Time to Rally

Posted on April 22, 2010 by Katherine Swanson

Intrusion

by Denise Levertov

After I had cut off my hands and grown new ones something my former hands had longed for came and asked to be rocked. After my plucked out eyes had withered, and new ones grown something my former eyes had wept for came asking to be pitied.

Hey gang! The poem placed above was read to my section at the end of our last class by Professor Motomura, one of the finest educators that I’ve ever had class right. I really like this poem. One L is like plucking out your eyes and growing new ones. I hope that I can still connect with the things that I was passionate about before law school. I suppose we will see sooner than later. Either way, this poem really touched me and I was glad he read it.

On a depressing note…

Large Coffee Bean Latte spilled all over the floor. Don’t you hate to see that? This was a very upsetting thing that I was not prepared for at 8 am. But don’t worry, I rallied! I came home and had a great breakfast complete with strawberries, iced coffee, and my hummus toast.

I especially like starting the day with fruit…

and breakfast isn’t breakfast without a side of law school…

"Now is as good a time as any to figure out whats going on in Civil Procedure" uh, WORD!

I still managed to have a great breakfast despite the “latte incident”. This was a much calmer “first day of finals”. Last semester Izzy nearly choked to death on a piece of food. Thankfully that didn’t happen today. Mostly she just hunted birds while I ate breakfast.

She is so intent. So that was the day. I spent most of the day with family that is in town. There was a trip to Sprinkles. I may have had a chocolate coconut cupcake, and it might have been delicious. Same old Sprinkles, fresh cake with awesome frosting and coconut. How can you go wrong? Additionally, this sign was on the door.

Sometimes LA is just too much. That’s about it and I’m off to Section 3 Karaoke Night!

Last Day of 1L Class!

Posted on April 20, 2010 by Katherine Swanson

We’ve made it kids! 3.5 hours from now 1L classes will be all over. I cannot believe that this semester is almost over. This has been the most exciting and academically challenging year of my life. I have mixed feelings about it ending:

Pro

I get to take Critical Race Studies classes (this was the entire reason I came to UCLA)
I get to pick the times of my classes meaning no more 9AM class
I get to mingle with new people
It means I’ve been at this for a year and it hopefully will get easier

Con

I’m going to miss my section. I’ve had class with the same 40-80 people all year long so its going to be weird not to see them every day.
I’m one year closer to adult hood and having to take the bar exam.

At this point, the pros out weigh the cons, no offense section 3/4!

I spent the AM working from Starbucks (big ups to McGuire Woods for the free gift card! I don’t want to work for you but thanks for the swag!) and then treated myself to lunch at the lunch trucks. Today I checked out the Yum Yum truck!

The Yum Yum truck comes to UCLA pretty often but I had never sampled it before. Today I made a beeline as I was crazing Thai food.

I opted for the drunken noodles with spring rolls and a diet coke. The spring rolls were a bit plain but the sauce had tangy after taste which made it really special.

The outside was great! Just crispy enough.

Then I moved on to the main course, the drunken noodles! They were really good. The noodles were just done enough and was mild but was still flavorful.

And to top it all off I had a nice cold diet coke! Hope it gets me all the way through my last Property AND Civil Procedure.

Off to my last classes! YAHOO!

Debate I'd Like to See

Posted on April 20, 2010 by Katherine Swanson

“Televise this chief justice and this president on stage at the Kennedy Center for three hours talking about the role of government and the future of our polity. This historic clash of intellectual titans would be the most powerful civics lesson since the Federalist Papers, and we could sure use it.” -Christopher Edley, Dean of Berkley Law School

This is something I would PAY to see. Additionally it would rectify a serious issue in this country, the inability to have a meaningful dialogue about anything that isn’t instantly reduced to soundbites. That is all.

Debate I’d Like to See

Posted on April 20, 2010 by Katherine Swanson

“Televise this chief justice and this president on stage at the Kennedy Center for three hours talking about the role of government and the future of our polity. This historic clash of intellectual titans would be the most powerful civics lesson since the Federalist Papers, and we could sure use it.” -Christopher Edley, Dean of Berkley Law School

New Health Post

Posted on April 20, 2010 by Katherine Swanson

I posted a new commitment to health entry about my finals cravings! My cravings, channeling finals stress, and treating everyday like a new day! Check it out!

Comfort Food.

Posted on April 19, 2010 by Katherine Swanson

As finals draw nearer I find myself seeking out comfort food like I used to. I have been able to maintain some semblance of health and wellness. I basically coffee shop hopped all day and made some progress then I came home and decided to treat myself. According to Clementine, its grilled cheese month, so I decided to keep with the theme…

Whole Wheat Brie Grilled Cheese with Arugula! Typical grilled cheese. Butter both sides of bread, fry it up with the cheese and the arugula and then mush it together.

YUM! I had dinner with the TV tonight. E! was playing an oldie but a goodie…

Dazed and Confused!

Love this movie. Matthew McConaughey’s character cracks me up every time. The music in this movie remind me of driving around the North Shore at 17. Nothing like driving around in the summer with “free ride” playing. I also treated myself to a beer:

I rarely drink beer but occasionally I get a craving which I’ll indulge. Tomorrow is the second to last day of class AND I don’t have my 9 am! It feel like finals, but its also the second to last day of instruction of 1L. I can’t believe its almost over. This year has flown by and I am so excited for the summer to get here.

And here is a picture of Iz while I was eating grilled cheese. She was very interested and clearly loves french cheese as much as I do:

Isn’t she looking slender?

Sugar Rush

Posted on April 18, 2010 by Katherine Swanson

What does one do when finals are looming? Learn to drive defensively and eat lots of sweets of course! I was lent a car by my awesome cousin so we went to all my favorite places: Clementine, Target and then drove the 101 to the 405, got off at Wilshire, realized I was headed towards Susie Cakes so we made a pit stop. All in all, a perfect day. Over by Ameba Records was a food truck I’d never seen before, Buttermilk. Clearly this was a good point to stretch my legs so I got out and try it.

They had some off the wall items, like a red velvet pancake…

I opted for home made cake doughnuts!

YUM! I got sugar all over my phone and my outfit but it was so worth it! There was just enough sugar to be sweet but not too sweet. They were gone in a matter of moments. I love a classic cake doughnut.

After my freeway adventure, which went well, the car was pointed in the direction of Susie Cakes so we stopped by and got another treat!

OK, so the red velvet was good, but it wasn’t as good as the pineapple upside down cupcake! Remember that? They had it but I wanted to try something new. My cousin Joe had the marble cake which I tried. It was truly delish. The cake was moister than the red velvet cupcake. Boy, do I LOVE treats! I did have a bit of a sugar hangover, which I cured with a run. My run was really hard in the middle but the back of my legs are sore in a way they haven’t been before which I am excited about. Today really was a fun day!

1 Down, 3 To Go

Posted on April 17, 2010 by Katherine Swanson

Guess what? It’s that time of year again, FINALS! Yesterday I had my first final, Lawyering Skills. Lawyering skills is a year long class at UCLA which teaches students the basics of legal research, writing, statutory interpretation, etc. We had that final yesterday. Even though classes don’t technically end until Tuesday, finals are in full swing.

This is my second Starbucks Breakfast Blend coffee this AM. My french press is going to get a work out. The next final is a week from Tuesday and the topic is property (which was one of my favorite classes this semester).

I have an illness, and the only cure in MORE MIND MANAGER! I love Mind Manger and now I think strictly in flow charts. OK, back to work.

Oh, and UCLA 1L’s, chick here for access to the entire text of the property Examples & Explanations. I found it for FREE online this AM and I think everyone should benefit.

edit: I have been informed that it is NOT full text, but its pretty damn complete, and thus, still useful.

Guess Where I'm Headed?

Posted on April 17, 2010 by Katherine Swanson

That’s right, I planned a trip to BOSTON! Cannot wait til finals are over and I get to go “home”. Lots of my friends are still in Boston or have moved to Boston since I left. Basically, I will be blogging from Flour 24/7 while I’m there.