This Is The End...

In just 3 full days, I'm leaving Virginia. The thought has given me a lot of doubt. I'm afraid that moving won't be as good as I hoped. I'm afraid that my Alabama friends won't really be my friends anymore. I'm afraid that my plan to get healthy in 2008 will be a bust.

But there are good thoughts as well. I really look forward to being closer to my Mom. I look forward to not feeling afraid when I go to bed. I look forward to closing this law chapter behind me, so I can begin my life. Not that I don't want a legal career, I just think that in 2008 I can get past the legal crap and get towards a job and really being able to exercise all I've learned. I don't know if that makes sense to anyone else, but it does to me.

Happy New Year to all!! I love my friends and family.

It's Moving Time!

It occurred to me this morning that I'm moving in 11 days. It's so soon! I have a million things to do to get ready. I'm hoping there will be less chaos this time around.

My landlady is coming up for an initial move-out assessment on the 27th. I think that's Thursday. Man, I better start cleaning like my life depends on it! (Or, more accurately, my security deposit.)

I never turn down help, so if you're in the area, I've got boxes with your name on them.

A Good Friend

Right now, I'm worried that my friend D. is upset with me. She is allergic to cats, yet, she and her husband told me a story about taking care of a neighbor's cat. In the interim, I asked her and her husband to help me move in to my new apartment.

So, I have to be sure that my cat doesn't set them off. (Her husband is also allergic.)

Regardless, I love her.

I found that B. doesn't agree with me when it comes to the death penalty. I respect her beliefs. I think I'm just really glad that we can talk about our thoughts and beliefs without being mad at each other.

I'm really grateful for these friends.

New Jersey

I love my friend B., and she is linked to my blog (although not as high as a week ago, which I will fix, I promise). I disagree with her when it comes to the death penalty. It used to be, years ago, that death was swift and horrific. That doesn't make that penalty OK. It just means, to me, that as a society we get a superiority complex about other people.

I guess my point is, we (meaning me) feel bad when a male tiger kills the offspring that are not his. Yet, somehow, we think it's OK to kill another person.

I am a HUGE, BIG fan of life without parole. But state-sanctioned murder is not OK with me.

And I hope I never have to be in the situation of a family member whose loved one was murdered.

HEY!

Hey, you seven states which haven't made animal cruelty a felony yet...I'm talking to you!

The list is:

Mississippi
Arkansas
North Dakota
South Dakota
Idaho
Utah
Alaska

Get it together, and join the other 43! There is absolutely no reason to condone cruelty. None. These crimes are horrific and systemic.

I Think...

That my cat is going blind, if he's not blind already.

That moving home is going to be harder than I imagine. I think it'll be better, too.

That becoming a lawyer isn't my passion, but that I'll be good at it and it'll pay the bills.

That getting older is a blessing, and maybe I'll find my passion along the way.

That my family is a bunch of maniacs who are all waiting to be screwed by each other. I wish it weren't true, though, and I will try to make it better.

That expecting someone to know what I want and need is dumb. But sometimes, it's even dumber when I have to tell my own truth.

That having a fireplace is a gift.

That I'm grateful for my friends and family.

That it will get better, and if it's not better, it's not over.

Random

Tomorrow I better get my act together and get to the District so I can return my Bar/Bri books and get the refund. I'm sorely low on cash right now and it's kinda scary.

My cat just barfed on the kitchen floor. At least it was on linoleum and not on the carpet.

I need sun! It's been grey and overcast here for 3-ish days and it's getting to me. Reminds me of Cleveland.

My brother-in-law asked me to send him a wish list for Christmas. He gets a fab discount, but still, I was a good girl.

If the weird dreams don't stop, I'm going to start to get concerned.

I Am A Liberal

Just a bit ago, I was checking my email. I then checked the headlines on Yahoo News, and saw an article about NBC choosing not to air an ad from a conservative group. Of course I had to check it out.

All this paragraph comes from the story. Apparently a group called "Freedom's Watch" wanted to have NBC air a commercial in support of the troups. I read the article, then clicked on the group's website. According to the article, the group wants everyone to say a "Thank You" to those Americans who are in the military.

Now, this response comes from what little I know. I have not seen the ad. But, as a liberal, I wonder when supporting the troops became a conservative issue. Is our country that divided?

I don't support the war. But for Pete's sake, why not support our troups?

I'd like information about care packages for our soldiers. They are ours, every one of them, who risk their lives each day. So, my hope is this. Get past your damn politics and think about the people, the individuals, involved in these wars.

So, if you can give me REAL information about the help and support I can send, please tell me. Because the individuals matter more than the groupthink.

Revenge: Best Served Snowy

A couple of days ago, the weather folks said it was going to snow here in DC. Being the snow-experienced smart cookie that I am, I quickly figured it would be chaos around here, so I got my boots on and went grocery shopping during normal working folks business hours. (At some point I will explain the apocalyptic hilarity of snow and southerners.)



Anyway, yesterday I needed to venture out again and so I headed to my little car. She was covered in about 3 inches of snow. I pulled my trusty snow-broom out my trunk (a souvenir from Cleveland) and began to sweep. 3 inches of snow all over the car takes a while to remove, as you might imagine.

So I'm working on the driver's side of the roof, and a red minivan pulls into the parking spot next to me. The driver maneuvered a really bad parking job, enough to make me jump a little, and she went into the building. I didn't think too much of it, because there was still ice and snow on the sides of the parking spaces. She returned a few minutes later with a walkable small child and an un-walkable small child.

I'm still on the driver's side. We exchange pleasantries, and then I realize she's just standing there. I look behind me to note that she has opened the minivan passenger door and is now waiting for me to move away so her precious cargo can be inserted. I grudgingly move, thinking that she could have walked around the minivan and saved me the duck-walk I do on snow, especially since that side was dry. But no.

I am now done, and I open my driver's side door to pop the trunk and return the shovel. I head back, open the trunk, and bang said shovel on the ground to remove snow, in the time-honored tradition. This is when I realize that my door is blocking the sideview mirror on her car, rendering her helpless. She can't move the van without hitting my car. Needless to say, banging the broom took longer than usual that day. And as I returned to my car and got in, I smiled sweetly at the lady and mouthed, "Sorry".

Iran

I haven't been closely watching the news lately, which is why I'm concerned. I've seen some blips about Iran. All I can think is, are we going to war again? Why is so much of the news about this country?

I'm not a fan of the current Preaident, but I don't think he's evil. Naive and stupid perhaps, but not evil. Is there a chance that the US will go to war?

We can't!! Not without massive drafts, and this time, seriously, a really good reason. I would like to think that there are enough Congresspeople to get this right.

Any real news? I really want to be proven wrong.

My Brother-in-Law

Check out the video to see my brother-in-law, the safety expert with more than 20 years' experience!

People killed by Vending Machines?

Posted Oct 16, 2007

Think twice before kicking that machine.

Rabbits Rabbits Rabbits

It's now December. Did everyone remember to say the above phrase first thing on the 1st for luck? I did! Let's hope it works this time.

Despite my better judgment, I now have a MySpace page. It's not too interesting yet, as I haven't yet figured out what to do with it or even how to control it. But, if you're bored:

Christine's MySpace

I watched a THS about hazing this morning. It was sad and sensational, and as much as the parents and friends were very sympathetic, I couldn't decide if all the incidents reported were hazing. Some just sounded like stupid college kid judgment. Parents say, "Oh, my kid would never do that!" Bad news - yes, they will. And you did too. I'm not trying to be mean, and there were some legitimate claims, but the kids who thought, after drinking all night, it'd be fun to swim across a lake were really just being dumb college kids.

I think I'm turning into my mother. As I reread the last paragraph, I realize that I sound exactly like her.

How The Dad Stole Christmas

For the most part, it was a nice visit with my folks. Minimal arguing with my dad was a nice change. And then, there was the computer...

Momma tells me that her machine is slow and she doesn't know why. I'm decent with computers, so I gave it a gander. I added some malware protection and looked over what was going on. It all looked OK, until the big day.

The other day my dad told me he was going downstairs to work on the computer (it lives in the basement). The night before I managed to fix the volume control problem on the machine. Mom hadn't had noise from the machine in a while, so I found the problem and fixed it. Anyway...

My dad is a Christmas music freak, so the first noise I heard was carols. OK, I thought, it is what it is. Then I heard the next sound. A woman moaning, in a dirty way. The next sound I heard was a man moaning in a dirty way. The final sound I heard was my father moaning in a dirty way.

UGH!!! I've never liked Christmas music, but now it grosses me out.

So very, very grateful to be home.

Found One!

I found my new apartment. It's lovely - 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, screened-in deck, and is reasonably priced. It's odd that the floor plan I chose has the most square footage but is the least expensive. Go figure. Either way, I'll take it.

It's definitely time for me to head back to D.C. My welcome is pretty much worn out here at my folks' place, and I'm getting tired of them as well. Even Mom and I are getting on each other's nerves. I don't relish the 11-hour drive, but it will certainly be good to be back in my own space where things happen as I want them to.

I'm headed out tomorrow morning, bright and early. Talk more when I'm home!

Apartment-O-Matic!

Mom, W. and I went to look for my new apartment today. The best part? Looking at all the places that were clearly designed by Roger Hazard from "Sell This House". The worst part? Trying to remember everything we saw from all the complexes! One has free cable and a free full-size washer and dryer. Nice, tres nice. Another has free cable and HBO and check this - free valet garbage pickup! This means I leave my trash outside my apartment every day and someone comes and throws it out for me. This one is a serious contender. Tomorrow we have 4 more to look at, one with reasonable prices, gated access, and screened-in porches!

Yeah for me!

Sweet Home

I'm back!! It's so nice to be home. I didn't get all my errands done today, but I did finally get my hair cut. My hairdresser said my hair was so bad it was like I had a really ugly goatee and beard. I love her honesty.

In a bit I'm headed over to my friend D's house to check out the new place. If only I could remember her house number! That could make the trip take a bit longer than I had planned.

Friday is apartment-shopping day! My very own version of Black Friday will be here soon. Wish me luck in finding fabulous new digs with a gorgeous deck for Biggs and a garage.

Comments

Well, at least I got two. No, I don't blog enough. I don't always have anything to say! I am a boring girl.

It's 5 a.m., I haven't been to sleep yet for any good reason I can figure, and I'm trying to figure out what kinds of witty comments I can say to my Mom for our Sunday conversation.

I did the dutiful daughter thing and called my dad on his birthday on Friday. After a decent conversation, he tried to tell me about my health. Great, now I get to look forward to that over Thanksgiving. I told him that maybe we should let things be. His response was that we could always share our opinions with each other, right? I agreed, but now I don't. Sometimes loving someone is about keeping your damn mouth shut.

Wish me luck, I'll need it.

Message Or No?

B. tells me I don't blog often enough, so here's what I've been thinking about today:

A few weeks ago, one of my friends and I were discussing whether or not to leave messages on each other's cell phone. I told her that I don't like the voice mail, because I have to check it, which wastes minutes, and because the phone tells me who called. She agreed.

So, my question is: Do you like to get a message on your cell phone, or does it just mean another call to make?

Pissed Off Teens

Tonight, after hearing B's news, I was a bit cranky and overemotional. Luckily for me, there were teenagers outside my window screeching like banshees and also like what they had to holler actually matter. After listening to it for about 5 minutes, I yelled out the window, "Shut up!!" Clearly I got some very vulgar responses. I next yelled, "Back at you, bitch!" Childish, I know, but damnit, it was almost 10pm and I didn't want to hear it.

Last noises I heard were thumps on my balcony. I almost wish that they threw stuff at my place. I look forward to tattling to my landlords and possibly filing a police report. Mostly, I look forward to leaving this place.

"Case CSO Checking In"

This was the subject header of an email I received from my law school's Career Services Office. I thought, hey! Isn't that nice? Needless to say, I knew that email was a fishing expedition into whether I had a job.

The emailed offered me resources and access to a job site service I hadn't heard of. I wrote back, saying that I was interested in resources about alternative careers for those with a law degree and that I would love access to the job service. Oddly, I never received a response. That was a few weeks ago. The CSO even has my updated email address. Hmmm...

I found an article in the Plain Dealer that explained that my law school has the lowest bar passage rate for those taking the bar in that state. Something to the effect of 85% from my school to over 90% from other (public) law schools. My school's excuse? "Well, of the 275 (approx.) grads, only 70 stayed here to take the bar.

Nice. A law school failure in that state and in the others.

Article

Dr. Phil v. Reality

These are comments about today's Dr. Phil show on racism and birth control.

1. Dr. Phil played a portion of the infamous tape released to the media. I have only heard the parts on today's show; I have not listened to the full tape.

The saddest part about the tape was the recognition that Dog knew what he was saying was wrong and that his biggest concern was that the tape would be released to the tabloids. His remarks were clearly wrong, but it upsets me more that he knew what he was saying. If you know what you're saying is wrong, if your defense is that it might ruin your career, then the question becomes - why say it at all?

2. Birth control being offered to middle schoolers in Maine. Reality clearly is not taking hold here. We all say that sex education begins at home. Seriously, how many of us got real sex ed from our parents? I think the problem is that families forget that each member is an individual and not a reflection of our own selves. I still don't like to think that parents had sex, and I know they don't want to think that I have. I think the issue is getting over the "icky factor" and realizing that there is very little about another person, despite close relations, that we can control.

Dr. Phil - Can we have a real talk about this?

"You Were A Good Tenant"

The die is cast. I gave notice to my landlord about my upcoming move. My family knows, most of my friends know, and I'm so ready to go. Have to say, though, that I don't anticipate the actual finding a new apartment, moving furntiure part. I know this will all pass, and sooner rather than later, but there's still some lingering doubts.

I think those are because I really hate to move. I did it a lot as a kid, and each time the move left its mark. This time, however, I'm moving home. Home. What a great feeling. Depsite the eventual home purchase, this will be my last move.

It was nice to hear that I was a good tenant. This has been a good place. DC, though, is not home.

The Decision

I've decided to move back to Alabama. A couple of things influenced me. One was my car getting egged after the Bama/LSU game. Since I live in the DC area, I can only have 2 theories: One, someone doesn't like me and the timing is coincidental, or Two, someone is a LSU fan and thought it'd be fun to rub salt into the wound.

I am not an Alabama fan. I am an Auburn fan. And really, is egging after losing at all charming?

I don't know anyone here. Chances are, the result is from the comment above.

Regardless, I'm doing online apartment shopping and asking my friends there to investigate good complexes for me to visit. Any advice, please let me know.

Farewell, Virginia! I'm going home.

Thoughts

I need to just talk a bit, so if what I write doesn't make sense to you, take heart in that, chances are, it doesn't yet make sense to me.

1. Life Coach - I think I need one. It's November, I'm jobless, and it's only a matter of days before I run out of money. I've never really supported myself and I don't know how. I mean, I made it through almost 35 years and I'm OK, but I've never done any of it on my own. If there are any real suggestions, I would gladly take them.

2. Job Hunting - is terrible. I've already blogged about my insecurities. Still, I'm not sure what happens next.

3. Home - I'm really torn about going back to Alabama. When I just let my emotions run, I wonder why I'm still in D.C. Then I'll see a commercial about parts of this area I haven't seen. I wonder if I would have preferred this place as a vacation and not a home. My friends are torn about my plan.

Golly, I know there was more, but I guess I got distracted.

An Open Letter to Dr. Phil

Hi Dr. Phil,

I watched your show today on men being tricked into supporting another man's child. For fair disclosure, I must admit that I'm not a fan of "for the children". I don't particularly like children, nor do I want any of my own. But as a person who was once a child, I must add my two cents.

Despite your last minute disclosure that it's about the kids and not the money, that was not the show you put on TV. Dear Christ, did you even think? You asked the 13-year-old about her feelings, and then decided to ramrod her feelings for the ratings. Did you expect her to break down and cry for daddy? She's damaged enough and will not show her weaknesses.

These men apparently raised their "kids" for a decade. When does the loyalty to the kids appear? The men are so busy being mad about their bank accounts that they're not thinking about the lives they've affected. In 10 years, Dr. Phil, are you going to do a show about the aftermaths of their lives? I doubt it, unless it's to reprise this segment.

I do understand that these men are angry. But, as Judge Judy writes in one of her books, "Love your kids more than you hate each other".

If I have to watch another one of your programs like this, we're going to have to talk.

Love,
C

My Brother Saves Lives

All during the past 10 days or so, the news has been talking about the fires in California. I have friends and family who live in SoCal, so I was really worried. Thank goodness that my BFF B. and my sister and her husband are OK.

My brother lives north of San Diego, where it seemed to be really bad. Yet, recently, he accepted a job working for the Civilian Defense. He called me last night to tell me about his experiences. He was amazing! He was part of the team that coordinated the firefighter and rescue efforts. He told me about trying to manage the teams to protect lives and property. Then, he told me about the efforts to help animals as well.

I could not be more proud to have my brother as a brother. Whatever the news says, I don't care, because the news always seems to focus on what went wrong. I'm just so happy that my family and friends are OK, and really, I'm even more happy that my brother was able to save lives, properties, and animals.

Weakness

I really don't like showing weakness. Weakness to me means letting someone know I need something from that person, especially if I don't know that person.

When I was a girl, I was a Girl Scout. Cookie season was a nightmare for me, because I was supposed to ask people to buy from me. I absolutely hated it. It was one of the reasons I got myself kicked out of the Scouts. Later, in high school, we were supposed to sell magazine subscriptions in order to pay for our graduation activities and fees. I went to my Mom and told her that I couldn't do it. Luckily for me, she agreed, and she paid my expenses that year.

I feel the same way about job searching. I hate having to tell people that I need work. When I read the job descriptions, I think about how well my experiences would fit for that firm. Yet, it never seems to come across on paper.

Today I applied for a job. I'm OK with my resume, but this position required that I answer very direct questions about applying my experience to its needs. I felt so exposed and stupid, because some of the questions I could not answer with as much strength as I thought I could. I don't want to lie to anyone. Still, I know that if I could actually talk to the interviewers, I would have a much better shot.

My hope is that my best reference will help sell me for me. This whole process is so scary.

Decisions

Well, I've been looking at my options. I talked to one of my good friends, who told me to check out government jobs because sometimes the jobs there need legal experience but they don't want a lawyer. Hmmm...I could do that. I also emailed a blogger who graduated from law school but never bothered with the bar to find out what he does. He's in business of some kind, not appealing to me, but still, that means the world doesn't end (or begin) with the bar.

I feel stronger every day. It sounds strange, but I'm almost glad I didn't pass. Passing would have meant that the tsunami of my life would have continued without my even noticing if I like it. Now I have to (and get to) determine what I want. This is something I never really considered before.

20/20 Redux

My comments on tonight's 20/20:

Interview with Lance Bass: The interviewer asked him about Britney. He claims they were friends. The only information he could give was about her first, annulled, marriage. During this part of the chat, 20/20 is showing images from this year, with her shaved head. So, friends? Maybe, back in the day. But it's very misleading to talk about events from over a year ago and show images from a few months ago.

Global warming with John Stossel: He was interviewing scientists who are more reticent to claim that the current environment is caused by recent human behavior. My problem is that there was clearly a slice in the video to allow Stossel to ask a question. There was no need for that video split, because the speaker was already answering. This seems to me like Stossel felt he wasn't getting enough air time.

Regrouping

Well, it's 2 days later and I am both sober and not hung over. Man, I worked hard for that hangover. Wouldn't wish that one on anyone, except a choice few.

Now to decide the next life plans. There's a few questions I have, such as:

1. Do I even want to practice law? It's not a huge calling for me, but since I'm knocking on 200K in debt, it seems my career choices are limited. Sometimes I want to be a lawyer, but the hoops are really high.

2. If I do want to retake the bar, where? Initially I wanted to go home. But I checked Alabama's website, and I've missed the deadline to sign up for the February bar. So I'm screwed on that idea, unless I can find someone to hire me as a clerk for pretty much a full year. So that leaves Virginia. I can retake the beast here.

3. Why are so few people passing the bar? I'd love to know the stats from my law school. I want to know by state, GPA, class ranking, the whole shebang about how my class fared. Hell, I don't have a job, give me the raw data and I'll run the numbers myself!

Done for now. There's TiVo a-waitin', and come Monday I'll be the queen of resumes. At least there's an SVU marathon tomorrow.

Bar Results

I failed. I am one of the 28% of Virginia Bar takers in July 2007 who did not pass the bar.

I am going to get very, very drunk now.

Bar Results

It's now mid-October, the time when the bar association said that our test results would be ready. Each morning I wake up with a pit of fear in my stomach, wondering if a) the results are up and b) I passed. Each day gets a little bit tougher. The swearing-in ceremony is October 29. The bar has to tell us before then, right? And hopefully not the day before, as I live 90 miles from the capital.

I just want this wait finished. I'm tired, scared, and broke. And I know I'm not the only one. I wonder how many other states haven't announced the results yet. I know that North Carolina, Indiana, and Utah have announced.

If you're in one of the states that hasn't released its results yet, you're not alone. That pit of fear just might be nation-wide and we each get a little piece.

My Old Job

Before I went to law school, I worked for a software engineering company. I did a lot of different jobs, usually under 1 job title, which rarely described my work. I would venture to say that most people's job descriptions barely touch what they actually do.

Anyway, I worked there for 5 years, and I still feel kinda like it's a part of me. For instance, every so often I check the company's website. I feel especially like the site is my baby because I was deeply involved in the redesign of the site a about 5 years ago now.

The company employs many people who are foreign nationals because the work done there is highly specialized and there just aren't that many people who do that kind of work. This creates a language barrier. The problem with that is that I am a grammar freak. I made it one of my missions when I worked there to ensure that as few grammatical errors left the building as possible.

The company has redesigned its site again. Visually, it is perfect. Unfortunately, the grammar is not. I wish I could go back there and fix it for the company!

But I can't. Still, I hope the company continues to do well.

Poor Britney

I feel really badly for Britney Spears. I do think it was wise of the judge to decide that her boys should stay with their dad now. I want her to get better. It makes me wonder about the power of the media. Yes, she carries some of the blame for inviting the media into her life. But still, something is clearly going on in her head.

I have no doubt that she loves her kids. The problem is, her entire career has been based on publicity. How is she supposed to do better? When I look at some of her photos, she looks so resigned and sad. It's almost as if when she messes up, why hide it? The media is going to get photos regardless, so why hide it?

I hope that she can go to a good rehab and develop herself again.

I wish we could just let her do that.

God speed, Britney.

Paranoid? Maybe

I'm pretty sure my father never wanted a family. I only have circumstantial proof of this:

1. Pennsylvania - we lived there during 3 Mile Island. Although we did not live near the area, I figure that was just an oversight or practice for my dad.

2. Kansas - we lived in Wichita when the BTK killer was doing his thing. I was raised Lutheran and so was BTK. With my luck, we all went to the same church.

3. Florida - we lived in Orlando when Adam Walsh was murdered. (John Walsh's of America's Most Wanted fame son.) Again, his murder happened in Hollywood, which is not near Orlando, but still, there's beginning to be a pattern here.

4. California - we lived in Orange County during the Night Stalker years. This time got close, the serial killer attacked a couple who lived near my church and also slept under a bridge near my junior high school. Also, a good friend was shot in a drive-by while he and I were walking to the store. Luckily the bullet was a paint ball, but it just as easily could not have been.

That's all the proof I have for now. If I find more, then the paranoia will continue.

Bugs & Bravery

Life in this nifty apartment has been good so far. I've only seen a couple of water bugs, and those run under the wall in the bathroom before I can get to them. Plus, they don't creep me out like larger insects which create a sound upon death.

Anyone who knows me knows my rabid fear of spiders and cockroaches. It's hard for me to even type those words, because if I do, it's like an invitation for them to show up. My fear is so bad that I once made my college roommate break a date and come back to our dorm room to kill a roach. I figure I can tell you this because I will never live that down.

A couple of days ago, I, big, strong, brave me, killed a spider all by myself, armed with only a 2-ply Kleenex. I did spend the next 24 hours watching for anything that looked like it had moved in the apartment, but I got better.

This morning, Bug, my cat, (the irony is not lost on me either) was watching under the bed the ways cats do when something's moving. You know what's under the bed, right? Evil. Pure evil. Any Stephen King book or horror movie can tell you that. All I could do is look Bug straight in the eye and say, "I hate you".

Another Reason to Maintain Oral Hygiene

According to a recent article in Oral Diseases journal, the risk of transmitting HIV from oral sex is increased when partners do not practice good dental hygiene.

Original Source

Journal Source

"So I Don't Get Caught"

Today I got to have lunch with my fabulous brother. This is a rare treat, because we live so far away from each other. He has an adorable son, my nephew. He and my sister-in-law have been working to be good parents to my nephew. They've been trying new strategies for discipline and schedules. My nephew is a new kindergartner. (OMG, I'm getting old.)

Anyway, my brother and I were talking about his new strategies versus the way we were raised. We were definitely raised in a "spare the rod" household. Anyway, over tasty Italian, it came down to this:

"What did we learn from the discipline we received from our father?"

"Not to get caught."

Yeah, that's it. Not, "Don't do that again". Not, "I'm sorry." It was, "Don't get caught." We learned nothing positive from that discipline. We just learned to cover our tracks.

Congratulations to my brother and sister-in-law. I think they might be able to get it right.

In The News

Tonight for the first time in a while I watched NBC Nightly News. My thoughts...

Iraq: It seems like a giant CYA lately. Everyone wants to be right. I would love to hear some truth about the situation. I know I won't watch Bush's address tomorrow night, because he will have an agenda to prove he and his policy are right. I won't watch the Democratic response either, for the same reasons. Why can't we know what's really going on over there? I realize there's a difference between an experience and an agenda, but I wonder if those who have the bully pulpit see that difference as well. Until the powers that be have this realization, I'm afraid we're screwed. But not nearly as badly as those who still live in Iraq.

Cars: Apparently there's been a lawsuit between some states and the automobile companies regarding the states' ability to create their own emission guidelines. Why is this a suit? Hasn't this issue already been decided? California requires standards for cars imported and sold into it. So why is there a suit? Suddenly other states figured out that they have some power over big industry as well. I do understand that 50 states with 50 different requirements is a nightmare. So what's the harm in picking the most stringent and going with it?

Black Family Reunion Celebration

I've been watching commercials on my TV for a bit about this event. I have to ask, though, what's going on? I'm afraid of seeming racist or being a bigot. That's not who I am. But still ... why does there need to be a separate event for black families? It makes me sad if we, as a country, still need this event. It makes me think that we all bow down to the lowest denominator in order not to look bad.

Here's the website:

Black Family Reunion Celebration

Goth

When I went to high school in California, I was a card-carrying, black-eyeliner-wearing, Robert-Smith worshipping, super-pretentious goth. I read far too much into lyrics, never knowing that they were mostly about a) hard rock metal sex or b) the fact that the singers were not getting hard rock metal sex.

Gawd, it's embarrassing now. But if I had a picture of me with my purple (dark, dark purple, not punk purple) hair and my Cure t-shirt on, I'd post it for all to laugh.

So I was reading the AV Club part of the Onion, and came across an addition to its Permanent Records Hall of Fame: The Sky's Gone Out by Bauhaus. I was not a Bauhaus fan. I didn't get the genius, and to be honest, outside of Bela Lugosi's Dead and the Bowie cover, I actively avoid listening to the band.

But the interesting part of the article was the comments. I am a major music junkie, and it's been a long time since I've read people's comments who were as knowledgeable, and in most cases more so, as I am about 80s goth music. Man, I miss talking about music the way I did as a teenager. Music evolution was my soap opera addiction.

Anyway, here's the link:

http://www.avclub.com/content/node/65119

Blogger.com

One of my favorite time wasters is looking at other people's blogs. I go to the main page and then use the "Next Blog" button to randomly surf about.

There are 2 problems with this little hobby.

1. I can't limit my searches to blogs that are only in English. I don't think all blogs should be in English, but unfortunately I don't speak any other language and I can only read a smidgen of Spanish anymore.

2. I keep getting caught in either a) porn sites; b) advertising sites; or c) blogs without the "Next Blog" button.

You can see how this could rapidly get annoying.

New Rule

This is my proposed new rule:

If you use a television cable service, you should not be subjected to advertisements about said service.

Cripes! Cox Cable is tiring out my TiVo.

Love,
C

The Board

This morning, as I was lounging in bed, my phone rang. Now, I am old school, and I believe that the phone is for my convenience and no-one else's. So, as I am wont to do, I didn't answer it. It was my father, leaving me a lengthy message. He rarely calls, so I figured something had to be up. I waited until he was done, then checked my message.

The Virginia Board of Bar Examiners had called! This is the worst call I've gotten all month. Even worse, the person couldn't find my local number so she called my parents' house. And got my dad!

First things first - turns out that the software Virginia uses for its bar forms had a glitch and my employment history never made it to the board. After freaking out, I figured out how to use my new fax machine and sent the paperwork to the board. Phew. Let's hope I don't hear from the board again. No news is good news.

Next - the lady I called said, "I enjoyed speaking with your father." Damnit, damnit, damnit. My dad is nosy and long-winded and very apt to provide people with information they do not need. When she commented on my dad, all I could think was, "That's it, I'll never get admitted to the bar."

I asked her not to hold my father against me. Here's hoping.

News v. Fox News

News:

There are wildfires racing across Greece. Officials suspect arson, and are looking into the possibility of charging the suspected arsonists with terrorism.

Fox news:

Terrorists set wildfires in Greece.

Interesting, no?

What Will Be Next

These are the topics on which I intend to blog:

1. Children
2. Newspapers
3. Insecurities
4. Reality Television
5. Really F***ing Bad Dreams

And whatever else sounds good at the time. Currently, I'm figuring out how to write without sounding like a complete tool.

Love,
C

Freaky

I have a landlady who will watch cats while tenants are out of town. She came to meet my Biggs before I went to take the bar. She told me then that her late kitty, Rocky, looked a lot like my Biggs and that he was most likely a thoroughbred. No way I believed that; my father adopted Biggs from the Humane Society in Huntsville, Alabama. Biggs and I over time got to be friends.

Today, my landlady showed me a picture of her Rocky. He was a splitting image of my Biggs. Enough so that I was freaked as I drove to the grocery store. I asked her for a copy of her photo so I can post a side-by-side so we can all compare.

A Short Request

Dear Lead Singer of Gym Class Heroes,

Please to wax eyebrows.

Love,
C

Real Time 20/20

I'm watching 20/20 tonight. Its topic is Myths, Lies, and Downright Stupidity. I'm going to comment on the top 10 list.

1. Multitasking makes one less effective.
20/20 says: True
I say: True. I realize that I'm from a different generation. I'm Gen-X. I used to listen to music when I studied, and it did help. But I've found that I can't really talk on my cell while driving. Hell, I don't even know how to text. I get distracted too readily. Maybe it's because I didn't grow up with all the technology there is now. It's entirely possible that those younger than me can do 2 or 3 things at once.

2. Only children are smarter, bossy, more intelligent, and not well-adjusted.
20/20 says: True
I say: False. I am the youngest of 3. I am the poster child for spoiled. I think it's terrible what 20/20 says. The research the program provides says that only children are given more opportunities because those children have all of the parental resources not available to families who have more than 1 child. This may be, that only children get all the financial and parental resources, but what are those children missing? I think only children miss the ability to learn how to cooperate with others. I think that's a big loss for them. I wonder if social IQ is better than intellectual IQ.

3. Mosquitoes bite some people more often than others.
20/20 says: True
I say: True. But not for the show's reasons. The show says that people who have high cholesterol, or those who drink beer, are more likely to be bitten. I think that one's blood type has more to do with it. I am blood type A+. For all my life, I've been attacked by mosquitoes. My friends who have different blood types have not been bitten as often as I have. This is my only proof.

4. Never put plastics in the microwave.
20/20 says: It depends.
I say: True. Why risk it?

5. Soap is soap.
20/20 says: Yes.
I say: Yes. It doesn't really matter whether you use antibacterial soap or regular soap, as long as you actually wash your hands. Please, for the love of God, wash your hands.

6. Abdominal crunches will flatten my stomach.
20/20 says: False.
I say: False. Well, they help, but it takes diet and exercise to create results. I'm not tiny, but I have strong stomach muscles. I've spent my life standing up straight and holding in my stomach. Yet, I wish I had the super abs. I don't. And for another dose of unfair, it's easier for men than for women to get fit.

7. A falling cat always lands on its feet.
20/20 says: Apparently yes.
I say: False. There is a bit of space where a cat is more likely to land on its feet. But always? Hell no! In fact, one of the ways to check for mental problems in felines is to hold it upside down over a soft surface, like a couch, and then stop it, to see if it rights itself. It the cat does not, there's a problem. (If you're a complete tool, don't try this. Ever.)

8. Red cars mean trouble.
20/20 says: False. Using the show's data, 1% of the cars whose plates are run are red, and only 11% of red cars are ticketed for a traffic violation.
I say: Maybe. Red cars are more noticeable, so it's possible that they are more likely to be pulled over for doing something naughty. However, this sounds like an urban legend to me.

9. Home alarms guarantee security.
20/20 says: False. The alarms apparently aren't strong enough, and people don't pay enough attention. It takes a lot of alarm setups to get this right.
I say: False. Nothing guarantees security. Alarms might help though. I know I'd feel safer if I had one for my apartment.

10. Dogs can smell cancer
20/20 says: Most likely. There is scientific evidence that dogs can be trained to look for specific smells. Of course, that's why we have drug-sniffing and bomb-sniffing dogs.
I say: Maybe. There's anecdotal evidence for this. I think dogs (and cats) can smell odors that humans cannot. Who's to say that they can't recognize when something isn't right with their person? I believe that pets have empathy.

(Bad)Reality Television

I don't know if it's because of law school, or if it's because I have an occasional superiority complex, but I have developed the world's worst taste in television. I adore reality shows. Now, to try to give myself a little credit, there are a few I don't (read - not won't) watch:

Big Brother
Flavor of Love
Fear Factor
The Bachelor

Those are, unfortunately, just a few. What's even more unfortunate is the staggering number of those I do watch:

Rock of Love w/ Bret Michaels
Hogan Knows Best
Scott Baio is 45...and Single (and, btw, a horse's ass)
Fat March
Survivor
The Biggest Loser
and then, the one I wish hadn't been cancelled the most...

Starting Over.

I doubt if many people watched Starting Over. I had to explain my addiction to lots of folks, with minimal success. Still, I did learn a lot from that show, and I really miss my hero, Iyanla. I'm still upset that there aren't even reruns of the show anymore.

And to think, I used to judge those who watched these shows. I sure didn't mean to develop an addiction. Yet, here I am, waiting with bated breath for Sunday morning when I can fulfill my bad TV addiction.

Uh-oh

Ummm....

I just looked over my past posts and it occurs to me that they're cyclic in energy. Might want to keep those meds steady.

Not So Cranky

I can't believe it took me about 2 weeks to get over the bar exam. Sorry for all the ranting posts. It felt like I had no control over anything and that made me just furious. I'm better now though.

Thoughts about the events around the bar:
1. Virginia is exceedingly pretty.
2. Despite the no-radar-detectors law, people drive like flaming maniacs on the freeway. The further south you get in the state, the higher the accepted speed. Ah, back home to the South! I've missed you so.
3. Roanoke's downtown, where I was, is not pretty. Not pretty like Cleveland and Birmingham are not pretty.
4. My hotel room had stringent instructions to "Keep All Valuables With You" and a safe in the room itself. Needless to say, said safe did not work.
5. Unworking safe is rather unfortunate as one is not allowed to bring purses into bar exam.
6. It was approximately 8000 degrees outside - imagine the heat in car trunks.
7. My cell phone has not yet forgiven me for roasting it and now refuses to ring. It'll take messages, mind you, but will not ring.
8. Bar exam BAD. Very, very bad.
9. Drive home + 2 large sugar-free Red Bulls makes for happy girl. Happy girl sings loudly and badly to horrible music, all with smile on her face.
10. I was never so happy to see my cat.

Telemarketers

I got my new place, I got my new phone number. I went to register the number on the Do Not Call List. The site told me I couldn't report any abuse until after 31 days of having the number. So I waited. And I counted. And I got HAMMERED with calls. I kept a list of all of them. It felt like the only way I could have control.

July 7 was the last day I could get calls. Now, I get many fewer calls. But I still get them. Some are for the previous owners of the number, and I understand. (Seems like the last owner was in a bit of trouble, but maybe s/he was just unlucky.)

Now, when I get unsolicited calls, I ask the person to remove me from the calling list. Today, I got a call about child porn. When I actually got a person, I politely asked him to remove me from the list. He said, "Well, now that we're off to a good start, what's your problem with the issue of child porn?" I don't need sarcasm. Why does that guy get to be a jerk to me? He called me.

I understand that telemarketers have shitty jobs. Still, I don't think they get to be an ass to me. My theory on the phone is that I pay for the phone for my own convenience. No-one gets to use that to be snippy to me.

Enough

I'm ready to be completely selfish, however, those who know me know I'm not being unfair.

For many years, like since I was in undergrad, my father gave me a separate gift from my Mom. I now have 4 degrees. For each of the earlier 3, I got a graduation gift. This time, my father has decided that I don't need a gift. No gift from the only one of us 3 children who sent a father's day card or called the father.

Enjoy the state-run nursing home, I'm done.

(Fucker)

I Am So Mad

What a weekend...

Friday, I offered to take a neighbor to the airport. OK, I got it done. (Turns out I should cut off my fingernails before taking apart a wheelchair.) So I figured, OK, I'll go a town over and get my cable modem. I am, of course, paying for it and still don't have it. Of course I got lost, ended up in a neighborhood which was lovely and expensive.

Today - I call my brother back, and he tells me that the folks are stuck in Dulles (near me) and they might need a place to stay. Thanks for the preview!! Might have wanted to know that. Luckily, my Mom just called and said they're on the plane to San Diego.

In the interim, I'm doing laundry. I started my clothes with no one else there. I came back about 1 1/4 hours after starting the dryers, and find that one of my dryers has been emptied. I was a little nervous about approaching the skinny bitch who was in there, but I got over it. I asked, "Did you do this?" She said yes. That it was all dry. I said, "Except for these pants." No response. I told her if there was ever a problem in the future to knock on my door. She said, "That's how we do it here". Damn. Now I have to hang my clothes all night because apparently she knows more about dryers than I do. I hope she gets stuck in traffic tomorrow.

Better Now

Feeling much more positive than the last post - apologies all around for my pity party. I got a huge laugh today - ah, the glory that is MySpace. I found out a friend has a page, and to be honest, I giggled for a while. Why? So I went to look at it. Nothing, really, but I was able to link from that page to other people's pages (people I knew long ago). Interesting to catch up.

The best part of MySpace is reading how people describe themselves. Even better if you know the person. Wow, my psych degree kicked into overtime reading the descriptions. I'd love to share more but I risk hurting people's feelings, and that's not the intent. It helps to know that if I could be face-to-face with the authors, I would tease them relentlessly.

Lately, since the move, I've been cheesily nostalgic, so looking through MySpace was kinda fun. There's a few people I wouldn't mind reading about. This may end up being a good thing, because otherwise in my super-sad moments I have a tendency to call people who would rather not hear from me.

Safety first!

Thoughts

I'm learning so much law that it's overwhelming. Each day is like a semester in the class I wish I attended. But....well, but nothing. Like I have any idea what I'm doing.

Here's my real world these days:

Traffic - at least for the most part the drive is pretty.
Telephone - the evil government bastards have decided that I can't report the ceaseless telemarketers until 31 days after I register my phone number. (Which, btw, didn't work for better than a week after I had it. Wish I'd known, I'd have registered it then.) This means that 7/7/07 is an extra special day for me because I can finally report the jerkoffs who keep calling me.
School - it's relentless and I'm terrified.
Friends - have their own lives, and I'm jealous because I wish I had one right now.

I promise to try not to bitch too much in the future. Clearly, not a great day.

PS - Taco Bell food contains Xanax.

Moving In - Eternally

So, I'm in the new place. Yesterday I got cable, hooray! This should mean I have internet access in the apartment, but no. I do not. I guess I have to find an office and get a cable modem. Until then, at least my building provides me with free access. (And free laundry, too!) There are boxes everywhere. I can't seem to get the gumption to actually finish unpacking. After watching a video about civil procedure for 3 days, it's hard to have the energy to breathe.

Anyway, I should have a telephone tomorrow. This is good because I'm getting very lonely and I miss chattering with my friends and family. HopefullyI'll start meeting some friends here soon as well.

OK, enough of that. I just finished my first graded essay for bar review and if I hurry, I can watch both episodes of ER before I go to class.

Apartment!

I found a place, a lovely, lovely place that's convenient and quiet. I even met a neighbor! I just ordered cable, phone, and internet - everything I need to survive. I have a long weekend, which I love. So I'm taking an ill-advised day off. I should be studying for the bar. I should be figuring out when supplemental jurisdiction comes into play and teaching myself mnemonics. I should, I should...forget it, I'm not gonna. I'm going to celebrate with a beer and bad television.

My cat is going stir crazy in the hotel room. No toys, nothing fun to do. He doesn't believe me about the new apartment. I can't wait for him to figure out the new place. Years ago, when I lived in Alabama, we had a huge deck where he could hang out. In Cleveland, nothing but a window. Here, he'll get a balcony, and maybe even a plant. Are there safe plants for cats? I don't want to kill him with greenery.

Background

I just got here, here in Maryland. It's not where I'll stay, but it's been a fabulous welcome. I came from Cleveland, where I just finished law school. Law is not what this blog will be about. Everything is what I want it to be about. (Forgive me for ending sentences in prepositions.)

I think I'm completely in love with this area. DC is close; I'm moving to Northern Virginia on Saturday. It's so green and people are friendly. I'm starting over and starting fresh. This is the first time I've ever done this move on my own. I have a bit of Elle Woods - I Did It!

So, I'll post again tomorrow, before I lose internet for a few days. I figure that my luck can't hold, so I won't have cable or anything late 20th century for a while. Fingers crossed, I'll have utilities (high tech ones) by the end of the week.

Until then, enjoy the holiday weekend. I know I will.