The day before the bar exam: They tell you not to actually study that day. To take a day off and reboot. So I did. I had a pretty rigorous couple of days before that so I had the feeling that there was nothing more that I could absorb that day. So, the day before the first day of the exam I went and got my hair done and got a manicure and pedicure. I had not seen my stylist since before graduation. My hair grows fast. There is NO way I will post a picture of what my hair looked like when I walked into the salon on that day, but lets just say that there were a lot of roots showing and a LOT of grays showing. So I went in, chopped off about 7 inches of hair and got a new color. Here's the fresh new 'do!
The Bar Exam: It's three days long. I won't bore you with the details, I have already rehashed the nightmare over and over to the point that I am not sure I want to rehash it again. Let's just say that it's three days of trying to recall everything you have read and reviewed for the past 4 years of law school and bar preparation. It's not easy. It's not fun. I never, EVER want to do it again. Every one says that when you come out you will feel like you failed. When I came out of the exam at the end of day three, I headed straight to Baja Grill for a perfect margarita and it was there that I came up with my standard reply to the question "how do you think you did?" - The answer: "I don't feel like I screwed up anything so badly that I will fail." How's that for a positive answer?? I met someone the other day - another lawyer- and when I said that to him he said, "well then, you are already ahead of the game!" I take that as a good thing. There were things on the exam I felt really good about and things I felt not so great about. But when you add it all up, I think I SHOULD have reach the necessary minimum of 675 points out of 1,000. That's all I need - to pass - I don't need an A or a B, just to PASS. The results will be posted online on OCTOBER 31st - Halloween. That's an easy day to remember. They are not released earlier. I will not know anything before that day. They are posted "some time" during that day - but no telling when. Likely in the afternoon. Don't ask me before then, I won't know. Don't call me that day - I will be a big ball of nerves and not capable of talking to anyone. As soon as I know, I will blog, email, text and call as fast as I can. You will hear - don't you worry. Unless I fail. If you don't hear from me... I am probably drinking myself into depression - in which case... you should call by Friday morning to make sure I am not just packing my bags to change my name and run off to a far away land where I will never be seen again. But seriously... I should pass. Right?!?!
After the Bar.... VACATION!!!!! About three weeks before the bar exam Nick and I planned our post-bar vacation. I needed something to look forward to. A light at the end of the tunnel. I was very clear on what I wanted.... Basically it was three things: Beach, Books (fiction, senseless novels), and Booze. I didn't want to schedule things, I didn't want to "work," I didn't want to do anything but lay around and relax and wash away the memories of the summer. I wanted to get the tan I had not gotten all summer. I wanted to read books for FUN again, I wanted to have a cocktail and relax. So we booked our trip and headed out to Fort Myers Beach in Florida. It was WONDERFUL. It was "off season" for them so the beach was quiet, the restaurants were not crowded and the weather was mostly beautiful (with the exception of the rainy afternoons which are just the norm there). Here are a few pictures:
After a couple days on the beach - notice the sun kissed skin.
We were sitting in a bar, having an ice cold draft beer at noon.
I LOVE VACATION!!
This was the view from our hotel room balcony.
We could walk right down onto the beach.
This is me, on the beach with a thermos bottle full of mai tai.
You can't see it because of the lighting, but I had this
stupid smile on my face for most of the week.
Again, I LOVE VACATION!!!
Vacation is over, now what? I had to start "working." By working I mean networking. I touched up my resume and cover letter, started applying for jobs and attending networking events. I haven't lined up anything specific yet, but it's really hard to have any serious conversations before I am actually licensed. People are worried about investing in you because there is a chance that November will roll around and you won't be licensed to practice. So, I have had lunches and happy hours, emailed back and forth with various people and I am keeping my calendar fairly full. I just started doing some intern work with a solo attorney and that is going to help keep me busy and get me some good experience really quick. I am excited about that opportunity and it may well be an avenue for employment after I am licensed. Overall, I am optimistic about the road ahead. I think it will all turn out great. I am excited about beginning the practice of law!!
What? Another Vacation?? Why not? After a couple of weeks of networking, I hit the road again! I just got home from a four day road trip with my little brother. I am sad to say that it has been four years since I have seen him (Thanks Law School!!) and so we had a lot of catching up to do. He flew in from San Francisco (which apparently is called "SF" by the locals) and we hit the road to South Louisiana to visit family and spend a little time in the French Quarter. We managed to spread out our time pretty evenly but still there were people we were not able to see and so to those people - I apologize. I will come back again soon when I have more time and will make sure to catch up with everyone. Here are a few pictures from that trip!
My very best friend and my beautiful goddaughter
came to visit us at my mom's house.
I love these girls!!
Blake, Mom and I played a few games of Rummikub.
(I won. Don't let them lie to you.)
Mom made this ENORMOUS serving of crawfish fettuccine.
YUMMY!!!!!!
Headed out to Covington, LA where we visited my Aunt Susie and
got to play with my cousins beautiful kiddos.
My beautiful, all grown up niece Cayce came over to visit us as well.
We headed into the French Quarter where we stayed in a little apartment
just one block from Bourbon. Here is the view from our balcony.
Blake got his picture taken with one of those guys who
paints himself like a statute. I still can't figure out how they
don't sweat all of that paint off in that NOLA humidity!
As you can see, Cayce, Blake and I were definitely
sweating in that NOLA humidity!!
Founds some girls putting out some nice tunes in the
French Quarter. So much talent to be found here!
Had an AMAZING dinner at NOLA. This is an Emeril Lagasse
restaurant in the French Quarter. I could write an entirely separate blog
on this place. The food was phenomenal. If you visit the Quarter, try it!!
What now? Well, I am back home. My brother is back in SF (see what I did there Blake, I used "SF"!!) and life is returning slightly back to normal. But not completely.... I am planning to sneak out to see a midday movie today. Why? Because I can!!! So, I guess that's it. You guys are all caught up now. Sorry this one was so long - but you see what happens when I have something interesting to talk about!! Not just "studying, studying, law school, bar exam, blah, blah, blah!" Hopefully my posts will be more frequent now that I feel like things are worth talking about.
Hope this post finds everyone doing well. As a reminder - if you want to email me about this blog - don't reply to the email you receive. Start a new email and write away! Or, go directly to the blog (CLICK HERE!) and post a comment under the blog post. Remember, comments are public for everyone to see.
Until next time...
