divine angst

A friend of mine called me last night, just to “check in” since we hadn’t talked for a while. But it only took three or four minutes of conversation for the real reason for the call to come out—she’s planning to apply to law school.

So we talked about the LSAT and commuting and having babies in law school, about career paths and priorities. And it inspired me to write a little advice for the “non-traditional” law student.

First, I’ll clarify that, by “non-traditional,” I mean anyone going to law school to pursue a second career. I think that’s a pretty fair definition. I feel mostly non-traditional because I’ve been working on a particular career path for five years now. My friend is non-traditional because she’s been in her field, doing the same kind of work, for nearly eight years. Stag and CM are non-traditional by this means, too. If you don’t like my definition, fine, then pretend I’m just talking about second-career law students.
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Isn’t this just like the movie Dave? Or, sort of like?

Ah, San Antonio. If this guy gets elected, I’m going to make fun of him every time I go visit my relatives there.

A Storm of Swords by George R. R. Martin

This is the third book in the series A Song of Fire and Ice. I like these books—the story is interesting, complex, grand—but these books also frustrate me.

Most of my frustration is due to the architecture of the novel. Each chapter tells a part of the story from the perspective of a different character. When the plot is moving quickly and characters are converging, this is a very Good Thing. But when characters are far away, only moving toward a destination or an event, this is annoying. No chapter is long enough to satisfy me, and when it ends, I’m left wanting more of THAT character and not the character forthcoming.

Swords was pretty slow, then, for me, for the first half or so. There’s a lot of traveling going on, a lot of political intrigue without much action. Only in the second half of the book do the storylines start to really come together as characters and plotlines converge. The second half was a fast read for me, and I breezed through it in the Orlando airport and on the two planes we took.

I will recommend this book—or, perhaps I should just recommend the series. Martin has really created something terrific. I just wish his chapters were a little longer, or he tinkered a bit with their order, so the slow parts would flow more readily.

Day 0

Our little vacation started with a late flight out of Our City to Orlando. The flights were fine—no delays, except a minor one in Dallas when our connecting flight’s crew was late getting in from Indianapolis. Oh, and they kept moving our gate. When we got off the plane, we headed to C2 to discover we’d been moved to C7. So we went back towards C7 and had a beer. Then we noticed nothing was going on at the gate, looked at the monitors, and found we’d been moved again, to C3. At least they were all at the same end of the terminal.

One late (1:15 am) arrival into Orlando and one shuttle ride to the hotel later, we were sleeping—on a foam bed. I think it was, in fact, memory foam. Mr. Angst suggested that we get a glass of wine and jump on the bed for a little while, just like in the commercial! But it was 2 am by then, so we decided to sleep instead.
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In State Law School sent me a terse, but not unkind, email today noting that my application for admission had been withdrawn. I didn’t send them any money, so they cancelled my admission.

Good. I worried that, not having sent any actual documentation, they might continue to send me reminders or something. But ISLS apparently considers a sin of omission as serious as a sin of commission. I’m out, and that’s one less school to worry about.

This is awesome.

Perfect for a dorm room or maybe the gameroom in your parents’ house. Rock on.

Still working on the cruise post. Sorry—we had a late dinner last night with my stepfather, in town for a meeting.

So here are a few good posts I’ve seen today that can hold you over until then:

1. Lasts and first lasts are poignant, yes? I’ve been having a few of those lately, here on the cusp of leaving the “real world”. So has Ambimb as he finishes up 2L.
2. Is the new pope anti-modern, or just a traditionalist who isn’t embracing modernity for modernity’s sake? Carey Cuprisin weighs in.
3. Tom Delay is a moron. Just ask Law Dork and RawLaw.
4. Big head? Hard time buying hats? Natalyia gives hope to big heads everywhere.

Today is the tenth anniversary of the bombing in Oklahoma City. I was thinking about that day, and all the other days that we remember. Isn’t it funny how people always want to know where you were and what you remember about those days?

On April 19, 1995, when word came of the explosion at the Murrah Building, I was a senior in high school, in fifth period Computer Science class, fresh from my extra-long lunch (I had a free period in the middle of the day). The announcement came over the PA system and, being students in a Catholic school, we were asked to stand, bow our heads, have a moment of silence, and say a prayer together. I believe we recited a Hail Mary, but it could have been the Lord’s Prayer—I really don’t remember that bit. I remember that it was a pretty spring day and the sun was out and that the full import of what had happened didn’t really strike me at the time. It was only later, when the papers published the images, that I realized how awful what had happened was.

But I’m glad my Catholic high school had us all say a prayer that day. As long as I can remember, tragic events that occured while I was in school were always followed by a communal prayer. It’s soothing. We didn’t just pray for national events—the Challenger explosion, Oklahoma City—we also prayed for each other. I remember my entire elementary school saying a prayer for my cousin, when she was very ill. I remember saying prayers for other students who were ill or dying, or who had lost a parent. I don’t believe that public schools should have prayer, but I hope they can continue to offer silent and thoughtful moments for tragic events.

I felt the lack of such a moment on September 11. I was all alone in my office, reading the headlines online, when the towers were hit. I wished there had been some greater communal moment, early on that Tuesday morning, something that acknowledged the shock and terror we all felt. I went to church that evening, instead, needing to fill that empty space with other people and a shared purpose.

These are the things I think about on days of remembrance. People want to know where you were and what you were doing when big events happen because those memories are part of a shared human experience. How we react and cope with horrible events helps us learn to react and cope with future events. Have a moment of silence today, if you can, in memory of Oklahoma City. Say a prayer if you pray. Be with other people. Remember with one another.

Well, that was fast.

I’m going to have to revisit my Roman numerals. All those letters after “Benedict” have me confused.

1. You’re stuck inside Fahrenheit 451, which book do you want to be saved?

Like SG, I have actually read Fahrenheit 451. In eighth grade. It was the book we read in depth and analyzed that year. I still have my copy of it, all marked up and written in. I liked it—but I liked most books that I read in English class in school, that our teacher took the time to go through with us. Consequently, I even liked The Sound and the Fury, which is a bitch of a book to finish, much less understand. I digress. Of the books that were formative for me—and there are a lot of them—I guess I’d pick The Diary of a Young Girl. I love that book and I think it’s an important work that deserves to be saved.

2. Have you ever had a crush on a fictional character?

Yes. I think back to my romance-novel phase and I had a lot of crushes on totally unrealistic characters in those books. Of course, Wesley from The Princess Bride is another fictional crush—although, again, totally unrealistic.

3. The last book you purchased?

I recently bought A Storm of Swords—just finished it yesterday, on the plane.

4. What are you currently reading?

As I just finished the last book in my to-be-read stack, I am currently without a book in progress. I’ll pull something off the shelf tonight, probably. Or I’ll finish reading this week’s Economist.

5. Five books you would take to a deserted island?

1. What names did you consider for your blog?

None. I had/have another blog that I have stopped posting to, and it had a crappy name. When I started the whole law-school-application-nightmare I wanted a place to chronicle it all, and I wanted it to be more long-term, so I spent some time coming up with a name I actually liked. I wasn’t clever enough at the time to come up with a clever Latin name or even a name that was law-related but this name is unique at least and I really like it.

2. What is your favorite adult beverage and why?

If the options were always good, I’d drink wine all the time. In the absence of good wine selections, I’ll choose a good beer; in the absence of good beer, I’ll take a vodka tonic most of the time and an Irish Whiskey some of the time.

3. If you could cancel 3 televisions shows, what would they be?

Urm. I don’t know. Daytime TV sucks, so there are a few of those shows I’d can. Most primetime sitcoms are wretched also, so I’d get rid of a few of those, too. And then I’d toss all the shows on the Food Network that aren’t actual cooking shows. I don’t really like those “all about cookies/barbecue/soda” shows.

4. You’ve been asked to host SNL. Which cast would you choose to work with, and who would you choose as the musical guest?

I’m torn between the early cast—Gilda, Jane, Bill, Belushi, et al—and the great early 90’s cast—Phil, Kevin, Farley, Rock, et al. Maybe I’d mix and match those groups, and throw in Farrell because he rocks. (NB: I saw a guy at the airport yesterday wearing a shirt that said “More Cowbell” on the front. I want one!) As for the musical guest, it would need to be someone fun and funky—none of this standing-at-the-microphone and singing soulfully stuff. Contemporarily, even though I am not a huge fan, the Black Eyed Peas would probably be fun (and I’m sure they’ve been on, though I don’t really watch anymore so I can’t say for sure). I really don’t know.

5. What will Britney Spears name her baby and which three names will she consider and reject before settling on the “winner”?

Oh, honey, you are going to get flak no matter what you name this poor child. If it’s a girl, I say she tries for clever and cute, but then ruins it by adding something to the end. So, like, Gaia-Lynn. If it’s a boy, the poor thing will end up being called Devan or Mykall or Rian. I hate alternate spellings of normal names. Poor Brit-Fed spawn.

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention:

As seat deposit deadlines have passed at the “other” schools I got into, and as I did NOT send any money to either of them, my decision is really, finally, totally made, by default.

Now I just have to remember to send a check to my school before the end of the month.

Today’s schedule includes the following:

I would also like to mention that my inner ear still thinks I’m on the boat. Someone stop the world from rocking, because it’s getting a little old.

We’re BACK.

I have a longer post in the works, with details and pictures and such things. But for now, I’ll answer the burning question and tell you that, no, we were not on the boat that was swamped by the 70-foot wave. We were in waters that were unsettled, but not that unsettled.

Currently, I’m enjoying some orange beef, watching mindless TV, and slogging through the five hundred and forty-something posts that Bloglines says I have to read. And those are just the ones that my Notifier monitors! Eeek!

More later.

OK, kids, this is probably my last post for a while. I have a 2 o’clock meeting and I’m leaving it early to get home, grab the bags and the husband, and GO ON VACATION!

I’ll try to take lots of pictures of the beautiful OCEAN (God, I love the ocean, love it love it love it), the BAHAMAS (beaches are cool, too), and all the FUN we’ll be having (Lord knows we need a little fun!).

So expect some cruiseblogging on Tuesday. (Phone calls out are $8/minute; I can’t imagine what they’ll charge for internet access, so there will be no live blogging.) If I have time, I’ll get to Friday Spies© on Tuesday as well.

Have a lovely weekend and know that, no matter what you are doing, I am having more fun than you are. Hee!

1. Toilet paper holders in public bathrooms that only roll halfway around before they stop. Then the toilet paper rips off and you have to try again. Before you know it, you’re stuck with a handful of 3-square long pieces of paper. I probably waste MORE toilet paper getting frustrated with those damn things than I would otherwise—and I’m sure they were invented to save paper, by someone who wasn’t actually USING them.

2. Commercials that display henpecked men and overbearing mothers/wives. Like the one about TV control—not sure what, exactly, they’re advertising, but it sounds sort of like the V-chip, where you can set certain channels that can only be watched if you enter a password. Anyway, this helpless husband wants to watch something and his daughter has tell him why he can’t get the channel—because he apparently doesn’t know anything about what goes on in the house—and then she has to tell him him that, if he wants to watch that channel, he has to have “Mommy’s” password. He asks “Mommy” if he can watch a certain show—this is her HUSBAND, by the way—and she looks at him with that sort of funny disappointed look and says, “NO!” And he looks sheepish. Seriously? I want to kick her.

3. Any kind of lotion or spray that smells like baby powder. It’s called baby powder for a reason. If you are a grown woman, you should not be wearing Love’s Baby Soft, and no company should ever produce a air freshener spray that smells like baby powder. All I can think when I smell it is, There’s a dirty diaper around here somewhere, isn’t there?

Didn’t they make a movie about this?

Man! Mr. Angst came so close to being my 10,000th visitor. Honey, you were 9,998th. The actual 10,000th visitor was…

…someone I don’t know who found my blog via this Google search. I hope you found what you were looking for, my friend.

The 10,001th visitor came from CM’s place, so CM, you win the prize!*

*The owner of this site would like to note that there is no prize and any persons named in this post should have no anticipation of an actual prize other than a deep esteem from the site owner.

Just found out our homeowner’s association will take care of some of the minor repairs we were fretting about. Seeing as we’re in a condo, and they cover everything outside, and these two repairs were outside, it’s just what we’re due—but it’s still a relief. One less thing I have to worry about.

Now, á la E. McPan, I need shoe advice.

I bought this dress for our cruise:

I’ll be wearing it for the reception (the wedding itself will be much more casual). Instead of the self-material sash, I have a pretty black satin ribbon. My thought is that leather shoes of any variety—strappy or not—are just too casual. (Mr. Angst will be in a tux, as will many of the other men in the family.) Likewise, I despise shoes with an ankle strap. They make me look like I’ve got cankles.

So I’m thinking I’m going to have to find something satin and strappy:

That is, if I can. I went looking at lunch today and found only leather strappy sandals, all too casual. The non-casual ones I found all had rhinestones on them, but much as I love the shiny, no. Plus, the dress has some gold undertones, so rhinestones set in silver don’t seem right. Or are they?

If I can’t find a satin strappy shoe, will closed-toed shoes be acceptable? Something like a satin mule?

This is really my last next-to-last chance to REALLY dress up before law school. Plus, we’ll be on a romantic vacation family trip, sharing a stateroom with my brother-in-law. OK. Maybe I’m fretting too much about all this.

Update: I bought these:

I think they’ll do nicely. They are leather, but I think that will probably just make them more versatile. Thanks for all the input.

Britney, honey, your Kentwood is showing.

Sweet!

Just in time for me to buy my new laptop.

So Denise caught my reference yesterday: we do have a contract on our house. Things happened absurdly fast, in fact; it was only on the market for a week. We’re pretty happy with the deal, if only because it’s going to close FAST, and we’ll be rid of the mortgage payment a month sooner than we thought might be the case.

Still, fast might be good, but it’s also really stressful. In addition to the nickel-and-dime repairs we have to have taken care of, we have to PACK. And pack fast. We’ve got about three weeks from today to consolidate our stuff into boxes, sell or donate the furniture we’re not taking with us, and move into a new place. We’ve already found a short-term apartment, though we haven’t signed anything (gotta wait for that option to expire). We’ll have to round up all our friends for a quickie move, too.

The double move is a good thing—getting out of our house now will save us a lot of money through the rest of the summer. We might even be able to sell one of our cars, leaving only the one WITHOUT a payment, saving us even MORE money (particularly with the cost of gas). Saving money is definitely a Good Thing, but suddenly my life feels like one of those funhouse attractions—the floor is going up and down and the walls are spinning and I feel sort of nauseous. It’s all happening so very, very quickly.

I’m a little nervous, to say the least. I know we’ll manage—after all, we don’t have a lot of stuff to move and reducing our pile NOW is better than trying to figure it out while moving interstate. The car thing won’t be an issue, either, though I won’t be able to go home for lunch anymore. No, it’s just nervewracking. Stomach-churning stuff, this.

I love An Affair to Remember. Not just because I’m a sap, but because it’s a lovely movie.

One note: Cary Grant has a major perma-tan. It’s OK. He’s still an icon.

I’m doing a little template maintenance around here. You might have noticed some messiness if you stopped by at the right moment. All should be well now, but if you notice anything wonky, let me know.