The End of an Era

Throughout the day, I've seen different variations of "This is my last day of class EVER!" status updates on my Facebook feed.  My last day was actually yesterday, but the concept hasn't actually sunk in yet, that I'm done with law school classes FOREVER.  Granted, I still have two finals, my thesis to edit, and my defense to take care of in the next coming weeks, but one part of the process is actually done.

I had my final client interview for the SBC on Tuesday and I think that as the beginning of the end for me. That class, by far, took up most of my time (and was probably the root of most of my stress).  The meeting went off without a hitch and my supervising attorney had a lot of positive comments for me at the end.  She told me that I'd make a really great attorney someday; I'm not gonna lie, that definitely made my day.  I realize it sounds cheesy, but sometimes I need to be reminded why I spent the past three years of my life being broken down and then built back up again by law school (all the while going deeper and deeper into debt).  Getting a little ego boost doesn't hurt.  Quoting Conan O'Brien from his comedy tour, "You have no idea how shallow I am."

It's so weird that this whole experience is really coming to an end.  I mean, you know it's gonna happen, but back when I was a 1L, graduating from law school seemed like a dream.  There was still so much work ahead, so much to learn, that I never really thought I'd ever make it to this point.  And here I am, three years later and one month away from walking across the stage (in my wizard costume) to get my JD.  Wow...

Not only am I finished with law school, but I'm done with school altogether.  When I graduated from college, I knew that even though I was taking the next year off, I still had several more years of school in my future.  And even as far back as middle school, I knew I'd be going to law school.

I bought that sweatshirt back when I was in high school.  I used to wear it all of the time because I was so sure that I'd be going to the UO.  It's so weird, how even though I've gone from LA to DC and back to LA again, my path still led me back to Oregon.  Granted, I'm still ready to pack the car and speed down to California at a moments notice, but it's funny how things work out.

Okay, the major nostalgia trip will have to wait until graduation in a month.  I have a weekend of studying and editing to focus on.  Oh, and a half-marathon to run on Sunday.  So, just a typical weekend.  :)

I Should Work for the CIA...

I had my master's capstone class over the weekend.  It's the last required class for the program, which means that all that separates me from being a 'master of science' (the title makes it sound like I should be getting a deluxe chemistry set, not a degree) is turning in the final draft of my thesis and then defending it.  So apparently there really is a light at the end of the tunnel.

I'm pretty sure I was the only person in the room who didn't want to do something in the non-profit, environmental, public service, community mediation sphere of ADR.  So naturally, when the conversation veered exclusively in that direction, my natural inclination was to zone out.  After about an hour, I went from zoning out to being painfully annoyed.  I started making a list of things that were going through my head as the presentation went on.  I decided to be covert and write it all down in cursive, ensuring that the people sitting next to me wouldn't be able to see what I was writing (my cursive is that bad).

Thoughts During a Sunday Class

• I've rolled my eyes more times than I can count and we haven't even been here for an hour.
• Even though I'm a registered Democrat, I'm pretty sure I'm the most Republican person in the room.
• The nicer it looks outside, the more resentful I am to be here.
• Just because it's Sunday morning does not mean it's okay to come to class looking like you just rolled out of bed
• Hey, guy who leans back in his chair with his arms above his head, exposing his hairy belly: cover up.  Please.
• I wish I were out running.
• When did making money become such a bad thing???  Am I the only one with $150k+ of student loan debt?  Am I the only one who doesn't want to live paycheck to paycheck?
• Ohmigod, why won't these people stop talking?!

Luckily, class got out an hour earlier than planned (five hours instead of six: huzzah!).  Now I just need to get down to fine tuning that thesis of mine...

Maybe after dinner?  Yeah, maybe after dinner...

I'm Not a Prude...

...but when did this become okay?

Seriously, ladies!  I'm all for feeling beautiful in the clothes that I'm wearing, but...she does realize that that's a shirt, not a dress, right?  Maybe she couldn't see through all of the glitter on her stunna shades...

It's not just 'The Jersey Shore' that bugs me.  This kind of look, this kind of attitude, is pretty much the norm on any reality show you turn on.  'A Shot of Love with Tila Tequila?'  'Rock of Love?'  'For the Love of Ray J?'  Shows where the uniform for these "women" include ample amounts of cleavage and little need for underwear.  Not too long ago, it was career suicide if a female celebrity walked the red carpet and it turned out that her dress was transparent.  Now, no one even blinks an eye if you're wearing pasties and a dress that may or may not be made out of fishnet.  It's disgusting.

It's one thing when this type of dress and attitude is on t.v., but now I'll be walking on campus behind a girl in sweats so tight that I can tell whether or not she's wearing underwear and exactly how much cellulite she has.  Not a good mental image!  Now, I'm not saying that girls should start dressing like they're making the transition from the Juniper Creek compound to the real world:

Floor length prairie dresses with high lace collars are not as attractive as one may think (shocking, I know).  But (staying with the 'Big Love' theme) what's so wrong with being more of a 'Margene' than a Snooki or Tila Tequila?

When will people learn that looking like you just rolled out of bed after a week long bender or you just got off work at the Spearmint Rhino is not cool?  Leaving a little to the imagination is not only better, but my eyes won't feel like they need a shot of penicillin every time I go the mall or walk through campus...

I Need An Adventure...

Photo courtesy of A Life More Fabulous

Back in Oregon less than a week and I'm ready to break out again.

I'm thinking of the summer ahead of me and it makes my heart sink a little. Twenty-four hours of freedom: that's all I get between graduation and bar prep. For eight long weeks, my routine will be as follows:

• Wake-up
• Go to bar prep
• Run
• Study
• Sleep
• Repeat

...I wish I were joking...

The rational part of me knows that this will all be worth it (or at least it will be if come November I find out that I passed the bar). The other part of me wants to cry a little bit; my time will no longer be my own until July 29th at around 5:00 p.m. But this is what I signed up for, right? I can whine a little, but in the end, this is what I've been working towards since I bought my first law school sweatshirt back in middle school (seriously, and it was a UO Law sweatshirt to boot). It just surreal that it's actually almost here...

What I wouldn't give for an adventure before I'm locked away in BarBri prison...

I Tend to Think of Myself As a One-Man Wolf Pack

My college roommate, Jackie, is leaving the single life behind and getting hitched. Unfortunately for me, her wedding falls on the same day as that little thing known as law school graduation, so it was important for me to make it down for her bachelorette party in San Francisco. This trip definitely couldn't have come at a better time.

Kim and I both got into the city a day before the festivities, so we decided to wander around for awhile until everyone got in.

Later in the afternoon, we all met up at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel before we hit the town.

First up was dinner at the Steps of Rome Cafe. At first I thought we were gonna stick out like a sore thumb because it just looked like a small family restaurant, but it turns out that we were the first of three bachelorette parties to end up there that night.

Our waiters were frisky bordering on inappropriate. But if I had to choose between the waiters and male strippers, I choose waiters. At least they kept their clothes on...

Next stop: hole-in-the-wall karaoke bar!

Finally, we made it to Dragon Bar, where luckily we had bottle service, which meant we had a table to sit at. I must be getting old if this was the best part of the club for me.

Overall, it was a very successful weekend. I definitely was not excited to say goodbye to San Francisco (especially after getting 4 hours of sleep before my 10 hour drive home). More than anything though, I was happy I got to spend some time with my best friends. It's good to know that even though we can't see each other everyday like back in our 'SC days, we can still come together and pick up where we left off.

Girl Crush

Esquire Magazine

I totally have a girl crush on Christina Hendricks (Joan on 'Mad Men').

I know from interviews I've read that she was actually born a blond, but I would nominate her to be the official ambassador of redheads the world over. She is proof that we redheads can be more than just 'quirky' (which, let's face it, is just another word for 'weird'), soulless (thanks, South Park), and sickly pale, among other things. Years of being called "Tater Tot" and "Ketchup Head" have made me very sensitive on this issue (yes, it's an issue). I'd rather be called a "dumb blond" any day over "quirky." Maybe if people thought of Christina Hendricks when they thought of redheads instead of, oh, I don't know, Carrot Top or Ron Weasley, we'd be better off.

Also, it goes without saying that Christina Hendricks is no January Jones (aka, Betty Draper). I know people say she looks like a "real woman," but I've never seen a "real woman" at Wal-Mart look like that. She somehow pulls it off. Maybe it's confidence, maybe it's just knowing how to dress for your body type, but she's obviously doing something right if Esquire Magazine named her the sexiest woman alive.

Redheads represent.

Peace

Photo courtesy of {this is glamorous}

Last night was the first night in a long time that I not only slept the whole night through, but slept peacefully.

I don't think I can properly explain why, but it feels like a 10 ton weight has been lifted from my shoulders. I finally feel at peace and it feels amazing...

You Go, Coco!

The glorious day had finally arrived: the kickoff of Conan O'Brien's Legally Prohibited from Being Funny On Television tour. Monday was pretty much shot because that's all I could think about all day. I was counting down the hours and finally, 7 pm arrived and the Hult Center doors opened...it was starting...

I may be biased, but it was one of the best things EVER. Conan was amazing, the band was amazing, and as if that wasn't enough, Spoon gave an impromptu performance and then Jack McBrayer (Kenneth the Page on "30 Rock") came out at the end to pull the Walker: Texas Ranger lever (which was renamed due to "contractual issues" with NBC, but I can't think of it at the moment). I didn't want it to end. I could have listened to that towering redhead all night.

I love you, Conan O'Brien.

Weddings and Chocolate

I went to the wedding of one of my sister's friends on Saturday (I was my mom's "plus one"). The ceremony was short and sweet and the reception had a candy bar...I may or may not have left with two bags of chocolate (shh, don't tell). It was a good opportunity to take some pictures with my mom and sister. Looking through all of the pictures I have on my computer, I realized awhile ago that I don't have many pictures with them, so I've been making an effort to try and build the collection up (despite their occasional protests). I think we all clean up quite nicely. :-)

Girls Night!

The lovely Juli and Kiley were kind enough to come out with me to celebrate me being done with my thesis Friday night. We started out at La Perla for some fancy shmancy pizza. I was excited because I had ran 11 miles that afternoon, meaning I could eat to my heart's (or stomach's) content. Unfortunately, the nausea that hit me around mile 8 was still hangin' around, so I only managed one piece of pizza. On the bright side, plenty of leftovers this week!

After that, it was off to Agate Alley for a bottle of wine for Kiley and Juli and a Shirley Temple for me. It was such a relief to go out with the girls because I think we all needed the chance to just vent for a little while. It's good to hear that I'm not the only one counting down the days until graduation. And the conversation always seems to flow a little more freely when the wine starts flowing (and for me, the grenadine and soda). I still don't feel 100%, but the anxious knot in my stomach definitely felt a little smaller this morning than it did yesterday...

Hooray for girls night. :-)

Redemption, Thy Name is 'Sex and the City 2"

I was sooooo disappointed when the first 'Sex and the City' movie came out and I didn't like it. I've watched it over and over again whenever it's aired on HBO, but I can't even get myself to buy the DVD for $2.99 whenever I see it at Target. I want to love it, I really do, but...no!

But this preview from SATC 2 has totally restored my faith in Michael Patrick King. It looks AMAZING! And they managed to not make Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte, and Miranda look like they'd aged 50 years, which they for some reason thought would be a good idea the last time around. Yes, I definitely approve...

Solo Movie Night

I really didn't want to hang around my apartment tonight, so I sucked it up and went and saw "The Last Song" by myself. When I went to pay for my ticket, the guy at the box office was like, "Uh, just the one ticket?" I nodded, trying my best to refrain from grabbing him by the collar and berating him for judging me for seeing a Miley Cyrus movie by myself (which I will admit, is probably the height of sad and depressing).

I was kinda surprised that I liked the movie. Sure, there was a fair amount of cheesy lines, but as long as you're not walking in expecting "Citizen Kane," you're good. I definitely cried...not as much as I cried when I saw "Marley and Me" but there were definitely a good amount of tears shed. What I couldn't get past though was Miley's overbite. Every time the camera closed in on her face, I just wondered why, with all of that money, she hasn't invested in a decent orthodontist. Seriously, it was kinda distracting.

As far as Nicholas Sparks movies go, I give it an A-. Better than "The Notebook."*

*Disclaimer: I am probably one of the few girls who doesn't think that "The Notebook" is one of the greatest love stories of our time. Not a single tear was wasted on that movie. Though Ryan Gossling is WAY hotter than Liam Hemsworth...just sayin'...

How Are You Spending Your Summer Vacation?

This is how I'm spending mine...

The UPS guy delivered this to me this afternoon: a box of 32 lbs. of California bar prep awesomeness. This is what my summer break looks like starting May 24.

Truth be told, there's a small part of me that's excited to get started with all of this. Mostly because it makes me nervous just staring at this large stack of books. Once I know what's inside...well, I'll either feel a little more at ease or I'll be in the fetal position wondering why I ever thought law school was a good idea. It's a toss-up...

I'M ETHICAL!!!

According to the National Conference of Bar Examiners, I am ethical enough not only to practice law in the great state of California, but EVERY state in the union! WOOOHOOO!!!

I thought the scores were coming out next week, but I was sitting in class today when my friend e-mailed me to ask how to read the score report. Knowing the score report was a few clicks away, I debated whether or not I should open it in class. I already took the test once back in August with less than stellar results and I had pretty much resigned myself to the same fate this time around. I knew that I wouldn't be able to think about anything else but that stupid score report, and with 20 minutes left in remedies (where time goes to die), I logged on and downloaded my score.

And there it was. A passing score. I wasn't just barely ethical (which is what I would have settled for), but a good, solid, I'm-super-ethical score. I couldn't believe it. I double and triple checked the score, then double and triple checked the social security number to make sure that this wasn't some cruel mistake. I tried to hide my excitement, but I was about to start dancing around the room, so I discreetly hid my iPhone up my sleeve and walked out into the hall to call my mom.

I may or may not have done a victory dance up and down the hall while I was out there. I was kinda excited...

THESIS. DONE. BOOM.

It may have taken me 2.5 semesters, but 46 pages, 194 footnotes, and hours of frustration later, I have FINALLY finished writing my thesis! HOORAY!!! While I still need to edit it and defend it, it's such a relief to know that I've gotten everything down on paper and all of the research is done.

I think this video is a pretty good depiction of my reaction when I finished typing the last sentence of my conclusion: