News from the Bland:
Study mania commences/continues depending on your study habits. As usual, the law school (read "snake pit") is proving to be a pulsating mass of stress and anxiety. Needless to say, I'll be hanging out in Campus Ministry drinking the free Diet Coke and wondering if I can muster a D in evidence. But all jokes aside, Evidence sucks my big toe.

The Bend continues to be its gorgeous self--with thousands of different flowers in bloom, lush green grass, no humidity, and about 6,000 pale white students sporting shorts/skirts who desperately to need to tan. The view outside my window: North Quad Beach. Literally hundreds of students grab a blanket and some homework and head outside to increase their chances of skin cancer. And I just laugh.

This weekend was Senior Mass at Cavanaugh. Kind of interesting, I must admit. Lots of tears, laughs, and memories were shared on one sunny afternoon in the Cavanaugh Chapel. I'm sure none of them have any real appreciation for how far they've come in the four long years after Frosh-O. One of the RAs (Katie) got up and talked about her time at ND after the Eucharist and really gave a mature and insightful look about what the past four years have really been about. I have to say, I am excited that she's staying in South Bend for another three years of pain at the law school. She'll be a welcome addition to our happy little law school family. That and I'm planning on her getting involved with the choir at the Law School Mass. Not only is she great, but I'm sure that Miss Texas will take all the good singers that she can get. Who knows, maybe they'll convince me to accompany. Wouldn't that be a sight? The best part of Senior Mass by far is the Senior reception afterwards with the tasty mystery punch. Sangria? No. Mystery Punch. Reason 1857 why I love Cavanaugh.

Okay folks, must run to evidence (read "Koeppel Hell") where he's going to basically help determine my fate for the rest of my professional life by giving me a big fat "F."

I haven't given the blog a thought in over a week. Finally, realizing that the four people who read it needed something to entertain them, I decided to make an entry.

South Bend, South Bend, how do we love thee?
It's that fabulous time of year when the Bend is simply gorgeous. ND is doing their absolute best to make campus look lush and green. It's days like these when I understand why so many folks continue to call the Bend home after their collegiate days at ND.

But yes, my heart does yearn for the West. (I say Midwest, you say West, but I'll settle for West.)

For days when I'll see nothing more than cows, corn, and the Young and the Restless. My summer continues to get better and better. Plans for my eleven weeks off include:
1. Attend six weddings. Because there's nothing I love more than being in a public place noticeably sans date carrying about 10 extra pounds. After about 4 drinks, I'll stop feeling self conscious and it will all be entertaining.

2. Jimmy Buffett Concert. Ten friends are getting together for the concert in East Troy, WI. After the July 10 concert, my liver will no longer be suitable for potential transplant use. In fact, I'm almost certain I'll need a liver transplant.

3. Redecorating my room at home. I'm thinking en suite bathroom. My father is thinking paint. We'll see about this. Installing a sink and shower can't be that hard, now can it? I might have to get some help with the toilet.

4. Young and the Restless. I've watched it once this semester. Once I tell you. Just enough to know that Victor is no longer headed to jail and that Nick and Sharon are still the most dysfunctional couple I've ever seen.

5. Training for a Marathon.

6. Looking for a job post-graduation. Folks, this lack of cash flow thing has to be corrected sometime soon.

7. Rethinking this training for a marthon thing. I'll be dead in a week. This body's certainly not made for running of any kind.

8. Going to the lake. Drinking and Boating. But doing so while wearing a lifejacket. Because if there is one thing I'm not, it's Natalie Wood.

Hold that thought.......
There I was getting all psyched up for Spring Break in Cuba next year learning all about the Catholic Church and their role in the Castro regime (or lack thereof). And Ms. California promptly smacked some sense into me via instant messenger. The conversation went something like this:

"What the hell do you think you're doing? Bailing on Vegas????"

"It's not quite like that...you know I really want to save the world and get started with this social justice stuff."

"Seriously Ms. Nebraska--you're the one of us who's been studying up on how to make enough money at the tables to cover tuition 3L year. You can't bail on us now."

"I guess not. Court can sit at the pool at the Bellagio while we go take in the free drinks, excess, and sin. Count me in. Besides, I'll just wait and visit Cuba after Castro dies. He can't have more than two more good years in him anyway."

Spring Break 2005: Back On. Read more as plans unfold.

And there I was today, lamenting over the lack of course offerings for Spring 2005, when I stumbled upon a little gem called" From Power to Communion." That's right folks, I will be enrolling in the graduate level theology course that visits Cuba over Spring Break. I thought to myself, "Self, if you really want to go on spring break you'll have to start dieting yesterday, get liposuction, and then, maybe then, you can wear a one piece at the pool at the Bellagio or somewhere in the wilds of Costa Rica." And I replied to myself, similar to a dialogue between Smeagol and Gollum: "Screw dieting and let's get your ass to Havana."

We'll see, but this is today's brain storm. Seriously, studying the Catholic Church, liberation "reconciliation" as they call it in Cuba, and of course a little healthy dose of Marxism could be entertaining. Now I just have to convince more folks to take this class with me. Three credits and a Cuban cigar anyone?

I have sinned against the blog.
It's been over two weeks since my last update/confession.

Today was one of the three days in South Bend when you love the weather. Sixty-ish, no wind, no humidity, clear blue sky, and just darn beautiful. There's that part of me that loves this time of year because it's like the homing device in my brain goes off--it's time to migrate back to Nebraska for the summer. Let's fast forward to three whole months of lying on the couch, watching Bold and the Beautiful with my father, and of course, some type of summer employment.


My summer employment plan:
I believe I'll be working at the Lion's Fireworks Stand. That's right folks, the only commitments I have are to sell fireworks to small children with hopes that they don't blow off their fingers to raise money for the blind. If I can't get a real job, I should be focusing on bolstering my resume for my Junior League days. (I, unfortunately, was voted most likely in my pledge class to be a member of Junior League. I suppose it was better than the alternatives, but still, since when have I been Junior League material?)

In other news, my Mother just spent a wonderful weekend here with her only daughter. Not only did we shop like fiends (three pairs of shoes for me just on Sunday!) but we also had some good time to talk heart to heart. The conversation went something like this:

"What do you want to do with the rest of your life?"

"I don't know Mom. But I did meet with Career Services the other day, and they said that I should try to volunteer during the day and wait tables at night this summer."

"Somehow I don't think we're paying $30K per year for you to work at Applebee's."

"Can I quote you on my next visit to Career Services?"

Around the world and back again....

Yes friends, it is truly I. After a much needed three week hiatus, I have finally returned to the blog. While I realize that you have missed my off-center perspective and musings about this sordid experience called law school, I really needed a break. Consider this: I am posting while on Spring Break in balmy Nebraska. You think that I jest, but it really is warm. Warm enough that I might be able to get away with the new Malibu Barbie highlights that I got yesterday. Apparently honey blonde really means platinum in the Nebraska dictionary. Ouch. I'm praying that they tone down a wee bit before I am forced to go on the job hunt. If not, my prospects of being employed with hair this color will dwindle to somewhere around chance in hell to are you frickin' kidding me?

I also may have found a job. Well, not really. But I told my Mom that I would be her personal assistant this summer. She seems to love the idea of someone who will run her errands as well as watch the Sopranos full-time. Which, by the way, if you didn't see the premiere, then you don't have any idea of how good season 5 is going to be. Two words sum it up best: Steve Buscemi. He's going to be on the show, playing a cousin who has been in jail for 20 years and gets out next week. Most shows would have a new family move into the neighborhood to introduce new characters to the show. Why do we love the Sopranos? Because they use parole as a way to infuse new blood to the show.

Friends--no time to update this past week as has been a rather large week in the world of television. Between being completely unmotivated as well as ridiculously lazy, I'm almost proud of the fact I've done almost nothing school related in 4 days.

Sex and the City Update: Big's name is really John. They've kept it a secret for six years and the most original thing they can think of is John. If Big's a john, then what does that make Carrie Bradshaw? Now there's irony there somewhere....