"Motivation is what gets you started..."

and habit is what keeps you going." Jim Rohn

Let's hope that's true. I'm a Peer Mentor,which means among other things that I got a sweet t-shirt, helped with orientation and spent two days listening to 1Ls freak out about school. I know that I was in the same boat a year ago. I could call one of my own peer mentors just to make sure, but let's just say that I was pretty sure after only a few hours of orientation that law school wasn't going to work out. Well, for better or worse, I've stayed the course.

Some interesting things about 2L:

1. I'm on JLED (Journal of Law and Education), which only has 9 2Ls--including the Editorial Board there are only 13 members....TOTAL. Not sure if that's the best thing. For comparison, Law Review has around 50ish total. Though, I guess a small journal is better than no journal at all.
   
2. Kelly and I have 4 of our 5 classes together and we're on the same journal. I'm pretty darn excited about suffering together again. How I love Teaguers.
   
3. I only have 2 commitments outside of school this semester--small group (which is a non-negotiable as it's a necessity--however I have 5 classes on Monday and we've been meeting on Sunday evenings, so we'll see how long that works) and 6 weeks of work at Legal Services (i.e. Labor Day to Fall Break).
   
4. I GET TO SEE THE AVETT BROTHERS TOMORROW!

In the wise words of OK Go,

Just when you think that you're in control,
just when you think that you've got a hold,
just when you get on a roll,
here it goes, here it goes, here it goes again.
Oh, here it goes again.
I should have known,
should have known,
should have known again,
but here it goes again.
Oh, here it goes again.

"You have model hair."

This is what sweet Meredith told me when we were eating frozen yogurt this afternoon. She complimented me on my hair which had gone wavy and kinky despite my efforts at straightening it last night--apparently my flat iron is no match for Columbia's 100+ degree heat (a temperature that means I can drink all the sweet tea that I want and you can't say anything about it, unless I get a cavity and then you can say "I told you so."). Meredith then instructed the proper way to eat self-serve frozen yogurt--which is one side with desert toppings and the other with fresh fruit--delicious.

Something like this:



I'm definitely going back soon--it was pretty inexpensive and very delicious, especially a la Meredith.

So--some questions, because I don't have much to talk about save my hatred of law school:

60. Do you believe in god and if so what is he/she/it like?

I believe in God and the other 2/3rds of the Trinity (i.e. Jesus and the Holy Spirit). I've heard it said numerous times that people characterize God based on their relationships with their earthly/biological factor. So based on my dad--God: is staggeringly intelligent; very tall; has a great voice for reading children's books out loud; allows you to make your own choices and, more importantly, mistakes; and gives pretty awesome hugs. Also--I think of God as the best possible version of my dad--so He's the awesomeness that I've been privileged to experience on earth times 1000, which means that I'm one lucky girl.

61. Do you believe in Hell?

Heck yes, I do.

62. What one thing have you done that most people haven't?

Survived a year of law school? I'm not sure if that's unique enough, because there are hundreds of thousands of people who do this every year.

63. What is the kindest thing you have ever done?

Without tooting my own horn too much (toot toot), I had the chance to mentor this amazing high school girl when I was in college. We spent a lot of time together--movie nights, slumber parties, about half-a-dozen trips to Charlotte, talking about boys, letting her vent about her mom, and, as much a possible, living life together. I don't define this as a "kind" act in my book because this was a relationship that I learned so much from--I learned how to be more giving, how to be a positive influence and how to live my life in such a way that it was an example of Christ-centeredness. I received so much more than I gave.

64. Are you a patient person?

I'm certainly learning to become more patient, which is in direct proportion to being the eternally late person in my social circle. So, as I'm practicing my promptness I become more appreciative of the patience that others have shown to me.

65. What holiday should exist but doesn't?

Shadow Puppet Day.

66. What holiday shouldn't exist but does?

St. Patrick's Day--I'm all for colored beverages, but I still don't understand why we celebrate it.

67. What's the best joke you ever heard?

"How many lawyers does it take to stop a moving bus? Never enough."

68. Where is the most fun place you have EVER been?

Charlotte, NC. I know that sounds pretty lame, but I loved living so close to the city in college and I'm basing this answer more on "place you've had the most fun over a period of time," because I loved places like Prague and Milan, but it was more the experience of travel and traveling alone at 17 than the actual fun things to do in that city. Charlotte is awesome--great location, fabulous food, a growing art scene, fantastic shopping and just enough traffic to feel like a big city.

If we're going based on a single day/event then my answer would be Belle Cher in Asheville, NC.

69. Is your hair natural or dyed?
I dyed my hair for the longest time, but the last time I put color in it was in March and it was a 28 shampoos dye. So, since my hair hasn't really changed colors in the last 6ish months, I'm assuming this is close to my natural color.

70. Do you have any deep dark secrets or are you pretty much up front?

In between? There are some things that I'm really comfortable talking about that are deeply personal and often come from a place of hurt or sorrow. However, there are particular events and thoughts that I never voice to anyone, which would change a lot about my friendships if people knew.

71. What is under your bed right now?

GIANT dust bunnies.

72. If you were in the Land of Oz would you want to live there or go home?

Stay there because Kansas seems like a horrible place--this girl needs somewhere with clay and hills, which seems more likely to be found in Oz.

73. If you drive do you frequently speed?

All the time. I like to think that I'm immune to speed--a theory which has unfortunately not held up in traffic court.

74. What is the world's best song to dance to?

"Wannabe" by the Spice Girls.

75. What song was on the last time you danced with someone?

Anna's wedding in June--or last night in the car with Catie and Kelly if "car-dancing" counts.

The Lull

I'm already in mourning for the social life and nights with 8 hours of sleep that I'll have to give away tomorrow at noon. (I'm at least wearing black yoga pants/black chacos--don't let the tie-dye shirt fool you about the seriousness of this moment--I had to babysit today starting at 8 am and this is what I slept in last night). Anyways, orientation to be a 1L orientation leader is tomorrow afternoon, which means I get to enjoy what will likely be my last day of sleeping in for the next month or so. Also, it's not going to be terrible because I have a fun dinner party to go to tomorrow night and I heard there might be Persian lasagna (which means I'll be there early).

But, there's still the 7-year-old-giddy part of me that LOVES school--the new notebooks, fancy pens, new friends, different teachers and the wonderful opportunity to make THIS year the best yet. I had a fantastic first year of law school, which you probably couldn't tell because of my complaining on various social media outlets--but let me tell you, when it comes down to fight or flight--I'm going to kick the tar out of this year and keep the upwards trend in my grades that I started last Spring. Though the complaining will probably start on Monday as I work on my First Week reading assignments, at least for now, I get to enjoy the calm before the storm--the beauty of the lull.

other things I've been loving lately:

isn't that an AWESOME photo. I'm a big fan of weheartit.com

When Death Comes
Margaret Oliver

When it's over, I want to say all my life
I was a bride married to amazement.
I was the bridegroom, taking the world into my arms.

When it's over, I don't want to wonder
if I have made of my life something particular, and real.

I don't want to find myself sighing and frightened,or full of argument.

I don't want to end up simply having visited this world.

And one more:

Mumford and Sons is like Ireland in a bottle. For realsies. Not that I've been there (does anyone want to take me?) but I've known people that have and in college I took an entire class on James Joyce (bragging moment: I've read everything by Joyce except for Finnigan's Wake, and if you're not sure why I never made it through that one, then you'll just have to wikipedia it). {Small notation here--apparently, according to the internet, they are from London. But I still think it sounds like Ireland, just listen.}

a field full of wishes would be wonderful right now.

into the breach!

"Clean Spaces Bode Well for Upcoming Academic Term"

If my life was a feature article, that's what I would hope for the title to be. Not anything about being a fancy lawyer or living in the cute cottage I've had my eye on, but just that I would get through this next term. I'm taking a normal load of classes, but as I know once you add on journal responsibilities, peer mentoring stuff, giving tours and working that its going to be a Dresden-esque firestorm--total destruction. So, in an effort to keep my sanity I have cleaned the house--top to bottom scrubbed, closets (finally) organized, furniture rearranged, new pictures hung. Really, mty biggest accomplishment was the linen closet, which you would have only appreciated if there was a before-and-after montage. Since I didn't have the forethought for such things, just imagine these pictures with a lot more clutter.

All that cleaning has made me sleepy. I'm going to take a nap now. 3 days until all hell breaks loose.

5000 Questions > Cleaning the House (or Le Maison if you're classy)

Since I go back to school next Friday and I have people coming to my house later this afternoon, you would think that I would be cleaning right now--i.e. trying to contain the disaster I have made of my house in an effort to clean. But, oh no. Instead I got addicted to Zach Gilford and the preciousness that is the first season of Friday Night Lights. Seriously, why did it take me so long to ever watch an episode of what may now be one of my favorite television shows? Maybe its because law school is so much like a tv version of high school (all the actors are really in their late 20s, alcohol is consumed by anyone that can reach a bottle and football is king). Anyways, I'll take Zach Gilford as a welcome distraction any time.
Yup, pretty precious. I'll be watching a lot of Friday Night Lights before school starts and I have to give up the grade-destroyer that Netflix has become. On to the preguntas!

51. Make up a definition for the following silly words...
Fruitgoogle: looking up images of fruit on google to see if the stuff in your fridge is still ripe.

Ambytime: the time spent wandering from room to room in your house as you try to frantically put away mess before company comes over.

Asscactus: when one's bottom unfortunately comes in contact with a cactus or another needle-pointed object

52. What was the last thing you made with your own hands?
A bird silhouette that I mailed to my sister.

53. What was your favorite toy as a child?
Definitely had tons of barbies and American Girl dolls, which I spent hours with. But, I think my favorite is the one who's still around. Meet Peanut.
He's a blue elephant that's been around since I was really small. And just because this is on the bed doesn't mean I sleep with it ALL the time. He just happens to fit the decor.

54. How many TV’s are in your house?
One, very small--it's only like 14'', which causes me to watch less TV, so I'm ok with that.

55. What is your favorite thing to do outside?
Not that I'm a druid or a new-aged hippie, but I love spending time with trees. I like the mountains up in NC and the ones behind my house growing up because there was clay and no pine trees--just hardwoods and a creek.

56. How do you feel when you see a rainbow?
Not nearly as awesome as this guy....


57. Have you ever dreamt a dream that came true?
Not sure how to answer that one. I sometimes get severe deja vu, which according to my trusty source, WikiPedia:

The experience of déjà vu is usually accompanied by a compelling sense of familiarity, and also a sense of "eeriness," "strangeness," "weirdness," or what Sigmund Freud calls "the uncanny." The "previous" experience is most frequently attributed to a dream, although in some cases there is a firm sense that the experience has genuinely happened in the past.^[1]

58. Have you ever been to a psychic/tarot reader?
Nope. Grandmother told me those "are of the Devil." So that's a no go.

59. What is your idea of paradise?
I feel like I'll know it when I get there.

Off to the law school (I should hear a chorus of "BOOOO!" right now) to sell back some books, try to cut my lock off (any strong young men are welcome to accompany me) and then over to visit my grandparents (aka do laundry).

Keepin' it legal.

How I Spent My Summer

I've written at least half a dozen essays with that title, but in an effort to make my summers seem awesome and make others jealous of said awesomeness they were usually full of lies. So, in an effort of beginning the new blog with complete disclosure, here is a faithful recounting of my summer.

1. I went to a Bottles and Brushes class in Mount Pleasant with the wonderful, fellow legal eagle, Kelly Teague. Here is the product, which is supposed to be Van Gogh's Night Cafe. The quality may or may not have been impacted while alcohol was consumed while painting.
2.I spent 3 happy months working for South Carolina Legal Services--most of which I spent working with an employment attorney on a case in which we get to (hopefully) sue the DMV. DREAMS DO COME TRUE! Unfortunately, I can't bring my own personal suit against the DMV because apparently I don't have a ripe enough claim or legitimate remedy to get back all of the useless hours I spent in driver's training at age 16. Just wait, I'll think of a way to get a recovery for emotional distress.

3. Spent an awesome Fourth of July with my sisters in Atlanta. I think foxiness is genetic, don't you? Here's some proof:

4. I got to babysit my friend Patrick's son Jonas. Though I didn't see him (as he was asleep the entire time) I still technically accomplished this summer while Kelly did not. (Yes!)

5. Got to see my Dad. See where I get my height?



6. Read lots of books, most of which were horrible. Apparently my theory that a book should completely be chosen based on its cover or the height of the raised letters of the title is not the best method of selecting a fine piece of literature. Unless of course you want to read the same plot about a British nanny escaping the tortures of her job by falling in love with a down-and-out Lord that has forsaken his title for the sake of his values in ten different forms/time periods/continents/number of naked scenes with awkward terms for sexual acts.

7. Spent waaaaaay too much time watching things on Netflix. Again, my theory for picking movies simply based on their ability to be watched instantly was not a good method of choice. So, the lesson to derive from these last two points is that you should never EVER let me chose the movie or book--unless I am giving you a selection from my personal favorites--which has not been added to since law school took over my life last year--so there's some sort of correlation between law school and my poor choice in books/movies. I blame law school!

8. I got to see Becky Larimer twice in three months, which is a new record.

9. In just a little over two weeks, I get to see this awesomeness:



10. I had a social life, full of Ladies' Lunch on Tuesdays, fancy dinners and coffee dates. I'm sad I have to say goodbye to all of that in two weeks. But, I'll get over it. Right?


So, here's to a great summer and a fantastic bit of vacation that's left. I'm terribly excited about this school year and what I've done around the house to get ready for it. I promise pictures and details to follow.

Keepin' it legal.

2L, seriously?

Apparently more apathy and frustration lies around the academic corner. The last few people I have told that I'm excited this is MY LAST DAY AS A 1L have told me something to the tune of:

"It's all down hill from here. You'll no longer get excited about finishing exams because you'll realize you only have more spading to do or studying for the MPRE or another Moot Court competition. Really, I'm not sure why you're so excited about being 1/3 of the way done. Don't you realize that means you're a year closer to taking the BAR. Oh [insert chosen expletive here] why did I just mention the BAR? Now I'm depressed just thinking about it--because if you're one year closer then that means it's that much closer for me. I'm going to go have a stiff drink now, if anyone comes looking for me, tell them at Goat's trying to find the strength to go on with my life. I hate 1Ls."

What a brilliant start to the day. Who ever said that upperclassmen weren't good for inspiration?