Speed Bumps ...

I had a fabulous time in New York City this weekend (and I will post some photos very soon) but I returned home to a maddeningly slow Internet connection and a car with a non functioning speedometer ...

Addendum To The Last ...

OK, so after writing my celebratory post, a dear old friend called me with MUCH more exciting news: At nearly the exact time I finished my first law school exam, she delivered her first baby. Now that puts my very minor accomplishment in perspective ...

Bread, Chocolate and The Awakening ...

"The Awakening"

I JUST FINISHED MY FIRST LAW SCHOOL EXAM! (Yes, a sentence worthy of all caps, in my humble opinion.) To celebrate, my roommate C. and I and some friends went to a lovely cafe C. discovered called Bread and Chocolate. Obviously, a delicious (and adorable, it had a yellow awning!) place. I ate crepes (the menu called them German Pancakes, but they really were crepes) filled with Nutella. And believe me, I enjoyed it. But I think I deserved it. Not only did I take my midterm, and live to tell the tale, but yesterday C. and I went for a VERY long run (OK, long to me ...). We ran across the 14th Street Bridge, which crosses the Potomac, and then along the river to the Awakening statue. By the time we made it there, I definitely felt anything but awakened ... both in mind and body. But now, with some chocolate in me, my exam finished (itself an awakening, to be sure) and with no classes for the rest of the week, I feel much better (and only slightly sore from the run) ...

Richmond, Ramadan and Happy Halloween ...

I really should be working on a paper right about now ... but I just got off the phone with one of my very favorite people (that would be you, Nana) and it feels too jarring to go from happy to painful so quickly. So I am writing here to ease the transition. (And because I wanted to post the adorable Halloween card I received in the mail today. It is much cuter inside, but since it is a POP UP card, I could not scan that ...) Anyway, since I have now noted the upcoming pagan candy holiday, I should also give equal space to some opposite topics. First, General Conference. On Sunday, I went to Richmond with some friends to watch it at a real house (a.k.a. a friend's parents' house) and had a fun, food-filled time. Then on Monday night, the Muslim society at school had a Ramadan dinner and invited the other religious groups (Mormon and Jewish, mainly) to come ... also a fun, food-filled (and quite informative and interesting) time ...

Supreme Professors ...

Before school started, I watched what I now know to be the classic law school movie, The Paper Chase. I watched parts of it three times, actually. I found it so tedious and ridiculous the first time that I fell asleep. I managed to get through it the second time, and then Prof. B (actually, I have three Prof. B's, so I guess their anonymity will be protected more than most) "invited" my class to watch it again the first day of school.

So, I consider myself sufficiently versed in The Paper Chase, and I continued to consider it ridiculous. Until recently, when I realized that I am quickly becoming exactly what I ridiculed. For you lucky souls not familiar with The Paper Chase, the main character basically worships his Contracts professor. Now, do not worry, my fascination has not reached worship. But it could.

Today, a group of us had lunch with two professors (a different Prof. B and Prof. M). These kind (yes, I term them kind, but only when they stop acting like Socrates) fellows have lunch with a group of students every week, and I took my turn today. I already really liked both of them, but in particular found myself intrigued by Prof. M. And now I know why.

Not only does Prof. M start class exactly on time every day and notify us before he calls on us, but he basically knows the entire Supreme Court. Yes, THE Supreme Court. Now, in reading my new book about the Supreme Court, I have learned about the Bork controversy, the Kennedy nomination, the Thomas nomination and controversy, and the Roberts nomination. Well, Prof. M clerked for Bork, clerked for Kennedy, and then came back and clerked for Thomas during his first year on the Court. (The year I just finished reading about, where Thomas would write his own opinions and then the other justices would want to join. So his law clerks obviously did some good work!) Seriously! And, then years later, the Court appointed Prof. M to work on another case, this one with then-attorney and now Chief Justice John Roberts. So my professor knows him too! WOW!

And now, enough with the cheese and exclamation marks. Back to complaining about my homework ...

Freedom Is Not Free ...

Yesterday after classes I walked (from school, quite a trek ... OK not really, but it sure felt like it with my backpack on) to the monuments with someone visiting D.C. for the first time. I always love looking at the monuments, but I appreciate them even more when I go with someone who has never seen them before. Even better, yesterday we found the World War I Memorial, which I had never seen before.

Near the Korean War Memorial ...

To me, this phrase sums up all of the monuments and memorials ...

In honor of a new namesake ...

The World War I Memorial ... built in the '30s, so it just says 'World War' Memorial ...

P.S. So I know I promised not to refer to people by name on this blog, but it just feels strange not to actually identify the people I talk about. So, if no one objects, I am going to start referring to people with their first initials, which I think should preserve sanity and identity at the same time ...

President of 9/12 ...

I like this column in the NYT. I do not agree with all of it, but I do agree with the sentiment of Thomas Friedman's conclusion: "We need a president who will unite us around a common purpose, not a common enemy. Al Qaeda is about 9/11. We are about 9/12, we are about the Fourth of July — which is why I hope that anyone who runs on the 9/11 platform gets trounced."