December, 2006
So, my first semester ended well. I got my grades back, and managed to achieve a 3.0 GPA. Not bad, not bad at all.
I remained sane.
And then, the second semester hit with a fury greater than that of a goddess scorned...
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Semester 1- End of the World (i.e. FINALS) Party...
Sunday, December 17, 2006
So, Friday was my last day of finals, and law school finals are really the worst school experience ever. It was nearly one month of hell, of studying 15 hours a day, of seriously not having enough time to shower, eat, and sleep. And on top of all that, it is all based on a curve, so even if I did awesome, if more people did awesome than me, I only get an average grade, hence the fierce studying and competition.
Friday night, we had a much deserved end-of-finals law school party: theme, wear the stupidest holiday sweater you can find. Fun party. We all got smashed, as we well should have. We deserved it. I did not drive home, because I was too intoxicated. I left my car in front of the party house, and got a cab with some other girls who also were too drunk to drive. I totally thought I was being responsible.
When I went back Saturday to get my car, it was gone. Yep, gone.
I was so mad. The guys that owned the house said it got towed. Apparently, there were signs on the curb that said "no parking", but I did not see them as it was dark when I got there, and there were no street lights on the neighborhood road. Also, there were cars parked along the whole road, as there often is when someone has a party. What the hell kind of residential street, in a gated homes community nonetheless, has "no parking" signs along the curb which is sloped the whole way, as if for parking! Further, who the hell calls the cops in a gated residential community for someone parking on the street (well, never mind that, I suppose they live in a gated community because they are stuck up and don't like cars parked on the street). Bah.
So I spent yesterday afternoon trying to find where my car got towed, but nobody seemed to know where it went.Gary
This morning, I called the police to see what the hell happened, they couldn't find it either, so they were going to send an officer over to take a report. Then, luckily, the lady on the phone ran a bunch of checks, and found out that my car DID get towed to (corrupt)Gary Gary
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
So, Friday was my last day of finals, and law school finals are really the worst school experience ever. It was nearly one month of hell, of studying 15 hours a day, of seriously not having enough time to shower, eat, and sleep. And on top of all that, it is all based on a curve, so even if I did awesome, if more people did awesome than me, I only get an average grade, hence the fierce studying and competition.
Friday night, we had a much deserved end-of-finals law school party: theme, wear the stupidest holiday sweater you can find. Fun party. We all got smashed, as we well should have. We deserved it. I did not drive home, because I was too intoxicated. I left my car in front of the party house, and got a cab with some other girls who also were too drunk to drive. I totally thought I was being responsible.
When I went back Saturday to get my car, it was gone. Yep, gone.
I was so mad. The guys that owned the house said it got towed. Apparently, there were signs on the curb that said "no parking", but I did not see them as it was dark when I got there, and there were no street lights on the neighborhood road. Also, there were cars parked along the whole road, as there often is when someone has a party. What the hell kind of residential street, in a gated homes community nonetheless, has "no parking" signs along the curb which is sloped the whole way, as if for parking! Further, who the hell calls the cops in a gated residential community for someone parking on the street (well, never mind that, I suppose they live in a gated community because they are stuck up and don't like cars parked on the street). Bah.
So I spent yesterday afternoon trying to find where my car got towed, but nobody seemed to know where it went.
This morning, I called the police to see what the hell happened, they couldn't find it either, so they were going to send an officer over to take a report. Then, luckily, the lady on the phone ran a bunch of checks, and found out that my car DID get towed to (corrupt)
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Got my car back...... but....
It turns out, there were "fire zone" signs on the street. I parked right in front of the house on the street curb, where there were like 50 other cars lined up. I didn't see any damn "no parking" signs, of course it was dark and there were no street lights, as this was in a GATED residential community. So, I call the city's contracted towing yard,
So, I get my car out of the yard, and call the police number and ask about the plate, they say that means it's either a stolen plate or a fake plate, and I say, "no, it's my plate, and it was on my car, and that was where it was supposed to be, so how do I get it back". And she says, "oh, you can't. You have to talk to the MVD, we give all fictitious plates to them."
I drove my (only a few months old, beautiful and clean just days ago!!!) car home (without a plate) and washed it, to find that there are scratches along the side (which I hope/think can be buffed out), and a small crack in the plastic around the side mirror, and of course some writing on the windshield in paint that will not come off, despite my attempts with a number of solvents. I guess I have to get a razor blade and scrape it off, which I am hesitant to do because I don't want to screw up my windows or tint or whatever.
WHAT THE FUCK. I AM SUPER MAD.
I can understand one ticket, either for blocking a driveway (which I don't think I was), or for parking in a fire lane, but how can you be blocking a drive way AND in a fire lane? I suppose it's feasible, but why would anyone put a driveway in the same DAMN place as a fire lane??????????????
And why did they take my goddamn license plate! ARRRRG.
It's nearly Tuesday and yet, I still don't have this mess cleaned up.
I'm fucking going to take this shit to traffic court. Maybe I'll see if we can get the cop to be a no-show. Regardless, I can probably get at least one ticket dropped. I'm going to take pictures at the "scene" and get people to sign letters and stuff.
ARG again.
But, finals are over. yay.
Politic-Sick
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
I'm sick in the head.
So, I realized tonight that politics and big elections are to me like the super bowl or other huge sports events are to sports fanatics. I sit and watch the numbers pour in, and I get excited and disappointed. I get in Internet bulletin board debates over stupid election crap.During the 2000 election, I was up for 3 days straight watching the results come in (that was when Gore battled Bush for his first term, the Florida debacle). There hasn't been a major election I haven't gotten into a huff about. I've gone to election night parties. I've protested numerous times.
I'm sick in the head. I think I belong right where I am: in law school.
The "but-for" rule.
Thursday, October 12, 2006
So, today in Torts class we learned all about the "but-for" rule, which goes like this: "But for defendant's (negligence of some sort), plaintiff would have not sustained (injury of some sort). The teacher opened the class by asking "What is the 'but-for' rule." I had to keep myself from cracking up. Every time someone said "but-for" I kept thinking "What is the Butt For?" And I wanted so badly to scream out "FOR POOPING, SILLY!"
It's a damn good thing I don't have Turret's.
So, today in Torts class we learned all about the "but-for" rule, which goes like this: "But for defendant's (negligence of some sort), plaintiff would have not sustained (injury of some sort). The teacher opened the class by asking "What is the 'but-for' rule." I had to keep myself from cracking up. Every time someone said "but-for" I kept thinking "What is the Butt For?" And I wanted so badly to scream out "FOR POOPING, SILLY!"
It's a damn good thing I don't have Turret's.
Getting called on in class: Absolute LUCK
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
I can't believe my luck today.
The class: Civil Procedure
My usual M.O: look at the reading in the hour before class, highlight some stuff, skim some stuff. Don't pay attention in class, rather surf the web and download stuff for my (new!) ipod.
This Morning: I didn't have Ks, my class an hour before CivPro, so I went to a coffe shop and read all the material for CivPro that I was behind on. Not only did I catch up, reading the material intently, but I also made notes on the cases and expecially today's case and anylized the cases.
So, I go into class as normal, except I'm on time today. har har.
I open my laptop and look at facebook, google, target.com, and listen to the class discussion in the background. I thought, "gee, I wish that today would be my day in the hot seat because it's the first day that I'm actually really really prepared" but since I was not one of the 2 people singled out at the beginning of class to be in the "hot seat" I thought I would not be called on.
And then, when we got to today's case, it happened. I got put in the Hot Seat.
Prof White looked up and called my name, and said "you're in the seat". I smiled at him, nodded, and said "let's go".
He proceeded to ask me numerous long-winded and leading-the-wrong-way questions which I answered, for the most part.
I don't remember what exactly they were, but he asked me what was somthing like a rule from the case and I answered, looking at my great notes, and he said, Okay where are you reading this? And I said "my notes", and the class chuckled. I got a kick out of that. I was blatently honest in my answers. I wasn't going to (or I tried my best not to) let him send me scurring through pages in the book searching for particulars, and he asked me one question which I had no clue about, and so I answered him: "I don't know." He had no come back to that! I think it's the first time in the class someone has admitted that they didn't know. Why should I try to pull something out of my ass when I'm under pressure and have no idea what or even where the answer is? Why not just be honest. I stayed in the hot seat for a long time, longer than many of my class mates, about 10-15 minutes. Many of them will get put in the seat and then just sit there, blank looks on their faces, flipping through pages as the Prof hurls question after question at them, and they never say anything but "umm" "err" "uhhh". And I survived. I did more than that, I did okay. And in law school (first semester first year) okay is as good as anyone can hope for. I even jumped back into the seat in the last 10 minutes of class voluntarily. It was quite the rush. I'm still alive. But I am LUCKY.
After class, two classmates approached me at different times and told me I did well in class.
Whooho!
I can't believe my luck today.
The class: Civil Procedure
My usual M.O: look at the reading in the hour before class, highlight some stuff, skim some stuff. Don't pay attention in class, rather surf the web and download stuff for my (new!) ipod.
This Morning: I didn't have Ks, my class an hour before CivPro, so I went to a coffe shop and read all the material for CivPro that I was behind on. Not only did I catch up, reading the material intently, but I also made notes on the cases and expecially today's case and anylized the cases.
So, I go into class as normal, except I'm on time today. har har.
I open my laptop and look at facebook, google, target.com, and listen to the class discussion in the background. I thought, "gee, I wish that today would be my day in the hot seat because it's the first day that I'm actually really really prepared" but since I was not one of the 2 people singled out at the beginning of class to be in the "hot seat" I thought I would not be called on.
And then, when we got to today's case, it happened. I got put in the Hot Seat.
Prof White looked up and called my name, and said "you're in the seat". I smiled at him, nodded, and said "let's go".
He proceeded to ask me numerous long-winded and leading-the-wrong-way questions which I answered, for the most part.
I don't remember what exactly they were, but he asked me what was somthing like a rule from the case and I answered, looking at my great notes, and he said, Okay where are you reading this? And I said "my notes", and the class chuckled. I got a kick out of that. I was blatently honest in my answers. I wasn't going to (or I tried my best not to) let him send me scurring through pages in the book searching for particulars, and he asked me one question which I had no clue about, and so I answered him: "I don't know." He had no come back to that! I think it's the first time in the class someone has admitted that they didn't know. Why should I try to pull something out of my ass when I'm under pressure and have no idea what or even where the answer is? Why not just be honest. I stayed in the hot seat for a long time, longer than many of my class mates, about 10-15 minutes. Many of them will get put in the seat and then just sit there, blank looks on their faces, flipping through pages as the Prof hurls question after question at them, and they never say anything but "umm" "err" "uhhh". And I survived. I did more than that, I did okay. And in law school (first semester first year) okay is as good as anyone can hope for. I even jumped back into the seat in the last 10 minutes of class voluntarily. It was quite the rush. I'm still alive. But I am LUCKY.
After class, two classmates approached me at different times and told me I did well in class.
Whooho!
The Beginning- Christopher Columbus and the double Javier Martinez-Martinez
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Friday, my law section went to the federal district court downtown to watch a few proceedings. It was very interesting. Of note:
In one case, an Hispanic man was brought in by the name of Manuel Javier Martinez-Martinez. When the proceedings began, the defense lawyer for Mr. Martinez-Martinez, who spoke no English, responded to the judge's opening doc of the case of "how does the defendant plead" with "your honor, my client Mr. Martinez-Martinez is not present." The judge then asked the man what his name was, and he responded. The lawyer then explained that while her client was also named Manuel Javier Martinez-Martinez, this man with the same name was not her client and the marshals had brought the wrong Martinez-Martinez in that day. The case was rescheduled, but what are the chances?
In the second, and most interesting case, the defendant took his seat without his lawyer present. We waited about 10 minutes for the defense lawyer but he never showed up. This guy, on trial for illegal immigration, also spoke only Spanish, and so all the proceedings were done via translator for the defendants. The judge asked the defendant "Sir, do you know where your lawyer is?"
"No"
"Have you spoken with him recently?"
"No"
"Do you know the name of your lawyer"
"I think, I think it's Christopher something. I think it's Christopher Columbus."
Everyone in the court room, except the defendant, laughed.
The judge said, "I do not think your lawyer is Christopher Columbus."
"Well, it's Christopher something like that. I thought it was
"Do you know who Christopher Columbus is?"
"No"
"He's the person who supposedly discovered
"Oh, well I know it's something like that:"
"In fact, your lawyer is Christopher Kilgore, and I apologize that he is not present, but I will personally be getting a hold of him soon and we will reschedule. You should expect to hear from him very soon. I apologize for this. (Implying the lawyer will be reprimanded)."
That was a very interesting day in court.
Decent into the Maelstrom-- Law School DAY ONE: Ohhreeeunntaashunn...
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Yesterday marked a brave day for my life. It was my first day of law school. Albeit it was mostly orientation type stuff, we did do some class exercises, including reading a case and presenting oral arguments in my small section of about 25 people. We split into 5 groups, 4 with different sides to argue and one group of judges. My group got the impossible position. I thought "there is no way in hell we can defend this position; the case includes a clear precedent against our side" (the plaintiff, a tenant in a landlord/tenant dispute involving a tort claim and an exculpability clause in the lease). But I came up with something decent, and in 5 minutes outlined my speech (I was the oral advocate, so I had to present our arguments to the court). I gave my speech, and the whole class became engaged in cross examining me. I came up with really interesting hypotheticals on the fly to illustrate our position. Maybe some weren't exactly on spot, but for my first day and first attempt, they were pretty good. And when I sat down, I realized I was in the middle of an adrenaline rush. My hands and legs were shaking and my temperature was elevated. I had delivered a really passionate, persuasive argument over something I originally thought was a losing position. I was sure we would lose, but the Judge group came back and found for us! We won! I won! I was blown away. It was an amazing experience. I know all of law school wont go as well, but I'm glad to start off with good momentum.
Yesterday marked a brave day for my life. It was my first day of law school. Albeit it was mostly orientation type stuff, we did do some class exercises, including reading a case and presenting oral arguments in my small section of about 25 people. We split into 5 groups, 4 with different sides to argue and one group of judges. My group got the impossible position. I thought "there is no way in hell we can defend this position; the case includes a clear precedent against our side" (the plaintiff, a tenant in a landlord/tenant dispute involving a tort claim and an exculpability clause in the lease). But I came up with something decent, and in 5 minutes outlined my speech (I was the oral advocate, so I had to present our arguments to the court). I gave my speech, and the whole class became engaged in cross examining me. I came up with really interesting hypotheticals on the fly to illustrate our position. Maybe some weren't exactly on spot, but for my first day and first attempt, they were pretty good. And when I sat down, I realized I was in the middle of an adrenaline rush. My hands and legs were shaking and my temperature was elevated. I had delivered a really passionate, persuasive argument over something I originally thought was a losing position. I was sure we would lose, but the Judge group came back and found for us! We won! I won! I was blown away. It was an amazing experience. I know all of law school wont go as well, but I'm glad to start off with good momentum.
On another note, I'd forgotten how hard it is to go to school from 8:30am until the evening. I could do it fine in high school, but I am older now and it's harder. But after orientation, the in-class time wont be as long, but the homework will be longer. I have to pace myself for the long haul. Wish me luck and in 2009 I will be an attorney.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Comming Soon...
The Unwell One-L. How I DID have a nervous breakdown during second semester finals... and survived (I hope).
I am cursed with the "luck of the Irish" in this "Year of the Pig." And pigs, leprechauns, and green beer do not go well together in the one L curriculum.
Check back soon to see how that all really does make sense.
I am cursed with the "luck of the Irish" in this "Year of the Pig." And pigs, leprechauns, and green beer do not go well together in the one L curriculum.
Check back soon to see how that all really does make sense.
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