Monday, January 24th, 2011 | General, Law School, Photoshop, Recipes

I can’t believe I didn’t post on Squirrel Appreciation Day! Law school has certainly kept me busy! I blog so infrequently that each time I log in, wordpress is asking to update to a new version.

Now, time for the rundown of what’s happened in the last month and a half. First, I did indeed finish my finals, including my chicken paper. If you ever are curious about the legal issues that surround urban chicken ownership, you should give it a read. Avian flu? Nuisances? Zoning regulations? Commerce Clause? Why yes! They’re all in there! I submitted it to an animal law journal’s contest. I don’t have any expectations that it will win, but it is somewhat neat to say I’ve submitted an article for a journal.

After finishing finals, Zach and I left to visit family in Phoenix and Tucson. Then it was off to Florida to visit his grandparents. Then back to Seattle to see my parents. While my parents were here, we did the standard touristy stuff. Here’s a picture my parents took of Seattle from the ferry to Bainbridge Island, followed by my slightly enhanced version:

Once my parents left, school started up again. I’m taking Landlord and Tenant Law, Corporation and Partnership Tax, Evidence, a weekly externship class, and a 15hr/wk judicial externship. Life is definitely busy; however, I appreciate weekends wayyy more now. I’ve decided that weekends are for sleeping, cooking, watching star trek, and playing video games, along with the necessary law school reading assignment. As busy as my weeks are, I’d much rather get all my work done then so that I can destress for two days. So far it’s working.

I’ve also decided to explore the world of the crock pot. Last year I had visions of crock pot dinners each night, yet I rarely followed through. This year is going to be different, starting with tonight. I’m making this for dinner, along with mashed potatoes and peas. Ok, yes, the mashed potatoes are going to be from scratch. BUT! I’m making them ahead of time and then baking them when I get home. I just need to ease into this one pot dinner thing. Slowly. By using three pots. I’m sure Zach will appreciate fewer dishes.

Alright, time to read some cases on the implied warranty of habitability! Yeah!

Tuesday, November 30th, 2010 | General, Law School

After having my oral argument delayed because of a snow day, I can now say that I’m done with Legal Writing II! For those who don’t know, legal writing is the most time consuming class. It’s really the only class that actually has one do work throughout the semester, rather than a single exam at the end (I should clarify that all of my classes require work, just not of the turn it in variety). And now I’m done! Just one in class final, one take home, and one paper on backyard chickens to go, and then it’s off to Phoenix and Florida. Actually, it’s off to Phoenix this week as well for a friend’s wedding. Then back to Seattle. Then off to Phoenix and Florida. Yes, I was just in Phoenix in October for my brother’s wedding. I guess this makes up for not coming down during my not-so-summer-vacation.

Oh, almost forgot! On the way back from Portland, we stopped to get a tree. As in, a tree that grows in the ground! Zach felled a tree!

Zach also fed a goat and a pony!

And finally, the newly decorated tree

Friday, November 19th, 2010 | General, Law School

School is busy. This week we had to turn in our appellate briefs. Next week we have to our oral arguments. After that, I have to write a paper on backyard chickens, take a Professional Responsibility final, and do a take-home Constitutional Law final. And then it’s off to Phoenix, Tucson, and Florida. If it snows in Seattle while I’m gone, I’m going to be really disappointed. Here’s a picture from the day before my brother’s wedding last month. I was one of the musicians for the ceremony. I do not like my picture taken by my uncle. Can you tell?

Sunday, October 31st, 2010 | General, Law School

Sadly, there were no trick-or-treaters. I guess that’s ok though, because we have no candy. At least, none that I’m willing to share. All the dark chocolate is for me.

Now it’s time to get back to the reality of law school and continue working on my appellate brief for Legal Writing II. Before I go, here’s a pic of Zach and me from my brother and his girlfriend’s Halloween party in Portland.

Thursday, October 14th, 2010 | General, Law School

Oh, how they lie. Those people who say the first year of law school is the hardest? Nope, not true. I haven’t experienced the third yet, but currently, I’d have to say the second year is the winner. I mean, come on. First year had reading assignments that were 12-15 pages! Second year has reading assignments that range from 20-200 per class. For all of you non law-school readers, this reading is dense (as in, read some sentences five times) and sadly, pictureless. Also, pictureless is so a word, Firefox.

Basically, that last paragraph is a justification for why I only post every quarter year. Aside from the readings, I’m also taking on a lot of projects, including being on a Committee (a real one, not a party planning one), being a board member of the Women’s Law Caucus, helping plan a domestic violence panel, working on bench guide, and attempting to perfect the drift in Mario Kart Wii. Growing up without a Nintendo, I’m having to devote a lot of time in pursuit of this task. Btw, if anyone reading this has any Mario Kart tips, please share them. I really want to excel at this game…and lawyerly things too, of course. But also the game.

I’m going back to Arizona in October for my brother’s wedding, in which I will also be performing on my flute alongside my family on baroque recorders. Yeah, we’re that cool. I’ll be heading back to Arizona again in December, sans flute, for my friend Sarah’s wedding. Then it’s back to AZ once more in December for break. The weather people are predicting an especially bad winter for Seattle this year. If I miss an ounce of snow due to Arizona, I’m going to be more annoyed with Arizona than I already am. I really, really, really want to see falling snow in Seattle. And I want it to be so bad that they close the road by me and devote it to a sledding hill. And then I can practice my Mario Kart drift as I race down that hill. Oh, what plans I have for winter!

But sadly, now it’s back to reading for Constitutional Law. Only 48 pages. I can do this!

*edit* As I walked the mile home with my 1825 page Con Law book (I now walk 2-4 miles a day because my metabolism has magically slowed…what fun!), I was stopped by a British gentleman with a clipboard: “Allo’! Do you have a moment to talk–That’s a big book!”

I agreed with him that is was and continued on. Five minutes later, a construction worker looked at me and said, “That’s a big book!” Once again, I agreed and walked on.

Three minutes later, two LDS Missionaries clad in suits stopped me. Oddly enough, they did not so much as glance at my book. I guess they had greater concerns than my Con Law class materials.

Wednesday, February 24th, 2010 | General, Law School, Recipes

Yes indeed, I made pot stickers. Well, Americanized ones. Specifically, Alton Brown ones. I thought they came out pretty decently considering it was my first attempt. We dipped them in a honey soy sauce that was also quite nice. Next up: I tackle Mexican! Well…there might be burgers in between. We have to use up the bacon jam I bought Zach for Valentine’s. Gosh, this post is just full of product placement. Anyway, time for the life part of the post.

Today I attended several lectures on gender in the law. It was actually quite surprising how far women still have to go, and it really made me think about my past jobs. While I have no idea if I made as much as my male counterparts, I do know that I was hired for certain jobs because of my gender. For instance, in one Office supply store I worked at, the customer service department was filled to the Max with women. Now, in the manager’s defense, the non-cashier positions did involve a certain amount of heavy lifting, however I was annoyed not to have even been given the option to try. Any attempt I’d make to grab a box of paper would result in someone shouting for a guy to come help me. In one of my other jobs, a store which was like a City of Circuitry, the customer service department was much more even in terms of gender. However, the few women to be found in the other departments were transfers from customer service. In this store, it was well known that customer service was the lowest paid, despite having arguably the most important job (who answered the phone after no more than three rings? Me, that’s who). I guess the point of all of this is that when you stop to look around, it’s interesting to note all of the instances where sexism in the workplace does exist.

Oh, and chivalry. I’m sick of chivalry. Yes, politeness is nice, but sometimes it can grate me. For instance, a few years ago I had dinner with a large group of friends. I held the door as everyone walked through, just so that the door wouldn’t be flapping for each one of us. One person, however, refused to walk through. Clearly a courteous gentleman, he motioned for me to walk and he’d hold the door for me. I gave him my most sugary smile and said, “Oh no, after you, I insist!” No one can say no to a lady. He walked. That was MY door to hold and no one else’s. But really, what was the purpose for him to attempt to take the door from me? Had he held it for everyone it would have been fine. A courteous gesture. Even if it had just been the two of us and he held it, that would have been ok. But to not allow me to complete my door holding task, simply because I have an extra X chromosome? Craziness. I do wonder…if the world changes and chivalry dies, will I miss it?

Despite all that I’ve written, do keep one thing in mind: I want off the Titanic first.

Wednesday, February 10th, 2010 | General, Law School

Isn’t that what everyone says? Maybe I can blame law school for my lack of updates. Yes…except…I have done other things than just studying. First off, Zach and I took a mini-vacation and went to the fake Bavarian town of Leavenworth. Note: Not the prison town, the other one…in Washington. I was finally able to escape the endless sun of Seattle (I’m serious…apparently it’s a record January) and see some snow!

Zach and I didn’t name him. For some reason, I’m all out of creativity. I think it was all the scrounging for moss hair that took it out of me. That and Zach’s friendly warnings of “I think that’s poisonous” everytime I’d grab some.

While in Leavenworth, we checked out the cute little shops. For some reason, we decided to go into a shop that had hats. I’m not a hat person. In fact, I don’t know why I even chose to go into that store…my only guess is that this hat had great magical powers that drew me into the shop.

Finally, I’ve done a bit of baking/cooking. The other night I made a broccoli soup along with challah bread. I only made the bread because I didn’t want to walk to the store to buy bread. Somehow, I thought making it would be easier. Yeah, it actually was…until I realized I was out of flour midway through and had to walk to the store to buy some.

Next time, Zach can just eat soup. No bread for him. I know, I’m whiny about walking to the store. But I am sick of carrying groceries uphill. It’d be one thing if I had to walk uphill to get to the store, but it’s another to lug gallons of milk up a hill to get home. Yes, gallons. I drink a lot of milk. I buy my milk at costco now, two gallons at a time. I’m thinking about just investing in a cow and saving myself some trouble. I imagine it would also be better for the environment since I wouldn’t require plastic jugs and those little plastic pull things that come off of the carton tops. I hate those. I never toss them. Yet magically, they disappear. I guess that’s what dads and Zachs are for. Oh, and Ashleys. I assume she tossed them for me. I certainly didn’t. That’s what roommates are for.

So, that’s what’s up with me. Still in law school, still liking it, now looking for a summer job. Oh, still taking the gummy vitamins. I’m so full of vitamin D, it’s amazing!

Friday, December 11th, 2009 | Law School

I’m studying up on Civil Procedure right now and came to a section on inconsistent allegations in pleading. The book says, “One commentary compares the phiolosophy of alternative pleading to a famous saying by Yogi Berra: ‘When you come to the fork in the road, take it.’”

The first time I read that, I definitely thought it said Yogi Bear, giving me much more respect for law people. Er, lawyers. I think that’s what they’re called. Sadly, a second reading proves it was actually Berra. Personally, I think my bear version makes more sense. I mean, he steals pic-i-nic baskets! He obviously has a food problem and must use forks. I don’t see how a baseball player saying it makes more sense. But that’s the law for you. It doesn’t always make sense.

Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 | Law School

I need more sleep. Now that it gets dark in the afternoon, I’m finding it harder and harder to stay awake during the day. Naps are out of the question. No nap. I don’t really have much to say. I’m just typing in order to stay awake for dinner. I think I’ve written about 500 pages of notes so far in law school. As far as reading, I think I usually read around 150 pages a week. I guess that’s not too bad. Well, sometimes it can be. Each page can take as much as ten minutes to read. They all sound as if they were written by guys wearing white ponytail wigs. That’s not to say the subject matter is dull–just the writing. Also, pictures would be nice. I don’t care if it’s a law text, I want a picture. It doesn’t have to be fancy. Black and white will do just fine. Even a sketch, you know? Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the gold lettering on the cover and the simulation leather feel. But I just feel it’s missing that little extra *pop!* Does the exclamation point go in between the asterisks? I hope so.

Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 | Law School

Can I use law school as an excuse? I’m not really sure who reads this, aside from Ashley and the occasional etsy clicker, so please excuse this rather mundane post.

I suppose I’ll first start off with a general conversation starter-the weather. The current weather is very similar to the coldest weather that Tucson experiences. Oddly enough, I’m handling it alright. See, in Tucson, I would typically forgo a jacket and just make a run for the car, knowing that the afternoons would warm up to a point where I wouldn’t need a jacket. Here, however, it remains chilly all day, so I wear a jacket. So, I’m actually warmer in Seattle. It’s crazy. Oh yeah, it’s not raining much here. I’m pretty annoyed. I left Arizona at the start of its rainy season, only to come to Seattle and experience minimal rainfall. At this point, I think that anyone who claims Seattle is rainy is a big liar. Nevertheless, I have bought myself a pair of boots. These boots are my first real pair ever, which is ironic considering I hail from a state full of Cowboys.

Now, onto law school. But first, someone in the building is playing Hey Jude, but all I can hear is the “Na na na naaaa…” It’s really annoying. So yes, law school. I think it’s going well. Unlike my undergrad, I’m taking notes, doing the readings, making outlines, and studying. And I even enjoy it. I’m not even that freaked out about getting called on. Ok, I’ll admit, it is a bit nerve-wracking watching my professor draw a random index card out of the stack and call on the person whose card it is. However, most of the time I’m not spacing out so it goes well.

My favorite classes are still property and contracts, although I still have no idea what I want to do for a living. Someone suggested copyright law, specifically in the entertainment field. That might use my music undergrad degree which would be a plus. I wonder if I’d have to start listening to music. I don’t really like doing that.

Wow, this post is dull.

I have a recipe I’ll be posting soon for the most wonderful corn soup ever. The best part is that it can be made using frozen kernels. I know, blasphemy! Er, should that be blasphemous? Whatever, I’m not going to grad school for English. I’m a gonna be a lawyer! Yar.

I suppose I should be ending this post. I have class shortly in which I will be arguing that an easement should be interpreted as it was originally agreed upon. Woo!