December Suckage

OK, the thing about law school - It seems fine at first and all, but then things change. Then you realize that it seems like you can never get enough work done. You're body and mind start constantly feeling tired and exhausted. The competition starts getting to you, as you worry that others in the class are getting ahead of you. Then large, complicated research papers are assigned on a bi-weekly basis. We haven't even gotten to the fun part yet, FINALS! My entire grade for almost every one of my classes is dependent on these final tests, covering hundreds of cases and a few thousand pages of very dry reading. Ah, and don't forget that at a maximum, only 25% of a class are alowed an A, 25% a B, etc. The curve is harsh. Honestly, I think that at this point I'll be happy if I can get nice, solid B's. First time in my life I've ever said that, but yea, I could be happy with B's. Yea, no joke, law school is hella hard. I wouldn't recommend it unless you're really, really, REALLY sure you want a law degree.

BTW, if I don't happen to post again for the rest of the week, happy birthday to me on Saturday!

Anni & Tom @ Apple

 


A picture of Anni and I taken at the Apple Store at Easton, on Black Friday. This was taken using an iMac G5 there, with the photoshop software that comes with the system. It sounds like silly software, but it is really fun, actually. 

Break

I'm now in Delaware, OH with the family and Anni. Days of turkey, relaxation, family and study await. It's amusing how used to living in a crappy tiny dorm room I've become - my parents' house feels positively luxurious (it is quite nice, though, I must admit). It's wonderful, though, getting away from campus and spending lots of time with Anni. Farnham is over in Mt. Vernon right now too, so hopefully I'll be seeing him sometime this week.

Happy Thanksgiving everybody!

Facts About Law School

I'm discovering that there's a reason why certain professions, in this case the law, usually result in higher salaries. Here are the reasons why lawyers should and do make decent pay:

(1) Law school (at least first year) requires incessant work.
(2) Law school drains one physchologically, emotionally, physically, etc...
(3) The competition is heavy, and the stress levels are high.
(4) The subject matter, while interesting, can often become extrememly dry and tedious.
(5) Huge-ass memo assignments from the Fleen-Machine!

I am gonna love Thanksgiving break. A full week without class, oh man. Yet of course, I'll be spending most of my time outlining for finals. Yaaay!

Learning Things

Law school has been hard. Frustration and overwork have become a normal, accepted part of my life. Yet I enjoy the challenge, and I always have that refrain running through my head, "At least I'm not at Hillsdale anymore". Thank God for that.

Speaking of Hillsdale, I took Annie down there a few weeks ago (as we sometimes do) to get away from Lansing and meet the family at the house for a little R&R. We went on campus, just to go to the snackbar and see people and profs. It was so strange being back. People didn't notice I was there until they took a double-take. It was nice seeing Stephens and a few other profs, I must admit. Nonetheless, I don't plan on heading back to that campus again anytime soon.

In good news, though, the pipe-band is apparently doing very well under new leadership. It made me very happy to hear that.

I realize I haven't been posting much lately. I've been very busy, and very uncontemplative as I do my best to get equitable estoppel and jurisdiction and Erie and a limitless number of other legal miscellanea into my mind, made a "part of my legal soul", as my contracts prof. always says when he feeling profound.

Oh, and I (along with the rest of my section) absolutely dislike my Torts professor. Berkeley educated. Hyphenated last name. Obsessed with public policy. Her specialty is environmental law. She'll call on people when she notices that they might not have read a certain case. She uses a first edition casebook that has no commercial outlines or aids to help us study. The casebook itself sucks. She can't lecture, and her powerpoint slides are useless. So, in essence, I don't understand why she is teaching torts. Alright, that's my gripe for the week.

I've realized important things about myself and my recent life lately, and Annika has helped a lot with that. She is very good for me. I'll be heading to Hamburg with her over Christmas break to meet her family.

All else is good.