If Weak Appellate Brief is Written and There's No One Around to Read It, Does it Still Suck?
OK, so I finally have a decent draft done of our first appellate brief argument. I define "decent" here as meaning there are words that make up intelligible sentences filling up almost 4 pages and somewhere within them, were they to be finely honed, might be a scuplture of a fine argument, but right now, I fear, it is more in the rough stone stage.
This has been a frustrating exercise for me, as well as all of my fellow students I've spoken with about this project. We don't know what we are doing, how to approach it, or really what is expected of us. Our professor, not being an idiot, has probably designed the madness purposefully. Tonight's writing class should be interesting. We'll either find out we are almost on target, way off target, or we'll remain clueless. Have I covered the options fairly well?
Well, at least I can be happy that I have a draft to take to class, and still have two hours until the class begins. See, I did not push the limits of procrastination as far as I might have!
Monday, January 30, 2006
Finding my calling - getting a busy signal
I’ve been thinking a lot about what I was really put on this earth to do. For me, this is more of a practical question than a religious question, though I do not mean to imply practicality and spirituality are mutually exclusive. I suppose many of us traverse through life hoping to find the one thing that finally makes life CLICK into place. Thing is, I don’t think we can just hope to find it. I think for most of us, it is a treasure hunt that we must pursue with a virtual, if not actual, pirate ship, picks and shovels.
I have embarked upon this journey of education to become a lawyer. I have yet to discover the type of law I am most interested in, and that is one of my journeys without a map, and that is OK. I will get there. However, just “being a lawyer” is clearly not my calling. (This is where my partner freaks and yells, “What do you mean it’s not your calling? We’re not going $120K into debt for you to decide not to be a lawyer! *grin*) I think a lawyer is simply one facet of what I am meant to do, a piece of a more intricate puzzle. Maybe I will work for lesbian and gay rights, work to help animals, or who knows what when the pieces all come together.
I’ve found an interesting site: http://www.changingcourse.com/One among several of its sort, I am sure, that encourages people to find their true calling and live the life they dream of rather than settling for making a living and dreaming of having more. So, far, I’ve not purchased any of the author’s books yet, but the free newsletter archive and other info is really useful. It helps people, yes, even law students, to think outside the box.
See the kinds of things I think about when I should be working on the draft of our first persuasive paper that is due tomorrow? (Shout out to my classmate Hadas, who mentions being in a similar position as of early this morning.) Ah, procrastination as an art form...
I’ve been thinking a lot about what I was really put on this earth to do. For me, this is more of a practical question than a religious question, though I do not mean to imply practicality and spirituality are mutually exclusive. I suppose many of us traverse through life hoping to find the one thing that finally makes life CLICK into place. Thing is, I don’t think we can just hope to find it. I think for most of us, it is a treasure hunt that we must pursue with a virtual, if not actual, pirate ship, picks and shovels.
I have embarked upon this journey of education to become a lawyer. I have yet to discover the type of law I am most interested in, and that is one of my journeys without a map, and that is OK. I will get there. However, just “being a lawyer” is clearly not my calling. (This is where my partner freaks and yells, “What do you mean it’s not your calling? We’re not going $120K into debt for you to decide not to be a lawyer! *grin*) I think a lawyer is simply one facet of what I am meant to do, a piece of a more intricate puzzle. Maybe I will work for lesbian and gay rights, work to help animals, or who knows what when the pieces all come together.
I’ve found an interesting site: http://www.changingcourse.com/One among several of its sort, I am sure, that encourages people to find their true calling and live the life they dream of rather than settling for making a living and dreaming of having more. So, far, I’ve not purchased any of the author’s books yet, but the free newsletter archive and other info is really useful. It helps people, yes, even law students, to think outside the box.
See the kinds of things I think about when I should be working on the draft of our first persuasive paper that is due tomorrow? (Shout out to my classmate Hadas, who mentions being in a similar position as of early this morning.) Ah, procrastination as an art form...
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Being a Mom is Terrifying.
We had a horrible scare Tuesday night. I got a call from my son saying something about blood and an ambulance had just arrived. (It ends up he was saying his sister turned blue; nothing about blood.) All is OK now. For details, see my partner's blog.
It was terrifying and horrible and THANK GOD all is good now. As I rushed to the clinic where my daughter was waiting to be seen (good that an ambulance was not needed), I realized this strange turn of events, which we were pretty sure was turning out OK, could mean the end of my second sememster of law school. Would there be long-term care and follow-up appointments needed? Could I catch up what I had missed? This meant I had now missed 2 of 3 nights of two different classes. Would I be able to focus and get engaged in the work? None of that really mattered. What mattered was that my daughter needed to be OK. Life and death situations sure have a way of smacking us into the reality of what is important.
We're holding our kids a little tighter and a little longer now. It's going to be a bit harder than it was not going home to them after work today, and for a while, I suspect. I sure hope, in the long run, this law school experience and the resultant degree, is worth all the sacrifices my whole family is making.
We had a horrible scare Tuesday night. I got a call from my son saying something about blood and an ambulance had just arrived. (It ends up he was saying his sister turned blue; nothing about blood.) All is OK now. For details, see my partner's blog.
It was terrifying and horrible and THANK GOD all is good now. As I rushed to the clinic where my daughter was waiting to be seen (good that an ambulance was not needed), I realized this strange turn of events, which we were pretty sure was turning out OK, could mean the end of my second sememster of law school. Would there be long-term care and follow-up appointments needed? Could I catch up what I had missed? This meant I had now missed 2 of 3 nights of two different classes. Would I be able to focus and get engaged in the work? None of that really mattered. What mattered was that my daughter needed to be OK. Life and death situations sure have a way of smacking us into the reality of what is important.
We're holding our kids a little tighter and a little longer now. It's going to be a bit harder than it was not going home to them after work today, and for a while, I suspect. I sure hope, in the long run, this law school experience and the resultant degree, is worth all the sacrifices my whole family is making.
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Grades are out!
Second semester has officially started and I have 2 of my 3 grades, and one “credit” in a credit/no credit class. Suffice it to say that I’m not where I would most like to be, but I did OK anyway. My partner thinks I even did quite well. I am apparently an “average law student.” How about that? I, like most law students, have never been average before, but hey, put us in a room full of over-achievers and suddenly the standard is very different. It’s OK though. I have to admit, I agree that my knowledge of the subjects was not exceptional and I did not earn an “A’s.” Considering my full-time work status, my wife and kids, the small amount of time I can actually devote to studying, “average” is not so bad. I am hopeful I can occasionally rise to the top in a subject, but if I can maintain “average” status and not fall below, I will be happy. It’s like the old joke goes...
“What do they call a guy who graduates at the bottom of his medical school class?”
“Doctor.”
Chances are, most of us are going to come out of this experience and end up as gainfully employed attorneys, if that is what we choose, so, no worries. Not yet.
Happy Second Semester, my fellow 1Ls.
Second semester has officially started and I have 2 of my 3 grades, and one “credit” in a credit/no credit class. Suffice it to say that I’m not where I would most like to be, but I did OK anyway. My partner thinks I even did quite well. I am apparently an “average law student.” How about that? I, like most law students, have never been average before, but hey, put us in a room full of over-achievers and suddenly the standard is very different. It’s OK though. I have to admit, I agree that my knowledge of the subjects was not exceptional and I did not earn an “A’s.” Considering my full-time work status, my wife and kids, the small amount of time I can actually devote to studying, “average” is not so bad. I am hopeful I can occasionally rise to the top in a subject, but if I can maintain “average” status and not fall below, I will be happy. It’s like the old joke goes...
“What do they call a guy who graduates at the bottom of his medical school class?”
“Doctor.”
Chances are, most of us are going to come out of this experience and end up as gainfully employed attorneys, if that is what we choose, so, no worries. Not yet.
Happy Second Semester, my fellow 1Ls.
Thursday, January 12, 2006
What Peanuts Character Am I?
You are Snoopy! my friend you are totally relaxed
and stay calm in most situations. You are loved
by all... well almost everyone. the original
"Joe Cool"
what peanuts character are you?
brought to you by Quizilla
Yup, sounds about right :)
You are Snoopy! my friend you are totally relaxed
and stay calm in most situations. You are loved
by all... well almost everyone. the original
"Joe Cool"
what peanuts character are you?
brought to you by Quizilla
Yup, sounds about right :)
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Discover Your True Colors (Personality Quiz)
Have a few spare minutes? Here is a fun personality quiz. I do not know the person whose web site this is and cannot vouch for any of the materials presented on her site, or the quality of her book. I can, however, say I did the free quiz. It was fun, and nailed me pretty well.
I am a GREEN.
"I am conceptual. I have an investigative mind, intrigued by questions like, "Which came first, the chicken or the egg?" I am an independent thinker, a natural nonconformist, and live life by my own standards.
I like to do things that require vision, problem solving, strategy, ingenuity, design, and change. Once I have perfected an idea, I prefer to move on to a new challenge.
I value knowledge, intelligence, insight, and justice. I enjoy relationships with shared interests. I prefer to let my head rule my heart. I am cool, calm, and collected. I do not express my emotions easily."
Yup, that's me, all right.
Have fun!
Have a few spare minutes? Here is a fun personality quiz. I do not know the person whose web site this is and cannot vouch for any of the materials presented on her site, or the quality of her book. I can, however, say I did the free quiz. It was fun, and nailed me pretty well.
I am a GREEN.
"I am conceptual. I have an investigative mind, intrigued by questions like, "Which came first, the chicken or the egg?" I am an independent thinker, a natural nonconformist, and live life by my own standards.
I like to do things that require vision, problem solving, strategy, ingenuity, design, and change. Once I have perfected an idea, I prefer to move on to a new challenge.
I value knowledge, intelligence, insight, and justice. I enjoy relationships with shared interests. I prefer to let my head rule my heart. I am cool, calm, and collected. I do not express my emotions easily."
Yup, that's me, all right.
Have fun!
Got Showtime!
Not wanting to be a scofflaw by asking someone to tape "The L Word" for me (seems like it would be illegal*, though really, it can act as free advertising and doubt it would be worth pursuing in court) we have ordered Showtime. Or rather, my dear, sweet wife has ordered it for us! (Thank you, honey!) Ah, who am I kidding? We did it for purely selfish, carnal reasons! $12 a month for 4 episodes - less than the price of a pizza - great use of our hard-earned money! I already feel as though I am making a significant contribution to society by supporting Showtime, the wonderful people who are allowing lesbians into our home on a regular basis. No, wait, that would be our dogs :)
So, the bad news of the day: Daughter, who turned 11-months old today, has a fever and is CRANKY. Wife is stressed that I will be back in school next Monday. Son has cabin fever since he's not been on an outing since Sunday, and now can't since his baby sister is sick.
The good news: I will soon be starting my second sememster of law school, meaning I successfully completed the first quarter. (Yes, grades TBD.) Even more exciting - we can now watch "The L Word" as new episodes air. Yippee!
Do you know I can take a legal class on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity? How interesting would that be? It all ties in...
*My very purely, non-legal opinion. No legal research was done in formation of this opinion.
Not wanting to be a scofflaw by asking someone to tape "The L Word" for me (seems like it would be illegal*, though really, it can act as free advertising and doubt it would be worth pursuing in court) we have ordered Showtime. Or rather, my dear, sweet wife has ordered it for us! (Thank you, honey!) Ah, who am I kidding? We did it for purely selfish, carnal reasons! $12 a month for 4 episodes - less than the price of a pizza - great use of our hard-earned money! I already feel as though I am making a significant contribution to society by supporting Showtime, the wonderful people who are allowing lesbians into our home on a regular basis. No, wait, that would be our dogs :)
So, the bad news of the day: Daughter, who turned 11-months old today, has a fever and is CRANKY. Wife is stressed that I will be back in school next Monday. Son has cabin fever since he's not been on an outing since Sunday, and now can't since his baby sister is sick.
The good news: I will soon be starting my second sememster of law school, meaning I successfully completed the first quarter. (Yes, grades TBD.) Even more exciting - we can now watch "The L Word" as new episodes air. Yippee!
Do you know I can take a legal class on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity? How interesting would that be? It all ties in...
*My very purely, non-legal opinion. No legal research was done in formation of this opinion.
Monday, January 09, 2006
The L-Word - Season 3
It has been pointed out to me that I have been terribly negligent about updating this blog. Apparently when a law student goes on vacation, this applies to more aspects of life than just school!
OK, so the hard part now is coming up with something interesting to discuss. Perhaps I could both rejoice and lament the start of Season 3 of “The L Word.” I am so excited for this season to be under way, but sad that we do not have Showtime. I would love to support Showtime for the ground-breaking work they are supporting, however, our budget does not allow for it. We supposedly have someone taping the show for us. I hope it works out! For my fellow L Word fans, check out Showtime’s web site for previews, deleted scenes, and more:
http://www.sho.com/site/lword/home.do
Did I forget to mention that “more” includes a Podcast interview with Kate Moennig (“Shane”)? (Last week’s was with Leisha Hailey. Highly entertaining.)
Hmmmm….according to Showtime’s website we could upgrade for $12, or less, per month. That’s a mere $3 per episode. THAT just might be a worthwhile investment! *grin* (By the time we pay someone for tapes or DVD’s and postage each week, or even once per month, we’d be ahead to subscribe…..hmmmm….C, seems I need our account number to check into this further. *heh-heh*)
OK, OK, you’ve forced the confession from me….I’M AN L-WORD-A-HOLIC! I’ve started watching Season 1 over again. I just can’t get enough. (Besides, since I’ve seen it once, I can now skip through all the monotonous Jenny-drama.) I think this speaks highly to the desperate need of us lesbians to see ourselves portrayed in a realistic and in-depth way on television. Not being a “California lesbian,” these may not be the “types” of lesbians I am used to seeing, but on some level, we’re all the same – all just people, doing the best we can, living our lives, loving, experiencing whatever comes next. The characters feel very real – a credit to Ilene Chaiken, her fabulous team of writers, and the wonderful (mostly straight) actors who portray them. Check out the “behind the scenes” interviews. Yes, OK, it helps that they are really HOT. I am sometimes remarkably shallow.
It has been pointed out to me that I have been terribly negligent about updating this blog. Apparently when a law student goes on vacation, this applies to more aspects of life than just school!
OK, so the hard part now is coming up with something interesting to discuss. Perhaps I could both rejoice and lament the start of Season 3 of “The L Word.” I am so excited for this season to be under way, but sad that we do not have Showtime. I would love to support Showtime for the ground-breaking work they are supporting, however, our budget does not allow for it. We supposedly have someone taping the show for us. I hope it works out! For my fellow L Word fans, check out Showtime’s web site for previews, deleted scenes, and more:
http://www.sho.com/site/lword/home.do
Did I forget to mention that “more” includes a Podcast interview with Kate Moennig (“Shane”)? (Last week’s was with Leisha Hailey. Highly entertaining.)
Hmmmm….according to Showtime’s website we could upgrade for $12, or less, per month. That’s a mere $3 per episode. THAT just might be a worthwhile investment! *grin* (By the time we pay someone for tapes or DVD’s and postage each week, or even once per month, we’d be ahead to subscribe…..hmmmm….C, seems I need our account number to check into this further. *heh-heh*)
OK, OK, you’ve forced the confession from me….I’M AN L-WORD-A-HOLIC! I’ve started watching Season 1 over again. I just can’t get enough. (Besides, since I’ve seen it once, I can now skip through all the monotonous Jenny-drama.) I think this speaks highly to the desperate need of us lesbians to see ourselves portrayed in a realistic and in-depth way on television. Not being a “California lesbian,” these may not be the “types” of lesbians I am used to seeing, but on some level, we’re all the same – all just people, doing the best we can, living our lives, loving, experiencing whatever comes next. The characters feel very real – a credit to Ilene Chaiken, her fabulous team of writers, and the wonderful (mostly straight) actors who portray them. Check out the “behind the scenes” interviews. Yes, OK, it helps that they are really HOT. I am sometimes remarkably shallow.
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