Goodbye 2012...

Goodbye law school.
And bar exam.

Goodbye Waco.
Goodbye stress and worry and studying every night.

Thank you, 2012, for the lessons and the memories. I am grateful for all I learned, for friends I call dear, for family and unconditional love. I've grown, learned, and changed. I am a better person than I was when 2012 started. Thank you...but let's not do it again!

What would do you?

Last Sunday before the final test in my academic career. The bar exam.

Now I've studied hard the past two months. Every BarBri lecture, I attended. Practice exam, I did it. Essays... As many as I mentally could do without breaking down.

So what do I do now?

Eat snap peas and watch The Bachelorette finale.

Utah won! Yay!

Phoenix goes to law school...

Russ can't always watch Phoenix.

So sometimes she comes to class with me.

I can't wait for her to apply to Baylor Law and say:

"I attended my first class at Baylor Law when I was just one month old..."

My Legal Education

I learned something this past week from my Constitutional Law professer (aka the Godfather of Baylor Law). Prof. Guinn has been teaching Con Law since the Cold War and is one of my favorite professors ever.

He has a wealth of knowledge. Recently he used a phrase that I will never forget, that I absolutely love:

The Phrase:

Country

Bumpkin

Now, you may know what this is. But I'd never heard of it before. It sounds really cute, especially when Godfather Guinn says it. However, the meaning of the word is not as endearing. Basically it's a uneducated country person who uses non-politically correct speech without knowing how offensive it is.

When I think about it I want to just giggle. Isn't it cute? Say it three times, you'll agree.

Back to School

It's that time of year again. Kids get new clothes. Parents get free time. For me? Well, I get to move back to a lonely apartment.

It's back to school time. And I don't like it. Back to school is always a huge adjustment for me. I feel like I go back to school kicking and screaming. The first few weeks are always hard to get used to.

Don't get me wrong- I love the classes. It's nice to be back in law school and learning about what I love. But it's the separation that I hate. I hate coming back to a lonely apartment at the end of the day with only a television for company. Sleeping by myself. Not being able to steal Russ's pillow in the middle of the night. Sigh.

Thankfully, this is the last year we'll be separated. This is the last fall I'll be headed back to school.

So I guess I shouldn't complain...

But I am still lonely on this Tuesday night.

You know you're in-between law school quarters when...

• The most important thing you do is make a PB & J.
• You sleep in until 8 or 9 and it's still too early.
• One game: Monsters
• You put on make up and do your hair. Just about everyday!

And the best part is:

• You get to see your husband every day.

One more week! Hooray!

I'm BAAACK!!!

Big Trial is over.

Next Stop: FINALS.

Next stop: Life.

Right Now: Happy.

Weekend 1

Josh (my PC partner) is pacing back and forth in Roberto's apartment. Roberto is furiously finishing some tax documents (He's a CPA and a law student).

I am relaxing on the couch. Because we just sent our answer for big trial. The weekend is so close. And while I will be spending a large portion of it reviewing documents for big trial, I will also be in San Marcos. I'll be at my friend Michelle's graduation and I'll get to see Russ when he returns from the Father & Sons campout.

Life is Good when the weekend is pending...

Friday Flashback: April 29, 2011

Last Friday I was exhausted and about to take a final. I think I slept 3 hours that night. Stress is awful. No sleep is awful. Check out the last message I sent to Russ for proof:

I didn't even notice all my misspellings until post-test. Such a sorry text message! So grateful that this Friday I spent it hauling around the Sister Missionaries, making delicious food visiting with friends, and just now waking up from a nap.

Long Live the relaxing Fridays!!!

Purple Nails

Note: Probably not the most fascinating post ever, but it's a new experience for me. I wanted to remember it.

Believe it or not, this is the longest my fingernails have ever been.

Here's why: I've got this skin problem called eczema. That's a fancy word for having really dry skin on the inside of your joints. It has plagued me since I was a child. I would scratch my skin until I would bleed (ouch!). So my mom always kept my nails short. Then I always kept my nails short. Short as in to the nubs.

Well, then I started Practice Court. Where I would forget to eat/sleep/breath and other necessities of life (some of you know what I'm talking about). Along with this, I forgot tot cut my nails. So for the first time in my life I've had nails that I can do something with! (Although it makes it difficult to play the guitar).

Being in my 20's and having my nails for the first time has been fun. I sort of feel like Wolverine, I have these weapons ready at anytime. (Yeah, I bet most of you think this sounds weird. But remember this is my first time having sharp nails!) Last night I decided to paint them purple for spring. I guess to celebrate actually having something more than a nub to paint.

Next Stop: Finals

I finished my last mini-trial today. Now, all that is standing between me and my regular gym schedule and normal weekends are my finals. I'm so relieved I have survived this far. It has not been easy. I could NOT have done it without Russ.

My last trial ended with a humorous comment from my professor. He said:

"You are like a fetus lawyer"

I stare blankly at him.

"If we gave you your bar card today and sent you out to be a lawyer you would be...viable. You are almost a lawyer, you're almost done gestating and will soon be born."

Umm... Thank You???

Case Law Thought

If you're anything like me, you occasionally ask yourself this question: Am I a Good Person?

I ponder on it for a few days, give up, and table a ultimate decision to be decided later.

Well, I don't really think that way anymore. I think that there is a BRIGHT LINE between being a good and a bad person. But sometimes, when I haven't looked at what it takes to be a bad person for a while, I forget where that line is. Let me say again: it's a BRIGHT LINE.

Lately in law school I have been reading the most horrific and sad cases. Here's a small peek:

• Mom prostituting her 13 yr old daughter out for cocaine.
• Husband, with a history of violence, shoots his wife 4 times, a cop 4 times, and shoots at his extended family. He kills his wife and the cop. 

And this was was the worst:

• A 18 month old is brought into the emergency room by mom for a broken leg. While being treated there is a 'discharge' and it is discovered this baby has an STD, from mom's live in boyfriend. : * (

There is a clear line between right and wrong. After reading all this yesterday, I went home and Russ and I did our little phone routine of scriptures and prayer. We read Jacob 6. I won't recite it, but suffice it to say that it brought me a lot of peace about things.

If you're reading this, just know, YOU ARE A GOOD PERSON.

Food of a Law Student.

I like to eat healthy. If I could choose my diet everyday there would be a lot veggie, fruits, and fish in it. Unfortunately this is what I eat in law school:

Yes. This is a grilled cheese sandwich with a small sample of soup. 

This was a good day.

Yes, this is a piece of cold pizza on a coffee filter. 

Both found in the student lounge at the law school. 

This is a typical day.

If you're not in law school, please, eat a veggie for me. I miss them.

The 7th Time Celebrating

7 years ago today I went snowboarding with a boy I didn't know all that well. It was  Friday night. We were acquaintances. We had faked being engaged for about a month. Anyway from that first date we were inseparable! Russ asked me out the next night, Saturday night. On Sunday night he made me dinner (and kissed me!).

It went on from there. For 3 some odd years we dated. Then we got married (That anniversary is next month). But we still celebrate this date that started it all.... but this year is less than celebratory with law school and practice court.

So instead of celebrating our first date, let me tell you a story about how we celebrated this Valentine's Day.

From my last post, you can tell I was quite down about the day. After writing that post, I studied for about an hour. Then I heard a shuffle outside. This was weird because NO ONE really knows where my apartment is. Maybe 5 people know where I live. The shuffle led to a knock.
For a moment I thought: not answering it. No way. I'm not getting robbed tonight. I'm just going to sit here and be quiet until they go away.

But I decided I should at least check the eye hole. And I saw this:

Only outside, not in my front room. Anyway, I was ecstatic! 

This was so unexpected! I honestly had NO IDEA. 

But it totally made my week!!! 

He brought cupcakes from "Hey! Cupcake"

Well, 7 years ago it all started. Valentine's Day 2011 we still have some spontaneity to the relationship.

I look forward to celebrating the 8th time, next year. 

Love you Russ!

I am not Dead, just nearly dead.

Baylor is on the quarter system. Which means that I had my Constitutional Law final on Thursday and began classes on Monday.

And I'm in the dreaded Practice Court. This means (so far):

• Class from 7:45-3:30 pm
• 200+ pages to read every night
• Kicked out of class and assigned a memo if you don't know what's going on... even if you've read.
• No sleep. I've been studying from 3:30-12 or 2 am every day. Ick....
• 9 weeks of this with 5 out of the 70 students failing....

I apologize in advance if I don't blog very often. But I will try to. I have a number of blogs I'd like to write:

• Campus Radio: Why it's good to have someone edit your great ideas
• Friends who tell you the truth and why they're awesome
• How I volunteered myself on the 1st day of class... something unheard of in PC.
• My best friend is coming to visit me! YAY!

Until I have time to write about this, enjoy this picture (this is me listening to my online research training while I write this blog):

Law School Finals: The Caution

If you want to go to law school, it's great! It's fun! It has weeks of stress!!!
Yup! And this last week was just that. So here's my cautionary tale of law schools.

You may have a week where you look like this:

When you sleep 4 hours a night.

Wear the same clothes.

Eat a unhealthy diet.

This is not the glamorous side of law school. But it makes this day of rest oh so worth it.

Now I'm getting off this stupid schedule.

I slept a good 8 hours last night (1st time since... Jan. 29th?)

I'm wearing different clothes!!! YAY!

I DO NOT want to see or eat these foods for a while:

Kolaches

Pastries or Doughnuts of any kind

Papa John's Pizza

Dr Pepper (yes, I've had too many)

I also lightened my hair! Yay for hard work! Yay for a day of rest!

In Remembrance of My Workout Days- R.I.P.

With finals going on, I haven't been to the gym in a long time. Well, since last week.
Still, I'm eating more because I'm stressed with finals. I'm drinking more carbonated beverages because I'm stressed with finals.

So I want to take a moment and remember the glory days of the gym.

See this cute blister? This is from my spinning class with J. Speaking of J., last week in class he cut his hand (right in-between the knuckles). Blood was everywhere. he was in the middle of teaching class and just kept teaching. Kept pushing up some giant imaginary hill. He's so extreme. I'm always impressed.

But here I sit. Eating my second breakfast like a hobbit. About to review state-action in preparation for my Constitutional Law final tomorrow. Sigh, I'll see you again soon workouts. Someday...

Gift for a Great Man

If you don't know me well, know this: I tend to expect the best in people. I do this to a fault. I am too critical of myself or others. And I'm working on lightening up about it.

That said, I have had a great class from a professor who has exceeded my "great expectations." I have a great appreciation and respect for this man. He is dedicated to academics. He is always respectful of students. He is always willing to listen to whatever silly thing we want to tell him without getting impatient or annoyed. He also knows how to make class fun.

Who's this guy? Why, he's Professor Guinn. Grandpa Guinn. Godfather Guinn. He's my Constitutional Law professor. And tradition at Baylor says that the Constitutional Law class should give this grand professor a gift. Yes, a gift. A little 'thank you' present from his students.

Now in the past he's received some very nice and expensive ties. He's received some bottles of Wild Turkey (it's some sort of expensive alcohol. I'm not really sure what kind). But our class is a BIG class. So we could afford to do something extra special.

That's right, we bought him a shotgun. So he can exercise his 2nd amendment rights. We also gave him a gift card to Hooters (I was less than excited about this part). So he can excercise his 1st amendment right to symbolic speech.

It was a lot of fun. Anytime you can give a 90+ yr. old man a gift that brings tears to his eyes... it's worth it. 

He's a fantastic professor, someone I hope to emulate someday, and I am very grateful I got to take his class.

Thoughts on Law School

 A few months back I was talking with a friend and lamenting the challenges of law school. I'll be honest, it was a downer conversation. My friend commented that law school was not worth it. This made me think. A lot.

Because I disagreed but I couldn't articulate at the time why I disagreed.

Well, it hit me in Constitutional Law the other day. As we were discussing the history of the Equal Protection Clause. I was marveling (mentally) about the lengths people have gone to in order to protect simple freedoms. Most things that I wouldn't care about. Simple freedoms that take decades to secure.

And then it hit me. Law school is worth it because there are things worth fighting for. Giving your all to protect principles and values that are true to the core. That is worth it. The civility is worth it.

I hope I remember this as I start Practice Court in a few weeks. Practice Court is the hard part of Bayor Law School. It's an intensive training in the courtroom. Part of me is terrified. A small part of me is excited. No matter what, it will be worth it in the end.

One Down, 3 to Go

Tonight I finished my Advanced Legal Research Class. And I feel like this:

This is Sarah, one of my ballet students.
Her face = How I feel.