I Want My 75 Cents Back
(And other rants involving my return to law school)

1. So, I'm attempting to purchase a Diet Coke during our break in the middle of Contracts. It's about 4:00, and I'm needing some caffeine to get through the remainder of class. Now, I don't remember having to pay $1.25 for my bottles of coke last semester, but I could be mistaken. Regardless, as I put my dollar in to purchase the $0.75 can of coke, I am informed that it is sold out. So do I get my dollar back? No. The machine gives me two dimes and a nickel. Bastard. I just lost money. And I still have no caffeine intake. Furthermore, I begin thinking: in the contract between me and the coke machine, what would the damages be under expectancy, reliance, and restitution? Then I began to hate myself for seriously considering that. Yep, I'm back in law school.

2. Ok, I don't consider myself the most "patient" of people in the world, but when I want, I think I can be very nice, filled with social grace, tact, and politesse. Well, I foresee myself cracking at some point this semester. I do love my section, but I'm not going to lie, there are some people who just get on my nerves. Hey, it happens when you spend every day of the week with these people. Perhaps I had hoped that the annoying little habits that certain people have would have disappeared. I don't know, maybe in the desire to improve oneself, New Year's resolutions would have been made. Namely: "I resolve not to annoy Andrew." Ok, I'm not the center of the universe, even though I may act like it. But it's not just me. Without naming names, I'm thinking of certain people with habits that distract and annoy everyone around them, and potentially the entire class. So, as I'm thinking about this, I realize I'm going to take this opportunity of the new semester and try and be as considerate towards others and as unannoying as possible, thereby setting an example. I encourage everyone else to do the same. Because you never know when your neighbor is going to snap and just bitch-slap you. The bell tolls for thee.

3. Motivation. That's what I need. The system of three-weeks off, exams, a week and a half off, then return, with electives starting in another week has just messed me up. I need my groove. I work with routine. Structure, stability, comfort: these are values to me. And until I attain them, I don't really feel as though I'm back yet. I'm not really "in it" or mentally prepared. It was much easier in college, what with "Syllabus Week" and all. Sigh. Now, I'm supposed to be ready, prepared, and intelligent from Day One? We'll see how well that goes. Especially since I know I'm on deck for Contracts today. I think I understand the material, but I'm just hoping it doesn't all leave my mind when Prof. Coates calls on me.

4. The future. It's all any of us can seem to talk about or think about. Whether it's our personal or professional lives, this is it. It's now really hit me that I need to start thinking about the future. Of course, I did this to an extent before, but now it needs to be in earnest. I'm not saying I feel the need to plan out the rest of my life, but I really do need to think where I actually want to end up post-graduation. This comes into play when I'm considering taking the offer from the U.S. Attorney's Office in Madison, as I keep debating for and against returning to Wisconsin for the summer. Part of the problem is that I'm not worried about making "the wrong" choice (since I don't think there's such a thing) as much as I'm worried about what is "the best" choice for me. This, of course, assumes that such a thing exists. Sigh. Because that always comes so easily to me!

5. Oh right, did I mention I have found 3 grey hairs since coming to law school. Start playing "Push It" (Note the Salt-N-Pepa reference).