The girl inside the woman

There's a girl inside the woman
who's waiting to get free.
She's washed a million dishes;
she's always making tea.

They think she's just a mother
with nothing left inside
who swapped her dreams for drudgery
the day she was a bride.
But the dreams were not forgotten
Just wrapped and packed away
in the hope that she could take them out
and dust them off one day

There's a girl inside the woman
and the mother she became
and half-remembered songs
come to her lips again.

The girl would sing the melody
but the woman stands in doubt
and wonders what the price would be
for letting the young girl out.

--Blood Brothers

A time to work, a time to rest

My GPA dropped this semester from 3.11 to 3.02; this resulted in my class rank dropping from 10 to 12. Fortunately I am still in the top 20% of the class. Of course, I would have rather improved, but I am still happy with my class ranking (and hope that it doesn't slip anymore). I also found out this week that I "booked" Torts, which means that I had the best exam grade. (Those with the best grade get a "book award.") So, in spite of the slight drop, I'm still celebrating (and contemplating how I can do better next year).

I have just completed my first full week of work, and my one-word synopsis of the week's schedule is "exhausting!" I thought that after surviving two semesters in law school, work would be a lot like vacation. Well, in some ways it is not as intensive or demanding. Obviously I do not have to "study" the night before going to work. And my work is not labor intensive. However, the work that I am doing is still mentally challenging, and it requires a great deal of concentration. And, rather than sitting for two to three hours a day (in class), I am concentrating and researching for eight hours a day. Afterward, my mind is fried!

On Wednesdays I spend the day at the Commonwealth Attorney's office. Last Wednesday was my first full day there. My day consisted of reading a lot of material about the different programs offered through the office (e.g., community court, victim/witness assistance, juvenile court, etc.). I also spent a few hours in juvenile court. On Friday I returned to the office to volunteer as an evaluator for community court. Community court is an new, innovative solution to non-violent first offenders. If you'd like to know more about it, here's a link to the Commonwealth Attorney's webpage about community court.


The most significant difference between work and school is that I am (thankfully) getting more sleep. My day starts at about 5:30 a.m. By the time I take care of the pets, do some inspirational reading, and light exercise, it's time to get ready for work. After work I change clothes and do some serious exercising; then it's time for a quick, light dinner. It's typically 7:00 p.m. before I get home for the night. Some nights I have time to read; and some nights I am in bed by 9:00 p.m. My personal goal is to be in bed no later than 11:00 p.m., and I have met that goal most nights this summer.

Have you yawned yet? I know, it's not the most exciting schedule, but I am so thankful for the opportunities I have this summer to hone my research skills, meet attorneys and local bar members through the Commonwealth Attorney's office, and the luxury of having a few hours a day to take care of my physical, mental, and spiritual needs as well. I am also most thankful for the wonderful gift of sleep. It's been approximately one month since exams, and I am finally feeling rested. This morning, even before I put together my thoughts for this blog, I was reminded of the wisdom of Solomon's words, "there is an appointed time for everything." In the first few days of this summer season I have found time to celebrate, time to contemplate, time to read, time to exercise, time to work, and time to rest. And I'm thankful for each of those opportunities.

So much to do, so little time

Today is one of the best days of my summer vacation (to date). Today is the day that I finalized and submitted the Note to the law review write-on competition. What I had hoped would only take two or three days, took the entire week. I do hope that missing a week of work is worth it. For better or worse, though, the Note is submitted and the decision is out of my hands. I obviously would like a seat on law review, but I am going to put it out of my mind so that waiting for the results will not drive me to the brink of insanity.

Today was also a great day because I returned to the Commonwealth Attorney's Office to meet many of the staff, get my ID card, and prepare for my first official day of work next week. I am not sure how many 1Ls interviewed for this internship or how many may have turned it down, but I am quite happy that I was offered this opportunity. The Commonwealth Attorney has hired a few other LU law students and I think he has been pleased with their work; this is quite an accomplishment for such a young school.

I can't recall all of the stuff that they said I'd do this summer, but some of it included days in court (of course), interviewing witnesses and victims, listening to 911 calls for excited utterances or other statements that could be useful at trial, visiting the jail and the juvenile detention center, and drafting briefs and orders. It all sounds so overwhelming, but also very exciting.

Next week I return to the law school to continue researching for the professor. At the present time, my work at the Commonwealth Attorney's office will be one day per week. Starting next week I am also going to devote at least one night per week to the CASA training materials. I would like to complete all of the assignments (in this huge 3" binder) so that will be another monkey off my back.

But before next week, I plan on having a great weekend. I plan on exercising. Oh how I have conveniently ignored that task. It was just too easy to get up in the morning, brew a pot of coffee, and sit at the desk all day...except while grazing in the kitchen. So exercise is going to move up quite a few notches on my priority list.

I also plan to do some reading for pleasure. First, I am going to read a newspaper. Oh, you just don't know how indulgent it is to do something simple like read a newspaper! Then, I am going to start a new book. I was able to read a book while on the cruise, and I'm not sure which was the bigger luxury (i.e., reading a book or taking the cruise). One of the few things that kept me sane during the insanity of spring semester was the "summer book list" that I started. Oh, there are about ten "must read" books on my list, and I hope I can read them all.

One of the more unpleasant chores that I must tackle this weekend is cleaning. I have no idea what critters have taken up residence under my bed, but I hope to have this little abode sparkling by Saturday night.

I'm sure that after you've read about all of the thrilling things I plan on doing with my summer (e.g., exercise, work, read, clean), you are yawning with excitement! But, I have to confess that every one of these things is such a luxury that I can't wait to get started. I hope that your summer plans are just as thrilling to you!

PS: Grades for spring semester are posted, but the class rankings are not. I'll follow up with news as soon as possible.

What's new?

Just a brief note written for two purposes: (1) to catch up on all the newsworthy happens, and (2) to help me postpone the inevitable reading and writing that must be done today. (Thanks for the diversion!)

I have just returned from a week-long cruise to the Bahamas. It was a very nice trip, but the weather was not cooperative. We were not able to dock for two days because of the waves and wind, so we were stuck on the boat in the middle of the ocean. Although there was much to do on the boat, much of it I had already done (shop, visit the spa and fitness center, read a book, etc.). I had been to the Bahamas before, so this trip wasn't as thrilling as the first; it wasn't new, ya know. Next time I cruise, it will be to some place different. I would love to eventually do the Alaskan cruise, Mediterranean cruise, and the cruise around the Hawaiian islands. In spite of the weather, the crew, service, and food was fabulous!

Now that I'm back, it's time to read and write for the law review write-on competition. The "Note" is due on Friday, June 15, so I doubt that I'll be doing anything else for the next few days other than that. Afterward, my summer will officially begin. I have several other projects in the mix for the summer, but this is the most important--and most dreaded. I plan on giving it my all and then letting it go.

That's all the news that newsworthy.