Big Mouth Strikes Again

Last week at some point, I told the Star that I needed a reeeeeeally good night out. You know, the kind that leaves you thinking "wow, that was great. Really! Glad! I! Went! Out!", as opposed to a lot of nights (which leave you thinking "I could have a V8.") The Star rightfully pointed out that complaining about needing a great night out is pretty obnoxious when you've just had dinner with the complainee. Point taken!

The day of the threatened fork stabbing, the Star and I headed up into the city. I demanded that we stop at Taqueria Cancun before the show. Mmmm... Taqueria Cancun. There are some meals that you think about, even when you're not hungry. Veggie burrito at TC, you have my 'eart. The guacamole will sucker punch you with its sass. Combine with a Pacifico, and it's pure gustatory pleh-zhuh.

Stomach in check, we headed up the street to the Elbo Room. What a study in contrasts: the downstairs is pure dive bar, and the upstairs ... is actually a nice live performance space. Los Pinguos were in full effect. As some of you know, I have followed a DC-based flamenco group, Young & Rollins, for years and years now. Although I don't know much about it, I love me some flamenco guitar - plus, flamenco is always fun live. Los Pinguos are no exception -you can see how much the guys enjoy jamming together and interacting with the audience. Definitely a recommend. (My LA peeples - Los Pinguos are based down there, go see them! DC peeps - Y&R (ha ha!) often play Iota, keep an eye out.)

In summary, a GREAT night out.

Communication is key

the Star: I'm not sure I'm going to be able to make the show tonight. Work is kind of exploding.
maisnon: That's okay
the Star: Well, did you want to go...I mean, I feel bad.
maisnon: Hmmm, well I do want to go - but I won't go if you're not going. But it's not like I'll cry hot tears of disappointment if we don't go.
the Star: ... so 6.5.
maisnon: (eye rolling)
the Star: Oh, I'm sorry - would you like it in your language? 'I'm feeling okay about it, but not too certain - but generally, I'd say yes.'
maisnon: Was that so hard?
the Star: What the hell does that mean? It doesn't SAY anything!!
maisnon: It spoke to ME
the Star: ...while you were speaking I was thinking "8... minus 3...plus 1 divided by 2"
maisnon: I'm going to stab you with my fork. Does THAT speak to you?

You got SERVED!

The Court cannot even begin to comprehend why this case was selected for reference. It is almost as if Plaintiff's counsel chose the opinion by throwing long range darts at the Federal Reporter (remarkably enough hitting a nonexistent volume!) And although the Court often gives great heed to dicta from courts as far flung as those of Manitoba, it finds this case unpersuasive.

--Bradshaw v. Unity Marine Corp. Inc,

147 F. Supp. 2d 668 (SD Tex. 1991)

Ketchup

My mom once said that her ideal vacation would be to get a hotel room with my immediate family where we could see the beach. I asked her if we would go to the beach, and she said no - but maybe we would "take naps." That's right - my mom's ideal vacation is one in which we take naps with an ocean view.

So, you'll understand that after three days at home I was going bonkers. On Saturday, LB2 and I headed to the movies - he saw Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, and I saw Rent (recommend!!!) Ah, sibling affection - it's a beautiful thing. I also watched A LOT of TV, which left me with this one question: with so many channels, how can there be NOTHING on worth watching? (I did watch some kind of "Law & Order" marathon - bliss!)

I spent most of the flight yesterday flirting with the blond sitting in front of me - he's going to be such a heartbreaker in 20 years (assuming he's out of diapers by then.) One of my favorite coworkers picked me up, and I finally met his dog - the Hon. Oliver Wendell Holmes! After four days away, slipping into my own bed and being lulled to sleep by Gia's purring was heaven, full stop.

How to feel like an intellectual heavy-hitter

...watch the airline's screening of The Perfect Man (starring Hilary Duff and Heather Locklear) while the guy in the seat next to you reads Emile Zola's Germinal.

55 Fiction Friday: Breathing Lessons

Friday, home in DC.

“Breathe in…and exhale slowly”, she said, elbow poised over the knot in his trapezius. He breathed in noisly, and let it out sharply. “No, exhale SLOWLY, so I can work into the knot and apply pressure.” He drew his second breath in tantalizingly slowly, and exhaled quickly. As usual, he just couldn’t let her in.

The view from here

Every year, my 12th grade English teacher had the seniors write an essay entitled "The View from Here." The students were meant to take stock, reflect on where they are in life, and the path ahead of them.

This is a season of reflection. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's are all about internal audits. Personally, I've come to a natural point of contemplation because the colossal project I began over four years ago just ended. I look back on who I was before law school and even I can tell that my hindsight is rose-colored - I couldn't possibly have been that well-rounded, had so much energy, etc. Law school made me very one-dimensional. I jettisoned so many interests and activities along the way, whispering that I'd be back for them later.

Well, later is (finally) now. I'm looking into all kinds of classes, watching a million movies, starting to channel my inner cruise director by planning social activities, and researching trips I'd like to take. I've started volunteering with the Boys & Girls Club near work, and I'm looking to committ to a pro bono project. I miss being a (hyper)active person, so I'm trying to get back on track there as well. But, things are different now: I really weigh each possible addition. Be it a person, or an activity - I really consider how it fits into my life. I realise I don't have endless resources, and that if I'm not careful, I end up feeling like I've been spread very, very thin. I'm even reading a book on productivity.

I feel so hopeful and expectant right now. I didn't expect that. I'm interested in my work, and excited about the road ahead. This feeling, this is what I'm most thankful for.

.........

I remember what inspired my "View from Here" essay when I was a senior, so I will close with a few lines from it.

… I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practise resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life

-- Henry David Thoreau, Walden

Procession

I've had a LOT of hits from people looking for info on BarBri, studying for the Bar, etc. etc. I've decided to put it all together for you. Here are all of my posts on the Bar study process (in chronological order.) I warn you now, they aren't really substantive, but more of a reflection of where I was mentally/emotionally in the process. Touchy/feely enough for you? ;)

• And So it Begins
• Stragedy
• In re: Perspective
• Stragedy, version 2.0
• View from Week 3
• "This is the goddamn [insert veggie you hate] of Bar preparation"
• Build Me Up, Buttercup
• Chartreuseacre
• Puzzle Pieces
• Seriously Kinky
• Heliotrope
• I've got dreams

Shoes of Celebration

Today, I wear the shoes of celebration.

Like so much of my Bar experience, the post-results period has not gone as I planned. I thought that, come what may, I would be out on the town celebrating and/or anesthetizing. Not so. Post-results, I headed into the city to meet up with ma chere brim for a little soiree. What did I drink all night? That's right - water. I'm such a wild one.

The water consumption was probably a good thing, since our little group had to fend off the advances (and I do mean advances of a would-be Casanova.) Both la brim and I spotted him early on, and knew he'd be trouble.

I like FOBs, some of my best friends are FOBs - but there is nothing like a desperado brown on the loose. This guy tried to dance with/on every woman in our group, until out of desperation we all formed pretend pairs. Brimful offered to share a male friend with me, to which I said "F that - you're my girlfriend." As always, my timing was impeccable and I managed to catch a lull in the otherwise raging 80s dance music. So there - now you can be jealous, I had the indomitable brimful as my (fake) girlfriend, if only for an evening. Even after my pronouncement, the desperado grabbed at me ... TWICE. I don't do the grabbing. Ick.

When he headed towards the last woman standing in our group, she started dancing with a male friend. Desperado actually stamped his foot in annoyance - like a kid who's been caught out at "monkey in the middle" again. Dude - not a good look, just letting you know.

I spent most of Saturday lazing around the house, watching movies (new on the list of favorite movies: Girlfight. Troubled teen trains to be a boxer. The best part: her love interest is named Adrian.) I went to Berkeley (or as one sign posted on campus said, Berekeley) for the Beyond Borders event. I met up with the fabulous ads and proceeded to plaster the campus with directional signs as our part of the volunteer effort. (We may have been distracted by some Crepes-a-Go-Go as well.)

The show was interesting, if a little long (over four hours!! Thanggod for the interval.) As usual, I enjoyed the dance performances the most. There were some moments of true, unintended hilarity - but that's because I'm a snarktastic bitch.

Sunday, more lazing around. I suddenly decided I just had to see Walk the Line. This is how much of a rockstar my designated movie date is: when I called her, she had just driven back from LA - six hours - but she was still down for a movie! Rock on with your bad self, Roop!

The movie kicked much ass, and is even better if you enjoy Johnny Cash's music. Today, in homage, I am the Woman in Black (with Shoes of Celebration.)

I PASSED!

July 2005 California Bar Examination
Application Number: 123
Registration Number: 123456789

Name: MAISNON

The name above appears on the pass list for the July 2005 California Bar Examination.

..........

And I'll have you know that I was cutting and pasting the above for your benefit while my best friend was urging me to call my parents.