...The Final Countdown...

Thanksgiving has come and gone! I went to Palo Alto/San Francisco, California for the break. It was good to get away from Eugene for a few days. Aside from a delicious home cooked Thanksgiving meal, my weekend excitement came in the form of finding coffee shops where I could get some work done. I was planning on staying in California until Monday morning, but I missed Eugene too much. [And by missed, I mean I had a minor panic attack about not getting enough studying done.]

...Mount Shasta, taken from the airplane ride back to Eugene...

It is crazy to think that in less than two weeks I will be taking my first law school final exams. Seems like yesterday when I thought working till 9:00pm was late....So young. So naive.

I want to share this video clip which basically sums up, in 22 seconds, how most law students feel during this time of year. [At least I feel this way!]

...Just a typical Friday Night in the Law School...

I know you are heart broken that this post is so short, but I will post again soon! Until next time...you can find me in a classroom...studying.

What to do with a day off...

Idea #1: Head for the coast!

A few weekends ago, a small group of us headed west for a quick overnight trip on the Oregon Coast. We found a fabulous hiking trail along Sutton Creek, which led us along some dunes and a (surprise!) a rope swing.

The family: my husband (Jeff) and me and our German shepherd, Zoe.

Loving the sunshine!

Rope swing fun!

Idea # 2: Run a road race! (this is track town after all)

For all of the running enthusiasts out there, you probably know that Eugene is a runner's paradise. There are miles of trails and bike paths that weave through the town. Almost every weekend there are local road races for those who appreciate the camaraderie (and spirited competition) of running with other people.

Yesterday was the EWEB Run to Stay Warm. I took some time away from the books to participate in this wonderful race along the Willamette River bike path. I saw a few other law school faces at the starting line (I ran the half marathon - there are 10k, 5k and walking options as well). The race is put on by our local utility company and proceeds help income-eligible people with their utility bills. Can't think of a better reason to brave the crisp weather and hit the pavement for a fun jog!

I recommend this race to any incoming or current students: definitely a great way to refresh before final exams.

Setting the Clock Back

Last October was the Oregon Law Student Public Interest Fund's eighties-themed fundraiser dance in the law school commons. As one student put it: "A good mix of hilarity and embarrassment." Click photo for slideshow.

Photos: Barron Sawyer '10

Journal of Environmental Law & Litigation

One of the extra items on my plate this year is serving as a Staff Editor for the Journal of Environmental Law & Litigation, or JELL. UO has three law journals, and students compete to join one of them after their first year of law school. The competition was a test of endurance. It required MANY hours of painstaking attention to detail. I finished my entry just before I travelled home to Colorado in early June. I am positive that if I hadn't met some of the existing student members, I would never have had the perseverance to complete my entry.

Now that I am actually participating in JELL, I am very happy I entered the competition and was chosen. I have had some difficult moments while editing when I can't find a source or don't understand what an author is trying to say, but overall the experience has been incredibly rewarding. Every Wednesday night we spend three hours combing through articles to check validity of sources, punctuation, citation formats, and grammar. It sounds less appealing than it is, but it is a great way to fine-tune your own writing and it's really not bad when 20-30 other people are working alongside you. We also have "Food Editors" who bring dinner on Wednesday nights and it is always delicious.

I can't speak to the other journals, but the JELL staff is very collaborative and supportive of one another. There are always 3L students willing to help the 17 Staff Editors, most of whom are 2L's. The Board is very friendly and I really enjoy learning from them. If you are an incoming law student or already a 1L, I strongly suggest entering the competition this spring.

Laser Tag

The Minority Law Students Association (MLSA) and the Black Law Students Association (BLSA) went to play laser tag Thursday. There's an awesome place here in Eugene that has indoor mini golf, laser tag, pool, an arcade, and bowling. It's a lot of fun and the best part is that it's pretty inexpensive. A couple of folks played last winter for a friend's birthday and we were hooked. If you haven't figured it out, law students are a little competitive about everything. When my team didn't do so well after the first round, we had to regroup , talk strategy, and figure out how to win. And we did. My team kicked butt. I was panting and sweaty by the end, but it's the most fun I've had in a while. We're already planning the next trip. Who knew that shooting your friends with lasers could be one of the best stress relievers?

I just had to include one of the fliers for the event because it was so awesome. Don't you love it?

Question: What do you have in common with mega-star blasts from the past like Belinda Carlisle and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar?



Answer: Lazer Tag, of course! If you RSVP to Lazer Tag THIS THURSDAY with BLSA and MLSA, you can be a Lazer Tag hero too! Join in the rich tradition of Lazer Tag with your fellow classmates. And hey, if things go really well, we just might break into a rowdy off-key chorus of "We Are the World"!

2L Thanksgiving

Things have been so hectic these days, but I'm so excited for the semester to wrap up. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and, since my family is so far away, I had to get a little creative. Last year, some friends and I volunteered at a local community center and served food to the homeless and hungry. It was a lot of fun and a good way to be a part of the Eugene community. Afterwards, I had dinner with my landlady's family. It was a really good time.
This year was much more lowkey. I like to cook so I whipped up a mini-feast. Pumpkin quiche, smothered okra with shrimp and crab, and stuffed bell peppers. No turkey. It was a lovely lazy day in Eugene.
Now, I'm just waiting for winter break.

Life Happens, Part 2

Why do I like Oregon law so much? Well, when life is throwing lemons at you, there is a strong community and support system in place here to help students get through. And believe me, life’s mishaps don’t stop just because you are in law school or are too busy to deal with things. Lately, I feel like I am having lemons hurdled at me: job rejections, stress about finding “the perfect post-law school job”, financial stress following a series of theft, illness (not the swine flu!), and family emergencies happening all at once! Not to mention exams are rapidly approaching and I am experiencing writer’s block with my thesis. I am maintaining my sanity thanks to those around me. The friends I have from Oregon have been SO AMAZING and supportive. Not only that, but I’ve been talking with administrators and faculty members who have been helping me in their capacities. I am so grateful that I am at a school where people care about each other.

The Oregon law community not only cares about each other, but about also about the greater Eugene community. This sense of volunteerism and support is really high right now as we are approaching Thanksgiving. Right now we have a canned food drive going where each 1L section is in competition to see who can donate the most cans. Since 2Ls and 3Ls are not assigned to sections (and pick their own classes), the 2Ls and 3Ls compete as a class. As of now, the 1Ls are kicking the pants off of the upper classmen. Also, various student organizations, including the journals, put together food baskets to donate to families on Thanksgiving who would not otherwise be able to afford a Thanksgiving on their own. Not to mention, students donated toiletry items in October for Domestic Violence Awareness Month. It is really amazing to me that law students – who are overworked, financial broke, and in a constant state of stress – are so generous and giving with their time and limited resources. This too is another reason why I like Oregon law so much.

UO Football & Tailgating

Every year that we have been in Eugene, we have gone to one football game as a family. Well, this past Saturday was our annual trip to Autzen. And as you can see, it was a little cold (or maybe we are just overly-worried parents).

Despite the cold, we still managed to have a good time. I was lucky enough to win some tickets to a tailgate off the radio. (As an aside: For all you sportsradio fans out there, you may be disappointed to know there is only one sportsradio station in Eugene. However, due to the small market size, I have found that it is incredibly easy to win some of the promotions.) The tailgate was sponsored by the a broadcasting company in Eugene. They offered pizza, sliders, stew, and soda. It was actually a fun time. The picture below is of my son begging for more Cheetos, and the one below that is our tailgate ticket.

One of the UO football players watches my son occasionally. When his picture was on the big screen, we showed my son and said, "Look, it's Will." Unfortunately, he didn't recognize him. Actually, that may be a good thing because he may have been unwilling to leave us the next time we took him to see Will. He is much less intimidating when not on a jumbo screen.

Overall, it was a great time, despite the cold. I think watching a game in Autzen Stadium is a great sports experience. Plus, the tickets are part of your incidental fee, and your spouse/domestic partner can get in for free as well. And what better way to spend a November Saturday evening that freezing to death as a family in Autzen?

Life happens

Yup, that's right. Life outside of law school continues while you are in law school. If you are fortunate, you will be able to put most of the outside world on hold during your first year. But 3 years is a long time and if you are the average Jane/Joe, it is highly likely that you will have your share of accidents, mishaps, or even swine flu!

The school has been all abuzz this fall about swine flu. We all received a thermometer in our mailbox and were told not to come to school if we have a fever. In an atmosphere of mandatory attendance for classes, you know it must be bad when they tell you to stay home even if you feel OK. Several cases of swine flu have been confirmed at the law school. A friend of mine lost 15 pounds while on the swine flu diet. I'd try it but I don't much care for being sick. 

My household has been fairly healthy over the last 2 1/2 years and we have counted our blessings for that. However, about 2 months ago my husband was in a motorcycle accident and he tore his rotator cuff. He has been in a lot of pain and we decided to have it operated on. At first they scheduled him during winter break (he is a student too), but then the surgeon warned it could get much worse. Since he hasn't slept much because of the pain, we decided to get it done ASAP. 

He went in early Monday morning and we were home 9 hours later. I guess that is what they call "in and out" service. I will spare you the gory details, I can barely handle them myself. Suffice it to say his recovery is going to be long and he needs quite a bit of help around the house at this point. I had planned to take 2 days off from work/school/court externship but quickly realized on Monday night that this had been an unrealistic expectation. So, I contacted work to let them know I will be out until at least next Monday. I emailed my professor for class this morning and she agreed that I should stay home to care for my husband. I contacted the court and they have agreed to allow my externship to extend into finals (since I don't have any finals!!!) so that I can wait until after Thanksgiving to leave my husband home alone while I go to Portland.  I am very fortunate to have such a flexible schedule and understanding professors/supervisors. I've also been able to work some from home on a civil rights project for work (see later post, very interesting stuff) so that my paycheck won't suffer much from this hiccup in the term.  

This experience has been a great reminder that life happens and at some points in your law school career you have to just step off the law path and tend to life as it happens. Law school will be there when you are ready, whether your hiccup happens before starting or during school.

"Calm, Cool & Collected"

Last week I was up at 5:00 a.m. with my 17-month-old-son and had to satisfy my coffee needs—they were "wants" a mere two years ago. We traveled to a nearby cafe, where I picked up a free copy of our campus paper and saw that the lead story was about my friend and fellow 3L Ben Fisher! I quickly clicked an iPhone photo and sent it to Ben...his reply: "Is that front page? Boy, talk about slow news day!" Ben may be right :), but a lead story on a law student is great, regardless. Article here.