So it's been awhile since i've posted anything. Guess that's because it's been awhile since i've had anything worth saying. ...not that i have anything worth saying now either, I just thought it was time to break the silence.
I've finished another semester of law school and I start summer school tonight. Basic income taxation. Sounds like a party eh? I actually think i might like it. It could be a mix of math and sociology (policy) that really suits me? I only have two and a half weeks of work left, which is pretty nice. Don't have a summer job lined up yet, but i should probably get one and it should probably be one in the legal field.
What else has happened since march? Jill's basement flooded in her apartment and got all moldy and stuff. It's taking the landlord awhile to fix it correctly so she's moved in with me for awhile. Its been a little weird at times to have someone else in my space, but for the most part its been nice to not be alone all the time. Over spring break she and I both worked in the backyard planting flowers and fixing up this and that. Got a fountain to hang on the wall and mom bought me a new electric lawnmower. The backyard is paradise-ical. I've been sitting out there in the afternoons, drinking coffee and reading while listening to the fountain and the birds chirping.
I've done a little better job maintaining a work-school-life balance, though sometimes i feel like i'm shortchanging all three. I'm still not sure what to do with my life and what the heck i'm doing in law school, but I figure it'll fall in to place sometime soon. (hopefully before the student loan bills start rolling in).
I spent most of the winter becoming a slug in terms of exercise. I've been doing that for the past few winters, but as I become older it seems like it might be a good idea to be better to my body. I'm not 18 anymore and getting in shape is tougher than it used to be and getting out of shape is easier. Sometimes I try to do things I probably shouldn't do, like run 5 miles on a whim with no training at all, or play soccer after three weeks of inactivity. My muscles, joints, and ligaments are paying the price for my stupidity, and I'm starting to think that I may need to be more intentional about exercise. Though I haven't committed to it yet (I hate commitment), I'm thinking about riding RAIN this year. Its a one day bike ride across the state of Indiana, and if I intend to pull it off without serious injury I'll need to do some serious training.
Well, I haven't much else to say, and I feel like this wasn't much of substance anyway. I really do still have deep thoughts...on the election, on survivor, on legal matters, but I don't feel like writing about them just now. Maybe next time.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Remembering Granny
This is a long post. Feel free to not read it or to only skim it. Its not here for you so much as its here for me to process:
My Granny (dad's mom) passed away a couple weeks ago. As far as death goes, it was one of the "better" kinds. She had lung cancer and Doctor's had been guessing for awhile about how long she might have left. On a Friday, she went into the hospital and found out she was leaking air into her abdomen. It could be cured with surgery, and while some rehab and other associated inconveniences would result, she'd get to live longer. Granny declined. She was tired. She was ready. I don't think any of the family questioned her decision. The good thing about dying in this way was that we all got to spend a couple of days with her. She still had her mind and we all got to visit and say goodbye (or rather, see you later). When she declined surgery, the doctor said she's have 24-72 hours. She hung around for nearly 5 days.
One of the great things about visitation and funerals is the way they bring family and friends together. I got to spend a few days with family I don't normally see and a couple of people came to the funeral home that I hadn't seen in over 10 years. I got to hear some stories about Granny I'd never heard. She'd really lived quite a life. Married, divorced, and remarried in a time when that wasn't normal. She and my grandpa created a family out of strangers and did it so well that it was only very recently that I learned that some of the relatives weren't really related (by blood that is). Granny had traveled, worked on a farm, shot guns, collected things, made things, learned to use computers, lived without indoor plumbing, and was way ahead of the fashion trends. Her choice to die was a choice to engage in yet another adventure...
After crying a few times in the hospital I did pretty well for the next few days. The real mourning didn't come for me until the actual funeral service started. I cried a lot, but then Granny had chosen a great song for her service. It was an older tune and without the lyrics it sounded like something from a disney cartoon. It was peppy and didn't fit the mood at all. Most people in the room were laughing through their tears. I want that at my funeral.
I did fine after the service but the next hard part I wasn't expecting. A few days after the funeral, my Dad took my sister and I to Granny's house to pick out something to have as a memento. Walking into the house was like walking onto sacred ground. There was all here stuff...the house was full of Granny's many collectibles...and yet it was empty. Dad instructed us to look around and pick something out, but my sister and I did the only thing that we could at that time...we sat in the chairs in the living room and cried with each other. For me, this was the first time it felt like Granny was gone.
What do you take to remember someone? A lifetime of possessions and you can pick out one or two that reminds you of her? My sister and I mulled around and looked at her stuff. It was like visiting her. It was hard. When it became apparent that our mission was futile, I settled on a few small, silly things.
I only visited with Granny every once in awhile, so most of my life isn't affected by her passing. I could probably go a few months without ever noticing that she was gone...and yet I'm not sure more than a day has passed since her death that I haven't been aware that she's not here. I miss her. We still had a lot to talk about. She was going to teach me to make pull candy.
My Granny (dad's mom) passed away a couple weeks ago. As far as death goes, it was one of the "better" kinds. She had lung cancer and Doctor's had been guessing for awhile about how long she might have left. On a Friday, she went into the hospital and found out she was leaking air into her abdomen. It could be cured with surgery, and while some rehab and other associated inconveniences would result, she'd get to live longer. Granny declined. She was tired. She was ready. I don't think any of the family questioned her decision. The good thing about dying in this way was that we all got to spend a couple of days with her. She still had her mind and we all got to visit and say goodbye (or rather, see you later). When she declined surgery, the doctor said she's have 24-72 hours. She hung around for nearly 5 days.
One of the great things about visitation and funerals is the way they bring family and friends together. I got to spend a few days with family I don't normally see and a couple of people came to the funeral home that I hadn't seen in over 10 years. I got to hear some stories about Granny I'd never heard. She'd really lived quite a life. Married, divorced, and remarried in a time when that wasn't normal. She and my grandpa created a family out of strangers and did it so well that it was only very recently that I learned that some of the relatives weren't really related (by blood that is). Granny had traveled, worked on a farm, shot guns, collected things, made things, learned to use computers, lived without indoor plumbing, and was way ahead of the fashion trends. Her choice to die was a choice to engage in yet another adventure...
After crying a few times in the hospital I did pretty well for the next few days. The real mourning didn't come for me until the actual funeral service started. I cried a lot, but then Granny had chosen a great song for her service. It was an older tune and without the lyrics it sounded like something from a disney cartoon. It was peppy and didn't fit the mood at all. Most people in the room were laughing through their tears. I want that at my funeral.
I did fine after the service but the next hard part I wasn't expecting. A few days after the funeral, my Dad took my sister and I to Granny's house to pick out something to have as a memento. Walking into the house was like walking onto sacred ground. There was all here stuff...the house was full of Granny's many collectibles...and yet it was empty. Dad instructed us to look around and pick something out, but my sister and I did the only thing that we could at that time...we sat in the chairs in the living room and cried with each other. For me, this was the first time it felt like Granny was gone.
What do you take to remember someone? A lifetime of possessions and you can pick out one or two that reminds you of her? My sister and I mulled around and looked at her stuff. It was like visiting her. It was hard. When it became apparent that our mission was futile, I settled on a few small, silly things.
I only visited with Granny every once in awhile, so most of my life isn't affected by her passing. I could probably go a few months without ever noticing that she was gone...and yet I'm not sure more than a day has passed since her death that I haven't been aware that she's not here. I miss her. We still had a lot to talk about. She was going to teach me to make pull candy.
Monday, February 4, 2008
The season is upon us
The lenten season is almost upon us and I've been reflecting on what lent means to me and what practices should be a part of my lenten journey this year. I can't say that I'm very familiar with theological underpinning of lent. I've never done an independent investigation, i've only listened to what other people have to say on the matter and I've held on to the parts that made sense to me. The most recent thing to stick with me was that lent is a time to, "go into the wilderness," ...whatever that means. At different times of my life, lent has been different things to me;
A time of deprivation and, closely related, a time of discipline. (hmmm, as i typed that, i wondered if "discipline" and "disciple" are related words).
A time of giving up something as an act of empathy and solidarity with those who have no choice but to go without.
A time of giving up a desire, to practice gaining control of my desires.
A time to give up material things to remember that we aren't just physical beings, but spiritual beings as well...and the times when I want something, be it new clothes, chocolate, or a dr. pepper, are times to remember that those things aren't me, they're just things I wear or eat.
A time of taking on a new practice or habit (especially prayer, scripture reading, meditation).
All of these have been important to me at some point. At the same time, there was another thought about lent that has stuck with me. A wise person I know said of lent, "I don't give things up during lent. I feel that our lives are already filled with enough pain and suffering at different times. We already experience times of wilderness and lent, there's no need to set aside an additional 40 days. I believe God wants us to be full of life whenever we can, and to purposely deprive ourselves at this particular time on the calendar is not what God desires." (apologies to this person because I'm sure I didn't get the words right, but that's the general sentiment I took away).
I still haven't settled on what my practice will be this season. At this point I'm leaning toward a combination of things I've done in years past. 1) borrowing from the Muslim tradition, I intend to pray 5 times a day. I don't think there's anything magical about the number 5 or about the times of day that Muslims pray, but last year when I tried this I remember thinking, "gosh, this is a lot of praying." (the Bible says, "pray without ceasing" i think) It made me realize how little I pray on a regular basis, and while it was a chore at first, it began to feel good to check in with God four or five times a day.
My other practice is an anti-materialism thing. A reminder that I am not the things I own. For the next 40 days, I plan on buying nothing but necessities (which pretty much means food). I haven't decided yet how i feel about non-material but non-necessary expenditures (cover charges to a bar, for example).
I'm open to suggestions though. What are your lenten practices?
A time of deprivation and, closely related, a time of discipline. (hmmm, as i typed that, i wondered if "discipline" and "disciple" are related words).
A time of giving up something as an act of empathy and solidarity with those who have no choice but to go without.
A time of giving up a desire, to practice gaining control of my desires.
A time to give up material things to remember that we aren't just physical beings, but spiritual beings as well...and the times when I want something, be it new clothes, chocolate, or a dr. pepper, are times to remember that those things aren't me, they're just things I wear or eat.
A time of taking on a new practice or habit (especially prayer, scripture reading, meditation).
All of these have been important to me at some point. At the same time, there was another thought about lent that has stuck with me. A wise person I know said of lent, "I don't give things up during lent. I feel that our lives are already filled with enough pain and suffering at different times. We already experience times of wilderness and lent, there's no need to set aside an additional 40 days. I believe God wants us to be full of life whenever we can, and to purposely deprive ourselves at this particular time on the calendar is not what God desires." (apologies to this person because I'm sure I didn't get the words right, but that's the general sentiment I took away).
I still haven't settled on what my practice will be this season. At this point I'm leaning toward a combination of things I've done in years past. 1) borrowing from the Muslim tradition, I intend to pray 5 times a day. I don't think there's anything magical about the number 5 or about the times of day that Muslims pray, but last year when I tried this I remember thinking, "gosh, this is a lot of praying." (the Bible says, "pray without ceasing" i think) It made me realize how little I pray on a regular basis, and while it was a chore at first, it began to feel good to check in with God four or five times a day.
My other practice is an anti-materialism thing. A reminder that I am not the things I own. For the next 40 days, I plan on buying nothing but necessities (which pretty much means food). I haven't decided yet how i feel about non-material but non-necessary expenditures (cover charges to a bar, for example).
I'm open to suggestions though. What are your lenten practices?
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Catching up
It's been awhile since I've posted anything but I was waiting to have something worth saying. Sad, that one can go a month without having a thought worth sharing, eh? ....and actually, I'm not sure if I've anything profound at this time either, but I figure if I keep waiting for great events or great thoughts to arrive before posting, I may never write. So what have I been doing since December 18th?
Christmas: family, friends and food. good times. There was, once again, a sickening amount of materialism, even in my family which has been trying to cut back on our addiction, but my part of it was definitely lessened. I told my friends and family that i had a rule this year; either no gift, or a re-gift. If anyone wanted to give me something, it should be homemade or something they had lying around that you no longer want or use. Give me an old DVD you've seen a thousand times, maybe a sweatshirt you don't wear, or...you get the picture. Its a tough thing for people to do...after all, how do you show someone you love them without giving them anything? Suprisingly, most of my friends and family played along. A few of us agreed on considering our time spent together as our "gift" to each other. I got a used DVD and I my favorite gift was a necklace my sister gave me that she's had a couple of years.
Vacation: for me, Christmas is also a vacation...I got two full weeks off of work and school this year. I used the time to do some much needed clean up in my house, read some books for fun (I don't get to read many "fun" books while i'm in school), and spent time with people i'd been neglecting
January: Back to the grind. Work and school are in full swing but both are going well. My law classes are Constitutional law, criminal procedure, medical malpractice, property, and lawyering skills. They're all very interesting, though criminal procedure is proving to be morally challenging for me (another post on that later). I just joined an indoor soccer team and we start playing in a week. I've been trying to get in shape but I'm too cheap to pay for a gym membership (why pay for something you can do for free? and let's be honest, i'm not going to the gym when i get finished with my day at 9:00). I think about running outside, but then i realize, it's cold. real cold. and I don't do well with running in the cold. call me a weenie if you want, but it hurts my lungs, and what's the point of working out if it's not at least a little bit fun.
Other tidbits: went ice skating with my friends jenny and liz (and liz's kids). It was fun but i got huge blisters on my feet. the bar i usually dance at on Friday nights closed down. now i have to find something new to do on friday nights (actually, indoor soccer is on friday, so i guess i'm good for the season). I enjoyed a great "game night" with some of my old guy friends a few weeks ago. I miss them and have vowed to spend more of my time with the guys. I planned and hosted my first governor's cup competition at KCD. That probably doesn't mean much to most of you, but trust me, it was a big accomplishment for me.
I suppose that catches you up on what's doing with me. See, I told you i didn't have much worth saying.
Christmas: family, friends and food. good times. There was, once again, a sickening amount of materialism, even in my family which has been trying to cut back on our addiction, but my part of it was definitely lessened. I told my friends and family that i had a rule this year; either no gift, or a re-gift. If anyone wanted to give me something, it should be homemade or something they had lying around that you no longer want or use. Give me an old DVD you've seen a thousand times, maybe a sweatshirt you don't wear, or...you get the picture. Its a tough thing for people to do...after all, how do you show someone you love them without giving them anything? Suprisingly, most of my friends and family played along. A few of us agreed on considering our time spent together as our "gift" to each other. I got a used DVD and I my favorite gift was a necklace my sister gave me that she's had a couple of years.
Vacation: for me, Christmas is also a vacation...I got two full weeks off of work and school this year. I used the time to do some much needed clean up in my house, read some books for fun (I don't get to read many "fun" books while i'm in school), and spent time with people i'd been neglecting
January: Back to the grind. Work and school are in full swing but both are going well. My law classes are Constitutional law, criminal procedure, medical malpractice, property, and lawyering skills. They're all very interesting, though criminal procedure is proving to be morally challenging for me (another post on that later). I just joined an indoor soccer team and we start playing in a week. I've been trying to get in shape but I'm too cheap to pay for a gym membership (why pay for something you can do for free? and let's be honest, i'm not going to the gym when i get finished with my day at 9:00). I think about running outside, but then i realize, it's cold. real cold. and I don't do well with running in the cold. call me a weenie if you want, but it hurts my lungs, and what's the point of working out if it's not at least a little bit fun.
Other tidbits: went ice skating with my friends jenny and liz (and liz's kids). It was fun but i got huge blisters on my feet. the bar i usually dance at on Friday nights closed down. now i have to find something new to do on friday nights (actually, indoor soccer is on friday, so i guess i'm good for the season). I enjoyed a great "game night" with some of my old guy friends a few weeks ago. I miss them and have vowed to spend more of my time with the guys. I planned and hosted my first governor's cup competition at KCD. That probably doesn't mean much to most of you, but trust me, it was a big accomplishment for me.
I suppose that catches you up on what's doing with me. See, I told you i didn't have much worth saying.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Christmas party
Last Saturday was my church's annual Christmas party. I know what you're thinking, and just because it was a church party doesn't mean it was boring. As usual, it was held at our former pastors house which is a beautiful old victorian style home in the Highlands of Louisville. She has the perfect home for Christmas entertaining. Add about 70 people, food, music, beverages, and a "best dressed" contest and you have yourself quite an evening. It was an evening filled with fellowship and fun. Oh, and I was the female "best dressed" winner...which i know is hard for some of you to believe since i'm never well dressed. My trusty senior prom dress has never failed to knock out the competition though, and this evening was no exception.
Tiffany, me, Katie, and Kelly
Jenny and I don't half-ass things...so we went all out for the dress up contest. (Jenny is actually wearing a women's suit that my mom gave me last year and I tucked away thinking "this may come in handy someday"- note the silky lapel). Here, we decided to do a "senior prom" picture. A HUGE thanks to Jenny for agreeing to play along and be my "prom date" If only we'd had a balloon arch.
scott begged me to take a picture with him, so i obliged. :)
And this one isn't at the christmas party. Towards the end of the summer Catherine, Katie, Tiff, and I competed in a win, lose, or draw, game night to raise money for charity. The prize was a dinner at California Pizza Kitchen and despite the fact that half of our team abandoned the game halfway through, we still managed to emerge victorious. That was in August. Finally, on monday December 17, team "baby fish mouth" celebrated our win, lose, or draw victory with dinner at the CPK. Spinach artichoke dip, miso salad, goat cheese pizza ..mmmm. They were playing a lot of good songs over the speakers that night and so we broke into song a few times too. We could have easily been on an episode of the partridge family or some 80's sitcom. good times.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
seeing with your eyes closed
Before I begin, let me just say that finals are over and all my symptoms of stress have faded away. I have an amazing amount of free time now that classes are over. I'm such a dork though that my last final was on friday and on saturday night I..... stayed at home and read a book. (although this time it was a book i didn't have to read, so that made it special).
Seeing with your eyes closed...
At Sunday's church service the theme was about "keeping watch." This being the season of advent there was a story of the shepherds keeping watch and how it was, in part, their watchfulness that allowed them to see God come into the world. The service was good and was filled with a lot of talk of "watching" and "beholding" and how important those things are in seeing God in the world. At the end of the sermon some music played and along with it was a slide show that displayed close ups of people's eyes. During communion we were invited to make eye contact with those giving the elements, and at the end of the service we held candle's and sang one of my favorite songs which contains the words, "spirit wash over me, open my eyes so I can see all there is around me."
Now, the service in itself was pretty good, but what was most fascinating to me was that during the entire service, sitting in the second row was a "blind" woman with her seeing eye dog. Yeah, think about that for a minute.
I'm sure the woman wasn't offended or anything since the multiple references to "watching" and eyes were largely metaphors, but it did get me thinking. During the service when I thought of "keeping watch" and seeing God in the world I was thinking of looking for God's presence in average people. You know, of seeing God when a kid in the lunchroom helps another kid pick up his spilled tray. Or of seeing a smile and kind words from the "dirty bum" on the street. Still, most of my thoughts involved the literal act of "seeing." And then I thought, "would it be easier to see God in the world if you didn't use your eyes...if you were like the woman in the second row?"
I've been told that something like 90% of our information is obtained through the eyes. I've also heard it said that 80% (i could be off on that stat) of the information we convey is actually non-verbal. Intonation and body language actually convey as much information as the actual words themselves. But what if you're blind? Without relying on all those visual cues, blind people must have developed super-sensitivity to other things. They actually "see" differently. How then, would a blind person see God in the world?
I do think there are ways that sighted people are disadvantaged in seeing God. We have a lot more information to sort though and be distracted by. I assume that the lady in the second row takes no notice of what brand my clothes are or whether my hair is dirty and uncombed. She probably doesn't know what car I drive or whether I'm wearing a fat diamond ring or if I'm covered in tatoos. Many of us "filter" the people we meet with visual cues. I'm not saying that's always a bad thing. After all, I probably would be less likely to develop a close relationship with someone who is driving a Hummer, someone that I observe doing drugs, or someone that appears 50 years older than me. But are there times I've missed out on seeing God because i've been distracted by those visual cues? How would you choose who to meet and talk to if you couldn't see them?
...and when God looks at me, does she even bother using her eyes? ...i'll bet the woman in the second row could give me some insight as to what I "look" like to God.
Seeing with your eyes closed...
At Sunday's church service the theme was about "keeping watch." This being the season of advent there was a story of the shepherds keeping watch and how it was, in part, their watchfulness that allowed them to see God come into the world. The service was good and was filled with a lot of talk of "watching" and "beholding" and how important those things are in seeing God in the world. At the end of the sermon some music played and along with it was a slide show that displayed close ups of people's eyes. During communion we were invited to make eye contact with those giving the elements, and at the end of the service we held candle's and sang one of my favorite songs which contains the words, "spirit wash over me, open my eyes so I can see all there is around me."
Now, the service in itself was pretty good, but what was most fascinating to me was that during the entire service, sitting in the second row was a "blind" woman with her seeing eye dog. Yeah, think about that for a minute.
I'm sure the woman wasn't offended or anything since the multiple references to "watching" and eyes were largely metaphors, but it did get me thinking. During the service when I thought of "keeping watch" and seeing God in the world I was thinking of looking for God's presence in average people. You know, of seeing God when a kid in the lunchroom helps another kid pick up his spilled tray. Or of seeing a smile and kind words from the "dirty bum" on the street. Still, most of my thoughts involved the literal act of "seeing." And then I thought, "would it be easier to see God in the world if you didn't use your eyes...if you were like the woman in the second row?"
I've been told that something like 90% of our information is obtained through the eyes. I've also heard it said that 80% (i could be off on that stat) of the information we convey is actually non-verbal. Intonation and body language actually convey as much information as the actual words themselves. But what if you're blind? Without relying on all those visual cues, blind people must have developed super-sensitivity to other things. They actually "see" differently. How then, would a blind person see God in the world?
I do think there are ways that sighted people are disadvantaged in seeing God. We have a lot more information to sort though and be distracted by. I assume that the lady in the second row takes no notice of what brand my clothes are or whether my hair is dirty and uncombed. She probably doesn't know what car I drive or whether I'm wearing a fat diamond ring or if I'm covered in tatoos. Many of us "filter" the people we meet with visual cues. I'm not saying that's always a bad thing. After all, I probably would be less likely to develop a close relationship with someone who is driving a Hummer, someone that I observe doing drugs, or someone that appears 50 years older than me. But are there times I've missed out on seeing God because i've been distracted by those visual cues? How would you choose who to meet and talk to if you couldn't see them?
...and when God looks at me, does she even bother using her eyes? ...i'll bet the woman in the second row could give me some insight as to what I "look" like to God.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
i have a theory
it's final exam week at law school and i finally admitted to myself this morning that i am stressed out. i have too many things going on right now and its finally getting to me. i normally muit-task and cope pretty well, but this morning i had a mini break down. my intestines are against me, i had a small panic attack, and i even closed the door to my classroom (yep, i was/am at work) and put my head on my desk and cried. i grabbed some Muslim prayer beads off my desk and said the Lord's prayer in my head a few times which calmed me down. then i thought maybe blogging would help too. it's not usually like me to get all worked up like this....i'm attributing it to a hormone imbalance (and anyone who watched me alternate between salt and vinegar fries and sweet coca-cola last night will probably agree).
so here's my theory - you know how "they" say that the suicide rate goes up around the holidays, well, maybe its not the holidays that causes it...maybe its exams and report cards. Think about it. as i recall, the age group most at risk for suicide is in the late teen - early twenty range and those are the people who are finishing up finals and getting their grades over these next few weeks. this is a stressful time of year for that age group. if i'm right, there should be another "suicide bubble" around May/June. Somebody should check that out. (and by the way, i propose this in all seriousness and mean no disrespect to those affected by depression/suicide)
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i finished my negotiable instruments (a.k.a. the law of checks and promissory notes) in about an hour last night. It was a 50 question true/false exam. On the one hand it was comforting to know that i had at least a 50% chance on every question, on the other hand its stressful to have your grade for 4 months worth of class and studying to hinge on 50 questions. There was one section of the exam that i was particularly intrigued by...for psychological purposes though, not legal ones. The professor gave a fact pattern (story problem) and then followed up with twelve questions that were paired off so that one would be true and the other false. Example:
1. Mr. Smith will prevail over Mr. Baker on indorser's obligation
2. Mr. Smith will lose against Mr. Baker on indorser's obligation.
Interesting don't you think. obviously one is true and the other is false so i would either get both of them right or both of them wrong...unless, i put "true" for both questions which guarantees that i'll get one right and one wrong. Tricky, eh? This is where you separate those who know they know what they're talking about and those who think they know what they're talking about (that sounded pretty "rumsfeldian" of me didn't it?) So what does one do in that situation? Go for broke or cut your losses? I agonized, trying to figure out the correct answer and finally decided that if I was more than 70% sure, I would go all out and answer true and false. If I was really undecided, I would cut my losses and answer true for both questions. Because of that section, I know I didn't get a 100% on the test, but overall I felt pretty good about it. On most of the questions I actually had a rationale for my answer and was 80-90% confident. Hey, at least its over....and it was better than last years civil procedure exam on which you, reader, could have done better than I.
well, i suppose i ought to do some 'real' work. thanks for listening to my therapeutic blogging.
so here's my theory - you know how "they" say that the suicide rate goes up around the holidays, well, maybe its not the holidays that causes it...maybe its exams and report cards. Think about it. as i recall, the age group most at risk for suicide is in the late teen - early twenty range and those are the people who are finishing up finals and getting their grades over these next few weeks. this is a stressful time of year for that age group. if i'm right, there should be another "suicide bubble" around May/June. Somebody should check that out. (and by the way, i propose this in all seriousness and mean no disrespect to those affected by depression/suicide)
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i finished my negotiable instruments (a.k.a. the law of checks and promissory notes) in about an hour last night. It was a 50 question true/false exam. On the one hand it was comforting to know that i had at least a 50% chance on every question, on the other hand its stressful to have your grade for 4 months worth of class and studying to hinge on 50 questions. There was one section of the exam that i was particularly intrigued by...for psychological purposes though, not legal ones. The professor gave a fact pattern (story problem) and then followed up with twelve questions that were paired off so that one would be true and the other false. Example:
1. Mr. Smith will prevail over Mr. Baker on indorser's obligation
2. Mr. Smith will lose against Mr. Baker on indorser's obligation.
Interesting don't you think. obviously one is true and the other is false so i would either get both of them right or both of them wrong...unless, i put "true" for both questions which guarantees that i'll get one right and one wrong. Tricky, eh? This is where you separate those who know they know what they're talking about and those who think they know what they're talking about (that sounded pretty "rumsfeldian" of me didn't it?) So what does one do in that situation? Go for broke or cut your losses? I agonized, trying to figure out the correct answer and finally decided that if I was more than 70% sure, I would go all out and answer true and false. If I was really undecided, I would cut my losses and answer true for both questions. Because of that section, I know I didn't get a 100% on the test, but overall I felt pretty good about it. On most of the questions I actually had a rationale for my answer and was 80-90% confident. Hey, at least its over....and it was better than last years civil procedure exam on which you, reader, could have done better than I.
well, i suppose i ought to do some 'real' work. thanks for listening to my therapeutic blogging.
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