the thin line between optimism and delusion…

I’m more a free cell kind of girl, but I am thinking about getting to know text twist a little better. Whatcha think?

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I got up early this morning, and I am in a spectacular mood. I hate Mondays, I really do, but if my good mood can stick around for most of this one, it will be better.

Although I am in a great mood, I lack all decision making skills today. Keep the questions at a minimum. Actually, it would be great if someone could tell me where I am eating lunch today, because it took me an hour to figure out what to eat for breakfast, and in the end I was disappointed.

p.s. If you saw my car in the deck early this morning, no, I was not here at 7:30 – I left it there overnight because I didn’t want to drive it home after the wine tasting that was done at the Taste of Athens last night (which was lots of fun) and trivia. But I was here at 8:30 – thanks to Merideth and Dave who were sweet enough to give me a ride to school. 8:30 is really good for me. And my bed was so warm…….I have the greatest bed ever.

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Thoughts about Wednesday, and the days of the week in general, or maybe just some thoughts I had on this particular Wednesday.

1. I have the hardest time spelling Wednesday. I think I have it under control now, but it is something that I have been struggling with since second grade when they started doing those terrible things called spelling tests. I HATE spelling. But amazingly enough, the only thing I hate more than spelling is a misspelled word, except of course people who use bad grammar. I have a very high tolerance for obnoxious behavior overall, but for some reason people who end every other sentence with the word – AT – drive me nuts. It is so unnecessary. (of course, I know there are lots of people who hate it when people add the word SO to everything). "Where’s it At?" I mean, wouldn’t it be easier to just say, "Where is it?" Same sentence, less letters. (I’m sure this post will be riddled with grammatical errors, and for that I apologize for being hypocritical).

2. On Tuesday I have a class at 9:30 and a class at 10:30. On Wednesday I have a class at 10:30 and 11:30. It is basically the same sort of day, only I get to sleep later on Wednesday!! But I am also finished a whole hour earlier on Tuesday. I think Tuesday might quite possibly be my favorite day. Not because Tuesday is always complaining on the television, or because of anything that Pizza Hut has to say, but just because. Or maybe because of Scrubs (I’m trying to warm to Committed – because I identify with the girl – she loves having people love her and can’t understand when people don’t, but the laugh track is really getting to me).

3. I like the way my grandfather says the days of the week. Mon-de, Tues-de, Wens-de, Thurst-de, Fri-de, Sat-ter-de, Sun-de. (I don’t know if you can hear what I am trying to sound out, but I don’t know how else to do it, make sure the syllables slur). Actually, I guess it is an Augusta accent thing more than simply my grandfather, but he is the one I associate with the pronuciation. My mom will speak this way as well, but not as often and it is something she slips into without realizing, the same way that she says Si-RIN when the firetrucks barrel by our house. As in, "D’ya’ll here them si-RINs yester-de, or was it Sat-ter-de?"

Yeah, Yeah, I know it is unreasonable that I like the colloquial speech of where I grew up and I can’t handle the word AT at the end of a sentence, but you know what? I never said I was going to be reasonable. I’m a girl.

4. I am volunteering to do people’s taxes today. Last week I didn’t have to do anyone’s taxes, I just sat around with Ally and told stories about boys. Maybe today I will get to be useful.

5. We have bible study tonight!! I am so excited! We didn’t have it last week, and I missed the week before that, so I really miss it by now. I love the people, and it is a bright point in my week.

6. I hate it when people call Wednesday "Hump Day." I have no basis for this, I just don’t like it. See the end of #3.

7. I really enjoy my natural resources class and my evidence class. They make me happy. And these two classes are the only classes I have on Wednesday, which makes it an excellent day.

8. Staci and I decided that it will be nice one day when we have a life, and not a locker. But then of course at that point we might have to be adults. I’m not ready to be an adult.

9. I am kind of excited about this new Law and Order that is coming out. Trial by Jury. I love Law and Order, so this could be good. Of course, it could also be bad.

10. I just got a text from Christy that BOJANGLES IS COMING TO ATHENS!!! WOW, I CAN’T BREATHE! This better not be a cruel joke.

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I just can’t do it today. I really can’t pay attention today. It is not my day. I hate class. I am still here. I can’t take it. I really can’t take it. It is almost over. I can’t win free cell, I don’t care what is going on around the internet. I can’t read more than two words at a time, which is making sentences a struggle. I don’t know what my problem is, maybe it is the weather, or all the sugar cookies I have eaten today. Whatever it is, I’m not here. I have my eyes closed, which means that you can’t see me.

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I love this email my friend Oliver sent out on the law school listserv today. What a great guy.

From: Oliver Drose
To: NON-ACADEMICLAW@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2005 15:22:25-0500
Subject: 3L wants to take care of kids

I’m a creepy 3L who lives by himself in a small dirty house in 5 points, and I want to watch your kids tonight. I have 2 large out of control dogs who foam at the mouth, lots of R-rated DVDs, and a pretty substantial liquor cabinet. If anyone would like me to take care of their kids on Valentine’s Day, please call me.

Oliver

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In class, or anywhere for that matter in which I am a member of an audience, I have the uncontrollable compulsion (rather a redundant phrase, but I have dramatic tendencies) to volunteer if no one else does. I’m telling you, it is a problem. It doesn’t even matter who is giving the speech (if you want an example of how far this goes, check out my comment on this post by Evan), I will interject. The worst part about this compulsion is that I am completely ADHD and I don’t pay attention well. So 90% of the time that I volunteer I don’t actually know what is going on. Let’s apply this to my week so far:

On Tuesday in evidence, at the end of class, Professor Carlson asked for two volunteers for Wednesday. One person stepped up. And then there was silence. SILENCE. NO RESPONSE. Until of course, I raise my hand and volunteer. I missed two classes of evidence last week. I haven’t read. I honestly don’t even know what I have volunteered for. I was spacing out. So, I look at the piece of paper I have been given, and it is information relating to a police officer, and the skit is between a prosecutor and the police officer witness for identifying a knife. I am under the impression that I am the witness. I don’t know what led me to believe this, I actually even argued with others after class that I was the witness and not the prosecutor. But I do read the chapters in the book relating to the situation Monday afternoon.

Wednesday morning, I read over the information that I had been given, and I am ready to be the Officer. Carlson calls us up to the front. Turns out, I’m the prosecutor. And I am suppose to have questions prepared for my witness, the police officer. I explain the problem to Carlson, and he replies, "Well, Charlsie, would you like me to give you an extra day to prepare?" Now, here is where one of my other compulsions comes in. I will never pass. I will always give it a shot, even if I have no idea what is going on. Plus, I had plans of going out Wednesday night, and I didn’t want to have to worry about doing the skit Thursday morning if my night got out of hand. So I go get my book, and wing it. I think it went okay.

Wednesday night was fun, didn’t get out of hand, but was a great time with lots of people that I love, admire and thoroughly enjoy. I woke up late this morning, rushed to get to con law, was five minutes late, and didn’t know what was going on most of class. Right before con law Christian asked me where we finished in evidence yesterday. I told him I had no idea, after all I had contributed, and expected to be off the hook today.

We all know what happens when we assume. I walze into evidence after con law, and notice my name on the board, under the heading, Carlson’s Mighty Law Players, along with three other names of students in the class. I kinda get nervous. Carlson starts class off by saying, "if your name is on the board, and you haven’t checked your box since 3 pm yesterday afternoon, I suggest that you leave class immediately and check your box." I really start to sweat.

In my box I found a memo attached to a script for a court room case. The script was about ten pages long and indicated that we should read through it a couple of times before class, because we would be performing it in class. There were four of us involved in this, and only one discovered the script before class. I was the expert witness. It was actually a hilarious imaginary case, and ended up being tons of fun. Brent told me that this probably meant that I would picked on for the rest of the semester. On one hand, this isn’t fair and seems like I am being punished for volunteering. But on the other hand, I like doing the skits. I am flattered that Carlson thought I could come through on short notice. Also, if I know I am going to be held responsible, I am more likely to keep up with the reading. So this is all good stuff.

I just wish he would learn how to use the computer and email us instead of putting stuff in our boxes, which I check about once a month. Maybe I will start checking my box more often from now on. But what is a day in law school without a moment of sheer panic and horror?

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Things I learned in class today:

In Evidence:

Under The Federal Rules of Evidence 606(b) as applied in Tanner v. United States, 483 U.S. 107 (1987), jurors who drink heavily during lunch, smoke marijuana, and possibly snort cocaine while deliberating will not constitute grounds to require a grant of a motion for retrial. Preserving jury trials is very important.

In Con Law II:

Lawrence v. Texas is a sure fire way to get law students all fired up. I think discussions in class are interesting, I like to know what people think, especially people that I know personally. But sometimes it is difficult to know what the people around you think about hot topics because many social situations are just not conducive to launching into personal views, either because people will clam up and stop talking completely, or one or two people with extreme views will dominate the conversation and no one else will get a word in edgewise. Of course with your close friends you are going to know where they stand, but this is often limited to a close circle. So I think class discussion is a good place where people can voice their opinion in a logical manner and have a chance to finish a thought without some overly pushy individual attacking them. Also, if we don’t talk about issues like gay marriage in a manner that makes it personal to everyone, many people aren’t going to apply it to their real life, and we will be stuck with stagnant views.

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Ian really makes me laugh. I’m excited that he has found new inspiration for his blog, because there has been a noticeable absence in my life lately. We found out the other day that law school prom is going to be in Watkinsville, and everyone is a little upset by this. Thoughts from Ian:

Long story short, it’s in Watkinsville, notable for the fact that it’s not Athens. Likely scenario for a 1L asking out a date:

1L: Say, you’re out of my league. Care to make me look less uncool in the eyes of others by going to Law Prom?

Girl: Well, I got asked out to the Tri-Kap formal in Charleston, and all Trotter has to offer me is a huge car, daddy’s money and unlimited free time. But I’ve never spent someone’s student loan money before, so what the hey! It’s a date.

1L: Great. You know you’re driving, right?

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I got called on in natural resources this morning.  I wasn’t really prepared, and the part I was prepared for I read a couple of days ago, in addition to the fact that the case was in a packet that I managed to rip apart this morning.  So there I was, fumbling with loose pieces of paper that were out of order, and panicking that I wasn’t going to know any of the answers.  This is the fourth straight semester that I have had this particular teacher (cause I like him).  Here is the exchange.

Me: (shuffling papers, blacking out) "Ummm, well, I read this the other day, so bear with me while I get it together."

Appel:  "Well, it is nice to know that nothing ever changes, does it, Ms. Paine?"

(class erupts in laughter).

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