First Day Back

What an odd sort of feeling one gets when walking the halls of an old, familiar building. It is almost eerie, the sensation I mean, to go back to a place you once inhabited, and act as if you never left. I suppose a weaker sensation hit me upon my return to Green Hall for my 2L year of law school. It really didn't feel like a new year had started. There was no orientation or "welcome back" ceremony that some places put on. And believe me, I'm not advocating for a week long orientation for law school every year. I did that once. I'm done. Never again.

But I suppose the best way to describe my time so far in law school, is to imagine the myself at an airport. The application process is like buying an airplane ticket. I chose my destination (law degree), and I gave them my credit card information (application info) and I hoped I had enough to purchase the darn thing and that my card wouldn't be denied. So I show up to the airport with all my luggage (books and things), hand them my ticket (necessary forms) and they point me in the general direction of where I'm supposed to go (orientation). Here's where the metaphor really sinks in.

My first year was all that time walking towards the terminal and going through security. I had to jump through hoops and walk through the metal detector and all that jazz just to get to the hallway, leading me to my gate. And I kept walking and walking and then summer came - BAM! I hit that moving sidewalk at a fast pace and next thing I know, the summer is over, the time flew by, and I'm still walking, ever diligent towards that next moving sidewalk which will take me to that final stretch of runway carpet. And the whole time I'm wondering why I chose the flight with the boarding gate at the end of the hallway.

This second year feels not like the first, and not like a new year. It simply feels like I'm still walking. It's like that feeling when you step off that airport moving sidewalk. My pace hasn't changed, but it feels like time has...somehow.

So here's to the new school year and it's unchanged landscape. And to students everywhere - keep walking. :)

Life Without the Internet

For those of you wondering where I've been for the past few days, or rather, for those of you who haven't noticed my disappearance, let me tell you where I've been. I've been "off the grid." Which is a major exaggeration. Basically, I went without internet for a little while. This was not voluntary, mind you. (I had to wait for the internet guy come and hook it up in my apartment.) And I found out a couple things.

First, my inbox almost exploded in that time frame, as did everything else. I returned to a plethora of new emails, Facebook notifications, computer updates...you get the picture. And the whole time I was disconnected, I worried about missing a professor's email, or a friend's update, or not being able to track the textbooks coming my way. It was terrifying, but I decided to cheat and check - just once for a few minutes to make sure nothing important was missed. And I also did this while picking up some laundry. Which brings me to my next point.

I. Got. Stuff. Done. You have no idea.

I started out having nothing to do, which was completely false. I had a ton of stuff to do, like put all my stuff away, reorganize my apartment, go through school papers from last year, dust, clean, sweep, mop, and shop for groceries. Now, if I had the internet up and running, I probably would have procrastinated and watched Supernatural on loop. I got all my textbooks sorted and printed off my schedule. I did laundry and sorted my shoes. The list goes on. If the experience weren't so darn terrifying, I might just call it liberating. Because if nothing else, my apartment looks fabulous.

So all in all, it was a very productive couple of days. And today was filled with checking emails, Facebook, and watching Supernatural. So there's that. :)

My Last Day

For those of you who remember the popular TV show Scrubs, I hope you get the reference in the title. If you have no clue what I'm talking about, let me briefly explain. Every Scrubs episode was entitled "My...whatever" E.g. My First Day, My Unicorn, My Big Brother, etc. And in the first season, the last episode was titled "My Last Day" because it was J.D.'s last day as an intern, and the next day he will be a resident. And the reference fits, because today is my last day as an intern, and tomorrow, I will be a 2L (2nd year law student). And just like J.D., I'm reminiscing on my short (three months) time here.

So what have I learned? Hmmm...as far as the law-related stuff goes - a LOT. However, that is probably boring to the average reader, so here's what you REALLY learn at an any internship.

1. Coffee is king.

This may seem like an unimportant rule, but treat it with respect. Seriously, every office has it's food/drink staples upon which it relies, and I assume, runs. But coffee, my friends, is king. There is always coffee. You do not screw with that EVER. I believe the punishment is a day in hell, which is where you'll be if there is no more coffee in the break room.

2. Free food is the best way to a co-workers heart.

This goes for any office. Sometimes there are specific expectations to this one. For example, this summer, the office is located behind a Daylight Donuts shop. That means donuts are a treat often called for. My last job, it was 1/2 price drinks at Sonic. And even after a year and a half, I still know the employee's drink orders. It may be Starbucks, or McDonalds, or maybe a cute little sandwich shop. You're probably thinking - THAT'S AWESOME! It is. And it is the one, sure-fire thing to make the office happy, no matter what.

3. Assistants can make or break you. Same goes for the court clerks.

They warn you about this in law school, and frankly, this should probably be #1 on the list. If you've just come out of your first or second year in law school, you know nothing. I'm not saying that to be mean, but I heard this from my Civ Pro professor my first year, and I truly believe it. She said, "You are 1Ls. You know nothing." And guess what? You may think because you took a whole class on (and in your mind are an expert on) Trust and Estate Law, but those assistants? They are your best resource, because you've probably never put together a trust before in your life. Same goes for a motion, etc. And even if you have, you probably haven't drafted one the way THIS firm drafts them. So make friends with them. Be nice. Don't pull rank. Shed that ego before you walk in the door, and let the nice people help you get oriented. They will usually be some of your best teachers.

4. But don't do everything.

So now that you know to be nice and courteous to the office assistants, and you are getting the hang of how things run in your workplace, you need to step it up. Meaning - don't be a pushover either. If you need to be researching and drafting, delegate the formatting and editing to the assistants. Dictate and have them write the letter. That's their job, so let them do it, and you can do yours. Don't be that pushover who does everything themselves. You will get nothing done.

5. Follow the dress code.

I'll be honest. The office I worked for this summer was semi-casual. Which was great. I didn't have to wear a suit everyday. Thursdays and Fridays we could wear jeans. Which was nice, except when I decided to wear something extra nice on Friday, even if I just felt like it - it wasn't great. Because when the whole office is wearing jeans, and the client sees you all dressed up nice, odd looks come your way. You can almost hear them thinking, "Why is she dressed up? Why is everyone else casual?" It makes them question things they shouldn't, and besides, the office is a unit, and you need to follow suit. No pun intended.

6. Never underestimate a smile, a thank you sticky note, or a genuine verbal "thank you."

In the adult world (which includes interns apparently), people respond to these things. BIG TIME. They love them. The assistants, your boss, the janitor - I don't care who it is. They love thank you notes. Send them. Even if they are on a sticky note stuck to their computer monitor. Even if you add a little smiley face after a general note. Even if you just have a generally happy disposition - it does wonders to the people around you.

7. Take a genuine interest.

I don't care if you don't have kids. If a co-worker loves to talk about her cat or kid or what they did that weekend - talk to them about it. Because d even if you weren't interested in those things before, you should be Why? Because chances are, you are not only a co-worker, but their friend. I get excited now when friends/co-workers tell me their son or daughter took their first step, said their first word, or let them take the cutest picture last night. They are genuinely excited, and I am genuinely excited for them. Your network of friends is probably broader than you think - be a true friend back.

So that is what I've learned from being an intern. I've held a few of these internship-type things for a few years, and this is what I've gleaned for the most part. And on my last day, I couldn't be happier to have experienced it. :)

We're All Secretly Judging YOU

I'm secretly judging you. No, seriously, I am. I don't even have to talk to you to do it. I can walk past your office and see the crayon drawings and ceramic cats on your shelves to know you are a (grand)parent and cat lover. I can pass you on the street, see you in a monogrammed blue polo and khakis texting on your iPhone, and I know you work at Best Buy and probably bought that phone with your employee discount. You may not have, and maybe you dressed like that to be ironic. I don't know, but I'm going to assume and think that way anyway. And this is what I look for - I've trained myself to hone in on the details.

As a writer, I view details as the most important part, which is why I believe that what you own, or rather, what you buy is an extension of yourself. Your stuff generates an impression on others - whether you want it to or not. I don't think people quite understand this concept, which is why I'm going to attempt to explain it.

Let's imagine I introduced you to my friend Steve. When you see Steve, he is wearing a plain white t-shirt, blue jeans, and no shoes on his feet. He is standing in white space, not a white room, but white space. (Remember this is imaginary).  Now, if this is all you see/know about Steve, how can you create an opinion about him? I mean, maybe if you talked to him you could create an idea in your head that is Steve. But without saying even a simple hello, you can deduce very little about him. Most of us, after all, are not Sherlock Holmes.

Now let's imagine you meet Aaron. He is wearing a tailored, European cut, dark grey, pinstripe suit. He wears turquoise socks to match his tie. He wears caramel-colored leather shoes. He sits in a black  pleather chair, with papers and files stacked in stacks, some of which are slightly askew on and around his desk. There are a few books on a single bookshelf along with a miniature statues of Buddha and Osiris. The shades are closed, and there are no pictures or framed diplomas on the wall. Notice I only described the area and Aaron's clothing. I did not use words like "messy" or "neat". I didn't use any words to describe Aaron or his personality. But what did you deduce from this description?

Here are some possible answers.  Based on the description of Aaron's suit, he probably cares about his appearance. And if he cares about his appearance that much, he probably exercises, pays attention to fashion trends, or spends a lot on his wardrobe. He has a lot of papers on his desk, which could mean he has a desk job, maybe an important job. The stacks of papers and files means he has a lot of work, and he is fairly organized, but not quite OCD enough to fix the askew papers. He also has a few books, which may be all he needs. And the mini statues could be from vacations, which could mean he travels a lot - maybe to really unique places. Or maybe he just went to Orlando. The closed shades could mean it's sunny, or maybe he just likes florescent light. And the lack of decoration on the walls (as well as the fact that I pointed out that something is missing) could mean that he doesn't want to spend a lot of time there. Maybe he doesn't spend a lot of time there. Maybe he just doesn't see decorating his office as important. I could go on.

But see? In six sentences I described a scene with a person, in his work habitat. And all those deductions, plus quite a few more, made an impression on you, and you created an idea of who Aaron is in your mind, and you've never met him. Steve, on the other hand, was a lot harder to deduce, because there was virtually no "stuff" around him from which to glean information.

We all do it. Silently. Secretly. We can't help it. But the reason I point it out, is to remind everyone that the details are important. And sometimes, it's important to put on jeans and flip-flops instead of pajama pants and slippers to go to the grocery store. :)

The Importance of an English Degree

I've heard all the jokes and suffered through all the "What are you going to do with an English Degree?" questions that, said with that presupposing tone, are incredibly stupid. FYI - when you ask one of us that question, we are smart enough to read between the lines and realize that what you're really asking us is: "What kind of job can you get, and does it make any money, and are you REALLY spending thousands of dollars for a degree that is...well...pointless?" Bless your heart.

Now, I realize that I went on to law school, but that didn't become apparent until high school. I've known since I was 10 years old that I wanted to study English. In fact, that English degree is something I'm very proud of - here's why:

1. This isn't an "easy" major. Check out this link below:

http://education.yahoo.net/articles/most_demanding_majors.htm  

On this list of the most demanding majors for college students - Arts & Humanities are #4, just behind #1 Engineering, #2 Physical Sciences, and #3 Biological Sciences. So folks, what English majors' study may be VERY different from math and science, but it is still pretty demanding in terms of time, effort, and difficulty. We don't do labs, but we write 20 page papers. We don't spend an hour on a difficult Matrix theory problem, but we will spend that much time reading, taking notes, and analyzing a particular passage from a research paper.

2. What we learn is different, but not unmarketable.

Most, if not all humanities degrees require a language component. By this, I mean we have to learn a foreign language that we aren't already fluent in.  One of the ideas behind this is: learning another language helps you better understand your own, but employers like it too. In fact, many require it - and with jobs becoming more and more globally based, US students should make an conscious effort to learn multiple languages. 

English majors usually study the development of the English language. We learn Old English, Middle English, etc. PLUS another language like German, French, Spanish, or Mandarin. Then we read and read and read and then write and re-write and edit and keep going until BAM! Suddenly we're catching dangling participles, repeat words, lack of an introductory paragraph sentence, and a plethora of commas and adjectives. We are studying languages, deeper meaning in literature, themes that get to the heart of a societies' moral understanding, and how to engage a reader with nothing but squiggles on a page. So what do you think we can do with that?

I'll tell you. We call it communicating effectively. We can get our thoughts across in a well-worded, educated manner. We can go into advertising, marketing, and communications fields if we wanted to. We can teach all over the world. We can go into other professional fields like law. We can, quite frankly, do almost anything with an English degree. Because while your children are texting/Facebooking something like: "CU LTR i just dont c y people dont say wut they mean i mean you have no idee how RDUE that is!!!!", we still take the time to appreciate how not to seem/look like a monkey just learning to type via text. (Although, if a monkey figured out how to type the above sentence, I would be impressed.) We care about how we appear to others through communication.

And you know who else cares? Employers. They want someone who sounds intelligent. Someone who doesn't need to be told to end all sentences in periods or indent paragraphs for formal letters. And if they have to choose between the guy who can write worth a damn and us...well...they want us.

3. We are creative.

We really are! We are taught logic and analytical skills AND creative writing. We have to have an innovative mind. Our imaginations know no bounds. We pick up on subtleties and details. We are taught to look at issues on a global scale. We can write a paper on any number of topics stemming from a single book. Heck, I once wrote a twelve page paper on a single sonnet. I've also researched Native American Language usage in film on a global scale. So if you think we are unable to write, talk, or research anything other than Shakespeare or Faust - you are WRONG.

4. We are the future of your entertainment delights.

This may be the most important one of all. We are the future Joss Whedons, Steve Moffats, JK Rowlings, Dan Browns, editors at Simon & Schuster, Superbowl commercial makers, librarians, and that wacky middle school English teacher you swore was Warren Zevon incarnated.

That Avengers movie you saw last year and LOVED - well, it had to be written by somebody. And Stan Lee had to create and write the comic books before that. A whole lot of somebodies are writing your favorite TV shows and novels. And not all of them are English majors, but I'm willing to wager a fair few of them are. We can make you sob, chuckle, grin, and scream. And quite frankly, so me an engineering student who can do the same thing in three pages or less. I can make you sad in a six word story: For Sale: Baby Shoes - never worn. (Note, I did not come up with this, but someone else did. They are the infamous, Anonymous.)

So when people ask the inevitable question: "What are you going to do with an English degree?" Just say: I can do anything - just watch me.Then go do something amazing. :)

To be or not to be THAT Person with an e-Reader

So lately I've been considering the possibility of purchasing an e-reader. More specifically - a Kindle Fire HD with all the features. But a moral dilemma has presented itself and I cannot ignore it any longer. In these types of situations, I usually make a list. Yes, I'm that type of person.

So here's the wonderful things about e-readers - they are a portable library. Literally. I have the best works of literature for free, and new releases at my fingertips - at 1/3 of the price no less. Dan Brown's newest conspiracy theory extravaganza? Eight bucks and done, at my house, in my bed, on a Saturday morning. Same book at a bookstore in hardback? $21.99 plus tax and the gas to drive to Wichita - bleck! I can also watch Supernatural marathon-style on Netflix anywhere without taking twenty minutes to setup my laptop at Java Break. And I can play Fruit Ninja, hypothetically stalk my favorite celebrities on Twitter (I say hypothetically because I haven't been on there in ages...might need to update my account actually.), and have Facebook update me that all my friends are getting married, engaged, and having kids.
So lots of wonderful things right? It's like a mini computer or a large iPod and they look great right? Right...

So here's the dilemma. As many of you know, I'm a law student. This means I write a lot and study a lot and occasionally still have those Supernatural marathons on Saturdays. I love books - real books made of paper and ink and smell funky after 20 years on a used store bookshelf. I love those things. I like cracking the spine of a new book and feel the weight of it in my hands. I like writing notes in the margins. I love sticking bookmarks in my favorite spots. I like seeing them on my shelf - like a reminder of a great line, quote, or scene. Kind like hearing a song and a long lost memory pops up. I like not having the battery die or charging my "book" to read it. I like that feeling of falling asleep on my book at 3:00 a.m. in a weird contorted position, knowing that I'm not breaking a $250-300 piece of technology. I like watching Doctor Who on a bigger screen, and I have all the apps I could ever want on my iPod.

And dammit, if it's an author I like, I'd rather pay $20.00 on their book because you know what? It's worth it. Every penny. It provides more entertainment than a two-hour movie. And people pay that price all the time for a good movie - even more if its on Blu-ray. And someday, when I'm a published author or screenwriter or whatever, I hope there is still someone out there who thinks my work is worth more than the price of a Venti coffee at Starbucks. So I think I'll hold off for now.

The Problem with Summer Vaction - Parents Need to Read

So I just finished a great book that everyone should read called Outliers by Michael Gladwell. In this book, Gladwell looks at what makes "outliers" or the super-successful, successful. Think The Beatles, Bill Gates, professional hockey or baseball players. What made them so special? That answer in your head just now - I bet you got it wrong.

We like to believe that people pull themselves up out of nothing. It's our favorite story. A man who comes from nothing, became successful because he worked hard and became a "self-made man." Well...that's not entirely true. The truth is, that those people had a lot of help, a lot of luck, and worked insanely hard to become successful. There were also important factors they couldn't control, like the month and year they were born, how much money their parents made, what kind of primary school education they received, etc. Gladwell goes into more detail, but you can see the point.

For example, Bill Gates was born at the right time in the 1960's to get into the programming gig, his parents happened to be very well off, Gates went to a prestigious high school, and the mothers of that high school bought the school a computer before most people ever knew what one was. Gates also spent an inordinate amount of time programming on that computer and at others in his area. By the time he went off to start his own company (after dropping out of Harvard of course) he had 10,000 hours of time logged on computers for programming, etc. That is about how much time it takes a person to become an expert in anything. So he had a LOT of help, was born in the right three year time period, and his parents were able to fund this rare and expensive (at the time) hobby.

So now that I've got your attention, here's what parents NEED to know. This could make a huge difference in your child's life and future career.

First - Studies show that schools aren't the problem that your child isn't "smart" or "getting a good education." Guess what parents? It's you. Apparently, middle to upper class parents take a real interest in their child's lives. They ask questions at parent-teacher conferences, they encourage their children to talk to authority figures i.e. know that it's ok to ask them questions, even question how they do things. Parents talk to the teachers and even though some teachers don't like it - they ask the dreaded questions like, "Why is my kid doing so badly in your class?" This can help determine solutions to any problems the child might be having. You are not a nagging parent. And the low income-poverty level classes? They back down to authority figures. They don't ask questions. They may not be able to make it to that parent-teacher conference because they have to work. Their child is greatly disadvantaged because they do not learn from their parents to ask questions or take an interest in their own education. If the parents aren't taking an interest, the child may not either.

Next thing is vacation time. Summer breaks seem great for kids, but they are really bad for advancing their reading skills and academic abilities. Look at U.S. school terms they're 180 days right? Check out Japan's term: 243 days. South Korea's? About 220 days. And guess what, these countries are kicking our ass in math and overall education. And guess what? Studies show that reading skills drop drastically over the summer months in homes where parents don't have their child in camps, sports, reading clubs, etc. Poorer families can't afford shuttling their kids to a dozen summer activities - they have to work. But stimulating your child's mind during vacation, summer breaks, etc helps influence their success in school.

IThird (Yep, there's more) This one's simple. Teach your kids good work ethic. Kids who work harder, are more successful. In fact, scientists no longer believe in "talent" because most people start out with roughly the same "talent" or level, and it is the amount of time they put into their efforts. Think about that 10,000 rule. Those are the professional cellists, ballerinas, etc. People who put in 5-8,000 hours, they might be ok, but they'll probably end up teaching instead of professionally playing. And the ones who put in around 3-5,000 hours - it's a hobby and probably not something they will end up pursuing.

Finally, middle-upper class parents usually encourage their children to pursue their hobbies. If the kid likes to sing - they get voice lessons. They see this as an opportunity for something real. Lower income families usually treat these interests as mere hobbies and "cute" but not something viable that the child could actually do for real. So find out what your kids enjoy, and encourage it in any way possible. You might have the next Mozart under your roof.

So parents - read this book and start your kids off right. Some things you can't change, but science, statistics, and studies show that you can at least help give them a better chance. Oh - and IQ doesn't matter really. If your kid has an IQ over 130, they're smart. IQ of 100-129 is average, but good. So don't sweat it too much. It's what you teach your kids that matters. :)

The Stormy Moors of...Kansas?

Someone please check the calendar because it doesn't seem like August in Kansas. Heck, it doesn't even seem like Kansas! This is mostly because the 100 mph winds combined with a major thunderstorm doesn't exactly happen here - at least as I recall. Either we get tornadoes, or thunderstorms, and not at the same time. The last time I saw something like this, I was in Scotland in May.  Kansas is essentially behaving like Scotland right now, except with more sunny stuff in between.

But I have decided that I must be pretty immune to this type of weather, because my mother stared at the weather radar on her iPad - willing the storm to move I suppose - my father shined the flashlight in everyone's face, and my brother rushed around looking for battery packs. I, however, sat comfortably on a stool and continued playing around on Pottermore. This is a big deal, actually, because the next 5 chapters are open. :)

And watching the trees bend, the foggy mist mix with the heavy rain, hearing the wind rattle the house and slip under the garage door, etc - I realized that maybe the Bronte sisters went through this. Maybe a person had to go through something like this to explain a storm: a real storm. I considered the possibility that I should re-read Wuthering Heights to see if I could like it any better. I rejected this idea when the power went out and I took it as a sign.

I guess the point of this post is: I have  a few points:

1. If you live through a bad storm that seems terrifying - you should be able to write about such things now.
2. I should move to Scotland...or England. Maybe Wales....not Wales.
3. I now fully understand why a young girl could get lost on the Moors, during a storm in Victorian Gothic fiction*.

*Victorian Gothic is a literary time period where people did not wear all black clothing, listen to death metal, or wear weird contacts.

Screw It - Let's Talk About the Doctor

Ok, so I know that this blog started out with great intentions of not being a typical "blog" where I talk about myself and feelings and sh**. But after taking a hiatus that seemed never ending, after life got in the way, I decided to pick this back up and write with a new-found purpose.

Where have I been you ask? In a nutshell - working. I'm always working on something. Except for those lovely Saturdays where I don't care about what anyone thinks (myself included), and I will watch a whole BBC TV Series in one sitting. Such were the events of this past Saturday, and you should all get on Netflix ASAP and watch Ripper Street. Brilliant.

Right now I'm excited. Giddy. This is better than Christmas, and I cannot WAIT until Christmas because the identity of the 12th Doctor is Peter Capaldi.

If you have no idea who Peter Capaldi is, check link this out, then pop back here:

http://www.buzzfeed.com/ailbhemalone/reasons-to-love-peter-capaldi

You're back? Great. Now, folks, if you have never heard of the Doctor or Doctor Who, you simply must acquaint yourself with such terms. First, Doctor Who is the longest running TV Series on the BBC. It's a kids show, which means it's family friendly! And it's all about time travel, history, the future, aliens, saving the world, being clever over being brute, and it has some lovely drama and fun stuff for the parents too! Essentially, it's fun for everyone, and may I say, very well done. In fact, it should not be called a "kids show" because it plays like an action adventure movie! How can you beat that?

But back to the Mr. Capaldi, who seems to be getting some heat over being chosen as the next doctor. First of all, he's 55 years old, which is considerably older than the other actors playing the Doctor. This causes a dilemma for the teen fan girls who are still in love with David Tennant and Matt Smith (young-ish actors to play the role). But really, the first actor to play the Doctor was 55, and many of the previous Doctors were no spring chickens. So ladies - keep it together and just swoon over Benedict Cumberbatch for now.

But really, did anyone watch the announcement on BBC America? Capaldi was great! He embodies the Doctor, and as the writer Steven Moffat has explained - the Doctor is the same character who simply takes over different forms. So no matter what, Capaldi will not play "Capaldi's version of the Doctor" but rather, will be a new face, have new adventures as the Doctor. These are very different things, I assure you.

But Whovians everywhere are setting their clocks for the 50th Anniversary Special on Christmas Day. We can't wait for Rose and 10 to unite with 11 and meet 12. It will be magical. It will probably be better than Christmas. So mum, please understand that I will probably be home for Christmas, but if we don't have BBC America on the cable - I'm renting a hotel for the day. :)

So that's it for today - happy reading everybody!