dislikes.

i dislike those days, those very rare days, when i feel lonely. make no mistake that i do need my alone time. and there is a difference between alone and lonely. today, i find myself lonely. just working to make the feeling pass.

i still love this.

anger.

sometimes i just want to rail at you with my anger.
i feel like you have abandoned me and those who love you
all for the sake of your own knowing comfort in being perpetually unhappy.
you cling to that unhappiness and use it as a cloak to shield you from the living world.
for in doing so, not only have you abandoned all of us in that living world, but also your life in that living world.
so you stay in your retreat and you live in your void.
and i find that selfish.
so selfish.

back in lansing.

drama and sadness sent me back to lansing. sometimes life throws us lemons and sometimes you just cannot make the lemonade where you are at. sometimes you need to go back home to do it.

we'll see how break plays out. even with the bad, so far, so good.

ice ice ice

from snow to ice. which is worse? i am not quite sure. still a little shaken from my spin out the other day and not thrilled about driving anywhere.

it's going to be a very long winter. VERY LONG indeed.

for the love of...

whatever higher power you may believe in, make the snowy cold mess STOP. i'm tired of it.

good times.

headed over to some bake cookies with some friends last night. good times. baked holiday cookies with mel, while the men folk snowboarded on wii. late night. tired. snowstorm has obliterated any hope of getting to the school today. cabin fever to follow, no doubt. at least i have blagojevich's press conference to entertain me at 3 pm.

oh, and here are some of my fabulous chocolate cupcakes made earlier in the day. sinfully delicious.

two words for you.

finals suck.

holiday fun

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

happy holidays.

been a crazy few months. back in it. hope you enjoyed your holidays.

three more reasons why i love roger ebert.

he may not be able to speak, but he certainly has not lost his voice.

1. On the current credit crisis and US debt.
http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080821/REVIEWS/329/1001/reviews

2. On Sarah Palin.
http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2008/10/you_didnt_ask_me_about_the_deb.html

3. On McCain's attitude in the first debate.
http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080928/COMMENTARY/809289997/-1/RSS

read this

from gloria borger.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/30/borger.palin/index.html?iref=mpstoryview

here's what scares me

a lot of the tina fey skit was VERBATIM from palin's interview with katie couric. take a peak.



OR, take a look at the entire interview here: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/09/24/eveningnews/main4476173.shtml

more snl fun.

i cannot get enough of tina as palin.

i heart david letterman

just like my fellow '75-er, drew barrymore, i have had a crush on david letterman since i was about 8 or 9. here is one example as to why.

http://perezhilton.com/tv/index.php?ptvid=f6efa4073f4b3

sunday brunch at golden harvest

democrats are patriots.

someone forwarded this to a friend of mine. don't know who the author is, but it is worth posting.

(reposted)
I'm a little confused. Let me see if I have this straight.....

If you grow up in Hawaii, raised by your grandparents, you're 'exotic, different.'

Grow up in Alaska eating mooseburgers, a quintessential American story.

If your name is Barack you're a radical, unpatriotic Muslim.

Name your kids Willow, Trig and Track, you're a maverick.

Graduate from Harvard law School and you are unstable.

Attend 5 different small colleges before graduating, you're well grounded.

If you spend 3 years as a brilliant community organizer, become the first black President of the Harvard Law Review, create a voter registration drive that registers 150,000 new voters, spend 12 years as a Constitutional Law professor, spend 8 years as a State Senator representing a district with over 750,000 people, become chairman of the state Senate's Health and Human Services committee, spend 4 years in the United States Senate representing a state of 13 million people while sponsoring 131 bills and serving on the Foreign Affairs, Environment and Public Works and Veteran's Affairs committees, you don't have any real leadership experience.

If your total resume is: local weather girl, 4 years on the city council and 6 years as the mayor of a town with less than 7,000 people, 20 months as the governor of a state with only 650,000 people, then you're qualified to become the country's second highest ranking executive.

If you have been married to the same woman for 19 years while raising 2 beautiful daughters, all within Protestant churches, you're not a real Christian.

If you cheated on your first wife with a rich heiress, and left your disfigured wife and married the heiress the next month, you're a Christian.

If you teach teach children about sexual predators, you are irresponsible and eroding the fiber of society.

If, while governor, you staunchly advocate abstinence only, with no other option in sex education in your state's school system while your unwed teen daughter ends up pregnant, you're very responsible.

If your wife is a Harvard graduate laywer who gave up a position in a prestigious law firm to work for the betterment of her inner city community, then gave that up to raise a family, your family's values don't represent America 's.

If you're husband is nicknamed 'First Dude', with at least one DWI conviction and no college
education, who didn't register to vote until age 25 and once was a member of a group that hates America and advocated the secession of Alaska from the USA, your family is extremely admirable.

OK, much clearer now.

Pissed About Palin: Food for thought

Pissed about Palin

McCain's running mate is a Christian Stepford wife in a sexy librarian costume. Women, it's time to get furious.

By Cintra Wilson

http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/2008/09/10/palin_feminism/

this may be proof of the previous post.

i am beginning to think the only thing good about elections anymore are the comedic sketches.

here is a new favorite. cannot wait to see what SNL has up its sleeve this year - that's because the only thing good about the bush II presidency was will farrell doing george bush on SNL. remember 'strategery' anyone?

See more Gina Gershon videos at Funny or Die

ill.

and hating it. will be back in a few.

mccain's choice

i have never been more insulted and incensed. it is one thing to pick anyone becuase they are qualified; it is another thing to do it out of desperation and change the race to see which party can be the "first".

if mccain actually, for one real second, believed she was most qualified, that would be different.

all women should be insulted.

DC

a new obsession.

for some reason i cannot stop listening to this. the first time i did listen, it brought tears to me eyes. i love music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wJ-VPqFzy0

college day throwback.

gp time

had dinner with the girl posse last night. i needed that - to see my family of friends. and make no mistake, they are as much my family as my parents. they hsve seen me through good and bad. they have given me unconditional support and love. and, advice - solicited or not. i miss my family.

change.

i have not written in a long while – i know. but, it is amazing how the simple things can have such very profound effects on one’s perspective, and maybe create a tad bit of anxiety and unrest in the process.

after finishing my amazing summer in detroit, i headed back east for some much needed r&r on reynolds street. as i said to someone recently, reynolds street is to me what the sun is to superman. it recharges my battery. and somehow makes me feel safe and more at home than anywhere else, on par with my own home or my aunt’s. much goes to the owner – and the purposeful design of the location.

i had coffee with my first love. i did not want to do it at all, but somehow my intuition crept in and told me it may be good. and it was fine. at the same time, i sat there thinking “how was I ever attracted to this person? how was i ever on the same road? how did i ever think i could be on that road? i am not that girl – or woman – any more.” all we have in common any more is a common past. that is not meant to denigrate him at all. he is a good person I still believe. just not on the same road at all anymore.

it is a true marvel to realize the change in one’s self. where you are and how far you have come – in addition to how far you have left to go to get where you want to be. i have far to go, much to learn and much to do. i started this journey right before I turned 30. many occurrences took place to shape me. the loss of two very dear uncles and an examination of the lives they lived – inspirational. a re-examination of what i want. letting go of the bad – those relationships or people that tied me to a person i was no longer, or that i knew i no longer wanted to be. the re-emergence of someone spectacular, who, though seemingly lost to me for many years, has provided me with unwavering support and belief. A gift, truly. one i recognize and treasure every day. it is an extraordinary thing, and one i wish more women opened themselves up to without abandon. one i wish we cultured our women to expect, and nothing less.

this has all changed me. for the better i hope and think. it has not only changed who i am, but what i want and what i will look for in those around me. the years have changed me. for the better. always and continually for the better i hope.

wien and melk, austria

i am back from austria. the competition was so unbelievably fun. arguing was the most fun i have had in law school. enjoy the photos.

been neglectful.

so, i have been neglectful. but the semester has been a whirlwind of activity, with barely a moment to breathe.

i am headed to vienna next week for a moot court competition. photos and stories to follow.

how's life on your end?

SATC movie countdown!

more reasons to love john mayer

happy 2008.

it is that time of year. enjoy a classic.

felines

it's liza, with a Z.

more love of youtube.

go tori.

more love of youtube.

i freakin' love youtube....

you must read this

www.rightwingfacebook.org

enjoy.

upcoming presidential elections... food for thought.

“I have clearly stated my belief that gays and lesbians are our brothers and sisters and should be provided the respect, dignity, and rights of all other citizens. I have consistently spoken directly to African-American religious leaders about the need to overcome the homophobia that persists in some parts our community so that we can confront issues like HIV/AIDS and broaden the reach of equal rights in this country.

I strongly believe that African Americans and the LGBT community must stand together in the fight for equal rights. And so I strongly disagree with Reverend McClurkin’s views and will continue to fight for these rights as President of the United States to ensure that America is a country that spreads tolerance instead of division.”

- Barack Obama
10/22/07

thrill the world

last night was my friend jk's learn to dance the thriller party. needless to day, he and his fabulous roommate went to town with costumes and decor. literally, the mj jacket reproduction is made out of electrical tape.

it was a blast - and a great work out. here's some fun from the party. and, by the way, this in no way means i endorse the occult. oh, and for the real thriller, click here.

genius.

kevin, the new cosby of parenthood.

this is what a big college campus needs.

outdoor classrooms. or pavilions with comfortable seating, outlets for laptops, and wi-fi. how else is a person to work on a gorgeous day? staying inside can be quite stifling.

so, go forth. lobby. make it happen. it will keep students sane.

see? something like this, but with laptop friendly seats. grand idea if you ask me.

ladies, need a happy thought today?

then click here.

and give a big thank you to brad pitt and wolfgang peterson.

i love a fiesty man.

go president carter.

poetry and truth.

"Pity the Nation," the latest poem by 80-year-old Lawrence Ferlinghetti, who still works at his City Lights Bookstore in San Francisco.

Pity the nation whose people are sheep,
and whose shepherds mislead them.
Pity the nation whose leaders are liars, whose sages are silenced,
and whose bigots haunt the airwaves.
Pity the nation that raises not its voice,
except to praise conquerors and acclaim the bully as hero
and aims to rule the world with force and by torture.
Pity the nation that knows no other language but its own
and no other culture but its own.
Pity the nation whose breath is money
and sleeps the sleep of the too well fed.
Pity the nation -- oh, pity the people who allow their rights to erode
and their freedoms to be washed away.
My country, tears of thee, sweet land of liberty.

ojos de mujer

a great loss.

i was very sad to wake up on thursday and find out that luciano pavarotti had passed away. i remember, from a very early age, watching him on pbs in chicago - wttw 11. operas, christmas specials, the three tenors. i remember it all. i could listen for hours, lost in the vibratto. he made it seem so effortless - especially with the gum in his mouth while singing.

if you have a moment, read this piece on the king of high c's by bono. (u2 wrote the song miss sarajevo for maestro pavarotti.)

one more time, enjoy nessun dorma. trust me, if it does not sound familiar to you, you will know it when you hear it.



here is a clip of miss sarajevo.

have a new, short 'do.

here's a sneak peak.

lansing's believe it or not.

even lansing has its own serial killer. very creepy.

still in mi.

first day of class was yesterday, and it was a long day. i was in an all day conference until class, ran to class (evidence - which had me confused beyond all), and then headed home. of course, i was home just in time for all of the gigantic thunderstorms and tornado warnings, so spent about an hour in my tub with my cats during the tornado warning. tons of fun for the rest of the night with cable and power outages - oh, and phone issues. how was your night?

the photo to right is courtesy of enid, taken outside her mom's house, where enid was during the tornado.

back in mi.

here i am. back in mi. classes start tomorrow.
second year. already. seems weird.

pinky watch 2007.

so i come home today to find kdh (my step-mom) and dan (my little bro) a buzz in the house with all kinds of news. turns out that pinky the turtle, a red ear slider, had found a comfy corner in which to have a clutch of eggs. twelve to be exact. odd thing is everyone thought pinky was boy up until now, although i had serious doubts after doing some online research.

sad thing is that none of the eggs are fertilized. sadder still, pinky the domesticated turtle, broke them all. she has something to learn by way of grace and gentleness when moving around her clutch. it is possible she may have more; most turtles have 20 or more. so, now begins pinky watch 2007.

up until this summer i never really "bonded" with pinky. she is about seven and dan has had her since she was a hatchling. since, however, we have been sharing a room, pinky and i have made a connection. pinky crawls to me when i call her; she comes out of hiding when i call her. and i am not embarrassed, but, rather, proud to share this information.

will keep you posted on the egg situation.

on a final note, it is no small wonder that a turtle about a foot long produced 12 eggs that were 1.5 to 2 inches in length.

my summer.

suffice it to say, it has not been what i thought. i did not get to do all that i planned (learning to play golf, french, quality time with everyone). i did not anticipate such a long commute (an hour each way - on a good day) and so much of my $$$$ going to gas money as a result. long days leave me tired and ready for bed only. then i got a sinus infection that led to bronchitis. worn out is me.

on top of which everyone feels mad at me. and not all are saying why. all i can guess is that i have or have not spent enough time with them or other people. i was not able to do what i thought. i made silly mistakes due to stress. harsh judgment on those silly mistakes.

and, work was stressful. saying good-bye to people, important people, with all of the surrounding issues, is long and hard and stressful.

this leaves me exhausted. physically, emotionally... you name it. class is around a corner and i need a vacation. too bad there is no time or money for one.

would that i could sleep for a week.

it is not f***in' enough, but at least it is a start.

U.N. troops will go to war-ravaged Darfur

Do what you can to help by supporting the UN High Commission for Refugees.

my summer... so far.

visual fun with the fam

best wedding dance tunes, ever.

hands down. emmi & tim picked out the best wedding tunes ever. i danced all night - and only sat out three songs. what follows is just one reason why. do you remember this tune? pictures and more to follow, but for now, the gal with the sinus infection from hell is off to sleep.

the zoo!

haven't been to brookfield zoo since, well... i don't know when. here are a few pics from the day.

been busy.

my apologies. been very busy this summer. and tired. dragging really. between 10 hour work days, two hour commuting time, and working out, just put a fork in me.

good-bye, pearl.

this is how my summer is going.

i returned to chicago in time for the 17 year cicadas.
how is yours?

500 years of women in art.

prom photos are in.

and dan looks good in pink!

this is kind of funny.

for a few reasons.

1. i heart the muppets.
2. i heart this muppets skit in particular.
3. i think that elizabeth hasselbeck is an idiot.
4. i cannot stand the view. never have, never will.
5. i would rather the muppets have another show.

finally.

U.N. approves Hariri assassination tribunal

the clone wars.

for all of those of you that love star wars as much as I do, you will love this!
a preview of the clone wars cartoon is awaiting you right here.

mammograms.

please make sure, if you are 35, you have a baseline.
mammograms are so important - and they are lifesavers.
don't forget self breast exams in between doctor's appointments, too.

change of jurisdiction.

i am now in the land of deep dish pizza, and loving it!

the last patriot

thanks goodness for will ferrell and co. at funny or die. else we wouldn't have things like this.

more fun in lebanon.

hizbullah is not happy, shockingly, again.

more on lebanon.

sadly, a bomb just hit the resort town of aley in lebanon, which is a druse stronghold. my friend is druse, which is a smaller religion and a group that is rarely targeted by bombers as they are not muslim, christian, or jewish. very shocking to hit the druse of lebanon.
the bomb dropped very close to my friend's hotel in aley. very little news on it so far, except for here.

lebanon.

many of you know that one of my closest friends is lebanese. a good way to keep up on happenings is here.

i have not been to lebanon, but i have always wanted to go. and i came about this close to going about seven months before the war last summer. amazing people. beautiful. resilient. what else is there to do when the your land is constantly at war, both with itself and with others. just check out the controversy around the world press photo of the year here.

it's only been nine months, but already i am a law geek.

which is why you all should check out oyez here. marvelous website dedicated to posting all of the oral arguments made before the united states supreme court since they have been recording oral arguments. for added treats, you can also read transcripts in their entirety and download the oral arguments to your ipod.

yes. i am a law geek. and i am proud.

more brilliant fun with deadliest catch.

Previously on Deadliest Catch long

Add to My Profile | More Videos

have you seen the pictures of matthew mcconaughey lately?

always shirtless. and that is why this is priceless.

i heart deadliest catch.

i love this show. i love how the fishermen love what they do, no matter how crazy it may seem to the rest of us. enjoy this link to captain sig hansen (love the last name) on the daily show.

perhaps i will stay 14 forever.

i had the best time the other night. made dinner with a law school friend. then we went to what is, i suspect, the world's smallest carnival in exciting okemos, mi. even with it's maybe six adult rides, we rode the tilt-a-whirl and the spider. and i laughed my ass off. i cannot remember the last time that something sooo simple made me laugh so very hard.

so, here's hoping that something makes you feel 14 again, sometime soon.

more laughs

it is official.

the first year of law school is...


O V E R!!!!!

for the "yum" factor.

elvis. 68 comeback special. black leather. enough said.

something to cheer me up after failing property.

property = evil.
jack black = good times.

one word for you.

exams.

and you thought your kids were talented...

read this too.

Father Knows Best: Dr. Kennedy's magic prescription for indecisive women.

denying the right to choose

check out this opinion in the new york times.

closer to the death of choice.

the supreme court's decision today in Gonzales v. Carhart takes this country closer and closer to becoming one that prohibits choice for more than half the population, a scant thirty years after it awarded what may be considered limited choice to women. it is the single biggest choice decision to be handed down since Roe v. Wade.

please take a moment to visit one of the following and make a donation or join a letter writing campaign.

and remember, keep your laws off my body.

Planned Parenthood Federation of America
National Organization for Women
NARAL
National Abortion Federation
Save Roe

one of many study break items i'll be sent in the next few weeks.

but this is a good one. try it!

1. go to google
2. click on maps.
3. click on get directions.
4. go from new york, new york to paris, france.
5. and read line # 23.

this is the funniest thing i have seen in a long while.

as someone said, "Pearl was fantastic... but that guy with the afro was a bit lacking."

we all need someone, just one person, who challenges us.

and here is a good reminder.
hope you find someone.




p.s. this is why i loved pacey.

how cute is this?

It's Brandon Bunny!

looking for idenity of interests.

so yesterday the journals at the law school had their open houses.

i went to the journal of international law, which would be my number two choice after the law review.

i found someone interested in international development and had an exciting conversation with someone for the first time in months. it was a relief to talk to someone who understood and was interested in the same things.

too bad i then proceeded to talk his head off.

i miss my peeps. :(

today is april 11 and...

there are two inches of snow on the ground.
the pollen count is high.
this is just so very wrong.

the difference between me and the rural midwest

my friend works in the midwest and she told me a story that i think illustrate how much she and i miss those who get us.

she walked into the lunchroom where she worked.
she heard a woman say, "i like the discovery channel, but it is too evolutionary for me."
my friend walked out without saying anything, which i told her was probably best under the circumstances.

now, i am not knocking god or religion. but i miss similarity of thought, people who care about things that are similar to what i care about, and experience in life. i miss people who want to travel the world and taste the delights it has to offer. i miss museums and theatre. most of all, i miss those who are near and dear to me and get me. you can never underestimate how important that identity is - that someone gets you.

the pollen count is high?

it is just weird that in april, when it is below freezing and has been snowing everyday for a week, that www.weather.com is posting advisories about the pollen count being high. don't you think? umm.... freezing outside, snow in april, and high pollen count? just odd.

it reminds me of when i lived in texas and the weather would report on windchill factors when it was 60 degrees outside. (it was 55 with the windchill factor.) i'm from chicago. 5 below zero with a windchill factor that makes it 30 below zero is a windchill factor.

oi. back to class actions...

just for fun.

chi-town bound.

yes. this summer, after a many year departure, i will be living and working in the greater chicagoland area. i am still looking for a friend or relative to take in the poor, wayward law student that i am. but either way, i am looking forward to a summer with my family. it has been entirely too long.

oh how i love a good bike ride.

and i need one. on that note, check out my friend's new harley. isn't it a thing of beauty?
the bike, not the man. :)

this is one of many reasons why i love civil procedure still.

our professor is still just brilliant. great hypos. great wit.
today he had to explain who liberace was to the youngin's in class born after 1980.
his description, hee-hee, was:
elton john on speed.

apologies.

spring break and getting back in the swing of things, plus appellate arguments and appellate brief.
i am stressed and tired.
how about you?