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?
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 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)
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!
