For the Record

Consider this. I am sure that the snowstorm in the midwest is a big deal. I'm sure it's slowing things down and ruining some xmas plans. I mean, I was virtually the last person to land at O'Hare last year before Christmas. I understand. HOWEVER, a couple of weeks ago, Flagstaff received 28 inches of snow in a day. Monday we got another 6. No big deal. You know why? Because the average snowfall in Minneapolis is 49.9 inches. In 1983–1984, Minneapolis set its own record with 98.4 inches. Flagstaff on average receives 100.3 inches of snow a year. Oh, and, "Although snow often covers the ground for weeks after major winter storms, Flagstaff's relatively low latitude and plentiful winter sunshine quickly melt much of what falls, and persistent deep snowpack is unusual. One notable exception occurred during the severe winter of 1915-1916, when successive Pacific storms buried the city under nearly seven feet (2 m) of snow, and some residents were snowbound in their homes for several days." According to Wikipedia. New York City is 28.4. Hartford is 49. Actually, you can devote some serious Christmas Eve work hours to websites like this.
My point is that the next time I relate that the power is out, work is canceled and we have two feet of snow... I hope you, dear readers, reconsider your preconceptions about Arizona and give it the respect it deserves. That situation is not, as the person who may or may not have birthed me said, "a lot for there." Nope, it's just a lot. And although the season has only just started, I am confident that my snowstorm can beat up your "snowmageddon."

Thanks-- and Merry Christmas, again.

Internet, Let Me Tell You Another Time I Was Wrong...

I am in Minneapolis this weekend, for the Southwest High School Class of 2009 graduation, which happened tonight at Northrup Auditorium. My little baby sister Zoe, the first and only person I have met within 5 minutes of her birth, graduated. I am also, of course, a Southwest graduate... although in my day the ceremony was outside at the football field. More changes include the dissipation of the largest Tibetan community outside of Tibet (everyone is named Tenzin, and I can explain it...) and the influx of huge Somali famlies. The hall outside was a beautiful sight, full of Somali women and children, delighted at their sons and daughters accomplishment. I wanted so badly to take a picture of a group of them with mylar balloons, but didn't know how to without being rude... so I have a mental picture I'll hold on to.

I realized soon into the ceremony that I've never been to a graduation that wasn't my own. I felt impatient and cynical, mostly the whole time. I felt like the speeches were full of cliches and repetition and at one point felt the urge to shake some of the 18 year old speakers and assure them, in the annoying and condescending tone I used to hate that I have apparently grown in to, "BELIEVE ME, it will get so much better...." They spoke about the great friends they have and the importance of these 4 years. I felt old and wise and a little jealous that they still have the last ten years I've had ahead of them. They're a great ten years, I thought better and more important than anything that came before. They've been life-changing and life-affirming and I do believe I have been probably three different adults in this time. I wouldn't trade it. I noticed that my art teacher from high school was one of the "senior advisors" and then saw her there, across a sea of purple plastic caps and gowns. She was my second-favorite teacher in high school. She was young and cool and since my first-favorite retired a couple of years after we graduated, she's now my "favorite" teacher still at Southwest. When Zoe went to pick up her diploma after the ceremony, the art teacher was handing out "N through R" or something. I went over to her, tapped her on the shoulder, she turned and said, "oh my god!" And remarked at how I look exactly the same. She asked what I am doing, I said I just graduated from law school and she said, "no shit!?" And I felt so strongly like I was going to start crying... and crying hard. But I didn't, we chatted, she continued to hand out diplomas and then I left.

And now I am pretty sure I am wrong. If those years were so cynically wasted, why did her hug bring me to tears? Was it yearning for a time when teachers were also part social worker, I could cry and tell her my fears about the newest stage of adult life? Was it the undeniable that when Southwesters get together, for a wedding like September 2008 or on my deck over my birthday weekend, there is something reassuring about being with people who have known me for a long time? Longer than the new new law school life, longer than even college life (which is now almost ten years, and believe me, I value more than I can blogsplain)? Because, as I think I have mentioned before, I left Minnesota and thought I was so done and ready to start a new life-- and I got one. But it's refreshing and necessary to be around people who connect the old life with the "new" life with the new new life.

I liked one part of the student speeches very much, it was about how lots of things we think are important now will stop seeming as important. But that they are important, because they are a reflection of the choices we make and the choices we make are who we are. Soon I will switch to an even newer life, not completely alone as I have been for the past two incarnations, but a new life anyway. So, here we are Internet, I think I was wrong. It's not cool to be cynical and thinking high school didn't matter is... wrong. Those were choices, it's all part of me and connecting 28 year old me with 14 year old me... is, well, an ok reason to cry.

Show and Blow Sounds Funny

I am back in Madison after more than 3 months and 3600 miles:

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And so there will be more on the end of New Orleans, the road trip, the wedding, the new apartment. But for now, enjoy this:

Dear Student Badger Fan,

Congratulations on receiving your season tickets for football. The Dean of Students Office wants you to have a great experience supporting our team this season. We also would like to make you aware of a program and also ask for your assistance in making game days great.

Our office operates a program called “Show and Blow” that affects students who are ejected from Camp Randall for alcohol related reasons. This program requires students ejected from a game to come to all subsequent games completely sober if they are underage, or legally sober if they are of-age. We implemented this program last year in an effort to address serious alcohol related behavioral issues at football games. There are important changes this season related to student season ticket holders who are required to participate in this program.

Vouchers for any student season ticket holder ejected for alcohol related reasons will be electronically tagged. This means that if a student season ticket holder is in the Show and Blow program and their voucher is used at any of the remaining games, the user of that voucher will be directed to the Show and Blow area to complete a preliminary breath test (PBT) to verify compliance with the program.

Update

The blisters have receded. Apparently, the best antidote to 3rd degree alcohol/birthday related burns are non-stop eating, drinking and good friends. And non-stop shitty NYC rain seems to help, too. Probably the mani/pedi didn't hurt. Even if the mani/pedi central american woman thought I had genital warts on my hand.

I just had my second birthday party, it was fun. Vacation in Brooklyn is also fun. It was fun to see a wide assortment of people and remember the community I used to have/remember people will still come out on a Tuesday night to say celebrate (including an uplifting number from the right sidebar.) I am very lucky. And am still not 27!!!

Is the NY Times trying to ruin my life?

Exhibit A.:

Gowanus Yacht Club AND Bohemian Beer Garden... Give me a break!

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.

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.

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.

Cashing In

So I love free things... but I also tend to horde my points or stamps or whatever gets me the free stuff. At one point, I was carrying around 6 completed Gorilla Coffee free coffee cards. But Monday, gosh darn it, I was feeling spendy. I took some of my over 80,000 frequent flier miles... and cashed them in for a ticket to New York. And then, THEN, I cashed in 1/6th of my Lexis points for a one-cup coffee maker. I am really making things happen here. Free things, the best kind.

Meanwhile, I have a first draft done of my 14 page Trial Level Brief... which has been quite the ordeal. So I am making that happen... and I guess it's technically free... but nowhere near as exciting as Memorial Day at the beer garden in Queens or efficient coffee-brewing.

This is not my beautiful house...

I haven't been sleeping well since I got here. Really the problem has only been falling asleep, but its put me out of whack with the normal day-cycle. Its also given me a lot of time to think and last night I believe I was kind of able to put my finger on what makes this trip back to New York bitter and sweet... its a different kind of nostalgia. When we miss college or miss study abroad or miss a place, its usually with a little bit of the understanding that the experience there was all wrapped up in a specific time and place. Even if I miss college, I can't go back-- because I don't know anyone there anymore and I am too old. Or I know that when I feel nostalgic for Chile (see below...) its really for the times and peoples involved in the memory. Anyway, New York isn't like that. I had a complete life here and its a very strange feeling to spend a week seeing how I could also just slip back into it. And how there are still all these elements here that just aren't present in my new life. Over this week, from dinners and beers with friends to walks to lunches with the work friends, its just strange to see the overview and realize how complete that life was. The old life had a great apartment, decent-if-not-thrilling job, amazing friends and a very functional relationship with someone I loved (not necessarily in that order.) I feel like I should again reiterate-- I like my new life. I am not unhappy. I have befriended great people. BUT, like everything in the midwest, it's just all a little newer, less developed and a little less charming.


And its also not to say that there haven't been a lot of changes here. I am typing from Allison's studio in Chelsea, for example... still trying to get over the fact that she doesn't live in Brooklyn anymore. And a lot of other people aren't here anymore. And the ones that are have made changes, too.


I think its surprised me, this reaction, because I was expecting a "you can't go home again" reality and what I've gotten feels more like... "well, you kind of can."

Happy New Year

It's kind of hard to know where to begin. This past week has flown by, but has been so, so good in so many ways. I was thinking I should put pictures up, but then there are so many good ones of those.... again, it's hard to know where to begin.
I don't think I am doing resolutions this year. Partially because I am lazy, but more because this week has been so wonderfully time-warped I don't really feel in my head in my actual life. I've been on the verge of very emotional for a lot of it, but trying to just appreciate things for what they are and enjoy everything in the moment. And maybe also the idea that self-improvement isn't a once-a-year thing and theres no reason to think resolutions can't be made in March. Or July. Or maybe the resolution should kind of be the same as always-- not to make the same mistakes twice. Make new mistakes. Sorry, this is all really vague. So 2007 started with about 45 minutes of crying on a roof in Tribeca to Erica... but also included a very fun party at the apartment, seeing not only the core of friends, but lots of others who were such a treat. The first 5 hours of 2007 also included arm wrestling, pizza, and hailing a limo and riding it back to Brooklyn enjoying a Coors Light on the way. Because, if you're in a limo and someone offers you a Coors Light, you have to drink it. Maybe that will be my resolution for now... never turn down a Coors Light in a limo. Check and check. Also, start lifting weights. I don't want to lose so much in arm-wrestling in 2008.




Oh. And posture. I would like to improve my posture this year.

Welcome Back

A solid first day. Gorilla Coffee and Bageltique. Interminable line at the post office. Long walk ended with an afternoon whiskey and tea at a friend's apartment. Dinner at the Oyster Bar, A Prairie Home Companion at Town Hall. Walk through Times Square and down to to Chelsea. Strange and probably illegal party in the soon-to-be-demolished office building of a friend of a friend. Of a friend?
A solid second day. Long sleep. Brunch in Prospect Heights, the Brooklyn Museum, a walk through Prospect Park. Delicious treat at the Cocoa Bar. Soon dinner and bars in the slope.
I am pleased and nostalgic but generally balanced. I am staying in my old room and tomorrow we are having a party. How fun is that?

New York

I am so excited to go to New York, its palpable. I miss my life there rather profoundly. At times every thing seems to disparate, my life in college feels so distant from the first 18 yrs which feel so distant from my life in New York which in turn is so distant from what I am doing now. Its a weird feeling to be generally satisfied with life but still yearn for something that may never have existed. Everything would be so much easier if I were miserable, but I'm not. I like it here and I have stumbled through. Its funny, because there are a number of people in my class who consider themselves "from New York." From my personal bag of tricks I like to pull out that a) I lived in New York for at least as long as many of them. And then when they talk about wanting to go back, they talk about bottle service at clubs and a kind of New York I was never involved in. What I miss is the largest concentration of my favorite people. And maybe at this point its kind of like being nostalgic for study abroad- its not the place, its the people and the experiences with the people. But still.
To add an extra degree of weirdness, in terms of this nostalgia... I met a guy tonight who is my friend from camp's friend from high school in Madison's love interest. He graduated from Wesleyan in 1994 and then UW Law. His RA from Butt B also went to UW. He was nothing like me. I honestly didn't believe he went to Wesleyan until he said "Butterfield B." Maybe I am an ass, this is a constant worry.

Anyway, Merry Xmas and Happy Chanukah ( I don't really know when it began, I've been a little out of the loop.)

PS. I sang a lot of karaoke tonight, got rave reviews for "Drops of Jupiter" which is only appropriate since I've listened to it a lot recently. Also, there was a friend of a friend there who has looked at me on Friendster. And I have looked at him. Once again proving that although I like Madison... it's very small...