Shakenspeare

Have I ever mentioned that I LOVE board games? Well, I love love LOVE board games. (Clarification: by board games, I don't mean games that are restricted to moving pieces on a board. In fact, most of the games I enjoy most actually have nothing to do with boards.  But I'm pretty sure that you all know what I mean when I say board games. Oh, last point, this includes card games as well.)  For the past couple weeks, I've been attending a book club to discuss Walker Percy's Lost in the Cosmos (good book...deep book...read it when you're ready and able to think long and hard).  Tonight was our last night, and afterward we plated Taboo for quite a while. I loved it. I made a fool of myself at some points (see Shakenspeare supra), but had so much fun.

With the exception of when I'm at home, I don't get to play board games that often.  My roommates don't like them (actually, I only know about one of them for sure...the other I've never asked) and it seems whenever I'm with my other friends, we always have something to do. Hence, no board games.  I do believe that my soon-to-be roommate enjoys them, so playing them more frequently is almost assured. Woot.

Really, this post has no point except to exclaim that I LOVE board games. :)

Worry shatters the peace of life-- faith puts things back together.  Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.  John 14:27

Waiting for the World to Change

Despite catching the bouquet at the wedding, it was actually a pretty good weekend. I have to admit that I wasn't really looking forward to this wedding. I know and really like Adam and Jody, but they aren't my closet friends, and frankly (I didn't think it was possible) I'm wedding-ed out. But I'm really glad I was there...whenever I get to the actual wedding and realize the significance and the beauty of what goes on, my fears are washed away and am thankful to be part of such a big day in the lives of two wonderful people. This wedding was no exception.

It turned out to be especially because of the rest of the group that was there. I basically have three friend groups here in KS: the law students, the older St. Lawrence Crowd, and the younger St. Lawrence crowd. The older St. Lawrence crowd has really spread out all over the country and we don't all get together very often. But we were partially reunited this weekend and it was great. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy my time with the other two groups just as well, but there is just something about being with people who you know believe in the same things you do, and have experienced many of the same things you have. Most of the people I was with have either been through grad school, are currently attending grad school, or will be entering grad school in the fall. That perspective on college and life creates a different understanding of life; the conversations you have change and the fervor with which you discuss and comprehend things changes. But, we have still been through enough things together to have fun. Now, I have to admit, I'm really a transplant into my "older" St. Lawrence crowd. They all went through college together, and I sort of went through their last year with them. Despite that, there is some sort of connections that was more than welcome this weekend and will continue to be so.

Sunday I hit up a Royals game with one of the friends I met last summer and two of his friends. It was also really fun. The best analogy I've come up with for what the bar exam does for you is a pop culture reference to Harry Potter. In the HP series, Harry fight the evil lord voldemort; voldemort's little worker dudes are the dementors. In one of the books (I believe book three) one of Harry's friends describes dementors in the following way:

"Dementors are among the foulest creatures that walk this earth. They infest the darkest, filthiest places, they glory in decay and despair, they drain peace, hope, and happiness out of the air around them... Get too near a Dementor and every good feeling, every happy memory will be sucked out of you. If it can, the Dementor will feed on you long enough to reduce you to something like itself...soul-less and evil. You will be left with nothing but the worst experiences of your life."

That is what the bar exam is like. And things like the wedding and the Royals game are absolutely necessary to maintain your sanity. The game was hot (not sticky, fortunately), but we got some sweet hats, I got a tan (just a little burn), won a free sundae from Sheridan's, and the Royals came out with a victory. A great time.


Lastly: my new internet love-Brad Paisely and John Mayer singing "Daughters". MmmmMMMmmm Totally worth the 4:30 video.

Some people only know how to make a living. With God as your Father, you can know how to make a life. "If you love Me, keep my commandments. He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me." (John 14:15)

Uh oh

I caught the bouquet at the wedding I was at tonight. Just before the bride threw it, I had a "premonition" I was going to get stuck with it. Next thing I know, it was in my arms. I didn't even move or grab for it...it was just like some magnetic force propelled it to me. *expletive expletive expletive* Just my luck.

Lights! Camera! Satire!

Tonight I went and saw the Topeka Bar Association's bar show for the annual KBA conference. The bar show is basically a musical that is written, directed, produced, and acted by attorneys that belong to the bar association. They also take the chance to make fun of politicians (this year, Governor Seblius and her "bid" for the VP nomination and buttering up to Obama was a strong theme), and other poignant current events. The conference moves around the state every year to one of four locations, and this year it was Topeka's opportunity to host. Although it certainly wasn't the Wichita Bar Show (undoubtedly the best...sets...costumes....dancing...) it wasn't half bad. Plus, I got to see my friend Nathan in a corn costume. :) But, it reignited in me the desire to perform and sing. It will be 4 years until the bar show gets back to Topeka, but I hope that wherever I am in the future, I get the chance to be a part of it.

39 days until the bar.

I have yet another wedding tomorrow. This is my third wedding in five weeks. I have two weeks off, then my last wedding until October. PHEW! My back account can't really handle all these weddings....

Old Time Rock and Roll

Tonight I needed some "Emily Time", so after work, I went down to the new ice cream shop in town to get some delectable tasties, sit at the park, and think. As I was doing so, I noticed that across the street people were gathering, and remembered that once a week during the summer there were concerts at the gazebo in the park. Luckily, I had a lawnchair in my car (a recent Target clearance purchase!), so I got it, got some dinner (yes, I had dessert before dinner), and went over to the other side of the park to listen.

I found out that it was the Lawrence City Band that played there every week. And boy, they were good. I was expecting something reminiscent of the River City Boy's band at the end of "The Music Man", and was pleasantly surprised to find completely the opposite. In fact, I would even go so far as to say that when I closed my eyes, it sounded like there was a recording playing. I don't know if it was the way the sound bounced around the gazebo, but it was wonderful and better than any band I've heard for a long time (including the Wartburg Concert Bands...sorry guys.) And it's not like they were playing simple songs...I was listening to the individual instrument lines and the stuff was challenging. It was just great.

And did I mention that the evening was perfect? 80ish degrees, no humidity, sunset, park. heaven.

If I had remembered that this is a college town with a great music program and that many of the professors probably play in the band during the summer, I wouldn't have been as surprised with what I heard. But when you study for the bar for ump-teen hours a day, logic tends to go out the window.

owie!

I bruised my thumb swimming tonight. Swimming, you say? A no contact sport? Yes, I hit my thumb TWICE on the lane dividers. It's on my right hand, so I'm not looking forward to writing tomorrow. You can't the bruising it very well, but it's there. And it hurts.

Red Vines v. Twizzlers: the age old question

My absence the past couple days was due to my very fun weekend in St. Louis for Margie's wedding. I've been to a LOT of weddings and so often seen the big group of college friends that hangs out and always seems to be having such a good time. I've always wanted to be a part of that, and this weekend, I was. So many good friends were around and we didn't care how goofy or ridiculous we looked dancing...we just danced and had fun. One of my friends, however, totaled her car on the way to the reception. Fortunately everyone involved in the accident is all right (minor whiplash if anything), so there is a lot to be thankful for. But she, and the other girls in the car at the time of the accident, emerged with smiles on their faces and positive attitudes that made the evening/ day very fun. I get to have several more of those college weddings within the next couple months. Although they will all be great, the one in Mississippi is one (I think) I'm looking forward to the most.

On the way to the wedding, the people in the car and I got into a very intense discussion about twizzlers v. red vines. One guy, my friend Chris, asserted that they tasted exactly the same, to which his girlfriend and I quickly argued the opposite. I took a poll via text message, and just about everyone who has heard of red vines thinks they taste completely different. The send arm of the poll was to see which people preferred: twizzlers won 11-6 (or something like that). My personal preference is Red Vines, and I will continue to eat them despite general opinion.

Last thought for this update: I saw a guy in the class below me last night who is working at the attorney general's office over the summer as an intern. He told me they have my office all set up and ready to go! I don't start work until August 14, but it's very nice to know that they are greatly anticipating my arrival. However, this just adds to the pressure to pass the bar...as if there was none before... :)