the good, the bad, and the nice breasts

The very good: Gail and Shelton are officially engaged! Woo hoo!

Good: Keith at DMV telling me to get a Louisiana license I just need my old license really - that if I don't have official proof of residence they'll take my word for it, and they only need my birth certificate if I can find it easily. I just cannot force myself to deal with landlord for proof of residence. We *still* do not have a lease, which I need for proof of residence - and at this point, we've decided not to sign it. We may find someplace better. Our location is perfect and all, but if we found something better, we'd take it.

Bad: Driving around for an hour and two tanks worth of gas looking for the DMV. The one I was told to go to by the website doesn't issue new licenses, and it was SO hard to find. Then, the address they gave me to go to doesn't appear to exist. Tomorrow I'll try again at the one over near Target and pupusas - which I would have gone to first anyway, but I was told I had to go to the one in the parish where I live. Sigh. Well, at least I saw more of the city.

Good: Hearing BBC Africa here on the internet (my connection at home is pirated and not stable enough).

Bad: The third Nigerian official murdered in the past three months. I really worry about when Nigeria the tinderbox gets fully alight.

Good: The taste of this blended mocha. After the major stress of the driving around, I needed the chocolate and chillaxing here at the cafe a couple blocks from home. Plus, the A/C is on their dime, not mine.

Bad: The extreme sugar and caffeine will not allow me to sleep tonight.

Good: Today's orientation was actually really good. That's probably the first time I've ever said that about any of the many schools and events I've attended. They had good info about the Career Development Office, then a panel of third-year students, then a panel of alumni (a judge, a domestic violence advocate, a founding partner of a major law firm here, and the highest-ranking state attorney in the area). Basically I just have to focus on my studies until November, because every law school in the country forbids discussing careers with students until then. But then I can do full-force networking.

As of today, here's my three-year plan.

Fall 2006, Spring 2007: Attend First Choice Law School. Work on languages as possible, get good grades.
Summer 2007: Attend War Crimes Tribunal summer school at the Hague, Maritime Law summer school in Greek Isles, and find a month-long internship in West Africa or Middle East.
Fall 2007: Attend FCLS and interview with large firms. Hope for clerkship or other law-oriented part-time employment.
Spring 2008: Study abroad. Maybe somewhere in Europe or Latin America - or maybe South Africa.
Summer 2008: Paid internship with large multinational corporation in maritime department, doing humble grunt work without complaint.
Fall 2008, Spring 2009: Finish up law school, intense legal volunteer and/or clerkships.
May 15, 2009: GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT

Bad: In the orientation, they had us do a group activity where we determine our values and then they are auctioned off. My group? We spent all our cash, using tactical strategizing, on High Income, overriding Helping Others, Creativity, Independence, Quality of Life, etc. Now, that's not all bad - it was a fairly painless activity and we laughed throughout. But that those are the values I now am a part of? That's pretty embarrassing. But, just long enough to pay off the student loans and buy a house. Then I'm back to helping others, using my law degree as a catalyst for social change.

And then?

Well, I've been doing a lot of internet searching about medical schools in the Caribbean. It would be especially great if it were in Spanish. Why there? Well, it'd be less stressful and I'd get to live in a pleasant place and I'm really interested in tropical diseases and health education and emergency care.

Good: Tomorrow I get to stop by the law school and get my schedule for the fall, so then I can go get my books.

Bad: I will cry when it comes time to actually pay for the books. I'm sure they will cost me a fortune.

Good: They gave us lunch at orientation, and it was actually good (jambalaya, rice & beans, and spinach salad). My tablemates were quite nice, and one had very lovely breasts. Now, I may be straight and all that, but I can appreciate nice breasts as much as the next person. And, the person attached to them seems quite nice.

Bad: Now I am no longer anonymous. I will have to try to remember people whom I've met and not do anything disreputable in public. Being a "nontraditional student," it is easier for them to notice me than vice versa - all those Southern white boys do quite honestly look exactly alike. I'll eventually be able to distinguish, but it will be tough at first.