In other matters, I started thinking about my dream house. It would have long halls, a spacious kitchen, a library for Zach, a billiard room, and a conservatory. However, I tend to wonder if I would ever have any house guests. Would you visit someone who requested you join them in the conservatory, perhaps requesting that you bring a rope? The rope would be for arts and crafts, of course. What if that person was experiencing some plumbing problems in the kitchen, and required a lead pipe to fix the sink? I think I would think twice visiting. So perhaps I will have to nix the conservatory and billiard room. The hamster tubing that will go through every room will be staying though.

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.

I have just ordered two pizzas and some free cinna stix. I’m not even sure if that’s how you spell it. I don’t like made up spellings.

I will admit that I’m liking the impressive looking “pizza tracker.” Earl just put my pizza in at 7:03.

I will keep you updated.

*Edit #1* No! Zach picked up the pizza too quickly! While I was posting this, the bar went from bake to ready for pickup!! Now I won’t know if they did the quality check!!!

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!

But back to the gummy vitamins. After looking in many different stores, I finally found them in the Phoenix Costco. I must say I’m pleasantly surprised. They don’t have the odd texture of the chocolate Viactivs but rather are quite similar to gummys (gummies?). Unfortunately, they lack the amount of vitamins found in One-a-day pills, however I figure this is better than nothing.

While researching them, I came across some amusing posts on taking children’s vitamins. These were my favorites:

“I take my dogs’ multivitamins when I’m out of mine, so I’m hardly one to talk.”

“one night i got all *expletive*ed up… i decided to eat an entire bottle of scooby-doo gummy vitamins. i woke up the next day and saw the empty bottle and was like ‘oh *expletive*‘.

i went to the pharmacy, and the pharmacist told me to go to the ER. when i got to the ER, i got some really dumb looks, but they said i would be fine…”

“I can’t buy yummy vitamins or I end up eating the whole bottle in one go, which really cant be good for you. Everytime I’ve bought them, even though i try not to, it always end up the same.. hmmm… one more….i really shouldnt but hmmm… one more…. maybe just one more… maybe two more… maybe 5 more, eat them all!”

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.

When I visited Seattle a year ago, I stopped into a little shop downtown and had the best corn soup ever. Ever since then, I’ve been hunting for the perfect recipe and dun dun dun dunnnnn (do do do sol…triplet followed by a dotted half, if you’re into music), I’ve found it! The following is my adaptation of a recipe I found here:

Yummiest Corn Soup Ever

Ingredients:
2 cups water
2 cups milk (I use skim and it’s incredibly rich and creamy)
4 cups corn kernels (Fresh is best, but amazingly, frozen is almost as good)
3ish cloves of garlic, minced
1/4 cup chopped onion (I process this down with the garlic so it’s practically pulp, but I don’t think that’s really necessary since it will be blended later. I’m just weird about pieces of onion.)
2 Tbs flour
2 Tbs butter
1/2 cup cream (you almost don’t even need this…or, you can substitute nonfat yogurt mixed with a little milk for a healthier version)
1tbs salt, plus some more for seasoning
1/4 tsp pepper

Directions:
Boil the water in a large saucepan, then add in the milk and corn until the corn gets tender. I let it sit simmer and just ignore the lovely milk skin that develops. It all gets blended anyway. No one has to know. Once the corn is tender, drain it but preserve the water/milk mixture for later.

Next it’s time to make the roux. Throw the butter in the original saucepan and cook the onion/garlic mixture until soft and then add in the flour. You’re going to want to whisk it all quickly for a few minutes, just to remove the floury taste. It should bubble and darken slightly. Now, add in the water/milk mixture and simmer it for fifteen minutes or so. I stir it occasionally…again, just ignore the milk skin.

Now it’s blender time. You likely won’t be able to fit all of the corn and liquid in a blender, so take half the corn and half the liquid and blend together until smooth. Put it back into the sauce pan and blend the remaining stuff together. Once blended, add it to the rest and add the cream, pepper, and salt to taste. Reheat and serve. This is one of those soups where I can’t stop licking the bowl/spoon/counter drippings/blender blade. Be careful with the blade.

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!