STUDYING WITH KITTENS

 GW Law School recognizes the importance of good mental health, especially around finals!  That's why the school teamed up with the GW Animal Rights Group to provide studying students an opportunity to de-stress with kittens and puppies brought by the local Humane Society.  I spent about thirty minutes hanging out with some kittens while studying for my White Collar Crime exam that I took a week ago today!

Tricky to capture these little things!  But they were adorable!

 I also ate this giant slice of pizza.  PLUS another slice.

--Catie

Birthday Wrap-Up Slash Sandy Survival

My birthday was surprisingly awesome considering the horrible weather.  I was quarantined with Derek, and let's face it, there's no one else with whom I'd rather be quarantined!

On the 28th, we got takeout from a Chinese place near us that serves the most amazing food.  Their hot and sour tofu soup makes me shed tears from delicious-ness.

So much time on my hands... I even straightened my hair!  And tried a middle part.  Becca did not give me the nod of approval on the middle part.

Midnight on October 29th!

 Starbucks free drink? Sure, I'll brave winds going faster than DC traffic ever moves!

So much success I took a picture in the starbucks to memorialize it!

 These next five pictures are Derek being awesome and cooking me dinner:

And I never told you what I got for my birthday... a HUGE AWESOME Christmas Tree!!!  I've been talking about getting a full-size tree since we moved out of our studio apartment, but I couldn't find something that I was willing to spend the money on.  While I was at GW for the moot court competition, Derek was driving through Virginia to find me the perfect Christmas tree.  This thing is 7.5 feet tall and is nearly 5 feet wide!!!!  I love it :)  He's a good gift-giver, if you ever get the chance to receive gifts from him!

As far as Sandy goes, we escaped without any damage.  The windows rattled and shook, the lights flickered a couple of times, but no trees came into our living room or on our car, and the electricity stayed on the whole time!  Thanks to everyone who asked about us!
--Catherine

Sweet Sixteen

I have a spot of good news to report from GW Law!  I competed in the biggest competition at GW this weekend.  My teammate and I wrote two briefs totaling over 70 pages and then argued our case in front of a judge in two, 30-minute arguments.  Let me just tell you, there's little in this world more intimidating than staring at three judges who are trying purposefully to get you to slip up...  The final two teams in the competition argue in front of a panel of three distinguished judges.  Last year, Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan was one of the judges.  Justice Scalia and Justice Kennedy have also been past celebrity judges!

Anyway, my partner and I did well and we advanced to the Sweet Sixteen!  Out of all the competitors, our scores on the briefs and argument placed us in the top sixteen, and we are moving on to the next round.  Even if we get no further, I'm proud of mine and Kirk's work on this competition!  It's already a success in my book!

Just look at this work product:

That looks legit, right?

Funny story, after we--the petitioners--argued our piece in the first round, we got to argue a couple minutes of rebuttal to what the other team--the respondents--argued.  The way the competition is split up, my partner argues one issue and I argue the other issue, but in the rebuttal only one person can argue.  I was doing the rebuttal, so I was going to only briefly mention my partner's issue and then move on to talk about my issue.  The judges, however, immediately started asking me a lot of really specific questions about Kirk's issue!  I was in so far over my head when this one judge asked a question that sounded like Greek.  I had ZERO idea what he was talking about...

Judge:  "So is [some super complicated thing I still don't know about] the answer to the Contracts Clause issue?"

Catherine (looks up at her partner in hopes that he'll shake his head yes or no, and he stares back at her with a completely blank expression): .... Yes, your honor, absolutely!  Moving on to the Due Process Clause argument...

Later, the Judge told me after the competition that he could tell I really knew my partner's argument because I answered so confidently!  Hahahahahhaha he had no idea that I totally made up an answer!  Whew... I had a 50/50 shot and I guessed correctly!

Notes On Dating a Law Student

Today I came across a very funny article with some tips for dating a law student!  You can read the list here: http://thoughtcatalog.com/2012/notes-on-dating-a-law-student/

Some of my favorites included:

Own a copy of Black’s Law Dictionary. This is not for your significant other, in case she loses her copy.  She does not lose anything. No, this is so you can figure out what the hell it means when the law student says, “It’s unconscionable that I would have to do the dishes two nights in a row!” 


Practice not rolling your eyes and gagging when your significant other mentions Supreme Court justices with a familiarity usually reserved for golfing buddies or a whacky uncle. Examples: “Of course Stevens would say that! Classic Stevens!” or “Scalia be tripping!”


Start to enjoy “watching” Law and Order. While you will watch Law and Order, you will not be able to actually watch it. Yes, you will see it on your screen but it will be accompanied by a non-stop live commentary track provided by your boyfriend or girlfriend on what the show gets right but mostly what it gets wrong. Nod reverently and occasionally remark about how interesting this all is while thinking to yourself that if the law student talks like this through American Idol, you will stab them.


Allow them at least one tear inducing, nervous breakdown a month. Maybe two. Law students exist within a cauldron of pressure and competition. They’re type-A, anal retentive types pitted against other type-A, anal retentive types amidst an unstable, contracting, and unforgiving legal market. In short, shit gets real. So intense freak outs should be allowed or even encouraged to exorcise the crazy away. This will benefit the both of you, and your partner will be forever grateful. After all, you should cut the law student some slack. They’re only human. They’re not lawyers yet.

These were written by Jacob Killian over at thoughtcatalog.com.

I'll have to ask Blake about the truth of these tips!

Book Mix-up

Blake always laughs when I get new law school books because

They

All

Look

The

Same.

I don't really know why... they just do.  They come in either blue with red on the cover or red with black on the cover.  

It's usually not an issue, except today, when it was an issue.

See, I started selling my books on Amazon to make a little money and rid our studio of space-hogging tomes.  A person in Washington state bought my Property book recently, along with my Criminal Law book.  I diligently packaged up my books and sent them on their way from one Washington (DC) to another Washington (state).  Everything was hunky dory until I opened up the closet today and came face to face with the Property book.

"Aren't you supposed to be somewhere between Washingtons??" I asked my Property book.  My Property book did not respond, but I quickly put two and two together... my other red-with-black-book was not in my closet.

I SENT MY TORTS BOOK INSTEAD OF MY PROPERTY BOOK!  That poor, unsuspecting 1L.  He/she bought her books 2 months early, and he/she will be sorely disappointed when the wrong book is sent to her.

I sent her a super apologetic email.  I'm hoping she is a kindhearted soul.  But my hopes aren't too high since she is enrolled in law school! Haha

I kid of course, since I am only one year (!!!) away from being a lawyer myself.  Anyway, hopefully this matter gets resolved soon! And you best be believing' I'm going to double check myself before packaging up any more orders!
--Catie

Last Final of 2L Year

Today, I take my last final of my second year of law school!  I'm so ready for Employment Law tonight  so I can be free of all law school responsibilities!

Wish me luck while I kick butt tonight (6:30 PM Eastern Time!)!

Meanwhile, enjoy these pictures of me and my friend Andy before various finals over the past two years:

Pre-Torts Exam, Fall 2010

Pre-Property Exam, Spring 2011

Pre-Legislation Exam, Spring 2012

Hope everyone has a great day!
--Catie

Celebrating a Friend at Founding Farmers!

My law school is in close proximity to Founding Farmers--a restaurant that EVERYONE raves about.  I went for the first time a few days ago in honor of my friend Catherine's birthday!  It was a little on the expensive side for a graduate school budget (but let's face it, even Sonic or Chick-fil-A is a bit much on a graduate school budget), but it was delicious and totally worth it to celebrate a special occasion!  In this case, Catherine was turning 24 in the middle of finals weeks so she and the rest of us deserved a good cheering up!

Founding Farmers is well-known and well-loved around DC because of it's delicious food and laudable mission.  On their website it says: "A collective of American family farmers owns our restaurant. We source our fresh products from family farms, ranches, and fisheries across the United States. We celebrate and share the longstanding connection between farmers — the first to lead the “green” movement — and their historic stewardship of natural resources."  As the granddaughter of a farmer, I can't help but love this place! :)

 Everything is made from scratch on the premises as well.  Including the cream in my coffee!  Everything was so good.  Blake got to eat some of that french toast too since I couldn't finish it!

Study Study Study Study Poppin' Everywhere!

Gettin' stuff done, yo.

Finals

Finals are fast approaching, and I have to learn all the laws. : /

This is what I'll be doing for the next several weeks!

Blake has a finals block at the same time I have exams.  If it's anything like last semester, then we'll both be exhausted and our dishes won't be clean and our apartment will be a mess and we'll wear the same clothes way more than is socially acceptable!

Rejoice for Blake though!  This is his last finals block basically ever!  Next year he starts clinicals.  He'll have shelf exams after each rotation then.  BUT it's no lecture!  It's all independent study and what each student learns on the rotation.

And maybe rejoice a little for me, since I only have one year left after this exam block!  The end of law school is coming into sight!

Levelheaded

The end of the semester rush is making me crazy.

It's a good thing I'm so levelheaded.

Har har har.

Law School Humor

I saw this flier hanging up in the law school the other day. I thought it was pretty funny!  Only a law student would go to that much trouble to point out a Biblical mandate to return a lost case book.  Names have been blocked out to protect the humorous.  :)

Dinner with Friends

Friday night found us going to Foggy Bottom for dinner with our friend, Vicki, and her visiting friend, Alex.  Vicki makes delicious food!  We had quiche and a delicious chocolate mouse for dessert.  Thanks for having us over Vicki!  I just realized that she's not in any of the pictures I took on Friday night!  I'm not in any either, Vicki. Sad day!

 Living in DC means having dinner parties where we all sit VERY close!  It's a good bonding moment!

Blake and Jeff

Stephen and Jesse

Allyson and Cat

 How cute is my friend, Allyson?  She's several months pregnant, and I just love her shirt!  I had to take a picture of the giraffe mommy and baby!  Allyson is due a few months before my sister- and brother-in-law are due in July.  I'm going to have to get some baby time in with their little one!

Trial of BB Wolf x2

Remember last year over Spring Break when I was Curly Pig in the Trial of the Big Bad Wolf?  Well this year, over Spring Break, I helped out in the trial again... but this time, I was:

Me and opposing counsel, the defense

 The PROSECUTOR!  That right, I represented the state of Columbia in its trial against the Big Bad Wolf for eating two of the three little pigs!

I had so much fun!  The whole skit-trial was ad lib.  I got to be super dramatic during my opening and closing statements too. So fun!

Curly pig and the big bad wolf

the Judge

We did four skits for classes of fourth graders in the community.  The classes acted as the jury for the trial.  They voted overwhelmingly guilty (can you blame them? I was a convincing prosecutor!).  They were never unanimous though... we had a hung jury, I guess.  The whole day exposed the kids to a trial and was designed to give them exposure to the Constitution.

It was a really fun way to earn pro-bono hours too!
After the "trial" the kids got to have cookies and milk.  After they left, I found some notes the kids had drawn during the trial.  I love the detailed jury notes!  I also like the drawing... I'm not sure if one of those girls is supposed to be me?

It was really fun!  I added some pictures to the old post (the link at the top of the page) from last year that the professional photographer took.
--Catie