Counting Down

Twelve days till I go home. Not that I'm counting. Oh yeah, wait, I am. I can't wait to get back to Cali. Sure, I will still have finals to deal with in January, but it's just gonna be very nice to be at home.

On the other hand, I'm really enjoying the snow. It's so pretty, and I think it might be preferable to the endless rain we get in Sacto. Plus, it makes me feel all Christmas-y.

Still, the thought of home is pretty nice too. I'm currently applying for summer jobs, and almost all of them are back on the west coast. Mostly, Cambridge isn't that different from Berkeley, but every now and then, I'm reminded how much more I love home. For example, today I went to the drug store to buy aloe vera, and the people who worked there had no clue what I was talking about. They had never heard of plain old aloe vera gel. Odd. It's in every drug store I've ever been in in California.

California, California, here I come.....

Formal Tuesday

Formal Tuesday
Originally uploaded by kamio.

One last pic from Formal Tuesday.

Paul and I were posing, and somehow, Andy got caught in the crosshairs. Note how creepy he looks back there, though.

Anyhow, hope you've enjoyed this little glimpse into the exciting life I lead.

Formal Tuesday (yeah, we're weird)

Formal Tuesday (yeah, we're weird)
Originally uploaded by kamio.

So this week, we were hanging out in the lounge, and we decided that we should all get dressed up while we ate dinner and studied. So we ordered in Indian food and declared it "formal tuesday." Then we posed for pictures.

It was great fun.

From left to right: Mary, Brittny, Paul, Me, Trevor, Sarah, Andy, Ariella.

Girls Night Out

Girls Night Out
Originally uploaded by kamio.

Here we have me with my friend Joanna (left) and Brittny (right).

Mom, those are virgin, um, whatever they are....

Halloween

Halloween
Originally uploaded by kamio.

Ah, yes. Harvard Law School. Home to serious study of jurisprudence. A portrait of excellence in education.

And yet, somehow they let all of us in.

I thought I'd share some photos that prove just how weird everyone is here.

Can you spot me in this pic?

Waiting for Mid-January

Ah. Mid-January. Heaven of heavens. When, oh, when, will it arrrive?

Normally, I wouldn't be looking forward to the depths of winter (especially since I've just moved to the sub-arctic climes of New England), but right now, it sounds idyllic.

That's because in mid-January, I'll be done with this semester. Thanksgiving, I'll spend writing a memo and putting together outlines for finals. December will be a desperate attempt to actually understand my courses. Over Christmas, I'll be dreading my upcoming exams. And early January will be spent in the mire of cramming and test-taking. But by mid-January, I'll be free.

Plus, I'm sick of all my classes. Even crim, which I've really enjoyed all along, is sort of bottoming out for me. We're studying search warrants, and the decisions are all mucky and unclear. Not so fun to try to keep all the rules apart.

It's getting to that point in the semester where all of the commitments I've made start piling up. I'm helping to organize an event with the campus Dems, planning a community service activity, am trying to fulfill some promises I made to my mom, am starting to work on presents, and then there's school.

Okay, the complaints stop here. Time to take some notes (yeah, I'm writing this in Torts class).

Oh, Happy Day

Finally, finally, finally! Finally, Democrats have a good election day!

And every single proposition on California's ballot failed. Not only is that great cuz it effectively takes away most of Schwarzenegger's power, it's also great cuz I'm so sick of propositions. Maybe people won't be so quick to stick crap on the ballot from now on. Well, I can hope.

Happy post-election day!

We Don't Torture; We Just Want the Right To Do It

Quote of the Day (from the article in the San Francisco Chronicle, Bush Declares: 'We Do Not Torture':

"President Bush vigorously defended U.S. interrogation practices in the war on terror Monday and lobbied against a congressional drive to outlaw torture."

Yeah, what's Congress thinking--trying to outlaw torture? They just go ruining everything....

A Busy Week

Keeping busy over here. Did all the Halloween celebrations. I'm kind of glad it's over, though. Of course, now I have to start thinking about Christmas presents. I ordered snow boots online this week. And I'm gonna buy long underwear. There's no way I'm going into winter unprepared.

Not much else to say. Law school is making me boring (if I wasn't already). All I can think about is strict liability, personal jurisdiction, and due process. And high on my list of things I'm looking forward to is my appointment next week with my criminal law prof during his office hours. Sad, I know.

And I really don't have interesting things to say anymore. With other law students, mainly we just talk law. Or gossip about professors or annoying people in our class. I haven't even had much time to follow the nomination of Alito. I know just enough to know I don't like him.

The point of this post is just that if you talk to me, don't expect much. I'm not interesting, I'm a law student.

Let It Snow!

It's snowing!!!! The first snow of the season. My first snow in Boston. And really, one of my first experiences in falling snow.

Of course, everyone here thinks I'm the crazy, stupid Californian. They think it's silly to be excited about snow when there's so much of it to come. But I take heart by thinking of Lorelai Gilmore (yes, she's fictional, but still...) who gets excited at the first snowfall of every year.

I took a whole bunch of pictures today. So, if I ever actually have time to get them developed and scanned (yeah, still in the non-digital dark ages), I'll post some.

Snow!

A Perfect Storm

I'm experiencing my first Nor'easter here in Boston. Basically, it's just cold, windy, and rainy. It reminds me of January in Sacramento. Only thing is, it's still October.

I've bought sweaters and a down jacket. I've got scarves, and warm knit hats. But I'm not ready for winter. Luckily, I have plenty of work to do, so there's no need for me to venture outdoors.

Speaking of tempests, there may be another storm a'brewin'. It seems that now Dick Cheney has been specifically found to have been involved in the CIA leak. Previously, his chief of staff, Lewis Libby, claimed under oath that Cheney wasn't involved. It's always the cover-up...

And After

after
Originally uploaded by kamio.

The final results. Hurrah!

Before

before
Originally uploaded by kamio.

So, I know this is a little belated, but I finally have some before and after close-ups of my teeth since braces.

I can't believe how much they changed. Many thanks to my orthodontist and to whoever invented braces in the first place.

A Trip to Court

My section took a field trip to the local federal courthouse today. It was pretty fun. Just thought I'd share a few of my favorite quotes from the visit. They quotes came from a pre-trial hearing about who should have guardianship over an elderly man.

Lawyer #1: "This is not a dead body and a will."
--------
Lawyer#1: "[The other lawyer] takes the argument that he [the old man in question] should be in Texas. I call that 'the Hillary Clinton argument.' Some people say, put her on a plane and send her back to Arkansas. I say, ask the people of New York. States don't have the right to pick their citizens."

Lawyer #2: "He says states can't choose their citizens. Well, lawyers don't have the right to pick their courts."
-------
And my favorite:

Judge: "It's not like ATM justice: you shove in a brief and it spits out an answer."

(She was saying it will take her some time to make a decision--she was awesome; just like Judge Judy).

Disaster Overload?

Anyone else feeling a little overwhelmed by all the disasters we've seen this year? From tsunamis to hurricanes to earthquakes to the downward spiral that is Iraq, sometimes it feels like the world is getting worse by the day.

I came across a great article about the overload feeling. Here it is, if you want to read it. My favorite quote:

"It's tempting, it's understandable, to want to block it all out, to take only small doses of the horrors of the planet and shun the rest like a Republican shuns poor people."

Things cheering me up right now:

The impending weekend
A chocolate chunk cookie
New jeans
The Death Cab for Cutie concert I'm headed to on Monday
Memories from my mom's visit last weekend
Conversations with good friends
Wireless internet (and relatedly, instant messaging)
Hope that the rain will stop soon

Have a good weekend everybody!

Ranting

Wow, I don't recall hating a teacher this much. She's pretty horrible. And this class is pretty pointless. She treats us like we're in elementary school.

She's talking about the assignment right now, and I can already see how horribly marked up my assignment will be when I get it back tomorrow. The worst thing is, I don't care.

Most of my classes are great. But I guess there always has to be one bad one.

Oh, well. At least it's almost the weekend.

A Moveable Feast

Okay, the title is actually a little gross in context, but I couldn't resist. You see, I've had some problems with stomach upset recently. Because of this, I ended up in the school infirmary on Friday, hooked up to an IV to deal with my dehydration. That was a first for me.

I'm feeling better today, although I'm still not at 100 percent. I did manage to eat 2 meals successfully, so I'm feeling pretty proud of myself. Of course, I also wondered after the second one if it was really such a good idea. Anyhow, I'm resting a lot (although I have an assignment to complete for Monday), and I hope to be all better soon. My throat hurts today, but hopefully, that's just a temporary problem.

Other than that, all is well in my neck of the woods.

one of those quiz-thingys

Thanks, Tam for this one. My personality type is also probably going to be my most common grade this year...

You Have A Type B+ Personality

B+ You're a pro at going with the flow You love to kick back and take in everything life has to offer A total joy to be around, people crave your stability. While you're totally laid back, you can have bouts of hyperactivity. Get into a project you love, and you won't stop until it's done You're passionate - just selective about your passions

Do You Have a Type A Personality?

Hey there, May I Touch You in the Spirit of Pleasantry?

Law school can actually be funny. Like the case of the guy who accidentally jabs someone in the eye with a stick, while trying to referee a dog fight. And sometimes judges are funny in their cases. Scalia is almost always making little insults to the other Supreme Court justices. This post's title comes from a case that we read, which stated that consent is implied when "touching in the spirit of pleasantry."

But there's a dark side to the legal cases too. And just for amusement's sake, I've decided to keep an occasionally updated tally on the body count in my classes. Well, at least in the reading in my classes. The current stats:

Civ Pro: 0 (Probably a major reason the class is so boring.)
First Year Lawyering: 0 (But I've heard a few threats to the instructor)*
Torts: 17
Criminal: Depends how you count it. 24 regular cases. 1 fetus (the ruling held it didn't count as human). 492 killed in a fire.
For those who don't like counting, that equals 517 altogether.

So our total current body count is: 534

In other news, I'm also making a list of some ordinary words that law school has completely ruined for me. Please note that a lot of these are words people use all the time, but when I hear them, all I can think of is the applicable legal rule (actually, I usually think about how I don't remember the applicable legal rule, but you get the idea). I'm sure this list will grow about as fast as the number of dead people. The beginnings:

• Reasonable


• Negligent


• Reckless


• Case


• Strict


• Liable


• Memo


• Brief


• Malice


• Intent


• Provoke

So the next time you see me, don't be surprised if I cringe when you say something like, "Quit provoking me! I wish you weren't so malicious--I'm liable to do something reckless!"


*That was a joke. Now that I'm in law school, I feel the need to cover myself in case anything really does happen. This must be what they mean about thinking like a lawyer.

Wide World of Nothing

Oh, hello. I'm sorry I've neglected you. It's just that you're part of the outside world. A world that very easily gets left behind during law school. It's strange to me: I came to law school b/c I wanted to gain skills that will help me contribute to the world, and yet, I find that it's very difficult to really keep up with anything that occurs outside of this campus.

Yeah, I read the news on the internet. And the tv in the lounge is always on. But my contact with "the outside" is always haphazard, captured in glimpses between Harvard-related stuff. I am really craving some order and organization in my life. I want to know when my obligations will be. I want to make orderly progress through a list of things to do. But it seems that here, there's always something new popping up, and my plans never stay firm for long.

Just to give you an idea, I am now on the mailing list for: the HLS Democrats, HLS Catholic Students, HLS Women's Law Association, HLS Black Students Association, the HLS California Club, the Journal of Legislation, and the Civil Rights, Civil Liberties Law Journal. Heck, there might be a few more I don't know about. And I none of those groups have made it clear to me when their regular meeting times are.

I've also joined a "reading group." It's an opportunity to meet with a prof. and a few students to discuss some readings on a particular topic. No grades, no credit. Just extra reading. Why did that sound like a good idea?

Okay, back to my forgotten hobby: actually preparing for class.

World's Longest Post

I'm sitting in Civil Procedure with no wireless card, so I can't do anything on the internet. Yep, I'm actually drafting a blog entry in word processing in class. Truly, truly bored. Which is why this will be the longest blog entry I've ever done.

I thought some of you might want to get an impression of what law school life has been like so far. So here's a little slice of my life:

A few general observations: Socializing is *the* major activity. But reading lots and lots of cases comes a close second. I spend around 4 hours a day on reading, at least when I’m being good. The 2 and 3Ls tell me that reading starts going faster soon. I can't wait.

I have only one class Monday and Tuesday, but I have class all day Wednesday and Thursday. Fridays are only 2 classes, except that I have some extra make-up classes scheduled for the next few Fridays. Oh, and Mondays sometimes get extra meetings as well.

Here's my schedule today:

8:50 AM- Torts class. In Torts we study cases where people sue eachother over stuff. My professor is fun, but he does have a tendency to call on people, keep asking them questions, and be a little mean if they don't get the right answer. He says we're allowed to pass, but no one wants to try it.

10:17-- Torts is over. Walk to nearby building, complaining to section members (I take all my classes with the same group of people this year) about schedule and reading.

10:30 --Criminal law. My favorite class right now. I like the professor a lot; he's offered to talk with me about what I need to do to become a professor. Criminal law is just the most fun--it's like Law & Order every day. I haven't been cold called in any of my classes yet, but I do raise my hand occasionally, which perhaps keeps them at bay.

11:58--Woohoo! Lunch time! I didn't eat breakfast today, so I'm starved. I drop off my Torts and Crim book at my dorm, put in my Civ Pro book. The backpack is still heavy. The campus cafeteria is always packed, so I go to the neighborhood pizza shop to get some pasta. Unfortunately it's jammed too.

12:40 -- I get my food--spaghetti and meatballs--and cram it down, while watching CNN analysis of the John Roberts confirmation hearing. Funny that I'm so busy with law school, I hardly have time to pay attention to major legal issues.

It was the same way with Katrina. I knew it was happening, but I was so busy it hardly seemed real. Now we have some Katrina survivors living in our dorm building. Much more real.

1:15-- Civil Procedure (aka Civ Pro). We're talking about cases we read last week. It's harder to be interested once you've read ahead. In Civ Pro, we get called on in panels. That means we know ahead of time whether we'll be called on, although we can always raise our hands. It's hard to do the reading, really pay attention, when you know you have nothing to fear. Tomorrow's my day on panel; I'd better do the work tonight.

The rest of this hasn't happened yet, so I'll make an educated guess:

2:42-- Freedom. Civ Pro is over and I head back to my room. Probably I talk to some folks in my dorm for awhile. Check email. Make a list of things to do (ie. Call Mom, Do reading, Brush teeth, Eat.....) since I can't remember anything without writing it down now.

3:00-- Start reading. Eek! There's so much to do. I finish my 10 pages of Torts reading in 45 minutes, and then take a bathroom break.

3:55-- Having forgotten my ID card (necessary to swipe my way into the bathroom), I have to come all the way back to my room. Since the closest bathroom is in an adjoining building, it takes awhile. Even worse is when I go downstairs to the bathroom. When I do that, I can be gone forever talking to my friends who live on the 1st floor.

Now I'm back in my room and ready to work. An hour of Civ Pro reading, and I've made my way through 30 pages. Of course, I still have to type up the notes. And I still have 100 pages to go.

I've also ignored my First Year Lawyering homework. I haven't printed out the syllabus b/c it's in Microsoft Word, which I don't have on my computer. I've been meaning to buy it, or at least go to the computer center, but I have no time.

4:55-- Time to get dressed to go out. Tonight, I'm going to an cocktail party and book signing for a Harvard Law professor. We're meeting at 5:30, and I still don't know what to wear. Networking (some might say drinking) is very important.

That's something key to understanding life here. Most decisions are motivated by where the free food (or drinks) happen to be.

8:57--Home from the reception. I spent the whole time thinking about the work that I should have been doing. On the way in, I bump into some of my 1L pals on the way out to celebrate a birthday. I allow myself to be pulled into their tide, and I'm out the door again.

11:30-- After a few hours of yelling to talk to eachother at a bar, we determine that we must be responsible and come home. When we get back, we plop down in the lounge. We then proceed to talk about things we won't remember tomorrow.

1 am-- Fall into bed. Set alarm. I figure I'll get all my reading done during my breaks tomorrow.

Repeat.

Must....Get....Some....Sleep...

Apparently they weren't kidding about the whole "work hard, play hard" thing around here. Lots of reading, lots of socializing. In fact, I need a bigger calendar to write in all the social events. Oh yeah, and the homework.

The weather here is really nice right now. Of course, it'll probably snow tomorrow, and I'll wish I hadn't jinxed it. I feel so lucky to be here, even with all the homework I have. The best thing so far has been getting to know all of the amazing students. I love the conversations--there's just never an end to the topics that can come up.

But the screen is going blurry on me, so I think it's a sign that bed needs to be in my very, very near future.

An Exciting Time

Things are going well here on the Eastern Front... We had Orientation, which was fun, and I've met so, so, so many people. There have been more social gatherings than I can count.

Classes start Tuesday. I still have plenty of reading to do, but that's what Mondays are for, right? I'll definitely write more later. Currently, sleep sounds inviting.

Settling In (A Long Post Cuz Who Knows When I'll Have Free Time Again)

Day 2 at Harvard. The weather has been yucky: warm, humid, rainy. But it is supposed to improve. My dorm room is terrible. It's tiny and ugly and smelly. Very smelly. Actually, the whole building has the strong odor of a wet dog or a sweatsock. I bought a fan and air freshener, but it's kind of a "David taking on Goliath" sort of thing.

Hopefully, with a little decorating my room will look a little less like a prison cell (that's how Jorge, an LLM on my floor describes the rooms). Speaking of LLMs (it's sort of an advanced law degree, but a lot of foreign students get them as a way of learning about US laws), there are a few on my floor. There are also a huge number of 2 and 3Ls (returning law students). In fact, there are only around 4 of us 1st years. I didn't expect that, especially in this dorm. The down side is that there are fewer new people to get to know. The up side is that 1) I'm surrounded by people who actually know what they're doing, and 2) it might mean that the general atmosphere is more relaxed.

I hung out with my (fairly new) friend Alisa last night. It's so great to know someone in Boston, and I definitely had fun! I also bumped into another friend who is getting a Ph.D. here. It makes me feel a little less far away.

I got the immunization thing worked out, and I will be able to register tomorrow. I have to bring a little pink slip with me--it looks like a tardy note or something.

My cell phone gets really horrible reception in my dorm. Basically, I can only talk while practically hanging out the window. Some of the wise 3Ls told me I should switch plans. But I have this contract-thingy. Anyhow, if you know my new home phone number (meaning I emailed it to you [If I didn't send you my new contact info, and you'd like it, just email me and I'll pass it along]), it'd be great if you use the home number instead of the cell to reach me when possible. Cuz otherwise I might not get your call.

Just an advanced warning, I'm considering switching blogs. But I'm kind of attached to this one, and there's been so much upheaval in my life recently, I'm not quite ready for that just yet. Anyhow, if I do swap, you'll be the first to know. Meaning, I'll link on here to the new address.

My Life and It's Little Dramas

As I type, I am on hold with Harvard Health Services, who are saying they don't have record of my immunizations, even though I sent them in a week ago. I actually faxed them AND priority mailed a copy to them. I've been on hold 5 minutes now while the woman supposedly looks for my records. Aargh! Registration is in 6 days, and they don't know what they're doing. It's like dealing with Berkeley's financial aid department all over again.

Update: The woman took me off of hold, but remembered nothing of our conversation before. So I'm on hold again.

In other news, I finished up at work. They gave me a nice goodbye party, complete with champagne and cake. And a Harvard sweatshirt as a goodbye present. I'm actually a little sad to leave. I'll miss some of the people there.

Still haven't packed. Lots of unpacking to do at home.

Update: 3 minutes of holding later, "They're checking the paperwork." Back on hold.

I'm excited about going, but I'm soooooo sad about leaving California. I'll miss the weather, the place, the friends I'm leaving, and especially, my mom.

Update: 2 minutes later on hold, "We can't find your papers. But there's one more place to look." This time she gave me the option of them calling me back, but since she forgot me in 5 minutes, I think hold is safer.

Just 3 days to get everything done. Just 3 days til I go.

Last update for now: She cannot find my f***ing paperwork. Even though I spent 15 dollars to send 2 copies there! She says she'll call me Monday. Does anyone remember what Monday is? That's right, the day I'm flying across the country. I hate these people!

Must....Keep...Treading....Water

This post has absolutely nothing to do with water. Except that I, metaphorically speaking, have spent most of my time recently trying to keep my head above it.

So much going on. The move was yesterday. I stayed up all night Monday packing. Thank goodness for Noah's help Monday afternoon! There's still stuff left at the old place to fetch. It was all beyond exhausting.

Got my immunizations today. Cost $132 for 2 shots, one of which I've already had. I wheedled, begged, and threatened to cry--and finally, got a doctor's note to excuse me from getting the tetanus shot to which I am allergic. I will still have to get the other 2 shots in the Hep B series in a little while.

Still working. Had to take Monday off for packing.

I got my first Harvard homework assignment in the mail. We have to do some reading and answer questions before our orientation meeting with our Criminal Law prof.

Back to treading...

Super-Short Update Post (and one side-note)

Moving is awful. And being the only one in good enough health to pack is even worse. My mom injured herself--it looks like she has a hairline fracture on her arm--so most of the packing has fallen to me. We're so, so very behind for our move on Tuesday.

Side-note: What's with this new trend of blog comment spam (blam?)??? I just deleted some junky comment about insurance or some such thing. Will the horrors never cease?

Goodbye, Pete

Peter Jenning's death has me thinking. Fame is a strange thing. I've always respected and admired Peter Jennings. My friend Sarah and I even went to hear him speak in Berkeley. Whenever horrible news broke, I always turned the tv to ABC because I knew that Peter Jennings would make me feel better about the world, somehow. Peter-- his voice, his person, comforted me. He was a news anchor, but he seemed like someone I knew.

And that's strange. I mean, why does that happen? Celebrities, even fictional characters, can come to be important to us. We often feel more attached to people we've never seen than the people we pass on the street.

I guess we all want connections to others. We're always looking for opportunities to reach out to our fellow humans. And maybe getting attached to folks we've never even met is just an extension of that desire for affiliation.

But whatever the reason, I can't help thinking that news just won't be the same.

The Tide of Change Comes In

Exciting stuff in my neck of the woods. Well, to me, at least.

Last night, I got my class schedule for fall. It looks pretty good. Earliest class is at 8:50 am, 3 days a week. On Mondays and Tuesdays, I only have one class (Criminal Law), unless we have a section meeting (those are apparently only occasional events, and when they do happen, mine will be on Mondays). I'm excited about the professors. Two of mine are legal historians in addition to the basic 1L courses they teach. That seems like a good sign, since I'm interested in possibly becoming a legal historian myself. I didn't have time to do much research on the profs though, because....

I was in San Francisco today, visiting my orthodontist. And I got my braces off!!!! My teeth are visibly *not perfect,* but I'm fine with that because 1) I needed to get my braces off before moving across the country, 2) my teeth have changed soooo much, it already exceeded my expectations, and 3) I'm not a big fan of the "one size fits all" movie star smile type of mouth; I prefer a little uniqueness. I'll post before and after pics here if my orthodontist gives me them like he promised. I get my retainer in a week and a half. I've already chewed gum, flossed normally, and eaten Starbursts. I'm looking forward to biting into an apple. Ah, the little pleasures in life that we so often take for granted....

Have a fabulous day, everyone! I am. =)

Thoughts

The weekend was exhausting. The heat has my mom and me really tired. And then there was packing. I have emptied my 4 bookcases. Almost all my books are packed. It took forever. And we made some other progress, but there's still so much to do. My mom signed the lease this morning (or that was the plan, I haven't talked to her, so I can't say for sure).

This week, I tell the folks at work that I'm leaving. There have been many funny/uncomfortable law-related moments at work recently. Like last week, when my supervisor (who is applying to law school) and I walked into the convention center just as the bar exam let out for a lunch break. And then when we bumped into one of my friends, who was taking that bar exam, and he asked me, "Don't you have law school plans?" Luckily, this wasn't a problem--it's a long, long story....

I'm getting pretty excited about the approach of law school. I've had two "first day of school" dreams about Harvard recently. Both were actually a little stressful. In one, the transit wasn't working right. In the other, we had a test on the first day of class. So maybe I'm a little nervous.

I got a Jones soda the other day (actually bar exam day at lunch with my supervisor), and it had a fortune under the cap that said "The tide of change approaches." Funny.

The professor I'd like to do research with at Harvard wrote an op-ed on the judicial nomination stuff that is really good. Interestingly, she clerked at the same time as John Roberts, Bush's Supreme Court nominee. Professor Minow rocks!

Update, Schmupdate

Well, I've booked my flight to Boston. So it's all set. I fully expect to be searched at the airport, since I'm flying nonstop with a one-way ticket. Oh, well.

Now I'm busy trying to get stuff together to ship. We're also crazy busy trying to work out the details of my mom's move. Keep your fingers crossed that everything gets settled soon.

Trying to stretch out my reading of Harry Potter to last as long as possible. That way maybe it'll feel like a shorter wait til the next (and last, *sniff*) book comes out.

Knitting a hat with earflaps to get me through the cold Boston winters (and that's just inside). But it's a little too big. So today I measured my head, and discovered that it is 22 inches in diameter. According to the Craft Yarn Council of America, that's the head measurement for men's hats. So my head is apparently bigger than the standard woman's head. This is interesting (to me) because most of my family members have big heads, but I've always considered mine average. Guess not. So that pattern is just really, really big. Anyone else out there have oddly-sized heads?

Ford Escape

Ford Escape
Originally uploaded by kamio.

If you're fascinated, you can check out the Ford website and learn all about their hybrid program.

Ford Mercury Mariner

Ford Mercury Mariner
Originally uploaded by kamio.

In case anyone happened to be wondering, Ford does have hybrids. Two actually.

Just in case you were curious. Or thought that because I don't drive, I know nothing about cars. =)

Just Another Manic Monday

Sorry to start the week on such a depressing note, but I just found this story creepy. A young woman was killed in a drive-by shooting in Berkeley. It was at the corner of Dwight and College, where I lived for 2 years. I can't guess how many times I stood at that corner. If you want, you can read about it in The San Francisco Chronicle

On a happier note, I had a good time visiting with friends over the weekend. We took San Francisco by storm, and with the weather here in Sacto., I'm ready to go back. We've had 7 straight days of temperatures over 100 degrees. And the forecast shows the whole rest of the week the same way. By Thursday we should break a record for most consecutive days over 100 in Sacramento.

Movin Day's A Comin'

The good news is that it looks like my mom may have found a place to move. She hasn't signed the lease yet or put down a deposit, but she's pretty committed to it. The manager is just checking when the place will be free for move-in.

The bad news is that it's not gonna be free until probably around the week I leave. So that means my mom can't help me with my move. Also, depending on the exact time, I may not be here to help with her move.

I'm starting to look into things like the cheapest way to ship some boxes to Boston. Also, it's much harder than you'd think to get a cheap one-way airfare between Sacramento and Boston. Southwest doesn't go there; JetBlue doesn't go from Sacto. to Boston (it does Sacto.-NY, or Oakland-Boston). And then I need to find somewhere to stay for one night before the dorms open. Hotels in Boston are about as pricey as the ones in the Bay Area.

It's both exciting and overwhelming to realize that TWO moves are coming up in 6 weeks. It hasn't really sunk in how different my life will be in a month and a half.

It's a Beautiful Day

Death and destruction. They're everywhere. Especially death. A friend's boyfriend's cousin. An elderly relative. People riding to work on a double-decker bus. But then again, so is destruction. People destroying their lives with alcohol. The little ways we tear each other down with cruel words, glances, actions. The slow stripping away of our freedom.

Life is short. Everybody knows it. We try to pretend it's not with wrinkle creams and sports cars. Or just by ignoring the facts. But I will die, and you will die. And it's only a matter of time. Who knows how much?

So, now that that's been established, we can curl up and mope. Or we can rail against the unfairness of it all. We can try to forget again. That's what most of us will probably do.

But there's another option. We can dance.

We can give ourselves over to life. Find meaning. Smile at strangers. Be joyful and grateful and giving.

You want to live forever; experience the Eternal Now. You know how when you look into your lover's eyes, you feel like time stands still? That's the Eternal Now. When you are working on something you care about, and you look up, shocked to realize that hours have flown--also the Eternal Now. Love and Meaning joined together. The limits of ordinary time can't compete.

With compassion and beauty and peaceful spirits and thankfulness and love, every day we can accomplish a lifetime's worth of work. We can make Creation dance.

By the Way....

If you like women's sports, or you just can't stand male chauvinist pigs, this article will make you smile.

Yup, I've Lost It

So, I've been reading 1L, a really interesting book by Scott Turow. It's practically required reading for all incoming law students. It's all about his 1st year at Harvard Law. Anyhow, the book is supposed be intensely frightening. It hasn't had that effect on me, but it did push me to do something crazy.

I decided to try out briefing cases. I figured it would be good practice. But the really insane thing is, I loved it. No, really. Loved it. Didn't want to stop. Granted, I was using cases that I found interesting. And I'm sure when I have around 20 to do at a time, it won't be quite as entertaining. But still.

That last thread of sanity has clearly snapped. =)

Happy Fourth!

Nada mucho here. My ma and I are gonna watch the fireworks tonight from the parking lot near our place. It's a heckuva lot easier than going all the way to the park... Watched The Terminal and Bridget Jones 2 this weekend; both were quite enjoyable.

A few Independence day thought from "America (The Book)" by the Daily Show folks (sorry, I'm too lazy to go through the effort of underlining and italicizing this paragraph properly):

"In seventeen hundred and seventy-six The Declaration of Independence was signed-ix"

"If you are going to sever ties to your Commonwealth through bloody struggle, it is considered polite to write down why."

"Still, knowing the inherent contradiction between their noble words and the reality of a slave-owning nation, Jefferson and the Founders wisely decided to strike....the phrase "or your money back."

"The Founding Fathers could now retire back to their respective states, knowing that all that was left to achieve was for their untrained militias to engage and defeat the most powerful empire the world had ever seen."

Happy Independence Day!

Gigantic Messes

Today's Theme: Quagmires, Messes, Disasters, Morasses, etc.

Number one: I found out on Friday that my paycheck bounced. That's right, my paycheck. From the organization with a few million in the bank. Yeah, it was the bank's fault. Some confusion over account numbers. They got it fixed yesterday, but in the mean time, I got overdraft notices and charges. Luckily, they reimbursed me (the bank is reimbursing them). Today, I went to the bank to drop off the new checks in person. I'm not withdrawing or writing any checks until I can see the money credited. What a hassle. I'm glad it's over.

Number two: Due to my obsessive nerdiness, I've been keeping a timeline as I read the book on British history. It gets really complicated in the 1400s, when a few gazillion different people tried to become king. In a series of events called the Wars of the Roses, these different families argued about who was more related to an old dead former king. And it makes it virtually impossible to keep everyone straight. Today, I actually made a kind of geneaology chart. I had out about 5 encyclopedias and I found myself googling various Henrys and Edwards. A sad, sad day in my life....

Number three: The Bush administration now says that the Iraq insurgency could last up to TWELVE more years. They also say the insurgency is in its "last throes" Which is it, I wonder? My mom suggested that maybe 12 years is how long it will take before we can get all of Iraq's oil....

Maybe We Should Just Light a Candle

Courtesy of Craig's (as in Craigslist) Blog:

How many members of the Bush administration does it take to change a light bulb?

1. One to deny that a light bulb needs to be changed;

2. One to attack the patriotism of anyone who says the light bulb needs to be changed;

3. One to blame Clinton for burning out the light bulb;

4. One to arrange the invasion of a country rumored to have a secret stockpile of light bulbs;

5. One to give a billion dollar no-bid contract to Halliburton for the new light bulb;

6. One to arrange a photograph of Bush, dressed as a janitor, standing on a step ladder under the banner: Light Bulb Change Accomplished;

7. One administration insider to resign and write a book documenting in detail how Bush was literally in the dark;

8. One to viciously smear #7;

9. One surrogate to campaign on TV and at rallies on how George Bush has had a strong light-bulb-changing policy all along;

10. And finally one to confuse Americans about the difference between screwing a light bulb and screwing the country.

Is it 2008 Yet?

I haven't done any political-themed posts recently, mostly because I'm too overwhelmed by the number of horribly ridiculous things going on to pick just one. So instead of ranting at length, I thought I'd just include a list of a few political issues/events that have caught my attention.

Good
1) Bush's numbers down
2) Arnold's numbers down
Maybe folks are starting to catch on. But when you see the incredibly low numbers for Congress and the CA legislature, it suggests that maybe everyone's just given up hope. And maybe they have reason:

Bad
1) Say goodbye to free speech--Flag Burning Bill Passed
2) Nobody seems to care that there's actual PROOF that Bush lied to everyone. SF Chronicle We even apparently attempted to goad Saddam Hussein into war a full year before we technically attacked.
Sunday Times
3) Oh, boy. Just what we need. More nuclear power plants.
4) Democrats in Congress will stand up for nothing, as was evidenced by the fact they rolled over and let Bush have his way on oil drilling in Alaska, among other things. This leads me to:

The Mini-Rant
See, I'm limiting myself. Democrats refuse to stand up for anything because they're afraid of political fallout. But the thing is, what voters want is to have candidates who stand for something--candidates with vision and leadership. Bush has vision--tunnel vision, and he's great at leading us to war. Until Democrats can offer Americans a vision-based platform, they'll continue to lose elections.

The OC: Obama and Clinton 2008

The OC: Obama and Clinton 2008
Originally uploaded by kamio.

Lots of fun stuff is available at this site: Angry Left

Voluminous Writings on Scattered Themes

To start off the post, I want to announce the creation of a new word. Coined by Kate's friend Amy, after launched a search for a term that would describe the narcissistic tendencies of us web users.

Meegle:(verb) to search for one's own name on Google

I'm just posting it now, cuz I was hoping to come up with a complementary word that would reference other forms of internet narcissism, like keeping track of who reads your blog, posting those memes, or making polls to ask your friends what to do with your life. It's all just part of the wonders of the internet.

Starting off with a book recommendation, at least for all the girls. It's You Can Do It! The Merit Badge Handbook for Grown-up Girls, a fun book that offers guides for achieving all kinds of goals, like traveling, learning another language, knitting, getting published, starting a rock band, surfing, or fixing cars. And when you accomplish your goal, you can award yourself one of the cute sticker badges at the back of the book. Ooooh, stickers!

I'm working on the budgeting badge right now. Once I get this whole "write down everything you buy" stuff down, I'll be well on my way...

In good news for those who talk to me por telefono (I'm also trying to get started on that foreign language badge), we may have heard the death knell for the dreaded "Ring of Death." For those who don't know, my cell phone does this thing where people I talk to hear a horrible ringing sound occasionally (I don't hear it, which might be why it's taken so long for me to do anything about it). Anyhow, I'm supposed to get a replacement phone in the mail soon. Yay!

One last question for all of you: If you ask someone to add you to their friends list on Friendster or Myspace and they simply take no action (even after they've logged on), does it means anything? Now, if they reject you as a friend, it's pretty clear they don't like you, but is just ignoring a request a statement in itself? Thoughts, anyone?

Monday Check-in

Today's highlight: Delicious oriental chicken salad for lunch
Today's lowlight: 3 hours of meetings
Word of the day: eleemosynary
Song in my head: Girls Just Wanna Have Fun (not exactly a Monday-y song...)

Moving to Sweden

Sometimes this country really p***** me off. I mean we've produced war, corporate greed, Michael Jackson, George W. Bush, and Arnold Schwarzenegger. But what has me annoyed right now is our government and it's lack of utility for the citizens.

This morning, I finally managed to convince the IRS (after a few months of trying) that I really don't owe them money. See, the problem was that the fine State of California never sent me the legally required W-2 listing my unemployment tax withholdings. So the IRS couldn't figure out that they had already been paid. What a smart country we live in.

Meanwhile, I need to provide Harvard with proof of my immunizations. I've already had all the required ones-- I had to in order to attend school in California. But the issue is that I have absolutely no record of it. My doctor has long since lost them. The elementary school I attended also lost them back when I was there. So every other school I've been to has taken it on good faith that there was no way I could have gone to the previous school without the immunizations.

But Harvard doesn't care about California laws. And so, I have to go get the shots again. But I have no medical insurance, and I've called 3 local clinics. They all say the same thing: they only give immunizations to children. So I'm stuck, and all because this country can't get its act together and provide universal health care. I wish I lived in Europe.

And Me Too!

You're Tigger. Playful and fun-loving, you enjoy
hanging out with friends even though you don't
always have to be the center of attention.
You're never pessimistic or sluggish. Your
enthusiasm is at once endearing and
over-the-top. You're the quintessential
extrovert.


Which famous feline are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Sorry, Kate L, I'm Tigger! Actually, I'd totally trade for Hobbes...

The Quiet Life

Not much to post about today. I'm looking forward to several exciting posts in the upcoming weeks,however, as I get together with friends this summer.

At work, I'm on computer #3, but I'm hopeful that I will finally get my very own functional computer later today. Maybe.

A funnyism I've been saving for a slow blogging day: My favorite sign in Davis belongs to hair stylist. It says,

"The Hair Saloon: The Best Little Hair House in Town"

If you don't get why this is humorous, say it out loud. If you still don't think it's funny, blame my corny sense of humor.

P.S. Check out the new discussion board towards the bottom of the page!

Ah, Democracy

The headline for the Sacramento Bee today said that 12,000 Iraqi civilians have died in this war. (I was going to link to it, but the article has mysteriously disappeared from the website--here's an article about it though click to read)

Twelve thousand NON-MILITARY deaths: someone's father on his way to work, children playing after school, a mother going grocery shopping. The claim that this war is about helping Iraqis rings awfully hollow when we realize that 4 times as many civilians have died in Iraq as died in the September 11th attacks. But we're bringing democracy to the people, right? Right, to whomever's left alive. Pass the oil.

Technology: Everything old is new

Today, my mom was telling me about a tour she once took of a post office. Apparently, it was just after they'd started using zip codes. It had never occured to me that zip codes were so new (her tour was in the 60s, I think). I guess if I'd really stopped to consider it, I would have realized they had to be invented sometime, but I've just always taken them for granted.

It's amazing the things history can teach us. I'm currently reading a book on the history of England from 3500 BC to 1603 AD (as background for the book I want to read on English legal history [I know; I'm weird]). Apparently, there may have been indoor "loos" in England as far back as 5,000 years ago. Maybe things haven't changed so much after all.

Started my new job on Tuesday. All good, except that the hard drive on the computer they set up for me crashed sometime between Friday at 5 pm and Tuesday at 8:30 am. It seems the computer has been on its last legs for awhile, and the prospect of me using it put it over the edge. So I have to wait for a bit til I have a computer.

So to sum up: Zip codes are new, toilets are old, and my work computer belongs in the loo.

Happy Birthday, Blog!

Today my blog turns one year old. Amazing how fast they grow up, isn't it? I'm awed by how much has happened in this last year. I feel like I'm a different person than I was when I started this blog.

No big online celebrations just yet. When I celebrate my 2 year anniversary as a blogger (in June), I might try to do something fun in honor of the occasion. I'll make a few changes, clean house, and maybe even pull out a little something new. For now, though, I just want to thank everyone who actually takes the time to check in on me every once in a while.

Went to San Francisco today. My favorite quote of the day was uttered on the MUNI:

Girl #1: "I can't be mean."
Girl #2: "Me neither. I just need to make him suffer."

Best. Day. Ever.

Okay, maybe not quite the best day, but I did get great news today. I have a job!!!! Hooray! Now, maybe all the bill collectors will finally close their encampment at my doorstep. Goodbye credit card debt, hello new tennis shoes. Yeah, so I'm a little excited.

It's a part-time job in Sacramento. I'll be doing political work, so all's right with the world. Thanks so much to Tam for telling me about the position. =)

Plus, I discovered that I can order a large pizza on Tuesday nights for as little as 6 bucks. I know what I'm having for dinner tomorrow.

Yup, it's been a good day.

Kermit Rhymes with Hermit

I restrained myself, and didn't watch the "Muppet Wizard of Oz" on tv. I just wasn't sure about the idea of Ashanti as Dorothy.

In other news, I guess I'm in temporary hermit mode. Not entirely by choice. My classes are over. I'm out of cash and looking for a summer job, so I'm not signing up for anything else right now. Today, I stayed inside and cleaned the house. I was invited to a bbq, but I didn't go cuz it was inconveniently located.

I'm planning on seeing several friends over the summer (yay!), but right now, I'm just wishing I had a few more local pals. Well, there's always Friendster to keep me entertained. I've also added myself to Myspace, which is basically the same as Friendster, except that I have waaaay fewer friends on there. So you should join. =) I have it on good authority that those pages actually do facilitate meeting people.

Tomorrow, my mom and I are hoping to see "Into the Woods" at UCD. If we can't get tix, then we'll probably see a movie. It's probably good for me to get out of the house.

Titles Suck

I'm exhausted today cuz I couldn't sleep well last night. Just as I was dozing off, I heard yelling right below my window. Turns out some people were trying to break into cars in the parking lot. Again.

Watched the season finale of "Gilmore Girls." Thank goodness for the dvds; I don't know how I'd survive summer without them.

Also saw part of the Britney Spears UPN show. I'm left with the number one question still unanswered: How did Kevin Federline (an unknown backup dancer, commitment-phobic father of 2 out of wedlock kids) end up married to Britney Spears? And I don't have any significant other at all! How unfair is that? Well, maybe I'll find someone this fall. If anyone knows any cute, available Boston guys, let me know. Because I don't see myself being very successful as a backup dancer.

I'm Not Moving to Pine Bluff

If you are interested, I definitely recommend this fun quiz on the best places for you to live based on your priorities. Thanks go to Kate W. for reminding me of this site. I'd taken the quiz before, but I just did it again cuz it's pretty cool.

Here are my top 20 cities (out of a list of 328):

1 San Francisco, CA
2 Boston, MA
3 Washington, DC
4 Long Island, NY
5 New York, NY
6 San Jose, CA
7 San Diego, CA
8 Oakland, CA
9 Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN
10 Pittsburgh, PA

11 Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA
12 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
13 Baltimore, MD
14 Chicago, IL
15 Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA
16 Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY
17 Providence-Fall River-Warwick, RI-MA
18 Denver, CO
19 Syracuse, NY
20 New Haven-Meriden, CT

Every school that I applied to for law school was located in or very near one of the top 20 cities. A couple of other interesting numbers:

64 Sacramento, CA
208 Little Rock-North Little Rock, AR

My bottom city was Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Not surprising to me that Arkansas would make the bottom of my list. Actually, every city in the bottom 10 was either in the South or in California's Central Valley.

Kind of fun. And it pretty much just confirmed for me the places that I've always thought would be good places to live. And it's good to see Boston way up there on the list. =)

Nostalgia Alert

I went to Berkeley on Thursday to see Ryan, who came up from LA for work. I had a good time and I also managed to take some photos of Strawberry Creek. I was mistaken for a student at least once. Overheard a hilarious conversation at Blake's. Some snippets:

"I was like a volcano, you know, those science fair volcanoes you had to build?"

"Everything instantly started fizzing inside of me."

"And I didn't get ANY on the floor! I didn't even have to rinse out the sink!"

I miss Berkeley.

The weather's nice today, and I'd love to be on a road trip. Today would be a perfect day for a trip to Sausalito or Monterey or even the Vacaville outlets.

My trip to Berkeley this time felt like a goodbye. The reality of moving away for the next 3 years really hit me. Everyone is moving on with their lives. It's a good thing, but part of me wants a time machine--just to visit the old days for awhile. So before I head off to Boston, I really want to get together with friends as much as possible. Life paths diverge, and I'd like at least one more chance to spend time with you. So if we haven't gotten together recently (or even if we have), let's hang out this summer. One more time.

New Obsessions

I just got through watching the season finale of "Veronica Mars." I got into this show late in the season, but it was oh-so addictive! I couldn't tear my eyes away for a second. If you are even a little into mysteries, I definitely recommend trying to catch this one in summer re-runs. For me it now ranks right up there near "The OC," and dare I say it, "Gilmore Girls."

"Veronica Mars" is almost consolation for the fact that "Joan of Arcadia" is gone. Well, at least I can look forward to the release of the upcoming movie, "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants." It has both Alexis Bledel from "Gilmore Girls" and Amber Tamblyn from "Joan," so I figure it must be good, right?

Speaking of movies, I'm terribly excited about "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory." I mean, I loved that book. The only sad thing is that Johnny Depp is hardly recognizable in the movie. He's a little creepy, even. And it's so, so, so wrong to unbeautify his perfect face. I guess I'll just have to come home and watch "Chocolat" right afterwards. Thanks for that one, Kate.

And speaking of Kate, she just sent me some great music. I'm loving lots of what she sent, but especially Rob Thomas' new cd. Oh, and Richard Cleese's lounge music take on "What's My Age Again" (among other hits) is hilarious.

Going to Berkeley on Thursday. So many food options, so little time.

the guys

theguys
Originally uploaded by kamio.

I've been really negligent with my blog posts as of late. But they say a picture is worth a bunch of words, so I figure I'm caught up now.

Besides a pic of some of the second floor's finest ought to count extra. Anyone heard from them recently?

Kate n Jen

katejen
Originally uploaded by kamio.

My mom never believed me when I told her we weren't drinking alcohol at the party. But we REALLY weren't! Come on, would I have shown them to her if we had?

See, kids, being good never goes unpunished.

Dan and Steph

dansteph
Originally uploaded by kamio.

Remember these folks? Gosh, it's been a long, long time...

kate and justin

katejustin
Originally uploaded by kamio.

Okay, here are a few pics I found from my 19th birthday party.

The quality is terrible, but after a 3 hour trip to Olive Garden, my photography skills went down the drain.

If We #1 and #13, and You #18, Then I Don't Need to #9

I'm a big fan of lists. I'm constantly writing lists of all the junk I have to do. But I also keep a running, constantly changing, list of things that I *want* to do. I thought I'd share part of its current incarnation with you. I'd love to learn what's on your list!

1) Go to Vegas and gamble (I've only gambled in the airport there, which soooo doesn't count!)
2) Dye my hair
3) See a rugby match
4) Learn to drive
5) Learn how to box
6) Go "antiquing"
7) Watch a Niners game in person
8) Learn how to play pool respectably
9) Become responsible with money
10) Attend a Democratic presidential inauguration
11) Build something (like bookshelves)
12) Travel to every continent (possibly excluding Antarctica--I can never decide.)
13) Get marrried
14) Personally know a US president
15) Master another language
16) Visit all 50 states
17) Go sledding
18) Win the lottery
19) Learn to play an instrument
20) Go to the Oscars
21) Have something (ie. a building, a sandwich) named after me
22) See a Broadway play
23) Be debt free
24) Renew my passport, and always be ready to jet off somewhere
25) Learn to crochet well
26) Fly first class
27) See the Winter Olympics in person
28) Fly in a biplane
29) Do something adventurous that scares me
30) Become good at sewing

There's Always a Bedpan...

Well, I got my housing assignment in the mail today. I was assigned the smallest possible room in the yuckiest possible dorm. And, on top of that, I'm on a coed floor that only has a men's bathroom. So I'll have to travel to another floor just to use the restroom. And shower. And get ready. But mainly it's just inconvenient when you've really, really got to go. Oh, well. I guess I'll get used to it. On the positive side, it's also the cheapest possible dorm. Maybe I can use the extra cash to do some room remodeling. How much does a bathroom installation go for? =)

In other news, I guess yesterday's full moon explains the strange kind of day I had. I bumped into both my 7th grade teacher and a friend of mine from junior high. The latter was actually also my Homecoming date frosh year of high school. It's just weird having junior high flashbacks. My teacher told me to come by the school sometime to say hello. I realized that when I started 7th grade her current students were one year old! Crazy how time flies.

Unless you have to go to the bathroom.

I Make Simon Cowell Seem Kind

I honestly have absolutely nothing interesting to say about my own life today. So I won't say anything. Instead, here's a list of reality tv-themed insults (hey, I have a lot of free time). You know your life is going badly if someone says to you:

• If you were on my island, I'd vote myself off.


• Your face is made for tv--"Extreme Makeover," that is.


• Didn't I see you on "The Surreal Life?"


• You make Paris and Nicole look like nuns.


• You make Jessica Simpson seem smart.


• You make Anna Nicole seem classy.


• You make the Osbournes look attractive.


• A date with you is better known as "Fear Factor."


• Do you and The Donald share a hairstylist?


• Every date with you is an "Elimi-Date."


• You're as exciting as "Big Brother."

Add your own!

It's Final

I sent in my non-refundable tuition deposit to Harvard today. So I guess I'm really going. It's still hard to process. I came home, checked my email, and discovered that I've been waitlisted at Yale. Ha! Just awesome timing. Yale has some advantages: it's more focused on public interest and academia, but I'd rather be in Boston than New Haven. So it seems things worked out for the best.

Hmm, I'm sleepy now. Must be time for bed.

Our first wedding pic?

mattkami
Originally uploaded by kamio.

Time for something a little more lighthearted. Don't you think Matt Gonzalez and I make a cute couple?

Photoshop is lots of fun... =)

A New Pope

CNN just announced that Cardinal Ratzinger is the new head of the Roman Catholic Church. As a symbol of conservatism and a longtime opponent of anything he deems outside of "tradition," Ratzinger is sure to be a controversial choice, especially here in the United States.

Well, maybe he'll surprise us all.

Tidbits from the Week

I had a 2nd round job interview yesterday. They still seem interested, but at this rate, I'll start in August. I hate not telling places about law school, but I sooooo need money. And it seems that it's pretty common cuz even my references said they'd done similar things.

Things have been pretty hectic around here. My mom had all kinds of artwork she had to get done this week. I had some homework, and I'm trying to get caught up on my photography. Wednesday, I was in SF for my orthodontist appointment.

I should hear where I'll be living next year within a week or so. Kind of excited about that. My options range from a tiny, box-like room in an ugly building to a former hotel with my own bathroom and tv. But the second one costs twice as much as the first. I figure fate will stick me in the right spot. Or if not, I'll have lots of things to complain about in my blog. The good news is no matter where I am, I'll have my own room.

Today is Picnic Day in Davis. It's UCD's annual open house. It starts with a parade (which I'm currently skipping), and has all kinds of activities. Some popular ones include the dauschund (sp?) races and the chemistry magic show. My mom and I usually hit the fashion show (UCD has a great textiles department), the quiz bowl demo, and the Battle of the Bands. Battle of the Bands is my favorite--marching bands from all over CA just hang out and play songs all day. The goal is to be the band that can keeping playing the longest. Usually, they have to stop around 10 or midnight cuz of the noise ordinance. So I'm gonna go get ready. Today should be good--for once, it isn't raining on Picnic Day!

Headlines Are Hard

You know, ever since Blogger made it easy to do headlines (and search by them), I've felt compelled to come up with some kind of snazzy opener each time. But sometimes it's more difficult to come up with a title than to come up with a post. Anyhow, tonight I just didn't feel like making anything up.

Well, I sent in the interim response form for Harvard telling them I'm coming. I also applied for housing there. So I guess it's for real.

Other than that, I don't have much to report. And I need to cut this short cuz my mom wants to go online.

It Seems to be Harvard

I guess I'm going to Harvard. I'm pretty sure that's my decision. I'll probably start feeling more excited about it soon; right now, I just feel a little sad about the idea of moving so far away.

But I've considered the options, and Harvard just seems to offer the best and broadest range of opportunities. Prestige-wise, it's hard to beat. Academically, it meets most all of my desires. Financially, its loan repayment program is the best in the country.

Yet, I'm afraid that I'll be homesick a lot (if only they could move Harvard to Northern California). I wish I didn't have to be 3,000 miles away from my mom. I'm not looking forward to the very, very long winters. But it's only 3 years, and I can spend my summers in California. I hope everyone will come visit me in Cambridge!

Home Again

Greatly enjoyed my East Coast visit. I'll very, very briefly summarize some highlights of the trip here (I'm leaving out all the juicy stuff so you have to contact me..hee hee...).

Boston:

The trip there only took 17ish hours, so it was a little shorter than a trip to the moon. It was great seeing Chris before he becomes a full-fledged American refugee in Europe. On Monday, I went to the Harvard admissions office. They arranged a class visit, lunch with a prof, and a campus tour for a few admits who were there. All of it was good, except for lunch. While I'm always a fan of free food, this was just weird b/c the prof (who was married) spent the entire time ogling and talking to one female student. Everyone felt uncomfortable. We later dubbed him "the lecherous professor."

Later that day, I met with a professor who studies some areas that I want to research. She was awesome, and I really enjoyed the visit. On Tuesday, I wandered around Cambridge. I got lost at one point, making me sweaty and embarassed when I showed up 30 min. late for a meeting with a current student. Oh well. In total, I walked over 9 miles that day.

New York:

Took the Amtrak back down to NYC on Wednesday morning. The scenery was sooooo beautiful, though it felt weird that none of the trees had leaves in April. I hear they get leaves around May. The weather was perfect, and people kept pointing out how strange it was. A student at Columbia gave me a campus tour. He was really nice, really patient with my lack of preparation, and from California (so he could relate to my East Coast concerns). Met with Conchita, who was nice enough to let me stay with her. We had fun at dinner, and then we went to the Southeast Asian Law Student Association (SALSA) Game Night. Suffice it to say, I don't think law students should play board games. They kept making up new rules and everyone was a wee bit competitive. But my team won Cranium, and that's all that matters. =)

On Wednesday, we ate breakfast at Tom's Diner (like on Seinfeld). The people there are so rude, it's actually funny. I really enjoyed it. Then I was gonna catch the subway down to NYU. But the downtown trains weren't running, so I decided to walk from 112th Street to 42nd Street. Yup, 70 blocks. It was fun, and I enjoyed seeing the city. At 42nd Street, I hopped on the subway and went over to NYU (which is in Greenwich Village). I saw a guy who looked exactly like Orlando Bloom, but he spoke Spanish. Hot. So eventually, I headed back to 42nd Street to catch my bus to the airport. I decided I might as well walk it too (only around 30 blocks).

So I went to the airport, flew home, yadda, yadda, yadda (maybe I picked that up in NYC). Oh, one cool flying story: turns out that the guy sitting next to me on the plane from New York to Minneapolis yesterday is friends with someone I worked with in Arkansas! Small world.


Conclusions
I liked both Harvard and Columbia. NYU is just a little too urban for my taste--I like having some semblance of a campus. I really appreciated all the hospitality I received. I don't much like travelling by myself. Connecticut has some lovely coastlines. Both Boston and New York accents are delicious. Airport food isn't. On a plane, it's all a matter of luck whether you sit near cool people or not. Packing all your things in one bag for a 5 day trip can cause some back pain. But it's still so much better than checking luggage. And it's really, really good to be home.

"Ciao, Karol"

The title is taken from an Italian headline, responding to news that Pope John Paul II is dying (Karol was his birth name). Regardless of anyone's view of Catholicism, or specific stances the Pope has taken on issues, it's hard not to be sad right now. He has been a great advocate for peace and human rights. He spoke out against the war in Iraq. He is a good man. But those bells toll for all of us eventually, and I believe that this is his time.

I pray that his death will be peaceful, that he will find the joy of discovering something beautiful after death, and that the Catholic Church leaders will choose wisely as they appoint a new Pope.

Why Am I Posting Now?

Seriously. It's 10:30 pm, I have to wake up at 6 am tomorrow, and I still have a million things to do. So why on earth am I spending my time posting on my blog??? Well, cuz I may not have a chance to write again for over a week. I might get a chance on Saturday, but failing that, my East Coast voyage will come and go before I type another word on this page.

Today was pretty uneventful. I'm working on a new knitting project: a cell phone holder that will hopefully, one day, resemble a purple bear. But it's requiring me to 1) expand my very limited knitting skills, and 2) think creatively. Needless to say, things aren't going all that well.

Other than that, it's been packing, laundry, emails related to the trip, and not much else. Eek! I just remembered a few things I almost forgot...Better go deal with it. Catch y'all later!

Dr. (Strange?) Love

Had my first Psychology of Love and Intimacy class today. It was awesome--I already feel like I've learned a lot, and all we did was go over the syllabus. Prepare for all kinds of love-related wisdom over the next few weeks. Of course, it'll all be theory (sorry Justin, no juicy stuff for that book....). My favorite quote of the day:

"A lot of people don't take lovers; they take hostages."

So it was a pretty good day. Until I got home and realized that I had left my key inside (as my mom let me out this morning). So I had a few hours to kill waiting for her to get home. But I kept myself busy by visiting the local yarn store and by attempting to surreptitiously take photos of runners (I need an action shot for my photography class, but most people stop moving when they notice you're taking their pic). I may have to convince someone to model for me....

See, I'm Posting Again

Happy belated Easter, everyone. I got an Easter basket yesterday, which means, of course, chocolate high today.

I walked downtown today to buy train tix for my trip to Berkeley on Friday. All these little teenage hoodlums were out riding their bikes/skateboards/scooters down the street. Don't you just love Spring Break? I know I'm getting old because just the sight of the kids makes me feel all curmudgeonly.

Beginning to panic a little about the law school decision. There's only a couple weeks til I have to decide for sure. I can't even choose videos at Blockbuster without agony; how on earth am I going to make this decision? Hopefully, my upcoming trip will help... It's funny cuz people keep asking me if I have a top choice, and when I tell them I don't, they act like they don't believe me. But I'm looking forward to knowing where I'm going as much as anyone.

Okay, time to do something productive. Like sort my chocolate eggs by color. =)

webflower

webflower
Originally uploaded by kamio.

See, I really am taking photography.

A Little Ennui?

I've been wondering if I'm becoming boring because lately I can't think of much of anything to write in this blog. This is really odd cuz 1) I've been successfully keeping a blog for around 22 months, and 2) I always have something to say. Meanwhile, I've been reading blogs that are interesting and have high readership, probably because of their daily interesting posts.

But I've considered it, and I don't think I'm boring. During this period of unemployment (btw, if anyone knows of any part-time jobs in the Sacto. area, let me know--I'm still looking), I have kept quite busy. I volunteer with junior high kids-hardly a boring task. I knit, I'm studying photography. Soon, I'll be studying the psychology of love. I'm researching and doing some writing (though I don't know where it will lead) on great humanitarians. And of course, there are my plans for law school. Which reminds me, if you haven't yet, vote in my law school poll.

So what's the issue; why am I bored by my own blog? I have a few guesses:

1) I'm becoming more internal. Part of a long-term trend in my life that I don't really understand, I have become more introverted over time. I enjoy spending a lot of time alone, and I have been doing exactly that. Granted, I'd like to be around people more than I am right now, and maybe that's also part of the explanation: I don't do a lot of social stuff that makes for interesting entries. And the stuff I do spend my time on is mostly in my head.

2) My life is currently pretty undramatic. I get up. I take a photography class. I take some photos. I come home. And even when drama does strike (the photolab lost my pictures!), I've gotten better at just letting the drama go. I've worked really hard to incorporate some of the ideas of positive psychology into my life, and I think I've achieved a startling level of drama-freeness (not quite 100%, but give me time).

3) I'm a little panicky about expressing anything very personal. Between family member google searches and horrifying thoughts of future tell-all biographies, all the really fascinating and juicy details of my life seem too dangerous for the world wide web.

So what's the solution? The thing is, blog notwithstanding, I really like my "boring" life. I figure I'll have plenty of excitement next fall in law school (although, possibly, no time to write about it). And I still really don't want to divulge all my deep dark secrets to you guys--can you say blackmail? Well, I'll do my best to keep this blog exciting, after all, shouldn't it reflect my widely-regarded, sparkling, witty personality?

Looking back on the old blog's beginnings, one key to the interest level seemed to be that I posted almost every day. As a new resolution, I'm gonna try more regular posts. If I start slipping, start hounding me!

Sharks, Cell Phones, and Hoops

I watched the best/worst television movie tonight. It was called something like "Spring Break Shark Attack." And the plot was about that complicated: girl goes on Spring Break, sharks attack. It was hilariously awful.

My cell phone won't charge. I think it's cuz I took it and the charger with me when my mom and I went to visit Stanford this weekend. We walked around all day Friday, spent the night at my brother's, and came home Saturday. It rained pretty much constantly, and I think maybe the charger or the phone got wet. Grrrrrr. Blame it on Stanford (especially if I haven't returned your phone call). I guess I need a new phone.

Been keeping up with the NCAA Men's Tournament. I'm sad cuz pretty much all the schools I liked are out of it. I really wanted Boston College to surprise me and win it all. Oh well. At least I'm doing okay in terms of predictions. I'm not in any kind of pool, but I like to keep track on my own. I got 22 right in the 1st round and 8 right in the 2nd. Nowhere near my best year, but I guess it could be worse.

Is Harvard the Next Fantasia?

My life is filled with law school-related travel. I'm gonna be staying with Chris W. over in Cambridge. It'll be cool to catch up with him (and, hopefully, our friend DC). I'm also excited because I'm gonna meet with a Harvard prof who does some really awesome research. I still need to secure NYC housing for one night, though.

I'm going to Stanford for a visit this week. I'll probably spend the night at my brother's house. Then, I'm going to visit Boalt Law right before my East Coast trip. I'm spending one night at Jen's for that.

Hopefully, soon I'll have a decision made. I've set up a new poll about which school I should attend. It'll fall somewhere between American Idol and our electoral system: your vote will actually matter, but you can't vote anyone off with live results. =)

Not too much else going on. Happy early birthday to Jen, and Happy Saint Patrick's Day to all! Erin Go Bragh!

Life in the Ghetto

My apartment complex used to be a nice place to live, but now I can literally say it's gone to pot. This morning, as my mom and I descended from our place on our way to church, we noticed the distinctive, pungent aroma of marijuana coming from a downstairs apartment. The part that really got me, though, was that they were smoking out with the door open!

In other news, I've been busy applying for jobs (still nothing so far), applying for scholarships (I've been offered one at Georgetown), and trying to keep up with the rest of my life. I have a lot of work to do for photography. And for those who care (Kate), I'm knitting a Harry Potter-style scarf (in Griffindor colors, because that's my house according to the Hogwarts Sorting Hat).

Well, I should go clean my room before my regular appointment with Extreme Makeover: Home Edition...gotta find those kleenex--it's a tearjerker. =)

Oscar, Etc.

Didya watch the Oscars? I did, and I thought Chris Rock was great. I especially enjoyed his jokes about Bush. I did have a few complaints about the evening, though.

First, since when did the Oscars become the Beyonce show? She sang THREE freaking songs--and as far as I recall she wasn't in any of those movies... And about the whole dropping the last name thing, does anyone else think it's a little obnoxious to basically announce mid-way through your career that you are now such a huge star you don't need a last name anymore?

Also, I thought Sean Penn needed to work on his sense of humor. Yeah, Chris Rock made fun of Jude Law. But he also made fun of pretty much everyone else in the world, including himself.

Lastly, why oh, why, did Johnny Depp insist on covering up his lovely face with that beard? If I saw someone looking like that on a bus, I'd switch seats. But on the positive side, I heard Orlando Bloom talk with his real accent for the first time, and wow, was that hot.

Other stuff: Thanks for all the birthday wishes, everyone! I had a great b-day, and I'm adjusting to being too old for the Real World (thanks to Jen for pointing that one out).

I just pre-ordered Gilmore Girls Season 3 on dvd. It's due out in May. Woohoo!

And I have booked my trip to NY and Boston, with many thanks to Ryan for his brilliance at internet travel planning. I'll be there April 3-7th. The only downside is that I fly out from Sacto. at 11 pm on the 2nd and won't arrive in NY until 11 am on the 3rd. Then when I get back to Sacto. it'll also be around 11pm. So I may be a bit sleep deprived.

Another Boring Post (But Love Me Anyways)

Gaaaah! I hate travel planning. I'm trying to book a trip back East to see a few schools, but it's soooo expensive! And even if I manage to get some travel subsidies, it will still be expensive.... If anyone knows of a cheap way to get across the country (other than expedia, or southwest, or travelocity, cuz I've checked those) let me know. Or if you just have a plane ticket you'd like to give me, I'll take that too...

But other than that temporary frustration, things are going well. My bro, sis-in-law, and nephew may be coming for a visit tomorrow, which would be awesome. I really need to get some pictures taken for my photography class, and my nephew makes a great subject. If he'll only stay still. =)

A little stressed cuz I'm still waiting to receive two letters of recommendation that I need for a scholarship application. I have to mail the application with the letters by March 1st. I'm really hoping to see those letters soon, cuz it would suck to miss out on $15,000 just cuz of the letters of rec.

A Long Catch-up Post

So I know it's been approximately forever since my last post. My only defense is that I've been kind of stressed out b/c I've been trying to deal with a whole boatload of financial aid and scholarship applications. First, there were taxes. Then the FAFSA. Then the Need Access Application ($15 bucks each and required by several schools), and of course, individual schools' financial aid applications. Blah.

Um. I'm not sick anymore, which is good. I hurt my foot during or after the race (still don't know how), and so I limped around all last week. My foot is mostly better now, unless I walk or stand too long.

Went to San Francisco yesterday, and someone was smoking pot on the train! I didn't see them, but I definitely smelled them.

I like my classes, but some of the people in them seem to take photography a little too seriously. My evidence: 2 guys in my class today nearly got into a physical fight because one was mad that the other tracked mud into the photo studio. Geez.

Despite the fact that I'm turning a QUARTER of a CENTURY-old in 9 days, the rate of people thinking I'm twelve or so seems to be growing. Last week, a guy from CALPIRG on the UC Davis campus assumed I was in high school when I told him that I didn't go to school at UCD. Once he was assured I was an adult, he proceeded to hit on me. Yuck. An older fellow today who stopped me on the street to discuss my camera asked if I was enrolled in a high school photo class. My favorite, though: yesterday, the new receptionist at my orthodontist's office asked if I needed a note for missing class.

Maybe it'll slow down once the braces come off (sometime this summer). But I doubt it.

Sports n Stuff

Ran in a 5k race today. It was kinda crazy cuz I've been preparing for it for 6 weeks, but I hadn't run for over a week since I got sick. Even so, I finished the race, and I did it faster than my last race time. I didn't do as well as I've done in practice runs, but I'm still happy with my performance, considering everything. The other cool thing was that my mom speed walked the race; it was fun to share the experience with her, and she did really well!

As far as being sick, I don't yet feel all better, but at least I don't feel as bad as I did last week.

Congrats to any Patriots fans out there. I was glad to see my boyfriend, the completely hot Tom Brady do well. =) I don't know how I'll survive until football season starts again in August.

And Not So Good

I'm sick. Again. What's really hilarious about this, though, is that the problem is only on my right side: my throat, ear, and neck. Well, except for the fever, which is, I guess, all over. But the weird thing is, the last time I was sick (back in November or December--if you really care, I think I posted about it on here...), my throat only hurt on the left side!

So it's like I'm getting the second half of the flu 2 months later.

And the groundhog predicted 6 more weeks of winter. But what does he know?

Good Stuff...Again

Let's see...it's quite a list:

The sun has been shining after (literally) weeks of straight fog, clouds, and rain.

My mom somehow found and bought peppermint stick ice cream, which I've been craving for 2 long months.

I'm very excited about my photography/photoshop classes.

I got accepted at Columbia, and Georgetown sent me a letter saying I'm "under consideration" for a scholarship.

One out of the two legwarmers I'm knitting is done, and I think it's super cute.

Noah helped me figure out how to work my new gizmo that's gonna let me record tapes and lps as cds.

And there's more stuff, but right now, I'm going to bed cuz I have to get up at the not so great hour of 6 am. G'night, all!

Green with Envy?

Yesterday was interesting. Ralph Nader was speaking in downtown Davis, and so I went to hear him speak. Actually, I wasn't so much interested in hearing Nader as in seeing Matt Gonzalez, who was supposed to introduce him. You may recall that I had (okay, have) a huge crush on Matt, who is only the best former San Francisco supervisor ever.

Well, Matt didn't show. But Nader did. So there I was at a nice big excuse for bashing the Democratic Party. And, oh, they did. Meanwhile, I brought my knitting along. And I guess this made me photogenic because all the tv cameras seemed drawn to me. So now I'm on record hanging out at a Nader love-fest.

Okay, it wasn't really that bad. I agree with a lot of his views on issues; I just haven't yet been convinced that the Greens have any *workable* plans to change things. I do respect Ralph Nader's work, but I felt like there were a lot of pointless gibes thrown at Democrats. And I'm not real convinced that Ralph Nader is the "Stephen Douglass of our era," as was claimed. But the all-female taiko drum group was awesome.

Oh, and even if you think that I'm full of crap about all this politics stuff, please go check out my aforementioned (see last post)Hillary Clinton blog, and leave comments! And tell your friends! Thanks, guys. =)

Hillary Clinton 2008 Blog

If you're reading this, you probably know about my interest in politics. One of the ways I survived the last election was by imagining Hillary Clinton in the White House in 2008. Now, I'm sure some of you have other ideas about who would be the ideal president, but please just put those views aside momentarily, and help me out.

On the eve of President Bush's second (sigh) inauguration, I've started a new blog dedicated to getting Hillary Clinton elected, called President Hillary. It doesn't yet have a ton of content, but I'm working on it. Anyhow, please go check it out. Tell your friends. Link to it. Give me suggestions. Do any or all of the above.

At the very least, the election will be a lot more exciting if she throws her hat in the ring. Ooh, can you imagine a Clinton/Obama presidential ticket? =)

Nothing Good Comes From the Bushes

I know I'm setting a bad precedent by writing again so soon after my last post--setting far too high a standard, I'm sure. But I've been busy scanning the blogiverse and getting inspired. Speaking of other blogs, you should really check out the new links I've added in the BRAND NEW, creatively titled, "other links" section. They are all sites I really like reading. And if you have suggestions for blogs to check out, please let me know--I'm trying to expand my online horizons.

Just a quick story, and then I'm "off to Bedfordshire," as Bridget Jones would say. I'm not too thrilled with the apartment complex I'm living in. We've lived here a long time, but things have gone downhill ever since a new company purchased the property. They painted the buildings a color that falls somewhere between puke green and urine yellow. They do nothing while random people come dump their garbage in the dumpsters. They fired all their competent employees.

And the other night, I'm not making this up, there was a man barking in the bushes!

Hours and hours of barking! Finally, someone called the police, and they came and fetched (sorry, bad pun) him. I would've called, but there's literally something almost once a week that I want to call in about. So I guess I'm just waiting for something really serious... like meowing...

New Year, New Me?

"It's been a long December and there's reason to believe maybe this year will be better than the last."

New Year's is kind of like birthdays when we were little. I remember running to my mom on my birthday, asking, "Do I look older?" It's like we expect things to be inherently different just cuz we have to go buy new calendars. That's why I've never been particularly into New Year's celebrations, and I rarely make New Year's resolutions. It's just an arbitrary date.

Nevertheless, I can't shake the feeling that this might just be the best year ever. I don't have any especially good evidence. I just kind of believe it.

Things are quiet right now. I'm on break, but I'm looking forward to my new classes. I'll be taking 2 photography classes and a psychology course on "Love and Intimacy," so get ready to bring me all your relationship problems. I might even give you a discounted hourly rate. =)

I saw "Finding Neverland" the other day. Gosh, Johnny Depp is hot. It's funny; I've only recently realized how amazing-looking he is, though he's been famous for a long time. Guess it just goes to show that life is all about opening your eyes to what's right in front of you. I've been doing a lot of that lately on the personal front.