Solace

6:00am- Out of bed and out for a run
6:30am- Back from run, shower, dress
7:00am- Breakfast
(Between 7:15 and 8am)- Start working (class, reading, notes, writing=work)
10:30pm- Close books, pack bag for next day, try to go to bed.

This is a typical day for me, 7 days a week. Yes, 7 days a week. I wake up at 6 on Saturdays and Sundays too, but on those days, upon return from my run (which is usually longer than during the week) I'll simply change and start into work, taking a break some hours later to shower.

As I've said to my friend, J, I can see how law school drives people to drink. You work pretty much a 16 hour day and even when in bed your mind is racing about different fact sets, rules, memos, briefs, etc. It seems like the only way to get it to shut up is to inhibit it with some sort of substance (most, it seems, choose alcohol).

D left for a little European getaway with his family last Friday and it was this event that sparked my recognition of what I've been doing to get away from if all: him. I was curling up in bed one night late last week or early this week, when I realized that all I wanted was to be wrapped up in his arms. As I sat reading late into the night the next night I kept wanting to just be in his arms. Years past I may have wanted a drink.

I think it remarkable that all it takes is a hug from the right person to make all your cares and concerns drop away. I think it remarkable that I've found that. I'm a lucky woman.

TGIF

There was a time when Friday meant 2.5 days of nothing to do. It meant going out on Friday night to hang out with friends, maybe party a little, sleeping in on Saturday and then just doing whatever felt right; sleeping in again on Sunday, lazing about on the couch with some pancakes, maybe watching some football or movie marathons....

That was then. It is 8:24pm on Friday and my head is pounding. I spent innumerable hours in the bowels of the law library looking at Pa statutes and reading teeny tiny print in the pocket parts to try to decide whether there were any cases that are even remotely relevant to mine (good news: I found 5 fairly promising potentials!). Then it was off to the computer store and the grocery store. I had high hopes for cooking my parents dinner tonight, but I ended up curled up on the couch, relishing the chilly autumn air blowing in through the window, a steaming mug of tea warming my hands, watching a movie the name of which I never did find out. And what do I have to look forward to tomorrow? Reading and synthesizing my "fairly promising" cases; briefing for crim pro; creating flash cards for the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure; reading and briefing for property. Oh, and I should probably mow the lawn.

On top of all that, D is off for 2.5 weeks to Germany, Hungary and Austria (Slovakia may be in there somewhere too). He often travels and at least once a year he goes on a long, overseas vacation, but this time I started missing him before he'd even gone. I know I'll have plenty to do to keep me busy while he's gone, but I've grown a bit accustomed to having my weekends with him and at least one week night. On the nights I'm at my house I miss him every time I climb into bed. I used to hate having anyone intrude on my sleeping space; now all I want is to have him there. Now I'm getting sappy. I think it's time to curl up with Bon Appetit...

Money, money, money

All I've been thinking about lately is money. Why, you might ask? I mean, I have all these other things to worry about: closed memos, complaints, consideration, enforcement, probable cause, what is property? I could go on and on and on. But I won't have the luxury of worrying about these things without financial aid. I have been going back and forth with financial aid for months now and they're as sick of me as I am of them. Today, finally, progress has been made. Finally there'll be money in bank!

Of course this money comes at an exorbitantly high cost. What I'm hoping is that, upon graduation, I can get a job that will pay me enough to be able to sock half of it away purely for paying back these loans (and, say I make $120,000--high, but what a lot of junior associates are purported to be paid in Philadelphia firms--I'll be able to put away $60,000 for my loans leaving me with $60,000 to live on. I'm used to $30,000 so woooooooo!). For now, I feel a bit like this guy:

A Quick Aside

From "Presidio Group, LLC v. GMAC Mortgage, LLC" and the Honorable Ronald B. Leighton:

"Plaintiff has a great deal to say,
But it seems he skipped Rule 8(a),
His Complaint is too long,
Which renders it wrong,
Please re-write and re-file today."

Who says law isn't fun?

Reminder

They say it's good to keep your goal in mind. Now, really my goal has much more to do with class rank (short term) and great career (long term), but one of the perks I'm looking forward to:

Grumpy Gus

It is unfortunate that 4 hours of classes and 5 hours of reading a day tend to make me a grumpy gus. If you've only been reading my accounts of school thus far you may be under the impression that I'm not a fan. Thankfully it's actually the opposite.

I'm supremely happy with my decision and though there is a lot of work involved it feels wonderful (most of the time). I even managed to go out with two of my good friends, their boyfriends and D last night and not bore everyone to death! When it comes down to it, I know that I made the right decision. I have begun on the path towards a challenging and ultimately rewarding career.

I am also fortunate to have had experiences that have helped me to see that one always needs life outside of work/school. While I am undoubtedly thrilled with my "new career," I have so many other things to look forward to in my personal life. The balance that I've achieved in the past year is mind blowing and I feel more in control and more happy than I had in a long time.

Ahhhhhhh, life is good...!

I can't wait 'til...

1. October. Seems arbitrary, but I feel like this "back to school" horror will be over by then.

2. I actually understand what I'm reading.

3. Briefing a case takes less than an hour

4. Reading a case takes less than 2 hours

5. My head stops hurting

6. I can actually sleep through the night

7. I finish reading for Contracts.

8. I have something interesting to write about that does not involve school (sadly, I've actually only been at this a week)

*BIG siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh*

Last night I ventured away from my desk and myriad case books, computer, notes, outlines, briefs, etc. and went to D's. We had dinner in front of the television and watched "To Catch a Thief" with Carey Grant and Grace Kelly. I highly recommend this film. It was funny. It was cute. Sure it was old, but it's classic. (And D said I have Grace Kelly's lips...awwww.) It is probably one of the more exciting aspects of my week. Oh right, except the yachting on Saturday, but there's not much to report to the blog-o-sphere with regards to that except that I did it and it was a wonderful day (thanks D!).

And now I really must stop procrastinating and get on with it.