Day 662: Live and kicking

Wow. I totally thought Law School would kick me in the tail, but it hasn't. Witness examination yesterday was hardcore. It was a bit scary. Watching other kids get up and parade around the classroom/courtroom (it makes perfect sense that a law school would have built in mini courtrooms for student practice) was one thing. Doing it yourself is another. From what Amber the Lawyer tells me, what they have us do in practice is far more formal than in actual court, but if we stick to what we learn in class the most we'll be guilty of is courteousness, so that's good. Each judge has rules his own way in court, and we'll learn them when we get there. Until then, we have things to memorize. Learning the Federal Rules of Evidence, criminal procedure, and criminal law has been enlightening. I know I'm going to be an utter pest when I watch Law and Order from now on, but there's no rule that says lawyers and cops can't enjoy that show. I think I did all right. I was nervous, but it was fun. I was first on a new exercise, and I almost think Professor Melilli did it on purpose. He kept smiling at me like he knew I could do it, which makes me afraid to disappoint him.

After school I came home and chilled. Made myself lots of food, because being at school from ten to six isn't easy, and then chilled. Watched some Heroes. Criminal minds. Worked on scale mail. I'm about where I can do a row in twenty minutes now, which is nice. The beginning and the end of three-ring rows is hardest and slowest, but all in all I make good time.

Today was a long day. I got to school at 7:35 in the morning and was lucky to get a spot. It's really ticking me off.

I studied all morning - briefed crim pro, did questions for evidence tomorrow, even read for Crim Law on Monday, and a few research cases for the legal writing assignment of suck. I got together with Air Force Amber (because there are so many of us, though not nearly as many as in Utah) and Jessica (who is genuinely Jewish but did not know Shakespeare had made up her name for a Jewish girl) and we rehearsed for Witness Exam Skills. It's not easy. Oddly enough, the thing I'm worried about is turning on the jerk-factor on command. Professor Melilli can do it, go from nice and funny to sarcastic and mean at the drop of a hat. And then come right out of it when the demonstration is done. Lawyers must be, by necessity, good actors. I can be mean, but not usually on command. We had fun, rehearsing, giving each other tips, talking over lunch. I like my crew. Jennifer couldn't be there because she was closing on her house in Iowa, so I'm going to rehearse with her tomorrow after school.

And then I studied more and went to crim pro.

The most retarded thing I did today was start playing D&D Tiny Adventures on Facebook, which is retarded and sort of addicting because I am a gamer and in D&D the goal is to level up. So I had fun with that, as the thing kept crashing and then killing me. But I made it to level two, and that's what counts. To me, at least.

Crim pro was good, and I'm learning loads. It's fun to see how even I had huge misconceptions about the law, and how so many Americans do, even ones who actually read the Constitution and know what it says. (Guess what? The Fourth Amendment says nothing about police requiring a warrant for searches and seizures. It does say that, should a warrant be issued, it must be on probable cause, but as the Fourth Amendment is written, cops don't require warrants at all. It's a good thing judges are occasionally brave and interpret something rather than trying to follow the Constitution as it stands, eh? Seriously. Read it. Then decide what is really safeguarded in it.)

Legal writing looks like it'll be fun. Our prof is cool. I'm excited to learn from him and become a letter writer.

I had lots of mail tonight when I got home, and that made me happy, and then I read some of it, and that made me less happy. Mom totally sent me a chihuahua shaped card, with one leg cut off, and it made me happy and sad at the same time.

I ate and worked on scale mail and then went to Brielyn, Cassie, and Lindsey's place for Lindsey's birthday. It was fun - Dave the new guy at church showed up, along with Josh from the other ward, LeAnne the med student, Jordan and Aaron, and Beverly and Audrey. We sang to Lindsey, had cake and ice cream, and then hung around and talked. It was good and easy fun. Audrey and Beverly made Lindsey a card and a coupon for a free home-cooked lunch. I made her a paper rose. Amber the Lawyer showed up too, and it looks like a bunch of us might go out tomorrow night and go dancing at this awesome gay club in town.

Squee! Hot guys who will smile at me and dance with me and totally not hit on me. I like it.

It'll be a good way to spend a Friday night.

Then I can study Saturday and Monday. Whee.

I should sleep now.