So I'm going to New York Law later this year.
I spent the day there on Monday. They are having a series of Admitted Students events for the next four or five weeks so their various action Centers can be explored. I initially could not find an Intellectual Property day, so I chose to go to the first event just so I could see the school and meet a couple of professors.
I took a tour of the school last year, before summer. They had not completed their new building, so I toured the old one. I did like it a lot, even then. But the new building is really blow-mind. It's all glass and the views of New York are fantastic. I have no idea how anyone studies when there is all that free gazing to be had. I can already see I have to spend a lot of time in the library!
I had a really good time on Monday. I came away thinking that I'd really like going to that school. I was truly torn between there and Cardozo. I was actually relieved I didn't have to make the decision and really stoked to be going there.
The people were awesome and everyone was very helpful. People there answer my emails in record time. That is always appreciated. I got to speak to a couple of students, who were great about answering my questions. I can't wait to do that for someone else next year.
The classrooms are huge, and I got to sit in a Con Law lecture. The library is several floors and there are lots of common areas to study.
I'm actually going back for another session, having discovered when I was there that there is a focus on IP day in April. Since I don't have to do the tour, I can spend some time with some professors and really get a feel for what's going on in the place.
Plus, I can't wait to buy my new computer!
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
lazy blogger
I used to update all the time when I was over on Journalspace. I guess because i had friends there, people read me and I truly enjoyed it. Now, maybe not so much.
I also don't care to post about a lot of the stuff that's been happening to me. Some of it I really want to keep away from the Innernets and some I am just too lazy to record. I screw around on FB and Twitter, but even that is in phases. I'll get into a posting frenzy and then not bother for weeks.
I've been reading a lot. A couple of times I ran away from home. Today, I might go to the zoo, even though it's snowing.
I've been checking out libraries in the City. That has been fun... until I borrow ten books and have to lug them home. Well, it's a small price to pay for the joy of curling up with one and reading it. I wish it was warmer so I can just go sit outside and read.
Law school is looming and, once again, sleep is elusive. I barely slept last night and am feeling sluggish this morning.
Pie has been loads of fun. He keeps me laughing and glad to be alive. He is so funny and he and his Daddy are like 2 little boys: LOUD!
So, this is essentially a post about nothing really. Or a little of everything?
I also don't care to post about a lot of the stuff that's been happening to me. Some of it I really want to keep away from the Innernets and some I am just too lazy to record. I screw around on FB and Twitter, but even that is in phases. I'll get into a posting frenzy and then not bother for weeks.
I've been reading a lot. A couple of times I ran away from home. Today, I might go to the zoo, even though it's snowing.
I've been checking out libraries in the City. That has been fun... until I borrow ten books and have to lug them home. Well, it's a small price to pay for the joy of curling up with one and reading it. I wish it was warmer so I can just go sit outside and read.
Law school is looming and, once again, sleep is elusive. I barely slept last night and am feeling sluggish this morning.
Pie has been loads of fun. He keeps me laughing and glad to be alive. He is so funny and he and his Daddy are like 2 little boys: LOUD!
So, this is essentially a post about nothing really. Or a little of everything?
Saturday, January 23, 2010
so... um... maybe time's come to say something
It's been almost a whole week since I got my acceptance letter to New York Law. Barring acceptance from Cardozo, I'm going to accept the acceptance. I was pretty damn thrilled to get the letter and didn't sleep for almost 2 days. The day after it came, I spent at Harlem Academy, where everyone's first comment to me was, "You look so tired."
And I was. My head was racing so bad that I couldn't sleep. John and I spent some time in initial discussions about going to NY Law and a lot of decisions have to be made. I'm trying to fill out my FAFSA forms, only to be stonewalled by lack of income tax paperwork. Telling Pie was tough: he really wants none of this law school business.
I thought as he got older it would get easier, for both of us. But he is so great to be around, he makes me laugh and I love just chatting with him. I don't know how either of us is going to cope come August.
I keep hoping for Cardozo, not just because I am in love with the place, but because the first year would be part-time and would make the transition easier for all of us. I worry about John having to drop Pie to school in the morning. Pickup is easier, but he sleeps a good hour extra in the morning when I take Pie. I feel terrible taking that away from him. Not to mention him having to get the kid breakfast and pack his lunch, which I supposed I can do the night before, but it's still a task to get mornings going.
Every so often, just because I can, I let Pie get away with murder in the morning. I get up a little earlier sometimes to make him a breakfast that doesn't involve cereal. Sometimes, I cook after he's gone to school and then drop off a hot lunch for him at noon. Sometimes, I go have lunch with him and we have an identical meal. He gets such a kick out of it. I cannot describe how much I am going to miss all of that.
I've also spent much of this academic year living at Harlem Academy. I volunteer for a lot of things because I know I won't be able to do much once school starts. Hell, even before school starts. I didn't realize I'd love it so much or that they would start giving me stuff to do. I told them about law school and getting accepted but it's going to be tough letting go of the greatest school on the planet.
But I am excited about starting. I'm dying to go laptop shopping with the husband. I am going the PC route and there's a cute Toshiba model I have my eye on, but I am keeping my Mac for as long as it lasts.
I'm dying to go to Staples and make my name with stationery. I'd like to go to the school and sit in a class. Kaplan also offers a 1L mock session, so I will be going to one of those. I'm making lists and taking names. I can't wait and I'm terrified as all hell!
And I was. My head was racing so bad that I couldn't sleep. John and I spent some time in initial discussions about going to NY Law and a lot of decisions have to be made. I'm trying to fill out my FAFSA forms, only to be stonewalled by lack of income tax paperwork. Telling Pie was tough: he really wants none of this law school business.
I thought as he got older it would get easier, for both of us. But he is so great to be around, he makes me laugh and I love just chatting with him. I don't know how either of us is going to cope come August.
I keep hoping for Cardozo, not just because I am in love with the place, but because the first year would be part-time and would make the transition easier for all of us. I worry about John having to drop Pie to school in the morning. Pickup is easier, but he sleeps a good hour extra in the morning when I take Pie. I feel terrible taking that away from him. Not to mention him having to get the kid breakfast and pack his lunch, which I supposed I can do the night before, but it's still a task to get mornings going.
Every so often, just because I can, I let Pie get away with murder in the morning. I get up a little earlier sometimes to make him a breakfast that doesn't involve cereal. Sometimes, I cook after he's gone to school and then drop off a hot lunch for him at noon. Sometimes, I go have lunch with him and we have an identical meal. He gets such a kick out of it. I cannot describe how much I am going to miss all of that.
I've also spent much of this academic year living at Harlem Academy. I volunteer for a lot of things because I know I won't be able to do much once school starts. Hell, even before school starts. I didn't realize I'd love it so much or that they would start giving me stuff to do. I told them about law school and getting accepted but it's going to be tough letting go of the greatest school on the planet.
But I am excited about starting. I'm dying to go laptop shopping with the husband. I am going the PC route and there's a cute Toshiba model I have my eye on, but I am keeping my Mac for as long as it lasts.
I'm dying to go to Staples and make my name with stationery. I'd like to go to the school and sit in a class. Kaplan also offers a 1L mock session, so I will be going to one of those. I'm making lists and taking names. I can't wait and I'm terrified as all hell!
Monday, January 4, 2010
sherlock holmes
One week, a few weeks ago, I had no new library books to read. I always have my quota of 10 books lined up in "Holds" but nothing new had come up. Rare.
I've read most everything I own several times, so I started to troll through some of John's books. He has a complete Sherlock Holmes so I thought I'd read them over. I read the introduction first, by a fella who is really into his Holmesian mythology. I was intrigued by some of the detail he pointed out so I went a-hunting for some info.
In my search, I discovered that there were several authors who picked up where Conan Doyle left off. I had already read Michael Chabon's "The Final Solution" and found to to be my favorite of the five books of his I read in a frenzy last year.
But there were so many more! Heady stuff.
I read Michael Dibdin's "The Last Case of Sherlock Holmes", which was a yawn. I really expected it to be more exciting as it dealt with Holmes investigating Jack the Ripper. Ripper winds up being Moriarty and he and Holmes do take that tumble off the Reichenbach Falls but it's his death with no resurrection. I thought that taking a great criminal mind and turning him into a butcher (with the excuse being that Moriarty needed to take this next step basically because he was bored) was dulling. I was hoping it would be Watson unmasked as the Ripper. Dibdin should ask for a do-over.
The re-mythology is far more interesting. Arthur Conan Doyle is a friend of Watson and, after much pleading, gets the doctor to persuade Holmes into letting ACD (how he is referred to in the book) publish one of his exploits using Watson's written recollections. All the "embellishments" that Holmes criticized Watson for in the actual stories is now laid at ACD's feet. It was pretty funny.
And, although Holmes dies at the end, it's ACD who "resurrects" him using cases from before his death. Watson mourns his friend until his own death many years' later. This story is only "uncovered" in the 1970 because Watson left instructions that it be opened 70 years after his death.
The novel promised far more than it delivered. I really wanted it to be Watson.
Then I moved on to Laurie King. What a difference. Technically, her series of books involving Holmes is "young adult fiction" and here's why.
In 1918, a retired and now beekeeper Holmes, literally stumbles over a 15-year-old Mary Russell. He has one conversation with her and discovers her gift for observation are as keen as his and he takes her under his wing. The obvious adventurous hi-jinks follow.
But it is a great read. I've read the first of the series, "The Beekeeper's Apprentice" and could not put it down. King also employs a wonderful device in which she, the author, writes in the introduction that she has received a huge package, sender unknown, containing many mysterious bits, bobs and trinkets, as well as pages and pages of some kind of manuscript. She has no idea why she was sent these items but realized the pages are recounts of exploits by Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes. She does some cosmetic rewriting, puts sequences into chapters and sends it off to her publisher. Eight books follow.
I went into Barnes and Noble and had a looky at the nine books. To say I am intrigued is an understatement. Russell has her own backstory: she winds up Holmes' neck of Suffolk to recover from surgeries sustained from a car accident in which her parents and younger brother were killed. She believes she caused the accident and has nightmares about it. I discovered that more is revealed about her past in later books and I had to leave B&N because I couldn't buy them and I might have sat right there and read them all. Thank goodness of the New York Public Library!
And I also have Paul Gilbert's "The Lost Files of Sherlock Holmes". He tries hard to copy Conan Doyle's style and, so far, brings nothing new to the table. Jeffery Deaver included a case in his "More Twisted" short story collection, told from the criminal's perspective. It is my favorite one so far.
I've also read that people wrote books where Holmes meets Dracula, Dr Jekyll and Mary Poppins. I think I'll be giving those a miss.
I've read most everything I own several times, so I started to troll through some of John's books. He has a complete Sherlock Holmes so I thought I'd read them over. I read the introduction first, by a fella who is really into his Holmesian mythology. I was intrigued by some of the detail he pointed out so I went a-hunting for some info.
In my search, I discovered that there were several authors who picked up where Conan Doyle left off. I had already read Michael Chabon's "The Final Solution" and found to to be my favorite of the five books of his I read in a frenzy last year.
But there were so many more! Heady stuff.
I read Michael Dibdin's "The Last Case of Sherlock Holmes", which was a yawn. I really expected it to be more exciting as it dealt with Holmes investigating Jack the Ripper. Ripper winds up being Moriarty and he and Holmes do take that tumble off the Reichenbach Falls but it's his death with no resurrection. I thought that taking a great criminal mind and turning him into a butcher (with the excuse being that Moriarty needed to take this next step basically because he was bored) was dulling. I was hoping it would be Watson unmasked as the Ripper. Dibdin should ask for a do-over.
The re-mythology is far more interesting. Arthur Conan Doyle is a friend of Watson and, after much pleading, gets the doctor to persuade Holmes into letting ACD (how he is referred to in the book) publish one of his exploits using Watson's written recollections. All the "embellishments" that Holmes criticized Watson for in the actual stories is now laid at ACD's feet. It was pretty funny.
And, although Holmes dies at the end, it's ACD who "resurrects" him using cases from before his death. Watson mourns his friend until his own death many years' later. This story is only "uncovered" in the 1970 because Watson left instructions that it be opened 70 years after his death.
The novel promised far more than it delivered. I really wanted it to be Watson.
Then I moved on to Laurie King. What a difference. Technically, her series of books involving Holmes is "young adult fiction" and here's why.
In 1918, a retired and now beekeeper Holmes, literally stumbles over a 15-year-old Mary Russell. He has one conversation with her and discovers her gift for observation are as keen as his and he takes her under his wing. The obvious adventurous hi-jinks follow.
But it is a great read. I've read the first of the series, "The Beekeeper's Apprentice" and could not put it down. King also employs a wonderful device in which she, the author, writes in the introduction that she has received a huge package, sender unknown, containing many mysterious bits, bobs and trinkets, as well as pages and pages of some kind of manuscript. She has no idea why she was sent these items but realized the pages are recounts of exploits by Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes. She does some cosmetic rewriting, puts sequences into chapters and sends it off to her publisher. Eight books follow.
I went into Barnes and Noble and had a looky at the nine books. To say I am intrigued is an understatement. Russell has her own backstory: she winds up Holmes' neck of Suffolk to recover from surgeries sustained from a car accident in which her parents and younger brother were killed. She believes she caused the accident and has nightmares about it. I discovered that more is revealed about her past in later books and I had to leave B&N because I couldn't buy them and I might have sat right there and read them all. Thank goodness of the New York Public Library!
And I also have Paul Gilbert's "The Lost Files of Sherlock Holmes". He tries hard to copy Conan Doyle's style and, so far, brings nothing new to the table. Jeffery Deaver included a case in his "More Twisted" short story collection, told from the criminal's perspective. It is my favorite one so far.
I've also read that people wrote books where Holmes meets Dracula, Dr Jekyll and Mary Poppins. I think I'll be giving those a miss.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
me and the movies
There are some movies I feel obligated to watch when they are on. If I am flipping through channels and one of them comes up, I stay on it and watch it through. I can't help it, even though I can quote the dialogue along with the characters.
Shattered Glass
The Departed
Gone with the Wind
The Princess Bride
Sex and the City
A Christmas Story
Bride and Prejudice
Atonement
X-Files: I Want to Believe (Derek gets particularly pissed at this one for some reason!)
An American in Paris
Sense and Sensibility
Howard's End
It's insane how many times I've seen all these movies. They are all so different that I can't explain the appeal in just a few words. Some remind me of my father, some remind me of good times, some just drew me in.
I can't explain "The Departed" other than it satisfies some bloodthirst that must reside in me. "Shattered Glass" is just great story-telling and acting. "Howard's End" and "Atonement" are just beautiful movies to watch. "Bride and Prejudice" reminds me of home and cracks me up big time.
"The Princess Bride" is just downright wonderful and deserves its own paragraph. I saw that in high school (actually IN high school: some class showed it to raise funds for something or other) and thought it was a great romance. Only when I left school and saw it again did I realize its genius. Last year, I read the book and almost died laughing.
"Sex and the City" scares even me. I was watching it again yesterday and realized I was saying the lines out loud. It's one of those movies I keep on in the background when I am doing something else. So is "Sense and Sensibility" (even though I own the DVD, it's always like the first time when I see that movie) and "X-Files: I Want to Believe".
I guess I also find comfort in familiar things. Like some books I read over and over. Or repeating funnny things Derek said when he was a baby or John wrote to me when we were apart. It's just nice to go back to something I really love.
Shattered Glass
The Departed
Gone with the Wind
The Princess Bride
Sex and the City
A Christmas Story
Bride and Prejudice
Atonement
X-Files: I Want to Believe (Derek gets particularly pissed at this one for some reason!)
An American in Paris
Sense and Sensibility
Howard's End
It's insane how many times I've seen all these movies. They are all so different that I can't explain the appeal in just a few words. Some remind me of my father, some remind me of good times, some just drew me in.
I can't explain "The Departed" other than it satisfies some bloodthirst that must reside in me. "Shattered Glass" is just great story-telling and acting. "Howard's End" and "Atonement" are just beautiful movies to watch. "Bride and Prejudice" reminds me of home and cracks me up big time.
"The Princess Bride" is just downright wonderful and deserves its own paragraph. I saw that in high school (actually IN high school: some class showed it to raise funds for something or other) and thought it was a great romance. Only when I left school and saw it again did I realize its genius. Last year, I read the book and almost died laughing.
"Sex and the City" scares even me. I was watching it again yesterday and realized I was saying the lines out loud. It's one of those movies I keep on in the background when I am doing something else. So is "Sense and Sensibility" (even though I own the DVD, it's always like the first time when I see that movie) and "X-Files: I Want to Believe".
I guess I also find comfort in familiar things. Like some books I read over and over. Or repeating funnny things Derek said when he was a baby or John wrote to me when we were apart. It's just nice to go back to something I really love.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
law school applications chronicles - applications
So I'm almost done with sending my applications. Actually, I just have one school to complete as soon as I get in touch with their Admissions office to answer some questions.
My 2nd recommender never sent his recommendation. It would have been process by now. I gave up the same day I wrote that last post and asked someone else. She took 1 weekend and it took just a couple of days for LSAC to process it. I sent all my applications on Thanksgiving Day and one school already got back to me that my paperwork has been received.
Now I just wait for April when the "watching the mailbox" really begins.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
law school application chronicles - recommendations
You know how every book you read about applying to law school and every advisor you speak to about applying to law school and every blog you read chronicling applying to law school talk about that slow 2nd recommendation and you think, "Pshaw! That isn't going to happen to me," as you send that 14th reminder email to that 2nd recommender to please get his ass in gear and send the damn thing?
It happened to me.
I really thought I was above that. I'm not in school and haven't been for 15 years. I'm in regular touch with the 2 people I asked for recommendations and never thought I'd have a problem. The first one came in great time and was processed quickly by the LSDAS and sat in my account just waiting to be assigned to a school.
The 2nd one was my ace in the hole. I expected this one to be the one that kicked all other LoRs in the butt. Especially since I have a stinky LSAT score, I needed my written material to be extra-glowing. The first one was marvellous and I couldn't have asked for more, but I knew the 2nd one was going to go Matsui on it.
After much hounding and unanswered emails to the recommender, I finally get a response that it was sent. It takes 7-10 days for the LSDAS to process it and when I called, 2 weeks after I was told it was sent, they couldn't even tell me if it was received.
Sigh.
So I ask the recommender to tell me when and how he sent it so I can try to track it down. Turns out he was NY and mailed it from his hotel. He gave it to reception and they assured him it would be sent out. So I ring the hotel to find out if they have any unsent mail from that date. The mailroom manager informs me of the procedure for letters and tells me that if it didn't have a return address on the envelope, it doesn't get mailed, even though they submit it to the post office. It is now considered "lost".
Sigh.
I can't blame the recommender, because he didn't know about that and the hotel should have told him, since they sold him the stamp. But I am irked no end because I have been waiting far too long for the letter and I gave him months and a deadline. He repeatedly ignored my emails and I was so frustrated. I didn't want to be angry with him or even let on that I was angry at all because I didn't need him to be pissed off that he was doing me a favor and then be even slower.
I only have myself to blame. I worked with this man for years and knew what was going to happen, but I really felt, and still do, that his recommendation would be amazing. He sent me a draft and I wasn't disappointed. I love the guy and can't wait to see him again, but this is my life here.
He offered to FedEx it, but I had to first mail him a signed attachment. I have no idea why, but LSAC requires the applicant sign a form stating that you agree that the LoR be sent to the revelant law schools and you waive your right to see the finished LoR. I can understand when schools did interviews why the applicant not see the LoR, but no one interviews any more. What a waste of paper and time.
So I put the damn form in the snail mail and pray he gets it by Monday. In the meantime, I called the Internship Coordinator at the publishing company I interned at and pleaded with her to write me a letter and send it poste haste. She was wonderful and agreed. I sent her a form and reminded her she had written me a great LoR last year and she could just tweak that for law school. She still had it and promised to send it out on Monday.
Now, I am only in a tizzic about it because the school I want to go to requires 2 LoRs. It is small and recently became a Tier 1 school, so 2010's applicants are going to be the best. The competition will be stiff and I am very worried.
I've managed to send out 2 completed applications to schools that only needed 1 letter. The other 4 require 2 letters and I am only waiting for the 1. I would have liked to sent them all already. The books, advisors and podcasts all say by Thanksgiving is a good early time to have sent your application in, but everyone is going to do that. I already have the sucky LSAT score to deal with.
It happened to me.
I really thought I was above that. I'm not in school and haven't been for 15 years. I'm in regular touch with the 2 people I asked for recommendations and never thought I'd have a problem. The first one came in great time and was processed quickly by the LSDAS and sat in my account just waiting to be assigned to a school.
The 2nd one was my ace in the hole. I expected this one to be the one that kicked all other LoRs in the butt. Especially since I have a stinky LSAT score, I needed my written material to be extra-glowing. The first one was marvellous and I couldn't have asked for more, but I knew the 2nd one was going to go Matsui on it.
After much hounding and unanswered emails to the recommender, I finally get a response that it was sent. It takes 7-10 days for the LSDAS to process it and when I called, 2 weeks after I was told it was sent, they couldn't even tell me if it was received.
Sigh.
So I ask the recommender to tell me when and how he sent it so I can try to track it down. Turns out he was NY and mailed it from his hotel. He gave it to reception and they assured him it would be sent out. So I ring the hotel to find out if they have any unsent mail from that date. The mailroom manager informs me of the procedure for letters and tells me that if it didn't have a return address on the envelope, it doesn't get mailed, even though they submit it to the post office. It is now considered "lost".
Sigh.
I can't blame the recommender, because he didn't know about that and the hotel should have told him, since they sold him the stamp. But I am irked no end because I have been waiting far too long for the letter and I gave him months and a deadline. He repeatedly ignored my emails and I was so frustrated. I didn't want to be angry with him or even let on that I was angry at all because I didn't need him to be pissed off that he was doing me a favor and then be even slower.
I only have myself to blame. I worked with this man for years and knew what was going to happen, but I really felt, and still do, that his recommendation would be amazing. He sent me a draft and I wasn't disappointed. I love the guy and can't wait to see him again, but this is my life here.
He offered to FedEx it, but I had to first mail him a signed attachment. I have no idea why, but LSAC requires the applicant sign a form stating that you agree that the LoR be sent to the revelant law schools and you waive your right to see the finished LoR. I can understand when schools did interviews why the applicant not see the LoR, but no one interviews any more. What a waste of paper and time.
So I put the damn form in the snail mail and pray he gets it by Monday. In the meantime, I called the Internship Coordinator at the publishing company I interned at and pleaded with her to write me a letter and send it poste haste. She was wonderful and agreed. I sent her a form and reminded her she had written me a great LoR last year and she could just tweak that for law school. She still had it and promised to send it out on Monday.
Now, I am only in a tizzic about it because the school I want to go to requires 2 LoRs. It is small and recently became a Tier 1 school, so 2010's applicants are going to be the best. The competition will be stiff and I am very worried.
I've managed to send out 2 completed applications to schools that only needed 1 letter. The other 4 require 2 letters and I am only waiting for the 1. I would have liked to sent them all already. The books, advisors and podcasts all say by Thanksgiving is a good early time to have sent your application in, but everyone is going to do that. I already have the sucky LSAT score to deal with.
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