Second Week of Law School

Party

I celebrated the end of my second week of law school with a fabulous party. The reason? It's my birthday.

I was very happy for so many reasons:

1) being able to introduce my friends to each other
2) seeing these friends make connections
3) seeing friends that I haven't ran into for a while
4) being out and about on a Saturday night
5) having some friends stay out all night with me (I didn't expect them to give me so much of their time)

Specifics:

1) That Diana was home and I got to visit for her for a little while
2) I didn't expect any gifts - and I got some very very thoughtful ones
3) My "coming" out cake! I love DQ cakes
4) Seeing Fernando because we hardly get to hang out
5) Meeting other people's significant others

Other Thoughts of the Week

1) Feeling weird lonely again - it's strange when you feel like you connect with people and then they utter a statement or do not make an action that makes me feel like we were totally on the wrong wavelength. It's such a forlorn feeling.

2) Passion vs. Practicality - thinking a lot again about working on my passions about everything - art, life, people, music, social change. I think it's sad because I meet so many people that are just going through the motions of life...and I don't feel their passion for many of the things they tell me that they are going to do. Then I wonder if I exude this same feeling on others? I wonder about how strong my convictions are...if my actions are generally not hypocritical. If I ordinarily follow through. It's so funny how people always think that they are better than they actually are. But then there are those people who's head are in the clouds...and they say they want to do all these things and always utter their plans in such a serious manner that you think this time they're going to do it and this time they're going to follow through...and when you finally meet up with them and ask about progress...they have abandoned their dreams or have moved onto something else. Do we do this our whole lives? Or is it part of being in my twenties? I'm too old to not know that not everyone gets to follow their dreams.

3) Voting - I went to vote for the primaries this week. As I was walking into Sandburg Middle School, a white woman was walking out...following her little girl....and a black man walked out and smiled at me. I thought it was so nice...living in a suburb and having a right to vote. It felt a bit surreal - all of us from there separate ethnic boxes to check off on a form - crossing paths to do what we have a right to do - VOTE. And it almost made me cry to to think of what so many generations before us had to do to fight for this day. And it really pisses me off when people who can choose not to vote. So I'm trying to do my part and get people to vote...and specifically to look at the Hutchinson/Reed campaign. Go TeamMN!! They really want to make a difference. And knowing Maureen Reed really helps. She knows what she's talking about. I've worked with her and seen her ask thought provoking questions. Seen her do the follow up. She wants to help us change the healthcare system. She knows the system inside-out. She is a doctor. She's qualified. And Peter Hutchinson- he had his own consulting company to help government become more efficient for crying out loud. He knows his stuff. And they are both not career politicians. Being involved with student government in the past makes me respect this so much more. If career student government kids can suck so much...think of the people in the real world! This is why it's good to have fresh blood in a system -they can ask questions and are at a position to change things because they don't have years of favors to pay back. I am planning to help as much as I can.

4. Law school - Favorite Case of the Week - would have to be....Webb v. McGowin. I like this case for so many reasons. I'm sure once I attend class tomorrow - I will be wrong in all my reasons. This case is about how Webb worked in a lumber company and was carrying these 75 pound logs to throw over the upper floor of the mill to clear the floor area. One day when he was about to throw the log over...in a split second he saw McGowin standing where the log would be and he made the decision to fall with the log to divert where it would land to save this guy, but seriously injures himself and become mentally and physically unable to work for the rest of his life. McGowin - being touched that his life was saved, promises to give Webb $15 (this is case is from 1936) every two weeks until the rest of Webb's natural life. Except McGowin dies, and so Webb sues McGowin to keep getting the money from his estate for the rest of his natural life. This case falls under the subject of restitution that we will be covering. The Court of Appeals ruled that McGowin's estate should be giving money to Webb because McGowin received a material benefit from Webb's actions. He didn't have to pay medical bills or pay for his life. Right now, I find this case interesting because I cannot believe that someone would do that for another human being. Or I should say...I forget how giving some people can be. I wonder how I would feel if I was Webb's wife or family. Would I wish misfortune on the other person instead of having to bear the burden of a loved one's mishaps for the rest of my life? Law is so interesting. Reading about these real life stories make me examine my life in a whole new manner.

Okay time for real studying.