Just in case you don't get enough of the law at work...

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney for Nintendo DS

I stumbled across this when DD and I were in Circuit City searching for Nintendogs. I couldn't talk her in to getting Pheonix Wright instead (Moooommm, lawyers are booooriiing--Yeah, and yelling "sit" at a cyberdog isn't boring?), but it is the funniest thing I have seen all day.

Jedi's need shoes, not bare feet...

...that bit of wisdom is from 5 y.o. DD after she dropped her light saber on her foot and minutes later her twin did the same. The girls got gift cards for Christmas, and the little ones spent theirs on light sabers. Yes, we are a bunch of nerds around here.

Today we took the kids to the amusement park. On the way, traffic was at a standstill because a truck full of (previously) live chickens overturned in the middle of the highway. There were little chicken carcasses everywhere, although some were still kicking. I swear, I will not be able to eat chicken for a month. Stuff like this totally skives me out. I pass the chicken truck almost everyday on the way to school, and when I see dead chickens, with their stiff little feet poking through the cage I can't eat chicken for days afterward. (I also can't ever eat turkey or Cornish game hens after preparing it--dealing with whole carcasses just puts me too close to the origin of my food. I would totally become a vegetarian if I actually ate veggies.)

Thinking that we had our fun with the dead chicken obstacle course this morning, we weren't prepared for the flat tire on the way home. I hit something and whoosh went the tire. It was dark and cold, but not too dark or too cold. The worst was that we were on a busy highway, and I was afraid someone would veer over and hit us.

I am embarrassed to say this, but there is no way I could have changed the tire w/o DH. First, the tire is mounted underneath the vehicle, and there is a lock which hides a secret keyhole which you stick the jack handle into to lower the spare. Yeah--like I even knew the secret wench-thingie to get to the spare even existed. Oh yeah, and I think the tires weigh as much as me. And then there's the teeny little jack to lift this behemoth vehicle (Suburban). And some kind of fancy cover hiding the lug nuts. That I probably wasn't strong enough to turn, either.
I've always believed that I can do anything the boys can do, but dang it, I'm leaving the tire changing to the guys.

Anyway, DH got the tire changed in great time, considering the circumstances, we did not get smashed on the side of the road, and overall (minus the dead chickens, and the $500 we will be shelling out for new tires tomorrow) it was a good day.

Christmas at LC's Place

So it is 5:00 on Christmas Day and we are all still lounging around in our PJ's, enjoying the peace of hanging out at home, playing with all of our new stuff. All of our family lives 400 miles away in the same smallish city. We have not lived there in the 11 years (on the 30th) we have been married. We used to make the trek back home every year for the holiday. But on the twins' first Christmas, when we were required to be 4 different places in one day with 5 month old infants, I put my foot down and we have been spending the holidays at home ever since. I love it. We get to hang out together and do what we want on our own schedule.

Yesterday, we went to church in the morning and a movie in the afternoon before coming home to open our family gifts. (BTW, Night At the Museum is hilarious--it was nice to see a real movie that was appropriate for the kids. I can't remember the last time I saw something not animated at the movies.) This morning, we did the Santa thing, made a big breakfast, a bigger lunch/dinner, and have spent the day playing with al of out stuff. It is soooo much better than being shuttled from relative to relative and never having a chance to play with any of your new toys.

Oldest DD got a Nintendo DS, and a Mario game. I think her dad and I like the game better than she does--it is reminiscent of our own childhoods. The twins got portable DVD players--to make that 400 mile trek to see the grandparents a little more tolerable. They call them their laptops. And they got a ton of other toys, games, books and craft stuff. I always do too much for Christmas (but I never buy during the rest of the year--if they want it, they have to earn the $ for it. )

Of course, we're not off the hook for the trip back home. We'll go next weekend, but at least we can spread out our visits with the relatives and get to actually spend some quality time with them.

And just so that I don't leave you with the misaprehension that my day was entirely blissful, Twin 2 just walked up to Twin 1 and shoved her backward as hard as she could because Twin 1 took Twin 2's Princess Paddle-ball. (Yes, they both got paddle-balls). Back to reality.

Christmas Eve Eve

Spent the day hanging out with the kids. We made cookies for Santa and then picked out songs to download. DD's list includes James Taylor, Elvis, the Beatles, the Chili Peppers, Green Day, All-American Rejects, Pink and a bunch more. Can't say we aren't eclectic around here, but over all, I'd say she has pretty good taste for an 8 year old.

After the kids were in bed I found some amusing you-tube Christmas videos. If you're really bored and in the (twisted) Christmas spirit, here is my gift to you...

Ozzy & Jessica Simpson do Winter Wonderland

Twisted Sister does O Come All Ye Faithful

David Bowie and Bing Crosby do Little Drummer Boy

Mom, please don't call Dad all those bad words you call everybody else, ok?

That's from 8 y.o. DD when we were following DH home after he met me for shopping after work today. I tend to get extremely frustrated when driving in big city traffic, and DD didn't want any of it directed at her Dad. I have to admit that my road rage potty mouth is probably my biggest downfall as a parent. I try to keep it to, "get the Hades out of my way you stupid poopy head" when the kids are in the car,(Mommy, its not nice to call people stupid. Yeah, mom, or poopy head), but sometimes the real words just pop out. DD and I then had a lovely discussion about how damn the curse word is spelled compared to dam the beaver home, and the size of her own dirty word vocabulary (which is surprisingly small given the many opportunities she has had to learn new words from her own mother).

On the work front, today was better. I finally met Big Boss. I think I earned brownie points with him because I found a case that he didn't know about that was directly on point for his appellate argument today. It wasn't favorable to him, but he needed to be prepared to distinguish it. Then he asked me to critique his oral argument. That was interesting, but I laid it out straight and he seemed to appreciate it. Then he mentioned that he thought that his oral argument was stronger than his brief. I agreed. He asked if I thought the brief was poorly written. I told the truth--it was. (The thing was loaded with block quotes, some of them going on for an entire page). He said that it was written by a "young law student." Then we chatted for a bit.

I was also told today that there will be a party on Friday, which includes a gift exchange. Great--I hate this kind of thing with people I know--I have know idea what to buy for a bunch of people I don't know at all. Anybody with a suggestion for a $15 generic gift for a law firm Christmas party, please let me know.

Day 2 on the job

So today was a little better than Friday--but not much. When I arrived, the attorney I am supposed to be working with was out of town on a deposition--surely he knew about this when he told me that he would brief me Monday am about my newest project? So, his legal assistant has to call he cell so that I would have something to do.

I was asked to draft a motion. No biggie, except that I have never drafted this kind of motion before. But what the heck--I'm smart, I can wing it. Once I finished that up, I was free to draft a couple of responses to MSJ's.

So I was moving along on my motion (not terribly exciting, but its better than printing cases and organizing a notebook), when Big Boss calls. He wants to know if I have reviewed both briefs for his appellate argument on Wed. Ummm, no. Didn't I tell you to do that? I don't believe so. Well, then what have you been working on? A motion for another case. Well, you need to be working on this and only this and don't work on anything else unless you clear it with me first! Okey dokey, then. I have still not met this man, but he is just such a little ball of sunshine.

On the bright side, today I learned more than anyone ever should have to know about galvanized steel. Seriously, the cool thing about civil litigation is that you kind of get to be a mini-expert on all sorts of strange things.

Just a peek into what to expect from Big Law at Christmas

http://www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/humor/grinch.asp

Yes, it makes me wanna barf, too

Please stand by while I figure out how to get rid of this revolting pink. And damn you Blogger for telling me I could make new and easy drag and drop changes to my blog. You forgot to mention that life could only be so easy if I stuck with your icky templates.

So, I need to feed the rugrats, and then I will dig into the html to try to make my blog look a little different from the hundred million other blogs that blogger tricked into their default templates.

Today...not so great.

So I started my new job today. It wasn't great. The day started with a list of cites that I was to pull up and print in Westlaw. Menial, but easy right? But since they called me in a day early, the office manager hadn't had a chance to set me up with an office or a computer. So I got put on one of the attorney's computers, and given his Westlaw password. But no username. I couldn't get in to his account, and nobody could tell me how, because apparently none of the legal assistants get Westlaw access. I eventually resorted to my school account (yeah, yeah, I know I'm not supposed to do that, but I didn't want to look like a loser my first day). Not much luck there, either. They use Firefox, which was blocking all the Westlaw pop-ups (and I have never used Firefox and did not know how to fix this). So, against the instructions from the legal assistant, I resorted to Explorer, and finally got a doc to print. Then the attorney showed up. Told me how to get in on his password, then kicked me to someone else's office.

I was finally on a roll, when the owner of the next office showed up. He was not happy to see a stranger taking over his space. I think he was a paralegal because he was not an attorney. He kicked me to another attorney's office, and told me I only had an hour before that guy got back from his hearing. Then he said he would find out how to log onto the network from office #3. He never came back, but I figured it out for myself.

About the time I was done, the office manager set me up with my very own (shared only with wayward computer parts) cubicle and computer. At least it was big, so I don't mind the computer parts so much. It was so nice to finally have a place to stash my giant handbag that I had to tote around with me all day.

I was able to pull up all of the cites but two--one was a book not in the Westlaw database, and the other was a USC cite that must have been written down wrong. I was told to call the big boss and find out what he wanted me to do about this (because this was his little project and the reason I was called in to start early). He sounded cranky. Then he said he would go over it with me when he got in. But it was 1:30, and I leave at 2:00 (to pick up the rugrats--they don't pay enough to employ my nanny). So, he sounded more cranky. Hopefully my beautifully printed, tabbed and indexed notebook will make a good impression. If I have learned nothing else in lawschool, at least I can organize a freakin' notebook.

They wanted the job done by 12:00. I got it done at 1:30, but I totally blame the delay on all of my office hopping. Supposedly on Monday I will start working on a new case. Hopefully it will be a little more exciting. It's got to get better, right?

Saving the best for last

I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed by all that I've put on my plate for next semester--my last semester. I have now committed to working M, W, F 8-2. At 2 I will leave to get the kiddos. Then I will have maybe an hour or so at home before having to drive in to the Big City to do kid swap w/ DH and go to my 6:00 class. After class, I will have mock trial practice from 8:30-10:30 (yes, at night. I'm old--put a 45 minute drive home on top of that and it is seriously encroaching on my beauty sleep.) T, Th, no work, but class from 2-3:30, then from 6-9:00. Plus, I am coming back as "chief counsel" for the clinic that I have been working in, so I need to put in at least 10 hours a week in the clinic somewhere.

Oh yeah, and I haven't done any of the req'd 30 hours of public service that I need to graduate. I was planning to try to work in family violence in the DA's office, but with my crazy schedule I can't imagine how that will work. So it looks like I will be stuck doing income tax assistance. No, I have not taken any kind of tax class ever. On the plus side, maybe it will help me with the bar, since I have never taken any kind of tax class ever. And there are plenty of Friday night and Saturday morning opportunities to work. (And who doesn't love to spend their weekends helping people with taxes?)

To top things off, I have basically given away my holiday break by taking my new job. And they called today to ask me to start tomorrow instead of Monday. I think they have a research project that needs to be turned around quickly. I don't mind, but it means I will miss the twins' class parties at school, and that is kind of sad. Hopefully it won't scar them for life when I'm the only mommy not there (because everyone's mom is there in kindergarten--by second grade most of the moms have lost interest and there are only a handful. I'll be interesting to see what third grade means, b/c I have not heard a word about oldest DD's party.)

Now for a quick mommy brag. Both of my twins have been nominated for the gifted program at school. They will still have to be tested to get in, and less than 5% of students make it. But oldest DD is already in, and her G/T teacher said last year that she wouldn't be surprised to see her sisters make the cut. Also, all three of my kiddos got the top scores in their class on their standardized reading tests, and topped the tests out so we aren't even sure what their actual abilities or reading levels are (although I have complained about this to the principal.) OK, mommy brag over. Yeah, I know it's not nice to brag about how brilliant your kids are, but it's my blog and I can do what I want to.

My apologies to my commentors

So, I just upgraded Blogger. And when I did, I suddenly had a bunch of comments to moderate. I originally set Blogger up to notify me when I got a comment, but apparently at some point that feature was turned off. And Blogger never in any way let me know that I had comments waiting--maybe there was something I was supposed to click?

So now I feel like a big dork for not realizing this, and I feel terrible for not responding to the comments. I promise from now on I will find out if comments are waiting for approval and I will respond. Please leave comments--I love comments!

Good Day, Bad Day, Crazy Day

So my party last night went well. I managed to get my house clean an decorated. We had a good turnout and lots of great food and I think everyone had a good time.

But, halfway through DH came downstairs to tell me DD had a fever. This was not good. She just got over bout with bronchitis where she missed almost a week of school. Also, this kid never gets just a cold. When she gets sick it quickly turns to something major. She had pneumonia four times my 1L year.

Aside from a potentially major illness, her being sick and out of school shouldn't have been a big deal since I am done with school. But, I had my job interview today. And it was too late to call the nanny to sit with DD. So that left DH having to drag her to work, when he already had a busy day lined up.

So, I took the other two to school and went to my 9:00 interview. It's with a plaintiff's firm. Not sure how I feel about that, but this firm does not seem to be of the sleazy variety. Actually, it seemed like a great place to work, they have a wide variety of cases and are somewhat overloaded, meaning I would get a decent amount of responsibility. Also, there is a full office staff, so I wouldn't be relegated to answering phones and other scut work that I hated as the single support person in the solo firm I worked in over the summer.

Anyway, my interviewer starts telling me that several cases involve a certain common drug given to children that sometimes cause devastating effects and how horrible it is for these kids to endure. The very same drug that I gave my sick kid this morning! I am trying not to let the internal freak-out show on my face.

So, I got the job!!! I guess my interviewing skills have improved (or I was the only one who applied for the job.) I tried to be more outgoing (my supervisor in the DA's office told me that I came off as too nice to be a litigator in an interview, even though I am not in the courtroom). It may have also helped that the interviewer knew the judge that I interned for fairly well. Yea me--I am excited. They have the kind of work that I wanted to do going in to law school, but was told it was virtually impossible to break into the field now because I am in a tort reform state.

So, after my interview I meet DH for lunch and retrieve DD. I take her to the doctor where I am told that she has pneumonia. I get a handful of prescriptions and an order to go across the street for a chest x-ray.

After I get home with the scrips and the other kids, DH calls to tell me he had been given hockey tickets. For tonight. I love hockey and would love to go, but it's tough to get a sitter on two hours notice and besides, I don't really want to leave the kid with pneumonia (who is not acting sick at all, btw).

So Dh starts trying to round up someone to go, but again--two hours notice. I tell him that if he can't find anyone else, he could take oldest DD. As it turns out, oldest DD has no interest in hockey, but her little sisters are begging to go. Of course pneumonia kid can't go, but the other one really wants to.

Eventually, DH finds someone to take the other ticket. I tell the kids it will be a girls night in. DD is devastated. She starts bawling because she can't go to the hockey game with Daddy. (Of course, she has never been to a hockey game before, and doesn't even know what she's missing, and DH thinks its rather wasteful to spend an $85 ticket on a five year old).

I finally calm her down by telling her Daddy will do something special with just her later in the week. She wants to go to the mall and ride the train. Ok, done. (Better him than me, I think I'd rather be drawn and quartered than set foot in the mall this time of year.)

I am now exhausted and counting the minutes until the kid's bedtime.

I think my heart is two sizes too small

I am such a Grinch. I just can't get into the Christmas spirit this year. Part of it is just getting through school, but now I am done with school for the semester and I am still not feeling the spirit of the season. We are supposed to go get a tree today, and all I can think about is how much trouble it is to decorate. And I have to decorate because I volunteered to host a party for my mom's of twins club on Monday (what the heck was I thinking?).

I hate leaving the house anymore because there are Christmas shoppers everywhere. Thank God for the internet. If I had to do my Christmas shopping out in the crowds, I think everyone I know would be getting gift certificates.

Christmas used to be my favorite time of the year, and I always loved shopping. Hopefully getting the tree today will jumpstart the Christmas cheer. We are going to a farm where we can chop our own tree--it's always a fun family activity, and the drive into the country is usually peaceful and calming.

Need. To. Study.

My one and only exam is today. (In case you haven't been following along, I took 2 paper classes and a clinic, which is performance based, plus I am getting the pass/fail credits for the externship I did over the summer.) I cannot make myself study.

On the bright side, this class is only two credits, and it is crim pro, so my little stint at the DA's office really helped with this class. On the other hand, I don't want to be over confident and blow it off. The questions that the prof gave during the review session were hard--and not really the kinds of questions he was asking in class the rest of the semester.

So far this morning I have read every blog in my favorites--even the ones I only visit about once every three months when I'm really, really bored; spent entirely too much time reading a snarky little message board I visit when I need a little entertainment; checked my bank balance (not pretty); checked the status of my two online orders (why haven't they shipped yet?); and checked the TIVO to see if there was a Gilmore Girls taped (there wasn't). Oh yeah, and blogged about how I need to get off my ass and actually look at the crim pro outline I prepared yesterday. I don't think there is anything else I can do to avoid studying for this exam.

OK, going to study now....really.

Good Day in Court

My hearing went well today. I was expecting an uphill battle, because when I originally filed my motion the judge told me I didn't have standing (but he didn't tell me why). I amended the motion, but I still expected to have to argue standing. I spent several hours yesterday preparing responses to every possible objection the judge could throw my way. I guess the judge was in a good mood because I didn't have to argue at all, and I got more than I actually asked for.

It didn't hurt that the DA agreed to my motion. That was a real shocker, because the DA refused to agree when I originally filed. Don't know what changed in the last month, but at least I got what I wanted, and it was an important step for my clients.

Now, if I can just make it through my exam Friday night, life will be good.

Also, I have a job interview. It is with a small litigation firm. Hopefully, my poor interview track record will improve. It would be nice to bring in a little money, and the work they do sounds interesting.

Wagons, Wainbows, and Wubber Duckies

DH was going over the twins' homework with them (they are in kindergarten). He said, "I am going to give you a word and you give me another word that starts with the same sound."

DH-"Wagon"
DD -"Wainbow"
DH -"No, rainbow starts with R"
DD - "Wubber duckie"

And earlier this evening,

"Mommy, do my sunglasses make me look like a movie star?"
Me, absently, "Yes, sweetie, now go get in the tub."
"Cause, movie stars have to be clean to be in their shows, right?"

And last week,

Twin 1 "We have to be good cause Santa's watching on his magic snowball."
Twin 2 "Mom, does Santa really have a magic snowball?"
Me, "Well, Santa is magic..."
Twin 2, "Yeah, but maybe its a magic mirror instead"

Also last week,

8 y.o. who has Santa all figured out, upon hearing "Santa Clause is Coming to Town" on the radio, "Santa's not really coming to town...cause he's already here."

And finally, overheard from the kids' table at Thanksgiving,
Twin 1 "Thank you God for making me beautiful."

Ok, I know that nobody else finds my kids half as hilarious as I do, but the point of this darn blog is so that I might have some memory of mylife during law school, and if I don't write it down I will never remember all of my kids' funnies.

Windows to the World

Oldest DD had to get glasses yesterday. I took her in for an eye exam because she has been squinting a bit, but I didn't really think it would be severe enough to require glasses. Good thing I didn't rely on my own optometric expertise.

The great thing is that she was really excited to get glasses. (Yeah, my kids are nerds--she also thought it was cool when she got her asthma inhaler.) She was amazed all evening at the things she could suddenly see, and she started calling her new glasses her windows to the world. I guess that's true. I remember when I got my first pair of glasses--I could suddenly see individual leaves on trees instead of big green blobs.

The best part is that she looks adorable. We got sort of a traditional wire-rimmed pair and a pair of semi-funky pink tortiseshell.

Anyway, I will apolgize for the sporadic posting of late. I have been feeling generally crummy since Thanksgiving, and I have been busy tying up all of the end-of-semester loose ends. I turned in my last paper yesterday. I have a hearing tomorrow, and then my only exam on Friday and I am done--woohoo! I'm a little bit stressed that I have not studied at all for my exam, and won't get to until after my hearing, but I think it will be ok. Surely half of Wednesday all of Thursday and Friday will be enough. It was an easy class and I (mostly) kept up with the reading.

Calgon, take me away!**

*Note, this post was written on Friday at the height of my pissiness, but withheld until my company left because DH has me on his RSS feeder and I didn't want anyone "accidently" clicking on it and reading my vent.*

I am so ready to be done with company. I woke up feeling not so great yesterday, which was not good with a houseful of people and a feast to prepare. I took some aspirin and managed to shake it off until yesterday evening when I started feeling crappy again.

So, DH was offered a ticket to attend the big game w/ FIL. Since half my diners were splitting for the afternooon, I had to bump Thanksgiving dinner up an hour. DH's ticket was compliments of SIL, who came over with her own three rugrats. Yea--6 kids and no dads around to control them. It was not fun.

When SIL went out to the car the bring in her stuff, all the kids follwed her and saw that the neighbors had light-up reindeer in their front yard. I told the kids they could run down the block to look at them while I watched from the porch. Well, apparently Nephew (almost 4) was tragically injured (he fell and scraped his knee), and was unable to make the trek back home. I went to rescue him, but he only wanted Momma. He was screaming at the top of his lungs, and continued to scream as I carried him back down the block to my house and his mom. I can't believe none of the neighbors came out to find out why I was kidnapping this kid.

SIL and her crew spent the night, and I woke up with a true houseful and feeling like crap. I have spent the morning hiding out, feeling like I have been run over by a bus, and using my death penalty paper as my excuse for not being sociable (well, its really not an excuse, I have a lot to do by Wednesday.)

Meanwhile, despite the fact that I have a refrigerator full of food, MIL has decided to remake Thanksgiving. Yeah--because we need more food in the house. She is making greenbean casserole and Stovetop stuffing (yes I did make stuffing from scratch yesterday, and it was good), and God knows what else.

I had intended to serve turkey sandwiches for lunch, because I figured everybody would be doing their own thing today, and then I was going to make a pot pie with the leftovers tonight. But who cares what I planned--guess that's what I get for hiding out (those kids are driving me nuts!)

Finally, FIL and the boys are upstairs watching the game they saw live yesterday--yeah, cause its different on tv.

I want my house back, I want my kitchen back, I want my tv back, and it would be nice to be able to breathe and talk again.

**Does anybody else remember that commercial, or am I giving my age away?

Prepping for Turkey Day

It has been a busy week. The kids have the entire week off. I forgot about this when I planned to pick up the data I have been waiting on from the DA's office. I had to drop them off with DH over lunch while I headed to the court house. Dragging my kids through the criminal courts sounded neither appealing nor professional.

On the bright side, I finally have the data I have been trying to get for about a month now. So I have spent the last two days reading about the most heinous murders in the county. Fun!

The in-laws are coming in tomorrow for T-day. I love cooking for Thanksgiving, and I get along well with my in-laws, so I am ok with this, but there is a lot of cleaning involved. My mother-in-law has a higher standard of cleanliness than I do. I am slightly irritated, however. After informing us that they would be spending Thanksgiving here, FIL accepted tickets to a major sporting event on Thanksgiving day. SIL's in-laws live in this area and had an extra ticket. I know that it is his favorite team and that it is a rare opportunity, but did FIL come to see sports or his grandchildren? I don't know if I am actually irritated w/ FIL or with SIL for making the offer. She lives in the same town as him--her kids get to see their grandparents several times a week. My kids get to see their grandparents 3-4 times a year. I know it's silly--just mildly iritated. Besides, he is gong out of his way to bring down an antique secretary that my grandparents are sending me. Just too bad for him that he will only get leftovers for dinner!

So, my menu:

Maple Roast Turkey
Apple Pecan Stuffing
Broccoli & Rice Casserole
Hashbrown casserole
Cranberry jello sauce stuff
Homemade Rolls
Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie
Frozen Cherry and Pumpkin pies

Yes, I realize all of my veggies are in casserole form, but this is the only time of year we have them like that, so it will be ok. I usually make all of my pies, but honestly, the frozen cherry is just as good as homemade (thank you, Marie Calender) and I don't eat the punpkin, so what do I care ;)

I have done the Maple Turkey twice and it is devine. It makes a rather sweet gravy, so I thought the Apple Pecan stuffing would compliment it nicely. The rolls will be by MIL. She makes the best rolls ever. I have the recipe and can do a decent job duplicating, but hers are still the best.

Also, one of my friends from law school whose family lives far, far away will be spending T-day with us. I think it will be fun, and my kiddos will like having somebody younger around.

I need to find happier things to write about

This has been a crazy week. I have been late every day and DH is complaining that he feels like a single dad.

I turned in my international law paper, so that is one huge weight lifted. Now I have two papers to write for death penalty in the next two weeks. I will spend my weekend reading up on the constitutionality of the death penalty for child rape. Fun reading. I started yelling out loud using very bad words when I read my first case this morning. Good thing I am working from home. Asshole raped 5, 7, and 9 year old girls knowing he was HIV positive, and argues that the death penalty is excessive. Personally, I hope they fry him up. I don't see a big problem with disproportionality when he essentially gave each of those children a death sentence.

As you can see, I am a little biased on this paper. I took this class because I am very pro-death penalty and I thought that I should at least be open-minded enough to look at the other side of the story. Well, I came in open minded, I have endured a full semester of two very liberal very anti-death instructors, and I am still very pro-death. And, yes, its all about retribution. I recognize the stats that say that the DP is no deterrent. I don't care. If you intentionally take someone else's life you get what you deserve. If you rape an innocent child--especially when you have a deadly disease--you deserve to die. (And I won't even get into the crime statistics of the victims of child sexual abuse--even if these assholes aren't murdering themselves, they are creating more abusers and murders.)

The only argument that has even begun to sway me the tiniest bit on my death penalty stance is the enormous cost. And by that I mean pure economics. It costs far more to litigate a death penalty case to the very end than lock 'em up for life.

I wasn't intending the post to be a vent about my death penalty stance, but there it is. Maybe now I can concentrate on my delightful reading without screaming at my notebook.

Oh, and in case anyone ws wondering, I made the mock trial team.

The Windy City

Grad pics were today. And the wind was blowing 40 mph and its raining. I'm sure my hair looked great. It was very strange putting on the gown and hood. Graduation will be here before I'm ready. And the Bar. And at an event last night no less than five people asked me if I had a job lined up yet. I'm beginning to get a bit nauseated from the pressure.

In even better news, the horrific winds blew our fence over. Two of our 4x4 posts actually snapped in two. DH had already started replacing the crappy wooden posts with steel--I guess he better speed up that plan. Unfortunately for him, we have a large yard, so it won't be an easy (or cheap) project.

I was home late tonight because I tried out for an off-campue mock trial team (again). I tried out both semesters last year and never made it. I'm not expecting any better luck this go 'round. It is sort of an old boys club. The teams are made up of the same people year after year, and its hard to break in. I'm not a huge fan of mock trial anyway--seems to emphasize acting more than practical lawyering. (But maybe that's just my cynical, haven't made a team, attitude.) I only bothered b/c I would get 1 hour credit which would save me from having to pick up an extra class next semester.

You 1L's Just Think Bluebooking Sucks

Just wait till you get to figure out international law citations. I am about ready to pull my hair out. I don't know how the hell to cite to an international treaty or a CPA order. I found it all on the internet. I can tell you where to find it on the dang internet, but if you want me to give you a cite to a treaty service you are SOL.

I finished the final substantive changes to my memo due Tuesday, and I thought I would let it sit a bit before I went back to proof. Bluebooking seemed mindless enough. Ha! I have been stopped dead in my tracks.

I will never take another international law class as long as I live (not saying much since I only have one semester left). The research is brutal, and once you found the stuff, citing back to it is even worse.

Very Interesting

For the last two weeks I have been pulling every string I can to get some statistics from the DA's office for a research paper. It should be public information, but they aren't making it very easy to acquire. Finally, they told me that if I paid $102 to program a query, they could generate the information I needed. I really think that they thought the price tag would scare me off. And honestly, I wasn't about to shell out that much cash just to get started on a paper. But I talked to my prof, and the school is going to pick up the tab. (Glad to know my $28K tuition comes with some perks!) So I called to the DA's office back. I believe that they were genuinely shocked that we called their bluff and agreed to pay up. Later, they called me back to say that the price had dropped to a mere $51.

I am really beginning to wonder what is going on over there. The funny thing is that I really wanted a job with that office. I loved working in the small town DA's office over the summer, but I thought that the big city would have more to offer. Now I'm not so sure I want anything to do with Big City DA's office, because they are coming off as a bit slimey.

Our Judges Have a Two-Year Old Mentality

Like a lot of other places, there were big changes in the political climate here. Nearly all of the judges up for re-election got the boot, due to decisions clearly based solely on party politics. We went from a primarily republican judiciary to a primarily democratic one. I don't align myself with either party, as my views swing wildly between the liberal and the conservative, and I can't say that it wasn't time for a shake-up. Unfortunately, some good judges lost their jobs based solely on their party affiliation.

Even more unfortunately, the losing judges are now being big fat babies. I heard stories all day yesterday of judges who simply didn't bother to show up or who refused to leave their chambers and run their dockets. WTF? So you lost--yeah it stinks, yeah you have to go find a new job now, yeah, your party screwed up big time and maybe you didn't even deserve to lose your job. But does that give you the right to clog up the justice system? Just because you got screwed over by the people your now going to screw the people over? The judiciary more than anybody should understand the importance of moving forward and clearing dockets. That in the criminal and family law systems especially, people have had to rearrange their lives to fit the hearing or trial that the judge scheduled--that a father trying to get custody of his children might lose his job when he has to ask to take another day off because the judge was throwing a temper-tantrum yesterday.

Maybe the people did make the right choice when they voted these guys out.

Law School is Killing Me

So I've known since 1L year that law school was making me fat. I have put on 12-15 pounds since I first started. I can no longer button my suit jackets, and when I was in Ann Taylor a few weeks ago, my standard size no longer fit. But, I have been ridiculously busy and my eating habits have reflected it. My primarily sedentary lifestyle isn't helping either. I keep saying I'll do better, but for the last few months I haven't been paying any attentioni to my body.

So, I went to the doctor a couple of weeks ago for a minor issue. The doc, noting that I haven't been in in almost two years, decided I needed a complete physical, including bloodwork. I can't say that I was particularly surprised when they called to tell me that my cholestorol is way too high and that I needed to follow up with an internist.

Still, I am only 31, for goodness' sakes. I am not old enough to have high cholesterol. I'm not old enough to be carrying the extra pounds I have either. The biggest kick in the butt is the realization that my kids eat all the crap that I do. It may be one thing to destroy my own health in the name of being too busy, but I can't to that to my kids. So this time, I really have resolved to change. I went to the store and loaded up on fruits and veggies and whole grains. We are going to have to eat at home more (our biggest problem is eating out all the time), and when we do eat out, we are going to have to make better choices. I have quit french fries cold turkey (that is major for me--french fries may be my only addiction).

In the meantime, I am still waiting on the followup with the internist. Hopefully a lifestyle change will solve the problem.

Cruel and Unusual Punishment

Did anyone else think that it was just wrong for Grey's Anatomy to have its episode with the chick who couldn't pass the bar on the very day that bar results came out? Talk about salt in the wounds. You emerge from a full day of crying and drinking to wind down with your favorite show only to have it thrown back in your face again.

Not that it applies to me (yet.) I still have a year before I have to endure this hell. But I was in the unfortunate position of being in the room today when someone got news that she did not pass and it was not pretty. This was not someone I know well, which made it all the more uncomfortable. I just hope she is in a drunken stupor and not watching tv tonight.

I am being forced to become a night student

Through a series of circumstances due in part to being a transfer student and in part to my own choices, I have left several of my major bar courses for my last semester. I was ok with that--thinking that it might actually be helpful to have my bar courses scheduled closer to taking the bar. The schedulers at my school apparently do not agree.

Wills & Trusts is only being offered at night--WTF? The subject that is probably the most tested on the bar is only offered one time and that time is at night? BE is only offered one time--thankfully during the day--but it conflicts with Con law 2, which is required for graduation. My undergrad degree is psych. I have never taken a business course in my life. I am pretty darn sure that I will regret it if I don't take BE. So, that forces me into the night Con law 2 section. This just sucks. Why would a major bar course and a required course conflict? The entire morning is open, as my school sucks up to the evening students. I have to take night courses 4 nights a week. I will not get to see my children at all on those days--other than getting them ready for school in the morning. If I had wanted to be a night student, I would have enrolled in the f'ing night program.

All Hallow's Eve

Per our usual protocol, DH took the little goblins out (actually a kitty, a puppy and Hermione), while I stayed home to hand out the goodies. It just doesn't seem fair for no one to be here to give out the treats while my kids canvas the neighborhood, so it has turned into a Daddy/Daughter thing for them.

Unfortunately, I had class until 6 and didn't make it home till seven, so I think I missed the little cute ones. I have only had 5 kids in half an hour and they were all older. Don't know what I'm gonna do with all the leftover chocolate if I don't get more traffic. My ass sure doesn't need it.

In between hopping up to answer the door I am watching Ghost (and blogging.) I hate Demi Moore's hair in this movie. She looked better in GI Jane when she had no hair.

To do or not to do?

What I could (should?) have done today:
1)Edited my rough draft
2)Started on another paper
3)Gone to the courthouse to do research for another paper
4)Drafted an amendment to a motion I brought last Monday
5)Made about 1000 phone calls for my clinic case
6)Drafted one of the three memos that are overdue on my clinic case
7)Drafted a letter requesting the school records of my clinic clients

What I actually did today:
1)Spent an hour watching the Today show and reading online BB's
2)Cleaned house--it really needed it.
3)Went to Home Depot for ant killer because ants have found their way into my kitchen, presumably due to my less than spectacular housekeeping of late, and the awesome amounts of food my kids manage to drop in the floor.
4)Went to the bank
5)Went to the grocery store--again really needed. The kids are thrilled to have food in the house again
6)Watched a Gilmore Girls episode while checking my email
7)Picked the rugrats up from school
8)Took them to the pumpkin patch and bought each a pumpkin. Does anybody have real pumpkin patches where the pumpkins are actually growing in a field? Around here is pumpkin patch is just a bunch of pre-harvested pumpkins dumped in a field.
9)Went to Target to buy a carving kit and bought a 6 bags of chocolate (I refuse to be the house that hands out Smarties and DumDums.) We also bought Monster House to watch while we carve our pumpkins.
10)Came home, told the kids they had to clean their rooms before the pumpkin carving could commence, and hopped online for a few minutes of peace and quiet.

So I did not get anything school related done, but my household chores had been neglected for quite a while, and I am looking forward to family time tonight while we carve pumpkins. Then the rest of the weekend will be devoted to those tasks I neglected today.

TGI hump day!

This week started out really crappy, but it's getting better.

I found out I got a scholarship. Not a lot, but $$ is always good.

I got a B on the rough giraffe of the paper that was giving me fits. It is an international law paper, and let me just say that international law research is a bitch. A B is perfectly average around here, and I am fine with average in this class. Also, they gave me lots of feedback, so there is a chance I can pull it up and be better than average before it's all said and done.

The craziness has settled down a bit, but I'm sure it's not for long. I still have a lot to do for my death penalty class. I guess that will be this weekend's goal.

On the kid front, I have to build a Thomas Jefferson doll to go along with the report.

My nanny is in Hawaii, so I am going crazy shuffling the kids from their school to mine so that I can make my late afternoon and evening classes. Yesterday, 5 y.o. DD warned, "Don't go too fast, Mommy, you'll get a slip." 8 y.o. replied, "She's not gonna slip, it's not raining." To which 5 y.o. said, "No, a slip, she'll get a slip--like from a police officer!"

DD's book report

I overcame my control-freak tendencies and did not interfere. I hope her teacher find this as hilarious as I do.

Thomas Jefferson—a biography

The title of the book is Thomas Jefferson. The author and illustrator
are both Annie Welsbacher. This book is non-fiction. It is a biography (which is a book about a real live person). If the person wrote the book about himself it is an autobiography.

Here’s an explanation: Thomas Jefferson was the 3rd president. In 1776 he wrote The Declaration of Independence. The Declaration of Independence made America independent on the Fourth of July. In 1769 Jefferson built a house called Monticello, Italian for “little mountain.” He created the coin system we use today.

I didn’t like it. It was boring. Nothing in it is exciting. I was so bored I couldn’t concentrate. I don’t like biographies at all!!!!!

"This is my beautiful granddaughter, she is going to be a lawyer, and she has 3 little girls and two of them are identical twins."

That is how my grandmother introduced me to each and every one of her friends at church this weekend. I guess it is the synopsis of my life (not so sure about the beautiful part, but hey, I'll take what I can get).

I was summoned back to my hometown last weekend because my maternal grandmother is dying. I do not have a good relationship with my mother, and I was not happy to go back and have to deal with her, so I opted to stay with my paternal grandparents. Neither of my parents were what I would classify as great parents, but my paternal grandparents were always there to pick up the slack. This was the first time I have visited them alone at least since I got married 10 years ago. I wasn't sure what to expect.

As it turns out, you can go home again. Despite the fact that I am now a 31 year old mother of three and almost lawyer, I guess I will always be my grandparents little girl. I was waited on hand and foot. I was lectured for putting gas in the car that my grandfather lent me. I was slipped a check. I was asked at least twice if I needed to go to the bathroom when we were at church.

Although I would have predicted that I would be irritated by my grandparents' attention, it was actually kind of nice to regress to my childhood and be spoiled a little bit. I hated being away from my kids, but I was glad to have a little bit quieter time with my grandparents, because I know that the opportunities to spend quality time with them are dwindling.

The Splash Menagerie

I have spent the entire day working on a major paper (and it's not going well) so I decided to reward myself with a bath. I haven't taken an actual bath in forever. Before I could get to my tub I had to move two Little Ponies, Pocahontas, a kangaroo, a wooly mammoth, and a fish. Fortunately the little critters who left behind all the little critters also left behind their Mr. Bubble. So at least I got to end my day with bubble-gum scented bubbly goodness.

Murderers are Pussies

Through work and school I have viewed several interview tapes of murder suspects. Every freakin' one starts crying like a baby when he realizes that he's busted. They all beg for mercy when they refused to consider it for their victims.

Booze and Schmooze

So last night I went to a Schmoozefest meeting where I was reminded once again why I don't want to do BigLaw(besides that I don't have the grades anyway and I don't want to work 80 hour weeks). Keep in mind that this Schmoozefest was only for litigators. A fifth year and a sixth year associate were talking about all the trial prep work they have been doing lately and how busy it is and how there just aren't enough lawyers (um hello, I know about 300 unemployed soon to be lawyers). Anyhoo--after a while one of them pops up and says "...and maybe I will actually get to speak at the next trial." WTF? 5th year associate earning 6 figures but can't be allowed to actually speak at trial? I am a freaking student, and I have already done a direct in a criminal jury trial. Apparently, as my instincts have been telling me, criminal work is the road to the courtroom. The criminal defense lawyer sitting next to me has had 6 trials this year. That's more like it. (He did say however that he missed all the great meals from Biglaw.)

TGIF--the week has sucked

I know I said I would try to work on my spotty posting, but I am just too freakin' busy.

My clinic case has some new drama every time I turn around. It sucks away every free moment I have. I am doing my best to help my clients, but it seems like nothing I do actually does any good. It is so frustrating.

Meanwhile, I was apparently deluded when I decided to take both of my required writing courses in the same semester. I am totally going to tank my GPA (which has been hovering at mediocrity, anyway). I had to review my outline for one paper with the profs this week and they reamed me. I spent half of yesterday and all of today in the library, trying to redeem myself before the rough draft is due.

In my other writing class, everyone in the class is having difficulty getting exact parameters on what we are supposed to be researching. I am trying to compare capital murder indictments to find a pattern on when the death penalty is sought. That doesn't sound too bad, except that the DA's office completely shut me down when I called about getting a list of capital murder indictments. They told me the only way to get this info was to get a list of all indictments (2 pages/day and I have to pay per page) and sort through them myself. Makes me wonder what the DA's office is trying to hide.

I am just thankful this week is over. I would like to think it will get better next week, but I already know I have a full schedule and the deadlines for both papers quickly approaching. Whoever said they bore you to death your third year lied. This is the busiest I have ever been.

Working on my Rough Giraffe

I was complaining to DH about having only 2 weeks to complete my rough draft on a 40 page paper. 5 y.o. DD overhears this conversation and asks, "What's a rough giraffe? Is that a mean giraffe that come out of the jungle and goes like this (as she does her best Kung Fu moves)."

Dum, Dum, Da Dum--It's a girl

So in honor of DD's 8th b-day yesterday we watched the video of her birth. Don't worry, nothing graphic. Throughout the video, there is classical music playing in the background. It is supposed to be soothing, as one is preparing to bring another life into the world. I had packed up several of my own CD's, and DH and thrown in one of his own--which just happened to be a demo cd for a stereo system. Most of the music on it was actually pretty good. But just as I am giving those last few pushes--in the moment that I am about to meet my precious baby girl for the first time--THE WEDDING MARCH STARTS PLAYING.

I was furious then, and I am still mad--although at least I can laugh about it now. What the hell was the wedding march doing on when I am trying to push an (8 lb) baby out? DH still has not heard the end of this. But at least every time I hear the wedding march, I think of DD.

This just in from the career services office...

All students: MAJOR
ALERT!!!!!!!!!!!

GET YOUR PARTY
PICTURES OR ANY QUESTIONABLE PICTURES OFF OF FACEBOOK.COM OR MY SPACE.COM. THIS VERY MINUTE!!

We have received calls from employers who are researching potential clerks and associates and have been told that some of you have inappropriate pictures and information on those websites. This information is affecting their hiring decisions.

Not gonna Bop to the top*

So I had an interview yesterday with a DA's office in a big city. They asked lots of questions about my experience and whether I had a family never came up, which was nice. I had plenty of opportunity to talk about the things I did in the small DA's office I worked in over the summer. The conversation flowed, I think I asked them good questions.

And yet I still know they weren't interested in me. I got the "we've liked everybody we've seen today" line. And the girl in front of me got a business card that I did not--and was asking them about the letter she will be receiving in the mail.

So, I ask--why doesn't anybody like me? I have a terrible track record with interviews. In fact, the jobs I have had I generally have not had formal interviews for. Apparently, I don't interview well. The great irony is that I have gotten along very well in every job I have had, and I think that all of my employers really liked me. I get things done. I'm a hard worker. I follow through. These are traits that some of my younger counterparts that I have worked with have issues with (not to say that is true of all younger law students). I am sure that if I ever got far enough in an interview to have my references checked that it would be a huge benefit for me. So what do I do so differently in an interview from my regular working personality?

I didn't even care about the job--it was in a city I wasn't convinced that I wanted to move to. I am just bummed that I never manage a second interview. The whole interview scenario is really bumming me out.

*Oh yeah, that's direct from High School Musical. DD's 8th birthday party was last night. I tool a carload of girls to Club Libby Lu where they rocked out to the High Schoool Musical CD all the way there and back.

And while we're on the subject...

One preacher's message: Have hotter sex - America Unzipped - MSNBC.com

Colombia gang wives call sex strike - Americas - MSNBC.com

Personally, I have been usin this method to get what I want for years.

Colombia gang wives call sex strike - Americas - MSNBC.com

Law school is finally fun

Ok, well, I was always one of those geeks who never thought law school was that bad to begin with. I mean, I had spent the previous 6 years wiping butts and noses, so going to school with grown-ups was practically a party. But, I digress.

This semester I finally get to work on real cases. Most of my credits are coming from a clinic where I have real clients, investigations and court appearances. I am taking two other classes where I will be working on two other cases (one high profile, one newsworthy) behind the scenes. I'm only taking one traditional, Socratic, sit-in-class, take-a-test type class--crim pro--and since I just spent the last six months in the DA's office, its pretty much a blow-off.

It is awesome to finally be working on real cases that affect real people. It makes it much easier to go to class and do what needs to be done. But I am so darn busy. Because I am now affecting other people, I have to go the extra mile. I can't procrastinate until the end of the semester because I have deadlines rapidly approaching.

So, I apologize for my spotty posting. I'll try to do better.

I kicked the MPRE's ass!

I was finally able to log in to the MPRE website. All that worrying for nothing. Actually, I did so well, that I am left thinking that I spent entirely too much time preparing.

Apparently as penance for my little tirade earlier (that's karma a la Earl), I burned up my blow dryer 2 minutes in to drying my hair so I was forced to go to school looking like a freak. I might have been ok if I hadn't started to dry my hair, but it was left half straight and half curly with no way time to do much of anything with it. See what happens when you throw fits? Bad mojo.

Stupid MPRE

MPRE results are supposed to be out today. Actually, the brilliant folks at MPRE sent me an email telling me they were out last week. Psych! Then they sent an email saying, no wait, they'll really be out after Labor Day.

Ok, it's after Labor Day, where are my freaking results? I can't even get a page to load on the MPRE website. Of course, the email they sent said if I had any problems to call, but the phone message says that they will not give results via phone, fax or email.

The funny thing is, that I had pretty much forgotten about the MPRE. But now that they have reminded me about themselves, and being they typical anal-retentive OCD law student that I am, I want my F'ing results now!

(And, yes, I do realize that I sound like a big fat whiney baby.)

My baby is back!

So, being a complete and total idiot, I blew up my laptop last week. Had to get a new motherboard. Apparently, you cannot just walk into Circuit City and buy a new motherboard for a laptop, so I had to order it and wait and wait and wait for it to come in. In the meantime, DH set me up with a desktop, but it's just not the same. Using a different computer is like sleeping in someone else's bed. Nothing feels right. I am now so trained to use a laptop keyboard that I am downright clunky on a desktop keyboard.

And even though DH transferred my hard drive to the desktop, stuff was just different. My favorites list reorganized itself alphabetically. That made the blogs that I visit all out of order. Call me anal, but I read the blogs in a very specific order. The most important ones (funniest) get top billing and the rest come later, if I have time. So I go looking for Favorable Dicta--is it under the F's for Favorable, the D's for Dicta, heck no--it is way at the bottom under the W's for Will Work for favorable dicta. As you can see, my whole freakin world was upside down (and I haven't even mentioned being computer-less at school. This is my 3L year, I am supposed to be surfing the net in all my classes).

Anyway, it's all better now, new motherboard came in and DH promptly fixed me up. Still needs a little tweaking but at least I have OneNote and the internet, and that's all that really matters.

P.S. It is a very bad idea to use a corded laptop in a recliner. Recliners hate cords--mine has been eaten twice. It is an even worse idea to tape the power cord back together with packing tape until you can purchase a new one. Just don't.

My babies started school today

My now big third grader decided that she didn't even need me to walk her to class--but I insisted so that I could get pics. Don't know if I'll be able to do that again, I'm sure we're heading into the "Mo-oommm, you're so embarassing" years.

My twins started Kindergaten. One was excited and ready for a new adventure. The other just seemed so depressed. It made me sad that she was so sad, but I know it will get better. She did great in pre-K last year and loved school.

I start my clinic orientation tomorrow. I received a packet of orientation materials a week ago, and of course, I have procrasitnated. I just have not been able to get into the back-to-school swing. Now I'm paying for it, because I have been reading all day and I'm still not done. Now I'm going to have to do all of my first day assignments after I get home from orientation. That's what I get for spending the last week lounging around catching up on all those Gilmore Girls episodes that I had TIVO'd.

ix-nae on the uburban-sae

So we were all ready to finalize everything on the new Suburban, but being the law student that I am, I insisted that we reserve the right to have it looked at by the mechanic of our choosing before making it all official. Good thing--the mechanic found a mystery knock in the engine. Said it could be minor, but more likely it would be an expensive repair.

I returned the Suburban and the dealer is having their own guys check it out, but I have informed them that they better be looking at other options for me. In the meantime, I drove a Tahoe from another dealer. It's basically the same vehicle as the Suburban, but with about half the cargo space in the back. We've decided that we could really use the extra cargo space, so I guess we are officially looking at only Suburbans now. (That was so not our original intention. I was always the one bitching about the soccer moms in their super-sized SUV's). Hopefully we can find something before school starts next week. God, I hate car shopping.

We just went looking...

...and brought home a Suburban. The minivan mom-mobile has grown intolerable lately. The last straw was when the air conditioning quit working properly. So we went out today, just to take a look. We were really wanting to move into a smaller sized SUV, but they all felt about the same as the minivan. The girls are getting bigger and we sometimes have an extra kid or two and just needed something with more space. So we ended up with the Granddaddy of SUV's. We can fit 9 people in that sucker and it's gonna cost $100 a pop to fill 'er up. I know its not environmentally responsible, but at least with three kids I can justify the monstrosity. And you know what? I really like it. It's comfy and drives well. Its just gonna take a little while to learn to park.

My favorite new time killer...

Oceangram

It is throwing virtual messages in bottles into the virtual ocean to see who will respond. It feels sort of like the early 90's when chat rooms first starting appearing, and you would just talk to any random stranger on AOL. Anyway, I have become obsessed. I keep throwing random messages out there and responding to the ones that keep popping up. Some are funny, some are stupid and some are just plain sad. At least there I get feedback. Unlike here where I am just writing into the wind and no one ever comments. (Can you detect that whiney note in my blog?)

I'm not a pirate, as a matter of fact I'm a lawyer*

Today was my last day with the D.A.'s office. I am so sad--I loved it there. I really fit in with the people who worked there and I loved what I was doing. They told me that I was their favorite intern. Unfortunately, it's a small office and there is virtually no chance that they will have an opening when I graduate. :(

I have one full week until school starts. I already have a load of reading assignments from two classes, and a paper due on the first day. Looks like the daily grind is already starting back up.

*Ok, this has no relevance to anything, but we were watching Hook with the kids tonight and this line amused me.

The Crack Fairy

I am no longer a trial virgin. Today I got to do my first direct examination during a jury trial. The 1st chair offered it to me yesterday but our supervisor almost took it away from me because he was concerned that it was too much for my first trial. I told them that I really wanted to do it unless they were concerned that I would screw up the whole case. I guess they weren't that worried, because I got to do it. But first, they brought in one of our investigators to explain to me that cops are like scared little girls on the witness stand, and they get really upset if the prosecutors don't protect them from the defense attorneys. Great, now I had to worry about pissing off my supervisor who didn't want me doing this and the officers.

Despite all the worries I did fine. I really wasn't nervous, and everyone (including my overprotective supervisor and defense counsel) said I did great. It helped that the officer that I was examining was terrific. It was his first time to testify, but he never let the defense rattle him (and he tried).

Unfortunately, even with my kick ass performance ;) we lost the case. Turns out that the jury didn't think that walking on the wrong side of the street should be cause for officers to stop a person. (Yes, walking on the wrong side of the street is an offense--you have to walk with traffic, not against it--or is it the other way around?)

The very best part of the case was during cross of the defendant. The prosecutor couldn't pin him down on where the crack came from, so she finally asked, "So I guess the Crack Fairy came down and put the crack under your grandma's porch?" I think I bit a hole through my lip to try to keep from busting a gut.

The Blind Leading the Blind

We picked a jury for a possession case today. I was pleasantly surprised when the ADA trying the case offered to let me do the direct on one of the officers. The direct shouldn't be a problem, but under local court rules, the att'y doing the direct also has to make all objections to the cross. There is concern that the defense att'y will take advantage of my trial virgin status.

And the best part...the officer has never testified before. This should be great--I've never questioned anyone--he's never testified, we'll make a great pair.

Ok, off to review possible trial objections.

I survived, but my case didn't

So I made it through my first argument. I think I did ok, and gave the defense att'y more of a challenge than he expected from a student. He even conceded two of my points. The judge has taken it under advisement, but I don't think he is going to rule in my favor.

This was an asset forfeiture case. The law allows the state to seize a vehicle used for the illegal transport of alcohol. The defendants were accused of transporting through a dry county. 5 bottles of tequila and two cases of beer. Transporting for personal consumption is ok, but the driver wouldn't admit that the alcohol was his, so the officer seized the car.

So I got the defense to admit that transporting through a dry county is an offense (he went off on some crazy tangent saying there was no offense), and that the defendant admitted (at the scene and in an affidavit) that it was not for personal consumption. I had a good argument (and a good case to back me up) that even if there was another owner listed on the title of the vehicle that he was not a "true" owner of the vehicle and that it could still be seized. The defense didn't even bother to respond to this, but I think the judge was intrigued.

But, the defense argued excessive forfeiture. It was the only argument I didn't have a good response for. A $10K car for the misdemeanor offense of transporting 5 bottles of liquor. And excessiveness is purely within the discretion of the court. The judge ruled for the defense.

Tomorrow I get to be a litigator

Tomorrow I argue a response to a motion for summary judgment. Although I have done a few hearings, this will be my first argument--the first time I have had someone working against me. I am anxious to see how I do.

When I took on this case, neither I nor anybody else thought we stood a chance (which is why it was given to an intern in the first place.) After doing the research and writing the response, I realized that we do have a chance, even if its a slim one. I don't like the case, but I think that I might be able to at least survive summary judgment. It's just gong to take some creative lawyering (i.e. just because someone's name is on the title doesn't mean he is a true owner). I guess we'll see how persuasive I can be.

Feeling a little competition lately

I've been getting competitive vibes from one of the attorneys that I work with. She is only a year out of law school and was the intern darling of the office before she graduated and was hired. I think she feels like I am too close to what she was. The thing is, I don't understand why she cares. She gets her own case load now, and actually gets to do the fun stuff. I'm still just an intern. Every time I turn around she is dredging up some menial task and seems irritated when another att'y gives me actual responsibility (doing the same kinds of things she was as an intern.) I thought it might have just been me being a dork, but today another att'y commented on how irritated she was when we started gathering files so that I could start putting together a trial notebook. This has previously been her territory. But come on--she actually gets to do the trials, why on earth would you get your panties in a wad over putting together a notebook? I like her and we have gotten along well so far, but this is getting irritating.

MPRE *snooze*

I'm having trouble getting motivated to study for the MPRE. I'm off work this week and I have fallen into a great pit of laziness. So far my study has consisted of attending the video prep course and taking two practice exams. I haven't cracked the book. But I did ok on the practice exams. But that leaves me with even less incentive to study. Still I don't want to blow this off. I know two people who failed, and at least one of those really surprised me.

So now I think I'll go take a nap. Then maybe I'll take a look at that book.

Don't Mess With the Judge

So I managed to gracefully exit my family law job and am back to working only two days a week in the DA's office. This week had crazy dockets because the judge was out last week and all of the attorney's will be gone next week. I did three pleas on Wednesday, and fortunately was not the one to do the five count plea on a co-actor in a murder case. The judge decided that he was going to stack all five counts on this guy, rather than let them run concurrently as per the plea agreement. You could instantly see the defense attorney start to sweat. He started to argue with the judge, and the judge pretty quickly put him in his place. In the end it came down to a minute procedural issue having to do with the order in which the individual counts were entered, and in this case, it was not done in such a way that the judge could stack.

In other news, I filed my first court document today that I prepared 100% by myself. It is a response to a motion for summary judgment, and I am really looking forward to arguing it in a couple of weeks.

They're all F'ing crazy

I swear each day there is a defendant crazier than the last. Our crazy defendant of the day set a house on fire with seven kids inside. With gasoline. On purpose. Knowing that the kids were there and that three of them were his own grandkids. The house burned to the ground within ten minutes and its a miracle that none of the kids were hurt.

The Tink and Super Soda

That is what my soon-to-be-five-year olds have claimed as their superhero names. Super Soda squirts bad tasting root beer at the bad guys. Not sure what The Tink does. Big sis has dubbed herself Princess Stephanie who has the power to make new powers. I love it when their imaginations run wild--they're far more creative than I have ever been.

Evil Eye

Sat in on a murder trial today. The entire time the defendant was staring at me. At first I just thought I was being narcissistic--or crazy--but a few more glances and I was sure that he was giving me the evil eye. I mentioned this during the break, and the other attorneys confirmed that he is performing what one called "the blinkey-blinkey defense". Every few minutes he rapidly blinks his eyes for a minute or so, and then he goes into a catatonic stare. It's his way of trying to convince the jury he's crazy. I just happened to be in the direct line of the stare today. Creepy.

I need to grow some cojones

I quit my job at the family law firm. There were some ethical situations that I was just not comfortable with. Of course, I could not use that as my excuse for quitting--this is a small town and I will likely have to deal with them again--so I told them that I wanted to put more time in the DA's office since I got my student bar card and I was getting to do hearings and other fun stuff. They were fine with that--but this morning I got a dort of dis-engagement letter, stating that since I was leaving "to work for the DA's office full-time" could I please put up my position on my school's job boards.

First, I never exactly said I was working for the DA's office full-time--and I'm not. Now I feel like I really told a lie. But, in this case, I guess a small lie is better than the truth. More importantly, I don't know what to do about posting on my school's job boards. I don't really want to foist the ethical dilemmas that I had to deal with on to one of my classmates.

Now the real reason I need to grow a pair is because of the other attorney who offices in that firm--we'll call him Slimey. He came in about a week ago and asked for my cell # in case he had some research projects. After I gave it to him he said, "yeah, its nice that you guys get free Lexis access, it really helps me out to have a student do my research". I was sort of shocked at the time, and didn't respond, but figured I'd deal with it if he ever asked me to do anything.

Soooo, the day I quit the firm, Slimey comes in and tells me about this new case he has picked up (he doesn't know yet that I have quit), and then manages to squeze in what he needs me to find out and where to find it--on Lexis. Again, I am dumbstruck, and truly don't know how to respond--especially since I have quit the firm and he doesn't know yet. So I just say ok, and he leaves.

So, of course I haven't done any of his research. I don't feel comfortable using my school account for this sleazeball--oh yeah, and I'm pretty sure there's an agreement in place that says I can't do that. I have got to deal with this guy head on and get rid of him, or he is going to haunt me. (He has already called 8 times in a 6 hour period because he forgot the alarm code at the office and I had my phone off.) I am usually pretty forward with dealing people--but I have always dreaded the sleazy salesman type--which is what this guy is. But if I am going to be a litigator, I am going to have to start dealing with sleazy lawyers, a little more forcefully than I have with Slimey. Uggghhh. I just want to be done with this whole bad situation.

I registered for Bar/BRI today...

I thought I was going to have a heart attack. So far, I have managed to put the Bar in the farthest reaches of my mind and mostly forget about it. I refused to sign up for Bar/BRI my 1L year just-in-case I flunked out--or maybe because I though it would jinx me. But my PR prof recommended the Bar/BRI MPRE prep, which requires Bar/BRI registration and down payment. So I bit the bullet and registered. I seriously had heart palpitations. It is much easier to ignore the Bar breathing down your neck when you haven't invested any $$ in prepping for it (except for the $100k or so being piddled away in law school tuition). Anyway, I hope the MPRE prep is worth the bar anxiety it is creating--but I guess I would have had to register sooner or later anyway.

I passed Con Law!!!!

I was seriously worried about not passing. It was hardest test I have ever taken, and I swear I didn't know the answers and just made crap up. I was praying for a C-. Anything to keep from having to re-take the class. I got a B-. I have no idea how. I don't even care that it was below the curve, I was just happy to have passed. The rest of my grades came in a month ago, and I have been on pins and needles waiting for this one. Now I feel like I can finally enjoy my summer.

You learn something new every day.

Between today and last Monday I have learned more about blood splatters than I ever thought I needed to know. The science behind it is actually pretty interesting. For instance, did you know that you can get a good idea of what was used to commit a murder by the size of the droplets in the splatter? Apparently smaller droplets are the result of higher velocity impact (i.e. a gunshot) and larger droplets would result from a lower velocity impact (i.e. a baseball bat).

License to Speak (in Court)

Woo Hoo! I got my temporary bar card in the mail today. Now I can start trying cases in the DA's office.

We are still prepping for the murder case that goes to trial in 3 weeks. We spent today interviewing all of the investigators and then we toured the crime scene. I got to visit the lovely trailer trash community of Easy Living. Seriously. The place was called Easy Living. You just know that can't be a high class place.

I survived

Last night DD invited 5 girls over for a slumber party. Plus my three meant 8 crazy little girls running around. Since this wasn't a birthday party or anything, I didn't plan any activities, figuring that the girls would just kind of hang out until it got late and then settle in for a movie.

Ha! They fought constantly. One of them, L, was trying to boss around the rest, and they fought back. I went upstairs to find three of them crying. The first one I found was L. When I asked her why, she reported that my DD told her that she should probably leave since she couldn't get along with anybody!

I realized then that I probably needed to intervene. This is probably the cheeziest thing I have ever done, but I didn't know what else to do. I made all the girls sit in a "feelings circle". I had a macaroni bead necklace that I named the "speaker necklace", and only the person wearing it could speak. Then one at a time, each girls got to say what she was upset about, and then apologize to anyone whose feelings she had hurt. It actually worked out pretty well, and everybody got along after that.

Later, I indoctrinated them into the world of The Goonies, the slumber party staple from my generation, and they followed that up with the new must have for all girls, High School Musical. In the end I think they all had fun, but I think we will all be taking naps this afternoon.

PsychoMom

I don't think I have ever blogged about PsychoMom before. She is the mother of one of DD's friends. I first encountered her when I became DD's Girl Scout leader last year (yes, I was dumb enough to take on Girl Scout leadership at the same time I was starting law school--but that's a whole other post).

It started with her occasionally asking me to take her daughter to or from the meetings--she couldn't do it because she had a baby (2 year old). This excuse didn't fly too well with me since at that time I had two three-year olds, and still managed to get my child where she needed to be. Still, I didn't think much about it at the time, as it was only a minor inconvenience.

My big mistake was asking if her DD (S), could come over for a play date over the Christmas holidays, since I would be out of school. She interpreted this to mean that I would be her holiday babysitter, and invited her daughter over several more times unless I could come up with an excuse to avoid it. And then she realized that I had all school holidays off, and thought that I would be happy to watch S all of those times, too. I finally put my foot down and told her that even on breaks, I still had to spend a great deal of time studying, and that when I wasn't studying, I wanted to spend what little time I had with my own children.

Over the next few months, she would be the only mom who couldn't attend many of our girl scout functions (because of the "baby). The biggest event was a mom/daughter campout in late May. It was the first time camping for many of the girls, and we though having moms there would be the best way to break them in. I felt so sorry for S that her mom was the only one not there. I told the mom that the girls would probably be tired when we got back, and that it would be between 10-12 Sunday morning--probably earlier rather than later.

The camping trip was miserably hot--100 degrees, high humidity and not a breeze the entire weekend. We were in cabins, but they were hotter than being outside (and of course un-air-conditioned). The heat plus the camping experience left the girls (and me) absolutely dragging by Sunday morning. We were up early, ate cold breakfasts, and were on the road by 8 am.

At 9:30, I tried to call PsychoMom to tell her that I would be at her house in 20 minutes. No answer. I tried her cell. She was at church. She said church didn't get out until 12, and could S just stay at my house until then.

I was exhausted, dirty, cranky and at my breaking point with this woman. More importantly, both of our daughters were exhausted and dirty. I told her that my DD and I were headed straight for the shower and bed and that I thought that her DD needed to do the same, and that no, she could not leave her until 12:00.

I'm sure that she thought I was the wicked witch of the west, making her miss church and all, but I really didn't care. When she arrived, she brought church clothes for S and dragged the poor child for church. I am certainly not against gong to church, but I think it is reasonable to miss under certain circumstances, and this was one of them.

I really thought that after that, she would leave me alone-ahhh, but no.

Within a couple of weeks she called to see if S could come over because she didn't have a sitter. I told her that I was working full time over the summer and would not be home. She asked what I was doing with my kids for the summer. I told her that I had a nanny. Then she had the gall to ask if S could come over and stay with my nanny! I was almost stunned speechless, but I finally managed to tell her that I did not fell comfortable with that.

When school started again in the fall, she again wanted to know what I was doing with my kids. I told her that I would be home in time to pick them up from school most days, and the nanny would be here on other days. She of course saw this as an open invitation for me to watch her kid.

I finally told her point blank that law school was not community college, I spent about a 60 hour week between classes and studying, and that I could not have extra kids running around when I was trying to work in the afternoon. I went on to tell her that I had no interest in babysitting--ever--and I recommended child care options to her. (I knew that she had been mooching free child care off of others for the last year). Once again, I though this would get her to leave me alone.

She hasn't asked me to watch her DD since then, but she has invited my DD over a few times. I mostly try to avoid the invitation, because I just don't want to get started with her again. I have yet to figure out if she is manipulative or just completely clueless. I did let DD go to S's b-day party a few weeks ago, but when I went to pick her up I saw an empty wine bottle and glasses sitting on the counter. I don't think it's appropriate to down a bottle of wine when you are supervising other people's kids.

Now PsychoMom has emailed again this week wanting DD to come play. She said that S is home with her grandmother (whom she has told he has dementia and can't be left with "the baby"). I just want her to go away!!!!!! I haven't responded yet, and I don't know how or if I will. It seems kind of immature to just ignore, but no matter how impolite or direct I am with this woman she will not stop. And since our kids go to the same school and there is a reasonable chance they will end up in the same class at some point, it is unlikely that I can avoid her forever. Ugggh. How do you deal with people like this?

I lost my broom

DD is having a slumber party tonight, so the house is getting the deepest cleaning that its had in quite some time. But we can't find the broom. I can't imagine where the broom could have disappeared to--it's not like something that could be buried at the bottom of the twins' toy box. Very weird.

Just another if you're bored link...

The Nipple Project

School's Out for Summer...

I have been out of school for a couple of weeks now, but today was the last day for my girls. The last day is always kind of bittersweet. It is hard to say goodbye to teachers and friends that are moving away or who you won't get to see all summer. My twins will be moving to a new school for kindergarten next year, so they will have to make all new friends and won't get to see their old teachers at all. One little girl was crying her eyes out at having to leave her Pre-K teacher.

Despite all of that, I am glad they are done. It will be so nice to have all of the girls in the same school next year--and in one right by our house. We weren't sure if K would be full-day or half, but today I confirmed it was full-day. Woohoo! I think my girls are ready for full day, and it will save me a bundle in child care expenses.

I am a little sad, though, because while my girls' summer is just getting started, I just gave away more of my free time. I was offered the job that I just interviewed for here in my little suburb. It is only 2 days/week, but that is in addition to the 2 days/week that I will be in the D.A.'s office. At least I get Fridays off. And a 10 minute commute will be really nice (compared to the hour drive to school). I think it will be a great opportunity--and hopefully it will help me make some local connections.

Ok, so it's been a while

Life just went crazy. The day I finished my final exams, I got a call that there had been a death in the family and had to leave town. That was fun--I haven't spoken with my mother in about 6 months, and then I had to deal with her for 3 days--ick. And my oh-so-classy family was consulting me about probate issues before the deceased was even in the ground. And the deceased had only recently been released from prison, and his "estate" was mostly in cash, so I really don't think they want to get the probate courts involved. Luckily for me, I haven't had will and trusts so I was pretty much useless in that conversation.

The next weekend DH graduated, so his whole family was in town and staying with us. I actually like my in-laws (who are like the Cleavers, as opposed to my own screwed up family), but a housefull of people is always a little stressful, and we were in a rush to get everything together, since the house had fallen apart during finals, and I had been out of town. Than God DH is out of school though. Two students in the family was just too much. He now has his M.S. in software engineering.

In the midst of all this we have had two jury trials going on at work. The first was the child murder case. The jury did not find guilt on the capital murder charge (a co-actor already pled to life to avoid the death penalty), but gave the defendant life for injury to a child. I think everyone involved was glad to finally have a a resolution to this very emotional case.

The current case involves a meth lab and a bunch of other bad stuff. The defendant just looks like a bad guy and he was quite entertaining on the stand. And I have learned all about how to make meth in case my law career doesn't pan out. (But my gosh, when you see the stuff they use it is no wonder these idiots are always blowing themselves up.)

Finally, in other news, I still haven't found an actually paying job this summer. I am beginning to feel a tiny bit rejected. My grades aren't terrible (although I still don't know if I failed con law), I have good legal experience, I'm beginning to think its just me. It's hard for me to get too upset, though. I am happy only working two days a week for the D.A.'s office. I get to hang out with the kids the rest of the time--or I can go to work if a trial is going on.

I did interview for one last job earlier this week, though. Only because it is in my little suburban town, not ten minutes from my house. They seemed to like me and claimed to be impressed with my resume, but we'll see. It was with a solo practitioner who does primarily family law. According to her son, she is the go-to lawyer for the well-to-do seeking divorces in my area.

Yep, that's right, her son. I was interviewed my her husband and her son. No they aren't lawyers nor involved with her practice. Apparently she has made some poor hiring decisions in the past, so they came to help her out. I don't know if that will help me or hurt me, but the husband and son seemed nice enough, and I wouldn't mind a job close to home that could help me build local professional connections. They said they would let me know something early next week. If I don't hear something, then I'll know that there really is something I am doing to screw up my interviews.

The end is in sight

One...more...exam. Then I'm done--at least until the Fall. This has been my busiest semester, and all I want is to lay around the house watching the soaps all summer. Ok, maybe not the soaps--I didn't even watch those when I was a SAHM. And last week when I was getting my nails done I caught part of Days of Our Lives (I think) and as best I could tell, someone with MPD was giving birth, with one of her personalities there to cheer her on. That was definitely a big reminder of why I don't watch soaps. But I'm sure I can find something equally mind-numbing to keep me occupied this summer.

Right now, I am only planning to work for the DA's office two days a week. Basically because that's all the child care I can afford for an unpaid position. I have interviewed for a few other jobs, but no luck and I don't really care.

On the child care front--after much kid juggling, we have hired a new nanny. I ran ads online and in the local paper and interviewed on Saturday. This time I went with the grandmotherly type. I'm a little wary of a younger girl after getting burned by the last one--and most of the younger ones weren't going to be available for after-school care in the fall anyway. Hopefully this lady will stick around. She was in her last position for 10 years.

Oh yeah--and I think I failed Con Law. Seriously. It was the hardest exam I have ever taken in law school, and the only law school exam where I truly didn't know the answers. It' not like I didn't prepare--I was in class, I read the assignments, and I spent 4 days prepping for the exam. I just didn't get the questions he was asking. (i.e. Tell me how the court cited Marbury v. Madison in the following 10 cases. First, I am not good with remembering cases with only the name and no further prompt. Second, umm, I don't remember. I just kept falling back on judicial review, but that seems a little obvious)

If I passed, it won't be pretty. If I failed--well I don't know what. That was con law 1, I am already a year behind with it because I transferred. It is only offered in the Spring, so if I have to re-take it, it would be in the last semester of my last year. So would I have to take Con Law 2 before I re-take Con Law 1.

In better news, my family law exam was today, and it was very straight forward and easy. If I can just survive PR tomorrow, I'll be home free (except for that whole failing con law thing).

I had no idea that there were states where you can't pump you're own gas.

Jeremy Richey's Blawg Crazy Law: I Will Pump You Up!

It's interesting that came across this post today. I was just telling DH that I wished there were still full service stations. He gets irritated with me because I will run the vehicles down to empty, and he is the one always stuck getting gas. I know this is very girly, but I don't like getting gas. You have to stand in the wind and it messes your hair up. I somehow always end up getting gas on my hands and smelling of eau de gasoline until I can wash my hands. I'm not about to set foot in a service station bathroom to wash and the instant hand sanitizers don't kill the smell. Thank God for pay at the pump. At least I no longer actually have to walk inside a gas station.

I'm really not an elitist--gas stations are just yucky, and if I could just drive in, let someone else fill 'er up, and go about my business, I'd be happy to.

Who knew you could do so much with Duct Tape?

Duct Tape's "Stuck at Prom" Scholarship Contest

All hell has officially broken loose

The nanny has apparently quit with no notice. Right in the middle of freakin' finals. So I have to study with three kids running around. And try to find a new nanny ASAP-which is seriously interfering with my study time.

To make matters worse, DH was informed by his boss yesterday that my schooling is causing him to be away from work too much. WTF??? Everyone that he works with is childless. I guess they got used to him having a stay at home wife who could deal with every detail of our children's lives. Apparently it hasn't occurred to them that had I gotten a job, he would have to attend to the kids just as much if not more than he does now. When something comes up, we look at who has the most important stuff going on, and the loser deals with the kid stuff. That is what parenting is. And its not like this happens weekly.

And the most infuriating thing, is that when he took this job, they touted how family friendly it was. They knew then that he was a parent. And quite frankly, if he wanted to be the type of man who put his career before his children, he could easily take a contract job that would pay 2-3 times what he is earning now.

I'm so glad to know that having children is not only impacting my own career, but also my husband's. This is a great world we live in, really. And his boss is just going to be soooo much happier when he realizes that DH is going to have to take off so that I can take my finals. One more week and then he won't have to deal with the kids for the rest of the summer. But the next week is going to be hell.

Another stinky interview

Today was my interview with the small firm. This is the first time that I have removed all references to my children from my resume (and conveniently deleted my college graduation date from my resume so as not to reveal my SAHM status). Things were going well, until they asked whey I live in [small suburban community]? My usual answers is because of the great schools. But of course, I couldn't say that because I'm trying to avoid the issue of my children. I think they could tell I was uncomfortable with the question--so of course they persisted. Was I married? Yes. Did I have children? Yes. How Many? I would prefer not to talk about my personal life.

Yes, that is the answer that I gave. I read in some career advice column that was the appropriate response to this line of questioning. Let me tell you now that it isn't. I could tell that my interviewers were completely taken aback by my response. Then they proceeded to tell me that having children was actually a benefit in family law, most of the (female) lawyers there had children, and that was not a concern. So then I had to backtrack and explain what an impediment my children have been in other interviews, and I revealed that I do indeed have three children.

I actual believe that they don't think my kids are a problem--but my trying to cover it up might be. The bigger problem is my internship with the DA's office and the child advocacy clinic placement that I have in the fall. They want someone who will continue through the next year. Something I would be willing to consider--especially if I thought there was the potential for long term employment, but not at the sacrifice of my other opportunities.

Then they asked when I could start. I told them as soon as finals were over, except that the following week I would have four days in which to complete a law review application and if possible I would like time to work on that. This apparently was my biggest mistake. They do not want someone on law review because it takes up too much time. Especially for someone who already has another internship, a clinic placement, and three kids. In fact they told me that the prospect of law review (which we don't even know if I'll make) is much more concerning to them than having kids. Arrrgghhhh! I just cannot make anyone happy--most firms want someone on law review.

Oh well. I guess we'll see what happens. The good news is that I really don't care if I get this job or not because I was looking forward to having three days a week off to hang out with my kiddos. But it seemed like a nice enough place if they do make an offer.