Mamma Mia

I have developed an unhealthy obsession with Mamma Mia.  I have now seen the movie twice and purchased the soundtrack on itunes.  What is wrong with me?  I mean, its an amazing movie and all, but seriously?  Furthermore, I have also spent way too many study breaks singing the songs and working on dance routines, specifically to the title track "Mamma Mia."  I want to be Meryl Streep when I am old.  I really need to be done studying.  I want my sanity back.

Wait, I Might Miss Eugene??

So on Wednesday night, after softball, I joined the Fender family for dinner at Turtle's.  A couple people ordered appetizers - a smoked salmon plate and cajun fried oysters.  Granted, I was starving, but the dishes looked and smelled amazingly delicious.  I started thinking that next time I come to Turtle's, I am definitely going to have to get at least one of those.  And then suddenly it dawned on me that this might be my last time at Turtle's.  Because I am leaving Eugene for good in less than 2 weeks!  

I've been wanting to leave Eugene pretty much since I arrived 3 years ago.  Its not like Eugene is a bad place, its just not the right place for me.  This would be because I am not an aging hippie or a member of the undergrad army of mini skirt and Ugg-clad girls.  In all honesty, Eugene is much more than that, but living here has really just been a means to an end.  And now that end is about to be realized.  And I get to go to Portland.  And I'm sad?

I've had some great times in Eugene.  I honestly enjoyed law school, and I'm not even talking about the parts where I got to drink.  Basically, studying the law rulez (where I'm from, words end in "z."  503 represent!).  I am not even kidding.  I've also met some great people.  And have had some "good times," which is code for "crazy nights," which is code for "had lots of headaches the morning after helping the Eugene economy by purchasing beverages and hot dogs with cheese and bacon bits on the street."  

The following is a list of things that have made the past 3 years stuck in Eugene suprisingly not that horrible:

The JELL office (not the OLR office, even though I was a member and had my own desk.  The lighting in there possibly caused my left eye to get all the way to a -7.0)

TayTay's 

Eugene Parks

My peeps

Cafe Yumm

Hot Dog Cart

Kegs at the law school (economically speaking, it was always the best deal in town)

MOC (also known as "The Cake Store")

There's more (yes, I know, crazy), but I have to get to sleep.  Tomorrow I am going to attempt to run in the am and then stay at school all day and learn crap.  My treat will be a movie.  And maybe popcorn!  Its too bad I don't know Braille, because then I could make Braille flashcards and bring them to the movie and watch it and feel the bumps and study!  

In other news, there might be a former Duck football player named Donald spending the night in the law school tonight.  I went into the student lounge to print some outlinez (I'm street), and there was this guy in there  watching tv who proceeded to ask me a bunch of questions about when the building closed and what happened when the building closed.  I made the mistake of telling him once you are in, you are in.  No one kicks you out.  A little while later, Erin went to the courtyard and this guy was out there smoking a joint.  He started questioning her about her late nights at the law school and whether or not she had ever slept there.  I hope he has a blanket because the air conditioning is only seems to have an "ice cold" setting.

Best pick up line ever

I really like forward, confident guys.  Because then you don't have to do anything, which is great for me because I am lazy.  I think I may have met my dream man last night.  Natasha and I decided to go running by the river.  Because we are both indecisive, we were standing at a fork in the path, asking each other repeatedly if we should go left or right and mulling the pros and cons or heading out in either direction (also repeatedly), when we were approached by a hobo. Which may or may not be a politically correct term.  I feel ok using it because of my obsession with hobo culture.  But anyway, so we are approached by this man, who right away told us that he was not panhandling or begging.  He just wanted to ask us a question.  I was all set to give some directions (or not.  I am really bad at Eugene directions), when he surprised us by announcing that we were both in violation of Eugene City Ordinance #12999.  Being unfamiliar with the Eugene city code, we asked him what that governed.  I also wanted to ask if it was strict liability, but refrained.  Better not to know.  Even though ignorance of the law is no defense.  According to our new friend, City Ordinance #12999 involves a two pronged analysis.  First, we were told that we were likely in violation because we are so attractive.  However, that alone would not be enough for liability.  In order to be found in violation, we also had to be found to be responsible for causing an individual, upon viewing us in all our glory, to suffer a heart attack!  And according to our new friend, we had done just that.  

I was pretty impressed with the hobo's line.  I thought it was pretty clever.  And after smelling the alcohol on his breath, I was even more impressed.  When I've been drinking, I can barely manage to order a hot dog from the cart, and this guy was practically composing poetry!  It was a beautiful moment.  What made it even more beautiful was the giant knife he had strapped to his leg.  I really need to spend more time by the river. 

Party weekend!

It turns out I am not a very regular blogger.  I need to work on that.  Unfortunately the bar studying keeps getting in the way.  Well, this weekend you can expect not one but multiple entries from me!  I've got the house to myself here in Portland, just me and the dog, and after my giant rager I am throwing tomorrow (5 kegs, 6 strippers) in honor of liberty and freedom (to drink and strip), I will have nothing to but blog!  And make flashcards, but whatever.

So yeah, just chillin' with the dog.  I decided it would be a good idea to order thai food from the neighborhood place (it was) and to take the dog with me to pick it up (it wasn't).  I couldn't find a place to tie Caddy up outside so I paced in front of the restaurant for 5 minutes figuring out what I should do with him.  Finally, I just stopped this guy who was walking in if he would mind staying outside for Caddy for a few minutes.  He didn't seem to mind, but now I'm worried.  I can see myself having kids and getting overly ambitious about taking them places, and then they get in my way and I have to leave them with a stranger in the parking lot.  Obviously this means I will need a nanny.  And the nanny's name is Stevester and Sarah.  I think I'll let my parents live in the guest house out by the pool in exchange for raising Abra Jr. and Abraham.  

The only exciting thing that has happened to me in the last week was that I met a man and he gave me free Olympic trials tickets!  The I met a man part sounds kind of sketchy.  I should elaborate.  I was talking with some peeps, procrastinating on essay #57, when this man wandering through the law school came up to us and started chatting.  He was a lawyer and was asking about bar studying.  Then all of the sudden he was like, "What do you guys think about the trials being here?"  We said we thought it was pretty cool.  Then he asked if we would go if we had tickets.  I said I definitely would.  He asked me if I promised.  I said yes.  Next thing I know, he's handing me two tickets for the next day!  I was stupid and didn't get his card, or even his name, but I went the next day and the tickets were amazing.  Front row, right on the finish line for all the running events.  Since attending the trials, I am pretty sure I need to become an olympic caliber runner.  I'll keep you posted on my progress.  

For those of you law students not in Eugene, I would just like to let you know how not a big deal the trials being held across the street has been.  I have had no trouble parking and its not noisy at all.  Basically, the only bad things about it are only having one bathroom on the main floor of school and that the library closes at 5.  Actually thats not a bad thing; its an excuse to stop studying.  Which is awesome.  

The Grip

On my run today, I ran into a "sister."  She was wearing a Theta shirt, so I asked her if she was a theta.  She said yes, but that it was a long time ago.  I said, yeah me too.  Then we stood there.  It was awkward.  A few seconds later, I ran off.  I should have slipped her the grip!  Unfortunately, I'm not actually sure I know the grip.  

The grip is like a secret handshake, not something inappropriate or likely to amount to a battery - which is a harmful or offensive touching.  It is an intentional tort.  But you know what it is not?  A specific intent crime!  The specific intent crimes are 1st degree murder, solicitation, attempt, conspiracy, forgery, false pretenses, assault, burglary, larceny, embezzlement and robbery.  You know who I have to thank for that little bit of brilliance?  Natasha Ng and her genius idea to make slightly dirty mnemonic devices.  This one is 1st sac ffabler or "testicle story."  Seriously, I don't know where I would be without her.  

Tomorrow is the first day of the track and field trials, and hopefully tomorrow Nike, who has taken over the law school, will actually supply us with the promised donuts.  Nike is using the law school as a hang out for all the athletes prior to their events, as well as a place to showcase its products.  This would all be really cool if it wasn't for the fact that we are physically barred from actually seeing any of it.  The commons has been entirely cordoned off with paneling and curtains so that you can't even peer down from the upper floors.  I'm not really sure why Nike feels the need to subvert my ultimate goal of landing a track star, but its really not cool.  Especially if I'm not going to get any donuts.

I am possibly bipolar and might need meds

Studying for the bar is turning me into a crazy person.  I've never been very moody, but with this studying nonsense, I am up and down all day.  I wake up and I am depressed thinking about class.  During class, my mood usually perks up, especially if I decide to get a donut (by the way, starting tomorrow Nike will be supplying us with free muffins and donuts in exchange for taking over practically our entire building for the track trials!  So pumped!).  I usually am ok through lunch, because I am eating and food makes me happy.  But then I start outlining whatever subject we were force fed during class and my mood quickly plummets.  Especially since the amount of emails I used to get and would use as excuse for multiple study breaks has significantly decreased.  After outlining, I am up again and usually feel a sense of accomplishment.  This disappears when I start failing essays and problem sets, unless I am working in the JELL office where all the inappropriateness distracts me from my dismal performances.  After studying, I go running, often with Natasha, and what with the sun and the endorphins or whatever, I am once again a happy, normal human being.  Actually, I'm usually pretty happy after running too, not because of any sort of adrenaline rush, but because the only studying I do according to my self-created schedule is done in front of the tv and involves only multiple choice sets (preferable to essays) and flash card making(always a crowd pleaser).  Right now I'm watching Sex and the City and rehydrating post-run, while making flashcards.  So I'm happy.  Until 8 am tomorrow when the cycle repeats itself.

In other news, I broke my vow in Portland on Friday night.  But this weekend was pre-excused because of my mom's 60th bday bash (if we are going to be technical, I broke it the night before the party, and actually was pretty good at the party on Saturday, but whatever).  The best part of the party was the fact that there was a dj and my new most prized possession is the 30 second video I took of my mom dancing.   She has some unique moves. 

Tomorrow I have my second softball game as an outfielder for the Forrest Paint...I'm actually not sure what the mascot is.  I guess the team is just Forrest Paint.  My friend Fender, after hearing about my amazing softball skills (Sunrise Little League Allstar 1990 and 1991), invited me to join his dad's company's team.  Or maybe he just let me join because they were short on players.  Whatever.  The point is that there is a game tomorrow which gives me something more to look forward to than mindless tv and flashcards.  I predict victory.

My broken face

Studying for the bar can be dangerous.  And I am talking about danger beyond mental breakdowns and blindness from too much studying.  When you are studying for the bar, you are pretty stressed and you want to make sure you are fit enough to make it through two grueling days of test taking, so it is important to exercise.  A large group of males studying for the bar here have started playing basketball everyday after class.  Because Natasha and I are always pushing for equality and also like to wear short shorts with basketball shoes, we decided we should join them.  This was a horrible idea.  Here's why: they play with undergrads.  And we all know undergrads have not yet developed full control over their arms and legs.  Their motor skills are simply not where they need to be yet.  Neither are their brains, but that is another matter.  

Anyway, so last Monday we donned are bball outfits, and, looking super cute, headed to the rec center to show off our skillz.  Eventually I found myself playing in a game in which I was the only girl.  This worried me, but not as much as the fact that there was a literal giant on the other team.  This guy was dunking all over the place and was possibly equal to about three Abras size -wise.  This guy also was incredibly obnoxious (at one point, he held the ball above Natasha's head, making her jump up and down like a kangaroo until finally putting her out of her misery by dunking on her).  

Sometimes when I play basketball with guys, I don't get many passes or really get to do much on offense.  So basically I just run around and set a lot screens.  This was the situation on that fateful Monday when I ran up to the three point line and set a beautiful screen on obnoxious guy.  Unfortunately for my face, obnoxious guy (who's brother is a former Duck player) didn't exactly see me (hence why my screen was beautiful) and as he swung around, his elbow connected with my nose and mouth.

As the blood dripped from right nostril, all of the other players came to my aid.  Well not all other players.  My assailant just made a joke about how I shouldn't set screens.  Once the tears has stopped falling, I responded that maybe he shouldn't swing his elbows.  He retorted that getting hit was actually my fault and that because I was in his sphere when I set the screen, I was technically guilty of fouling him.

This incident happened over a week ago but my face still hurts.  Luckily my nose looks exactly the same (since having to get a nose job is one of my greatest fears in life, this is important) and after Marie told me to stop trying to wiggle my front teeth to test them, my mouth has started to feel better.  But I think we can all learn an important lesson from this tragic tale:  stay away from uncoordinated undergrads!  

Since the incident, I have stuck with running by the river.  However, this also dangerous because no that the weather is nice, the methies have parties with their pit bulls on the banks of the river and sometimes I see dead snakes.  But at least running won't lead to a nose job.

As usual, nothing exciting is going on today.  Actually that's not true!  It was $3.99 chicken strip basket day at DQ.  I suggest you all take advantage.