I will develop closer friendships. I hope so, cause I don't know what I'll do without friends. Might have to transfer back to Cali...

So that's all for now, I propose that as soon as I get this crazy schedule down pack, I will be better able to keep up with blogging. For now, peace!

mmm, yeah...

Moving is NOT fun. At all. 

But on a better note, I got to visit my grandma on my dad's side who is 85 years old. I don't know when the next time I will be able to see her (hopefully at Christmas), but at that age, time is precious. However, I doubt that will be the last time I see her. The last time I visited her, she was jumping around and acting silly hiding from the camera when I tried to take her picture, and she still cleans and cooks her own meals by herself. Also, her older sister is still alive. She's 90. So, I'm not too concerned about my granny, she's a tough cookie (plus she takes fish oil!) I hope I was lucky enough to inherit those living long genes!

Law school orientation in T minus 4 days!!!

"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."

Can't wait to get up outta here! Only 10 days until I catch my flight to Law School City!

Notice that I have a more positive outlook on law school than I did last week? I'm certain my change in attitude has somewhat to do with the CLEO Attitude Is Essential law seminar I attended this past weekend. CLEO is a non-profit section of the American Bar Association whose mission is to help minority and economically disadvantaged pre-law and law students become successful attorneys.

Not only did the 3-day long program help quell my fears of law school classes by having real professors from Berkley, UNLV, Howard, and others conduct mock law classes using the Socratic method (shout out to Professor Green for making EVERYONE get up and speak during her class!), but I met other friendly 0L students going to my law school.

I'm so relieved that law students aren't all super snooty and oozing competitiveness from their pores like I thought they might. Of course, the school year hasn't started yet, so my thinking might be premature, but I doubt it. They arranged for us to sit at tables where we met students going to law schools in our region and they were all super nice too. I will definitely be keeping in touch with them in case I ever need a refuge from my law school atmosphere. Also good for comparing outlines from different percpectives.

I concede with all my 0L peers about CLEO's advice for law school success. If you want to know some of the advice given, you can look at Mama Milla's and A Lupie Law Student's entries about CLEO because 1) they pretty much cover it and 2) I'm too lazy right now to list it (I still have 16 more days to be lazy, so leave me be!)

When I think about law school, I still get a little queasy. But at least I have "ginger ale" aka CLEO to calm my stomach! Thanks CLEO, keep up the good work. You can definitely count on me to give back to this wonderful program!

Random

I just found out my dad used to date  one of Joe Jackson's mistresses. Very random and a bit disturbing. (No, this is not my dad's ex-girlfriend in the photo, but I googled "Joe Jackson and his mistress" and this is all I could find.)

This lady used my dad and ran up his credit....Her and Joe will make a great couple! 

Back to law school related news, I am getting VERY nervous. At first I was so excited to be changing my scenery and moving across the country, but now....

Is it too late to change my mind? What would I do out here? Live in my parent's house with their thousands of kids (ok, only 3 and 1 other kid who is always over here) and teach the jr high ragamuffins? I don't think so.

I've been wanting to go to law school and become an attorney for a long time. I believe that one of my best talents are my reasoning, analyzing, and problem solving skills. So why not go into a profession that will hone in on my natural abilities? Lawyering seems like a great option for me. 

I think it's less being scared of law school than it is being away from family, friends, and the city that I've lived in for 25 years. This is all I know. Now I'm officially going to be on my own. On the other side of the country. Don't get me wrong, I really like the law school that I will be attending in less than a month (geesh!!) and I believe it will have the best opportunities for my budding law career but maybe I should've applied to more schools a bit closer to home.  

Oh well, there's no looking back now. Okay, I take that back, I actually can look back and stop this whole process, and apply for next year's admission into a closer school.   ( Long Pause.)   Yeah, that's not happening though. I'm ready right now.  I'm not patient. I know I'll get over my moving jitters and be fine.  I hope I'm not the only one who feels like this. I'm about to read some other blawgs to give me some comfort. Blawgs like A (Non) Token Minority who just made Law Review! Congrats! You inspire me!

One Word

• Yourself: Wonderful
  
• Your husband: Non-existent
• Your hair: Thick
• Your Mother: Strong
• Your Father: Distant
• Your Favorite Item: TV
• Your dream last night: Spiders
• Your Favorite Drink: Mojito
• Your Dream Car: Range
• Your Dream Home: Beautiful
• The Room You Are In: Dining
• Your Ex: Cheater
• Your fear: Failure
• Where you Want to be in Ten Years? California
• Who you hung out with last night: Family
• What You’re Not: Evil
• Muffins: Carbs
• One of Your Wish List Items: Laptop
• Time: Sparse
• The Last Thing You Did: Ate
• What You Are Wearing: Yellow
• Your favorite weather: Hawaii's
• Your Favorite Book: Midnight
• Last thing you ate: Toastada
• Your Life: Crazy
• Your mood: Scattered
• Your Best Friends: Calm
• What are you thinking about right now: Grass*
• Your car: Ford
• What are you doing at the moment: Typing
• Your summer: Bad
• Relationship status: Single
• What is on your TV: Fox
• What is the weather like: Nice!
• When is the last time you laughed: Yesterday

stolen from Teasingly Diverse

*not that kind...my mom just asked me to water the lawn

Let's have a house party! (I don't know what you come to do...)

Parents are away, and it’s time to play! 

 

As much as I’m loving those dance moves, it’s not going down because….

1. I’m too old to be having house parties while my family is out of town. 
2. It’s a Monday, and who wants to party on a Monday night?

But even more so, #1. I do recall, however, those few times when my parents were out of town. Boy did I have fun. I threw a pretty big house party once and I’ve had about two guys spend the night when my folks were away. I know, I was bad. But….yeah, there’s no but. I was bad. I was in college and just wilin’ out. I don’t regret a thing, I had fun. 

Well, I regret one thing: not cleaning the house as thoroughly as I thought and having my dad find a plastic cup filled with beer left behind the toilet seat in the 2nd bathroom that we barely use. Oh, and also inviting a guy I liked and had went on a few dates with who ended up flirting outside with a cute co-worker. But the point is, I enjoyed being a teenager. Undergrad were the best years of my life, so far. Sadly, I think those years will be the best years of my life, period. 

So I just plan on enjoying my time in a quiet house, by myself. I can think of it like a test run for law school since I am living solo. Tomorrow evening they’ll be back, but I’ll be with my friends being amongst the first to see the new Harry Potter movie…Don’t judge me.

Summer blues

So...I still need money. I have none, and therefore I cant fully enjoy my last summer before law school. I wanted to go to a piano bar yesterday, but I don't have enough to pay cover charge or order my rediscovered love of apple martinis. The little money I did have had to go to paying the security deposit for my apartment, paying off my undergrad account so my transcripts can get sent to my law school before orientation, and other miscellaneous yet important stuff. I wish I could sit around on the beach drinking coronas like other 0Ls. I wouldn't have enough gas money to even get to the beach, let alone buy a single Corona. This sucks. 

My regular job is a substitute teacher, and while I am available to work this summer, California is in a "slight" (being sarcastic) budget crisis, so kids who need extra help during the summer are basically assed out. Only certain high schools have summer school...and only students who need summer classes to graduate high school can take classes. While I am bummed that his equals no pay for me over the summer, I am quite concerned about the kids. Why are the children amongst the first to receive the brunt of Cali's mess?? First overcrowding of classrooms, teacher's meager salaries, and now no summer school....Can the children ever come FIRST every once and a while??

I've looked for employment, but cant find any. I applied for unemployment, but it's taking FOREVER to get here! Probably cause they don't have any money to give me. They'll probably issue me an IOU like they're doing for tax returns. What the heck am I supposed to do with an IOU? Go to McDonald's and say, "I'll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today." I mean, wtf??

So I'm about to shout out Kel so that I can get a free book to help me prep for law school. See, I cant even afford to freakin buy law prep books (I was only able to score Law School Confidential back in April when I had a little $), so I am reduced to this. Have pity on me Kel!! ;-(

So to any 0L's reading my blog (yeah...that means I'm just talking to myself...), here's where you can find the details to scoring 0L prep books: Giveaway #1

Thanks Kel for your generosity!!!