Law school.

hsner

I'll be starting law school in a little over a year. I'm sure the next year will go by quickly, as they all seem to. I imagine that this time next year, I'll be trying to get things in order, making sure I have all the supplies I need, getting ready to quit my job, hoping we can make it all work. I'm nervous about going back to school. I've said in the past that it was something I wouldn't do. But I need something more financially and personally rewarding than what I'm doing now. I don't see myself being a secretary forever. I can see myself being an attorney, but getting there is most certainly going to take me out of my comfort zone. I'm one of those people who is going to law school because I think I'd be good at it and because I don't know what else to do. Perhaps that's not the best reason to go into a rather large amount of debt (although I hope to get some scholarship money), but there it is.

Another reason for this foray into a career I did not previously care anything about is that I'm hoping to work for myself. Maybe not at first, but eventually. I'd like to have my own practice so that I can be in control of things. I have no desire to work for someone else, being told what to do and when to do it. I want to be able to make the decision about whether to take on a case. I want to be able to take a break or a vacation when I feel like it. I realize you have to take the clients needs into consideration, but I think that's better for me than having to cater to the needs and wants of other attorneys.

Right now I'm most interested in real estate law. And possibly health law. Those are certainly subject to change once I start learning more about them and about the other types of law. I know I am absolutely not interested in family law (too sad and stressful) or tax law (too complicated).

I am concerned about how much studying I'll have to do in order to do well. Or just to keep up, for that matter. It has been a long time since I've really had to study for anything (other than the LSAT) and I fear that my ability to concentrate on something for long periods of time has diminished ever so slightly. Maybe a lot. Especially when it comes to something boring. Yes, I think law is basically boring. I told you I was only doing this because I don't know what else to do. I just hope I can stay awake in class.

I hope that four years from now, I'm glad I did it. I hope I pass the bar. I hope I can find a job that I enjoy. I also hope I can look back and say that I stayed awake throughout every single class. THAT is a true accomplishment and something to be proud of.

Busy and boring.

Not that anyone has particularly noticed, but I haven't blogged in a few days. Life has a way of being busy, even when it's not all that interesting (at least to people other than yourself) and that's where I'm at.

I keep thinking about working out and then I keep not doing it. That has really got to stop! I worked out a whopping total of five times in June. Maybe I can do better this month, but here we are on July 8th and I haven't done it even once. I was thinking, though, about making a "Birthday Resolution". I have, in the past, made New Year's Resolutions, which have more or less not resulted in any major or lasting changes in my life. But here I am, about to turn 31 years old next month. I've always been on the thin side, but as I get older, I see a change. My weight hasn't really changed, but things just seem to be in different places. I'm not sure how that works, because I may look bigger in one place, but no other places are smaller. Anyway, I've decided to use my 31st birthday as a starting point for really and truly trying to do better about exercising and eating better. (REALLY. I mean it.) I especially need to cut down on the sugar. I am a major sugar addict. I need it. As I type this, I'm drinking a nice, sugary glass of grape Kool-Aid. It's delicious. So I need to work on cutting down on the sweet stuff. That's probably the biggest problem I have when it comes to my diet. That and carbs. I love carbs, too. I don't see how people can go without them.

But I digress.

I really want to make a positive change in the health area of my life. It starts August 17th. I'm not going to go all crazy and pig out until then or anything. But that's the official start date. Seriously.

Working out is not working out.

Despite my good intentions, I've not exercised much this month. I think maybe four times so far. I know I'd do better if I got up before work to do it, but this would require me to get up around 5 a.m. and I just haven't found it in myself to do this yet. (Partly because I tend to go to bed late and I'd rather sleep another hour than get up to exercise.) In the evenings, I'm too tired and have too many other things I need (and want) to do (if we're even home). I know the answer is to start going to bed earlier and work out in the mornings. I just need to do it!!!

J has a meeting tonight, so I'm going to try to work out while he's gone. We'll see how much motivation I have once I get home.

In other news, my parents stayed with us last night. My mom had a job interview at a hospital in the city where we live (she's a nurse). They live 4 to 5 hours away right now, so it'd be nice to have them closer!

My cooking skills. Or the lack thereof.

I wish I was a good cook. I wish I was the kind of cook whose dishes are praised at potlucks and sought after at family gatherings. Alas, this is not the case. If I were ever to be famous for any kind of cooking, it would be for being really handy at opening cans and reading directions on boxes. That's what I'm best at. When it comes to cooking from recipes, my skills are a bit lacking.

This is not to say I don't try. I love cookbooks and own quite a few. I enjoy looking through them and dreaming about the day I'll have the time, ingredients and skill to cook this or bake that. I recently decided I would try to make a new recipe that I got out of this cookbook:

I decided to make the "Mini Cheeseburger Puff Pies". It sounded simple enough. It was just miniature cheeseburgers wrapped in puff pastry. It was the puff pastry that threw me off. I had never made anything that required it. Therefore, I made a mistake. I bought Phyllo dough instead of puff pastry. In my defense, it did say "Easy-to-Use Pastry Sheets" on the box. It was all I could find in the frozen food section, which is where I assumed it would be. Anyway, this mistake pretty much ruined the whole recipe. We could still eat the cheeseburger part (and J even ate cheeseburger with some of the Phyllo dough...ew), but it wasn't good. But now I know and I'd like to try it again, after I locate the puff pastry at Kroger. If you know where I might find it, feel free to share your wisdom.

Occasionally, I do make something that tastes good and even resembles what the end product is supposed to look like. For example, from the cookbook above, I have also made "Brooke's Homemade Meatloaf". I've made it twice and it's quite tasty, although in the future, I'll leave off the glaze it calls for. It's not as good as my mom's meatloaf, but I don't have that recipe. I should probably get it.

I also recently  made "Banana Pudding" from this cookbook:

I'm all about the Deen's. Anyway, it turned out pretty well, too. So I'm not always a terrible cook. And at least I aspire to be great at it one day. For now, my husband kind of groans when he finds out I'm trying out something new for dinner.

Where have all the good shows gone?

J and I haven't had cable or satellite TV for over two years. We think this is a wonderful thing. As it turns out, there is hardly anything worth watching! We do have Netflix and a Tivo, though, so we records a few shows to watch later and take adavantage of the "Watch Instantly" feature on Netflix. As I get older, I add a new show here or there to my favorites, but some shows have been on the list for a long time. Here are my all-time favorites:

1. The Office. I've seen every episode and there are some I've seen multiple times. ("The Dundies" comes 
    to mind.) My favorite thing about the show has always been the relationship between Jim and Pam.
    Although I don't find it as enjoyable as I used to, it's been fun to see them go from being office-mates
    with unspoken crushes on each other to a married couple with a baby. I'm glad the writers allowed the
    relationship to develop in a realistic way, even though they're not quite as cute as they used to be. Other
    than Jim and Pam, I like the awkward humor of the show. Because that's how humorous situations
    often are in real life. Just awkward. This show can totally make you feel embarrassed and have to turn
    away from the TV. It's good that way.

2. LOST. We didn't start watching this until last year. I knew enough about the show to know it was
    something you needed to watch from the beginning or you would be, well, lost. So when I saw we could
    "Watch Instantly" on Netflix, I added Seasons 1-5 to the queue. I got totally addicted. So did J. We still
    aren't caught up; we're close to finishing Season 5. It's kind of bittersweet. On one hand, I want
    to know what happens. On the other, once it's over, it's over. No new episodes. Hurley, with his big
    hair (not completely unlike my sometimes unruly curls) and Sawyer, with his amusing way of saying
    things and nicknames for everyone, are my favorites. I feel kind of sorry for the people who already
    watched the finale. At least we still have that to look forward to.

3. The Cosby Show. I will never get tired of this show. I love the humor and the family dynamic. I love
    Bill Cosby's hilarious ways of saying things, in particular when he is speaking to or about his children or
    grandchildren. I have thought to myself that they are the kind of parent I want to be. Firm, but fun-loving
    and funny. With definite rules and regulations for the kids, but also an understanding of the way kids are.
    A knowledge that they are going to mess up and you just have to deal with it the best you know how.   
    There was never a lot of drama, but a rather honest potrayal of how a real family often works. There are
    too many shows on today that make it look like all families are broken and crazy and dysfunctional and
    that's simply not true.

4. The Andy Griffith Show. I will never get tired of this, either. My dad has always been a fan of this show,
    so I watched it when I was younger and I still like it now. I love the hilarity that is Barney Fife. I love the
    town of Mayberry, with its cast of odd characters. I wish I could live in a town like that, where everyone
    knows you, where there's such a lack of bad stuff happening that most of the sheriff's time seems to be
    taken up eating the lunch that Aunt Bee brought by or driving around the countryside to try to catch some
    moonshiners, who aren't even dangerous, just doing something they shouldn't be. I wish my kids could
    grow up in a place where I would feel comfortable letting them run around and play, without constantly
    having to be under my watchful eye, where they could explore the woods and ride their bikes without
    having to be careful who they talk to or where they go. It's kind of how my dad grew up. Maybe that's
    why he likes the show so much.

5. The Gilmore Girls. Although I didn't really like the way this show ended, this is still a great series. The
    camaraderie between Lorelai and Rory is so amusing. If I have a daughter, I hope we can have that kind
    of easy relationship. The show takes place a town similar to Mayberry, in that everyone knows everyone  
    else and nothing truly bad seems to happen there. It's a cute town with cute little festivals and plenty of
    town characters to keep you amused.

6. Hey Dude. I doubt this show is on too many people's "favorite show" lists, but it's on mine. If you don't
    even know what it is, I understand. It came on Nickelodeon in the late 80s and early 90s. It's about a
    dude ranch and, because of this show, I have an abiding dream to visit a dude ranch and maybe even do
    a little work while I'm there. I want to ride horses and sit out in the desert night, eating BBQ with real 
    cowboys who sing and play the guitar. It sounds like so much fun!

I think it's sad that there are so few decent shows on TV anymore. I know there has always been bad stuff on, but it is definitely getting worse and people are so immune to it. (And by decent, I don't mean a show with a good story and good characters. I mean decent to watch. Clean. Suitable to be watched by Christian eyes.) Also, kid's TV seems so dumbed down. I'm not saying that what I watched as a kid was so intelligent and was never silly. But there's a big difference even between "Hey Dude" and "iCarly". Or between "The Adventures of Pete and Pete" and "Hannah Montana". I miss all those old shows!

I might exercise, just so I can wear these shoes.

J and I enjoy thrift and discount shopping. The cheaper, the better. At one particular store that he likes to go into (that I usually complain about going into), I recently found a good deal on some running shoes.

Pretty cute, no? They retail for $130 and I got them for about $44. I think they are actually more for trail running and I am just walking/jogging on a treadmill, but I tried them out last night and they were pretty comfy.

J and I both realized long ago that we need to be working out regularly, but it's so hard to get motivated. I have been pretty fortunate for most of my life, in that I have stayed pretty thin without having to try too awfully hard. I mean, I'm not a huge junk food eater and I do watch what I eat, but I don't say no to cake or ice cream or Burger King.  So, this week, we have actually started exercising. I'm hoping we can keep it up. I know it's a great habit to have, but getting into the habit is kind of tough, especially when you'd rather just veg out on the couch or take a nap. I have aspirations of being very athletic, but I'm mostly lazy and tired, so we'll see!

Going home.

J and I went to visit my parents this weekend. Many moons ago, after J and I got married, I had a hard time being away from my parents. They didn't even live very far away. We saw them on a regular basis. But it was hard for me to start a new life that didn't include them in the same way it used to. But, eventually, I learned to love having my own family and doing things my own way.

Then my parents moved away. My mother got a job as a travel nurse and they spent a while living in various places (Arizona, California, North Carolina) that were far away from us. I missed seeing them, but it was nice to have the space and I think it was good for J and I.

Now they are a relatively short drive away (4 to 5 hours), although I wish they were closer. Even though the house they are living in now isn't where I grew up (in fact, they are only renting it) and I don't have a lot of memories of things that have happened there, it's still, in a way, home. I think wherever my parents are will always be home, in a sense.

Although my relationship with my parents is different now, because I'm now an adult and married and on my own, it's still so very important to me. I still like to have their approval. I still want them to think a lot of me and to be proud of who I've become. I still want my mom's cooking more than I want anyone else's.

We didn't do much while we were at their house. Sat around and talked, played on our computers, played some cards, ate some delicious food, did some shopping...but it's always nice just to be together. To be home.

Weekend with J.

This past weekend, my hubby and I went away to Gatlinburg, just the two of us. No dogs, even! I think it'd been about a year since we'd been away by ourselves. We'd taken trips since then, but it was either with other people or to visit other people. It was really good for us to get away, hang out, not have so many of the distractions we have at home. We hiked for several hours on Saturday and my legs are still paying for that. Ouch. But it was lovely outside, perfect hiking weather. We ate some good food, laughed and talked. I wish it could be like that all the time. It's way too easy to let all the every day things get in the way of a good romance. That is definitely something we need to work on. We both get too hung up on the little annoyances of life and forget how blessed we are to have each other. Go give someone a hug and tell them how much you love them. It'll make you both feel better!

Here are a couple pictures from our weekend.

More about me.

In addition to what I put in "About Me", here are some things you should know:
My husband is my best friend. We are very different in some ways (for example, he's outgoing, I'm shy; he's messy, I like everything neat and clean). But it works. We've been married for six years.
Our two miniature Dachshunds are our kids. They are spoiled and take up a lot of my attention when I'm home. I always look forward to seeing them when I get home from work.
I adore my parents.
I am a preacher's kid.
I have one younger brother. He is married and has three kids.
I don't smoke or drink.
I'm very quiet around people whom I don't know very well or who make me uncomfortable.
I'm prepared to be one of the oldest people in my class when I start law school next year. I'll be 32.
I'm nervous about going back to school. And I'm not excited about how much of my time it's going to take up.
I plan to start a solo law practice eventually.
I love living in the South. If I could live in any state, it would be South Carolina.
I currently work at a medical facility, as an office assistant. It's boring. I spend a lot of time on the Internet. I can't wait until I start school so I can quit.

This is a good start. You know me better already!

And because it's nice to know what the people you're reading about look like (at least it is for me), here are some pictures of me, J and our boys, Jake and Brody.

Blogging my time away.

Hooray for my first blog post!

Blogging seems like a good way to waste time. As if I needed something to take up more of my precious free time. I started a blog before, but it didn't get very far. It's tough to blog when you don't have anything interesting going on. Interesting to other people, that is. However, I have some big changes coming in my future and I thought keeping up with them via a blog would be fun for me...and maybe entertaining for someone else. (We'll have to see about that.) For one thing, I'm starting law school in August of 2011. (Maybe that part won't be very interesting for a while.) For another, there is the issue of starting a family.  In addition, there is the constant stress of my husband being unable to find work. Fun! I realize I'm not doing much to make this blog sound like it's worth coming back to, but bear with me. I'm also going to use it as a place to keep decorating/house ideas, even though it's probably going to be a while before I get to utilize any of them. And I'll post other random things that I like: clothes, books, products, etc. So come back and visit when you get the chance!