Graduation Eve

Unsurprisingly, I've been pretty busy lately.

I finished paper #3 at around 4:00 on Friday morning, which gave me just enough time to get ready and head home before Chrissie's USC graduation. The family ended up attending three ceremonies. The first was held for the entire school, and the other two were 'satellite' ceremonies for the departments my sister majored in (Film and Theater); we weren't able to attend a fourth ceremony (College of Letters, for her Political Science major) because it conflicted with the Theater graduation, but that would probably have been one ceremony too many anyway. I was glad to see Chrissie (and Matt) graduate, although I was naturally pretty tired.

This week, I've been trying to catch up with various chores and tasks that I have been meaning to do for a while. I got a desperately-needed haircut, did some shopping, and finally replaced my cell phone.

Work and an Interview

I wasn't able to get any sleep on Tuesday (April 26th), but I did manage to turn in papers #1 and #2. I had to take a few more days to finish my Legal Summaries, but at least the journal is a bit more flexible than my professors. Now, all I have to do before graduation is take Wednesday's Wills and Trusts exam and write paper #3.

The journal had its end-of-year dinner on Wednesday. Everyone seemed to have a fun time, and the food was good. Our Editor-in-Chief also passed out NAALJ tote bags as gifts.

Work Update

Paper #1 is done. It is for a First Amendment seminar, and the topic is school officials' regulation of student expression on the Internet. Although I have done my research, I still need to work on paper #2 for my Jurisprudence class; it will be about Ronald Dworkin's interpretive method as applied to Jackson v. Birmingham Board of Education. Paper #1, paper #2 and my NAALJ legal summaries will be due on Wednesday, the final day of classes.

I only have one final exam, for Wills and Trusts, on Wednesday, May 4th. Also, paper #3, dealing with federalism in the context of state laws allowing euthanasia, will be due on May 13th, at the end of the exam period. However, things will be comparatively simple after this Wednesday.

Since I've tried to stay close to home and work on papers, I haven't been doing much of interest. However, I did meet with my grandparents and sister in order to see a CSUN production of Carousel. I have a few other family-related events to attend in the next few days; I will be present at my twin cousins' 5th birthday tomorrow, and I will also watch Chrissie perform on Monday.

In other news, a fire broke out in one of the few local shopping areas. I was nearby while the fire was raging, so I did see some of the action firsthand; it was pretty shocking to approach the area and see a huge plume of smoke. I patronized some of the businesses that were damaged (the movie theater, Ben & Jerry's, and the Casa Escobar restaurant), so I found the damage. Fortunately, there weren't any injuries; the damage was limited to property.

Waxing Nostalgic

Google's map feature has made me a bit nostalgic about the places I used to frequent. This has motivated me to create a mini-tour of the Bryn Mawr area using the satellite images.

Be warned: the images are quite large.

Too Busy

Spring break was fun, although, as always, it was over too soon.

On Sunday, March 10th, a friend and I drove out to Hearst Castle and went on the tours there. Since I had never gone there, we went on the general tour first. Later, we went on a second tour, which covered the upper floors of the main building; this tour included the library and Hearst's study. Next, we drove down to Buellton, checked in at the hotel, and had dinner at the Hitching Post.

The next day, we went around to several different wineries. One winery offered a tour of the premises, and we bumped into a law school classmate (who my friend had classes with) and her family. Later, we took advantage of the picnic space at another winery, munching on some of the cheeses and meats which my friend had brought. We went back to the hotel in the afternoon. After taking a nap, we went out to dinner, had coffee, and played Trivial Pursuit.

Finally

Things have been a bit crazy around here. Last week, our law school had its Dalsimer moot court competition, and, as a member of the Moot Court Board, I was obligated to set up the rooms for a few of the rounds and watch the finalists compete. After Dalsimer, the school held its annual law school dinner, which was decent enough. Unfortunately, I wasn't near anyone I knew well (aside from my dad) during the dinner itself. I stuck around and met with a few other students after the dinner was over.

This Tuesday, I went to a lecture by constitutional scholar Akhil Amar which was held on campus; he discussed the role of the Western frontiers in the evolution of the Constitution. Later that day, I went to a dinner for members of my administrative law journal. Finally, I took the MPRE this morning. The MPRE is sort of a pointless exam, but I'm glad it's out of the way. Thankfully, spring break starts today. Tomorrow morning, a friend and I will spend a few days visiting Hearst Castle and Santa Barbara wine country (a la Sideways). It should be fun, and I will be glad to get away from campus for a while.

Craziness

My great aunt's funeral was touching; several people came and were able to tell their memories. The burial itself was held in the rain, which was a little awkward, but artful in a way. Ultimately, it was good that many family and community members were able to come together.