I fought the law ... and lost

Seriously..  this is why I have absolutely no desire to go into any field dealing with copyrights. So I have successfully finished reading every. single. godforsaken. page. of my bar review program.... yes, and I even highlighted all of them and took notes.  In an effort to keep myself thinking that I'm making progress, I purchased some supplemental materials online.  I'm not a big fan of "buying" outlines - but figured that since I'd already read and made my own, it could only help.  

So I complete my purchase online - at which point I get an email with a link to the documents (in hindsight, this would have been much easier had he just mailed them to me) but I figured whatever, I'll print it off. Time goes by like sand through an hourglass (haha) for weeks and then finally this morning, I decide to put these files on a flash drive and make a trip (yes!! I was outside!!) to office max.  I chose office max because that was the closest place to me, and for some reason fed ex doesn't have a print center anywhere around here.  

I get to the store, and after waiting for about 10 solid minutes for some lady to get done talking about her wedding pictures, and why the color doesn't look right, and why the border on the original is a little wider than the reprint, it is finally my turn.  Also in hindsight, this would have been a lot easier had the potential for liability not escalated out of control to the point where I have to actually use the assistance of an employee to access a printer.  Anyway, I hand her my flash drive and tell her I need 1 copy of everything printed.  After she printed the outlines I made, she got to the ones I bought, does one of those slow... scared... looks... and says "I'm sorry I can't print these, they're copyrighted."  At this point though, I know that everything is okay because I can pull the receipt up on my phone (with MY name on it) and show her that I purchased these notes, so she can print them, and I can be on my merry way since I haven't done any work yet today.  I show her the emailed receipt - she looks concerned, and goes to get her manager. She then comes back and says well, we have to have it in a hard copy form.  She thereafter refuses to let me access my email on their computer.  After arguing with her about using their printed to print off this receipt, so I can print of my notes, she finally agrees to let me email it to her, pay for the paper to print it off on, and hand it to her so I don't have to drive all the way home and come back.  Also in hindsight, this is ridiculous, and completely unreasonable.  She gets the paper that printed, reads it, and for some reason having this in hard copy makes it look way less legit to her?  After several trips back and forth to different people, she tells me that she still can't print it.  At this point I absolutely lost it, don't have time for this, and am demanding reasons from all the employees behind the counter.  She proceeds to get a liability release form, and shows it to me - which is NO different than the receipt that I have, except for the fact that it isn't on one of their release forms, and doesn't have a handwritten signature of the author on it.  Apparently my only option at this point is to mail or fax it to the "author" and have him or her sign it, send it back to me, then I can bring it back to them (at which point they would probably still refuse to help me for some other stupid reason). 

At this point I think I am yelling, because it turned into one of those situations where all the employees in the store are doing fake work around me so they can witness the epic exchange that is going on between me and this lady at the printing counter.  Needless to say, I still don't have those notes printed, and am furious.  And yes, I wrote the author complaining about the fact that he sent me copyrighted information without a release form that would give me the authority to print it off.  Also, I don't plan on showing my face in an office max anytime soon, though in my defense, my social skills have become a little under par lately due to my being isolated from the outside world for awhile, and therefore inability to interact with human beings on a regular basis.  

Other than that whole debacle, my day has been fabulous... though since it's not even halfway done, that's not saying a whole lot...   

A Hellish Update...

In an effort to maintain my festivity (and my sanity) - I will be going to Muskegon tomorrow to hopefully partake in some decent firework watching.  I really hope that they live up to my expectations, which to say the least, haven't been very high lately.  For example, I got SO excited as I sat down to a plate of scrambled eggs for dinner tonight - as opposed to the cereal I've gotten used to. So its pretty obvious what my standards are like right now... 

Goals for tomorrow: 

1.  Work on a decent tan

2.  Eat carbs

3.  Fall asleep in the sun

4.  Eat grilled chicken from my dad's fabulous grill 

5.  Think about contracts (maybe)

6.  Get a free tank of gas since I'm unfortunately running out of money

Anyway - the ant problem that I once had (that I don't feel like explaining right now) is finally gone ... I think... Only to be replaced by a ceiling that apparently leaks whenever it gets "really windy and really rainy at the same time." Fabulous.  

Things that are going to be my excuses if/when I fail the bar:

1.  My own inability to avoid distractions

2.  The ant farm that lived in my bathroom for 2 solid weeks 

3.  My landlord threatening to sue me (literally)

4.  Crazy people (you know who you are) 

5.  My lack of income and therefore inability to eat healthy

6.  My leaking ceiling that forces me to sleep on the couch sometimes 

7.  Not paying ANY attention in business enterprises 

8.  Absolutely loathing taking practice tests 

9.  Spending time I should be studying being excited about how many things I could sue my ex for

On a lighter note - I have an excuse to take tomorrow off seeing as how it is a federal holiday and all... so I'm going to pick up some bottle rockets... er... sparklers and hit the lakeshore. 

And then there was July...

Since it will be July in less than an hour - and today has officially been the least productive weekday of the summer - I figured I would take a moment and waste some more time.  Since I will (hopefully) be diligent enough over the next 29 days to not leave any time for this .. I'm going to take the next 20 minutes to psych myself up to "move into 10-12 hour study days for July." Seriously? ... that can't actually be productive in the 11th hour.  

Anyway - today started off just like any other Monday - a bowl of cereal and 10 cups of increasingly stronger coffee - though at about hour 2, I was struggling.  My mom was here yesterday, and insisted on buying me an hour glass from potterybarn which, though at the time I had no clue what I was going to do with it, came in quite handy around this time as I was looking for something to literally make hours pass.  I successfully read 2 sections of material - though if someone wanted me to summarize what I read today, I wouldn't be able to do it with a gun to my head. 

At that point I decided that I would listen to lectures online, (which would be more horrifying than reading if I actually had to put forth any effort), which is nice ... because then I can just lay on the floor and "learn." After an hour or so, of rewinding and wondering what language this woman was speaking in, I figured I might as well do something productive.  

I sent some text messages, made some phone calls, polished my furniture (yes, seriously - and no, I don't know why), made important decisions like "what the hell lampshade makes this not look like an 'old people room'," and ate snacks. After sitting in the sun for awhile,  hoping to get sunburned in an effort to not so obviously appear to the rest of the world as a hermit, I figured I could do some damage at meijer. What a fabulous idea. Now it is 11:30, my apartment couldn't be cleaner, I am the proud owner of 5 new boxes of cereal, I have yet another lampshade to contemplate, I organized my bathroom cabinets, and I refurbished an old mirror I had with a new can of black paint (which surprisingly didn't spill all over the floor). Oh, and that hourglass is still doing its job, and I feel like I'm almost delusional enough to think that hours are actually going by faster...  

In an effort to avoid cleaning my garage (yes, its seriously gotten to that point), I am going to try to go to sleep.  Maybe I will wake up and actually be able to learn things tomorrow. Otherwise I am going to have to resort to alternatives ... like sleeping with books under my pillow and hoping that some sort of osmosis takes place...

have more, need less

seriously, I need so much less of this.  I finish a thousand page book only to find out that I have about 5 more to finish - not to mention save time to actually LEARN all of this...  

someone get me a witness.

all I want to do is eat doughnuts, drink coffee, and post on my blog or write that defaming book about my life.  

T-34 days and counting... 

Don't Study with Beer and Cigarettes

What fabulous advice.  After yesterday's reading marathon of nearly 150 pages .. today the words were all running together on the page that I resorted to listening to the online lectures that were provided along with my bar review program.  

Aside from things like, "lets take 3 minutes to read handout #1," which I don't have because apparently they don't provide the material to go along with the lecture, and "I'll be brief in this explanation since you can read it in full on handout #2," which conveniently, I wasn't given either, this lecturer offered a final piece of advice: "don't study while drinking beer and smoking cigarettes."  Really?  I was almost sure that was gonna work for me.  Has this turned into a common sense exam?  Either way I'm still in trouble.

Anyway, that's my Friday night.  Along with consuming the last "can" of chicken I could find in my apartment.  Don't get me wrong, I love canned chicken, but I could seriously go for the real thing, along with a ginormous bread basket. 

This is getting really old already... 

Fabulous

I just recently remembered/found a way to log into my blog after a pretty significant amount of time... and alas, have no time to post on it. For the next 5 weeks I will be chained to a table, or at least confined to my apartment, with my face in a book reading about some horrifying subject likely to be tested on the Bar.  Please be jealous, I can't think of anything I would rather spend my summer doing.  

Rest assured, after July 31, and after a solid week of drinks, inappropriate encounters, and celebration, I will begin that long-awaited therapeutic task of writing a book.  For anyone who knows me on a personal level, you should know that this book will most likely be a compilation of the disastrous satanic encounters that have come to define my life.  There are probably more than you even know about. Many of you will probably cease being my friend once published; though hopefully that isn't the case, since I would rather purchase a few bottles of vodka and celebrate the appalling events that have made up my 20's thus far.  

Either way, after July, I'm looking forward to fabulousness.  Either in the form of relaxation, employment, publication, a few stiff drinks - or if I had my way for once - a nice combination of all those things.  Stay tuned...       

Vaan

It's officially begun...I picked up my new pink playstation 2 controller, and hooked it into my new playstation 2 slim system (compliments of my brother), and have submerged myself in a blissful state of game play...also known as final fantasy XII. I would write more, but I can't keep myself away from the game for long enough to write more than a paragraph...send your prayers out to me in hopes that I make it to my classes this week

**Insert horrifying groaning noise that I don't know how to type**

Thats how I feel about 9 a.m. classes.... which I am pretty sure I referenced in a previous post as being HORRIBLE. I hate waking up for them, especially when there is snow on the ground. I mean, mornings are great and all... but I would much rather be enjoying them in the comfort of my own apartment with slippers, sweatpants, a giant hoodie, and a 20 oz cup of non-stop rock. The pattern of my having to deal with morning traffic and horribly plowed parking lots has reduced itself (thankfully) to 2 times a week as opposed to 3...but I still like to complain when I get the chance. Now, after I get up and face the morning roads, I get to come all the way back here, and wait till 330 when I get to do it again. It would have been much too easy for me to schedule 2 classes in a row so I wouldnt have to waste all this time, and also pretty impossible since the school hasn't yet grasped that concept - but I'll tough it out and get over it.

On a much lighter note - I declared my family law concentration last week, and now I get to write an "extensive, scholarly piece of sexy literature" on some topic in the field. Fun. (And yes, that is a quote from a professor here).

Im going to Florida for spring break...which as of now, is the coolest thing I have to count down to:) Besides of course, how many days I have left of valentines day season - and how many candy hearts I can eat in that time.

Anyway, just a small update for now, For anyone that still stalks my blog, I'll try to keep posting more. And if no one does, maybe it will just keep me from imploding.


haha...
http://toothpastefordinner.com/120106/sub-basement.gif

Tummy Ache

Subtitled: The Giant Sandwich

This is a pretty lame story about my day. It all started when 8 hours of sleep were not enough for me last night. I got up, and felt like I just got hit by a truck, and made myself a bagel. I get to class 1 minute before it starts, and get an email about the daily announcements - Family Law Society meeting today at 1. I think, okay, sounds cool, free lunch, and an opportunity to get involved and meet people. I hesitate to rely on this lunch though, because it will most likely be pizza, and I'm unfortunately not a big fan.

I have one more class before the meeting/lunch. I get a bagel from the cafe downstairs. (Note: Bagel of the day number 2). After class I head up to the meeting which turned out okay, but the lunch, of course, was pizza. After the meeting, my tummy is growling. I head downstairs to the cafe to see what my lunch options I have: doughnuts, yogurt, and pre-packaged sandwiches (kind of like the ones they sell in the gas station). A little sketched out about the sandwiches there, I settle for yet another bagel.(Note: Bagel of the day number 3).

As I am taking the last bite of my bagel, I see people next to me eating Subway. Where in this 4 floor building of offices did these people find a Subway? I ask, and find out there is a food court with more than Subway in it about 2 blocks away. Considering that it is pouring rain outside, I don't feel like walking there. Lo and behold, someone behind me decides to say "there are free sandwiches in the boardroom." Now I don't know what the boardroom is exactly, but I remembered seeing a glorious looking buffet in a big room on my way to my meeting. After making sure I won't have to talk to anyone in a meeting to get a sandwich, I decide I am hungry enough for the effort.

I ask my friend to watch my stuff, and make my way to the "boardroom." After looking through both doors, I see the room is empty. There is a huge conference table, formal meeting set-up, and...the jackpot - a huge buffet with chips, cookies, sodas, bagels, and....sandwiches. I do not think that these sandwiches are for me though. There is no sign. The closest door to the sandwiches is in fact, shut, and my name is not written on any of them. When i see one that has chicken written on it, I decided to get a plate. I take the gigantic chicken sandwich that I am now claiming as my own, a giant chocolate chip cookie that probably doesn't belong to me either, and and a soda, and leave through the shut door. People are looking at me on my way down probably thinking wow...where did she get that? What meeting do I have to go to for that sandwich? You don't have to go to any meeting for it. You just have to hope that the people who's meeting it was weren't very hungry.

After I got back downstairs, I opened my new present to find that, not only was it chicken, but it was chicken salad, even better. Chicken salad with grapes, almonds, and crunchy bread, a chocolate chip cookie, and a soda. All not mine. All went in my belly in under 5 minutes. All after a bagel and cream cheese that followed 2 other bagels and cream cheese just hours before. Not a good plan.

Needless to say, it felt like Thanksgiving on October 17th, and I nearly fell asleep in my class, that started about 10 minutes after this little excursion ended. Note to self: don't take sandwiches that aren't yours unless you do so on a completely empty stomach. And if you are full, take the sandwich that is probably someone else's home to eat when you're not.

P.S. For those of you who stalk me through this blog, I had an eventful summer that ended with me moving back to the mitten, and transferring schools. I'll try to keep stories coming, and I'll try to make them a little more interesting than stories about tummy aches and giant sandwiches.

too caught up in the celebration

i am finally done with exams. We'll just start with that. The horrible 2 weeks of sitting with my face in casebooks is done for awhile anyway. I couldn't tell you why I waited this long to post, since I've been done for a week, and incredibly bored...Meredith went home (sad), my jew friend (as per request) is working on a stupid project, and Joe has to work during the week. Any people left unnamed are probably busy as well.

Things occupying my time over the last week and a half:

Job training: 1%
Eating bagels: 3%
Kitties: 6%
Reading sappy drama novels: 10%
Phone calls to mom to check up on her jank foot: 11%
Spending time with Joe: 13%
Rain: 15%
Final Fantasy VII: 41%

Adding that up to 100% gave me a headache, and I hope it's right. Probably a result of the video-game filled day I had today, seeing as how it was stormy again outside, for the 3rd day in a row. The only day it was even a little bit sunny was the day I had to do downtown to an orientation for my summer internship, which surprisingly sounds like a lot of fun. Needless to say, I walked out of the building to go home, and low and behold...it downpours. Don't worry, I wasn't in uncomfortable heels and a white dress shirt (note sarcasm).

So I'm hoping that the weather can clear up for at least an hour tomorrow, so I won't have to be a hermit on my birthday. Joe is taking the day off though, so at least I won't be bored here with video games and kitties all day:) (Not that I mind the situation, but after a straight week it kinda gets old...)

I'm going to make some dinner, and check up on mom...she's probably as bored as me (surgery on her foot) seeing as how she can't leave her bed.

Highlight of the week: giving Tara a bath. Becky, if you still read this, I don't reccommend it. And if you ever feel like trying, I urge you to follow these guidelines...lol:

http://dbhs.wvusd.k12.ca.us/webdocs/Humor/Give-Cat-Bath.html

Well I suppose this post shows why I haven't written anything sooner. Nothing is happening here...and if the highlight of my week was giving Tara a bath, then it's obvious I have nothing interesting to write about. Actually, come to think of it, I had an interesting "tropical margarita" last night, that would've probably been better had it not been interrupted by a guy on the street preaching to about 10 people trying to enjoy their dinner (and margaritas) about the race to heaven and Jesus coming with a firey sword. I guess that was something...until thankfully he was escorted away by the police.

I think I'm going to hit up my sappy novel, and make some dinner. Funny how a whole day can just zip right by and all of a sudden you look up and its nearly 7pm, and you're still sitting in the same spot as you were around noon...I'll blame it on the weather.

Me Right Now

I'm just sitting here with a cup of cheese its, sick of being in lazy people clothes, but without reason to change cause I still have stupid finals. I'm sorry, were you expecting something a little more interesting? I guess I am reading about pessimistic and optimistic pluralists...if that is any better...don't know what that is? Neither do I, but I sure hope to before my final tomorrow morning:(

I'm just mindlessly going through the motions now, hoping that I retain something in the process, and checking the clock every 5 minutes to see if its noon tomorrow yet...at which time I'll be done with my first year, and hopefully doing one of the following:

1) playing a video game
2) burning my legislation book
3) drinking a margarita
4) playing in the sun
5) sleeping

tick tock tick tock...

And...there it is...

Finals are not going well. I repeat, finals are not going well. All I can picture at this point are my profs, as they have probably far away from here so to avoid assasination...sitting there like Mr. Burns saying "excellllllent..." Knowing fairly sure that they've successfully pissed off at least 80% of the class. Thats all I have for now.

:( !!!!

The Death of K

For anyone who cares, I'm cracking up right now because that's how lame I am. For anyone not aware, K apparently stands for contracts, more commonly known as the devil. I've spent the last week and a half of life studying for that stupi final, that is unfortunately worth my whole grade. The sheer anticipation drove me to buy a 6 pack the night before...I couldn't contain the excitement. Now that the sneaky bastard's 4 and a half hour exam is done, I can concentrate on more pleasant things...like 11 and a half more hours of exams...:(

I have nothing new to talk about - except for the credit card company tried to cheat me, and lost.

Also, I made a turkey last night. That's how lazy I am during the day when studying - I don't even want to get up to make lunch.

On a lighter note...I'll have a whole 22 days of after finals before I start work - which is going to be glorious. Plans for the time? Not really, I'm just going to sit here and enjoy doing nothing:)

By the way - my next final is tomorrow morning? Someone else please tell me that a 9 a.m. final on a Sunday is a little ridiculous...

Criminal Procedure sucks...on with the day!

Mini Update

It was brought to my attention today that I haven't posted in awhile...and since I have a free minute or two while I wait for eggs to boil (so I can color them for easter), I thought I would give the few of you who enjoy this blog, an update.

1) I hate contracts. And I hate it even more I see it abbreviated with a K. If there is a logical explanation to it, I don't want to hear about it. I enjoy hating it.

2) I am done with school next week. That is sweet and all, but then I have finals, which is kind of "not awesome."

3) I love my kitties

4) I finally got a new apartment, that is conveniently located near loved ones, and the tavern, which I will be making an appearance at shortly, for an enjoyable happy hour with my contracts hating cohort.

5) I got a new phone. Call me on it, and i'll tell you about it.

6) I am cooking dinner this sunday for Easter. Guests include a jewish person. Cheers!

7) My hair is getting blonder

8) I got a job for the summer, through the school. Meaning that I will get free credits and money!!

9) I purchased, and successfully finished playing Kingdom Hearts II.

10) It is the weekend for me right now, and that calls for a celebration.

T-minus 20 minutes until happy hour...Makes me like margaritas even more:)

fun game, fun prize

I got a riddle from mountainman today:

"If yesterday had been Wednesday's tomorrow and tomorrow is Sunday's yesterday, what day would Today be?"

I thought about it for awhile, and in case you want to, the answer will be at the end...but I don't know how to put it upsidedown...

I ventured a guess... and got this compliment of the century in return...that might be sarcastic:


C a b l e 315: you get to post this in your profile:

"Stephanie is basically the best human being on the planet. Her charm and charisma brighten anyone's day, her intellect is as searing as the fire of a thousand suns, and her beauty is like a meadow awash in a million daisies. Stephanie is a mountainman among mere mortals."

C a b l e 315: Congratulations on your prize

The answer was Friday - and if I get motivational prizes like that everytime...i need more riddles...

Cheers!

Coffee Pizza

Issues to be discussed in this post: Computers that have keys eaten off them, and why they malfunction; kittens with cones on their heads; age at which you can make logical, legitimate decisions; My apartment and the lawsuits it is somehow avoiding; Valentine's Day; and the rat

1) Computers. I don't really know anything about the way they work, but I generally have an okay time fixing problems/installing things. I installed a mac style task bar on my computer and hell broke loose. Now I only have 1/3 of the pictures I once had, and my AIM keeps freezing up whenever its been running for more than 10 minutes. Besides, I think someone has my screen name because it continues to tell me that i'm signed in at more than one location. Someone give me a good reason aside from my limited finances why I shouldn't get one of those new Gateway convertible tablet notebooks. Please.

2) Kittens. Zoey got declawed and spayed last weekend, and again, hell broke loose. We brought her back here to stay, so she could be with her little kitten friend, and somehow, sometime through the night she maneuvered the cone on her head in a way that she was able to rip her feet open where they took the claws out. After a scene somewhat short of something you'd see in The Shining, and another trip to the vet, she's been staying at Joey's for the past week, pretty much living out of the bathroom with an abnormally large cone on her head, in order to prevent her from getting fuzz, or hair, or anything that would further infect her feet, in them. She gets to stay there for another week, at least. Basically, I've been getting sleep now, since I don't have a nuisance kitten sucking on the blankets surrounding my face. Though Tara has a creepy liking for spooning lately...but I think she's just lonely.

3) Age requirements. As you probably guessed, this caused hell to break loose again. Parents found out about the prospective plan of staying with Joe for the summer, and didn't like it very much. Apparently the plan I've chosen for myself isn't the picture perfect portrait of the "family dream" that my mom envisioned for me on the day I was born. Someone get me a witness, and tell me what I'm doing wrong, cause I don't seem to understand the issue here. I'm not looking for approval, just looking for something other than resentment. How is someone who is a country's length away, and spoken to someone for a cumulative 3 hours supposed to pass a judgment on soul mate compatability? I didn't think so either...

4) Potential Lawsuits. This apartment complex blows my mind. The elevator here is the most ghetto, run down piece of machinery within at least a few cities. At least every other week, it is broken for about 3 days at a time. Now consider that this is an 8 story building, I can only imagine how angry the people are on the top floor. For some reason though, they have sufficient funds to powerwash and repaint the entire building, though they are unable to repair the elevator that people continuously complain about. This past weekend the handle actually broke off the door that leads to the stairwell, leaving people to prop it open 24 hours a day. Considering that there are reports of "forceful" robberies within a mile of here, I thought that having the building unlocked all weekend was a safety violation. However, the maitenance people wouldn't come out over the weekend because it wasn't an emergency. When asked what constituted an emergency, the operator replied "I don't know." Help me out with this one...fire departments respond to fires, police to breakins; it just seems logical that maitenance on call would respond to a broken door that left the building completely unlocked for the whole weekend...wishful thinking I guess. By the way, my parents suspect I am exaggerating, or using this "situation" as an excuse to move out of here, and stay with Joe. Not really, just makes me want my lease to end sooner.

5) Valentine's Day. If anyone who actually knows me, or did at one point, is reading this, you will realize that my favorite holiday will be here in a week. That means, excuse to wear obnoxious pink shirt to class, excuse to get dressed up and do nothing all night, excuse to make kittens wear bows in their hair, and ME to wear bows in my hair, and anything else fun, festive and exciting that I haven't yet thought of...like, eat a bunch of chocolate and not feel bad about it:)

6) I really like chop chops from the rat.


I'll leave anyone interested with some quotes from my professors this semester:


"Lawyers aren't geniuses...the fact that the lights turn on? I still don't understand that..."

"Sobriety...I'm not big on that; Contracts? now that, I'm big on..."

"Think creatively...like the people at Enron...thats how you make money..."

"Go ahead nerd...calm down class, this is serious shit...."rescission"

"He found 200 bags of marijuana…and I don't know if you've ever seen 200 bags of marijuana, but it's a lot…"

Makes you wonder doesn't it?

Me Right Now

Here is an interesting story, that will serve as somewhat of a background to this post:

If i've already told you the story (which I probably have), then skip this part

My air conditioner was leaking pretty bad a few months ago (obviously it is now too, but it started then), and I told my landlord about the problem. A couple days later, creepy air conditioner fixer comes to fix it, and in doing so, simply changes the filter. Now I'm pretty sure that this was around the time that Katrina came through, so the power was down for some time shortly thereafter. (What do you know, he just came in...so it seems as though all my problems are solved, though I will continue the story since I still can't do anything with him here). After the power came back on, I don't remember being all that aware of the leak, or the door just remained shut, or it was actually fixed for awhile. Either way, there wasn't a problem until I went to get somthing out of that closet, which was for some reason, stuck to the carpet. This is when I knew there was a problem, though since the air had been off for awhile (being in the mid 60's here for almost a month, the carpet wasn't wet). Once I turned the air on again, a couple weeks later (about 3 days ago today), everything in there became moist, musty smelling, and downright disgusting. This includes toilet paper (that was green), extension cords, and a wicker basket, that I happen to like very much (which is pretty much ruined). So, I turn the air off again, to stop the flow of water, and the thing keeps dripping. I tell my landlord, and she sends creepy guy to fix it. His idea, again, was changing the filter. It only took me about an hour to figure out what he had done, and I went back down there. He came back up and proceeded to put sealant onto a wet pipe, thinking that somehow it would miraculously dry, and this is where the problem currently stands. The pipe is leaking something that resembles water, though it most likely has some sealant in it; the board under the air conditioner is wet and rotted, and the whole closet smells like complete hell. I'm curious as to see what the remedy is this time, but I'll assure you that it's nothing short of getting that smell the hell out of there, and stopping the leak.

Well, for the first time in awhile, I'm bored. Not because I have nothing to do though, but there is nothing I want to do right now, or anything that I can do, really.

1) I've tried reading for class, but it makes me fall asleep. Drink coffee? Yes, I am doing that right now, but this one cup isn't going to do it, and since I'm too lazy to make more, that's out of the question.

2) Read something else? Unfortunately, I have the same problem, falling asleep.

3) Take a nap? Not possible. If you saw the guy who is supposed to fix my air conditioner sometime this afternoon, you wouldn't sleep either.

4) Clean something? Well, what do you think I've been doing since I got home from class? This apartment is only so big.

5) I have no need to go to the grocery store, and if I did, I'd end up buying a bunch of chocolate, or candy or something else that I don't need to binge eat, simply out of sheer boredom.

6) Go complain about my broken air conditioner again? Well, my landlord doesn't believe in working after 2 on Fridays. Actually, she usually doesn't believe in working on Friday at all, and after 2 on most days during the week, so that's out of the question (especially since I was there about an hour ago)

7) Fix the air conditioner myself? Now we're getting somewhere. The more I think about it, the more I feel as though I could actually think of a better way to fix it. I think that the glass I put under the drip is the best thing that's been done about the situation since it started.

So where does that leave me? Putting up this post. It actually took me being this bored to even remember that I had a blog.

I've snacked on just about everything in this apartment, and am kinda full. I guess I could always get started on that bottle of pinot grigio in the fridge...though that would probably put me to sleep (see #3 above)...leaving that to be a horrible idea.

I suppose I could always take another shower, though since its so unbelievably hot in here, it'd probably defeat the purpose.

So I guess we'll see how long this takes, though I'm probably going to look wierd just sitting here while he works, since I feel like I've exhausted my only option, which was putting up this post, because I'm pretty sure if I leave right now, he'll just put a bucket under the drip and take off for the weekend.

Grades from last semester are finally starting to come in...and the first couple actually called for a celebration in my mind. So Joe and I are going to get dinner tonight, probably at Cheesecake Factory, or something awesome like that, and do a little shopping before I have to read for contracts all weekend.

I'll leave anyone interested with a question. What does tuition actually pay for? Because on top of the unbelievable amount of money that you pay for "tuition," you also have to pay for books, parking, living, groceries, copies, and the all-new "professor's class supplements." Someone please, justify the reasoning behind me spending $20 bucks on a supplement that is of really poor quality (as in, you can hardly see the words since they are so faded), and is in addition to the nearly $150 bucks I had to spend on hardcover casebooks for the same class. In contemplating the answer to that, take into consideration the fact that I can hook up my own computer to a room in the library, and print off any number of pages I want. I could print off a 300 page google search result and they wouldn't do a thing. I just don't understand this at all. Does the professor get the $20 dollars? Because I think we all know that it does NOT cost $20 dollars to make 200 2-sided copies, especially when I can do it downstairs for free.

Anyways, I'm going to check on the "progress" of the air conditioning situation...and keep my fingers crossed that he isn't simply putting another sealant on it...because that's what it looked like he was going to do when he came in...

One down...5 to go...

A nice pessimistic way of looking at the completion of my first semester...which I apparently have 90 days before I can even say whether or not I went out with a bang. And by that time, I'll already be back in, so it won't even apply. Anyways, I have no idea how I did, and I won't find out for probably a long time...so I'm going to pretend to not care about it at least until after New Years.

Taking finals here was a lot different that I remember in undergrad...and rightfully so I suppose. You get to sit there for about 4 hours, taking a ridiculous exam to determine close to, if not, 100% of your grade. It's a little scary, and a little frustrating when the exam is only on 1/3 of the semester, and the professor leaves out nearly 2/3 of the material we learned...I figured that as a law professor, it'd be easy to be creative, but apparently not...not that it happened to me or anything...haha. Anyways, enough frustration. Well, actually, another thing that frustrates me is when professors are almost too smart to teach the material. Like they assume that we know everything they do, and they almost know too much to just teach the basics. Then you get to his or her exam, and the first half may as well have been written in a foreign language. Educated guesses come in handy sometimes...Anyways, it's over for another few months. But the preview I've had of one of my professors, who sat at a table with us when a few people were out at the Tavern celebrating? For almost 3 hours? Talking about contracts? That should make for an interesting class...

The kitties are stil precious, though are racking up a few medical bills, and a nice list of infections. I'll spare any reader, and myself, the details. Lets just say that Zoey's had a couple trips to the bathtub in the last week, Tara couldn't see for a couple days, and at one point, Tara had a cone on her head, and Zoey had on homemade sock booties. Needless to say, they hated a few people, and each other, for a couple days. Fortunately, the train wreck seems to be getting back on track.

Also, we got ourselves a little Christmas tree, and it got set up at my place:) It's not a tree "per se," but it's more of a city slicker christmas tree (aka a 4 foot potted pine that we strung lights on), but hey, it serves it's purpose. It's pretty, and it has presents underneath it:) So i'm excited to open some tonight, and I'm actually pretty proud of my Christmas shopping this year. I got everything taken care of before finals finished, (made for a few good study breaks), and now I'm going to resort to nothing. Sit here, and do absolutely nothing. Well, between changing laundry and giving the kitties medicine, and packing for the trip home...I'm doing nothing. And fortunately for me, "nothing" today is going to include playing a couple video games, drinking some tropical fruit wine, and having an early Christmas with Joe:) Sounds like a good day of nothing to me:)

I'll be heading back to Michigan in a couple days...should make for an interesting trip. Kitties are tagging along this time again, but are going to stay with Joe, who is staying with his parents, so I'll be on my own for about 10 days...kinda sad, but everything should be back on track by New Years.


A fun Christmas game for anyone looking for a festive distraction...compliments of Meredith:)
http://www.powerpres.com/xmascard03.html

You Are

T-Minus 3 days of school left...wait...I forgot about the make up classes after thanksgiving. At any rate, I'm nearing the end of this semester, which makes me a little nervous because that means that finals are in less than 2 weeks, which scares me a lot.

Speaking of Thanksgiving, I am planning on making a full-hearted attempt at making an awesome thanksgiving dinner this year. We got the turkey, and I have a couple recipies from my family that I'm going to "try my best at." I've been assured that my best will be good enough even if everything goes to hell, but I guess everything is easier said than done, meaning its probably easier to say that it will be okay in the absence of a charred turkey and a few kitchen fires. Wish me luck.

Kitties are precious, but absolute nuisances. Tara has a new hobby of drinking out of the toilet, and Zoey has an ongoing obsession with sucking on Tara's feet. I think they're both mutant cats. They only start to get on my nerves when I wake up to some table getting knocked over into the window, or Zoey walking circles around my head purring like a car motor, every hour on the hour, but even then, I have a hard time staying upset for long...

I'm looking forward to heading home for Christmas. It'll be nice to not have to worry about school for awhile anyway, and also nice to spend time with my family. The only downfall is that word on the street says it gets down to 20 there at night? I'll go ahead and pass on that. It's been at least 75 here since I came, and I've been more than happy with that.

On a lighter note, I did some Christmas shopping recently, and some more today. Makes me smile. And although I had class today, it was one of the best days I've had in awhile. Joe is doing well, and made me smile all day:)

I talked to a couple Michigander friends last night, and learned what it was like to think it is 5 a.m. and have it only be 5 p.m....haha.... I guess tailgating is priceless.

"I am intrigued by your ideas, and wish to subscribe to your newsletter....weeeeeeeeee!"

p.s. I cannot WAIT for a rat rat chop chop tomorrow....it is the best campus food ever, and conveniently only $3.99...ZING!!!

Blackbelt in Keeping it Real

All that needs to be said about the trip to the mitten, is that it was interesting. Nice, break, good to see people.

It's what I came back to that warrants explanation...

My apartment was fine, no blown out windows, no tree on my car, and no flooded bedroom. I was happy about that, and I even had power when I came back, which was an extra plus. After a week (yes, a whole week) off of school, I knew there would be some sort of catch to the leisure time I was able to have.

Not only do I have extended classes all week, but I have a saturday morning 8 a.m., and classes the week after thanksgiving. Which give me less time in between my exams, and the time that classes end so I can start cramming. Killer huh. 8 a.m. on a Saturday? That's going to be the most exhilerating experience of my life, not to mention that it's with the glorious book tape of a Dean I posted about earlier. School basically just keeps getting better....

On another note, try this mental picture out. Traffic at 5 o'clock in Miami, kids dressed up for Halloween, and closed roads for trick-or-treaters. Add it up, and that equals a 40 minute drive home for me from campus...which is about 2 miles away. Imagine how slow cars moved for that one. Needless to say, I was able to use my horn a lot. Oh, and I forgot the part about some of the traffic lights not working yet. I didn't want to think about leaving my apartment when I finally got back.

Anyway, I thought I would take a short break and let anyone who's interested know that everything is still standing here, except for a lot of trees and some stop signs, and I guess power lines too, but my apartment was just as I left it, which I suppose is all I can really ask of mother nature.

This is what I learned today in my torts class... "most does not mean majority..." -My prof. (no joke)

Oh, and I had a good dinner last night...glorious:)


Sean Connery: Ah! Well met! I'll take Months That Start With Feb, Trebek.

Alex Trebek: For how much?

Sean Connery: Suprise me, you filthy bastard!

Alex Trebek: Okay, that's completely unnecessary. Months That Start With Feb for $800. This is the only month that starts with Feb.

[ Sean Connery buzzes in ]

Alex Trebek: Mr. Connery?

Sean Connery: Febtober!