Up Hill Both Ways

Supreme Court Opinions

2012-01-26T12:54:00.000-05:00

Spent the last couple hours reading the latest Supreme Court opinions. Some interesting ones, some not so much. Particularly interest in Ryburn v. Huff, 565 U. S. ____ (2012). Basicly, it says that given certain circumstance where a police officer can reasonably believe that s/he or others might be in imminent danger, warrantless entry into a house is not outside the scope of the Fourth Amendment.

Now that I have exercised my brain, I should probably go to the gym.

Job Search

2012-01-25T11:29:00.000-05:00

Okay, there are a lot of things working against those of us who are currently looking for employment. For instance, very high unemployment in major urban areas. Right, so the more unemployed, the harder it is. Seems logical.

But, then, you have to face the fact that the job that used to pay $15 an hour three (3) years ago, now pays $10. Likely, you still have the same expenses and debts from three (3) years ago, but now your options put you in the precarious position of having to take a job that will not cover all your bills. Thus, you should also be looking for a part-time job to cover the difference. Oh, and congratulating Uncle Sam on all the extra taxes that will be collected (and not refunded) due to having two (2) jobs.

As if looking for one job weren't hard enough at this time, now you need to find two. But that's not all. Remember the $15 an hour job from three (3) years ago? Well, that was if you had an Associate's degree or five (5) years experience. Now, to get the $10 an hour job you have to have a Bachelor's degree, some sort of certificate, and 3-5 years experience. The search gets harder every day.

Luckily, I have a Bachelor's degree (from a good university, too), and I have the education and training that would be covered by the certificate (though, I would need experience to actually get the certification), and I have experience - except it is not 3-5 years on topic. Unfortunately, I either get a "you are overqualified" or a "you don't quite meet our qualifications" excuse.

The truth is there are just too many people without jobs, applying to the same jobs as everyone else. Then, on top of that, there are people with less experience, more experience, more practical experience, better credentials, more or less qualifications, and/or just the right amount of education. The list is endless.

So, what we need is better resumes (the kind that actually say something about you, rather than your old jobs), less online applications and more activities.

That I am working on!

2012!

2012-01-01T13:58:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year to Everyone!

2011-12-18T17:41:00.001-05:00

Finished internship hours on Tuesday. Will continue to go to intern this week. Have been applying for jobs all over. Not sure what will happen, or where I'll end up. Rooting for PA or Daytona Beach, so far. But DC would be nice too, if the pay is right. Hoping for the best.

FSCJ managed to screw with my head right before being done. Don't know what will happen there. But at least I am done. Yay!

Another Sojourn Ends

2011-12-04T20:51:00.000-05:00

Almost done with internship. Looking for job. Considering relocation.

Not feeling verbose at this moment.

Internship

2011-10-01T13:20:00.002-04:00

Have possibly found my internship. Very excited. I can't wait to begin. It should be interesting.

The Real Façade

2011-08-13T23:35:00.000-04:00

It is real as real can be,

and you won't find it fault.

With practice and determination,

a great magician grows.

Not only am I who you know,

I am also truly unknown.

Guises come and go,

the lines blurred into the fog.

Life is what it is,

with steep hills and deep valleys.

On the path you may find me,

if you look beyond the flowers.

Letters that I'll Never Send: Dear Genie

2011-08-07T22:08:00.002-04:00

Dear Genie:

I have received your offer of three (3) wishes. I must say that I find it difficult to believe I would be awarded such a "gift," much less that the "gift" doesn't come with a very high price.

I have thought about my three (3) wishes, and have avidly discarded a multitude of possibilities. Here are my top three finalists:

1. I wish I were more forthcoming about my feelings.

2. I wish the people around me would be more willing to chase their dreams.

3. I wish I would have followed my path to an SJD beginning in 2004.

Wishes are just wanting things to be different. I, like almost everyone else, do want things to be different, but I don't want to be different. I want to be just who I am, and that means that everything that is and has been, had to take place. I had and have to experience all that life has sent my way. Therefore, as much as I would wish for you to grant my three (3) wishes, I would rather you grace someone else's life with them. I am sure there is someone else in this world who never had a chance to have the kind of life that I have lived, maybe s/he would wish for a second chance at the life they would have liked to have and the person they would have liked to have become.

I may not be where I always thought I would be at this point. I may not be the exact person I thought I would be at this point. But, I certainly am the kind of person I have always wanted to be, me. That have been my sole goal in life, to be me - plain and simple, though I am neither.

I share my wishes with you, and pass on the opportunity nonetheless. In a sense, I have fulfilled my very own first wish myself. I can't go back in time, but most definitely I can achieve my wishes on my own.

Thanks again.

Sincerely,

Christina

Blah, blah, blah...

2011-08-07T21:27:00.003-04:00

I have been reading through my old posts... some very old.

I am not surprised at what I have found. However, I am surprised at what I haven't found. I haven't found more. I know I tend to live in my head, but really? At some points, I thought that I was making process, drawing my quandaries and arguments to a conclusive end. But, I also have to admit that some of those quandaries and arguments deal in answers that have been sought as long as man has existed. Others may just have been beyond my grasp eight to ten years ago.

I enjoy re-reading my old posts every so often. It grounds me. It reminds me of what I truly think when I am not so over powered by my cynicism, or any of the other facets of my personality and worldview. It's nice to see how far I have come and how much I have or haven't changed. It's nice to know that as much as I have changed, I am still me.

Life goes on.

Surviving

2011-03-15T16:17:00.002-04:00

Last couple of weeks have not been my best. Point in case: Today, I started to freak out at the library because I could not process what was being asked of me for my litigation homework. Mind you, that is a worst case scenario: brain completely shots down, I freak out momentarily, and soon enough it comes back to me. I hate it!

I feel powerless, like being trapped inside my own brain. But, it is what it is. If I took better care to take my pills when and how I am supposed to, this would probably never happen. At least not now that the dosage is decent; when it was higher, after a while I would start feeling like the stupidest person in the world. Not a good feeling for me. I don't mind feeling stupid when surrounded by people who I know are as smart as, or smarter than, me, but otherwise, it's like hell on earth.

In any case, all litigation assignments for the rest of the term are done, and I just have to focus on not forgetting what I have learned so that I can take the final. The only class I am concerned about is Real Estate Law since I have no idea what I got on the midterm and I missed last week's session. I am not too concerned about Wills, Trusts & Estates, since I like the subjects and it's doable. In any case, this semester is almost over and I have only four (4) class awaiting me in the summer.

Going to school is certainly not like I remember it. I have taken six (6) courses each semester and felt rather laid back. In college, I took three (3) and felt like the work wouldn't end! It's just different. But I don't, for one second, regret going to Chicago.

Social Science Requirements

2011-02-06T19:03:00.002-05:00

I have a degree in Political Science from the University of Chicago. I have over 100 semester credit hours in Social Sciences. Nevertheless, FSCJ insists that I must take two (2) introductory social science course to complete the paralegal program.

First, if I have a Bachelor degree, why in the world do I need to prove my capacity to make it through two (2) introductory social science course at the Associate level. Second, I have credits at a higher level in psychology, anthropology, and - let's face it - there is nothing I can learn from this courses (and so far, that's proven to be true). Three, if there is nothing new for me to learn, what is the point? I know: to irritate my already irritable self!

Thankfully, I have learn something in the rest of the program.

P.S. - I also have to take a Speech class. I feel the same way about it as I do about the social science course. Except, in this case, I took the speech class in high school, and I believe once is more than anyone needs in this life, unless you want to be ... I don't know ... a public speaker! Anyway, I have had my share of "speech-making" and if I haven't mastered it by now, I doubt a 16-week course will help. Not to mention how much I hate 16-week courses!

A bit overwhelmed!

2011-02-01T13:30:00.000-05:00

Okay, that is not totally true. I am jst a bit exhausted.

I am registered for 19 credits this semester. Yes, that's 7 classes. It's not a lot to get through, but it is a lot to do every week, and this is only week 4!

I just need to get my batteries recharged soon.

My baby with her poodle cut

2011-02-01T13:20:00.001-05:00

Cute at first, a big knotted mess later...

Just Found Out...

2011-02-01T13:17:00.000-05:00

I lost my "Noticed Blogs" list! It's supposedly been out for months... . In any case, that means I get to updated for real this time, as before all I did was clean it up a bit. But I can't remember a bunch of the blogs I used to follow. C'est la vie!

Time

2010-12-09T14:23:00.002-05:00

"Time heals all wounds," so says the old adage. Time passes, and even the deepest pain subsides. But when you finally wake up, time has left it's mark. And life will never be the same. Life has passed you by.

2010-08-20T14:14:00.003-04:00

"In matters of great importance, style,
not sincerity, is the vital thing."

--Oscar Wilde

This quote brings to mind several things I have encountered lately. Mostly, a question regarding the "bending" of laws. The question was something along the lines of "If you could get around a law without actually breaking it, would you?" My answer, hell yeah!

Truth is, laws are ever changing, and just because the exist doesn't mean they are right. If they were always right, no one would ever bother trying to change them. And if no one ever tried to get around them, most attorneys would not have jobs. Laws, like the "men" who write them, are fallible.

Watch the news and read the paper, then think about all the loopholes that were exploited in the last 24 hours. It's sad, but it's real.

Just too cute!

2010-08-04T23:45:00.003-04:00

2010-08-03T10:33:00.001-04:00

I am most definitely looking forward to classes starting in 4 weeks. I am happy with my choice of classes, and my schedule. Plus, I look forward to getting back "out there."

Letters that I'll Never Send: To the Man at the Flagpole

2010-07-23T14:17:00.001-04:00

Dearest,

The day we met, I had this feeling my life had just changed. And when I saw you all I could think was "please don't let it be him." But it was you. And I am glad I met you.

For a while I had a "crush" on you, for lack of a better word. It was more. It may even still be more. I am not sure anymore.

I should thank you nevertheless. You have given me a different perspective on life. And I appreciate when you have taken the time to help me sort through my own thoughts. I thank you for everything you have ever done for me.

I wish you the greatest happiness and success possible, no matter what the future may have in store. And I hope we will always be friends.

Lovingly,
ME

Why?

2010-05-29T00:07:00.001-04:00

I rarely say what I mean. I don't even know why I do it, but I do. When I do say something I mean, and I am misunderstood or ignored or otherwise annoyed by the response, I tend to withdraw. I guess it's just easier. That's probably why I write. I write between the lines for the most part, but I mostly say what I mean. Somehow.

Lost - Letters that I'll Never Send

2010-05-27T23:37:00.001-04:00

Wrote a very nice letter to my 16-year-old self, but lost the connection when I clicked to publish. So now it's lost forever. Maybe I'll write another one later.

Letters that I'll Never Send: To my 16-year-old self

2010-05-27T22:35:00.000-04:00

Dear younger self,

You are probably wondering why I didn't right earlier. Well, earlier what I know now wouldn't have helped you any.

So, here's what I have to say. Live a little. Take a chance once in a while. Don't be afraid, to live or love. Don't give too much, and don't take too much either. Value your friends, the longer the better. Get rid of those who bring negative things or energy into your life.

Please, listen to your inner self. Don't walk away from someone you love, especially if you are not sure if it's truly love. Don't live life trying to have no regrets, but rather try not to regret not living your life. Let go of that first "love" once you get to college, and hang on to that friend who always had your back.

Don't forget that you are who really matters. And study more than you play. Meet more people, but cherish your old friends.

Take care of yourself,
See you later.

I don't know why

2010-05-21T12:48:00.004-04:00

I have been writing to you for almost a year now, but only once or twice have you received my words. I don't know what happened exactly back then, but I have missed you. Knowing me, you, like I, can't understand why I don't have the guts to just tell you. I wish I could muster them somehow, and that you'd feel the same way.
Sent from my iPhone

Letters that I'll Never Send: To my father

2010-05-20T13:55:00.032-04:00

Dad,

This letter is not easy to write, as I know you will never read it. But the opportunity is not unwelcome. There is so much I would like to say that I don't know where to start.

How about the beginning? I am really angry with you. You should know that; and I shouldn't have to explain myself, so I won't.

You have missed so much in the past 20 years. You have missed the good and the bad, the nice and the ugly. But you have missed it all. You have missed my accomplishments and my failures (not that there have been many of those), and you have missed practically all of Alfredo's. I don't even think he remembers you. I can't blame him.

I have done fairly well for myself, no thanks to you. I am fairly content with my life, even though I have been through some really hard times. I have made choices that I regret, and others that have changed my life for the best. I graduated from high school with honors, even though some said I wouldn't even graduate. And I went to a top 10 university, not to be confused with the Big 10. And even though it was hard to do so, I graduated with a degree in Political Science. Whatever anyone says, I love UChicago, and don't for a second regret my decision to go there. At some point, I hope to finish my MBA. In the meantime, I wish to teach. I have been wanting to teach for a long time. My goal is to teach law, but it's slow in coming; I'll get there.

I don't know where life is taking me, but you are missing it. And as far as I am concerned you are the only one to blame. I wish this letter could be nicer, but I don't really have anything nice to say to you. I very much doubt Alfredo does either. I have learned one thing in the past 20 years that I could possibly credit you with: never quit.

Until the next time I am berating your name,
Christina

Blackberry v. iPhone

2010-05-16T09:10:00.002-04:00

I liked the Blackberry Bold 9000 I got for my birthday. But I LOVE the iPhone for which my brother convinced me to exchange it.

Sent from my iPhone