I'm Back!

Hello again!!! I have returned!! Vacation was super nice and so relaxing. We had a great time. It's so nice to get away, but I have to say, it is nice to come home. The whole vacation I was convinced that I had left the front door unlocked! Also, I really missed Pup. A lot. More than I thought I was going to miss him! We had to kennel him, and it really broke my heart to do so, even though the place he was staying at was really nice. When we picked him up on Sunday, he was absolutely gleeful (as was I)! It was nice to be home and have Pup home too! :-)
Meanwhile, it has been absolutely stifling since I got back. I really tried to not fire up the central air there for a few days. I gave it my best and suffered in the heat of the house; but today I could not take it anymore. At 83 degrees, I turned it on, and now it's lovely in here. Only I am scared for my electric bill, considering it's still only May.
And speaking of money, I still have not started my summer job. I think I might start next week. The Firm is pretty flexible as to my hours, which is nice. I do start my summer classes tomorrow though - grr! I feel like I just finished studying - and can I just mention that I have only gotten ONE grade back so far??!! ONE. It has been a whole 18 days since my last final - I would think that maybe I could get TWO grades here...but just ONE? It's pure torture.

On another note, Hubby and I saw a few movies since I blogged last, so I'll give a mini little rundown of each in case anyone is interested in seeing these:
1. The Da Vinci Code - I really liked it. I liked it so much, in fact, that I bought the book while on vaca and started reading it poolside. I have to say, so far the movie was very true to the book, only the book goes into more detail (which was to be expected, of course). I really enjoyed the movie in that it was along the lines of National Treasure, and I like those types of movies. However, I really cannot see what all the Catholic hubbub is about. This is a fictional story, people. Is it conceivably plausible? Sure. But it's still just a STORY created by a novelist. It is meant to entertain, and entertaining it is. I give it THREE pounding gavels.

2. X-Men: The Last Stand - If you liked the other two X-men movies, I think you will like this one too. It ties up a lot of loose ends but also leaves the faint possibility that we might see the X-Men again. Obviously not Oscar material, but it's a fun, mindless sort of adventure flick. My rating: 2 3/4 pounding gavels.

3. Match Point - Here is one that I was disappointed in myself for not seeing it earlier, considering that I am such a Woody Allen fan. I thought the movie was somewhat of a departure from what I expected from Allen, but I guess that's what pure genius is all about anyway - constant reinvention. The plot is great, the actors are wonderful, and the end is just absolutely gripping. A couple of days later, and I am STILL thinking about this movie. That's the sign of a great one. My rating - FOUR pounding gavels.

4. Transamerica - last but certainly not least. I loved this movie. It made me laugh and cry in a span of less than two hours. At times it was absolutely hysterical, but overall, I thought it was so incredibly sad. The very thought of not feeling whole in my own body is so incredibly depressing, something no one should be subjected to, and that is what this movie addresses. In the end, it's not about being gay, but about people and seeing what is beneath our exteriors. My rating - 3 1/2 pounding gavels.

Well, that's about it for now - Hubby and I just bought a new grill this weekend (woo hoo!!!) so of course I've been in a cooking frenzy (which, for anyone who knows me, this is VERY atypical of me). But the upside is that we get to eat cheeseburgers every night! Who cares if I'll be a moose by August??!! Not me!!

Up, Up, and Away!

Well, the time has finally arrived for Hubby and I to go on vacation!! Destination Somewhere Fun! Woo hoo!! I had so many good intentions to bring a couple of books I have been itching to read, including Wendy Boucher's new one, PARVENUE THROWS A PARTY; but alas, despite working through my recent illness on my Law Review competition paper in an effort to finish it before vacation, I am still not done. So guess what is coming with me on the vaca? You guessed it, the competition assignment. Luckily, though, it is nearly done, so hopefully it won't take too much time away from the sun :-) And if I didn't partake in the competition, the guilt would just eat me up alive.

So, because I know you will all miss me sooooooo much this week (I'll be back on Saturday, so don't despair!), I'll leave you all with this. Every time I watch it I just can't stop laughing! Have an awesome week, ya'll!!!

Best New Law Show on TV

I don't usually make two posts in one day, but since I'm "home sick," I'm making an exception.

Tonight was the season finale of NBC's Conviction. I have been watching this show since the start of the season. I was a little concerned about it during the first couple of episodes, and I was not sure that it would really take off; but as the season has progressed, it just keeps getting better. All the actors are terrific, particularly Eric Balfour (of whom I've been a fan of since my beloved show Six Feet Under), and Julianne Nicholson. I hope it will be renewed.

In other news, I got around to watching the season finale of The O.C. I thought it was pretty sad. I'm sorry to see Marissa go, since I have grown to really like her, despite her constantly sour face and "JOHNNY" remarks. I do think, however, that her death throes could have been a little more pronounced; but considering she could be the actress with the most flat affect of our time, I guess she did a good enough job. Poor Ryan - how much more can this boy take? I hope next season he gets some psychological counseling. I sure don't want to see him don that leather cuff again that he wore all through Seasons One and Two.

Achoo!

I am not having a good day today. For the past couple of days I have been sick as can be. It turns out I have strep throat, but clearly there are other issues as well since I can't stop coughing, sneezing, and blowing my nose. Boo!! What's more troubling is that Hubby and I are going on vaca on Monday, and if I'm not better by then, I'll just cry. We have been looking forward to this trip for so long and to have it be ruined by the flu/strep throat/whatever will be dreadful! I will continue to take naps and drink tea in the hopes that those remedies really work. I don't like chicken soup, so I don't think I'll be having any of that.

Then, to top off the fun and wonderfulness that today has been, I was checking my bank account balance, and noticed that all seven bills that I mailed out last Saturday have not been cashed. I called all seven merchants and inquired if they had received my payments. Of course they had not. I called the post office to see if the mailbox that I had used had spontaneously blown up or something in the last week and I didn't hear about it. Nothing there either. Finally, I called the bank, and they told me none of the checks had been cashed (durr, I knew THAT already), and that my only option was to stop payment on the checks; but then that opens a whole other can of worms in that if the mail is just being slow, then if the cancelled checks are eventually received, I will be charged a fee for trying to cash it, and while I can most likely get the fee waived, that will mean another round of phone calls and drama for me to deal with.
Rsh - why can't anything be easy?? I'm tired of being an adult!

Not Again

I found this on Pink is the New Blog today. It's the trailer for the newest 9/11 movie to hit the theaters this season, this time entitled, World Trade Center. It's directed by Oliver Stone and stars Nicholas Cage, Maria Bello, and Maggie Gyllenhaal, among others.

I've already expressed my utter disdain for this genre of movies based on biggest tragedy in American history in recent years, so I won't be redundant. I just still cannot understand why anyone feels the need to relive this pain, so soon after we've all just about managed to go on with our lives. At least this movie, though, recounts the story of the survival of two Port Authority police officers, so it is more hopeful than the sham that was United 93.

Despite my better judgment, I watched the trailer for World Trade Center; and I almost burst into tears.

This Should Be Fun!

I found this trailer on IFilm, and just had to post it! I really enjoyed The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger. I thought it was funny and witty from start to finish. Plus, what can I say, I'm a sucker for a chicklet book, not to mention a chick-flick. So when College Roomie told me about it being made into a movie, of course I was delighted; and what is even more thrilling, is that Meryl Streep plays the vicious boss Miranda Priestly. I absolutely love love love Meryl Streep. I think she's fabulous in everything she does, and think she'll do great in this role. Apparently it comes out in theaters June 30th, so I will definitely be watching out for it - in the meantime, the movie's website will have to suffice!

Tryin' to Make Some Dough

I'm so excited today - I just listed my first items for sale on Ebay! Hubby has bought things before from that site, but I've never really gotten involved, much less with selling anything. I had about five study guides left over from my first year which is now dunzo (woo hoo!), so I figured that I would list them on Ebay and see how it goes! Should be fun! If they sell, Lord knows I have a world of crap in the basement that I will consider listing! This could be my new summer obsession!

Time to Shop!

Yesterday, in honor of the end of my FIRST YEAR (YAY!), I went shopping!

First of all, I LOVE shopping. Passionately. And there is nothing better than shopping when you have nothing else on your mind that you have to do. That's exactly how I felt yesterday.
Actually, prior to starting shopping, I met up with an old friend from Cubicle Hell for lunch. It was nice to see her (she paid for lunch, which was even nicer!) since I had not seen her in a while, and it also reminded me that leaving Cubicle Hell was the best decision I ever made. Not that I have ever forgotten, but it's always good to get a reminder every now and again, particularly after you've been living at the library for two weeks and have the fear of God in your that you failed your exams.

Anyway, my shopping was quite successful. Got some great bargains at my fav stores, the Gap, J.Crew, and Banana Republic (ok, so there were no bargains at Banana, BUT I did have gift certificates left over from Christmas, so it was like I got a bargain because I didn't have to pay as much as I ordinarily would have). Nothing new at Old Navy, so I was a little disappointed, but that might be because I have everything cute from there already due to previous shopping trips.
Overall a great day! Today, off to the 'rents for Mom's Day!

Happy Mother's Day, y'all!

Eh...Why Not

I took this meme from Favorable Dicta because it looked fun, and because I can't really sleep thinking about tomorrow's "final final", so what the hey. Take it if you like, but let me know so I can see what's doing someone else's head.

I AM: feeling kinda wired.
I WANT: to do decently on all my finals.
I WISH: to do decently on all my finals.
I HATE: that I won't know how I did on my finals until next month.
I MISS: having a life outside of the library.
I FEAR: failure.
I HEAR: voices....too bad they can't tell me the answers to tomorrow's final.
I WONDER: how I did in Crim Law.
I REGRET: not tabbing my Civ Pro outline tonight.
I AM NOT: going to shower before I go to bed because I just don't feel like it.
I DANCE: with my dog.
I SING: constantly - much to the chagrin of those around me. Even Pup.
I CRY: when I think about not having done well on those finals.
I AM NOT ALWAYS: this crazed...I promise I'll be back to "normal" after tomorrow (whatever normal means for me).
I MAKE WITH MY HANDS: small fists as I think of the brutalization that awaits me tomorrow during my exam.
I WRITE: on this blog when I should be going to bed. Or tabbing that outline.
I CONFUSE: personal jurisdiction and subject matter jurisdiction all the time. Grrr.

This is NOT What I Pay Tuition For

I am happy to announce that today concludes my marathon occupation of the law library.

As a permanent resident of the library for the last two weeks, I have noticed things go from good, to fair, to just plain poor. The vending machine is empty (with the exception of maybe those weird orange crackers with peanut butter). The napkins in the cafeteria are all gone. And the bathroom is a disgusting mess. There are rolls of toilet paper strewn about. The floor is STICKY (from what, God only knows, and I cringe at the possibilities). There are strange substances of varying colors in and around the toilets. I have never been a fan of utilizing public facilities, but using the bathroom at school lately has been worse than using the bathroom at a county park in the middle of July. It's just plain nasty. Is this what my excessive amount of tuition pays for? So that the law students are abandoned by all during finals-time, including housekeeping? Come on, Law School!! At least clean the bathroom!

Mission: Go Away! Please Choose to Accept It!

I was more than a little thrilled to see this article on www.cnn.com today. Apparently Mission Impossible III didn't live up to everyone's box office expectations. I LOVE IT. Gee, maybe people are fed up with "TomKat," and silent births, ridiculous couch-leaping antics, and rants against anti-depressants. I sure am. I might catch this flick on HBO (or maybe I'll just wait for TNT), but I'm sure as hell not going to waste $10 on watching this lunatic's latest project on the big screen.

On another note, I am exactly halfway done with finals. Unfortch, the remaining ones are pretty hard and I'm losing steam - fast. Wish me luck!

It's Picking Down

I have been an absolute die-hard O.C. fan since the show's inception. I have not missed a single episode (thanks to the modern marvel that is DVR), and I typically watch every one with relish and delight. However, lately I have felt that my precious O.C. is missing something.

Last night's episode was disappointing to say the least. The whole Summer trying to get Seth's confession back off of Sandy's desk? Pathetic. Teresa's reprise? Please just go away already! Ryan helping Volchok steal a car??!!!! Come ON, RYAN!!!! I think a little assault charge would have been WAY better than being an accomplice to larceny and conspiring with this low life. Give me a break. When is Ryan ever going to shed his Chino ways?

Meanwhile thank God that The Newport Group's building burned down along with Sandy's little model for the hospital because I cannot stand another second of that storyline.
Next week supposedly someone "will not make it through the night." At this point, everyone's life is so pathetic that it's hard to predict who the lucky one will be to make a dramatic exit. You know what? If I was Kirsten, I'd take up drinking too.

(And yes, I have a final tomorrow but I did take the time last night to watch The O.C....I told you, I'm a die-hard fan, even when it's bad.)

MEMEmememe!

I didn't actually get tagged on this one, but found it on The BLS and, because my brain is fried with studying for Crim Law, and I am too wired to go to sleep just yet, I decided to indulge in....

FIVE THINGS

1. What were you doing ten years ago? I was a Junior in high school (GOD I'm getting OLD). I was probably stressing about finals then too, so I guess, while so much has changed, everything has stayed the same.

2. What were you doing one year ago? I was in the midst of selling my house and buying another closer to where I would be attending law school in the Fall. However, Hubby and I didn't actually find our house until Memorial Day weekend, so right about now I was probably panicking that we were going to be living at a hotel for the rest of our lives because we couldn't find a house. So again, stressing! (I seem to do a lot of that!)

3. Five snacks you enjoy:
- chocolate chip cookies
- Swedish fish
- Dannon Activia yogurt
- strawberries with whipped cream
- chocolate chip ice cream

4. Five songs to which you know all the lyrics:
- Burnin' Up - Madonna
- Ring of Fire - Johnny Cash
- Kiss - Prince
- Fill it Up Again - Indigo Girls
- Open Arms - Journey
God there's so many more....

5. Five things you would do if you were a millionaire:
- Pay off all mine and hubby's student loans.
- Pay off our mortgage.
- Save
- Invest
- Spend a little
(I mean, realistically, it all depends on how many millions we're talking about here - $1 mil, not much I can do besides what I outlined; but $30 mil? The possibilities are endless.)

6. Five things you like doing:
- Spending time with Hubby.
- Playing with Pup.
- Reading
- Gardening
- Napping

7. Five things you would never wear again. (I really hate to say never, though, because I always seem to regret saying it, but in any event....)
- Hypercolor shirts (remember those? You would press your hand on them and they would change color? Yea...I had a couple of those and I thought I was soooo cool.)
- Cavariccis
- Wigwam socks - in multiples
- Culottes
- B.U.M. Equipment ANYTHING!

8. Five favorite toys:
- Cars
- iPod
- DVR
- Laptop
- Dustbuster (really a must have for any pet owner - CANNOT live without it!)

I'm too tired to tag anyone, but would love to know if anyone chooses to do it so I can read all about you too! :-)
Ok, I'm off to watch Forensic Files and be lulled to sleep - night!

Happy May!

It's MAY!! Woo hoo!! I love May-springtime-weather!! :-) This totally calls for a new font color!

My first final is in TWO DAYS. BOO. Ok, now I'm depressed!!!!!!