Wouldn't you like to be me?

Another update on what I'm doing right now. You voyeur. I'm sitting at school (not in the library, that closes at 10), with my sunglasses on because my eyes hurt from the florescent lights and staring at my computer, drinking vodka and 7Up out of my coffee cup. I have been at school for 11 1/2 hours, and was here for 12 hours yesterday. This is what it's like to be in law school, I tell you. I don't even know what "outside" looks like anymore. I don't even leave to eat--Rex goes out for food and brings it back to me, and he feeds the cat, and does all those things I would do if I wasn't a law student. Or at least, if I wasn't a total nutjob.

Domestic Geek-ery

They make a washing machine and dryer in one now! I know, I know, you're thinking that two can't fit into one, that's why two was invented, and if you put two into one it would overflow. But you'd be wrong! It's not a stackable unit (I was looking for those 'cause they say that's all will fit in our new palace), it's actually one machine that's BOTH! If you don't believe me, it's here. Plus, it's not just a hideous ugly white box. Appliance appearance is important to me, I am just that vain.

Marathon studying

I have been at the library for over 5 hours, and have moved once to go to the bathroom. My eyes feel like they are going to start bleeding. There's no end in sight. This is what law school finals do to a person--I was not known to ever even go to the library in college, let alone stay there.

Turns out, the library closes at 10, and I wrote the above at 9:09. Since I was nowhere near finishing my mountain of work, I was a little worried. Luckily, once you're in the building, you can stay here ALL NIGHT! Thanks, mr. friendly law school security guard!

12:31 a.m.: finally time to go home. More than 8 hours of straight studying. Well, almost. Stamina was radically improved by Provigil and a jumbo bottle of wine.

My birthday wish list

My three favorite authors are all coming out with new books between now and my birthday. If you want to be my favorite person, you could buy them for me! 'Twould be a terrific little birthday package; containing one, two, or ALL THREE. They are: Bright Shiny Morning by James Frey, A Wolf at the Table by Augusten Burroughs, and When You are Engulfed by Flames, David Sedaris. I will read them promptly, whilst ignoring my two jobs and summer school work.

Onion Article

Funny article in the Onion about the tall black man (as Robbie calls him): here.

A sign I saw today

Walking down the hall of my liberal law school today, I spied the following on a sign:
"Being a victim is a choice. Don't make it yours."
And it was signed by some group advocating concealed weapons. Apparently, if you don't carry a concealed weapon, you are a victim. Better yet, you have chosen to be a victim. But if you carry a gun, you will not be a victim. Which is funny, because I was under the (apparently mistaken) impression that those who own guns are more likely to be shot in a robbery etc. Boy, those right-wingers must be right. I'ma go git me a gun, so's I don't have to choose to be a victim. If owning a gun means that I won't get raped (surely the guy wanting to mug me/rape me/rob me will just know that I'm packing heat, and he won't bother me). Also, when they see my car parked on the street and think of stealing it, they'll just somehow know that it's owner has a gun and will track them down and shoot them, and my car won't get stolen. Deterrence, I tell ya.

I need a job

Two months ago I told my bosses that I would be graduating in December. Both indicated informally that they would very much like to hire me, and I know that I'm a favorite there. So, I figured I had a job post-graduation, especially since they didn't bother to get back to me more formally for two months, and everyone NEEDS A JOB. Today, boss #1 calls me into his office to say, "We can't afford to hire you when you graduate. But we really really like you and wish we could. Also, please do all of this sh** before the event tomorrow." I agreed to work for the place all summer on the assumption that I'D HAVE A JOB when I graduate. Because in the law world, the place you work in the summer is the place you usually work when you graduate, as they've tested you out. Now, I have a summer job and therefore can't get "tested" by another place that might actually hire me. Did I mention that I'll be graduating with a mortgage? That I have to pay each month? "Adam mentioned to us that he'd want to work here a year and a half ago." I didn't work for the place a year and a half ago, so how could I have mentioned it to them then that I would want to stay on after graduation?

The Butte

Crested Butte has just set a new all-time record for snowfall. Four hundred eighteen inches. More is on the way. This is crazyness! There is such a thing as too much snow, and this is it. My mother has started trying to melt it with a space heater outside. The motivation is partly to protect the building, but partly because she is ready to hibernate till it's all gone. And that's not practical.

Wish me luck...

I need all the good juju I can get...I'm negotiating a contract to BUY PROPERTY. And I want LOTS of seller credits so that I can get all the good upgrades.

Native Americans' "Plight" of drug abuse

I mean "plight" in the best of ways, and don't know how better to phrase it. You may have imagined that I am referring to alcoholism, but I am in fact referring to drug addiction, namely heroin, in particular. This post is based, as they often are, on a NY Times post about the excessively high numbers of addicted people on an Indian reservation in New Mexico (in the study of the West, we do call them Indians, I know it seems/is politically incorrect, but it could also be un-PC to say Native American in this circle). It's striking to me because most articles are about alcoholism or addiction in general, but this high number of opiate/heroin addicted American Indians in one place is striking, especially to someone so obsessed with such things (me). This country has little or no resources to really deal with the drugs/drug problems that we have, but we fight one that locals in the area proclaim to help to some degree: Narcan. Narcan is a drug that helps in the event of an overdose of heroin, and can thereby save lives in the absence of EMS or other medical personnel. Granted, it can be argued that a drug that can save an overdosee abets drug abuse, but I argue that it is for the best. Drug abuse is a disease (yes, I subscribe to that philosophy, after reading hundreds and hundreds of pages on the subject), and anything we can do to help is GOOD. The argument that a drug that saves people from overdose is bad is fatally flawed; those overdosing need help and are more likely to seek it after such a close call. The other situation is that they are still using (having not overdosed) or are dead. The argument that they are better off dead is heartless. Just imagine your brother/sister/mother/father/uncle/aunt/cousin/best friend as the addict. I promise if it was them you'd care, and agree with me.

My blog is boring?

Well, I suppose it doesn't matter if my blog is boring because it is my own, unadvertised, personal ranting space. So, I can put whatever I want on it. If you think it is boring or that it sucks, you probably should spend your time reading one of the tens of millions or billions of websites that exist merely for your pleasure. For those of you who have continued reading, I support Hillary, like extremely few television shows (watch most I like on DVD), have a fabulous kitty, am loved by a fabulous boy, enjoy [often unsuccessful] gardening, and drink too much. Like right now. This post has no content whatsoever.

Editor's note: I say that my blog is boring of my own volition, not because someone accused me of it! But feel free to accuse away, I'll just defend that it's MINE. Classic good sharing language. Most of this makes no sense. Again, my prerogative.

Augusten Burroughs

I got to see my favorite author of all time (aside from a few other all-time favorites) speak at CU with his brother, John Elder Robison. How the Cultural Events Board scored them as speakers in a run-down ballroom, I'll never know, but I was so giddy with delight that I sat (nearly) still for 2 and a half hours, which is definitely a personal record. The best part was that they took audience questions. So, I went up to the microphone and waited my turn. When it came, I said, "Mr. Burroughs, do you still retain your affinity for foil and other shiny things?" And he replied, "Yes, yes I do." To make it even better, John Elder threw in and said, "Well that's a novel question!" I was giddy once more, and if I do say so myself, it was the best question anyone asked all night.