Update

Hey all, just figured I'd give you a little update. I got my final grade in Contracts last night and it was an A!!!! This was by far my most difficult class, so I'm really excited and thankful that I was able to succeed in such a hard subject. This brings my semester GPA to 3.603! As a result, my official class rank is 53/228... meaning I'm in the top 25%!

Today we're going to go father's day shopping and I'm going to edit my law review article. Then tonight we're going to one of Jason's co-worker's wife's 50th birthday party. Tomorrow we're heading to Hollywood Park to cheer on Zenyatta as she goes for the historic record of 17 consecutive victories.

Hope everyone has a good weekend. Thanks again for your continued support!

Long Time No Blog

Well guys... there has been lots going on since I last blogged - so here's the low down:

• I finished my first year of law school! It was so much harder than I anticipated, but looking back, it was pretty worth it. I made it through 9 grueling finals. I wrote three memos, a motion for summary judgment, and an appellate brief. I was invited to join moot court. I met one of my best friends. I got to know some really cool professors. I listened to Justice Kennedy speak. And I'm anxiously awaiting my final grades. So far I have received grades from 5 of my 6 classes. I got two A's so far!!! I finally got an A in Civil Procedure - after last semester's multiple choice keying problem this really made me feel a lot more confident in myself and increased my appreciation, and dare I say, love of Civ Pro. I also got an A- in Torts. Professor Miller, my Torts professor is my favorite, so it was nice to do well in his class (it generally has a tight curve so this was great news.) I got B+'s in Criminal Law, Property, and Legal Research and Writing. So I'm still waiting to see what happened with Contracts. Hopefully the news will be good. This means that so far I have improved my grades in EVERY class and have a semester GPA of 3.512!
• I register for classes next week and will try to take: Evidence, Criminal Procedure, Appellate Advocacy, Trial Practice, Sustainability, and Negotiation Theory and Practice.
• I'm currently working on writing a Case Note about strip searches in prisons and their constitutionality in order to apply for a law journal. (Can't go into more detail cause it's against the rules.) Law Journals are really great experiences, a lot of work, and are major resume boosters. While Law Review is the most prestigious, I am going to apply first to the Journal of the National Association of Administrative Law Judiciary. This doesn't require as much writing, which I think will be important considering I'm already committed to Moot Court and six classes. Administrative law involves government codes and regulations and I'll likely write a case note on Salmon Farm regulation or marine mammal husbandry regulations (and their violations like with Lolita).
  
• I started working at the Federal Bankruptcy Court in Santa Ana as an extern for Judge Robert Kwan. I love the most of the people I work with. The other externs are really cool and the clerk is awesome and super helpful. Judge Kwan took us all to lunch on Monday - he's very nice and easy to talk to. So far I have helped draft orders, suggested tentative rulings on Motions for Relief from Stay, and written the Judge memos on various topics, one of which dealt with my fav - Civil Procedure - where a lawyer submitted a Motion under the wrong rule. Nobody knew it was wrong until I said, "Wait guys, this one is messed up because there's a better way to do this." Sure enough, I was right and the motion was denied for failure to bring it under the proper rule!!!
  
• In other exciting extern-related news, I believe at the end of the month our group is going to a movie night at Chief Judge Kozanski's house! He's the "head honcho" of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which hears appeals from Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. It's the biggest circuit in the nation and has some major pull. I'm really excited to meet all the judges and maybe one day I'll have the privilege to argue before them... (for more information on C.J. Kozinski see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Kozinski)
• I also began working at Actron today. I will be working for Jason's mom in the accounting department on Thursdays and Fridays to earn some extra money over the summer. I'm hoping to save it or put it aside to help continue taking care of Dancer.
• I went home after finals and it was great to see everyone again. I got to see two of Mikie's track meets including the state regional meet. Michael ran great and I was so happy to be home to see him succeeding. He's growing up... and filling out... so fast. I can't believe he was only in 6th grade when I moved to Grand Rapids! Time sure does fly. It was also good to see mom and dad and catch up on old times. I got to see my wedding dress and try it on. It needs a few alterations, but mostly in the length of the neck and hem. Mom also got her dress and it looks fabulous on her! I really can't wait for the wedding. :)
• In wedding news, we've booked the Cheesecake Factory and our photographer! We will prolly get official engagement pictures with her this summer ~ at Dodger Stadium!
• Finally, in Jason news: Jason just finished his "final final" of the quarter. He'll have a few weeks off before he begins again. Jason also used his tax refund to buy brand new master bedroom furniture. It's suuuuper nice. He got the collection from Macy's. I'll have to take a picture, but in the meantime here's a link: http://www1.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=434798&CategoryID=35527
• Jason and I also looked at French Bulldogs, because we are interested in possibly getting one next Christmas. Here is the link to the Kennel: http://www.etennabullterriersandfrenchbulldogs.com/Frenchbulldogpups.html. We want to get a cream boy and name him Aldous Snow Rechberg - after a rock star in one of our favorite movies: Forgetting Sarah Marshall.
• And in exciting island news - I will likely head back to the island to meet all the new babies that have been born since I left, including baby K43 who was officially discovered two days ago (see picture above). This baby is estimated to be about five months old, but this is the first time the Center for Whale Research took identifying photos of it. The baby is presumed to be the offspring of K12 (Sequim). She already has a daughter and a son, Sekiu and Rainshadow respectively, and her daughter has a son named Tika. All together this means that six surviving calves have been born since I left! This is such great news for the Southern Residents and I can't wait to meet the new little ones... especially J46!

Well, that's all folks... for now!