Soon...

While Matt and I were studying last night (I was doing PMBR Constitutional Law questions, very depressing), the electricity went out. We knew it was not going to come back on when we heard the sirens outside. I was also perplexed because back in the Midwest, the electricity only seems to go out when there is a big thunderstorm and that was definitely not the case last night.

Matt called Barry, we packed up our books, drove over to Brittany and Barry’s house, and stayed the night. You forget how vital electricity is, especially since it took us a few minutes to figure out how to manually open the garage door… And we definitely did not get electicity back for awhile - someone hit the electricity box with his car, which when I saw that, all I could think about was private necessity, trespass to land, etc. It was like a multiple choice question had come to life. Then I thought there was definitely an issue of negligent infliction of emotional distress. Ahh! At their house, we watched the the Diamondbacks lose to the Cubs, which was annoying too, but at least the Diamondbacks won the series.

I did not have a hard time falling asleep last night, but I did not have pleasant thoughts. Elements of crimes and torts, community property definitions, and then hearing “dooooooooooing” business for civil procedure kept running through my head. It was not in an organized manner either; my thoughts would jump from subject to subject randomly. I can not wait until next week, in which I will probably forget everything all over again.

Looking forward to: movies, dinner with friends without outlines, golf, unpacking, scrap booking, playing my guitar hero…

Days until day one of the Bar: 5

-Jen

Finding "the One"

I picked up my bridesmaid dress for Barbie’s wedding yesterday and then I shipped it this morning. I am good at stressing myself out and I have definitely done that with this dress. I can not carry it on the plane when we fly back unless I pack it in a carry-on and I did not want to put it in a checked bag. Thus, I shipped it with super insurance. Barbie gets married the Saturday after the bar, three days after the nasty test. (Barbie is my best childhood friend and I have known her since we were babies; we were also neighbors. I do not know what my life would have been like without her!)

I had my first nightmare of the summer the other night. It was not about the bar, which I am perplexed why I have not had a dream about that disaster yet. My dream was about the bridesmaid dress. I dreamt that the day of Barbie’s wedding the dress was missing – it never arrived. I did not have the heart to tell Barbie until right before we had to walk down the aisle. Oh what a catastrophe!

The bridal shop that did the alterations for the bridesmaid dress, Suzanne’s Bridal in Gilbert, is great. Both Brittany and I like the store and will probably get our wedding dresses there. But they freaked me out. When I took Barbie’s bridesmaid dress in for alterations, I told the lady when my wedding is and she told me I should order my dress soon. Yikes! There is no way I am going to find a wedding dress during bar season. But the pressure is on.

What if I never “find the one?” I have tried on various dresses, which I definitely like some a lot more than others. And there are a couple of dresses I really like. One I think could possibly be the winner. It is a lot of pressure to find a wedding dress. I do not want to buy one just because time is running out. Do you immediately know when it is the one or does it take time to let it sink in? Do all girls find “the one?” Or am I just expecting too much?

I think Brittany’s theory is correct. Some girls, when they try on “the one,” those present with her (mothers) cry. I think this is interesting; after all, it is just a dress. Her theory is that for some mothers, the most important thing in life is for their daughter to get married and have the perfect wedding dress. I know my mother will not cry when I find “the one” and for that, I am thankful to save me from the embarrassment and that she had bigger dreams for me. I know she will be excited and happy for me, but there is more to life than getting a wedding dress, although it is very exciting.

Also, to those spectator women in bridal shops, stop making elaborate comments about a stranger and the dress she is trying on. I do not care about your sundry opinions about the dress I currently have one and which one you like the most, especially if it is a negative opinion! If you make comments, only share friendly opinions.

Do not get me wrong – I am very excited to find a wedding dress, and I think I have already found "the one," the most important one, Matt. That is all that matters in the end, right?

And there may be tears if I pass the Bar.

-Jen

Life after the BAR

I did not introduce myself properly earlier, which I easily become passionate about current events and have a lot of opinions (as many others do as well). One of my law school professors told me, “I am very thoughtful” – hopefully she meant that as a compliment! The first websites I visit in the morning are all the major news sites, so there will be various other current event postings… I am just interested in current events and politics, always have.

Just a little about me: I finished law school at the University of South Dakota in May of 2008 and have been studying or thinking about studying ever since. My fiancé, Matt, graduated from law school from Drake University School of Law in May of 2008. After spending three years over two hundred miles apart, it is great to be living in the same city again. The long distant relationship was not fun.

We met each other at the University of Arizona. We were initially friends, but soon that friendship grew into something more. In October of 2003, we began dating. After four plus years of dating, we are still very happy with each other and I can not imagine being with anyone else.

I also met Brittany at University of Arizona when we were roomies. The times we had in #405 are still some of the best! We are now older (getting too old!) and are planning our weddings together. We will continue to show are U of A love as being crazy, old, ugly-earring-wearing, Alumni. I can not wait for football season!

Currently, Matt and I, yes both of us, are studying for the bar exam. I suppose that if we can make it through this summer, both studying, without any major disasters, then marriage will be easy, right? Well, after over four and half years dating, three of which were long-distant during law school, and while during the bar, I think we will be just fine with whatever marriage brings us.

I can not wait for life after the Arizona Bar Exam. It has been a long summer. I hope not to do this again.

What I am looking forward post-Bar:

1. Barbie’s wedding!
2. Guilt-free wedding planning – finding a wedding dress!
3. Guilt-free pool time
4. Finding a JOB
5. Being nice and patient again
6. Seeing friends guilt-free

I am sure there are many more pleasure to look forward to, but I do not want to tempt myself right now.

Days until the Bar: 7
Days until freedom: 9
Days until Barbie’s wedding: 12

P.S. Matt and I also booked the hotel room for Brittany and Barry's wedding. I am very excited and can not wait!!

-Jennifer