Long stretch of classes for me this week. Usually I have 3 classes "in a row" so to speak (one is a morning class that takes place the day after my evening class). This week I also have a 4th make-up class to being with. Ugh. At least the make-up class was for an *excellent* course and I enjoyed it, notwithstanding the 9am start.
In other news, the ex (from last year) has reinitiated contact. Chances are I'll go with her to see the new Hitchhiker's movie when it comes out at the end of April. I think I'm at least somewhat masochistic. A good friend of mine merely said I wasnt vindictive but I'm betting masochism plays into this as well. How can it not?
Though, for the record, I think I'm also a little sadistic. I don't know that it balances, probably masochism wins out. Still, the sadistic side rears its head occasionally to excellent effect.
As the title intimates, I had thoughts of a post-apocalyptic nature recently. I just finished watching (again) the movie Reign of Fire. There, we have Christian Bale & Matthew McConaughey in a dragon-infested, post-apocalyptic world. Plus, last night's Family Guy episode on Comedy Central was the Y2k one where Peter founds New Quahog after Y2k destroys life as they know it. Both had me thinking..
Were you to be in charge of organizing and setting up a new, post-apocalyptic society, how would you go about it? What would you do?
Me? I would establish a (my, possibly) leadership. Then you pick a direction, a goal. Chances are we'd need to get our hands on some guns for protection. We'd also need to establish some reasonable expectations of labor and progress along with some notions of punishment. Some form of control though one unlike or, at least, less policing intensive than what we have nowadays. I'd also make knowledge a strongly stressed subject. Library books, expertise, knowledgeable persons, those assets are the greatest of all. With knowledge, almost anything can be accomplished, even rebuilding and reconstruction. It'd be tricky, for sure. However, with a few guiding lights, it would be possible and at least moderately (at least temporarily) successful.
Other movies and television series spring to mind. Jeremiah (series). The Terminator movies (especially Terminator 3). Stephen King's The Langoliers (made-for-tv movie). Battlestar Galactica (series). Road Warrior & Mad Max. I know there are others but they're not coming to mind as yet.
Anyways, 'tis a fun gedanken experimenten.
Tuesday, April 12, 2005
Top Ten Laws I Want To See Enacted
10. Free coffee before 10am for law students.
9. Law school siesta from 3pm to 5pm. Free beer supplied on-campus during this time.
8. Free coffee after 10am for law students.
7. As an option to the coffee, Peach Diet Snapple will also be available.
6. All paper requirements for graduation and courses shall be null and void.
5. The temperature shall remain a steady 60 degrees Fahrenheit with light, if any, wind. The sun shall shine as well.
4. World of Warcraft shall be deemed an addictive stimulant, though legal. However, smoking is illegal if undertaken within 50 feet of my person.
3. There shall be established a new law school course. The course requirement is to attend a different movie every week in the movie theaters. There is no discussion requirement, paper requirement or final exam. Mere attendance shall suffice. This is a seminar and, hence, will not carry the B-median.
2. The Federal Tax course is now null and void.
1. Third year students expecting to graduate shortly shall be exempt from everything.
9. Law school siesta from 3pm to 5pm. Free beer supplied on-campus during this time.
8. Free coffee after 10am for law students.
7. As an option to the coffee, Peach Diet Snapple will also be available.
6. All paper requirements for graduation and courses shall be null and void.
5. The temperature shall remain a steady 60 degrees Fahrenheit with light, if any, wind. The sun shall shine as well.
4. World of Warcraft shall be deemed an addictive stimulant, though legal. However, smoking is illegal if undertaken within 50 feet of my person.
3. There shall be established a new law school course. The course requirement is to attend a different movie every week in the movie theaters. There is no discussion requirement, paper requirement or final exam. Mere attendance shall suffice. This is a seminar and, hence, will not carry the B-median.
2. The Federal Tax course is now null and void.
1. Third year students expecting to graduate shortly shall be exempt from everything.
Friday, April 08, 2005
"Live fast, [love hard], and leave a beautiful corpse."
I substitute [love hard] for "die young" since the latter never seemed all that appealing to me.
First, the genesis of this post. As may happen, I was searching for a post topic. (You think these things just write themselves?!?!?) Be that as it may, I returned a phone call to The Girl. See last night, while I was otherwise indisposed *cough*playingmygame*cough* The Girl called and left me a voicemail, inquiring about a movie-theater-watching tonight. When I spoke with her today, she told me her grandfather had died last night. T'was a very brief coversation but the short and dirty version is she's now busy so (obviously) no movie & maybe I'll hear from her in a week or so. Sounds about right. Hence, my thoughts turn to more morbid musings.
As I posted here long ago, my personal experience on this front is with my dad, who died a little over 4 years ago. I remember all of that time very well, as I expect I shall for the rest of my life. Being Jewish, the funeral was 2 days after he died, friends & family etc. No wake. Sitting shiva for the following week.
Two things 'bothered' me about the whole thing. First, one week is a long time to publicly grieve and be grieving. At some point you just want that part to end and things to go on as normal as they can. Second, I highly disliked the phrases and words people offered. I know it was all meant to be supportive and as 'helpful' as possible but I found them to be more disconcerting than anything else. Lots of apologies, since there's really not much you can say. "I'm sorry..." But the words don't really mesh with the sentiment. You're sorry he's dead, ok fine, but don't 'faux-apologize' to me. For my part, I refused to 'thank' anyone for their words. When they offered them, I nodded or said something noncommittal. Never "thank you" because I didn't want to thank them for my dad's death. I know it's very odd logic (or perhaps an odd lack thereof) but that was my view and I stick to it.
In response to my latter view, the words I offer are rather limited. "I'm sorry to hear that" or the like. "My deepest condolences." also works. And I don't poke or prod too much about it. And I myself feel a bit disconcerted in having to deal with other people's grief. I never quite know how they feel or what sort of reaction is their preferred one so I play it neutral and calm, somewhat dispassionate but hopefully not cold or insensitive. I don't think I'm all that squemish about death but it's just I don't know how much "coddling" others want (or don't want) and what exactly my role in that should be. ::shrug::
My last thought for this post -- If you were to die now, would you have any regrets and would you care if you did? Me, I don't think I'd have any. I'm pretty satisfied, thus far, with what I've done and where I've been. I haven't done anything truly amazing though I've had a great number of memorable and interesting experiences. Where I am is fine and I haven't done anything I'm truly ashamed of (I think..). Personally, I think it's important to live life as you wish to, within the confines and limits you accept, so that you are content and have no serious regrets. Sure there are things I would like to do and experience but I learned long ago that you don't always get what you'd like. It's a bit fatalistic but you get what you get or you get what you've earned for yourself. Varying definitions in here but the sentiment is the same. And I don't have any qualms as far as I can delineate.
So please pardon the morbidness of this post. For my part, I don't feel particular morbid at the moment and I honestly don't consider this post to be all that morbid. (How many times can I use the base "morbid" in one paragraph?)
I can remember one particular night as a kid, somewhere between ages 7 and 12, where I "realized" we all die and I ran downstairs to my parents. I cried for a bit before going back up to bed. Sometime after that, I think I got used to the idea. I don't think Death frightens me per se or that I truly fear it. That's not to say that I don't want to live if at all possible and will try to continue living. No, rather just that the concept doesn't do all that much for me.
It's there, somewhere in the future, for all of us, but if that's all we know then why let it bother us at all? Hey, at least it'll have been a good run. What more can you ask for?
First, the genesis of this post. As may happen, I was searching for a post topic. (You think these things just write themselves?!?!?) Be that as it may, I returned a phone call to The Girl. See last night, while I was otherwise indisposed *cough*playingmygame*cough* The Girl called and left me a voicemail, inquiring about a movie-theater-watching tonight. When I spoke with her today, she told me her grandfather had died last night. T'was a very brief coversation but the short and dirty version is she's now busy so (obviously) no movie & maybe I'll hear from her in a week or so. Sounds about right. Hence, my thoughts turn to more morbid musings.
As I posted here long ago, my personal experience on this front is with my dad, who died a little over 4 years ago. I remember all of that time very well, as I expect I shall for the rest of my life. Being Jewish, the funeral was 2 days after he died, friends & family etc. No wake. Sitting shiva for the following week.
Two things 'bothered' me about the whole thing. First, one week is a long time to publicly grieve and be grieving. At some point you just want that part to end and things to go on as normal as they can. Second, I highly disliked the phrases and words people offered. I know it was all meant to be supportive and as 'helpful' as possible but I found them to be more disconcerting than anything else. Lots of apologies, since there's really not much you can say. "I'm sorry..." But the words don't really mesh with the sentiment. You're sorry he's dead, ok fine, but don't 'faux-apologize' to me. For my part, I refused to 'thank' anyone for their words. When they offered them, I nodded or said something noncommittal. Never "thank you" because I didn't want to thank them for my dad's death. I know it's very odd logic (or perhaps an odd lack thereof) but that was my view and I stick to it.
In response to my latter view, the words I offer are rather limited. "I'm sorry to hear that" or the like. "My deepest condolences." also works. And I don't poke or prod too much about it. And I myself feel a bit disconcerted in having to deal with other people's grief. I never quite know how they feel or what sort of reaction is their preferred one so I play it neutral and calm, somewhat dispassionate but hopefully not cold or insensitive. I don't think I'm all that squemish about death but it's just I don't know how much "coddling" others want (or don't want) and what exactly my role in that should be. ::shrug::
My last thought for this post -- If you were to die now, would you have any regrets and would you care if you did? Me, I don't think I'd have any. I'm pretty satisfied, thus far, with what I've done and where I've been. I haven't done anything truly amazing though I've had a great number of memorable and interesting experiences. Where I am is fine and I haven't done anything I'm truly ashamed of (I think..). Personally, I think it's important to live life as you wish to, within the confines and limits you accept, so that you are content and have no serious regrets. Sure there are things I would like to do and experience but I learned long ago that you don't always get what you'd like. It's a bit fatalistic but you get what you get or you get what you've earned for yourself. Varying definitions in here but the sentiment is the same. And I don't have any qualms as far as I can delineate.
So please pardon the morbidness of this post. For my part, I don't feel particular morbid at the moment and I honestly don't consider this post to be all that morbid. (How many times can I use the base "morbid" in one paragraph?)
I can remember one particular night as a kid, somewhere between ages 7 and 12, where I "realized" we all die and I ran downstairs to my parents. I cried for a bit before going back up to bed. Sometime after that, I think I got used to the idea. I don't think Death frightens me per se or that I truly fear it. That's not to say that I don't want to live if at all possible and will try to continue living. No, rather just that the concept doesn't do all that much for me.
It's there, somewhere in the future, for all of us, but if that's all we know then why let it bother us at all? Hey, at least it'll have been a good run. What more can you ask for?
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
"Oh What A Beautiful Morning!"
"Oh what a beautiful day..."
I absolutely love these mornings. You step outside into the soft, early light. It's a bit chilly, Spring on the air, yet you know that the day will warm up and become oh so nice by mid-day, early-afternoon. Birds sing their hearts out, the various songs lightly floating on the air. The sun shines down, soft still in the morning, poking through and around what few puffy clouds roam the skies. The day itself is lazy but not Summer-lazy, Spring-lazy with a hint of anticipation. Everyone is happy that Winter is over and the snow is gone for at least another 6 months. Yet the year is renewing itself and Summer, the supreme break of every year, is still on the way, still in the future.
These are the days.
I absolutely love these mornings. You step outside into the soft, early light. It's a bit chilly, Spring on the air, yet you know that the day will warm up and become oh so nice by mid-day, early-afternoon. Birds sing their hearts out, the various songs lightly floating on the air. The sun shines down, soft still in the morning, poking through and around what few puffy clouds roam the skies. The day itself is lazy but not Summer-lazy, Spring-lazy with a hint of anticipation. Everyone is happy that Winter is over and the snow is gone for at least another 6 months. Yet the year is renewing itself and Summer, the supreme break of every year, is still on the way, still in the future.
These are the days.
Coffee Smugglers 'R Us
Anyone else feel even slightly bad or 'evil' for smuggling coffee into the library in a Dunkin' Donuts non-spill-proof container?
No?
Me neither.
No?
Me neither.
Monday, April 04, 2005
Another Brick in the Wall
Well, I just gave two weeks notice to the firm for which i intern. The school year is winding down (or up in terms of work load) and if the firm isn't going to make me an offer (which they ostensibly will not), there's little reason for me to stay on any longer.
Very short backstory. There were two of us interns, both of whom had worked for the firm for approximately 1.5-1.75 years. The firm made an offer to the other intern who turned them down to work for another firm that had a department for the intern's preferred specialty. The firm did not make me an offer, as noted earlier here on this blog.
Today I did inquire why I was not extended an offer. The reason given was my background. They made an offer to the other intern due to the intern's bio-chem background. At the moment, the firm is seeking an experienced EE (Electrical Engineer) and doesn't have the time (or apparently the desire) to train anyone (namely me). One might argue that I'm actually a decent bargain considering I would take a lower salary and, by virtue of my two years with the firm, have already received a good amount of practical training. My learning curve would be much shallower than an equally unexperienced law school graduate. But nevermind that. Obviously my theory is fundamentally flawed in some nonobvious manner. Obviously.
No, no, my B.A. in Physics and soon-J.D. are not enough for me to get a job with the firm with whom I haveworked interned for two years. Nope. I do need to pass the Patent Bar, without question, but it's difficult for me to believe that I'm non-credentialed to work for the firm with whom I've been an intern. There's just something counterintuitive to that. Something ill-fitting or misplaced.
Also, I've never given two weeks notice before. Only once before did I leave a job before circumstances forced me to (e.g. school, end of summer, end of break). That one time I was temping for a hotel in Stamford. My job was to sit at a desk and look busy while not being caught surfing the web and not reading a (my) book. After 1-3 hours of this, I decided that my time, although otherwise unutilized, was worth more than being paid to do nothing. I called up the Temp Agency and told them I wasn't going back the next day. I'd rather be paid less to actually do something rather than be paid a little more to do nothing and look busy while I do it.
Anyways, in 16 days I am done with the firm. I've learned a great deal. I can research like it's my job, which it will probably be at some point. I know a good deal about various aspects of intellectual property law and feel confident that I am capable of profficiently working in the field. Too bad the firm disagrees with me.
I suppose I'll have to find a firm or law office that doesn't disagree with me. Then I would have a job. And that would probably be a good thing. Because then I could probably afford a new computer. And maybe a new car next year. And I should probably consider paying back my law school loans. And I have some credit card bills that merit attention if not payments. And there's also the BarBri and PMBR fees. Yeah, a job would be a good thing. Probably.
Very short backstory. There were two of us interns, both of whom had worked for the firm for approximately 1.5-1.75 years. The firm made an offer to the other intern who turned them down to work for another firm that had a department for the intern's preferred specialty. The firm did not make me an offer, as noted earlier here on this blog.
Today I did inquire why I was not extended an offer. The reason given was my background. They made an offer to the other intern due to the intern's bio-chem background. At the moment, the firm is seeking an experienced EE (Electrical Engineer) and doesn't have the time (or apparently the desire) to train anyone (namely me). One might argue that I'm actually a decent bargain considering I would take a lower salary and, by virtue of my two years with the firm, have already received a good amount of practical training. My learning curve would be much shallower than an equally unexperienced law school graduate. But nevermind that. Obviously my theory is fundamentally flawed in some nonobvious manner. Obviously.
No, no, my B.A. in Physics and soon-J.D. are not enough for me to get a job with the firm with whom I have
Also, I've never given two weeks notice before. Only once before did I leave a job before circumstances forced me to (e.g. school, end of summer, end of break). That one time I was temping for a hotel in Stamford. My job was to sit at a desk and look busy while not being caught surfing the web and not reading a (my) book. After 1-3 hours of this, I decided that my time, although otherwise unutilized, was worth more than being paid to do nothing. I called up the Temp Agency and told them I wasn't going back the next day. I'd rather be paid less to actually do something rather than be paid a little more to do nothing and look busy while I do it.
Anyways, in 16 days I am done with the firm. I've learned a great deal. I can research like it's my job, which it will probably be at some point. I know a good deal about various aspects of intellectual property law and feel confident that I am capable of profficiently working in the field. Too bad the firm disagrees with me.
I suppose I'll have to find a firm or law office that doesn't disagree with me. Then I would have a job. And that would probably be a good thing. Because then I could probably afford a new computer. And maybe a new car next year. And I should probably consider paying back my law school loans. And I have some credit card bills that merit attention if not payments. And there's also the BarBri and PMBR fees. Yeah, a job would be a good thing. Probably.
O-klahoma!
Last night The Girl & I saw Oklahoma! at the Schubert in New Haven. She'd gotten the tickets about 2 months ago when, I believe at that time, she'd still been together with her ex-fiancee-of-twice. Prior to the show, we had dinner at Hot Tomato's nearby. Good eatin'.
The musical was fantastic! Very well done & very enjoyable! I hadn't seen Oklahoma! before so the plot, characters, etc. were all new to me. Separately, the plot and characters themselves were okay. A bit black & white for my tastes but otherwise good. I mean after all, it's Rogers & Hammerstein so how could it be bad??? If you get a chance to see this production of Oklahoma!, I strongly encourage you to do so.
As for The Girl, I came to a conclusion last night. Namely, I have decided not to pursue things with her. Although a friend of mine, upon hearing my decision, was quick to point out some of the practical reasons this is a good idea, none of those influenced my resolution. Rather it was one thing and one thing only. [And btw, I wasn't going to include the reason here & now but I think I will, no matter that she might read this someday. I feel like I owe you, what few readers I have, the truth or some substantial portion thereof.] Basically, I don't think I'm attracted to her. We get along famously and have a number of common interests. With her I can just go off on one of my many tangents or just shut up and stay quiet. It doesn't matter. And I can entertain her as she can me. But I just don't think it'd work and I'm not one to pursue something merely because I can as opposed to because I want to. That's just not me.
There are other reasons beyond that big one. Things like me graduating (hopefully) in 7 weeks. Bar exam studying thereafter. Post-Bar(s) job TBD. The Girl's dubious history when it comes to relationships (ex-fiancee-of-twice for starters). Again though, those didn't weigh in to my decision or at least not much if at all. And from last night, it felt to me as though were I to pursue something, she would not be nonreceptive. Gotta love the double negatives.
For some reason, I'm not terribly settled at the moment. Either in that decision and/or in the amount of schoolwork I have left to do. I almost had a repeat of my sleepless Friday night last night. Almost just couldn't get to sleep. I think that if I don't start accomplishing things, I'm on my way to a nervous breakdown. I only hope I can do what I need to in order to graduate. I'm fairly sure I can, I have confidence in my abilities. I'm just not sure that I have the requisite self-discipline right now. At this point, I just want things to be over and done with so I don't have to worry any more. But I don't want to do what I must in order to reach that point. Odd dichotomy there. Makes me rather depressed, really. But hey, so it goes.
ADDENDUM: I was going to ask The Girl to the Spring Fling/Carnivale (the law school's Spring semiformal) on April 15 (my birthday nonetheless) but since I have opted not to pursue, I will not be inviting.
It is interesting (a wonderful euphemism for so many things) to recall, and not without some small measure of fondness, the previous two years' Spring semiformals.
First year we had two of them, Carnivale and Spring Fling, in that order. Both were fun though the latter bears a specific mention. It was at that year's Spring Fling that, for the first and only time in my life, I acted as a "wingman" for a friend. I managed to "distract" a friend's female date's attention so that the friend could dally with another maiden that day broken from her previous relationship. When the subject of this female date occasionally arises in conversation with said friend and his now-girlfriend, I cannot help but gloat and beam with pride at my short-lived, though satisfying, career as a wingman.
Second year's Spring Fling/Carnivale (an event with one name, Carnivale, and one connotation, Spring Fling) saw me meet a 1L woman (for in no way could she be called a "girl"). She and I struck up a conversation that lasted from the event, onto the bus and all the way to me walking her home. (Side note: Upon returning to my apt., I found a friend too drunk to drive waiting for me so that he might avail himself of my couch until he and sobriety could reencounter each other, allowing him to drive home.) The then-1L and I went out the following Friday, initiating a 5-7 week relationship which culminated with her ending it. She was the one who was my date for a friend's wedding last October, as mentioned in previous posts. That was the second time in my life that I was in a relationship. Although it was relatively short-lived, I feel as though I learned quite a bit from it and am a little more knowledgeable, if not stronger, for the experience. After the disastrous wedding date, she and I had not communicated until about a week ago when we spoke for 5 minutes in the hall. Believe me when I say there is no desire on my part to even think of reinitiating things with that ex. None at all.
Given the previous years' Spring semiformals, I can only hope that this year's is just as lively and interesting. After all, not only is it the 7th semiformal of my law school career but also my last. ::sniff sniff:: [12:16 PM]
The musical was fantastic! Very well done & very enjoyable! I hadn't seen Oklahoma! before so the plot, characters, etc. were all new to me. Separately, the plot and characters themselves were okay. A bit black & white for my tastes but otherwise good. I mean after all, it's Rogers & Hammerstein so how could it be bad??? If you get a chance to see this production of Oklahoma!, I strongly encourage you to do so.
As for The Girl, I came to a conclusion last night. Namely, I have decided not to pursue things with her. Although a friend of mine, upon hearing my decision, was quick to point out some of the practical reasons this is a good idea, none of those influenced my resolution. Rather it was one thing and one thing only. [And btw, I wasn't going to include the reason here & now but I think I will, no matter that she might read this someday. I feel like I owe you, what few readers I have, the truth or some substantial portion thereof.] Basically, I don't think I'm attracted to her. We get along famously and have a number of common interests. With her I can just go off on one of my many tangents or just shut up and stay quiet. It doesn't matter. And I can entertain her as she can me. But I just don't think it'd work and I'm not one to pursue something merely because I can as opposed to because I want to. That's just not me.
There are other reasons beyond that big one. Things like me graduating (hopefully) in 7 weeks. Bar exam studying thereafter. Post-Bar(s) job TBD. The Girl's dubious history when it comes to relationships (ex-fiancee-of-twice for starters). Again though, those didn't weigh in to my decision or at least not much if at all. And from last night, it felt to me as though were I to pursue something, she would not be nonreceptive. Gotta love the double negatives.
For some reason, I'm not terribly settled at the moment. Either in that decision and/or in the amount of schoolwork I have left to do. I almost had a repeat of my sleepless Friday night last night. Almost just couldn't get to sleep. I think that if I don't start accomplishing things, I'm on my way to a nervous breakdown. I only hope I can do what I need to in order to graduate. I'm fairly sure I can, I have confidence in my abilities. I'm just not sure that I have the requisite self-discipline right now. At this point, I just want things to be over and done with so I don't have to worry any more. But I don't want to do what I must in order to reach that point. Odd dichotomy there. Makes me rather depressed, really. But hey, so it goes.
ADDENDUM: I was going to ask The Girl to the Spring Fling/Carnivale (the law school's Spring semiformal) on April 15 (my birthday nonetheless) but since I have opted not to pursue, I will not be inviting.
It is interesting (a wonderful euphemism for so many things) to recall, and not without some small measure of fondness, the previous two years' Spring semiformals.
First year we had two of them, Carnivale and Spring Fling, in that order. Both were fun though the latter bears a specific mention. It was at that year's Spring Fling that, for the first and only time in my life, I acted as a "wingman" for a friend. I managed to "distract" a friend's female date's attention so that the friend could dally with another maiden that day broken from her previous relationship. When the subject of this female date occasionally arises in conversation with said friend and his now-girlfriend, I cannot help but gloat and beam with pride at my short-lived, though satisfying, career as a wingman.
Second year's Spring Fling/Carnivale (an event with one name, Carnivale, and one connotation, Spring Fling) saw me meet a 1L woman (for in no way could she be called a "girl"). She and I struck up a conversation that lasted from the event, onto the bus and all the way to me walking her home. (Side note: Upon returning to my apt., I found a friend too drunk to drive waiting for me so that he might avail himself of my couch until he and sobriety could reencounter each other, allowing him to drive home.) The then-1L and I went out the following Friday, initiating a 5-7 week relationship which culminated with her ending it. She was the one who was my date for a friend's wedding last October, as mentioned in previous posts. That was the second time in my life that I was in a relationship. Although it was relatively short-lived, I feel as though I learned quite a bit from it and am a little more knowledgeable, if not stronger, for the experience. After the disastrous wedding date, she and I had not communicated until about a week ago when we spoke for 5 minutes in the hall. Believe me when I say there is no desire on my part to even think of reinitiating things with that ex. None at all.
Given the previous years' Spring semiformals, I can only hope that this year's is just as lively and interesting. After all, not only is it the 7th semiformal of my law school career but also my last. ::sniff sniff:: [12:16 PM]
Friday, April 01, 2005
The Past 24 Hours Or So..
..have been odder than usual.
But not much.
I routinely go to sleep late, often between 1 and 2 am or so, rarely before midnight. Last night I tried to go to bed around 2am or so. Only I couldn't fall asleep. For some reason, somehow, and even though I've never had this happen like this before, I couldn't fall asleep. I lay awake in bed for over 1.5 hours. I suspect that I eventually fell asleep for an hour or two (at most) before I woke at 7:30am.
I was supposed to go into work today. Needless to say, I did not. I could not. I know my body moderately well if not very well. I was going to crash. Crash I did, on the sofa, from 10am to 2pm. Out like a light. And back to a 'normal' schedule now, or so I hope. So I hope.
I played my computer game until 5:30pm. During that time I got a phone call. A good phone call. One from The Girl. And as a result, I shall be seeing the musical Oklahoma with her on Sunday. And getting dinner. [time lapse] And I just got off the phone after speaking with her tonight for an hour.
Also, earlier tonight I saw Sin City at the movie theater. I'll post a review tomorrow. Suffice to say I thoroughly enjoyed the movie. If the preview(s) appeals to you, go see it. It's very gritty and very comic book-like but nicely done. More on that tomorrow.
Also, the Battlestar Galactica Season Finale was tonight. It was okay. The requisite surprise ending of course, but otherwise like usual. Nothing too great or too shocking.
Enough for now. More tomorrow I hope. Unless I get to doing school work. Or playing my game. Or long phone conversations with The Girl. Then all promises are off. Except I haven't made any promises so I wouldn't break them to y'all. Hah. Suck on that! Or don't.
But not much.
I routinely go to sleep late, often between 1 and 2 am or so, rarely before midnight. Last night I tried to go to bed around 2am or so. Only I couldn't fall asleep. For some reason, somehow, and even though I've never had this happen like this before, I couldn't fall asleep. I lay awake in bed for over 1.5 hours. I suspect that I eventually fell asleep for an hour or two (at most) before I woke at 7:30am.
I was supposed to go into work today. Needless to say, I did not. I could not. I know my body moderately well if not very well. I was going to crash. Crash I did, on the sofa, from 10am to 2pm. Out like a light. And back to a 'normal' schedule now, or so I hope. So I hope.
I played my computer game until 5:30pm. During that time I got a phone call. A good phone call. One from The Girl. And as a result, I shall be seeing the musical Oklahoma with her on Sunday. And getting dinner. [time lapse] And I just got off the phone after speaking with her tonight for an hour.
Also, earlier tonight I saw Sin City at the movie theater. I'll post a review tomorrow. Suffice to say I thoroughly enjoyed the movie. If the preview(s) appeals to you, go see it. It's very gritty and very comic book-like but nicely done. More on that tomorrow.
Also, the Battlestar Galactica Season Finale was tonight. It was okay. The requisite surprise ending of course, but otherwise like usual. Nothing too great or too shocking.
Enough for now. More tomorrow I hope. Unless I get to doing school work. Or playing my game. Or long phone conversations with The Girl. Then all promises are off. Except I haven't made any promises so I wouldn't break them to y'all. Hah. Suck on that! Or don't.
Thursday, March 31, 2005
Right Now
At this moment I am working on and nearly finished preparing for a presentation this afternoon. It's on my paper topic for Legal Regulation of Art & Public Culture. It's on comic book superheroes and Intellectual Property protection thereof. I'd go into it more only I don't want to give the surprise ending away before its time. Of course Blogger is cooperating now though I am unable to donate the appropriate amount of time needed to accomplish various blogging goals. Such it is, so it goes.
I'm also in the middle of on-and-off watching Closer. Wow do I love this movie. The language is spot on. The emotions, the relations between the characters. Perfect. Just dead on accurate and so well done. I am thoroughly enjoying the movie once again.
That's all for now. Hopefully more later. Cheers!
I'm also in the middle of on-and-off watching Closer. Wow do I love this movie. The language is spot on. The emotions, the relations between the characters. Perfect. Just dead on accurate and so well done. I am thoroughly enjoying the movie once again.
That's all for now. Hopefully more later. Cheers!
Tuesday, March 29, 2005
The Shorter Version
I've made a list of the movie review owed. As I sit here in Fed. Tax, I intend to play catch up. The reviews that follow will be shorter than usual and contain fewer links (just one guaranteed link to the IMDB page for the movie). I'm also updating the master list as I go. Enjoy!
New DVD Releases
Monday, March 28, 2005
Things That Did NOT Happen Today
Decide for yourself which of the following statements are accurate and which ones are pure malarkey.
I did not attend a Student Bar Assoc. Meeting. At this meeting, we did not have pizza and we did not have beer. This beer was not Bud Light and did not taste like badly-flavored water.
A bus of travelling supermodels did not break down in front of my apartment building and they did not ring my apartment seeking assistance.
I did not get anything productive done today. I am not starting to freak out about the amount of things I have yet to do in the next two months.
I did not watch a number of Whose Line Is It Anyways episodes. They were not some of the funniest material I've seen on tv in a long time.
I did not eat Subway for dinner.
I did not go on a vacation to Tahiti.
I did not play World of Warcraft for over two hours.
The end of the world as we know it is not at hand.
I did not finish my book, One Night Only by Peter David.
I do not have two classes tomorrow. They are not Copyright and Federal Income Tax. I will not be accessing the internet in my Fed. Tax class. I did not attend that Fed. Tax class last week (hehe).
"Today is not the greatest day I've ever known." (lyrics)
I do not harbor any animosity to the country of Malaysia.
I did not see a movie today. That movie was not Be Cool. It was not only okay.
I did not get a return phone call from a non-law-student who I think is still on a cruise for vacation. I am not awaiting her return.
I am not tired.
I am not about to play World of Warcraft again.
I am not done with this list.
Blogger was not cooperating with me when I tried to post this at the date & time listed below.
-- not El Fin --
I did not attend a Student Bar Assoc. Meeting. At this meeting, we did not have pizza and we did not have beer. This beer was not Bud Light and did not taste like badly-flavored water.
A bus of travelling supermodels did not break down in front of my apartment building and they did not ring my apartment seeking assistance.
I did not get anything productive done today. I am not starting to freak out about the amount of things I have yet to do in the next two months.
I did not watch a number of Whose Line Is It Anyways episodes. They were not some of the funniest material I've seen on tv in a long time.
I did not eat Subway for dinner.
I did not go on a vacation to Tahiti.
I did not play World of Warcraft for over two hours.
The end of the world as we know it is not at hand.
I did not finish my book, One Night Only by Peter David.
I do not have two classes tomorrow. They are not Copyright and Federal Income Tax. I will not be accessing the internet in my Fed. Tax class. I did not attend that Fed. Tax class last week (hehe).
"Today is not the greatest day I've ever known." (lyrics)
I do not harbor any animosity to the country of Malaysia.
I did not see a movie today. That movie was not Be Cool. It was not only okay.
I did not get a return phone call from a non-law-student who I think is still on a cruise for vacation. I am not awaiting her return.
I am not tired.
I am not about to play World of Warcraft again.
I am not done with this list.
Blogger was not cooperating with me when I tried to post this at the date & time listed below.
-- not El Fin --
Sunday, March 27, 2005
My TV Schedule
Quick Note to Self: Movies I've seen this weekend, in order: Guess Who?, Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous, Alien Apocalypse, The Big Bounce, & Hostage.
I'm a pretty consistent tv-watcher. As such, I have a schedule (of sorts) of shows that I like to watch. Now the ones I'm about to mention are those with new episodes.
The list will not include those that are repeats. That is, it will not include Simpsons 5pm & 6pm, Malcolm in the Middle 5:30pm & 6:30pm, Friends 7pm, That 70's Show 7:30pm, Buffy the Vampire Slayer 7am & 8am, Whose Line Is It Anyways? 10pm & 10:30pm, Charmed 9am, ER 10am & 11am, The Drew Carrey Show 3pm & 3:30pm, Yes Dear 4pm & 4:30pm, Futurama & The Family Guy 11pm & 11:30pm, Aqua Teen Hunger Force 12:01am.
Nope, the ones that follow are new episodes. Also, if I include (optional) after the entry it means that it's not a must-view for me but a would-like-to-view.
[EDIT: Added Robot Chicken to Sunday nights. Almost missed this week's episode. Grrr. 8:06am 3/28/05]
I'm a pretty consistent tv-watcher. As such, I have a schedule (of sorts) of shows that I like to watch. Now the ones I'm about to mention are those with new episodes.
The list will not include those that are repeats. That is, it will not include Simpsons 5pm & 6pm, Malcolm in the Middle 5:30pm & 6:30pm, Friends 7pm, That 70's Show 7:30pm, Buffy the Vampire Slayer 7am & 8am, Whose Line Is It Anyways? 10pm & 10:30pm, Charmed 9am, ER 10am & 11am, The Drew Carrey Show 3pm & 3:30pm, Yes Dear 4pm & 4:30pm, Futurama & The Family Guy 11pm & 11:30pm, Aqua Teen Hunger Force 12:01am.
Nope, the ones that follow are new episodes. Also, if I include (optional) after the entry it means that it's not a must-view for me but a would-like-to-view.
SundayLooks like I may watch a bit too much tv. For the record, I don't watch all of these shows every week. Rather, it's West Wing & Battlestar Galactica that are my current die-hards. The rest are 'sometimes' if not 'randomly.' Hmmm. Perhaps this has contributed to my decline? Or perhaps I'm a true American in this respect. Except I don't watch enough reality shows. Okay, I guess that one's out. Ah well. Better luck next time!
Simpsons 8pm (optional)
Arrested Development 8:30pm (optional)
VH1's The Surreal Life 9pm (optional)
Kelsey Grammar Presents The Sketch Comedy Show 9:30pm (optional)
Robot Chicken 11:30pm (preferably non-optional)
Monday
Whose Line Is It Anyways 8pm-9pm (optional)
Tuesday
Scrubs 9pm (optional)
Wednesday
West Wing 9pm (non-negotiable)
Thursday
ER 10pm (optional)
Friday
Battlestar Galactica 10pm (almost non-negotiable)
Show's I'm Waiting For
Nip/Tuck Season 3 on FX (I await with bated breath!)
Point Pleasant (new episodes), Thursday Nights on Fox (optional)
[EDIT: Added Robot Chicken to Sunday nights. Almost missed this week's episode. Grrr. 8:06am 3/28/05]
Friday, March 25, 2005
Full Moon
According to my Sandman Calendar, tonight is the full moon. Personally, tonight I will be busy transforming into a werewolf. Or reading about werewolves. Or reading about vampires. Or reading about King Arthur in modern times. Or watching tv while sitting on the couch with one or more of my dogs. "[A]sk for me tomorrow; and you shall find me a grave man." (Okay, probably not.)
Thursday, March 24, 2005
Losing
There's nothing worse than a sore loser. Half the trick to being a good sportsman is, should you be losing or should you lose, you do it with grace. As a kid, I played tennis all the time. There were players better than me and ones worse than me. By far the players I disliked the most were those who just could not and would not be graceful even in defeat.
You don't have to like losing but you sure don't have to be an ass to the winner about it.
Why am I writing this brief entry? I'd rather not say. Suffice that the entry itself says plenty.
You don't have to like losing but you sure don't have to be an ass to the winner about it.
Why am I writing this brief entry? I'd rather not say. Suffice that the entry itself says plenty.
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
In Which I Opine On Recent Searches Leading To This Blog
Apparently I'm in overdrive today. Multiple posts on a variety of topics. It's like Christmas or Channukah (aka Hanukah aka Hannukah aka that one with the candles and seven-or-is-it-eight days of presents) only without that nasty potential for home fires. (Rufus reference ahoy! I'm just too lazy to link it though. Or am I?)
More to the point of this post. It's nice to see that searches for uconn law and season of mists lead here. While the former causes my heart to beat faster and blood pressure to rise, the latter is rather hopeful, especially as the (only) preceding entry is for the Sandman Volume of the same name. (Woot for Neil Gaiman! Look for a link to his blog to the left. Okay, fine. Lazy bum. You the reader that is, not Gaiman the incredible.)
A little disheartening is that I'm way up there for ruthlessness and evil historical figures. Granted they're both from the same post but c'mon! I bet there are more ruthless things on the internet! And better sources of information on evil historical figures too! Although I wouldn't mind one day becoming a ruthless evil historical figure in and of my own right. That might be kinda cool. Or evil. "Evil as in the fruits of the devil." (Sounds better than it reads. Go see "So I Married An Axe Murderer." Now.)
I'm also down for sexy nightelf from that World of Warcraft personal way back whenever. (Still looking for "Ms. Pointy-ears," I mean "Ms. Right." Or is that Mrs. Right? Ack, now I'm confused.) And yes, my main character in the game is a world of warcraft sexy paladin. (Like you had to ask?)
Yeti boots are coming back in fashion. Talk to THL about where to get your pair of official antarctican yeti boots. I hear she has the inside line, not to mention a few pairs of her own. ("Hot pink is HAWT!")
Looking here for information on how to pronounce tisane is probably not a good idea. I could help you learn how to pronounce "beagle" or "alcoholic librarian" or maybe even "diet coke addict" but not "tisane."
Shockingly, I'm the only result for nerd foob jargon. I'm not sure what's more surprising -- that someone did a search for those terms, that the search has only one result (this blog), or that chimps are not monkeys. Eerie.
gadget Shrek a Bologna. 'Nuff said.
I don't know what's more amusing -- that I'm the number one result for vibrating underwear or that the link goes to the archive for my previous recent searches post. Of course I'm just compounding it now but damnit, I want that number one spot, 3 spots above Miko Exoticwear and 8 spots above Jason's Day Wearing a Vibrating Thong. Sounds about right.
I was looking for one last search to tie this whole thing up but where does one go from "vibrating underwear?" Honestly, I don't know. As for this blog, well, I think the answer is that one goes to a new post. [/End Transmission]
More to the point of this post. It's nice to see that searches for uconn law and season of mists lead here. While the former causes my heart to beat faster and blood pressure to rise, the latter is rather hopeful, especially as the (only) preceding entry is for the Sandman Volume of the same name. (Woot for Neil Gaiman! Look for a link to his blog to the left. Okay, fine. Lazy bum. You the reader that is, not Gaiman the incredible.)
A little disheartening is that I'm way up there for ruthlessness and evil historical figures. Granted they're both from the same post but c'mon! I bet there are more ruthless things on the internet! And better sources of information on evil historical figures too! Although I wouldn't mind one day becoming a ruthless evil historical figure in and of my own right. That might be kinda cool. Or evil. "Evil as in the fruits of the devil." (Sounds better than it reads. Go see "So I Married An Axe Murderer." Now.)
I'm also down for sexy nightelf from that World of Warcraft personal way back whenever. (Still looking for "Ms. Pointy-ears," I mean "Ms. Right." Or is that Mrs. Right? Ack, now I'm confused.) And yes, my main character in the game is a world of warcraft sexy paladin. (Like you had to ask?)
Yeti boots are coming back in fashion. Talk to THL about where to get your pair of official antarctican yeti boots. I hear she has the inside line, not to mention a few pairs of her own. ("Hot pink is HAWT!")
Looking here for information on how to pronounce tisane is probably not a good idea. I could help you learn how to pronounce "beagle" or "alcoholic librarian" or maybe even "diet coke addict" but not "tisane."
Shockingly, I'm the only result for nerd foob jargon. I'm not sure what's more surprising -- that someone did a search for those terms, that the search has only one result (this blog), or that chimps are not monkeys. Eerie.
gadget Shrek a Bologna. 'Nuff said.
I don't know what's more amusing -- that I'm the number one result for vibrating underwear or that the link goes to the archive for my previous recent searches post. Of course I'm just compounding it now but damnit, I want that number one spot, 3 spots above Miko Exoticwear and 8 spots above Jason's Day Wearing a Vibrating Thong. Sounds about right.
I was looking for one last search to tie this whole thing up but where does one go from "vibrating underwear?" Honestly, I don't know. As for this blog, well, I think the answer is that one goes to a new post. [/End Transmission]
New Car Dreams
I came across this at CNN: New Shelby Mustang Unveiled.
[/drool]
I don't know what it is with me and cars. I'm not a big guy's guy. I'm not a big fan of football, I'll grudgingly watch baseball (and root for the Yankees over the Red Sox, though I was originally a Mets fan as a kid), and the Rocky movies just don't enthrall me as, apparently, they should.
However, you can throw all of that out the window when it comes to cars. I like cars. I like shiny cars. I like shiny, fast cars. Shiny, fast, slick, curvy, low-to-the-ground, pedal-to-the-metal, I-wish-I-had-enough-money-to-afford-them cars. Things like Corvettes and Porches are nice (okay, very nice) but I truly lust after the more expensive ones. I'm talking an NSX or Ferrari (preferably F-150 though I'll take any of their non-4-doors) or Shelby or... And I honestly don't even know all that much about them. What little I know I gleaned from playing Gran Turismo 2 on the Playstation in college. (Thank you roommates!) Other than that, all I know is that I want one. Badly.
So one of my post-law-school plans (read: dreams) is to get a new car. A new, sporty car. As it stands, I'm currently driving a 1998 Buick Park Avenue hand-me-down from my grandfather. It's a great car but, well, not quite what I dream of driving. So I'd like to get something moderately reasonable and sporty. Like a Mustang. Or a Camaro (even though they stopped production in 2001 or thereabouts).
However, I now have a new (reasonable) dream car. I want one of the new Ford Shelby Cobra GT500s when they come out.
Seriously, I'm having trouble containing my drool (and my excitement).
And if anyone out there wants to help me bankroll this muthah, now's the time! My birthday is coming up in 3 weeks. What better gift is there than a contribution to the "Alan's Sports Car Fund?" (NONE! THE CORRECT ANSWER IS NONE!!!)
[/drool]
I don't know what it is with me and cars. I'm not a big guy's guy. I'm not a big fan of football, I'll grudgingly watch baseball (and root for the Yankees over the Red Sox, though I was originally a Mets fan as a kid), and the Rocky movies just don't enthrall me as, apparently, they should.
However, you can throw all of that out the window when it comes to cars. I like cars. I like shiny cars. I like shiny, fast cars. Shiny, fast, slick, curvy, low-to-the-ground, pedal-to-the-metal, I-wish-I-had-enough-money-to-afford-them cars. Things like Corvettes and Porches are nice (okay, very nice) but I truly lust after the more expensive ones. I'm talking an NSX or Ferrari (preferably F-150 though I'll take any of their non-4-doors) or Shelby or... And I honestly don't even know all that much about them. What little I know I gleaned from playing Gran Turismo 2 on the Playstation in college. (Thank you roommates!) Other than that, all I know is that I want one. Badly.
So one of my post-law-school plans (read: dreams) is to get a new car. A new, sporty car. As it stands, I'm currently driving a 1998 Buick Park Avenue hand-me-down from my grandfather. It's a great car but, well, not quite what I dream of driving. So I'd like to get something moderately reasonable and sporty. Like a Mustang. Or a Camaro (even though they stopped production in 2001 or thereabouts).
However, I now have a new (reasonable) dream car. I want one of the new Ford Shelby Cobra GT500s when they come out.
Seriously, I'm having trouble containing my drool (and my excitement).
And if anyone out there wants to help me bankroll this muthah, now's the time! My birthday is coming up in 3 weeks. What better gift is there than a contribution to the "Alan's Sports Car Fund?" (NONE! THE CORRECT ANSWER IS NONE!!!)
A Costco Tale
I try not to cross-cite other blogs' post. Why? Partially because it does not serve to introduce new material to the blogosphere (ugh, minus 10 points for use of that term) and partially, well, professional jealousy if you can call it 'professional.'
But every now and then, I come across a gem that deserves to be memorialized (read: linked) here in my home. As you may well suspect by now, I have come across one of these diamonds in the rough.
THL has a post entitled Costco, Pimp Sticks, Tempura Shrimp, and the Saggy Pantyhose of Delay detailing her recent Costco trip and the various obstacles she encountered that strove to keep her from the tempura shrimp samples of holy gluten-y goodness. THL also thoughtfully included one of her exquisite MS Paint pics.. ummm.. depicting the incident in question.
To further elaborate would only be doing her post disservice. Rather, I shall quote her parting shot as it sufficiently encapsulates the flavor:
But every now and then, I come across a gem that deserves to be memorialized (read: linked) here in my home. As you may well suspect by now, I have come across one of these diamonds in the rough.
THL has a post entitled Costco, Pimp Sticks, Tempura Shrimp, and the Saggy Pantyhose of Delay detailing her recent Costco trip and the various obstacles she encountered that strove to keep her from the tempura shrimp samples of holy gluten-y goodness. THL also thoughtfully included one of her exquisite MS Paint pics.. ummm.. depicting the incident in question.
To further elaborate would only be doing her post disservice. Rather, I shall quote her parting shot as it sufficiently encapsulates the flavor:
If Costco had sold pimp sticks, that never would have happened. MeeMaw would have been on the ground nursing her broken kneecaps and HorridSoccerSon would be trying to remove a pimp stick from his ass.Now I want a pimp stick! You know, for.. ummm.. errr... personal protection? Oh yeah, and style!
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