Tuesday, February 27, 2007

My, oh my

WTF?? I took one look at question number one and almost threw up. Property. Leaseholds, assignments, covenants, landlord/tenant duties....and a nice little nuisance tort thrown in for kicks. I forgot some stuff in convenants -- namely, notice. And then a completely unexpected Corps questions having nothing to do with what I thought it'd be -- 10b5 securities stuff. But finally, a gift -- murder. I love murder.

As for PT A, I've got to say that I'm generally clueless in PTs. I didn't write about the crimes and frauds exception because I read (over and over again) in the instruction memo to not deal with the obvious issues of professional responsibility. Even though they threw in an entire case devoted to the crimes and fraud exception. I put a little note at the end that I excluded it due to that. I know I'm not supposed to beat myself up over it, and I won't, but I just want to know if anyone else interpreted it this way? To tell the truth, there's no way I could have gotten to it. Without a single break, I barely had enough time to get through it as it was...

I think February is harder. It's not as straightforward. Does it make a difference that it's mostly repeaters when it comes to grading, do you think? Tonight, I'm going to try and do some MBEs, work out, and get some early shut eye.

MBE day, ugh. I'm hanging in there...hope everyone else is doing ok too! It's raining here in Sac, but thankfully, my hotel is mere steps away from the exam. That's something to be grateful for, I guess. =)

Monday, February 26, 2007

Unbelievable.

I missed my flight to Sacramento. Seriously, I'm sitting in the Burbank airport right now in disbelief that I'm putting added stress on myself. The thing is, I had plenty of time this morning and since I checked in online, thought it would be fairly quick to get through security. I hadn't counted on extraordinarily long lines though. And, even though people were kind enough to let me pass, I missed it by less than a minute. The plane was just out of reach, with the doors wide open. The lady just shook her head at me.

The next flight is 3 hours later. Figures. Usually, they have flights every hour, but not this time! So, I'm now worried about my luggage (I had to check a bag because I had all my books in it) and only have MBE book, flashcards, and some personal notes on me. And my laptop. I hate to be parted with my suitcase as it is, but now, I don't even have the security of having it on the same plane as me. It's probably in Sacramento, waiting to get stolen by someone who's gonna get a nasty surprise when they find out its all bar books. And my clear bag with my admissions ticket in it. Please don't let them lose my bag.

So much for the happy little plan outlined below. I've done 10 evidence questions and gotten 5 wrong, read about Britney's latest debacle (actually, I feel really bad for her...she's obviously in a lot of emotional turmoil...I can relate to stress) and eaten an airport pepperoni pizza.

So, will continue to do the MBE questions and flashcards for another 2 hours. Again, this is freakin' unbelievable. Haha..maybe I don't really want to go and take the exam!! =)

No, I do. I want to go and kick some bar exam ass. I really do. So I hope I can get up there soon...

Sunday, February 25, 2007

Here we go...

Tomorrow, I fly to Sacramento and check into my hotel. I don't know whether I'll have easy access to internet there, but if I do, I'll try to post.

My last thoughts as I go into this are a sense of panic because I feel millions of little rules becoming murky, and a sense of determination to pass this exam. I'm afraid to shake my head too hard or focus on anything too much for fear that the law will fall out. But, at this point, it's important to remember that we can only do what we can. Regardless of whether you've studied your ass off and feel fully prepared or feel scared and unsure, there is nothing more we can do. A defeatist and negative attitude will only result in attracting the very thing we feel (failure) and depriving us of much needed confidence and sleep.

I plan on reviewing Evidence for a couple of hours and doing some MBEs. I'll go to bed by 12:00 and wake up around 8:30 and pack. Airport at 12:30 and then settling into the hotel. Study for about 3 hours -- general overview of weak areas -- followed by a good workout at the hotel and room service. Pop a Sonata around 10:00, and then -- it's Tuesday morning.

You can do this. We've already accomplished a tremendous amount. Best of luck, everyone!

Things I'm Grateful For

1. People who root for me
2. Strong ties with my family and relatives
3. Resources to take time off work to study for the bar
4. A generally sunny disposition
5. Coke in a glass bottle
6. Excedrin Tension headache pills
7. A light and working Sony Vaio laptop
8. Collection of cute and comfortable clothes that include Juicy, Abercrombie & Puma
9. The gym, pilates, kickboxing, and yoga
10. The ability and opportunity to sit for the bar exam -- the last hurdle to being a lawyer

Oh. My. God.

Today I tried to study Contracts. I went to Peet's for about 4 hours and probably studied about 3. I did about 40 MBEs and reviewed the wrong answers. I read over my outline.

I always get confused when people try to change the terms of the contract. There seem to be many ways -- modification, parol evidence, counteroffer, inquiry... I get confused. I got sad and left. I went to eat sushi at my uncle's restaurant. This was free, so that cheered me up. My little cousins (ages 14 and 10) gave me a good luck card with $20 they pooled together so that I can buy lunch during the bar. It just about broke my heart. I thought, "Oh...everyone really wants me to pass." And yet, my brain refuses to cooperate and learn Contracts.

I hate the damn subject, I really do. Yet, I must learn it tomorrow. It'll cut into substantive Evidence review time though, and this sucks because I hate Evidence too and I'm sure it's going to be on the essays...

Don't you think we can do this if we only had one more week?

Friday, February 23, 2007

I can't sleep

I've been laying in bed since 4:30 AM, wide awake, so I've decided to just get up. UGH! The insomnia and itchiness has begun. I don't know if anyone else experiences it, but I "stress itch." Well, to be concise, I "bar exam stress itch." During law school, before my wedding, and any other potential major and big events in my life during which I experience stress, I don't itch. It's only when I study for the bar.

So here I am, 6:47 in the morning, waiting for the pharmacy to open, because I'm going to have to break down and get some Sonata and give it a trial run before the exam. I've taken it before (last summer) but haven't had any recently. I know I'm supposed to try to get on the sleep pattern of waking up at 8:00 well rested and ready for a day of testing, but that's just not going to happen. My strategy has changed to getting as much normal sleep as possible beforehand so that I can get through the testing with funky sleep patterns.

At least Meredith didn't die yesterday. Not that I thought she would...but you never know. I didn't think Marisa would be killed off on the OC, but she was! Speaking of which, it was the season finale of the OC last night. I've actually liked this season a lot more than when Marisa was around. Not so much crazy drama and angst. Plus, you got to see Ryan relax, instead of running around trying to sort out Marisa drama. It was a pleasant end to the show, with everything being wrapped up, but it was really quick. A lot of information in one hour. They should have put it in 2 hours. Seth and Summer got married after they let each other go to find themselves or whatever, and Julie Cooper went to college! Yay for Team Julie. Ryan went to Berkeley, thank goodness, and seems to still be with Taylor. All in all, a sweet end to the show.

OMG, I am so itchy. This completely sucks. I guess I should start my Torts day now, since I'm up and will probably need a nap later in the day. Hoping everyone else is faring better!

Thursday, February 22, 2007

Con Law

What are the odds they'll have it on there again? But then, the bar examiners love Con Law essays...so if they do put it on there, what are the odds they'll put Freedom of Expression on it? Right? I'm thinking Fed State stuff, Dormant Commerce clause stuff...

To that end, I've found Whitney Roberts' Cheat Sheets to be extremely valuable. She really breaks it down in the format we should use on the essays. It's a totally different understanding of the topics. You know when you read an outline, you think you understand a concept, but then you go to write about it in an essay, and it becomes a mess. This book breaks it down, probably too much in detail. That's the difference between this book and Adachi's Bar Breakers -- BB books are like a genuine essay. No crazy headlines or anything! Whitney's are all about the headings and unfolding every little element. I'd have to lean towards Whitney's style, only because we've all heard about how little time the graders spend on our essays, and we want to be sure they understand us. They probably don't want to see long paragraphs that they have to muddle through.

That said, I'm losing momentum here. Must continue with the Con Law, but planning to focus on Fed State stuff. SIGH. At least Grey's is on tonight. Let one thing go right at least -- let Meredith live! =)

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Got me a clear bag

After being completely distracted from my topic of the day (Crim Law & Pro) by visions of my zip lock baggie being torn and all my stuff falling out, I made a run to Target to alleviate my fears by buying a clear bag. Alas, all they had were enormous totes with gaudy flower prints on the borders and handles. I wandered into the toiletry section, where I found a small clear bag with black trim. It's not that cute. It was also filled with those cheap looking plastic shampoo bottles and soap holders. Yuck. I hemmed and hawed in the aisle, wasting all kinds of valuable time, and called my friend for advice. Yes, I am completely unable to make decisions these days. We discussed the impracticality of buying a $1000 Chanel clear bag instead, and came to the conclusion that all clear bags seem somewhat tacky. Therefore, buy something as small and discreet as possible. So I bought it.

I am also starting to compile my bar exam outfits. Comfort is key. So far, I have a mix of Juicy, Abercrombie, and Hanes. Still trying to decide whether I want to wear flip flops, Pumas, or Uggs. Depends on whether I want to wear socks and the weather conditions. As for the clock dilemma, I've decided to use my husband's watch, which is large and has numbers on it.

I am also utterly bored by Crim, despite the fact that I can't ever remember all the elements for Larceny, False Pretenses, Forgery, Embezzlements, etc. I think I've got homicide though. Back to studying now...

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

One less topic to study

Ha ha ha...my Strategies and MBE book "stategy" suggests not studying Future Interests for the bar exam. Now that's what I'm talking about!

It's hilarious. It begins by tentatively suggesting that if we're crunched for time, to just leave out Future Interests because "if you don't know Future Interests thoroughly, you may as well not know it at all." Now, can anyone really say that they know Future Interests thoroughly? Come, now. No one knows this crap that well.

It later goes on to give some tips on Future Interests in case you didn't get their polite hint to just drop it altogether combined with "if you haven't already decided to give up on Future Interests." Translation: "Forget about Future Interests, you idiot! It's way too hard for you!!"

Their final hint and warning says that assuming you decided to study for Future Interests after all, no matter how well prepared you are, you'll probably have to guess.

It's great. But you know what? I'm going with it. Forget Future Interests. I'm just gonna try and master some typical Rules Against Perpetuities scenarios (not the actual rule itself, God forbid), and that's it.

So there you go, one less topic to study!

Please leave a message after the beep...

Now, the “good luck on the exam!” calls are coming. People keep speaking to me. They keep trying to contact me. I can no longer distinguish between normal statements and statements that are designed to upset me. You decide:

“I have complete faith that you’re going to pass this time!”

“Hey, you only have a few more days left!”

“Do you want to hang out this Friday?”

“Just calling to say hi. I wanted to catch up (i.e. tell you everything, in minute detail, about everything that’s going on in my life) so call me back!” Followed by a second message: “Hey, you still haven’t called me back. Call me!”

“How’s the studying going?”

Really, any phone call that requires mustering up any kind of social etiquette annoys me. I think, really, any kind of call that mentions the exam at all by those people in our lives who are (1) oblivious to the world of law and this excruciating rite of passage, and (2) people who have already passed. That only leaves people who are studying for the exam as people I can potentially talk to and not want to hit. Those people, and my husband, who has learned not to bring it up at all and to pretend that it’s not happening. He just leaves me alone and responds to my occasional demands and outbursts. I am not fit to be among people right now.

Monday, February 19, 2007

Where the heck to do you get an analog clock??

I went to Radio Shack on my way home from Pilates:

Me: Hi, do you guys have any small analog clocks?
Sales guy: What?
Me: An analog clock.
SG: You mean, like with the hands?
Me: Um, yeah.
SG: I don't think I've seen one of those in years. Why don't you upgrade to a digital one? Everyone has those now. (Points to some digital clocks)
Me: Yes, I have one of those too. I just need an analog one for an exam I'm taking.
SG: (Incredulous) They only let you use analog clocks? They don't even sell those anymore!!
Me: (Sighing) I know. I just thought I'd try.

I guess I could use a watch, but it has a small face, no numbers, and it's hard to distinguish whether it's 9:22 or 9:25. I don't really want to sit in the exam and stress myself out over that. Among the list of stupid requirements for the bar exam, this has got to be one of the most annoying. That and the clear bag situation. I want to buy an actual clear bag instead of a zip lock so I don't have to worry about my crap falling out, but it has a little bit of writing on it and I'm scared they won't allow it. Again, trying to minimize any possible distractions.

Ugh. As for progress, I'm on Corps and Professional Responsibility today. Got through Corps (although really, what are the chances it's gonna be on there again? And if so, it'll be Rule 10b5 stuff, don't you think?) and about to work on PR. Am also planning on watching Nora Roberts' Carolina Moon on Lifetime tonight at 9:00.

That's right, I'm watching Lifetime.

Sunday, February 18, 2007

Happy Chinese New Year!

Today is Civ Pro and Remedies review day. I despise Remedies, and have yet to read over it yet. Husband and I went to my parents' house to eat and I listened to PMBR Con Law on the ipod on the way there and back. Thus far, have covered the following subjects in Civ Pro today:

- Personal Jurisdiction
- Subject Matter Jurisdiction
- Joinder
- Supplemental Jurisdiction
- Erie Doctrine
- Venue
- Summary Judgment
- Miscellaneous minor topics

I have yet to do any MBE questions but will hopefully complete 10 before Desperate Housewives starts at 9:00. I've locked myself in my study until then. At 9:00, I will be munching on teriyaki chicken, rice, and iced green tea in honor of Chinese new year, and watching the show. At 10:00, I will return to read over Remedies for 2 hours and then I'll go to sleep.

Speaking of which, I've been sleeping appx. 9.5 hours a night, which I believe is excessive. However, I'm actually able to sleep at night without tossing and turning and sleep through the night these past days. I know from previous experience that this is a major gift. Sleep is elusive in these stressful days, and I'm now saving a fortune in not having to buy Sonata! I shall use that money to get a mani/pedi before the bar in Sac. Some tips on better sleep, suggested by my doctor and proven to work (on me, at least):

- Work out, but not after 7:00pm
- No caffeine after 8:00 pm
- Sleep at 12:00
- Take about 15 minutes before sleep to get your mind off the bar by reading a magazine while brushing your teeth or something
- Some relaxing yoga poses before sleep
- Keep your sheets and blankets clean and fresh! Maybe it's just me, but I start feeling itchy and paranoid about bugs or something...yeah, probably just me
- Wear something clean to bed (same theory as the sheets above)

Back to Civ Pro.

Friday, February 16, 2007

LotsnLots of Sleep

Ahhh....Went to sleep around 12:30 and woke up at 9:30. Granted, I was still very tired and wanted to keep sleeping more (a sure sign of depression) but I made myself read my Strategies and Tactics for the MBE book for about 15 minutes so I can drag myself out of bed. But I had a great night's sleep! YAY! I was fighting off the urge to take a nap all day yesterday though. Hopefully, this will be the beginning of an effective and refreshing sleep schedule the days prior to the bar.

Today, I'm trying to decide if I should go to Borders. I just don't know if I can eat another sausage and cheese biscuit. It's like the only thing there not full of sugar (instead, full of fat!) and quite possibly the reason I don't lose an ounce despite the fact I work out almost every day. I seriously think that the workouts just make me burn enough calories to bring me even with the amount of calories I consume in a day. After all, I do absolutely no physical activity whatsoever besides that. In my regular life-before-the-bar, I actually moved. Walking around at work, cleaning, etc. I'd probably be really fit if I worked out like this in the previous life...yet another thing the bar has taken from me. =(

I'm reading Whitney Roberts' Cheat Sheets and doing MBE questions today. Kind of a general overview of subjects. My memorization period starts tomorrow. May today be productive to everyone!

Thursday, February 15, 2007

Grey's Anatomy...Without Grey??

Surely not. I hate how they do this. Yesterday, I would have replied blithely and confidently that they would never kill off Meredith Grey. Today, I still stand by that answer, but...doubt lingers. I mean, they killed Marisa on the OC (and actually, it's better without her) so the old rules no longer apply! But no...we lose Meredith, we lose the BFF with Christina, the McDreamy passionate relationship, probably even the house the interns live in because it belongs to her! And if I have to see Denny, in whatever form, with that damn martyr-like twinkle in his eye one more time....I'll throw something at the television, at least.

And as I was watching Ugly Betty earlier, I accidentally went to regular ABC instead of HD ABC and I was like, WTF?! It's fuzzy! It's broken!! OH NO! Oh wait...it's normal. I switched channels, and there it was, clearer than life, pores and all. Huge sigh of relief. How unbelievably spoiled. I mean, we survived many years without HD and LCD and all that, and the tv looked fine.

Oh, the drama of must-see tv night.

Happy Valentine's Day

As expected, I drank much wine on Valentine's Day and managed to get completely wasted. I started muttering about the overhyped commercialism of the holiday and Husband managed to get me out of there before I started yelling "Happy Vomit Day!" to the crowd. The bar exam has turned me, a former romantic/cheesy movie and book loving, pro-romance, hearts all over girl, into an unrecognizable angry person. Does this mean that I'm one step closer to being a lawyer?

I went to the bathroom more times that I could count, drunk dialed many people (and one I really should not have), woke up repeatedly to drink water because I was absolutely PARCHED, and woke up with a fabulous headache. Dragged myself to Borders, only to realize my laptop had only 20% battery left and I left my charger at home. So I picked up my Paige from alterations, went to the gym and collapsed on the treadmill after a measly 1.25 miles. Defeated by my inability to be productive today, I went home. I'm exhausted.

On the flip side, I'm almost done with my Torts outline and then I am finished with all outlines! Too bad I now have to memorize them all. And it's my favorite TV night -- Ugly Betty, Grey's Anatomy, and The OC. Thursday nights come horrifyingly fast now...I feel like the weeks just fly by and the bar exam looms ever so much closer. Sigh. At least maybe I can try to sleep tonight by midnight and actually manage to fall asleep, out of sheer exhaustion.

No more vino for me.

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Chugging Along...

I can't believe there are less than 2 weeks until this exam. Today, I completed my Contracts outline, had a review with my tutor about 4 essays, and have done 10 MBEs. Clearly, MBEs are NOT my strong suit. I. Just. Hate. Them.

I also went to kickboxing class, watched American Idol and Real Housewives of Orange County. No one in Coto cares about passing the bar. I just watched a 16 year old girl who just got into an accident with her mother's car get a brand new BMW. These kids don't even need to go to college, let alone law school. It's both amusing and horrifying to watch.

I probably got in about 4-5 hours of studying today. Maybe. And tomorrow is, of course, Valentine's Day. I fully intended to bypass the holiday this year, but my tantrums and overall grumpiness have scared Husband into taking me out to dinner. Normally, he's not into all that. Figures, the one year I could have let it go and not given him grief, he decides to "make an effort." I guess I've got to eat. And after all, there's always the wine...

Monday, February 12, 2007

Yesterday was a Bust

I did 4 Contracts MBEs while slightly drunk. And....that's all. Nothing else. Considering that February is the July Bar equivalent of post-4th of July, this is not the time to be slacking off!

My problem is that I feel familiar with the materials as I got through them (duh, because I studied it last summer) so it makes me less attentive. That, and an natural inclination to procrastinate. To that end, I even have a doctor's appointment today. Pap smear, STD checks, the works. Oh, yay. Just what I need to brighten my mood.

I've completed all but 3 outlines -- which I will do in 3 days!! And then I plan to start memorization, just going over my nice outlines in my colorful, wonderfully organized little binder that I have been prepared for just this occasion. And I will also start the MBEs. Yes, you read right. I've done about 100 MBEs thus far. My time was spent on writing full length essays. I've done about 30 of them, I think, and outlines. Of course, I was supposed to be doing MBEs during this time too, but...I didn't.

So, hard core memorization and MBE drills begin this week, folks!