Home for the Holidays

Ah, Christmas. What better way to celebrate this joyous season than by studying for finals? Well, I can think of about a million. So before cramming my suitcase half-full with casebooks and notes, I threw a delightful little holiday get-together with my friends. What can I say, we all know I like to play host. Egg Nog, Chex Mix, good friends... what else is there to make the holidays?

Enter the family. My mother had surgery on her knee, so she was hobbling along with her crutch. I kept asking her to say: "God bless us, every one." But she had none of that. Meanwhile, she was still her delightfully crazy self. And I quote: "Elizabeth and Adam have backs you could write an anatomy book on." Ummm... what? Yeah, no more wine for her. Of course, that didn't stop Elizabeth and me from drinking our bloody mary's and speaking in a constant stream of inside jokes. Adam was able to join us in Des Moines for Christmas. He told me he was going to make me a bib that said "I eat my feelings" but he didn't get around to it. It's the thought that counts, right? Aunt Mimi was cooking up a storm in the kitchen, as usual (including a wonderful rib roast [editor's note: this is one of the inside jokes Elizabeth and I share]). I suppose the good thing about having a ton of work to do (that I'm nowhere near caught up on) was that I was able to avoid having to spend all day in the kitchen and I could manage my family time and not go crazy. Of course, crazy is a relative term. And with relatives like mine... ha! Aaaaanyway...

Also, I was able to see my bestest friend Julie as she was driving through Madison. We were able to get some coffee, and catch up. Mid-conversation, we realized that the couple behind us were drinking champagne and crying. WTF? Yeah, apparently they just got engaged. I felt kind of awkward (when don't I?) because I'm sure Julie and I were being our loud, obnoxious selves. But hey, that's the risk you take when proposing to someone in public. So, we wished them congratulations, and Julie slipped the man her phone number. OK, not really, but how hilarious would that have been? Then there was a bit of confusion when Elizabeth came to the coffee shop (she works there) and started talking to the girl behind the counter.
Girl: (Pointing in the general direction of the newly engaged couple): They just got engaged!
Liz: (Thinking the girl is pointing to Julie and me) WHAT?!?
Once she realized that I did not just propose to someone, I think her heart started up again.

All in all, it's been a pretty good break. I got in a few interviews, saw my friends and family, ate a ton, and was semi-productive. Since the operative prefix is "semi," I should stop stalling and get back to work!

P.S. I finally got a new camera, so I no longer need to steal photos from others!

The End of Days

How are classes over? I can't believe that we're really never going to have Crim, Torts, or Civ Pro again. I guess I expected the end of classes to be like college, but it wasn't. Sure, all the elements were the same: we came to the end of the syllabus, we had some review sessions, and then time was up. But somehow, it felt entirely different. The atmosphere and culture of law school are so different from college, I guess it makes sense.

I don't know how to describe it, so perhaps I can try to illustrate.

As we came to the end of Criminal Law with Prof. Weinreb, everyone's favorite well-dressed and odd-tie-choice professor, the whole class dressed up in suits for our last class with him. He had a chuckle, and took off his own tie, commenting on how intimidating it was to look out at so many dark suits. We finished up the material, and he had a few presents. He chose two students at random and gave them each one of the original cartoons that he used in his casebook (probably the only book we'll have with cartoons...). With his last few words, he told us how much he sincerely enjoyed this class, and that there have been years where he couldn't say that. After wishing us all the best, he began to head out of the lecture hall. Everyone in the room proceeding to applaud and give him a standing ovation. I've never clapped for a professor before; I've certainly never given one a standing ovation at the end of the term. Yet nothing seemed more natural, more intuitive at that very moment. Everyone in that room had a lumps in their throats and may have gotten a little misty. We had so many good times together, so many great memories, and now he was leaving us. I like to imagine a flashback montage set to "The Way We Were": seeing him shove Justin into the wall, tripping over the rolling-chair, elbowing pretend defendants, making squiggles on the chalkboard. . . sigh. I do not think I could have asked for a better first law professor: the profound respect and admiration is beyond words.

The other classes were somewhat anti-climactic. Torts sort of ended with a whimper, since

we were going to have a review session later in the evening. Plus, when Prof. Arlen attempted to compliment us on how we looked dressed up (albeit for Weinreb, not her), her comment of "You all look so nice, I should have made you dress up more often," sort of missed the point. Or perhaps it was just a bad joke. Either way, it was more or less class as usual (in other words, calling on Kendall, Jake, and Eugenio).

Civ Pro was another odd end (and not just because of the timing on giving Prof. Desan the "International Shoe Print"). By Friday, everyone was pretty ready to be done. Her departing comments urging us to be thoughtful, instruments of change, from anyone else might have seemed trite. But from her, it really was a profound reminder of our position.

So here we are. Or, here I am. Classes are done. Now just to get through the countless hours of work before finals in January.

Happy Birthday to Me!

As I'm sitting here in my apartment, enjoying my birthday cupcake (hey, don't judge!), I reflected on my birthday weekend this year:

Friday:
Went to the Scissor Sisters concert with Kendall and Katie (thanks, Katie!). It was such a friggin' blast! Not only did I get my "Filthy/Gorgeous" fix, but OK Go was the opener, and they were really good. Since they finished their set on time, they danced for us! No, not treadmills, the other one. Still highly entertaining.

Saturday:
Went to Cambridge 1 for dinner with the gang. This was our very first restaurant together, way back on the first day of orientation. Oh, good memories. Good choice on pizzas. Mmm, grilled chicken, steak, arugula... fantastic! From there it was a short jaunt over to my place, where so many nights seem to end up. Of course, since Chris wasn't able to join us, we couldn't have Mac n Cheese. It just wouldn't be right. Anyway, we then went to Sunjung and her roommate's party. Very nice digs. I thoroughly approve. After counting down the seconds until midnight...

Sunday:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Yaaay! I'm 23! Yay! With all the friends and family calling, leaving messages, and well-wishing, I felt special! There was a very confusing phone call from Ellen, Dan O, and Josh, a welcome blast from Milwaukee. I think I had just fallen asleep, so I don't recall much, other than being happy that they called! Afternoon: Library. Yeah, lame, I know. But I had a brief to finish, cases to read, and outlines to write. But I had such a great weekend, that I needed a day to get all of my real work done. So what if it was on my actual birthday? So, there's the birthday question: did I get what I wanted? Let's see: I have great friends, a loving family, a great school, a busy life, a warm bed, and good health; I have everything I could ask for.

I'm a Big Boy!

So, I'm getting close to my 23rd birthday! No longer should my age label me as a "college student." Instead, I'm a big kid. I have my own apartment. I apply for jobs, send out resumes, request interviews, prepare outfits, etc. I'm responsible for managing my own finances. I cook, clean, and iron. By all accounts, I'm an adult. So why can't I act like one?