The Pocket Part

Cast of Characters

2007-04-13T19:02:00.000-05:00

I live on the top floor of my apartment building and each neighbor has an interestingly distinguishable characteristic I have come to associate their apartment with. I haven't been able to pick up on everyone as these are only my observations from walking by closed doors, or in the case of my neighbors, what I hear through the wall.

1. My French neighbor: Early in the morning every day the TV is blaring the news from their unit. I can clearly hear the tv through my wall. They also have a squawking bird. This couple is very friendly in the halls when I bump into them but have annoying habits and pets behind closed doors.

2. My gay neighbor: One time laying in bed late on Wednesday I heard something through the wall that I never want to hear again: "Oh My God" being yelled in ecstasy by a man.

3. The nympho down the hall: On more than one occasion I have walked by this girl's apartment and heard moaning from behind the door. In fact, one time I was walking by her door and her boyfriend was leaving the apartment and saying goodbye. As I always do when an another apartment's door is open, I glanced inside as I continued walking by. There she was laying completely naked on the bed. And she saw me too. This has made for some awkward elevator rides.

4. The guy who picks up half of his newspaper every morning: A few doors down one guy gets a subsription to the Post. He will usually grab half of it in the morning and leave the other half laying in the hallway until later in the day when he picks up the rest of it. That or the janitor picks it up.

5. The narcoleptic: On the other side of the floor, nine times out of ten when I am waiting for the elevator, I can hear a beeping alarm clock coming from someone's unit. I am so glad this person is not my neighbor -- I have heard that alarm going off in the middle of the day, early in the morning, and late at night when waiting for the elevator.

6. The beer guy: Someone on my floor puts a down 6 pack every night. Evidence left is the empty bottles neatly placed back in the six pack and sitting by the trash chute.

7. The party girl: Again, fortunately, this person lives on the other side of the floor. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights usually mean loud music and lots of chattering voices from this apartment.

Lame Christmas Gifts #1

2006-12-10T12:18:00.000-06:00

Just think of the ecstasy you will experience on Christmas morning if you find this in your stocking.

Who wouldn't want to experience the magic of an Al Gore Christmas? He is jolly, charming, and has a personality that is just to die for. Really. Maybe when you look outside Christmas morning and see that no snow is on the ground, you will feel Al Gore's icy breath on your neck encouraging you not to take that SUV trip down to Starbucks. And he might even fly on a private jet across the country to personally tell you so.

So gather the family around the television set on Christmas morning because everyone's favorite holiday feelings are self righteousness and superiority over your fellow man.

Study Partner & Guardian of the Law

2006-12-06T22:38:00.000-06:00

I Want to Wake Up In a City that Never Sleeps (with you)

2006-11-03T01:58:00.000-06:00

A trip to New York is something I have always wanted to do with someone special to me. I am looking forward to the small things like the road trip from DC to NY and of course all our plans. We are going to have so much fun! And posts referring to you now outnumber posts referring to Matthew Lesko :-)

You Are What You Drive

2006-11-02T13:54:00.000-06:00

I was off to grab a bite this afternoon when I noticed a mini-cooper parked right behind my apartment building with question marks all over it. This has to be Matthew Lesko's car. Seriously, who else drives a yellow car with black question marks painted all over it. Especially if your suits match your car. I really wanted to stick around for awhile to see if I could get a picture with him but I had to go. I always had Lesko pegged as more of a PT Cruiser sort of guy than Cooper. Guess all that free money he is getting to pay off his bills is really working out! And I also never thought I would have the opportunity to blog twice about my favorite TV infomercial spokesman.

A Taste of the Neighborhood and a View from Above

2006-10-14T15:07:00.000-05:00

I'll Take the Case!

2006-10-05T14:39:00.000-05:00

I bet the boys down at the station are working around the clock to break this case wide open. Picture and caption from Yahoo News.

Reuters - Wed Oct 4, 1:37 PM ET - A German plastic surgeon who was cheated out of payment by several women has given pictures of their enlarged breasts to police, in the hope the photos will help trace them. REUTERS/Ian Waldie

You want to know what I hate? Andy Rooney.

2006-10-01T20:17:00.000-05:00

How does one go about getting a job as being a grumpy, flabby old man that gets to bitch about American culture not being right to his liking at the end of an investigative journalism show every week? That is how I would like to spend my retirement. This guy has to be every little kid's worst nightmare to have as a next door neighbor.

Cute, fun, smart, and sweet

2006-09-18T00:09:00.000-05:00

It was the best birthday weekend anyone could have hoped for. Thank you! :-)

District Life

2006-09-04T10:22:00.000-05:00

Law school in DC is in full swing and I am really enjoying things.

My neighborhood is awesome. I am living an extremely trendy part of the city and have a very cool top floor apartment with a great view. It also has a rooftop with a monument view of DC.

The DC DMV is a pain in the ass, as is parking. I have never had my car out here until now. I had to go get a sticker to park on the streets around my apartment which set me back a few hundred dollars. Thank God I don't have to go there for another year.

I can't tell if school is harder here yet. I feel like I'm doing more reading but spending less time in class. Maybe its because I have a couple four hour classes so they are pretty long but only a couple times a week. One perk: the law school does not have class on Friday. Most people use this as a chance to extern or something but I think I am going to try and establish a very good ranking in my class this semester by using all my free time to study. That way when I apply for jobs next semester they can see a strong ranking at my current school. Which is a good transition for my next point,

The job hunt here is very hard. Even though I have a strong resume, I have not had as much luck with OCI this semester. It has to be because I don't have a ranking at this law school yet. So I will spend free time studying hard this semester to break into the hopefully top 10% and attempt to write on to one of the school's law reviews. I am shooting for either a firm or some administrative agency general counsel work. These things always work themselves out for me though, so I'm not too worried. (more on this later and my philosophy of things working themselves out)

Any regrets? No, but I really miss my friends. The friends you make first year in law school really end up being close because of the whole going through hell together thing. My new school takes a sizable number of transfers so I know many are in the same boat as me. But all my closest friends have been a result of going through some hardship together. True for college and law school. Maybe the same will be true for other transfers making the same jump as me. The jump in school prestige I have made will be worth it after I get a few years in at some lobby firm on K Street.

Go East Young Man

2006-08-01T01:20:00.000-05:00

I got my transfer! I am actually doing it, moving to DC for who knows how long. It will be at least a few years. I am very excited, a little nervous, but ready to go!

I love my home state and just as much as I want to go to DC now is how much I want to return here someday down the road. This experience has shown me that whatever I am willing to work hard enough for, I can have.

I take my coffee like I take my women: Strong, Black, and Proud

2006-07-19T23:35:00.000-05:00

I stopped by Starbucks this morning as I usually do to grab a coffee on the way to work. But what made this trip a little unusual was the barista serving me my morning cup. It was the valedictorian from my high school class! Seriously, it doesn't get much funnier than that!

pins and needles

2006-07-14T20:46:00.000-05:00

Thinking about my txfr admission is absolutely killing me. I don't know how I am going to survive another week of this. Maybe one of these dumb quizzes will help.

1. My ex is...
a distant memory

2. I am listening to...
the news

3. Maybe I should...
go have some red bull and vodkas tonight to take this txfr thing off my mind

4. I love...
DC

5. My bestfriend(s)...
are great

6. I don't understand...
why extremely fat people still biggie size their meals

7. I lost...
my sunglasses. No idea where they are.

8. People say...
one bird in hand is better than two in the tree

10. Love is...
a pretty nice feeling

11. Somewhere, someone is...
lobbing rockets into Israel

12. I will always...
want to travel more

13. Forever seems...
like an eternity

14. I never want to...
fight in a war

15. My mobile phone...
's battery has been crapping out lately

16. When I wake up in the morning...
I just lay there for a few minutes

17. I get annoyed when...
people eating fast food handle my remote controls and get them all greasy

18. Parties are...
better than staying home

19. My pets are...
funny

20.Kisses are the best when...
passionate

21. Today I...
watched a federal trial

22. Tomorrow I will...
obsess over my transfer

23. I really want...
to get into law school in DC!

Hmm, this quiz was begging the question. I should go booze.

When Tourists Attack!!

2006-06-29T22:19:00.000-05:00

I was walking down Pennsylvania Ave. today on my way back from lunch at Old Ebbitt when I saw a trend among tourists that has annoyed me to no end. Of course this is on Pennsylvania Ave. in front of the White House, so it is closed to traffic and that is why these idiots are in the road. But when they don't have a wide open street to ride on, they roll down the sidewalks and force everyone else off lest you get bowled over by some smelly* tourist.

*You can smell a tourist when there is a stench of sunscreen and sweat and you are within any sort of proximity to a monument.

So I whipped out my camera phone to document this. I think the picture pretty much sums it all up for me. And just so you know, there were more of them that I didn't catch in the picture.

Ukraine is not weak!

2006-06-27T00:12:00.000-05:00

Trends

2006-06-19T00:22:00.000-05:00

Google trends lets you type in a search phrase and it will give you the top ten cities that have searched for that term. Some interesting, but not really surprising results:

law school: Not too surprising, you have Univ. of Michigan, about five DC schools, and Harvard represented as the greatest interest in the term "law school"
1. Ann Arbor, MI
2. Washington, DC
3. Cambridge, MA

porn: Interstingly, the United States does not crack the rankings until Irvine, CA at #6. The Brits and the Aussies have this one covered.
1. Birmingham, United Kingdom
2. Brisbane, Australia
3. Manchester, United Kingdom

popped collar:
1. New York, NY - It was the only city that had enough hits for the search term for popped collar to pop up. I always knew NY was the place to go for the hottest fashion.

Sensationalist media

2006-06-11T02:06:00.000-05:00

So this was the cover of the NY Post after Zarqawi was killed. Seems wrong, yet hilarious.

A small hangup

2006-06-07T00:41:00.000-05:00

I was browsing through netflix titles picking what to get next. For some reason it keeps recommending the movie whale rider. I'm not one to judge a movie by its cover, but this cover has always bugged me. I can remember being at the movie store as long as a year ago and the cover of this movie annoying me. And it still does. And is that the best they could do on the quote to put on the cover? "People love whale rider?" Come on!

Aggressive Behavior

2006-06-05T00:37:00.000-05:00

One thing I don't remember is how aggressive the homeless are here. Last time I lived in DC they weren't this bad. That has not been my experience this time.

I was sitting outside my apartment building on a ledge talking on my cell phone. This homeless guy comes wandering up to me and I know what he is going to ask. So as not to disrupt my phone conversation, I start waiving my hand at him in a shoo or go-away motion when he was within a few feet of me. He looked down at me and said "Muthafucka, I didn't even ask you for no money or nothin yet." Then he turns around and yells "Kracka ass muthafucka, I have a good mind to knock yo kracka ass muthafuckin head off." I didn't look back, but I could still hear him ranting for another minute or so as he walked away down the street.

That was probably the worst one but others have tried song and dance routines while following right at my side when I was walking home from bars in Georgetown. Then they hold out their hand and look at you like you are ripping them off for not paying for the spectacle you just witnessed.

Its all coming together

2006-05-31T23:14:00.000-05:00

1. The weirdest thing happened to me today. My boss took me out to lunch with some friends of his. First of all, he knew nothing of my intentions to transfer to a law school here. One of the people at lunch with us today is in a position of power of at the school I am most interested in. When I found this out, I whispered out my intentions of transferring to this guy's law school to my boss and asked if it would be appropriate to say something to him after lunch. My boss said we would talk to him after lunch. We did.

2. The girl I have been interested in is looking promising. We have been more in touch now than any time in the last year. How could I have missed someone cute, sweet, smart, and fun like this. Hopefully it doesn't pass me by again.

Random thoughts on a blog to end a holiday weekend

2006-05-29T22:26:00.000-05:00

1. What do you do when there is a certain someone from your past that you have been interested in again for awhile? When the potential of making something work was definitely there, but for who knows what reason, did not just go for it? There was never really any fallout between us and it seems to work in movies...I made the initial contact so we'll see how it goes.

2. I saw Thank You For Smoking tonight. This is a must see movie. Laughed out loud many times. Very sharp satire and plenty of memorable quotes to bring home. Speaking of memorable quotes...

3. I found a book at B&N this weekend that I will have to pick up before I go home: The Oxford Dictionary of Political Quotes. Great stuff. "Washington is a city of southern efficiency and northern hospitality - Thomas Jefferson | "I can only go one way. I've not got a reverse gear" - Tony Blair | "No one is fit to be trusted with a secret who is not prepared, if necessary, to tell an untruth to defend it." Lord Salisbury

4. I want to finish Da Vinci Code in the next couple days. I think I might be the last person on earth to read it. I want to see the movie but I can't do that until I finish the book because I'm sure the book is better.

The Washingtonian

2006-05-28T17:50:00.000-05:00

Holiday weekend in DC is much fun. Last night I pulled together a couple friends from college that live here, my roommate, and a friend of hers that lives out here and we went to the waterfront in Georgetown. Although I might be paying twice as much for the same drink I can get in my current law school's city, I have to say that enjoying a cocktail while overlooking the Potomac beats the hell out of taking in the NASCAR decorations plastered all over the bar.

Then went to the Nationals game today. Few things beat a holiday Sunday afternoon baseball game on a beautiful day. Especially when the Nats win!

Its the third time I have been out here and I am feeling more at home here than ever before. I even got pissed at tourists on the metro who could not get inside the train in time and tried to stop the doors from closing.

The transfer has to work. It has to. I don't want to leave!

Adventures in Chinatown

2006-05-27T01:07:00.000-05:00

So on a whim I decided I would head up to NYC for the three day weekend. However, this is not a cheap undertaking. That is, unless, you take the chinatown bus. For $35.00 (round trip!) you can ride a crappy, smelly bus for five hours that picks you up in Chinatown of DC and drops you in the middle of Chinatown in NYC. So I got home from work, packed up a bag, made plans to meet a friend in NYC, and made my way down to Chinatown.

When I got to the station they operate out of, it was everything I thought it would be. A small non-air conditioned room that sells tickets. To make matters worse it was a muggy, rainy day so the room was crowded with a couple dozen people ranging from college students to flat out sketch-balls. And B.O. was in play too.

Unfortunately the 5:00 bus was sold out but the guy told me I could wait and get an extra seat if there was one. So the 5:00 bus shows up at 4:30 and starts loading people up. I ended up missing a seat by about three people. But the bus left at 4:40! WTF!? So of course, over the next twenty minutes, people that were on that 5:00 bus came streaming in and found out that the bus took off early. Ha! Obviously overbooking is a policy of the Chinatown bus.

There was another bus at 6:00 that I decided to stick around for. So this time I went and waited outside where we would board the bus when it arrived. There were a lot of people doing this at this point because they didn't want to miss another bus. 6:00 came and went, no bus. 6:30, no bus. Finally at 7:00 and still no bus, I decided I had had enough and left. My ticket is good anytime I want to use it over the next year, so I'll just hold onto it.

What a Mickey Mouse operation. I seriously cannot wait to ride this thing to New York. Maybe next weekend.

I like it here!

2006-05-16T15:13:00.000-05:00

Wow, finally back in DC. I'm loving it out here too. I have really missed it. My roommate comes Saturday. She is a law student also (from a different school) so hopefully we'll get along.

I think I am coming up on another big gut check. I am going to apply to transfer to some law schools out here. I am completely happy with the school that I am currently at and it will afford me some great opportunities, but maybe not what I want to do in the near future. Because there are so many law schools out here filling the jobs I would be interested in, my school back in the middle of the country does not pull as much as weight around here.

The prospect of graduating law school in my home state and then just going back to the city I grew up in to work in a law firm for the rest of my life scares me a little. I am in my early twenties and single and the opportunities for me to pursue a short term career in DC are here. Its the type of opportunity and situation that will never present itself again and I really feel like I need that sense of uncertainty and adventure.

Filling out transfer apps can't hurt. I'm not even sure I will get in because these are top notch schools I plan on applying to. And even if I do get in, I'm not sure I will take it - I have a good situation now, I will be coming out of law school in my home state debt free and probably with some pretty well paying jobs available. But it would be a good conundrum to have, so lets just see what happens.

2L

2006-05-12T23:01:00.000-05:00

I am officially now a second year law student. And first year went out with a bang. My contracts II final was 105 pages. Go have some drinks, pack up the suits, and get the hell out of this city. See you in the District!

Finals Week Survey #3

2006-05-04T17:23:00.000-05:00

Just finished my Con law I exam, so I thought this one would be appropriate. As you can see, the survey's author has not updated the possible results in awhile.

Which Supreme Court Justice Are You?

You're William Rehnquist! You've been in the court the longest, and you like keeping everything perfectly under control. You don't like the press, especially television, and you can't stand not being in charge of things. However, you're perfectly willing to delegate power at times to those who agree with you entirely.
Take this quiz!

Law School Misconception

2006-05-01T21:46:00.000-05:00

My brother is a very opinionated person. He wasn't always like this, and I'm not quite sure exactly when it happened. If someone has a different point of view, he just cannot fathom how someone would possibly be able to think that way. This mainly goes to politics and such but also applies to social life, personal tastes, etc.

When I disagree with him, he fights me tooth and nail about how I am wrong, no matter how uninformed his opinion might be. One day my parents were talking to me about law school in general and they kept bringing up how great he would have been for law school. I have to completely disagree. Just because someone is highly opinionated and likes to fight and argue about anything contrary to what they think does not make them cut out for law school. In fact, I would say its a disadvantage. So much of the law is being objective and being able to make concise, logical arguments for your client. A great deal also goes into understanding where the opposition's point of view is coming from. When you understand this, you are better prepared for the arguments they put forward and can effectively rebut these. I think this is a pretty common misconception, though. Its not the first time I have heard someone think their friend/kid/acquaintance is perfect for law school because they love to argue.

Finals Week Survey #2

2006-04-30T10:33:00.000-05:00

take the WHAT INTENTIONAL TORT ARE YOU test.

and go to mewing.net. because law school made laura do this.

Finals Week Survey #1

2006-04-29T20:35:00.000-05:00

In honor of finals week, the most hellish (2) weeks of a law student's semester, I think I will take some law school related surveys to better know myself.

Which Federal Rule of Civil Procedure Are You?

YOU ARE RULE 12(b)!While you might be a defendant's best friend, you aren't exactly polite to others. You have seven separate grounds on which to dismiss a plaintiff's case. You are a bit paranoid, since if you fail to raise your 12(b)(2,3,4, or 7) in a motion or a pleading with one of the other 12(b) defenses or a 12(e) motion, you waive those objections for the rest of trial. Some might say that 12(b) is the biggest bully of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, but hey, somebody needs to keep the peace. You might not be the most popular guy in the office, but you're probably the most important.
Take this quiz!

Zoo

2006-04-28T18:46:00.000-05:00

When you go to the zoo, there is a sign posted outside the cages that says "Please don't feed the animals."

When you go to law school, there needs to be a sign posted that says "Please don't date the other law students."

Both are equally bad ideas. Ha.

The Good, the bad, and the pretty weird

2006-04-24T01:11:00.001-05:00

Apartment hunting in DC for a short term sublease is a B. I have found a bunch of cool places but few are for the amount of time I need. I narrowly missed getting a sublease on a great spot in Foggy Bottom. Studio, not outrageous rent, right by foggy bottom metro, 10 min. walk to the ellipse, Washington. monument, etc.

I did stumble across a couple pretty interesting posts while apt. searching on craigslist though. Perhaps one will take care of my roommate situation and the other will take care of my place to stay.

Place to stay: http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/sub/153929501.html

Roommates: http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/msr/152648469.html

Outline companion

2006-04-22T23:06:00.000-05:00

Can't say I have ever had a beer while studying. Not anymore.

Discrepancies at the grocery store

2006-04-21T18:35:00.000-05:00

A couple observations from my trip to the grocery store today:

1. Who taught old people how to work the self-checkout line? I thought they were scared of new technology. Any prospect of getting out of a crowded store quickly is now ruined.

2. When you are so fat that you have to ride one of those little motorized carts around, I think it would be best to take some of the frozen pizzas and doritos out of your cart and head over to the produce aisle.

2006-04-20T00:57:00.000-05:00

More good music

2006-04-16T11:20:00.000-05:00

So I decided to take down the smiling Jesus post because it was the first post that shows on my blog on Easter Day. I thought that might be in bad taste - plus I think karma can be a B, and I don't want to mess anything up right now.

Album rec. #2

Margot and the Nuclear So & So's - The Dust of Retreat. Sounds a little like Death Cab. A little. I can't think of one band to nail them to, but if you like the Decemberists or possibly Bright Eyes, check them out.

Its the Chronic...What? Cles of Narnia!

2006-04-12T16:11:00.000-05:00

Hilarious. I just saw this for the first time the other day and could not stop laughing.

Home Stretch

2006-04-10T22:38:00.000-05:00

Today I realized that for first time in awhile I am really happy again. I have been such a sad sack all semester. I am so excited about so many things going on right now. And now that I have my appellate brief handed in, one class this semester is down. Now to catch up on all the slacking I have done in Contracts. Kick ass on finals, move to Washington, and maybe stay there awhile!

I realized I haven't had any music recs on this blog, so here goes. I have this obsession with indie rock bands with female lead singers. This one is a very solid album, so give it a shot, or at least go on iTunes and check out the samples.

The Sounds - Dying to Say This to You. Great indie/synth rock sound. Has sort of an 80's edge to it in some of the songs. Reminds me of Blondie a little bit.

afraid i'm not a machine

2006-04-06T23:33:00.000-05:00

I have the appellate brief blues. Due Monday, then around the clock finals studying until mid-May. Sigh. I may need a one last hurrah at the bars with friends before things really get boring. Keeping my eye on the prize is my biggest motivation though: Heading back to the district. I also have a really cool place picked out on Pennsylvania Ave. I might sign a lease on pretty soon.

Took coffee as a surprise to a girl I have been talking to lately. Thought it may be a nice late afternoon pickup on this brief writing. At the risk of sounding cheesy, I have always been a fan of the unexpected surprise. I know how great I feel when someone does something really nice for me for no reason at all, so I try to be spontaneous with that stuff too. Just something to show someone I was thinking about them. Hopefully I scored some brownie points too. :-)

What a dilemma!

2006-04-04T21:58:00.000-05:00

Whatever will liberals do? Wal-Mart is selling Brokeback Mountain on DVD, despite pleas from conservative groups not to. But many liberals refuse to support such a faceless corporation like Wal-Mart. But where else will they get their hot off the press copy of Brokeback at everyday low prices? Its a tough life, I know.

I think I'm getting hooked on these things

2006-04-04T19:46:00.000-05:00

Great time wasters!

1. Have you ever been searched by the cops?
Nope

2. Do you close your eyes on roller coasters?
No way, and miss all the excitement?!?

3. When's the last time you've been sledding?
A few years ago down the hill my undergrad campus sat atop. Good times.

4. Would you rather sleep with someone else, or alone?
Someone else, of course!

5. Do you believe in ghosts?
Nah, I don't think so.

6. Do you consider yourself creative?
I think I have found my niche of creativity in legal writing. Seriously!

7. Do you think O.J. killed his wife?
Def.

8. Jennifer Aniston or Angelina Jolie?
Aniston, Jolie seems trashy.

9. Can you honestly say you know ANYTHING about politics?
I'm a politics junkie.

10. Do you know how to play poker?
I love playing but I never win. I think I was better when I was first starting.

11. Have you ever been awake for 48 hours straight?
Not quite sure. If not, been pretty close.

12. What's your favorite commercial?
I think its citi or something when the guy is trying to get through to customer service and he has to say his password with a bunch of people around. He quietly says, "big boy" and then the automated voice asks him to repeat it louder and he yells "Big Boy!" on the crowded bus. Hilarious.

13. Who was your first true love?
I'm not sure that I have experienced my first true love yet

14. If you're driving in the middle of the night, and no one is around you, do you run a red light?
Nah, I've heard too many stories of a cop hiding out waiting for someone to do that.

15. Do you have a secret that no one knows but you?
Of course.

16. Boston Red Sox or New York Yankees?
Washington Nationals!

17. Have you ever been Ice Skating?
Nope

18. How often do you remember your dreams?
I will remember them right when I wake up but lose it pretty quick afterwards. Sometimes they will really stick with me though.

19. When was the last time you laughed so hard you cried?
Oh, probably making jokes with my roommate from college last summer.

20. Can you name 5 songs by The Eagles?
um......hotel california, and im out....

21. What's the one thing on your mind?
My coffee date with a cute blonde tomorrow. :-)

22. Do you believe in love at first sight?
No way.

23. Do you know who Ba-Ba-Booey is?
I don't know why I know this, but I think its some guy on Howard Stern.

24. Do you always wear your seatbelt?
Probably half the time.

25. What talent do you wish you had?
Photographic memory

26. Do you like Sushi?
I love sushi

27. Have you ever narrowly avoided a fatal accident?
Yes, one time my friend took me for a ride in his dad's porsche and he started going around 80 mph or so through our neighborhood. There was some sand in the road and he lost control of the car. We did several 360's, flew over the curb and came a couple feet away from slamming into a tree. Scary.

28. What do you wear to bed?
boxers and tee

29. Have you ever been caught stealing?
Can't get caught if you've never done it.

30. Does size matter?
I don't know

31. Do you truly hate someone?
No, thats not healthy.

32. Rock or Rap?
rock!!

33. If you could sleep with one famous person, who would it be?
I don't know, I've never really been big on fantasizing about celebrities

34. Do you know anyone in jail?
Like prison? No. I guess I know some people who have been to jail for like a night or something.

35. Have you ever sang in front of the mirror?
Haha, I think I remember doing this as a little kid.

37. What food do you find disgusting?
really greasy fried chicken

38. Did you ever play, "I'll show you mine, if you show me yours?"
I don't think so

39. Have you ever made fun of your friends behind their back?
No, I'm not like that.

40. Have you ever stood up for someone you hardly knew?
Yes

41. Have you ever been punched in the face?
Heh, yeah, but I won the fight.

42. Do you love lemons?
Nah.

Random Thought For the Day

2006-04-03T17:23:00.000-05:00

Perhpas the most horrible place to live/visit/spend any time in at all in the United States: Branson, Missouri. Its a stiff's Las Vegas right in the middle of bumpkin-ville.

ADD at the Library

2006-04-02T17:52:00.000-05:00

I'm studying at our school's library. I needed to get away from the distractions of tv and the couch at my apartment. But after about an hour of being here, I remember why I hate studying at the library. Why can't people sit still? It can be one of a hundred things, but what really gets me is people who constantly shake their leg up and down, listen to headphones too loud, drum along to music with their pen or fingers, and other constant fidgeting. Just chill the f*** out, sit still, and read. Not too tough.

Holy crap, 70 questions....I really don't want to study civ pro.

2006-03-28T00:43:00.000-06:00

1. Do you snore? Unfortunately, I think I do
2. Are you a lover or a fighter? Lover
3. What's your worst fear? Not being happy
4. As a kid were you a lego maniac? No, I liked ninja turtles
5. What do you think of reality TV? I like The Apprentice and Survivor
7. Were you a cute baby? I was a fat baby.
8. Is the single life the life for you? It is getting a little old.
9. What color is your keyboard? black
10. Do you sing in the shower? If I have music to sing along to.
11. Have you ever bungee jumped? No, but I would
12. Have any secret talents? Yes, but I obviously can't reveal them.
13. Ideal vacation spot? Greece.
14. Do you think Jay Leno is funny? Not really
15. Can you swim? yes
16. Have you seen Donnie Darko? Yes, I liked it.
17. Do you give a damn about the ozone? I guess since I drive an SUV the answer is no
18. How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop? Next question
19. Can you sing the alphabet backwards? nope
20. Have you ever been on an airplane? Many times.
21. Are you an only child? nope
22. Do you prefer electric or manual pencil sharpener? Electric
23. What's your stand on hunting? I'm not into it but I don't care if others do it.
24. Is marriage in your future? Someday
25. Do you like your handwriting? I prefer typing
26. What are you allergic to? A lot of things in the spring
27. When was the last time you said "I love you" and meant it? Couple days ago.
28. Is Elvis still alive? I doubt it.
29. Do you cry at weddings? No.
30. How do you like your eggs? Over easy
31. All blondes dumb? Nah.
32. Where does the other sock end up? Narnia.
33. What time is it? Almost 1...ugh...I still have civ.pro. reading.
34. Do you have a nickname? Yes
35. Is McDonalds food disgusting? I like their breakfast.
36. When was the last time you were in a car? Coming home from school.
37. Do you prefer baths or showers? Showers. Baths are wading in a tepid pool of your own filth
38. Is Santa Claus real? Sure.
39. Do you like to have your neck kissed? I personally prefer ears over neck.
40. Are you afraid of the dark? No.
41. What are you addicted to? Caffeine.
42. Crunchy or creamy peanut butter? Neither.
43. Can you crack your neck? Unfortunately.
44. Have you ever ridden in an ambulance? No.
46. Is drug free the way to be? Yes.
47. Are you a heavy sleeper? Sometimes
48. What color are your eyes? Brown
50. Do you like your life? Very much so
52. Are you psychic? Yes, I can read minds.
53. Have you read "Catcher in the Rye" ? I did in high school. I liked it too.
54. Do you play instruments? No, wish I did though.
55. Have you ever stolen money? I used to grab spare change out of the cupholder of my dad's car when I was a kid, if that counts
56. Can you snowboard? Oh yeah. Love it.
57. Do you like camping? Its okay. Circumstances would have to be right.
58. Do you snort when you laugh? No.
59. Do you believe in magic? No, its all clicks and whistles.
60. Are dogs a mans best friend? I love dogs but I prefer people as best friends.
61. Do you believe in divorce? Do I believe in it? I hope it never happens to me but its necessary sometimes.
62. Can you moonwalk? No
64. Is it cold outside? Light jacket weather.
65. What was the last thing you ate? Breadstick.
66. Do you miss someone right now? I get to see family often enough to where I never miss them too much. I miss certain times of my life and the experiences associated with being with those close to me. But they are wonderful memories to have.
67. Wish you could live somewhere else? Most definitely.
68. What's the most annoying TV commerical? The cingular commercial where the guy is always giving his friend such a hard time for having a crappy cell phone. Come on buddy, where do you get off by rubbing it in your friend's face that your cell phone is so much better than his?
69. Do you shop at American Eagle? No
70. Favorite band at the moment? Yeah Yeah Yeahs

A Week to Remember

2006-03-26T17:48:00.000-06:00

This last week had to be one of the most exciting weeks of my life:

- Kicked off spring break by driving out to Colorado to get a little spring snowboarding in. Had a lot of fun with friends from school and it was nice to put law out of sight and mind for a few days.

- The job I applied for in Washington, DC called and offered me the job I wanted so badly. I gladly accepted.

- I met with a federal judge from my state who offered me a position as his clerk. I gladly accepted. I will be splitting my time in half between these two jobs this summer. That dilemma is solved and I will put my summer experience up against anyone in the whole class.

- I have already blogged the story about flying on the private corporate jet to Washington for the weekend, and I think that part goes without saying. I got to walk around Georgetown for the afternoon and then watch the NCAA games in person. I also got to meet the president of George Mason University, who paid a visit to our suite at the game. That can't be a bad thing......

- I met up with a friend from college I had not seen in over a year after the game and we hit Georgetown for some drinks and catching up. I love that city. It is going to be so great to be back this summer.

Weekend in the District

2006-03-23T17:54:00.000-06:00

Got a big surprise today! My boss from when I worked in Washington, DC called me and offered me two seats on a private jet (he now works in the private sector and this is his company's jet) and tickets to the Sweet 16 games in DC this weekend. We happen to be from the same hometown and one of the teams playing happens to be from there too. I am so excited for a quick weekend in DC. I have not been back since the President's inauguration last year. Even though my team is out of the tournament and I have had my tail firmly between my legs for a week now, I am still excited to experience two of my favorite interests in one weekend: Washington, DC and college basketball.

I think I have a problem...

2006-03-16T20:48:00.000-06:00

I'm laying on my couch watching the tournament. On TV I have GW v. NC-Wilmington, which is currently in overtime. Now here is where it gets a little ridiculous. I signed up for three different online accounts. I have three different games playing on my laptop which is right in front of me while watching the main game in High Def on TV. I have minimized on the computer my brackets and rankings where I stand in the bracket pools I am in for quick reference. Arguably one of the best days of the year.

At least I have my priorities straight

2006-03-16T10:53:00.000-06:00

Remember all that talk about going to class and watching the tourney games on my laptop? Well, I thought of something better: Just stay home and watch the games on TV. It pays to save absences for days like this. Yep, this is the good life. Oh, and here is your last minute tournament pick: Pick Wichita State to upset Tennessee in the second round. Probably won't happen, but if it does, you heard it here first!

Awesome Day

2006-03-15T01:17:00.000-06:00

I'm about to head off to bed. Fried from studying bluebook citations. But today was too good of a day not to mark down.

- I got offered a job I really wanted this summer. So excited!
- The other job I am interested in has all but made the offer, its very close. More on this later, but I think I am going to be able to split my time between the two jobs I wanted most this summer. Who says you have to be number one in the class to get the very best summer clerk job(s)?
- I won $200 in a random drawing for taking part in a survey for Starbucks. And they gave me a $15 Starbucks card just for participating. Perfect timing, because I need a new bag of Cafe Verona. Definitely not getting Komodo Dragon blend again. blah.

Not bad for a days work. Now to ace the bluebook citation exam tomorrow and then sit back and enjoy March Madness (during class) the rest of the week.

Bracketbuster #1

2006-03-14T13:41:00.000-06:00

12 Texas A&M v. 5 Syracuse

This matchup it tough to figure out. You have Syracuse, who before the Big East tournament was questionable as to whether they would even qualify for the tournament, turn into the hottest team in the country and win the conference tournament in arguably the toughest conference in the country.

Texas A&M is a team just waiting to make a big upset. They knocked off Texas late in the season and then nearly did it again the Big 12 tournament. They played in the Big 12, which is no pushover conference. So this isn't some mid-major team.

This is also the dreaded 5 v. 12 matchup. Every year there are always at least a couple 12 seeds that beat 5 seeds.

It all depends on which team Syracuse brings. Will they still be on fire a week later and continue their outstanding play, or will they revert to the mediocre team they were for the better part of the season? If they are as hot as they were in the Big East tournament, seriously consider them for knocking off Duke and going to the Final Four. If not, A&M pulls off one of the many first round upsets to come.

Verdict: Go with Syracuse. You have to like teams that are peaking right now and playing their best ball of the season heading right into the tournament. Gerry Macnamara is a great senior and his tournament experience will prove too much for the Aggies.

Julian Slams Texas!

2006-03-12T21:00:00.000-06:00

Okay, I said I wasn't going to work up my team, and I'm still not, but this is just too good not to enjoy. How I love March!

Bracketology

2006-03-12T17:56:00.000-06:00

Tournament time! The NCAA tournament is the absolute best in sports. I'll be making tournament analysis and picks through the week, so stay tuned. But I am not going to work up my team. Last year when I put up cocky posts about my team, they ended up having one of the most embarrassing losses in school history. And being the superstitious person I am, I have learned my lesson. However, I will say this: I like my team's bracket a lot. I think they have a very legitimate shot for a deep tourney run. Beak 'em!

A Conservative Intellectual Network

2006-03-10T16:29:00.000-06:00

Today I joined the ranks of Scalia, Roberts, Alito, and countless other conservative and libertarain individuals involved in the legal community by becoming a member of the Federalist Society at my law school.

"The courts must declare the sense of the law; and if they should be disposed to exercise will instead of judgment, the consequene would be the substitution of their pleasure to that of the legislative body." -- The Federalist No. 78

Fever Pitch

2006-03-09T16:08:00.000-06:00

Its about this time ever year that it gets pretty hard for people to concentrate at work and school. Apparently, U.S. companies sustain millions of dollars in lost productivity because people are too busy concentrating on the NCAA tournament. (See CNN article for more). And the NCAA isn't doing anything to help this situation by offering *free* live feeds of all the NCAA tournament games online through their website. Criminal Procedure class will never be the same when I can't get a live feed of college BB games on my laptop!

I am no exception to the loss in work phenomenon. With spring break right around the corner - yes, we still get spring break in law school :-) - next week is looking bleak. Its going to be hard not to fill and re-fill out my bracket during each class and spend a lot of free time analyzing win-loss records of the field of 65 while daydreaming about getting out of town with my friends the following week.

Little Stuff

2006-03-07T23:16:00.000-06:00

Some of the things that make me the happiest in life are definitely the little things. Little things that that make you smile when you are all by yourself and make you feel like everything is in its right place.

Thing to do this year #1: Kiss a girl I really like in a thunderstorm.

Cold-Called

2006-03-06T17:34:00.000-06:00

It had to happen sometime. A day would come where I had not done the reading and would get called on in class to explain the case. Unfortunately, that day was today.

Prof: (Shuffling through name cards) Would you care to explain Champion v. Ames to the class?

Me: (Several seconds of awkward silence) Can I take a pass for today?

Prof: I don't allow passes.

Me: ..... (Thinking: Okay, well, do you want me to take 10 minutes while the class sits here and read it?)

Prof: I do give opportunities to redeem yourself, but this will be noted. You will be probed extensively on your knowledge of the material next time.

Busted. Oh well. The next two people called on weren't prepared either so I wasn't the only one. Nice wake up call, I guess.

Chuck Norris

2006-03-02T17:41:00.000-06:00

I don't know where the recent explosion of Chuck Norris jokes came from, but I am slowly turning into a fan. I'll admit, some of them are pretty funny, I guess I just don't understand where this all of a sudden came from. Some of the better ones IMO:

Chuck Norris' tears cure cancer. Too bad he has never cried.

Chuck Norris is currently suing NBC, claiming Law and Order are trademarked names for his left and right legs.

Chuck Norris is 1/8th Cherokee. This has nothing to do with ancestry, the man ate a fucking Indian.

When McDonalds refused to give Chuck Norris an Egg McMuffin because it was 10:35, he roundhouse kicked the store so hard that it became a Wendy's.

Give Me My Dog or Give Me Death

2006-03-01T16:56:00.000-06:00

I tried to dig up a news article I could link to, but I couldn't find one. I saw this on CNN today. Apparently, Americans were surveyed on The Simpsons and The Constitution. While almost everyone surveyed was able to name all five members of The Simpsons family, only one person surveyed was able to name all five freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment. And apparently, most of the people surveyed thought the right to own a pet was written in the Constitution. Nice.

Random Conversation 1

2006-02-27T17:24:00.000-06:00

Friend and me driving along the other day:

Me: What percentage of the population do you think is good looking?
Friend: You gotta give me a little more to work with.
Me: Percentage of the population that is datable. Overall - Looks and personality.
Friend: 15-20%
Me: No way, its more like 5-10%. Closer to 5.
Friend: So 90% of the population is undatable?
Me: Undatable!!

I'll admit its very Seinfeldian, actually almost a straight take off. But a good conversation to have, nonetheless.

Breaking News . . . For People With Dirty Minds

2006-02-26T01:37:00.000-06:00

I have one of those customized yahoo pages as my startup page on my web browser. One of the things that comes up on the side is the top 5 most viewed/emailed yahoo news photos of the day. I was scrolling by them today and couldn't help but notice a sort of common theme developing...Seriously, do people get their kicks from checking out the racy yahoo news photo section? As I scrolled down I thought I should give people the benefit of the doubt that they were just there to see a funny picture or some Olympics picture, but then I ran across the third one and it pretty much summed up what apparently most people are trolling around Yahoo photos looking for. Here they were:

Yeah...Let your imagination do the work...

Unmitigated Gall

2006-02-24T21:24:00.000-06:00

I recently discovered the identity of a highly ranked individual in my 1L class. Interviews are also going on right now for summer jobs and clerkships. Today, I found out this person has quite an ego, as well. Apparently she was not hired for a couple of the jobs she applied for and sent angry emails out to those firms. Something about how can you not hire the number 1 person with impeccable academic credentials, etc. etc. Too bad, buddy. I'm sure things will pick up for you, but I have to say that your common sense does not quite match your intellectual skills. Attorneys talk to each other. They will talk about the student who thought she was a real hot shot and sent angry emails chastizing law firms for not hiring her. This is kind of like an article I saw the other day, though not nearly as bad. At least she didn't follow up the rejection by saying "bla bla bla" to the hiring firm. Angry law student email.

Potable Quotes #2

2006-02-24T15:37:00.000-06:00

"Never give up on something that you can't go a day without thinking about."

This Guy Is So In

2006-02-22T13:19:00.000-06:00

Ginsberg: "Here hun, I think you dropped some of your lunch on your robe."
Roberts (thinking to himself): "Don't let her suck you in, Sam!"

That Takes Me Back

2006-02-20T22:58:00.000-06:00

Its funny how a song that you listened to a lot at a particular time in your life can bring back strong and vivid memories of that time. I have a lot of these songs. At the time I am listening to it, I don't realize it could become one of those songs in the future. When I listen to it again after not hearing it for awhile, it instanlty takes me back to that particular time in my life. Its funny how strongly it hits and really brings in a flood of memories of that specific time or situation. Some of the more recent ones I can think of off the top of my head:

The Postal Service - We Will Become Sillhouettes - Returning from DC at the end of summer to start my senior year of college.

Radiohead - Punch Up at a Wedding - DC Summer 2003

Interpol - Turn on the Bright Lights - DC Summer 2003

Astaire - L-L-Love - Riding on a train from Moscow to St. Petersburg, Russia Summer 2005

Coldplay - Square One - Russia Summer 2005

Metric - Empty - First semester of law school

Busta Rhymes - Break Ya' Neck - 2 am rapping sessions with my roommate after getting home from going out on a weekend night sophomore year of college

Flaming Lips - Do You Realize - Moving out of college, last day with my whole group of friends together.

People Watching

2006-02-19T20:49:00.000-06:00

I went and ate breakfast at Perkins this morning. This usually gives a good people-watching opportunity. But it wasn't the usual fat chick in a tweety bird t-shirt that caught my eye. I saw some woman walk in with a t-shirt that said, "Love Sucks.....True Love Swallows." I couldn't help but involuntarily shudder when her cracked out, long haired boyfriend came following behind.

Dogsitting

2006-02-19T12:03:00.000-06:00

Just got done dogsitting for the weekend. My parents were near my city to take my younger brother to a basketball tournament and I offered to take care of the dog this weekend.

I've thought about getting a dog but I have had reservations. I'm glad I did this small test run. First of all, if I did get one, I would not want to housetrain it in the winter. It was -2 degrees outside last night and the dog really didn't seem to mind. Even though this dog is house trained, he pooed in the corner of my apartment a couple different times. I think he was mad for not playing with him enough. (Even though I spent hours throwing a stuffed toy across the room that he would bring back each time).

It was a good test run. I had a lot of fun taking care of the dog, but I don't think I want to get one while living at an apartment complex. Maybe someday, but I'll stick to the family dog visiting for the weekend every now and then.

Bowtie Guys

2006-02-16T15:54:00.000-06:00

Today during criminal procedure class my friend and I had an IM conversation about bowties. I definitely do not see myself as being a bowtie guy or even being able to pull it off. My friend, while not a bowtie person either, thinks he would pull it off well. We talked about some of the famous bowtie wearers and the company my friend will be joining once he becomes one of them.

1. Tucker Carlson

2. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens
3. Pee Wee Herman
4. And my personal favorite: Matthew Lesko. Free Money to Pay Your Bills!

(Go ahead and click on the picture to get the full effect)

Potable Quotes #1

2006-02-16T00:56:00.000-06:00

In addition to being a popular vacation site, Florida is well known as a source of narcotics and other illegal drugs. - Rehnquist, J., Illinois v. Gates, 462 U.S. 213.

I think Rehnquist lifted this right of a Florida Chamber of Commerce brochure.

The Missouri Compromise

2006-02-15T00:00:00.000-06:00

At least they gave him a nice severance package.

"Bitch!"

2006-02-12T13:44:00.000-06:00

A little much

2006-02-12T13:41:00.000-06:00

I think my previous posts have been too harsh on law students. I don't want to come off as this bitter person who hates everyone at law school. I still stand by what I say but it is a small minority of people who give the whole group a bad name. Probably around ten or so people that just make you want to throw your car keys at the back of their heads when they start speaking up.

All Dressed Up and Nowhere to Go

2006-02-09T09:03:00.000-06:00

I'll never understand the people who feel like they have to dress to kill every day for law school. They wear a suit or business casual just for a day of school. I love seeing people looking their finest while carrying around the same backpack they used back in high school. Don't they understand they are living their last days to wear jeans and not have to dress up on a regular basis? I think this is another case in point about some people at law school.

Rising high

2006-02-08T00:53:00.000-06:00

If my criminal procedure prof. pulls her pants up any higher, she won't need to wear a shirt.

Gut Check

2006-02-07T17:14:00.000-06:00

I'm sending out my resume to a lot of different places right now. The types of jobs I have applied for pretty much fall into two categories: 1.) Medium-large size law firms 2.) Government.

I really don't know what route I want to take. I think I want the firm route in the long run but government right now. I have applied to several firms in the city where I am originally from and for several government positions in Washington, DC.

The biggest downside to the firms I am looking at is that I really don't want to live at home. I know this is pretty much the only alternative if I choose this route because I will still be paying rent on my apartment from law school and with my family being from there, it would be hard to justify not living at home if I do choose that route. Plus, I would be making good money at the firm and not paying additional rent.

The government positions are unpaid and I would have to get a new place in DC, on top of the rent I still have to pay on my current place. I go to a more regional law school though, and if I don't get my foot in the door on working in DC now, the opportunity might not be there in the future. I am also beside myself excited to live and work in Washington. It is my favorite U.S. city, by far. I have government work experience from internships in college but I need to pursue legal ones to keep that capital I have built since college.

I should also say that I am just now being selected for interviews. I don't have anything locked up yet. But if I had all options on the table it would look like either 1.)Live at home and make a bunch of money possibly being misrable but getting law firm experience or 2.)Live in DC, make no money, eat rent on an additional place, make great contacts and get my foot in the door for a future DC job, and love my living situation.

Quiz Show

2006-02-05T22:48:00.000-06:00

My ex-girlfriend and I used to do these things. They're kinda fun. Anything to put off studying.

1. Grab the book nearest to you, turn to page 18, and find line 4.
"should usually be required to have probable cause before they conduct searches."

2. Stretch your left arm out as far as you can.
Okay

3. What is the last thing you watched on TV?
Grey's Anatomy

4. Without looking, guess what time it is:
10:42

5. Now look at the clock. What is the actual time?
10:56

6. With the exception of the computer, what can you hear?
The heater

7. When did you last step outside? What were you doing?
An hour ago. To get my ipod from my car.

8. Before you started this survey, what did you look at?
Pictures with friends

9. What are you wearing?
Brown half zip sweater, jeans

10. Did you dream last night?
Don't remember

11. When did you last laugh?
Probably about 45 minutes ago.

12. What is on the walls of the room you are in?
My college degrees, picture of me with the President and Vice President, Soviet style art I got in Russia.

13. Seen anything weird lately?
Emerald Nuts commercial during the super bowl. Pretty funny.

14. What do you think of this quiz?
I like it.

15. What is the last film you saw?
Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels.

16. If you became a multi-millionaire overnight, what would you buy?
Posh apartments in Manhattan and Washington, DC and travel the world.

17. Tell me something about you that I don't know.
I like Russell Crowe movies.

18. If you could change one thing about the world, regardless of guilt or politics, what would you do?
I don't know....More zoos?

19. Do you like to dance?
After a drink.

20. George Bush:
is a great President.

21. Imagine your first child is a girl, what do you call her?
Tegan.

22. Imagine your first child is a boy, what do you call him?
Jack

23. Would you ever consider living abroad?
Yes

24. What do you want God to say to you when you reach the pearly gates?
Hey buddy

25. 4 people who must also do this meme in THEIR journal:
Thats okay

current mood: a little depressed
current music: Imogen Heap - Speak For Yourself

Always Be Closing

2006-02-05T14:48:00.000-06:00

I need to get better. The city I live in has a frightfully poor female scene. Most girls here fit into one, or often times all, of these categories: 1.) Fat, 2.) Have kids, 3.) Uneducated.

That being the case, I went out of town last night to hang out with a college buddy. The plan was to stop at a friends house and then hit the bars. The plan didn't quite play through. There were a group of amazing girls from Greece and Turkey at the party. I talked with a couple of them for a short time, but then the shy part in me came out and I could not close the deal. I need to be a better closer. Because most bars in the city I live in are NASCAR themed, I think being more aggressive on going for a girl is the only way to make something happen.

ABC's: Always Be Closing.

Late Night TV

2006-02-04T14:45:00.000-06:00

A little TV before going to bed is nice. I usually ending up watching one of the 24 hour news channels like FNC or CNN. I usually get a kick out of the wide range of commercials they show. But there is one in particular I have really come to enjoy because it really makes me wonder about this guy.

Its the Oreck Vacuum pitched by David Oreck. He seems like this really nice guy in the commercials. Like it actually has me tricked that this is a really genuine guy who really wants to help me out with his vacuum. He'll even pay to have it shipped back.

But I've learned to be wary of such people. When I was a kid there were these carpet commercials where the guy always had his appropriately named dog Ruggles beside him. I always thought what a nice guy he seemed like in the commercials. But then my dad told me one day that he was a real dick. He didn't use those words, but that was the gist of it.