Unleashed Potential

2009-03-24T22:42:00.002-05:00

"I hear in my mind all these words. I hear in my mind all this music.
And it breaks my heart."
~R. Spektor

Summer, 1985. I'm six years old. My parents have scrimped and saved for over a year, so that we can take our first vacation as a family. The drive seems to take forever. I try to remain patient for our final destination. Eventually tiring from anticipation, I fall asleep.

It's been claimed that smell is the strongest sense tied to memory. There are clearly survival benefits to having senses tied to long-term memory. Science has also shown that senses are linked to emotional memories as well.

I wake up...nighttime. I gaze out the window, hypnotized by crashing waves. The humid air is oddly refreshing, in fact I find it intoxicating. I lean my head back to play peek-a-boo with a full moon high above the palm trees. Calm, I listen to the music playing on the radio as we make our way down the coast:

Level 42, "Something About You"
Simple Minds, "Alive and Kicking"
ABC, "Be Near Me"
Don Henley, "Boys of Summer"
Tears For Fears, "Head Over Heels"
Bruce Springsteen, "I'm On Fire"
Ann Wilson/Mike Reno, "Almost Paradise"
Cyndi Lauper, "Time After Time"
Dan Hartman, "I Can Dream About You"
Tina Turner, "What's Love Got To Do With It"

I don't remember much else about my first trip to the ocean. However, when I hear any of these songs, this particular memory washes over me. For a moment, I'm a little girl again, realizing that there is an entire world full of boundless possibilities...beckoning me to explore.

Third Time's the Charm

2009-02-16T21:56:00.003-06:00

"I have been a song man for a long, long time.
Coming up with some melodies...trying to find some words to rhyme."
~H. Chapin

I was serenaded three times last week. I am such a lucky, lucky girl.

Serenade #1: Monday

On the phone with Bill, an attorney that I referred a case to recently.

Me: Hi Bill. Christian called with a question, so could you give him a call?

Bill: Mmmhmmm, sure! Sister Christian, oh the time has cooooome. And you know that you're the only one to sayyyyyy, O.K.

Me: Hmmm, what?

Bill: I was serenading you!

Me: Oh. Um. Thanks. I haven't been serenaded in awhile.

Bill: It will help you with your Manic Mondayyy!

Me: (Nervous laughter)....uh yes? I do have a bit of the case of the Mondays.

Bill: Normally I just walk around with my boombox over my head like John Cusack.

Me: (more nervous laughter)

Bill: Hey! I was in the office last week did you see me?

Me: Uhhh. No....

Bill: You didn't see the hot guy walking around your office last Thursday?

Me: Sorry, I didn't.

Bill: Too bad...how is life treating you?

Me: Um, fine. So you're going to take care of Christian, right?

Bill: 10-4!

Serenade #2: Tuesday

Again, on the phone with Bill.

Me: Hi Bill.

Bill: More, more, morrrrre! How do you like it? How do you like it?

Me: I'm sorry?

Bill: I'm listening to a random CD I bought. It's awesome. Just like Alice Cooper said on SNL...(have no idea what he said here as my head was in my hands)
Me: Hey, do you listen to Pandora?

Bill: What?

Me: Do you have speakers attached to your computer? Go to pandora.com. It's self-explanatory. (Am hoping that this will get his singing out of his system...)

Bill: You kids and your fancy internet.

Serenade #3: Saturday

I went to see a friend perform comedy at a local theater. One of the performers asked me to come up on stage so that he could sing to me, as I looked like the girl he wrote the song about.

The subject of the song? Premature ejaculation.

*swoon*

Someone Get This Girl A Drink

2009-02-12T21:54:00.001-06:00

"That's all they really want....some fun.
When the working day is done - girls, they want to have fun."
~C. Lauper

Walking around with Mercedes today, debating where we should eat lunch:

Me: "So, do you have a taste for anything?"
Mercedes: "Not really. Oooh, there's this one Italian restaurant...do you know which one I'm talking about?"
Me: "No, where is it?"
Mercedes: "Well, it's hard to find. It's, like, in a building."

Thank God it's almost the weekend.

Serenity

2009-01-11T21:32:00.011-06:00

All my life's a circle, sunrise and sundown.
The moon rolls through the night time, till the daybreak comes around.
All my life's a circle, but I can't tell you why.
The season's spinning round again, the years keep rolling by.
~H. Chapin

Last year at this time, I was just getting back from my epic Barcelona trip with Kula. The following week, I found myself in Puerto Rico with Tiny Dancer, "studying" for our Civil Law study abroad program (aka enjoying cold beers while sunning on a pristine beach and sneaking into resorts at midnight to swim in the jacuzzis and stargaze). Ohhh, how I loved January 2008.

This January has not been as kind to me. What's keeping me from hiding under my covers and completely disappearing? Kula imbibed me with a night of champagne and Jager, which she probably regrets doing now, haha. Warrior Mama, who is busy studying for the bar exam, surprised me with a lovely card this week and truly made my day. Artful challenged me to a friendly drinkathon. The Pickled Brits, Maproom and Wanderlust came out for drinks and a silly, impromptu bar-coaster game. I had an amazing brunch with my favorite Wildcats on Saturday morning. I'm wearing some crazy socks that Eddie gave me and everytime I look down at my feet, they make me giggle. The Mermaid took me out for Algerian crepes tonight for a quiet girl's night out.

Thank you, my dear, dear friends for simply being your wonderful selves. I would have lost sanity a long time ago if not for your amazing love and support. While 2009 is showing to be a bit of a challenge so far, I am eternally grateful to have such beautiful company with me. I hope your 2009 is filled with the love, joy and laughter that you have given to me.

Coping

2009-01-08T09:44:00.002-06:00

Just got the phone call from Army that he is flying out to Iraq within the next few hours. The news is a bit harder to swallow than anticipated.

Stay safe, baby brother. If anyone messes with you, I'm going to personally go over and kick their ass. Just like I did with the neighborhood bullies when we were kids. Love you lots.

Time for a Change

2008-12-10T22:57:00.004-06:00

How can we we dance when our earth is turning?
How can we sleep when our beds are burning?
~Midnight Oil

So Thanksgiving was not an easy trip home. The last post was a bit depressing, wasn't it? Well, I promise that tomorrow I will humor you with my latest dating fiasco. I really wanted to post about it tonight, but it is late and this is just too good of a story to throw together.

Also, I need to update this lonely blog with links and whatnot. I was playing incognito for awhile, but I think the coast is clear now. Why is my text size/style all funky? Hmmm. Must look into this.

For now, it's off to bed. I've run into a bit of insomnia as of late and sleep is in order. Eddie has been so kind to keep me company into the wee hours of the morning, but I fear if I keep him up another night it will wear our friendship thin. And then he just might hit me in the head with that cricket bat.

Thanksgiving Aftermath

2008-12-03T17:21:00.003-06:00

Easy Hearts ~Whiskeytown

Put the houses in a row on the streets we used to know.
And all the things out in the yard that can hang there to and fro.

And if the money isn't right, can I be yours tonight?
I've an easy heart.

From the windows of your house, reflects back on yourself.
Then it gets you wondering if it means anything.

You move away when you're young. They take away where you're from.
And all the things out in the trees fall away into the breeze.

And if the money isn't right, can I be yours tonight?
I've had a pretty hard life.
I've had a pretty hard life, for such an easy heart.

Hey, Hey Baby!

2008-09-17T00:28:00.004-05:00

I just want to take a moment to say congrats to Spain and China on their new baby, Marc.

He is one of the cutest babies I've ever seen. Don't believe me? I dare you to see this video and claim otherwise.

Congrats, my dear, dear friends. I am so happy for you. Please don't arrest me when I kidnap him. Please?

One Word Meme

2008-08-14T14:04:00.002-05:00

Kat tagged me on this...and I have no excuse not to do it. So here goes!

1. Where is your cell phone? Table
2. Your significant other? Mystery
3. Your hair? Chocolate
4. Your mother? Struggling
5. Your father? Dentist
6. Your favorite thing? Harmony
7. Your dream last night? Sexy ;)
8. Your favorite drink? Chai
9. Your dream/goal? Happiness
10. The room you’re in? Café
11. Your hobby? Music
12. Your fear? Alone
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Warm
14. What you’re not? Settled
15. Muffins? Blueberry
16. One of your wish list items? Job
17. Where you grew up? Illinois
18. The last thing you did? Jogged
19. What are you wearing? Jeans
20. Favorite gadget? iPod
21. Your pets? Cat
22. Your computer? Surviving
23. Your mood? Anxious
24. Missing someone? Yes!
25. Your car? Someday
26. Something you’re not wearing? Watch
27. Favorite store? Amazon
28. Like someone? Many
29. Your favorite color? Blue
30. When is the last time you laughed? Today
31. Last time you cried? July (bar exam nerves!)

Hmmm. I'm going to tag MacandChen and Frilly Polka on this one. Do it, do it!

I'm Baaaaack....

2008-08-14T13:28:00.004-05:00

Over the last five years I have finished graduate school to receive my Master's degree, completed my thesis defense, and graduated from law school. Most of that time I was also balancing a job on top of it all. These past few months have been spent studying for and taking the bar exam. Followed by a move the next day to a new home. It has been quite the marathon and I am exhausted. So, yes, I am alive. And breathing a little easier now, thanks to the fact that all of this self-induced craziness is winding down. I promise to catch you up on all that has been going on, but first a little story about the typical dating hilariousness that always seems to follow me around.

There is this guy, let’s call him James Blunt (you’ll see why), that I’ve been hanging out with for a few months. He has been hot and cold, giving me mixed signals, and driving me a little batty. We talked last week about grabbing dinner sometime this week. I texted JB on Monday and asked when would be good for him and I didn’t hear anything back, so I texted him again yesterday to ask if he was still alive. The response I got? “Sorry, hanging with the ex this week. Looks like we are getting serious again.” Whoah, hello left field. Wasn't quite expecting that one. (See? I told you James Blunt was a good nickname.) Anyway, I’m not all that surprised. While I was a little taken aback at the way he handled the situation (via text? really??), it does explain his behavior.

But the best part of this whole story is the response from my brother, Army. I have been complaining to him about my dating situation, and Army has actually been quite useful in helping me figure out the male mind. I texted him JB’s ever-so-subtle message last night, and Army responded: “Obviously, you should stab him.” HAHAHAHA. Thanks, bro. You are the best.

Hungry for a Piece...of Something

2008-04-12T00:05:00.002-05:00

I grab a cab to meet Kodiak for pizza at Piece. Cab drivers are interesting characters, and this guy is no exception.

Me: North, Damen and Milwaukee, please. Actually, I’m going to Piece, if you know where that is.
Driver: PIECE?!?! They have amazing pizza there!
Me: Ooh, I know! I take it you’re a fan?
Driver: Um, no. I’ve actually never eaten there. But my customers all rave about it.

We drive for about 5 minutes. He glances in his rearview mirror...

Driver: I’m kinda hungry. Maybe I can come in and join you?
Me: Erm, hahaha. Maybe another night, OK?

It’s not unusual for cabbies to flirt with me. Many times I’ll get asked if I have a boyfriend, and usually I just laugh it off and they get the hint. Not this guy. As we pull up to the restaurant…

Driver: So, when are we going to go? Don’t wait too long…I really want to go. What night works for you?

Well, he certainly was determined. But not as determined as I was to get the heck out of that cab…

Open up and say AHHHH

2008-04-09T12:07:00.005-05:00

Three weeks ago, I had a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. As a child, I had strep about a bazillion times, and my tonsils have consistently been waging war on me since then. Not a month went by where I didn’t have a sore throat and I got fed up with it. So I decided to go visit my ENT (ear, nose and throat) doc.

Now, my ENT is cute. Really, really cute. Like Grey’s-Anatomy drool-worthy cute. So when he’s shoving a camera down my nose to see what my adenoids look like, it’s a little difficult to flirt with McFoxy. Adenoids are lymphatic tissue in the upper throat behind your nose and are present in most people as children. Typically, they gradually disappear as adulthood approaches. But I am not your typical gal. Oh no. My adenoids took up 50% of my breathing space. FIFTY PERCENT. I was hardly getting any oxygen while I slept. No wonder I was such a big fan of napping. So out the adenoids go, too.

I scheduled my surgery with McFoxy and my parents drive in to the Big City to take care of me while I’m recovering. My mom doesn’t like hospitals. Trying to lighten the mood, I say, “Hey mom, at least they’re taking tonsils out of me and not a baby!” She didn’t find that joke as amusing as I did. What she did find funny was me coming off of the general anesthesia. Those of you who have been lucky enough to be around me after a few cocktails know how chatty I can get. Imagine that times 100. Yeah, Mom learned all kinds of interesting things about me that afternoon. A part of me wonders if “taking me home from the hospital” was code for Operation: Let’s See What My Daughter Has REALLY Been Up to These Days.

I went to see McFoxy last week for my post-op checkup. He says I’m recovering just fine and that I’ll be back to “normal” in no time. As he’s reading my file, he starts laughing and mutters “Oh, yeah”. Hmmm, curious behavior. He turns to me and asks, “Do you drink much?” I swoon a little, imagining him asking me out for a drink.

“I’m in law school, if that answers your question,” I say. Well, apparently those who are heavy drinkers do not respond to general anesthesia very well. They had to give me extra anesthesia to get me to go under. Come to think of it, I do remember asking the scrub nurses questions about the surgical tools and their look of surprise when I was chatting them up.

McFoxy’s parting words: “Good luck with the bar exam, and try to lighten up on the booze, Missy.”

My mom’s response when I tell her the doc’s advice? “Eh. All doctors say that.”

Sealed With a Kiss or Kick?

2008-03-05T17:38:00.006-06:00

So a recent chain of events has left me a little unnerved. But first, a little background.

Griffin*: Griffin and I have a bit of a convoluted history. We met five years ago and our idea of a good time was tooling around the city on a motorcycle. Part of our flirtation consisted of sending each other politically incorrect gifts. He once gave me a video of men hunting for naked women (WTF?) and I responded in kind with a Plumpy Patty blow-up doll. I told him he could use her as a flotation device for his Jacuzzi. People thought we were warped; we thought we were funny. Anyway, things got complicated, but we’ve pulled through and are now pretty good friends.

So you can imagine my hesitancy when Griffin called me a couple of weeks ago asking me for my mailing address, as he had a gift he wanted to send me. I braced myself for the obscene. Nevertheless, he sent me a nice gift. Homemade, even. So yay for surprise gifts in the mail.

Butcher: Butcher and I dated when I was in grad school. OK, so he wasn’t a full-time butcher. He worked for an insurance company, but he did work for a butcher during the weekend sometimes as a hobby. He also used to speak in half-sentences, saying that he was “conserving his words”. His condo was swank, adorned with Rat Pack paraphernalia and a pool table. Quirky is an understatement. Anyway, Butcher moved to Iowa and we speak maybe once a year with the obligatory “Hey, how’s life treating you” e-mail.

Last week, I got an e-mail from Butcher asking me what my address is, that he has a gift for me. Hmmm. Haven’t heard from the guy in a year and he has a gift? I have no freaking clue what it is. And since he’s a “conservationist”, he’s not telling me what it is. So I’m just waiting for the mystery package to arrive.

Twice in a month, now, and I have random gifts coming in the mail. Don’t get me wrong, gifts are great and all…but what gives? Why the sudden niceties? Talk about making a girl paranoid!

*From here on out, the author will use pseudonyms to keep confidentiality. This methodology also gives her an excuse to create nicknames for her friends. Mwah ha ha….

Daylight Savings

2008-03-03T20:27:00.004-06:00

“I'm gonna soak up the sun, before it goes out on me.” ~S. Crow

I'm always surprised when I hear that it's time to change the clocks back/forward for Daylight Savings. Just when I think I've adjusted to life, some legislative quirk jumps in and throws everything off path.

So, this Sunday, we lose an hour. Which is actually OK with me. This last semester has been pretty busy, yet tolerable. I actually have free time on my hands, which doesn’t bode well for my liver, but, eh. There are too many fabulous beers yet for me to try, and I have to take advantage now, because…

…six months from now, I will be done with law school and the bar. Fin. No mas. This summer is not going to be fun on any level, so it’s time to soak up the (metaphorical) sun now, since there will be no soaking this summer.

It's going to be a great spring.

Sometimes I Suck At Life

2007-10-23T17:08:00.001-05:00

So my dear friend Kat says I get a D- on my blog posting efforts. And that is a generous mark at best.

What can I say? I have been busy with important and not-so-important events in life. And for some reason, I just haven't felt compelled to write about them.

I'll try to get back in the habit of writing again. I was always terrible at keeping diaries as a kid, and, well...it's obviously not any better today. But really, I'm sure that you people can find more reliable sources for your internet fixes.

Um....so....uh....er.....

2007-08-20T14:37:00.000-05:00

Yeah, I know...it's been forever.

Just goes to show that getting up at 5:30 AM every day doesn't bode well with me.

Now that school is starting up again, you can be sure that I'll be procrastinating again with some more posts.

Hope everyone's summer went well.

Guilty As Charged

2007-04-14T12:18:00.000-05:00

Guilt is an interesting phenomenon. A detective came to speak to my Criminal Procedure class the other day and theorized that everyone has a conscience and wants to come clean. You just need to give them the time to admit their wrongdoing.

Unless you are completely insane and have no concept of wrongdoing, I think that this is true for the most part. However, I think that the amount of time for self-admonishment varies from person to person.

For instance, I am pretty much always feeling guilty about something. It’s a constant state of mind for me. I feel guilty for:

· eating those Girl Scout Cookies instead of the healthy fruit salad

· sleeping in instead of running those two miles

· reading Vogue instead of plodding through my Patent Law treatise

· not spending enough time with friends, but when I’m with them, I feel guilty for not being more studious

· the fact that my roommate has to do the majority of cleaning around the apartment because I am spending 12+ hours a day at school/work

· because I am out of touch with my family and rarely visit

Therefore, my life is a constant balancing act, in trying to accommodate all these areas of my life. These thoughts are persistently going through my mind at all hours of the day, and I am usually trying to solve the dilemma before it even begins. I cannot even imagine what my conscious would do if I did something major like rob or murder someone. I think that I would have to confess right away. If I am anxious over five Thin Mint cookies, I know that I could not even live with myself if I did something terrible like that.

So how is it that someone can go for years and not confess to a crime they committed? I just do not understand. I hypothesize that we have different time lines of guilt-induced anxiety. Mine is pretty much immediate, given my continuous state of anxiety. However, other people do not face their actions/responsibilities until much, much later. Why is that? Is it pure selfishness because it ultimately affected some other part of their life? Is it a severe case of delusional grandeur? Maybe they just do not care…which is both sad and very scary.

Well, at least now I don’t have to feel guilty about not posting a blog entry. Hmmm…I should really be getting back to disclosure requirements of patent law…**sigh**

CTA Chivalry

2007-03-28T16:42:00.001-05:00

It's 9 in the morning. I'm on my way to school and lugging my backpack around during rush hour on the CTA.

I board the train, and there are two available seats. But both seats are occupied with crap from the people sitting next to them.

I look at both of the guys who have spewed their bags, papers, and briefcases on the seats, hoping that they'll clear a seat for me. No such luck.

I ask Seat Hog #1, "Excuse me, but can I sit there?" His reply: "Ha ha...I saw you looking between the two seats looking for a spot to sit." He haphazardly sweeps his papers off the seat.

Seat Hog #2, who still has his briefcase and bag on the seat next to him, says "Yeah! Kick butt and name names! We've only paid for one seat, right? Girl's gotta speak up for herself!!" Notice that he still hasn't cleared the seat, even though ten other people are standing with no place to sit.

Should auld acquaintance be forgot...

2007-01-03T12:36:00.000-06:00

Last year was probably the most stressful year of my life (starting from day 1). So to 2006, I say good riddance.

Christmas with my family was great; the highlight was getting to spend some quality time with my brother, who I probably won't get to see again for about two years...unless someone wants to buy me a ticket to South Korea.

New Year's was equally good. It was nice to blow off some steam that has been accumulating over the last month or so. I had a slight headache the next morning, but nevertheless started off the New Year in good shape.

So far, this year has been filled with amazing moments with some of my favorite people. If this is any precursor to what 2007 is going to be like, it looks like it's going to be a good year.

Happy New Year, everyone.

Surfacing for Air

2006-12-14T16:00:00.000-06:00

3 finals down and 2 to go.

In just a week I will officially be half-way done with law school.

::trudges back to Chemerinsky & Sullivan::

Time May Change Me

2006-11-08T13:41:00.000-06:00

I've had the song "Seasons of Love" from Rent stuck in my head all day today. It was about last year at this time (the day after Thanksgiving, actually) that I saw the movie. I can't believe a year has passed by already. They say time flies when you're having fun. T minus one month until finals…this is why I've been behind in posting entries. All of my typing energy has been towards outlining classes. Oh how fun, indeed. Wait, where did all the leaves on the trees go?

Seasons change, feelings change, people change. ~Expose

It's astounding to me just how much life can change in a year. Last year my life was going down a completely different path than it is right now. These same people and situations are still in my life, but have been altered…some for worse and some for better. Moreover, new people and situations have entered my life, creating even more change.

To everything, there is a season. ~Ecclesiastes

Although life may be unpredictable, this is not necessarily a bad thing. Change creates possibility and hope. While it might be slightly unsettling to this traditionalist, it challenges me to constantly reevaluate my choices and myself.

You must be the change you want to see in the world. ~M. Gandhi

Courtesy of McSweeney

2006-10-30T14:46:00.000-06:00

My Father The Lawyer

Christopher S. Van Orden

Christopher S. Van Orden
37 Pine Brook Terrace
West Millsborough, NJ 07471
cc: Mary A. Van Orden, mother

To the Above-Named Child:

You are hereby summoned to appear in the kitchen at 8:00 p.m. EST and defend the following misdemeanor charges: one count of breach of contract, one count of reckless driving, and one count of sass-mouth. Find listed below the details of the aforementioned charges:

Count 1—Breach of Contract

On the night of August 28, 2001, the defendant reneged upon the agreed-upon time of bodily return to his home address (11:00 p.m. EST). The defendant is quoted as having said, at 7:55 p.m. EST, "Yes, Dad, I'll be home at 11. Christ, get off my ass." This constitutes a binding verbal contract, fully prosecutable under New Jersey state law. Thus, the recorded time of bodily return, 11:58 p.m. EST, constitutes the defendant's defaulting on said contract.

(NB: The defendant's father is in no way on his son's ass, literally or otherwise. From the time of the receipt of this notice onward, to assert otherwise will constitute slander. Any and all comments made heretofore shall be pardoned.)

Count 2—Reckless Driving

The defendant is charged with unlawfully operating a motor vehicle on the afternoon of August 19, 2001. On the date in question, the defendant made use of his father's 1999 emerald-green Hyundai Sonata at 3:45 p.m. EST without the express consent of said legal guardian. According to the expert testimony of the defendant's neighbor, one Theodore "Teddy" Brolokowski of 39 Pine Brook Terrace, the defendant "drove like a bat out of hell. Shit, man, he ran the old clunker up onto the curb and scraped her belly like bejesus." The court will not admit the witness's testimony regarding the status of the aforementioned motor vehicle as a "clunker." However, material evidence, including one (1) large scratch to the front fender of said Hyundai Sonata (Exhibit C), corroborates his story.

Count 3—Sass-Mouth

The defendant is also charged with one count of egregious sass-mouth in the second degree. On the day in question, September 3, 2001, the defendant's mother is quoted as saying, "You'll mow that lawn, young man, and you'll like it," at 4:18 p.m. EST. In response, the defendant is quoted as saying, "Maybe if you could put down the martini long enough to pull the damn cord, you could do it yourself." At the time, a temporary injunction was issued, placing the defendant under indefinite house arrest.

Should the defendant plead not guilty to the aforementioned misdemeanor charge of sass-mouth in the second degree, the charge may be changed to the felony flagrant back talk in the first degree. If the defendant is found guilty of this second charge, he will not be permitted to attend prom. In addition, pending the court's deliberation, the defendant's ass may be placed in a sling.

It should be noted that the earlier charge of giving your mother "that look" has been dropped.

Any failure to answer this summons on the part of the defendant will result in his immediate expulsion from 37 Pine Brook Terrace and a court-mandated ass-kicking, carried out in full by the defendant's father.

Thomas M. Van Orden
Father

Is this not the funniest thing you've read in ages?!?!

All right, STOP! Collaborate and LISTEN!

2006-10-22T21:56:00.000-05:00

My camera was lost/stolen last week, but have no fear, Amazon clearance sale is here! As a happy birthday to me, I got a new camera. So I will be posting new pictures up just as soon as I figure out how it works. Yay for new toys! Boo for being a poor student!!

Last week, I went to my first Hindu wedding. I love all things Indian (for a multitude of reasons, but that's a whole 'nother story). Well, everything but the food. I cannot stand Indian food, but I digress. Anyway, the wedding was beautiful, and I got to learn even more about the culture. Here's what I learned:

The traditional Hindi wedding color is red. The bride had the most gorgeous wedding gown I've ever seen, deep red with lots of exquisite beading.
You think Catholic weddings are long? Think again! We were an hour late to the wedding, but there was still an hour left in the ceremony by the time we got there.
The wedding is performed in the traditional Sanskrit (it was kind of funny because the bride was born here, and only understands limited Sanskrit...she just kind of nodded her head along in agreement throughout the ceremony).
The bride is decorated with Henna on her hands and feet. Traditionally, husbands are not allowed to sleep with their wives until they can find their initials on their bride, hidden amongst the patterns. This was done back in the olden days because India had arranged marriages, and this was supposedly done so that the groom knew he had the right woman.

The reception had traditional Indian dances performed by children, followed by a belly-dancer. I danced to fun Indian music, even though I was one of maybe 10 people there who wasn't Indian. I think I kept up with them pretty well. After the traditional Indian music, the DJ started playing old school music from grade school days. Towards the end of the night, I was barefoot on the dance floor, reciting every line to "Ice, Ice Baby". Yup, I am THAT girl. I was completely sober...and you know the party wouldn't be the same without me!!

By the way...

2006-10-10T19:57:00.000-05:00

isn't it interesting that the Foley scandal came out just before the Nov. 7 midterm elections?

Overdrive

2006-10-10T16:46:00.000-05:00

A dear friend (who happens to be a State's Attorney) once told me that in the first year of law school, they scare you to death. The second year, they work you to death.

Yesterday at noon, I ran home, ate lunch, did laundry, ran the vacuum and loaded the dishwasher, and was back to school within the hour. I could only fit in an appointment in at 8:30 AM this morning. I'm supposed to be out with friends this weekend (boat cruise, lunch with college roomie from NY, wedding), but all I can think about is when I can fit in some more time for school.

I learned the other day that there is an intelligence test for cats and dogs. To see how smart Fido is, you throw a blanket over him and time how long it takes for him to find his way out from under the covers. There is some chart somewhere that links the length of time to the animal's intelligence.

At 5 AM this morning, my cat burrowed under the blankets, settled in the middle of the bed, and refused to come out.

I think I want to be a cat in my next life.

It's A Long Way Home

2006-10-08T19:03:00.000-05:00

"Now I believe in what you say is the undisputed truth. But I have to have things my own way to keep me in my youth." ~Goodbye Stranger

Another week come and gone...and I've barely had time to catch my breath.

Friday, the security guard at my building tells me a story: "So, I went to this seafood spot last week and asked the waitress if they served crabs. She said they didn't serve anyone."

Hardy har har. The salary may be lacking a few zeroes, but we've got entertainment, folks, and he's here all week.

Saturday night was E's party. Being one of the few sober individuals there allowed me to observe the drunk festivities, including hair being caught on fire!

This morning was spent dreaming of beaches in Mexico. I'm ready for another vacation. Are we there yet?

Latent Languish

2006-10-01T14:33:00.000-05:00

Inchoate beginning, manifest understanding, ardent anticipation.

The future is here...your life is now.

"Keep a diary, and someday it'll keep you" -M. West

2006-09-27T12:22:00.000-05:00

I know that I've been MIA lately and haven't been very good at updating my blog. Have you heard of this little thing called "law school'? It keeps me on my toes and out of trouble. Well, for the most part.

I promise to put some quality material up later, but for now...quotes Mae West. I love this woman and her quips. Enjoy!

A hard man is good to find.
An ounce of performance is worth pounds of promises.
Don't marry a man to reform him - that's what reform schools are for.
Give a man a free hand and he'll run it all over you.
He's the kind of man a woman would have to marry to get rid of.
I only like two kinds of men, domestic and imported.
It ain't no sin if you crack a few laws now and then, just so long as you don't break any.
It's hard to be funny when you have to be clean.
It's not the men in my life that count, it's the life in my men.
Marriage is a great institution, but I'm not ready for an institution.
Ten men waiting for me at the door? Send one of them home...I'm tired.
Those who are easily shocked should be shocked more often.
When women go wrong, men go right after them.
You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.

My personal favorites:

When choosing between two evils, I always like to try the one I've never tried before.
I'll try anything once, twice if I like it, three times to make sure.
Anything worth doing is worth doing slowly.
I generally avoid temptation, unless I can't resist it.
He who hesitates is a damned fool.
To err is human, but it feels divine.

And the best of all?

When I'm good, I'm very good. But when I'm bad...I'm better.

Taxi Talisman

2006-09-20T16:50:00.000-05:00

March 2004

I was in my second semester of graduate school, trying to figure out what my next step in my professional life was going to be. I had just finished my Environmental Health class and learned of asinine laws (and PAC money) that have a detrimental effect upon health and our society as a whole. It made me mad. In fact, so passionately angry that I wanted to stand up and do something about our legal system and its imminent demise.

I considered that night becoming a lawyer and fighting the system from the inside out. I did not talk about it with anyone, because I wanted some time to mull this path over in my own mind. I wasn't really sure that I wanted to get another degree, let alone go into the field of law. Was I really cut out to achieve this task? Did I have it in me to clear another obstacle?

The next morning provided bitter cold weather, as Chicago March's typically provide. I was also running late to my Friday morning meeting at work and decided cabbing it would be my best bet.

I bundled up in my overcoat and headed out to hail a taxi. As I settled into the backseat, the cab driver looked at me in his rear-view mirror as though he wanted to tell me something.

Paranoid that I had spilt coffee on my shirt (or something equally embarrassing), I asked "Yes?"

He replied, "Oh, it's nothing, ma'am."

By the time we had reached my office, I could tell he still had something on his mind.

"No, really, you can tell me, what did you want to say earlier?"

He turns around and said to me, "Don't worry. You're going to be a great lawyer. You are going to make me proud."

Shocked, I handed him the fare in silence. I eventually gathered my wits and inquired as to how he knew I was going to be a lawyer.

"I just know these kinds of things," he whispered.

Why I Love G.K.

2006-09-20T11:36:00.000-05:00

Pennies For My Thoughts
by Garrison Keillor

I wish the pope had talked to me before he gave his "evil and inhuman" speech that got Muslims so testy at him. I could have told him, "Don't quote some old emperor's thoughts about Muslims unless you're willing to have people confuse his views with yours." You don't tell a Mormon, "My neighbor used to be Mormon and he says it's the weirdest religion since the Incas." He'll give you the hairy eyeball and go off to the temple and start converting your deceased ancestors.

If you're the Holy Pontiff, you should watch what you say, with the infallibility factor and all. You toss out an idea and suddenly people are on their knees repeating word for word what you said. You'd think the pope has some peeps to tell him this. He can't just put on a pair of Ray-Bans and toss back an appletini and shoot the breeze as if he were Joe Blow from Kokomo. I could have told him that, had he asked.

My advantage is that I'm in Minnesota and it's September, there's a chill in the air, and this makes us smarter. Cold is a stimulant of intelligence. This has been shown time and time again.

If only Ford Motor Co. had spoken to me before admitting publicly that it expects to fall behind Toyota in the near future. The execs must be spending too much time at the beach. That's weenie talk. They should have said, "Market share is not what it's about for us. We know in our hearts that we are making the right cars for America at this time, and we will keep making them no matter how unpopular they are. In the end, we'll be proven right." Walk tall, Ford. Don't cry in the beer. That's my advice. Too bad you didn't ask.

I am an elder, after all, my boyish grin and insouciant manner notwithstanding. I have been around the block. In other civilizations, I would sit cross-legged in my lodge and you people would approach me, bowing, and ask my counsel. You could do this anyway.

And that crazy Congressman John Boehner (R-Ohio). He made a speech asking whether Democrats are "more interested in protecting terrorists than in protecting the American people." He should have talked to me first. The U.S. House of Representatives, in which Mr. Boehner serves as majority leader, is not an institution held in high esteem these days, and before he chucks road apples at Democrats, he should tend to his own business. The House took a five-week summer vacation, came back into session, debated the Abraham Lincoln Commemorative Coin Act, then spent four hours debating a bill to prohibit slaughtering horses for consumption--horse meat! In this country, horse meat is served only to carnivores in zoos, but various gasbags had to stand up and laud our equine friends, praise their role in the western migration, the U.S. Cavalry, etc., meanwhile the subjects of immigration, port security, terrorism and the war went unmentioned in the House chamber.

Commemorative coins!!??! The U.S. Mint is still producing pennies, though a penny costs more than a penny to produce (and a nickel costs more than a nickel), and people throw the coins away because they're worthless and a nuisance, and other people don't bend down to pick them up, despite the saying "See a penny, pick it up, and the rest of the day you'll have good luck," and the Mint keeps cranking out more small change to replace those--it's deficit spending in action. It's foolishness on wheels. Boehner's majority is helpless to solve this or to deal with the great issues of this country aside from whether to feed Trigger to the lions. And then he hauls off and accuses Democrats of treason. Who is this guy and who is responsible for monitoring his medications?

You want to know what I think? Congress should leave town. Move north to where they can feel the crisp chill breeze of reality. Maybe a place in the middle of the country, along the Mississippi River. Let D.C. keep the Pentagon, the White House, the statuary, the vast marble and granite sheds of the federal bureaucracy, and move our nation's deliberative bodies to a place with a clearer view. There is plenty of land available along the Mississippi, rolling hills, woods, meadows. No need to spend money on a dome and pillars--just pitch two big circus tents, one for the House, one for the Senate, bring in FEMA trailers for housing, and let's see if we can't get more work out of these people.

~Published September 20, 2006
Garrison Keillor is an author and host of "A Prairie Home Companion."

Oskee wow-wow!

2006-09-20T11:22:00.000-05:00

Finally, some common sense prevails:

Chief Illiniwek can keep on dancing

Che-he! Che-ha! Che-ha-ha-ha!
Go Illini go!

Happiness Is: Good Friends, Food and Conversation

2006-09-15T13:55:00.000-05:00

Last night was one of the most relaxing evenings I've had in quite awhile.

Scott made me a delicious risotto dinner, complete with a lovely Spanish white wine (I'm wishing I would have written it down, so I don't do my aimless walk around the wine shop). Scott is the Will to my Grace, though not quite as neurotic as I. *Ahem*

Anyway, he is happily taken...so it's just me complaining about crazy men. We wined, dined, and watched The Daily Show (followed by The Colbert Report). I could not ask for a better way to wind down the week.

The Fiddler called last night, and we talked on the phone for 3 hours. THREE HOURS! I normally hate talking on the phone, but we definitely ran the gamut last night. Dinner is established for Sunday evening, so I'm sure I'll have some interesting news to report on Monday morning.

Next on the agenda: outfit/shoe selection...what to wear...what to wear...

The Future Is Here

2006-09-14T16:11:00.000-05:00

Check out the woman with the bionic arm who can control its movement with merely her thoughts.

I was a science major. I also did medical research at a prestigious university for years. Even I have to say, "Holy Crap! How did they do that?!?!"

G.W. is having a bad day...

2006-09-13T12:38:00.000-05:00

First he was called beelzebub by Sean Penn at the Toronto Film Fest. Then he was called a dumb f*** by Natalie Maines in her new documentary. It's no secret that the Chicks are not Bush fans...does anyone remember that little incident from 2003?

::steps up on soapbox::

No matter what your political opinions are, there is no excuse for berating/boycotting/threatening those who state their opinions. Our country was built on a freedom of speech for a reason. I/we/you have the right to express yourself just as much as the next person. (Yes, I know that there are limits to this, but I won't delve into all the legal mumbo-jumbo right now.) So back off. Let 'em be.

::end of soapbox::

Something's Fishy...

2006-09-12T13:45:00.000-05:00

Sure, sushi may poison you with mercury, but it also may help fight obesity!

My advice? Everything in moderation, people.

All For You

2006-09-08T12:26:00.000-05:00

Right now my building is having a back-to-school fashion show downstairs.

The store spotlighted is "Rainbow Fashion". The models are 40 year old women in baby-poop green cardigans, carrying teddy bears and lunch boxes. They top it off by blasting Janet Jackson's greatest hits.

I only wish I had my camera to share just how special this occassion is.

Begin the Beguine

2006-09-05T11:44:00.000-05:00

"They say that all good things must end someday. Autumn leaves must fall."
~A Summer Song

Well...Labor Day has come and gone and officially, summer has ended. I really can't complain, as my summer has been marvelous. It was filled with vacations, beaches, baseball games, novels, margaritas, and dancing. Summers in the future will be filled with productivity, so I am glad to have been able to have this one last blast of rest and relaxation.

Law school is up and running again. I'm enjoying my classes, even though I've been the first called on in two of my classes (oh, the joys of cold-calling). My favorite is Environmental Law, although Evidence is a close second.

What's more interesting is the influx of 1Ls...God help me, I want to smack them.

Exhibit A: Rolling back-packs
Is it just me, or does every new student have one of these? Come on people...if I can lug my books around in my backpack or messenger bag, surely you can do it too. I understand if you're older or have a disability, but these young 22 year olds have no excuse. These are also a huge contributor to elevator delays (because they can't POSSIBLY pick up the bag for ONE flight of stairs).

Exhibit B: Law School Theater
As I type in the student lounge, there is a group of girls discussing contract law. If by discussing you mean, "screaming over each other while looking around the room to see who is watching". It's one thing to be in a study group and try to work through some inevitable confusion of course work, but I really don't want to hear your valley-girl "Look-at-me-I'm-sooo-smart" screeches. I know that lawyer-types tend to like attention, but seriously, this is ridiculous.

Ugh. That beach in Cozumel is looking more and more tempting to return to...

An Autumnal Haiku

2006-08-28T23:03:00.000-05:00

The day grows darker
As the docent lumbers on
New awakening

Music Review: The Futurist

2006-08-24T14:50:00.000-05:00

My favorite Spaniard, Miguel, gave me Robert Downey Jr.'s album, The Futurist, the other day. Given my infatuation with both RDJ and jazz, it's only appropriate that I review it here.

RDJ is not what one would consider a smooth singer. But then again, neither was Armstrong. That's the beauty of jazz/blues. It's not about the sound, but the soul of the music. It is only appropriate that his voice is raw and gritty, because he sings of life's raw and gritty quandaries.

Listening to RDJ's album is like reading his personal diary. He mourns lost love, but then finds it again. There are refrains that harken to the Serenity Prayer (surely a reflection upon his drug rehabilitation efforts). Most of the songs are written in stream-of-consciousness, adding yet another dimension to the lyrical prose he is trying to achieve.

The songs are not preachy, but more like therapy and reflection. It's widely known that this man has his demons. In fact, we all have our own demons in life. Unlike most of us, he doesn't try to hide the skeletons. On the contrary, they're out of the closet and staring us in the face. I give him a tremendous amount of credit for owning up to life's predicaments and all that follow.

I leave you with the lyrics to the last song on the album, the only which RDJ did not write. The song was originally composed by Charlie Chaplin, and is one of my personal favorites. (Aside - The best cover of Smile, personally, is Lyle Lovett's rendition.)

"Smile"

Smile though your heart is aching.

Smile even though it’s breaking.

When there are clouds in the sky, you’ll get by,

if you smile through your fear and sorrow.

Smile and maybe tomorrow

you’ll see the sun come shining through for you.

Light up your face with gladness.

Hide every trace of sadness,

although a tear may be ever so near.

That’s the time you must keep on trying.

Smile, what’s the use of crying?

You’ll find that life is still worthwhile,

if you just smile.

Law & Order Meets the Muppets

2006-08-20T22:49:00.000-05:00

Dorky? Perhaps...but an amusing way to start your work week. Mondays are hard enough to get through. Might as well start the day with the Muppets like you did when you were a kid.

Don't kid yourself. We all loved Sesame Street and The Muppet Show. And if you didn't, then there must be something seriously wrong with you.

FYI

2006-08-19T14:25:00.001-05:00

I been enjoying the feedback I've been receiving on my journal. Everyone is more than welcome to leave comments. I've enabled anonymous commenting, so you don't even need to sign up for an account. Please feel free to say hello!! Just don't forget to tell me who you are. Or else I'm just going to assume you're one of my many secret admirers.

It's All Relative

2006-08-17T23:17:00.000-05:00

"You know I've seen a lot of what the world can do...
hope you make a lot of nice friends out there."
~C. Stevens

Family. It's an interesting phenomenon to consider. Most other animals raise their young to a certain age, and then release them out into the wilderness to fend for themselves. However, humans create families out of this cluster of relatives connected by genes and blood. This family provides social, intellectual, emotional, economical and other means of support. Well, if you're lucky, they do. Not all of us are blessed to have a support system created for us by nature. Unfortunately, we don't get to pick our lineage.

Some anthropologists are starting to classify the notion of "blood" metaphorically, and that many societies understand 'family' through other concepts rather than through genetics. I think this concept is intriguing. You see, I don't think family should be limited to those who are biologically linked to you. I think your family can consist of a myriad of individuals.

In my life, I have many people who I consider to be family. I am very close with my biological family and am lucky in that regard. They provide a bedrock that is unwavering and reliable. I can turn to them and I know that they will be there for me.

However, there are other people in my life that I consider to be my family. There are those friends who you know will always be there for you with their unconditional friendship/love. They know everything about you and love you just the same. (You know who you are, and I am eternally grateful. LYLAT.)

Then there are those who support you through your different phases in your life. I call them your "Metamorphosis Friends". They are going through the same situation and understand what you're going through. From college, to living in the city, to working, to law school...they are there for you. And if you're lucky, they'll be there for you as you move onto another stage in your ever-changing life.

I made dinner for some friends the other night. It was a simple affair. We sat around the table and chatted about our day. We shared our disappointments, successes...teasing and laughter ensued. While they may not share my genes, they certainly felt like family to me.

(Literally) Sweating My Butt Off

2006-08-14T18:29:00.000-05:00

Those of you who know me, know that I'll try just about anything once. Case in point: Bikram Yoga.

What is Bikram Yoga, you ask? According to Mr. Bikram himself, it is a curative method of yoga therapy. In reality, it's 90 minutes of gut-wrenching poses in a room that's heated to 105° F. The heat is supposed to loosen the muscles and enable you to reach more positions than if you were in a normal yoga class. The inevitable sweating induced by the heat is supposed to release toxins (and I'm told will make my skin "glow"). I danced ballet for 12 years of my life, but I was never the most flexible of people. I also have a tendency to get over-stressed due to law school and life in general. So I thought that Bikram could be a way to kill two birds with one stone.

I can already hear my mother saying "What in the hell are you thinking?". You see, as a child, I used to pass out when the summer months would bring on the heat. Call me a fragile flower, but I spent a lot of time hanging out in the air-conditioning during August.

Well, the first class was slightly traumatic. To begin, it started at 6 AM. That's right, I said AM. Those of you who have had the pleasure of witnessing Jess in the morning know just how well I do in the early hours (read: crabby and non-social). However, I decided to start doing this workout in the wee hours, hoping to perhaps swing my Circadian rhythm to a different beat.

You begin class by laying down face up in a darkened room, waiting for the instructor to come in and start up the class. It fools you into thinking "This isn't going to be so bad", because your pulse is normal and the room hasn't really begun to heat up yet. Oh no. The instructor will continually raise the temperature as the class progresses, until it reaches that blessed 105°, saying things like "Raise your right foot way up over your head while reaching forward with your left arm, like you're a human bow & arrow." (pose #6)

Riiiiight...no problem.

Add to this that your body is sweating like there is no tomorrow. The sweat is dripping in places it's never dripped before (Ever head sweat in your ears? No? I don't really suggest it.). Your pulse is racing and you can't catch a cool breath.

I involuntarily invented a new position that morning: The porcelain prayer. Yup. There's a reason that they tell you to come to the class on an empty stomach, as I found out that morning. NOT a good way to start the day. The instructor tells me that it's a normal reaction for first-timers, and it may be some repression expressing itself from when I was a kid and passing out in the heat. Yeah...not so sure about that one.

Well, you may be surprised to learn that I returned to that class and many more (thanks, Dima). My Bikram friends assured me that it would get better, and it has. It's still not the easiest thing I've done, but I find myself looking forward to it each time. I haven't vomited since the first class, and I'm getting more flexible. I sleep better. My lower back isn't killing me like it usually does. My skin is, in fact, kind of glowy. So I think I'll stick with it for awhile and see how it goes.

Who knows. Maybe I'll be able to knock down that bow & arrow pose after all.

En Archi in o Logos

2006-08-03T23:03:00.000-05:00

I grew up in a small town. Therefore, I have an appreciation for the peace and quiet that the stillness in life can afford. Granted, as a typical teenager I was screaming to get out of the sleepy little town. But now as I go back and visit, I recognize that it holds a special place in my heart. It has its own charm that is quirky and endearing, and I enjoy having it as my own little adytum.

On the other hand...Chicago. Wow, what an amazing city. I have a love/hate relationship with the Second City. The winters are cold and depressing and sometimes it is too noisy to hear myself think. However, the summers make up for all that is lost during the snow and slush that takes over the city for far too long. The culture and diversity that flow through these streets are transcendent. Every day I seem to discover something new to explore in this urban jungle.

From small town beginnings to the big city, I consider myself fortunate to have made some wonderful connections with amazing people. Each has taught me a life lesson in their own way. A friend and I had a discussion the other day observing how the more we learn, the more we realize we don't know anything. The seemingly contradictory statement makes perfect sense to me. This blog will be a bit story telling and a bit metacognitive, but mostly a reflection of my path through this journey we call life.