Athletic Supporter

This week I was blessed (via the student ticket lottery and my hard-earned U.S American dollars) to attend a Badger Basketball game (I have actually had tickets all season, this is the first one I went to.) Look how awesome my seats are. This is why it is advantageous to be a grad students, and to be teamed up with another student who has gone here for 7 years now.

Also, today I went cross country skiing for the first time in a long time (and I think the 2nd or 3rd time ever.) It was superfun, even if it did involve a lot of falling down. It was a gorgeous day, in the high 30s most of the time we were skiing- or warmer. And a couple hours there where living someplace like Wisconsin, didn't seem so bad.

Quotable

When I was younger and probably even sillier than I am now, I collected quotes in a little journal. I think I did this because it seemed like a cool thing to do and like what a really deep person would do. So when I say I "collected" them, I really just copied them all at the same time from a quote book. Whatever, haters, I am so deep. Anyway, I am now going to collect them in this post and move it to the top when I get new ones. These are about changing the world.

"To live as if our choices make any real difference in the long run may be the act of a fool, but to live as if they do not, that is the act of a coward." -- Albert Camus.

"I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day." -E. B. White

" You can choose to narrow your concerns and live your life in a way that tries to keep your story separate from America’s. But I hope you don’t... Because our individual salvation depends on collective salvation. Because thinking only about yourself, fulfilling your immediate wants and needs, betrays a poverty of ambition. Because it’s only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential and discover the role you’ll play in writing the next great chapter in America’s story." -President Obama, Wesleyan Commencement

My professor told us this one at the end of our 4th, 5th, 6th Amendment Seminar last semester, wishing for us that we build cathedrals:

Years ago in Italy, a woman walked through the piazza on a sweltering summer day. As she made her way, she passed three stone carvers laboring in the hot sun, each working a on a separate stone. She stopped and asked the first man what he was doing. "I'm just trying to make a living, lady," he grunted. She went over to second man to asked the same thing. "Well, you see, I've got this blueprint," he said. "I'm trying to carve the stone to match the design," he explained. She then asked the third man what he was doing. He looked at the woman and said "I'm building a cathedral."

Last week recap (fewer to no links)

Since the last time I wrote, we got a new president, I got a cold, school started, my internship at the Supreme Court started, Chuckles and I had a Manniversary (it's an Anniversary, for men!) and tried to develop a new plan of where we will go and what we will do when school ends in May and we are (ack!) lawyer. Ack. Oh, and Anwar and I got a stalker.

First things first, GoooooOOOObama! It was wonderful, I stayed home that morning and cried into my oatmeal. And a few hours later, cried into my turkey sandwich. So much has been said, you don't need me.

School is annoying, although I only have two classes- Immigration and Trusts & Estates. Those actually seem like things that might come up for you or your friends, so keep me in mind if you ever move to another country or die. Wi. Supreme Court is good, so far. I have a "bench memo" to write about an interesting case... so interesting it's pretty hard to think about and what to do. I can't tell you about it, though, so please stop asking.

For Manniversary, we ate steak at home and drank wine and watched Pineapple Express and didn't use phones or internet. It was very fun. Figuring out what comes next is not as much... we have some irons in the fire, still. It's just hard not to become discouraged by the very worst time to be trying to get any job, much less a government-funded one. And there really hasn't been a wave of people getting the kind of jobs I/we want, and we're just left out... it's slow going, the timetable is later, etc. It's just hard to remember and not be stressful. Waa waa.

In the most important news, yesterday at Indian Buffet lunch with Anwar, we got a stalker/"new friend." He was nervous and blond and told us he used to be in law school but dropped out and now plays online poker as his job. And (not surprising based on the previous sentence) he and his girlfriend are trying to meet more people. Those people are supposed to be us. Naturally, I gave him Anwar's real name and email address... so they may be together right now, enjoying life as new friends. Or Anwar may be fighting for his life. Either way, adventure!

New Orleans Recap

Got back from another week in New Orleans late last night. I recently figured out I've spent 17 weeks over the past 2 years there. That's a lot... Anyway, I thought I'd recap by recapping what but mostly where I ate. So if you know someone going there, you can tell them about the good places.

Friday:
Ribs at Interstate BBQ, Memphis. Apparently famous. They are not kidding when they say the $8 rib tips are for a "big appetite."

Saturday:
Beignets from Cafe Du Monde
World's Healthiest Pizza (Mediterranean...mmm...)
BBQ at Josie's

Sunday:
Ruby Slipper (crab cake brunch)
Pat O's (2 hurricanes, and they sell food?!?! My americana classic, wings and salad)
No dinner= still a mistake

Monday:
5 Happiness (funny name and a little expensive for dinner, but good lunch specials and really tasty high quality chinese food.)
Oki Nago dinner (Yes, it's a buffet in Metairie... but it has all you can eat sushi, oysters, mongolian grill for $15?!?! Yes!)

Tuesday:
5 Happiness leftovers
Liuzza's By the Track (get the gumbo)
Jacques Imo's (alligator sausage cheesecake, fried green tomatoes with shrimp remoulade) + Maple Leaf (Rebirth Brass Band)

Wednesday:
Juan's Flying Burrito (everything is good. My fave over the summer was the jerk shrimp salad-- with mango and goat cheese? Delish! This time I got the luau quesadilla. Mostly for the bacon.)
Liuzza's (unrelated to the other Liuzza's-- fried pickles, shrimp po' boy)

Thursday:
Red Beans & Rice at Lauren's House.

Friday:
Slices (andouille & shrimp pizza? ok!)
Harbor Seafood & Oyster Bar (if you're the airport, go here. It's awesome and a dozen really good oysters on the half shell are $6)

And so I am back... and feeling I need a full body cleanse.

Late Christmas, Nice Boyfriend

A sign

If public defense doesn't work out... Madison seems to be able to provide enough slip & falls to keep a young lawyer in business for years.