the thin line between optimism and delusion...

Wedding Registries

February 12, 2007 by charlsiekate

A lot of my friends have been getting engaged recently. And I am very happy for them. This is the first huge wave of weddings I’ve experienced. I’ve had friends get married – but mostly friends from home, or from college, that I’m not in constant contact with. This is the first wave of good friends to get married. I don’t do that well with change, so it takes me a little while to actually accept the fact that my friend is getting married after she gets engaged. Or he for that matter. It has nothing to do with my excitement – it has to do with my brain having a hard time catching up with the events of the real world. Like I have a hard time putting it all together. Like this –

1. Jennifer is marrying Matt.

2. Matt lives and works in Columbia.

therefore –

Jennifer is moving to Columbia. To live with Matt. Her husband.

It takes me a little while to wrap my head around what all this engagement stuff means. But one thing that jolts me into having to accept some of these obviously consequences of engagements and marriage is looking at people’s wedding registry. For some reason they freak me out. I think part of it is that it makes me feel grown up and old. My relatives made me pick out a silver pattern years ago because they didn’t know what to give me for christmas. But all my random pieces of silver are all mixed up my mom’s and my grandmother’s silver because I picked out the same pattern.

And there just seems to be a lot of china and stuff floating around that never gets used. I’m sure I can come up with a set from somewhere in my parents house – or maybe my husband’s family will have an extra set. China scares me and I would worry about breaking it, so I think I would be happy with an old set. Especially since you don’t use it that often. Since you can’t put it in the dishwasher. How sad would I be if I broke a piece of my wedding china? I guess not as sad as I would be if I broke a piece of my grandmother’s wedding china.

So I think I’d like to register somewhere like REI. I already have a coffee maker. I could use a kayak. Or something else I could tie to the top of my car. Then someone could buy me a rack for my car as well, and I’d look cool. If I have a party we can eat off of paper plates and I won’t have any dishes to wash.

p.s. I’m obviously being ridiculous, and I’m sure when and if I ever do get engaged I’ll be salivating over new china and crystal. This is mostly me just being silly. But I’m serious about wanting a marching band at my wedding.

Posted in Weddings | 5 Comments »

This was my favorite Super Bowl Commercial

February 7, 2007 by charlsiekate

Posted in Sports | Leave a Comment »

Positive Affirmation

February 7, 2007 by charlsiekate

I haven’t forgotten about you – I’m sorry.

The deputy that guards the employee entrance to the courthouse tells me I’m pretty on a regular basis – in a fatherly, appropriate, sincere way. Today, he interrupted the man that was talking to him and said – "Look here – isn’t she pretty?" And the man agreed. I made my day.

And you know what? Even if I don’t feel pretty when I get dressed in the morning – because I don’t like my hair or my outfit, or whatever trivial thing I’m obsessing over that day ( my nailbeds suck!) – I feel pretty after he tells me so. And I walk into work feeling pretty and appreciated. It is awesome.

I don’t say this to broadcast that someone thinks I’m pretty, I tell you this because I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, it is easy to discard the compliments that people give you and dwell on the rejections and disappointments in life.

Also, you never know whether or not your kind words might make all the difference in someone’s day. I know y’all all think I’m a crazy advocate for being nice to everyone and being delusional about people’s motives, but I just can’t help it.

Posted in Work | 3 Comments »

Big Times

January 31, 2007 by charlsiekate

I got locked out of my house last night due to some miscommunication while I was walking Briscoe. I walked the half mile to my parents house in my flannel pajamas and barefoot dreams robe. At 10:30 at night. Sweet. Trav and Kate were like, WTF?

I’ve sneezed at least 9 times today. Big sneezes. I don’t feel bad. Call me sneezy.

I’m watching the fourth and final dvd of the second season of The Office. Netflix sent it to me today. Awesome. I love The Office because no one on the show has any concern with the future. It is great. Very little ambition around that place.

It is such a pretty day today. Too bad it is going to be rainy tomorrow! I should enjoy it while it lasts and go run outside. But is cold! I’m not sure I can take it, what with the sneezing and everything. Maybe I should just rest and watch the office.

Posted in Augusta | 1 Comment »

Consortium – The Journal for Legal Nonsense

January 30, 2007 by charlsiekate

Pete and I have been working on a little a project, a journal about the law, Consortium. A law journal. But a lighter read than most law journals. I think it turned out very well, and we will be looking to publish another edition later in the spring. Please check it it out and let us know if you are interested in contributing next time!

The first issue can be found here – Issue 1.

p.s. Pete is so talented.

Posted in THE LAW | 1 Comment »

Things that don’t work in my life right now

January 23, 2007 by charlsiekate

1. My laptop power cord. Briscoe chewed through it.

2. My laptop battery. It died about three weeks before Briscoe destroyed the power cord.

3. So, pursuant to #1 and #2, my laptop.

4. My car. She is worn out and getting fixed. She is getting old.

Libby says I always have my bike. Oh, and my cell works. At least for the time being, even it the battery only stays alive for 30 minutes of talk time. So be brief.

Posted in Difficulties | 2 Comments »

Compliments of the Rupp

January 22, 2007 by charlsiekate

Seriously – I apologize for all the legal posts lately, but this is really great.

147 F.Supp2d 668

Download 145_f.Supp.2d 668.doc

Just the beginning of the awesomeness of this case –

Before proceeding further, the Court notes that this case involves two extremely likable lawyers, who have together delivered some of the most amateurish pleadings ever to cross the hallowed causeway into Galveston, an effort which leads the Court to surmise but one plausible explanation. Both attorneys have obviously entered into a secret pact-complete with hats, handshakes and cryptic words-to draft their pleadings entirely in crayon on the back sides of gravy-stained paper place mats, in the hope that the Court would be so charmed by their child-like efforts that their utter dearth of legal authorities in their briefing would go unnoticed. Whatever actually occurred, the Court is now faced with the daunting task of deciphering their submissions. With Big Chief tablet readied, thick black pencil in hand, and a devil-may-care laugh in the face of death, life on the razor’s edge sense of exhilaration, the Court begins.

And this is just classic (direct from the case) –

What the ···)?! The Court cannot even begin to comprehend why this case was selected for reference. It is almost as if Plaintiff’s counsel chose the opinion by throwing long range darts at the Federal Reporter (remarkably enough hitting a nonexistent volume!).

Posted in THE LAW | 3 Comments »

Pam and Dwight

January 18, 2007 by charlsiekate

For those of you who might have missed it because you live on the other side of the world or something .

Posted in Television | 3 Comments »

Whoa. WHOA! HOOOO! STOP YOU STUPID HORSE! AAAGGGHH.

January 15, 2007 by charlsiekate

Saturday I went to the Nalley’s farm in Burke County. I like Burke County a lot. And I love the Nalley’s. I rode out there with Ginny and little baby Ginna – who wasn’t much of a conversationalist and slept most of the way. Briscoe got to go too. She was very excited.

The boys were having a quail hunt and so there were horses and dogs and lots of fun stuff going on when we got there. After eating some yummy turkey chili, the hunt took off. Because lunch had taken so long and the hours left of daylight were waning, they decided to not take the horses out on the afternoon hunt. Martha Burton and I followed the hunt on a four wheeler for a while, which was a lot of fun. I like to watch all the dogs. They look like they are having so much fun. I want to come back as someone’s beloved bird dog in my next life. Not the kind that stays in one of those tall pens in the back yard. The kind that doubles as a house dog. Then Ivy called and Martha Burton and I abandoned the hunt and went back to the house.

Since the horses didn’t go on the hunt – they were just hanging around in the barn – obviously bored – Ivy and I decided that we should ride them. Which was lots and lots of fun. I haven’t been riding in a really long time, but I’ve always enjoyed horses. It was a beautiful day, not very cold, but the wind was blowing and the sun was setting, and the birds were chirping. It was past dusk and almost dark when we made it back to the road that leads to the house.

There are few things as enjoyable as riding a horse in the dark towards the twinkling lights of the barn and the house where grits and bourbon await. There was fried venison, fried dove, grilled pheasant and quail wrapped in bacon with jalapenos in the middle (make sure you chew it up and don’t swallow any shot!) asparagus, sugar snap peas, birthday cake, warm happy tired doggies, and a big fire. After my first piece of quail with jalapenos I couldn’t feel my lips and I could have breathed fire so I was a little more cautious after that. I guess I hadn’t had enough bourbon at that point.

But let me just say that this experience came with the price of being UNBELIEVABLY sore yesterday and today. I was fine most of yesterday, until about 4. Since then I have been almost as stiff and sore as I was after the half marathon. Maybe that is an exaggeration, but I’ve been known for my dramatic touch.

Happy Martin Luther King Day! I’m spending the day getting my life in order. Yay! Dang I’m sore.

Posted in outside | Leave a Comment »

Happy Birthday Betsy!

January 15, 2007 by charlsiekate

Today is my dear precious and amazing friend Betsy Nicholson’s birthday! Betsy was the first friend I made in college and someone that I have clung to and leaned on for years. She is an amazing person, and I feel blessed for every minute I get to spend with her. She has been a running friend, a roommate, a church friend, a pledge sister, a dance partner, a party throwing partner, a friend to cry to, a friend to laugh with, a music friend, a last resort friend, a fellow botanical gardens lover and trip and fall victim, a friend with a warm house and comfy bed where I am always welcome in the ATL, an enjoyer of my cookies, who is sweet to my dog and loves the Dawgs, whose hair is always shiny and whose face radiates light and beauty.

Overall, she is pretty cool. Go to her blog and leave her a Birthday wish if you get a chance! (even though she hasn’t updated in FOREVA!)

This is Betsy, me and Killingsly.

Me_and_betsy