Moths to the Light

If there is one thing that living in DC for the past three years has taught me, it is not to take for granted abundant sunshine. Whereas in California I could count the number of rainy days in a year on one hand, there can be that many cloudy days here in DC in one week. It might not be the most exciting thing to read about, but I blog so much about the weather because this really is a new phenomenon to me.

So many people are finally excited to have real spring weather after what seemed like the most drawn out winter ever. We did not many snowstorms a subzero weather, we just had so many days of gloom and chilly weather. So when the sunshine came back, we followed it. Even though I sequestered myself in the library today, I sat under the skylight. And I managed to eat both lunch and dinner outside. It seemed that was everyone else's plan too, as waits for the patio were almost an hour everywhere we went.

Now if I could only figure out how to study outside.

Sunshine

After four days of rainy and cloudy weather, the sun finally came out. And people were finally happy.

Real Housewives

In my law journal office, we realized that nearly all of our conversations can come back to the Housewives of OC, NY, Atlanta, and now New Jersey. All of us, male and female, from all across the country are obsessed with the show. We talk about the people on the show like we actually know them and all have our favorites (my roommate and I casted our all-star team as Jeana, Bethanny, NeNe, and Jill).

We all know it is trashy television and that it perpetuates stereotypes like how OC trash talks behind everyone's backs because they are fake in California, whereas NY has in-person arguments because they are more confrontational. But then there was an article in the Washington Post by Robin Givhan this week about how the show does remind us of certain things in life. It does capture exactly what I am thinking on Tuesday nights as I watch the show.

"But if the housewives offer any lesson, it is that all the money in their lives does not succeed in making their lives enviable. It only seems to make their homes more crowded with stuff and their behavior that much more appalling.

The most valuable lesson to be learned from "The Real Housewives" may be that we still have the capacity to even be appalled. This is different from being morally outraged or incensed by man's -- or woman's -- inhumanity to man. And we're not talking about the kind of angry disbelief that accompanies, say, the reading of financial news these days.

With "The Real Housewives" we are reminded that we can still be astonished by rudeness and incivility. And perhaps that's a good thing. Our jaws can still drop over the little things: the snide comment, the social climbing, the disingenuous behavior, the inability to say 'No, thank you, I have enough.'"

Who would have thought that this has been one of the longest shows that I am still watching (a picture in honor of the original cast, back in March 2006). And the show only seems to be gathering more steam with NJ officially premiering in May, the night after my last final. You know what I will be watching this summer to get me through studying.

Church 'n Children

As a follow-up to Sunday's post about rambunctious children at Easter Mass . . .

I try to be very understanding of parents, especially because I probably have no idea how hard it is. I understand that they want to bring kids to church and celebrate together. And I understand that they are probably exhausted, it is hard to find child care on a Sunday morning, and many of them do try to control their children.

However, I wonder what the point is of keeping your kid in church and having them cry, scream, run around, and bang on church pews? I feel like some people feel obligated to be in church for the sake of being in the building, especially on major religious holidays. But the parent could not be getting anything out of the sermon if they are trying to constantly quiet their child, and everyone around them cannot pay attention either. Is it that hard to take them outside or to the crying room? My mom told me that the minute that my dad heard a peep out of my brother and I, he would take us outside.

I only bring this up because I sat by the most well-behaved toddler at the school cafeteria today. I think she was a Professor's daughter, who quietly ate her vegetables with her mom at school today. They renewed my faith in good kids and good parenting.

Two Weeks Notice

It is really scary to think that I only have two more weeks of school, ever. Hoping to end strongly and gain some momentum for the bar exam, I have decided it is time to really buckle down academically and regain my motivation that I lost at Spring Break.

Part of that plan unfortunately meant ending my job at the General Counsel's Office. Today was my last day and it was really sad leaving. I visited with all the lawyers, who each gave me advice of course about the bar exam, and they gave me lovely flowers.

Even though I worked 15+ hours a week in addition to school, it never felt like work. I always looked forward to the new projects that they would give me and was able to work on really juicy cases. I learned the ins and outs about the legal issues of a University and found something I would love to do. It was probably my favorite job I have ever had and I hope I find something like it again.

Funny how I fell in the position happenstance though, after being rejected from another job. I guess it should be a sign that it will all work out.

Easter

I think the older I get, the more I appreciate low-key holidays. Easter is a lot like my favorite holiday, Thanksgiving, because it is about family and friends coming together and giving thanks, in this case for Jesus' sacrifice and resurrection. Even though it is commercialized like every other holiday and kids get Easter basket, it still seems to be a holiday less centered around just buying stuff.

I love celebrating the start of spring and seeing everyone at church dressed in bright pastels. I love going to the Washington Post and seeing the winners of the Washington Post's annual Peep Show Dirorama Contest (pictured is one of my favorites, and a finalist) and this year's new Peeps in the Law contest hosted by the ABA.

Overall, today was pretty much a great day. After waking up, I admittedly had one cookie that my mom had sent me as part of my own basket because I have been sweet-free for all of Lent. Alex and I went to church at the beautiful St. Matthew's Cathedral, the location of JFK and Justice Rehnquist's funerals. Despite some rambunctious children running around in the back (really parents? just take them outside), it was a nice service.

And then after a day of brunch at Bread & Chocolate, cooking, and watching the Masters (go Shingo), we headed over to my friend's for a wonderful Easter dinner. It was a really fun dinner filled with delicious food from my top chef friends. I am lucky that since I am not able to fly home for Easter that I have had great people to spend it with in DC.