The Life and Times of Me :)

State Fair ot Texas 2016

noreply@blogger.com (A Girl In The World) — Sun, 16 Oct 2016 13:58:00 +0000

It's been a long time since I posted on this blog, but this morning as I was getting ready to upload some pictures to Facebook from our state fair visit yesterday, I felt like writing a little more than usual. So here we are. Dusting off the old blog for a little more chatty writing.

So yesterday was our 16th year at the State Fair of Texas. We started coming the first year we moved to Texas, when Breighton was not even a year old. We always make the trip with my brother Robert and his family and over the years we have really become silly obsessive about it. Robert and I start emailing links to fair foods and new attractions about 2-3 months in advance. As soon as the dates are posted, we scan for the best weekend to go (by the way... here is our formula: not the first weekend, not the last weekend, not the Texas-OU football weekend. That leaves one weekend. You will find us there on that Saturday every year!). Once we pick our day, we anxiously look forward to it like kids going to Disneyland.

Side Note: Please know that when I use the word "we" I mean Robert and I. Although Breighton also looks forward to it, he just doesn't show it as enthusiastically. I am not sure how much Robert's kids are looking forward to it and both our significant others begrudgingly allow us our day.

Everything is bigger in Texas! Including the ferris wheel!

With our info books in hand, we began mapping out our journey of delicious, innovative, totally bad for you fair food. We really are masters at this. Even Breighton was navigating us this year, although unfortunately we never found the Dr. Pepper Chocolate Chip ice cream he was looking for. I didn't take as many pictures this year so I am going to steal a few from the internet. But here is a run down of some of the best:

Fried Jello
It was the winner this year. It won Best Tasting. Although, I would have thought it would win for Most Creative. Regardless, it was the winner so we tried it. It was much better than Fried Beer fiasco of 2010. The insides just sort of ran out and became more of a syrup that you dipped in, but the breading was yummy and overall it was a good desert. I don't know if it was the best tasting thing I ate, but it was good.

Deep Fried Pulled Pork "Funyon" Dings
Even the name is a mouthful! These were yummy. I didn't know how to describe them, but I found this on the state fair website:

A “FUNYUN,” the traditional crunchy snack, is stuffed with pulled pork, pepper jack cheese, pineapple slices and bacon. It is then dipped in a flavorful batter and deep fried and served with a multilayered sweet BBQ sauce.

Bottom line: It was good. It was Robert's favorite, and I might agree with him - at least my favorite "savory" dish.

Injectable Great Balls of BBQ

So these are basically balls of brisket breaded and fried. They were tasty. The gimmick (there always has to be a gimmick!) was the little injector. So you buy the balls (it's funny... the lady at the counter yells "3 balls!" when you order) and the little injector is stuck in one of them. But it's empty. I think I have defective balls, but then they explain that I have to go over to their seating tent to find the BBQ sauce. I then squirt that into my tray, use the injector to suck up the sauce, try to jam the flimsy plastic injector into the hard crunchy crust, to "inject" a millileter of BBQ sauce. Let's just say we dipped the balls into the blob of sauce we had squirted into the dish. So, good - yes. Original - no. Save your tickets for a fried twinkie or something.

Deep Fried Bacon Burger Dog Slider ...

ON A STICK

This really wouldn't be a proper State Fair blog if it didn't mention at least one food with the words "on a stick" in the title. So here you have it. This was sort of excessive, and not really anything amazing, but it was just so many things together that you had to try it. Here's the official description:

A miniature, handmade seasoned ground beef patty is stuffed with shredded cheddar cheese, bacon, and an all-beef hot dog on a Hawaiian roll. It is then placed on a skewer topped with a pickle, dipped in a tempura batter and deep fried to perfection.

Southern Fried Chicken and Dumplings

These were yummy. I think the insides were a little doughy and it maybe could have been fried a little longer - but coming from someone who is always around to steal a bite of raw dough from the pasta maker, I still enjoyed it. The little potato looking things were actually fried "biscuit bites" and were really good dunked in the country gravy sauce.

Cookie Fries

We had the ones with the rainbow sprinkles and the strawberry dipping sauce. They were a nice treat. Nothing amazing, but again - a cute gimmicky fair food. They come in the little french fry container and in terms of number of fries based on number of tickets, it may be one of the most "generous" items you can buy!

Fried Cannoli Bites

These were delicious!! The batter was light and fluffy. The insides were not too sweet. Again, probably not that original (pretty sure you can get some variation of this at any good Italian restaurant), but the kiddo wanted them and I am glad we gave them a try!

Peanut Butter Chocolate Funnel Cake

All day long we had not stopped to take pictures of our food. Maybe because we had not been overwhelmed by the visual presence of what we had up until we arrived here. But then, we got this. Now - we are a family who grew up eating peanut butter on pancakes (thanks Paw-Paw Landry for that addiction!) so this was no brainer for Robert and I. This was hot and melty, and OH SO DELICIOUS. I almost wish (or maybe not) that someone had videoed us eating this. We had to look like vultures swooping down on a feast.

It was well worth the tickets - - and the slight tummy ache that followed!

Nick grabbed this great shot of the World's largest grill - look at all of those turkey legs!!! Of course there was a turkey leg in our day. And a Fletcher's Corny Dog. But we all know what those look like... and they get devoured so quickly you can barely snap a picture.

As the day was rounding down, we passed through one of the auto pavilions and snapped this picture. That's right... I met a Kia Hamster and took a picture. What a better way to wrap up a fair day than that! Until next year...

I'm a Lawyer!!

noreply@blogger.com (A Girl In The World) — Sun, 01 Jun 2014 22:02:00 +0000

Surprise! In case you didn't know that already... Haha!

I have been "meaning" to write... I have been "thinking about" writing... I thought I HAD written more recently than last August! Yet... I have not. So, in case you have lived in some far away land where I couldn't contact you or you could hear me screaming from the top of my lungs... I passed the Texas bar exam and I am a licensed attorney. Weeeeeeee!

Oh, and I also decided to take the leap and open my own law practice. So, I am officially a business owner. I am officially a lawyer. I am officially working my butt off to become a success. I officially don't get a regular paycheck. I officially pray that my old car lasts another year or so to allow my business to grow. I'm officially tired... and exhilarated... all at the same time.

I want to promise to write more, but we all know how that works out.

Till next time...

Playing Catch Up after the Bar Exam

noreply@blogger.com (A Girl In The World) — Wed, 28 Aug 2013 15:53:00 +0000

Well, hello there friends and family!! Sorry I haven't posted sooner. My last post was two weeks prior to the bar exam. As most of you know, I sort of dropped off the planet those last two weeks. Let's just say that shortly after that last post that I had what I would call an "emotional breakdown" complete with a frantic email to my bar study adviser and my friends who had already taken the exam - convinced that I was in no way ready to take this test. After spending your entire summer studying it is a very scary feeling to still feel so unprepared with only two weeks to go. But, I am happy to say that the fear motivated me and that somehow in those last two weeks I managed to grip the reigns and do everything I could to feel as prepared as possible going into the exam. So here is how it all went...

The day before the bar exam: They tell you not to actually study that day. To take a day off and reboot. So I did. I had a pretty rigorous couple of days before that so I had the feeling that there was nothing more that I could absorb that day. So, the day before the first day of the exam I went and got my hair done and got a manicure and pedicure. I had not seen my stylist since before graduation. My hair grows fast. There is NO way I will post a picture of what my hair looked like when I walked into the salon on that day, but lets just say that there were a lot of roots showing and a LOT of grays showing. So I went in, chopped off about 7 inches of hair and got a new color. Here's the fresh new 'do!

The Bar Exam: It's three days long. I won't bore you with the details, I have already rehashed the nightmare over and over to the point that I am not sure I want to rehash it again. Let's just say that it's three days of trying to recall everything you have read and reviewed for the past 4 years of law school and bar preparation. It's not easy. It's not fun. I never, EVER want to do it again. Every one says that when you come out you will feel like you failed. When I came out of the exam at the end of day three, I headed straight to Baja Grill for a perfect margarita and it was there that I came up with my standard reply to the question "how do you think you did?" - The answer: "I don't feel like I screwed up anything so badly that I will fail." How's that for a positive answer?? I met someone the other day - another lawyer- and when I said that to him he said, "well then, you are already ahead of the game!" I take that as a good thing. There were things on the exam I felt really good about and things I felt not so great about. But when you add it all up, I think I SHOULD have reach the necessary minimum of 675 points out of 1,000. That's all I need - to pass - I don't need an A or a B, just to PASS. The results will be posted online on OCTOBER 31st - Halloween. That's an easy day to remember. They are not released earlier. I will not know anything before that day. They are posted "some time" during that day - but no telling when. Likely in the afternoon. Don't ask me before then, I won't know. Don't call me that day - I will be a big ball of nerves and not capable of talking to anyone. As soon as I know, I will blog, email, text and call as fast as I can. You will hear - don't you worry. Unless I fail. If you don't hear from me... I am probably drinking myself into depression - in which case... you should call by Friday morning to make sure I am not just packing my bags to change my name and run off to a far away land where I will never be seen again. But seriously... I should pass. Right?!?!

After the Bar.... VACATION!!!!! About three weeks before the bar exam Nick and I planned our post-bar vacation. I needed something to look forward to. A light at the end of the tunnel. I was very clear on what I wanted.... Basically it was three things: Beach, Books (fiction, senseless novels), and Booze. I didn't want to schedule things, I didn't want to "work," I didn't want to do anything but lay around and relax and wash away the memories of the summer. I wanted to get the tan I had not gotten all summer. I wanted to read books for FUN again, I wanted to have a cocktail and relax. So we booked our trip and headed out to Fort Myers Beach in Florida. It was WONDERFUL. It was "off season" for them so the beach was quiet, the restaurants were not crowded and the weather was mostly beautiful (with the exception of the rainy afternoons which are just the norm there). Here are a few pictures:

After a couple days on the beach - notice the sun kissed skin.

We were sitting in a bar, having an ice cold draft beer at noon.

I LOVE VACATION!!

This was the view from our hotel room balcony.

We could walk right down onto the beach.

This is me, on the beach with a thermos bottle full of mai tai.

You can't see it because of the lighting, but I had this

stupid smile on my face for most of the week.

Again, I LOVE VACATION!!!

Vacation is over, now what? I had to start "working." By working I mean networking. I touched up my resume and cover letter, started applying for jobs and attending networking events. I haven't lined up anything specific yet, but it's really hard to have any serious conversations before I am actually licensed. People are worried about investing in you because there is a chance that November will roll around and you won't be licensed to practice. So, I have had lunches and happy hours, emailed back and forth with various people and I am keeping my calendar fairly full. I just started doing some intern work with a solo attorney and that is going to help keep me busy and get me some good experience really quick. I am excited about that opportunity and it may well be an avenue for employment after I am licensed. Overall, I am optimistic about the road ahead. I think it will all turn out great. I am excited about beginning the practice of law!!

What? Another Vacation?? Why not? After a couple of weeks of networking, I hit the road again! I just got home from a four day road trip with my little brother. I am sad to say that it has been four years since I have seen him (Thanks Law School!!) and so we had a lot of catching up to do. He flew in from San Francisco (which apparently is called "SF" by the locals) and we hit the road to South Louisiana to visit family and spend a little time in the French Quarter. We managed to spread out our time pretty evenly but still there were people we were not able to see and so to those people - I apologize. I will come back again soon when I have more time and will make sure to catch up with everyone. Here are a few pictures from that trip!

My very best friend and my beautiful goddaughter

came to visit us at my mom's house.

I love these girls!!

Blake, Mom and I played a few games of Rummikub.

(I won. Don't let them lie to you.)

Mom made this ENORMOUS serving of crawfish fettuccine.

YUMMY!!!!!!

Headed out to Covington, LA where we visited my Aunt Susie and

got to play with my cousins beautiful kiddos.

My beautiful, all grown up niece Cayce came over to visit us as well.

We headed into the French Quarter where we stayed in a little apartment

just one block from Bourbon. Here is the view from our balcony.

Blake got his picture taken with one of those guys who

paints himself like a statute. I still can't figure out how they

don't sweat all of that paint off in that NOLA humidity!

As you can see, Cayce, Blake and I were definitely

sweating in that NOLA humidity!!

Founds some girls putting out some nice tunes in the

French Quarter. So much talent to be found here!

Had an AMAZING dinner at NOLA. This is an Emeril Lagasse

restaurant in the French Quarter. I could write an entirely separate blog

on this place. The food was phenomenal. If you visit the Quarter, try it!!

What now? Well, I am back home. My brother is back in SF (see what I did there Blake, I used "SF"!!) and life is returning slightly back to normal. But not completely.... I am planning to sneak out to see a midday movie today. Why? Because I can!!! So, I guess that's it. You guys are all caught up now. Sorry this one was so long - but you see what happens when I have something interesting to talk about!! Not just "studying, studying, law school, bar exam, blah, blah, blah!" Hopefully my posts will be more frequent now that I feel like things are worth talking about.

Hope this post finds everyone doing well. As a reminder - if you want to email me about this blog - don't reply to the email you receive. Start a new email and write away! Or, go directly to the blog (CLICK HERE!) and post a comment under the blog post. Remember, comments are public for everyone to see.

Until next time...

Two More Weeks To Go!

noreply@blogger.com (A Girl In The World) — Tue, 16 Jul 2013 23:55:00 +0000

Two weeks from today I will be on day 1 (of 3) of the bar exam. (Notice the lack of "!!" at the end of that sentence.) I am exhausted, frumpy, cranky, badly in need of a pedicure and a hair color (you should see how many gray hairs I have... I am blaming law school). I pretty much wear pajamas every day and I "usually" force myself to stop long enough to shower every day. I wake up, make coffee, sit down to start studying and then it just goes on all day long... Every day of the week.... I am so ready to get this exam ver with, but I am so not ready to actually take it... (if that makes sense). So, what I am saying is that this SUCKS!! But I just wanted to let everyone know that I am alive and that the end is near. I just booked my post bar exam vacation... so that's exciting. I can not WAIT to be sitting on a beach...

Anyhow, I have to get back to work. Before I go, it has been brought to my attention that a few people have responded to the email they get when I post a blog (thinking that they are responding to me). In case you have done that, I am not being rude and just not answering... I don't get those emails. If you would like to respond to a blog, you have two options... scroll up to the top of the email you receive and click on the title to the blog (or look at the bottom for a link to the blog site) and post a "comment" on the blog - that's public for all blog viewers to see... OR, just start a NEW email to my email address (you all have it!) and email away. I am slow to respond right now, but I usually stop around midnight and email people... or sometimes during the day when I just need a change of pace.

And now... back to studying...

This is My Brain on Bar Prep

noreply@blogger.com (A Girl In The World) — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 16:24:00 +0000

Just thought I would let you all know how my brain is beginning to look... 35 days to go....

The Bar Prep Life

noreply@blogger.com (A Girl In The World) — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 03:49:00 +0000

Well, hello there faithful followers! As is usual, it has been WAY too long since I posted a blog! I don't feel nearly as guilty as I usually do however because at least I feel like I have had some communication with a lot of you since my last post. Several of you were able to celebrate (in person or in spirit) with me as I graduated from law school in May. This last semester was strange... that is the best way to describe it. I was excited about the end being so near. I was super diligent (maybe in a way to prepare for bar prep studying??), I was overly emotional (every time I thought about graduating I nearly burst into tears), and I was anxious... All. The. Time.

But, alas... I made it. I graduated. I walked across the stage. And as of this past Tuesday (ONE MONTH AFTER GRADUATION), all my grades finally posted... so it is official. I have a J.D. (a Juris Doctorate... or a Doctor of Jurisprudence) I just like writing that out... because, well... it sounds cool :).

So, I graduated... then what? I had TWO, count them... TWO glorious weeks where I didn't have to do anything but go to work and come home and have happy hour or enjoy a good book or lay prone on the couch and watch TV. It was what "normal" people do. And it gave me a glimpse into the future. I remember what life was like when I got to enjoy hobbies and sports and time with my friends and family. I can't wait to do that again!!

But first....

There is this pesky little matter of the Texas Bar Exam. You know... that measly little test they make you take so you can take your J.D. and actually practice law with it. (The "measly" thing is sarcasm... this test scares the crap out of me.) So, just in case I haven't told you all... I have taken the entire summer off from working so that all I am focusing on is studying for the bar (which is all I can really afford to do anyway since I am not getting a paycheck for two months). So, I wake up every morning and sit at my desk in the spare room and stare at my bulletin board that is quickly filling with index card reminders of things I need to focus on and read, watch lectures, and practice, practice, practice all day long. Most days I sit down about 9am and don't really shut it all down for the day till about 9 or 10 at night. Don't worry... I do goof off a little during the day. Take a break to take Leo out for a walk and chat with a neighbor, sit down for dinner with Nick, etc. But mostly... I am studying. There is so much to remember! It is truly insane.

For those of you who are curious what I am walking in to on this exam... I stumbled across this blog the other day of a woman who does a MUCH better job of regular blogging than me... who took the exam in 2008. She made a great post of what the exam is like, and since I am typing as fast as I can at 10:45 at night to get this posted so I can get back to studying, and because I an not a fan of "reinventing the wheel" - I am going to give you a link to her blog and you can read the details of the test if you are so inclined. So - CLICK HERE!

Anyhow, I just wanted to send a quick update to let everyone know I am alive. I live in pajamas most days and my hair stays in a constant ponytail. On the upside, my skin feels GREAT from never putting on makeup and I have decided I much prefer cozy socks over high heels. But I have also decided that working from home every day would make me fat... as I am really struggling to keep a good workout routine going. All in all, it's not so bad. I feel like my brain is just soaking up knowledge like never before. So, I am 46 days from the first day of the exam and I am going strong. I can't promise I will do many updates between now and then, but I promise to THINK about doing updates. :)

Okay... back to the books. Till next time....

Remembering Youth While Getting Older

noreply@blogger.com (A Girl In The World) — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 21:52:00 +0000

Well, it's official. I turn 35 tomorrow. For some reason, this one is bothering me. The last one that bothered me this badly was 27. I can't tell you why that one bothered me, it was such an odd number. I remember that I was feeling restless in my life. And maybe that is why... and maybe that is why this one is bothering me. Because once again, I am restless. I am 110 days from graduation. 190 days from the bar exam. Approximately 280 days from the bar results being released and me (hopefully) celebrating passing and starting the next phase in my life.

Looking back, I don't think this is where I thought I would be at 35. Not when I was a kid for sure. And definitely not when I was 18 or 19 years old. I felt like I was flying through the world, accelerating to places and surely by this time I would be somewhere great. And so the hard reality is that my own life choices slowed me down. I know we all have our own place we are supposed to be, and I definitely feel like I am heading towards that place, but this slap in the face with another birthday is just a reminder that I am arriving to that place much later than I thought I would. And for a person like me - who is always racing to the next goal marker - arriving late is not something I am a big fan of.

So, instead of being all weepy about getting another year older, I thought I would post a blog I have been meaning to post for about a month. I missed posting a few things, and I may go back and write about them later, but for now I am going to share a Christmas gift I received with you.

As a child, I remember when we would take the family vacation to Tennessee and stop along the way for food and especially as we visited our favorite restaurants in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg... there was always a bottle of Tabasco around and when I was really young, those bottles had the city of New Iberia, Louisiana printed on the label and it was my dad's favorite thing to point out to our waitress "That's where we are from!" It was like we were famous! As famous as anyone from New Iberia, LA could be, that is. Then, sometime as I entered the teenage years, the labels on those bottles changed to say "Avery Island, Louisiana" which was not far from where I grew up, but not the same thing. As a kid, it didn't really bother me that much, but as an adult I sort of went on a mission to find some memorabilia with the New Iberia stamp on it. I was hoping to find an old Tabasco bottle or maybe a poster that I could frame.

I have looked around on a few different occasions and never had much luck finding anything for sale. Which is why I was very surprised when I opened one of my Christmas gifts from Nick to find this:

It's a pewter Tabasco bottle holder. It holds the larger Tabasco bottles and right there it is! New Iberia, LA!! It was such a small reminder of my childhood that I love. Something unique that reminds me of happy memories from when I was a kid. Something that reminds me that I have been blessed in my life and that I still am - to have someone to seek out a gift like this for me.

So, to good memories of the past, not fretting over the present, and anxiously awaiting the future...

Cheers my friends!

The Celebrations to Come

noreply@blogger.com (A Girl In The World) — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 15:45:00 +0000

So, last night I finished my last class of yet another semester of law school. It is not completely time to celebrate because I still have to get through finals, but as has become the custom, Nick and I have a small celebration after the last class. Sometimes we go out for dinner, sometimes we have dinner in, but either way, it's a small celebration at passing another milestone. So last night we realized that the number of celebrations are close to running out... which is exciting because it means I (we) are close to being done. I say "we" because there is no way I would have gotten through this with my sanity without the support of him and my friends and family who love me even if I hardly ever call, write, or visit.

So, here are the celebrations yet to come...

Finishing finals this semester - Just 2 weeks away!

Finishing classes next semester

Finishing finals next semester

Graduation

Taking the Bar

Passing the Bar

Being sworn in as an Attorney!!

By this time time next year, if all goes well, all of these celebrations will have come and gone... and the next phase will have begun!

So for now, I am off to study... but thanks for sharing in my celebration!

Cheers!

Happy Sunday Morning

noreply@blogger.com (A Girl In The World) — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 15:28:00 +0000

Good morning friends and family!

It's Sunday morning and while I should be diligently working on finishing the assignment on Employment Discrimination that is due this week, I thought I would take a moment to say hello. I have been on this crazy, confusing high lately and I can't really figure out how to explain it. I am tired, my stress level is through the roof, and I am pretty sure I have recently begun to suffer some sort of panic attacks... but yet I am excited. Anxious. I am three weeks out from my last final for this semester. I have registered for my LAST semester of law school. I have made some decisions about what Bar preparation course I will be taking next summer. I know I have been saying this for awhile, but the end truly is near.

Things in my life are far from perfect... my job is still a daily stress that almost seems unnecessary when you compare the amount of pressure placed upon me versus the job that I do (remember - we sell t-shirts), my personal finances could be better, I don't see my friends very often, my house is a mess, and "quality time" with my boyfriend usually means me falling asleep on the couch within an hour of being home most days. My exercise routine is non-existent, I have gained 10 lbs since this summer, and I am not positive that I don't have full-fledged ADD these days. But still, the excitement is there... right below the surface. 2013 is going to be yet another year of change in my life... a new direction... and things are brewing right now... in the smallest moments.

My dreams are consumed with thoughts of the future and what it will bring. My son is turning into a teenager right before my eyes, my life is changing. I am so happy to have the support system I have here... my friends and my family... those who love me, those who support me, those who know that even though I don't call or write, that I love them... that I miss them... and that soon, very soon, we will be on the other side of this phase of my life, this transition... and with every fiber of my being, I truly believe that the other side of this phase is going to be amazing!

Until next time.... enjoy your Sunday morning coffee and know that I am here, sitting at my kitchen table with books surrounding me, having my coffee and learning about Employment Discrimination, and thinking of you all... and thinking of how I will look back on these days and realize that in some way... I will probably miss them.

Love you!

Dreams vs. Reality

noreply@blogger.com (A Girl In The World) — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 19:13:00 +0000

My Life in My Dreams...

Girls night out with my friends...

Reading a book for FUN!!

Sleeping in on the weekend...

My Life In Reality...

Passed out cold by 10pm every night
with evidence of law school nearby

But the exciting news is that I am registering for my LAST semester of Law School on Monday. The end is near!!!

It All Happens in the Blink of an Eye

noreply@blogger.com (A Girl In The World) — Sun, 02 Sep 2012 03:27:00 +0000

Life. It happens. In the blink of an eye. My last post was May 26th. Three and a half months ago. Where did it go? I took two summer classes - both required a lot of extra work outside of the classroom. What I thought were going to be "easy" classes, turned out to be a big pain in the you know what. I was able to gain some good experiences and make some new contacts that I will be able to reach out to after I am done with school. So, I know it was worth it. But dang... was it a long summer.

Work went a little haywire this summer as well. My company is typically "slow" during the summer but this summer we decided to do a complete overhaul of our marketing and as a result, my days for most of the summer were 10 - 12 hours long. Tiring.

But it wasn't all bad. Breighton and I had the chance to fly to New Orleans and meet up with Aunt Susie and take a drive to Orange Beach, Alabama for a week at her condo. It was Breighton's first time on a plane and first time at the beach. We both got a little sunburn, but aside from that it was a great trip. It was so good to get to catch up with Aunt Susie and Uncle Louis and give Breighton a chance to get to know them as well. At the end of the week, we rode with my cousin Brock back into the French Quarter and spent the afternoon running around and tasting as much as we could before we had to catch our plane back home. Here are a few pictures for you!

Breighton got a window seat for his first flight. He kept the window open for the flight (closed it for the picture). He took a lot of pictures using his iPod and in his words, "it was pretty cool."

There is something so wonderful to me about having my toes in the sand and beach in my view!

Breighton taking a break from the water to do some reading and show me how "twisted up" he can get!

Having a little fun on the beach!

I quickly learned that I am a HORRIBLE sand castle builder and teacher...

Breighton let me bury him in the sand!

And I let him bury me!

On the pier waiting for the July 4th Fireworks!

Breighton getting ready for his first oysters at Acme Oyster House in New Orleans! These were charbroiled (not raw) but he liked them!

Nick has given Breighton the nickname of "Mr. B" for many years... so we had to get a shot in front of Mr. B's Bistro!

Breighton getting ready to experience hot, fresh beignets at Cafe du Monde! An experience to remember! I remember going with my dad when I was Breighton's age.

That week of relaxation was just what I needed! Did I mention that this trip was the first real "vacation" I have had since before I started school? Yeah... I needed it. It was just the reboot I needed to get ready for my last year of law school.

So I returned home from Orange Beach and spent the entire month of July working like crazy and finishing up the requirements for my summer classes. When it was all said and done, when the last paper was submitted, I had exactly ONE weekend of no schoolwork before starting my summer classes. A full 7 days including one glorious weekend. So that weekend I took a trip to the library, made a pit stop at the corner store and headed to the pool. This was my weekend in a picture...

Now, I am a fast reader... but no... I did NOT finish all of these in a week. But I did finish two. I am still making my way through the rest.

Sadly, the following weekend, this was what my days looked like in a picture....

Employment Law, Employment Discrimination and Texas Criminal Procedure are my current time fillers...

Also happening this summer... Breighton got his top half of braces (bottom half coming in a few more weeks) and he officially started 7th grade last week!!

Nick and I added a new family member whom I instantly fell in love with. Say hello to Leo!

Leo ate his first bed in a week (Yes, I said ATE). So then he had to spend a week on a not so comfortable bed. So when he got this new cushion for his not so comfortable bed, he was VERY happy... snoring happy in just minutes!

Nick and I made a decision to move to a smaller place. Downsize and save money. In a year, I will be finished with the Bar Exam, anxiously awaiting results, and planning for my jump into being a lawyer. The more money saved, the more comfortable my jump will be. I am SO EXCITED to be this close. So excited. I can't believe 3 years are done. I can't believe I only have 1 year left. I can't believe it all happened.. in the Blink of an Eye.

Till next time... I love you all and I hope this update finds you happy and healthy.

I want to end this post with a special note to my Aunt Susie... who probably won't read this for a long time. Susie lost her husband of 40 years last week. My Uncle Louis. I can't begin to imagine the pain of losing a spouse that you have built your life around for so long. I can't begin to form words to say how sorry I am. What I can say is that I am glad I got to spend a few days with him this summer and I am glad that Breighton got the chance to know him. Aunt Susie... I love you. And I know you will survive this because I know that you are strong woman who has so much love within and around you. You are not alone in this... you are loved. I will see you soon.

Let The Countdown Begin!

noreply@blogger.com (A Girl In The World) — Sat, 26 May 2012 17:30:00 +0000

Today is Saturday and it's Memorial Day weekend. Some might think that I would be hanging out by a pool or out at the lake enjoying the annual Memorial Day crawfish boil I have attended for the last 7 years. But you would be wrong. It's Saturday, Memorial Day weekend, and I am at school. No, I am not blogging during class... I have a lunch break. The class goes all day (9-5) and is all weekend (Fri - Sun) for two weekends. It's a great class and it is going to give me some great experience but it does give me one more thing to add to the list of "Things I Missed While in Law School."

But... as I am sitting here today, I did come to the realization that I am officially less than ONE year away from graduation. So... what a perfect time to create a countdown clock!! So, come on over to the blog (http://ordinarywriting.blogspot.com/) and check it out! 348 days and counting!

Have a great weekend everyone!

I can BREATHE.

noreply@blogger.com (A Girl In The World) — Wed, 09 May 2012 15:30:00 +0000

Well, there you have it! Three years of law school DONE! I took my last final on Monday night and yesterday I spent the day in a stage of euphoria... just before the reality of work sets back in but while the reality that I don't have any homework or anything to study for is staring me in the face. It's a great feeling! Too bad it won't last for long. I start my first summer class in a week and a half so I will once again have to hit the books. But let's not focus on that just yet!

When you tell someone you have finished 3 years of law school, if they have ever known anyone who goes to law school, they assume you are DONE DONE. (Like studying for the Bar done.) Because a typical law school program is 3 years. Of course, I am doing the "part time" program (and I put that in quotations because you still have to take 10-12 hours per semester AND take summers if you want to finish on time) which takes 4 years to complete. So, while those who started at the same time as me but in the full time program are now graduating and preparing for the Bar exam, I will return to school for one more year.

But right now? Right now I am FREE! I can BREATHE! Last night, Nick and I headed out to a delicious dinner. On Thursday we may be going to a concert. This weekend I am determined to find something fun to do with Breighton (since last weekend all he saw was me hunched over a dining room table studying all day long). And next week I hop on a plane for a quick trip to Louisiana to celebrate my niece graduating from high school, see my whole family, enjoy some boiled crawfish and drive through daiquiris and spend some much needed time with one of my very best friends. It's gonna be a good week and a half. That's for sure.

BREATHE...

Don't Tip Me Over - I Might Leak

noreply@blogger.com (A Girl In The World) — Thu, 03 May 2012 14:21:00 +0000

NOTE: Please take a moment and go to my home page (Click Here) and enter your email address in the box on the left to subscribe to this blog. I can only automatically email to a limited number of people so the more that "subscribe" the better!

I finished final number one on Tuesday night and I have my second one tonight. I spent yesterday (and when I say yesterday, I mean ALL FREAKING DAY LONG) sitting at my dining room table surrounded by books and notes all discussing wills, probate, estate administration... Here's what I know (my first bit of legal advice to my friends and family)... GET A WILL!! Do not leave it to your family to sort it out. They will fight over the DUMBEST things. And get a will done properly. Make sure you have mental capacity to make your will (just the fact that I say my family is "crazy" does NOT mean you don't have mental capacity to make a will). Oh - and if you don't want to leave anything to your greedy, good-for-nothing relative... make sure you SAY that, or indeed - they will take from your property. The good news is, your life insurance policies will go where you want them to - as long as your beneficiary is right.

Keep in mind that these rules may NOT all exactly apply to those family members residing in the great state of Louisiana. As is the case in most of my law school classes, almost every law has one caveat: *This may not apply in Louisiana.

So, right this moment, my brain is so full that I am afraid if I so much as bend over to tie my shoes information might start leaking out. Talk to me again after 10pm tonight and I might be able to have a coherent conversation - MIGHT - and only for a day... because then the next round of studying for the FINAL final which takes place on Monday will begin!

Hasta Luego my Friends... Go write a will!

Wrapping Up Another Semester

noreply@blogger.com (A Girl In The World) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 12:24:00 +0000

I am two weeks out from my first final of yet another semester of school. I am tired just thinking about it. I have really struggled finding my motivation again this semester (that seems to be a common theme). Actually, I have really enjoyed my classes this semester (well, 3 out of 4 of them) so that has been a welcomed change. So being motivated on the day to day hasn't been bad... but digging in for finals again??? Not. Fun. One of my classmates sent me this picture the other day and it made me laugh in one of those "yeah, that's pretty accurate" sort of ways... So I thought I would share!

That's all for now folks. See you all on the flip side of the spring semester. Cheers!

Still Chugging Along

noreply@blogger.com (A Girl In The World) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 14:06:00 +0000

I realize that I have not posted on this blog in over a year... but yes it is still here. There are so many things in my day to day life that I want to do but I never "get around to it." It is something as simple as hanging pictures in the place I have lived in for almost a year now or something as complicated and tiring as getting back into a healthy workout routine. I am the queen of making excuses on why I can't do those things and for the last 2 1/2 years, Law School has been that excuse for me. It's the perfect excuse really. No matter what event you miss, how many times you say "I haven't gotten around to it" - everyone understands that it is okay because I am in law school and therefore I have no time for anything. The thing is - it's not a far stretch. Looking back at the first semester, I was consumed in every waking moment that I wasn't working - I was ALL law student, ALL the time. Now, I am tired. All the time. The two and a half years of working all day and going to school at night has slowly eaten away at my ability to find motivation for almost anything. Picking up the phone to call a family member or a friend who I haven't talked to in awhile is a tiring prospect. Every week, I say - "this weekend I am going to call (Kelli, Kim, Susie, Mom, Rebecca, Blake, Robert, etc)." Then the weekend rolls around, I work on school, I stare lethargically out the window at the outdoor world which I feel like I am no longer a part of and then before I know it, the weekend is gone and I am returning to the daily grind. Tired.

I did get back to the gym and a healthier lifestyle after the first of this year. Not out of motivation as much as out of necessity. If I didn't do something, I was going to be a fat and tired law student. Now I will be shapely and exhausted law student instead. But I still haven't hung the pictures, or made the phone calls, or written emails or sent birthday cards or anything. Sometimes I feel so self-absorbed I don't even like myself. So I guess this is my reason for writing today. I miss all of you, I want to talk to you more, I want to be part of your lives more and I wish I could say that there was a time coming that I could be. But that time is nowhere near. I will finish this semester, roll right into a full summer semester, then roll into my final year of law school. Next summer, I will be studying for the Bar and next July (2013), I will have taken it and will hopefully be able to breathe just a little for the next 5 months while I wait for the results. The time can not come soon enough.

I hope this blog finds all my friends and family doing well. I hope that you all know that although I don't call or write very often, that I think of you. I am very excited about the path my life is on and there is not a moment that goes by that I regret making the decision to go to law school. I truly feel this is my calling - this is the path I am supposed to be on. It's just that I don't think I realized exactly how long and tiring this path was truly going to be.

Lots of love to everyone....

A Story About a Kid, Toys, Music... and Protesting.

noreply@blogger.com (A Girl In The World) — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 20:21:00 +0000

Well, for those of you who might not have realized it, my little dude turned 11 just over a week ago. He is such a funny guy, quirky in his own way. I can definitely not say that is "just like other kids." Last night was a particularly humorous evening for me (with him) and I just had to share.

First of all, one of his Christmas presents from me was a Toys R Us gift card. Now, he never really asks for toys, since he seems to want to live his entire life with some electronic device, so I would never go out and pick toys on my own for him. But I thought there was this slim chance that if I bought a gift card to a toy store that he might actually choose to get TOYS instead of wandering into the electronics section to get a video game. Those of you who really know him are thinking "yeah right." Which, I must say, was sort of what I was thinking. But he surprised me! After making a full scan of ALL available toys (yes - I mean all), he ended up choosing these dragon toys. I don't even know what they are called but they come in different sizes and they have dragons and fighter guys. The best part was that they were on sale, so with his gift card he was able to get like 14 of these things in various sizes. So we get through the checkout line where he is grinning from ear to ear as the cashier puts all the toys into a giant bag. We arrive home and he quickly heads upstairs, dragging the bag of toys behind him.

He is up there for at least three hours, only stopping to come downstairs for dinner. I checked on him a few times and his bedroom floor is covered with toys - apparently these dragons require assembly. So he is diligently working. At one point I went in his room to put away laundry and he asks me if I can come help him assemble. I tell him that I will finish what I am doing and if he still needs help, I will be there. A little later he comes down to see if I am ready to help. I am confused on why it is taking him so long to assemble these so I ask if he is doing other things at the same time (like playing on the computer). This is where he informs me that he was commenting on a blog. This is the dialogue from there...

ME: Commenting on a blog? What kind of blog?
HIM: Well not a blog. It's a forum. For Roblox (this online lego game he plays).
ME: Well what are you commenting about?
HIM: Well, the developers did an update to the software and now you can't build anything unless you pay the membership fees. Which is dumb. So we are all commenting about how dumb it is because it is supposed to be a FREE game, and you only have to pay to get extra stuff. Not to just build. So its kind of like a protest.
ME: A protest?
HIM: Yeah, like we are protesting the update and hoping that the developer will take the update away if we all protest enough.
ME: Wow.
HIM: Yeah. I mean, if you look at the URL of the website, it says right there... FreeGames.Roblox.Com (or something like that - don't quote me on this part). So how can it say that on the URL and then charge you to do anything?! It's dumb. So anyway, the forum has reached its comment limit so we can't protest anymore there. So now I am just building the dragons. So, are you going to come help me?
ME: Umm... yeah.

I am not kidding you! The dialogue went exactly like that! That kid cracks me up! So anyway, I go upstairs, we build the rest of the dinosaurs and then as I am leaving the room, he asks if it is okay for him to close his bedroom door. I say sure. I head back downstairs, sit on my couch with a book and that's when I hear it. He has plugged his iPod into the computer speakers and is jamming to the song "Youth of the Nation". Not just once, but at least 20 times. It would end, another song would start playing for about a minute then there would be a pause... and there it was again... "We are, we are... the youth of the nation..." Catchy tune...

So I sat downstairs, smiling at the fact that my 11 year old was above me, caught somewhere between a kid playing with dragons and a teenager jamming to rock music. And possibly working on becoming some sort of protesting journalist for all I know.

My Visit to the Midwest

noreply@blogger.com (A Girl In The World) — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 00:55:00 +0000

I have known for about six months I was going to be traveling to Chicago in December for work and I was very excited about it. It wasn't until about a week before I was scheduled to leave that I started really absorbing how cold it was going to be there and how NOT prepared I was for that type of weather. I would check the forecast every morning and see the highs in the teens and the lows as low as five degrees. Brrr. Everyone I talked to said "layer, layer, layer" so that is what I did. I packed leggings, double the socks, long sleeve shirts to go under everything I was going to wear, and the warmest coat I had - a mid-thigh length wool coat. Add to that gloves and scarves - and I was as ready as I was going to be!

Tree in the hotel lobby (too tall to get the whole thing!)

I landed on a Tuesday morning and had to head straight to the convention center to meet up with a couple of co-workers to set up our booth. We were exhibiting at the Midwest Clinic (an educational clinic for high school and college band directors from all over the world). Once setup was done, I checked into my hotel - the beautiful Hilton Chicago which was right on Michigan Avenue - a shopper's heaven - and was greeted by a 40-foot Christmas tree when you walked in the front door.

I joined my coworkers for dinner that night - we had some fantastic seafood at Shaw's Crab House where we had crab cakes, lobster bisque, grilled scallops, asparagus, grilled potatoes, and a small cut of steak. It was all so delicious and we all left completely stuffed.

The next day was a full day of work. It was a productive day where we talked to close to 500 people and I met people from Australia, Canada, Japan, and all over the US. I even met the band director for a Lafayette, LA high school and later met a marine (who was there exhibiting as well) who was born and raised right outside of New Iberia! It was a crazy coincidence and we had a nice chat about the folks back home and how much we miss the good food, the daiquiri stands and the laissez faire attitude of everyone there. After work that day, a smaller group of coworkers headed to Gino's East in Chicago for some world famous Chicago-style deep dish pizza. Oh my. I wish I was better at describing food so that I could accurately tell you how delicious this was. The picture does it no justice. I was only able to eat one piece of the pizza - I was so stuffed. It had pepperoni, a full layer of italian sausage, onions, peppers, mushrooms, and jalepenos. Oh how I wish I could have had another piece of that before leaving the city. YUM!

Gino's East Deep Dish Pizza

On Thursday I woke up excited because Nick was flying in to meet me that day so I knew that I would get to get out and walk some of the streets of old town Chicago and enjoy some of the beautiful sights. Another full day of work and I hurried out of there and back to the hotel to meet up with Nick. He surprised me with an early Christmas present - a Marmot coat, a fleece jacket to go under, and ear warmers! YAY! I could now bundle up appropriately and head out for a night on the town. In true Chicago style, we walked through the various streets, ending by heading back up Michigan Avenue. It was snowing for a good part of the walk and so for the first time in my life, I got to walk down the streets in freezing cold weather while getting stung in the eyes with snowflakes. Sounds pleasant, right? I can't explain it - but I loved it! I tried very hard to not look like a total tourist but I did have to stop for a typical "tourist" picture.

I don't look cold at all, right?!

Nick and I enjoyed dinner at a German-style restaurant called The Berghoff where I enjoyed a delicious Reuben sandwich and a french onion and tart apple soup (which was really good!). We also made a stop in Macy's for some Frango chocolate mints - and that place was just beautifully decorated! It was five stories of shopping in just this one store. We didn't do any real shopping, but it was fun just to look around (and thaw out a little!). We made our way back to the hotel, swung into the hotel lounge to meet up with a couple of coworkers and enjoy an Irish coffee and then headed up to the warmth of our room. Oh - I forgot to mention the view from my room... take a look at this!!

Sunrise from my room

Sunset from my room

The courtyard right below my room

On Friday, I had my final day of work - a long, slow moving day - and while I was there, Nick went out and did his own sight seeing and made a stop at the Field Museum, which he hadn't been to since he was a kid. He took some cool pictures and really enjoyed the visit. I wish I could have seen it as well, but there just wasn't enough time in the day. That night, Nick and I teamed up with the only remaining co-worker still in town and we headed out for a steak dinner at the famous Gene & Georgetti's. This place was small and crowded, but not in an unpleasant way - in a way that made you feel like you were part of something extraordinary. The dining area was split between upstairs and downstairs, all hardwood floors, Chicago-style art on the walls, an ambiance that you just don't find everyday. It claims to be the "oldest steakhouse in Chicago" and let me tell you - there is a reason it has lasted so long. I had a filet Mignon that practically melted in my mouth and Nick enjoyed a t-bone that was so moist and full of flavor it made your mouth water just looking at it. We wrapped up the night and headed back to our hotel to get ready for our road trip to Indiana the next day.

Saturday morning, Nick and I hopped into a rental car and headed to South Bend, Indiana to visit some of his family and give me a tour of where he grew up. After a two hour drive along toll roads lined with factories, we arrived in South Bend and began our tour. Nick took me through his old neighborhood and showed me the house where he spent a good part of his childhood. The snow covered streets, the old brick roads, the colorfully painted fire hydrants - they all led to a very quaint feeling of a Midwestern neighborhood. It was nice to get to see a little of his past and now he says that I have to take him to my hometown for the same tour!

Me & Grandma H :-)

We pulled into an abandoned parking lot that was covered with snow where Nick gave his best effort at showing me the joy of doing doughnuts. He was disappointed in the lack of "doughnut ability" of the rental car we had but I still enjoyed the spinning that we were able to do. From there we headed to visit one of his grandmothers. I know a lot of my followers here knew both of my grandparents - so when I tell you how much his Granny reminded me of a mix between both of my grandmothers, I think you will understand. This woman is 96 years old, living on her own in the same house she has been in for at least 50 years. She still gets out and shovels the snow every day and she greeted us with fresh baked goodies (it is Christmas season, after all!). We spent about an hour and a half there that day, listening to her stories about when she was a young woman, how she met her husband (whom she was married to for somewhere in the vicinity of 60 years), how she learned to fly planes when she was 18 years old (and crashed on her first solo flight!) and so much more. Nick and I were both enthralled with her stories and I was reminded how very much I miss both of my grandmothers. I am so glad I got to spend the time with them I did, but there was so much more to spend. Several times during our visit, I had to blink back tears as I listened intently to this vibrant, humorous woman who was so full of life and yet questioned why she was still here on this earth. We went back the next day to visit some more before heading back to Chicago to fly home and before we left I was able to get a picture with her. Of all the sights I saw during my time up north, these visits probably affected me more than anything else. I am definitely glad that I had a chance to meet her.

We spent the night at Nick's uncle's house and the two of them stayed up WAY later than me talking about old times, family, cars and just about everything else. But before going to bed, Nick and I did venture out to pick up take-out pizza from a place called Bruno's which makes more of a New York style pizza that was just flat out delicious. The crust was soft and foldable, the sauce was rich and flavorful and the toppings were fresh. It was quite a delicious pizza which I was glad to finally be able to try. Nick has been telling me about this pizza for at least three years!

Bruno's Deliciousness!

The next morning we had breakfast at The Original Pancake House (another favorite of Nick's) with his other grandparents, his great aunt, his aunt, and his cousin and family. It was a nice breakfast and everyone was really sweet. It was a little difficult for me to talk to everyone just because of the seating arrangements, but Nick was able to catch up with everyone and I know they were all glad to see him.

That's me, I promise!

From there, we headed down to the campus of Notre Dame (because I am a dork who likes to see legendary college campuses!) and we even got out of the car to go into the church there (gorgeous!) and snapped a picture of me in front of the the golden dome (that's real gold!). Everything was covered in snow, so it was difficult to see the true beauty of the campus, but it was very nice to see nonetheless.

After the afternoon visit with his granny, we headed back to Chicago, had a beer in the airport and boarded a plane for home. By Sunday night at 11pm, we were home, laying in bed, and reminicing about our trip. I don't know when I will get to go back to the Midwest for another visit, but I am really glad I got this opportunity and I really did enjoy getting to see the sights, meet some really nice people and enjoy some delicious food.

Oh - and for the record, the day after I returned home, I was out doing Christmas shopping, wearing a thin long sleeve t-shirt and sweating. Gotta love Texas!!

Thanksgiving In Texas

noreply@blogger.com (A Girl In The World) — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 16:41:00 +0000

Well, I thought now would be a good time to make a post and let you all know I am alive here in Texas. As usual, I have been spending a lot of time balancing my hectic schedule but I did make the exception for what I think is my favorite holiday - Thanksgiving! This holiday is all about good food and good people and good football (Geaux Saints!).

So I wanted to let you know that your ever so studious law student did not go hungry this Thanksgiving. I spent it at Nick's where he dominated the kitchen (again) and made quite a delicious spread of food including a fried turkey, his delicious sweet potatoes, a first time ever crawfish and cornbread stuffing, collard greens with andouille sausage, homemade cranberry sauce, homestyle mashed potatoes, and burnt rolls (see... even he is not perfect in the kitchen!). Everything was fantastic - and we threw the burnt rolls into the fireplace which surprisingly, didn't smell horrible. He invited those without family nearby and he had a nice turnout.

I felt full and happy at the end of the day which is always a positive sign for a successful Thanksgiving. I hope everyone else had a good day as well. More updates to come soon - I am heading into finals right now (tests are this week and next) so wish me luck!

Oh - and here is a picture of the beautiful fried turkey fresh out of the fryer! So Yummy!

Surprisingly enough, I didn't get any other pictures of the food. So you will have to take my word for it.... it was beautiful and delicious.

Happy Holidays :-)

Texas State Fair 2010!

noreply@blogger.com (A Girl In The World) — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 02:40:00 +0000

Breigh and I spent the day at the Texas State Fair a couple of weeks ago with my brother and his family (our annual fair friends) and this year our surprise guest was my sister and her husband who made the drive all the way from Tickfaw, LA (yes that’s a real town!) to spend the day at the fair with us. I suppose I should have one of them writing this blog because I think they would be suited to say if the fair is worth the 8 hour drive. Our drive was about an hour thanks to the ever heavy fair traffic but once in the gates, we were overwhelmed with the smell of fried foods and money being spent.

For those of you who have never made it to the Texas State Fair, I must tell you that the highlight of the fair is making the trip around the fairgrounds to find the winners of the annual food contest. Categories such as “Best Taste”, “Most Creative”, etc are awarded and it although it’s not a written rule, it does appear that the foods that are awarded must meet 1 of 2 criteria… “Fried” and “On a Stick.” This is why I always go with my brother… he is the only person I know that truly enjoys the glory that is eating a ridiculous amount of calories within one day on overpriced food. We also split everything – which essentially means we eat half the calories that we would if we went alone!

This year however, I felt the new foods left something to be desired. First of all, the “Most Creative” prize went to Fried Beer. This was disgusting. This is the first thing that Robert and I both agreed should just be thrown away. I was not even able to swallow the one that I tried. The best way to describe it is really salty, under cooked pretzel dough shaped like a ravioli and then filled with beer that tastes like really cheap, flat, warm beer that has been gargled with and then spit back into the ravioli. Yeah, it was THAT bad.

Probably my favorite of the “new” foods was the Fried Club Salad which was essentially a club salad wrapped inside of a spinach tortilla and deep fried long enough to give it a crunch. It was served with your choice of salad dressing on the side. Very yummy but the salad portion of it almost felt like I was not doing the typical “fair food” justice. It had a hint of “healthy” to it… that’s just absurd!

In addition to the food tastings, the kids rode some carnival rides… and so did the adults – but only one. And no one puked…. But for a moment – I think my siblings came close! We also stopped at the Birds of the World show which is an annual tradition. You get an up close view at a lot of really beautiful winged creatures. After the show, Breigh and I had our picture taken with an owl. Yes the owl is real… when I turned my head, he was staring right into my eyes, which I will admit was a little daunting. But he didn’t bite my ear (thank goodness) and we got a good picture out it!

So, that’s our State Fair day in a nutshell. As always, the part I look forward to the most is spending the time with some of my family. In our busy lives, as distance separates us, it seems all too common that many months will pass before we are together again. So I love that, for that one day, we are close, we remember how alike we are, and we have fun. Life is Good.

Next Career – Roller Derby Girl

noreply@blogger.com (A Girl In The World) — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 00:24:00 +0000

Last weekend Nick and I went to Roller Derby for the second time. I have a friend who just started skating in it and she invited us to go and now I am hooked! I wish I had more time on my hands because I would SOOO lace up my skates and hit the rink! Think about how much I have always loved roller skating (been doing it since I was 3) and combine that with how much I loved martial arts (beating people up). In roller derby, I get to roller skate AND rough people up! I mean… it’s like peanut butter and jelly! As of now, however, I don’t have the time in my schedule to attend the mandatory practices that would make me a successful roller derby girl. Boo! :( On the flip side… I am really thinking of making Roller Derby Girl my Halloween costume. I have been looking for a reason to buy new roller skates anyway. :)

My son has a small mouth...

noreply@blogger.com (A Girl In The World) — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 03:10:00 +0000

It's the one thing he didn't inherit from me! Haha!! Seriously though, he went to his first orthodontic appointment this week and it appears he will be getting an "expander" put in this month that is basically attached to the roof of his mouth and his two back teeth and once a week we (either his dad or I) will be using a tool of some sort to turn a screw that is going to slowly expand his upper jawline. The process takes about a year or so and then after that the braces phase of life begins. The doctor believes he will be in braces for at least 2 1/2 or 3 years. So that means somewhere in high school he should have a metal free mouth again. Poor kid. Oh well... when I was in school, braces were cool... maybe they still are now? For those curious minds who wonder what in the world the "expander" is... click here!

Look at that... you learned something new today!

A Different Approach

noreply@blogger.com (A Girl In The World) — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 02:23:00 +0000

I was told once that my current method of writing here may come off as "bragging" or being self-centered. Those of you that really know me, know that I would never do it for those reasons... well, sort of maybe. After all, I do use the blog as a way to communicate what I am up to without having to call or email people individually on a regular basis. I can do what I am doing now... watching football, waiting on the dinner that I know is going to be delicious to finished being cooked for me, and write at the same time. So yes, in that way I guess it is a little "selfish". But nonetheless, I am going to try to switch it up. I am going to try to use it a little more regularly, with smaller snippets of my days, a little more random writing about things that make me laugh and still try to throw in some updates that I think are important enough to write about. Hope you all enjoy it. And maybe some of you will get to know me a little better. Get to know who I really am on a regular basis. Not just the girl who swings in to town to visit from time to time. I sure hope you all like the "me" you come to read about.

Keep on Keepin' On!

noreply@blogger.com (A Girl In The World) — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 21:09:00 +0000

Well, somehow I blinked and finished my first full year of law school! Wow! I remember getting ready to start last fall and thinking that I would be lucky to finish the first year without having a nervous breakdown and here I am on the other side of that year and not only did I survive… I enjoyed it and made pretty good grades! I am taking one class this summer – Professional Responsibility (Ethics). It’s a lot of fun… my professor is a federal judge and his substitute (because he has to miss classes as a result of his judicial duties) is an assistant US Attorney who works as a prosecutor for the Department of Justice. Pretty freaking cool. The class is very entertaining and is a good reminder of all the things I look forward to doing once I am finished with law school (or better yet... the things I shouldn't do!). I am taking a FULL class load in the fall so I know things are going to be hectic… so in the mean time…

I am trying to enjoy some summer time!! I bought season passes for Breighton and I for Six Flags and Hurricane Harbor so that we can get outdoors and have some excitement this summer. I am not sure how much Breighton is really going to utilize the Six Flags pass… he’s still a little leery of the big roller coasters, but he LOVES Hurricane Harbor. That boy definitely loves the water. So, when we are not standing in line at one of those parks, we are looking forward to spending a lot of time by the pool this summer.

On the note of Breigh, that super smart kiddo of mine finished 4th grade with flying colors and is excited about heading into 5th grade. I, on the other hand, am a little freaked out. I remember 5th grade. I had my first “boyfriend” in 5th grade. I got my first kiss in 5th grade (innocent kiss, but kiss nonetheless!). I started sneaking and wearing makeup in the 5th grade… and shaving my legs! And I am sending my son into that?!?! Ugh. Luckily, he is still showing no interest in having a girlfriend yet so I am hoping that sticks for awhile longer. His wisdom to me in the form of girls thus far has been… “I try to be nice enough to them that the like me, but not SO nice that they love me.” Haha! And then his more recent nugget of wisdom, “I think that it’s not so hard to GET a girlfriend, the hard part seems to be KEEPING them.” Oh, so true little man… oh so true! He got his grades from the TAKS test which is the standardized test (like LEAP in Louisiana). So on this test… the kiddo missed THREE questions on the whole darn thing. That child is crazy smart.

Okay, so enough bragging about my kiddo…

Other than all of that, life is moving along. I have done some reading for pleasure (a much missed luxury during the past year) and have even watched a few movies! CRAZY! I don’t see any big vacations in my future, but I do have a couple of trips to San Antonio planned for the month of July for work so maybe I can squeeze a little fun in there. I am also going to make the trip to Savannah, GA to visit my favorite little brother :). I am excited to see his school and maybe meet some of his artsy friends while I am there. I have this feeling that I am going to blink and the whole thing will be gone before I know it. So, on that note… its time for a margarita and a pool… It’s summer time folks… get outdoors!!

Getting Ready For 16 More Weeks of Fun!

noreply@blogger.com (A Girl In The World) — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 21:42:00 +0000

It's Sunday, at 3pm... do you know what I am doing? Sitting in bed, listening to football in the background and trying to not think too much about the crazy pace my life will have once again starting tomorrow. That's right, classes start again as I enter my second semester of law school. I do feel pretty good about the time I have had between semesters. I think I did a good job of having some fun, hanging out with friends, reading books for pleasure, spending a lot of time with Breighton and even visiting family back home. It was a very full four weeks and I can't really say it "flew by" because, truthfully... it didn't. Mentally, I am ready for classes to begin. My mind feels relaxed and refreshed and ready to absorb some new concepts in the field of law.

I have been asked the question recently if I thought this semester was going to be as difficult as last semester. The answer is, in a very small way it may be slightly "easier" but at the same time, more stressful. Let me see if I can explain that. It will be easier in that I know how to brief cases, I have a better grasp of how to read law books and outline the necessary information. I don't have the fear of being humiliated quite as badly as I did the first semester (although there is still a little there). Also, a big factor... I have some friends there now. I am not walking blindly into the first day of class, trying to figure out where to sit, who I want to spend my whole semester sitting next to and worrying about whether I will find a study group. I get to walk in and see my study group right away, touch base and fall comfortably into a routine of bantering about current topics, professors, and fellow classmates. Now, for the added stress I mentioned. For those of you who don't know, I got a couple of grades in for last semester (I am still waiting on one) and I did well. In my Legal Writing class, I ended up with a B+, which I was very pleased with because of all the classes, I felt that I gave that one my least amount of effort and I sort of rode on my confidence in already being a decent technical writer (something I really am going to make an effort not to do this semester). In my Torts class, the one I most feared yet ended up enjoying more than any of the others, I made an A. In law school, you can actually get an A+, so this wasn't the highest possible grade for me, but it was still fantastic. I will not pretend to say that I was not shocked and excited. I really had set myself up believing that if I ended up anywhere in the "B" range (from B+ to B-) I was going to be thrilled. I really never expected to have an A. So that's the good news. The bad news... now I know it's possible which means I am going to push myself to do it again this semester. Last semester, I didn't play around. I was focused, I was regimented, I didn't have a lot of leisure time... and the bottom line is, it worked. I got the grade. So I am going to do the same thing again this semester and knowing me, I will inflict a little extra stress on myself. But it is all part of the experience! Either way, I am looking forward to the new semester and seeing what there is out there for me to learn that will make me a successful lawyer someday.

On another front, work has thrown me another curve ball. About 3 weeks ago, I was notified that my supervisor was being transferred back to our sister company and that I was being "promoted" to her position. So I am going from managing "customer service" to managing general operations. The good news is that I am excited about the job activity. It is a chance to really stretch my creative thinking, use some of my marketing and research skills and really help launch our company to a great 2010. I am a little nervous about the additional stress this new role may put on me, but I have received a lot of positive feedback from my superiors that they are going to continue to be very understanding of my school schedule and the associated time that I will need for finals preparation every semester. So wish me luck... if I am any good, the company should have in excess of $2.5 million in sales in 2010, which would be amazing since we just launched in August 2008.

Breighton had a nice holiday break. He really enjoyed his trip to Louisiana, he even didn't complain about all the time we spent driving from house to house and the constant change thrown upon him. I was so proud!! He spent New Years with me where he assumed the role of lead singer in a night full of Rock Band. Our band is called the "Ragin' Cajuns" :) and he sang his little heart out until 2:30. It was one of the cutest things I have seen in a long time! I would never have guessed that he would do that based on his usual tendency towards shyness and being such a "mumbler" but he really came out of his shell with the microphone in his hand... go figure! He turned 10 last month... so he is now officially in the double digits... I can't believe it... He is staring down the face of teenage years and that blows my mind. He is still such a little kid in so many ways, I can't imagine that in a couple more years he will be heading into middle school, going to dances, and ... eeeek.... having girlfriends... Ugh. Everyone says the transformation from kid to teen happens overnight and I am so scared to look in his face and not see the sweet innocence that comes with childhood. I just hope he is a late bloomer!

Well, I think that covers all the major developments of my life over the last couple of months. Everything else is pretty much the same. Thanks again to everyone who has been so supportive of me over the last few months. Your caring, patience, and words of encouragement mean more to me then I can express... Talk to you all again in about 16 weeks!! :) (Kidding... hopefully it won't be THAT bad!)