As if I weren't sure that committing to First Choice Law School, stars align to show I'm right.
My LSAT score from last test (the one where I was very congested and icky feeling overall) - it only went up one point. Mind you, NO practice test I EVER take is that low - but apparently I found test anxiety late in life. So, that score doesn't matter, because I'm already in FCLS.
I emailed the two profs I liked, and here were their responses:
"Great to hear from you!!
I'm glad you have a plan for your immediate future -- I'll miss you, but I think you are making the right decision to move into an area where your activist interests will become empowered more effectively than a Just Shoot Me University degree could provide.
Keep in touch from time to time and let me know how it goes -- I expect I will some day read about you in the Times, but in the meantime give me a periodic briefing. D."
"Well, best of luck there. They are lucky to get you, and it probably is a right-time-and-place thing.
Do keep in touch: I expect great things of you!
Best wishes,Chris" [this prof was not in my department, and he used to be an attorney]
Yes, both always sign their first names. Several people asked me how I get on first-name-basis with profs, but it seems natural. Everywhere I've ever gone, I've forged close relationships with profs I've respected. Unfortunately at JSMU, there were only 2 - and more than that are needed.
I'm watching the Germany-Argentina game, and maybe i'm a traitor to my peeps, but I'm for any Spanish-speaking country. They're in the second overtime already ... Those guys must be SO TIRED.
We're going up to see Avery and Ashton again this weekend, with a surprise little birthday celebration for Susan.
The weather here in Oregon has been absolutely perfect, but I still feel that crushing claustrophobia of racial homogeneity and am eager to take off. Netflix and I won't make it through all of Babylon 5 Season 1, but I'll get enough TV to last me for a long time. Hopefully I'll be leaving two weeks from now at the latest.
My new favorite product? Buji! I went out for birdwatching and was warned a little late that we were walking through poison oak. I am EXTREMELY allergic, and so I rushed to pick up this Buji poison oak soap - and it worked! No breakout!
I have to get a new windshield - mine is all cracked. And new glasses - the deep scratches on mine are distracting at best.
OK, they're going to penalty kicks! The first time I've ever seen it! Wow!
Friday, June 30, 2006
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
visit to the boys
Avery (age 7):
To his mom on our way out to Borders to buy him a belated birthday book: "I get to go spend quality time alone with Auntie!" Ah, the brainwashing started early with him, getting him excited about books.
Later, to his dad who asked where he got the Dragonology book: "Auntie took me to this special library where they sell books!"
I always keep Avery informed of where I am going, and he has a world map on his wall and money from all the different countries I visit. We had a long talk about me going to New Orleans, and how I have to see the doctor first and all that. So, he announced later to his dad: "I hope Auntie is really sick and has surgery and has to stay here with us!" Um, thanks?
Ashton (age 2):
When I asked him if he had a good nap, his reply: "I most surely did!" Too cute!
Two hours after hitting my dog in the head (lightly, and with a soft ball, because he was thinking she would catch it and throw it back), he put himself into time out for it. This, after hiding in shame and begging us to forget it. Ah, that Piscean sensitivity runs deep.
To his mom on our way out to Borders to buy him a belated birthday book: "I get to go spend quality time alone with Auntie!" Ah, the brainwashing started early with him, getting him excited about books.
Later, to his dad who asked where he got the Dragonology book: "Auntie took me to this special library where they sell books!"
I always keep Avery informed of where I am going, and he has a world map on his wall and money from all the different countries I visit. We had a long talk about me going to New Orleans, and how I have to see the doctor first and all that. So, he announced later to his dad: "I hope Auntie is really sick and has surgery and has to stay here with us!" Um, thanks?
Ashton (age 2):
When I asked him if he had a good nap, his reply: "I most surely did!" Too cute!
Two hours after hitting my dog in the head (lightly, and with a soft ball, because he was thinking she would catch it and throw it back), he put himself into time out for it. This, after hiding in shame and begging us to forget it. Ah, that Piscean sensitivity runs deep.
Monday, June 26, 2006
Only in New Orleans!
Transvestite crime gangs pester Magazine Street owners
And, why I'm moving to New Orleans (from this article):
“New Orleans is the most spiritual place in the world. It has an intense energy that overtakes you,” he said.
“I consider Katrina a cleansing. We have an opportunity now to do something different and better.”
And, why I'm moving to New Orleans (from this article):
“New Orleans is the most spiritual place in the world. It has an intense energy that overtakes you,” he said.
“I consider Katrina a cleansing. We have an opportunity now to do something different and better.”
Thursday, June 22, 2006
in Oregon and BIG NEWS
Here I am, in the land of large deciduous trees, of high pollen counts and innumerable white people.
I guess this is a good time to work through a nasty cold - lots of time to lie around, to sleep 10 hours, to get a Netflix subscription. But I must be snapping out of the cold finally because I took the Selma dog for a power walk today and spent much time tracking down doctors to diagnose my damn thyroid already. And I have plans for a Portland trip and other social outings. But I'll keep sleeping.
Today I talked to neighbor Steve for the first time. He greeted me by name and briefed me on all his latest news (defeated prostate cancer, bought another motorcycle, retirement still suits him well, etc.) and said how he hopes I stick around. Susan always said he has a crush on me.
On Monday I went to a Chinese doctor and it was a strange experience. Next to a laundromat, I walked in and was immediately gestured to a chair across a small table. The man spoke very little English, but eventually he -
OH MY GOD! MY FIRST CHOICE LAW SCHOOL JUST CALLED ME TO ACCEPT ME!! I have to decide within the week! They even offered me a $7500 scholarship, which is a real surprise at this stage of the game. Only this morning I got this email:
"Your application to First Choice Law School has been submitted to the AdmissionCommittee for review. We will notify you as soon as a decision has beenreached, but please be aware that this can take some time."
Some time?? That was less than three hours!!
I just screamed and danced and scared the dogs. OK, I didn't really scare them at all - it's not like the first time I've screamed and danced. Especially Selma, she hardly even looked at me.
I'll have to finish this post later!
I guess this is a good time to work through a nasty cold - lots of time to lie around, to sleep 10 hours, to get a Netflix subscription. But I must be snapping out of the cold finally because I took the Selma dog for a power walk today and spent much time tracking down doctors to diagnose my damn thyroid already. And I have plans for a Portland trip and other social outings. But I'll keep sleeping.
Today I talked to neighbor Steve for the first time. He greeted me by name and briefed me on all his latest news (defeated prostate cancer, bought another motorcycle, retirement still suits him well, etc.) and said how he hopes I stick around. Susan always said he has a crush on me.
On Monday I went to a Chinese doctor and it was a strange experience. Next to a laundromat, I walked in and was immediately gestured to a chair across a small table. The man spoke very little English, but eventually he -
OH MY GOD! MY FIRST CHOICE LAW SCHOOL JUST CALLED ME TO ACCEPT ME!! I have to decide within the week! They even offered me a $7500 scholarship, which is a real surprise at this stage of the game. Only this morning I got this email:
"Your application to First Choice Law School has been submitted to the AdmissionCommittee for review. We will notify you as soon as a decision has beenreached, but please be aware that this can take some time."
Some time?? That was less than three hours!!
I just screamed and danced and scared the dogs. OK, I didn't really scare them at all - it's not like the first time I've screamed and danced. Especially Selma, she hardly even looked at me.
I'll have to finish this post later!
Thursday, June 15, 2006
the saddest words
"You're gonna miss me," I started, beginning an old squabble between us.
"It's hard, you know."
"What's hard?"
"This. And they're moving me someplace new, and this."
We hugged and he held on to me like a drowning man.
I will miss Aztec Boy more than he will ever know. It's so rare to find kindred spirits anywhere, and they can emerge when we least expect it.
"It's hard, you know."
"What's hard?"
"This. And they're moving me someplace new, and this."
We hugged and he held on to me like a drowning man.
I will miss Aztec Boy more than he will ever know. It's so rare to find kindred spirits anywhere, and they can emerge when we least expect it.
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
favorite sentence du jour
"Echogenicity, echo structure, shape, border classification, and grade of internal vascularity did not show any significant difference between benign and malignant nodules in this study." (linked here)
Why?
My doctor just called and she's all freaked that I'm leaving town without seeing a surgeon. She said the vascularity of the nodules are cause for concern - as well as the evidence of cellular degeneration (and in addition to highly elevated thyroglobulin).
This article says that while it is good to be concerned, there's no link between cancer and nodules having their own blood supply.
And she's writing my referral tonight. She turned out to be an all right kind of doc.
Why?
My doctor just called and she's all freaked that I'm leaving town without seeing a surgeon. She said the vascularity of the nodules are cause for concern - as well as the evidence of cellular degeneration (and in addition to highly elevated thyroglobulin).
This article says that while it is good to be concerned, there's no link between cancer and nodules having their own blood supply.
And she's writing my referral tonight. She turned out to be an all right kind of doc.
counting down the minutes!!
Yay! Almost never a teacher again! (I say, though of course I can never say never, because this is like the fourth time I've gone back to teaching after not wanting to do it anymore.)
kids say the darndest things
Coolest thing my students have been saying lately? "I figured it out! All by myself!"
And it isn't always bullshit when they walk in and pat my shoulder and say, "I missed you yesterday!" They may have missed my wry wit, but they don't need me anymore.
I pulled a kid over yesterday and asked about his career plans. "Have you thought about being a teacher? You're really, really good at it." This kid is a better teacher than I am! He's friendlier and more helpful and a better communicator. I looked up from my paper grading and phone calling yesterday to realize that at some point (probably months ago) he had completely taken over my job in that class - he was the one answering everybody's questions about how to spell things right, how to format their presentation, etc. I've been encouraging kids for a long time to be more independent and interdependent, and most of them are (Monday's substitute said they were completely on-task without me or any guidance), but that class in particular is extreme. They probably wouldn't even notice if I just left. I'm only the person scolding them for tardies and being ultra-picky about grammar - but even those things this kid could do better than me.
I'm dispensable. And it feels great. And it was cool to see that kid's realization dawn: "I am a good teacher, aren't I?!"
And it isn't always bullshit when they walk in and pat my shoulder and say, "I missed you yesterday!" They may have missed my wry wit, but they don't need me anymore.
I pulled a kid over yesterday and asked about his career plans. "Have you thought about being a teacher? You're really, really good at it." This kid is a better teacher than I am! He's friendlier and more helpful and a better communicator. I looked up from my paper grading and phone calling yesterday to realize that at some point (probably months ago) he had completely taken over my job in that class - he was the one answering everybody's questions about how to spell things right, how to format their presentation, etc. I've been encouraging kids for a long time to be more independent and interdependent, and most of them are (Monday's substitute said they were completely on-task without me or any guidance), but that class in particular is extreme. They probably wouldn't even notice if I just left. I'm only the person scolding them for tardies and being ultra-picky about grammar - but even those things this kid could do better than me.
I'm dispensable. And it feels great. And it was cool to see that kid's realization dawn: "I am a good teacher, aren't I?!"
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Calabash Music
Great music! Wow! Can't believe I never knew of Calabash Music before.
Alif - a pretty hard-core girl rap group from Senegal - led me to it. And I really like Manou Gallo. OMG - too much great stuff!
Alif - a pretty hard-core girl rap group from Senegal - led me to it. And I really like Manou Gallo. OMG - too much great stuff!
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