the thin line between optimism and delusion...

World News According to Charlsie

November 20, 2006 by charlsiekate

President Bush is in Indonesia today, according to a tv news broadcast I heard through a wall. So I started thinking about Indonesia, and about how far away it is from Georgia, and how you don’t normally meet people around here from Indonesia or even people who have visited Indonesia. And then I remembered a story from my childhood.

When I was in the fifth grade there was a kid in my class who we will call R. I went to a small private elementary school. Most of my classmates had been in my class since we were 4. We had very few new kids and very few kids moved away or left. Well, R had been there a few years – and everyone liked him. His mom was from south Africa and would sing us African songs on field trips. This was very exotic for Georgia. R also had bleach blond hair.

One day R shows up to school and tells us that he isn’t going to be around much longer because he is moving to Indonesia. We all laughed. He might as well have told us he was moving to the moon or to mars. Like the aliens were coming for him on Friday night to take him to Jupiter. No one believed him. He was very adamant that he was telling the truth, and that we would see when he didn’t come back that he really was moving to Indonesia. We looked up Indonesia on the globe. We laughed again. We didn’t believe him. Our teacher didn’t believe him.

Finally, R’s parents wrote a letter to the school explaining that they really WERE in fact, moving to Indonesia. We were shocked. R really was leaving. No one ever really left – and if they did they sure didn’t move around the globe to somewhere no one had ever heard of like Indonesia. And just like that – R was gone. A few months after R and his family relocated to Indonesia his nice mother sent a letter to our class telling us how happy they were in Indonesia and how R got to surf all the time but that he missed us. We felt bad for not believing him – and we felt slightly jealous for his adventure.

So last night I looked R up on myspace to see if he still exists. He does. We are friends once again. Yay. That is all the personal knowledge I possess about Indonesia.

Posted in Current Affairs | 1 Comment »

Rare Legal Thoughts

November 14, 2006 by charlsiekate

What do you think it says about me that I don’t think it should be against the law to lie to the police? Probably that I have problems with authority.

I think it is appropriate for it to be against the law to lie under oath – especially in a court of law or other court proceedings such as depositions – but otherwise I think it is rather ridiculous. Okay – if you are under arrest – and have been read your rights and are protected by your right to remain silent – that isn’t too much of a stretch either. But as far as a simple police interview of a witness – it seems rather heavy handed for lying to be illegal. You shouldn’t make stuff up – but I think I have I right to lie if I am being interrogated (not officially interrogated, but questioned in an aggressive manner) and I feel like it. Especially if lying puts me in a compromising position. It is just a slippery slope that I’m not very comfortable with. Police are allowed to lie to the people they are interviewing. Flat out lie. Maybe I’m confused and can’t remember exactly and don’t want to tell you what I do remember because it might be wrong. Or maybe I’m just scared to death of the police.

I know that not letting people lie to the police serves the greater good and I understand why it is important, etc – and life isn’t fair – but it just rubs me the wrong way. I guess this is something I should chew on for a little while, try to make some sense of it. Maybe even look up the actual law and see what it says, and whether or not I can come to terms with the statute. What do you think?

Posted in THE LAW | 2 Comments »

Navy Whites and Wings

November 9, 2006 by charlsiekate

My sweet dear friend Robert, or as we like to call him – Bobby Bond, is leaving today for Japan. He flys F-18 in the Navy and is very clever and talented. Bobby is excited about being at least half a foot taller than everyone in the general population and looks forward to eating a great deal of sushi. He has been warned that if children start crying when he approaches them that it is only because they have never seen someone as big as him. He is going to be catapulted off and landing on the USS Kitty Hawk for the next three years and stationed about an hour south of Tokyo. The USS Kitty Hawk is out at sea right now – so Bobby will go straight to the boat from California with a brief stop at the base. Everyone please keep Robert and all our other military people in your thoughts and prayers. Remember that tomorrow is Veteran’s Day, which means I don’t have to go work and we should all find a Veteran to give a hug or a beer to. Yay America!

Posted in Favorite People | Leave a Comment »

What’s new in my life

November 7, 2006 by charlsiekate

I finally put my money where my mouth is and I now own a precious Wheaten Terrier puppy. Her name is Briscoe, which is my great grandmother’s maiden name. And it is also the name of the guy from law and order. Hah. Briscoe is tons of fun and very sweet and adventurous. She likes to wake up a lot earlier than I do. She is amazingly codependent and does not like being left alone or her crate. She also isn’t too keen on her leash, but she likes to go on walks. She is learning. She will look very different when she is grown than she does now, right now she is reddish brown, but she will lighten up to a wheat color. Hence the name. These aren’t the best pictures – I think she is way cuter than this – but I promise more will come. Here she is –

Posted in Briscoe | 8 Comments »

Why people think attorneys and law students are wack

November 6, 2006 by charlsiekate

When I send emails that say:

"I’m going downstairs to watch jury selection in a murder trial."

My friends respond with:

"Oooh! have fun!"

and

"Awesome! Have fun!"

Seriously. We live very exciting lives.

Posted in Law School, THE LAW | 2 Comments »

Lists

November 2, 2006 by charlsiekate

I was just discussing with Jennifer this morning on the cellpiece how I am not a list maker. We were talking about how some people cross of the days on their calender and some people don’t. Let’s get real here, I don’t even really have a calender. I definitely don’t cross the days off. My desktop calender (those big huge suckers that are basically placemats for your desk) is still on September. Great. She said that of course I don’t mark off days in my calender, I don’t make lists either. I told her I make lists in my head. She said she was sure my head was a bad place to keep lists. Details.

Then Meg asked us this morning to make a list. So I’m going to make a list of things I’m happy about.

1. I’m happy that our Deal or No Deal costumes turned out so spectacularly. Except for the fact that a lot of people don’t know about the show Deal or No Deal. I guess they live under a rock. Hah. Here we are looking cute. The red glitter from our sweet dresses we got from Daffy’s (Clothing Bargains for Millionaires) was all over everything.

2. I am getting a dog this weekend. A wheaten terrier. I’m really excited. I know it is going to be a lot of work, but I really want a dog. I want to take care of a dog and I’m excited about the structure. Wheatens don’t shed, they don’t get too big, while still being big enough to run with me. I really want a dog I can run with. I wanted a lab, and my parents were dead against a lab. I do see their point, I’m not sure I can deal with a dog that weighs 80 pounds. Give me advice about my dog. I know wheatens need a lot of attention. So do I. My job is very flexible right now. Here is the picture the breeder sent me –

They get lighter as they get older.

3. In about half an hour I’m getting sworn in as an attorney. It is really exciting. I’m still so happy I passed the bar. It is almost like graduating from law school all over again, just better. The best part (besides the fact that I don’t have to take it again) is that everyone else is so happy for me. I really appreciate the fact that people care. It means a lot.

4. I downloaded the new John Mayer Cd. I’ve never had one of his cds before. I like it. Gravity is my favorite.

5. Last night I got to watch, on TiVo, four of my favorite tv shows. Boston Legal, House, Bones, and Lost. It was a big night. I got a flu shot yesterday so I didn’t go run, but hopefully Elizabeth and I can go run tonight. This whole time change thing really sucks. A lot. Especially since I still can’t get out of bed in the morning.

6. The WEATHER. It has been so beautiful here. I need to be outside more. A lot more.

7. I am not going out of town for a while. Except to go pick up my puppy. I can’t tell you how happy that makes me. I have had a great couple of months of travel, but I’m plum worn out. I need a break. Pretend like I live here. In my cute house.

Okay, that seems like a good number. I’m off to become a real live attorney. Kisses.

Posted in Thoughts | 3 Comments »

I passed the Bar!

October 30, 2006 by charlsiekate

Yay! Sorry to leave y’all in suspense all weekend. I passed, I can’t express how relieved I am, and I love you all for putting up with me during these difficult times.

I’m so excited I can’t stand it. I had an amazing weekend in New York.

Posted in Studying for the Bar | 6 Comments »

One More Thing –

October 27, 2006 by charlsiekate

Jojo

I am obsessesd with the new JoJo CD. Seriously! I love JoJo! She is so awesome and has been helping me train for the half marathon. Obviously you all already love Too Little Too Late – but you need the whole album. My favorites are Anything and Let it Rain. GAHHHH. LOVE IT.

Posted in Music | 3 Comments »

Seriously – Reality is slipping away

October 27, 2006 by charlsiekate

I woke up in the middle of the night last night. There were footsteps in the leaves outside my window. They sounded like human footsteps. I thought maybe it was just super early – like 5:30 and it was my professor neighbor going somewhere. I laid real still. I finally rolled over and obtained my cell phone so I could see what time it was and keep my finger on 911. It was 4:35. Dang it. No one has any business wandering around at 4:35 on a Friday morning. I was freaking out. I kept imagining that someone was on my front porch. Shortly there after the sprinklers turned on and although they initially scared me to death – I started thinking that maybe it was cat or something in the leaves and that maybe the sprinklers had also contributed to the sound of footsteps. Who knows. But maybe it wasn’t a person. Just maybe I wasn’t going to get attacked in my own home. Eventually I fell back asleep. And as expected I had crazy dreams.

In one dream I dreamed that we got a list of the bar exam results early here at the courthouse, and that Heather and I both passed. In this dream, the courthouse had a law school attached to it, and the building had magical powers like Hogwarts. And on this day that we were looking at the bar results, people kept randomly ending up in our offices from all the secret passage ways. Did I ever tell you I have an overactive imagination?

My other dream was pretty humorous, and it involved one of my good friends from high school that I haven’t seen in a while, and a natural history museum that was also a library, and a boy trying to kiss me out of the blue in the museum. Hilarious. It also involved crowds of people and getting lost. But it is more jumbled than the other dream.

Enough about my dreams, let’s move on to real life. Yesterday Elizabeth and were running on the trail, we ran 7 miles, and it was getting sort of dark at the end of our run. So we were running really fast. And we were singing to our respective ipods. Out loud. We were trying to ignore the fact that it was getting dark and we were really into our runs. Well, these two guys on bikes come up behind us and basically ride along and listen to us sing for a while. Gah. I’m sure they thought we were really hot. But they did make sure that we made it to our car safely which was sweet.

I got to hang out with my precious friend Molly last night and make a new friend Lindsey. It was really fun. I ate enough mexican food to choke a small horse. It was awesome. I wish I had some right now. There is nothing better than catching up with an old friend over cheese dip and huge draft beers.

Did I mention that I find out whether or not I passed the bar exam today? Cross your fingers. I’ve never had so much invested in a test in my life and I’m not sure I’ve ever straight up failed something, so if I fail, I might need someone to scrap me up off the concrete. But then again, it is only a test and I’ll get it next time if I don’t get it this time. Geeze.

Also, I’m going to the NYC tonight! Get excited! I can’t wait. Libby, Jennifer, Maggie, Cristi and I are going to be the Deal or No Deal girls for halloween. We are going to a party tomorrow night. Libby mentioned this to her boss, and her boss mentioned it to someone that works at NBC (libby works for a media corporation), and yesterday NBC sent Libby over 5 Deal or No Deal Briefcases for us to use in our costumes! HOW AWESOME IS THAT! Here is a picture –

If you are going to be in the City this weekend – hit me on the cell piece. Kisses.

Posted in Dreams, Favorite People, ridiculousness, Studying for the Bar, Thoughts | 2 Comments »

Reviews

October 18, 2006 by charlsiekate

I just got finished reading Through Painted Deserts – Light, God and Beauty on the Open Road, by Donald Miller. I loved it. Thought it was amazing. I’ve read Miller’s other books, Blue Like Jazz and Searching for God Knows What. I think he is a gifted writer who speaks to his audience in a sincere voice that has a tone of understanding. He is honest about the difficulties of religion and the world at large. He is the kind of author that when you finish reading his book you wish he was a personal friend. I don’t feel like that terribly often. I like to give his books away as gifts. I can never find my copy of his books cause I have a tendency to loan them out and never get them back. Shocker. Through Painted Deserts is the story of him and his friend traveling across the country in a VW bus. Hilarious, thoughtful, and endearing.

I have been listening to Amos Lee’s new album – Supply and Demand. I like Amos Lee a lot. I was first introduced to his music by Betsy – who tried to make me listen to him for a long time before I finally stopped being stubborn and realized that he is awesome. I prefer his more upbeat songs, but a couple of his slower songs are great as well. Betsy really likes Southern Girl – which I also support. I think my favorite song is Sympathize. There are a couple of songs available on Myspace – HERE.

OHH, and my friends Charles and David have started a band called Lady Antebellum, and I was listening to their new music on myspace and I am impressed. These boys are so talented and sweet and awesome, I’m really proud of them for chasing their dreams. I don’t think they have an album out yet – but they have quite a few songs available on myspace. They have my stamp of approval. Go LISTEN.

The only other thing I’m worried about today is what kind of halloween cookies I want to make. Sugar cookies of course, but what shape? Punkins? I’m thinking Punkins. Dipped orange with green butter cream icing stems. GAH. Decisions are so tough, cause, ghosts can be so cute too. Or should I make cupcakes? Cookies are probably easier to transport. Hmmmm…..

Posted in Books, Food and Drink, Music | 2 Comments »

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