Once upon a time ... in a land called Barco-ville...

... there was a first year law student. Lets call 'er 2008.

2008 started "bootcamp" w/Barco in August. The first couple of weeks, Barco slowly took 2008 to the edge of the cliff ... showed her this spectacular forest below, and points out a flag pole in the distance and said, "See that - thats where you're headed." Being completely naive, 2008 looked around and took in the view - "Wow! It actually looks pretty awesome from up here." 2008 could see the flag pole - even everything did look a little bit blurry, she found herself thinking - "hm, this is a little daunting, but ultimately achievable." [and perhaps that the prescription for her glasses needed to be updated]

As the first few weeks pass, as 2008 spent more time looking out at forest, it seemed like it wasn't just the blur that it had seemed like earlier. Then one day, around the end of September, Barco comes up and says - "2008, how do you like the view?" 2008 responds - "It still looks awesome, but I wish I could see things more clearly!" Barco laughed - that evil laugh ... and took 2008 closer to the edge, and says "well, maybe this will help" and shoved 2008 off the cliff.

"WHoah," the still naive 2008 yelled "Whats goin' on!?" As she's twirlin' around, in that weird place before free fall [you know like the in cartoons before they realize that they're fallin?] - and for a short while, it seemed ok. In the rush of incoherant thinking -- and frantic fumbling, several weeks pass, and 2008 had settled into the groove of the cartoon fall ... settled into complacency, or maybe grabbed onto a rock that was jutting out of the side of the cliff - whatever works!

Cut to the week before Halloween. Barco yells from the top of the cliff - "How ya' doin' sport?" and 2008 looks up and says excitedly, "y'know I could finally be getting used to this! I can see things more clearly ... but I'm really tired - can I take a break?" And the evil laugh echoes in the valley ... "A break? Sure, but only after you figure out how to balance this" - and chucks down a massive boulder - lets call is memo? Naive 2008 reaches out to grab it, dropping Crim,Tort,Con and Civ - that had several minutes ago been held tightly in her grip. Then gravity, having forgotten all about 'lil 2008 in her sustained-position of comfort suddenly kicks in ... and 2008 goes down in a whoosh ...careening down hundreds of feet, the trees are getting closer, but its all going too fast ...

[currently in "whoosh", holding on to memo for dear life, while trying to reach out and grab Crim,Tort,Con and Civ that fell out of my hands when memo hit. Unfortuntely, when they got loose, the also got bigger ... ]

... to be cont'd.

*** I take no responsibity for the lack of coherance in this post.***

Around campus, kinda ...

Happy Halloween!

A bunch of married-with-kids-law-students organized a little Halloween get together for the kids at Barco today ...




















The Towers
Undergraduate residential halls - RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE LAW SCHOOL. If we could live there it'd probably the most convenient place to live as a 1L. Its better than camping out at the library, and lugging 3 tons of books home. I am considering pitching one of those all-weather tents outside the building.
















Meet one of my buddies, Dobbs-Hayden-Tort.
He gets to be a real bore sometimes, but I'm kinda forced to hang out w/him. I much prefer Bonnie-Crim.
*sigh*


***** I may have lost my sanity, but at least I still have a corny sense of humor*****

Room with a view

Aight folks, this has got to be Pittsburgh at its best,

or at least the best I can see considering that I don't get out much!

This is the view from my apartment, around dawn-ish

More to come ...

one for the memory books

Mohammed Mama and Jaffer Mama

My favorites!

The Cathedral of Learning

I cheated. I haven't been able to actually take pictures - so this picture is from the U-Pitt website. Its called the Cathedral of Learning. I'm not sure QUITE what the purpose is, but its where the Chancellor's office is, and they have what they call the nation rooms, or country rooms [apologies to U-Pitt - I'm totally messing this up] ... I've been told its a great place to study, but haven't checked it out yet. OMG, I can't believe that all I can say about the place is that its a great place to study. *shame*
Oh yeah, its also the best point of navigation - you can see the cathedral from almost everywhere in Oakland - especially for people that have issues w/directions, its very helpful.

Quote of the day! [Contracts, Thursday October 20]

"Is it a duck, or is it a rabbit?"

well, it depends on how you look at it!

--

And that, my friends, is law school.

The biscuit's back!

Before I begin my biscuit story - if you're wondering what I mean, see this post for relevant definitions. [law school's getting to me!]

After barely making it thru writing at 9am [which was highly amusing coz the Prof. can be a real pistol sometimes!], and contracts [which took alot out of me] I proceeded for what I thought was my third class for the morning. I went to G18, and it was empty - hm, I thought. I wonder why. Oh yeah, todays a make up session - so class is in G20. Wait, I don't know anyone thats sitting in that classroom. Odd, I wonder where class is. Now, there aren't really alot of options at this point - and I basically start walking around in circles with a look of sheer confusion plastered across my face. Where IS my class!?!? I run into several non-1L's that look at me like I'm crazy, the few that know me are like - you look confused? Whats wrong? what are you looking for? Without even thinking, I'm like - I can't find my class!

Now, considering that we've just begun week 8 - it does seem a little odd that one is not aware of the location of her class. In fact its borderline disturbing, so obviously I was looked at like I was seriously losing it. I might as well have worn a sign saying - "I'm a 1L, and I've officially lost my sanity." And for a second, I really did believe that I had lost it.

Its scary. I find myself analyzing everything, and defining everything - well what EXACTLY do you mean when you say its an alfredo sauce? No, white and creamy is not sufficient. I've found myself citing my sources when I write emails, and in fact researching before I begin emails. When I empty my pockets for the day, rest assured that there will be at least one highlighter, a pencil and flags. Unfortunately, none of this insanity is helping me in the classes that really count! Is this what law school does to you? I suppose that was a part of the bargain.

As long as it pays off, I don't mind dealing with a little insanity.

**SIGH**

Post-fajr posting

well, its been a while since a substantial post so I figured, why not.

Ramadan 2005
In order to just push through the first semester, I'm convinced that I have to give myself something to look forward to - and since winter break is just too far off, I've gotten into the habit of pushing for the weekend, every week - and praying that the week goes by quickly. Once the weekend is here, strangely enough - I start pushing for the week to start. And the cycle continues. Sounds like a decent plan right? I suppose, but I sometimes feel guilty becuase it seems like I'm pushing for Ramadan to end. And also, considering that I really don't have alot of time in general, to want the time to go by faster seems to go against logical thinking. Anyhoo - inshaAllah all will be good.

After a rough start, the first weekend of Ramadan was completely unproductive and rather depressing - I've realized that I should not stay at my apartment during the day, because I'm completely useless! After that it's been smooth sailing alhamdullilah, I feel like I'm ontop of my reading [comprehension on the other hand is another story!] - but I need to get ontop of reviewing my class notes, and such. I have a Crim-Law midterm next week - which is cool because it relieves alot of pressure from the final, but its a little scary too. We've gotten our open research assignment, "the big one" - which is interesting, but will take up alot of time and effort!! AARGH!

Whats been really awesome about the past couple of days is that I've been getting alot of emails/ph calls from family and friends ... Daniella's been emailing me, and today I got an email from Su - which was so nice - I mean it was all of two lines saying hi, but alhamdullilah it really made me feel good! Talked to Dr. Lisa, PJ should have arrived last night [she's visiting for the week!!],emails from the Naina's ... It's nice to be loved and remembered, right? Well, esp when you're hundreds of miles from people that know you well enough to start ignoring you when you get all mushy :) Like right now ... my incoherant babble must end somewhere - and this seems like as illogical a point as any.

Thats all folks ...

PS - I promised pics of the 'burgh, but my batteries are dead and I haven't gotten to get new ones ... so, will post AS SOON AS I CAN!

PS2 - SUMMER IS OVER, OLD MAN WINTER IS ON HIS WAY - sent us a windy day yesterday ... not terribly cold, but pretty crisp. Time to pull out the coat ... *gulp*

Pittsburgh Palestinian Film Series!!!!!

YES! YES! YES! Alhamdullilah, some intellectually and socially stimulating activity!!

Pittsburgh Palestine Film Series
October 21 - December 2, 2005
www.pgh-psc.org

For the first time, Pittsburgh hosts a film series featuring documentaries, shorts and feature films narrating the Palestinian story. Ten works will screen between October 21 and December 2, 2005, coordinated by the Pittsburgh Palestine Solidarity Committee and the Students for Justice in Palestine. Funding has been provided through a generous grant from the Three Rivers Community Foundation.

Each film will be introduced by local students from Gaza, the West Bank and Israel or local community members each having their own stories about when they began to identify with the Palestinian people.

Visit the Pittsburgh Palestine Solidarity Committee website at www.pgh-psc.org for complete listing of guest speakers, moderators, film descriptions, maps to film venues, and links to informative websites.

Please join us in this journey to learn and seek a glimpse of what it means to be a Palestinian. Donations of $3.00 will be accepted during all showings

Film Series Opening, 7:30 PM October 21, 2005

Join us for the opening reception of the first Palestine Films Series in Pittsburgh. In the tradition of the Middle East, enjoy homemade Palestinian delicacies, music, film screening and discussion with special guest speaker, director of I am Palestine, Suha Araj.

Friends Meeting House, 4836 Ellsworth Ave, Shadyside, 15213, (412) 683-2669
FILM: I Am Palestine
FILM: Jerusalem 1948

7:30 PM Sunday October 23, 2005
Carnegie Mellon University, 100 Porter Hall
FILM: Palestine Is Still the Issue

7:30 PM Sunday October 30, 2005
Carnegie Mellon University, 100 Porter Hall
FILM: Woman in Struggle

7:30 PM Friday November 4, 2005
Monumental Baptist Church
2240 Wylie Ave 15219
FILM: The Israeli Wall in Palestinian Lands

7:30 PM Sunday November 6, 2005
Pittsburgh Mennonite Church
4005 Murray Ave, 15217
FILM: Jenin, Jenin: The Second Intifada

7:30 PM Friday, November 11, 2005
First Methodist Church
Centre & S Aiken Avenues, Shadyside, 15233
FILM: Frontiers and Dreams

7:30 PM Sunday November 13, 2005
David Lawrence Hall, University of Pittsburgh, 3942 Forbes Avenue,
15213,
Film: Arna�s Children

7:30 PM Sunday November 20, 2005
David Lawrence Hall, University of Pittsburgh, 3942 Forbes Avenue,
15213,
Film: The Killing Zone

7:30 PM Friday, December 2
ROOM: TBA, University of Pittsburgh
Film: Rachel: An American Conscience

A very cool site ...

PHD Comics [PHD=Piled Higher and Deeper]
The Grad student Comic Strip [check out the blog section - HILARIOUS!]

http://www.phdcomics.com/

Law School Thought for the day

Being a first year in law school is like having paintballs constantly fired at it your head. You can't get loose coz your head is being held still. All the while, you're doing everything you possibly can to (a) stop the firing, (b) get your head loose. Alas, its all to no avail. The Law-School-Boogey-Man has got you.

Muhahahahhaaaaaa

The harsh reality

Now, I'm not sure if I'm alone in this assessment, but here goes ... I spent a decent amount of time this weekend working on getting things straight with my classes in the library. By Sunday night, I thought I was doing ok, I had gotten the gist of it and would at least get through Monday. The one exception was Legal Process for which my preparation was borderline, and I figured I'd be confused. Alhamdullilah, Monday started out pretty well ... I was ontop of Contracts, and even stuck my hand up before the most trigger happy participant in the class could get his up for one question - AND I was right! whewwwww!

The day ended w/Crim - and I was on call, which is the reason why I spent most of Sunday preparing. Of course, right out of the gates - I'm called on, and the best response I could get out was - ummmmm. Prof E - gives me a break by saying, actually - lets not start there, and she asks a different question -- and I SWEAR - I KNEW THE ANSWER, but I started struggling thru my notes, flipping pages - basically making a complete fool of myself --- and I'm like I know I have it somewhere - and when I finally find it in my notes, I can't decipher my handwriting. My prof, and I really do love her - she's awesome, but she totally dissed me --- she said, well, it probably made sense when you were going over it on your couch. And I'm like - um, I SAT IN THE LIBRARY HASHING THIS OUT FOR 8 HOURS!!!!! what are you talkin about sittin' on my couch!!!!!!

Whats me point? Well, I know that inshaAllah this will all pan out, and this stuff will eventually make sense - at least I hope that it will, but I'm really struggling with two things.

(1) the up and down --- totally on the ball for two classes, and totally fallin off the other two. and then there's legal writing which just sucks in general.
(2) the sheer frustration of just not being able to figure out whats what and how to apply this stuff. I might spend two hours on a problem, and maybe figure it out ... only to have it thrown back in my face in class the next day.

I suppose the point of all of this is - Patience, and I guess perseverence. Faith. Focus. Any more?

On a more positive note - (1) I have rallied up some Va-peeps that can commiserate with me, and talk about how the 'burgh is stuck in the 80's (2) RAMADAN IS HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And none too soon!!

So, I sign off now w/a HUGE RAMDAN KAREEEEEEEEEEEEM!!!!!
Peace ...