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.
12/26/06
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.
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.
12/25/06
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.
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.
12/23/06
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
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
12/20/06
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.
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.
12/18/06
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.
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.
12/17/06
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.
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.
12/15/06
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?
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?
12/14/06
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.
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.
12/13/06
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!
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!
12/12/06
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.
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.
12/10/06
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.
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.
12/8/06
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.
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.
12/6/06
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.
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.
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.
12/5/06
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.
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.
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