Wednesday, April 30, 2003
At work writing a memo. *Yawn* My judge asked me to write a fairly lengthy memo and specifically requested that I make it as long as possible. While I like writing, I don't want to be told to write. Of course, writing and researching memos is part of my job, but it's just a big pain to consolidate all these different cases...summarize them...then compare to your own...argh. It's especially difficult when the cases you are reading are like, 20-plus pages long and are really old. It's just very tedious and I am very tired. Man...I'd love an iced coffee right now. Plus it doesn't help that's still 70-degrees out and sunny. Oh well.
I'm looking forward to the weekend. Actually, tomorrow is promising too, because the family is going out for a birthday dinner in honor of Mark's mom. Then we are having a family party on Friday; then I go to a BBQ on Saturday, and then I get to watch X-Men 2 on Sunday! Whoo-hoo!! And of course, by then, this memo would be done...
POSTED BY KAT AT
4/30/2003 06:11:00 PM |
Friday, April 25, 2003
I can't stop watching HGTV.
POSTED BY KAT AT
4/25/2003 03:27:00 PM |
Wednesday, April 23, 2003
Inspired by Easter Sunday, I am trying to make new changes in my life. Sort of like a second chance to catch up on New Year’s resolutions. Mainly, I’m trying to eat better. I got this new cookbook/diet plan that focuses on low-carb eating. It’s pretty good because it promotes great eating and shows you how to make meal choices. This one does not say you can’t eat carbs at all, but tailors it to your diet. Of course, this is stuff that everyone knows already…eating right, blah, blah, blah…but it did make me realize that I was eating waaay too much food a day. I consume about 2,500-3,000 calories a day (sometimes more if I eat out and go for drinks), and I should only be eating like 1,500 at that! Ha…no wonder I’m a flabby mess. But it’s not all for aesthetic reasons either… I seriously do want to develop better eating habits because I’d like to be healthy when I get older. I’m also going to the gym again. Maybe by the time my birthday hits, I’ll have Jennifer Aniston arms…
I’m also trying to curb my road rage and not be so snippy to people. It’s just that I like efficiency. I hate people who are slow in driving and slow to pick up on stuff at work. I mean, instead of asking me when something is scheduled…heck, look the damn thing up! Okay…I’m already being snippy. But the point is, I’m trying to be more patient.
I’m so happy I’m be getting a break and going to Miami soon! May 14th! The Mad Woman and company are going to have so much fun. I should go shopping soon and get some cool holiday outfits. All I know is, I’m bringing a stack of books with me and doing lots of snorkeling….can’t wait.
POSTED BY KAT AT
4/23/2003 02:53:00 PM |
Thursday, April 17, 2003
Taking a cue from my friend Trish's blog... I am answering the following questions from the Friday Fives for April 11, 2003.
1. What was the first band you saw in concert? Okay, don't laugh...I believe the first band I saw in concert was either The Jets or Menudo. No joke. The Jets --as in the group from the 80's who I believe were Samoan. Their claim to fame song was "I've Got a Crush on You." And Menudo...I don't need to describe them, do I? Let's just say Ricky Martin when he was 12. But it wasn't my fault! I swear! I was like, 9 perhaps? And my mom took me because she was being nice...that's it.
2. Who is your favorite artist/band now? Ooh...this is a hard one. My favorite band of all time has got to be The Cure. I got into them at around the end of 8th grade, circa end of 1990 or 1991. Headed by lead singer, song-writer, and guitarist extrodinaire Robert Smith, The Cure has been around since the late 1970's and has produced some of the world's best songs (in my opinion). They defy musical classification...most people would say they are a goth-band...but I would loosely put them under "alternative rock." In any case, perhaps you would know them as that band who sang the pop hit "Friday I'm in Love." But please, they have waaay better songs than that...
Right now though, I also have a bunch of favorite artists...some I can think of, off the top of my head are: Black Star (Mos Def and Talib Kweli...I also like them separately); Wu-Tang Clan; Oasis; The Smiths; Eminem; 50 Cent; Missy Elliot; Shakira; Lauryn Hill, and more.
3. What's your favorite song? Whoa...too many to mention here. But here's a handful: '93 Til Infinity (Souls of Mischief); Respiration (Black Star); Work It (Missy); Just Like Heaven (The Cure); any song from the Disintegration album (The Cure); Suerte (Shakira); Cry Me a River (Justin); that new song by Jay-Z with Punjabi MC, Touch Me Tease Me (Case feat. Foxy Brown)...and many more.
4. If you could play any instrument, what would it be? Most definitely the guitar. I used to be really good at it. Now, I can't do a thing!
5. If you could meet any musical icon (past or present), who would it be and why? Robert Smith!!! Cuz he's the coolest! He's a brilliant lyricist and he's just fab! Though I wouldn't mind meeting Eminem, Madonna, Sting, Shakira, and many others...
POSTED BY KAT AT
4/17/2003 03:53:00 PM |
Wednesday, April 16, 2003
So I had an interview with Legal Aid yesterday. As some folks may know, I’ve wanted to work at this place since I started law school, basically. Legal Aid is based in New York City and provides legal services to the indigent –blokes who can’t afford to hire an attorney. So yes, I will be representing all sorts of folks –from kids who just happened to have run with the wrong crowd – to folks who have done very bad things such as armed robbery, rape, even murder.
I’ve always tried to explain to people why I want to be a criminal defense attorney, and a state-paid one at that. It’s partly because I feel that it is part of an attorney’s duty to serve the public. I believe all lawyers should take it upon themselves to do pro bono cases (cases for free). The other reason is because I feel I’ve been very lucky in life. I have generous parents who worked hard to provide for me, a wonderful husband who’s very patient… I went to good schools, have a network of good friends…all that stuff combined makes for one very comfortable life. And no, contrary to what some people may think, I’m not spoiled, and I do know how to work hard. My family and I have had our share of hardships…especially when we first moved to the U.S. But the point is, we have overcome these hurdles.
I want to be a public defender because a lot of people have not overcome their hurdles. A lot of people do not have a great family or good friends to help them out. A lot of people feel stuck in a rut and have no one to support them. As one attorney said to me, some people have never had anyone stand up for them. I think the very least I can do is to try to help out others by standing up for them, plain and simple.
So I hope I get the job offer. I’m pretty scared. However, wanting the job and doing the job are two, very separate things. But you don’t know until you’re actually doing it. So I hope I get the job, and I hope that I like the job. I can go on and on about wanting to be a criminal defense attorney, but I won’t know if it’s truly “my calling” until I’m knee-deep in it. Yes, I’m being very pragmatic about it all….in any case, wish me luck.
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4/16/2003 09:29:00 AM |
Thursday, April 10, 2003
My blog is a way for me to get myself to write...think of it as writing exercises. My friend Sol told me yesterday that people shouldn't post things unless you have something to say. I told her I disagree because while yes, a blog is public domain, a blog is something you personalize --whether you write it journal-style, or write a food log, or write about politics..whatever. The point, it's your blog and you can write whatever you want (as long as you are prepared to face the consequences). So this is my outlet to write. As some people may know, I've been an aspiring writer since the day I learned to read (3 years old according to my mom, but I'm guesstimating 4 years old). I used to write tons of stories when I was younger..make little "books" for my mom from notebook paper folded in half complete with illustrations and the like. Then tons more in high school, but barely any in college. Basically, I just stopped writing primarily because I was intimated by tons of other blokes in college. That and the fact that I'm lazy. I've been working on one idea for a novel for quite some time now, and you'd think I'd have more than 2 chapters! But I'm getting my act together...I swear it! My goal right now is to have an actual manuscript by January 2004. So I have about a year to get down to it.
POSTED BY KAT AT
4/10/2003 09:20:00 AM |
Tuesday, April 8, 2003
I took this quiz to find out which of Henry VIII's wives I am most like...the result was pretty interesting. So me!
Which of Henry VIII's wives are you?
this quiz was made by the proper Victorian ladies at Spookbot
POSTED BY KAT AT
4/08/2003 09:17:00 PM |
Monday, April 7, 2003
Today, I scheduled two job interviews for the coming week. I’m a bit excited since I have only just started the job search, and the pressure is on for me to find a job. A Job, job, if you know what I mean. My judicial clerkship will be officially over on August 29th of this year, and I’m a bit perturbed at the whole job situation. First of all, the market is a mess and it’s bloody hard to find firms that are hiring. Secondly, it doesn’t help at all that my interests lie in the public interest law sector –this means that I’m interested mainly in jobs that don’t pay very much (i.e., being a prosecutor or a public defender). I don’t at all fancy the idea of working in some corporate firm, but in a pinch, I'll definitely choose that route...
So yes, while I am a lawyer, this does not mean that I am out to make money. It’s a bit difficult to explain to people that no, I will not be making $$$ because the general public has this stereotypical notion that all lawyers make $$$. Yes, if you’re lucky, you can make $125K/year to start –but that’s only if you’ve graduated at the top 10% of your class and landed an Associate position at one of the country’s top firms (by top firms, I’m talking about lawyers with 500+ attorneys and with offices world-wide…like Skadden Arps or Simpson Thacher). That does not apply to me. But I would like to have a decent annual salary for the sake of paying bills and expenses, especially in light of the upcoming house and all…
Lastly, I’m scared of the whole career thing. I’m 26 years old at the moment, and have not been on the proper career track. I’ve been in school up until May 2002, and a lot of my friends have been working for years now. I’ve only just begun. So I’m a bit anxious about it all. But then again, I like being at my own pace, doing my own thing.
POSTED BY KAT AT
4/07/2003 04:31:00 PM |
Saturday, April 5, 2003
Early morning and I need a cup of coffee. A latte would be good right now. Yesterday, I bought a book on painting your house. Interesting. This whole house thing is a bit weird. It's not so much as the logistics of owning a home that I really fancy. For me, it's envisioning what it will look like after painting, decorating, and renovating. I've been a big fan of the game, The Sims. It's partly because when I was younger, I've always wanted a dollhouse but never got one. The Sims to me, is like an inter-active dollhouse where you can design the home, the furniture, and the people you play with.
So with the real house now, I'm more into the decorating fun that comes with it. It's exactly the same feeling that I would feel about decorating a flat or a room, not so much about ownership as some people like to emphasize. To me, I could be happy renting a nice flat in NYC and live there forever. You have the option of moving anytime and not be tethered by trying to sell it, fix it if something's wrong, or whatever. Don't get me wrong, I love the idea that we know have a home to call our own and start a family with. But I'm saying that it's not the most important thing to me to have an actual, physicial house to own. I'm not interested in owning lots of land or acreage or whatever. As long as there's some type of backyard where I can have a BBQ, it's fine.
You don't need a house to have a home, as some people would point out. With that said, I look forward to making our to-be home really fabulous! Ta!
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4/05/2003 10:11:00 AM |
Friday, April 4, 2003
We got the house! Or rather, to be more practical, the owner of the home we put a bid on accepted our offer yesterday morning (after making us toil and wait for 5 days). Yippee! It's a fab (and all-new) feeling to know you're on the road to owning a house. The house is in Fort Lee, on a street around the corner from our old flat in Fort Lee. It's a sweet little colonial with blue vinyl siding, a fireplace, 3 bedrooms, a dining room, 1 full bath (the other full bath is in the basement --a very unfinished basement!), a shed/garage-type thing, and a small backyard. It needs a lot of TLC in order to make it really fabulous, but it has loads of potential! I'm keeping my fingers crossed as it enters attorney-review this afternoon.
Today will be a fun day not only because of the house (I'm already wearing jeans today here at work, so I'm being really casual!), but because I'll be getting together with some of my mates this evening. First off, I'm leaving work early (my judge is not in today!) to go shopping in the city. Urban Outfitters, Club Monaco, Barnes and Noble, here I come! Then later on, I'm meeting everyone for dinner at an Indian restaurant in the Columbia U. area. After that, we'll be doing some pottery at this place called Our Name is Mud. It's not really doing pottery as we won't be using the wheel or the kiln or anything...more like a paint your own pottery place. But it should be entertaining since you are allowed to bring alcohol into the joint! Looking forward to it...
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4/04/2003 09:58:00 AM |
Thursday, April 3, 2003
Is New Jersey the "armpit of America" as one friend put it? For folks who live here in the East Coast (more specificaly, the Tri-State Area), everyone knows how NJ and NY are very inter-connected. People live in NJ and work in NY; some vice versa; and people in NY sometimes shop in NJ. In any case, both states are connected by a team of bridges and tunnels. However, NJ has a very poor reputation --folks make fun of it all the time for being stinky, being known only for it's turnpikes, factories, and the largest percentage of guidos (e.g., Tony Sopranos). For Manhattanites at least, the very thought of living in NJ is abhorrent, really. But ask yourself why do you think it's that bad? I live in NJ now. Lived in Fort Lee from June 2001 to March 28, 2002. And now I live in Demarest, NJ w/ the hubs and family.
Do I like NJ? Sometimes. I like the fact that it's spacious (e.g., apartments aren't on top of each other; houses aren't on top of each other); the big supermarkets; no tax on clothing; how some areas are very beautiful and picturesque; how some streets are kinda like the city w/ shops and cafes; and how poeple aren't as rushed and it's a slower pace of life in general.
I don't like the fact that people make fun of where I live and don't make an effort to visit b/c they think it's too far; how people ask "why don't you want to live in the city?" (do I have to get into this?); how some friends of mine stop keeping in touch b/c I don't live in the city anymore and I'm the one who has to arrange dinners/get-together; I don't like how I have to drive everywhere and I get bloody lost!!; I don't like the fact that it's very suburban and homogenous (some areas); and I don't like how people express their disdain for NJ w/o ever having lived there. Lastly, I don't like the fact that just because I live in NJ now, some people have a pre-conceived notion that I'm this domesticated, non-cultured, suburban Jersey girl because I'm not.
I live here in NJ now, and will most likely buy a house here because of 1 main reason: 1) because the hubs is insistent on it and doesn't want to live in NY. So I have to compromise. It's not the bad. I wouldn't knock it before you try it. If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all. One thing I ask is please don't say "Why are you living there?!" or "I would never live there! I hate NJ!" Unless you want my bloody fist up your nose or a swift kick in the arse.
POSTED BY KAT AT
4/03/2003 10:02:00 AM |
Wednesday, April 2, 2003
I'm still at work doing homework. In particular, I'm writing a will and preparing an inheritance tax return for my WILLS class (I just lurve those Continuing Legal Education classes!). Argh! I've been working on this thing since morning, foregoing all actual work, and focusing only on this problem. Anyway, it's such a bloody pain in the arse! So I figured I'd just stay here at work and finish it in one day once and for all....Then at 7:30 pm, I'm going to Capoeira class with a couple of co-workers cuz I'm a big, out-of-shape, sack of lard.
Yes, I'm having a "fat day" --almost like a "bad hair day" (which incidentally, I don't really have b/c I just don't put too much effort into the whole hair thing...I don't even have a blood hair stylist!) but way worse. In any case, I just feel quite lumpy owing to the size of my horrid thighs. I know, I know, you're probably thinking there is such madness going on in this world and this gal is talking about her body issues?! Well I'm just having a bad day. I woke up to discover my cellulite-ridden arse and it just went downhill from there! Of course in my head I know I should simply stop whining and start working out, but I'd like to vent first. All throughout the first three years of college, I was a bit plagued by body issues...being chubs, am I pretty, the whole nine.... Only in the past few years did I finally come to terms with myself and my physicality. Accepted myself, really. And after I did that, the weight miraculously came off with no diet or extreme working out. I suddenly got trim. But everyone now and then, you get your "fat days" when you're just not yourself, get fed-up that you are not stick-thin, and every little thing just bothers you. I'll get over it. But I do have to help myself and get to the bloody gym sometime this week! Egads....
Perhaps this is all brought upon by the fact that I am going to Miami in approximately 40 days... and that I will be seen in public in a bathing suit. Must lose 5 lbs! Must lose 5 lbs! Surely, that will be my mantra for the coming days...
POSTED BY KAT AT
4/02/2003 05:34:00 PM |
Saw fabulous movie last night! Bend It Like Beckham. It was a cheery, cheeky, feel-good flick set in London, but not at all trite like "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" (which was a disaster). In any case, I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend it to all. Of course, I came out of the film with a Brit-accent. There was a hot bloke in there named Jonathan Rhys Meyers. Nice. 'Cept that he ran kinda funny. Almost girl-like. But no need to elaborate there.
More later...I'm in a bit of a pissy mood actually. Will write more when I've calmed down a bit.
POSTED BY KAT AT
4/02/2003 01:09:00 PM |
