I'm lovin it...

So yes, this is challenging, but I am relishing in the reading, research and writing. It could be the novelty (we'll have to compare this entry with those in the upcoming months), it could be the lack of sleep; we may never know. The fact is, I am enjoying myself. Breaking down cases, figuring out the rules and playing the ever-popular devil's advocate - right down my alley. This was a great move, and I am excited to see where it goes from here.

In case you are wondering, yes, I am in the library and I just finished reading for Contracts. Now it is back to the books to start work on another outline. Should I work on Torts or Civil Procedure?

Orientation is Over, Now the real work begins

So orientation is over, and it has been an experience. Every day I come home with a headache. My brain is clearly not use to the work. This week I read 100 pages and briefed 5 cases, and class does not start until Monday. I love Orientation. Gone are the days of undergrad and team building at Camp Gideon. Now it's all about Legal Writing, appellate arguments and financial aid seminars. It's always fun meeting new people (including this guy, http://www.paralegalsblog.com/2008/08/paralegal-sets-sights-on-rising-lawyer.html ), and I am going to experiment with the study group idea and see what happens. My favorite part about law school so far is the automatic doors. They are not the kind you see at the grocery store, they open from farther away and make you feel important. All in all, a good week.

First Class

Well, I just completed my first class at law school, and I am still breathing (a good sign). It was a Legal Writing class and it looks like my hand may fall off. My pre-class assignment was the first 2 chapters from (one of) the book(s) and reading 4 additional cases. That resulted in 9+ pages of notes, a migraine and a carpal cramp. All in all, a good afternoon at the library. Now all I have to do is re-read the 2 chapters (want to make sure I understand all the gibberish), complete the exercises from the book and brief the 4 cases. Did I mention this is just orientation week? Yeah for law school.

Looking for a Laptop?

I have come to terms with the current economy, and even though we are not technically in a recession (2 consecutive quarters of negative growth), the media has frightened me to the point that I am going to back to school. I have decided that law school is the answer to all my problems and at the very least I will be able to defend my rights (even as they are steadily eroded) in society. For this venture, I need a laptop. Should you ever decide that pain is pleasure and identify yourself as a masochist (Masochists enjoy receiving pain), go laptop shopping.

Lesson 1: the expert helping you is going to be much younger than you, and will be subtly (or not so subtly) insulting you in tech-talk.

Lesson 2: It does not matter how much the computer costs, or what rebates are available, you are going to spend at least $1,100 (and even at that point they make you feel that you are selling yourself short).

Lesson 3: No matter what you use your PC for, you can be sure the expert you are talking to believes you will want the most amount of memory possible. After all, once the expert accounts for his porn, gaming and music, he wants to make sure there is enough memory left to type a paper. He will use words like, "multi-tasking," "multiple applications," and "boogers" (or was it cookies?), but be sure, he is talking about P,G & M.

In short, it's a miserable experience that takes entirely too long. Anyone who tells you they did it for less/had fun/found a great deal/etc is a liar. They are the same type of people who tell you they "broke even" in Vegas. Seriously, the Bellagio should be handing out business cards that say, "Thanks for breaking even."

At least now I have a laptop that will handle every conceivable multimedia function, hijack and drive war planes, sit in for me when I miss class, change diapers and drive me & the wife home after a night out. And I got the 4 year warranty.