2 Days in a Sentence

I went to prison for this first time today... it was a long day, lots of warnings about getting duped by prisoners, getting toured and drug tested and vetted in whatever other ways. One more reason to start the friendfirm-- T, A & E, LLP (T is negotiable, depending on whether he is being a bitchy baby at the time...) is to be able to talk about cases freely with my friends... since lord knows I like to talk.
I had to write a reflective piece yesterday on what I expected-- it was mostly about the Wire. And how they always say you only serve two days of a sentence-- the day you go in and the day you go out. And how, like most things on tv, I doubted that was entirely accurate. Weak, I know.
Anyway, prison was intense and both what I expected and very different. The statistics on the population there were also interesting, not surprising but still shocking the percentage of drug and firearm possessions doing 10 yrs+ there. In some ways, it's not "that bad." It really isn't. There are some objectionable things but overall, yes, it's probably true that many inmates there are enjoying a more stable and higher quality of life (in some respects-- education, healthcare...) This caused a speaker on Tuesday, a man the WI Innocence Project exonerated after he served 8 yrs for a sexual assault he didn't commit-- to describe his time in prison as "a blessing." A blessing in the sense that everyone he used to run with is either dead or in prison for crimes they DID commit, and he would be too if he hadn't been wrongly locked up at 19... it's kind of strange logic but you also can't really argue with it. Of course, the stability in education and healthcare in prison comes because the population is there for SO long. And yes, the greater problem (the elimination of which might prevent all kinds of criminal and anti-social behaviors) is the lack of education and healthcare on the outside.
So I had the opportunity to speak with a lot of corrections workers-- from officers (guards) to physicians to factory foremen, which was really interesting-- where these people came from and what drew them to working in corrections. Anyway, I am vaguely rambling. Tomorrow we go back and I'll interview my first couple of potential clients.

Update, Quickly

I know, I know... I spend the weekend discussing my growing fanbase and then don't post for over a week. What. The. Hell. ???. I've been busy. I was in New York. I was turning 26. I was starting work. So, here's the update:
1. I'm 26 and one week now. Only 51 more weeks until the next birthday celebration.
2. NYC was great. Thanks, friends. More on that later, perhaps.
3. I am going to prison for the first time at 5:45 am. This account for the brief-ness. I have to go to bed. I got files for some of the folks I will interview on Friday to determine whether they'll be my clients. These things are serious. I am going to learn a lot. I am very nervous about ruining their lives. Then again, they are spending a very long time (or forever) in federal prison... so really it's doubtful I can make their situations worse.
4. I have a desk and office supplies again and I didn't even know how much I missed them. A workspace where I can leave stuff?? Awesome.

Ok, thats the story. Things have been so busy because so many of the other things I said I would work on "over the summer" (SHN, journal... ) make me feel lately more like I have 2-2.5 full time jobs. And it's all important and all stuff I don't want to flub. So.

Hey College Friends...

You know what happens in 3 days? That's when we've been out of college as long as we were in it. I just went through all my clothes and sadly (but appropriately) seem to have lost the t-shirts Erin and I made with Sharpie-- the front reading "COLLEGE" and the back, "I'M STILL IN IT!"

Hoodwinked

Yesterday I spent $40 on replacement heads for my electric toothbrush and razor. I've been had.

Something I like

Is not being a in state of transition. Going back to Fall of 99 (not counting the 14 yrs previous of staying at a different house every couple of days, switching elementary schools twice or any of that other crap...
August 99: Move to Connecticut, start college, don't know a single person.
May 00: Move back to MN, summer at camp.
Sept 00: Back to CT, move into the Copenhagen.
Jan 01: Move into A2.
May 01: Move to Boston.
August 01: Back to CT! And Intown.
Dec 01: Back to MN....
Feb 02: Move to Chile.
August 02: Back to MN
Late August02: Back to CT! Move into 42 Home.
May 03: Homeless for a month.
June 03: Move to NYC, start Temping.
December 03: Start first job.
Jan 05: Quit job, go to Peru.
March 05: Come back from Peru, start new job.
May 05: Move to next apartment.
April 06: Quit job.
May 06: Move out of NYC. Go to Africa.
July 06: Move back in in Mpls.
August 06: Move to Madison.
......
April 07: renew lease.
.....

... same "job" and same place for 2 years? A novelty. I'm digging it. I even cleaned out my closet to celebrate.

Newsflash

I got fired for coming in an hour later every day.

Aaaaand, I scooped the NY Times, once again.

And then I found $10...

Would you steal this dog? I would... but please don't.

So I walk out of the bathroom at the motorcycle/moped/scooter dealership with Aberdeen, my beagle charge for the week. And the salesman is telling my friends, "Oh, I'm asking them about stealing a beagle... not that one." I am relieved... and then he launches into this story about his plan to steal his dog back from his ex-wife. "See... she lets the dog outside, and then I figure I have 15 minutes before she comes back out... and see, if I send it to my brother's friend's house, the cops will never look there, right?"
Hmmm. First of all... we're not lawyers... we're one year into law school. Second, we can't advise you to do something illegal... third, what the hell? One friend suggested he get another dog. Then he asked where Aberdeen lived... I told him something vague and wrongish... Err... luckily Aberdeen is staying at my house for awhile. But if he goes missing, I know where to look!

**Charlie, don't worry. We're having a great time. We went on two walks and a trip to the dog park. I won't let the motorcycle man steal him. I swear.

The Birthday has begun...

After an old-school style bender following the last final on Wednesday, I'm now fresh back from an evening in Milwaukee. The Hold Steady, best pizza anywhere and overnight and lovely breakfast. All courtesy of Charlie and all I had to do was stay alive to see 26. It's kind of a trick, since technically I haven't fulfilled my end of the bargain. I intend to, though, don't worry, friends. It was all really fun.
Anyway, the next party starts in an hour or so. Beers on the terrace, then a cookout and then... well, it may never end. Below is a picture from the concert last night, Craig Finn proves that if he can be a rockstar, there is truly hope for all of us. The spirit of rock and roll can make anyone a star.

I am hoping to channel a little bit of that tonight... knowing, of course, that soon I can sleep for days.

Summer and My Second Year of Law School Have Begun

I'm not one to talk about grades, and lord knows I haven't had As rain down on me since... well... Jr. High? High School... kind of... But. Just let me contrast this for you...

The difference between:

Walking out of my Contracts final last semester to overcast skies, 20 degrees and a C+ on my final Memo for Legal Research and Writing.



and

Walking out of my Criminal Procedure final this afternoon to 70 and sunny and an A- on my Trial Level Brief for Legal Research and Writing II?**




HUGE. Amazing. And it's summer now. YAY!

**Also ok to talk about since this is my first A of any sort in law school. Except for that one ungraded assignment in Contracts where she said "this wasn't graded, but it would have received an A." Uh. Great.

If...

I did not have my last final in an hour and would therefore have been woken up half an hour ago at 7:00 am due to the house-shaking construction going on outside my window.... I would be pissed. As it is... I'm not. Just happy that in five hours, I'll be done. And it'll be summer!

Hey San Francisco? Suck it!*

Huh, Robert Redford... takes all kinds...

Why did you choose Madison for the first Sundance Cinemas?

I’d been there years ago on a fund-raiser for Sen. Feingold, and I had known about Madison for years. It’s the home of The Progressive magazine, and there were just a whole lot of connections with my interests. So I said to the two guys that are working for me on this, “If we could get into Madison, I would be a happy camper. That would be a great place to start, and maybe San Francisco after that.”

*juuuuuuuuust kidding! Mostly.

Kicking to the Curb

"Motherfuckingpieceofshit!! I fucking hate you, why are you doing this to me?"

This was what my apartment sounded like for the past hour and half. My printer and I are OVER. The relationship turned a little abusive at the end (ok, that was my fault, I started kicking) and I just can't have something in my life which is so undependable when I am relying on it most.

Printer, best of luck in the future, I hope you find happiness with someone else. But you won't. Because you suuuuuuuck.

Ok, I'm over it.

It's a dark time in the world of the law students...

We're in the final/s push. Since I can't stay away from fun for too long, this dark time has also recently included a lovely beery dinner, a BBQ and review session and a trip to REI for a cool-helmet-upgrade, among other things... So this is a good time to create a list of things to look forward to:
1. Not setting an alarm to study.
2. Spending the day learning, not in class. Going home at 5.
3. The Hold Steady next week.
4. Triple Threat Birthday Party, also next week.
5. New York and real birthday and friends!
6. Quasi-family reunion in July.
7. Drinking beer on the terrace, guilt-free.
8. Biking to the Farmer's Market on Saturday morning, bringing my goodies home on my new bike rack, fastened with new bungee net.
9. Everyone around being less crazy. Me included.
10. A tan.

Proof

That not everything sick happens in America. This is really unbelievable.

And I was still feeling guilty for putting my friend's underwear in the freezer during a sleepover in 4th grade...

I really enjoyed this.

Oh man

You can't make this stuff up. Ladies and gentlemen, the president of the United States...

“You helped our nation celebrate its bicentennial in 17 —— ” he went on, stopping to correct himself before 1776 could slip out. The crowd erupted in laughter, and the president and the queen turned to each other for a long, silent gaze. Then, Mr. Bush turned back to the crowd with an explanation. “She gave me a look,” he said, “that only a mother could give a child.”

Mr. Bush had been the recipient of such a look once before in the queen’s presence — from his own mother, back in 1991, when the first President and Mrs. Bush played host to their own state dinner for the queen. By several different accounts, including Mr. Bush’s own, Barbara Bush told the queen that she had seated her son far away from Her Majesty, for fear he might make a wisecrack.

Good idea/Bad idea?

A gallon of Crystal Light lemonade per day?

Better or worse than 6 diet cokes per day?

What about diet Coke plus? Is there such a thing as too much niacin and/or "minerals"?

Internet, I need your help.

My New Favorite Thing

Is TV on the internet. It used to be just missed episodes of LOST once I caught up via DVD, but I since I had crap internet at home, I had to watch them in the library at school. Which obviously sucks. But now, NOW! I have my own internet and I am totally caught up with LOST, and I can watch the new episodes... you know.... whenevs... I have expanded my repertoire to other ABC shows-- notably Ugly Betty and Brothers and Sisters. I really like B & S, even though when it came as a recommendation from my mom (complete with a play-by-play of the pilot)... I thought it sounded whack. But mostly I like watching anything from bed or bath. I think my favorite part is the freedom. I am American, afterall.

What I learned on Wikipedoa this morning...

I followed the link from Lauren's post, and learned:

Andrew W.K.'s real name is Andrew Fetterly Wilkes-Krier. His father is James Krier, professor at Michigan Law and co-author of my property case book.


Thats's it.

**It has been brought to my attention that the international internet sensation and basis of most of my knowledge for the International Law exam on Tuesday... is not, in fact Wikipedoa, but Wikipedia. Apologies. However, there is some good shit on UNCLOS III and Alien Tort Claim Act at www.wikipedoa.com.**

I knew I don't watch Grey's for a reason...

... and maybe this isn't MY reason, but it's a pretty good one.


"People complain that hip-hop stars use obscene lyrics and lewd music videos to demean women. Sometimes, so do even the most bourgeois women’s television shows."

from...

And yes I recognize the irony/hypocritical nature of being an editor of a law journal about gender, making my first foray to Hooters yesterday and abstaining from a hit tv show really because I think it's silly but claiming it's for empowerment reasons... ok?

Cinco de... wait, it's Saturday?

Today is not only a minor Mexican holiday, commemorating the initial victory of the Mexican army of the French in the Battle of Puebla, May 5th, 1862.... but it was also the Mifflin Street Block Party here in Madison.

Both had noble beginnings: Mifflin Street began as student support for anti-war protesters in Vietnam-era... And the aforementioned Mexican army win is nothing to sneeze at. Both now, however, just mean a lot of really drunk people all over the place, darting in front of my car and wandering around with tiny dogs inviting one to come "party" with them...

The Block party has a 35-year history of drinking, partying and listening to bands. It also has a history of violence, rioting, underage drinking and open intoxicants. Thousands of partiers fill the 400 and 500 blocks of Mifflin Street, the intersection with Bassett Street, sidewalks, lawns and porches. "In the Top Ten Again! Is it that Good?"

Sadly, at this confluence of two great drinking holidays... I have been consumed with possessory estates and passive personality jurisdiction.

I also went to Hooters for the first time yesterday:

Throes

I'll spare you the math on how much of a lawyer I am now... short answer: more than yesterday. Classes ended today, I'm taking a breather and the cycle will begin tomorrow. Two weeks and then actually 1/3 of an attorney. Who let that happen?

I emailed this girl. Not because I have somewhere for her to live, but because we appear to be long-lost twins. And/or the same person. Eerie, really. I mean, from the messy bedroom to karaoke and tv-on-dvd. Of course this means we'll either get along really well or not at all.