Accurate quotation

Every black person in America is bilingual. We speak street vernacular and job interview....
~~Dave Chappelle

Ha!

It takes so much...

So, I've been saying (for at least 3 years) that law school takes a lot out of you. Emotionally, mentally, sometimes physically, it just drains you. And it does a pretty good job of killing off certain parts of you. Now, these parts may vary, depending on what type of person you are, and what kinds of classes you take -- but inevitably some part of you that existed before law school will cease to exist within the 3 years this journey takes.

That being said, I'm generally bemoaning this fact when I'm whining about something. However, I am happy to report that a psychologist actually did a study, and has determined that law school makes people risk averse. I read this in a book. Thanks to the Socratic method, the generally competitive atmosphere, and the fact that the lower part of the class has never been in that position before makes us extremely opposed to risks. So there! I am not making it up. pbbth.

Alert level intense red-orange

And so, I've decided to recommence the job search. Ok, to be fair, I've never actually stopped it, but I've decided to kick it up a notch. At any rate, I am applying some new tactics. Here's the real question: some books suggest expanding your options to your next choices of city. I've already got my top 3. I have no idea what to make my top 4-6. I mean really, could I actually live in Indiana/Kansas/Texas and not kill someone (myself included)? I didn't think I could either. So where are numbers 4 through 6?

Feeling artsy at the Pike Place Market. (Which really just looked like the expo center at the State Fair, but who asked me?)
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City views....
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A pretty little view from the top of the Needle
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Oh yeah, I owe you pictures. Here's my ride from Madison to Midway. I was on said luxury bus all by myself. Ahh, how does the other half live?
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Stuck

Inspiration from Sex and the City

This was the post-it episode. A running theme of the show was whether everything happens for a reason, even if you don't know it yet. And furthermore, if everything happens for a reason, what is the lesson learned from a relationship that is ending.

That got me to thinking (oh, that line was sooooo Carrie Bradshaw wasn't it?!), what have I learned from my past relationships? I mean, my first love, obviously I learned something from that. And the second relationship, pretty clear what I learned from that (propensity for children, yay or nay). However, can we really say I learned anything from everyone's favorite relationship that was shorter than the break-up? Or how about the guy affectionately known as the Vinster? And what about the random non-relationships in between? Ok seriously, is there really something to be learned?

I have my doubts. But if a gun was to my head, I'd have a few thoughts. First, why is someone holding a gun to my head trying to figure out what I learned from past relationships? and Second, I think all I learned is that I am a very obsessive person. Oh, and that I really want a pretty pretty diamond for my engagement ring. Multiple carats, perhaps. :}

Spring Break

I need somewhere cheap to go to for Spring Break. Any suggestions/invitations?!!

Kiss &Tango

Well, there was no kissing on the dance floor, nor was there any tango, but I definitely went out salsa dancing in a great big ballroom. It was fabulous. In the book, Kiss & Tango, the author calls the whole operation a milonga. Basically, it's where men who can dance the tango (or in my case, the salsa) go and women who love to be spun and dipped go to combine their interests. I must say, life was fantastic and fabulous that night. Although the engineer was a novice, he wasn't my only option. After making a concerted effort to dispel the notion that we were betrothed, several men asked me to dance. Some of them were more intense than others, but I quickly remembered what I learned in Mexico -- my one job was to be pliable and to follow. It was absolutely fantastic...I remembered just how much I love dancing.

In related news, the engineer claims that he will be starting lessons shortly AND will be quite good by the time I see him again. My reaction to this was a question "Does that mean it will be a really long time before I see you again, or that you're a really quick learner?". He said it meant that he's a really quick learner -- we'll see how that goes.

For the record, as of right now, I'm avoiding the question of where I'll be next year.

Guess where I was for a week?!
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Untitled

I couldn't come up with a witty title, but news will be forthcoming...I just don't want to ruin the surprise. Here's a hint though. :)

Risk Averse

I've made the executive decision not to go through with my application to teach English in France. I just don't see how I can afford to do so. First, I'd have to pay a $35 application fee, then I'd have to figure out a way to make my car payment from France.

I suppose, secretly, I just don't want to teach anything to anyone. I suppose, additionally, tthat I don't want to go another year of living like a poor student.

Ok, maybe I'm just risk averse. Something I just never had to come to grips with before. Ugh. How boring am I?

Jealous: adj. Having to do with feelings of envy

Have you ever noticed that when your friend (or anyone) gets a new signficant other or a crush, that's all they can think of? And while you don't begrudge them their new relationship, you really don't want to hear another thing about it?

Ok, that's not always true. To be fair, we all have moments and habits of vicarious living. But, sometimes when you're out on the hunt, and you've turned cynical, it's all you can do to keep from declaring permanent single status and giving up on finding your own.

Now I ask you, is this jealousy? Are you envious of that person's significant other? Probably not, unless you had your own crush on the same person. No, maybe you aren't jealous. Maybe you're just wishing you could find your own -- and the expression of that wish turns your eyes green ;).

I know, I know. I should stop posting things that I think about in the shower.

First of Many

Last night we had a surprise party for my friend from the OC. It was great for many many reasons, but it started out particularly funny because she couldn't get her door open. That was very very funny.

After having several (and by several, I mean several) cocktails we headed to a bar where another law student was dj-ing. There were many many law students (of color) there along with lots of other people with some color in their skin. It was almost like being at a real dance club.

The beginning of the end

School began today. I have officially began the final semester of this journey. I'd like to say I've been reflecting on my years in school and all that I've learned; but I've done no such thing. Instead, I am just so done with it all. I'm done with grades, I'm done with the pressure, I'm done with exams. Instead, I've concerned myself with setting myself up for the next phase. Where do I want to live for the next substantial portion of my life? Washington, D.C.? Chicago, IL? Elsewhere? An engineer that I know of asked me where all I was looking. Well, D.C. and Chicago. Then I explained that I couldn't just pick up and go anywhere, because I have to be certified there. But more than one person has asked me why can't I just go wherever? And I suppose this is a very valid point. I haven't taken the IL Bar yet (as my younger cousin very aptly pointed out). I could very well take the bar in NV, MD, GA, hell I could take it for North Dakota (it'll be a cold day). So, where do I want to live? Frankly, I have no idea. I had no idea when I was applying to law school (I applied to a school in Philadelphia, Los Angeles, northern California, Boston, others) but I ended up in WI because law school is expensive and they bribed me; thereby making the decision for me. Thus, the moral of the story is, I want to go wherever they will pay me to go and wherever I will be ecstatic to be living. Suggestions? Ideas? Job offers?

Watch Service

So, our New Year's Eve turned out to be a mini-adventure. The plan was to go watch the Peach Drop downtown (by the Underground!) and then meet up with the ATL engineer's friends and go do something. In order to make it to the Peach Drop, we had to leave the apartment about 15 minutes after he told me the plan to drive to the MARTA (subway) station and then walk to the square. We actually make it out of the house in 15 minutes (despite the change in outfits -- as I'd been planning on going to a club). We walked (briskly) to the MARTA station; and got there just in time to hear the subway leaving. We waited for the next one, along with a ton of other people trying to do the same thing. (This is a picture of us after we missed the train :P)

Now, what's funny is once on the train car, it was very crowded, of course. A guy who was clearly very intoxicated decided to start up a sing-a-long. At first, he sang Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. No one joined in, however. Then he switched to gospel, starting with "This Little Light of Mine" and followed by "Glory, Glory". Oh, everyone in the train car joined in. In the midst of my giggles, I turned to the engineer and thanked him for taking me to Watch Service before heading out for the night. All in all, it made for a darn good story.

Oh...and we did make it in time to see the countdown -- ahem, and people drinking Grey Goose straight from the bottle, without the decency of hiding it in Gatorade or soda bottles. Guess there are no open container laws in downtown ATL. :)

So, I've never seen the ball drop in NY (which is sad) but watching the Peach drop makes up for it. I love this new pseudo-tradition of celebrating NYE elsewhere!
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More pictures from Piedmont Park. I was allowed to take this one. Even though no one is in it.
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