I’ve spent most of the day studying Torts. That’s my first exam, Saturday at 8am. I keep vacillating between feeling confident and feeling utterly unprepared. Am now taking a break and watching the big dance sequence from Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Thank heavens for TCM.

I don’t do well studying in silence. This is one reason you won’t find me in the library during these last few days before exams. Not that the library is silent, but the noises there are more jarring because it is more quiet on the whole. Then someone will cough or ruffle a book and it makes my head pop up like a gopher. Not conducive to relaxed and effective studying.

Me, I prefer sitting exactly where I am right now–on the balcony overlooking Cedar Street, with the noise of traffic-sound not entirely unlike the ocean itself filling my head, in that white noise-y kind of way. That works much better for me aurally. There are rarely car horns (not like back east where, for example in Philly, you hear them constantly) or even particularly loud exhausts. And we’re close enough to the 5 to get that soft freeway sound too. And, of course, there is the sun to pump that vitamin D into my body, which is good for the brain as well as the rest of the bod.

And the coffee lady is about 20 feet to my east northeast. Convenient.

There is patio furniture out here–tables like ours at home (large, black, wrought iron) with large umbrellas. The wrought-iron patio chairs are designed to be bouncy, sort of like a rocking chair, which I like too (love to get some for home). I can sit here and rock like a mental patient, which I most likely am close to at times anyway.

Well, best get to it. Today it’s CivPro again (the weekend was spent in Torts and Contracts). We have class in just over 2 hours and I want to spend that time running practice questions. In the soft filtered sun. In my flip-flops. Drinking coffee and later having a yummy See’s lollipop I brought from home (I LOVE these things!).

Why would anyone prefer the dark library?

This week has been all about CivPro. To make up for a missed class, the prof added a class yesterday, so I’m about to go to my third CivPro class this week. Today is Wednesday. There is an optional study session on Friday, too. Plus two more classes next week…maybe 3 if the prof sneaks in another Tuesday class (classes officially end next Wed.).

This is because the students, far too often, have not been prepared for class and so things have dragged. We have to get through issue and claim preclusion before the end of term, and we’re just about there so I think it will be fine, but there is much grumbling among the other students. It’s their own damn fault, but you’d never know it to listen to them.

I love CivPro, so the extra classes are not a problem for me. I’m weird. Just none tomorrow, please. I don’t have to come to campus tomorrow and plan to do much studying instead.

That is, as I have mentioned, my life these days. Study, meditate, get some exercise, obsess, panic, remind self to meditate, study more (outside as often as possible–my tan is back on my face at least), eat (mostly chocolate), repeat ad nauseum. The stress is showing on my body, but I’m getting needles in my butt on Friday afternoon (and maybe my jaw too), so that should help. I hope so. The fine balance between chocolate as a major food group and the fit of my fat jeans hangs in the balance.

Today we had our last substantive Contracts class. Tuesday we finished up Torts. Monday was our last Legal Skills class, but I still have to finish the final version of my brief and turn that in. That leaves Property and CivPro to wrap up, and then exams.

I have no idea where this term went! Seems like maybe a month ago we started, I swear!  But it’s been 3 months…Poof!

Christopher and I have come to an understanding: I have no time for him (or his family or anything) until after exams.  That holds true for everyone, actually–don’t expect me to return calls or emails because I’m deeply into study-and-focus-on-me land. I’m sleeping in the other bedroom (no snoring!) and pretty much living solo for now. I apologize in advance for anyone upset by this.

In fact, I wish I had the money to go to a shack on the beach, by myself (okay, Benito can come with) until after exams. Walking on the beach is a good way to take a break and refresh the mind–and get exercise. Also, the sound of the surf is good white noise for me–I hate studying in silence but music is too distracting as is the TV, usually.

Of course any place on the beach would be incredibly expensive, but darn, it sounds good. That way I would be much less likely to rip anyone’s head off accidentally (the salesman at the door yesterday picked a bad time to ignore the large sign on our door saying not to solicit) or to stress out because the dishes are piled up in the sink, etc.

I met with a therapist (paid for by the school!) today to get some advice on (re)focusing. She was quite helpful. Meditation, breathing, visualizations…all the stuff I know but that, stressing out, it is easy to forget. It’s not a shack on the beach, but a good run, hot bath, and deep breath will get me through.

Just don’t ask me anything important…like my name. You’re likely to get an answer that involves commercial impracticability, joinder, equitable servitudes, and the virtues of the pure form of comparative negligence.