"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?

Too Legit To Quit

Since I should be using this time to study for my very scary ConLaw final on Monday, I'll make this relatively short:
1. I got the Public Interest grant through school--so at this point without the matching federal grant (which cross your fingers I'll get it) I'll be making $2.67 an hour. Which is more than a waitress (sans tips) and more than I would have made if I was for free.
2. I'm going to take a pottery class this summer. It starts in July and I'm thrilled.
3. You should go listen to Phil Wickam's "Divine Romance." It's ridiculously good, hooray for non-cheesy Christian music.

And because those 3 points didn't take long enough, here are some more questions!

39. What Disney villain are you the most like and why?
I've always felt a kinship with Captain Hook. I'm not sure if it's the great hair, the sassy knickers or his hook. I think he's one of the more likable Disney villains, he was always so misunderstood--so maybe that's what we have in common, we're both so mysterious.

40. Have you ever been a girl scout/boy scout?
Yes, I was Girl Scout until 6th Grade. Then, I finally convinced to let me quit, this came shortly after the "Disney World" Scandal of 1998--when our troop leaders kept promising us a trip to Disney World and the money somehow disappeared and we got a sleepover at someone's house instead. But that is where I learned how to do the Macarena, so it wasn't a complete loss. That event was the genesis of my dancing skills.

41. If you were traveling to another continent would you rather fly or take a boat?
I think boats are very romantic, because they make me think of steam liners and Titanic--not the actual ship but the CGI version with a very handsome Leo DiCaprio aboard. So, if someone could guarantee that I wouldn't get seasick and that I would get to wear pretty dresses and have someone give me a giant diamond (and Celine Dion singing in the background) then I'd be all for taking that boat.

42. Why is the sky blue during the day and black at night?
Isn't it something about the earth being in the shadow--and the turning of the axis and all that fun stuff? When are you supposed to learn those things anyways?

43. What does your name mean?
"cutter of cloth" how original.

44. Would you rather explore the deeps of the ocean or outer space?
Neither. I'm afraid of fish and dark things. So both the ocean and outer space sound like utter nightmares.

45. Word association
What is the first word that comes to mind when you see the word:
Air: balloon
Meat: vegetables
Different: strange
Pink: green
Deserve: receive
White: red
Elvis: sequins
Magic: Hat
Heart: break
Clash: (of the) Titans
Pulp: fiction

46. If you could meet any person in the world who is dead who would you want it to be?
Oh, tough one. I would say Jane Austen because I'm obsessed, but I'm afraid that she would be rather dull, Becoming Jane didn't help her reputation very much. So, baring Miss Austen, I would want to Pablo Casals, but only if I could convince him to play the cello.

47. What if you could meet anyone who is alive?
I think it would be super neat to meet Paul Washer, who is a pastor out in TX. I think that you should google him right now and listen to a sermon. Have you done it yet? Why not? I would know if you are because he tends to get really loud and emotionally, and sometimes yells, so if you were listening to him right now I would be able to hear it.

48. Is there a movie that you love so much you could watch it everyday?
How about miniseries--because A&E's Pride and Prejudice pretty much takes the cake. 8 hours of Colin Firth?

Need I say more? maybe I have time to go watch that before bed.

49. You are going to be stuck alone in an elevator for a week. What do you bring to do? Read, finish Season 4 of The Office, eat lots of Filipino food.

50. Have you ever saved someone's life or had your life saved?
I fell off of a water fall when I was 7 (my Dad came to get me after I got stuck on a ledge) and that concussion I had in college (again, Dad kept me from driving and took care of me). My Dad is pretty awesome.

I have now wasted enough time to successfully go to bed without having done any work of substance today. I know, it was quite an accomplishment. I did however at least manage to take a shower. Your applause is welcome.

i'm alive!

Contracts is over, forever. HECK YES! Which means that I am 20% with finals (that sounds much better than "I still have 4

Don't Worry, I'm Procrastinating, Too

I have procrastination down to an art form (or a mathematical equation):

The Office + Pandora = Not Much Work Done on Studying for CivPro.

Here is the evidence:

1. The Office teaches you more than you can ever learn from a casebook or a hornbook.

Exhibit One: American History.

Michael Scott: Abraham Lincoln once said that "If you're a racist, I will attack you with the North," and these are the principles I carry with me in the workplace.

Exhibit Two: How To Save Money.

Michael Scott: When I was Ryan’s age, I worked in a fast food restaurant to save up money for school. And then I lost it in a pyramid scheme, but I learned more about business right then and there than business school would ever teach me – or Ryan would ever teach me.

Thank you for your wisdom, Michael Scott.

2. Pandora teaches about you music that you should never buy on iTunes.
Lessons learned today:
- I still hate the Goo Goo Dolls as much as I did in middle school.
- That U2 song, (insert song title here) is still annoying, even after 5 years.
- That one single off of The Script is amazing, but the rest of the CD is the lead singer's efforts at rapping. And he's Irish, white, and the lyrics are about how he wants to see some girl named Kate. Enough said.

3. I have actually gotten about 20 pages done on my outline today, so it's really not that counter-productive. But I have listened to about 6 hours of music with my earbuds in and I'm afraid I've done some permanent ear damage here, but if I take them out I'll have to listen to the girl in the carrel next to me and she breathes really loud and hasn't figured out how to get her phone off vibrate since about 10 this morning.

And because I still haven't had enough time procrastinating yet:

26. Who has done something today to show they care about you?
In about 4 hours I will be enjoying the glory that is Lizard's Thicket with Kell and Buckner. And that my friend, is the best way to express kindness, by taking your friends to gorge themselves on Southern food and perhaps finishing it off with a pie eating contest.

27. Do you have a lot to learn?
Let's just give an example:

Dad: Did you hear what happened on the Supreme Court this week?
Me: No. Did someone die?
Dad: One of the justice's retired.
Me: Rhenquist?
Dad: No. He's already dead.
Me: Roberts?
Dad: He just got appointed.
Me: Sandra Day O'Connor?
Dad: She already retired. Do you really not know?
Me: I don't watch the news.
Dad: Well, Stevens retired.
Me : Who is that?

This is either evidence of (a) I don't watch enough news/read the paper or (b) I only know things dead Irish writers and Italian art theory.

28. If you could learn how to do three things just by wishing and not by working what would they be?

A. How to make A's on my finals.
B. How to play the cello
C. How to speak Spanish

29. Which do you remember the longest: what other people say, what other people do or how other people make you feel?
Actions resonate the longest for me.

30. What are the key ingredients to having a good relationship?
Jesus, honesty, accountability, emotional maturity, same life goals

31. What 3 things do you want to do before you die?

A. Get married.
B. Write a book.
C. Go to India.

32. What three things would you want to die to avoid doing?

A. Mountain/rock climbing
B. Being audited by the IRS
C. Restarting Law School

33. Is there a cause you believe in more than any other cause?
Leading others to Christ.

34. What does each decade make you think of:
The 19..
20's: the Charleston, Bonnie and Clyde
30's: WPA, Frida Khalo
40's: "We can do it!"
50's: "7 Brides for 7 Brothers" Elvis, poodle skirts
60's: the Beatles, "Rebel Without a Cause"
70's: Jim Morrison
80's: me!
90's: Boy Bands
2000 (so far): the rise of the Disney Channel stars
2010's: Law School

35. Which decade do you feel the most special connection to and why?
the 50s: I always think about Jim and Elisabeth Elliott. They went to Ecuador to be missionaries and shortly after they were married Jim was killed by the Acua Indians, the tribe he was teaching about Christ. Elisabeth wrote "Passion and Purity" about her relationship with Jim, and it was one of the most touching things that I have ever read. For me, the 50s were about purity and living boldly for the Lord. I feel like we've lost a lot of that in the modern church.

36. What is your favorite oldie/classic rock song?
"These Arms of Mine" Otis Redding

37. What country do you live in and who is the leader of that country?
USA: Barack Obama
If you could say any sentence to the current leader of your country what would it be?
"So, what exactly are you planning to do about getting troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan?"

38. What's your favorite TV channel to watch in the middle of the night?
Lifetime Movie Network (I only have the most basic cable so it's a guilty pleasure when I'm at my grandparents' house)

I should probably get back to work now. BOO!

"Bueller? Bueller?"

That scene from "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" keeps playing over and over again in my head. My brain has gone missing, if you've seen it can you please kindly return it? I think it's mainly because 2 WEEKS AND I'LL BE A 2L. If you're not in law school let me clarify this statement for you: they are letting me finish my first year. (well, they will if I can finish my exams).

The 2nd circle of Dante's Hell that is otherwise known as exams start on Tuesday. If you feel in the mood to send a cake my way or, better yet, take my finals for me (you'll probably do better than I will at this point) please be my guest. You can even sleep in my bed and use my parking pass at school--I will even drop you off and pick you up AND buy you anything you want during Happy Hour at Sonic. Do I have any takers?

Silence. That's what I thought. And since one of us has to have a good part of their legal future determine by 15+hours of testing I should probably go study. But I just wanted to tell you that, I'm alive, training for a 5k with Chelsea (heck yes!) and start my amazing job at SCLS on May 10th. Which means, 10 DAYS WITH NOTHING TO DO! And it doesn't hurt that I get to see two of my best friends in 14 days. If Jesus felt the need to make that tomorrow, I'd be fine with it. And since I'm procrastinating, I might as well continue for a little longer. Two things:

1. I have glasses.That's me (on the left) and Misti (my bestie in Columbia). Look at me? Don't I just look studious. I think it completes my law school chic. Thank you, I think I look awesome, too.

2. There's a girl named Amanda, who has a great blog, and a couple of months ago she started to answer this ridiculously long 5000 question survey. Apparently it's a hit among the blog circuit and started back on livejournal in '06. I had a livejournal in high school. If I ever get brave enough I'll link to it. It's HILARIOUS but also very telling of who I was at 15. Just wait. So here goes the first installment of my 5000 questions--because my Contracts outline can wait 15 more minutes.

1. Who are you? Taylor

2. What are the 3 most important things everyone should know about you?

• I love Jesus. He is the best thing about me.
  
• I'm learning to become more kind.
  
• I will change the world; and if I can't do that, I'll settle for changing the lives of those around me.
  

3. When you aren't filling out 5,000 question surveys like this one what are you doing?

• I'm either in a law class, at the law school, working, or at church. Literally--that's my week in a nutshell. During a good week, I get to hang out with my non-law school friends and talk about something other than what I just learned about or what I'm reading for tomorrow's class. They are my anchor to sanity.
  

4. List your classes in school from the ones you like the most to the ones you like the least.

• I hate all of them. It's true. But I also love them--and sometimes I get this really giddy, nerdy reaction about learning something new, that's when I remember why I came to law school in the first place.
  

5. What is your biggest goal for this year?

• To have higher than a 2.5 GPA. Trust me: it's a lofty goal.
  

6. Where do you want to be in 5 years?

• Living in a bungalow in Shandon working for a small civil defense firm, doing pro bono work with juvenile arbitration and having a cat named Oscar.
  

7. What stage of life are you in right now?

• The graduate school purgatory that is known as law school. But I'm 33.34% finished!
  

8. Are you more child-like or childish?

• child-like: I'm a big day dreamer.
  

9. What is the last thing you said out loud?

• "I am a breathing time-machine." lyrics from The Avett Brother's "Laundry Room"
  

10. What song comes closest to how you feel about your life right now?

• "Hold on, I'm coming!" Otis Redding.
  

11. Have you ever taken martial arts classes?

• No, but I would like to be a ninja.
  

12. Does your life tend to get better or worse or does it just stay the same? '

• No matter how much I mess things up, my life keeps getting better.
  

13. Does time really heal all wounds?

• I think so. But then again, I'm forgetful and only remember strange things.
  

14. How do you handle a rainy day?

• NAPPING, glorious napping.
  

15. Which is worse...losing your luggage or having to sort out tangled holiday lights?

• holiday lights, for sure.
  

16. How is your relationship with your parents?

• I'm going to plead the 5th on this one--thank you ConLaw!
  

17. Do you tend to be aware of what is going on around you?

• sometimes? the forgetfulness tends to breed obliviousness.
  

18. What is the truest thing that you know?

• That I have been redeemed and made new.
  

19. What did you want to be when you grew up?

• a combination of a novelist and a figure skater
  

20. Have you ever been given a second chance?

• Yes.
  

21. Are you more of a giver or a taker?

• Giver. If you want to get hokey, my love languages are quality time and acts of service. I LOVE taking care of other people. Are you sick? Do you need some soup? I thought I heard a sniffle.
  

22. Do you make your decisions with an open heart/mind?

• I try to, but most often I go with my knee-jerk reaction. And I don't think that qualifies as open minded.
  

23. What is the most physically painful thing that has ever happened to you?

• I had a concussion from a horse back ridding accident in college. Which may explain the memory loss.
  

24. What is the most emotionally painful thing that has ever happened to you?

• Oh gosh. We'll just go with the most recent, that's easier. Leaving Rock Hill after graduation last year was really difficult. I didn't know what waited me in Cola and a whole host of other unknowns. But, how the Lord provided!
  

25. Who have you hugged today?

• Ruth. If you can call if a hug, she had her hands full with a purse and a computer bag--and we both had backpacks on. There is seriously nothing more awkward than hugging someone with a backpack on, but again, another consequence of law school. It's like middle school all over again, the backpack never comes off.
  

And look at that! I wasted just enough time to not absolutely loathe going back to Contracts now. Back to the grind!

Taylor

2 weeks to 2L

I'm almost there, really. Not Christmas, not Spring Break--I'm almost done with my first year.

if i'm getting new eyes, they might as well throw in a new brain.

there are some things i expected about law school:

1. hours of reading inance material


2. a new hatred for parking lots


3. looking for any way to avoid school work


4. loving weekends more than i thought possible


5. napping on any horizontal surface

but, then came the few things i wasn't expecting:

1. memory loss


2. blindness

the first i can do nothing about, what i read at school has at best a 48 hour shelf life in my head. however, if you ask me about the plotline of LOST or the bachelor i could quote the entire episode for you. i am starting to think that i may have a brain tumor, because that would be a better excuse than i'm getting older. mom does keep trying to tell me i am in my "mid-twenties". i don't think she realizes that would make her older, too.

anyways, i'm going to get my eyes checked tomorrow. that's the whole point of this entire post. i haven't had an eye exam in about 7 years and i tried to fake my last one when i was a sophmore in high school--i really wanted glasses so i tried to tell him that EVERYTHING was out of focus. apparently that's not possible unless you're going blind. who knew?

for your entertainment, let's re-enact a typical day in class.

our conlaw prof put up a word document on the overhead.

me: can anyone else see that?

i-know-i'm-pretty-boy: i can.

deceptively-smart girl: me, too.

me: does it say "Congress can aggregate it's face?"

i-know-i'm-pretty-boy: no.

me: really? that's what i just wrote down.

deceptively-smart girl: it says "Congregres can regulate the waste."

i-know-i'm-pretty boy: that makes more sense, right?

me: oh, right. i guess those squiggly lines weren't all G's then.

so, by 2pm i'll have the verdict about my eyesight. but maybe i can get cute glasses out of this whole thing. or at least be able to see what my profs write on the board.

hello hermione, it's me, taylor.

I seriously wish Harry Potter was real.
Because, if it was, then I could have one of these.















That's right, a Time-Turner.
In The Prisoner of Azkaban, McGonagall gives one to Hermione so that she can attend more classes than time would normally allow. (no, I don't remember the book that well, I just know how to use wikipedia).


So, what would I do if I had a Time-Turner:
1. Re-do the nap I had on Wednesday afternoon so that it was only 30 mins and not 3 hours.
2. Go to more yoga classes, I went to one Wednesday afternoon and it was the bright spot in my week.
3. But, most importantly, I would make this weekend into six days so that I could finish this insanely long paper that I have due on Monday for Legal Writing.


I'm going to get this rant out of my system quickly, I promise. So, the class is only a one hour credit, which means that with picking up extra hours this semester, it will have a fractional effect on my grades. However, the assignment due Monday is worth at least a 1/3 of our grade for the whole semester. And the English major in me wants to do well and not make a half-effort out of this whole thing. I want to impress my teacher, refrain from embarassing my alma mater, and prove that I'm worthy of taking Advanced Legal Writing next year (not really sure why I would want to torture myself in that way, save for the fact that law school has yet to completely beat out of me the desire to write).


So, if you happen to find this Time-Turner, let me know. I could really use it in the next three days.


But, there is some good news--the snowpocalypse of 2010 is headed for Columbia and we might get something other than disappointment in the morning, unlike last time. I have a growing distrust for meterologists, how hard is it to guess the weather? I mean, Jack Roper did in it Spartanburg for 30 years without a degree. What is wrong with the ABC weatherman here? You may be "Live at Main and Gervais" but you have no idea what's going on outside.

Maybe I should go work on my paper now? I'm still holding out for a Time-Turner.

Just a Note

Today I desired and almost craved to work out. I didn't work out, but it was a nice feeling.

Just a Note

Today I desired and almost craved to work out. I didn't work out, but it was a nice feeling.

Hopeful Success - and a Bit of Motivation

This week has been hands down better than last week. I have done relatively well at tracking my points and am trying to get back in the swing of this whole tracking thing. I did three out of the four days of working out I wanted to do this week, which was also a huge plus. Today I was talking with a girl on my team who works out at the same place I do and we were talking about how sore we are from last night's workout (which was hard but good), and she was telling me that she's almost done with her couch to 5k training. This got me thinking and motivated me to maybe start trying to run again sometime soon. I was at one point able to run an entire 5k (however, it wasn't very fast) but I wouldn't be able to get anywhere close to that now. So I was thinking that on my weeks that I get off at 4:30 I could start some training as far as running is concerned. So not next week, but the week after, I am going to see what I can do about getting started with some 5k training. And I even found a cool Itunes podcast to help me get there. Instead of having to worry with tracking my time and watching intervals, I found a podcast that you update weekly and it does the interval timing for you (with music too!) :) I think that I might take each week and hold it out for two weeks (the 5k I'm thinking of running is in October, so there's no hurry to get ready right away) and that way I can focus on increasing my pace as well as my endurance each day. Just thought this was kind of exciting and wanted to share the link.

You can find your own interval program for your level of fitness here: http://www.djsteveboy.com/intervals.html

The Case Against Snacking

Is it really already Feburary? I think the Law School must have its own time zone, because it feels like I just got back from Christmas break, for real. I will say one thing about school--it has gotten serious. First semester was JV, a warm-up round if you will for the "we-will-work-you-to-death-or-at-least-until-you-cry" attitude of second semester. Speaking of crying, that's only happened once so far this semester--I was in my carrel (my little piece of heaven) on a Sunday afternoon before our first full week of class and I cried for about a good two minutes just because of the sheer amount of work staring at me.

BUT--and I never thought I would say this after leaving Winthrop--it has actually gotten manageable. My life is extremely scheduled--we're talking to the point where I know when I can take a bathroom break and which restrooms are the most convenient to not break up my studying or research time. So, I can tell you at any point during the week what I'm going to be doing and where I will be. Oddly enough, or if you know me, not strange at all, I am still finding plenty of excuses about eating horribly. I know when I eat all of my meals, where I will be, and who I might be able to eat or go grab coffee with. Yet, I somehow still find the excuse to go get some Doritos or a Coke or, gag, Twizzlers. I think these snacks are just further evidence in the case against my resolve.

So, I'm going to fast from Fast Food (the capital F's) and snacking (see, little S, because it is sneaky, except fruit, I can allow that) for the next month--which will put me right into next thebeginning of Spring Break.
And, today, after I looked at the shere monstrosity that is known as the Moe's nutritional chart, I may have to actually give up my FAVORITE place of all time to eat. Goodbye $3.81 Moo, Moo, Mr. Cow. I will miss you.

On another, non-food or WW related note, I'm reading What Jesus Demands From the World by John Piper--one of like 8 books I'm reading right now, thank you Richland County Public Library! And he talks about how not only does Christ demand that we take on a new life, he also demands repentance--and that trying to rehabilitate our old life with a new morality is not what Christ is talking about. He demands COMPLETE change. He want a new life for us, not a life that sort of recognizes who He is, but a life that shouts and sings with the greatness of Our king (I think that's a lyric, I sang it as I was typing). In much the same way, I believe that my efforts at weightloss should follow the same pattern that my life did after I became a believer. I can't be a Skinny Girl within my old life, I have to completely transform myself. If I wasn't a Skinny Girl eating at Moe's and drinking Cokes all day, it certainly isn't going to happen when I'm doing the same thing.

So Becky, the one thing I would challenge you with this week, is to consider what is the impetus behind you desire for change and how can you incorporate Christ into that. If He is the reason why we live, and move and breathe (look at that scripture reference!), should He not also be the reason that we honor our bodies and become better stewards of the earthly vessels He has entrusted us with?

Ok, I'm done now. Promise. I need to read for Torts (boo!) and then go to sleep (yay!). Becky Sue, I love you and can't wait to see you soon!

I wish...

So I am Becky, and though Taylor gave me a nice intro in post number 1...I am so not that person. I have been trying to lose weight since the beginning of January. Week 1 was a huge success at 4 pounds of loss! Week two was also good with 1.8 pounds. Week 3 was .5 pounds, and I was way too scared to weigh for week four. But alas, I am starting anew this week (just like I did last week) with new resolve and commitment and hoping that I can do better.

I told myself today, "just imagine where you'd be if you had lost 2 pounds each of those weeks instead of letting your motivation die down." And that is the story of all of my weight gain and weight loss attempts. I am consistently committing then uncommitting once it's not fun anymore, and then recommitting once I gain motivation again (ie - put on a pair of jeans). I tend to get in exciting weight loss streaks that never last long enough to make a sufficient difference.

So this is my goal this week : STAY MOTIVATED. I go to the gym at my work, and a lot of times will find excuses not to go (ie I forgot my sports bra and boy would that be awkward!). This week my goals are to go Monday through Thursday (no classes on Friday and plus that's a nice little treat to go straight home) and to make sure I journal all of my food (another area in which I have failed since week 2). I have officially decided that it's not wise for me to ever go to my mother's house with the intention of eating, because it seems that I let this set back my whole week...I go over....I eat like a cow...and I enjoy my time there; and then the rest of the week I avoid the gym and tracking my weight watchers points - but not this week! It's time to make life-change...not just get motivated for a bit and lose focus. I feel that my best strategy is saving my flex-points for the weekend and heading over there then if she invites...but as for mid-week dinners no thanks. I just find it interesting that all my resolve for every discipline in my life goes out the door mid-week - studying scripture, excercising, getting up early, eating well, etc. I've got to find some sort of pick-me-up in the middle of the week to keep me encouraged.

Taylor, let's pray this is it! And I need some accountability this week in journaling and excercising - all encouragement and accountability is welcome!

"diet" is no longer a four letter word.

At some point during college, I promised myself that I would graduate a Skinny Girl.

I'm the one in the middle, so as we can all see--that didn't exactly happen.

I tried Weight Watchers at least three times between freshman year and last May. Each time, I lost weight and was, at least for a while, happy with the results. At the older, wiser age of 23, I can now tell you that my biggest problem has been consistency. I don't mind working hard (i.e. law school), but I can only take the stress for a short period of time.

I will now dare to utter the infamous words "This time it will be different." And it will be. Why you may ask? I have two words for you: Becky Sue. Not only is this girl my best friend, she's also the kick-in-the-pants you need to get things done. Being what I would like to consider a rather independent girl, I don't actually listen to the advice most people give me, much less act on it. But, Becky is the exception--she says to go do something, I do it.

Example: Becky and I talked earlier tonight and I was complaining about school (which is not anything new since I started law school in August) and how I have had a pretty moody week. She asked me how my time with the Lord had been this week. I sheepishly admitted that I had been spending time reading historical romance novels that I checked out from the library rather than spending time with Him. She laughed and told me that I needed to go home and get it done. So, it's almost midnight and I haven't opened the Word yet--but I'm going to do it, I promise. I got distracted by the excitement of having a new blog.

(Speaking of blogs, remind me to tell you about the livejournal I kept in high school and how I reread it a few weeks ago, one of the funniest and most humbling experiences of my life)

Anyways--she's a go-getter, an encourager, and a great example of what it looks like to be committed to something for the long term. I'm so excited to be on this journey with her and to share in both the joys and struggles of weightwatchers together. She's the best friend a girl could ask for.

Lastly, I feel like a little humor always helps:




Taylor