Do As I Say and Not As I Do

I am one of those people who always give advice—solicited or not. And now at law school, I actually found a position where I am paid to advise people about everything ranging from studying for finals to handling long distance relationships. The most ironic part of my position has become the fact that the advice that I give the most is the thing that I do not follow. I am a pro at telling people not to stress about finding a job (it will be ok, everyone finds something, things always works out), but I never do it myself.

I am currently starting the process of applying for judicial clerkships for after graduation. Partly because I know it would be a great experience, partly because I am a masochist. Writing cover letters, trying to stand out amongst thousands of applicants who are probably exactly like me, figuring out where to apply--it brings back bad flashbacks of the Fall Recruitment process that I sort of participated in last year.

At first I was a little overwhelmed. I thought I started too late, I thought I didn’t have enough time, I thought my GPA was good but not amazing, I thought about how I should have done a judicial externship after my first year, I thought about how much I hate writing cover letters… I just thought too much about everything.

Now that I have all my references lined up and talked to the clerkship counselor at my school, everything seems more manageable and I feel a lot better. Who knows if I will land my dream clerkship, or any. But seeing as how I’ve fared pretty decently in the continuous applications cycles that I have participated in for, what seems like the last decade of my life, I am telling myself: Don’t stress. It will be ok. Everyone finds something. Things always works out.

I might be reciting this a lot soon.

The Difference Four Years Makes

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Although the candidates have been campaigning for what seems like forever, you know it is officially campaign season when there is a Jib Jab video.

I cannot believe that it has been four years since the inaugural Jib Jab video, and how much has changed since then. Even though this race is so much more interesting than 2004, I am far less "into it." Friends are going to conventions, volunteering for campaigns, and attending fundraisers. Part of me misses it, part of me just shrugs. Eh.

Some of it is political fatigue from being so politically involved for four years of college, as well as being a spectator for a very long primary season this time around. Always being on the losing team did not help either. However, I think having the opportunity to step back from the political world, do other things, and make many more friends who are not politically entrenched gave me a little perspective.

I still think that governance is extremely important and I could see myself working for government. Everyday, I review laws written by legislators (translate: staff) that dramatically and directly influences the lives of millions. And I know that that you need campaigns and politicking to put good people into important decision making roles. But the millions spent on campaigning, the ridiculous non-issues people focus on, broken promises . . . the whole electoral process seems so wasteful and futile sometimes.

Constrastingly, I have discovered more fulfillment and "instant gratification" from the law, which I know is completely selfish on my part. The law may have just as bad a reputation as politics, but I feel like as one person I can make much more a difference in a person's life. The cases I analyze and briefs I help write will determine whether my client keeps thousands of dollars for textbooks or retains custody of their child. Contrastingly, in politics I wrote op-eds or raised money or registered voters hoping that it would help get my candidate elected, hoping they would enact policies that are good. A lot of doing and then hoping.

This post was not meant to come off as long or disillusioned as it probably did. I am honestly thrilled about my candidate, read about politics daily, and commend my friends who are doing thankless political jobs. And perhaps in the future I will find balance of needing to fulfill my own desire to have a direct influence on people's lives with the "greater good" by working as a lawyer and volunteering in politics. But for now, I am just thinking aloud and finally realizing why I am not as excited or eager to jump on a campaign as I thought I would be.

Project Runway

I may not be a fashionista, but I am a huge Project Runway fan. I am excited that it came back today, but still saddened that this will probably be its last season on Bravo.

I am not sure how Lifetime obtained the show (besides a lot of money, of course), but I would have fought tooth and nail if I were Bravo. In addition to being labeled the "gold standard" reality television, Project Runway helped revolutionize Bravo from a network of Circus du Soleil repeats to one of the powerhouse cable networks.

Anyway, before Lifetime possibly alters the show, I will count the ways I love it how it is:

• It has mass appeal: my roommates (both in college and law school) loved the show so we would have mini viewing parties, my mom is a fan, friends across the country tune in, and even my brother watches the show with me when I am home. Chatting about the show afterwards is just as fun as watching the show itself.
• I love watching the creative process, from inspiration to execution, especially because I used to sew clothes growing up.
  
• Tim Gunn. 'Nuff said.
• It gives an insider view to an industry that I knew very little about.
  
• It led to the creation of Project Rungay, a site with hilarious commentary.
  
• It paved the way to other Bravo reality shows that I am addicted to.
  
• As much as I hate to admit it, I easily fall victim to reality shows because, as my mom points out, I am a competitive person who loves watching competition. But I don't have to feel guilty about this reality show because it and Top Chef are much better than any other.
  

And for my fellow Project Runway fans, check out Heidi's favorites over the past four season.

Fighting (and Partying) Irish

A few weeks after moving into my IV apartment, I noticed a group Irish students. Not your typical my-ancestors-came-during-the-potato-famine Irish-American students; no, these are your fresh-off-the-plane-with-my- J1-student-visa Irish students. But they fit right into the IV scene-- partying hard, if not harder than the notorious SB students.

Apparently almost all Irish students obtain J1 visas, which allow college students to get temporary Social Security numbers and visitor visas to live and work in the US for four months, many choosing sunny SB.

And in typical American tradition, we blame the immigrants for bringing in problems. This article included testimonials: "One friend blamed missing iPods on the random Irish people who showed up to a house party. Another friend claimed he knew someone who was raped by an Irish person last summer, and yet another friend scoffs every time her Irish neighbors walk by. . . . In 2005, a group of Irish students completely destroyed an apartment and left behind thousands of dollars worth of damage costs." My own personal story: the Irish thew my roommate's phone into the pool.

But it's not just the Americans who are concerned. Today I came home and found a letter from the Consulate of Ireland. It was notice to all the Irish students living in my building to shape up. Over 65 Irish students had been arrested or cited, which garners negative press attention in the US and in Ireland. It advised students to follow up on citations or there will be warrants for arrest, which will hinder any abilities to come back to the US in the future.

I guess the land of freedom has a different meaning for these students. Who can blame them though (for the partying at least, not the actual crime); IV does not exactly have the reputation nof being a quiet and studious college town, what makes people think that people who chose to cross the pond to live here would be any different. As much as some SB kids scoff at the Irish- I am sure they are not that much different than how many SB kids were when they left home for the first time, or even still are.

This Bud's for . . . EU*

Maybe it's just because I one of those unpatriotic liberals, but I was surprised when people were upset about InBev, a Belgian company, buying out Anheuser-Busch. I thought people would be happy. Don't people just drink Budweiser, Bud Light, or Natural Ice (better known to poor college students as Natty Ice) just because they're cheap rather than actually taste good? Aren't Belgian beers vastly superior?

Apparently not everyone agrees. A CNN article had some interesting opinions: "I was actually drinking a Bud Light when I heard, and I couldn't even finish it. That's the honest-to-God truth," said Philip McClary from St. Louis Missouri, home of Anheuser-Busch. "I was proud to drink Budweiser, not any more," said P.J. Champion, a student at the University of Mississippi who said the brew is "a great piece of American history."

The only American beer I would have any pride in is Sam Adams (and ok, I admit that I like Budweiser Select's "Don't Hold Back" commercials), but when did watered-down Budweiser become the pillar of the USA? It's just like how I will never understand people who only buy American cars. I love America, but I would much rather drive reliable, affordable, and fuel efficient cars. Oh how I miss my little Japanese Civic.

Perhaps I do not have this sense of "Made in America" pride because I do not have family who work in manufacturing. Heck, most of my family wasn't "Made in America" either. I just buy what's good. And on that note, Happy Bastille Day!

*I admit that I stole this title from the Drudge Report. I also admit that the Drudge Report is on my rotation of my news sites that I read.

Wedding Season

As I mentioned yesterday, I attended the bridal shower of one of my friends from high school. Her wedding and another friend from law school's wedding are both in August. Tis the wedding season.

Actually, the wedding season will probably be for another few years. As some of my older friends have pointed out, around this time in my life is when the first big wave of friends are getting married. My friend Helen even told me that she has a budget for it. Smart idea; shower gifts, wedding gifts, plane tickets, dresses, etc--it sure adds up.

I do not mean this in a derogatory way at all, but I could not imagine being Mormon. Many of my Mormon friends from high school are married and/or are part of weddings on what seems to be a weekly basis. That's a lot of money hitting up the registry.

But who puts a pricetag on eternal happiness? It's only the divorce that is billed hourly. Wow, working in family law has makes me sound so cynical . . . I swear I'm not.

Blast From the Past

Coming back to Santa Clarita always brings back memories from growing up, but this weekend was especially the case.

On the train ride hide home this weekend, I edited law review articles and Ace of Base came up on my iPod. Ace of Base always conjures up memories of elementary school sleepovers. It also makes editing papers far more enjoyable.

Since we have family from France coming in soon, I decided to tidy up my room. Then I decided to go into full cleaning mode and throw out stuff neatly piled in drawers and on shelves. I found so much stuff like my notecards from my third grade book report on Sandra Day O'Connor, my AP Government notes, a huge stack of Seventeen magazines, and articles I wrote for my high school newspaper The Smoke Signal (we were the Indians; have to love the political incorrectness). It is interesting what we choose to keep.

And finally, I went to the wedding shower for a friend I have known since seventh grade. From junior high group projects, to our AP Calc 'study' group (we really just played Trivial Pursuit), to being church group youth leaders, to being two of the few girls on the robotics team, and now to her getting married.

I leave you with the second best Swedish pop group, the first being ABBA of course. Yes, Ace of Base's I Saw the Sign.