Wine When Drunk From a Mug

The flight to Cuba...was that 0600...in the morning?

2012-02-01T22:51:00.001-04:00

So I did not get to see The Daily Show. I had a lot of work to do and I waited to see who the guest would be...it was some corporate law professor from Yale Law School who, now that I've seen it on TV, seemed as though he lost a bet in being on there in the first place.

Oh but tonight? Tonight the guest is Brad Pitt. NATURALLY.

But I have clinic classes on Wednesday so that was just never an option.

On the plus side I think I have to go to some awkward people-auction thing tomorrow night briefly for my colleague's marathon sponsorship thing. Mostly I will drink and feel bad for acquaintances being auctioned off and leave as soon as possible.

And next week I am going with Friend L to a bridal salon to check out various gowns that may or may not help her in deciding if her favorite pick will ultimately work out. I have decided that this is probably a good litmus test if you were unsure if you liked someone or not. Obviously I wasn't wondering, but it occurred to me because I am looking forward to it! It will be fun (not to mention new territory for me) and I can't wait to see how the gowns work out. I would post a pic of the favorite dress at the moment, but I'm not sure what the rules are there.

Otherwise, I'm just pecking away at two clients' cases (well, three, but the third is on hold for a couple weeks) and the international competition coming up in 2 1/2 weeks. And we're just getting actual substantive feedback for the first time tomorrow. I will spend the time thinking of other words for "shit show."

The stress is manageable, although D did ask me the other day what I wanted to do after graduation. (Meaning, I assume, where did I want to practice, work, serve fries?) The predicament (family in Texas, uncharmed by my current state, continued interest in international law (best suited to D.C., good luck), still having to figure out where to take the bar) remains the same, I have no news for him. No offense to D, but that question has taken on a whole new level of stress I never imagined while loathing it at university.

The job thing should make these decisions easier, not harder. Alas.

Your brother's not very polite, Eyeball.

2012-01-29T14:03:00.000-04:00

So I like to try and see all the Oscar flicks, right? That won't be happening this year. Not because of time, but because I just learned the hard way that mindless devotion to some ridiculous goal often results in seeing really shitty movies.

I would like to draw your attention to Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close. Or rather, I wouldn't.

It wasn't offensive, mind you, it was no Forrest Gump, but it was pretty awful. In fact, after twenty minutes I was seriously considering walking out and getting my money back. But I was with D AND in the middle of a fairly crowded row. Then Viola Davis showed up and was easily the most entertaining thing yet.

But oh my god. I want those two hours back like you can't imagine. It's not even worth dignifying with a passionate rant ripping it to shreds because quite frankly, its own emotional core is cheaply ripped from the devastation of a real event and doesn't merit the energy.

In fact, here, Manohla Dargis of the New York Times says it far better than I:

Ms. Davis is such a good actress and such an empathetic screen presence that it’s difficult not to weep along with her, even as you wonder why. Crying is one of the great pleasures of moviegoing, but tears can be cheap. Much depends on your personal triggers, how you respond to having them pulled, who’s working those triggers and for what reason. In some movies a weeping woman is a routine cliché, but when an actress like Ms. Davis cries it can feel very close to home. You may think about your own heartbreaks. And Ms. Davis, a practiced weeper, has herself become a trigger (all those snotty tears she wept in “Doubt”). Max von Sydow, who plays Oskar’s grandfather, if more accurately his sidekick, and who brings natural gravitas to any role, is another.

The images from Sept. 11 of course remain profound triggers for many of us. Some of that day’s most vivid imagery appears in the movie: there are snippets from real television news reports, but there’s also an aestheticized re-creation of a falling man that’s mirrored, with stunning imbecility, by a shot of Oskar joyfully soaring into the air on a swing. There’s also a scene in which Linda, after receiving a call from Thomas, who’s trapped in one of the towers, gazes in horror out her office window at the burning buildings. The shot is obviously composited, but it’s nonetheless a jolt because the buildings reverberate so intensely. It’s this intensity — and our deep emotional responses — that the movie tries to appropriate for itself.

And worse than just being emotionally cheap and awful, it's also kind of fucking boring.

And should you deign to rest the weight of your story on the shoulders of a child, he probably shouldn't be irritating and you should probably try to make me care about him.

So after that horrendous shitshow of a film, how could I possibly be expected to sit through War Horse or Tree of Life? FAIL.

Markinson's gone, there is no Markinson.

2012-01-21T12:13:00.005-04:00

So no trial for us! We got a call really late in the game that our client was (amongst other things) off his meds and, in fact, gone.

My friend who is lead counsel got a call from the caseworker while I was stapling my final motions (natch) and at one point he leaned over and made a motion with his hand. At first I thought he was telling me to stop with the papers because he couldn't hear. Then I realized he was saying stop with the papers because it doesn't matter.

On the plus side, our client did go back to his caseworker but because he had been off his meds for more than a handful of days, there was no way he could go to court and certainly no way you'd put him in front of a jury. It takes time to stabilize with what he's got. It's frustrating, I'm sure, to be in his condition because he went off his meds in the first place because he was feeling so good. So he felt like he didn't need them anymore. Apparently, this is extremely common with people who take meds to be on an even keel and doesn't surprise me in the least.

But it was very bad timing.

On the plus side, we still went into court and had to argue to keep a warrant from issuing (cause he's not there like he's supposed to be) and we tried to argue a few other things as well. We had a fairly decent judge and we won the small battle, which was the most important thing for the client at this stage.

So since the night before trial opened up considerably, I thought I'd see The Artist.

Surprising to no one, it was fantastic and very cute.

I was a little nervous because it was a packed theater, so I was worried people would be easier to hear mumbling, hacking, etc., since it's a 98% silent movie. There is music, however, so I probably had nothing to fear. But what was great was that the audience was not only held captive and completely silent, they were really into it.

I know because there was one moment in particular (no spoilers) that was quite an intense set-up and there were more than a handful of sighs of relief afterwards. Hee hee, it actually made me giggle and made the whole thing even better. Ah, sigh, it's so rare when an audience actually is a good thing.

Also, some useless trivia for you--the house they use for the leading lady's house was actually Mary Pickford's house. (And at one point the leading man is watching an old silent film of his, but I recognized it as Douglas Fairbanks' The Mask of Zorro.)

I don't think I would go so far as to say I need to own it, but I could easily sit through it again. Jean Dujardin and Berenice Bejo were really perfect. I will be severely disappointed if either is not nominated by the Academy on Tuesday and furthermore, I think Dujardin abso-fucking-lutely deserves the win. What great expressions.

But here's a clip about everyone's favorite star...Uggie the dog! I start to feel a little bad right about the time in the clip where he rides the skateboard standing up, but then again, he also probably has a fairly pampered life. And the kissing thing is ridiculously adorable, I'm sorry.

You get all the fun stuff.

2012-01-17T16:22:00.004-04:00

This line from Sneakers got stuck in my head after my morning.

Got to court for docket duty (being appointed to new clients) and we got a great judge. Got a client. Got RE-ASSIGNED to the courtroom next door with my LEAST favorite judge. He's actually somewhat fair most of the time, he just loves to make everyone feel like they suck (the attorneys). And as long as my guy gets out, whatever. It's just frustrating.

It's just been one of those days. Not bad or anything. Just...a lot on my plate. Fingers crossed we get to drop our next court date in February, meaning the end of my semester will be a lighter load and I can seriously focus on the bar. Because right now I keep thinking about hiding a lot. Like a lot.

On the plus side, being in court forced me to wash my hair. For the first time in three days. Hey! It looks good!

Ok, back to cramming the last of my Islamic law reading. I got to this part in the reading about macrocosmic and microcosmic law and GLAZED THE FUCK OVER. I have no idea what the fuck is going on. #whatelseisnew

Honey that is so sweet...no.

2012-01-16T19:10:00.002-04:00

If we lose our motion to dismiss Friday and have to go to trial, I am officially doing nothing Friday night but drinking and watching The Artist.

Or maybe In the Land of Blood & Honey. PERSPECTIVE. IT WILL GIVE ME SOME.

In all fairness, I will feel sort of cheated if the motion to dismiss is granted. This is a ton of work (I was at school all day prepping with co-counsel and our director). The burden isn't even on me (well, in argument--I still have a ton of research that is solely my responsibility and on which huge parts of our argument are based) but it is still taking up all my time and making other things...challenging.

So I thought I'd blog a little!

And I have a docket day this week (new clients), why the hell not.

Tomorrow I also have my Islamic law class. This was not a good idea. I mean, it's really interesting, but it's also really completely fucking new, I'm very much out of my depth. All the white people in class seem to be in the same boat, based on our brief little "why are you taking this class" survey last time. Then there are people who raise their hand and give answers that make me wonder, "Um, why are you bothering with this when you already seem to have more than a really solid grasp on these concepts..." Of course they should take the class, though, it's a new offering and no one really knew/knows what to expect.

I just know I can't pronounce shit in the readings and the spelling of things is often quite interchangeable and the pronunciation is often no help when desperately trying to decide what he's talking about in the readings.

I also apparently have to give a speech tomorrow night about my summer at a school function thrown by my fellowship people. There is, at least, free booze. On the downside, a lot of my favorite professors will be there, so I want to sound awesome. So definitely having a beer or two first.

And for one last kick in the nuts, I had to take my measurements to fax in my bridesmaid dress form today. THANKS. Which reminds me, "flask garter" is currently topping my birthday wish list.

Oh, nothing, just a little something to the security camera. A little gift for the boys in the basement.

2012-01-15T22:57:00.000-04:00

Ugh, The Descendants, really? :/ I mean, it was enjoyable, but Best Picture?? (Not that any of the other contenders in the category really jumped out at me...)

Anyway, good night, y'all!

I know what guilt is. It's one of those touchy-feely words people throw around that don't mean anything... You know, like "maternal" or "addiction."

2012-01-15T22:44:00.005-04:00

Man, I think I fell asleep a little just listening to Michelle Pfeiffer describe War Horse.

I really need to see The Artist! And I'm very glad to see it's winning things left and right! <3

RANDOM! The Deschanel sisters...Emily and Zooey!

Rooney Mara, from The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. She's currently my pick in this category, but to be fair, I have not seen Tilda Swinton nor Meryl Streep's entry.

She was really, really amazing, though. I admit I was surprised she opted for the black number, considering the role, but she looks great in any case.

But speaking of SWINTON.

And in a move that surprises NO ONE...Meryl Streep takes it! She's always gracious and lovely and fucking awesome, so I'm never sad. HAHAHA, and they had to bleep her! +50 bonus points, honey. (I think she forgot her glasses at her table, she was ticked at herself.) LMAO, "I want to thank God...Harvey Weinstein...the punisher (Old Testament, I guess)!"

And there goes The Artist with a Best Picture (Comedy/Musical) win!! Complete with Uggie (the Asta-esque dog) trying to steal the show during the speech. ;)

I have to give it back to him...he can't get to the bar, otherwise.

2012-01-15T22:14:00.003-04:00

And that was George Clooney presenting, after he stole Brad Pitt's cane. ;)

Yay! A Separation wins Best Foreign Film! I really want to see this film, I can't wait til it comes out here. I know the trailer looks kinda depressing, but Alex tells me it takes a Rashomon approach to its storytelling, which makes it far more compelling.

Oh balls, Claire Danes snakes the award from Julianna AND Mireille...but at least her dress isn't half bad.

So Morgan Freeman wins the Cecil B. DeMille Award! And in addition to the vast array of films they showcased, there was this:

MORGAN FREEMAN AS COUNT DRACULA ON THE ELECTRIC COMPANY..."CASKET!" It is just as awesome as you think.

I also really wish I could get into the habit of watching 2-3 films each Friday night to knock some flicks off my list I sorely need to see...watching these compilations always makes me think, aw man! I still need to see that!

Ok, back to the piffle.

So Jolie is looking really good tonight, she is.

I'm just saying...if I had to choose...

I like the normal-looking ones. And by "normal," I mean SHE EATS. There is nothing "normal looking" about Kate Winslet otherwise. If I had to make a list of THE FOXIEST BITCHES IN THE BUSINESS, this lady would beat out Angelina in a heartbeat, as would...

Helen Mirren. She's toned it down a little tonight, I see. But I wouldn't want my women to break, you know? (I'm sorry, Angelina's super-thin arms just squeak me out, ick.)

YAY!!! MARTIN SCORSESE FOR BEST DIRECTOR! Yeah, baby.

If you're a man? If you act heroic? You'll come back as an eagle...you'll come back as a dragon...you'll come back as Jude Law!

2012-01-15T21:05:00.003-04:00

"I'm sorry I'm French!" It's the Foreign Press Association! Why do the foreigners always apologize!! THEY HAVE THE CUTEST SPEECHES, Y'ALL. (Ludovic Bource won Best Original Score for The Artist.)

Um, also? How in the HELL did NO song from The Muppets get nominated for Best Original Song? That's not some weird oversight, that's...that's like someone got caught giving head to someone they shouldn't have. Or...something. There's just no way. But Madonna wins it, whatever. Ok, she actually bumbles in genuine surprise and then says, "I'm not French, I have no excuse!"

Ok, some more dresses. There is no reason I should like this dress, but again, I think Nic's rocking it. (The gold detail is actual..."beading" isn't the word I want, but you get it.)

She has worn some real crap in years past and she also seems to have had some facial work done that was starting to make her look creepy, so I'm glad to see her looking a little more normal this year. I actually do dislike the dress, but she's pulling it off? I'm stressed, who knows.

Emma Stone!

Emma is probably in serious danger of wandering into OVEREXPOSED LAND, but I still really like her. And I know it's super obvious that I would like her. I can deal with that.

Miss Portman.

Natalie, honey, you got a pass last year. You were mega-preggers and wearing things that I strangely thought looked pretty smashing on you (that pink number with the giant red rose on your bosom? who the fuck wears that? but I secretly thought it was fun and flattering). THIS dress is hot pink and yet...completely beige.

Ok, here's a BAFFLING AWARD...

Michelle Williams for My Week With Marilyn. She's a fucking stellar actress (and yet I just...I find her vaguely off-putting, I just can't put my finger on it) and I'm sure the film is..."the acting was really great") but um, Best Actress in a Motion Picture--Musical or Comedy?? Even when announcing the nominees, Seth Rogen was all, "...the hysterical comedy, My Week With Marilyn..."

If they want to have an OTHER category, just fucking say so.

Danger! Danger! Trees! Tree! Tree! Squirrel!

2012-01-15T20:20:00.003-04:00

Ah, see, here she is. She who has clearly sold her soul for eternal youth and/or has the best motherfucking surgeon on Earth, Diane Lane. I WANT TO GO TO THERE.

*cough* Anyway.

Christopher Plummer for Best Supporting Actor for Beginners! I'm off to a good start--and the adorable Ewan McGregor is there as well...I have still yet to see this, but it's near the top of the list. Kenneth Branagh was nominated as well for My Week With Marilyn, but I know a sure thing when I see it. Also, props for a very solid speech, complete with bonus points for a charming bit to his wife of 43 years. AWWWW!

And whoops, Laura Dern just snaked it from Zooey Deschanel, there goes my winning streak. I'm okay with some Laura Dern...though in a category of those two, Amy Poehler, Tina Fey and Laura Linney...I wasn't going to be disappointed with any of those wins. (Linney's the most talented, though, bar none, fwiw.)

And why not, here is The Hollywood Couple and what Jolie's wearing tonight.

I really don't have anything against either one, I just don't really *GET IT* either, though. (Pitt has turned into a really great actor, I'm talking about the celeb obsessiveness.) It's just...goddamn I really just want girlfriend to eat a cheeseburger. SOMETHING.

Ohhh motherfucker, Kate Winslet just snaked the award from Diane Lane...to be fair, my BFF's little brother worked on Mildred Pierce...so I kinda have a soft spot for it. He's an actor and says Kate's darling. What a surprise. ;)

Honey, I'm too tired to slap you. Bash your face up against my palm.

2012-01-15T19:43:00.000-04:00

So Brangelina are there and everyone's fawning over them as always. Brad's still got his cane (ski accident or something?). I did finally see Moneyball yesterday, which was quite enjoyable.

However, I did not realize In the Land of Blood & Honey (written/directed by Jolie) was about the Bosnian War. IT LOOKS SO UPBEAT. Seriously, Friend L, I'm very much up for a screening! I'll just hide the sharp things. I need to start paying more attention to things. I know they were there (Sarajevo) when I was (because we were at the airport together! hee hee, um yeah,pretty sure they arrived via private jet), but they were there for the film festival.

Oh man. Sarah Michelle Gellar is clearly one of those people I shouldn't see speak if I want to keep liking her. First of all, her blue and white dress is big and splotchy-patterned and surprisingly really working! But she admits to still being married to Freddie Prinze, Jr. for 12 years and he is not with her tonight (home watching football) and their ideal date night is at IHOP. PLEASE STOP THE TALKING NOW.

Hey look, found it! Don't hate me, I think she's rocking it.

Y'all! Heidi Klum's NOT PREGNANT, WHAT'S UP WITH THAT??

Which reminds me, I started watching Project Runway: All Stars and it just feels cheap and weird so far. No Tim Gunn, 'nuff said. Plus I strangely miss Klum.

Also delighted to see Julianna looking lovely...

And naturally she's nominated. She's up against Mireille Enos from The Killing, but I've got my fingers crossed for The Good Wife.

They're trying to make gay people straight? Good Lord! Don't they know what that'll do to the fall line?

2012-01-15T19:35:00.002-04:00

Golden Globes night!

And my favorite lady is nominated once again! (Cinema Verite, an HBO original movie.) She's looking lovely tonight in a gold dress, it's just one of those years when I'm way too lazy to take and upload pics.

But I will muster up enough energy to break open some wine...

Oh, sick! You threw up on my printer!

2012-01-12T18:28:00.000-04:00

I do at least like that I can email my director with motions and be all, "THIS WEEK WAS A MOTHERFUCKER BUT HERE ARE MY MOTIONS, SORRY IF THEY BLOW A LITTLE BIT." Pretty much verbatim there, but not in all caps. Gotta keep it classy, you know.

Ah! New Year's Resolution: drink less...and quit smoking...and quit talking total nonsense to strangers...actually, quit talking, full stop.

2012-01-12T10:38:00.001-04:00

Man, it is fucking nasty looking outside. I went to bed around 2:30 trying to wrap up my revisions on that philosophy chapter from hell that's due today with plans to get up at 7:30 and keep working. It's almost done, but I have an undetermined number of motions to draft for tomorrow as well, which is what I wanted to set a lot of time aside for today.

But man, I slept until 8:30 because it was so goddamn dark I just didn't think it was right.

And it's absolutely one of those mornings where the cats are all fuck no and they do stay in bed. I wouldn't have to even go into school today except for that meeting. Grr. Sense I will be busting out the winter shoes finally. :( It did actually snow the other day but was melted by afternoon.

On the plus side I am really looking forward to Friday night so I can see Friend L, the ring (someone's engaged now!), and a screening of Shame. I didn't even realize the Golden Globes are this Sunday, they've snuck up like that in the past couple years. I still don't have a ton of favorite films from last year, but it's always fun to watch. It would be ideal timing because the next day is a holiday, but not for me! :( We have a trial next Friday, so guess who gets to go into the office. :/

And Sunday begins a month and a half of oral argument practices. I should probably read my opponent's brief, huh?

Ok, that was enough of a break probably. Scintillating material, I know. The only other interesting thing going on is that I got a little book of recipes for vintage cocktails for xmas and I seem to have the ingredients for an Old Fashioned (which I will have to perfect by the time March and Mad Men rolls back around) or a Manhattan. But this is not something I have had the time to try yet--nor is 11:15am really an acceptable hour, particularly when there are motions to write. Damn.

It's not something you can just run away from like a hotel bill or a crying baby.

2012-01-10T01:38:00.005-04:00

Is it wrong to be burned out on the first day?

I want to tell you about the most awesome thing I heard today. I have a 50-page competition brief due tomorrow (with a partner, so that helps) for which oral argument practice begins 3x a week starting next week.

Also this week, I have the first draft of a recommendation due for an organization taking on a prisoner's case, for which I also have to prep the presentation (again, with a friend) for next month. This one is not so bad at the moment.

Also have to finish the philosophy chapter from fucking hell that would not die. Revisions, baby.

Well, I am co-counsel on a trial next week (and because I was assigned late as co-counsel I have a fairly shit grasp on the substantive matters that lead counsel does but we're both too busy to get annoyed--me that he's not involving me and he that I'm not being more proactive) and our director said to me today--are you ready? cause this is what I was talking about earlier, this shit is fan-fucking-tastic--he said, "You can draft all the trial motions by Friday." He (knowing my shit week, thank god), picked up nearly instantly on the glazed look as well as my language. No, not THAT sort of language--though in our office that happens, too. No, I mean that because I am passive aggressive, I start to say things like "I will see what I can do/I'll do the best I can" and I think he knows me well enough by now to know that is my equivalent of "ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME." So we got excused from this week's class exercise. (Meaning we just have to do it later sometime...)

I also have two interviews scheduled at the end of the month. One that I'm less excited about because it means staying here and the other I am very excited but scared about. I did not think I got the interview because of the law school "middle man" website service, but got notification today that I did. I still think I am low on their list of desirables, but I will just have to be memorable. (In an awesome way, not in a OH HOLY JESUS way.)

I was also happy to hear back from a fellowship I applied for that all my materials were received, except for a letter of recommendation I think a prof missed over the holiday. (He's sending tomorrow.) I just thought it was a very optimistic possibility that they could take the time to do that--perhaps they aren't overwhelmingly inundated with applications?? It's not a typical fellowship and would end before I even take the bar. It would begin at the Museum of Jewish Heritage and then take place largely in Auschwitz. (As I put it to my former supervisor at the tribunal when I told him I was using his name for a reference, "I hear it's a party city.") But seriously, though it's not a job opportunity, it does sound really incredible, given the field I prefer. At the end of the day, however, even if they are able to take the time to email me to say my app is incomplete, I do not come from the top tier crop these places prefer. :/

Why would I want anything with a mind of its own bobbing about between my legs?

2011-12-27T13:19:00.000-04:00

ARGH. I am currently writing a section for a competition brief in which the facts section can only be 1200 words. I finished the first draft...2500. So not quite your typical "snip out the adjectives and adverbs" type of rewrite. :/ WHOLE. EVENTS. They must go. Sigh. I'm down to almost 2000 words. Like I wasn't already regretting this competition...

ANYWAY. I did get to apartment-sit last night and used the time to polish off a good piffle book, Mindy Kaling's Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? She is a comedian and writer--she was hired with five others to write six episodes of a first season for a remake of the British series The Office...yup, obviously it's been going pretty well ever since. (She also plays Kelly Kapoor on the show.)

It is the perfect book for a bath or wine or whatever, and if it takes you more than a day and a half to read it, you're doing it wrong. (As the book itself even points out.) I wouldn't say it was hysterical, but it had a lot of great stuff in it and lots of fun things to identify with. It wasn't a chick book by any means, but I would admit it may find more favor in a female audience...

I am also having dinner with a good friend tomorrow night, so I am looking forward to that. She was a very good friend of mine throughout university and we moved to Austin about the same time, but we lost touch after I moved to Japan. We used to always see Cohen Brothers movies together, so I blame her for O Brother sucking because I had to see it without her. But anyway! A mutual friend found her and put us in touch--so it has been ten years! She is just the same (though with some major life changes) and it was great to be able to pick up as though time hadn't passed at all. (Except we'd both traveled extensively, she's divorced now, etc., you know.)

The night after that, my oldest sister and I are taking my oldest niece to see a screening of Fellowship of the Ring, which will be her first time to see it. (Though she has started reading the books, I believe.) Because did you know IT HAS BEEN TEN YEARS SINCE THE FILM PREMIERED?? I really could have done without that information. :/ It's at a cool, newish theater I've been wanting to check out, but it's an hour away. I have to get back into that DFW state of mind...everything is at least 30-40 minutes away, that's the norm.

So I have to make sure to cram my work in somewhere so I can still enjoy all the fun stuff without guilt...

Next time, I get to seduce the rich guy.

2011-12-26T12:47:00.004-04:00

I've been catching up on some fun, mindless action movies at the theater, hooray!

I actually liked Mission: Impossible, Ghost Protocol, much better than I expected. It did a great job with tension and action scenes. No one watches these things for character development I hope, because they will be largely disappointed. But it was directed by Brad Bird (of Pixar fame) and I thought he nailed it.

For me, I really appreciated the way they made all the stunts look (sound!) like they hurt. (Though suspension of disbelief is also crucial since they all keep running around at full-speed after each.) From what I've read online, it also sounds like Tom Cruise did a lot of his own stunts--including shots outside the Burj Khalifa in Dubai (above).

Even before that, I saw Sherlock Holmes 2: Game of Shadows. It, too, was well done but more of a oncer for me.

I still think this would have been a perfectly successful franchise without having to rape the whole Sherlock Holmes story, but whatever. It's fun, but you have to go in knowing it will be almost grotesquely slick, self-aware and will toe the line of over-produced. But yeah, it's fun. Some fairly solid lines, that's for sure.

And just to bring it down another five notches, I caught up with last year's Another Year. I thought it won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay (Mike Leigh) but apparently not! It was nominated, of course, but The King's Speech won. Eh. I disagree, but then again, I often do.

Anyway, Another Year was really good but it was really fucking depressing. I'm always a fan of character-driven films, even though so often they are complete and utter downers. Needless to say, the actors are all superb here, particularly in light of the fact that Jim Broadbent gets the luck of being the only mostly-likeable character. The others aren't characters you openly dislike (with one possible exception--and even Mary, Lesley Manville, isn't an open and shut case), there's more to the characters than that.

I hope, despite having way too much writing and research to do, to get some Angelika time in...they have Shame, The Artist, The Descendants, A Dangerous Method, J. Edgar, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and then there's still The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo everywhere, as well!

Argh, priorities.

What about my holiday wish that we not be forced to attend meetings that degrade our sense of adulthood?

2011-12-11T15:07:00.003-04:00

So the Tori Amos show was a lot of fun!

In all honesty, I didn't recognize most of the songs (although I did finally flesh out my Tori discography not terribly long ago). The set list often varies quite a lot from city to city in her case, so it kinda sucked to look at other cities' lists afterwards and think, "Dammit, I should have seen the Joburg show!" But it was still a very good show.

I also caught up on some TV over the past week. I don't know that it's great or anything, but I have been enjoying American Horror Story. Glad to see Connie Britton working steadily. Also, The Walking Dead has turned in a pretty solid season so far (after bumbling around for 1-2 episodes) and PanAm got much, much better after a fairly awful 3-4 episode foot-finding gap and they finally figured out what to do with Christina Ricci's character. I know the French stewardess is the fan favorite, but I quite enjoy Kate.

I'm also fairly certain throwing Goran Visnjic in for a couple episodes never hurt anybody's ratings.

2 Broke Girls is something I cannot admit to watching--it has a laugh track for God's sake (which is ok if you're a pre-1993 sitcom and therefore grandfathered in due to nostalgia)--but it also has Kat Dennings.

It's actually not too bad for a sitcom, but that laugh track. MAKE IT STOP.

There is another show I really won't admit to watching but the worst part is that it only has two weeks left so I have to watch it in Texas since I fly home Wednesday. So everyone will find out anyway. Oh well. Who was concerned about dignity, not I. Plus the show keeps pissing me off because the judges are mostly all worthless and the wrong people have been eliminated for the past two weeks, grrrrr.

Ok, I am clearly procrastinating instead of working on my stupid philosophy chapter that I am really ready to burn rather than begin YET ANOTHER re-write. SIGH. WAIT! I should pick out DVDs to take to Denton! Or make hard nog! Or continue binge-reading The Bloggess. ANYTHING.

These were Italian!

2011-12-07T17:59:00.004-04:00

So I've been busting my ass on this chapter for my professor's international-law-with-an-interdisciplinary-approach undergraduate book. ALL SEMESTER. It sucked because initially she was all, here, do this in two weeks with these materials. So I did. And then she was all, oh no, this is going to need more to it. (Duh, you gave me two weeks, the fuck were you thinking? IT INVOLVES COMPLEX PHILOSOPHY.)

So then I worked on it some more. For two weeks. And she was all, no, let's re-do the outline of this chapter and reorganize it. Three more weeks.

So today I get an email from her and she's all, hey, this is moving in the right direction but I really want to spend more time on it before we move onto the other section. Can I send you a marked up version to go over before our last meeting (i.e., the day before I fly out)?

I would just like to say that I very nearly wrote her back, "Hi, Professor [redacted]. That sounds good to me. Bring it on." Because seriously, I have just resolved myself to the idea that that chapter is never going to die. But I am less stressed than many past semesters, so I went delete, delete, delete, then wrote (instead of the last sentence) something like, "I can make time to look over..." etc.

But it was fairly tempting and she may have even found it humorous.

What, do you think there's a lot of work down on the pier for hookers? Do you think I'm giving blow jobs down there to goldfish?

2011-12-06T17:53:00.003-04:00

So guess who's ethical!! :D I was just sitting in the clinic earlier trying to fax off forms to a couple halfway houses to get my client's former treatment records and there it was...that ominous email that reads, "MPRE score report is ready." And you just have to click on it, regardless of where you are. I am very happy with my score and it makes me feel slightly better about my inability to take multiple choice tests and my odds on the bar.

Also, so far it sounds as if all my friends passed as well, fingers crossed.

I had a good day in court yesterday as well, mostly because my director decided we don't need any more cases right now. I had been throwing up earlier that morning since 5am but somehow dragged my ass into court (everything is better now, it was just...related to a particular chromosome, shall we say) and considering I have a suppression motion and trial to prep, I did not even pretend to flinch or hesitate when he asked me, "Do you care if you don't get a new case today?"

I still have a shit-ton to do in my international law work but tonight at least...tonight I am going to walk next door to see TORI AMOS. I would not even be going if my friend hadn't thought to ask me way back when, when they went on sale. So hooray!

Now if only it would snow when I was heading over like it did last year during Weezer (same place, one week later, though). I know, picky, picky princess.

No drums! No drums! Jack Black said no drums!

2011-12-03T13:42:00.002-04:00

Needless to say, The Muppets was quite cute. We went to a 7pm show that was very full in a very big theater and you know what? I think there were two whole children. I also think we were in the younger portion of the crowd! <3

You know what we should watch? An American Tail. It's about a little Jewish mouse, with a great big heart...

2011-12-01T18:05:00.002-04:00

To try and get in the xmas mood! I have not had the time to make cookies as I have in years past, and Thanksgiving was just sort of lonely and depressing. But anyway!

Yay, I got all those motions and stuff done. It wasn't really a time crunch at all, either. So WHEW.

Completely unrelated to anything, I would just like to say that I love that the only things on my grocery list are "Fancy Feast" and "whiskey" and it looks like a crazy person wrote it.

Classes officially ended for me yesterday, tomorrow they do for the rest of the school in general. It doesn't feel like much, though, since my writing class ended two weeks ago and I still have a client meeting tomorrow (NINE AM?) followed by two court dates in the next 10 days. :/ One of those is a duty date in which I get to pick up a NEW client. Because life isn't busy enough already. :D

Looking forward to a couple things, however, along the little path to the 14th when I fly HOME! Tomorrow night I am really going to try to see some Muppets, Sat night I get to see L--whom I have not seen in...yup, seriously can't recall. Tuesday night is finally Tori Amos night (next door to school, FTW). Then the following Friday we're having a holiday lunch with my clinic, which should be fun. Especially if court that morning goes well (for someone else, not me, WHEW). But I really like the other people in my little "law firm," they are really neat people.

VERY much looking forward to Little D, however, and all the perfect people who will be there! (The popcorn tins, wine, chocolate honeycomb, lobster tails and overabundance of delicious food in general certainly never hurt anything, either.) I just hope I can put a big enough dent in my competition brief, human rights research and suppression motion to be able to enjoy it as much as possible!

Your silent support means the world to me, as does your tacit endorsement of all my behaviors.

2011-11-28T18:56:00.000-04:00

Six discovery motions due Wednesday, along with a mock motion to suppress in the afternoon in which I get to cross the cop (exactly like what I will be doing in January or February fer realz) in addition to needing to have completed a rough outline for a motion in limine/memo for another trial in January to prevent the prosecution from using conclusory language from a police report.

And yet...I seem to be procrastinating tonight.

Some things never change.

I don't make things difficult. That's the way they get, all by themselves.

2011-11-19T08:58:00.004-04:00

So I got to see Katy Perry! :D I have no doubt in my mind that it was the biggest, most expensive production I have ever seen and probably will ever see. They only had 6 shows left and had already performed about 117 times this tour. O.o

There is no way you could have kept track of the number of costume changes--particularly since one number involved actual magic tricks where her dress would completely change in a matter of seconds.

There was some completely forgettable opening act followed by an annoying DJ (I still fail to understand how zero talent = payday, but anyway). There were three screens on stage, and there was a mini "film" that started the show and would play periodically throughout (read: bigger costume changes). It was just a Wizard of Oz take-off in which she (in the dream) loses Kitty Purry and runs off into Oz to rescue her. So the set was like a CandyLand on acid in Oz type deal...

First outfit! Someone was a little off key in Teenage Dream, but hey, guess she wasn't lip-syncing! ;) Also, those individual pinwheels on her dress up there all spin continuously. OF COURSE THEY DO.

Look! Kitty Purry! This was the end of the show and, sorry to give away the ending, but Kitty Purry was safe and sound.

But seriously, the money that went into this production, omfg. There was this thing hanging up in the rafters that was a giant pink cloud, but from below, it looked like something that was going to dump stuff on us. Nope! About 3/4 of the way through, they moved it up towards the stage and then down to her, then they strapped her onto it. And she stood on it with a fully-encrusted rhinestone guitar, then floated out over the audience to the way back of the auditorium. And sang a song back there! Oh wait, here's a pic...

This one's from a different show--she had a glittery dress on at ours. Gotta have some variety, I guess.

There were also Cirque du Soliel-style acrobatics going on during Pearl in flowy pink outfits. To keep her front and center during all that though, she wore what seemed to basically be a RHINESTONE MUMU while part of the stage broke away and raised her into the air alongside the acrobats.

At this point, the performers are just lifting her up--the stage hadn't started to separate yet. But it was impressive.

E.T. was easily the biggest laser show I'll ever see, Circle the Drain was very cool and hardcore but why there were giant pieces of meat hanging from the ceiling is a little beyond me. I think Firework was possible the most impressive.

As you might expect, yes, there were real fireworks. I guess when it's indoors it's called pyrotechnics, but it was very, very cool. It was the next-to-last number and the place still smelled like fireworks even after the grand finale (California Gurls).

Seen here, complete with dancing gingerbread men. (In the film at the end, when she "woke up" to find Kitty Purry safe, the film was B&W again. So a gingerbread man burst into the room, changing the film back to color while he announced, "Who wants cupcakes for breakfast?!" to her exclamation of, "Oh, Baker's Boy!" It was kinda fucked up. Anyway.)

And during California Gurls, near the end, they brought out the spray machine. At first I was like, um, there's a lot of electrical stuff, isn't there? And it's November in Connecticut, guys, wth. But though it looked incredibly like water, it was actually confetti-type material.

So a very cool show. Pretty good seats on the floor and people seemed to be fairly well-behaved for the most part. There were 11,000 people there and they had shut down the street with police blockades when we got out. We walked over to a bar for a beer to let the crowd disperse...

So that was definitely worth the 2 hour drive and the $50 ticket. I thought Hartford seemed like an ok city, but my friend--a CT native--warned me to "take my bullet-proof vest." I kind of mocked her, but the next morning she posted to my wall that a guy had been shot in the head about a mile from the venue. (It was on the other side of the highway in an arguably different neighborhood, but STILL.) Yeah, did you know Hartford and New Haven are actually a little sketch? It's the rest of CT that's your stereotypical white bread and country houses, apparently.

But now it's back to work. :( I have two major things due by Tuesday. One of them is related to the Rhode Island prison trip we made...our final memo is due, but on the bright side I was chosen to help write the rest of the final memo (for class we just write a portion of it) with two other people, one of whom I quite like. The other person tends to grate on me a little, but hopefully I can just deal with her via email. I was also chosen to present the final recommendation to the organization involved along with one other person, whom I quite like. So yay!

But seriously. Is it Christmas yet?

Goddamn it, I knew I should've listened to my mother. I could've been a cosmetic surgeon, five hundred thou a year, up to my neck in tits and ass.

2011-11-05T20:20:00.003-03:00

Ok, one ethics test down. I have no idea how that went. All I know is I don't want to do it again. I also feel like the older I get, the worse I am at multiple choice. At least it was a good barometer to warn me just how brutal and serious my bar studying will have to be. :/ Good! Times!

I left the test center in Brookline and stopped off at Parish to treat myself to a Zuni Roll for lunch. Parish is a delicious upscale sandwich place on Boylston (the yuppie part of town) where well-known/established chefs in the city have each created their own signature sandwich. I see other sandwiches come and go around me, but I cannot stray from my Zuni Roll: smoked turkey breast, crisp bacon, chopped scallions, dill Havarti cheese and cranberry-chipotle sauce wrapped in a flour tortilla and served warm with a side of homemade potato salad or cole slaw.

It's always insanely busy, so there's that. Even trying to get a solo seat at the bar, which is what I do 95% of the time, is not even close to a sure thing.

I came home and worked for about twenty minutes before succumbing to a (goddamn well earned, thank you) nap with the kitties for a little over an hour. I'm also supposed to Skype late tonight so a nap was no doubt in order. But I've been dutifully working on my international moot court problem. I still have so much to do on it, the research is positively daunting. A rough draft is due Monday and I assure you, even calling it a "rough draft" is pretty embarrassing.

Because I have am having difficulty finding suitable cases or incidents that reflect our fact pattern, I am inadvertently learning much about international strife, little of which I knew previously. Which is good, EVEN IF IT'S COMPLETELY IRRELEVANT TO MY WORK.

Tuesday morning I am going to go watch the hearing for a case to which I was previously assigned but had to withdraw. I've mentioned it previously, but that was so frustrating. I really hope the new lawyer does a good job, otherwise it will be hard to watch! But more likely, he'll do it well and make arguments I wouldn't have and I'll be all, oh. But I guess that's why they call it a clinic. :/

And in TEN DAYS?

Katy Perry, baby!! :D Even if it is in Connecticut. :/ I also lucked the fuck out and was not chosen to have my mock motion to suppress the day AFTER the show, but two weeks after. (Thanksgiving's in there. That is so fucked up. Thanksgiving in THREE WEEKS!? STOPPPPPPPPP.)

Polly got in one good peck before that cat killed her. Good for Polly!

2011-10-30T12:08:00.006-03:00

So I was listening to the 7/19/11 All Songs Considered podcast Cry, Baby, Cry: Songs That Make You Weep. Apparently they got over 8,000 entries. It's a 49 minute show but I think they said they were going to try to compile a blog with their favorites.

Apparently Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton did this installment in Bob's living room with tissues and wine. (They didn't want people to see them crying at work.) And fucking Robin told the most goddamn depressing story about the cat he'd had for fifteen years getting hit by a car right before he had to go into work (at NPR). I mean the cat even fucking died in his arms, it was heartwrenching. And so this song makes him think of his cat (it's a song from a cat's perspective) but in all honesty it's a fun song, too.

I switched back over to my regular itunes library after that since I was trying to finish my legal memo... :(

Of course she doesn't like to. No one likes putting a dick in their mouth.

2011-10-24T20:00:00.006-03:00

Yay, I'm off to Rhode Island this Friday to meet our client from the Innocence Project! The crime originally took place outside Providence. I have to say, the cast of characters that make up this case (quite a few) have me seriously questioning the class of that town. To be fair, this was the early 80s.

Completely unrelated, I forgot to mention I saw Bill Maher the Sunday before last! Very good show.

I have to agree with my friend L, however, that these days I prefer Real Time to his stand-up. I like his older stand-up, but it seemed a little canned this time around. Still a lot of fun and plenty of good laughs. Oh, and the front of the Wilbur Theater is all little tables rather than rows of seats. I had chosen a particular table when I bought the ticket, but was unsure which seat I was assigned until I got to the theater. The woman who sat me pointed to the chair right up against the stage. First time for everything! :D And I did not hurt my neck looking up the whole time, either!

The Friday prior to that I got to see a new print of Bringing Up Baby which somehow D had never seen before.

It's still just as good as last time I saw it and it was even more fun to see it in a theater full of people who also love it. (Sometimes Boston can be pretty cool. I guaran-fuckin-tee you that would have been one dead-ass theater back in Big D.)

And then randomly this past weekend D and I caught a screening of 50/50.

It was enjoyable enough...if you don't know, it's a cancer movie for guys. Which isn't to say it's not also a tearjerker. I did have a few issues with it which I think were intentional issues but still bother me a bit because I think they'll still go over the heads of most guys. I can't really go into it without--well, not ruining it for you--but it would take some time to explore. I'm supposed to be researching positivist legal theory and slavery. So I can't right now.

Some motherfucker on the news said something about SNOW. I think it was just a LIE, I don't see jack on the weather forecast about snow. But give me a break, let it stay NOT FREEZING for just a leeeetle bit longer, please?

This is our receptionist, Pam. If you think she's cute now, you should have seen her a couple years ago.

2011-10-23T15:13:00.003-03:00

Hey, it's still October! Just barely, but whatever. I did not get to go apple picking this season and doubt I will get the chance, which is disappointing. Sadface.

I am also doing a very piss-poor job of trying to get a job. I have applied for two fellowships so far, that's it. One of them is one I absolutely will not get, but it would be a dream job. It involves working for an NGO I really like, and at the suggestion of the professor for whom I'm an RA, I wrote to my old supervisor (the lovechild of Wil Wheaton and John Krasinski from Texas) at my summer job to see if anyone had ever worked with them before. Naturally, someone has, and it is the woman I worked with quite a lot and who was intimidating as hell, very smart and assertive, but who we all really liked and wanted her to like us. OF COURSE.

But I still managed to man up and write her an email. Yay. (Strangely it was easier a month ago when I wrote my senior attorney for a letter of recommendation...)

Went to a law school function last night in an effort to be social. Meh. My friend S got a room upstairs for home base, like she often does. It was great to see our set of friends who hung out upstairs, I found it far more preferable than being downstairs around the douchebaggery. Also A's boyfriend Sean and I spent a good amount of time upstairs diplomatically sharing the remote between the Rangers and Bruins games. Neither of us was pleased with our team's outcomes, but at least the Bruins only lost by 1. Can't say the same for Texas. :/

I had D come get me before it was over and meet me at the hotel bar. They were--no shit--giving away free Ketel One-infused martinis/cosmos/something else I forget that were all pink and therefore in support of breast cancer. That they were free strikes me as contrary to the cause? Maybe Ketel One was footing the bill? Who knows. I just had one, however, since I had so much to do today.

Which I am clearly not doing right now.

It is grey out and there seems to be a distinct lack of motivation in this room. The whole apartment, presumably. I went to get a coffee from downstairs in a weak attempt to force myself to get things done.

Oh, but in other exciting news I will be going to Rhode Island either this or the following Friday to meet our client we're representing in the Innocence Project. Seems a shame that my first trip to a state is to go to the prison, but whatcha gonna do.

Ok, back to trying to suppress some drugs, write up discovery motions, read about 1,000 pages worth of international treaties, write an interdisciplinary-themed chapter about the philosophical underpinnings of human rights, and write a motion for a new trial. I will not go watch The Colbert Report. No!

That makes me angry, and when Dr. Evil gets angry Mr. Bigglesworth gets upset. And when Mr. Bigglesworth gets upset, people DIE!

2011-10-04T16:39:00.004-03:00

You know what fucking SUCKS?! CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. They fucking-ass blow. I will get into this more later. But I will most likely not be handling one of my cases anymore, yet the shit-show of conflicting out and going to court to withdraw and all the admin bullshit is SUCH A GOOD TIME.

This would be ok except I have research shit due Thursday that is already rumored to be balls. And some more international law research that I have barely started--I had to delay my meeting with her cause I gotta go to JAIL and tell my client I can't represent him anymore which I know he's going to be pissed about--but she still wants me to email her the research by Thursday (WHICH IS SO NOT DONE YET FTW). Follow that up with my bullshit int'l law moot court thing dumping a very impressive amount of research on me.

On the plus side, my director was absolutely elated with my research (ON THE CASE I HAVE TO CONFLICT OUT OF) and thought I did an amazingly astute analysis of the case relating to our big argument. This is great and also so depressing because I was TOTALLY looking forward to this argument. I think I almost whined when he was giving me the bad news. (No, I did not, just fyi. But GOD I wanted to.)

I do love all this stuff and find it fascinating, but could it not all happen at fucking once?

I keep thinking of that scene in A Few Good Men when Demi Moore is blathering to a shit-faced Tom Cruise about their next move (even though Markinson just blew his brains out), and Caffy's all, "Maybe you should drink a little."

#lookslikeIpickedthewrongweektoquitsniffin'glue

What do you mean it's not really his thing? What's that supposed to mean? It's not really his thing. What the fuck is that supposed to mean?

2011-10-03T17:23:00.001-03:00

So it's too early to call either way, but I'm not hating Pan Am.

Initially I wasn't going to watch it because all the pre-buzz was knocking this and some other show for being Mad Men rip-offs. Or at least desperate clingers-on. And honestly, this show doesn't even slightly remind me of Mad Men. It may be set in the early 60s, but that's about it.

And it is certainly far less stylish, nuanced or intelligent. That doesn't mean it can't still be entertaining, what the hell. The characters have a ways to go--especially Christina Ricci's character. Tom and Lorenzo nailed it--so far she's nothing more than a (horribly obvious) mouthpiece for social change. There was very nearly an after-school special moment in last night's episode.

So it's definitely still struggling to find its feet. It's only two episodes in, which can no doubt be found online. And it's on Sunday nights, an empty night on my Tivo schedule these days. So I'm kind of enjoying it so far. (And I don't find the anachronistic hairstyles quite as distracting as TLo.) If nothing else, it's entertaining as hell to see what flights might have once been like, even if this is exaggerated. (There's a scene where two stewardesses pass each other side by side in the aisle.) Hahahhahah, riiiiiiiiiiiiight. Sigh.

I'm just tryin' to get myself a drink, pal.

2011-09-28T07:59:00.000-03:00

I saw this on facebook but I try not to repost things quite this colorful there.

I have no idea how I'm going to get everything done this week. We'll see. I can't believe next week is already October 7. My clinic-mate said, "Look, it's fucking Christmas already." I think he might be right.

To Mighty Mutt.

2011-09-25T15:20:00.005-03:00

I haven't done this much reading since my first year of law school. I think my eyes are bleeding.

I do not have court duty tomorrow, but one of my two cases has rapidly turned into a fucking nightmare...usually you go to arraignment and get a follow-up date for your pre-trial hearing. During that time your client is either released (by personal recognizance or on bail) or held (with or without bail). My first guy was released and I just hope I see him again before the next date. My other guy? Before even getting to a pre-trial hearing, we get to have a probation violation hearing.

The standard for this hearing is pretty low, and especially based on the facts, it is really, really bad. I guess on the bright side no one thinks this is going to go well, so anything that does will be a fucking miracle. Doesn't mean I'm still not terrified of missing something. There are three different ways the hearing can go, involving considerable pleadings and research, so I've already been assigned co-counsel and I've already hired a private investigator for certain aspects.

There was a huge chance it was going to be the morning after my Bill Maher show, but probation officers only do certain days, so it was pushed to the next day. Which is great, because there is no way I would have been able to concentrate on the awesome rants of the evening otherwise. In truth, I'll still probably be freaking out. :/ (It's probably in poor taste to be sad about not being able to enjoy the show when someone is sitting in jail with their liberty at stake, but first of all it was a really pricey ticket! And secondly I think I'm more worried about what's going to happen than my client, so there.)

And I'm supposed to be applying for jobs during this, as well as keeping up with other crap! On the plus side, my director said this happens 2-3 times a year to some of his students, and I'd rather get mine out of the way before everything else gets heavy as well!

For the record, I am still managing to keep up with Runway...this Tom & Lorenzo post was easily the best part about the last episode...don't read if you're not caught up! I am also secretly watching Ringer, aka that kinda dumb thriller with Buffy & Horatio Hornblower in it. ;)

Somehow Ken, I think the balance shall tip in the favor of culture, like a big fat fucking retarded black girl on a see-saw opposite...a dwarf!

2011-09-19T17:21:00.001-03:00

So the first day of court is over. I gave two bail arguments and I already knew this, but it really just boils down to making the best argument you can. So many things beyond that are out of your control.

For example, I got my first client released without having to pay bail and his next court date is at the end of October. The judge is a fairly practical and fair judge. My client was not expecting to be let out today, and when the clerk read it out, he turned to me with a look of total surprise on his face and said something like, "Seriously?!" I wanted to tell him not to act quite so surprised...

But unfortunately after that I was appointed to a less cooperative client and because of several events had to wait until later in the day and got an infamously tough (that's the polite word for it) judge. It was a tough sell in any case but there were other fuckeries going on that didn't help. All I know is that despite my argument that he should be released and the state's argument he should be held on X amount, the judge randomly turned around and doubled it. For No. Reason. (To me, anyway.) And he's also the type of judge to poke and prod a new attorney to see if you know what you're doing. That's fine, do whatever you want with me, but why the fuck did you just double what the state was asking for?

Sigh. On the plus side I made the international trial team for which there were four slots. It was probably really wrong to accept it, given my ever-decreasing amount of time, but there it is. Screw it, I accepted.

I also accepted this lovely pink beverage in front of me now. We were in court for an unexpectedly long time today and by the time we got back to the office I said, "I'm going to be at my office with the vodka, see ya."

As one of my "colleagues" noted this morning, "It will never be as bad as it is right now." And I get that things may suck ass from time to time, but I agree with the sentiment because being new and clueless is just massively horrible. Familiarity will make some things remotely more bearable.

Maybe that's what hell is, the entire rest of eternity spent in fucking Bruges.

2011-09-13T09:19:00.002-03:00

I'm slow but I get the job done. This was my last night in Bruges! (You know, back in late June.)

It was a Sunday night so there weren't a lot of options for dinner. I opted for douchey/touristy and chose one of the big outdoor places near a big landmark you can probably rest assured is going to be mediocre and expensive. And it was! :D

I'm 80% sure this is City Hall. Feel free to correct me. But it was sunset so the big areas were clearing out and it was fairly peaceful.

Mussels! They are known for their mussels. I think in all honesty I am not a mussel girl. I've eaten them on more than a few occasions, so the vote is in.

Do not order steak in Belgium. I know this looks good. It was pretty sad.

Fries! Save! the Day! No, dinner was just fine, it was just very mediocre. Both my waiters were very nice, not sure why I had two. One of them was all, "Why are you spending your weekend alone in Bruges?" and I explained I was working next door in Holland and it was my birthday so what the hell. And he kinda rubbed it in some more--"Your BIRTHDAY? ALONE?" Jesus, well, I was cool with it til you put it like that...

One of my friends back in Holland insists he was fishing, but either way. Wth? And that's ok, because the second waiter just flat-out invited himself along to the rest of my evening. He asked what I was doing and I said there were a few places I wanted to check out. He said something along the lines of--"Maybe when I get off I join you!" I really don't remember how I got out of that without embarrassing either one of us but I recall it went down okay.

This was probably my favorite part--nice and simple and yummy. ICE CREAM DOESN'T LET YOU DOWN!

So then I wandered around (alone, thank god) in search of a couple pubs that my hostel's brouchure made sound cool. I was also a big fan of the Rick Steve's Amsterdam/Bruges/Brussels book. Rick Steves himself might be annoying as hell but that is a solid book. I think I had some Lonely Planet excerpts as well. Anyhoo.

The golden hour never fails to be the ideal picture time! Good night, Belfry!

Walking away from the city center to a vaguely off-the-beaten-path pub area.

There are still some good pubs open Sunday night, but it sure is quiet around town! Bruges is also supposed to be a very haunted town (pretty sure any town with any amount of history has this "reputation," read: "gimmicky tourist trap"), and I wandered around in front of a famously haunted house over here, but did not see whatever it is one is supposed to see in the window. I guess only arthouse cinema ghosts like me!

Poatersgat! I like this place--great atmosphere and besides, basement pubs rock. My hostel guide had listed it, noting its extensive beer list and cool atmosphere.

Let's go inside...

Again, really neat place. Would love to go back with friends and when it was hopping.

Bathroom.

I miss Belgium beers!! Well, for these prices, anyway. Really good Belgium beers here (in the States) are $9-11 and then it tends to skyrocket. These were probably $6 tops. Sigh.

Ok. Then I left and went in search of this other bar nearby that sounded really cool. It was REALLY off the beaten path and I'm so glad I kept my hostel's guide because I could NOT find it via internet search (I could not recall the name, the place doesn't even have a sign I don't think!) no matter how hard I tried.

It's called On the Rocks and was written up as being a great late-night place where the barkeeps themselves go to drink. A "few years back" it used to be a striptease joint "with rooms upstairs." Classy. It mentioned it no longer had the pole but kept the red carpet and the Dean Martin/Shirley Bassey records. "Tony calls the shots and serves snacks til the last sleeping customer goes home, usually around 5:00. Good place for a solitary whisky, but don't come if you want to party." OMFG I WAS IN.

These photos utterly fail to capture this place. It was like a 70s strip joint from a Scorsese film. Very narrow place with LOTS of faded red/pink velour, all mirrors, it was PERFECT. And no, I was not creeped out. Well, wait. One guy was kinda icky.

He was sitting back along the mirrored wall and the bartender (well, the owner, Tony, see above) and I were talking. Tony is one COOL MOTHERFUCKER. He is older and is incredibly well read and has extensive, intelligent hobbies, like, learning Russian and shit. I forget most of our conversation, all this time later, but he was a lot of fun to talk to. The creepy customer would join in sometimes, and I was polite, but both times I walked to the loo he had to touch my arm. Whatever.

See that lone beer? That's where the creepy guy was. And he was harmless, probably just a remnant customer from the earlier years?

When I came back the second time I was going to head out, but I think they were both happy to have someone new in on a slow night, so I was just given a beer to stay. I absolutely will stay for Belgium beer.

But after my free beer I really did leave (they are Belgium, after all, I can't have that many) and wandered around looking for a particular bridge for a good night shot I wanted. I was distracted by a chocolate shop window along the way. Remember those ejaculating chocolate penises?

Sigh, why not.

And yes. For that classy touch.

Ok, now these pics were impossible to get in the low lighting but I still have to post them.

The details are what make it. First of all, the rabbit:

But best of all, the chicks:

So these are all chocolate, I guess? Neat. I was really tired and did not find my bridge--someone moved it--but I will get it next time.

The next day was my actual 32nd birthday, so I stopped off for lunch before hitting the train station. An easy panini sandwich and a (mini) white wine bottle. It's not proper-sized, in case the photo is deceiving! I had to change trains, after all. ;)

So obviously Bruges gets an A+. The hostel guide was so helpful and I kept it. It also had a section called "5 Minutes of History" starting from 1277 until 2009. Two of note that made me laugh:

"1892: Bruges wakes up. The popular book 'Bruges la Morte' describes the city as dark, poor and ugly. Locals are not too happy with this, but tourists see some romance in it, and start visiting Bruges more and more."

"2009: The movie 'In Bruges' wins an award for best scenario. Quote: 'If I grew up on a farm, and was retarded, Bruges might impress me. But I didn't, so it doesn't.' So just like in 1892, somebody calls Bruges a shithole, which only attracts more tourists."

Waiting for the train to Antwerp! The day turned out to be a very warm day in both Belgium and Holland. Fuck it, it was hot. Ask my precious chocolates. And everyone and their dog was heading to Amsterdam, which unfortunately is AFTER den Haag. That was one shitty train ride with everyone packed into the aisle of a train in which people do not typically stand. At one point during a stop they threatened not to go anywhere unless some people got off.

But I made it back to the Hague and had a very nice dinner at my Italian spot with B. Nice birthday!

Strange things are afoot at the Circle K.

2011-09-10T09:19:00.002-03:00

What a kick-ass band! :D

So last night I went with my friend Z to see Within Temptation, with Three opening. I knew neither (but had heard of the former just briefly when researching Dutch music while living there). The cheap way to describe WT would be "Evanescence, but way better and more metal." They're symphonic metal, a little goth metal, but not heavy at all. Very, very cool and great live show. I had heard one CD and thought, hey, I like it, sure. But live was so much better! And that girl gets a serious workout every night!

More conventional cut:

Some of the videos are hysterically awful. This one is not, but still fails to capture how good this track was last night. Oh well, I still like it:

And I did pick up on something during the show last night and the second video really illustrates it as well, so no, you don't need to draw my attention to the fact that there's a little something "Ellen Aim & the Attackers redux" about this. ;) Overall, one could say it's the overtones of "musical theatre drama." Or something. Hey, at least I'm consistent in what I like...

What are they doing over there? They're filming something. They're filming midgets!

2011-09-08T13:16:00.002-03:00

Not a bad day so far, except for it pissing down rain all morning. Makes it very hard to get up. The cats always run around in the AM and drive me crazy while I'm getting ready or studying (Bourdain especially), but on mornings like these they say heeeeeeeeell no and just stay in bed all curled up in warm balls. Bastards. (Yes, sometimes I torture them to get back at them. "Does this bug you? Does this bug you?")

But I met Betty Anne Waters this morning, since I'm working with 12 other people on a case for the Innocence Project.

We all watched Conviction a few days ago, which came out in 2010 but I had never seen. (It's directed by Tony Goldwyn, so it's a little OTT with the drama, but not horribly so.) It's hard to discuss the movie from a filmmaking position because it's a true story and though some of the sequencing of events at the end is off, it's mostly all true. Certainly the important parts are!

Conviction is basically the Hollywood version of Waters's story to free her brother Kenny from prison, which most of you have probably run across at some point or another.

Kenny (this was in MA) was convicted of a murder he did not commit and was given life in prison. She was a high school drop out, married with two kids. After her brother lost his appeal, he tried to kill himself, which understandably really upset her. So they made a deal--if he didn't hurt himself again, she was going to go back to school and try to get him out. And she did. It took a long time--she had to get her GED, an undergraduate degree and then her law degree. And take the bar. And her marriage did not survive this.

After doing all these things and also learning about DNA testing, she got in touch with the Innocence Project and started working to track down the evidence from nearly 16 years ago. (Evidence over ten years old was supposed to be destroyed.) That was one of the scarier parts of the story, thinking about the number of similar cases where, despite an arduous struggle to track it down, evidence really HAS been destroyed already. The other hard part is even when you do get your hands on DNA and you DO get it tested and the convicted person is shown to be eliminated, you can still run into strong opposition from the D.A. In this case, they were saying it merely showed he was an accomplice. So sometimes DNA alone doesn't cut it.

But it's a very compelling story, so I do recommend the film (Hilary Swank and Sam Rockwell do a really nice job--and Juliette Lewis does an outstanding white trash asshole--even more so than usual). What the film does not mention (they thought audiences couldn't handle it since it was already so depressing) is that six months after he was released, Kenny had a freak falling accident, was in a coma for 12 days and died.

It was really good to meet and talk with her--she still works with the Innocence Project and is working on our case as well. She is clearly still very passionate about working with them (she does not practice law anymore in another capacity), and seems to be--well, I want to say "emotional," but that has a negative connotation and not what I mean. It is also immediately apparent just how much her brother meant to her.

So it was a good morning. But now I have some tedious systems training for my clinic and a meeting with the professor I'm assisting this semester. I worked for her last semester too, and I think this project will involve more international human rights issues than international economic law--what I did last semester. To be fair, I learned a ton doing it. But it was just as sexy as it sounds, i.e., NOT AT ALL...

And I'm not being funny. I mean no disrespect, but you're a cunt. You're a cunt now, and you've always been a cunt.

2011-09-06T17:16:00.001-03:00

Awwwww. <3.

Harry Waters says hello.

2011-09-01T15:18:00.001-03:00

I'm pretty caught up for the week, so I am just reading some testimony and having an early afternoon with a cosmopolitan, yay. Not sure what normal people do anymore.

Ok, so I decided to take a break and catch up on some very important internet reading. For example:

(506):

Playing basketball at the park with random people that showed up at 1am. The division of teams is based on what drugs people are on.

(701):

Cops came. Forced us to take the "Honk and We'll Drink" and the "Free Shots to Father's of Freshman Daughters" signs down. Before we did, someone honked and the cop said, "Aren't you gonna drink?" They then told us to move the party inside by ten.

And a long overdue visit to Garfield Minus Garfield...

Holiday weekend, woot! :D (Sadly, this will be spent going back over bail revocation, bail hearing crap and my Innocence Project materials.) I'm ok with that. For one thing, I resigned from trial team. That was actually a really hard decision. It was less like leaving an abusive boyfriend and more like leaving your drug friends. Don't ask me why I would know in either case because I don't, but it made perfect sense at the time and still does.

But I have bar prep starting in a week because I'm an out-of-state baby. And I wanted to do other things. And I did sign up for an international law moot court competition. So we'll see.

Also, I seriously smell an upcoming Project Runway rants and raves post, so hurry up and catch up! But I'll warn about spoilers in any case. This season is so over-produced and painfully full of "worst-ofs" it's starting to rival the L.A. season. SERIOUSLY. :/

One gay beer for my gay friend, one normal beer for me because I am normal.

2011-08-30T08:19:00.003-03:00

The Church of Our Lady!

Mass was apparently over by this time, so I went inside for a look around.

Michelangelo's Madonna & Child (below).

This was his only marble sculpture to leave Italy in his lifetime.

The Wikipedia entry says it is behind bulletproof glass, but this appears not to be the case anymore. It's true you cannot get very close, though. From what I recall being told, I think this was a slightly unusual representation because the baby is older, not in her arms and he seems to be about to step away from his mother. But what I know about art history is staggeringly embarrassing.

It's quite massive inside, there's plenty to see.

So definitely worth the time. I imagine seeing mass would have been nice (depending on how long it is, *cough*), I probably should have done that. Next time.

Back out to the Square in search of chocolate shops and snacks!

These guys were neat. They are dressed as statues (goddamn I cannot write that word anymore, I always write "statutes" now) and once you put money in the hat they change position. They change position very slowly and with exact movements.

Neat to watch.

I had read about this place, Cambrinus, online as a yummy stop and ran into it accidentally. Thought it would be a good place for a break.

We all know what this says! It says, "Come On In!"

I was there at an off time of day and the service was still total shit. I think that might just be Europe, most of the time. Cute place, though.

And I would go again because they had an asparagus soup that was transcendental. They seem to be big on asparagus in Bruges and by god, they do right by it.

I had three bags like this from three different shops. I also got a box elsewhere. I think I would try to ask for a box if at all possible. The day I left was unseasonably warm. The quality is so incredible that of course, they don't do well in heat. They survived remarkably well, but not without incident. Luckily, they were all for me anyway. ;)

And if you think I thought the price of beer was a steal, don't get me started on the chocolate. I SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT MORE!! *regrets*

Almost done!

Ray, you are about the worst tourist in the whole world.

2011-08-29T16:00:00.003-03:00

Oh, Bruges! Well, even the classy places have a few slip-ups. (I mean, the penis is one thing...they just HAD to have that little somethin' extra?!)

Don't worry, I encountered an equally tacky opposite later.

So this was Sunday in Bruges. I tried to go to the Church of Our Lady, but they were having mass. I was invited in, but I felt it might be in better taste to wait, since I wanted to wander around inside.

So I went to the brewery! (Well, you know...Bruges only has so much to do!)

The tours are on the hour. I did not know this and went at 12:08. Good one. I sat in their little courtyard, with the intention of having a snack, but got ignored for 20 minutes. So I ventured out into the courtyard of places just outside the brewery and settled in for fries with mayo and a local brew. (The REAL local brew, apparently.)

Everything is expensive in Europe, so really, I couldn't help but feel how much of a steal all the beers were in Belgium! These are all the beers that would be $10 easy back home. And they were maybe $6 or so, like everything else. The Sam Adams would've cost me more! Location, location, location.

I wish Bruges were closer, that town is my kinda vacation. (Well, don't eat the steak. Seriously, it was sad. But that was later.)

Courtyard! They are probably quite attentive if you are more than one person.

Inside the brewery. Neat place. Very thorough tour. Someone brought their pug on the tour. Seriously. Now I know I am not by nature a dog person, but in Europe, it is CRAZY how Everyone. Brings their dog. Everywhere. This was no exception. And I don't mind or anything, I just...well, it's weird. Even if my cat WERE inclined towards this sort of set-up, I guess I am just the sort of over-protective asshole momma that thinks he should be at home where he's safe. WOW. What an awesome mother I would be. Hmm.

Anyhoo.

So this is the view from the top of the brewery. The Belfry is certainly tall, but it's on the left. The Church is on the right, so you can see why it's the one you see from the station.

Ok, getting back down in the brewery is another story. For example:

And they aren't fuckin' around:

Don't wear your short skirt. But! At the end...

Tasty tasty.

I then set off in search of the Church, and these girls were playing outside. No idea why they're in costume, maybe it's just fun. I really love their money frog there at the bottom left. ;)

More later, I gotta gets to class!

I'm the guy that does his job. You must be the other guy.

2011-08-29T15:03:00.006-03:00

I had the best example of stupid bullshit bureaucracy occur this morning. This shit writes itself.

So I have gone to court every Monday for the past three weeks without incident at screening. (X-raying my bag, going through the metal detector, etc.) Today broke that pattern in glorious fashion.

Security Guard: "Ma'am! Do you have a CAMERA in your bag?"
Ellen Aim: (thinking) "I don't know, maybe." (Probably, my little one.)

Note: This was the part where I should have said, "Oh that thing's busted," or even, "Oh, it has no battery/card/etc." And it didn't have a card! Brain fail.

SG: "You have to take it outside the building."
EA: "..."

I mean, wtf? It's not a dog you tether to something (I never understood that, either, btw) or like I can give it to someone "outside the building."

SG: "What are you here for?"

My answer did not get me to the right Choose Your Own Adventure page.

SG: "Did you drive here?"
EA: "No. Can you just hold it for me here?"
SG: (very brusquely) "NO."
EA: "..."
SG: "There's a cafe across the street. They'll hold it for you."

W.T.F.

So I stand there for a moment, and no one is paying attention or giving half a shit, and the thought did cross my mind to just keep heading towards the elevators. EVEN BETTER. You know what I should have done? Gone out and gone around to the back entrance. I shit you not, there are two entrances and you know it wouldn't have come up again.

But I was kinda flipping out because I went outside and I didn't see no goddamn cafe and I needed to get to court. This is my small little digital camera. I really do like it, but I had to do something. So I totally stashed it in tall grass by a tree on the street. At 8:30am in front of a courthouse in downtown Boston. And crossed my fingers.

It gets better.

I went back in, put my backpack through again and went through the metal detector.

SG: "Ma'am, do you have a fork in your bag?"
EA: (patiently) "Yes." (I packed my lunch, which you can also plainly see, asshole.)
SG: "We'll have to take that out, but we'll keep it for you in this drawer."

And I am sorry to say that I DID mumble something under my breath but I ASSURE you it was (maybe?) completely inaudible. Because however infuriatingly fucking stupid this entire exercise was, I still had to get to court.

Better yet, they made me pull up my suit pant legs because I made the detector beep. I have NEVER seen them do that to anyone. I would also point out this is the first time I have not worn a skirt and I can't help but feel I'm being treated differently...as my colleague/friend pointed out (he likes to poke the bear), "It's a man's world here, honey, you all are just here to see the sights."

And I am very happy to say that I recovered both my fork and yes, my camera. I don't know how weird it looked when a girl in a suit bent down and retrieved a camera from the tall grass by the street, but I was happy to have it back.

If working retail and learning how shoplifters think taught me anything, it's that sometimes you can do something totally rash right out in the open and not a single person will notice. (On the other hand, someone is always watching.) So you never know. Yay little camera!

I was not aware that there were any prostitutes in Bruges.

2011-08-28T11:17:00.016-03:00

So I never told you about Bruges, really! I went for three days, which is too many but just right for me. I didn't have to rush and I got a chance to have more food, chocolate and beer, so it worked out great. It's hard to sample many beers because they're all Belgium beers with alcohol content of at least 8 or 9% most of the time! So I'd have two and have to take a break and go walk around to another place further away!

But the train leaves den Haag Holland Spoor bound for Antwerp, where you change trains.

Great station. You have to go up a LOT of escalator stairs to get to the Bruges platform, so no, you aren't going to catch the one leaving five minutes from arrival. (There is one.) But having 30 minutes gives you leisure time...

So you can have your first Belgium waffle! I don't know why I didn't take a picture, it probably would have looked gross, anyway. It was smothered in either regular or white chocolate goop or strawberry topping or whipped cream or probably all of the above. Or plain. I went for white chocolate. It was pretty damn tasty.

I got to Bruges without a map on me, but didn't think I would have a problem. And I was right! It is about a fifteen minute walk from the station to the town center, but you can see the church top from the station and you can follow the masses. Finding my hostel, Charlie Rockets, was a little more challenging. They have city maps all around, however, and that was all I needed.

This is my kind of place, if I am going to be slumming it. It used to be an old cinema, so the place is huge, and now it has been converted into a pool hall/bar/hostel. I walked in but couldn't find where to check in. So I walked up to the bar and asked. He said, "You check in at the bar!" Yeah, baby. My key (which you have to leave with the desk when you go out) had a mini mirrorball attached to it, ftw. And you just have to be back in by 4am. (Or wait til 8am.)

I was worried it would be impossible to sleep and be horrendously loud--I mean, it's on top of a pool hall--but you know what? The sound was completely muffled and it was just fine. Hot water, on the other hand, appeared to be too good for the first floor. We had our own shower (there were 5 other girls in my room and they were all together) but there was a central one in the hall as well, so I just started using the one on the second floor.

Anyway! I set right back out and decided a canal tour was the way to start. You can take in the whole town and relax a little. Summer is the time to go, so there's a bit of a wait, but not a deal-breaker kind of wait.

Pretty place.

Ducks! Mama and babies.

I think most of you have seen my canal tour pics elsewhere, so I won't go too crazy!

This is the hotel from In Bruges, if you'd like to stay there. ;) I wouldn't mind sometime...

After the tour I wanted to do something else before going in search of Belgium beer, so I thought I'd give the Belfry a go.

It was just 4:00, however, when it closes for the day, so I was going to have to save it. Since most other things start to wind down around then and it was going to take me a bit to find anything, I decided to go in search of de Garre, an infamously difficult but worthy pub to find. I thought daylight could only be a plus...

I actually found it fairly easily, mostly since others had posted clues on the interweb...but for perspective, this is the Main Square...(the bell tower is to my immediate left).

And this is not even at its fullest.

This is City Hall, which is between my hostel and the Main Square.

The pub is located between a Gift Shop and a little place with a red awning. You can barely see the alley.

And once you do go through the door, this is the alley (below); if they don't have their menu board out (which they didn't at the time, see it inside the door?), just know that it's the door at the end there...

And I got the last seat in the place, upstairs. It was a table for four, but I didn't have much choice. Two of my chairs were usurped shortly thereafter anyway.

These glasses are actually fairly awkward to hold. But tasty beer.

Inconspicuous shot.

There is a very detailed menu which also seems to have a lot of history in it. However, it also appears to be in Western Flemish.

Of which I speak none. I got a little cheese dish which was meh but acceptable.

Beer #2. Last one here. Oh, and that is not my cheese dish. ;) They bring you cubed cheese with each beer you order. Nice touch.

Afterwards I went to a little joint called L'Estaminet, a restaurant near Astrid Park and very close to my hostel. I had simple French onion soup (decent) and a couple Belgium beers. The place has a ton of vinyl albums along the walls, it's darker and supposedly a big local spot, not much of a touristy one. (Yet I found the write-up in Lonely Planet or something like that.) But nice wind-down to the evening.

I wrapped up the night with a last beer at my pool hall and chatted with others at the bar before hitting the sack. My party-animal roommates did not come back til curfew, 4am, which was great with me because it made for a very quiet night!

The next morning I went out early, around 8am, and the town was very quiet and dead. I got a little tiny breakfast near the bell tower. As part of the little breakfast deal, you can only have ORANGE juice, not apple juice, goddammit. I said I wanted apple juice ANYWAY. So he brought it, convinced I did not understand, and also brought me orange juice AS WELL. Whatever.

Also, I may have bitched before about how precious they are about their liquids in Europe (and let me take a moment here to stress how much I am not exaggerating, thank you). In Holland, when I asked for water, they would bring me a thimble full of water. (Ok, an exaggeration, but not by much.) And the Cokes were 8 oz, not 12. BUT. They would at least bring you tap water most of the time without charging you.

Do not try that shit in Belgium. Just don't even try. I did not. I was forewarned. If you ask for water, you are getting a bottle of water and you are paying 2.50EU and if you don't like it, don't ask for fucking water. I had to start carrying a bottle around with me from the shop.

So anyway. I just wanted something small in my stomach before I climbed the Belfry. I was fine, but I would not eat much if I were you. Certainly nothing heavy. And I certainly wouldn't climb the goddamn tower again, in any case!

I'm glad I did, don't get me wrong. But once was enough. And JESUS, do it EARLY! How people can possibly navigate this during the throes of the busiest part of the day is insane. Towards the top it gets REALLY NARROW and STEEP. (They weren't shittin' in the film!) And even I had to stop often to let others pass who were going down. There is just not room for two people to even pass sometimes. Often.

Also, luckily, there are occasional floors where you can stop and look around or pretend to look around while you catch your breath.

The views are pretty incredible, though. (And see? This wiring goes all around, so you can't off yourself Ken-style.)

And you can see the Basilica Church--the one with Christ's blood...

I think I mentioned before, but these views--or rather the rooftops especially--really reminded me of the ending scene from Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.

So I am really glad I climbed the Belfry, but it is most certainly something you need do only once in your life...

A pretty big town from up here! And there's City Hall again.

Time for lunch. More later!

I'm Winston Wolfe. I solve problems.

2011-08-28T08:39:00.003-03:00

A little empty in Times Square last night, apparently.

The storm did not hit us last night like I thought it might. The MBTA has suspended service for all of today and tonight starting at 8am. Numerous restaurants and shops have closed for the day and boarded up.

D's job was not one of them, but he called out. The awesome (sarcasm font ON) general manager (D's the manager below that) texted to say, "What, you've never driven in the rain before?" Because RIGHT! They ALWAYS close the MBTA for rain! Silly rabbit! Why do people have to be total fucking assholes? But D told him he'd never called out before, not once, but he was doing it now. (I mean, worse than driving in a hurricane, who the fuck wants to potentially get stuck in Everett?)

So now it's just sort of gloomy and ominous out there. And I sure hope either the trains start running again in the early AM or my director calls to say whatevs.

Somebody's coming up. Somebody serious.

2011-08-27T09:43:00.001-03:00

I don't mean to invite trouble, but I do wish the rain would hurry up so it would stop being so humid. :/ And I think Irene's path has changed, meaning we'll still get heavy rains and winds, just not quite the disaster everyone was predicting. I wasn't terribly worried, though I also tend to forget I live right next to a bay. Not on it, mind you, but I can see it from here.

We finally got gallon jugs of water, which are good to have in any case. (See: last year when the water got tainted with sewage and the city enforced a boil order.)

I will probably need to make a last run to the store so I can cook tomorrow and more importantly, re-stock the wine.

So disaster week continues, having started with a little earthquake! I had actually left school around 12:30 that day to hit the North End for Restaurant Week. (Nom.) I left the restaurant shortly after 2 and took the long way back since it was a nice day. I walked past someone on his cell, repeatedly saying, "So wait...so they evacuated the building?" And I'm generally not a nosy person, but I admit it got my attention. I wrote it off as a fire alarm or something else irrelevant.

So then I stopped at the Green Dragon for a pint and to read over my Innocence Project outline. Within minutes, they had shut off the music and turned on the TV. It took me a while to figure it out since the couple next to me was blathering on endlessly...so yeah, I obviously did not feel the earthquake. I think the only people who did were in buildings, because obviously, they tend to do this thing where they SWAY during earthquakes.

My friend S, apparently, had been having her first day at her internship and was on the fifth floor. I think this may have been her first earthquake, and certainly her first one in a building, because it freaked her the fuck out. I mean, it made her cry it was that startling. And having been on the thirteenth floor during an earthquake in Tokyo, yeah, I get it.

But I imagine it's even worse if you don't know what it IS. I mean, why the fuck should anyone here suspect an earthquake? I imagine they're especially touchy about these things next door in New York...

And speaking of which, I am really lucky that I live a three hour drive from NYC, and but apparently not so close that I have to evacuate my city! All the Broadway shows cancelled the weekend and all the low-lying areas have been evacuated. D & L live very north of Manhattan in Washington Heights, so they should be fine. (They seem to be using the time to have a little film festival. *jealous*) I also noticed Mayor Bloomberg isn't terribly worried about the prisoners on Rikers Island, which I thought was a little scummy.

It wasn’t a lie, it was ineptitude with insufficient cover.

2011-08-22T15:42:00.003-03:00

Good first day in court. To be fair, I didn't have to do jack. We just observed and then discussed over lunch. Now I get to kill time until my 6p class, which I have often heard referred to as "storytime." I am okay with this. It is relevant to criminal law, and it will probably be a welcome break at the end of the day.

I did see Justin Timberlake's doppelganger get arraigned this morning, he was so adorable I felt terrible for him. Apparently he drank a leetle too much back in April. No memory of the subsequent arrest or--as it turns out--resisting that arrest. Obviously you make a deal and six months later it goes away. Doesn't REALLY go away, though. That shit is there to stay on your record. :/

Even one of my "colleagues" (har har) was arrested a few years ago for refusing to be tested for drunk driving. He was the designated driver, but had in fact had 2 beers over the course of 4 hours. And he was about 100 yards from his house. Talk about a bitch. So he knows firsthand the debilitating fear that knots in your stomach during your arrest and the whole process. And to add insult to injury, from then on, he's had to check the "yes" box on all those fucking employment forms. And anyone can be in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong-ass cop. Having said that, I think it also goes without saying that a lot of these guys are the flip side of the coin...repeat offenders. :/

Anyway, I had a nice weekend. Lots of (school) reading, but I got in a bit of R&R, too. On Saturday morning, knocked out Cedar Rapids, The Lincoln Lawyer, and X-Men: First Class.

The first was very cute. Ed Helms and John C. Reilly were just perfect...but I think Reilly always steals the show. <3 Really solid fluff, that flick.

The Lincoln Lawyer was a really good adaptation of the book. The book is obviously better, but mostly because the crux of the dilemma involves the grey areas of attorney ethics, and that kinda gets glossed over in the film.

Also, this is not the sort of defense law I plan on practicing! Not that he did anything illegal...much. He may look like Jake Brigance... But overall, it was fairly forgettable, but not really in a bad way. Easy way to pass the time?

And you know, X-Men was a pretty good time! I liked it better than the other X-Men films, actually. I think. The first one was good, but it's been years, so my memory's kinda fuzzy.

And James McAvoy was refreshingly good at being douchey (at first) as opposed to OH! SO! EARNEST! I have to admit January Jones kinda makes me roll my eyes, I can't help it. :/ But overall it was fun, and nicely done.

I'm trying to gear myself up to take it down about twenty notches, however, and have a go at A Serbian Film. Supposedly all the awfulness of the film is serving as a metaphor for the atrocities witnessed in the Balkan Wars. Should be a rockin' good time. Or whatever the opposite of that is.

I'm putting down the name of a girl in my class who makes me sick. If things get hot, she'll take the heat.

2011-08-19T14:45:00.001-03:00

Wrapped up my defense clinic boot camp today, woot! I think we were all dying to get out of there. It was incredibly helpful and all, but I think at least my brain reached maximum capacity around Wednesday...

So I was totally shocked and excited to wake up this morning to see there was a surprise hearing scheduled for the West Memphis Three at 10am, with the expectation being they'd be set free. The hearing hadn't happened yet, but families of the dead boys had already been notified. One of the fathers was outraged and had already spilled the beans, despite a gag order.

And yes, as it turns out, they've been released! I think it's bullshit they have to plea out and aren't being exonerated, but it's exciting to see them free after 18 years. I just learned the other day that an Alford plea is basically the defendant's way of saying yes, the state has enough evidence that a jury could potentially find me guilty, but I don't admit guilt. Apparently this is not an option in Texas, but it is here in Massachusetts. (And obviously it appears to be an option in Arkansas...)

One of the more outspoken parents heavily featured in the Paradise Lost films, John Mark Byers, had changed his mind years ago, and has since been very outspoken about their innocence. Byers is one strange bird no matter what his position, but the fact that he changed his mind is pretty impressive.

So it has been one long-ass week with a very positive start to today! Classes start "for real" next week, which includes going to court one day a week and all that that entails. I don't do anything substantive for the first couple weeks, but right about the time that trial team starts up is when I'll also be expected to start doing bail arguments, meeting with clients, etc. etc. etc. Which is Really. Fucking. Scary. :/

So beer me. :/

You don’t cover for me. You manage people’s expectations.

2011-08-18T13:42:00.000-03:00

I can't help it. I just fucking love Katy Perry.

I mean, I've never really given much thought to the song lyrics or "what she stands for" or what-the-hell-ever, and that's really the whole point. She's just fucking fun. And I'm gonna need some of that this semester.

I was really bummed about missing her Beantown show in June since I was overseas (wah wah, I know), but I knew she was on tour through November, so I peeked online again just in case I could get to one of the shows.

And sure enough. ;)

HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, BABY! November 15th. Two hour drive, I'm on the motherfucker. And FTW? Rumor has it she does a shortened version of Rebecca Black's Friday. ;)

I am already grown up. I just get older.

2011-08-14T09:34:00.002-03:00

So I was googling the directions on how to get to the jail tomorrow morning. We're doing a tour, which is pretty understandable since this is where our clients will be most of the time.

But in addition to a map and directions, I was not expecting to see reviews posted.

Oct 15, 2009: nice modern jail food is good, most co's are courteous, and the units are bright and clean. If I ever do life in prison, it should have the same conditions as this jail.

Apr 26, 2009: Enjoyed my Stay Grub's good, nice bead, nice steel toilet.

FTW.

I'm thinking college is more your window.

2011-08-13T18:16:00.003-03:00

So I'm back in the States and had some birthday presents waiting for me, because I had been away!

These glasses are actually quite an impressive size! Sweet.

And continuing with the theme, check out my rockin' new flask! :D

Dying to take it out for a stroll. ;) Apparently there were at least three quotes being rolled around for consideration, but the right one won, if you ask me. That was always one of my favorite lines from that season.

I'm not going anywhere today, though. Sofa. Floor. Wherever the cat is. And there will be pizza. Delivered in a car.

My computer tells me it's 1:02 AM. I might want to update that, I guess.

If you could get paid that kind of money for being wrong 60% of the time, it'd be workin'.

2011-08-13T01:54:00.001-03:00

This was den Haag's way of saying good-bye... (Well in truth, these were put on by Belgium and Germany, so hmmm. Tonight is China/Japan, grr at missing that...and next weekend four more countries put on a show.) Anyway. The point is, SPARKLY:

And I took care of a few last-day things. For example.

I tried a Stroopwafel McFlurry. I heard about it through the grapevine since I have zero reason to be in a McDonald's. They are made of crack and kitten tears, terribly delicious.

I know I'm always saying how it's raining. (See? I did not say "complaining." Because I know most of you are dealing with 40+ days over 100.) But it has decent results, even if I get soaked much of the time...

This is my walk to/from work. <3 all the moss on the trees.

This is the sidewalk along the main street to work. I do enjoy the whole "overgrown" look and yet, I also can't help but wonder how many bodies you could dump here without anyone ever knowing. :/

And then I took a couple snaps inside my jazz pub so you could get an idea of the ambience. It's usually not daylight when I'm here, but I had a lot to squeeze in yesterday!

And I had a nice early evening here before the fireworks--dinner and a decent number of drinks...and the owners insisted I didn't pay. They wouldn't even let me tip. ;)

So really great place. The pub, that is. I'm still meh on den Haag. Which is not to say Holland, mind you.

But I ordered a cab that should arrive in 30 minutes, so fingers crossed it really shows up...

ADIOS, BITCHES!

2011-08-10T11:12:00.004-03:00

So quite the opposite of Bridesmaids, I was really surprised I enjoyed Bad Teacher!

I mean, I had really low expectations and it's rife with loose ends, holes, what-have-you, but that is all irrelevant. It's just Cameron Diaz doin' comedy and doin' it well. And I'm really not a big fan. But this had some great lines and more importantly, great delivery. I laughed out loud a couple times. Good oncer. And it was free, bonus.

So it's my last day. It took a long time for the office dynamic to settle in, and it really only did so after certain people left early on and other new people came and then it was suddenly just right. We'll have very quiet days but every couple hours or so there will be a useless conversation, which makes for a great break. Everyone has tons of interviews coming up (again, I'm surrounded by Ivy League types), and my office mate J had to respond to an initial e-mail that I think approved him for round one of whatever bullshit process now begins.

We spent forever debating what the usage of "delighted" vs. "excited" might denote, should he use it in his response. (The mix is American, Canadian, British in my office.) And that rapidly disintegrated into how to write the most double entendre-laden reply possible.

Some time after that, we began discussing the worst way you could sabotage your own interview. The winner seemed be if you were to sit in the interview, answer all the questions very seriously and straight-faced, while then slowly disrobing. And should someone interrupt you with a, "Excuse me, what are you doing?!" you should just keep going.

So I have come to enjoy my office mates, Wine & Cheese Wednesday and obviously the job itself. I won't mind leaving this suite today, however...as a gag, the British girl and I seem to have taped bleu cheese under the American guy's desk. It always smells faintly of cheese in here the next day (lots of European cheeses), but he knew something had to be going on...he found it fairly quickly, all things considered. Like, 3-4 hours into the day...

For the record, it is actually really difficult to tape bleu cheese to the underside of a desk. And man it did smell pretty foul today. But so worth it.

Anyhoo, I am sad to leave such a cool job, but happy to go home and happy to get the fuck out of den Haag. I'm wrapping up the last few things to do tomorrow, like finally try a Stroopwafel McFlurry, pop over to Delft, and have lunch with my supervisor. Also, there are fireworks on the beach tomorrow night! Just for me and B. ;)

B and I are splitting a cab to the airport Saturday morning. She's traveling around but I will be heading back Stateside...I've definitely been here too long. The other day I had to look up my own American cell phone number and I've been converted to spelling "defence" and writing the date the wrong *cough*, I mean other way.

Mostly, I'm looking forward to eating out after goddamn 9:00pm just because I can.

I shall have heroin, but I shan't have a hamburger. What a sexy little paradox.

2011-08-09T09:13:00.002-03:00

Ok, so I am TOTALLY that asshole on Project Runway.

You know the one I mean, the one who's all "OH MY GOD, THE CHALLENGE IS MENSWEAR! I LOVE MENSWEAR! I AM MENSWEAR. I WILL ROCK THIS CHALLENGE, CALL IT MY BITCH, MAKE IT MY OWN AND NINA GARCIA WILL LICK MY FEET."

And then that asshole goes the fuck home.

So I tried out for two of the law journals. I got my case and it involved the Alien Tort Statute (but not really, actually). It was part of the case but not the point. I still thought it was essential in a bigger-picture sort of way. Apparently not. Or else my footnotes just sucked that badly. Which, in truth, is 95% of what they look at. But I was thrilled to get a case I had an interest in and for which I had some previous knowledge.

It sucks to have put in a lot of work (but let's be honest, not as much as I should have put in, apparently), but I also don't regret it. The work sucked but I didn't hate it, and the case was really interesting. Seriously, it involved corporate responsibility (and the oh-so-liberal Ninth Circuit with their silly little notions of what they think the law is...sometimes I hope they just do it to upset Scalia). At least the research I did was up my alley, anyway.

Bringing us back full circle to: SADCAKES. So yeah, I totally went home on the menswear challenge, it happens. And just because I liked the case, I don't mean to imply I thought I'd win the challenge, so to speak. I felt like it was 50-50. Or maybe 55-45. ;)

In other news, I forgot to tell you I finally saw Bridesmaids and totally hated it. I liked it ok at the time, but the more I think about it, the more I hate it. I realize I may catch flak for saying this. But seriously! It felt long, it was unfunny, and all it did was establish that women can have juvenile and crappy comedies, too. Right on down to the stereotypical "fat friend" character and all the un-funny that goes with it.

Don't get me wrong, it had its moments. But overall I was hugely disappointed, especially considering the talented comedians and writers involved. Ugh.

Completely unrelated, I will not be leaving the Hague without having seen the ICJ, at least. (These pics were not taken by me but found from the interweb. You are not allowed to photograph inside the Peace Palace "for security reasons." As for the outside pic, I am not on my laptop at the moment so I couldn't use the one I have! Also, this one's sexier.)

Peace Palace! Or Vredepaleis, in Dutch. It houses the International Court of Justice and the Permanent Court of Arbitration. It was built specifically for the latter and because it was the first building in the world to house an international court, they pulled out all the stops, had a designing contest for the building, all the countries gave it enormous gifts...it was one important baby, in other words.

So it was built for the Court of Arbitration and it was finished in 1913. But after WWII, the ICJ came about, and they got to take over the sexy room, aka, The Great Hall of Justice.

Obviously the room was empty when we were there. It is one hell of an impressive room. I've read several ICJ cases, so it was really, really cool to be in there. I was very much a little bit in awe.

What I did not know is that the President (1 of the 15 judges) sits in the middle and the longer you're on the Court, the closer you get to sit to the middle. Newbies on the ends. Scintillating, I know. (Judges sit on the Court for 9 years with some changing up every 3 years.)

This is an example of one of the gifts. It weighs 3.2 tons. The rest of the Palace has cellars underneath, but this room does not because otherwise the vase would break through the floor. So it's heavy.

The "Japanese room" had the biggest silk, hand-woven (by 48,000 Japanese people!) wall...tapestry? For lack of a better word? Anyway, it's so bad-ass they call the room "the Japanese room." It also has the largest wall-to-wall rug in Europe (I think from Turkey).

The United States gave a wooden ceiling (which is actually in the room that now houses the Permanent Court of Arbitration) which is going to be hard to explain without pictures. It is apparently 7 layers and constructed in such a fashion that it has no glue, no nails, no nothing, but the layers sit on each other without falling. I just think it's awesome that we would give so precarious-sounding a gift.

There are also two giant...things, I don't know...vases? from Hungary. Each one sits outside each court and has lions and owls on it to give each court strength and wisdom. There is also a very cool marble statue Lady of Justice who has no sword, no tools, she's a more "modern" Lady Justice. "She can do it on her own, all she needs is justice." Or something.

She's up there but you can't really see, nor could I find other pics. But it's actually a pretty awesome statue. Don't fuck with Lady Justice.

(Also, I kept writing "statute" instead of "statue." Sigh.)

But basically every single thing in the Palace symbolizes Peace, Truth, or Justice.

And they have a fabulous huge garden that looks like someone spends all day using nail clippers to manicure the whole thing. BUT YOU MUSTN'T GO IN IT. Seriously, the gardens are closed to the public. And they're extensive and beautiful. So that makes sense.

But it's just a gorgeous building. When you go to work in a shitty ex-insurance building with zero character or charm, you get a little jealous. We do international law stuff, TOO, how come we don't get the pretty things?! Oh right, "ad hoc tribunal." Hmph.

I couldn't possibly have sex with someone with such a slender grasp on grammar.

2011-08-06T09:09:00.011-03:00

Ok! See, I didn't leave you hanging for another month! ;)

6 more days. *giddy*

I am at Sherlock's for lunch. Mostly because I needed another book to read. I made the mistake originally of seeking out the English bookstore in Centrum (gads, PAY for a book? though in fairness, without that adventure, there would have been no Stephen Fry story to tell), and then found not only this place, but the big bookshelf at work of books to trade. When I found the work bookshelf, however, it was quite on the shabby side. Though I did pluck Haruki Murakami's Birthday Stories compilation (he selected them all and introduces the book, but they are largely written by others) from the shelf. But I'm betting after this week, it has filled out considerably. A ton of interns had their last day yesterday, including my K. :'C

So I had been given a novel by Lorraine, the co-owner of my little jazz pub. She and her boyfriend Roshan own it. She's actually Scottish and he's Dutch. So anyway, I think I had just polished something off and she said she'd bring up a book she'd just finished--that it was total fluff and piffle, but a fun read anyway. And it was! I have no doubt I have already forgotten it but it passed the time well. It was a Maeve Binchy novel, whose name I did not recognize, but she writes a ton of Dublin-based books that are probably not poorly described as chick-lit, most well known of all being Circle of Friends. (See: crappy Minnie Driver/Chris O'Donnell movie that is really not all that crappy I guess.)

Anyhoo, she gave me Tara Road, which was perfectly enjoyable. It took a while before any actual conflict arose, and it was total chick lit, but I respect it for two things: there were a ton of varied female relationships (of all kinds, I mean) and they were written remarkably well. And also, things did not always pan out the way you might expect from a "chick lit" book. So it wasn't bad. And I sure hope Lorraine didn't want it back because I left it in Sarajevo in exchange for The Stonecutter by Camilla Läckberg, which had me at "Swedish crime thriller." (My hostel had a long row of abandoned paperbacks as well!) I figured out the "mystery" fairly early on (actually I went too far with it, beyond how it actually panned out, but whatevs), but it was still a fun read. I am still very much in need of piffle just like that, so I came here for lunch.

First of all, this is so my kind of place. There is this dim little downstairs den of used books with four small tables, lamps and old photos and WIFI, OH YEAH. And I am surrounded by used books that are actually mostly shit--tons of crap romance and spy novels with the occasional Virginia Woolf, Graham Greene and Emily Bronte thrown in for good measure. But I am totally in for the crap crime/suspense genre--stuff with names like Final Theory, The Hidden, A Darker Place, Fatal, Fractured, The Hidden Oasis. I mean, those are all really here, it's just too easy. (To be fair, I am still fairly selective of the crap I choose to read.)

It seemed wrong to use the flash. Destroy the character of the shot and all.

I grabbed The Associate (Grisham) for a moment, thinking, hey, obvious is a win today. But then it was so obvious that I'd actually already read it and forgotten. Whoops. (I mean really, when the fuck did I have the time to read a non-law book in the past couple years? And yes, Grisham is non-law.) So I have opted for The Tourist by Olen Steinhauer. It's got a Stephen King blurb splashed across the front: "The best spy novel I've ever read that wasn't written by John le Carre!" Oh fine, I'm in.

I can only assume I'm into the whole crime/suspense genre as a release from reading all goddamn day about paramilitary groups called the Red Berets and the Super Tigers and--far less impressively in English, anyway--the Yellow Wasps. I mean, we're getting dangerously near middle school mascot territory at some point. But anyway.

I only found this place because it was recommended to me by another regular at the jazz pub. (Ironically, it's also a four minute walk from my house, *facepalm*). Apparently they have one fuck of a good burger, and I'm having it now. Yes, it is QUITE GOOD. For one thing, you have to be careful with your burgers here. Not only are they hard to find (a google search of "best burgers, den haag" results in a search that yields BURGER KING as #2) but often when you do find them, they are not strictly beef, but a weird mix of beef, lamb, and...well, who knows, really? So Sherlock's offers a solid, delicious number that even has a fried egg on it not unlike a number from Dirty Love Burger. <3

Ok, I will try to upload some Sarajevo pics, but I think this post is quite long and useless enough. ;)

And it's raining again. Pissing down, as it were. :/ Oh, Holland.

People skills. It's why I'm in charge.

2011-08-03T01:31:00.000-03:00

Best non sequitur at work yesterday...

So my officemates had been talking about having a Mimosa Monday. I was still out of the country, so when I got back, I asked, "So, did Mimosa Monday happen?"

Office Andy: "Yeah! That's why there's a peanut butter jar on the table!"

You are essentially an oxygen thief.

2011-08-02T10:11:00.001-03:00

I just loved Sarajevo!! I wanted to really see the city but also try to have a relaxing vacation before having to go back to the grind in Beantown. Traveling is often quite a stressful thing, contrary to what we'd all like to imagine. Sarajevo does have some sights and things to do, but it is also best appreciated by just hanging out, eating, drinking and soaking up the atmosphere, so it was really ideal.

There was a good 24-hour period when I'm pretty sure I ate only ćevapi. (Pics to follow soon.) And Sunday night I drank enough rakija to knock out a small horse. In fact, I seem to have polished off the bar's šljivovica, and had to move onto the kruškovača. (The former is made from plums, the latter from pears.) I was drinking with five Australian guys with whom I was rooming, but I stayed back and read my book since they had to get up early to go to Mostar whereas I did not and it was my last night. The next day I felt fine, but once I got in the backseat of the taxi around 12:30, I realized I might have been quite wrong.

So I'll start with the end of my stay and go back to the beginning, just for fun. The ending is a little story of how impressed I was with my body and mind's resolve and discipline not to humiliate me. After all, some things are just beyond your control. (Well, at that point, anyway.) I got to the airport, surviving the backseat of a cab (lots of jerky driving and hard braking, which was what set this whole problem off), and you cannot even enter the airport without going through security. So no bathroom for you. It was a bit tedious, but I got through. I checked in, exchanged pleasantries with the check-in girl, and it took all of 2 minutes. I honestly know I would have been fine even if it had taken 30. But it was nice, in any case. Then I calmly took the escalator to the main area and located a bathroom.

First of all, God bless European bathrooms and their beautiful privacy and isolation. Actual enclosed rooms, as it should be. I closed the door, set down my bag and Bosnian chess set (more on that later), hung up my coat and turned around. Then, I proceeded to vomit with what can really only be described as a ferocious intensity. A launching surge, if you will. Three times. Seriously, I thought of Alien. Apparently that was the price I paid for making things wait. Like, damn girl.

Then I cleaned up, walked back out and went through passport control with a smile, no one any the wiser that I'd been projectile vomiting mere moments before. And within twenty minutes, all was right again with the world.

The Sarajevo airport has all of 4 gates and one little cafe, poorly called a "snack bar" because guess what they do not have? I mean not even a peanut. The duty-free shop is right there and they had a big bag of peanut M&Ms. For 5.20EU. Yes, I think I paid about $8 for a bag of M&Ms. It is on my desk even now, so at least it's lasting.

I tried to buy 2 bottles of šljivovica--one for my office suitemates and one for my supervisor--but apparently the Vienna airport will only let you through with a certain amount of liquid, which each of these bottles exceeded. Stupid Vienna. Glad they told me, though. I was so disappointed--I mean, where the hell are you supposed to find rakija? Which is what would have made it such an ideal thank you gift. Hmph.

So I went to go read my book at the "snack bar," and though I was feeling much better, I was still delicate enough that cigarette smoke was ten times more revolting than usual. And oh holy jesus, do they ever smoke in the Balkans. Every single place I sat, someone would come sit RIGHTNEXTTOMEANDSMOKE. I moved 4 times and wound up at the edge of a long bar along the wall. I just wanted to read my goddamn book, have a beer (yeah, you read that right, judge away, baby) and not have to smell cigarette stank. I sat and watched this guy approach the bar. He stood there. I waited because I knew he was going to do it. And he did--he took out a pack of cigarettes and started packing them against his hand. He turned and looked my way a little, probably because I may have been far too audible in muttering, "Fuck. My. Life."

But finally I went to the gate, flew to Vienna (major props to their efficient passport control methods, talk about a burrito dipped in Vaseline), where I was patted down by a burly Austrian woman (I set off the metal detector somehow). There was also a strange machine for which I had to lift up each foot and step on a shoe impression while it did...something? Apparently I passed this, and I'm fairly certain it was sniffing for bombs parts in my shoe or whatever, but I asked anyway.

EA: "What does it do?"
BAW: "It's a shoe detector!"
EA. "..."

Of course it is. But I got back to The Hague shortly after 8pm and had a very long, leisurely dinner catching up with my flatmate B, who had spent four days in Berlin.

So now back to the beginning! That will be the next post, with pics of food, sights, my chess set, all that jazz.

Her name is Buttons?

2011-07-28T10:32:00.001-03:00

After a brief discussion about how actually no, Sarajevo is not in Google Maps, my supervisor hand-drew me a map of the town center, noting all the best places to eat and drink. (He lived there for about three years.) Even more ridiculous was that I offered to buy him a coffee in exchange for this knowledge, we got to the cafeteria and he insisted on buying both. Did I mention he's from Texas? ;)

So now I have the inside scoop on the yum places and the places with atmosphere. And we tend to like the same things, so I'm not worried.

And that's officially the end of the work week for me! :D

Ally, ethics have no place in a law firm!

2011-07-27T23:53:00.003-03:00

So I still haven't been so hot at updating this, no idea why. To be fair, not much has really been going on. I have two more weeks after this weekend, and this weekend shall be spent in Sarajevo!

Obviously I didn't take this photo and obviously it won't be snowing. Or at least I hope not. I really wanted to fly into Dubrovnik (Croatian beaches are supposed to be gaw-geous) and take the bus up through Mostar to Sarajevo but alas, the money gods were not having it.

So I'm definitely excited about the next few days. My flight leaves at 7am out of Amsterdam, however, so I'm just going to rough it for one night at a hostel in Amsterdam rather than risk bunging up trains from Den Haag at some ungodly hour. I'm pretty sure popular Amsterdam hostels are going to be a very special shitshow. I sort of envision catching rabies or something, but I'll make it work.

Work has been good, though it has slowed up a bit since we broke for summer recess. Most of my team seems to be on vacation, though there's still plenty to do--motions to file or respond to, witness prep to work up. My office mates are a good bunch of people--there are 7 of us and 3 are part of another team, a girl K and I are on the same team, and the last person is an independent reseracher, but we're all interns.

I just love K. She and her boyfriend are both working here, but the boyfriend works with the judges (and a different case from ours) while we work for the prosecution. They are from Pennsylvania, though quite a lot of people here are from Boston, surprisingly. Lots of Harvard.

But out little suite somehow got into the habit of having Wine & Cheese Wednesday, meaning we stop working a little early and break out various bottles of wines and cheese with crackers, olives...it gets a little more involved each week. So that was yesterday late afternoon, complete with dramatic readings of a truly horrible book someone stumbled across...

Apparently an attorney who used to work here published a book. A courtroom thriller, natch. Unfortunately he himself is apparently a really nice guy and I think also a solid attorney. A solid dramatic writer, however, he is not. And as a matter of fact, not only is the writing some of the most abysmal I have seen in years, there is also--FTW--an awkwardly apparent but surely unintentional sexual undertone between two characters that would basically involve incest. I wish I could quote favorite passages for you here, but I think we can all agree what a terrible idea that might be. But in any case, everyone was in near-tears from reading passages aloud.

Sadly, K leaves the week before I do, then the week after, I leave with one of the Harvard guys. I get to come straight back home for criminal defense training, yay.

On the big plus side, I have a Sara Bareilles concert a couple weeks after getting home, and one of my guy friends from law school asked me if I'd be interested in seeing Tori Amos the first week of December. I'm not a HUGE fan, but I certainly enjoy her stuff for the most part, and especially her concerts. I saw her live once back in 1999, I think, with two college girlfriends (whom I accidentally learned that night were both lesbians and I had had ZERO clue but I think I played it off nicely without giving my ignorance away) and really had a great time. So two concerts flanking either end of the semester, good to go.

Everyone is in the middle of the bar exam right now. I cannot imagine that that will be me in a year. The TX bar is two days in, most other states only have two days, so in a few hours, people will wake up and start their last day of the bar. My Texas attorneys here (there seem to be a surprising number, I think I mentioned) all have had encouraging things to say, though I'm pretty sure it does little for me. Not to mention the fact they all took it about 10 years ago. :/ And talk about a cherry on a shit cake--after you take the July bar in Texas, you get your results in November. :O Happy holidays, loser!

My resolution was to learn a new word every day! And I have to say, it is going immensely!

2011-07-10T08:22:00.000-03:00

Wow, it's been nearly a month since I got on here, but I'm still alive!

Den Haag is still hellishly expensive but I'm making an effort (mild though it may be) to be more diligent about spending less money. And it's all just food and drink, like always!

I am trying especially to be frugal so I can justify one last trip! I bought a ticket to Sarajevo at the end of July, which I am really excited about. I have a 4-hour layover in Vienna and I am VERY tempted to run outside and do ANYTHING so I can at least pretend I've been to Vienna. (You have to eat outside the airport, at the very least, for it to count.) And I'm sure my parents wish that's just where I was going, fullstop.

But I did the research and it's a perfectly safe place these days. It is also quite relevant to my work, so I thought it was a good idea. Surely I will go to Austria, Italy, Spain, etc. SOME DAY, but I can't say I would make some huge effort to hit Bosnia... Ideally I wanted to fly into Dubrovnik (Croatia), take a bus through Mostar and end up in Sarajevo. It was just too damn pricey and I only have four days. So oh well. The beaches and coast in Dubrovnik are supposedly gorgeous, but I guess my skin makes me a bit of an indoor girl, anyway.

I was also mildly curious to head up to Srebrenica while in Bosnia, but apparently it's a four-hour bus drive and there's only one bus to and fro each day. So you basically have to spend the whole day. What I read did not motivate me to do this. It sounded depressing on so many levels (aside from the obvious horrors that place has seen, there's very little to do/eat there as well). So I may give that a miss.

On the total flip side, the weather here has been lovely lately. And I mean sunny and a little on the warm side. In truth, I like how rainy and cool it has been on so many days, though I seem to be in the minority there. LOVE. And besides, how else do you think all the trees get all that moss all over the bark?

I think I may see Bridesmaids today--it FINALLY came out this weekend. And the final Harry Potter, I think, comes out this following week. It's ON. I've never been a terribly big fan of the movies but I'm also inexplicably drawn to them on opening day. (No doubt due to their unending list of Who's Who in English actors and the fact that the Weasley twins aren't so hard on the eyes...)

And back to being random--two other things I have been meaning to bitch about that I dislike about den Haag: the way they pour beer and the mountains of dogshit on every sidewalk. I am not joking--there is a TON of dogshit here. I do not think a day goes by that I do not get Mojo Nixon's Amsterdam Dogshit Blues in my head. Even though this is the Hague rather than Amsterdam, for the most part, it is a fairly clean city. IF ONLY IT WEREN'T FOR THE DOGSHIT. And ohhhhhhhhhhhhh dogs are E V E R Y W H E R E. I get and appreciate they are more accepting of bringing your pet everywhere, but I just also always found it a little ridiculous. Seriously, someone brought their goddamn dog on the brewery tour in Bruges. Really?

I know, I'm obviously a cat person and this is just not my crowd, but jesus.

And the beer. So, you learn from an early age (in America, anyway), not to pour your Coke in by just dumping it. I watch people do it all the time here. It makes me feel very OCD just how much it bothers me. Well, they do it with the beers, too. This is more frustrating because it's MY beer and they just dump it right in. Each bar has a flat stick they keep in a cup of water. They let the enormous head spill over, then they use the stick to level it off and they serve it to you with about 1-2 inches of head on it. What the FUCK the stick's purpose is (I mean, really, IT SERVES NO PURPOSE) is beyond me. AND EVERY SINGLE BAR DOES IT. The meaty beers (like Guinness) do get their due attention at least.

But seriously. The beer is pricey enough for being fairly un-special, can you at least fill it the fuck up?

Ok, /rantoff.

I will make more of an effort to update this! I have pictures from Bruges and even still many from here. I enjoy my work, but it has actually been fairly slow the past week and a half. I still have a month left and I can't help but feel fairly done with this place. It really hit me when I was in a bar the other night and they started playing Shakira's Waka Waka (This Time For Africa). If I start missing Cape Town, whoa, I'm probably set to go home now!

Don't misunderstand--I loved Cape Town and I loved working there, but I wouldn't really go so far as to say I MISS it, you know? When going out alone becomes that high maintenance, it gets old fairly fast. But in any case, I hadn't heard that song much since last year--and oh holy jesus I heard it 2-3 times a DAY while I was over there (World Cup theme song and all) so suddenly I was all, awwwwwww, I wish I were there now...(And no, I hadn't started drinking yet.) I think it's mostly because of the fun friends I met over there. There are some good people here (most especially my flatmate B), but it's not quite the same.

And I know, I know, "the grass is always greener..."

But overall, just not impressed with Holland. Sorry. (Belgium was great but that was vacation. Also, I seem to have polished off all my Belgium chocolate. You don't need to know how much I started off with!!)

It's like the friend who's the asshole, but he's our asshole.

2011-06-13T11:06:00.003-03:00

So at first I was a little irritated I didn't go anywhere for my 4-day weekend. B had invited me out to Malta, but she was going with her new guy-friend and I didn't want to be a third wheel. Based on how that relationship is panning out, however, I probably should have gone to keep the awk factor down, but whoops, who knew, right? Next time.

I was going to go to Belgium but then found out a friend of mine was going to be in Frankfurt. I then found out the hard way you have to buy rail tickets at least 3 days in advance (so this was nixing Belgium as well) if you don't want to pay Bitch Price. But it's often cheaper to fly--which is why I had been planning to fly to Frankfurt instead. HOWEVER. I clicked on the flight via Orbitz and the site was all "oh moo moo, that's not available anymore." Funny thing was, that message popped up no matter which flight I chose. So don't fuckin' use Orbitz, what a joke.

So I was all, fine, universe, bite me. I'll stay home and go to Amsterdam. Which I did and it was fun. (I could tell not long after getting there that the sky planned on opening up big-time, so after some token sight-seeing, I spent a good part of the afternoon in a semi-open-front restaurant, reading and eating frites with mayonnaise. Yup, you read that right. But the mayonnaise here is different than back home. It was good! I get it!)

Anyway, more importantly, my friend in Germany decided to come to me instead! So he drove up yesterday and we hung out, it was a lot of fun to see a good friend from home. I took him downtown, we were going to see X-Men but then decided we wanted to wander instead. I finally got to try bitterballen, he told me about the new horrendous-sounding prank in Japan, Kancho, that little kids do (often to the teachers?!) that sounds like sexual assault to both of us, and I introduced him to stroopwafels. (He made me take him to the stroopwafel vendor this AM so he could take a couple packages home. I noticed they were placed on the front passenger seat upon departure...)

We watched Boogie Nights on his ipad and I'm pretty sure I want one of those now. It looked incredible. Best travel toy ever. And perhaps just best toy ever.

This morning we found a little breakfast shop while we searched for the stroopwafel vendor. It was a cute pseudo-British place called "Kensington" with photos of William and Kate everywhere and a giant painting of Princess Di with paparazzi in the background. Apt? Anyway, we both ordered the English breakfast adventurously, not knowing what it was. Or rather, it's more that I've had many "English breakfasts," mostly in the UK and Cape Town and was curious to see how close it came. Not much, as it turns out. (Runny) scrambled eggs (still acceptable), two dry SUPERTHIN pieces of toast, beans (as in "pork and"), 3 sausage links and 2-3 limpish but mostly tasty bacon strips.

The whole reason we went in was because I was lured by the sight of fresh biscuits. And like an asshole American, I totally asked for "two biscuits" when I saw our breakfast did not come with them. The server was very nice about it, but apparently those were scones. ("Biscuits" are always "cookies." I knew that.) So he brought us each a scone with a side of what I swear to god was whipped cream and strawberry jam. We both agreed we could have been just fine with the awesome scones. (Well, and the tea, which arrived in the tackiest, most god-forsaken teapot ever. I'll go back and take a picture.)

But now my friend has driven back to Germany (or is doing so as I type) since he has a flight out in the early AM.

Hmph. So now it's all rainy and I'm all meh because it sucks when good company leaves. But it's a public holiday today and tomorrow is the start of my trial, so I guess I had better go enjoy the afternoon whether I like it or not!

Okay, then I'll be a regular kid and her cradle-robbing, creature-of-the-night boyfriend.

2011-06-11T07:43:00.004-03:00

It seems to be hailing...good day to stay inside and finally knock off my netfux...

Speaking of which, wow, even the younger kids here who do watch movies don't know the good stuff. I was out with a big group Thursday night playing trivia at a pub. (One of the Aussie girls dubbed our team "The Win-terns.") There was a huge mix of questions, most of which were pretty obscure or hard. And some were cultural. (To be fair, some just caught you off-guard, regardless: the Australians were stumped for a good long while at the question, "What is the OFFICIAL name of Australia?")

(It's: the Commonwealth of Australia.)

My contributions make me question whether I got anything out of my time in university. Although I did tell everyone the proper capital of Nevada, my other contributions included: was Thomas Edison actually afraid of the dark? to which supermodel was Richard Gere married in the 80s? and my favorite: what was the 1984 musical penned by Tim Rice as well as by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus of ABBA?

(The chicks wanted to say Mamma Mia! and I tried not to hit them. I was all, it's Chess! You know, One Night in Bangkok? And then someone wanted to argue with me about whether ONIB is really in Chess. I explained it was the first track on the flip side of the record, which I still own, and that seemed to shut them up. But anyway.)

My point about the movies came to me when I could not remember who sang Rockin' Robin. (I'm sorry, dad.) And then I remembered it comes on the radio at the beginning of Stand By Me, though I couldn't recall if the DJ called out the artist. (It retrospect I don't think he does. And yes, I know now it's Bobby Day. The people at my table wanted to put "the Jackson Five" because they covered it at some point. SIGH.) So anyway, I bring up the movie and even the guy at my table who I thought was into movies is like, what's that? Why would I know it? And I did not drop my head onto table or slap him, so that's a pretty big deal.

I just don't understand the argument that it was "before your time." So does that mean you don't know any Beatles and you've never watched Star Wars? Even scarier (because it's more recent, not because it's more socially relevant), someone told this girl at work that she looks like Sarah Michelle Gellar and the girl--an American, 22--was all, who?

On the bright side, the other teams seemed to be struggling as much as we were--out of 18 teams, we took third place! Which, in reality, is probably really, really sad.

I wouldn't even know where destiny's balls are.

2011-06-05T13:09:00.002-03:00

Ok, it may be a while yet before I can call...it stopped working for me! GRR. I'll figure it out once I get my VPN masked again...

Gentlemen, the lunchbox has landed!

2011-06-04T15:46:00.004-03:00

Man, the pub I had lunch in today was playing Hot Stuff at one point and now I have a mean craving for The Full Monty.

I bought a new dress today. True to my supervisor's warnings, the girl totally dissed me with her looks. There was a black one and a white one. I actually really thought the white one was cute. She appeared to like NEITHER (seriously, she seemed to be straining not to say, "Well, it's the most recent dress you've tried on"). I was so surprised by this I actively asked which she preferred. She went for the black, but openly seemed to loathe both. But fuck her, I like the white one. (FTW, I could NOT get the motherfucker off due to the inordinately LARGE sensor on the back. I did not realize this for a LONG time and just felt like a giant fat ass who'd have to either live in the dress or cut myself out later. Either way it would involve confessing to the fifteen-year-old 105-pound twat who was huffily waiting outside my room.)

I am telling you, these Dutch people are either the loveliest people or complete and total douchenuggets--they are not into middle ground. Everyone talks shit about Americans, so yeah, at this stage in my life I just grant myself carte blanche not to mince words about my cultural impressions anymore. And in fairness, props to her and her unwanted honesty. I prefer that, actually, to "OMFGTHAT'SSOCUTEDOYOULOVEIT?!"

In other news, Netfux seems to have wised up since I was in Sweden, meaning I am having lots of trouble finking out their system to watch instant download. GRRR. Instant download, YOU SHALL BE MINE.

Suddenly 4 episodes a week of Stewart and Colbert is awfully PALTRY. To be fair, I have yet to seek out The Killing. I know Hulu will not be kind, nor Fox probably. (I missed the House, M.D. finale.)

I have no doubt that is how I shall spend the last month here, based on the prices of EVERYTHING.

Ok, off in search of trouble! X-Men is out, but that will mean walking home from Centrum to Archipelbuurt. I did it this morning (the other way) but it's less exciting when you just want it to be bedtime. Plus I have a Skype date in Mexico to keep! So it may have to wait.

(Which reminds me--if anyone gets a weird call on their cell phone--it's me! I can call you for free with gmail!! So tomorrow I am heading to Delft but it will be a short day. Just me, canals and probably beer in Vermeer-town. Because it has rhyming potential.)

I'm looking for a dare-to-be-great situation.

2011-05-30T17:55:00.006-03:00

1,000th post and still drinking wine from mugs!

(To be fair, I am currently drinking it from a glass. What a poser.)

I'll post pics of this place soon. I love my little attic, though I am positive I will totally kill myself on the ladder-like stairs one of these days. I am living in Archipelbuurt, the "fancy" neighborhood, according to my supervisor. (I said, "aren't all the Hague neighborhoods 'fancy'?" To which he replied, "Well, that's the FANCY fancy one.")

I really like my supervisor. He reminds me a little bit of Wil Wheaton for some reason, I think it's the mouth. (Commenting on someone's mouth will never not be a weird comment to make, I've obviously kept that one to myself.) But as I mentioned, I was having a really shit time with my Amex cheques. I asked if I could skip out early last week to deal with it (banks do not take them and I had to track down an exchange shop near the more remote Holland Spoor station). He said that was not a problem at all.

Later, I was in his office and I casually mentioned something about walking because I had no idea how the trams work. He was appalled. He brought up the shop on a map online and then physically walked me downstairs and out of the building (when you work at the UN, this takes a certain amount of effort--lots of badge scanning that was fun for about the first day) and showed me which tram and which direction. Confidence ensued. Later that day, I used the tram all by myself and was terribly proud. (Actually, I was pretty embarrassed how easy it turned out to be. The whole thing took about 8 minutes and after the money exchange, I had been gone for maybe 30 minutes. Good thing I left 2.5 hours early!)

The money exchange went well (aside from the ass-raping commission of 65EU) and as I mentioned I now have a cell and tram card. The former is mostly for emergencies or texting. It has seen no action so far, which is good since it's pay-as-you-go.

Otherwise work is going well. I do not have a verdict on the Dutch people. My landlady is French and she is very hard to read. I have been warned by all my flatmates not to get on her bad side. Apparently she has her moments. The general consensus seems to be "don't take it personally."

Random Dutch people, on the whole, have struck me as fairly rude. In fairness, I do not think this is the case so much as just my particular perception. They are a very direct people and it's not surprising someone like me would take it for rudeness. It's just something to be aware of. And I have had run-ins with the occasional random Dutch person that turned out to be very good experiences and they were exceedingly friendly and helpful. (But yeah, for the most part, they seem to be a fairly abrupt people. Not the biggest fan so far.)

And before you stop and give me shit that my supervisor turned out to be very helpful and friendly, I would tell you that he is actually not Dutch. As it turns out, he's from--drumroll, wait for it--yup, he's from Texas. Natch. (Ok, Houston, but I'll take it.)

If they used any of the footage from my shoplifting arrest, that would be great because my arms looked fantastic.

2011-05-30T13:40:00.001-03:00

Ok, so Dill Restaurant!

I had a seven course dinner with wine pairings for each course. It was the most expensive meal I have ever had, no doubt. It was located in the Nordic House in Reykjavik, a cute little historic house situated...well, not really close to anything, actually. Which wouldn't matter unless you showed up at 5:30 despite having a 7:00 reservation because you wanted to get the show on the road since you have to get the hell up at 3:30am...and whoops, you just found out they don't even open til 7:00.

(So the oh-so-helpful waiter told me the closest bar was probably "up there" pointing vaguely to the city center where I had just come from. "Helpful" and "friendly" are not words that leap to mind when I think of my waiter.)

I saw a Radisson somewhat nearby and went for a glass of wine. I got to chatting with the Turkish bartender, whose name escapes me, but was very awesome with an actual personality and entertaining stories. I thought of the drunk Irish man from my previous evening and wanted so badly to show him what interesting people are like.

These also kept me company, they were quite nummy, whatever the hell they were.

So closer to 7:30 I went back to Dill. The restaurant itself is a tiny room within the Nordic House that seats 30; because the courses are so specialized and the place is so tiny, they basically have to make the diners keeps pace. So I was by myself but forced to spend from 7:30 until 11:30 eating. That part was actually pretty goddamn annoying. I love to eat leisurely and relish every part, I do, but this was ridiculous. It did end up working out in my favor, however.

I finished at the same time as the group of Icelandic businessmen to my left, who had only had the 5 course dinner (but who got there before I did). As I may have mentioned, Iceland had been much colder than usual, and the wind made it especially brutal. I had a jacket, but it was hardly a match for the wind that night. I started to leave, cracked the door open...and yeah, I said no. I came back inside the main room (mostly a gallery for the House, the restaurant was its own little room) and the businessmen were all in a group and leaving. I fully admit it, I walked right up and said, "This might be inappropriate, but by any chance are you going to be driving by the city center?" IT WAS REALLY COLD, GODDAMMIT.

I'm sorry, I had just spent the better part of four hours next to these people at dinner and based on their conversations, I guess I just wasn't worried. And sure enough, they turned out to be a bunch of IT geeks celebrating something with their boss that I cannot remember. So I picked a very safe group of guys. I left with three of them and they coincidentally chose a bar for drinks that was literally one block from where I was staying. I stayed for one drink but didn't want to crash the party--and goddamn it was bedtime--so I thanked them politely and left.

So even though I had to spend 4 hours eating dinner, I didn't have to walk home in the bitter-ass wind.

Anyway, the FOOD was actually quite good. I loved one of the chefs, who would occasionally bring out my dishes. He was much nicer and had an actual personality, unlike my waiter. Ironically, later I discovered that both myself and the table of businessmen thought the waiter was giving the other far more attention and felt we were getting slighted. (But really, I think they WERE getting better service.)

Seriously, the more I drank and the longer I had to wait to get food, the more I wanted to steal this guy. I would have, but only two tables had him. There was one at the entry podium as well, and I thought about swapping so I could nick mine, but that was too much effort for a memento taken in pettiness. Mostly meaning I thought someone would see.

Anyhoo.

My view while I ate--this is around 7:30, btw. And if you look at the right-hand view, you can see the church from a previous post--gives an idea how big it really is.

This was a tasting (below) that came out first. Oh, and we got a glass of champagne prior to dinner. I was asked if I wanted it before I saw the menu. That goddamn flute of bubbles was more expensive than the bottles I usually buy!

I know this looks like a pile of hay and you know, it very well may be. But that little guy in the middle is bread with smoked mayonnaise. It's very complicated to smoke because they do not have an oven. So they are little labors of love but very, very tasty.

The second tasting (yes, second tasting!) was Jerusalem artichoke with Icelandic mustard and chives. Very light, crisp and delicious. I could have eaten a little more...I was also quite taken with the bowl (kind of an earthenware pot) and the sexy little spoon. Small pleasures.

Bread! Also known as the prelude to the actual dinner segment beginning. Each had its respective butter but I wouldn't have known had I not asked the waiter. He reminded me of my old Commodore 64 mystery games--you just had to ask the right questions if you wanted to get anywhere. So the white (spelt?) bread got the herb butter and the maple bread (NOM) got the pine butter (the one in the back).

This is celeriac and herb cream with löjrom, cress, goat cheese and "earthy" rye bread. This was the first time one of the chefs brought the dish to me, and he explained that they go out into the forest and pick the herbs themselves. This is awesome and vaguely alarming, but all that matters is how nice it tasted. The thing on top is foamy, if you can't tell.

Here we have marinated shrimps, buttermilk and whey.

An even better view. The crunchy bits (the whey) were quite lovely.

This is the view of the kitchen, to my right. As you can see, not the biggest restaurant.

Next up! Scallops, carrots, sea buckthorn and pine, almonds and chevril. This was great, and the chef came and poured the sauce as part of the presentation. This was also about the time the waiter brought the 3rd wine over, a Chardonnay from France that was lovely, but I was too shocked to say anything when he brought the glass over with some already in it?! It was bizarre. So much for presentation on that count...

This one was one of the stars of the evening...potatoes and mussel salad with sour pearl onions, fried onions and "all kinds of DILL!" (Get it?)

But just a very sexy-looking dish, to start out with.

And quite nummy. I had to fight off the waiter from taking it before I was done, and then he stayed away for about fifteen minutes. *facepalm*

That was when I got bored and took more pictures of the scenery. As you can see, it is getting dark. Even in Iceland.

Veal, cheese and ramsons. Confit onion and fried vegetables. I really enjoyed him, but I also wish the dishes had been coming a little more rapidly. I was getting tired/bored, however good the dishes were. When *I* think the waiter is dragging his ass, you can only imagine just how impressive the down time was.

Yup, taking pictures of the glasses. That bored.

Darkness continues to fall in Reykjavik. I get older. The Earth rotates.

Another dish! YAY! This is "Skyr, fennel and Melissa." Your guess is as good as mine. It was cold and refreshing, very delicious, however cryptic.

God this was probably really good but I decided once and for all that I am NOT a beet person. I could barely get half of this down. It had great texture, color and presumably it tasted great to those who love beets. I was not enchanted. But for the record, this is red beets, honey and rosemary with sugar-fried hazelnuts and cake made with burned butter.

So that was dinner. I'm really glad I did it, even though I think that will have to be my birthday present to myself! (I wasn't counting on the wine pairings being a separate beast, but you can't NOT do them. I also felt self-conscious about being on my own, so got the 7-course instead of the 5.) Again, fuck it. If you're going to do it, do it right. (I will repeat this mantra while living in my cardboard box.)

You can probably perhaps start to appreciate how thin my patience had worn by the end of the night, so somehow walking 20 minutes home in a bitter wind was just too much to ask, hence the brazen request for a ride to the city center. Something I would never do back home in a million years, but somehow there it didn't seem out of line. (Particularly with wine-infused judgment, no doubt.)

I only got 2.5 hours of sleep, so though I felt fine in the morning (3.30am, thank you), I was soooooooooo tired I wanted to vomit. So I curled up at the gate.

And took a picture of the board. I mean, I had 2 hours to kill, didn't feel like eating, and Keflavik Airport is not friendly enough to provide wifi.

So I took one of these to Amsterdam and have been in Holland ever since. Pics of my new home to follow!

We had a sick night, bitches.

2011-05-29T15:48:00.004-03:00

Ok, never mind as to whether this trailer looks awful or not. The point is there was no "red band" warning before the one I saw! They seem to be a lot more liberal about what's ok for trailers here in Europe! It's great but Cameron Diaz letting out an oh-so-casual "fuck my ass" totally startled the shit out of me!

I wish I didn't think Justin Timberlake was funny...he could be enough to justify a screening.

Anyway, what I was seeing was not a whole lot better...I went to see The Hangover II.

Whoops, that's not quite right, how did that get there...

Ok, that's the movie I saw. And frankly, it was just what I needed it to be. Mostly entertaining and borderline juvenile. I obviously wouldn't say I recommend it. (But was very stoked to note that Bridesmaids comes out here June 22. Woot! X-Men and the final Potter are coming out in a more timely fashion, yay.)

But Hangover II had some good laughs. It can be hard to watch comedies here, however, since the subtitles often hit before the dialogue, so people are laughing in weird spots to my mind. I actually missed a line once.

9.50EU for a movie, sigh. Everything here is ridiculous.

Another small annoyance--you can seemingly only buy your ticket from an ATM-esque machine and you have to have a card to do so. I had to ask the ticket-taker wtf. Apparently if you want to use cash you have to get it from the popcorn guy. Everyone and their goddamn dog was there today, however, so that sort of sucked ass. They all seemed to be watching Pirates of the Caribbean Part Pi, based on the 3D glasses being handed out.

Also, they assign the seating, of which I am not a fan. I forgot about this little quirk, so I got my happy ass assigned to the back row, no shit. The auditorium had a decent slope to it, however, so it ended up being ok, except for getting people assigned on either side of me, too. To be fair, it was a fairly packed show. But from now on, I have to remember to ASK not to get stuck in the dipshit back row... And there was no way you could go back...it was like 3 flights up and if you go back down you can't get back to the front, you are forced outside by design. Really crap.

Wow, that sure was a lot of bitching, huh? Well I did a little dress shopping prior to showtime to kill an hour, and here's one last complaint: the dressing rooms here are an epic fail. Yeah, they don't have MIRRORS in them. So you have to come out if you want to see how ugly something may or may not be. This was in multiple stores. And in one store, the woman was just standing nearby, so each time it was, "Do you like it? Why not?" I SAID I DON'T KNOW LEAVE ME ALONE.

And wow, I thought Dutch girls would have pretty big bums, too, but if they do, they do not shop there. The dresses were either too expensive (45EU for the cutest one I found, but it was not 45EU cute) or too short: it fit everywhere except one place, meaning I would not be able to walk or sit down without flashing cheek.

But otherwise, I got to watch an enjoyable movie and had an easy day. Back to work tomorrow. :/ (Not that work isn't also awesome, but I finished my project on Friday and I hate that feeling like I won't have enough to do.)

The master will kill you for this! But not fast. Slowly! Oh, so slowly!

2011-05-26T13:27:00.000-03:00

Ok, so the Blue Lagoon! This is THE thing to do in Reykjavik. I was on the first bus out so I could relax and spend as much time as I wanted. The unexpectedly nice part of that was we got there just before they opened, so it was empty and serene. Everyone was with friends but me, so I was all set to get in while everyone else was changing and chatting. I had the whole thing to myself for nearly 10 minutes. :O

So the hotspring (it's not really a hotspring, actually, it's..."geothermal seawater") is actually located between the Eurasian and American tectonic plates--so you're basically relaxing between two continents! It's quite different from a hotspring in one way because the temperatures are so odd--it's nice and warm, but as you wander around, you'll hit a cool or hot patch. And sometimes there'll be a cool patch around your legs, but it's warm around your torso. But regardless, very nice. And it was super chilly outside, so relaxing in the hotspring was ideal that day.

Oh, and I did not take these pictures. My hairdresser--whom I saw two days before flying out--told me not to! Oddly enough, he and his wife love Iceland and have been there 5 times in the past year and a half. He warned me that the air was so salty, you shouldn't use your camera because it will become corroded. LOTS of people were using their cameras. Whatever, I'm happy not to take the risk!

And it was salty--it wasn't bothersome or anything, but it was obviously noticeable. And nor was there enough that you floated--it's not the Dead Sea! The floor is an odd texture--nice and just a little rough. I found two parts that were nothing but soft white sand-mud, it was NEAT. It was hard to get it in your hand to bring to the surface for a look, it was that soft and silky.

And it was also NOT Japan. There was a wade-up bar that served beer, wine, sodas and ice cream bars. The Japanese would be beside themselves. Luckily, this was not Japan so I absolutely treated myself to a couple 900IS beers. (Yes, those are $8.50 beers.)

Another reason I'm glad it wasn't Japan is that initially, I didn't put sunscreen on. But suddenly around 11, you actually could feel the sun on your skin. So I went inside to put some on my face and shoulders. I felt weird at first (I mean, you're polluting the water!), but I value my skin more than their water. And it was a GOOD MOVE. I actually still burned on my arms and a little on my back where I hadn't put lotion since they were underwater. Not enough underwater, it turns out.

My hairdresser had also told me the hotdog stand there was THE. SHIT. And you have to get it "with everything." Awesomely, that dog was the cheapest thing I bought my whole trip. 300IS for a bitchin' hot dog (in Iceland, a mixture of pork, beef and lamb), whose bun was layered with fried onions, then the sausage, then topped with a delicious mustard and remoulade. (There is ketchup, too, but abandon be damned, I said NO KETCHUP.) And anyway, wtf is "remoulade," you ask? The interweb says:

Remoulade. This is an originally French sauce meant to be used with fish (we also love it with roast beef). The basic recipe is mayonnaise mixed with capers, mustard, herbs, anchovies, and gherkins, but I think the Icelandic version leaves out the anchovies. At any rate, no one makes it at home because of all the work involved.

That sounds awful! I had no idea. But it was really good, so whatever.

It was VERY. RELAXING. I had the hotdog after I had showered and dressed (leaving most of the conditioner in my hair, per my hairdresser! That place KILLS your hair, but I'd say it's worth it!) and then headed out around 2:15. The BL is 45 minutes away from Reykjavik, also known as "just enough time for a catnap."

Then I puttered around town and headed back to my guesthouse to get ready for dinner at Dill. That really will be another post. I wrote this one because I'm still waiting for B to get home. It is flat-out raining now, and I absolutely lucked out today by going outside for lunch to get an umbrella. I knew if I kept putting it off, I'd regret it!

(Seriously, going outside during the day is a big deal. Jesus, going to the bathroom is a big deal. Most of the doors require scanning your badge, even on the same floor, and there's a metal detector on the ground floor when you enter the building...and in general, the building is one wacky-ass shape that makes it impossible to find the same place twice. It's no UNT Music Building, but it's a close second.)

So THAT was a close damn save getting the umbrella. No idea where B's at, but not too worried. There's a young man at work I suspect may be involved...I have only recently (finally) acquired a phone but she's without until the weekend. I told myself I'd give her til 8:30, then it's time for me to get some dinner! I have been craving a greasy burger for some reason...it may be due to my rabbit-like lunches lately and my two mile daily walks! (Work is a mile away.)

But I need to finish up my post-work glass of wine first...

I could hardly drink my morning shower scotch.

2011-05-26T12:44:00.003-03:00

From 1700-2000, I took a "Sense of Reykjavik" tour, which the four of us agreed should be called the "Taste of Reykjavik" tour. (I mean, which would you rather go on? And it involves 3 foodie tastings at 3 different places!)

Our first stop, just really pretty. I could have done without the wind.

None of us could even guess what was up with these two, even our tour guide was clueless. I almost missed them, actually, but the other girl on the tour by herself noticed them. She herself was actually fairly annoying, but I'm glad these caught her eye. (She was okay at first, but after a few hours...just...ugh. And I'm not even sure I can describe why she was annoying...I think she was just talking too much, you know? I did not pay for this tour to listen to you...)

Anyway. Bjork's house! I could see a man inside on the second floor. I hope she knows him.

This is the Church of Hallgrimur. It is very tall--you can see it from nearly everywhere and there is an amazing organ inside, which seems to get played nearly every day. You can go up in the tower, but we did not.

There were some great statues nearby, each having good stories associated with them, nearly none of which I remember. This one is something about Thor's Dream? To be fair, the guide was trying to get us to the first restaurant before 6, so I think he forgot this one.

This is a woman rising up in waves (again, no idea why), but for some reason there are tiny people caught up in the tide...

See?

And this one was pretty cool. It's fairly famous (or at least the story behind it is?) because the woman (or angel, or God, or what-have-you) is protecting the boy. The ball (again, no idea where this comes from, but he told us) represents risk, and the boy holding it by his heart generally means that while the boy is protected, his choices are still up to him, and the risk lies with him.

The guide told the story much better, in any case.

And see, now we're inside the little restaurant whose name I never caught.

We had tea, coffee and some of the freshest fish! The pink guys on the left are trout, with sweet maple roll-up thin pancake things in the middle, and a mixture of fish-potato on the end. I'm not a huge fish person, but these were all fantastic.

Random, but I have a new respect for Icelandic. You always hear that Arabic, Japanese and English are the hardest languages, but I think this one needs to be added. And after having it explained to me how Icelandic works and where it comes from (which I will not go into incorrectly here), I cannot believe anyone can learn it. Lots of old Norse and craziness. I mean, look at this godddamn sign, will you?!

Just pretty streets.

More pretty. That is City Hall there on the right.

Better view of it. Also, this is back in my part of town...

This is basically five minutes behind my Guesthouse, and Restaurant #2 was here.

This. Whatever it says.

I think it was also some sort of historical house, but this was the room we sat in. They didn't seem to be a proper "restaurant," but it was hard to say what it was...

We had more tea and some lamb dishes. The guide described them as "lamb pate," for lack of a better description.

The grey one was more of a pate, the pink one was smoked. Both were quite good!

We walked back through the city center, where he stopped to talk to us about the House of Parliament. While we were there, this was going on with a bunch of kids. Who knows what they're doing, but there was loud music involved. Oh, and there were 2 men passed out by a bench on the ground. The police came, arrested them and marched them past us while we talked. Weird.

This was pretty neat...the guide was explaining how to find your way around Reykjavik, how the numbers go up or down (depending on where you are), but that basically this was the starting point. Zero, if you will.

We then walked down to the fishing wharf...for restaurant #3!

The view was incredible, needless to say!

This may not look like much, but it was a hearty lobster bisque. And damn was it good. Since it was pretty chilly out, this (and some bread with butter--Icelandic butter seems to be sweeter!) really hit the spot.

And no, I did not buy myself some mink whale! ;)

The tour actually went over (as he said it always does) but nearly to 2100! I was pretty anxious to get back to my guesthouse and see the city center on my own. Nothing is very far, so when it was over I was probably 5 minutes from my place. I dropped off most of my stuff and went in search of a happening-but-not-crazy bar. I ended up with Dubliners (seriously, there is one in every city in the world and I have no doubt they are not related in any way).

There was a fantastic 5 or 6 piece band playing traditional Irish music, which also involved singing and dancing. It was really lovely, especially when paired with the book I was reading and a good Icelandic beer: a Polar Bear. (Actually, Polar Bear was nothing special, but it was fun to order.)

The downside was the drunk (?) Irish man. He came and sat next to me and I was cordial and spoke with him. I am not opposed to chatting with others in bars, and just because I bring a book doesn't mean I hate conversation. But this guy was a serious douche.

It was rapidly apparent that he was either drunk or stupid (or both?) and I could not decide which. I kept turning away from him to watch the band, and when he did leave, I was ecstatic at the ease with which that success had come. But then he came back later.

Douchebag: "How's the reading going?"

EA: "Still going."

I seriously could only understand about 30% of what this guy said. And he basically started giving me shit (I think?) about why I was there. He flat-out asked why I was there.

EA: "Why are YOU here?"

Douchenugget: "Because I have to drink."

EA: "Well, I like to have a drink. I like to be around people, I like the music...do I need a reason?"

DN: "No."

And I think at some point he said something along the lines of: "Why don't you (we?) fuck off out of here?" I don't think it was quite as obvious as that (?) and maybe he was still asking why I was there, but I played ignorant because it was easier. Right around this time he wanted to borrow my book and read it--but he said he was a slow reader and should have it back to me in 10 hours. I was pretty clear about that part, not that it makes any sense. It is very hard to decipher an idiotic drunk Irish man with a thick, working-class brogue.

Best of all, given my dilemma, I happened to look up to the top of the bar at one point, only to see a sign that read: "The worst part of being a bartender is trying to decide who's drunk and who's just stupid." I openly laughed.

It finally ended when he came up a third and final time and said, "Are you looking for someone better?" I just stared at him for several beats, with a confused look on my face, and said, "I'm not looking for anyone."

Despite the annoying fuck-wits who may have from time to time approached me, this was the first time ever that I nearly openly had to say, "And you know what? You're actually offending me. I need you to GO. AWAY." And I would have had absolutely NO PROBLEM doing just that. But luckily, he must have finally sensed that he was one mousefart away from the get-the-fuck-away-from-me talk, and he stayed gone.

So I had another beer, another singer came and played, it was lovely and I headed home around midnight. It was a 6 minute walk or so and again, I seemed to have the whole house to myself.

I got up around 815am or so for a 900am pickup to the Blue Lagoon. And that's where I'll have to pick up next time! Blue Lagoon and Dill Restaurant!

But today is good--Mladić has been arrested and it's pretty much one big party here. I'm chilling some white wine and B should be home soon. We were planning on going to a social event tonight, but it has gotten really chilly out (for the most part, it has been gorgeous every day) with rain. :( Oh well!

That's the point of a pop quiz, Brewster... to surprise you.

2011-05-24T15:25:00.002-03:00

(I started this last night, but had to go to bed before I could add pics and publish...)

I am in the Hague! It is beautiful. Do not use Amex checks here. Or anywhere in the Netherlands. They do not take them. HAHAHAA, SURPRISE! Well, the airport exchanges them and I have a lead on 2 places that MIGHT. Sigh. Luckily my landlady is very understanding and my flatmate (who is here with me from home) is awesome and keeps offering to lend me money in the meantime, should I need it. (I changed $300 at the airport, out of necessity, but it was only 182 Euros. Awesome. NOT.) So I still have cash, but I didn't take out enough for the week AND rent, you know? So I'll pay rent when I get my $$.

But first things first...Iceland! First of all, soooooo glad I missed the volcanic explosion the day after I left! But overall, the place is very expensive and the people were going to get a B, but I have to give them a B+ in light of my last night. (That story comes at the end of the night I ate at Dill Restaurant--though certainly not due to the waitstaff...but still. Seven Courses. I had never done that before! Pics and descriptions to follow.)

So when I first got there, it was EARLY. Like, 7am. But I was met at the airport, no problems. I got dropped off at 1912 Guesthouse--and this was new for me--it was an unmanned guesthouse! However, it was a breeze and there were no snafus--I had the door code and the key was in my door, a dark little room with a single bed, wardrobe and I think maybe a tiny table. But you know what? That was one mother-fuckin' COMFY-ASS bed. (The duvet was mostly the star.)

Sexy red doors.

This is just the street name.

It's a three-story guesthouse, WC on each floor, maybe 3-4 rooms on each floor, and best of all? 95% of the time, it was just myself and one other girl, Alison from New York. I saw her briefly as I went in initially, and then again on my last night. (The morning I left at the ass-crack of dawn, two of the rooms next to mine had their keys missing--meaning new inhabitants.) But Alison and I agreed that while it was nice to feel as if we each had the place all to ourselves, in the backs of our minds we were also thinking, "Um, I guess it's safe?"

And certainly, for the most part, yes. Bad place/bad time can happen anywhere, but Reykjavik did strike me as quite safe and easygoing. It is, however, nut-wrenchingly expensive, "bad economy" or no.

I really liked staying at that guesthouse, but mostly because I always got the bathroom, I could set up my laptop in the main room and let Jon Stewart play while I sorted out my packing in my room...no one else to worry about. You can't always plan on that. :/ But it was a reasonable price for very basic accommodations in an ideal spot. It was secluded away from douchey-ness and yet one block away from good times.

This is the big Catholic church (not that big, actually) just outside my guesthouse. Makes for an excellent landmark. That and the House of Parliament, also one block away.

(The crown is leftover from Denmark. They didn't take it down/destroy it in an effort to maintain...good feelings, for lack of a better description?)

So when I got in, I got settled and checked my email, then took a 1.5 hour catnap in an effort to be in control of my jet-lag. (Which meant I woke up just before 11am when things were getting going anyway.) I walked around the city center, which was quiet and still mostly sleepy, and the main shopping street was about five minutes away.

This is the entry way to the long strip of foodie-clothing shops.

I did not go to Asia.

Pretty scenery while shopping!

Random.

Ok! Who wants to go to hell? :D Seriously, I was tempted to try whale. (It would have been for a nice dinner, not some whimsical lunch.) I am usually excited to try something daring, but I wasn't really feeling it. I pussed out, I'm sorry. I certainly didn't want puffin (but mostly because I hear they taste like liver, not because they're cute), but I was minorly intrigued by whale, I admit it. It's a huge dish here. I did not get to sample this time, and I am also okay with that.

I did not go in here, wishing to retain at least some of my cash.

I think what they mean to say is "Tea and Coffee." ;)

There was a lot of graffiti all around Reykjavik. (You have to click on the image, I think, to read the writing and to appreciate the glittery building top.) So much of it was fun and artistic, but there was also more than a fair share of "tagging"-type bullshit...

I did buy one of these, though. It was 990IS, which was basically like an $8.50 chocolate bar? But look at those tasty BITS all in it! I got the pistachio one. And nursed it for several days, well into The Netherlands. Worth it.

Afterwards, I hit a little gay bar/cafe for lunch, in an effort to support the local gayborhood.

(I was actually at the little place to the left--this pink place was called "Megan's" and is an evening joint.)

Oh my, I had the saddest "nachos" ever, I don't think the place was really intended for actual food. She even seemed a little surprised that I wanted food.

It was an interesting place...there was "queer literature," (see, off to the left) which she at one point let me know I was more than welcome to, but I never did get to peruse the offerings to see if it was in anything other than Icelandic.

Someone has very strong opinions about something. (This was written on a flyer for something (a music group?) on the wall next to me.)

My first vacation beer of the trip! :D

So it was a cute, quiet place. I had two Icelandic beers and caught up on my writing. Afterwards, I went in search of a good lazy-yet-informative tour for the afternoon in addition to Blue Lagoon tickets, both of which I found from the same place, for a decent price.

While waiting for my tour, I had about an hour to kill, but I had pretty much seen the area and was happy to seek out a nice spot to relax while reading my book. The tours tend to pick you up from your hotel, and I didn't want to walk all the way back, so they just picked me up at a hotel a block away. There was a cute little restaurant/bar, so I had second lunch, which consisted of:

A second type of Icelandic beer and...

...this. I think it was "French chocolate cake," but names really don't matter. I know that strawberry looks small and shy, but he was really quite tasty. (Wow, getting dangerously close to potential dialogue for the post-law-school bodice-ripper I plan on publishing in order to pay rent: "He didn't taste shy...").

Anyway, I took a bunch of pics on the tour, so I think I should start another post!

I want to go to there.

2011-05-24T12:19:00.006-03:00

Today is a GOOD DAY. I tend to equate my relationships with cities with certain types of people relationships. (None of which I have ever had, really.) Tokyo is the occasionally abusive boyfriend I just can't stop loving. (We get along 95% of the time but occasionally Tokyo smacks me around to remind me who's in charge. And I will always come back.) Austin is the awesome college sweetheart you still fantasize about. Boston is the guy a work acquaintance set you up with; there's no chemistry, but you keep going on awkward dates anyway because it's company and there's nothing else to do.

And Den Haag was starting to feel like a bad Harvard boyfriend--all pretense and reputation but no actual substance. My supervisor (who in fairness has been here nearly 5 years) is just about done with the place and he described it as being expensive for no good reason...to which I said, "Hey! I know that! It's Boston!" (Unlike New York, for example, which one can understand being so pricey.)

But today is a good day. I got my money changed (the story of what a goddamn pain in the ass that was is so coming in a following post), which was phenomenally easy to get to--another story there--meaning I had time leftover to get a phone (YAY!), get a train/tram pass, go to Centraal Station and figure out how to use the bus to get near my house (2.50EU instead of 13EU taxi). It meant leaving work early today but that was (whew!) fine.

Now I can FINALLY update this thing. I started writing a couple days ago, but there were PICS to be managed. I am also listening to 2 of my new itunes albums courtesy of Veloute and fam. I haven't bought my 3rd one yet. ;) So right now it's Adele's 21 and the Mumford & Sons album. Add to that: red wine, my leftover choco almonds and pretzels and several open windows in my Dutch attic (insert Dutch Oven or Anne Frank joke here) and I am a lot less stressed than I have been.

The airport, my man. The airport.

2011-05-18T09:05:00.003-03:00

Man. I hate night flights like I hate late afternoon/evening exams. Because you just sit there all day and frankly, you should already be totally studied up and should have already packed. So the day is just shot, a total waste.

I actually DID do most of my studying prior to the day of my last, late afternoon tax exam, but the day was still wasted with minor cram-studying or trying to convince myself IT'S COOL, YO.

But right now I kinda feel like barfing...it's not like I have much packing left to do, and quite frankly, I do still have 13 goddamn hours. It's just the stress of OHMYFUCKINGGOD. I will be gone for nearly 3 months and I hope I don't forget anything. Like seriously, this morning I woke up (at some ungodly hour) and it was the first time I actively thought hey, I should probably set my passport with my wallet. This is the sort of shit just now crossing my mind? We may have a problem.

I also think I get more high-strung and less flexible the older I get. Considering I totally cried on the first day of second grade because I missed the instruction about where to put my lunch box, you can imagine that these are the sort of days when you probably don't want to be around me.

And...scene.

2011-05-16T21:06:00.003-03:00

Wow, sure glad I left the bar when I did yesterday evening (6pm--and mostly I was there for their cheese enchiladas, thank you) and not 20 minutes earlier, cause that's when this shit went down.

I had to drive past it and for once, I cannot slight anyone for slowing down to look.

On a much lighter note, FRIGHT NIGHT, BITCHES!

I have so many issues with this, I do. I want to love Colin Farrell but just not sure I can trust him to carry this (when) it sucks. Why is Evil Ed suddenly a nerd? Where the fuck is Mr. Vincent? AND WHO THE FUCK MADE CHARLIE COOL?!!

Sigh. Nothing about it seems right. I could get all upset that they're getting it wrong, but you could argue that if they're going to re-make it, they might as well try a new spin. After all, if they're just going to replicate it, why bother at all?

(To be fair, I mostly don't think they should have bothered at all.)

But I am looking forward to it anyway and will just try to go into it imagining it is a whole other movie.

Thor's a homo.

2011-04-28T09:15:00.003-03:00

I am so grateful for Logan Airport's free wifi and the rule that you can totally buy alcohol as of 8am. FTW. Boston may have some shitty rules when it comes to alcohol, but every once in a while...

Bagel with cream cheese and a white wine, the breakfast of champions. So much for that diet...*cough*

(I take a Dramamine when I fly, so this ensures a fairly comatose flight.)

Well, I am done with half my classes, finals included. To be fair, one of those was trial team and one was a class that ended in March. But I turned in my professional responsibility take-home final yesterday. That was one goddamn joke of a class, it did FUCK ALL to prepare me for the MPRE. (That's the ethics exam I have to take prior to taking the bar.)

I may be taking my international law final at home if the registrar's office gets their shit together. I have never asked them a single question that didn't involve consultation with someone else who works there. Either they are all completely ignorant or always brand-new. Or both?

I also found out that the precious angel of a woman in the financial aid office who whimsically wrote off my remainder tuition for this past semester that wasn't covered by grant or federal loan *totally disappeared*. (For the record it wasn't much but it was to me!) :( God forbid they employee people who 1) know what they're doing 2) can see the bigger picture 3) go out of their way for students. That is SO not my school's MO most of the time... (though I do like my school mostly, promise).

ANYWAY. At the airport!!! :D Can't wait for Jazz Fest this weekend! I will be somewhat good and/or do some extra Jillian Michaels to go with. ;)

I did get a break to see a movie the other day--I saw Pom Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold. (Also known as the new Morgan Spurlock documentary--the guy who did SuperSize Me.)

I was worried it couldn't sustain 90 minutes. It's basically about transparency in the advertising world, specifically product placement. It's cute and funny and there's even some interesting "conflict," for lack of a better word. Basically, the movie is completely supported by product placement, but the point is to have transparency and have it be his own movie. But all the products (obviously) have their own contracts, so it gets a little blurry (in his mind) as to keeping a balance between his goal and accidentally becoming their bitch. So it's no SSM, but it was definitely fun and I enjoyed it.

Oh and I think I am going to LOVE The Killing. Only 30 minutes in (blame law school), but it's a very austere Twin Peaks so far. I know that's probably already a tired comparison, but it's true! It's the way the opening unfolds, cutting back and forth between the investigation and the kids at the high school and finding out she may not have been the most morally upstanding kids (judging by her acquaintances so far). Though I have yet to see an actual dead body, unlike TP. But whereas TP had a warm, swanky feel to it, this absolutely feels as stark as the new Wallander series--bleak as hell.

And I absolutely don't want it to be a "new Twin Peaks," I know it will be its own series, but I am enjoying the opening nonetheless.

Ok, nearly flight time!

Don't worry about that. I'm very maternal. And Albert's practically a breast.

2011-04-16T15:18:00.005-03:00

I have spent most of today reading and writing about International Economic Law. My first draft was 25 pages without examples (it's a supplemental study aid chapter) and I'm working on the re-write and hope to finish it over the long weekend.

Long weekend, you ask, what's that? Well, in New England, Monday is Patriot's Day. I looked it up once and I've already forgotten. I think it has to do with a battle somewhere, but it is my finding that the natives don't know, either. To them, Monday is Marathon Monday. And it is Marathon Monday for everyone and you fall into only two categories--you either run the Boston Marathon (they were already fucking up Boylston Street last night, I noticed) or you drink all day long. As big a fan of day drinking as I may be, this paper isn't going to write itself. (Though I keep staring at it, in the hopes.)

I do have two new albums I've been listening to as I work: Paul Simon's So Beautiful or So What and Lia Ice's Grown Unknown.

Ok. The Paul Simon album. I mean, it's decent. I think The Afterlife (the single most people praise as being "humorous") is obvious. Hell, most of the album is obvious. And I also find the religious overtones--even if they are darker rather than praising or preachy--annoyingly bleed through more and more. Hell, they aren't really even "overtones" anymore.

Overall it lacks the sort of lyrical nuance and mystery his older albums have. And with each passing year since Graceland, the music itself seems to get out of hand. Like it's almost overbearing on occasion. After reading that he was going back to his old-school manner of song-writing from the 70s, I guess I had higher hopes that it would be a little more stripped-down musically? So overall it struck me as disappointing, but I'm working on it.

I may be in the minority here.

This one's not bad, Rewrite, and he's certainly still having fun.

(I want to give Jimmy Fallon shit for gushing at the end, but I would probably look just as idiotic. Oh! And more on Fallon in a second...)

I don't dislike the album. And I would still go see him in concert in a heartbeat and overpay like a motherfucker with a giant grin on my face. If only I were going to be in town! :(

Here's hoping the repeated listens make it grow on me.

Lia Ices is an artist I stumbled on completely by accident while surfing the interwebs. The cheap description would be "Cat Power and Sarah McLachlan mixed together but still different." I read something like that somewhere. I get the Cat Power thing, not so much the SM. But I like this artist more than Cat Power, who for some reason often annoys me.

Anyway, Lia Ices seems to be a fairly unknown artist from Brooklyn, and she played at this year's SXSW. But I'm really enjoying the album. I always buy myself a new album during the last couple weeks of the semester to abuse while I study. I aim for mellow, for obvious reasons. Past selections have been Carrie Newcomer and Frightened Rabbit. I was going to opt for Mumford and Sons, I'm really curious about that album and have heard nothing but good things, but I ended up favoring the obscure.

Ok, back to Jimmy Fallon, or rather, his Ben & Jerry's ice cream. It's not as gross as it sounds at all.

I only had a couple bites in order to be less chunky myself, but it was perfectly tasty. Since they're clusters, if you didn't already know while eating it, I don't think you would suspect "potato chips."

I love being a frog in the warm sunny summer...but mostly I’m happy because I have you.

2011-04-11T23:58:00.006-03:00

I didn’t even really do anything complex today…but my brain gets fried exponentially faster when the things I study are out of my league. Like in tax law, I’ve been trying to catch up regarding depreciation and bad debts/losses. I get it when SHE talks about it but I can so tell that when left to my own devices I’ll be fucked. So I need to up my A game in the tax department. I’m delusionally desirous of an A in that class. Just cause I think the prof is awesome and it’s a 4 hour credit and I want to rock it.

And then I was proofing my study-aid chapter I have to write about international economic law. OH HAHAHAH. So this book series for which I'm writing normally reeks of personality and charm because the authors are so familiar with the material that there’s an offhanded je ne sais quoi about it...so then there’s me, with nooooooooooo fucking clue what’s going on. And you can TELL because the narrative is stale, distanced and sterile. I am working on it. I am also working on getting the SUBSTANCE right. Like I JUST REALIZED I kick off the “bilateral and free trade agreement” section by explaining what bilateral TRADE INVESTMENTS are. If you just glazed over, welcome to my world. I really do love working on this. I know more than I ever wanted to know about international trade law, including the WTO, the World Bank and the IMF. The Financial Times (always dutifully and mysteriously delivered daily at my doorstep but to which I have never subscribed), suddenly makes far more sense than I thought possible.

And! More interestingly, I also finally saw The Merchant of Venice! FMA had told me that they were actually doing student rush tickets (for some reason I thought they weren’t), which meant that I got a ticket in the orchestra section for $20 instead of $94. So I sent him a thank you and a tiny bunch of street roses (there is an awesome Korean vendor near my school and I selected the most antique-y looking pinkish ones). I had never seen the show and you know what, I have also never even read the play, sadcakes.

So I saw it for the very first time last week, and I was really intrigued by the story. First of all, it was hugely modernized (the pots of metals were each represented by a MacBook, wink), but obviously the little things didn't hinder the story. It was alarming at first to be confronted with such obvious anti-Semitic issues, but I can also see how it doesn’t matter that Shylock is Jewish; he easily represents any oppressed people. Especially important (and obvious) is the idea that it is his treatment in life (by these assholes) that forces him to act the way he does. It doesn’t justify his actions, but it’s one hell of a compelling reason. And who the hell wants to be the Christian assholes in this play, anyway? Everyone is pretty loathsome, although the women’s roles are mostly positive...but even they are rife with issues. The whole thing was just crazy interesting for me, as someone who didn't know anything upon going in.

Hell, I didn't even realize this was the play from which the “Hath not a Jew eyes? [...] If you prick us, do we not bleed?” speech is from. I think I knew this at one time, *cough*, but there it is.

And needless to say, FMA fuckin’ PWNED. Seriously, it was an awesome performance and, as appropriate, he got a standing ovation at the end.

But don't worry, I saw some awful stuff, too. Tonight I went to see Arthur. I have a thing for Helen Mirren and I think I want to like Russell Brand? I can't help it, who knows.

I never saw the original, and I went in with lowish expectations. But it was decently cute. To be fair, I was helpless before it. I mean, they had Helen Mirren and then they trotted out Frog and Toad references! I was defenseless...it was probably just the stress. (I mean, gads, I do know it wasn't actually GOOD, so there's that. It was just a guilty pleasure one-off, I don't actually recommend it and I certainly don't plan on telling anyone. Oh wait.)

Oh God, I pierced the toast!

2011-04-05T09:16:00.003-03:00

So I got to see F. Murray Abraham introduce (an actual 35mm print of the director's cut) of Amadeus! It was a smallish theater (about 100 seats) near my school I never knew existed. It's not a "real" theater but one the theatre district seems to use for special screenings and obscure foreign films. (I've only been here nearly two years, wtf.)

Anyway, it was pretty much sold out, but I got a front-row seat. Abraham was a very good speaker, very entertaining and I think he could have gone on for quite a while! It was at 630pm, however, as they had to rush him off for the mainstage show--he is in town playing Shylock in The Merchant of Venice.

And then a few days later, I ran into Abraham at one of my regular bars in the theatre district! I chatted with him briefly--he is incredibly laid back, easygoing and fun to talk to. Apparently he was raised in TX as well, which I found surprising.

And apparently I have to go to Italy for these...

I had said I was pretty sure nothing will ever taste as good as they look in the film. (Although I read that in the film they were just marzipan, and Elizabeth Berridge didn't realize she could just spit them out. She ended up eating about 15 whole ones though they were totally disgusting...she finally had to go make herself sick. Huh, well they sure LOOK awesome!)

And COMPLETELY unrelated, I registered for my final fall semester this morning! Estate and gift tax, business planning, advanced legal writing in connection with the Innocence Project, laws of war and of course my clinic. The former two are an effort to be well rounded and employable. I am looking forward to BP far more than the tax class, I can assure you. The laws of war is part of finishing an international concentration and the writing is an effort to have more/better writing samples at the ready, plus I've already taken a writing class with the professor who teaches it.

First time I got all the classes I wanted, sheesh...

Watch my mouth? You gotta be shittin' me!

2011-04-01T10:45:00.001-03:00

Slowly, things are coming together! I HAVE A SUIT! I wasn't even planning on getting a suit when I went out...I had a $50 Express gift card from xmas and was desperately in need of pants or a skirt, just in general. My most-often used pair of trousers has a bizarre and unfortunately-placed stain that won't seem to go away and my black skirt is slowly falling apart. I wanted to wait until I lost a little weight, but oh well. Easier to take stuff in than somehow make things bigger...

So! No pants or skirts, but I did get a suit and some shirts for it! It's a brownish-grey, so I like that it's different, and it's a skirt suit. Hooray! On the downside, my motivation to live close to work is doubly so now, since I don't really envision bicycling in a tight pencil skirt.

Also no place to live yet, but there are two potentially on the horizon. There is also potentially an attic involved in one of them. The rent is fabulous, but I asked for photos. I mean, fuck, does it have a WINDOW? :/

I also do not have a ticket yet. And prices seem to have gone up. :( Baby steps. SUIT!

And yes, it snowed bunches last night. It was very hard to get up this morning, Mouchette was curled up in my arms, purring LOUDLY as he does, and you can really hear the wind from the 8th floor. And I know I just have to spend the day researching and writing about foreign direct investment and the WTO. Who WOULDN'T spring out of bed?

(I would also like to note that while both cats did get up with me, ten minutes later they totally snuck back to the bed.)

I took a break from the research last night to hit my hipster Cambridge bar for a few beers and to read my defense clinic binder. So I haven't even REGISTERED for this clinic yet, but the guy in charge has already sent us enough emails in one week to yield about a 3-inch stack of paper. They are slip opinions of recent (relevant) criminal defense cases. I just stuck them in a binder and figured I'd have a go at it over beer soon.

Despite the workload, some of the emails do have messages like, "Read this! Extreme miscarriage of justice SUCKS!" So at least he seems like a cool dude.

But oh, let's take a moment to examine how sad *I* can be. So I was reading this one case last night and the charges seemed bizarre and made me giggle.

The defendant was convicted of murder in the first degree on theories of deliberate premeditation and extreme atrocity and cruelty, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of a large capacity feeding device, and unlawful possession of ammunition.

A large capacity feeding device? It just seemed really out of place, it amused me. (And to be honest, some of these cases can get awfully weird.) I was on my first beer and I can only pathetically offer than I had been reading about economics all day and wasn't in a "criminal law" mental place yet...?

I was soon joined by my bartender friend BW who had worked the lunch shift and subsequently came over to hang out once he finished his shift. I didn't say anything, just showed him the line and even he (who is very bright) laughed and said, "What the hell, like a trough?" (Of course, he's 24, from Maine and probably most importantly, not studying criminal law!)

I blame growing up with a parent who writes for the USDA, that's one excuse. Being totally naive (the nice way to put it) is probably more apt...

And you know, when I retire and write my novels for millions, it will probably be more interesting to incorporate some (um, illegal?) agricultural mass-feeding instrument, but in the meantime? In REALITY? First of all, context is a big red flag. It's a gun thing.

A "large capacity feeding device" basically means being able to fire off huge amounts of ammunition in one go, be it with a giant magazine or some other thing I wouldn't know about, but you get the idea. I think there was recent-ish legislation banning their usage (obviously). (BW looked it up on his iphone while we were laughing about it, it even brought up pics.)

So uh, I felt kinda dumb. BUT! If you google "large capacity feeder device" instead of "feeding device," well, you mostly get pics of big bird feeders and um, xerox machines. Again, context is a pretty important thing, huh.

Actually, there's one theory that the environmental movement of our day was sparked by the re-release of Bambi in the late 1950s.

2011-03-26T11:02:00.001-03:00

ACK! The materials for fall registration have been posted, meaning I have to choose my fall classes soon and I can also see what is and isn't available for spring. It's my FINAL YEAR! Which kinda makes me want to do this:

There are still a shit-ton of things I want/need to take, and especially if I'm on the defense clinic, it really limits my options since I have to devote an entire Monday or Tuesday to that. This might be stressful, we'll see.

And then there's the end of spring 2012. Bar review and a big wedding in D.C.! Whoa. But speaking of taking the bar...wow, let's talk about needing to get my shit together. As in, WHERE to go...

Ok, so you know how we all have that one (at least one) small talk question we hate getting? Like, what do you do? (Seriously, I usually hated that one.) Or if you're in undergrad--either "what's your major" or the always-awesome "what are you going to do when you graduate?" Lately, I have a new one. Most people know I'm not from here (alarmingly, I seem to bring it up as often as one might who was forced to live in Texas) so they ask me, "So, where are you going to take the bar?" Fucked if I know. I usually say, "Well, it kinda depends on who's going to hire me!" This is probably not the best way to plan where to take a $1,000 2- or 3-day exam, but there it is.

I do not want to practice in Massachusetts. For one thing, I'm pretty sure 1 in 4 people here is a lawyer. Also, I don't really like it. It's ok, but in a just-passing-through kinda way. If I were 24, I might feel differently, but I'm not, so I don't.

I hate saying "I don't want to practice in MA," because I'm afraid it will be like that time in undergrad that I said, "Well, I know I don't want to work in television." And we all know what happened there.

But I've been freaking myself out a little bit by reading up on the bar, mostly the Texas bar, and yeah, it scares the shit out of me. Take a look!

Day One Tuesday 20% (200 points) P&E and MPT (two sections)

Procedure & Evidence Exam (P&E 10%)
Multi‐state Performance Test (MPT 10 %)
3 hours total (90 min. each)

Day Two Wednesday 40% (400 points): The Multi‐state Bar Exam (MBE)

200 multiple‐choice questions
100 a.m., 100 p.m. – 6 hours (3hours each)

Day Three Thursday 40% (400 hundred points): 12 Texas Essays

6 essay a.m., 6 essays p.m.
6 hours total (30 minutes per essay)

About $700, $750 with laptop.

12 Essay Questions:
(2) Texas Real Property
(including Oil and Gas)
(2) Business Associations
(2) UCC
(2) Family Law
(including Marital Property)
(2) Wills & Estates
(1) Trusts or Guardianship
(1) Consumer Law

So let me also take a moment here to say um, oil and gas law? About the most I know about oil and gas law I got from There Will Be Blood. (Seriously, that milkshake line is all about the law of capture. Done.) And it's a BIG AREA.

Or I could practice 5 years somewhere else and then Texas will let me come practice there without the bar. I totally looked that up, too.

Sometimes I look at the morons around me who are Real Lawyers and go, well fuck, they managed to pass it. But then I remind myself I don't know how many times they took it.

Oh and I'm still trying to find a place in The Hague to live, my (hopefully) roommate is as well. Our luck is stalling a bit in this department. I wrote 14 emails yesterday, 5 nopes so far. :/

Ok, fingers crossed, off to go plan next year's courses!

It's aspirin with the "A" and the "S" scraped off.

2011-03-25T07:51:00.003-03:00

So I have two shows I do not watch, just so we're straight. And I was NOT watching one of them last week, and on this show, people may or may not sing every week (again, I don't watch, so I wouldn't know). But maybe they had to sing a song from their birth year, and the oldest twats on there were 1984. So out of curiosity I looked up my birth year.

WOW. I was pleased to see I was born in what must at least be one of the top 5 gay-est years for music, complete with the anthem itself, I Will Survive. Check it out: (and they are ranked by their number in the top 100 for 1979). I snipped out the crap I don't know or don't care about.

1. My Sharona, The Knack
2. Bad Girls, Donna Summer
3. Le Freak, Chic
4. Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?, Rod Stewart

6. I Will Survive, Gloria Gaynor
7. Hot Stuff, Donna Summer
8. Y.M.C.A., Village People

11. Too Much Heaven, Bee Gees
12. MacArthur Park, Donna Summer

16. Tragedy, Bee Gees
17. A Little More Love, Olivia Newton-John
18. Heart of Glass, Blondie
19. What a Fool Believes, Doobie Brothers
20. Good Times, Chic
21. You Don't Bring Me Flowers, Barbra Streisand and Neil Diamond
22. Knock On Wood, Amii Stewart

25. Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground), Jacksons

28. My Life, Billy Joel

32. I'll Never Love This Way Again, Dionne Warwick
33. Love You Inside Out, Bee Gees
34. I Want You to Want Me, Cheap Trick
35. The Main Event (Fight), Barbra Streisand
36. Mama Can't Buy You Love, Elton John

39. Heaven Knows, Donna Summer and Brooklyn Dreams

45. He's the Greatest Dancer, Sister Sledge

47. She Believes In Me, Kenny Rogers
48. In the Navy, Village People

50. The Devil Went Down To Georgia, Charlie Daniels Band

53. We Are Family, Sister Sledge

55. Every 1's a Winner, Hot Chocolate
56. Take Me Home, Cher

62. I Want Your Love, Chic

69. Got to Be Real, Cheryl Lynn

76. Disco Nights, G.Q.
77. Ooh Baby Baby, Linda Ronstadt

91. Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough,Michael Jackson
92. Bad Case of Lovin' You, Robert Palmer
93. Somewhere In the Night, Barry Manilow
94. We've Got Tonite, Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band
95. Dance the Night Away, Van Halen
96. Dancing Shoes, Nigel Olsson
97. The Boss, Diana Ross

If I could even sing in the first place, I couldn't begin to choose one. But damn, Donna Summer had a good year, huh?

Completely unrelated to anything, I was accepted to my school's clinical program for criminal defense next year! Very excited. And then my second thought was how one of my litigation coaches explained to us once that criminal defense attorneys are, in the public's mind, a step above used car salesman but below new car salesman. Literally, there was a study.

Well wtf I guess we couldn't all grow up watching the same awesome movies.

Yeah, yeah, so real life may not be quite the same, I suspect not. But I just have zero desire to be a prosecutor. And I will totally go back and delete this when the only place I can get hired is the DA's office. Because guess what, I also love eating and staying dry.

OH! And my criminal defense attorney friend back home even offered to let me second chair for him when I'm back next month (I'm still a student, so I get special certification, fear not for the unsuspecting masses). I thought that was super cool (and totally scary), so I just have to see if the timing works out.

And who knows, maybe I'll end up being totally wrong about liking this. Guess I'll find out next year, misdemeanors and felonies here we come. (Theirs, not mine.)

Martha? Rubbing alcohol for you?

2011-03-23T15:23:00.005-03:00

Very sad. In all honesty, I can't say I was a huge fan--not because I disliked her, I enjoyed her very much in her films when I saw them.

It may be quite safe to say, however, that she was more of an icon than an actress. And I get that, but I can't say I ever identified with or adored her. She seemed somewhat controversial in her personal life (ahem, I believe just last week I was talking about Carrie Fisher's autobiography...), but that never bothered me in the slightest.

At the end of the day, I was just never really too well acquainted with her filmography--I mean, can you believe I've never seen Butterfield 8? I feel like a failure as a cinephile, but I'm on it. Promise. And for the record, I still adore Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, that baby never gets old.

(Editor's Note: So I had this nagging feeling like I HAD seen Butterfield 8, and sure enough I went to Netfux to add it, and apparently I already gave it 3/5 stars. And honestly, even after reading the summary, I SO DO NOT RECALL THIS FILM. Maybe it says more about my brain than her performance, but ouch in any case.)

You know what? Fuck you! How about that?

2011-03-21T13:37:00.001-03:00

I think I have the beginnings of an ulcer (not as bad as it sounds, really) and why YES, YES that IS snow outside! Coming down like a motherfucker, now that you mention it!

To be filed under: FML and Boston, too.

Hey. You guys made me ink.

2011-03-19T18:16:00.000-03:00

So I only watched Limitless yesterday. I was hungry afterward, I couldn't help it. But it was a fun movie, I enjoyed it.

First of all, I don't think this is a very good film for the whole "just say no" drug campaign because I pretty much spent the next couple hours after the movie wanting that drug and being really jealous.

It's got a lot going on visually and for the most part, it's effective. There is one effect they do during the opening credits and then later in the movie that basically just made me want to punch someone, because it got old REAL. FAST. Shorter is (in this case, anyway) definitely sweeter, guys.

I also read a few reviews that said the visual effects and rapid pace seemed to be smoke and mirrors for the lack of structure. I disagree, but I do think the film occasionally buckled under the weight of trying to effectively tackle the book (which I have not read). I thought it did a pretty successful job, although I'm not sure about the ending. I typically love ambiguity, but I guess I just wasn't expecting it? But it was a fun movie with a couple squirm-worthy moments.

And I was glad to see that Bradley Cooper did a really great job carrying the movie.

This character, in the wrong hands, could have been really smarmy, weaselly or arrogant and unlikable, and BC kinda made it look effortless. He pulled off "charming motherfucker" quite well. I was getting a little tired of the smooth jerk type roles he kept landing (I guess The A-Team doesn't count, but I've tried to block that memory from my life), so hopefully variety is on the horizon.

That was a pre-emptive “sh!” Now, I have a whole bag of “sh!” with your name on it.

2011-03-19T10:08:00.005-03:00

So last Thursday through this past Monday, I took the fantastic Megabus ($9 down, $13 back!) to NYC to catch up with my best friends, D & L in Manhattan and E in Brooklyn. I was especially glad to see E because she and her hubby are moving to LA this June (for his job). Apparently they were at the tail end of finally buying a condo when this offer came in. What a difficult decision that must have been. (Really, no sarcasm!) Personally I don't think I could ever live in LA, and I really love Brooklyn (at least the part they live in!) but on the other hand, we'd all just been through a pretty brutal winter, so that memory was still pretty fresh.

We really didn't do anything taxing (although I am counting all those stairs in the back of my mind...jesus, didn't I used to live in Tokyo?! What happened?) or pricey, mostly just hanging out, relaxing and eating/drinking (mostly at home). I also knocked out Carrie Fisher's autobiography, Wishful Drinking, in my downtime (L's copy I plucked off his shelf). It's something you could easily read in a single sitting, a nice light read, despite being about her struggle with addiction (haha, I accidentally left out the "c" at first, which would have been a far duller book) and being bipolar.

Anyway, I completely forgot she was married to Paul Simon for so long! And I never knew certain songs were about her (She Moves On) or at least heavily referenced her (Hearts and Bones, Graceland, Allergies, in fact a lot of the whole Graceland album). Anyway, it was an interesting read. (And she also turned it into a one-woman show.)

I also commented on L's copy of Alex & Me, which I really love. The first thing he said was the first thing that always comes to my mind when I hear about Alex--how absolutely gutting his last words to Dr. Pepperberg were. Man, I don't think I could read that book again. But I wouldn't mind owning it, just in case...

So I also mentioned Peter Gethers' The Cat Who Went to Paris. The first one is probably the best, but it's part of a trilogy. I own all three but if you want to talk about impossible-to-read-without-crying books, that third one is a bitch. Because despite the title of the third book and probably needless to say, Norton doesn't live forever (at least not literally). And I don't know if purebreeds have a shorter lifespan, but it wouldn't surprise me, and Norton I believe was 11 or so? I could be wrong. Anyway, LONG story short, L had never heard of these books. His birthday is just around the corner, so a copy is already on the way!

We mostly ate at home, delicious home cooked meals and lots of red wine, followed by trying to top each other with the worst things we've seen on the internet or really inappropriate jokes. There is one website I simply cannot bring myself to post here. It is not quite as bad as "Two Girls One Cup" infamy, but it definitely belongs in that category. This was also just incredible:

And I learned that Manhattan public access TV shows hardcore porn after midnight! I had no idea who Robin Byrd was, but oh I do now. And apparently before Comcast came to town, there were no restrictions whatsoever! (Now they can't show actual penetration (though apparently this does not mean you can't show fucking), nor can they show, um, you know. The finale, shall we say.) But holy crap!

But most of the time, it's just the Robin Byrd show from the late 80s, early 90s, and I swear to god this is filmed in someone's garage or something. And porn stars come on and do a little show and then all get interviewed at the end. Time (or more likely drugs and alcohol) has not been kind to this woman and she is slightly spazzy, to say the least. (There's nothing explicit in the video, it's just a train wreck.)

I love how she never actually explains wtf a "dental dam" is. Not that I wanted her to show us, on the other hand.

So I mostly just relaxed in NYC, but I also got to try on my bridesmaid dress for next June for D & L's wedding in D.C., and it was not horrible at all! It is also a forgiving thing, though I still plan on weighing less by that time, something in which bar review will no doubt play a large role. It is a black dress and I get a purple rose. I also have to give a speech. Yay. And my dress has pockets for my flask. Just kidding. Sort of.

And Sunday was spent in Brooklyn at a giant flea market (neat stuff but really pricey!) with brunch beforehand. Btw, guava mimosas? A VERY GOOD IDEA. And we wrapped up at Beer Table, which I think I've mentioned before. The guy who owns it is from Carrollton, TX, and they have yummy beers and snackies. We went through two bowls of "roasted almonds with cocoa nibs" nom nom nom.

Being back sucks. It means I have to get back to work now. :(

Vince, there is no cure for a bullet in the brain. It is very fatal.

2011-03-18T12:10:00.000-03:00

It is very pretty out, I think I will go see a movie!

In my defense (ha ha), I found out I'm just witnessing on Sunday instead of advocating (that will be the following Sunday). So make it two movies, wouldja? Limitless and The Lincoln Lawyer, here I come. I read that the former is unexpectedly funny (in a good way) so I'm looking forward to it.

Kinda sucks that it IS so pretty out, but oh well. I choose movies!

Don’t knock masturbation. It’s sex with someone I love.

2011-03-15T09:01:00.001-03:00

How about an old post? This was the day before I left for NYC, Wednesday...

I'm so glad to know I still have at least a modicum of self-control. I finished today at 3:30, and while that sounds pretty reasonable, you just don't know the beast I was dealing with. It was like, a lot of research. Like a lot. And while I didn't ALSO incorporate her "pull these if you have time" cases (I PULLED them, but no, I did not INCORPORATE them into my brief, hells no), I got it the hell done well before her "end of the week" deadline. (Prolly cause I'm outta this dump as of 8am tomorrow morning!) And I ALSO submitted my application for the clinical program for next year, against my better judgment. It's a combination of qualification and lottery, and I would probably really benefit from it. But the particular area I want requires my presence a week before school, meaning hopping straight back from Amsterdam with no fun or recovery. (Yeah yeah, WOE IS ME, I get it. But still.) So maybe they won't pick me. If they don't, I shall take it as a sign to travel. ;)

OH! But my self-control was not logging into facebook to write, "I'M OUT, BITCHES!"

Maybe I'm an adult after all...but probably not.

So I have a crazy amount of work to do on my REGULAR research project, but NOT TONIGHT. AND NOT FOR THE NEXT FIVE DAYS.

Oh, and this week? IS RESTAURANT WEEK. nomnomnomnomnom. I had no idea til yesterday, so I snuck off from school (I'm not sure why I "snuck off," it's not like I was ditching class or anything...) and went to Fleming's. It's in the theater district, so pretty close to school. I sat at the bar, had a really attentive and personable bartender and THE BEST GODDAMN DINNER I'VE HAD IN AGES. I had the fullest tummy without being so full as to instantly regret.

I kept working on my research (as much as you can in a dark-ass steakhouse, tbh. Even the bathrooms were dark...) and did the Restaurant Week 3-course dinner for $33. (Restaurant Week means you get a separate menu with 3 choices for each part.) I started with lobster bisque (it wasn't cream-based, but it was surprisingly even yummier), followed by a petit filet mignon (and my awesome bartender brought me bearnaise at my request, no extra charge!) and dessert? I opted for the cheesecake with blueberry sauce. I really had to slow down about 3/4 of the way into the steak...wanted to eat as much as possible without pushing it and yet be able to accommodate that cheesecake. Damn, yo. My only complaint was the stinginess with the blueberry sauce...wth! I nommed it all up, though...it had a crust on top that reminded me of my mom's apricot brandy cake. DELISH.

(And that was all I wrote.)

Now I'm back from NYC but I will have to have another post for that! (I did very little other than relax with D & L, eat good food and do more walking than I've done all year, which isn't saying much, really...Oh, and wake up to and continue to read all about the devastating never-ending parade of horrors in Japan. Jesus.)

A hard man is good to find.

2011-03-06T22:20:00.000-04:00

I just sent my trial partner an email titled "hookers and motives" and it was totally relevant to my argument. Law school CAN be fun!

Napoleon, don’t be jealous that I’ve been chatting online with babes all day.

2011-03-05T10:08:00.000-04:00

I may have laughed out loud several times, but Take Me Home Tonight still gets a straight-up C.

For one thing, those were cocktail-infused laughs. For another, I doubt I would laugh the second time.

Topher Grace was good as always, doing his Topher Grace thing. Anna Faris was criminally underused to the point I had to wonder why they bothered. The chick who played the love interest was so totally forgettable, uninteresting and vanilla that I refuse to bother looking up her name. And Grace's sidekick buddy was decent and probably the most humorous character in the film, but we're talking hardcore Poor Man's Oliver Platt. It would have been awkward, I suppose, for Grace to have a 48-year-old bff, so they couldn't actually hire Oliver Platt. But wow.

I do respect the movie's R rating, because this is the type of film that usually reeks of PG-13 desperation. There was an immense amount of swearing, one gratuitous boob scene, and plenty of cocaine. (Apparently the coke usage was controversial? Dude, you already have your R rating and you're pretending it's the 80s, go for it. Anyway.)

And not to nit-pick, but you know, it really felt more like 1991 somehow, not so mid-80s.

Overall, glad I saw it. But it just utterly lacked the sort of charm that made Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist surprisingly cute. I don't think the setting or decade matters as much as the characters and writing. If you get the latter two right, you can make it the 80s, present day or whatever, who cares. This one was basically a fail.

I'm not sure if I get to see The Adjustment Bureau tonight. I got an email this morning from the professor for whom I'm doing research, and she is in dire need of additional research on a completely different topic by the end of the week. HAHAHA. SURE WHY NOT.

Seriously, the email goes something like:

Can you look up [topic] and [topic] regarding [other issue, none of which I have any background in] and cite all this [crap I've listed below]? And prepare summaries on [this case] and [this case] and [this other case or 5] and relate it back to [that original topic you know nothing about]? kthxbai.

Only way longer.

And naturally, those are not case NAMES but more like "the case involving that thing with those people."

So that kinda woke me up this morning.

On the downside of completely unrelated things, I got an email today about an upcoming show for Paul Simon in Boston. Same week as the Katy Perry show, neither of which I get to see since I won't be in town. Seriously? Paul Simon, too? FML. Though my wallet is eternally grateful.

On the plus side, again, related to nothing, I had 3 inches of hair snipped off yesterday (at the stylist's suggestion...Boston and my hair are not getting along it would seem) and he made it a nice darker auburn color for spring. So I can be all pretty while I'm holed up in my hovel reading and shit.

But today is going to involve Indian buffet, that's all I know. Well, and lots of reading. LOTS.

I shall call him squishy and he shall be mine and he shall be my squishy.

2011-03-01T21:36:00.005-04:00

Whew, I did 90 minutes of Bikram yoga today! It's 104 degrees in there and then you do 26 postures, 2 sets each, and 2 breathing exercises at the beginning and end which kinda sorta make you dizzy. It kicks my ass Big. Time. I did it for a while in Fort Worth--and it was easier then!! That was 2008 but wow those 3 years made a (totally depressingly) big difference, it would appear.

I have a 10 day pass so I need to really make it work...this shit's expensive! :O But if I use my booze money that's a help. ;)

I hope I can stick with it, though, because once I finished, I swear to god I was thinking, "I DESERVE A DOZEN CUPCAKES AND A HUGE BOTTLE OF RED WINE." I think that idea may not be my best.

Ok, I gotta get back to my shamefest known as AI. That's right, I'm owning it to the extent that I will abbreviate the title but I refuse to actually use the full title. I've been reading tax and professional responsibility all day, this is just what I need. INSIPID, SHALLOW PERFECTION.

So tonight the top 12 guys sing, the top 12 girls sing tomorrow, then they announce the final 12 (6 of each, sadly) on Thursday. I say sadly because there are about 4 guys I really adore but I couldn't name you a single chick right now. They were just all MEH to me somehow. Probably cause I'm gettin' old, don't recognize the songs and I FUCKING CRINGE when someone (one of the girls) goes, "I've never heard a Beatles song in my life!" Honey, I assure you. You have. But when you do that, not only do I want you gone, I want to physically slap you. I'm not violent, but your dream is to sing? I give the fuck up.

Anyway, this dude is Casey Abrams and he is TOTALLY my favorite. He can play and sing anything and he's goofy:

(Not worth watching after he finishes playing, it was just the only clip I could find.)

AND HE PLAYS THE STAND-UP BASS. FTW. (Most girls go for a guy with a cool car...me? I go for a stand-up bass. Which may be why I hang out in jazz clubs when I can.) ANYWAY. I'm sold, he's got my vote! ;)

Also, some night I'll probably have way too much to drink and tell you about how I think this show has made me start to like J-Lo, I NEVER THOUGHT THAT WAS POSSIBLE. Even funnier is that D does, too, and for some reason she was always TOP on his uber-celebrity-shit-list. (You would probably have to microwave kittens to top Mariah Carey on MY list, but whatevs.)