gobble, gobble = pie * stuffing/ mashed 'taters(brussel sprouts + gravy)

thanksgiving eve: trying to figure out that title is like trying to figure out LE theories (law and economics) - on the one hand, i can group all positive and normative theories with their kinds. on the other hand, i can't figure out what the end points on a spectrum should be...this should be kind of fun to unravel...i'll keep you posted

nathan scott phillips

it's been said that every law student will have one of five experiences in the first year:

1. You will gain 20 lbs.
2. You will lose 20 lbs.
3. You will become a raging alcholic
4. You will develop a drug habit
5. You will enter into an ill advised romantic relationship with another 1L

as it is, i don't have enough money for the fourth option and i don't have enough time for the fifth option so that just leaves options 1 & 2 while i teeter precariously on the edge of option three (just a joke folks, i'm way over the edge on option 3). So what obligatory 1L experience am i currently facing right now? that's right option 1 ... boo. while not a full 20 lbs, i have put on 6 or 7 pounds in the last couple of months and i'm starting to look like nathan scott phillips (not the actor).

the reason for this is three-fold. first, finding free pizza at law school is like finding a virgin at a star trek convention - that shit's everywhere! go to a lecture = pizza. club meeting? pizza. just sitting around in the student lounge? hey, have some pizza! Also, there's the fast food, because, of course we have little time to cook, or are simply too tired to cook when we get home. hehe...on a side note; i walked up to the mcdonalds counter last night/this morning and ordered by saying "i can has cheeseburger?" nom nom nom...

second, sitting in a chair for extended periods of time with the only exercise being done by the wrist as you furiously hight-light and turn pages with the right hand, while looking up cases on westlaw with the left hand.

third, the booze. it's true, booze is very fattening - and we consume a lot of it. it's like undergrad, only we drink better stuff (i see undergrads carrying cases of busch light and natty light and i'm like "bleghh, gross").

ok, so here's my threefold plan to fight this son of a bitch: 1. stop eating the crap and get back to eating lean, fresh natural foods. i've already started this by stocking up on goodies from trader joes. 2. get 3 hours of exercise a week + 3 hours/ week on my bike. right now i'm lucky if i get an hour per week on my bike. from now on i'm going for a long bike ride every weekend and hitting the gym 3 days a week. 3. only go out once a week. this too has also been under way for the past two weeks and i gotta say my mind is clearer, i have more energy and i'm much more relaxed...

so there you have it.

one last thing: on the way home this morning i stopped to watch 2 rats fighting in a flower bed...it was the coolest thing i've seen in a while. gotta love D.C.

the end is near

good week so far. products liability in torts, insanity defenses in crim, joinder of parties in civ pro, contracts? contracts is always rockin'. the best part of the week? no fucking LRW.

this weekend is going to be even better. outlines = goodtimes...

time to get crankin' on the ol' resume. it needs a little polish before i can start sending it out to law firms for a 2011 summer associateship.

on an unrelated note: turns out the dude was wrong. the eagles DO NOT suck...new kid in town? wasted time? and, of course, the obligatory hotel california...follow my logic here. if the eagles don't suck, that means, by extension, don henley does not suck. here's one of my fave dh songs (pay no attention to dh's douchy hair-do and douchy bono glasses.

ahhhhh (yea, this is gonna be lame)

after a few weeks of running non-stop, i took today off for some rest (on the advice of a friend). while to some my loafing may seem counterproductive, i see it as an opportunity to recharge my batteries for the sure to be grueling weeks ahead. so in my totally non-productive day here's what went down:

- slept on the couch until 11am. remained there for 2 hours watching tv and surfing the internets.

- went to District Hardware to get some brackets to mount my white board to the wall.

- a trip to Trader Joe's for chicken, some curry sauce, various deli meats, and assorted breads.

- a trip to the Watergate liquor store, where a pleasant surprise awaited me. Sierra Nevada has just released a hefeweizen that is, for a domestically produced beer, actually very, very good. it's rich yeast gives it a very smooth texture; not only that, but the yeast gives the beer a delicious after taste with a hint of cloves ... me thinks me wants one right now... mmm. I paid $10 for the six pack which, of course, nets out to $1.66 per bottle ... way less than the German stuff that's priced at around 3 and 1/2 bucks each... gotta love value shopping.

- came home and fell asleep on the couch for 3 hours...woke up and did a little reading.

ahhhhh. what a great day. currently listening to a speech the W gave at SMU on thursday. soon, time for bed, a bike ride in the morning (see the pic of my sweet, sweet aurora) and then a full day of outlining and working on websites.

i'm ready

i had dinner and German beers with my boss and mentor from back home tonight.

i got some really good advice.

i know what i need to do.

shart gargler

i can't sleep. i'm exhausted every night, but i can't sleep. i probably can't sleep because i know that i could be doing some work, but after a full day of work my brain is mush. i can't form a coherent thought, so when i try to do work at this hour i get frustrated and pissed, so i have to take a break. then i try to watch tv or a movie, but all i can think about every scene is "that's a tort, that's a violation of due process, that's a valid defense"... i'm having a really hard time "turning it off."

i was warned...(or as they say in the law i was "put on notice.").

in the words of the famous poet, parker "i'm gonna get a tattoo on my neck that says 'fuck you mom and dad'"

sometimes i want to stop and think, but most times i have to run away

wow. memo 2 is coming to a close and as i reflect back on the weeks of research and the past 72 hours (most of which were spent in this chair) i can't help but think of how much i learned about myself from this assignment. it's even sweeter to think that every other 1L was in the same hell i was in. tomorrow's going to be a great day. i'll have my second draft of this memo completed in the next 2 and 1/2 hours or so, then i'll get some sleep, wake up and work on my edits, turn in the third and final draft and go blow off some steam...pass or fail this was an experience to remember.

as i finish up i'm listening to some good stuff. i love how that certain song can bring back the most powerful memories...