quote of the moment

one cannot THINK well, LOVE well, SLEEP well, if one has not DINED well
- Virginia Woolf

july 30

according to the little clock on my computer, it's now my birthday. No, I didn't plan to post right now; it just happened that way.

I started the celebrating in advance this year (as usual). Had dinner with another July birthday girl and dear old friend, Ruthann, last night. Lovely to see her, eat good food, catch up on life, and see her new place.

earlier this evening, my parental units took me out to celebrate the eve of my birth. Went to a fabulous place, just about the best dining experience I've ever had. I ever so highly recommend the hangar steak; my samples of the pork loin and gulf shrimp were tasty. The food is melt-in-your-mouth fabulous and makes a girl lose all train of thought once it even approaches the palate. (Think: Homer Simpson drooling, and that was probably what I looked like.) All together now: "Warm Blueberry/Mango 'Crisp' with Coconut Streusel Topping and Vanilla Ice Cream." I could swear there was a heavenly taste of ginger in there somewhere, too.

Then me mum and I went out and caught Monster-In-Law, a flick I liked much better than I thought I would, especially considering I don't really care for J Lo all that much (and is she always in a wedding dress in her films?), let alone J Fo..........nda. I'm sorry, did I just almost write that? It seemed appropriate and matched her co-star's former moniker, but it came out sounding a bit crass...Let me try again. Jane Fonda. There. ... uh-oh. Still sounds crass to me. *snicker*

Anyway, it's been a great evening. Lovely dinner, great time with my parents. They really make me laugh at times - and sometimes it's even in a very good way.

things that amuse me

The last few days I've noticed that many things have been amusing. Well, at least to me. Let's see if they amuse you, too.

The head Bar examiner guy was going through orientation with us 180 candidates on Monday afternoon. He was impressing upon us the importance of not letting our cell phones, PDAs or pagers make any noise or he would confiscate them, when his own rang. And not just any ring. Here is this 50-ish year old man with The Nutcracker playing from his pocket. And not just any song from The Nutcracker. No, it was Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies. That absolutely cracked me up. So, then he proceeds to tell all 180 of us that it was his daughter. Celebrating her 15th birthday. Making her own cake. He didn't really want to know what she'd gotten into (his words), and if we "just waited a minute, she'll go away." And then, hilariously enough, he went back to discussing how we should not have any kind of electronic devices make any noise during our time together.

I realized that my voice was sore on Tueday night because I'd been singing along with music in my car for three hours straight. The funny part? It took me three hours to notice that I was singing. And I know it was for all three hours because my throat was awfully scratchy.

I went out for coffee with a friend last night. I was at the favorite (read: close by) shop again, and struck up a conversation with the guy making my Caramel High RiseTM ("Sweet. Gooey. Not recommended by four out of five dentists."). When he asked me if I'd been doing anything exciting this week, I told him I'd just finished taking the Bar exam. He replied, "Oh, you're a bartender?"

all done

Well, I just strolled through the door of my house twenty minutes ago. Quick trip to Madison, WI yesterday morning, even quicker one home tonight. The test is over. For this I am grateful. I am even more grateful that i could leave the poor MBE takers behind (my apologies to Clayton). Thank the good Lord for MBE transfers - not all states accept them. I'm glad that WI does. If only they took essay transfers from other states, too...but that would be asking too much.

i shan't talk about the exam itself. enough of that; begone, foul thoughts.

I am off to sleep for a very long time.

*sigh*

Next week, I'll breathe a sigh of relief. I'll be able to sleep. I'll have time to do my laundry (it's quite a large pile now and will take some effort). I won't have to write practice essays for hours on end. it'll be nice. It might take a couple of days to truly appreciate these details, but I'll get there.

what is it about libraries and their air conditioning? Yesterday, I went over to one of my two usual locales to get some peace and quiet for a few hours. Apparently there is some mandate in a large number of buildings that the hotter it is outside, the more freezing the air must be within the building. Hennepin County library locations are no exception to this rule. In fact, they take it to new levels, what with vents placed everywhere and the no escaping of the cold air rushing at you like hurricane-force gales. I lasted three essays (almost three hours) before I had to run out to my car to warm up on the ride home. (It was again in the 90's yesterday with high humidity; my car had been parked out there in the sun for three hours, and with the weird- looking clouds ominously above, no ventilation. that should describe to you my hypothermic state if I enjoyed the leather seats burning my flesh off.)

Today, I'll go back to the coffee shop. My favorite shop is my favorite shop merely because they are conveniently two blocks from my house and they serve coffee. Ah, the joys of Caribou. The only problem is that they tend to play music there, and lately it's been the old jazz that I really like. Ok, let's face it - most music distracts me, but i'm especially distracted by music I like. I get too involved with listening to it. However, I've been studying there now for a while and figure if I can take a practice essay through the music, I should be able to stand anything the WI people throw at me.

In reality, the air conditioning at the library and the music at 'Bou has been good; I am testing myself to see if I will work through distractions and just do what I need to do. I am also testing that "you are allowed one cup of beverage" rule when I'm at the coffee shop.

first-time pet owner

now some would find it odd that at the age of 24, I have finally gotten my first pets. Granted, I actually commandeered them, but still. After a week, I now consider them my own. Too bad they all died.

My dad put in a small pond complete with fountain and tiny waterfall next to the new brick patio in our backyard. Well, of course, we have to have goldfish! It's a pond! I took them over and cared for them, if you call "caring" dumping in food once in a while and staring at them, waiting for them to do something already!

It's really too bad about the dying part, and at such an alarming rate. Some fatalities were due to a chlorine issue (this was before I took over), and then others suffered a nocturnal visitor, 'cause I know nothing I did could cause a fish to die in such a way. Think "torn asunder" and you'll get the idea. Others have simply disappeared.

Now I know what you're thinking, because it (obviously) occurred to me as well: "of *course*! they've been abducted. by aliens. No? well, then what about evolution? they teach that in the public schools these days, you know" Au contraire, my dear friends. One must not believe everything in one's imagination or Steven Spielburg's imagination or in public school's imagination.

when said and done, either by disappearance or partial disappearance due to aforementioned asundering, this must be the handiwork of a deer-sized rodent (trust me: I've seen this raccoon and it's not small).

Out of 24 goldfish, 3 somehow outsmarted the nocturnal creature until Friday. Since then, all have perished, and thus ends my first foray into pet ownership. this, all in the course of a few short weeks.

My next attempt will begin a bit later this week, and the experiment shall go on. At least until winter, when they'll all freeze. What's the point, then, you ask, if they're going to die anyway? Why general amusement for all, of course! (and it helps keep me sane during these dull days of studying.)

travelling

the aunt and uncle in Pasadena have invited me to visit one last time before they move to Seattle. i'm very tempted. In late August, tix would only cost about $200. Should I treat myself to a week and a half of hot bliss, summer in the sun and friends around California? I have always wanted to go to the Getty in LA and thus far have not made it there... hmmmmm. *ponders thoughtfully*

(should I be thinking about this right now? YES! Leave me alone. I even studied while waiting at the shop where I got my oil changed this morning. I'm allowing myself a few moments of wishful thinking.)

multi-tasking of daily events

have you ever found yourself madly typing an email with a toothbrush dangling from your mouth? I do. Frequently. It's happened twice today, as a matter of fact (once this morning, and again a few moments ago).

I'm not sure if it's because I can't stand to stare at myself in the bathroom mirror for two minutes; or because I'm really too lazy to stand there for moments on end and must find a comfy chair close by in which to sit; or it could be that I've gotten to the point that I *must* be multi-tasking at pretty much all times (although since the brush is just sitting there while I type, I'm not really doing that much other than soaking the teeth and brush).

whatever. I might not be brushing for the full two minutes, but at least the brush is in my mouth for the two full minutes recommended by the ADA and dentists everywhere. it's a start, no?

this week in a nutshell

Does not include anything more interesting than a couple of potential-job-related phone calls and a lot of studying, so let's not bore ourselves with that.

On Monday night, I joined a new orchestra for the remainder of the summer schedule. Kenwood Symphony, a rather nice civic orchestra. I was told by the lovely violinist who invited me to join that it wouldn't be that difficult and had the potential for lots of fun. (She is my section leader for Minnetonka, so I play with her regularly and trust her.) Well, upon my arrival to rehearsal on Monday night, there she was, arm in sling. She'd had a bit of surgery on her shoulder again, and it hadn't gone well. I think it was planned because she left immediately thereafter to let all of us violinists rot in a very hot and steamy room with an amount of not-insignificant music (e.g., Carmen's Bizet, First and Second Suites, Copland's Rodeo, a movement from Mahler's First Symphony, a movement from Tchaikovsky's Fifth, etc.) The only fluffy pop pieces traditional to summer concerts is a suite of The Wizard of Oz music and a suite of The Empire Strikes Back. However, I do love a challenge, and I enjoy playing new music (I've only played one of the pieces before, a Strauss waltz, which unfortunately I've played in both first and second violin sections in the last two months, so I'm kind of tired of that one...), so it should be a somewhat enjoyable experience. Plus, we get to play all three concerts outdoors. In August. But they're at bandshells by lakes. yay!

Tuesday night played tennis. It's amazing. (no, I'm not saying I am.) When I play singles, I have so much more energy. Probably because if I don't hit the ball, no one else will, and then I'll *still* have to go round them up at some point. If I play doubles, I don't go after anything. [think Mojo the monkey from The Simposons]: "nye [waves paw], she can get it." I'm sure not in a hurry to hit them. When I'm on my own, though...I seem to have a lot of aggression; or maybe I just don't do anything in half measures. Either way, you'd think I was trying to beat the stuffing out of the ball. It makes such a nice sound when you hit the tennis ball just so.

and now we're up to Wednesday (studying), today (studying) and tomorrow (studying). Oh, and have I mentioned Saturday? Oil change! (and then studying.)

thoughts on the 'Sconsin Bar

While perusing the Wisconsin Bar Examination Information letter I received the other day, I was confused by a couple of items.

Granted, the requirement for two forms of current ID and testing schedule information were not that unusual. What was different was the comprehensive list of what will and will not be allowed at the test seat. Now, I've done this before in a different jurisdiction, so I figured nothing would be that new. Apparently I was wrong.

According to the list of allowable items, I may have "1 small package of gum, mints or candy," yet I may not wear "flip-flop style shoes (due to noise)." Now, I don't know about you, but some people chew their gum at a noise level that could seriously compete with all of my flip-flops combined (and I own an extensive collection of such footwear). Or maybe the Bar Examiners' interest in not killing one's seatmate with one's halitosis is such a compelling interest that it outweighs the noise level of chewing gum.

And if I choose something other than chewing gum, that's really what I want to be doing: giving myself a sugar high by eating a small package of candy - as if it's not hard enough sitting there, concentrating all day long. I'm already a fidgeter; I don't want to make it worse.

Also, I will be allowed "1 can, bottle or cup of beverage." I'm tempted to take in my Eddie Bauer unbreakable-plastic 32-oz bottle, just to see if they regulate size as well, but forgot to tell us. However, if they do let me take it in, I'll probably absent-mindedly drink the entire thing in the first hour and a half of the test, and spend the last hour and a half wishing I hadn't. (Twice; once during the morning session, and in my nervous state, forget and do it again during the afternoon session.) They don't tell us that it cannot be an alcoholic beverage, either. Maybe that's another thing they forgot to tell us. Well, if it is, that's what some people will probably use their mints for - to cover up the smell of their alcohol-drenched breath. I mean, imagine getting 32 ounces of the stuff into the room in a Nalgene bottle? Obviously I can, otherwise I wouldn't be suggesting it, not to say that I'm inclined to do such an idiotic thing.

I am apparently to expect a pat-down at the door by my proctor: "Proctors will remove items that do not conform...[and] may check the pockets of any clothing in the test room..." I'm reasonably sure that statement means the clothing on my body (especially since other than a sweater or sweatshirt to be "hung over the back of your chair" when not in use, no other clothing items are allowed). That's a new one; I've never been patted down just to take a test (unless one counts getting through airport security as a test).

Keys are not allowed. I'm curious; do they mean hotel room keys (the exam will be given at a hotel conference facility) or car keys? What do they think I am going to do with the car keys? Use the remote unlocking device to beam me the answers or something? Set off the car alarm to disrupt the exam? I think not. I'm trying to pass this thing, not mess it up for myself. And as for the key itself, I'm not really inclined to try to scratch any notes into metal. I'm not that dishonest, let alone industrious enough to try.

I suppose the good news in all of this is that they expect results to be released in early September. To only wait six weeks after taking the exam will be a blessing indeed. However, results are released by mail only, which fits in with the no-word-processors-or-laptops-to-write-the-essays rule; WI hasn't gotten quite as far as CA when it comes to the electronic age of information. Oh well. I should still be thankful that it's only six weeks and the few days it takes to receive the letter in the mail to get results, rather than three or four months.

I am spoiled.

"And this is new, how?" you ask. Right you are, but now I've discovered a new way in which I have been spoiled. Well, I "knew" of it previously, but never *really knew*. You see, all through law school and for the CA Bar exam, I had the privilege of typing all of my essays. I used a word processor. It was great. I kind of got used to it and decided to continue with that whole deal when I took the CA Bar. Typing is fabulous, especially if one can do so at a reasonable speed.

Well. The WI Bar Examiners do not allow a person to use a word processor. One is allowed to use a typewriter, or he can write by hand. Well, I, as you all know, am a cheapskate. I am not going to pay good money to go out and buy something I will use once. I couldn't find anyone from whom I could borrow a typewriter (who has one of those anymore?). I did not even want to rent one, nor did I really care to investigate (or apparently, Think Things Through). Now the deadline to register to type has come and gone, and I am stuck handwriting the exam. I figured I could build up my handwriting stamina, right? Well, let me tell you, I am building up stamina, by golly, but, I will be even further lopsided because my right hand will be gargantuan in comparison to my left within the next two weeks. (see Tennis, Anyone?.)

Oh, well. In a few days - mere moments in the grand scheme of things! - and I will ice it down, and the hand will return to normal size. The crippled fingers might recover from their swollen state.

I hope I pass this thing. Or else all this lopsidedness will be for naught - I will be relegated to rebuilding up the stamina again at some future time. So, in order to pass, I am off to build up strength and deepen the writing notch on that last knuckle of my middle finger, where the pen fits the groove too well...

not one of my fav pastimes...

studying. I'm almost done, though, right? Only a couple more weeks, and it'll all be over. Again. Until the next time I decide to take another Bar exam...