Blogger has changed its editing format. I hate change. IT WAS FINE. It's just annoying now and reeks of someone trying to justify their job. Plus, did I mention? I hate change.
BOSTON BACON AND BEER FEST TICKETS GO ON SALE NEXT WEEK! :D And I'm in the special pre-sale group. NATCH.
I'd rather be home in Denton at Jazz Fest, but there it is. Got to do it last year, but this year I will be one week out from my motion to suppress. Hopefully for realz this time.
I wrapped up all my motions for trial on Tuesday. The chances of going to trial are in fact slim, but my time in court has taught me to expect the unexpected. And my director said it best when I was prepped to do my motion to suppress: "There are only two things of which you can be sure. First, someone's going to throw you a bone. (Meaning in their testimony. Meaning: LISTEN.) Second, something unexpected is going to happen." The second thing has proven true Every. Single. Fucking. Time. So being able to roll with shit is probably the most important quality to have if you do litigation. (Personally, I'd say a close second is the Wil Wheaton mantra, "Don't be a dick." But sadly, not everyone seems to subscribe to that belief.) /sadface
Also, choosing not to care about the future today. It is too nice out. Although my bartender someone just told me the megamillions powerball whatever is going for half a billion dollars tonight. Sounds like as good a time to play as any...? #ultimatefantasy
Ahh, another installment in the research beast done. To be turned in in a few hours and then returned to me in a week with "wtf is this?" edits. Ok, the edits aren't that harsh. Hopefully they'll stay that way.
My second giant research project is suddenly due next Thursday. I really should have knocked a chunk out over spring break. I did not. In fact, I have not really touched the goddamn thing all semester. And yet I am relatively calm. Like, I'm so fucked with this one there's no real reason to get worked up about it. O.o
It has gotten annoying cold again up here. Like, it's supposed to fuckin' snow Friday-Saturday. Do what you gotta do, Boston, but I expect 70 degree weather and sunshine come April 17, okay? Kthxbai. It's bad enough it doesn't look like Yu Darvish or Derek Holland will be pitching for my game, but I suppose I'll live. (I'm supposed to be rooting for the other side anyway...!) I am looking forward to getting my official Fenway ballpark cap, that I know.
In other totally scintillating news, my bridesmaid dress fits! I aimed low but somehow it fits? I can even zip myself up. I was freaking myself out as I unwrapped it--even if I got the size about right, what if it just totally didn't fit in an unforgiving way? You can't alter ugly. And it's halter but it's not a tie halter--it's got two buttons to fasten it. That is usually not for me since I'm shorter. But the damn thing fits like a glove! (Well, close enough.) And naturally D just went back to NYC on Tuesday--he missed it by a day and it got here a month early! And FTW? It's actually not bridesmaid-dress-material. I could seriously wear this thing again somewhere. It's black, but also incredibly forgiving if one has a bit of a belly one does not wish to display. WITHOUT BEING A PREGNANT DRESS! They couldn't have picked better dresses for the variety of women in the wedding.
The mental battle between DC and Austin continues to rage. TX would be the obvious choice if I thought for one moment I could land a job in human rights/international law ANYWHERE. So I resorted to flipping a coin and it kept coming up tails (Austin). I like to flip a coin not for the result but because as soon as it's in the air, you know which side you hope it lands on. And I didn't really have that. Goddammit!
Ok, off to play with jury instructions for Tuesday. Trial #1! Too bad I am merely co-counsel. Having said that, I kinda secretly hope the motion to dismiss gets denied so we get to go through a real trial. At lead counsel's stress expense, sure, but I know he wants it, too.
Well I am very excited to see my Tokyo bff tonight! He is coming in via train from NYC for a conference this weekend. I really won't get to see him at all after tonight, but he gets a bed at my place anytime. ;) I am thinking cheapeats at Grendel's Den if we can get there in time for the half-off happy hour I abused so frequently in my 1L year of law school.
It has been really gorgeous weather here lately. Sadly, it is something I often get to look at with the windows open while I do, for example, a torts survey quiz for my bar class. :/ I haven't done anything torts-related in two years. And I wasn't all that good with torts back then, either. Whoops.
I did get to watch a fairly interesting murder trial yesterday. I had never been in the Suffolk Superior Courthouse before. It is far less sexy than the courthouse next door where the SJC sits. And then there's my municipal courts building where I work, which is the weirdest building in how much space it actively wastes. It's sort of mystifying. So in any case, I had to observe a trial for class (criminal) and you know, why not go big. So I picked the one murder trial off the list, because the other murder trial was already in jury deliberations. That probably should have jogged my memory, but alas, no.
So my murder trial involves an Allston stabbing from 2009. I know where it happened and I've been over there many times--however, the murder occurred at 2:20am, so I am not especially worried. I saw two cops get cross-examined and it was very interesting. I definitely have opinions about the quality of both sides, but this may not be the appropriate place to say either way.
And while I was in there, I realized the jury that was deliberating in the other trial across the hall was for the September 2010 Mattapan massacre. The jury had been deliberating for seven days, and it was apparently unheard of that on the sixth day the jurors unanimously voted to continue another day. They were 11-1. There were 19 charges involved (two defendants, so 10 and 9 charges, as it turns out) and as we know now, they had all agreed to acquit one guy but could not agree on the other guy. As it turns out (or as I've read on the internets), they all wanted to convict the other guy except that one juror. But that juror would never give reasons and wouldn't even properly consider evidence until other jurors would explain that you sort of have to consider the evidence. I can't believe no one murdered that juror. They did not acquit the second man, however, and I do understand (well, appreciate is probably the better word) the outrage of the families of the victims.
The verdict came down, my case had to suspend for the day due to (amongst other things) needing to have the officers on hand for the event. There were tons of cameras and spectators but also lots of family members--mostly victims' family members. It was not a pretty sight.
Ok, so I wrote all that yesterday. Tokyo bff is here now and we had a very nice evening. I got caught up on some fairly frustrating drama that has arisen with his fiance's sister. Family drama! But otherwise things are well and the big wedding (notwithstanding said family drama) is soon to be upon us with hopefully no hitches or problems. I am working all day today in the hopes of getting to relax a little after 8 when he's done. For which I should probably pick up a bottle of red!
Also, at the suggestion of the professor for whom I work, I have just somewhat whimsically applied to American University's LLM program. Hey, they accepted me for their dual program in 2009, here's hoping this can be a plan D? Or with a scholarship, Plan A? But before it's considered complete, I also have to harass professors for YET. ANOTHER. letter of recommendation. Oh well.
Hey, for a day that started in court with me meeting my colleague's eye as the judge took the bench in a silent "fuuuuuuuuck" moment, it has been okay. (The list wasn't ready before 9 so we had no idea who was assigned to our courtroom.) It's this judge I actually really want to like (and I guess I do as a person, who knows), and at least she's very polite, but her prosecutor roots are painfully obvious. We never attempt to resolve cases in front of her if we can help it, which often involves getting creative on the fly. (Or rather, being prepared ahead of time to be creative.) But the inefficiency of the government was on my side today and they ended up wanting more time to get me the resolution I wanted. Hooray. Of course, now May is starting to look ugly court-wise. SO MUCH FOR FINISHING EARLY.
Some of my clinic mates are thinking about getting a house on the Cape the week after finals, and I admit I'm curious. I'm not sure I want to be around anyone for that length of time?? But they're good people and I still haven't seen the Cape!
I do feel like I am trying to knock out Boston and Massachusetts bucket list items in anticipation of probably not staying here. (And the Boston list is also for help in assessing where to take the fam. Example: there is a "Dark Side of Boston" tour. I'm in!) I will have to post them along the way, for my own memory if nothing else. I'm sure there are already posts in the past few years I could read and basically feel like a first-time reader. One thing I do not ever have to do is the St. Paddy's parade. I'd sooner cut myself. One thing I do not ever have to do again is be in the crowd for the Boston Marathon. I didn't even do that on purpose, but once it was too late I was all "eh, fuck it." NO. Throngs of people. Fucking annoying people with cowbells. NO.
I'm in the midst of coming up with a Boston bucket list but it's also....(drumroll, please)....RESTAURANT WEEK! Which is actually two weeks. And that makes total sense to me, y'all. And really, that is its own bucket list in a way, right?
All of Back Bay lost power last night during a giant transformer fire next to the Hilton around 6:30. All the green line T-stops in that area are getting skipped and power won't be restored til tonight. I heard about it yesterday evening--it affected a surprising amount of the city--and decided to opt out of hitting Superior Court this AM for a trial viewing. Apparently things are up and running there after all, but nothing wrong with tomorrow AM instead! Also, it seems all the Berklee students are giddy about some of their exams having to be postponed now. (The music school has exams? Anyway.)
This is what it looked like last night with that whole chunk of town dark. The city also seemed to be relieved that there wasn't any rioting. O.o
In diet related news, I got an email yesterday that the Bacon & Beer Fest is the last weekend of April. It's going to be at House of Blues, which seems weird to me. Another venue I dislike. (The one in Dallas is great, the one here...eh, again, too big.) Although for B & B purposes, perhaps big is ok. Big would be great, actually, if it weren't for all the fucking people. Isn't that always the way, though?
Also. A friend of mine posted a picture of something she had been sent and was eating. I had to ask. Wicked Good Cupcakes. If I told you, "cupcake in a jar," you'd probably think, "that actually sounds kinda...gross?" But then what if I said, "Chocolate Guinness and Baileys?" Well hell, I'd at least be curious. In any event, they almost look too big. 8oz of cupcake.
Sigh, time to get some work done today instead of goofing off. Kinda been doing the latter all week... :/
I have a ticket to the Vermont and Boston shows. :D But in truth, I will probably sell the Vermont ticket. It went on sale before Boston and I hate the Boston venue. So I was being safe. But I can't really afford both. Also, Vermont...well, it is not as close as one might hope. Plus that show is general admission, which I really despise. (That means you have to get there really, really early if you want to be anywhere near the stage.) And driving to Vermont during bar prep time is a bit indulgent, to say the least.
I would love to drag a sister or two up for the Vermont show, but since everyone will be here for graduation in May...well, that's a bit much to ask!
I did snag myself a fifth row seat to the Boston show, and I will just have to live with the venue. It's where I saw Sara Bareilles and it's where I will graduate. It's on the water and quite pretty, it's just such a large venue. (Note to those attending graduation: bring some Sudoku, a flask, some cyanide pills...)
More importantly, wedding season is increasingly upon us. I won a gym membership at my friend's auction for the Boston marathon, so I shall be putting it to good use soon! My bridesmaids dress is theoretically due at my door sometime next month, and while it looks pretty forgiving, best to err on the side of slim. There are going to be tons of photos, so that's probably enough to put the fear in me.
Then Friend L is getting married in August, though I am waiting to buy my plane ticket since I'm not sure where I'll be flying from! She is ok with me posting her dress (more views) and I think it is gorgeous and lovely.
It also strikes me as very her and also precisely in the vein of what she was seeking.
More difficult is S's wedding, taking place one year from June! It will be here, but wow, who knows where I'll be! I really hope to be able to make it, and S just purchased her dress the other day from Kleinfeld's in NYC.
Apparently the pics don't do it justice, but I think it's amazing and again, very S. (I wish I could do strapless!)
In less exciting news, I've got an interview for early April for the job I may not want. It's going to be over an hour. I have been forewarned by multiple people, including the woman who scheduled it, that one of the two panelists gives grueling interviews. Some people had this woman for their mini interview, I seem to have landed her for the big interview. Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit sniffin' glue.
It is very, very pretty in Boston this week. It is also spring break. Restaurant Week typically coincides, but not this year for some reason. Apparently it starts next week. That is probably for the greater good, because otherwise I doubt very little would get done (not that I'm plowing through much at the moment, obviously)! But it will be so hard to resist indulging more than I should. And then that thought always reminds me that the Bacon & Beer fest is also due in April...dammit!
Wow, maybe litigation isn't for me. Being in court has not caused me to think this, but rather it's my horrible listening skills.
I remember doing additional listening skill exercises as a child with my mom because my standardized test scores showed it was the lowest area (but I'm sure they were still totally awesome scores because I can think whatever I want). But she had gotten these supplemental materials to help me because that's what good mommys do, and one evening we were working on them. She read a short passage and I had to write down answers involving a particular story about a new roller coaster ride and the name of it was "Blue Prince" but somehow I ended up writing something about "blueprints" in an answer. And I've really always had this sort of problem.
Well, fast-forward to twenty years later and I'm here I am trying to log into a bar's wireless network (I left my phone at home but was determined to go out and have BBQ and some beers in Davis because it is SEVENTY DEGREES IN BOSTON TODAY and I just turned in a giant ass-pounder of a research project. Like, the kind where I think my eyes are bleeding by the end. So I know it's nothing new for me to randomly day-drink, but just tryin' to fill in the details). ANYWAY. I pop into a bar because it has giant open windows and I need to check my email to make sure my professor hasn't emailed me to be all WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS.
And so the following conversation ensued:
"Do you have wireless?"
"Yes! The guest network is 'giraffe36' and if that doesn't work, the private network is 'giraffebeer36.'
Time passes. None of the passwords work.
I turned my laptop around to show the bartender, in case there needed to be caps or numbers spelled out or I possibly fucked up the spelling of 'giraffe.'
"Like this?"
"Well, yeah, but 'draft.' So, 'draftbeer36.' We have 36 beers on draft."
AH YES. BECAUSE SEE, THAT ACTUALLY MAKES SENSE. But "giraffe" was totally a logical thing to assume. Yes.
I mean, nothing takes you down twenty pegs faster than something like that. Especially when you're then all, "HAHAHA, uh yeah, I was wondering...I mean, I thought 'giraffe36' was cute and all...I'M A LITTLE DEAF."
But what I desperately wanted to say was, "I ACTUALLY DID NOT GO TO A SPECIAL SCHOOL."
Wow, I think the last time I watched CNN on purpose was in Japan? Ok, I guess I turn it on during the elections. But seriously, it's weird to see it outside The Daily Show context, it's kind of awful.
How the fuck is Rick Santorum winning? Part of me thinks Romney will still pull it out, but I'm so torn. I almost want Santorum to win because you've got to be fucking kidding me. And then I think about the second Bush election. O.o As Bill Maher put it, "I don't trust this fucking country."
(Editor's Note: In retrospect, I think this was before they added in previously won delegates, because I don't think RS was ever winning... And such is the problem with news channels like CNN--way too much time and money somehow equals watered down news...and boy, do they love their OTT technology.)
Oh, wait, I think Mittens is winning now. Whatever.
I actually made a really yummy shrimp/pineapple/cashew stir fry tonight, despite burning the jasmine rice 1 1/2 times. And then I sort of melted the trashbag trying to toss it out. It's amazing I managed to get the food in my mouth later, the way things were starting to go. And I wasn't even drinking! No shit, y'all, I do everything better when I drink. I used to think it was just pool, but apparently it's life.
So I have Rangers/Red Sox tickets for April! Very excited about that. First Red Sox...hell, first baseball game. But seriously, I have this problem where I always think about a torts case we read my first year. Girl got to the game in the seventh inning, sat down, and about 1.5 minutes later, took a ball right in the face and had to have reconstructive surgery and couldn't sue. (Something about obvious risk, yadda yadda.) And basically, they figured out that there was nothing she could have done--no movement or reaction--to prevent it. The ball was that fast. So here's hoping that doesn't happen twice.
And then the week before that, The Ting Tings are coming to The Paradise, which is the same club where I saw Fountains of Wayne. Perfect size venue, $25, yay!
And I'm trying to milk April, because May is starting to look like one ugly-ass bear. Giant research project due the 3rd, motion to suppress (hello again) the 4th, and my final exam the 5th--in fact I am having to have it moved from the 4th to the 5th because of court. Awesome. So what a great beginning to that month...
Though the plus side is, of course, getting to see family for graduation! I will just keep thinking about that part...
In an effort to delay actual work, I decided to catch up with my criminal tribunal case from the summer. I was totally stoked to see the motion I had mostly written, researched and submitted was TOTALLY decided in our favor! (Like, in late October. Molasses.) The prosecution did not violate its obligations under a particular rule. It was actually really interesting because it had to do with how we were cross-examining. Idiot defense attorney kept making the same objections and finally the judges had us each draft our interpretation of the rule at hand, citing to case law (from our own court, which is fairly limited, all things considered). My initial reaction was wtf, we get to cross how we get to cross. But apparently this rule has British origins in which you have to "put your case" to opposing witnesses, regardless of what they can really testify to. Which is crazy, if you ask me...
Well, in any case, the judges found we didn't violate our obligations, so [redacted] can suck it.
Nothing much else to report. It has been SNOWING finally! Neat. But there's been enough warm weather teasing lately that I'm quite ready for spring. Also, being crotch-deep in Vermont snow was all the winter I need for this year AND next.
Also, there's a bridesmaids dress on its way for which I need to shed some pounds as well as a little post-graduation beach time that will require me to not look pregnant. So it's time to drink...well, somewhat less.
I did get a call for a second interview at a job I'm not convinced I should take. And I'm only one of two people in my clinic to get that call so far. OF COURSE. Why does it have to be so predictable? I'm going to start thinking about the job I REALLY want as if it's a mediocre prom date and then maybe they'll call?
I am also thinking of my good law school friend who lost her grandmother a few days ago, went home, and is about to lose her other grandmother in the next 48-72 hours. What a weekend for her. :(
