Finals

Finals time is quickly approaching.  This means, my free time will soon be nil.  However, EVERYONE likes to plan shit around finals time.  There happens to be a lot going on around this time: My husband's birthday, Thanksgiving, my birthday, my little brother leaving for the Navy, weddings.  I want to be able to be there and be involved, but my education comes first.  I am not going to waste all the money I am spending by partying it up during finals time (and law school ain't cheap folks!)  My problem is, I'm just a girl who can't say no (Oklahoma, anyone?  anyone?)  I HATE telling people no.  Especially when I get the guilt trip, and I ALWAYS do.  I wish people could realize I'm not saying no because I hate you, or feel like being a bitch, I am saying no because I HAVE TO STUDY!  I have to take care of me, because frankly, if *I* don't, no one else will.

Is it already almost October?

Time has FLOWN this semester!  I cannot believe how close we already are to halfway!  Definitely time to start outlining!  I've done a bit of charting, but nothing too serious yet.  My main issue: Law review paper (Dun Dun DUUUUUUN!)  My first draft is due Monday.  I have less than one page so far.  UGH!  Someone shoot me!  I need 12.  I know I can pull it out, I just need to get over this funk I am in right now.

My "funk." I am totally in a lazy mode and I have no idea why.  Maybe it is second year?  Maybe it is stress?  Maybe it is that my classes no longer have me constantly on call (unlike first year)?  All I know, is I need to get out of it.  Anyone have any remedies?  I have the lazies.

Now, for your viewing pleasure, my beautiful Wills and Trusts Intestacy Charts (My favorite class this semester!):
 I do love color!

Facts	Rule
UPC §2-102
Spouse only	(1)(A) Entire Estate
Spouse+all joint issue	(1)(B) Entire Estate
Spouse w/spouses step kid (regardless of other kids)	(4) 150,000+ ½ the remaining estate
Spouse w/decedent’s step kid (only if also joint issue)	(3) 225,000+ ½ remaining estate
Spouse + parents	(2) 300,000+ ¾ remaining estate
OK Ti. 84 § 213(B)
Spouse Only	1(a) Entire Estate
Spouse + Joint issue	½ interest in estate
Spouse + spouses step kid	½ JIP + equal interest in remaining estate (Non JIP)
Spouse + Parent/Sibling	All JIP + 1/3 interest in remaining estate (Non JIP)

Types	Rules
Parentelic (OK follows)	Lowest Parentela Wins (Heads trump) distribute entire estate w/in closest parentela (Allows representation)
Civil Law	Lowest degree from decedent wins (No representation)
Modified Civil Law	If tie w/in Civil law, closest parentela wins (No representation)

All play and no work

I talk about school/life balance, but lately, the life side has been taking over.  While it is still early in the semester, I can't help but want to spend as much time with friends and family as possible before I have to become a recluse.  It's been filled with fun times such as:

BANG!  It's a fun game of outlaws, sheriffs, deputies, and a renegade.  It's an old western shoot 'em up.  It is confusing at first, but sooo much fun once you get the hang of it.

It's like a combination of catch phrase and charades.  You play 3 rounds.  First round you get as many clues and guesses as you want, but you can't pass.  Second round you can say 1 word, but as many sounds or gestures as you want, but only one guess.  Third round, no words, gestures and sounds and one guess.  Both of those rounds you can pass.  Everyone tries to get as many cards as possible in 30 seconds and the round ends once all the cards (You can choose anywhere from 25-40 cards) have been guessed.

And of course:

FRIENDS!  Team V was Victorious!  My friend Jenny (on the left) has moved away to New Mexico and we only get to see her sporadically, so I gave myself a break to get to see her.

The problem with this is I am half-assing my school work, this is no bueno.  In my attempt at balance, I have merely tipped the scales.  So, this week, I am forcing myself to stay at the library until at least 5-6PM to do nothing but homework.  No facebook, or words with friends, just work!  Hopefully I can balance properly having a full week and a fun weekend, because this weekend is Dallas Pride!  WOOOHOOO!   Thumbs up:

Second Year is soooo much easier!

This is a bold faced lie.  There are certainly differences, but I wouldn't call second year EASIER.  Between law review, mentoring, classes, and trying to find a freaking job-second year is flat out busy!  I haven't had a lot of time to myself.  Well, I finished my cite checking (early, yay!) and decided to give myself the night off last night.  That's right, I blew off my homework and had a date night with my husband.  It was so nice!  We ate good food, had a few drinks, met up with friends, and just relaxed.

As busy as school is, it's important to keep some time open for your spouse.  It is hard at times, but not only is it good for my marriage, it is good for ME!  Mentoring the 1Ls, this is something I hope to instill in them.  Yes, you need to work hard and spend a LOT of time on school, but if you don't take care of yourself (and your relationships) as well, you will be useless.

Cite Checking

I am pretty sure this is a form of hazing for law students.  This is for people who write or grade on to law review.  You sit in a room (with no windows) on your computer verifying 1) the place where they claim this info came from is correct 2) the citation form they used is correct and 3) their grammar is all correct.  I have spent about 5 hours on this so far and done a total of 11 cites.  I have to do 45.  That leaves 34 more and I am averaging about one every 1/2 hour.  That means 17 hours.  Fortunately, this will not be the case.  My first cite was to a 1930's handwritten census (that was cited incorrectly).  The census was 1,160 pages.  I had to verifying the man's name was somewhere on that census and get the page number because the writer was lazy.  Since the document is handwritten (IN CURSIVE), I couldn't do a simple document search of the microfilm because the computer would not recognize the cursive.  Worst thing I have ever done in my life.  This means I spent 2 of those 5 hours on one cite.  1 of those 5 hours I spent searching for a 1964 Virginia state session law.  So, 2 hours were spent doing 9 cites.  If I don't get anymore craziness, I could be done in as little as 7 hours!  Ugh.

Why is Law Review good again?

The Adventures of Callie and Leo

Today started out a good day, I slept in until 8:30 (unheard of when you have a "plump" dog that likes to eat by 7), had some strawberries for breakfast, it was all good.  I let the pups out to play for a little bit at about 10 so I could get some work done without Callie laying on my keyboard.  I went to let them in at 10:30 and THEY WEREN'T THERE.  The gate was open,dogs where gone.  In my panic I took off, barefoot, around the neighborhood.

I couldn't find them.  I called Joe, crying hysterically and he came home to drive around with me looking for them.  They were no where to be found.  There were people out EVERYWHERE, I KNEW someone had to have taken them,  I called the pound, the shelter, animal control, posted on FB, posted on craigslist and went to make flyers.  I come home from picking up the flyers, and I see Callie in the garden of a neighbor 4 houses down.  She was soaking wet, but I got her home.  Elated to have found her, I was POSITIVE Leo was nearby, so I went back out and pounded the pavement.  Couldn't find him.  I get back home and started to bandage my now blistered feet.  I look up, and there is Leo coming up the front steps!  He was bone dry.

I'll never really know what adventures they had today, but I can speculate:

Callie: Look, Leo, I figured out how to open the gate, FREEDOM!!!!
Leo: Callie!  There could be dangers out there!  Where are you going!
Callie:  The pond where the girl takes us on walks!  We can chase ducks and catch fish.
Leo: Fish and ducks?  I'm in then.
Callie and Leo get to the pond, chase a few ducks, splash around a few fish when something catches Leo's eye, the forest area the girl never lets them play in!
Leo:  Callie, let's go explore.  I bet there are evil squirrels in there for us to attack.

Callie readily agrees and they darted into the woods.  They frolicked, played, caught 0 squirrels, but TWO grasshoppers.  Leo decided it was time to head back home.  They got to the door, but no one was home.  Just then, the best thing ever drives by, a dump truck!  Leo and Callie run and chase the truck, playing/eating the scraps that fall behind.  Suddenly, something catches Callie's eye and she runs for it.  By the time Leo turns around, she is gone.

Leo, distraught to have lost his little sister begins to look for her.  She's not at the pond, nor in the woods, or even in the cool backyard with the fence blown down.  Leo decides to head home without her.  Leo gets home and there is the girl!  Not only is the girl home, but Callie is too!

The adventure is over, so both pups decide to relive it by taking a nap!  Goodnight!

School Days

I am so ready for school to start back!  I hear the second year is so much more fun.  I have also heard it is easier, but I don't know how that will be.  I am taking 16 hours, on the American Indian Law Review and am a mentor to the 1L class.  I am pretty excited about being a mentor.  I LOVED ours.  I hope I get a section of 1Ls like my section was.  They were like my little family.

Before school starts (and on the first day!) I have a few interviews for next summer.  I am pretty excited about this.  Last year, I didn't get any on campus interviews (paid internships).  This year, I am getting interviews at some of the top firms in Oklahoma!  My rank at school went up a good 20 spots after last semester and I am just hoping to keep it there.

Joe and I celebrated our 1 year anniversary on July 31.  We went to Mahogany's, the place we went when we got engaged.  We drank a giant bottle of champagne and ate tons of food and dessert.

I wore white in honor of the wedding:

That was Saturday night (the night before our anniversary) so we could recover.  Sunday night dinner we spent with Linn and Wes, who we also spent our second date with.  They were our bartenders at outback!  They said they wanted to treat us because we treated them to dinner at the wedding.  Unfortunately, I have no pictures of that night.  After dinner, we went and played pool.  I only got one ball in, the 8 ball, at the wrong time.  Poor Joe.  I was definitely a handicap.

We forgot to eat our cake, so I made Joe do it Monday night:

Joe said it tasted awful.  I didn't think it was too bad, maybe a little frost bitten.  Joe said that's because I am a fat kid trapped in a skinny girl's body.  My love for cake knows no bounds.

So, I am officially starting my second year of marriage and school.  Never been more ready!