Legally Committed

Vote for Pam!

2008-11-09T11:20:00.002-05:00

My friend Pam Aghababian is up for a Blogging Scholarship. I love her and her blog, so I figured I would help her out. Please, check out her blog and take 5 seconds to vote for her here. She's a rockstar :)

I Forgot to Mention

2008-10-31T11:47:00.003-04:00

Even though I passed the Illinois bar exam, my old MPRE score has expired. Soooo... I've got to retake that on November 8th, before I can be admitted up there. The MPRE is no big deal, just a hassle.

Favorite quote from the study materials:

"1. The Lawyer Must Avoid Disruption
Example: Engaging in a fist fight with your adversary may be cathartic but is a violation of the MRPC."

Are you serious?? Because I thought that was okay. How else are lawyers supposed to solve problems if we can't use our fists??

I passed!!

2008-10-01T10:37:00.003-04:00

I'm in a state of total shock. I passed the Illinois bar exam!!! 12 hellish days of rollercoaster, but I squeaked through - even studying the wrong subjects! The rumor must be true about passing all the out-of-state licensed attorneys, huh!

Anyhow... time to start looking for Chicago tax jobs - help a sistah out!

p.s. - there was a cake this week; will post after company has left town.

Goodluck!

2008-09-22T10:01:00.001-04:00

I'm thinking about you, my Florida Bar peeps! It's results day, and my fingers are crossed for you!

Aside

2008-09-19T18:15:00.002-04:00

So I didn't cake today - and I won't be caking a whole lot coming up, because I've got company arriving Tuesday for two weeks.

BUT

I got my car back from the shop... and y'all... it's purty!

I finally did it!!

2008-09-18T16:35:00.010-04:00

I played with fondant today. Man... that stuff will take some getting used to! When I took it out of the fridge it was a total brick. I put it in the microwave for 10 seconds... no noticeable difference, so I put it back in for 10 more. Still no difference, but I figured I could just get it going with the heat of my hands. I cut it into portions for coloring, and then began kneading.

Mom wanted an autumn themed cake, so we wanted to have the base icing in brown. Despite what the color wheel says: red, yellow, and a little blue, do not make brown.

After adding TONS of orange, they make:

I didn't have a big problem smoothing the fondant onto our layer cake. But there were little bits of powdered sugar in it... it's like I probably should have sifted it onto my kneading area.

After smoothing it on, we added a teal border around the bottom with some acorns and leaves.

Topped it with some more leaves... I wasn't really happy with how it turned out. Our other colors were kind of neon, so I wanted to use them just as accent behind the red leaves. Not the best.

And the top view:

As mom put it, "it was a learning experience."

Marshmallow Fondant

2008-09-17T21:23:00.005-04:00

Today I made marshmallow fondant. SO much fun - and extra tasty (tastier than regular fondant, I've heard - but I haven't tried regular fondant yet). Also, it's really easy and not as messy as people make it out to be. I've also heard that you can make it in a kitchen aid with the dough hook so long as you grease the stainless steel bowl with crisco.

That's the final product wrapped up in plastic wrap. I followed this video to make it. So much fun to squish the marshmallows and knead the fondant.

... I should really be baking bread instead of icing cakes ...

More Shopping

2008-09-16T13:57:00.003-04:00

The best part about all this caking? Going to the specialty stores and browsing through fun knickknacks! Aside from ingredients, here was my loot:

Can you tell I'm gearing up for a Halloween cake. I got orange and black coloring as well as pumpkin, ghost, and bat cookie cutters. I also bought a cheap cake leveler, because I'm having a hard time using a knife to do the job.

I'm so excited for fondant!!

Best cakes to date!

2008-09-15T21:09:00.010-04:00

So we decided to try our hands at a layer cake today. We chose mocha cream for our filling.

I built a dam around the edge of stiff buttercream frosting, to hold in the mocha filling.

After making the layers, I iced the whole thing with white buttercream, and did a yellow basket weave around the sides with a rope border at the top.

Mom also did a basket weave, but topped hers with a "grass" edge.

Running out of creativity (and icing). I topped my cake as follows:

Mom trudged on and got a little bit wild (as she always does).

I think I've graduated to "Publix Cake" skill level. Impressive for one full week on the job! Still dying to play with fondant!!! Maybe that will be an upcoming post!

Search Term Update

2008-09-13T23:20:00.003-04:00

Best searches from last week that led to my blog:

"I couldn't stay away from the bar"

I don't think they were referring to the bar exam...

"I've become boring"

Seriously?! I've become boring?! Sorry guys... ;)

Cake Decorating... I've lost count...

2008-09-12T20:44:00.006-04:00

So today I hit the parchment paper with my new toys. I just wanted to play around with the different tips. While my icing was still cool (and therefore stiff), I took yet another shot at the Wilton Rose.

I think I'm getting better! Sorry the images aren't exciting. I didn't bother to dye my icing, since I'm just playing around. I've been reusing my icing and just calling it inedible. I might dye the whole pot tomorrow for images sake. ANYHOW.

I had success with these little stars (even though they aren't technically 'stars' - I was using the wrong tip). I've seen cakes iced entirely with these stars, and I'm thinking that might be the easiest way to go for now until I actually get some skillz.

And finally... I can't make a leaf to save my life.

I think it had to do with the fact that I practiced them right after doing roses, and my icing was still fairly stiff. I couldn't get the tip part... and then it just degenerated into frustrated squiggles. Who needs leaves anyhow... the flowers are what people care about!

Cake Decorating, Day 4

2008-09-11T20:54:00.003-04:00

So today, I didn't actually get any practice time in. However, I did make a run to Hobby Lobby where I racked up on some new goodies.

I bought:

Grass Tip
Leaf Tip
Medium Writing Tip
Super Fine Writing Tip
New (non-spice rack) turn table
Another book with instructions in it
Checkered Cake Pans

It took every ounce of self-restraint to keep me away from the fondant. I can't WAIT to get into it. They had all the little cookie cutters that you could do cut-outs with, and stamps to roll a pattern into it with. I really want the vine one.

Must.Perfect.Piping.Techniques.First! (else I'll never do them and just play with fondant!)

Cake Decorating, Day 3

2008-09-10T15:29:00.004-04:00

Today, we took a break from cake baking to focus on practicing our techniques - namely roses and basket weaving. Oh the patience!! Again, after a few minutes, my roses became droopy. Next time, I'll mix some powdered sugar in to the mix to stiffen it up.

Since we weren't using cakes, there weren't any exciting pictures. After I was already tired of it, I went back and did a quick basket weave to take a picture - you can see how careless I got toward the end.

And mom in action:

Cake Decorating, Day 2

2008-09-09T22:36:00.005-04:00

Now that I know I can get icing onto a cake using a butter knife and ziplock, I decided it was time to make life a little easier (and more interesting). First thing this morning, mom and I headed to the cake store to buy some pastry bags, icing tips, rose nails, and yes - a huge HUGE tub of icing so that we could get right down to business. We also bought two books with pictures for inspiration.

Back home, mom got busy baking more cakes. Once cooled, I used my new spatula to slater on some icing. Oddly enough, I found the spatula much more unwieldy than the butter knife. Also, the icing was more stiff than yesterday's so I ended up with some crumbs in the icing. The final product?

Not the prettiest cake, but much more experimental. I shell piped the bottom, tried my hand at some rope around the bottom edge, an oversized version of cornelli lace, two zigzag puff leaves, and of course four alleged Wilton Roses.

OMG those roses!!! Well, I guess the main problem was that the icing was getting hot in my hands, so it became more fluid (and messy), and then a droopy mess to work with. I haven't got the knack of it yet. For the first several attempts I had my tip upside down... by the time I realized and flipped it, the icing was getting runny. The four above were the best I could pull off.

Mom also tried her hand at some roses.

She wouldn't claim title to her masterpiece, instead attributing it to Mr. Van Gogh. It may not be a looker, but I'd call that a vast improvement from Day 1, no?

What's that out of left field?

2008-09-09T21:57:00.007-04:00

While I wait for my bar results (with very little hope, unfortunately), why not take a foray into something totally different.

As you all know, I've studied to become a tax attorney - a profession that (arguably) leaves little room for artistic self-expression. After a recent career chat with a friend, I decided to find an outlet. I've always been interested in cake decorating. I'm not talking about your average grocery store bakery cake; I'm talking about Charm City Cakes, Colette's Cakes, etc. That said, I've never actually attempted to decorate a cake before.

I tried to sign up for a Wilton class, but the woman at the store neglected to tell me that I had to preregister. I found out the day of, that the classes were full, and I'd have to wait until October. I'm already waiting until October for bar results, so I decided to take matters into my own hands regarding cake decorating.

Without further ado - what follows is my cake decorating self-education.

Day One

I've enlisted my mother into this journey for some companionship. Our mission on our first day was merely to coat a cake in smooth icing and to experiment with icing. We had not yet purchased any tools. I turned a spice rack into my turn table, used a ziplock bag for my pastry bag, and a butter knife for smoothing. End result?

Okay, so first things first, we can all agree my hand writing can use a little work. Given my tools, I thought it was okay. Mom's cake turned out as follows:

Yes, her hand is covered in icing... why? Because she doesn't know how to use a pastry bag.

And yes, you can see we're using store bought icing. BUT, as I said, this was on a whim - no tools! The cake, on the other hand, was from scratch. I should've taken a picture when we cut into it later that night - the inside had not cooked. Anyhow! Luckily the dogs were happy to help out, and the remaining cake was tossed in the garbage.

Yes, that's icing on her skirt - freshly (and promptly) cleaned by dog tongue.

The Last Supper

2008-07-25T21:41:00.002-04:00

So today was my last day studying in Alabama before flying up to Illinois. It was not as productive as I had hoped, because I had some other errands to handle. First, I had to call a headhunter back about a potential job, and second, um yeah... packing.

I'm still not finished packing. It's incredibly difficult to pack for 10 days of craziness. We're talking Chicago, bar exam, Miami, Melbourne, wedding, and back. That is, back for four days before flying out to Seattle. It's different climates, and events, and then all the side items - ID, bar ticket, wedding gift, etc.

Oh, and a little TMI for the internet, I got my period. Yes! The afternoon before a day stuck on an airplane - love it! I suppose it could be worse, I could have gotten it Tuesday during the exam. Sigh... I can't wait for Tuesday night! Party in my hotel room! :)

Feeling Pumped

2008-07-23T12:59:00.003-04:00

God I'm a rollercoaster. Confidence is back.

I covered suretyship, I'm sure I've got tax down, and at least I had admin law back in law school (besides, tax law is largely admin law, right?). I also finished real property and torts (two of those MBE surprises). Then did practice essays for contracts, real property, and torts. That leaves only con law, crim pro & law, and evidence untouched. I think I'll skip evidence, because it doesn't make for a meaty essay. Con law has always been the hardest subject for me to grasp, so I'm better of skipping it, and concentrating on the hot topics: commercial paper, secured transactions, Illinois civil procedure, and equity. So that's precisely what I'm going to do. Hit the crim law elements, rely on my memory of procedure, and then go firmly plant the big boys.

In the mean time, it's lunch!

"2 weeks to study for the Illinois bar"

2008-07-22T18:51:00.001-04:00

That's a search term of someone who found their way to my site. Looks like I'm not the only one! To whoever you are... WE CAN DO IT!

The Problem With NOT Using Commercial Bar Review

2008-07-22T18:41:00.004-04:00

*Sigh* So I finally realized that MBE subjects can be tested on the MEE. Then today, I pulled out another source that says admin law, tax, and suretyship can be on the MEE or Illinois Essays, one. Three more subjects?!?! Nooooo!!!

Admin Law - I took the class in law school. All I remember is that it felt like con law. I'm going to play the odds on this one and skip it.

Tax - I thought for sure, since I had an LL.M. in tax that this wouldn't be an issue. I skimmed the outline of the text and realized that I know nothing about super basic income tax. I can't point out an above-the-line from below-the-line deduction, because I normally just pick up a 1040. Regardless, I'm not going to bother with this one either.

Suretyship - This one I think I should take a stab at. I only know two things about this subject: (1) Statute of Frauds applies, and (2) the difference between a guarantor and a surety is that sureties are primarily liable and guarantors are only liable once you've made a demand on the primary person. Yeah... that's it.

Hopefully this post will be a calming influence for the rest of you sitting for the IL bar. If you even sat through a lecture on one of these subjects, you're ahead of the game (or at least ahead of me)!

Wills & Trusts

2008-07-20T18:38:00.003-04:00

I covered wills and trusts today. That marks the official coverage of every non-MBE subject. I think the MBE subjects can be on the MEE, so I suppose I'll review those too if I have time. However, tomorrow is being devoted to practice. I'm going to do two essays on every subject I've covered and make note of any trouble subjects.

A classmate of mine is sitting for the California bar this summer. He took Florida in February, and New York and Connecticut last July. Considering that his circumstances are similar to mine (i.e. he just finished exams two weeks ago), I gotta wonder how he has the energy!! I want some of what he's taking! I'm only taking two exams within the year, and I'm burned to the core.

Anyhow - it's almost time for a dinner break.
Keep Chugging!

One Week Crunch

2008-07-19T16:27:00.003-04:00

Federal Jurisdiction & Procedure and Personal Property... check and check!

Starting to get a little nervous. I fly to Chicago a week from today, and although I've read several subjects, I've not done much practical work and all my subjects seem to be blurring together. This whole bar exam in two weeks may not have been the smartest $2,000 investment I ever made.

At least I don't have to deal with the MBE, and the MPT seems like a joke from an outside view (and worth only 7% of the score). C'mon motivation - don't make me wish I took that $2,000 and went on vacation!

Goodbye Florida Fleas; Hello Alabama Mosquitoes

2008-07-16T18:27:00.003-04:00

Civ Pro today - what a yawn. Apparently it's highly tested, so it got a whole day to itself.

I got my seat assignment - not bad - only half a mile from my hotel. They're crazy about sunglasses, pens, and pencils. I mean, they must have said that they were prohibited at least 15 times. I mean - how is someone going to cheat by bringing in a pencil? Have the FRE carved into the side of one?

Anyhow, as a break I took a swim. Someone must be cracking the whip on me, because a hoard of mosquitoes came and got me - 3 bites on my face/neck (the only part out of the water). Jeez bugs - I deserve a LITTLE break.

I'm getting excited about visiting Chicago. It's been so long since I've been up there! 8 or 9 years at least. I'm not stressed about this exam (yet), so I'm hoping this trip is an exam/vacation. I've not put the books down in what seems like years now. I finished exams a week ago and hopped right into this.

The Beginning

2008-07-14T12:25:00.001-04:00

I started studying today. I read the outline for commercial paper and half of the agency outline. This afternoon I'm going to finish agency and work on essays & model answers for those two subjects. I'm beginning to think this is totally doable.

Keep the positive energy coming!

11 days and counting

It's official

2008-07-03T12:38:00.001-04:00

I haven't started studying yet.

I've got my last law school exam on Monday, and I'm going to turn my paper in that same day. That gives me two full weeks to study.

Miracles are possible, right?

Left Field

2008-06-26T22:10:00.001-04:00

Did I tell you I'm taking the Illinois Bar? Yeah... haven't started studying for that yet - T-minus one month and counting. Why am I not panicked?

A sign that I need to post?

2008-04-10T07:48:00.001-04:00

In the top 5 search terms to get to my site?

"I'm incompetent"

I'm flattered... really...

haha!!

Another Bar Exam?

2007-11-25T20:45:00.001-05:00

So I've been thinking about taking another bar exam, since I'm still in school and I'm job hunting. If I get a job, I'll take the bar of that state. Since I don't have a job lined up, I was considering going ahead and registering for a state that I'd like to live in. BUT some states would just make me take their state parts instead of taking the MBE again, so I was thinking about those states. The top two contenders are Illinois and Georgia (i.e. Chicago or Atlanta). I'd really like to go to Boston, but I just don't feel like sitting through the MBE again, especially since I'll be taking a class and writing my thesis in the summer.

My life is so up in the air... anyone hiring?

Two bits of news

2007-11-10T09:47:00.001-05:00

#1 - I got sworn in this week, Tuesday to be exact. Thanks to my friend who is a notary - she really made it sweet, brought in cookies and everything, and we did it at study group with my friends around. Good times... now to scrounge up $22.

#2 - Just a funny (?) story. I know anxiety levels are high for those of you awaiting the California bar results, but I still want to share this story. A friend of mine took the WA bar. Results came back - maybe it's been three weeks ago now. So they post them online and you look for your name. She went online the day they were posted and her name wasn't there. She freaked out of course and was all bummed. You know what happened? They had accidentally left off like 100 names from the list - apparently people who were living out of state. Can you imagine?! Talk about intentional infliction of emotional distress!! Poor girl - she's recovered now.

I feel loved

2007-09-26T09:02:00.000-04:00

I guess people really cared how I did on the bar. My blog hits skyrocketed on the 17th. At least, that's how I'd like to interpret it.

Anyhow, the job hunt began in earnest yesterday. Like I say every autumn, I'd like to have a job lined up by Christmas. But this time I really mean it! I'm probably going to buy a place wherever I move ('cause I need a patch of grass for Rainer), and I don't want to be jumping into the real estate market at the last second.

The options aren't great so far - I feel a force field trying to keep me in Florida... which is fine, I guess. It means I don't have to take another bar exam.

I did it!

2007-09-17T11:23:00.000-04:00

I passed! Congratulations to everyone else who passed.

Celebrations are cut short, as I've got to take my dog to the vet.

On my way home from school to get my file number, I stopped by the grocery store to get a sixpack - I figured if I fail, I'll drink it... and if I pass, I'll drink it too! Anyone in Gainesville is more than welcome to come over for a beer tonight!

Oops

2007-09-17T08:31:00.000-04:00

I'm sitting in class, and realized that I forgot my file number at home... it's going to be a loooong day.

I just realized

2007-09-10T16:46:00.000-04:00

Bar results come out a week from today. I probably won't know for another week after that, because I don't remember my file number. Oh well, opening a letter is more exciting anyhow! Ooo the tension (funny, I can joke about it now - I don't feel crazy apprehension)

Edit: I guess I'll be looking online afterall. My friend said you just look it up by the number that's on all the papers they send to you. I've got tons of those papers lying around.

I couldn't resist!

2007-08-31T07:35:00.000-04:00

"Sock on Nase" by Liney:

"Indoctrinate 'em Young" courtesy of Auntie Pam:

"Sleeping with Tongue Out" by Liney:

I'm having issues lining everything up... it's too early on a Friday morning...

I got lonely

2007-08-05T11:48:00.000-04:00

I missed the camaraderie so much, that I had to go adopt a new friend. Let me introduce to you Rainer Von Schnitzel:

(pronounced "Rye-nur")

Pre-Exam Exercises

2007-08-02T15:58:00.001-04:00

What's so odd is that's the same exercises I did before the exam. I'll let you know in a couple months if they paid off. Must be a Florida thing...

Ya know what?

2007-07-30T08:46:00.000-04:00

I miss the whole camaraderie. Friends in person and online have dispersed. Not that I wish I was studying again... but still...

Impressions

2007-07-27T08:05:00.000-04:00

I thought I'd jot down some comments about the test as a whole before they fade from memory (and boy are they fading - I slept in until 7:30 and felt like the Queen of Sheba!). I guess I'll just write it down in one very long post (namely for anyone taking the Feb. '08 Florida bar exam who was just as clueless as I was). Alrighty...

Arrival & Hotel:

If you're the nervous type, I really recommend driving down Sunday. I found my Monday to be pretty hectic. We arrived, then of course you want to hug and share some bitching with all the close friends you haven't seen since graduation. Then it was dinner, and I found that I never got to settle in or pretend to flip through notes to make myself feel better. The Hyatt is a great location - a straight walk (past a bar which is hoppin' after the test) to the center. They offer a shuttle for $3, but unless you've got some reason that you need to take a car, it was a relaxing walk that lasted maybe 3 minutes max. There's a hotel closer (right across the street)... I think it was an Embassy Suites. I was pleased with the Hyatt. Ran into people in the lobby, could avoid them in my room. The bed was super comfy. When you book, ask for the "bar exam rate" which is 130 (they increase the rates depending on occupancy, so the rates during the exam are higher than if you choose to stay an extra day). Also when budgeting, remember that you have to pay for parking. A tip - valet at the hotel is more expensive than parking at the city garage around the corner. Pull up to the valet, let them take your bags, then ask for the garage - it's literally one turn, and you save mad parking money (it still totaled about $28 for 3 days). Park on the 3rd level of the garage, and you're at a covered walk way that connects to the hotel - easy as pie.

Exam Day 1:

So I was clueless what to do aside from arrive at the center with my little piece of paper. Here's what happens. When you first come in, you check your bags (don't bring a bag - there is really no reason for it - promise! If you bring your laptop, ditch the carrying case... bring the unit and cord in your hands - makes life easier). Then you take your ticket into a room (follow the crowd) where you trade your signed ticket for a photo ID badge. You take your photo ID badge and your stuff up the escalators one level, and then you divide hand writers from laptop users. This was probably the most chaotic part of the morning. No one really directs you were to go. If you wear a polo shirt, like I did, everyone will ask you directions. If you felt like being mean - this would be a great opportunity. Anyhow, the laptop line is crazy long, and the hand writers feel like V.I.P. In the area before you go through the metal detectors, there are tables and chairs where you can read over your notes. Then toss them in the bin before you go through the detectors. They're pretty strict on what you can bring in. I brought my stuff in a ziplock and was left alone, but the line next to me had a cop who made you throw away every piece of paper (even the envelope your ticket came in). I'll recommend what you should bring below.

Here's a big tip. There is no reason to arrive early, because once you get through the metal detector, you're crammed into another holding area - laptop users in one, hand writers in the other. It's hot, crowded, and close to bathrooms (which I'll discuss later). There's enough nervous energy to blast the entire convention center into orbit. I'd say, if you're getting there early because you just can't believe what I say, find a spot against the wall, pop in your earplugs, and close your eyes. A little after 8, they'll let you into the testing room. Prepare to be shocked. It's like walking into a room designed by Nazis - no seriously, it's Nazi architecture. Big white columns, high ceiling, and a podium down in the front center (which I couldn't see - but the voice over the speaker phone kept mentioning). The number on your photo ID is your seat number. Computer people are all on the far left, writers on the right. Aside from the line to get through the metal detector, I couldn't tell you what the ratio of computer to hand writers was, because I couldn't see any computers from where I sat. Seriously big room! There were more than 3,000 of us (because my badge number was in the 3,000s).

So you sit two people to a table, facing the front. There are digital timers at the front of the room which are the official timers. If you're nearsighted, bring your glasses. The room is cold, but my adrenaline kept me warm. They go through all the instructions with you, finger printing, etc. Overall, pretty painless, my only complaint was getting there early and being in the contained area close to the bathrooms. On that note:

Bathrooms

First of all, they say the bathrooms inside the testing room don't open until 9am - when the test starts. That's not true, people were using them at 8:45. I do know, however, that a friend of mine was told she couldn't use them (but everyone else was - so that proctor must have been a jerk).

Second... do whatever you can to avoid the restroom. It is a bona fide warzone. I didn't go during the test, but on my lunch break, I thought it would be a good idea. I hate to be explicit, but we all know how crazy some people's nerves are before the test and how much coffee people have been drinking. Not everyone found their 48 hour zen... and I think they all got together to share their woes in the bathroom. Especially true the first day - so use at your own risk. I walked in, and thought I was about to lose my lunch all over the place, and felt sick after walking out of there for a few minutes.

I don't know what to recommend. The second day was better. I went on my lunch break again - this time timed so as to avoid the crowd. There was still a girl yakking in the stall next to me, but I guess since it was less crowded, it wasn't as intense. Just breath shallow, put your sleeve over your nose, and go as fast as you can.

Enough.

What to Bring into the Exam:

I ended up putting my stuff into a clear ziplock, and it made the metal detector process cake. I just handed the baggie to the cop, and walked through.

Something long sleeved to layer - it is cold. It was even colder the second day.

Earplugs - even if you don't normally use them, just in case.
Pencils - they provided us with two.

Pens - they told us that they preferred the use of black ink, but that you'd still be graded if you used blue.
Room key, credit card, and drivers license.

Learn from Our Mistakes:

Don't forget your external harddrive.

You'll either end up making a Monday night trip to Best Buy like two friends of mine, or

You'll end up handwriting surrounded by computer users, because your seat number is assigned based on how you registered. My friend who forgot her external harddrive wanted me to tell you that she decided to handwrite, and preferred it. Being surrounded my computer users she said it looked stressful, people didn't know how to log off, when they could turn their computers off, or realize that they'd have to upload their answers after the exam, but before 10pm, and probably paying for the internet.

You have to have internet to upload your answers - in the Hyatt that means $10... and you can't share it with someone else.

Really do bring earplugs - even if you don't normally use them. You could be like the guy who was seated next to the girl who cried through the whole exam, or the one that hums prayers under her breath. You never know.

Y'all have any mistakes to share?

Pass or Fail

2007-07-26T22:03:00.001-04:00

Pass or fail - we pushed through it all.

Still Hungover

2007-07-26T16:14:00.001-04:00

I'm back home... in one piece... sleepy and hungover. Updates later!

Yawn

2007-07-23T06:51:00.001-04:00

Went to bed at 10... rolled over and I was still awake at 12... gotta run to the grocery store and post office before I hit the road... it's going to be a long day - er... week.

Edit: !$*&! %&@!^ @&!*$!!!! My apartment cut off the water WITHOUT my statutory 12 hour notice. I had to call a friend, haul it to her house with my towel, bed head, and unbrushed mouth. Thank god for friends... of all the days people... of all the days.

Goodluck!

2007-07-22T21:37:00.000-04:00

I may not be a god fearing woman, but...

I Couldn't Stay Away

2007-07-22T18:34:00.000-04:00

Of course I couldn't...

me: no biggie - I was just curious like if you had to put your pencils in a ziplock or something crazy I didn't know about
Friend: but the pink sheet says no food, drink, bags, purses, fannybags, alarm watches phones or beepers. it says to bring pencils, a black pen and a watch, but it doesn't say how to bring it.
me: no fanny bags???
Friend: I know, right!
me: haha
Friend: (it actually says waist/belt pouches)

You better leave your fanny packs at home, kids.

The Night Before

2007-07-22T18:04:00.000-04:00

It's the night before I leave for the test, and I'm clueless. I dragged out a suitcase, dropped my entrance ticket in, and that's it. I never thought about the practical stuff... I went to school and printed out a map to get to the hotel. I'm not mapping out wherever the test is, because I'm assuming that there will be hordes of people walking there, and I can just kind of hop into the river and float there.

We can't bring anything into the test center, so I'm tempted to just throw my credit card & house key in my back pocket and leave it at that, but I know I'll end up bringing my laptop, cellphone, etc.

I sold a book on amazon.com and it pissed me off, because I don't have time for that now! I've gotta hit the post office and grocery store before leaving town. I made more off the book than I bought it for, so it's worth it... I guess... If I don't pass I'll be needing that extra $20 dollars. Hell, I'll need it anyway - I'm still a starving student. I'm heading into my 21st year of school... can you believe that?

Anyway - if I don't hop online tomorrow (although I probably will), consider this my farewell post.

Good luck to all of you across the nation.

Sickos

2007-07-22T08:24:00.000-04:00

Is everyone sick or am I hypersensitive? Regardless, I'd like to take this opportunity to place a free advertisement for Airborne - the effervescent immune system defense. Please, if you're going to be in that room in Tampa with me - take your vitamins! Oh, and while I'm making demands... don't shake your leg during the test.

Did you guys know that rumor has it that we face each other diagonally? Who thought that was a good idea? I guess it's a complex seating system to shove every bar examinee in the state into one room.

Legally Committed

2007-07-22T07:56:00.001-04:00

I was expecting this to happen a lot sooner, but I just received my first:

"How to have someone legally committed"

Google search. I hope, at a minimum, that I helped you diagnose the candidate.

Yikes!

2007-07-21T20:50:00.000-04:00

I ran into a fellow bar studier leaving the library tonight (go figure). The exchange went something like this:

Him: Hey
Me: Oh hey - what's up?
Him: Headed home, when are you leaving?
Me: Right now...
Him: What?
Me: Wait - what are you talking about?
Him: Tampa - when are you leaving for Tampa?
Me: Oooooooooooohh!
Him: Did you forget or something?
Me: No... just been trying to block it out of my memory. I'm leaving Monday, you?
Him: I'm leaving tomorrow morning - you never know what can happen.

AHHHHHHH!!!!

Reality REALLY set in... tomorrow?? So I called my friend I'm carpooling with and said "Oh, we can print out directions on Sunday... ... ... I mean, tomorrow."

AHHHHHHH!!!!

*rocking in the fetal position*

Aggressive Studying

2007-07-21T18:53:00.000-04:00

A lot of my notes have begun to include obscenities. Good stress relief!

I'm there... I'm there...

Noooooooooo!!!

2007-07-21T17:21:00.000-04:00

Boyfriend: [nose wink] 65 hours to the bar... fun fun
me: thanks... thanks for that
me: go back to work
Boyfriend: heh heh
Boyfriend: yes ma'am

Contemplating Lunch...

2007-07-21T12:36:00.001-04:00

Friend (12:35:32 PM): I'm outlining contracts answers... i'm so ready for a breach
Friend (12:35:34 PM): break!!!
Friend (12:35:36 PM): DAMN IT!
Me (12:35:31 PM): haha... oh no you didn't!

Slow News Day

2007-07-20T14:40:00.000-04:00

I don't really have anything interesting to talk about today. I did another 100 MBEs this morning and went over the answers. Realized I still sucked at con law, so I've been reading up on it. I'm thinking about doing some PMBR questions just on con law (oh the horror!). Then I think I'll switch over to Florida con law which is a perfect transition into tomorrow - back to Florida law with a simulated exam.

Actually a pretty nice little Saturday, we're going to go to Home Depot. Yeah, buy some wallpaper, maybe get some flooring, stuff like that. Maybe Bed, Bath, & Beyond, I don't know, I don't know if we'll have enough time.

Musical Interlude

2007-07-19T21:13:00.000-04:00

After reading this post, I had to put this here:

It's been my song of the summer. Then I remembered my bar prep CD that never got published to third parties. Sorry for those of you I meant to distribute it to... I think you can understand my lack of action now. Anyhow, here are some highlights from it:

I'm bouncing off the walls again
and I'm looking like a fool again
waking up on the bathroom floor
pull myself back together just to fall once more

You make me com-
You make me complete
You make me completely miserable

Stuck to a chair
Watchin' this story about me
Everything goes by so fast
Making my head spin

My rendition of the Daft Punk song... I spent my entire night on this... haha

and finally...

WHOA LIVIN' ON A PRAYER!

(and I wish you all a hair day like that!)

I'm a Posting Machine

2007-07-19T17:06:00.000-04:00

So yeah... I'm procrastinating between each essay I do. But whatever. I was just talking to a friend about the exam, and we were laughing about how the schools provide lunches for their alumni. In fact, our school goes so far as to provide a career counselor for our last minute career placement needs. Umm... yeah... 'cause that's totally what I'm going to be thinking about on my lunch break. Please...

Also

2007-07-19T14:26:00.000-04:00

I must have a lot of company in the looney bin. I'm getting crazy hits with crazy search terms from what appear to be strung out bar studiers. It appears that people want confirmation that the PMBR session "sucked," that they're not abnormal in running through numerous highlighters, and I've ascertained that the most feared subject is apparently trusts.

I'm Incompetent

2007-07-19T14:06:00.000-04:00

After being stood up by my lunch dates, the hunger is too much, so I decide a friend and I decide to go grab some lunch. After a brief miscommunication with the cashier over whether there were eggs on my friend's salad, we successfully eat our lunch. Upon leaving, I notice that someone parked their huge van crooked, so as to make it hard for me to back out, and difficult to get inside without hitting their car. I curse them before I realize that "they" are sitting inside their van with the windows down. Damnit! I pretend like it didn't just happen, put my drink on top of the car, and edge between the cars, squish my hand between my door and the side of their car so as not to bump them, shut the door and begin the slow process of backing out (with someone waiting behind me).

Ugh... so I get out, and start to pull forward when someone honks. This might just throw me over the edge. I look back and the person who had been waiting is motioning to the top of my car. The drink. Damnit! I can't function anymore. That's a lifetime first, but now I feel totally incompetent.

I get home and registration materials for next year are in my mailbox. I just can't handle thinking out a schedule this week. I can't think beyond Tuesday... I really can't. The school I'm going to next year put me on hold and dropped my call. I finally got my immunizations dealt with (for the third time this summer), and classes will wait. I'll probably end up in the history of Mozambique's legal system.

HELP!!!

Morning Conversation

2007-07-19T10:41:00.000-04:00

This is what happens when you try to speak after doing 100 MBEs before 10am.

me: Paaaam my brain hurts
Pam: i'm sorry... just a few days until freedom, though. What are you going to do to celebrate?
me: move
Pam: HAHAHA... you're kidding
me: no - I'm moving out on saturday - new lease starts the following friday. So it's me, mom, my bar with no A/C & a Uhaul
me: omg
me: my bar
me: my CAR
Pam: hahah
me: see? I'm seriously disturbed
Pam: you were seriously disturbed beofre this test ;)
me: that was mean!
Pam: i meant it in the sweetest way
me: haha

Edit:

Pam: i mean, look who's talking

Sigh

2007-07-18T21:02:00.000-04:00

Despite the fact that I don't want to live there, I should've taken the Alabama bar exam.* I mean, I don't really know where I want to live, but a 128 to pass is sooooo sweet. What is it, an average of 54%? Actually, I should've gone to Wisconsin... I like winters and you don't even have to take a bar exam if you go to state school. Can you imagine the vacation you could be on right now using up the last of your student loans?? Hello Tahiti!

*I was born and raised there - it's not a completely random choice.

Hotel Confirmation

2007-07-18T16:46:00.001-04:00

Reality set in when I got an email from the hotel in Tampa. Not like it hadn't set in before - but I enjoy the constant reminders. Especially reminders of the bills - those always make me smile.

My "freedom" has officially started. I kicked it off with some kind of caramel drink from Starbucks (I'd never tried it before, but the woman said it was the #1 seller - and so far, pretty tasty). I now have tonight and 4 full days to cement what I hope I've learned.

So, let go
Jump in
Oh well, what you waiting for?
It's all right
'Cause there's beauty in the breakdown

PMBR Review

2007-07-17T19:13:00.000-04:00

So I guess it's worthwhile. I always feel like I'm wasting my time when they belabor things I know well... and the breaks when I could really keep going. Plus I hate that they're in the morning when my brain is sharp, and then they let me out at 4pm, when I have to push to keep chugging. But it's good to hear things over and over and to see why I missed questions (even when it's reading over the word "not" in a page long fact pattern towards the end of the 100q set... grrr...).

For some reason, I reverted back to 10 year old status and started giggling every time the old man said "panties" even though it was during a totally inappropriate question to be laughing at. It's just one of those words... I'll never grow up...

I'm in PMBR

2007-07-17T10:31:00.001-04:00

We have internet... this is bad... very bad!! Of course, the first time I bring a computer to class, we have internet!

Random Comment

2007-07-16T19:09:00.000-04:00

The PMBR instructions said "Mark your choice of an answer with a single heavy, dark line" (emphasis in original). So I did exactly that, even though what they provided us with was a bubble sheet. Then the correct answer sheet they provide is a bubble sheet with the exact same instructions at the top, but with the answers completely bubbled in.

And people wonder why we have problems in Florida with hanging chads, dimpled/pregnant chads, etc.?*

*I was not registered to vote in Florida for the 2000 election, but I'm just sayin'.

Whew!

2007-07-16T18:51:00.001-04:00

Thank god that one's over! I thought I was going to die around question 180. As I turned to the last page of questions, the text was kind of blurry and I started to wonder if I was going blind or if the print on the page was a little smeared. I decided on the former once I finished the test and couldn't see beyond two rows in front of me. This profession isn't easy on the eyes. I succumbed to glasses this year on account of my eternal seat in front of my laptop. At least I've always wanted glasses! (They're a fashion accessory!)

Anyway, the test didn't FEEL as painful as people had scared me for. I FELT like I was answering along a-okay. Then I got home to grade it. I marked my first column and only got 4 questions right. Wow, I thought, I'm not even going to make it to 20% on this baby. Then, I awoke from my post-exam stupor and realized I was grading my morning answers against the afternoon score sheet. Oops! I'd like to say that I got an 80% when I flipped it over, but I didn't. I won't get into scores, because my friends read this, and I don't like getting into all that, but I did better than the 20% I originally thought!

Wow - not only does this stuff make your eyes go to hell, but common sense has taken a back seat too. I mean, I made it through more than one column of grading the wrong thing before I realized my error. You guys had me scared so bad about it!

Alright - break over. Time to get back to evidence.

To the people who've taken the PMBR 3-day course... should I bother going to the two days of review?

Final Practice Test

2007-07-16T06:53:00.000-04:00

I'm sitting down for my last practice MBE. As another blogger noted, this will be the last time I sit down for 200 questions in one sitting until next Tuesday. I'm looking forward to getting 50% right and having my ego crushed, yet again.

Another Exciting Day

2007-07-15T09:05:00.000-04:00

I don't know what to do with myself this last week. Continue to follow the paced program? Focus on the MBE? Focus on Florida law? Keep pounding away at my weaknesses? Skip the PMBR I've paid for? Suck it up and spend 3 days 9-4 in the class?

I really prefer structure... so I think I'll just keep with the paced program, stick out the PMBR as long as I can, and spend at least an hour a day on torts or con law (my weaknesses).

This really really sucks. If I fail, I'm going to be a paralegal... you know those good ones make more money than starting government attorneys!

Fake Out

2007-07-14T20:47:00.000-04:00

So today's test was a bit of a fake out. We got there, and they only had 3 hours allotted for us. The teacher basically said - do as many of the 3 essays/100 MCs as you can... try to write out at least one of the essays. I thought I'd be pushed for time, but I finished my MCs and was able to issue spot two of the three essays (the third I had seen before). So I guess all's well that ends well. The questions were poorly worded and hopefully not representative of what the real thing will be like, but at least I sat through another practice test - practice, practice, practice.

Other than that I've just been focusing on crim & civ pro. Sometimes my life is so exciting, I'm scared I'll make all of you jealous.

Yet Another Practice Test

2007-07-14T07:19:00.000-04:00

The school is throwing another practice test today. This will be three days in a row. But like I said, after this, I'm done with Florida law. I need to get back to the multistate, because I've still got a couple demons with con law & torts.

There's really nothing else to talk about - haha. I mean, I have no life anymore.

Baby Dogs!

2007-07-13T08:25:00.001-04:00

Everyone who knows me, knows that annually, typically in the summer (although this spring I was pretty bad with my co-workers at the court), I get puppy fever. I tell myself that I can't get one yet, because my life isn't settled, and I move around a lot... but that doesn't stop me from looking.

Over my morning coffee, I'm generally on petfinder.com checking out the latest cuties. THESE are the latest cuties and I want BOTH of them. I'm sure the link will be broken in less than a week, because I hope they get adopted real quick.

Puppy fever is especially bad this year, because several of my friends have succumbed. There's a new chihuahua and a new black lab joining my friend network. I'm hoping that I can go play with their puppies and stave off my puppy fever for another season. No little puppy wants to be stuck in my little apartment next year.

*sigh* Time for another 6 hour practice test. Catch you on the flip side.

I Survived!

2007-07-12T16:30:00.000-04:00

So it wasn't so bad. I got a passing score. I sure hope the real thing is like that (I know, I know, but I can dream). I think the Florida parts of the bar exam are going to carry me through, and help me out if my MBE isn't so hot.

I'm listening to the online review lectures - two of the three lecturers are really bad - I mean laughably bad. I still listen, 'cause I'm always scared they'll give away the meaning to life or something. Alas...

Alright, back to slugging through these reviews. I've got two more of these simulated tests - they're both supposed to be done Saturday, so I'm going to do one tomorrow and one Saturday. Then I'm going to leave Florida law until a week from now.

Practice Test Today

2007-07-12T07:34:00.000-04:00

I'm about to head over to the law school to take a practice exam. I've got one today and one Saturday with a day in between to crawl into the fetal position and rock. Today, I'll find out if all the essay outlining I've been doing has paid off and helps me write some essays.

In other news, a friend of mine from Miami, and fellow bar studier, drove up here to study until D-day. It's good to have him up here, even though we're all nutty around this time. I'm hoping all the nervous energy is a good thing that'll keep us buzzing for another week and a half.

What Up St. Louis?

2007-07-11T07:51:00.000-04:00

This post has nothing to do with St. Louis except to say hi to my readers in Missouri. There are a handful of you, which is weird, because I don't know anyone in St. Louis. But of course, the more the merrier - so hello & welcome.

I stumbled onto this which made me laugh. It's so true - we have this one guy in Florida who is nuts with the acronyms. He'll make one out of anything by just taking the first letters of the elements and mushing them into a word. My favorite was: "sad breaak tad, charm t"

'Cause I'm totally going to remember that and what each letter is for - aircraft piracy?? "Dipno" was also a classic - you had to remember the D, I & P... and the N&O are really the word "no." I think I'll stick with contextual memory (which is also scary!).

Bar Video Game

2007-07-10T18:24:00.001-04:00

Some kid had a funny thought. Random & worth sharing.

Getting to Know You

2007-07-09T20:07:00.000-04:00

Linda at Pataphysicalscience tagged me with a ...I don't even know what it is. I've also never done one of these before, but I'm along for the ride.

THE RULES

1. We have to post these rules before we give you the facts.
2. Players start with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
3. People who are tagged write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.
4. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.

So here are eight random facts that you may or may not know about me: (notice how uncreative I am, as I mimic Linda)

(1) I've starred in a television commercial.

Okay, "star" might not be the right word. When I was younger, I played the daughter in a Steakout commercial. It aired in Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, and (allegedly) Mississippi. Wow I'm practically ready for the red carpet.

(2) I volunteered in Estonia working with pre-teens.

And as an aside, I got to go to a Rolling Stones concert there. I had a great time, but it was definitely another look at life. Plus I remember the whole time the program director was trying to marry me off to a local... meddling much?

(3) An international family, really.

I only have one sister, but she lives in Italy.

(4) I'm addicted to hot pink.

I've got like 5 hot pink shirts (various neck cuts), my friends gave me a hot pink body pillow for my last birthday, my laptop case is hot pink, and my bed sheets and comforter are hot pink (like, had-to-be-bought-in-the-13-year-old-girl-section hot pink). I can't get enough!

(5) I'm also addicted to reality television.

I can't miss an episode of Amazing Race or Survivor. Now Big Brother has started during bar study... not good, because it comes on like 3 times a week. The sacrifices I have to make (not the tv show, the studying - hah!). If I fail, it's CBS' fault.

(6) I am weary of online banking & credit.

This one is a favorite point of my boyfriend's to make fun of. I wrote checks up until about a year and a half ago (and I still pay all my bills with checks through the mail) - yes, I was that person in line in front of you at the grocery store writing out a check and holding you up. I finally got the hang of my debit card, and just recently got a credit card - about 3 months ago. It makes me nervous when I don't have paper bills - I hate all this electronic business. Yep, you guessed right, that means I'm taking my bar exam on paper.

(7) I'm going back to school next year.

Most of you know this already... but it's getting down to the bottom of the barrel here. Yes, after all of this studying for the bar, I'll be right back in the game after a two week break. LL.M. here I come!

(8) ...drum roll please... My first premolar bicuspid (#12) is backwards

TMI? Well, it's not gross or anything. Too far back to be noticeable, and even if you were looking, you probably wouldn't notice unless you were a dentist (or my dad). Just a little fact though - I figured NO one would know THAT about me.

TAG TIME

So I don't know 8 bloggers... and most of the people on here are studying for the bar and don't have time for this (I'll be honest - I took several days for this). So I'm going to tag two non-law bloggers:

Pam at Cave Cibum

Trying at Online Dating Stories

Everyone else who wants to! :)

Public Thank You

2007-07-09T19:24:00.000-04:00

Today was a bad day. For starters, it's a Monday... but on top of that, we had corporations lecture which just goes on and on with minute details. I took a 15 minute lunch, and got down to work. By 6:30, my brains were scrambled, so I crawled online at a school computer and started whining to my friend, Pam.

I decide I better just leave, so I drive home, haul all my books into my apartment, and check the mail. There's a package there from Pam!!!! She baked me fancy schmancy cookies and gave me a little present. Today of all days, I really needed it. THANK YOU PAM!!! It was really what I needed, and you've got perfect timing.

Also, a friend sent me this link. To which, in my brain dead state, I replied: "Thanks for shating." So, I thought I'd shat it with all of you, because in the words of my friend, "it was nice to get some well wishes from a random source."

Panic Sets In

2007-07-08T08:43:00.000-04:00

Panic is starting to set in. I just realized that I'm only going to have four days to myself to study what *I* need to study instead of going to class like a drone. It's pretty crippling.

I told my boyfriend that if I fail, I'm going to get pissed - REALLY pissed. I'm going to break things, throw things, and burn something. The thought of going through this again? I don't know, I think med school is next on the list.

Exterminate All Pets!

2007-07-07T18:47:00.000-04:00

In a delirious moment while studying Florida property law, my friend recited:

Landlord has a duty to exterminate all pets

I repeated it to her, and we burst out laughing. We're so brain dead, we can't even "speak straight."

Can I get an 'M'?

2007-07-06T20:09:00.000-04:00

After a delirious conversation about the spelling of "commingle," I was relieved to read this on a fellow blogger's site.

You say commingle. I say co-mingle.

Does it bother anyone else that commingle is spelled with two 'm's? Dictionary.com says that the prefix is 'com' meaning 'jointly, together, with.' So it must be right... but it still bothers me. But I digress, and regardless of how it's spelled, a trustee has a duty not to do it.

For more, link.

MBE Scores are Back

2007-07-06T13:06:00.000-04:00

There's some good, some bad, and some ugly. At least now I know which subjects I need to brush up on!

Friday afternoon, and I'm off to the library. It totally felt like I was going to get a weekend this week... class got out before 1pm and everything. I'll never learn... ;)

Because I'm Lazy

2007-07-05T18:35:00.000-04:00

I'm sure you've all seen this, but I'm trying to catch up on homework I neglected in order to shoot off explosives last night.

I feel good!

2007-07-04T15:06:00.000-04:00

Even though I had the day off, I got up at my regular time and hit the library by 8:30. Met up with a friend and outlined attacks for torts and trusts essays. I feel really accomplished, because it kind of also acted as a good review. I've got to do my "actual" homework still, but then I'm calling it quits. If the weather clears up, maybe I'll catch some fireworks.

Oh! I totally missed the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest which I look forward to every year. I missed 66 hot dogs in 12 minutes!!! Unbelievable!!! I'd like to meet Chestnut and shake the man's hand. We have the belt back!

Here's a video from Chestnut's 59.5 qualifier:

How Many Law Students Does it Take...

2007-07-03T20:21:00.000-04:00

As I think back on it now, it's worth posting. Today we got an hour for lunch to split up lectures. Four of us girls decided to go grab lunch out of walking distance, so we all hopped in one car. We ate, laughed, and tried to forget the state of our lives. As the hour wound down, we hopped back in the car. Normally, this would be where the story ends... we drive back down the road and get to class.

No... not four law students studying for the bar. We start by exiting the parking lot the wrong direction. We want to go left, but there's no light, and we're in lunch hour traffic. We sit there for a minute watching cars go by before we realize there's no making a left turn right here. There are poles sticking up out of the road to block us from going right, so we have to reverse to get in the right lane to go right. We're all yelling out what we each think our best plan of attack is. We make our right turn, but it's into a right turn only lane... we're circling where we just ate lunch. We're getting honked at for no apparent reason (at that point we were just driving - albeit in the opposite direction than where we needed to go). So we take the right turn only, debate our new situation, and decide a U-turn is the best option. We squeal around, just in time to miss the light that will give us the left turn we had originally hoped for. We finally make the left turn, rejoice, and then three huge over-sized vans swing out from the left and the right. At that point, all we could do was laugh at the situation and cross our fingers that our drama didn't end in a wreck.

We made it back... late...

Long Days (again)

2007-07-03T18:15:00.000-04:00

We've been in 9 to 5 class... I'm going insane. They're giving us the California MBE stuff instead of the typical Miami stuff, and I'm not happy about it. I know it's the same MBE - but I hate those professors! I tend to doze off, zone out, and in the end, I left about 30 minutes early to beat rush hour traffic.

We get tomorrow "off" for the 4th - whatever "off" means.

Massholes

2007-07-02T17:24:00.000-04:00

A friend sent me this link. It's titled "Failed Massachusetts bar applicant sues because he doesn't want to answer a question about Massachusetts law."

I don't want to answer questions about ANY law... I guess that means I need a new career.

EDIT: I found another link. It has some hilarious quotes including:

Those 'mos and their acceptance-craving ways are stifling my efforts to get my legal on!

I've become boring and selfish

2007-07-01T09:18:00.001-04:00

It's funny. I've thought the same thing about this blog. I always think that anyone who knows me solely from this blog will think I'm a miserable, selfish, bore.

I read my posts to see that I am being selfish. That I am focused on me and my life to the exclusion of humor or the news. I'm overly concerned with details that won't matter in the future and I'm talking about them. I'm silly. I over-react. I'm not thinking enough. I'm boring. And what I write doesn't sound like how I want my words to sound.

I'm sure this is a combination of many things (what I'm doing with my life on a daily basis isn't how I'd like to spend it, stress, and the fact that my filters aren't on when it comes to bar posts, to name a few...).

Regardless, I think one of the hardest things about the bar study period is that it brings out some of your worst qualities. On top of everything else. Who needs to deal with their failings as a human in the middle of this mess?

Oh. Right. That's how we grow into better people. Fun. Please excuse me while I go grow some more.

I found that post here. (I couldn't figure out how to link the exact post, but that's the blog.)

Dress Fitting

2007-07-01T08:20:00.001-04:00

I'm getting a taste of the real world again today. I've got to go get fitted for a bridesmaid dress. Of all the glimpses of real life, this one is bound to cause more stress.

Anyone who has been through this can attest - people in bridal shops live to cause stress. I'm convinced that it's their hype that has caused our Bridezilla society. When I called them last week, the woman who answered the phone sounded like she was going to burst out of her skin, because of the joyous occasion I would be attending this fall. I'm not the type of girl who has been dreaming about my wedding day since I was 5 - and this isn't even my wedding!

Then I basically got berated for waiting so long to go in for a fitting. Apparently two month's (plus) notice is late in the game, and I should be lucky if they have time to get it finished (I mean, hello, this is an off-the-rack type place... don't I just tell them my size and it comes in from whatever store has it?) Truth be told, I was even hoping to put it off until after the bar exam (especially to account for the extra 10 pounds I'm expecting to gain).

Oh well - I better shower and hit the bridal shop.

UPDATE: Of course, after all the hassle, I can't order the dress from that store... I have to either drive 7 hours to another store where it will be waiting in time for the wedding. Or, I can order it here, and then drive back here after I've moved away next month. I really do think everything has to be more complicated because we're studying for the bar.

Florida Testing Questions

2007-06-30T18:13:00.000-04:00

These things are ridiculous. I just read an entire paragraph of complicated facts, diagrammed out everyone's relationship to each other in property dealings, and when I get to the call of the question?

How many years of continued possession of premises are statutorily required in Florida for adverse possession?

I really should read the call first, but 99.9% of the time it's a waste of time.

I survived

2007-06-30T09:28:00.000-04:00

Yep!

It wasn't so bad... I did find myself losing focus a lot in the afternoon. I'd do that re-reading questions thing where the meaning of the words never quite goes in your brain. Plus, a kid in my vicinity had that shaky leg thing that made the whole table vibrate. I hate that.

The best part of the test, of course, was the end! I went straight to a bar/restaurant for some beer and unhealthy food. It's so sad these days how hard it is to make non-law conversation. Even when you bump into someone you haven't seen in a week, it goes very much like this:

Me: Oh hey, how are you?
Friend: You know...
Me: Yeah...
Friend: And you?
Me: The same... Anything new or exciting going on?
Friend: No... just the usual.

Do we get our lives back when we're finished?

Wish me Luck

2007-06-29T07:16:00.000-04:00

Today it's my turn to take the practice MBE. I'm so pumped for 6 hours of multiple choice questions. Nothing like some intense Q&A to get my adrenaline flowing. And what's even more fun? Forecast of sun today. I love couping up inside with nervous energy when the sun is shining outside! I mean, what kind of person would want to be outside with fresh air? There are some crazy people in this world...

If I survive, I'll let you know my take on it.

Email I Just Received

2007-06-28T16:52:00.000-04:00

How many times have you asked yourself the inevitable question: to leave or not to leave? Here's introducing a fantastic e-book - LawCrossing's Guide to Alternative Careers that'll make you realize why you can venture out of a legal career without any pangs of guilt for discarding your precious and hard-earned J.D.

Sweet - It's not too late to get out now, and I won't feel guilty!! Yeah right...

Losing Duffy

2007-06-28T08:11:00.000-04:00

Friend: It's sad, I'm kind of going to miss Duffy.
Friend: This bar stuff is making me too emotional; I feel like I'm losing a friend.

I'm No Expert

2007-06-28T08:03:00.000-04:00

Yes, I write a blog about studying for the bar. No, I don't know how you should be studying each day and what scores you should be expecting. I only write here to complain and point out the humor in these generally humorless days. My only advice to you is to not take advice from people like me.

Alternatively, if you have funny stories or links, feel free to share. I know we can all use an extra smile these days.

It's Been A Long Day

2007-06-27T17:46:00.000-04:00

Okay, we had majorly long class today... and it was horrible (people were walking out left and right). After class, I had to meet with a professor about more brain intensive stuff. Now I'm doing my homework, and I've called the rest of the night off for some quality time with my closest friend, Mr. Cabernet.

Highlights

(1) Property lecturer cooed about her upcoming trip to Las Vegas. I wanted to reach into the television and slap her. That should definately be on the "Top Ten List of Things Not to Say to Someone Studying for the Bar"

(2) Another property lecturer assured all bar takers that they wouldn't be doing well on the property section. He followed that comment up by noting that the answers are glaringly "obvious" sitting on the page, and our only job was to circle them. Thanks... Thanks...

(3) I made the most brilliant comment of my life: "I think in my mind." To which my friend replied, "You do a lot of thinking up there?" Laughing, I said, "Apparently not... but when I do think, that's where it occurs." Really, I'm getting dumber by the day. I'll need diapers when it's time to take the test.

(4) And then to round out the day, the property lecture said, "Wasn't this fun? Isn't this terrific?" Don't joke with me... your humor is not appreciated.

Hypnosis?

2007-06-27T07:51:00.001-04:00

I woke up this morning to a message from a friend who has made the ultimate discovery. Link. We're going to hypnotize our anxiety away! Boasting "a 100% success rate with students sitting for the BAR Exam," I think the odds are in our favor. Too bad she's on the other coast, but all you California bar exam takers... you can thank my friend for the tip later ;)

Life Ain't Easy

2007-06-26T19:46:00.000-04:00

So I think people studying for the bar should get the equivalent of handicap passes for the three months leading up to the exam. It would serve the dual function of (1) warning others of our volatility and (2) giving us a 'get out of jail free' card.

I mention this, because I keep encountering situations that are more difficult than they need to be. People just don't seem willing to reason with me! Hello! I can't handle your bureaucracy right now, and if you press me an inch further, I might sit down on the floor of your hallway, kick my legs in the air, and bawl like a baby.

I'm serious.

Oh God We're Sad

2007-06-25T22:16:00.000-04:00

Me: so... did you know that cranberries were harvested by flooding?

Friend: no, lol. really? what are they before flooding?

Me: During the growing season cranberry beds are not flooded, but are irrigated regularly to maintain soil moisture. Beds are flooded in the fall to facilitate harvest

Friend: weird

Me: Cranberries are harvested in the fall when the fruit takes on its distinctive deep red color. This is usually in late September and into October. To harvest cranberries the beds are flooded with six to eight inches of water. A harvester is driven through the beds to remove the fruit from the vines. Harvested cranberries float in the water and can be corraled into a corner of the bed and conveyed or pumped from the bed.

Friend: what made you look that up? lol

Me: I saw a commercial for cranberry juice and they were standing in water

Friend: oh, lol. that's interesting, i didnt know that

Me: I know - now unzip and vomit it out, you need room for corporations... if only law was as fascinating as cranberries

Friend: lol. oh god, im not having any fun lol

Me: not even learning about cranberries?

Friend: haha. i have to admit, that's prolly the most fun i've had in a while

Me: hahaha

Me: oh god we're sad

Note: The cranberry info is from wikipedia

Holy Shit

2007-06-25T16:16:00.000-04:00

To top it all off, I just read another blog that made me realize that one month from today, in exactly 14 minutes, I'll be finished with the bar exam... That means I've got less than one month to prepare myself. I'm going to go crawl into the fetal position and cry now.

I just realized

2007-06-25T13:25:00.000-04:00

If I fail the bar, everyone will know, because my name won't be posted on the Florida bar website as an active attorney. I know, I know, there are only 5 people in the world who would bother to look, but still... Can't I just fail in peace? I had it all planned out. I'd just take it next year, because I've got another year of school left. No one would know, because I'll be in a different city and I'd be sitting with a lot of the other kids who postponed it until they were completely through with education. My friends and I have picked out the tutor of our choice and everything!

So much for that... if law school proved anything, it's that there are sneaky bitches who will seek and elicit these things.

Anyhow, another annoyance: Our homework today says to do two essays out of a certain book. The book has several types of essays, but only one type of essay that we've actually covered in class - torts. We haven't covered the rest of the subjects in there. I don't know if we're supposed to try these essays cold as a means of some education technique I'm unaware of, or if they've made a typo. Regardless, I'm not doing the assignment. I'm doing two essays from another book where I've got more than just torts to choose from. Take that, bar prep!

It's been a long day. I got up at 6 to hit the gym before class. I've never used the gym at my apartment building before. Everything goes as planned until it's time to leave. I discover that the door is locked. There's not another keypad for me to enter my code, there's only a switch, a timer, and a daunting looking red button. I check out all the other doors in the room - no exits. Covered in sweat, and not wanting the maintenance man to have to come rescue me, I place one hand on the handle to the exit and hover the other hand over the red button that's either going to let me out, set some kind of alarm off, or launch a missile on a small country.

Needless to say I made it out. Who would make the button a big red over-sized looking alarm button?! How about green for go? Better yet, since all other doors are labeled "push" or "pull" couldn't they have a sign there? It would just have saved that last .001% of my ego that I still had in tact... The part that said, "You may not be a smart girl, but you know ~~what love is~~ how to exit a building."

Monkey see; monkey do...

2007-06-23T22:45:00.000-04:00

Here's my most recent horoscope:

Leo: You need to do some work on a project that seems like it's never going to be completed. Push a little harder and you'll be surprised what you can get done.

Since I'd like to get this over with in July, I'll stick with my horoscope over the other blogger's horoscope. Anyhow, I think the signs are calling me out on my slacking and telling me to bust some ass.

Ugh...

Law School in a Box

2007-06-23T17:33:00.000-04:00

What on earth?

I Fall to Pieces

2007-06-23T11:45:00.000-04:00

So everyone else has posted about it one time or another, and now it's my turn.

I'm literally falling to pieces, and it's got to be the stress. I keep breaking out - not bad - just enough for my skin to let me know it isn't down with this bar exam thing. I'm more absent minded about all things non-law-related (missing a turn while driving, forgetting to go to the bank, etc.). I'm way more emotional - bring on the tears. I eat all the time, and I carry around ibuprofen for the inevitable headaches.

Wow... in the words of the incarcerated heiress, Paris Hilton, "that's hot!"

Moment of Silence

2007-06-22T11:38:00.000-04:00

Take the time you're reading this post, to think of the kids in Miami who are sitting the full day practice exam today.

Edit: I got word that 98% of the test takers survived. However, 20% died of alcohol poisoning that evening.

Wow

2007-06-21T17:38:00.000-04:00

Civil procedure in one day... I mean all of it! He just packed it into our brains, and I've spent the rest of the day trying to keep it in before it pops out my ears or eye sockets. It's consisted mainly of walking around like a zombie forgetting to do my chores. Like a friend of mine said, "Common sense can go out the window - I need more room in there for criminal procedure!" Thank goodness we don't have class tomorrow!

Legally Committed

Vote for Pam!

I Forgot to Mention

I passed!!

Goodluck!

Aside

I finally did it!!

Marshmallow Fondant

More Shopping

Best cakes to date!

Search Term Update

Cake Decorating... I've lost count...

Cake Decorating, Day 4

Cake Decorating, Day 3

Cake Decorating, Day 2

What's that out of left field?

The Last Supper

Feeling Pumped

"2 weeks to study for the Illinois bar"

The Problem With NOT Using Commercial Bar Review

Wills & Trusts

One Week Crunch

Goodbye Florida Fleas; Hello Alabama Mosquitoes

The Beginning

It's official

Left Field

A sign that I need to post?

Another Bar Exam?

Two bits of news

I feel loved

I did it!

Oops

I just realized

I couldn't resist!

I got lonely

Pre-Exam Exercises

Ya know what?

Impressions

Pass or Fail

Still Hungover

*Yawn*

Goodluck!

I Couldn't Stay Away

The Night Before

Sickos

Legally Committed

Yikes!

Aggressive Studying

Noooooooooo!!!

Contemplating Lunch...

Slow News Day

Musical Interlude

I'm a Posting Machine

Also

I'm Incompetent

Morning Conversation

Sigh

Hotel Confirmation

PMBR Review

I'm in PMBR

Random Comment

Whew!

Final Practice Test

Another Exciting Day

Fake Out

Yet Another Practice Test

Baby Dogs!

I Survived!

Practice Test Today

What Up St. Louis?

Bar Video Game

Getting to Know You

Public Thank You

Panic Sets In

Exterminate All Pets!

Can I get an 'M'?

MBE Scores are Back

Because I'm Lazy

I feel good!

How Many Law Students Does it Take...

Yawn