I’ve been lax in posting. Mea culpa.

Let’s see what’s been going on… first, the car. My car was eaten by rats. Again. That seems to have been at least part of the smell problem–they were trying to nest in the engine compartment. Ew. They had almost eaten through my radiator hose, so it was good I brought it in when I did.

The mechanic, whom I really do trust, said that he could still note a smell and that it might be from bad gas, so we put some fuel cleaner in to see if that helps. Fingers-crossed, I think it has. If it still smells, we’re going to have to consider catalytic converter issues, but he said he didn’t expect that to be the problem.

School is getting down to the end of the term, so I’m hitting panic here soon. I have so much to learn, I feel like. But I guess I usually feel that way at this time in the term.

I gave myself a little goodie to try and relax before the difficult last couple of weeks by going with a friend to an opening at the Contemporary Arts Museum and then to dinner last Thursday evening. Sadly, the exhibition was only meh, but dinner was quite good and, because my friend had picked me up, I got an evening out where I didn’t have to drive. The funny part of that story is that his vehicle started leaking coolant so we ended up swapping for one of his work trucks after dinner, rather than taking me home first (considering our relative locations, that was a wise move). The work truck was HUGE–18,000-pounds. Yeah, and me used to my tiny Miata. I’m pretty sure it would have fit in the cab of that truck… sideways. Wish it hadn’t been dark so I could get a pic of it– y’all would have laughed.

Breakdowns seemed the order of the day that day. My coffeemaker died that morning. Had to replace it immediately, of course:

It works well, although it has an annoying “coffee is ready” beep. Best reviews for the price balance, though, so I can live with the post-brew beepage.

Anyway, the next evening there was the CWSL new scholar schmooze-fest at Dean Smith’s home. His home is on Point Loma, down near the bottom, ocean-side.

Nice view.

With a nice sunset.

This is the same event I went to two years ago, as one of the schmoozees, but that event was in La Jolla at a trustee’s house. This one wasn’t as nice as that one (hard to beat halibut/filet mignon surf & turf!), but it was very nice nonetheless. Good conversations with potential students, profs, staff, and the dean. And again, brilliant marketing by the school, because what potential student doesn’t look at that view and think “I can get that?! Sign me up!”

At one point during the event I approached Prof. Weinstein, who teaches CivPro, who was talking to some candidates. He introduced me to the group by saying “She was one of my best students.” I was really uncomfortable with that, although I did do quite well in CivPro 2 and always enjoyed the subject. I replied, “That just because I’m a big geek,” before I even thought about the words coming out of my mouth. Must learn to stop doing that.

Anyhoo, for the rest of the weekend it’s been the books and planning out my new diet/exercise regime. This term has not been great for my body– I’ve gotten way too soft. So, regime-time! Especially since the pool is starting to warm up a bit and may be swimmable soon, if I buy a new solar cover, that is (to speed the warming). I’m a bit scary in the bathing suit. Poo. Plus the discipline of planned meals and exercise is good for studying and the associated exam stress.

And I’ll do whatever it takes to help with that.

I went to the doc today for my physical and to get the results from all the blood tests, etc., he had run on me recently. Basically, I’m fine– cholesterol is dandy, etc., but I’m a little low in Vitamin D (which seems almost impossible considering where I live, but I trust the bloodwork). No big whoop. After that I went to Target to pick up a few things to get me through my day without a car tomorrow and indulged in some new eyeshadow for being a healthy girl.

Did I forget to mention that my car is emitting an odd smell? No smoke, and no sign of fluid loss, but definitely something stinky after she’s warm so I’m getting it checked out tomorrow. So, no car for at least part of the day.

Anyway, I didn’t have class until 4:05 today and, it being gorgeous, and me being in a good mood from the doc’s report, etc., I really did not want to go to class. I could hear the call of a patio that served beer. I think it’s my Midwestern brain that knows that the first “patio day” is usually around now– Spring Fever, essentially. But, regardless, I was a good girl and went to class anyway.

After, I thought I’d keep being a good girl and go home, but I could see the 5 was already stopped–not a good sign– so I decided to swing by The Waterfront and see if my friend Tim (a local photog) was still there. He and I had swapped facebook posts earlier when I lamented that I wanted to skip class, and he said he was going there.

The Waterfront is the oldest bar in San Diego. Actually, it seems that it is the oldest bar in California, but I just learned that tonight. It’s near my school, in Little Italy, and the gods even offered up a parking place less than a block away, so I went. Tim was indeed there, seated at the bar, and he was talking with an older gentleman. Tim moved over and had me sit between them.

And so started my odd evening.

Here is a picture of the older gent and I that Tim took using my iPhone.

It was clear that the gent had suffered a stroke at some point, as his speech was slightly affected, but he was also obviously in his right mind, and very interested in talking with me. Tim mentioned to him that I was studying law. He asked where, and he shook my hand as he is an alumnus (although the school was called Balboa Law then).

He was very kind and talked about some state history. It was interesting. It was he who told me that the bar was the oldest in the whole state.

I learned he was 89. I asked what kind of law he had practiced, and he said civil mostly, although back then you’d get assigned criminal defense too. I mentioned that John told me about him watching Dad argue a murder trial once (if memory serves).

Tim would start to tell me something and this gent would call my attention back to offer up some additional pearl of historical fact. It was this odd situation where two men were trying to get my attention… but not in the “hey baby” kind of way.

So, the gent and I chatted some more and it turns out that this man wasn’t just Hugo Fisher, Esq. There was a reason he knew all this stuff, and more. Turns out he’s a bit of a fixture in the community. I was sitting with last Honorable Senator from San Diego (before it got split into multiple seats). Democrat. Elected in 1960. I joked that he must have been the last Democratic senator from San Diego. He laughed and smiled indulgently at the apparently culturally naive woman he was chatting with.

See, turns out he’d been a judge too. In fact, he’s held just about every position imaginable in the legal system in this state.

Holy crap. I was being lectured to by a kind of a legend.

Okay, a bit of a fallen one (he had a few DUIs at the end of his career), but still. (By the way, he was drinking soda, at least while I was there.)

And he was a flirt. I have to say I was rather flattered by it. I’ve never had a Senator buy me a beer or kiss my cheek before (when he left he did so).

I was still a good girl too. No risking a DUI myself, thank you very much.

Sometimes you encounter the oddest things in bars. And sometimes that is a good thing indeed.

After filling out a seemingly ridiculous number of mostly redundant forms and having the last pile rejected once, I made the final drop of papers at the court on Friday afternoon. Rather shockingly, the judgment was immediately entered (Monday, according to the stamp) and I got everything in the mail yesterday.

So, we’re done. Except for the silly CA wait. Final on July 5th.

And as much as I’m trying to be positive and forward-looking about this, it still sucks. Hard.

Actually, I thought the package from the court was just another rejection, since it was so soon, so I was shocked when I opened the envelope. And, unfortunately, in a rush as I had an ASMP event to go to. I guess the event was a good distraction–one of my SB2 colleagues was presenting–but I felt a bit out-of-body, really. Even after when a group of us took Blake (the speaker) for drinks. I kept up a good face, but I wasn’t feeling it.

By the time I got home, it was around midnight and was not in good spirits as I finally went to bed. The papers were on my mind. I tossed and turned all night.

Although I only drank 1.5 beers last night, this morning I feel rather as if I had been out much later and had drunk a hell of a lot more.

Oh well. As always, I’ll bounce. I have too much to do to be able to, as I wrote a friend, have the breakdown I deserve

Another weekend, another storm. It’s not here yet, but it’s coming.

I’ve got the car in the garage and there is soup on the stove, so I’m ready. But I’m also over it. I’m not getting the exercise I want and need because of the crappy weather. I’m getting mushy, I swear.

I’m still having some focus problems, too. The lack of exercise contributes, I think. Take now, for example– I really need to be reading and studying, but I’m writing this instead. Every time I look at my books, I read the same sentence over and over. Not fun. I have a presentation to do in a class Tuesday (not worried about it though) and a midterm not this week but next in ConLaw 2. Plus I’m “on panel” for Entertainment Law this week (means I will be called on). Lots to prep; not much desire to do any of it.

I think the meeting this past week about the pre-bar class and BarBri and the Bar itself flipped me out more than I expected. In the fall, I will take a no-credit course, the pre-bar class, where we’ll practice essay writing and doing the performance tests.

Wait, I guess I haven’t explained how the Bar exam works here. In CA it is three days: days 1 & 3 are essay questions in the morning and performance tests in the afternoon; day 2 is filled with multiple choice questions. The performance tests are sort of like “here are some facts, some law, now write an appellate brief/letter to the client/legal memo.” More here if you want details.

Anyway, so I’ll have the pre-bar class on top of my other classes in the Fall. One day a week and no homework, but still, extra work is extra work. But, taking that class means I can take BarBri for $600. It’s normally close to $4000, so it’s worth the extra work.

If everything goes right, I’ll graduate on December 20. And then I’ll start BarBri…

…on December 21.
(so much for a drunken party after graduation!)

BarBri will meet 5 or 6 days a week until early February. Most days will be class until 1pm, but some will be until 4pm. Then studying afterward. We get Christmas Day and New Year’s Day off. That’s it. BarBri will end about two weeks before the Bar itself, but of course those two weeks will be filled with the books.

Then the test.

Then the drunken party. Or voluntary commitment.

Oh well, I guess I’ve wasted enough time blathering on here. Another shot at the books while waiting for the rain is in order.

The dodgeball event is next Monday, not tonight. I had it right in my iCal, but am apparently too fried to read it correctly. Duh!

Speaking of fried, I’ve cancelled my summer tour plans. After the discussion with the shrink on Friday, and my general anxiety levels, that seemed the right thing to do. I haven’t been able to focus as much on my classes as I have wanted to and, although I could use the income, I can get by without making the odyssey. I know this will be a disappointment to some people, but they’ll have to get over it.

I may travel some during the break for pleasure or there is a slim chance I may take one class over the summer (to get my scholarly writing out of the way). And I will try to work to earn money too, but I can’t commit to the time away and do all the planning and prep necessary to do it at the level I want to if I were to tour. I need, as they say, a break.

C’est la vie.