Ye Old Dominion, here we come

Well, the boys and I are off to Virginia for two weeks. I'll try to report on our escapades while we are there. Upon my return, gainful employment must commence. Thank goodness the new Wal-Mart Supercenter is opening up.
Those of you in the Columbus area who are willing to hire me for even the most menial of tasks are welcome to email me. And yes, I do windows.

The Blow by Blow

Well, now that it’s over everyone is wondering, “how did it go?” I wish I knew what to tell you.

We have to write 12 essays. I’d have to say that I felt pretty confident after writing most of them. Yesterday we had a question about mortgages, which I parlayed into a secured transactions question about mortgages instead of a property question about mortgages. A little tap dancing can get you a long way, I note, having tap danced to 7 of last summer’s essays and getting a score of 5 out of 7 points, or better, on each one.

I have to tell you that one of the funniest things about taking the February exam is all the people who are retaking the exam for the second, third, fourth … well, you get the idea. And as you stand around and bitch about the multiple choice questions, the studying and the arbitrariness of the grading procedures, everyone has a theory about why the examiners do what they do, why the test is written as it is, and so on. I can’t help but think that if any one of us knew what the hell we were talking about, if we really had this damn test figured out, we wouldn’t be standing there proselytizing. We’d all be licensed and gainfully employed.

My roommate from my freshman year of college, Traci, was there too. Traci, God Bless you. If I don’t pass this time, I truly hope that you do, because heaven knows you deserve it.

Anyway, day one is 6 essays on any one of the 10 or so legal topics we have to know, then two Multistate Performance Tests in the afternoon, which take 90 minutes each. You are provided with the assignment and the research. I like to think of that as the creative writing portion. Well, creative writing within parameters. As in, you need to write a poem, not a short story, but it still needs to be creative. I guess that went pretty well.

Day two is 200 multiple-choice questions. It’s so curious how they are written. Four right answers, and one is more right than the others. Or four are wrong, and one is less wrong than the others. Or you eliminate two and the remaining two are unintelligible. Unless you receive a stellar essay score, you need at least 120 correct answers to pass. Here’s hopin’.

Third day offers the six final essays. I paid an extra $105 to type my essays on my laptop. The software was a bit clunky, but I really felt that typing the answers, as opposed to writing them, was a huge help to me. Outlining takes place directly on the computer, instead of on a piece of scratch paper. If you forget something, you can go back and put it in if you have extra time. Ohio is one of the last states to provide this option to test takers. I’m sure if it tends to give us an advantage and we all start passing like crazy, the Bar will just crank up the passing score again.

I wanted to post this earlier than today, but my whole family is here for Nate’s birthday and they won’t give me one minute to myself. It’s no one’s fault but my own, but, as soon as the bar was over, I have to go back to being the butt wiper and the maid. I resent that I can’t take a day or two and gather myself together. Oh well, the kids weren’t the result of an immaculate conception; clearly I had some responsibility from the beginning and it continues until today.

So, to sum up, I certainly felt physically and mentally stronger than when I took it last summer, when Nate was five months old. A full night’s sleep really makes a difference. And I feel optimistic. Perhaps even confident. Maybe it’s just the high of being done that I’m feeling. Anyway, the results will be available April 28 on the Bar’s website at about 7 a.m. But if you check here first, I’ll post the results.

And then we will either be partying or steeling ourselves for another bout.

Hugs to you all.

Did anyone get the license plate of that truck?

Well, today we did the 200 multiple choice questions. Six hours. I don't know what happened, but I know it's over. And I really felt your prayers today, friends. I mean it. I don't know if anything I put down was right, but I know I felt pretty good while I was doing it! Thank you very, very much.

One day left, and then the waiting starts. But at least the studying can stop!

ieem sooo tyrd

Well, day one is over. That's about all I can say about that. Tomorrow is the multiple choice section. No sweat.

Gonna pass out now.

Sh'yeah, right.

It's like the lottery. You imagine what it would be like to win, but it ain't gonna happen.

And y'all are preachin' to the choir, here, folks.

Commence Prayers & Positive Thoughts

OK, friends and family, TOMORROW is the big day. I will be taking the exam all day Tuesday and Wednesday. Thursday's portion is only in the morning. I need all the positive thoughts and prayers you can muster. I do not want to be doing this again!!!

Thanks for all your support and help. I'll let you know how it goes. Well, actually, I can tell you how it's going to go. It's going to be a freakin' nightmare.

Let's do this.

Just doing our part

Ozone layer? We don't need no stinkin' ozone layer.

The Plan: Bring it

The Mental Lotus: Be Calm. Breathe. Master the flesh and mind. Admit reality. Transcend it.

And pray like the dickens. Then ...

Go Kung Fu on the bar, Shaolin style!

Just doing what I can to bring balance to the Force, baby.

BTW, LOVE this monk's sneakers. East meet West, my friends. I've got sneakers, now all I need is a saffron robe and I will be suitably attired to whip some bar exam boot-tay. Or go in my PJs, OU Scripps-style (NDK, you wid me?)!

Woo woo.

It hit me like a freight train today: the bar is less than one week away and I don't feel ready. Not even close. My anxiety level is ratcheted pretty high. I was awake at 5 a.m. this morning trying to order myself to go back to sleep. Am I going to have a heart attack? I just can't believe this is the gauntlet you have to run to be an attorney. This stupid test. Stupid, stupid test.

How do I love thee, Price is Right?

Just ran downstairs for a liter of Diet Coke (Black Cherry Vanilla, yum!) and The Price is Right was on. How I adore that show!! The agony of loss! The thrill of victory! All in five minute blocks! And, the true joy, Bob Barker is still the host! I used to watch it with my gramma (who didn't?), and though she is gone (God bless her), and the "Barker's Beauties" from the late Seventies are gone (hey, Botox can only do so much), Bob is still there. Anyway, I got to watch a kid win a car. With all that positive energy, I'm so pumped to study! YEAH!

Check back later when the Diet Coke wears off.

Bust It.

Aron loves the "Days Go By" video by the band Dirty Vegas. Most of us are familiar with the song because it was on Mitsubishi commercials.

Here, witness our young hip-hopper in his natural habitat as he hones his break-dancing skills. Some day he will utilize these important skills to become a wildly popular young prince of the suburban jungle.

Behind the camera is the young male's mother, frightened to her core as she looks forward to the future with her eyes wide open.

She knows that the ladies love a boy that can dance.

The Miracle of a Decent Photo

As requested, new bebe pics. Aron and Nate want to give a shout out to their loyal fans who check out the blog and keep up with the go'ins on.

Thank goodness for digital cameras. I took at least forty frames before I got something in which Nate was sitting still and Aron wasn't making a goofy face.

I really miss these two. I run downstairs for study breaks and steal kisses and hugs whenever I can.

Mr. Pretty and Mr. Big

I'm sorry, your opportunity to capture our cuteness has elapsed. We are outta here.

Law Dog, law don't go around here!

Ohio Bar: "Isn't there anyone here man enough to play for blood?"

Me: "I'm your huckleberry."

Look at me, two weeks from the bar. I'm Doc Holliday. I've convinced myself I am invincible.

Low Carb = Vile

In an effort to lose that last 10 pounds, I have banished as much processed sugar from my life as possible and am trying to eat low carb.

Every day when I eat another fried egg omelet or "Sandwich wrap" (piece of cheese wrapped in turkey slices) I want to vomit. It escapes me how people can live this way.

But, I am losing weight. And more importantly, I am keeping the peaks and valleys of my blood sugar in check (pancreas really took a beating during the last pregnancy, what with the gestational diabetes). I notice that less sugar in the diet really helps to keep me on task for studying, too.

But MAN, do I miss chocolate.

Magically Bloglicious

This cracks me up, but honestly, would any of us blog if no one read it? If you didn't want someone to read your blog, why would you put it on the web for all to see? Wouldn't you just keep a journal by your bedside?

Blogging is the easiest way in the world to be an author, a dream that many of us share. And, bonus: no rejection letters and no 1099 forms. Everyone should get the chance to know the cathartic joy of giving birth to words and ideas.

And yes, I AM studying. Right now. So stop bugging me!

Danes: Insane in the membrane

What the heck is up with the Danes? I am all for free press. I believe it's vitally necessary to the health of all people for there to be a free exchange of ideas. We should all endeavor to receive such messages with open minds and tolerance. If our ultimate goals for our society and the future of our planet are peace and comfort for all people, we have to all learn to be more accepting, peace loving individuals.

But, come on, Denmark, the majority of Muslim nations just aren't there yet. Neither are we, either (we will continue to be such, if our number one goal in life continues to be "get mo' money."). Still, why on earth would the government of Denmark want to hack off millions of people who by in large have no trouble seeing the benefit of suicide bombing and mass terrorism?

I know that the government of Denmark had no control over the political cartoons that were published in Denmark's independent newspapers. But for Denmark's government to dismiss in kind the outrage of Muslims was not just patently stupid, but incredibly insensitive. Not the kind of response I would have expected from one of the most liberal nations on the planet.

We cannot drag Muslim nations kicking and screaming into our vision of the future or our vision of government (e.g. democracy in Iraq). We have to reach out to them and find common ground to make a mutually designed future with peace as the goal. I do not believe they are incapable of it. But, I believe many non-Muslim nations think they know what's best for Muslims. I believe Denmark (and many others) thinks Muslims hacked off by images of Mohammed should suck it up, learn to take a joke, stop being such a bunch of cry babies who blow stuff (and people) up when they don't get their way.

That is a recipe for disaster: further alienation, more violence and continued years of frustrated communication between Muslims and everyone else.

The government of Denmark may not be able to apologize for the actions of its independent newspapers, but it certainly could have reiterated a dedication to peace and a growing relationship with Muslim nations.

There are too many problems in the world for insensitive world leaders to fail to see the repercussions of shrugging off the heartfelt concerns of people they otherwise couldn't give a damn about.

Right now, I'm glad I don't live in Denmark.

Hand wringing complete. Back to bar review.

Little help here

If so inclined, I'd appreciate if you would pray for me/us (since this is a family endeavor and sacrifice) this month as I study and prepare. The bar exam is Feb. 21, 22 and 23.

Thanks.