Tuesday, October 6th, 2009 | General, Law School

I really think the weather is mocking me. I left Arizona, having not seen rain for many months, only to come to the land of eternal sunshine. Yes, I realize Seattle is likely going to rain soon. And I know you’re probably thinking, “Boy, she’s going to regret wishing for rain!” but I don’t care. Bring on the rain. I want it. No more bright sunny days. No more chilly mornings followed by warm afternoons. Bring on the drizzle and cold. I want to sleep with the heat on. I want to wear my snuggie to the grocery store without fear of ridicule. Also, I want a dog, just so I can make it wear the new Snuggie For Dogs.

In other non-weather news, I love Windows 7. My boyfriend was selected to host one of the many Windows launch parties and I’m thrilled! I got a free copy of Windows (awesome, btw) as well as a pack of cards, balloons, tote bags, an uninspired centerpiece, and more. I just went from XP to 7 and I’m in heaven. Ooh, seven rhymes with heaven! I should do marketing for Microsoft. I’m awesome at that, just like a cat. That rhymes with cat. I’m a marketing genius.

Now, back to putting my genius at work in case briefs for class. Torts, here I come!

Monday, September 14th, 2009 | General, Law School

QFC is a mean grocery store. In order to get to the aisle that has all of the vegetables, you have to walk past bags and bags of candy. Usually candy doesn’t tempt me to buy it, but today was a different story. Really, how can anyone ignore the rainbow “Value Bag” filled to the brim with smarties? I just don’t think it’s possible. So, I bought the bag. After the fact I had to justify it, but I think I’ve figured how I can do that. I will only allow myself to have a smartie (or is the singular smarty?) if I finish reading for a class. I have ten classes a week so I can have ten packs of smarties. Of course, I have to try one first. Just to make sure they’re not poisoned or anything. You know, it’s a risk!

MMMM.

Sugar is the best. So are candy bribes to get through law school.

Sunday, September 6th, 2009 | General, Law School

I have finished week two of law school and wanted to something interested I learned. It’s not about how to plead cases or the property laws concerning foxes. Rather, it’s the simple phrase “Very truly yours.” We’ve been looking at client letters (letters a lawyer will send to a client informing him/her of the situation with recommendations). At the end of many of them is the phrase “Very truly yours.” While it went mostly unmentioned in class, I found it quite odd and it got me thinking…what is the history of this phrase? Is it a generational phrase?

Hearing “Very truly yours” reminds me of signing a letter XOXO. Also, what’s the deal with the very in there? Is truly yours not enough? I’m not just yours, I’m truly yours…no wait…VERY truly yours. Super duper yours.

Wikipedia says that it’s rarely used in the UK anymore because it can make one appear superior, however it is found in slang, such as “Yours truly.”

Yet someone else claims it was actually used by a subordinate: “Very truly yours, your humble servant. XOXO.” I might have embellished the end on that one.

One internet site rejects it because it’s used primarily by lawyers, claiming they write something cold-hearted and follow it up with a sickly sweet “very truly yours.” I will ignore this one. My heart is warm and loving, so there.

Of the young people I asked (2 people. Yes, I’m the best at taking accurate surveys), all found it odd and informal. I wonder if this comes from growing up with the internet. Chats are often concluded with informal phrases like “ttyl, laterz, brb, l8r, ttfn, bai, ____ has signed off.” These phrases make no mention of one person’s possession of another, they’re simply means of saying goodbye. All of my letters are sent via email, not the postal service. Half the time, I don’t even use valedictions. I wonder if using a means that lacks the personal touch of handwriting and where you frequently correspond with someone you’ve never seen contribute to one’s desire to refrain from any ending that might hint at something personal.

But what makes that ending seem so personal? I think it comes down to the word “yours.” Long ago, did people in love say to each other “I’m yours,” or is this a modern phrase? When did “yours” go from respect and admiration to love in the romantic sense?

How do you feel about “Very truly yours?” Is it respectful or is it too personal? Also, if you don’t mind, how old are you?

Very truly yours,
Emily

Tuesday, September 1st, 2009 | General, Law School

Yeah, I said it, Seattle is weird. No, it’s not weird for the random Michael Jackson flash mobs, nor is it weird for all of the naked people that ride bikes here (as opposed to the ones who nakedly walk). No, Seattle is weird because rain falls directly down. It’s as if gravity is calling to her lost love, saying, “Rain, do not dally! Return to whence you came, preferably taking the fastest possible route, a straight line.” It really is quite crazy to me. In Arizona, rain is usually accompanied by wind. It would seem less odd for me to witness it moving parallel to the ground as opposed to perpendicular. And yes, I have referenced math related terms three times in this post. I am smart. 5th grade math smart (I did have to use spell check on parallel and perpendicular).

So I suppose that more than law school, rain perplexes me. Law school simply amuses me. While reading for torts, I encountered several cases relating to children performing negligent acts. While most of the cases were drawn out, there was a small, one sentence reference to a case in which a child, performing in a play as Peter Pan, attempted to fly using his own contraption. I was left to create that mental image and wonder just what happened to that Peter Pan. I then questioned whether he truly believed in fairies. Evidently, as the book would like us to conclude from its lack of details, he did not believe in them enough. Did I mention Zach’s cat will be coming to live with us on our 11th floor apartment? I wonder what her belief in fairies is. I think Zach will believe in closing all of the windows considering this cat is not be the brightest about protecting her nine lives:

Friday, August 28th, 2009 | Law School

That’s how I’m defined in law school. I just finished my first full week, not counting Criminal Law during the summer. I went from one course to five (torts, contracts, civil procedure, legal writing, and property law). Before you comment and ask me where my interest lies, I’ll just tell you: I don’t know. I don’t have a clue what I want to practice. Ideally, I’ll make enough to be able to shop at the Gap. That’s the plan anyway. Maybe, just maybe, Banana Republic. But I’d probably need a pretty awesome job for that one. Do they have an outlet?

It’s really interesting looking at what people wear in school. I saw one person in a suit and tie, and one wearing pajama bottoms. It really covers quite the spectrum of clothing. I tend to err on the side of nicer, one step above a t-shirt.

I haven’t been called on yet, although it is just like Legally Blonde. One teacher has a stack of cards with our names on them and draws about ten each class in order to call on people. Although I’ve only contributed a little to the discussions, I think my peers respect me. Is it because of my clear genius? My charm? My wit? My beauty? No. It’s because I told them an easy way to remember which room their classes are in. All of the female professors happen to be in one lecture hall, all of the male professors are in another. Oh well.

1 week down, 89 to go before I am Emily Esquire.