A Woman in Law School

I'm stealing this from Useless Dicta!



"Look at the posts you’ve made in the past year, and paste the first line of the first post of each month."



January, February, March: Nothing! This blog was in utero? Perhaps I should say that I was too busy with law school applications and studying to re-take the LSAT.



April: The last couple of months have been hectic.



May: I've been busy lately which means that when I get together with friends there is a lot to catch up on, especially when you have to tell them you leaving the state for law school.



June: School is out which means I'm on to new odds and ends jobs this summer before I begin law school.



July: The following conversation occurred while shopping in a crowded Deseret Industries thrift store.



August: I picked J up from the airport and we went out for lunch where we ran into Mr. So-and-So.



September: Dear Classmates, Hi there.



October: I don't wear printed clothing or pieces that have their label embazzed on the front.



November: There is a month before finals...do you know where your outlines are?



December: And now I get to play catch up.



Thoughts: I think I come across as boring on this blog. This may be because I don't want to risk my anonymity but as I've been good about not letting this blog slip I just might introduce y'all more to me in the new year. And then you can really say that yes, Kel, you're lame.

J and I asked for Amazon gift certificates this year for Christmas. Nothing says "special" and "overly thoughtful" like a gift certificate in my book.

So $250 smacks bought the majority of my textbooks last night. All I have left is my contracts hornbooks, of which my prof recommends two obscure titles. So for all of you out there who thoroughly enjoyed contracts last semester or year any suggestions on contracts hornbooks?

When I finished finals I turned into this slob. Well, I shouldn't say that since I was a slob prior to finals with finals being my excuse. Now I don't have such an excuse. So I'm cleaning, and organizing and wondering what to do with flashcards and practice exams I'll no longer need. Thoughts? Do I save them for a rainy day? Do I attempt to save them for the bar? Possibly give them away? Or just toss 'em?

I can now say that I have a living room! It's finally unpacked and presentable. The office is becoming better suited for office duties and the kitchen table doesn't look like a study area.

And now it's on to the bathrooms! Wish me luck! I'll need it as I have collected way too many bottles of things I'll never use.

I'm also wondering if this works...

There are perks to Facebook, one of which is finding friends you haven't seen in ten years and catching up on old times. My friend Ryan came into town over the weekend and I don't think we've seen each other for ten years, or in other words the last time he crashed on my dorm room floor because he had no other place to go. So we hung out, and then we hung out some more as his flight to Seattle was canceled and will probably still be canceled.

Being the man that he is he had me escort him to the mall last night where we went on a mission to find a quesadilla maker for his step-mom. I think it was the whole searching for jewelry that required a woman's company. Well, and the ride to the mall. For the most part all we did was ask random people if they could direct us to the nearest store they thought would have a quesadilla maker. We asked security guards, street vendors, drunks wandering around, other shoppers and children.

And VOILA! We found dear Nancy a quesadilla maker for Christmas! Now let's hope it's the right one!

So we were off the eat. We chose a nice upscale joint, the kind with tiny tables where you practically have dinner with the next table because you're so close. So that's what we did, well, that's what I did. I just feel awkward sitting that close and not saying hello. So I struck up a conversation with some nice tourists. They thought I was nice, they thought Ryan was a professional Elvis impersonator, and we just didn't feel like correcting them. We even played along when their birthday dessert came and Ryan sang Happy Birthday Elvis style. When it came time to leave they finally asked Ryan what he does, as they knew I was a law student. He mumbled that he was a television producer to which they replied, "What?" So he spoke up a little louder and repeated himself. All of a sudden their entire approach toward him changed. So yeah, never judge a guy in a hooded sweatshirt and skater shoes as just an Elvis impersonator, because he just may produce shows for a channel you frequently watch.

And he knows how to make an event out of searching for a quesadilla maker.

I love old friends. I also love new ones too. Happy Holidays!

Let me in let you in on a secret. I'm not a fan of Christmas.

To be frank I come from a disfunctional home, very disfunctional. I think the last true Christmas I had was when I was twelve? My parents divorced when I was ten and I lived with my dad from sixteen on. Dad doesn't do gifts, well Dad doesn't do much of anything festive. So I've always spent Christmas trying extra hard to make it special only to let myself down. J's family is kinda the opposite. They decorate and have a family dinner, exchange gifts, probably wear matching sweaters, a la the whole shebang! So when you throw me into the mix it ain't a pretty picture.

Now don't get me wrong! I'm an upbeat kind a gal UNTIL family appear, at which point I become the most pessimistic, defensive pursed mouth bitch. However, this year is different! I finally get to spend a Christmas the way I want to! Alone with J and the pups! I don't have anyone to please! I don't have anyone watching my reaction in opening gifts that I usually don't use! I don't have to pretend to be nice to my family only to please other members of my family! It's going to be wonderful!

You may be wondering why I have the feelings I do about Christmas (oh and Thanksgiving too). My mother, well, let's just say she is usually busy with my step dad's family on Christmas. I wouldn't have any problems spending it with her as she lives on a beautiful lake in a city I adore, but I would never hear the end of it from Dad, who would view my choice as choosing her over him. And for him, well, I just don't like seeing anyone spend Christmas alone, which is usually why I sacrificed my own feelings. J's family...they want J all to themselves during the holidays. His family isn't very big and now they all live in the same city but for some reason they choose major holidays to see each other. In fact, his mother gets upset when he is not there. But she never had to spend a Christmas or a Thanksgiving away from her family since J's dad died 15 years ago and wasn't close to his own family. They usually plan Christmas six months in advance and tend to be pushy folks if you haven't made your mind up. I had lived with J for just two weeks when they asked if I had purchased plane tickets for Christmas yet. His family is one area of tension in our relationship. I feel like they don't respect that I have a family of my own that I'd like to spend time with during the holidays, which requires travel time and I feel like their notion of Christmas doesn't match my own. And if you haven't gathered already, I'm pretty judgmental.

Here is my main problem, why do I have to get gifts for people I only hear from once a year (and conviently right before their birthday as if to remind me to also send a gift)? I am closer to my busdriver, but I don't get her anything. Was a memo sent out changing Christmas to Giftmas? These ADULTS, not children because I think gifts are fine for them, DO NOT NEED ANYTHING! And yet J and I got into a recent tiff about how much we were spending on his brother and sister-in-law and how they don't talk to us. It bothers me that they EXPECT gifts, but not an actual relationship with their family.

My family works differently. We don't expect gifts and only give them if we want to. It works well. My sister usually spends time with mom, my brother is usually safe in jail, and I usually take one for the team and have Christmas breakfast at the truck stop with Dad. My family just knows how unrealistic it is to get everyone together. It's something I've grown to appreciate over the years. With regards to J's family, I guess it's just difficult for me to suspend my values and practices for a family that I don't always feel welcome in. I also feel like I am constantly defending myself and my decisions to his family and I feel like respect is completely absent.

But this year I get to do whatever I want, and it's everything I've ever wanted. So J and I will be walking the pups, having dinner with new friends, maybe watch a movie and just being us.

I can't wait to pick him up from the airport tomorrow! Ten whole days with my partner in crime is the perfect gift. This is what Christmas should be all about. This is the kind of Christmas I wish for you!

I have a problem with preachy people. You know, the type that always want to tell you what to do, how to save the world and what you're doing wrong. Now I'm all for respecting peoples' opinions and agreeing to disagree however others aren't so respectful.

In law school these people are the ones who are quick to tell you why you're wrong and how smart they are when it comes to politics and history, sometimes even life experiences. Most of my close friends know that I usually play a character, my "I'm just a dumb florist" when these individuals spout off. It's a joke to myself and others in the know since the truth is I'm actually well-educated, well-traveled, and opinionated. I seldom talk about myself and instead let my "I'm just a dumb florist" mode speak for itself because when it's used I find most people treat me in a condescending manner, only later to find out that I'm not so dumb.

Outside of law school, these people are usually what I'll call liberal hippies. The types who shop at co-ops, recycle, work at used book shops, and hang out in coffee shops. I should know as I am a recovering hippie, (still liberal though). These people drive me crazy because no matter what I do, it is never enough in their eyes. I recycle, but since I don't recycle straws I'm not doing my share to save the planet. I've got news for you, some plastics cannot be recycled! The co-ops and Whole Foods aren't always accessible for me which means I must be evil for not driving the extra miles to spend my dollars there. Oh! By the way, I recently drove for the first time in four months! And I drove a Prius, a good choice car. This means that I've walked, carpooled or rode the bus where I needed to go. But as I'm still relying on a gas powered vehicle I suppose this ain't enough to save the planet either. Other things include books, music and movies to watch to open and expand my mind. What? I'm not well-read enough for you already? Why do you care? Do you get a toaster if you convert me?

So here's my new response to these people. Stop judging and get a job! If you care about our planet, our society (regardless of how pessimistic you view it), then get a job and enter the real world. The one where people are struggling to make ends meet and have no choice but to shop at WalMart. A world where bus routes are inconvenient because time is money. One where the choice between working and staying home with your kids is a feminist issue. See how the church acts as a support network in good times and bad. Stepping outside of your small city block to see what the real world is like is not going to kill you.

Oh and stop telling people how irresponsible they are when they don't do their share to save the planet or educated themselves. You're just as irresponsible for living off student and family loans, and in thinking you can forever protect yourself from cruel societal pressures by staying in a book shop or college forever. Grow up. If you expect me to listen to your words then I expect you to do the same.

I'm tired of being judged. I'm off to Christmas shop in the hopes that my few dollars will at least contribute to someone keeping their job through the holiday season. Yeah, capitalism is a bitch but I happen to enjoy the idea of choice within a market.

Have I cleaned the house?
Have I sold my books back?
Have I gone Christmas shopping?
Have I done anything productive?

No, no, no, and no. I have done nothing but watch tv and veg for the last week and it's been wonderful. I'm still getting my winter break reading list together, and trying to decide if or when I'll observe some courtrooms, but other than that nothing! Nada! Zip!

I think I've been on a blogging vacay long enough so starting tomorrow look for regular law and non-law posts. I've got a lot on my mind and plenty of time on my hands to ponder thoughts all day.