deep in the middle of the exam prep period

It’s bad when outlining is the most fun task of the tasks on your to-do list. Some of the things on my to-do list are so boring I’d rather watch paint dry (and I could, since they’re painting something around the law school; I can smell it).

But I’m doing these things, because I have to and because, perversely, I enjoy them. Yeah, they’re boring, but I enjoy them.

In other news, my Admin outline is done, I have some killer flowcharts, and I’m going to plow through some practice exams tomorrow. Maybe I’ll do a post about how I prep for exams later this week, but for now, here’s the nutshell on what works for me–outline from your notes, pulling from other outlines as they are helpful in clarifying things you don’t understand; make flowcharts where appropriate (good for code classes and classes with lots of multi-step or multi-factor tests, like Contracts and Civil Procedure and Admin); then take as many practice exams as you can and DISCUSS them with your friends. (No need to write out a full three hour exam; I usually take half the time allotted and do a detailed outline, of the sort I’d then fill in during the exam itself.) The discussion thing is really important for me, otherwise I miss the nuance.

OK. Back to (not) watching paint dry.

this isn't even forced optimism

I am almost completely done with my Admin outline. Whew! I have four more classes (or one unit, depending on how you like to look at things) to summarize and I’m ready to start refining, flowcharting, and taking practice exams. It’s been a productive weekend for me and, best of all, I feel good about my work. I’m a little stressed, just because I see the limited time stretching ahead of me, and I have a lot going on in the next few weeks, but I’m feeling good anyway. It’s all going to get done.

sunny with a chance of studying

If anything could cement my desire to move (again, for the fourth time in three two years ((Mr. Angst has corrected me, and this makes it even worse. FOUR MOVES in TWO YEARS. Seriously barf.))) it would be the fact that we’ve had to flee our home today to get any work done because our upstairs neighbors are playing their music too loud. I’m sure they have no idea how loud their music is to us–this isn’t bad faith on their part–but that doesn’t make the noise tolerable. At all. Even worse, their stereo is DIRECTLY above our table, where I do the bulk of my work, so I bear the brunt of it.

Lest I seem completely negative about the whole thing, I’ll note how delightful it is to be out of the apartment today, even if just for the duration of a walk to the coffeehouse. It’s about 80 degrees, sunny, breezy, and absolutely DELIGHTFUL outside. I can see the sunshine from our table, as well as all the people in their shorts and flip flops, walking their (very happy) dogs. Things could be worse.

Studying update: I’m halfway through my Admin outline, and I’m pretty pleased with it. I’ve also decided not to worry about the jinxing effect of saying such things–confidence is the name of the game, really, when it comes to law school, so I’m letting myself feel good about the work I’ve done for this class so far.

exam time update

I turned in the seminar brief last night and, five minutes later, realized I forgot to do one thing on it. Sigh. I just keep repeating to myself, Only two credits, only two credits.

Now I get to begin serious exam prep. I’ve already started outlining for my two exam classes, though I am much further along with Admin than Con Crim Pro. I need to ramp that up and get through the outlining process by mid-week. I also have to revise my other seminar paper. And I have to keep working on some journal things that I have been avoiding because, eck.

But tonight, tonight I go out. To a nerd party, true, but out is out. I just need to figure out what to wear.

just give me about six more hours in the day. but just for today.

I’ve reached the point in my brief where I’d ordinarily put it away for a few hours to percolate. Unfortunately, I don’t have a few hours to let it percolate. So I am diving back in.

also?

It’s just totally disgusting outside. I’m sitting in, arguably, the most inspiring spot in the whole law school and all I can see out the windows is GRAY.

a brief (hah!) update

I don’t have more pages now, but I have some slightly better content. However, if someone would tell me whether or not the unconstitutional conditions doctrine is just dead in the water, oh, say, RIGHT NOW, that would be helpful, before I incorporate a bunch of outdated law into my brief.

Otherwise, I guess I have to go read Rust so I know what I’m talking about.

gotta have faith-uh-faith-uh-faith-uh

Now that things with the apartment are looking more and more firm, I am letting myself get excited about it. I don’t want to get TOO excited right now, though–I still have exams to get through, not to mention this brief. Right now, I’m procrastinating by reading my email and posting, when I should be muddling through how the unconstitutional conditions doctrine figures into my argument regarding 10 U.S.C. § 654(b)(2). And whether I should also talk about § 654(b)(1). That’s a lot to figure out in the 14 hours I have left to finish this sucker, but I have faith in myself. FAITH!

movin' on up, for real this time, and literally

OK. I have written a check for the deposit. The landlord has confirmed our preferred move-in date. We have to be approved by the building management (a formality, apparently), reserve our move-in date with the building, and pay some weird fee for the freight elevator. We also have to sign the lease, get keys and the garage clicker, and, oh yes, give notice to our current landlord. But it’s basically a done deal, and I am SO excited.

But I have questions:

First, do I wait till we’ve signed the lease to give notice to our current landlord? The building approval is a formality, yes, but it’s still a hoop, right? I want to give our landlord enough time that if he wants to rent it out half a month early, say, he has time to do that. (We’re doubling a month, sigh.)

Second, is it OK for me to get a little freaked out right now? I LOVE the apartment we’re moving into and would sign a two year lease HAPPILY if it weren’t for the pesky issue of possible clerkships not in Our Current City (and job opportunities for Mr. Angst that could take us to Places East). But it’s a little spendier than I had hoped we’d end up paying (even though totally worth it, I think), and, well, we’re having to move again. And pay for movers and probably some new furniture and all that transition stuff.

I am guessing the second question arises from a little bit of buyer’s remorse–fairly typical of me, I think. But it’s still not pleasant to be so twitchy and nervousy.

Oh, and also? I only have about half of my brief written, and it’s due tomorrow. Eek!

think of me just a little bit

So we may have found a place. Waves that there are no problems with the application.