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.