Love Is . . .

After looking for a purple coat for years, Alex found me a perfect short, wool purple pea coat at the Macy's in New York.

It wasn't so much that he bought it, which I did appreciate. Rather, it was that he was willing to scour the floors of the biggest Macy's in the world, without me asking him to do this, and be able to pick out one that I would love. I am a lucky girl.

Law School or Senior Center?

I am pretty sure the average age of a law school student is 25 going on 65. Between the physical ailments (bad eyesight from reading to back aches from carrying too many books and your laptop) to needing peace and quiet, it is only a matter of time before we start yelling at kids to get off our lawn.

Alex calls me an old lady. And while I know I have always been an old soul, at least now I have company. A convo with one of my friends from school:
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VC: So i got my hair cut today. Not anything drastic at all, but i was kind of jealous of the people getting really funky cuts and dying their hair bright red and magenta . . .

Me: do it VC!

VC: ... bc if i did that i prob wouldnt get a job [note: VC already has a great job lined up so I have no idea what she's worried]. I dyed my hair purple before . . . at [my old job] things were more tolerable since it was still a little artsy. Used to use blue mascara.....but now I'm old and responsible and am a future attorney. I'm gray.

Me: How sad. We're old complaining about the noise in the library and about young'uns [undergrads] on the bus.

VC: and the noise in the shuttle. haha. Yeah... sigh

Me: JK didn't want to school because her bag would hurt her back

VC: and CM plays bridge

Me: man, time to ship us off to the nursing home

VC: Seriously
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Note: I just realized that one of my good friends, who also happens to be in law school, had sent me an invitation to join a group AARP-Youth Chapter. Part of the description: We may look youthful and fancy-free, but deep inside each of us is an aged grandparent ready to bust out the Aspercreme and brew a pot of tea. So true.

Generation Bravo

I remember when Bravo used to be the channel that just played Circus du Soleil videos. Now it is home of what is, in my opinion, the best and/or addicting reality shows on television: Top Chef (love Tom), Project Runway (love Tim), Real Housewives of OC/Atlanta (Team Nene), The Rachel Zoe Project (love Brad), etc.

While Bravo is one of the most recognizable brands amongst gays, I was surprised to discover so many hetereosexual males are fans of these shows. While my friend and I were talking about the Project Runway finale, a guy in my Evidence Class turned around and said, "Korto was lucky to make it into the finale, and I say that as a Korto fan." Today in the journal office, another guy asked why Lisa was going to fight Kim in the Housewives of Atlanta finale while another guy said, "I am totally on Team Nene, Sheree's so mean and Kim's just stupid."

Bravo, the channel that bonds us all. And now that they play West Wing and Law & Order reruns, I really don't need any other.

It Depends

Ok, I finally figured it out.

You know how they say that Democrats always give nuanced answers that do not play well in campaigns? Remember John Kerry's "I vote for the war before I voted against it," to President Elect-Obama's long policy answers he gave in his debates against Hillary? Well it dawned on me why Democrats have a hard time giving the soundbite, the to-the-point affirmative answer. We're lawyers.

You know what the answer is to 90% of questions they ask you in law school? It depends. And then you have to show all the reasons why it might be one way and why it might be the other. That line of thinking does not fare well for a commercial or even a debate.

Whereas nuance is frowned upon by the public in politics and seen as wish-washy, it it cherished in the law. We are paid to argue about nuance, pick-apart details, and make sophisticated arguments examining minutia. When we counsel people on what they should do, we are supposed to present all options, all considerations, and all potential consequences.

It was a very sad realization that I cannot think like a "normal" person anymore. When I saw someone ask if it is a good idea to get back with an ex-boyfriend, my first instinct was to say "It depends. There is a rebutable presumption that it's a bad idea, but it could be overcome if . . ." I hate myself.
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Also, I thought there would be a news void in my life after the Presidential election, but I am still hooked. Between reading about Obama's new cabinet picks and his daughters touring DC schools, I found one really funny/sad Politico story about members of Congress who sleep on cots in their offices, shower in the House gym, and leave packets of ramen around.

If you start your day with a little West Wing on Bravo before school or work, I am sure you will appreciate this story.

[picture of Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) with his duct-taped cot, taken from Politico]

Let it Snow

[photo evidence of today's snow courtesy of DCist, via Kyle Walton]

Today in the clinic office . . .
Me & SK both from So Cal: Yay snow!
JB from Buffalo, New York: Silly Californians

Even after two years, the first snowfall of the year is still exciting. It looks like it is going to be a long and cold winter, at least by DC standards.

SPAM

You know economic times are tough when sales of Spam go up. The New York Times has an interesting article about the origins and history of one of the most hated-upon meats. Funny how a country who loves hotdogs so much could publicly frown upon spam.

I, on the other hand, am a spam fan. I hardly eat it now, but I used to love when my dad made spam fried rice on weekend mornings when my mom was at work. I loved how it got slightly crispy on the edges.

It's interesting how geography can develop your tastebuds and food preferences. Spam is a big part of the midwest. I am pretty sure that Minnesota is the largest consumer of the product after Hawaii and apparently Guam. In fact, the Spam plant, Spam Museum (which I must go to), and Spam Jam (an annual festival) are all in Minnesota.

However, when I moved to a predominately white part of California, I hardly knew anyone who ate Spam, especially the way my dad cooked it. I once remember buying it in college with my best friend who used to eat it when she went camping, and a third roommate totally freaked out when she found it in the refrigerator. But later in life I found others, mainly Asian American kids, who also grew up on spam friend rice. Thank you American troops for bringing spam to Asia and around the world.

Winners & Losers

Winners

• Mom: Happy Birthday! Can't wait to see you soon.
  
• The New Priest at Church: Gave a great homily explaining a parable that I always had difficulty understanding. Bonus points for pop culture references like Donald Trump.
  
• Faith: Thanks for sharing a love of reality TV with me and for giving me ScentedGlossyMagazines, a Bravo-recapping website that is terribly addictive.
• Firefighters: From the ones fighting fires in LA to the one profiled on Extreme Home Makeover, thanks.
  

Losers

• Staff at Asian Restaurants who Racially Profile: Always questioning Alex's orders and not mine. If we ordered Beef and Tendon soup, then someone at the table probably wants to eat tendon. Little do they know that I am the far less adventurous eater.
• Mean Girls: Sheree & Kim (Housewives of Atlanta), Sam, Clark & Co. (Top Model). Here's to hoping that your meaness does not prevail in the end. Go team Nene and McKey/Analeigh.
  
• Out of Control Prop. 8 Protesters: Harassing a restaurant to the point that the owner and staffers cry and donate money, all because one person donated $100 to Yes on 8, is not going to do anything except make our side look like bullies. [LAT story]