Puppiness?

So we went to the local municipal humane society today to look for a new member of the family -- and while there were some cute, cute, cuties there, we did not put in an application.

First, most of the dogs were much too large for an apartment. It just wouldn't be fair to a larger dog to coop him/her up in an apartment without a yard.

There were a few smaller dogs which we asked about, but the more likely candidates already had two and three applications for adoption filed. So we decided to ask about the pooches who had not yet received applications. We met a spunky little American Eskimo pooch (toy size), and he was a sweetie. Very easy-going temperament and fun. But then we found out that even though he was on the list of "no interest yet", he did actually have two families asking for him. So we decided not to make an application. We did really take a shine to a pit bull mix who had a very sweet face, but she or he was just too big. (As an aside, it was interesting how many pit bulls there were there -- perhaps because some municipalities have passed ordinances against them... Very sad to think those guys won't get homes.)

And we left without filing any papers for any pooches, but it was good to go and look. We are told that this particular facility gets many, many animal every day so we should check in often. And we will go back. We aren't wedded to getting a puppy, but we definitely need the pooch to be small. After we got home, we discussed it some more and decided that maybe if we could find a sibling/family pair, that we'd try to adopt two together. That way, they would have company when we aren't home. We figured that two small ones isn't twice the work and expense of one, but just marginally more.

Or are we crazy? What do you think? Advice please!

Heard on the NBC national news

I swear, I thought I heard David Gregory refer to one political party as the DUMB-acrats. But in his next sentence, he clearly said "democrats".

Ooops?

Lawyers' blogs as advertising?

Reported by the ABA website, a New York proposal would designate lawyers' blogs as advertising.

Huh? That doesn't make any sense to me. I'm thinking that the people who came up with this proposal aren't bloggers and don't understand the nature of blogging. Not too shocking.

One proposed change would require lawyers to file copies of computer-accessed communications with the attorney disciplinary committee in the appropriate judicial department of the state. The revision also would require lawyers to retain copies of all written advertising, including Web sites and communications that may be accessed by computer, for at least one year.

AND this could have huge, huge consequences because of the nature of the internet (civ pro 101, baby):

The proposal, by a committee created by the state’s Administrative Board of Courts, also suggests the state code of professional responsibility extend court jurisdiction to out-of-state legal advertising that appears in New York.

So, by fiat, all websites (including blogs, but not explicitly mentioning them) are advertising, whether or not they are? I'm not entirely clear how this proposal could be implemented. Does it mean that any attorney who blogs about anything legal anywhere must conform to the New York code of professionalism and restrictions on advertising?

WHOA.

And if blogs are advertising, then so must be participation in seminars, speaking on panels and making speeches at conventions, schools, etc. They are different sides of the same coin, pretty much.

Both involve speaking on a topic of personal and (most likely) professional interest. The degree to which the audience values the information imparted depends on the expertise and reputation of the speaker. Both may lead to new contacts -- even new business -- and greater visibility; both have that as their goal. Neither is advertising.

Good Betty

Thumbs up on Ugly Betty, mainly because America Ferrera is a terrifically talented actress. This show has a built-in audience because most women can relate to the main character. Most women have at some time been the awkward one, the uncool one or had braces -- so we're all rooting for her to succeed. Go Betty! For me, well, the ugly stage started at sixth grade and went pretty much through college.

I'm not kidding.

Anyway...

So, the Ugly Betty premiere did have a few too many scenes directly out of The Devil Wears Prada -- comparisons were inevitable anyway -- but hopefully the show won't follow the same predictable plotlines.

Then again, the lead actresses have been typecast in different molds... after all Anne Hathaway's bread and butter is the swan story while Ferrera plays the girl who shows that true beauty is being comfortable in your own skin.

So, the show gets a second view based on the strength of Ferrera's performance. We'll see if the writers can keep up.

AND, not only that

But I'm safe too.

No nasty SARS here.

Cool.

Check me out -- I'm bilingual!

Now what?

You know that old adage -- that when folks are attacking you from both sides, it means that you must be doing something right?

In this case, not so much.

Whiplash

Remember how I said that I don't have any interview horror stories? Well, I do now.

This morning.

I had had good feeling about this interview. I had expected things to go well. I was wrong. In fact, I couldn't have been more wrong.

The interview began with the guy saying, "I look at your resume and I see a quivering legs, knee-jerk liberal." To which I immediately responded, "My legs don't quiver."

And thus it started. He proceeded to tell me that he was George Bush's A-#1 fan and proud of it, etc., etc., etc. Those were his politics, and he didn't believe in words like "diversity" or "affirmative action." Also, that the principal of his daughter's elementary school said that she was a student "of color" and he ripped the principal a new one. He basically said that he was vehemently opposed to everything I believed in and trashed the principles that are important to me.

Okaaaaay. Good start to an interview, eh?

But I didn't get ruffled. I listened. He did most of the talking. Asked me a few questions here and there. Blah, blah, blah... Made it clear that he was all about the almighty buck and that he didn't give a damn about "causes"; he practiced law, no matter what side his client was on.

And it went on like that for a while. Really abrasive. Really close-minded.

But the kicker is that at the end of the interview, he said to me, "I can tell that you and I wouldn't get along."

To which I responded, "Well, work is work. Personal is personal."

He said, "No. Not in an office this small."

So I said, "I guess that means I have an answer."

He said, "You do."

I said, "Then I don't see any point in continuing this conversation. Thank you for your time." (But I really wanted to ask why he bothered wasting both of our time when he had already judged me.)

And I left.

So basically, he decided he didn't like me and said as much. That is a first for me. I've never had someone say to my face that they didn't like me during an interview.

I guess it's better to have someone choose not to hire me for personality reasons than because they consider my work product inferior -- but I'd rather have someone tell me in a professional, non-confrontational and tactful way.

And the day started out so beautifully... I can't believe I wasted make-up or cab fare on that asshole.

Back to square zero. But at least I don't have to write a thank you letter.

Cardin makes a smart move

I guess the dems in MD do understand what constituency they need to cultivate after all, despite what I had thought.

Ben Cardin is out on the stump in Prince George's county (which has a significant African American community), and guess who he brought along? Senator Barrack Obama, the superstar of the democratic party. Good for Cardin but also bad for Cardin because no one came out to hear his views; they were all drawn by the celebrity status of Obama. Apparently, Cardin also got Mfume's endorsement too.

Let's hope some of Obama's charisma rubs off on Cardin. He needs all the help he can get.

Iva Toguri, in memoriam

Few people probably recognize the name "Iva Toguri" -- but what about if I said "Tokyo Rose"? Ring a bell then?

Well, one of the several women who bore the monniker "Tokyo Rose" passed away yesterday. I doubt that many people know the true story behind that name. But we all should. This is a bit of very important history. But perhaps not for the reasons you think.

Iva Toguri's story is truly one of American governmental persecution -- and a tragedy. She was a young woman caught in a very, very bad situation but whose determination not to trade-in her American citizenship for survival led her own government to accuse her of being a traitor (how very ironic) and ultimately ruined her entire life.

Read about Iva Toguri here. She had a hard life and had to make even harder choices. How many of us would have had her strength? Remember, she was a single woman of 25 who didn't speak Japanese when her saga began.

While reasonable minds may disagree about the nature of Toguri's broadcasts during the war (and whether she was a traitor), I think it's clear that this woman was an American patriot who loved her country dearly, despite how the government villified her.

Sound familiar? Seems to be a theme for the Japanese American community in World War II.

Iva Toguri -- I hope that in rest you have the peace that you never had in life.

UPDATE (9/28): Check out Eric's post on Iva Toguri, an excerpt from a law journal article he published. I do disagree with one thing he wrote though:

Three times her supporters applied for a presidential pardon, in the administrations of Dwight Eisenhower, Lyndon Johnson, and Richard Nixon, and were refused. Finally, on his last day in office in January of 1977, President Gerald R. Ford issued a full pardon to Iva Toguri d'Aquino, bringing to a forgiving close her rather muddled prosecution for treason.

Iva Toguri may have received a pardon, but I doubt very much that this brought her closure, although it may have closed the case. And I wonder that it can be appropriately characterized as "forgiving."

"Tokyo Rose" remains a villain in pop culture, and she was never able to live that down -- even though "Tokyo Rose" was a caricature, and Iva Toguri was more victim than villian.

Armchair punditing

So, Michael Steele, the current Lt. Governor of MD, is the Republican candidate for Senate. He faces Congressman Ben Cardin, who currently represents MD-3 (Baltimore). And both campaigns are on the air. Steele has been up for a while, and he just released his third or so ad (this one in response to a third party attack ad).

I've got a couple of observations about this.

First, Steele's ads are pretty good. They paint him as a nice, friendly guy. He is running on a platform of "changing Washington" (gee, where have we heard that before from a Republican candidate? Hmmm...). This is smart because he knows he has to appeal to the cross-over vote, the black vote that usually goes with the dems. Steele knows that he has the republican vote pretty much locked down, with the exception of the "racist vote" who wouldn't vote for a black man anyway -- and I'm sure there are a number of them in MD -- but those folks wouldn't vote for a dem either so it's moot. What he needs is to attract dem defectors, many of whom will be people of color.

And this is where the dems are missing the point in their ads. They need to appeal to the black dem vote, and not take that constituency for granted especially since Cardin isn't particularly charismatic. It's not smart to attack Steele for being anti-choice. Now I don't have any data on hand right now, but I seem to recall that the African American community is largely church-going and anti-abortion. At best, making abortion rights an issue in the Steele v. Cardin race is a non-starter for the dems, and it may even help push the black vote towards Steele.

So that's mistake number one for the dems.

I think mistake number two is that dems aren't doing a better job of calling Steele out about his campaign for changing how things work in DC. Steele IS the republican machinery. He is pretty much in lock-step with Bush. Electing Steele won't change the way things are done in DC; it will only perpetuate it.

But that "change' message in this highly partisan atmosphere is appealing, so it's effective -- and the dems are not being effective in countering it. One third party ad's message is Steele = Bush, but it doesn't directly address the Steele platform for change. The dems need to say outright that while Steele may say he's for change, his actions speak louder than his words. His actions have been to support Bush all the way. If elected, Steele will continue to be a republican lackey and nothing more.

That's my two cents on this race. For now.

More bad news for Allen

The deerhead in a mailbox memory corroborated by Allen hunting buddy.

Another round in this unending game of "Liar, liar, pants on fire".

Um, anyone remember what any of the issues in this campaign even were?

Yeah, me neither.

It's Wednesday... now where was I?

Installment #2

Thinking about adoption

A pet, that is. I must be nesting... but being without a job would make the transition for a new addition easier since I'd be home, at least in the beginning.

Sadly, a cat is out of the question because of allergies, so I'm thinking that a small, apartment-sized dog would be great. No, not a lap dog necessarily, but a dog that could be paper trained and who wouldn't be absolutely miserable being inside a lot.

Jack Russell Terrier? Beagle?

Those are the first breeds that come to mind, but in reality, the choice will be based on who is at the animal shelter -- although my preference would be for a short-haired, relatively young but house-trained critter.

My family has had a Maltese (who had an absurdly long registered name but we called him "Max"), and extended family has had multiple Pomeranians. (No, these aren't our actual pets; they just play them on my blog.) My sister has a Miniature Pinscher. But, according to this site, those breeds are all high energy indoors, so, um, maybe not.

Anyone have any suggestions?

It's getting bad

Yesterday, I completely lost track of the day. Thought it was Saturday, not Sunday because, let's face it, other than what shows are on TV, the days are pretty much the same to me.

Pretty much.

Well, that's gonna change.

I just checked my accounts, and my cash is running low. I am going to have to contact more legal temp agencies so I can get an assignment. I need the cash. But on the other hand, I am loathe to start a temp assignment because I continue to get interviews and am hoping (desperately?) that a job offer is soon to follow.

Or is that just me procrastinating again?

My tivo season pass list

Actually, it's my boyfriend's tivo (or is tivo my boyfriend?), but my stuff is all over it... can't ya' tell?

1. Meerkat Manor
2. The Daily Show
3. The Colbert Report
4. Scrubs
5. Lost
6. America's Next Top Model
7. Project Runway
8. Grey's Anatomy
9. ER
10. Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
11. Ugly Betty
12. The Chris Matthews Show
13. Survivor: Cook Islands
14. Meet the Press
15. Twin Peaks
16. Firefly
17. Red Sox
18. Black Adder
19. Battlestar Galactica
20. Trading Spaces (heh, it's a filler!)
21. South Park
22. Saturday Night Live
23. Queer Eye

Part airhead, part wonk, part geek, part juvenile. Entirely amusing. Already removed from ol' tivo-man are Nip/Tuck and 30 Days -- the former because it was just. too. boring. to. watch. and the latter because the season has already ended. Trading Spaces is probably on its way out too because it's just plain old now, although any episode with Carter on it is worth watching just for the eye-candy that is Carter. Oh, yea!

It's funny to think how different this list would have been if I were a high school or even college student. There would have been several soaps on this and more sit-coms and definitely no talking head (or fake talking head) shows (which aren't my addition but I do watch them). And this is the first season that I've actually followed several reality shows.

Yes folks, until I get a job, this is what my life is all about...

Congrats to Zuska and family!

She and her beloved have decided to get hitched!

Biggest congrats for a wonderful life together (as well as insurance benefits and other legal advantages)! Truly, it's a wonderful thing when two people meet and know their lives are meant to be lived together. And your decision to proclaim that private mutual devotion publicly is lovely.

Best wishes!

Don't be fooled

More background info on George Allen's acts of racism is coming to light. We all know that Allen has tried innumerable times to explain away incidents that might be construed (generously) as racial insensitivity or (less generously) as racist. But funny, they keep popping up. What gives?

We know about the Confederate flag -- merely a sign of youthful rebellion.

And the noose -- just shows he's a law and order kinda attorney general!

A holiday for MLK? Who needs another holiday? Unless it has something to do with Confederate pride... but that's just celebrating the history and culture of the south -- and who wants to celebrate slavery (so ugly, after all), so let's just whitewash that bit out.

And "macaca" -- an invented nickname with no particular meaning. A mere misunderstanding and lapse of his memory for the guy's name.

And bristling at the suggestion that his grandfather might be Jewish -- only trying to protect his mother's privacy. Admirable.

George Allen, he's just a good family man and tough public official with a misunderstood sense of humor. He can't help himself; he was born to be "one of the boys".

Indeed.

And here's what some of those other boys have to say: Three members of Sen. George Allen's college football team remember a man with racist attitudes at ease using racial slurs reads the headline of this article on salon.com.

I'm sure Allen will try to explain this away too... perhaps these recollections were just how things were done back then -- nothing extraordinary -- and he was just doing what he needed to in order to build team spirit and comaraderie?

Yeah, that's the ticket.

Don't be fooled, Virginia voters. This guy reeks of intolerance in a way that only someone who has embraced racial supremacism as a way of life does. That racism may be plastered over with a manufactured veneer for the sake of his public face, electibility and career, but the evidence continues to draw a picture of a bigot.

I find it quite disturbing that two teammates were so concerned about retribution from the Allen faction that they only spoke on the condition of anonimity. Seems he was bully as a teenager (just ask his sister), was a bully in college and is probably still a bully. Definitely, there's a mean streak there, even his friends acknowledge it.

I'm sure Allen will assert that the anecdotes were either complete fabrications meant to malign his character (is that even possible at this point?) or false memories being trundled out by folks with democratic ties and a political agenda. And then they'll probably seek to undermine the credibility of those who made the assertions... which could have devastating personal and professional repercussions for those involved. Yeah, I don't really blame them for not wanting their names in print.

But if they put themselves out there, aren't they fair game and just cowards for ducking attribution? One might suggest that. Others might say that clearly the former teammates think it unconscionable that a publicly elected official with mighty responsibilities holds these attitudes -- and that the voters deserve to know. That their personal lives have nothing to do with the incidents of the 1970s. But this line of discussion is a red herring to distract focus from the nature of the allegations.

Now we all know that I am bugged by George Allen and would rather see a macaca elected to the Senate than him, so that's my agenda. The author of this article interviewed more than a dozen former teammates of Allen, and there are several from the college football team who defend Allen as being without prejudice or bias -- and are quoted as saying so. There are some who remember him as a good guy without any particular animosity towards blacks, so both sides of the story are represented (although Allen's side is not because no one would return the writer's calls regarding these allegations). Either way, judge for yourself. The article is a good read.

UPDATE: Allen's camp denies the allegations in the WaPo.

Interview talk story

Building off of David Bernstein's interview stories, Eric at Is That Legal? describes his own close encounters of the interview kind -- and not so kind. I agree with him that he was set up in this incident. I don't necessarily know that what the lawyer in this story did was unethical, strictly speaking, but it was certainly unprofessional, in my opinion.

Fortunately for me, I don't have any specific interview stories like that one. I certainly have stories where I cracked a joke, and the interviewer didn't get it at all... leading to a very awkward gap in the conversation. I have also heard second-hand of women who have been hit on during interviews... but my experience hasn't been so colorful.

However, I do have a friend -- yes, a real friend, not an urban legend friend -- who told me one of his interviewing stories. He, a progressive democrat, had a telephone interview with the Department of Justice for a summer job. That would be the Ashcroft Department of Justice, by the way. The guy on the phone, who may or may not have been an appointee, asked him the usual stuff and then went on to probe his knowledge of constitutional law. One question that telephone-interviewer-guy asked my friend was particularly interesting -- "So what do you consider to be the most poorly decided SCOTUS case?"

My friend... well, he could have answered Korematsu v. United States and probably been safe with that (despite the administration). Or even less controversial, he might have answered Plessy v. Ferguson. Or he could have gone with a more contentious issue and then proceeded to explain why he disagreed with something like Bowers v. Hardwick.

But did he choose any of those? Um, no.

What did he answer? Why Bush v. Gore of course!

And then there was silence on the other end of the line.

And then the interviewer guy said something like, "I see." whereupon my friend probably slapped his hand to his forehead and groaned to himself.

BUT he ended up getting the job.

Late in the update

Regarding my Wednesday post... the answer is Antigua, Guatemala. A gorgeous, gorgeous city which has been justly designated as a World Heritage City.

I was there in August of 2003 visiting a friend who had gone there to learn Spanish. It's a beautiful, beautiful city and country. I followed the "gringo trail" from Antigua to Lake Atitlan (where we stayed for several days) and ventured to the highlands. We went to both market cities of Chichicastenago (very colorful and a tourist's delight) and Solola (we were the only gringos in sight). My friend and I also took a quick (in days, not in hours on the bus!) side-trip to Honduras to visit the Mayan ruins there before she had to head home.

On my own, I ventured back up into the highlands to see Todos Santos (the infamous little mountain village where a Japanese photographer was killed because the locals thought he was trying to steal a child's soul with the camera) and then to Tikal, the largest Mayan ruins in Guate(mala). I still remember the thorough kindness of the people who helped me on my journey into the rural areas en route to and from Todos Santos. I still remember the number of rude and unpleasant encounters I had in Flores, the town near Tikal, which all but ruined that leg of my trip. But all in all, certainly the warmth, kindness and humor of the Guatemalan people was a treasure -- and a pleasure.

Below are a few more of -- a mere smattering -- my pictures from my Guate adventure.

Lake Atitlan.
Market at Chichicastenango.
By contrast, the market at Solola.
Mayan ruins in Copan, Honduras.
Todos Santos: traditional clothes, traditional industry, traditional laundry?
And Tikal.
Yes, I climbed them all (the ones we were allowed to, anyway). And yes, going down was so very much worse than going up.
Star Wars fans should recognize this shot, taken by yours truly...
As you might imagine, I have many, many more pictures, but these give you a flavor of my trip despite the fact that I didn't include any shots of our modes of transportation (which were often and quite literally old American school buses, even more uncomfortable when you're no longer child-sized but still have to sit three abreast...) or the roads or, even worse, the bald tires we rode on. Pretty scary.

But an excellent adventure!

Hawai`i primary today

And apparently the absentee ballots are pushing 95,000. Pretty impressive and apparently, a record. But just as with DC and MD, the primaries are often more important than the general in HI because the democratic candidate does not often face a strong challenge by the republican.

So, will it be Akaka or Case in the Senate? Hirono or Hanabusa or someone else in the House?

Personally, I think Akaka and Hirono will pull it out.


Stay tuned because the polls just opened in the fiftieth state.

UPDATE (9/24): Akaka won! Yippee! And it it's a squeaker between Hirono and Hanabusa -- just 800 votes giving the lead to Mazie. That's gotta make both camps anxious with the absentee ballots still to be counted.

My morning tragedy

So when I got up this morning, I realized that I didn't have any milk.

Which means, no coffee.

Ugh. Very bad news indeed.

Can someone please tell me

What is the deal with the character/actor Pablo Suzuki on Jimmy Kimmel Live!?

I googled him and looked him up on imdb.com -- and nothing.

Anyone know anything, like what this guy's real name is or what the story is behind his character?

What's crunchy on top and wet everywhere else?

My hair.

I put it up for tonight's gala (black tie optional) to add a bit of sophistication to my otherwise not-as-dressy-as-I-might-be outfit.

And when you put your hair up, it's easier to do so when it is wet because it holds better. After securing the coif in place with the pins, I proceeded to spray glue it into place.

Voila. It held all evening.

But after getting home tonight and pulling out the pins, the hair tucked underneath hadn't dried at all.

So the top was crunchy from the hairspray and pretty much everything else was wet.

Gone negative

So the Virginia senatorial race (Allen v. Webb) has gone negative. Well, Allen has anyway. I don't think Webb has enough money to use on a negative ad in Washington (northern Virginia) market. More than likely, he doesn't need to spend that money because NoVa is largely blue anyway. His money is better spent in the southern parts of the state.

And let's face it, Webb doesn't need to go negative on Allen. Allen is doing a plenty good job himself of feeding the media with negative stories. The macaca story still hasn't gone away. All Webb has to do is still back and let it happen.

But Allen needs the NoVa votes, so he's gone negative on Webb. He's attacking Webb for his use of a clip of Ronald Reagan praising Webb when the latter was the former's Secretary of Navy, despite the protests of Nancy Reagan to take the ad down.

I don't like negative ad of any kind, but I understand why Allen is doing this.

However, even though this is a text ad, Allen still manages to come across as smarmy. Why? At the end where he has to identify himself and say that he approved the ad, the producers used file footage of him in a profile shot and a voice-over. This is directly in contrast to Allen's self-promoting ads where he looks full-face straight into the camera and delivers the lines. It may be just me that has noticed this, but Allen looks completely insincere and almost shifty by not looking at the camera when the text is read. Go here to view the full ad.

I know this is thinking more than the average person would about political ads... but I think it's worthwhile to articulate this observation.

Getting back on track

Get out a bunch of resumes earlier this week and just got an interview for next Thursday from one that I sent in yesterday. Yay. I should hear from the rest about possible interviews early next week.

So things continue to move forward.

AND no evil envelopes in the mail.

Add to that that the weather is gorgeous and that I got in two decent walks -- and that makes for a good day.

Thursday night plans

This is gonna be fun. Not just your typical rubber chicken dinner... we're serving up roast.

No not roast beef. Not rump roast. Not even roasted marshmallows.

Oh yea, baby, we're lighting the fire under the one and only Norman Y. Mineta. A farewell roast from public service with a hearty serving of "thanks a million" from fans, friends and colleagues.

As you might imagine, it's gonna be quite a line-up of chefs for this roast. We'll see what a cut-up Andy Card is. And Mike Honda can always make a line funny, just through his delivery. Heh, heh, heh. It's gonna be fun.

In fact, this is actually going to be worth going to the trouble of shaving my legs and wearing a gown and makeup.

So few things are!

(damn, but I'm a geek!)

It's Wednesday... now where was I?

So, to add color to my blog (and cut down on the TV blogging), I'm going to post a picture every Wednesday from my travels. On Friday, if i managed to remember this, I'll post more details about the context of the picture... the what, where, when and why.

Here's installation #1. Now where was I?

Because Oprah said so

(hmmm, notice the TV-themed posts of late? this may indicate a problem...)

Tuesday resolution: to follow the eating advice provided by Oprah's latest fitness guru (who is actually a surgeon), Dr. Mehmet Oz.

Avoid foods which have any of the following in the top five ingredients:
* sugar/corn syrup
* enriched wheat flour
* hydrogenated oil
* saturated fat

Eat every week, multiple servings of:
* olive oil
* garlic
* spinach
* tomatoes/tomato paste
* raw nuts
* pomegranates/pomegranate juice

It couldn't hurt, right? And it gives me something to focus on. I'm better with directions and structure. In situations such as mine currently, I tend to flounder and be all over the map. I know that I cannot self-structure. I need it imposed on me.

Anyway...

The first thing I tried to make following these rules was a chicken dish. I parboiled string beans and asparagus with garlic slivers. Then I cooked some chicken breasts and cut them into strips. I put the chicken on top of the beans and asparagus (almost like you would over pasta) and then placed a dollop of tomato paste (to which I had added a spoon of pesto and some olive oil) on top and smeared it around.

It was really yum. And I'll make it again. Next time, I'll add almond slivers on top and some spinach to really amp up the vitamins.

Spin cycle

Remember the olden days of television when reality shows didn't dominate the airwaves (and they were actually broadcast over airwaves rather than cable or satellite)? Or when there were only four major networks (and channels)? And when those networks developed half hour sitcoms and hour dramas, the bread and butter of their programming?

And when the shows got hugely popular -- or were about to die -- they spun off the characters for new shows?

Ahhh, the spin-off. Who didn't love them?

Happy Days gave birth to Laverne and Shirley; Mork and Mindy; and Joannie Loves Chachi while another great sitcom, All in the Family, spun off The Jeffersons; Maude; Gloria; and the show reformatted as Archie Bunker's Place (and probably others that I can't remember).

We just don't have TV or spin-offs like that any more.

::heavy nostalgic sigh::

In fact, I can't think of any recent spin-offs other than Friends leading to Joey -- and we all know how well that went -- unless you count all the Law and Order shows, but they aren't quite the same. Those shows are more of a franchise than a spin-off.

But I did just discover a new spin-off the other day. A reality TV spin-off!

I think this is the first reality TV spin-off (educate me if I'm wrong -- I know that Extreme Makeover's sibling Extreme Makeover Home Edition might arguably be a spin-off, but none of the characters carried over, the hallmark of a true spin-off). But now we have one! Project Runway has given birth to Project Jay, a documentary-style show about the former's first season winner. It's more reality TV than it is game show/reality show. There aren't any competitions or anything; it just follows his life and times.

But it's an interesting concept, for a reality show to spin-off another reality program (not that I'm advocating it or suggesting we need more reality TV).

What, for example, could Survivor spin off? A Richard Hatch fitness and fashion show a la Project Runway to get the man to cover up, maybe titled The Emperor's New Clothes? Or perhaps a Fear Factor spin-off cooking show a la Iron Chef ... "and today's ingredient will be... termites!" Or what about a The Bachelor spin-off like the Nick and Jessica comedy hour The Newleyweds which could in turn spin off something like Divorce: American Style?

I think the TV executives are missing a huge opportunity here! Who needs new rip-off clone reality TV shows when we can just have spin-off clone reality TV shows?

I'm just sayin'...

(But I'll still tune in to Project Jay -- ya' know, for the sake of blogging integrity and to post a follow-up.)

Another job lead

Yay!

Today, a partner at a firm let me know that their employment section (where she is a partner) is hiring and encouraged me to apply.

Now, that's not a gimme for a job because I am sure they will get candidates with a whole helluva lot more legal experience than I have -- and this is a hugely well-respected firm that would be an attractive prospect for pretty much anyone in my field. So, there will be a deluge of applications.

But it's nice to know that someone has enough confidence in my smarts to suggest I apply to a job where she'll be one of the hiring decision-makers.

Monday resolution

To post something everyday. No promises that it will be something of substance or value or interesting, but something.

We'll see if I manage it. I haven't been very good about any resolutions recently. Bleh.

How are you? LOL...

Beer cannon!

Another fun youtube distraction. This one was really, really well done. I love the music and editing.

Blowing things up to classical music -- what more could you ask for?

I am so in need of a nap

Many of you may have noticed the time stamps on recent posts. Wee, wee hours of the morning. Well, that's not even the half of it. I continually tried to fall asleep last night (early this morning) but know that I was still awake at 6:00 AM.

Can I tell you how much that sucks big beans?

Humongous, ginormous beans. Worthy of Jack.

And then I woke up around 9:00, managed to doze off and on for a few more hours but was up around 11:00 or so. Sleeping to 11:00 sounds divine, usually, but not when you didn't fall asleep until 6:00 or so.

Waaaah.

Dating -- 25 questions

Because we all have some kind of dating history... because this makes this otherwise frequently boring blog a little (but not much) more colorful.

1. How old were you when you had your first kiss?
13 or so. At summer camp, in the pool. It was a French kiss, but I didn't know that at the time. He was dreamy.

2. How old were you when you had your first boy/girlfriend ("BGF")?
I don't count the "going steady" stuff in junior high school, so I'd have to say 17.

3. Do you still keep in touch with your first BGF or know what happened to him/her?
Don't keep in touch. He was the jealous type, so I needed to cut those ties. I do know that he moved to Southern California and is now married to an attorney.

4. Do you have a relationship with any of your ex-s?
Yes, I keep in touch with a boyfriend from college. Nothing much more than the occasional email.

5. Have you ever dated anyone of a different race?
Pretty much everyone is different than I am, although I have dated not one but two guys who were also half Japanese. Go figure. Also dated generic white guys, a bi-racial black guy, a mixed Jamaican/Mexican guy and a Japanese/Palestinian guy.

6. Have you ever dated someone of a different nationality (citizenship)?
One boyfriend was American, British and Canadian (all three citizenships). Also, the Jamaican/Mexican guy and the Japanese/Palestinian guy.

7. Have you dated both men and women? Someone bi-?
Only men. But one guy I sorta kinda went out with (but didn't date, not really) was proabably bi-. He alluded as much anyway.

8. Okay, so have you messed around with both men and women?
Only men.

9. How much older/younger have you dated?
Dullsville answer here... Older? Only a few years -- maybe 4? Younger? Two years. But I've been hit on and asked out by a man who was in his late 70s. Had to duck that one tactfully.

10. How much taller/shorter have you dated?
I'm pretty short, so most men I've dated have been taller, although several were only an inch or so taller. No one shorter. One boyfriend was 10 inches taller than I am though. He had to stoop a lot.

11. What's the longest relationship you've been in?
6 years or so.

12. Do you google your ex-s?
You betcha'.

13. Ever cheat on your significant other ("SO")?
Nope. No way.

14. Ever been cheated on?
Yes.

15. Ever been the person with whom someone cheated?
Yes, unfortunately once in college. Neither of us could deal with the dishonesty though, so we cut it off. Haven't been down that path since and definitely wouldn't go there knowingly.

16. What do you consider cheating?
Oooh, good question. I guess any physical contact would be cheating. So kissing or any kind of fooling around is cheating. Flirting is not. But then there's that stage where someone is interested in and pursuing someone else with the intention of starting something up. Is that cheating? Porbably not until something actually happens, but it's dishonest. And a betrayal.

17. Would you take someone back who cheated on you?
Depends on the circumstances of the cheating and the relationship. I wouldn't dismiss the possiblity out of hand, though.

18. Ever been stood up/stood someone up?
Nope.

19. Ever run out in the middle of a date/been run out on?
Nope.

20. Ever move or significantly upheave your life for the sake of a relationship?
Yup. Moved to NYC with a boyfriend who took a job there.

21. Ever go out with someone famous?
Nope. I have had dinner with famous people, but those dinners weren't dates.

22. What are some nicknames that your BGF have had for you?
Oh you'll like this one. I had a boyfriend who called me "belle". He said that he meant the French meaning -- "beautiful". He also sometimes told me that it was short for "beligerent" and "bellicose".

Heh, heh.

23. Ever been on a blind date?
Nope.

24. Ever tried internet dating?
Oh yea. With mixed results. I once met a guy who told me he looked like a youngish Bruce Willis, but when I met him, I thought he looked more like Jon Lovitz.

25. Ever been proposed to/proposed to someone?
Nope on both, although I have had boyfriends tell me they wanted to marry me.

And while I'm youtubing

The world lost an amazing person with the passing of Ann Richards.

I saw her speak in person once, and the word "spitfire" is almost too tame to describe her. I was truly impressed.

Ann Richards (1933-2006). She really did kick ass.

A role model to countless women in politics, her legacy lives.

She walked up to me and she asked me to dance

I asked her her name and in a dark brown voice she said "Lola."
L-o-l-a. Lola lo-lo-lo-lo Lola.


Who wouldn't want such a spunky kit? She's up for adoption in Denver. Too cute!

And if that really was too cute for you and you need something to temper the sweet, check this out.

Honne and tatemae

Honne and tatemae... but in my case, I'm doing it backwards. Maybe it's because I'm Japanese American or because I'm also Croatian (American) that I've got it all screwy. Or not. But whatever the explanation, instead of sharing more with my inside circle, unblague readers know more about what's going on in my life head than my family and my interact-with-on-a-daily-basis friends.

There are some folks who know me in real life, who knew me before I blogged. Such as Liz (with whom I attended undergrad) and Eric (who I know through my previous work). And then there are some I've met because of this blog (shout out to Denise and ambib) and others whom I consider blogger friends but never met (yo, Scooter!)... and still others with whom I know I have a lot in common and enjoy reading/getting to know (pretty much everyone else on my bloglist).

So why is it that I haven't advertised, announced or otherwise publicized my blog to my family or other friends?

Good freakin' question. Ji-in over at Twice the Rice sorta asks it as well.

I think in my case, I'm covert with this blog because I didn't know -- and am not sure I do even now -- what exactly what I'm doing here. Why did I start blogging? Why am I writing? What's the point of all this?

I think mainly it's an outlet for whatever is crossing my brain at the moment. Some of my posts have some serious thought behind them (whether it's evident to the reader or not!) and some have next to none. So basically, it all started as a medium of self-expression, to rant and rave and sometimes celebrate and brag.

Narcissistic, I suppose. Definitely an outlet. I've always found that writing helps me to work through whatever is on my mind. I sporatically kept a diary growing up, so I guess this is a contemporary version of a sort. And it's probably no coincidence that site started while I was in law school (the antidote to creativity).

But somewhere along the way, I picked up readers. (I still don't know how a bunch of you found me -- if you care to share, please, please do!) And even though I never really cared about number of hits or traffic, I'm glad to have made blogger friends. And I am still blogging after law school because I find I still have stuff to rant about -- as you all well know -- and frankly, it's fun.

Welcome to my honne.

We'll see about outting myself to my family, though. We'll see.

Amusing distraction

This article in the WaPo about disastrous dates was a fun illustration of human behavior. And a reminder why dating is truly a game (although it shouldn't be). Bleh.

I don't have any dating stories that are this bad... although I do have a few memorable ones.

How about the guy who got married at 21 and divorced at 35 and only when I met him was he living on his own for the first time ever at 38...? Straight from parents' home to married life to a series of live-in girlfriends and never on his own. No big deal usually, but wait... there's more that makes this lack of independence quite meaningful.

So, it turns out that "date guy" grew up with an extremely dysfunctional homelife. Mother was divorced from his father and remarried. Dad had run off years earlier, and date guy grew up with step-dad. Date guy was so disgusted with his dad that he changed his name to step-dad's last name in college. I guess step-dad was his male role model, such that he was. Mom wasn't any better. Apparently, mom didn't think much of men, so she always berated date guy and derided his masculinity, etc. while he was growing up. Clearly, she had issues of her own which she transmitted to him -- e.g., she worked as a stripper, and she made date guy (as a young boy) lie to his grandparents (her parents) and tell them she was a night student. So, he didn't have much of a female role model, either. Only a set of really selfish parents (by his description) who didn't raise him with love or a sense of self-worth (my description).

I guess it's no wonder he married really young -- to get out of the house! And probably because he finally felt loved for the first time in his life. He and wifey married very young and had two kids. And divorced some 14 years later.

Why? Turns out that wifey had an affair with step-dad. Yeah, I'm not kidding.

Sad story. This guy was pretty much screwed and emotionally abandoned by every woman in his life. Good reason to divorce, eh? And then, on top of it, wifey changed her name back to her maiden name (from his name, which, remember, was the name he took from his step-dad, the one who had the affair his wife) and then changed the two kids' name to her maiden name. So not even his own kids had his name. (But then again, neither did he, I suppose.) He said he didn't mind about the kids, but whoa. I don't blame her for wanting to drop the step-dad's name, but he never did -- that is, blame her nor change his last name.

Well, despite this history, date guy asserted that he had his act together and carried no baggage, but let me tell you that I can't agree with that assertion. Let me just start by suggesting that he had no sense of himself, if that's not painfully obvious. And that he needed other people to prop up his self-esteem.

I would joke with him and kid around and tease him, and he would descend into the depths of defensive depression such that in order to regain some measure of equilibrium, he would need his friends to tell him how great he was. Anything approaching criticism sent him a-twitter. He had no self-worth, and anything and everything I said -- what others would see as flirting or overtures of getting to know someone -- he took as a personal assault.

Okay, I know I can be sarcastic and obnoxious and mouthy, but not everything I say is a personal assault. Not even half. Some people even enjoy my sense of humor. Go figure.

So needless to say that dating scenario didn't last long. It sounds like the plot line of a very bad movie, but I assure it's true. Yikes.

But this isn't as bad as my boyfriend's story of the woman who burst into tears during dinner on their first date. Ouch.

More of my own dating disaster stories in a later, forthcoming post...

The consequences of unemployment

Besides the obvious of having to pay out the wazoo for health insurance, having to curtail fun activities, no 9-9 work schedule, whining too much, etc. ...

I have started watching reality TV.

Omigawd.

The only reality TV show I ever watched is America's Next Top Model -- and it took me a long time to admit even that. I was proud to proclaim that I had never watched a full episode of any reality show before.

Now?

Now, I'm planning on watching the race case season of Survivor; I totally Tivo Project Runway, and you know I'm all about Meerkat Manor (Shakespeare!!!). In addition to Top Model, of course.

This is your brain on reality TV.

On evil envelopes...

So I got another evil envelope this past week. I was expecting it -- because I would have received a call weeks ago if the news was otherwise -- but it's still a bummer to actually get the news in writing.

But this time, the evil envelope didn't so much bum me out instead of piss me off.

Yes, I was pissed off.

Why?

This fellowship was a civil rights litigation fellowship with a firm that does mostly employment law. Sounds perfect, right? These are my exact areas. Well, they told me in the "thanks but no thanks" letter that while [insert trite language here about my wonderful qualities], they hired a candidate with more experience than I had.

More experience?!?! WTF?

This was an entry-level fellowship. ENTRY-LEVEL. How is anyone supposed to get any lawyering experience if you can't get an entry-level job fellowship because they hire someone else because that person has more experience?

Okay, okay, I know some of you are probably thinking that the "experience" explanation is just an excuse to mask something else. And maybe you're right.

Meanwhile, I did get out more resumes this week. And the temp agent told me that my resume -- in form, style and content -- looked excellent. So, at least I know my first impression is a professional one. It's my second impression that is a problem apparently...

I can't believe Fenty won

I mean, I do believe it because all the polls said he would. But I don't know if I'm ready for his ego.

But then again, he's definitely a change from the previous administration, which is why he beat Cropp (who represented "the establishment" and continuity). But I don't know if that's necessarily a good thing.

I guess we'll see. I can always move to the 'burbs.

And, this is the first time I've ever been represented -- in Congress or the Senate or by a mayor or a governor -- by someone younger than I am.

Weird, but it's only going to happen more and more so I had better to get used to it.

Remembering 9/11

(Please forgive/indulge this stream of consciousness. I'm just spilling out thoughts from my brain. And if you've had your fill of drippy already today, just skip this.)

I'm lucky. I live and work in DC and have lived and worked in Manhattan and yet none of my friends or family were hurt on September 11th. None were in any of the planes, nor where the planes hit.

But I have many, many friends who have literal near-miss stories like "I hit the snooze twice that morning and was running unusually late. But for my laziness, I would have been on the 95th floor of the first tower instead of in the lobby..." and "The courier was late delivering the papers for our meeting. As the 'low man on the totem pole', I had to stick around the office to wait for them to show up while the rest of the team went over to the Pentagon. They were in the exact section that was hit. They were all killed. I'm alive because a courier didn't deliver."

Amazing to think how one small decision such as hitting the snooze an extra time can have dire consequences. Right place, right time... or wrong place, wrong time kinda thing. As with much of life.

I know I am lucky. None of my friends or family died. Like many -- especially those who live on the East coast -- I know people who lost loved ones and colleagues and neighbors. Friends of friends perished, but my immediate circle was unscathed. And I am thankful.

But, as with most Americans, 9/11 affected me in a deeply personal way, even though I was not physically affected. We all witnessed it, whether we were in DC or NYC or LA or DFW. And I think that because we all saw it play out on TV that we all felt the attack very personally.

I remember that Tuesday morning very well. I had been on a two-week trip to Israel and South Africa and had flown back via Switzerland the Sunday before. I had worked on Monday but was still jetlagged so I decided to head into the office late on Tuesday. I never made it to my office, which was three blocks from the White House. I saw the planes hit the World Trade Center, and I knew I wouldn't be going to work. But for most everyone else -- including my family -- the work day was well underway at that point. In DC. My brother at the World Bank (very close to the White House), my boyfriend on the Hill, my mother at the EPA... all potential targets, or at least, in the zone. Task one was to try and track them down and make sure they were okay. And let them know I was okay. And even though the cell systems were jammed, it didn't take too long to find my brother. He was driving to the office. He saw the plumes of black smoke rise out of the Pentagon. The Capitol had been evacuated, and my boyfriend was fine. My mom worked in a different part of DC and was still in the office when I spoke to her. But she too was going home. They, at least, were okay.

And then there was my father.

I knew he was going to Chicago that day. But I didn't know any details. I assumed he was flying. Omigawd. I didn't know where he was. And everyone else was doing the same family inventory that I was, so I couldn't get through on the cell phone. Not right away, anyway. Worst case scenario, I figured he was delayed in an airport somewhere or that his plane was brought down somewhere over Ohio or something. But even assuming the worst, far worse was not knowing where he was at all. What if I was wrong, and he was on a different plane? I didn't panic, but in this kind of situation, your brain gets extra creative. The last thing I wanted was to invent completely ridiculous possibilities and "what if"s.

Turns out he was driving. Driving to Chicago from Washington, DC. Who does that? My dad. Thank goodness. And didn't know about the attacks until he got a call from my boyfriend who was trying to check up on me (my dad and I had switched cell phones for my trip because his worked internationally and we hadn't yet traded back). I remember speaking to my father after the towers fell and his gasping with shock and saying "That's an act of war." It's a really scary thing when your parents are alarmed. That frightened me.

On September 11th, I did little more than witness the terror and tragedy of that day. I saw the horrific images on TV and was glued to it for hours on end. I don't know why, but I couldn't stop watching. I think that I somehow felt that if I turned off the television then I would somehow be disrespectful or callous. That looking away would be a sign that I didn't comprehend the significance of what was going on or that I didn't care what was happening. That watching and witnessing the day's events was my contribution of moral support for those directly affected. I don't know. Something like that.

In fact, I didn't leave my house at all, even though I was out in the 'burbs and in no danger, real or perceived. I have never been so numb and yet cried so much -- nor watched as much television -- as I did that day five years ago. I was truly traumatized by the events of 9/11. I still can't watch the images on TV now without bursting into tears.

Having scoffed at others' concerns about safety during my trip to Israel with all of the suicide bombers and in Jo-burg with all the crime, I remember thinking how ironic it was that the terrorism hit me at home.

And five years later? I'm still sad. Sad at the loss of life and innocence and freedom. Sad at how a national tragedy has been politicized, domestically and internationally. Sad that some have suggested that we arrogant Americans somehow deserved "it", to be taken down a notch in this manner. Sad that many have co-opted the word "patriotism" and added an ugly flavor that shouldn't be there by using it to mean something more akin to "fanatical nationalism" through the use of scare tactics and by preying on our fears in the name of "security". Sad that the numbers 911 are twisted in our collective memories, at least for a generation or so. Sad that my friend Joy and a few others who share their birthdays with this anniversary have this black cloud over their special day.

But five years later, I would like to try to reclaim 9/11 as September 11th, the day after September 10th and before September 12th. Of course, no one will forget what happened five years ago. But I'd like to take the "ouch" out of the date and the numbers 911. If that makes any sense.

Just gotta say

Blogger friends ROCK! Thanks you guys!

Hey you people in DC and MD

VOTE.

Today are the primaries in Maryland and the District. And because the constituencies in both places tend to support democratic candidates, many of these primaries will actually determine who the next delegate, senator, council member, state's attorney, attorney general, etc. will be.

In MD, the primaries are closed, that is, party-restricted... so dems can only play with dems and republicans, well, let's face it, there aren't many republicans even running and those who are certainly do not have to run the gauntlet of opposition in a primary.

Come to think of it, I don't know if DC has open primaries or not. Hmmm. Maybe I should find out before I try to vote later today?

(Okay, I just checked... DC is closed too.)

I guess you aren't invited to the party if you aren't a member of the party.

I'm still here

Just feeling a little sorry for myself because of the job situation. And guilty for being so whiny about it while not doing my complete utmost to turn the situation around.

So it's been one of those "I suck" kinda weekends. Big ol' baby. But that sounds so pathetic so I didn't want to write it and give it true voice.

But there ya' have it.

Still like me?

Grrr...

Don't you just hate when someone sends out a message over an unmoderated listserv (or worse, using "cc" instead of "bcc") and some idiot decides it would be fun to "reply to all", thus starting a flurry of responses... "remove me from this list" and "stop replying to all" and "please do not reply to all" and "this is so annoying" and so on and so on and so on, flooding everyone's inbox?

People, people, people..! Are you that stoooopid or do you just want to annoy everyone?

Perpetuating the vicious circle of dumb replies to all by replying to all just feeds the beast and doesn't further the cause of quiet!

And neither do completely empty threats such as "remove me or I will refer this matter to my attorney". Give me a freakin' break.

(although I did just get yet another "reply to all" mocking the guy who threatened legal action... heh, that was actually funny)

I wonder if TomKat are feeling inadequate?

Remember all the hub-bub and speculation about how gorgeous Brad Pitt's child with Angelina Jolie would be? People extrapolated from each of their incredibly fabulous looks and figured, if all went right with genetic recombination, that this kid would be off the scales on the drop-dead gorgeous-o-meter.

Notice how no press, no entertainment "news" shows, no comedians spun the same commentary about TomKitten? I guess neither Tom nor Kat are incredibly gorgeous enough to merit the speculation. They are merely attractive, on a normal scale. But as it turns out, the kid is awfully cute.

Of course she is.

And poor Shiloh, to have so many expectations placed on her already. Woe is her if she's only mortally beautiful instead of epically so.

Next

Finished Thank You for Smoking. A quick read. All the women in my book club agreed that it was good summer fare, but we didn't have nearly as much to discuss as with The Known World simply because the former didn't have the depth of the latter. It was amusing, but it didn't make us think as much. Every character was a caricature, and we found that we didn't really care about them. The satire was fun, and I think that our being in DC helped us to appreciate it more.

Our October choice is Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See. And we've already chosen Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides for November -- lots of lead time because the tome is a daunting (for a book club) 544 pages long.

Fun stuff.

Bookmark

Things I want to blog about but don't have time right now:

* the new season of Survivor -- the tribes are comprised of different racial groups (black, white, Asian, Latino). Oooh, I have sooooooo much to say about this.
* the birth of the new Japanese prince, which postpones the potential "succession crisis" and the debate about whether the laws should be changed to allow for greater opportunities for heirs to be born. Progressives want to change the law to allow for the royal daughters to accede. Traditionalists want to revert back to the practice of royal concubines to allow for more royal births.
* whether or not the footage of Steve Irwin's death should be aired publicly -- okay, no need to wait on this one because there's no answer other than NO. Even though there are quotes by Irwin indicating that he would have wanted it to be shown. No. There's nothing to be learned from this video, and I can't imagine that it will be anything other than more traumatizing.
* how long does it take for an anniversary of a horrible event to become a day again -- that is, when will the date "September 11th" stop setting off alarm bells in the minds of most Americans? A generation? I've been thinking about September 11th compared to December 7th. "9/11" v. "Pearl Harbor". Something the whole world witnessed v. something most people didn't learn about for (at least) hours. Definitely a long post in me on this...

Anyway, that's what's been running around in my head. I just gotta get it out through my hands. If you have any thoughts on any of the above, please share. Maybe the comments will help me get the post actually written.

I was going to post about Katherine Harris's brilliant comments that the separation of church and state is a lie, but it's old news now. But yesterday she pretty handily won the Republican nod for the senate race. Umm, did you check the demographics of the retirees in Florida? Yeah, good luck with that after saying "If you're not electing Christians, then in essence you are going to legislate sin." Pat Buchanan might have some advice for you there.

I could also comment on the news that the big law salary for newbie first year associates in New York is now $145K, but that would be just too damned depressing to dwell on.

This may not mean much to non-DCers

But those of you who have lived/are living in DC or nearby, this may mean something, and it is certainly fantastic news -- especially for the red line riders.

...drum roll, please...

Cake Love has opened a location in Silver Spring.

Yes, THE Cake Love of "Warren Brown, one-of-People's-most-eligible-bachelor-fame" with cupcakes to DIE for. That Cake Love. I just had a cupcake, and it was fa-BU-lous. Fabulous. And I mean YUM.

Not too shabby for a guy with a JD and MA in Public Health (joint program) from George Washington University.

(note to self: brush up on whisking technique in case the lawyer thing doesn't pan out... ba-dum-bum-ching~!)

Quote of the day

"A beer" is a unit of time.

A race to watch

Hoping Md. Is 'Ready for a Person Like Me': House Candidate Would Be State's 1st Transgender Lawmaker.

This is the first time I've heard about this candidate -- Dana Beyer 54, a retired eye surgeon running against seven other Democrats -- but I'm definitely going to watch the race more closely because she's in it. Montgomery County is hugely progressive, some areas more than others, so I can't imagine that Beyer's being transgendered will be an issue.

At least, I hope not.

However, whether or not she's elected, after the dust has settled, I hope to be able to point to my home county with great pride because all the candidates were judged on their qualifications and treated with dignity.

But who am I kidding? That doesn't happen in any political race.

So what's the deal?

I think that every woman I know (with maybe two exceptions) gained 10 or more pounds while suffering the bar prep. And yes, I am definitely among that crowd.

What I want to know is -- what about the guys?

Informal survey here. Please give me your anecdotal evidence -- did the men you know (or the men you are) who labored under bar review this year gain any noticeable weight from the ordeal of it?

Just curious.

Ernesto blows

My most reviled weather is cold rain. To me, there isn't much worse. And that's pretty much what we got today and will continue to suffer through over the long holiday weekend, or part of it anyway.

Walking in the rain home from the metro, I got wet from the thighs down because of the diagonal sheets of rain being hurled at me combined with my unability to maintain cover as I followed along in the umbrella dance, trying to keep some part of my body dry while the umbrella swirled around me in leaps and flounces... with me helpless to do anything but try and keep up while not allowing the umbrella to go airborne, impale a fellow pedestrian or be completely destroyed in the gales.

Turns out that I'm not as graceful as a green umbrella dancing to the tune of Ernesto.

It's a bright, shiny new month

Still no news on three jobs, but I was only expecting to hear from one... Is no news good news? I dunno.

I decided that I would start contacting legal temp agencies after Labor Day, so that's my plan. I'm hoping not to stick to it for very long.