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.

Thursday, November 5th, 2009 | Recipes

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.

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!

Thursday, October 8th, 2009 | General

I was digging through old blog entries on livejournal and wanted to share this picture I took of my roommate’s cat. He was sitting on my curtains, licking himself you-know-where, and was none too pleased when I snapped this photo:

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!

Thursday, September 24th, 2009 | General

One of the perks of having a boyfriend who works at Microsoft is the free stuff. I absolutely love getting something free, even if it’s useless. Wait, I should qualify that…I love getting anything free unless it’s a soy candy bar. That stuff just is weird. Anyway, the first major thing Zach got me is a Windows 7 Launch Party! We get to host our own party to celebrate Windows. The best part is that our party pack will be arriving shortly. In it I’ll find a free copy of Windows 7 (awesome, btw), a puzzle, windows napkins, tote bags, a centerpiece, playing cards, and more! I’m so excited!
Now, on to the second bit of awesomeness I received. Can you guess?

SNUGGIE! IT’S A SNUGGIE! It’s even embroidered with an Office logo. Now, I’m not sure if it’s supposed to be so…uh…large, but whatever. I also don’t really get that pocket in the front. I haven’t tested its warmth yet, but I have pretended to be a wizard. I’m truly magical in it.

Microsoft: Please give away shamwows at your next function. I really want one. A lot.

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 13th, 2009 | General

At about one this afternoon, after a series of hunger pangs, I decided it was time to get out of bed. In my defense, I was working on my Contracts outline (when promissory estoppals come into play, I just get so distracted!).* Thus began a half hour long battle to get Zach to go out to IHOP with me. Why did I choose IHOP when I’m in this bountiful food city known as Seattle? When I have Caffe Presse a few blocks away or fresh farmer’s market foods in the other direction? Because some days, you just want fast, cheap, and mediocre. And today was one of those days.

At first, Zach said absolutely not. He was in denial–he had no choice in the matter and we were going. Then he tried to convince me how horrible it was, upset at the high coffee prices. Then he bargained, causing me to check out half a dozen other places on yelp. Throughout all of this was saddness that I could even suggest such a thing here in Seattle. Finally, the last stage of grief: Acceptance. And we were off!

On the way we passed dozens of women walking for Breast Cancer. Zach made some passing comment about how it would be nice if we had walked. I ignored him, knowing full well that he just wanted to get out of IHOP. He’s sneaky like that.

We made it to the slightly run down IHOP (Zach: “Is this even a real IHOP?”) and were quickly seated by a waiter in an NFL jersey who explained the sports themed specials. We ordered and coffee quickly arrived for Zach. I tried to convince him that it’s wonderful to have your own giant pot of coffee. He did not see that as a selling feature.

When I see this, it reminds me of Droopy:

So, the coffee didn’t exactly win Zach over. Our food came a short while later and was actually pretty good. Zach was especially pleased that the waiter brought kechup AND hot sauce. I must say that pancakes were really tasty, although we both agreed that it was more of a dessert food than a breakfast one.

It is now 2:45 and I am quite satisfied. Now it’s back to Contracts and Legal Writing. And maybe some Civil Procedure, just for kicks :)

*It took me ten minutes to figure out how to do the punctuation in this sentence. I still don’t know if it’s right. Is there some internet guide to grammar? All I found were forums bickering over exclamation points.

Saturday, September 12th, 2009 | Uncategorized

Coming from the Southwest, I expected Seattle to have pretty pathetic sunsets. I’ve since changed upgraded Seattle’s sunsets to decent. Here are some shots from out of my window over the course of several weeks:

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