... so I was at my town's fireworks show last night. Got there at 7:00ish with some friends and playmates and pizza and hidden wine and listened to the DJ until it finally got dark enough for fireworks.
Has anyone else has heard a remix of Michael Jackson's Thriller and Journey's Don't Stop Believing? I mean, I am thinking the DJ is some sort of weird, 80's obsessed genius, but it could be a common club remix for all I know.
Anyway, imagine the signature music of Thriller with the lyrics
Just a small town girl, livin in a lonely world
She took the midnight train goin anywhere
Just a city boy, born and raised in south Detroit
He took the midnight train goin anywhere
A singer in a smokey room
A smell of wine and cheap perfume
For a smile they can share the night
It goes on and on and on and on
... if you can't imagine it, I can't blame you. Had I read this post on someone else's blog, I would have have been completely incapable of reconciling the melodies in my head.
Suffice it to say, it worked well.
____________________
Now that song is stuck in your head... isn't it?
Don't stop believing.... Streetlight people...
Lawyer, mommy, wife... not necessarily in that order. Blogging about law, life, and little fish since 2006.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
MILP #52
One New Duck has posted the new round-up.
The theme is as funny as a fart in church.
(Yes, I found the cliche finder!)
Next week, back here.
The theme is as funny as a fart in church.
(Yes, I found the cliche finder!)
Next week, back here.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Bare arms
Long ago and far away, I taught the Constitution to middle school students. I had my students put together skits about the different Amendments. Contemporaneously, there was a controversy about the school dress-code -- short length, belts/no dropped drawers, and no strappy tanktops or strapless tops.
So it came as no surprise that the girls who did the Second Amendment skit cast a little blonde girl as arguing with the principal about her right to "bare arms." There was maybe one sentence at the end of the skit about what the Amendment really meant, and I am inclined to think no one remembers that part.
But I figured, it was Texas. Those kids already knew.
And though I haven't read the opinion yet, I imagine Scalia had a pretty good handle on it too.
So it came as no surprise that the girls who did the Second Amendment skit cast a little blonde girl as arguing with the principal about her right to "bare arms." There was maybe one sentence at the end of the skit about what the Amendment really meant, and I am inclined to think no one remembers that part.
But I figured, it was Texas. Those kids already knew.
And though I haven't read the opinion yet, I imagine Scalia had a pretty good handle on it too.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Footwear
Let me set the record straight on Crocs for those who were not already aware of these facts: Crocs are ugly. Crocs are stupid-looking. Crocs remind me of all that is frumpy in this world. I never wanted to own a pair so I could continue to look down upon those that wore them.
When tried on my husband's Crocs, it was just to run out to the mailbox on a wet day. I swear.
I now own a pair of Crocs. Light blue, a sort-of-neutral that goes with most of my casual wear.
They are super-comfy and apparently appropriate summer footwear for anyplace but work.
And I love them.
*hangs head in shame*
_____________________
I apparently sign onto footwear fads late. Recall the recent discovery of Uggs.
When tried on my husband's Crocs, it was just to run out to the mailbox on a wet day. I swear.
I now own a pair of Crocs. Light blue, a sort-of-neutral that goes with most of my casual wear.
They are super-comfy and apparently appropriate summer footwear for anyplace but work.
And I love them.
*hangs head in shame*
_____________________
I apparently sign onto footwear fads late. Recall the recent discovery of Uggs.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
T-shirt
Clownfish playing with dragons at a children's museum, telling a long tale about them . . . anyone who has ever been around an almost-four-year old knows exactly what I mean. . .
Clownfish: . . . and the dragon is wearing a t-shirt . . .
Bullshark: What kind of t-shirt? Solid? Striped? What color?
Butterflyfish: He's wearing one of those black t-shirts with an ironic saying.
Bullshark: What would a dragon's t-shirt say?
Butterflyfish: "I didn't start the fire."
* * *
Edited to add the conversation that ensued after I posted this:
Bullshark: No one is going to get that.
Butterflyfish: Regular readers know I am a Billy Joel fan.
Bullshark: (A) You have a lot of faith in these so-called regular readers, assuming they exist and (B) It's still not that funny.
Clownfish: . . . and the dragon is wearing a t-shirt . . .
Bullshark: What kind of t-shirt? Solid? Striped? What color?
Butterflyfish: He's wearing one of those black t-shirts with an ironic saying.
Bullshark: What would a dragon's t-shirt say?
Butterflyfish: "I didn't start the fire."
* * *
Edited to add the conversation that ensued after I posted this:
Bullshark: No one is going to get that.
Butterflyfish: Regular readers know I am a Billy Joel fan.
Bullshark: (A) You have a lot of faith in these so-called regular readers, assuming they exist and (B) It's still not that funny.
MILP #51
It's up at Pt-Lawmom. Click here.
Next week, at A New Duck. Then back here.
The Weekly MILP (Moms In the Legal Profession) Roundup is hosted on a rotating basis between PT-LawMom, A New Duck, and A Little Fish in Law School blogs. We originally rounded up just the moms in law school, but then discovered they eventually graduate. So now all the moms in the legal field are represented.
Next week, at A New Duck. Then back here.
The Weekly MILP (Moms In the Legal Profession) Roundup is hosted on a rotating basis between PT-LawMom, A New Duck, and A Little Fish in Law School blogs. We originally rounded up just the moms in law school, but then discovered they eventually graduate. So now all the moms in the legal field are represented.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
At least "cog" is a word
Clownfish: Why do I have to go to school?
Me: So you can learn and be smart and not an uneducated couch potato.
Clownfish: Why do I have to learn?
Me: So you can . . . spell things. Like you can spell your name, but you can't spell important things like dog and cat and chicken.
Clownfish: I can spell cat! And dog! I can! D-A-T! Cat!
Me: mmmm. . . that's not quite right.
Clownfish: *sighs* Ok, I'll go to school.
Me: So you can learn and be smart and not an uneducated couch potato.
Clownfish: Why do I have to learn?
Me: So you can . . . spell things. Like you can spell your name, but you can't spell important things like dog and cat and chicken.
Clownfish: I can spell cat! And dog! I can! D-A-T! Cat!
Me: mmmm. . . that's not quite right.
Clownfish: *sighs* Ok, I'll go to school.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Research fail and dumb luck
I always feel as if my research skills are inadequate. I wrote a Note that's getting published, which required a shit-ton of research. (Shit-ton is an actual unit of measure and the approximate number of 'free' Westlaw pages that I printed in the process of writing my Note was 1.3 shit-tons.) I did an externship that was all research and writing, and that helped too.
But I always feel as if I could be more efficient.
Friday was one of those days -- my boss told me to find a lower court case that he knew was out there which held X. It was related to an issue I had researched before; I was pretty well versed in the cases, so I figured finding the one case that stood for this proposition wouldn't be too bad a task. I searched and read and skimmed and searched and read some more. I refined and re-searched. And concluded the case does not exist. I told my boss, he said he knew the case existed, so-and-so told him so, and I had to find it. I looked again.
I left Friday feeling completely dejected. I never did find it. This is but one example of a task I was given this summer that made me feel as if I had a FAIL tattoo on my forehead.
I know most people feel this way sometimes. I know I am often given tasks that others tried to research and discovered once they discovered it was not a straightforward question after all. But I still hate going back with the answer that "The law says X and Y but I can't find anything to directly support (or counter) proposition Z."
Today I had an accidental coup, however. I was given a copy of a draft of a pre-1900 lower court case that a partner wanted the final version of. He assumed it would require a trip to the state archives or something and had really no idea how to even suggest I go about finding it. I had party names and a year, so I knew a few avenues I was going to try come morning and wasn't particularly intimidated by the task. But it was 5:45 and I was heading out when I got the assignment. But, just for giggles, I checked Westlaw before I left.
And . . . I found it.
Turns out it had been appealed to the state Supreme Court and it was a published case. Partner was overjoyed because the Supreme Court had come out in the way he had hoped the Superior Court case had.
_______________________________________
It's like losing a Knut and finding a Galleon, isn't it?
But I always feel as if I could be more efficient.
Friday was one of those days -- my boss told me to find a lower court case that he knew was out there which held X. It was related to an issue I had researched before; I was pretty well versed in the cases, so I figured finding the one case that stood for this proposition wouldn't be too bad a task. I searched and read and skimmed and searched and read some more. I refined and re-searched. And concluded the case does not exist. I told my boss, he said he knew the case existed, so-and-so told him so, and I had to find it. I looked again.
I left Friday feeling completely dejected. I never did find it. This is but one example of a task I was given this summer that made me feel as if I had a FAIL tattoo on my forehead.
I know most people feel this way sometimes. I know I am often given tasks that others tried to research and discovered once they discovered it was not a straightforward question after all. But I still hate going back with the answer that "The law says X and Y but I can't find anything to directly support (or counter) proposition Z."
Today I had an accidental coup, however. I was given a copy of a draft of a pre-1900 lower court case that a partner wanted the final version of. He assumed it would require a trip to the state archives or something and had really no idea how to even suggest I go about finding it. I had party names and a year, so I knew a few avenues I was going to try come morning and wasn't particularly intimidated by the task. But it was 5:45 and I was heading out when I got the assignment. But, just for giggles, I checked Westlaw before I left.
And . . . I found it.
Turns out it had been appealed to the state Supreme Court and it was a published case. Partner was overjoyed because the Supreme Court had come out in the way he had hoped the Superior Court case had.
_______________________________________
It's like losing a Knut and finding a Galleon, isn't it?
Sunday, June 15, 2008
MILP #50: The Songs of Summer Edition
Welcome to the Weekly MILP (Moms In the Legal Profession) Roundup. It is hosted on a rotating basis between PT-LawMom, A New Duck, and A Little Fish in Law School blogs. We originally rounded up just the moms in law school, but then discovered they eventually graduate. So now all the moms in the legal field are represented.
We aim for Sunday posts. Next week, it'll be back at PT-LawMom's place.
This week, it is summertime, but that doesn't mean the living is always easy:*
"Hot Hot Hot," Buster Poindexter -- Andrea at PeanutButter Burrito and Zuska are just that hot.
"My humps"** Fergie/Black Eyed Peas. Lawyermama. One word: MOOBS!
"Groovin'," the Young Rascals -- Law school mom with a flexible work schedule
"I Can See Clearly Now," Johnny Nash. One New Duck. (You and Duckling are gonna make it.)
"Let's Go Crazy," Prince. Legally Certifiable. Let's get cats!
"Locomotion," Little Eva. GoogieBaba. A story that, when read with this soundtrack, is even funnier.
"Born To Run," Bruce Springsteen -- Lawmummy finds that when a week like that ends, its best to leave it there.
"Margaritaville," Jimmy Buffett. Pt-Lawmom. Don't drink and drug.
"Saturday in the Park," Chicago. Lag Liv (It's Chicago . . . get it?)
"School's Out," Alice Cooper. Magic Cookie but CM is still learning.
"Summertime," DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince -- Yaya Rolly says being a Lawmom = bar study break.
"One Week," Barenaked Ladies. Shelley is one week into her new job.
Gratuitous Baby Shots and snippets of cuteness:
"Boys of Summer," Don Henley -- ALB, Landon, Sumo, Clownfish
"Brown-Eyed Girl," Van Morrison -- Becca. (Technically, I don't know her eye color. Maybe I should have gone with California Girls?)
Footnotes and other things:
* The list of summer songs themselves were suggested by google searches of summer songs. I regret I couldn't work in all the great songs I found. Maybe I'll do Summer Songs II later this season.
** Although I prefer the plaintive Alannis Morissette's parodic version of "My Humps". . . here on youtube. (Stick it out at least to "what ya gonna do with all that junk. . . ." It's awesome.)
__________________________
If you’d like to have your blog added to the MILP blogroll for weekly review or would like us to consider a specific post, drop the hostess(es) an email or leave a comment at our sites.
Expecting Moms in law school are welcome!
Hat tip as always to the “original” Roundup — Evan Schaeffer’s Legal Underground and Divine Angst.
And of course, to the founder of this round-up, Saramel (retired).
We aim for Sunday posts. Next week, it'll be back at PT-LawMom's place.
This week, it is summertime, but that doesn't mean the living is always easy:*
"Hot Hot Hot," Buster Poindexter -- Andrea at PeanutButter Burrito and Zuska are just that hot.
"My humps"** Fergie/Black Eyed Peas. Lawyermama. One word: MOOBS!
"Groovin'," the Young Rascals -- Law school mom with a flexible work schedule
"I Can See Clearly Now," Johnny Nash. One New Duck. (You and Duckling are gonna make it.)
"Let's Go Crazy," Prince. Legally Certifiable. Let's get cats!
"Locomotion," Little Eva. GoogieBaba. A story that, when read with this soundtrack, is even funnier.
"Born To Run," Bruce Springsteen -- Lawmummy finds that when a week like that ends, its best to leave it there.
"Margaritaville," Jimmy Buffett. Pt-Lawmom. Don't drink and drug.
"Saturday in the Park," Chicago. Lag Liv (It's Chicago . . . get it?)
"School's Out," Alice Cooper. Magic Cookie but CM is still learning.
"Summertime," DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince -- Yaya Rolly says being a Lawmom = bar study break.
"One Week," Barenaked Ladies. Shelley is one week into her new job.
Gratuitous Baby Shots and snippets of cuteness:
"Boys of Summer," Don Henley -- ALB, Landon, Sumo, Clownfish
"Brown-Eyed Girl," Van Morrison -- Becca. (Technically, I don't know her eye color. Maybe I should have gone with California Girls?)
Footnotes and other things:
* The list of summer songs themselves were suggested by google searches of summer songs. I regret I couldn't work in all the great songs I found. Maybe I'll do Summer Songs II later this season.
** Although I prefer the plaintive Alannis Morissette's parodic version of "My Humps". . . here on youtube. (Stick it out at least to "what ya gonna do with all that junk. . . ." It's awesome.)
__________________________
If you’d like to have your blog added to the MILP blogroll for weekly review or would like us to consider a specific post, drop the hostess(es) an email or leave a comment at our sites.
Expecting Moms in law school are welcome!
Hat tip as always to the “original” Roundup — Evan Schaeffer’s Legal Underground and Divine Angst.
And of course, to the founder of this round-up, Saramel (retired).
Friday, June 13, 2008
ClearBlue Easy
My sister is pregnant. Her best friend is pregnant. My best friend is pregnant.
Good news is I discovered how I end up torturing myself each month. Every month I spend about three to four days quietly excited that my period is late. Then I get it. This is probably something I should have figured out a long time ago, but I don't work on a 28 day cycle. Its more like 32 days.
Anyway, another negative.
Good news is I discovered how I end up torturing myself each month. Every month I spend about three to four days quietly excited that my period is late. Then I get it. This is probably something I should have figured out a long time ago, but I don't work on a 28 day cycle. Its more like 32 days.
Anyway, another negative.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Getting too cute around here
Overheard at my house:
"Papa you're not paying attention. You're a mountain and mountains don't talk."
"Mommy you're the best. I love you."
"I'm not a treasure. Do you see any gold on me?"
"Not right now, I am busy working on my computer."
Context ruins everything:
Bullshark tried to engage in conversation with me while serving as a jungle gym for Clownfish.
I had just given him a cookie.
Talking about pirate treasure puzzle, when Bullshark got sentimental and called Clownfish his treasure.
Methinks he has learned a bad lesson here. Oh, and its a Thomas the Tank Engine "computer."
"Papa you're not paying attention. You're a mountain and mountains don't talk."
"Mommy you're the best. I love you."
"I'm not a treasure. Do you see any gold on me?"
"Not right now, I am busy working on my computer."
Context ruins everything:
Bullshark tried to engage in conversation with me while serving as a jungle gym for Clownfish.
I had just given him a cookie.
Talking about pirate treasure puzzle, when Bullshark got sentimental and called Clownfish his treasure.
Methinks he has learned a bad lesson here. Oh, and its a Thomas the Tank Engine "computer."
Sunday, June 08, 2008
MILP Roundup #49
Round Up #49 is here.
Announcing the arrival of the first ONE NEW DUCK Roundup. And she went all literary.
Back here next week.
(Moms in the Legal Profession, Moms in the Legal Field, Moms in Law School. . . . whatever you call us, we're awesome.)
Announcing the arrival of the first ONE NEW DUCK Roundup. And she went all literary.
Back here next week.
(Moms in the Legal Profession, Moms in the Legal Field, Moms in Law School. . . . whatever you call us, we're awesome.)
Friday, June 06, 2008
Noone said there would be math
I am finally in the computer system now so I have to track my time officially in the computer instead of just on paper. Spent some time today backlogging the last two weeks. Hard to get used to the 6 minute intervals -- like I put down "Conference -- 10 minutes" on my sheet. Is that billed as .1 hours or .2? I'm sure I'll get used to it. Soon I'll be dividing every aspect of my life into six minute intervals. I'll develop a knack for finishing tasks like interoffice correspondence precisely on the 12 minute mark. I'll be able to squeeze into six minutes flat a bathroom break, a run down for tea, a friendly chat with a coworker so as to not appear anti-social, and a brisk walk around outside to refresh before slogging away for another two hours. I'll bet I can even work in some crocheting if the bathroom break if brief enough.
At some point, Clownfish will hear me say: "All right, you can play for .2 more hours, but then its bedtime."
This blog post took exactly .1 hours. And today is 6/6. And I adjusted the time so this post will publish at 6:06 A.M. That's a lot of sixes.
Law is the devil.
At some point, Clownfish will hear me say: "All right, you can play for .2 more hours, but then its bedtime."
This blog post took exactly .1 hours. And today is 6/6. And I adjusted the time so this post will publish at 6:06 A.M. That's a lot of sixes.
Law is the devil.
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Notes from work club
I am amazed at the pace I am working this summer. I keep getting mini-research assignments -- the kind that can be answered with short 3-5 page memos and completed in about four hours. In between, I am working on a motion I have to have done by close-of-business today. As a result I have already seen quite a few areas of law -- including franchise law, premises liability, medicare/medicaid, municipal contract damages. And I've worked at every level of a case -- causes of action for a potential client, information for settlement negotiations, litigation in the discovery phase. You get the idea.
I am having a helluva good time.
I am having a helluva good time.
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
Oh the horrors
My friend's status message on AIM: Caillou's a pansy (Butterflyfish will understand).
Oh, I do, friend. I do.
As Tranny Head pointed out, the Sprout Channel's parade of horribles can leave a mother scratching her tranny head. But apparently it has not yet driven her to drink. She mentioned the atrocity that is the Teletubbies.
But she did not mention the crime against humanity that is Boobah.
The characters don't even make the semi-intelligble speech of a Teletubby. And there is no narrator. They just squee. Children blow presents into a vortex of light and dance in cirlces on video loop. Then they play the video slow and fast and in reverse. Don't even get me started on the story time people. *shudder*
I thought I had seen the worst children's programming had to offer.
Then my son discovered Yo Gabba Gabba.
I don't have words. I just don't have them.
Fortunately, Youtube can talk for me: Party in my tummy. Watch an animated chicken nugget swim in purple juice while a monster with overlong arms sings "So yummy! So yummy!" Most everything else on Youtube is a mashup so I can't give you anything with the dude who hosts the show. He's frightening in a way that the dude who temporarily replaced Nina Sprout Goodnight Show can only aspire to be.
*shudder*
______________________________
I seriously underestimated the creepiness factor.
Oh, I do, friend. I do.
As Tranny Head pointed out, the Sprout Channel's parade of horribles can leave a mother scratching her tranny head. But apparently it has not yet driven her to drink. She mentioned the atrocity that is the Teletubbies.
But she did not mention the crime against humanity that is Boobah.
The characters don't even make the semi-intelligble speech of a Teletubby. And there is no narrator. They just squee. Children blow presents into a vortex of light and dance in cirlces on video loop. Then they play the video slow and fast and in reverse. Don't even get me started on the story time people. *shudder*
I thought I had seen the worst children's programming had to offer.
Then my son discovered Yo Gabba Gabba.
I don't have words. I just don't have them.
Fortunately, Youtube can talk for me: Party in my tummy. Watch an animated chicken nugget swim in purple juice while a monster with overlong arms sings "So yummy! So yummy!" Most everything else on Youtube is a mashup so I can't give you anything with the dude who hosts the show. He's frightening in a way that the dude who temporarily replaced Nina Sprout Goodnight Show can only aspire to be.
*shudder*
______________________________
I seriously underestimated the creepiness factor.
Monday, June 02, 2008
MILP Round-up #48
Not a typo. MILP. Moms in the Legal Profession.
Its up at PtLawmom's.
NEWS:
The Round-up is pleased to announce we've found a third blogger -- A New Duck has agreed to join us. Woo hoo!
Next week, the MILP Roundup will be hosted by New Duck.
As explained by Pt-Lawmom:
As you can see from the name change, the MILS Roundup is now the MILP Roundup. It was hard enough to not include Zuska, Certifiable, LawMummy, Shelley and others over the past year. The idea of losing Lag Liv, New Duck, Andrea, [CM, Tranny Head] etc., to graduation was too hard to bear. Fortunately New Duck has offered to be a third blogger and we have decided to change the name to Moms in the Legal Profession roundup.
This is presuming these folks will blog beyond law school -- many give it up. But so long as they're out there, fighting for work-life balance while dealing with lawyer hair and spit up and tween drama, we'll round 'em up.
Its up at PtLawmom's.
NEWS:
The Round-up is pleased to announce we've found a third blogger -- A New Duck has agreed to join us. Woo hoo!
Next week, the MILP Roundup will be hosted by New Duck.
As explained by Pt-Lawmom:
As you can see from the name change, the MILS Roundup is now the MILP Roundup. It was hard enough to not include Zuska, Certifiable, LawMummy, Shelley and others over the past year. The idea of losing Lag Liv, New Duck, Andrea, [CM, Tranny Head] etc., to graduation was too hard to bear. Fortunately New Duck has offered to be a third blogger and we have decided to change the name to Moms in the Legal Profession roundup.
This is presuming these folks will blog beyond law school -- many give it up. But so long as they're out there, fighting for work-life balance while dealing with lawyer hair and spit up and tween drama, we'll round 'em up.
Sunday, June 01, 2008
Not fair
On my right cheek, I have one of those painful, ingrown zits that can't decide whether or not it want to erupt. Its been there since Friday. No amount of zit cream or (on the advice of a friend) toothpaste on my face overnight has made it go away.
I've always had really good skin, with the occasional time-of-the-month blemishes and that's it.
Lately, I've had random unexplained breakouts.
One is not supposed to develop acne and wrinkles at the same time.
I've always had really good skin, with the occasional time-of-the-month blemishes and that's it.
Lately, I've had random unexplained breakouts.
One is not supposed to develop acne and wrinkles at the same time.
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