tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51274852011-12-17T17:37:52.824-08:00Life under the bodhi tree...mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2571100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-72632102258591956102006-11-23T09:43:00.000-08:002006-11-24T08:25:18.285-08:00

Yesterday I spent a lot of time contemplating how much I have to be thankful for. Friends...family...health...cheese. There have been a lot of changes in my life in the last year, and I am so grateful for the support I've been graciously and generously given by so many individuals. This journey we're on together is full of so many unexpected twists and turns, eh? I'm lucky to be surrounded by so

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-23561863205875539572006-11-21T14:24:00.000-08:002006-11-21T14:46:17.055-08:00

The last week has been crazy. I've been up to all sorts of madness, which is perhaps why I hit a brick wall Sunday night and have been laid out with some sort of crazy flu ever since. But before the fates saw fit to consign me to bed rest for an indeterminate period of time, I was able to get in a few fun activities over the last few days like:sit in on oral arguments at the 9th Circuit. as far

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-18464997422069956252006-11-17T22:24:00.000-08:002006-11-17T22:43:04.948-08:00

The new roommate and I are really getting to know one another well, as evidenced by a particularly insightful observation she made the other night while we were discussing an interaction she recently witnessed between me and someone I hardly know:"You're like a G-rated dominatrix."Pretty perceptive if you ask me. Then again, she also says shit like, "You're a bird" and "Everyone's a dragon." Or,

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-18448197946507326222006-11-15T18:09:00.000-08:002006-11-16T00:58:48.148-08:00

This is me. This is me drunk at the auction. Mere moments before my more sober friends, in their wisdom, decided to take my bid number away from me lest I actually win the $3,000 Tahoe package that I decided I needed (that is, in addition to the tattoo that I bought). This is me in the photo that has somehow, and unfortunately, made its way onto my school's website. Let that be a warning to all

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-67243230361847382472006-11-13T15:10:00.000-08:002006-11-16T16:29:36.614-08:00

If I told you my car broke down on the Bay Bridge this morning would you even believe me?And I swear to God, I think the police officer that finally called a tow truck for me is the one that arrested me in April. It was like my own little "Crash" moment.My guardian angel Hannah, who is miraculously at home whenever my car hits the fan these days, informed me that it must be because Mercury's in

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1162920794438937782006-11-07T09:22:00.000-08:002006-11-13T15:08:22.738-08:00

Sorry I've been a little m.i.a. lately. Life's been more than a little hectic. What have I been up to you ask? Well, to make a long story short, I've been:deconstructing my identity through therapy. the decompensation continues...dealing with an eviction notice from my landlord. um, three days to vacate? what?dealing with the ongoing effects of an emergency visit to the vet and the clear signs of

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1162355158923838042006-10-31T20:25:00.000-08:002006-11-13T15:08:22.327-08:00

And may the force be with you...always.photo courtesy of dooce.And in the wise words of Junior Gong:"The return of the Jedi when I get back,the entire empire will start to strike back."

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1161458567402003082006-10-21T12:17:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:08:22.031-08:00

There's something about coming home that is so good for the soul. I forget how much I love this place. And to be surrounded by people that love me - by people that know me...Well, let's just say I have definitely learned not to take things like that for granted anymore. I've been here for less than 24 hours and I've already seen more people than I can shake a stick at, been to a few of my

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1161242595260301222006-10-18T23:52:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:08:21.790-08:00

this may hurt a bit, she warnswhile anxiously i watch the black bile ooze forthslowlylike sweet molassescarefullywith the precision of a surgeonshe slits the left wristto cleanse the spleen she saysletting the humours settle backat the gut-wrenching pace of a sea turtlei never had the patience for tapestriesbut the story, the story must be toldand so i am made bareand tonguelesswrithing with the

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1160623854178328772006-10-11T19:50:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:08:21.303-08:00

As you may have noticed I've been a little depressed lately. I've been fighting the good fight by doing everything I know to do in situations like these (breathing, spending time with friends, being patient with myself, taking time out when I need to, being grateful for what I have, cuddling Tofu, etc.) but nothing seems to work. It's definitely been affecting me though. In the last few weeks I

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1160084775293768432006-10-05T14:20:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:08:20.243-08:00

Those words formed my personal mantra for awhile back in the mid-90's and I know at least ONE person who will remember them. They floated back into my head recently at a really opportune moment and lately I've been really taking them to heart. It's time for a little physical and spiritual housekeeping, you know? So I've been in the throes of planning a multi-layered attack.First order of business

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1159879592754136992006-10-03T05:36:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:08:19.982-08:00

Well, I just finished my second all-nighter of law school and I honestly can't say I'm any clearer on the legal system of the People's Republic of China than I was before I read that 1,200 pages of legal analysis. Leave it to me to choose the country with the 4,000 year old legal system and then try to sum it up with some insightful analysis in 5-10 pages. If I weren't so tired I'd probably be

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1159728443750259342006-10-01T11:04:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:08:19.697-08:00

you are in chaos she saidlooking outward for somethingthat can only be found withinit is imminentand inevitableher unblinking eyesform a wall of flaming arrowsscrupulously aimed at piercing the inscrutable barriera brick facade that has taken millenia to constructand i am turned to stonethe smoke from her cigarettecurls flirtatiouslyin the thick air between usi am sick with the weight of itand

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1159469534055509652006-09-28T11:52:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:08:19.351-08:00

This time of year always leaves me feeling a little blue. Funny since it's my favorite time of year too. Let's not get into the deeper psychological implications of that little irony. In my defense, it's always been my favorite time of year. The bad associations came much later.Anyway, the season just sort of snuck up on me this time. For the last couple of weeks I've been feeling depressed,

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1158962088768231522006-09-22T14:30:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:08:18.282-08:00

The other day I went to my very first professional baseball game. Now, I'm not what one would call a "fan" of baseball. I don't think I could name a single player if I had to and I will definitely flip quickly past a baseball game on tv without so much as checking the score. But when a friend called me up on Monday and said he had won some tickets to an A's-Indians game at a charity auction last

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1158621994924145352006-09-18T16:13:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:08:17.999-08:00

Dear Siri,I knew we would be fast friends from the moment you knocked me unconscious with that metal baseball bat while I was carefully coloring inside the lines of my coloring book. That fact was reconfirmed for me when, after failing to catch you at the bottom of the slide as promised and instead letting you run straight into the swimming pool, you didn't hold it against me. I know, I know, you

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1158326062141995872006-09-15T06:11:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:08:17.643-08:00

It's 6 o'clock in the morning and I just finished my appellate brief. I've been up and working on this thing for just a little under 21 hours. Again, I am having serious questions about my logic in deciding on this particular career path. Nevermind the more disturbing questions about my sanity. The important thing right now is that it's over. And shit howdy do I need a drink.

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1158182793688850562006-09-13T14:16:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:08:17.271-08:00

Why are blogs so much easier to write than appellate briefs?Why are the wrong men so much easier to find than the right ones?Why is it so hard to quit smoking?Why does rewarding work pay so little if at all?Why does all the bad shit have to happen all at once?Why doesn't anyone recognize my genius?Why has my cat become so talkative and what is she trying to say?Why is it always so gorgeous

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1157685409126602892006-09-07T19:53:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:08:16.982-08:00

Let me guess, you have a girlfriend...or no wait, you're a stalker in training just waiting for the right girl to come along for you to obsess about and consequently SCARE THE SHIT OUT OF*...no? Maybe you're just coming out of a long-term relationship and you're still too traumatized to even talk about anything other than your ex. Still not you? Then surely you must be emotionally stunted,

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1157067139326404622006-08-31T16:05:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:08:16.641-08:00

I can't believe I'm just finishing up the second week of school and am already at nervous breakdown levels of stress and anxiety. I thought this year was supposed to be better! But with a 30-50 page unwritten appellate brief looming in my future, tons of reading for all of my classes, all kinds of busy work for student organizations, etc. etc., who can relax?!? Hopefully I'll do some catching up

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1156725113691641082006-08-27T17:00:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:08:16.381-08:00

The first week of school is over and things are already in full swing. It's been fun catching up with schoolmates, getting the hang of my new schedule, and enjoying the last remnants of free time I'll probably have for the rest of the semester. I'm already pretty confident that this year is going to be vastly different from last year. I'll probably be just as busy, if not more so, but the culture

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1154463743878048722006-08-01T13:02:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:08:15.939-08:00

My last few days in London went by dizzingly fast. On my last night there, my flatmates threw me a lovely little going away barbecue in our garden. I was amazed to see how many people I had met over the course of a couple of months show up for my grand send off. In the span of just a few weeks I managed to create an entire life, complete with a whole slew of amazing friends and acquaintances.

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1153903447821491882006-07-26T01:22:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:08:15.553-08:00

I had so much fun last weekend in Prague I don't really know where to begin. The architecture was breathtaking. The ghosts of the communist era were haunting. The Vltava River is stunning and ephemeral. And the company was great. There was a sunset stroll over the Charles bridge, karaoke, becherovka, puppets and an international music festival in the park. Then there was dancing until 6am and

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1153388154166796812006-07-20T02:11:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:08:15.245-08:00

Last weekend Lauri and I headed to Brighton for some sun-soaked adventure on the beach. We had a blast. I have to admit my expectations were not terribly high. I think it's fair to say the Brits are not particularly known for their beaches. Armed with my new favorite Finnish phrase - "Hei! Nimeni on Amanda. Olen Amerikkalainen. Tulen San Franciscosta. Haluan aamupalaa, heti!" - we found a little

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1152537595822836482006-07-10T05:06:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:08:13.575-08:00

The days have been speeding up lately as my time in London draws to a close - sometimes even seeming to rush by in a blurry haze - like I'm standing still but the rest of the world is on super-fast forward. Then again, that could have been the absynthe Elina brought from Prague a couple of weeks ago when she decided to surprise me by flying into London for Euro Pride. We had more fun and

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1151591568034524462006-06-29T07:29:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:08:13.248-08:00

"Congress has not issued the executive a 'blank check."' - Justice Stephen BreyerIn Loss for Bush, Supreme Court Blocks War-Crimes Trials at GuantanamoBy THE ASSOCIATED PRESSPublished: June 29, 2006WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that President Bush overstepped his authority in ordering military war crimes trials for Guantanamo Bay detainees.The ruling, a rebuke to the

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1151245420059726752006-06-25T07:20:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:08:12.581-08:00

Yesterday morning I donned my finest finery and headed off to Surrey in order to celebrate the nuptiuls of two lovely individuals that I do not know. At first I felt a little strange about the idea, but then again we all know what sort of lengths I will go to for the sake of cake. Throw in some free food and alcohol and how could I resist?I arrived at the quaint little church with plenty of time

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1150302129300018742006-06-14T08:56:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:08:12.084-08:00

Thursday night I went out to Bar Rumba with a bunch of people for Drum & Bass night. Being an old fogey, I didn't really know what that meant, but flatmate Dom said it was her favorite music to dance to, so that's all I needed to hear. That is, until I realized how insane Drum & Bass is. For those as ignorant as I was about this very unique style of music, let me explain. Imagine what it would be

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1149874441314105262006-06-09T09:59:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:08:11.733-08:00

I cannot believe I am missing the Mavs in the NBA Finals! Isn't it just my luck that I would be out of the freakin' country the year they decide to finally get there? And of course it's all World Cup this and World Cup that over here. For some reason, it just doesn't seem like anyone is interested in talking about my Mavs! So the hunt for the one pub in London that is actually broadcasting

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1149691495330270582006-06-07T07:42:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:08:11.436-08:00

I’m finally feeling a little better. I’m not sure if I was fighting an actual illness or the long-term effects of mental and emotional exhaustion. I’ve noticed that the human body has an amazing capacity for waiting until the stress has passed to completely fall apart. And the last nine months have been nothing if not stressful. Anyway, after spending way too much time cooped up in my little

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1149499929014796052006-06-05T02:22:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:08:11.149-08:00

Well the weekend didn't turn out to be the whirlwind tour of all of London's greatest hits that I had envisioned. Drinks with Dan after work on Friday turned into a pretty wild laydeez night in the VIP room at NYT. So of course Saturday was pretty much shot. I took the opportunity to get unpacked and settle into the new digs, do some laundry, and get a little further into The Kite Runner. That

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1149185605491784112006-06-01T11:00:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:08:10.502-08:00

I'm here in London and making up for lost time on all the English chocolate I haven't eaten in the last 15 years since I last visited. After what seemed like a 99-hour plane ride, I landed on a cold sunny morning with a pretty miserable head cold. I've spent the last few days trying to recover from that and from the jet lag that is inevitably worse than I anticipated.Nevertheless, I've managed to

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1148515275103197622006-05-24T16:57:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:08:10.118-08:00

Well, I did it. I finally finished my last exam and I'm officially a 2L. (Well, that is assuming I passed.) The post-exam festivities were...ummm...interesting? Yes, there are stories that cannot be revealed at this time due to their incriminating nature. Yes, I managed to get myself into trouble again. But no, I did NOT get arrested again. However, I did find out that I have a bit of a stalker.

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1147889827389832742006-05-17T11:11:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:08:01.705-08:00

I've now finished three (count 'em) THREE exams and there's just one more to go. In a word, it's been rough. I've been operating at ridiculously high levels of stress. I have smoked waaay too many cigarettes, I have cried waaay too many times, I have drunk more coffee than any one liver is equipped to handle. I have been temperamental and bitchy. I have been hypersensitive and prone to anxiety

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1147295723500630382006-05-10T14:15:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:08:01.396-08:00

This makes me have a little faith in my fellow Americans. Esto me pone en arrecho humor (que bolas!). But this just makes me want to kill myself right now.Does it make you a little sad that my political rants have been reduced to hyperlinks? Maybe if I had a little more time to read something beyond the day's headlines I'd have more to say.

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1147201845187966112006-05-09T11:49:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:08:01.000-08:00

So here I am. Biding my time until my first exam in T minus 1 hour and 45 minutes. Maybe you think I'm writing because I have something interesting to say? Let me just go ahead and disabuse you of that absurd notion. Nope. I got nothing. Maybe I would have an interesting anecdote or musing to share if I hadn't spent 10-12 hours of every day of the last week holed up in a room on the third floor

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1146615496059488182006-05-02T16:59:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:08:00.596-08:00

I know I said I wouldn't post again until all this exam mess was over. But I've been working hard, people. No fun. No partying. It's been all studying all the time. I'm happy to report I've finished two of my four outlines. And I only have one class left of my first year of law school! Woo Hoo!!! I just had to share some of the excitement. Ya dig?Aaaand...I bought my ticket to London today! Aw

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1146087491519153162006-04-26T14:30:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:08:00.312-08:00

Stress levels are at an all time high. After a 5-day stint with my paramour, filled with fun and adventure, I'm back to school and exams are right around the corner. Which is bad. Very very bad. I also have a million and a half things to do before I leave for London. Now where did that personal assistant get off to? I'm trying hard to buckle down and take this all very seriously. Somehow

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1144697425361257182006-04-10T12:15:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:07:59.663-08:00

For the last several weeks I've been caught up in the quagmire that is the first year Moot Court Competition. It started by preparing a 20-page appellate brief and ended this weekend with oral arguments before a panel of judges. I grudgingly bought a black suit last weekend, and felt a piece of my soul slip away yesterday morning as I put it on and trudged up to school to play the part of

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1144197214325091782006-04-04T17:07:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:07:58.942-08:00

San Francisco lost one of its greatest assets today. And I lost the most consistent source of support and love that I've had in the last 3 years to bloody New York City. (Amanda shakes her fist in the air.) I knew it was going to be rough. I knew I wasn't going to handle it very well. But I didn't know that seeing Bruno sitting in the middle of the floor in his empty bedroom, surrounded by boxes

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1143529131437107442006-03-27T22:42:00.000-08:002006-11-13T15:07:58.695-08:00

Well, it's official. Yours truly will be spending her summer sipping PG Tips and eating Bubble and Squeak in Merry Old England. I spoke with the London office today (how cool does that sound?) and confirmed that I'll be joining them as a Legal Intern for the summer. Sounds like it's going to be about 90% Guantanamo Bay and 10% Death Penalty work. I'm stoked.I still haven't heard back about the El

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1142874467970548902006-03-20T08:35:00.000-08:002006-11-13T15:07:58.429-08:00

A dear friend lost her father last week. The service is tomorrow. I called her this morning since it's been weighing heavily on my mind just to let her know I'm thinking about her. Losing a parent is a terrible thing. There's nothing in my experience that compares with the deep and utter disconnect you feel when the source of your life no longer exists. Like all of a sudden there is nothing that

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1141854311457422762006-03-08T13:38:00.000-08:002006-11-13T15:07:57.903-08:00

Do not read old love letters from your husband. Do not remind yourself how crazy he used to be about you. Do not dream about him anymore. Do not whisper his name under your breath when you are missing him. Do not wish he were there when you crawl into your cold bed at night. Do not associate smells with him. Do not remember his smell. Do not listen to any of the CD's you acquired during the 10

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1141753683604099532006-03-07T09:36:00.000-08:002006-11-13T15:07:57.742-08:00

Yesterday I found out about a semester program in Tokyo that I may do next Spring. How cool would that be? Still no news on El Salvador. Still no news on London. I'm in summer employment limbo right now and it's driving me nuts. Just watch, I'll probably end up working at REI for minimum wage again. Screw that, if it comes down to it I'll just backpack through Mexico for a couple of months. I

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1141412220740107352006-03-03T10:44:00.000-08:002006-11-13T15:07:57.489-08:00

Woo hoo! I finally turned in my paper and I am in the best mood imaginable. NO MORE LRW. And I had my interview for El Salvador right after, which went really really well. At least I think it did. Except for the part when one of the interviewers said, "So now we'd like you to talk in Spanish for a little while. Maybe you could just talk about law school or whatever." Okaaaay. So I was like, "Um..

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1141182210667120732006-02-28T18:20:00.000-08:002006-11-13T15:07:57.128-08:00

I have to admit I'm having serious motivational problems with this paper. I mean, let me put it this way: I actually did laundry today. Laundry. I did laundry. I even considered doing something drastic like sweeping or washing my full sink of dishes for about a second. Don't get me wrong, I've been in the library, I've done some major time trolling LexisNexis for relevant case law; hell, I've

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1141073742605987592006-02-27T12:38:00.000-08:002006-11-13T15:07:56.866-08:00

The paper is off to a slow start. I spent the weekend partying way too hard and sleeping way too little. But it was worth it. There's nothing quite like having a bunch of fabulous gay men fawn all over you and tell you how gorgeous you are to lift your spirits. (That's right. Someone called me gorgeous for the first time in my life.) And speaking of spirits, I'm proud to announce that I finally

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1140650494101824262006-02-22T15:15:00.000-08:002006-11-13T15:07:56.686-08:00

Tahoe was fun. Lots of snow and partying. Alas I didn't get to try snowboarding. Long story. Elina has some interesting photos of me and the little Brazilian boy toy I picked up at the club. If she ever emails them to me I'll post the PG ones. Awww! Now it's back to the grind. I'm getting my Legal Research and Writing take-home final on Friday. I'll have a week to do it and no classes, so I'm

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1139946684578910782006-02-14T11:47:00.000-08:002006-11-13T15:07:56.447-08:00

Well, last weekend was fun, as long as you don't count the 24 hours or so where I was dealing with three men who were very very angry with me. Also, I guess you can't consider the hour and a half block of time that has been entirely erased from my memory as much fun since, well, I just don't know what I was doing or where I was. But there was the drag show: awesome. And the long walk on the beach

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1139608056850765722006-02-10T13:38:00.000-08:002006-11-13T15:07:56.213-08:00

Last night I caught up with an old friend that I haven't seen or talked to in years. I love those conversations where you give a quick synopsis of the last several years of your life. Somehow everything that seemed so important and involved at the time becomes something barely worth mentioning, if at all. And even though you both know there are huge gaps in what you know about each others pasts,

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1139440239058614362006-02-08T15:09:00.000-08:002006-11-13T15:07:55.903-08:00

So you know how I got that A in Contracts? Yeah. I got the top grade in the class, people. Boo yah.

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1138835760284296632006-02-01T15:07:00.000-08:002006-11-13T15:07:55.503-08:00

Saw a great movie last night, which turned into drinks at a newly discovered bar that serves $3 Jameson's shots on Tuesdays (dangerous), which led to the club around the corner from my house, which led to some pretty intensely erotic dancing with a person I should NOT be dirty dancing with. Which leaves me feeling hungover and sheepish and wondering how awkward it's going to be the next time we

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1138639534964478632006-01-30T08:34:00.000-08:002006-11-13T15:07:55.179-08:00

For Shannon, who claims to check this every day.Actually, as ridiculous as this sounds, I feel more guilty about that than flattered. You know that whole "if you don't have anything nice to say blah blah blah?" Lately I've been feeling more like "if you don't have anything positive to say etc. etc." So I'm sorry I haven't been returning phone calls or emails or texts much lately.But before I sink

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1138223316649019912006-01-25T13:02:00.000-08:002006-11-13T15:07:54.904-08:00

Okay, so I know I'm totally lame for being so incommunicado lately. And I realize that probably no one even checks in to see if I ever update anymore. But that's okay. I'm still alive. And I'm going to be just as lame as ever when I cop out yet again and defer to the RedHotMamma to update you on what's been going on. Stealing someone else's post and substituting it for my own. I have truly sunk

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1132005604691701622005-11-14T13:57:00.000-08:002006-11-13T15:07:53.835-08:00

Sorry I've been gone for awhile. Things have been hard lately. Fortunately, I have the good fortune of having the most amazing people in the world as friends. Their support has gotten me through hard times in the past, and it will help me get through this one. Especially when I have words like these to read to help me remember who I am (or at least how one person perceives me.) That is about me,

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1129686011015072982005-10-18T18:23:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:07:53.604-08:00

I turned in my monster midterm paper yesterday morning. It wouldn't have been so bad if they had given us more than 72 hours to do it. But it's done, and it's in, and that's all that really matters right now. I think I'm getting sick. All the stress and the not sleeping is definitely getting to me. I don't know how much longer I can take this. I started seeing a counselor at school a few

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1128527000703560992005-10-05T08:28:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:07:53.286-08:00

This weekend I blew off law school (mostly) and went to the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in Golden Gate Park. I have two words for you people: Dolly. Parton. Seriously, the woman opened with a power-packed rendition of "9 to 5". Immediately followed with one of my all-time favorite songs, "Jolene". I can die happy now. If you had any idea how many times I watched "9 to 5" or rocked

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1128129806768956402005-09-30T17:29:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:07:53.033-08:00

This week I've done a lot of running. And thinking. Thank God for my new best friends. And for Golden Gate Park. Aunt Sharon went back into the hospital yesterday. I haven't even begun to deal with that yet. Maybe I'll run out to the ocean tomorrow morning and have a little chat with Mom. I'm trying to stay positive about it...about everything. One thing I've learned in the last five

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1127876717624535802005-09-27T19:59:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:07:52.616-08:00

Sunday morning I was walking to the park for a nice long run. The sky was a clear blue, there was a gentle breeze, and the air still had that early morning crispness. I was the only one on the street. I imagine most of the people on the block were still wrapped up in the warmth of their sheets. Or maybe brewing a fresh pot of coffee as they unrolled the Sunday paper. But as I strolled along

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1126623995096401922005-09-13T09:43:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:07:52.197-08:00

Law school is tricky business. For people like me that is. For those of us who tend to be pretty social and enjoy the company of others, the endless hours spent alone in a quiet place with your face glued to the pages of a casebook can be a pretty lonely endeavor. The thing about that is that it gives you a lot of time to think...think...think. And not just about whether a crime is negligent per

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1126385558158299122005-09-10T13:44:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:07:51.952-08:00

Yes, the rumors are true. Operation Free Rohan was a success! As many of you know, this was no small feat. The Dallas contingent put up a good fight to the end. They were truly a worthy opponent. But no match for our Machiavellian machinations I have to admit. So Robyn and I are definitely basking in the glow of our badassitude. Of course, we won't see the fruit of our labor for quite some

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1125694318378291022005-09-02T13:35:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:07:51.754-08:00

I finally got a chance to talk to my sister last night. She's in Gulf Port, MS - one of the areas that was also badly affected by the hurricane. Fortunately, she's okay and her boyfriend and all his family members are okay too (though there were some close calls). Now their whole family is crammed into one house with no electricity, running water, gasoline, ice or food other than what they

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1125606612217957162005-09-01T13:12:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:07:51.532-08:00

Lots of good news to report today. Aunt Sharon's surgery went well and she should be moved out of the ICU by tomorrow. AND, we got word last night that Joy is okay. As of right now, that's all we know, but I guess that's also all that really matters. She managed to get a text message to a friend who texted a friend, who looked up my Dad and gave him a call, who then called to let me know

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1125462173345036102005-08-30T21:16:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:07:51.229-08:00

Aunt Sharon is scheduled for open heart surgery first thing tomorrow morning and no one in the family has been able to contact Joy for two days. The last time I heard from her she was evacuating New Orleans and heading for Biloxi, Mississippi, which was also hit by Hurricane Katrina yesterday. I have two research papers due on Thursday and about 200 pages of reading that I can't begin to

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1124990317826902832005-08-25T10:11:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:07:50.802-08:00

I have been crazy busy the last couple of weeks and sans internet connection, so sorry for the lapse in posts. The visit with joy ROCKED, we finally got moved out of our old place and are living out of boxes in the new one. But we got our full deposit back the day after we moved out so Woo Hoo!! Robyn's wedding was lovely. She was honestly the most beautiful bride I've ever seen. Maui...

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1123808627994870362005-08-11T17:52:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:07:49.913-08:00

I got it! I had my interview with CGRS today and woo hoo! As I suspected, I was not the only one in the applicant pool, but I (somehow) managed to impress them enough that they offered me the slot during the meeting. I'm going to be researching country conditions for immigration and pro bono attorneys to provide them with evidence for asylum cases. And I've already got my first assignment.

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1123447439947257842005-08-07T13:31:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:07:49.280-08:00

Friday was my last day at work and I celebrated by having a nice relaxing weekend and gearing up for the big move. Although, between finishing Harry Potter, Law School Confidential, and getting more deeply engrossed in Life of Pi; and between grilling, jogging in the park, catching up on The Sopranos and Samurai Champloo, getting a fantastic new haircut, and dinner at El Metate with Robyn there

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1122941098182215612005-08-01T16:36:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:07:48.879-08:00

Last week of work. Today I turned in my final grant report on everything we've accomplished in the last year with the funding that paid for my salary. Whew! Boy am I glad that's over with. And the timing was good too since after looking back at all the things we've achieved and reviewing the (pretty impressive) hard numbers that we've raised, my boss seems pretty happy with me. It's a good

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1122681372398477412005-07-29T15:50:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:07:48.504-08:00

I was talking on the phone with my sister Joy yesterday. She mentioned that she had been teaching her boyfriend about some of mom's favorite exercises, "like the Screaming Lion." Unfortunately, the Screaming Lion is not an exercise that can be explained. It is something that must be shown. And if you ask me to show it to you the next time I see you, you'll be in for a treat. My mom's

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1122421489948450982005-07-26T15:52:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:07:48.259-08:00

Of course it would happen that three weeks before we move we find out that the bakery on the corner makes the best tamales on the planet.The Motorcycle Diaries is my new favorite movie. It reminded me of my own trip across South America. And at the end? When you can just read across his face how much the journey has changed him forever? And how, because of his experiences there, the course of his

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1122217726129874072005-07-24T07:35:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:07:47.961-08:00

The wisdom tooth extraction went exceedingly smoothly and, though I've been pretty low-energy all weekend, I think I'm on the mend. And it's a good thing because I am so sick of soft foods! On the good side, it was a perfect excuse for me to try the new Haagen Dazs Light ice cream in Coffee, which I somehow managed to polish off in two sittings. Let me tell you people, it was almost worth it

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1121990618816890882005-07-21T16:39:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:07:47.469-08:00

We got the apartment and we are so very excited, people. We're going to be living, literally, one block from Golden Gate Park. Which, in case you haven't gathered, we love. I think I would take up residence in some remote corner of the park with the other dudes in tents if I could figure out how to handle the whole bathing issue. Check it out here. I've been having a real time adjusting to

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1121284406128059652005-07-13T12:10:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:07:47.143-08:00

Well I'm happy to report that the event was "a smash." It was also "the best event we've ever had." And that's just what the Board President had to say about it! Honestly though, everything went off without a hitch and it was just swell. The location was beautiful, the speakers were delightful, the silent auction was a blast, the jazz duo was awesome, and the food and wine were to die for.

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1120679424091595682005-07-06T12:32:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:07:46.815-08:00

In the last two days I turned in my notice at both of my jobs, effectively cutting off all potential revenue streams for the next year. It's liberating and scary to realize that I'm really doing it. Chris and I are checking out an apartment in the Haight tonight. It's a block from the park, about a five minute walk to school, and much more space. Nothing's for sure yet, so do me a favor and don't

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1120262417857917022005-07-01T16:55:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:07:46.447-08:00

Today I took my whole office plus a few others out to lunch. Just another treat I got from my new favorite habit of dropping my business cards into random jars. That's the third time my name's been drawn in the last six months for one thing or another. I think that Thai fortune teller may have been right when she told me I should play the lottery.

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1120000657115165802005-06-28T15:36:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:07:45.882-08:00

I'm feeling totally overwhelmed with all the crap I have on my plate right now. And all of it while trying to get over this bug I've been fighting for the last several days. The same one that I've now, apparently, passed on to Chris. Good times. The big event is two weeks from today. TWO WEEKS FROM TODAY. Yikes! There's so much left to do I'm a complete basketcase. Then why the hell am I blogging

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1119629961951699182005-06-24T09:19:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:07:45.489-08:00

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1119570620256744032005-06-23T16:39:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:07:45.228-08:00

I've been a nervous wreck today. I'm literally staring at the clock, counting down the minutes until I get to go home and watch Game 7. This is it, people. This is what it's all about. And I am COUNTING on my boys to bring it on home. I don't think I can suffer another soul-crushing defeat a la the November election. At some point good has to prevail, right? Right??? I mean, I like the

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1119485757429641882005-06-22T16:52:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:07:44.654-08:00

I have to stay late at work tonight to run a board committee meeting and I am NOT happy about it. Especially since I've been working long hours for the last couple of weeks and I slept funny last night so my head only has about 45 degrees of movement. It's days like this when I get really excited about the idea of going back to law school. That is, until I read something like this. Then I

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1119284558323455872005-06-20T08:51:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:07:44.326-08:00

My brother came into town yesterday for a three day visit. He's interviewing with a practice group in the East Bay and they are courting him like a first round draft pick. I drove out to Berkeley last night to visit him in the shining palace where they're putting him up. We had a great time catching up over a lovely dinner here, complete with some of the most amazing views of the bay and SF

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1118850407904048892005-06-15T08:26:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:07:43.970-08:00

Well, I did it. I paid the tuition deposit, which means I am officially going back to law school this fall. To be honest though, it doesn't feel as much like going back as it does starting over from where I was when I got shoved off the tracks awhile back. Of course, I'm not sure where this track is going to take me or ultimately whether it's the track I really want to be on. But right now

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1118440434600870332005-06-10T14:53:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:07:43.647-08:00

"You're going to make a tragedy out of your life again!" - Aunt Sharon

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1118275628307413222005-06-08T16:09:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:07:43.165-08:00

Really, I wish I had something to blog about. Because that would make at least one new year's resolution that I would be even remotely keeping up with. But I'm pretty sure you don't want to know about how stressful it is to raise $50K for an event whose success I'm solely responsible for or how I'm still having panic attacks; still pathetically debating whether or not I really really really do

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1117922260414790332005-06-04T14:49:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:07:42.246-08:00

If only I had a dime for every one of these I've stumbled across I would be a very rich woman indeed. (Thanks to Blogger Deb for passing it along.) Of course, we all know this isn't my first encounter with this type of strange yet endearing plea for my affection. Remember back in May 2003 when those guys from The Onion moved all the way out to Austin to be closer to me only to discover I was

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1117739843604206592005-06-02T10:35:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:07:41.660-08:00

Lately I've been muddling through the decision over whether or not to finally go back to law school and if so, then where. And considering how indecisive we all know I tend to be, you can trust me when I tell you that it has been a real doozy. You see, there are a lot of variables tied up in this decision. Factors that I don't think you have the time or interest in reading about now. But

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1117222492160175902005-05-27T12:00:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:07:41.370-08:00

My latest foray into pharmaceutical exploration has taken a turn for the worse I'm afraid. Basically, the half-pill I took almost 48 hours ago has reduced me to a yawning, drooling, word-slurring zombie who cannot, for the life of me, wake the fuck up. To be fair, the psych said that the side-effects should start to wear off in two weeks. But I'm sorry, I simply cannot afford to be in a coma

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1117059014158022532005-05-25T14:24:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:07:40.995-08:00

Did you miss me? Probably not since I saw all of you last week; a trip so crammed with fun-filled merrymaking that I don't even know where to start. Seriously. But let's see, there was Barton Springs galore, Star Wars on opening day, a party thrown in our honor by Ben and Tiff, Tex-mex out the wazoo, pedis with Dita, pizza with Heather and Melissa, some looooong overdue catching up with Christina

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1116024723074359862005-05-13T15:16:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:07:40.607-08:00

This week has been a little crazy. That is, aside from the fact that I've convinced myself I actually am going crazy. I'm heading back to Texas again this weekend (this time for fun) and I've been frantically tying up loose ends, delegating things I should have taken care of to others, and trying to predict and proactively put out the fires that will surely arise during my absence. To tell you

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1115430808956194832005-05-06T18:38:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:07:40.258-08:00

It's a beautiful Friday afternoon. The sun is shining. In fact, its light is catching a particularly fluffy cloud in such a way that it looks truly heavenly. There's a light cool breeze blowing gently through the leaves as I sit here in my lush garden. Chris is in the bedroom napping with the kitty. Bruno is upstairs snuggled up in his own bed. Later we'll meet up at El Rio with Hannah and her

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1115337378014222832005-05-05T17:01:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:07:39.944-08:00

I've been thinking a lot lately about secrets. And lies. About my childhood in general in all of its traumatizing, mind-nummingly dysfuntional, you-can't-make-this-shit-up glory. I don't usually wallow in this sort of self-pitying reliving of the past; but I find that going back home three times in just over a month will do that to you. In the last few years I've tried to convince myself that my

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1115252363483680802005-05-04T17:04:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:07:39.672-08:00

This morning on the BART I had this moment of recognition. I was suddenly overwhelmed by the thought that everyone around me was going to die someday. And not just some abstract someday, but in the same 20 to 50 year timeframe that I will - a pretty small amount of time overall. I pictured all of those people rushing around me up the escalators and through the turnstiles; the man playing the

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1115164120795658462005-05-03T15:55:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:07:39.344-08:00

I'm back and exhausted in lots of ways. My aunt was so glad to have me there for a few days though so it was all worth it. I'm happy to report that she's improving quickly and should be out of the hospital in the next week. While there I watched sickening amounts of basketball and taught my aunt more about the NBA playoff teams than she ever wanted to know. I even gave her a little pop quiz

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1114619173792622512005-04-27T09:03:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:07:38.842-08:00

I'm heading back to Dallas in t-minus two hours. Fortunately, my laptop (which shall henceforth be known as Lazarus) has miraculously come back to life after someone-who-shall-remain-nameless inadvertently fried its motherboard by spilling a drink on it last week. We really thought it was a goner; especially after it died and several minutes later we heard a sound something-akin to popcorn

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1114033145988635002005-04-20T13:13:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:07:37.556-08:00

My Mammaw died a few years ago after a long and drawn out battle with Alzheimer's. It was really hard to watch her slow and inexorable march toward death and difficult to say goodbye to her in her final moments of life; but I knew that if everything she believed to be true turned out to be so then she was in a much better place.After the funeral, all of the Acklin relatives who had traveled from

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1113935758885986552005-04-19T11:05:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:07:37.153-08:00

Do you ever have something you think you should blog about just to keep people in the loop because it's pretty significant in your life at the time but it's not necessarily very good blog fodder? That's what I'm about to do so if you're looking for entertainment you can just move it along, there's nothing to see here.Yeah, so for the rest of you I wanted to let you know that my Aunt Sharon had a

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1113859974800481162005-04-18T14:29:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:07:36.803-08:00

"I asked him if he had brushed his teeth yet and he said 'yes'; so I was like 'okay', but it still smelled like he'd been sucking on a shit stick."-Robyn

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1113343726547973472005-04-12T14:43:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:07:35.872-08:00

I spent last night and this morning convincing my husband with the most well conceived argument (if I do say so myself) that instead of going to grad school this fall we should save up some money and go on another big adventure. This time I'm thinking six months in Southeast Asia...Or maybe Central America...or ooh! ooh! Africa...I'm not certain whether or not this compulsion is further evidence

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1112991378867134392005-04-08T12:51:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:07:35.341-08:00

Grad school responses are starting to trickle in and things are getting more and more complicated by the day. Of course it would have to turn out that I get rejected from the places C gets into and vice versa. There are still several schools we haven't heard from yet so nothing is certain except the fact that we're going to be facing some pretty difficult decisions in the near future.On a good

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1112815901255126832005-04-06T12:24:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:07:34.391-08:00

I'm not sure how to deal with the fact that the last time I saw my therapist she diagnosed me with having panic attacks and severe depression and has since stopped returning my phone calls. Did I mention that I set up appointments with two other therapists before I found this one? Yeah, the first one double booked the time slot, and the second cancelled an hour before my appointment because she

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127485.post-1112648005256563752005-04-04T13:12:00.000-07:002006-11-13T15:07:34.027-08:00

You may remember that C and I were planning on going to Yosemite for our honeymoon once upon a time but changed our plans at the last minute and went to Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks. The forecast in Yosemite called for snow and we didn't want to deal, so we thought we'd be safe by heading a little further south...which of course resulted in our getting caught mid-6 hour hike in the

mandolinxnoreply@blogger.com