NASCAR goes cosmetic

Apparently I'm way behind on this, but Jason and I saw a commercial last night for a Daytona 500 cologne. Do people really associate the Daytona 500 with a pleasing fragrance?

I find the combination questionable, and as I told Jason last night, I'd prefer it if he didn't smell anything like the Daytona 500.

Passing the Buck

My husband, instead of formulating an opinion on the various nursery bedding that I've sent him, has taken the decision to his blog. Feel free to scan and vote here.

A Ray of Sunshine

Remembering my love for all things Rachael Ray, my friend JB sent me this link.

The video, in addition to being entertaining, pretty accurately sums up why she drives me nuts. But you can't deny--she has amassed a following to rival the less-irritating Food Network celebrities. So, JB and Carla (and any other Boston natives), go on and line up for the book signing. And say something clever if you get to the front of the line ... she just may let out a snort for you.

Giggle Box

I hope Hallie laughs like this.

Hallie Kay Head Makes Her Debut

Well, just in case there is someone out there who I haven't told, we got big news today... Our little one is a girl! (Hence the pink font.) She currently weighs 8 ounces, which is just perfect, and she kicked and waved at us the whole time the nurse did the ultrasound. I would post the ultrasound pictures, but trust me when I tell you that you wouldn't be able to tell what they are. So, you'll just have to wait for a REAL photo of our baby girl in May!

Mmm... Mmm... Mmm... Good

More Campell's soup is consumed in Louisville, Kentucky, than in any other area of the country.

Laura? Courtney? Any theories as to why?

This Could be Awkward

This lawyer is suing her firm (while continuing to work there) because she claims that the firm told her she should be spending less time at work and more time with her kids.

I don't think anyone will deny the fact that juggling a career and a family presents its challenges, particularly when both spouses work. And I read blogs and articles where women say that it can't be done well. However, this is a decision unique to each family, and I am grateful for the opportunity to make the decision for myself.

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice

According to this website, I have a 60% chance of having a baby girl.

According to my mother's voodoo magic over Thanksgiving, I am definitely having a girl.

We'll have confirmation in 5 DAYS!

Count Your Many Blessings

As I wrote the previous post, I couldn't help but think of my Mama Dawson, whom I saw almost every Thanksgiving when I was younger. Specifically, I remember her leading the singing of the old hymn "Count Your Many Blessings." And in her honor, here are the uplifting lyrics...

When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.

When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings. Wealth can never buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.

So, amid the conflict whether great or small,
Do not be disheartened, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey's end.

Happy Thanksgiving

We are at T-minus 2 1/2 hours until my Thanksgiving Holiday begins. This Thanksgiving will span from November 22 through November 29 and will include an early turkey dinner tonight, a trip to the beach, a wedding, and hopefully some hot chocolate in a cabin in the mountains!

It's important to remember your blessings, and so here are a few things I'm thankful for this holiday:

--my husband, who loves me even when it's hard
--the hope of Baby Head
--my family
--my in-laws, especially my sister-in-law who will say "I do" in six days!
--the cutest dog ever, who just happens to live at my house

There are more, but I don't want to bore you with the details. God is so good, even on days when the "thankful" list seems shorter than the "to do" list. And so, I give Him the thanks, and I wish each of you a blessed Thanksgiving celebration.

Of Shoes and Ships and Sealing Wax

Since I've returned to the blog today, I think it's the perfect time for a new rant. So, here goes.

Every morning on my way to work, I listen to The Rick and Bubba Show. For those of you who don't know, they are the self-proclaimed "sexiest fat men alive," and their show is the only entertaining part of my drive from Wetumpka to The Gump. Every morning at about 7:45 or 7:50, a pastor from a local church occupies about a 1-minute commercial spot. He uses this one minute to give "inspirational" stories and remarks. While the idea behind this spot is fine, I find myself annoyed almost every day. Yesterday was no exception.

The source of my frustration is the fact that this "pastor" rarely ever mentions God. And he certainly never mentions Jesus. Of course, this would be fine if he were a motivational speaker or an entertainer. The problem, simply, is that he is a minister, and these stories are presented by a church under the guise of Christianity. And they focus on people, not on God. Yesterday's story ended with the line "We all need to remember that we are never alone; other people around us are working hard with us." (my paraphrase, but it's pretty accurate)

Teaching people to place their faith in other people is not only false, but foolish. As all of us know, people will let us down. People are sinful. The Church, and therefore pastors, have the responsibility and the joy of pointing people to the ONLY constant source of peace, Christ.

It isn't that his stories aren't nice -- they are. But to spend his one minute every morning, with a huge listening audience, to tell a nice story really doesn't help anyone. Surely as soon as listeners feel a little lighter about humanity, someone cuts them off in traffic, their family member says something hurtful, or their coworker is inconsiderate. And so, that little high they may have felt after Pastor's story vanishes. The Truth is that putting your faith in other people will always disappoint; instead, we should be encouraging and challenging people to put their faith in the Only One who is "the same yesterday, today, and forever." I am disappointed when one who represents the Church wastes such a valuable opportunity.

Baby News!

Now that no one is checking this blog anymore, I've decided to update. (We'll see how long it takes anyone to notice...)

Since my last post my husband and I have found out that we are going to be parents in May! We heard Baby Head's heartbeat on November 1st, and we are scheduled to learn whether Baby Head is a boy or a girl on December 7th...I can hardly wait. Perhaps we'll get a picture then so that I can post his or her very first portrait online.

We Interrupt Our Regularly Scheduled Program...

...to bring you a link to this article. I'm breaking my self-enforced policy of avoiding politics on my blog (merely because about a million other blogs exist for that purpose and their long "comments" sections usually put me to sleep). But this article, as my husband said, hits the nail on the head.

We can only hope that Lieberman's defeat last night was not a sign of things to come.

Alabama Politics...

...At its Finest.

Forward Rebels

Just in time for football season, the Head family has purchased a new Honda CRV ... the perfect vehicle for hauling a Grove tent!

Hotty Toddy!

An Open Letter to Rachael Ray of The Food Network

Dear Rachael,

I have many reasons to thank you, one being the gorgonzola steak recipe Jason and I made this evening. In fact, "30 Minute Meals" has been quite helpful to my small family of two.

However, I have a gripe. It pertains not to "30 Minute Meals," but to "$40 a Day." My gripe is this: ANYONE could limit herself to spending $40 in ANY town on ANY day if she tipped as badly as you do! In adding up your expenditures, you show us your tab. And I am continually amazed by the meager tips you leave. I'm particularly disappointed because the staff at each restaurant consistently gives you excellent service! (Of course I realize the cameras help you here.) Nonetheless, it's a good thing you film the waiters and waitresses as they bring you your meals and not after they receive your checks!

Just something to think about.

Sincerely,

A.K.H.

The One-Woman Show

One of my favorite things about living in Wetumpka is receiving The News Record, Wetumpka's free weekly newspaper.

I enjoy the paper because it keeps me up-to-date on local happenings without having to pay for a subscription.

But I particularly enjoy the paper, because (almost) every article is written by the same woman. I have actually taken on the challenge each week to hunt through the paper to try to find an article written by someone else. And, the best part is, this same woman has a column!

After reading the paper each week, I have Ms. Peggy Blackburn's view on everything in or around Wetumpka, Alabama. And every time something newsworthy happens I just have to hope that she is available and on the scene. If not, I may never know about it.

Easily Amused

The traffic guy on the radio is named Miles Long.

UPDATE: My husband has made fun of me since this post because I thought this was the guy's actual name. I held my ground, believing it to be so...until I heard the name of another traffic guy on the radio this morning. The name? Major Delay.

Ok, Jason, you win this one.

Jesus Golf Balls--I'm not kidding.

A writer on this blog has a good post about Christian retailing. It puts into words my long-time dread of "catchy" Christian logo t-shirts, bumper stickers, candy, etc. Please understand...I think some of these items can serve a purpose at Vacation Bible School and childrens' ministries.

However, I don't know too many Christians who became believers because of the bumper sticker on the car in front of them. And the point, for me, is this: many of these items seem to serve the believing purchaser more than the outside world they are purported to attract, and they too often substitute for the actual going, preaching, baptizing, and discipling Christians are commanded to do.

(Thanks to Courtney for sending me the link.)

Today we'll be celebrating paper clips!

Maybe it's just the places I've worked, but I have noticed a direct correlation between an office job and an increase in my cake consumption. It seems we always have some cake-worthy event to celebrate. Someone's always having a birthday, having a baby, or leaving. Of course, there are holidays as well. And all are cause for dessert!

I assume most offices are this way. That's why we all laugh so hard at poor Milton, who just wants some cake.

I am definitely not complaining about this phenomenon. But I'm going to have to find some time to exercise before I become wider than my desk chair.

Back in the Saddle Again

Aah, the wonderful feeling of lying in bed at 10:00 pm without a Bar Review book in hand. The insanity is officially over, and I'm experiencing life A.B. (After the Bar). And the grass looks greener, my dog is cuter, and even the frustration of my seventh flat tire in a year and a half seems a mild inconvenience in contrast to the past six weeks. As a parting farewell to my bar exam experience, though, I'd like to share my breaking point ... the moment when I knew it was really getting to me:

I was sitting in the drive thru at Jim N Nicks awaiting a delicious lunch about a week ago. And after I placed my (concededly large) order, I found myself wondering at what point in my drive thru transaction my contract to purchase barbeque became binding. Was the "offer" when I placed my order, and the "acceptance" when they told me they would deliver what I ordered? Or was the offer placed by them, when they advertised the combo for $7.00, and the acceptance my agreement to take what they advertised? And was my "promise" to pay at the window enough consideration for our contract to be binding, or was it an illusory promise, because I could back out at any time by driving past the window?

It didn't end there, but I'll spare you the gory details of my descent into absurdity. Thankfully, the girl at the window snapped me out of my fog just before I wandered into torts and contemplated the possible recovery if my barbeque contained small traces of poison.

Perhaps I'll Blog In"steed" of Studying

I've been sitting in a bar review lecture all morning, so permit me a brief rant...

I'm sitting in my bar review course listening to a diminuitive man talk about all the bar exams he's passed. The man's job--his ENTIRE job--is taking multiple bar exams and analyzing what they contain so that he can help other people pass them. He has passed 15 bar exams at least, including the infamously difficult California bar. So, I presume (probably correctly) that he is some sort of scary-smart--the kind of smarty who reads law treatises on the weekends. And YET...

He pronounces "stead" as if it's "steed." An example: "Lorraine will come to the meeting in his steed."

I know this is minor. And I'm sure you've heard worse. (A certain preacher I know pronounces "measure," "treasure, " and "pleasure" in a way that would make a professional poker player noticeably cringe.) But it just seemed so out of place from this guy. And, even though he said it several times, no one else in the whole class appeared to notice.

Whew. Glad I got that out. I'll save my incredible story from Montgomery traffic for another post...

Update

Because I'm taking a very short break from studying to finally update the blog, I'm taking the lazy man's way out ... just posting an "update."

Archie is a whopping 6 pounds these days and got his rabies shot last weekend (which he was less than thrilled about). He's a lot of work, but SO fun.

We think we may have found a church last Sunday! We visited Eastwood Presbyterian and really enjoyed the music, preaching, and people we met. We'll be returning for a few more visits before we decide that's where we want to be, but it's an encouraging step.

I am studying for the Bar constantly and am so far behind I doubt I'll ever catch up. The good news is that I don't have to work until after the Bar is over, so I'll have more time to absorb the qualities of negative easements and everything else that I should have learned the first time I studied it in law school.

We enjoyed a very festive 4th of July with Heather, James, Lucy (Heather's Papillon), Cash (their friend's Maltipoo), and Archie. It was quite a zoo. But the Wetumpka fireworks proved more impressive than expected, and a good time was had by all.

The hair dye is slowly fading. The box says 28 washes, but I'm thinking it'll take more like 40.

I guess that's it for now. Hopefully life and the blog will return to interesting material soon ...

Hair

Well, I did it. I dyed my hair red.

Not to fear...it's a non-permanent color that will eventually wash out.

UPDATE: As a note to my few faithful readers, I'd just like to ask one thing: How in the world could you let me post such an obvious typo for so many days?! I am particularly shocked that a few of you failed to point it out. Kristin? Mom? Where are you? Either my estimate of 2 loyal blog readers was right, or my friends and family have let me down. For those of you who haven't checked the blog since the 23rd, I have since corrected the glaring error, so just assume it wasn't there in the first place...

Return to Normalcy (sort of)

I'm Back! To all 2 of you still checking the blog, I am returning from my extended hiatus.

What a whirlwind few weeks it has been! Since my May posts, I have finished law school, walked across the stage at graduation without falling, moved, been to France, gotten a puppy who is running our lives, started my bar review course, and begun a new job. I'm tired just thinking about it. And all of a sudden I don't feel quite so guilty that my house is still a mess...

Notre Dame

Bon Jour!

After more than a week of packing and unpacking all our belongings, we have officially relocated to Wetumpka. But, in more exciting news, we arrived in Paris today!

So far we have enjoyed some French food and taken a boat ride on the Seine and are looking forward to the Louvre tomorrow afternoon! I'm hoping to attach some pictures later in the week...

Archie

We got some more pictures of him. Don't worry...I'm not going to post one every week or anything. But these are awfully cute, so I couldn't resist. Check him out...

A Whole New World

Well, that's it. It's over. I turned in my last law school exam at 4:15. And then I picked up my cap and gown.

And then I yelled "FREEDOM!" at the top of my lungs, a la Braveheart. Not really. But I think I may have skipped down the hallway...

It's pretty surreal, really. After 20 straight years of school, it's hard to believe I won't EVER have another exam. (Except for that pesky little bar exam this summer, of course.)

For those of you visiting T-town this weekend, break out your party hats! It's time to celebrate!

Puppy Pictures!

The breeder sent us pictures of Archie and his sisters this morning. Jason posted a couple of them on his blog. Go see how adorable they are!

Exam Progress

Well, three down and one to go! Yea!

Tonight, I took my Law and Literature exam, which was completely inane. It contained great questions, like "What is truth?" (I'm not kidding.) I thought I got all that out of the way in English 102 at Ole Miss. Apparently not.

Even though I'm a 3L and therefore lazy, I have decided that I would rather take a "real class" than a class like this, for the simple reason of motivation. I just cannot feel the need to work very hard on a class that has no relevance to reality. I spent all day Friday looking at my notes between various HGTV shows and got nothing accomplished.

Don't get me wrong...I don't think the Uniform Commercial Code, which I'm about to study for the next three days, is a barrel of laughs either. But at least there are rules, and those rules can be broken or followed. There are "right" answers, and I don't have to worry about whether truth is subjective.

So, on to secured credit transactions...

Update: After receiving my grades, I am amending this post. Perhaps Law & Literature wasn't so bad after all. And Secured Credit...Well, let's just say it wasn't my finest hour.

For the Geography Buffs

Because I am combatting severe attention deficit, one last post for the evening...

In the interest of spreading fun and uselessness, I have discovered yet another internet-based waste of time to share (compliments of Caffeine & Irony). Go here and choose to play Europe (or Africa if you're feeling extra-bold). Choose Level Three, as it does not have the outlines of the countries.

I used to think I was good at geography...until I did this.

Hey, at least it's educational distraction, right?

More Law School Fun

I would just like to thank the Law School for putting what I affectionately call "the skinny mirror" in the women's restroom outside the library. For some reason it doesn't bother me that I know it is a distortion of reality. It still makes me feel good.

For the Suggestion Box

I'd put this in the Law Library Suggestion Box, but the box doesn't exist.

During the exam period, the Law Library should employ the same technique used in all casinos: pump it full of oxygen. If oxygen, bright lights, and no windows can keep people awake and throwing their money away until all hours, it should also be able to keep law students awake while wading through chapters of Insurance Law.

They're already employing the "freeze out" technique of running the air conditioning on high at all times. (I'm actually shaking as I type this, but hey--I'm awake!)

Now if I could only shiver and breathe pure oxygen--imagine the productivity!

A Timely Observation

As I was outlining Insurance Law today, I had a small realization: I never hear watch alarms anymore.

Does anyone else remember when watch alarms used to go off in public places? I can remember a few years ago when watch alarms would beep rudely at noon every Sunday to not-so-discretely let the preacher know he had gone past his time limit. I haven't heard one in quite a while.

Now perhaps they have been replaced with the inescapable ringing cell phones--which ring in class, in church, in meetings, in movies... It's definitely not a good trade-off.

So, am I making this up? Have watch alarms ceased, or have they just been drowned out by the hip hop rings of cell phones?

Incoherent Update

Apologies for the slowdown in blogging activity. We have reached the point in the semester when I'm trying to read everything I've been assigned for the past four months. And somehow I did not get the memo about slacking off your last semester, since I have four finals. So, here's a lazy, comprehensive blog post:

*They charge $80 to RENT a cap and gown for graduation. That's almost as insane as the prices to rent table linens for weddings. Or the prices to rent storage units. Lesson here: Buy something in quantity and then rent it to others at a 180% rate. It's best to do it with something people feel like they have to have (like a cap and gown).

*Our puppy was born on Saturday, April 15! Mom wants us to name him W-2 because of his birthday, but we're still negotiating on the real name. We will go pick him up in south Georgia in June!

*Just to support my driving stance in February, someone had a wreck in front of our house yesterday. Why? Because they were backing into the busy street, of course! Don't worry--no one was hurt. But it did provide Reason # 11267 we were in the right during the Great Standoff. (I've been told I can hold a grudge.)


So, obviously, not much is happening here, except for the endless outlining. Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter!

Legal History

Attention law students everywhere: Mike, coauthor of the BarelyLegal Blog, has constructed a fake timeline of legal history. It is brilliant.

Ethics, or Common Sense?

They've passed out the scores for the MPRE, the National Ethics Exam, and I haven't heard of anyone who failed. It probably wouldn't surprise most people to know that lawyers have scaled the Ethics portion of the Bar so much that almost everyone passes...

At any rate, I passed, so I guess I'm officially ethical.

Modern Hymnody

Bob Kaughlin's latest post on his blog, Worship Matters, discusses the ongoing hymns/choruses debate in Christian churches. He accurately states,

For more than a hundred years we’ve favored emotional, response-type songs over songs that magnify the nature, attributes, and works of God. We need both,
and more songs that help us do both at the same time.

Our response to God is important. Emotional responses to God are important. The Psalmist certainly isn't shy about his feelings when he worships. And music itself is often an emotional medium of expression.

But there is danger in these "response-type songs" as well. The danger lies in worshippers who rely on their feelings and responses to shape their understanding of Who God is. A god who is what we make him to be is no God at all. And so we run a risk when we magnify our feelings, rather than magnifying our God.

God seeks worshippers who will worship Him in spirit and truth. This is why we need songs that both magnify the truth of God's attributes and songs that convey our response to that truth.

Kaughlin appropriately calls pastors to take responsibility for the songs their congregations are singing, "leading them wisely into truth-based affections." Truth-based affections, rather than mere affections, glorify the True God while involving our God-given emotions.

America in 2000 Years

To borrow a quote from the ministers' blog of First Presbyterian Church (Jackson, MS):

"I think there are only three things that America will be known for 2,000 years from now when they study this civilization: the Constitution, jazz music and baseball. They're the three most beautifully designed things this culture has ever produced.” Gerald Early

It's a thought-provoking quote, as to what America will be known for. And I'm inclined to agree with the three items chosen.

In a similar, yet more serious, vein, Peggy Noonan paints a bleak picture of America's future in her column this week. Bleak, that is, if we do not instill a sense of pride and appreciation in its youth and its immigrants. It's a great article.

Home, Sweet Home

We have found a really cute rental house between Montgomery and Wetumpka, and we're signing the lease tonight and moving in on May 20th!

And in even more fun news, we're putting down a deposit on a dog today! We will be able to pick up our new best friend in June. Unfortunately, our new landlord wouldn't let us get a large pet, so our Bernese Mountain Dog dreams are delayed for at least a year. But we had discussed having a big dog and a small dog anyway, so we'll just start off small. We are getting a West Highland Terrier (Westie). Aren't they adorable?

The "Ultimate" Tradition

Southern Living came out with a list of 40 Things Every Southerner Should Do in this month's issue. I thought the list was fairly comprehensive, though I don't exactly consider Oklahoma and D.C. the "South." The highlight, though, was number 27: Picnic in the Grove. To quote them directly:

We Southerners cherish college football and the campus traditions that accompany it. When the University of Texas and the University of Oklahoma go head-to-head during the State Fair of Texas in Dallas, you must fill up on Fletcher’s Corny Dogs in order to root either team to victory. Tiger fans eagerly line up to roll Toomer’s Corner and scream "War Eagle" every time Auburn posts a win. The ultimate tradition, though, takes place at Ole Miss in Oxford. Thousands of fans gather to picnic in the Grove and feast on gourmet spreads.

I couldn't agree more.

An End to the Madness

Well, we didn't even make it to the Final Four. With an entire weekend of basketball left to play, we have nothing on the line. Not a single bracket in our little group has any possible points remaining, because not one of us picked ANY of the remaining teams to make it this far.

Of course, we're not alone. These teams weren't supposed to make it this far. I saw today that 1980 was the only year when every #1 seed lost before the Final Four...until this year.

So, if you are still amassing points, you're either lucky or psychic. As for the rest of us, there's always next year.

(As a side note, congrats to Carla Ward, whose bracket won in our group.)

Bracket? What Bracket?

In spite of my basketball prowess, my teams have failed me so far this weekend. Case in point? The Kansas Jayhawks. I had them going to the Final Four, and they're already out. Hope your bracket is looking better than mine...

The Oldest Musher

A 50 year-old won the Iditarod this morning. We're talking about 10 days in the Alaskan snow with only his sled dogs for company. All of a sudden, my day doesn't seem so difficult.

Peace Through the Storm

Jason and I went to get some dinner tonight, amidst the tornado sirens (we pick great times to be in our car). We were on our way home and stopped at a gas station. Jason went inside to pay and asked the gas station attendant if she was worried about the bad weather. Unimpressed with the storm, she plainly answered, "No. I'm a Christian. I don't worry."

Those are words of wisdom this confirmed worrywart needed to hear.

Bring on the Basketball!

You've got to appreciate the marketing minds behind March Madness. As Ole Miss basketball has been less than stellar this year, I have not cared one iota about basketball the past few months. But that's all about to change, because it's March...and I can do my very own bracket! They have appealed to my competitive side and given me a reason to watch and cheer.

So, I am eagerly filling out my ignorant "picks" and awaiting the beginning of the tournament. And whether you're a basketball fan or not, I encourage you to do the same. It will make the next few weeks far more entertaining.

Shhh!

Well, I've taken the MPRE and won't know if I passed for 5 WEEKS. In the mean time, I've witnessed offensive coffeehouse behavior during my 24 hour preparation for the exam. So, it's time we established some coffeehouse etiquette.

Here's the deal: If your local coffeehouse has more than one room, and in one room sit many loud undergrads with no need for productivity on a Friday night, and in the other room sits one lonely soul working furiously to learn material in a short span of time, and you and your date/friend/colleague intend to have a loud discussion about the mysteries of the universe, DO NOT sit down in the otherwise silent room and talk loudly!!!

Now, I realize that coffeehouses are not libraries and that if I wanted complete solitude I should have stayed at home. I study in coffee shops and other public places because I feel less inclined to crawl in my bed and forget the whole thing, and because I actually enjoy a reasonable amount of background noise.

That does not mean, however, that I want to know every detail about the personal lives surrounding me--and I would feel that way regardless of whether I were studying. People seem all too inclined to share their most intimate feelings in the most public of settings these days, completely disregarding the presence of other people.

Cell phone talkers are among the worst culprits. This also happens a lot in restaurants, where Table A is so enthralled with the rollicking good time they're having that they fail to realize no one else in the restaurant can hear their dinner companions over the laughter of Table A. But this behavior is particularly aggravating when the perpetrators are the only people talking in a given place. It's not that I expected the couple to sit silently just because I was doing so--I just didn't want to hear every intimate detail of their conversation.

So, if everyone around you seems hard at work, just make some small effort to confine your conversation to your table. Rule of thumb: if I'm two tables away, and I'm literally plugging my ears to concentrate, and I can still hear every word you're saying, you are TOO LOUD.

The Countdown

Well, here it is. The ultimate test of how much information I can learn in one night. The MPRE is tomorrow at 9:00 am.

Wish me luck...

Calling all Graduates

As an addendum to Monday's post, I'd like to add the Balfour people to the list of monopolistic geniuses. The premiere graduation company, they really know how to capitalize on the system. They service entire school systems and are the only people on campus taking orders. And after all, who doesn't want a high school graduation announcement to show how proud they are of little Suzy? Not to mention a graduation ring--she's worked hard, after all!

But these people don't just stop with high school graduations. They service colleges, law schools, medical schools...the list goes on. If you're graduating from anything, chances are good the Balfour people will be there congratulating you. And they'll be providing forms to order announcements, rings, "certificates of appreciation," and all other regalia you could imagine.

Having said this, I'll be ordering a modest amount of graduation announcements from them this afternoon. Maybe one day I'll come up with some sort of "necessity" for a large group of people, like graduates, and make my very own fortune.

Legacy of Faith

My mom called me Sunday night to tell me that my great-grandmother had passed away that afternoon. She died almost a month after another great-grandmother of mine.

I know how unusual it is to reach the age of twenty-five with living great-grandparents. I have been immeasurably blessed to know them. But with the blessing of knowing them comes the sadness of losing them. With so many older people in our family, we have been in a season of loss for the last few years. I started college with five living great-grandparents. I now have one.

I have most recently lost my great-grandmothers. These women were talented and strong. My Mama Kirk could sew and knit beautifully. She used to make our Easter dresses, and later made us gorgeous afghans. My Gigi was also crafty, painting china or canvas; she particularly liked painting birds. A passionate but constant woman, someone at her funeral correctly stated, "No one could love you as hard as Addie." Mama Dawson, our most recent loss, was quite a musician. She could play hundreds of hymns and songs without sheet music on her piano, and she often entertained the "old people," as she called them, with musical productions. These women loved life and loved their families. They have left us many memories.

I have recently collected the last cards I received from Mama Dawson and Gigi, as well as Mama's funeral program and placed them in my Bible at Hebrews 11. They are my own "Faith Hall of Fame," because in addition to their individual talents, each woman loved the Lord and served His people. They serve as examples of lives well-lived.

I have great peace knowing they are with their Lord, whom they loved so dearly. Gigi's card, which she sent me in college, appropriately says, "Angels are Watching Over You." Indeed they are.

Why Didn't I Think of That?

I'd like to meet the people who invented BarBri for several reasons.

First, they've got some explaining to do regarding the shortage of workbooks at the MPRE review course last weekend.

Second, they're geniuses. Never has an organization managed to extract thousands of dollars from most of the law students in the country, control their entire summer schedules, and leave them in the dark as to the class schedule indefinitely quite like BarBri. Obviously, this power comes from the fact they have virtually no competition (MicroMash hasn't even approached the popularity that BarBri enjoys, and it's too new for many people to entrust their bar exam to it.)

But it gets better. As far as I have heard, these BarBri review courses are TAPED! That's right. We're all paying $2000 to watch tapes all summer! You do the math, but I'd imagine the cost of having ONE person do several lectures and then taping and disseminating those lectures doesn't cost them $2000 per "student." They've got to just be swimming in money.

Hmm...

Sometimes I wish this blog were anonymous. That way, I could complain about particular classes and specific events without anyone knowing for sure I was complaining about them.

Dozing on the Highest Court in the Land

Quote from an AP article yesterday regarding the Texas redistricting hearings:

The subject matter was extremely technical, and near the end of the argument Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg dozed in her chair. Justices David Souter and Samuel Alito who flank the 72-year-old, looked at her but did not give her a nudge.

Who needs to retire, when you can sleep at work?

Carb-Free and Cranky

Well, I did it. I started the dreaded Atkins diet today. My husband, longtime follower of the regimen, made me swear that, if I did the diet, I would not complain about the utter lack of carbs (and therefore pasta, chocolate, Girl Scout cookies, and everything else with flavor) in my life. Of course, he did this because I have been known to join him on this diet before, only to make us both completely miserable.

So, I am now in a carbless haze. But the good news is, if I can lose ten pounds, I can move to the next phase, where I can add "nuts and berries" to my meals...yippee!

A Glimpse of the Mundane

Most important thing I've learned in law school today: none of the former Soviet Union states has adopted a recording system for secured interests.

Now there's some knowledge I'll use every day...

We Win! (I think)

I am currently watching Curling for the first time, and I am fascinated. More amusing than the fact this is an Olympic "sport" is the fact that the teams have fans. I'm talking costume-wearing, cowbell-carrying, singing fans! I think this would make great material for a mockumentary, a la Best in Show. This is at least as funny a crowd as the dog show circuit.

I'm trying my best to figure out what is going on, but so far I'm quite confused. So, a few of questions for you Curling experts out there: What the heck is the point? Also, are the guys with the brooms/sticks/whatever you call them actually guiding where the rock is going? If so, how? And if not, why are they skating alongside and rubbing the ice in front of the rock? I would love some insight.

Oh, wow! As I'm writing this, it appears the USA team has secured the bronze medal, much to the excitement of their fans, who are clad from head to toe in the Stars and Stripes. Wonders never cease.

Out of My Way, Assassin!

Jason and I had an up-close-and-personal encounter with stupidity last night (and, no, it wasn't our own stupidity this time). Let me set the scene:

We live on a narrow street. The street is not a one-way, but a dead end, barely wide enough for two cars to pass each other. To compensate for the lack of parking for the surrounding apartments (and the insistence by non-tenants that they have a right to the few actual parking spaces), people park on the street. So, using simple math, what was once a narrow two-lane street becomes a one-lane street. You also need to know that our house is on the corner of this narrow street and a very busy street.

Now, here's the situation: When we were coming home from dinner last night, we pulled into our narrow street from the very busy street, only to be met with a Ford Explorer coming out of the (now one-lane) street. Please keep in mind that all the parked cars were parked on her side of the street. Our car barely out of the traffic from Busy Street, we sat there waiting for her to back straight up and allow us to pass. What does she do? She SITS THERE. And not just sits--she moves her car FORWARD, to where it is almost touching ours! Incredulous, we sat there for several more minutes. By this time there was another car waiting to turn onto Narrow Street from Busy Street, with the driver twiddling his thumbs. She kept sitting, inches from our car! So, being the gracious souls we are, Jason and I reversed into Busy Street and the traffic, so that Queenie could exit the dead end. (Somehow I don't think I've fully captured the shock and disbelief any reader should currently be experiencing, but I'm doing my best.)

When Queenie pulled into Busy Street from Narrow Street, as the rest of the world stopped in its tracks, the car waiting to pull onto Narrow Street gestured at her in frustration. After we parked our car, two neighbors we've never met came over to discuss what an idiot that girl was and threw in a few descriptive profanities as well. (Being defensive and highly annoyed, I thought they came over to tell us we should have backed up and let her pass, so I was not very nice... But, as I said, this post is not about my stupidity, and I digress.) The point is, everyone witnessing the situation understood the simple principle: car exiting quiet dead end should reverse and allow car from Busy Street to enter the dead end, especially when the parked cars are on her side of the street. But apparently the driver of said Explorer doesn't know what the "R" on her gearshift stands for.

Last night I may have been paralyzed with disbelief, but a word of warning to those exiting and entering Narrow Street today: I am fully prepared for a future standoff and will simply not back into oncoming traffic so that you can exit. So there!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my Husband (and me)!

I have decided that sharing a birthday with my husband is really fun. It's a whole separate "official" holiday at our house. Like an added Christmas Day or something. So, a big thank you to those who've emailed or called (and a special thanks to my in-laws, who woke me up with a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday this morning).

If you need us, we'll be celebrating all day...

Missing in Action

DaySide (FoxNews) just reported that U.S. airlines lose 10,000 bags a DAY! Maybe I'll carry on everything I own next time I fly.

Oiling the Machine

Last week, UA's student newspaper The Crimson White published an article, wherein the SGA president acknowledged "The Machine" at work on UA's campus. This acknowledgment alone was news, as SGA administrations and most UA Greeks have adamantly denied the existence of any Machine in the past. So, when I saw the headline I was intrigued.

I have to say, however, that I was disappointed when I read further. The SGA president said the organization was just "people working for their friends." Really? Then why is it so secretive?

Oh, and she further elaborated, saying the organization's "humbleness" had been mistaken for secrecy. This is laughable.

I did not attend UA for undergrad (I didn't want to be written out of any wills, after all). But I have several firsthand accounts of the control of the Greek network when it comes to anything on campus. Here is my meager understanding of the Machine's workings: the Machine (made up of delegates from most traditionally white sororities and fraternities) secretly decides who will run in any given election (Homecoming, SGA, etc.), they put that person up as the Greek candidate, and every sorority and fraternity member must then vote for that person. So, basically, a Greek gets elected every time. And the Greeks that want to run but are not "chosen" by the Machine as the candidate? Oh, well.

As I said, I don't know the inner workings of all this. I do know that an organization just "working for their friends" doesn't normally have the power to require hundreds of people to vote for their candidate. Further, I highly doubt that such a benign organization would operate in extreme secrecy.

Don't Get Out Your Spackle Just Yet

Continuing my decorating theme from last week, I saw a disturbing magazine headline when I was standing in the grocery store line yesterday. It said, in bold, "Wallpaper is back!"

I have noticed the increased wallpaper usage on HGTV and TLC in past months. Shows that until recently stripped every wall of paper and replaced it with paint are now throwing wallpaper on any given space, instead of the fancy paint treatments they used to employ. And I'd just like to say, "Stop!"

I realize that wallpaper, particularly paper that looks like a fancy paint treatment, can give a similar feel without all the work or expense of these treatments. Even so, it is NOT the same--it still looks and feels like wallpaper.

What's more, if you're going for efficiency, wallpaper is not the answer! Just think about the pain wallpaper can be. I am proud to say I have never wallpapered a room in my life, but I have distinct memories of my mother and grandmother with spackling compound, scissors, tape measures, water, and buckets of paste. I can also remember their frustration while trying to match the pieces of a patterned wallpaper in order to continue the pattern around corners of a room. Not to mention the agony of removing old wallpaper. I would rather inhale the paint fumes any day.

Decorating, like fashion, goes through its trends. And while wallpaper may be currently "in," it will undoubtedly go "out" again. However, I haven't ever seen a nicely painted wall that was out of style. Don't give into this trend--Hold fast to your paintbrush.

At the Buzzer

I'd like to congratulate my brother, the 14-year-old basketball Phenom, who swished a 3 with seconds remaining to send the game into overtime last night. Unfortunately, I had to miss the game. But we are still reeling from his 17 point run (5 three-pointers) in the last one we saw him play.

Nice work, Mugsy.

I love it when a plan comes together.

I'm not sure how this works, but somehow the law school (faculty, students, and most importantly me) reach burn-out during the semester at about the same time. Maybe we all get busy at the same time. Regardless, this leads to several class cancellations and, even better, professors who go completely off-topic in class. I can't tell you how I appreciate this on a day when I am coughing, sniffling, and totally unprepared. So, a word of thanks to my equally tired professors!

Hullabaloo at the White House

God, give me the composure of Scott McClellan.

I spent a little time this morning watching the press lambast McClellan about the Vice President's failure to inform them immediately after his hunting accident this weekend. Clearly, Cheney shouldn't have worried about his friend's condition. He shouldn't have visited him in the hospital. Instead, he should have run to the nearest cell phone so that he could give an official statement to the American people. Get real.

Admittedly, the VP's office should probably have been more proactive, rather than letting the story leak through the ranch owner to a small Corpus Christi newspaper. But this is not exactly an issue of national security. I highly doubt the American people feel betrayed by the one-day delay in disseminating the information. And, in any case, no one feels as indignantly as does the press corps. Perhaps they're just personally hurt that they weren't the first to know.

For My Fellow Nerds

There is a quiz that is supposed to tell you which Rule of Civil Procedure you are. The results are amusing. In case you're wondering, I am Rule 11. Which are you?

Girl Talk

For the women out there: check out this blog my friend Courtney sent me recently.

These women (3 sisters and their mother, and all the wives of ministers) apply God's calling to our lives in very practical ways. See, for example, their posts on the habits of highly effective women. Though I frequently fall short of God's calling and their insight, I have been really encouraged by their blogging. They are real, and they are Scriptural in their wisdom. Enjoy!

Debbie, What Have You Done???

I am a huge HGTV fan. I can be completely sucked in by just about any 30-minute fix-a-room show. But there is one great exception: any transformation performed by Debbie Travis. She has a show called "Painted House," in which she personally wreaks havoc on various rooms through obnoxious colors, mediocre murals, and stenciling. Today, for example, she has decided to revamp a sophisticated, though plain, loft into a Crayola box. She has painted a wall and a staircase bright orange. And now, before my very eyes, she is painting the floor of this loft with the same neon pallette. Someone, please, make her stop!

Who Pays the Bill?

Last month a member of the Indiana House of Representatives proposed a bill to shift the payment of attorneys' fees in a civil case to the losing party. This loser-pays system is followed almost everywhere in the world--everywhere except the U.S. This country has always required the parties to pay their own expenses (except where a court exercises its discretion to the contrary and awards attorneys' fees to be paid as part of the damages).

And there are policy reasons for this system. The U.S. legal system provides access to courts for the "little guy." Through the contingency fees charged by many plaintiffs' counsel, a poor plaintiff may sue for his injury without risking a fee he will not be able to pay. Requiring all losing plaintiffs to pay the costs of defense would deter many plaintiffs, particularly the poor, from ever bringing suit. Many may feel inclined to cheer the thought of such a disincentive, but this "solution" is not all it's cracked up to be. While the bill would prevent frivolous suits, it goes too far, and prevents nonfrivolous suits. It fails the truly injured individual by preventing him from bringing suit, and thereby fails society by protecting defendants who have violated the law.

There is another consideration: a defendant who knows the plaintiff may pay his bills has every reason to flood the plaintiff with massive (expensive) discovery. Many parties already engage in such dilatory practices in violation of the Rules of Civil Procedure. This problem would only grow if a wealthy defendant could scare a plaintiff by increasing the bills. Even a plaintiff who braved the risks and brought suit may notice the growing defense fees he cannot pay and either settle for a nominal amount or dismiss the case altogether.

Surrounded by the loud call for tort reform, legislators are trying multiple means to cut down frivolous lawsuits that waste the resources of individuals and the judicial system. Reforms are important, as judicial efficiency is a vital policy. But reforms should not go so far as to deter any suit by a destitute plaintiff. Our country thrives on the equal opportunities afforded its citizens, and this bill would burden Indiana's poor by virtually eliminating their ability to litigate.

Update: After researching this issue a little further this afternoon, I would like to broaden my original stance to include disincentives to the middle class. In fact, a Utah medical malpractice defense lawyer, Francis J. Carney, published an article about this issue in the May 1995 volume of the Utah Bar Journal. He points out the ways the "loser-pays" system has failed in England. In England, the government pays the litigation costs of the poor, so the sytem actually harms the middle class plaintiff, who has assets to lose, rather than the poor or the wealthy. See Francis J. Carney, "'Loser Pays'--Justice for the Poorest and the Richest, Others Need Not Apply," 8 UTAH B.J. 18 (May 1995).

Misc.

Update on Groundhog Day: For anyone wondering, Birmingham Bill concurred with Punxsutawney last week. That's right, folks. Birmingham has its own groundhog.

Also, a belated happy birthday to my dad, who turned the big 50 last weekend!

Break out the Scarves...It's Below 60 Degrees!

In breaking news, Punxsutawney Phil has told us to expect 6 more weeks of winter. Well, no kidding! I think this might be the third day this "winter" I've worn my wool coat. I'm not really complaining--I am competely miserable on a cold rainy day. I just find it extremely ironic that winter didn't bother to arrive until Groundhog Day this year.

Bored? Escapa!

I have just received, via email, my latest vice. It's Escapa! Sure to provide hours of entertainment (and therefore hours of utter uselessness), this game involves the difficult concept of moving the red box around, avoiding the flying blue boxes and the black outline, for as long as possible. My best time so far is just over 19 seconds. Can any of you beat me?

(Those of you in law school can thank me later for this little addition to your classtime game repertoire.)

For the Love of Mississippi

I received an email from my grandfather (a Mississippian for over a decade) this morning containing a set of ads about Mississippi. Apparently a P.R. firm in Mississippi used its own time and money to develop these one-page ads/posters, and they're excellent. Check them out.

And the Award Goes To...

Inspired by the Screen Actors Guild, who just really filled that gap between the Golden Globes and Oscars by creating another much-needed award show for the same group of people, I've decided to hand out my own award of sorts. So, here it is: the 2006 Most Craveable Foods. So far there are only 4 categories: beverages, appetizers, meals, and desserts. Maybe I'll get more creative in 2007. Nominations will only go to specific beverages, appetizers, meals, and desserts at restaurants.

Since I am limited in my knowledge of restaurants outside the Oxford, Tuscaloosa, and Birmingham areas, feel free to submit nominations of your own. Keep in mind: these are foods you crave the most, not foods you like the most. What do you just have to have?

In the mean time, here are the leaders:

Beverages
The Bellini, Burgundy Room (Oxford)
Margaritas, Sol y Luna (Birmingham)
Pineapple Infusion, Catch 22 (Tuscaloosa)
Caramel Frappuccino, Starbuck's

Appetizers
Super Crunch Roll, Surin West (Birmingham)
World Famous Chile Con Queso, La Paz (Birmingham)
Red Bean Rolls, Ajax (Oxford)

Meals
Cheeseburger, Mugshots (Tuscaloosa)
Thai Noodle, Surin West (Birmingham)
Brocolli Rice Casserole, Phil's (Tuscaloosa)

Desserts
Bread Pudding, The Cypress Inn (Tuscaloosa)
Glazed Doughnut, Krispy Kreme (Anywhere they're Hot Now!)

Oh, and I'll have to give an Honorable Mention to the Chevron in Oxford for their late-night menu.

Update: I have been remiss in leaving out Bottletree Bakery (Oxford). They excel in all things breakfast and all things sweet. They've even earned acclaim from Oprah, who featured their apple pie on her show three years ago. But I'd personally have to recommend their blueberry muffins!

In Search of (Wo)man's Best Friend

I have spent countless hours this weekend scouring the internet for the breeder of a beautiful Bernese Mountain Dog that will come and live with us in May. I have been in love with this breed since I saw a picture of one over a year ago, a love which grew after meeting our friends' dog Jack in Oregon this summer.

Needless to say, there are many considerations in this endeavor. I have been told we do not want a dog from a "puppy factory." The problem? These breeders are thousands of miles away and therefore totally unaccountable to us for their breeding practices. They could post all manner of good things on the web and not stand behind any of them.

Nonetheless, I am undeterred and anxious to get a ball of fur of our very own. I'm sure I will update on the status at a later date.

The Beginning

Well, I guess I should start off with some sort of introductory post stating why I started a blog, its intended purpose, etc. Here's the problem: I had no intention of starting a blog. It sort of happened (read: my husband disabled comments by non-bloggers on his site, so I had to join The Force to share my insight). Once I created a username and Blog Name I kind of got hooked.

I have a list of blogs I read everyday, and occasionally I feel the need to comment. Though I enjoy reading what other people have to say, I haven't started a blog before because I wasn't sure I had enough to say. And as I'm typing this, it's dawning on me that I'm rarely at a loss for words. So it's hard to believe I won't find something to type here every once in a while. In the mean time, here it is...my blog.

Just thought I'd start my blog off with a picture. This is me with my best friend Heather.

And, on that note, a word to Heather: I know I said I'd never blog, but I've succumbed to the peer pressure. And besides, when you've perfected the art of ranting like we have, you really should write it down for amusement's sake...