A Day In The Life of "A Lawyer To Be"

What is today? I mean, what day of the week? What is the date? I am lost. Will I ever be found? I am not too sure.

My head is full of useless information. Let me take that back, it is filled with information only useful on the upcoming Bar Exam, which is in less than two weeks.

Don't ask me my name, where I live, what I drive, my dog's name, my parent's names....and don't even ask me for my rank and serial number. Upon the moment a brave soul inquires as to any of the information formerly cited, I am liable to flip out. (Have you ever seen anybody flip out before? Well.....I promise, I can do a good illustration. Been there, done that.)

This morning, I awoke at a somewhat normal hour, about 9:00 a.m., I believe. Not really sure. I got to bed early last night, well...uh...earlier than usual on this abnormal study, no work, and minimal play schedule.

I began the day with reviewing all of the material that came in my admissions packet. For those of you who do not know what I am talking about....(all of you non-lawyers out there)......it is a packet that provides the test taker with their secret number and admission certificate, which has to be presented each time you enter the testing facility.

The notes told me the expected schedule and I found our that the first day of testing is only 1/2 day. Whew!!!! But, then I began to review the subjects that will be tested and whether they will be in essay format or what I like to refer to as "choose it or lose it". By the way, I personally HATE the multiple-choice format, which is also the multi-state format. (That means, the questions are supposed to be universal-not state specific.)

The entire law school and subsequent bar exam process reminds me of learning and speaking a foreign language. It is just so...."foreign".

Hey,honestly, it has taken me just about six months to understand the whole "coffee lingo", or what others like to call "style of living" code at my local coffee house. (I feel like I need a windtalker there to help me de-code). After numerous, unsuccessful, blustering attempts, I have learned what I am supposed to say in order to get what I want.

These days, I confidently lean out my car window and speak fluent coffee lingo into the drive-up microphone:
"Yes, I would like a Venti (good bar exam term), Caramel Machiato, extra Espresso, extra syrup, add whip (never add "cream"-they will realize you are secretly not cool), please."

My goodness, who invented this language? How about just asking for a "legal stimulant, with extra runny sugar, a little spice and everything nice."

Oh, and one shan't forget "make it hot and not frozen."

Heaven forbid you ask for a "large", because you will indelibly get a "small" coffee. Oh, and by the way, is there really coffee in these drinks? Come to think of it, when I place an order, I don't recognize a single word that resembles "coffee".

Okay, moving on.... This morning, I will admit, I began to weep. I did not just tear up, and I did not cry, I began weeping. Why? I don't know. My mom would say, "Oh, stop feeling sorry for yourself." I guess that I had an epiphany that I NEED to work. I guess I know now why there is a show called Desperate Housewives. If I was a house-wife, I would desperately be trying to find a job, so I could get out of the house! Honestly, I have a new found respect for those women who are housewives. I don't know how they manage.

Since I chronically and acutely broke, the lack of finances leave me with very limited choices as to how to spend my time. (Although, I did manage to get some "coffee". Afterall, I thought it might cheer me up.) My choices today were to either go to the library, another depressing room with four walls to look at, stay at home and look at the four walls coming in on me here, or hey....wait a minute!---GO TO WORK!

I am so excited! I went to the office today. Ah, I was so joyously HAPPY to be in my office again, sitting at my desk, talking on my phone, working on my computer. Reviewing cases!! Wow. I was so happy! When 5:00 rolled around, I did not even realize that it was time to leave.

Okay, am I sick , twisted, or what? Who in a million years would do what I insanely did? Go to work when you don't have to? I decided to make some calls to people running for office this year. We are, as a firm, examining some of the political options since this is an election year. I talked to some folks, and asked them to drop by the office to let us know about their campaigns. I called up some buddies of mine on that "circuit" and chatted it up. I was happy to do it! I am excited about what can be achieved this year. The phone calls truly got my blood pumping! Honestly, I am in my element when I talk politics. It is something that at times I am frustrated by, but afterall, that is what gets things done in this town. I was, afterall, a poly-sci major. In fact, it was assumed by my friends that I was preparing to go to law school....enough people started talking to me about it, that I decided to check it out.

Currenlty, I am back at home, my loyal dog curled up by my side, as I am consumed with reviewing notes for about the zillionth time, and wanting to barf every time I look at the material.

My only saving grace is this Jimi Hendrix: Band of Gypsies, DVD playing vintage concert footage, and I become one with the astounding harmony that can tame the surliest of beasts.