I Heart Google

I was sitting in class today talking to Elaine (a recent add on my blogroll who went to Baylor undergrad and William and Mary's law school and who endures endless BarBri lectures at my side) when she mentioned that she keeps up with all of her blog news through Google Reader. "Huh?!?!" I question (a little in shock at my lack of knowledge of all that is Google). "Google Reader" she says, "you add all the blogs that you subscribe to (aka read all the time) and it will update on Google Reader when someone posts." It sounds too good to be true, but it is not! I have already subscribed and I could not be more pleased.

Up till now I have been going through my whole blogroll every time I have a second and want to check in on my blogging friends. Most of the times I either have no posts to catch up on or fifteen (I am studying hard at the moment after all). Well Google Reader solves all of my problems! It only shows me the new posts from each blog that has been updated since I last checked (for all of the blogs that I subscribe to). Genius! Go to www.google.com/reader to check it out for yourself!

Aside, I am sure most of you already know about it. But I didn't hear about this gem until today and I thought I would share the wealth. For those of you that blogsurf for a living, keep on keeping on but for those of you that want an efficient system, I recommend it!

Routine

I am hoping to slide into a routine that involves studying the majority of the day (hopefully around 9-10 hours), working out, eating 3 full meals, and sleeping. Who knows how well it will work, but it is the plan. Hopefully I will manage to get it all in because it all seems pretty vital to me. The studying is necessary to pass the bar. The eating is necessary for endurance. The working out is necessary for stress relief and the sleeping is necessary for sanity. Yeah... Good plan if I do say so myself. I have already made a calendar in hopes of insuring I can stick to it (haha, I am so type A!).

Today I "started out right" with my new-found motivation by going to the gym. I had a relatively nice 2 mile run/walk and took time to do some weights (arms and abs... always a favorite). I saw my "personal trainer" from my "free training session" walking around and I had a urge to throw something at him. I don't know where it came from. Maybe I am more stressed than I thought... or maybe I just don't like being told my areas that could use improvement (if you are confused see my previous gym post), but either way I was not excited to see my new not-so-friend. I decided it must be stress related and I need to go back to the gym until I no longer want to hurt him. Maybe then my stress will be under control... Otherwise, I may end up hitting the guy with my water-bottle. Either way I will end up less stressed and the second alternative will teach him not to try to get a pressure sale through being critical!

You Will Find Me Under a Rock

It finally hit me. The bar exam is REAL. The bar exam is SCARY and the bar exam is COMING. I have a little over a month to prepare and I am planning to use my time wisely, which means I will jump off the face of the earth (little to no phone calls or posting). The other alternative is posting what I am learning and I don't think any of you want to read about that!

Today I learned all about Federal Income Tax. Let me know if you want me to share the wealth, ;) otherwise you will have to excuse my absence for the next month. As far as how I did on the practice test, I did as well as could be expected for the amount of studying I had done. What's nice is the test will be surmountable with enough studying. Always comforting to know when you are studying your butt off that it will be (or at least has a high probability of being) rewarded.

Studying for the Bar has been much harder than studying during law school because the test has more information on it (more than anyone could possibly put in their head at once) and it is during the summer when EVERYONE else seems to have time off (I realize most of you are still working, but it doesn't help with the motivation... Teachers are off and that is enough... plus I have condition myself to take summers off over the last 21 years. It appears that is a hard habit to break). Hence my complete lack of motivation lately! I am burnt out and would really rather lay out than study... So I did for a while, but now I am announcing to my blogging community that I am facing my responsibility, being an adult and studying for the bar. Thirty-five days and counting to freedom.

STOMP

Tonight I went to see STOMP with my mom and loved it! I knew the premise and had seen shows like it before (while I was at A&M I saw a drum line show that was quite similar and of course there is the Blue Man Group) and yet it exceeded my expectations. It was an hour and forty-five minutes of rhythmic creativity and I was left wanting more and wishing I had played the drums in sixth grade instead of the trumpet.


What I did not have ANY admiration for, however was the seven year old boy sitting right behind me. Before the show he used my seat as a foot rest/soccer ball. He would not quit talking through the show and laughed SO MUCH louder and longer than necessary. He also was learning how to cat-whistle or must have been because he kept whistling over and over and over. Needless to say my maternal nature was not kicking in and I did not find him even a little "cute". The man with him kept trying to quiet it down but to no avail. I eventually managed to tune him out and he by no mean ruined my evening but MAN was he distracting! I did get a kick out of him as the encore was winding down though. He turned to his mom's boyfriend and said "This is WAY better than NASCAR!". Haha. I agree little annoying kid. I agree.

Going Overboard?

I am taking a practice exam for the Multi-state portion of my bar exam on Sunday from 8-4, so my church hunt is being put on hold for a week. This test normally marks the point of no return for studying for the bar. The Multi-state is one of three days of the bar examination and it tests our knowledge of seven main areas of the law through a series of 200 multiple choice questions. The test we are given on Sunday is made up of old bar exam questions and it normally shows us that if we took the bar exam that day... we would in fact fail. This realization sends most students into a study panic that they do not reemerge from until August 1st. I tell you this for two reasons, (1) to inform you that my blogging will probably be sub-par for the remainder of the summer and (2) to let you know I am living my last week of freedom well!

For someone that has tried hard not to make plans this summer, somehow this week escaped me. So many people are in town this week and I can't miss seeing my dear friends when they come all the way to Dallas! Right?!? I saw Emily, who was in from Atlanta for a wedding, on Sunday and caught up with her. Today I had a wonderful coffee study break with Dinah and tomorrow night I am having dinner with my roommate from Houston Laura. I have included a picture of me and Dinah from today. In case you are craving yet another picture of me with short hair.


But as for the overboard part, I also had dinner plans with one of my friends tonight, have Bible Study on Thursday night, am meeting up with a friend from junior high for lunch on Thursday, am going to see STOMP with my mother on Friday night and am going dancing on Saturday night. For some reason this week I reverted to my social self. Not necessarily the best thing to do before a practice test, but I am LOVING IT! I have MISSED people these last few weeks. Hopefully I will get my "freedom" out of my system soon, because the Bar Exam fast approaching. I almost hope I fail miserably on Sunday because then I will be motivated to study! But I don't... Instead I pray I do well and am encouraged that this test really won't be that hard... But that is my optimism talking. I know the test really is THAT HARD. I am just determined to survive it anyway.

Until Sunday, I am happy. Studying during the day (most days) and having some semblance of a normal life at night. However, next week will be all studying all the time. As always, please be praying for me! I am going to be so glad to be free on August 1st!

Study Breaks

When I look back on this summer, I will remember studying practically non-stop and a few precious study breaks. This weekend I get two much needed study breaks! Last night I went downtown to the Dallas City Arts Festival to walk around and hear one of my friend's band play. I really enjoyed the band (I was more impressed than I expected to be)! It is called Southern Drive and has a folky/country sound. My friend has invited me out about 100 times in the last year and I FINALLY accepted. I guess I should go sooner next time because I actually enjoyed the sound.

After perusing the Arts Festival my friends Erin, Katie and I went to the Nasher Sculpture Center to watch the Wizard of Oz in the garden. They play movies every Friday night during the summer. It was really fun except for a few couples with a different definition of acceptable PDA than my own. Other than the nauseating distractions it was a wonderful experience and I would gladly go back!

Tonight I am going to Sleazy Todd, a musical put on (written and performed) by local attorneys, paralegals and judges. I have heard the shows are great. It is the twenty third production by the organization so I am sure they are doing something right. Either way I am excited for the study break. Today I had two lectures of Torts and they were torture! Better than learning it all on my own though!

Hope you all are having a fantastic weekend! I am trying a new church tomorrow... pray for a bulls-eye!

Thanks for the...Compliment?

I survived my personal training session but the sales pitch was a little more brutal. Why do people seem relatively normal until it is time to pitch you something and then they turn into the typical used car salesman right before your eyes. Having seen this transformation several times, I am still amazed by it.

When in the "sales pitch" portion of the personal training session, my pushy trainer kept asking me what my goals were. I informed him several times that "my goals" were to come to the gym three times a week for stress relief purposes while I am studying for the bar. He looked at me quite seriously each time and told me "I can't help you with that... What are your goals? Something tangible that I can help you with?!?" I told him kindly that I did not have a tangible physical goal. I hoped to relieve my stress by working out and with some definite goal in the back of my mind, I would not be able to relieve my stress effectively. He did not like my answer so he resorted to making his own goals for me and told me the areas he thought I could use some improvement in... I am very thankful that I don't suffer from body image issues because if I did, I fear his comments would have upset me. I am more prone to getting angry however I managed to remain calm as I replied "You may not like the way I look, but I am quite happy... thank you".

He reiterated that I was very healthy and that he would be more than willing to show me a few workouts free of charge if I ever was interested. I politely said thank you but thought to myself that I would be staying as far away from him as possible. However, he did seem to be a decent trainer and my arms are very sore today. He still would NEVER get my business despite the fact that his training ability is much better than his selling ability.

My massage today was a lot less dramatic and a lot more relaxing. It made me sore as well but in a good way. I am going to get a massage once a month when I finally have a job and some disposable income. They are fantastic! My neck is less tight and I love it. It never lasts but the brief relief is worth it!

Welcome Back Productivity!

I have been extremely unmotivated and unproductive since I moved to Dallas. Not good since I am studying for the dreaded bar. However, the winds are a changing! I have been suprisingly productive today and it is only 2:30pm! I went to class, made lunch, called my credit card company b/c my extra rewards ended (turns out they only lasted a year and there is nothing I can do... I just get the everyday rewards now... no "extras"), scheduled a massage (for tomorrow... Thanks again Dinah and Lindsey for the amazing birthday gift!), balanced my checkbook, changed my address with the Board of Law Examiners (so I can get my admission ticket to take the bar), registered my Starbucks gift card (you get free soy and syrups if you register your card at Starbucks.com) and finished cleaning out my car and my room. Not bad since I have just been home for two hours and fifteen minutes!

I am about to go to my free personal training session at my gym. I want to make sure I am using all of the machines right and ask my trainer to suggest an exercise routine to get me to tip-top beach body shape by August. I am going to Hawaii after all. (Hehe! I actually am trying to stay healthy and provide my body some much needed stress relief.) I am a little scared though. Erin joined the same gym and had her personal training session last Wednesday. She said it was hard for her to move her arms on Thursday... Not good! I have to write tomorrow. I am hoping not to be in pain tomorrow, but I guess I will survive either way... No pain... no gain... right? Regardless, I take solace in knowing I get a massage tomorrow! Wish me luck with my workout and surviving the sales pitch!

Church Shopping

Can I tell you a little secret? I don't like hunting for churches. I don't like walking in and knowing no one. I don't like how overly analytical I am of new pastors. I don't like that I will be going to different Churches most Sundays for the next month or so. I don't like that churches don't instantly "feel" like home (most of the time). I wish God would put a big bulls-eye on front of the church for me.

It was easy when I was in Houston. I went to First one Sunday with a few of my friends that went there... Loved it and was done. I have not had the same epiphany in Dallas. Not that I have not been to several wonderful churches. I have... But none of them are First or Grace, and there in lies my problem. I miss my church "home". I miss my girls from the youth group. I miss serving. I miss knowing people when I walk to "big church". I miss community. All of which are precious things I cannot instantly have here... no matter how amazing a sermon may or may not be. It is a process and I am starting over again. I accept it but I don't have to like the process.

For now, my quest for the church for "me" continues. Pray for wisdom and that God shows me the bulls-eye. I am ready to be plugged in again. I yearn to be where Christ can best use my gifts. Please don't take your fellowship for granted! It is a precious gift that I am eagerly awaiting again! I miss you HFBC!

Week In Review

Whether it is from the panic and fear that comes with BarBri and the Bar, adjusting to being in Dallas or my mood... I just have not wanted to blog lately. I am doing well. I am enjoying being home and seeing my parents daily. I can finally do my hair without it looking weird... short hair is much harder for me to deal with. I joined LA Fitness yesterday and think I am going to like it! I am beginning to get the hang of BarBri and riding DART everyday. I am a little lonely but I understand that making friends is going to take a while. I am so thankful to my friends in Houston, Nashville and my friends in Dallas that have been willing to hang out with me. I definitely feel very loved but it is weird not having a "group" of friends that hang out together. I am going to a bible study on Thursday night that I am excited about. Two of my best friends (Erin and Katie) are in it so it should be fun! Hopefully that will help me feel like I have a "place".

In other news, I have had a few interesting DART experiences already. An older man with a cane sat beside me on my way home my first day of class and started asking me all kinds of questions. I felt a little awkward but he seemed harmless enough. He wanted to know if I had ever been to Houston or if I had ever been swimming. I answered every question with a "yes" or "no" and politely smiled every once in a while. He then kept talking but I could not tell what he was saying so I just start nodding... It got kinda awkward but I handled it. A girl who rides to the station after mine saw the whole thing and "was keeping an eye on me". She and I bonded over the experience and now we ride home together most days.

Today on the way home a lady got on the train one stop after mine and sat two rows in front of me (one row in front of my two friends that ride to the stop after mine). She started talking to no one in particular. At first we started laughing quietly because it is not something you see ever day. Then she started screaming and crying and ranting... and I mean ranting. Everyone on the train saw her. You could not ignore her. We tried to talk amongst ourselves but it was difficult. She was sitting in a chair that faces sideways so she was kind of looking back at me and my friends. After a few stops she got up and moved to the front of the train and sat beside someone else. I don't know if she wanted us to talk to her or something but I am fairly confident she had a mental illness. I really felt sorry for her but the whole experience was a little jarring. Thankfully one of the people I ride home with is a guy. I don't really know why that makes me feel safer, but it does. Hopefully the DART craziness will die down a little because the first week has been more eventful than the whole summer two years ago!