Law School Life: Part IV

My Constitutional Law Class In A Nutshell

Professor: * Says anything *

Meanwhile, me: 

 

Law School Life: Part III

My Professional Responsibilities Class In A Nutshell

 

Law School Life: Part II

My Administrative Law Class In A Nutshell

Professor: “So that is a Chenery I analysis in the State Farm context. The court doesn’t get into Vermont Yankee. But remember, we are talking about the APA here. It looks different if the agency is interpreting a statute or its own rules. Then we use our Chevron, Skidmore, or even an Overton Park type analysis.”*

Meanwhile, me:

*These are all the short forms for foundational cases we read in class. 

Law School Life

My Water Law Class In A Nutshell

Professor, discussing results of a recent writing assignment: “One student began their paper discussing states rights. I was skeptical but it stayed consistent. Good paper.”

Meanwhile, me: “YOU MEAN THIS WASN’T A PAPER ABOUT STATES RIGHTS?!”

To buy or not to buy?

I can talk myself into buying anything. And probably talk you into buying anything, too. Unless you want to spend money, don’t go shopping with me. It is a skill and a curse. I know I possess super-rationalization powers…so I don’t trust anything I say.

This works 90% 5% of the time. 

What ends up happening is two unstoppable forces – my love of an impulse buy and my stubborn frugality – collide. One of three things subsequently happens. Either I hold out long enough to realize I don’t need the item, I hold out long enough to realize I do, or I stress so hard I accomplish nothing all day and irritate my friends by analyzing every detail of the purchase until I reach a conclusion. It is exhausting. 

Throw in a timeline to make a decision and, well, you have today!

I’ve been browsing Kindle prices this past week just in case I spotted a great deal. And today I found a decent deal. But do I really need a Kindle? I do read a lot on my phone. A Kindle would be better for my eyes. But I often read using the Libby app, so it is a matter of convenience not necessarily preference. Weighing my current life state, I don’t need a Kindle.

But I am going to Thailand. And I read a lot. I read 16 books in one weekend of travel. Imagine what I could accomplish with a semester of travel. Clearly I’m not bringing 100 physical books with me. The Kindle is perfect! I should buy it.

But then I have to buy books. That adds up. But where else am I going to get books otherwise? I can’t depend on local libraries. I need books. I don’t have other hobbies! I better get a Kindle. 

But am I buying a Kindle because I need a Kindle or because I want one? Do I absolutely need books next semester? (Yes.) Okay, is this the best way to get books? Maybe. I don’t know. But I also can’t think of any alternatives. But have I completely researched all Kindles? Do I know this one on sale is the absolute, 100% best fit for me? And does it matter if it isn’t, since I’m okay with the price? 

There is also…The Nook Incident. I bought a Nook once and subsequently never used it. I just couldn’t afford to buy books for it so it did not make sense to use it. Barnes and Noble just doesn’t have as many free or affordable books. Will the Kindle become another Nook? 

I use the Kindle app on my phone now. I like it. So I probably will use a Kindle. And this is a good deal. And I am going to Thailand. I should buy it.

After I consult with 20 of my closest friends on Facebook, of course! 

Do you think my real problem is that I’m indecisive? 😛 

300 Days

Today marks 300 days of using the Duolingo language app every day. I do not think I am actually learning much Korean. Or at least, I’m learning very weird things like “Mister, why are you fat?” and “The dog speaks Korean.” Perhaps once I reach the end I will experience an epiphany and realize it all makes sense. One can hope. 

The app is kind of goofy in my opinion but it does a good job incentivizing use. And hey, fifteen-twenty minutes of day of a new language can’t harm me, can it? I call 300 days an achievement. 

Rated R Movies

My sister got off work and needed a ride home so all of us siblings piled into the car to drive the one mile to go get her. (Irrelevant to the story, but quite a fun adventure.)

Me: Have you all seen that movie Game Night?

Brother: *in a judgmental tone* Isn’t that rated R?

Sister: She’s 25. She can watch rated R movies. 

Brother: Yeah but she asked if we’d seen it. 

Sister: You’re 17. You can watch rated R movies too. 

Brother: Oh, right. *long pause* But what do you think I do? Watch rated R movies all day?

 

Solo Shopping

I love gift giving,  sales, and shopping. Black Friday rocks. Except I’m not an early best-deals Black Friday shopper. I’m a, “It’s after noon so I suppose most people are gone and I will see what is left” shopper. Today I couldn’t talk anyone into joining me so I went solo, which ended up working out really well. I got Christmas and winter birthday gifts set for almost everyone in my family! 

But here is the problem. Now I do not have any reason to buy gifts for the next six weeks! 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving with family and friends! My sister and cousin stole my phone. Little did they know they would make it on here 😉

Adventures on the City Bus

I climbed onto my bus today and found myself confronted by a dozen 4 year olds. Apparently, their daycare decided to take them on a field trip and use public transportation to do it. They were pretty cute and I figured I was one of the few commuters who wouldn’t mind too much sharing the bus with them. I sat down across from a young gentleman and smiled at him.

He scowled at me.

I scowled back and then turned it into a smile, just to show I was playing. 

He bared his teeth. 

I stuck my tongue out.

He went back to scowling ferociously.

I noticed he was strategically placed between two daycare workers, so I assumed he was a troublemaker and went back to smiling. 

People climbing on the bus usually went through a series of similar emotions when they saw the other passengers. Surprise, confusion, panic. One guy swore. 

With all the youngsters, the bus filled up rapidly. As much as I enjoyed making faces at my neighbor, I spotted another bus that would get me to campus and decided to switch over so give the others more space.

This was an unwise move. The bus smelled like bleach. And not just like, ‘huh, you smell something weird?’ kind of bleach. An all-consuming-I’m-losing-brain-cells kind of smell. I was happy to get off.

Then, after classes, I got on my third bus of the day. This one also smelled like bleach. However, whereas the first one looked clean inside but smelled, this one smelled like bleach and also looked like someone confused it with a garbage truck. The floor was littered with rotting bananas, candy wrappers, and old newspapers. I’ve never seen a city bus so filthy. 

Just another day using public transportation.