O'Brian Hall. To school now I will go.

Just to clear up any confusion for you Floridians, this is why I'm migrating south. 

My lovely desk.  

The kitchen. 

View outside the kitchen window. Suburban Buffalo is pretty nice.  

The view outside the kitchen window 2 months later. Winter wonderland or scary forest where evil gnomes live? 

Nearly 200,000 miles and still going strong! 

Walden Time.

I'm successfully avoiding paper-writing.

Mike is doing alright and living in a houseboat on the St. John's River now. Everyone needs a little Walden time in their life. I'm jealous, of course, since my dreamhouse is a beachhouse and a boathouse is pretty darn close.

Reason #487. Law Library Blog. Indian Law Paper and Love of Cookies.

Reason #487 why Buffalo is uninhabitable for tropical people:
Brushing snow off your car in late April.

I shouldn't be so surprised, it snowed in May last year. And the year before.

The law library is still being cleaned up. Carpet laying, furniture reassembling, de-sooting every book. Floors 4-7 have been fully functional for a couple weeks now. It was OK in here when I worked last Sunday, but the air today feels kind of thick and it's making my mouth dry. Argh, I have to be here until 6pm. The lower floors are extra sooty and still inaccessible: http://ublawlib.blogspot.com/.

I think Lockwood Library (next building over) is open until midnight tonight. So, after work, I'm heading over there and staying till at least 10pm. The page requirement for my Indian Law paper is 20-30 pages. I was going for 25 so I didn't look like a lazy ass, but now, I'm shooting for 22. There are 21 pages to go and 10 days, but I've still got a little pride. ; ) Don't hold me to it though, when the deadline gets closer I may realize that pride is foolish and let it go for purposes of personal development. I'm so friggin' lazy when it comes to school, I deserve a medal. Or at least a cookie. Mmm... cookie. You know, I'm not much for sweets, but when I was in Taiwan for 7 months, I would've paid $10 for just one real American, chocolate chip cookie. It didn't even have to be oven baked, just kind of soft and warm would've made my week. I have from that moment forward professed my undying love for cookies. You may ask if this love is unconditional, extending to cookies of every variety, shape, and size. Alas, it is not. I'm the monogamous type and my heart belongs to the chocolate chip cookie.

I think it's obvious from my monologue on cookies that I'm avoiding writing this paper.

Outside of the Spot on the Sidewalk

Outside of the Spot on the sidewalk
an elderly woman struggles
to steady her fingers long enough
to line a quarter up with the slot.
All she wants the Buffalo News.
I drink my fancy coffee and highlight:
"reasonable person under
these circumstances."

A few pages later I look up
and out the window she's still there.
Fat raindrops
soaking her strips of white hair
while eyes on the ground
she searches for a lost quarter.

I'd help her out,
but I don't have a quarter.

She looks so long I figure
she doesn't have another.
Her tattered clothes tell me
she doesn't have another.
I go back to the books
to learn about justice and logic.

I'd help her out,
but people might stare.

The letters on the page
blur and fade when
in the corner of my eye
she won't leave the machine
that's wallowed what must be
the highlight of her day.

I'd help her out,
but she doesn't need my pity.

She reads the front page
beneath rain streaked glass
and still tries to find her quarter.
And I can't not look.

I break a ten,
and go stand by her in the cold rain.

We talk about the missing coin
she looks surprised I noticed.
Quick glance, no quarter.
"I saw you standing here for a while,
can I give you another one?"

She smiles and thanks me.
But I want to thank her
as I learned more this afternoon
looking out the window of a coffeeshop
than in three years of law school.

Blurbity, Blurb, Blurb. People who talk on their cell phone for more than 10 minutes while people around them are trying to study should be shot.

I blurbed for a few hours at work today. We needed software blurbs written specifically for incoming Freshmen who might not know what the software does and whether they need it. The variety was refreshing. It's one of two times I've written anything for work. Editing is much more enjoyable than tech writing, but occasional, less technical tech writing is kind of fun. Who knew?

After all that blurbing, I sat around and did nothing for 3 hours (shame on me), then went to the gym. The following activities listed per each day are in random order:

• Monday: 2 cigarettes; 35 min on elliptical, 25 minute walk in the magnificent weather; work; class
  
• Tuesday (today): 1 cigarette; 20 min on elliptical, stretched w/ trainer (4 free sessions), 3 sets of 15-20 on tummy, tush, and armflab; work; class

From the gym, I headed straight to the bookstore to write some of my paper for Indian Law. Often, Barnes and Noble is where I go to study. It's close, there are tables, and I browse books when I need a break - yes, we've established I am exponentially cool. I didn't get coffee or anything since I wanted to just sit down and bang out 3 hours of work. The little cafe area in B&N was full of other people trying to study. The woman next to me was making appointments w/ clients on the phone, and each call consisted of 20 minutes of schmoozing. So, she made 3 phone calls and schmoozed for an hour straight while most of us were trying to study. My God, the gall. I exchanged annoyed-irritated glances with a girl who had a stack of books on her table. One of us should've grown some balls and told the schmoozer to take her yapping elsewhere. But, we just discreetly glared at her. I finally got up and left. So much for studying.

Faux Workout. My Future as an Inflatable Furniture Maker.

I went to the gym last night. Technically. So, I sat in the hot tub for half an hour... No one has to know. Shhh...

What do we think of inflatable furniture? There's a guy who has a company that makes inflatable surfboards. They look like real surfboards, they're really durable, and convenient to transport. So why not have furniture made of similar inflatable material. Moving would be so much easier - especially if you're not a muscle bound guy or female wrestler. Just deflate, throw all your furniture (desk, chairs, tables, couches, etc.) into a couple boxes, pack up all your other stuff, and move on out. If there was a way to make inflatable furniture affordable and comfortable, I would be all over that.

My Friendly Neighborhood Tops. Hanging Out. Time to Get Crackin'. Potentially Selling My Body.

It's the best feeling in the world having to make 2 trips to the car to get your groceries. I have a real affinity for Tops. Using the bonus card, I saved $20 on $80 worth of groceries and stocked my fridge and freezer for a couple weeks. Since I enjoy telling you so much what my groceries were, here it is: cereal, milk, juice, chicken, beef, pork, perch, air freshener, onion rolls, yogurt, bananas, salad, apples, garlic, onions, broccoli, tomatos, toothpaste, ginger, turkey, mayo, clam chowder, green peppers, red peppers, mushrooms, and baked beans. Amazing, I know.

Deb came over for dinner on Friday night. I made chicken and green peppers, white rice, and a salad w/ apple slices. It was yummy. Downstairs neighbor Ren came up and hung out w/ us. We watched 21 Grams, a bit disconcerting, but a great movie. Very artistic camera angles, deep, yet muted colors, enthralling story, and almost painful to watch b/c the acting is superb. Whoever the leading actress is - give the woman an Oscar! Yesterday, I hung out w/ Chris, Ava, and Fred for a couple hours. By July, 4 of my friends will leave for Albany, NYC, and Japan. Crikey (pronounced "croi-key").

I haven't been gymming regularly this week, but I've done a lot of research and crafted an outline for my Indian Law paper. It's a good trade-off (though an excuse nevertheless) since the 25 pg paper is due in 2 weeks. Eeek! Going at this pace, it'll be fine. In the next 2 weeks, there are also 2 case briefs, an assignment, and an "on" day for Child Welfare. Then, 2 exams after that for classes which I know nothing about. It's time to hit the books. If my paper can be done before the 5/4 deadline, it would be great. I'd like to put together a nice Powerpoint Presentation w/ pics from the Taroko Gorge and Hualien (the area being discussed in the paper), and other images scanned in from books, articles, etc. Next Tuesday, I have another appointment at the gym. I don't know what that entails, but it doesn't revolve around my flab.

I'm currently in an alcohol research study. I will make $330 for less than 10 hours of work (which consists of going to a few appointments where researchers ask about your drinking habits). I should sell my hair and look into selling an egg. I would sell my hair in a second if they promise to make it look cute, not cut it too short, and pay me at least $100. It's quality hair - shiny, long, strong, no split ends, and doesn't knot. The egg thing requires serious consideration and research.

A Peek Into My Inexplicably Exciting Life

Done Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday: Cleaned the house (with Clorox lemon-scented wipes), did the dishes, did a load of laundry, finished the cite pack for the Public Interest Law Journal, found an Idaho Supreme Court case re: child welfare and drug addiction and wrote a beautiful case brief, copied NY Criminal Practice outline, got $5 in gas that will last till tomorrow (payday), took care of car insurance, and worked.

Today: Printed out articles (and reading them now) for my Indian Law paper, work 6 hours, go to class for 3 hours, read more articles in class, maybe make it to the gym if I don't fall asleep driving home.

Tomorrow afternoon: After my morning class, I'm signed up for an alcohol study for about a cumulative 10 hours of surveying/discussion over a few weeks to make $300. Sweet, huh? Tomorrow is my first session w/ them. It's kind of a pain in the ass b/c I have to drive downtown, but it's worth it.

Tomorrow night: My gym is going to tell me I have this much (---------------------------) fat I need to lose to be svelte. Oh, please pinch anything w/ the metal claw thing other than my tummy. A thigh, a cheek, even some armfat... anything but the tummy. It would be nice to get bubbly in the hot tub, but I couldn't find a decent bathing suit at Target or TJMaxx, so I may have to wear the one I've had since I was 16 that makes me look completely boobless.

To do this week: A whole lot of studying for all of my classes - these must materialize: Indian Law paper outline, Child Welfare notes for the reading the day I'll be called on; these must be scoured: Crim Pro outline and tapes, NY Criminal Practice outline, and that reading for Child Welfare (Deb - want to be a nerd w/ me at the library or Spot?), more gymming, more work, grocery shopping, more laundry, and find out what the hell's going on w/ my federal tax refund.

To do next week: Make sure my FAFSA's OK and the errors are corrected, gymming, studying, working.

Recently...

1. The elliptical and I are like this *fingers crossed*.

2. Mike is doing OK in FL.

3. I need to learn something for 2 of my classes.

4. My insurance is cheaper after it lapsed.

5. I have a new roommate, moving in in May or June.

6. The weather has been beautiful the last few days.

7. I have great friends.

8. My Friday nights have been awesome.

9. I really want to see Sin City.

10. Diet Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper is pretty tasty.

11. I get to take 9 credits of non-law courses in Fall.

Grrr

Today is a day of much anger. I've been thinking about the same shitty thing all day. I'm going to take it out on the elliptical tonight.

gymming

35 min on the elliptical. 3 sets of 15 of tummy, triceps, and tush exercises w/ the weight machines. i feel good : )

Friday Night at Cole's. Roommate.

Friday night was awesome. Debbie, Inna, Sadie, Nicole, and I got together at Cole's and I had so much fun, my cheeks hurt from laughing. I wish I'd recorded some of our conversations, they were so damn funny. A bunch of dirty little secrets spilled with our drinks, and now everyone knows that my level of badassness may top that of anyone else in the group. Come on, it was college! Also, we were definitely the cutest table of girls there - all of us are exceedingly cute, I think. It was great to feel my inner hotness being replenished ; ) Everyone only had a couple drinks, but it was a celebratory night (Debbie got into Japan! www.ineffableday.blogspot.com), and we did just that.

Yesterday, a potential roommate stopped by. She's graduating the same time as me, a very nice person, we got along really well, and talked for an hour and a half. Finally, a good one : ) She liked the apt a lot, so I'll hear back from her by next week and know for sure.

Jury room. Pork chops. Tonight.

The library's still in exile. The AV center is currently in the jury room, which is attached to the courtroom. So, I'm working from 1p-5p in the jury room on Fridays until the law library re-opens. That leaves Saturdays and Sundays free. I have a lot of schoolwork to do this weekend. I need to start memorizing stuff for my crim law classes.

Last night, I marinated some pork chops in pork seasoning, Chiavetta sauce (tangy), Italian salad dressing, and garlic, then cooked them up. They weren't as scrumptious as I expected though. That gamey taste was still there.

Tonight should be fun. We haven't done girls' night in a very long time. Deb and I are getting bubbly tonight at the hot tub. Oh, sweet bubbles. I got a 3 month membership at the BAC for $50 : ) After that, we're meeting up w/ Stef, Inna, Nicole, and maybe Sadie at Cole's.