Boot Straps and Lawyers

No Plans for the First Weekend in April

2008-04-04T16:19:00.000-07:00

This is the first time in 7 years I have not had plans for the first weekend in April.

One might be thinking at this point what in the world did I usually do on the first weekend in Apirl?

With a sad heart I deeply regret that I will not be going to Chilifest this year.

It is always this time of year when there is a sweet breeze from the South. Its not cold nor hot, but gets chilly right before dawn. The bluebonnets are out and a few indian paintbrushes.

I have been to Chilifest every year since I was a freshman in college. 6 years straight. I wanted to make it every year that I was in Higher Education but alas, my last year I could not attend.

Chilifest is trashy, dirty, smells like beer, and sweat that smells like beer, but I love it.

A part of me still wants to pack it up and head down there...I wont...I can't. Nobody my age is going...we have all moved on. This is close to my last tie to college being severed. I only have one more left...when the only friend I have there graduates and moves.

I realize this post makes little sense, but know that I want to go to Chilifest but I am not going. Know that Chilifest was 1 of the 2 remaining ties I have to College Station. Now there is only one.

I should drink tonight...In memory of the greatness and immortality I have achieved through my tenure of the trashiest field party I have ever attended.

The Sex in the City Effect?

2008-04-02T14:37:00.000-07:00

http://jezebel.com/375142/a-statistical-guide-to-why-youre-not-getting-laid

Check out this link. It is a map of the U.S. showing regions in the country where either Men or Women greatly outnumber the other.

The northeast, especially around New York, retains a heavy concentration of women.

Texas and Cali. men dominate.

NYC has more than 200,000 more women then men.

Perhaps this is because more women view moving to New York is some kind of status symbol?
Perhaps this is because more women like New York then men?
Perhaps this is because women like the fantasy of a small town girl trying to make it in the big city?
Perhaps this is all above the above because Sex in the City is all of these things.

I don't know....
Anybody have a thought on this?

Men on a Treadmill

2008-03-30T15:22:00.000-07:00

So Friday I was working out at The Rec. Astonishing I have been working out a few times a week now for like 2 months! I have officially impressed myself. ANYWAY I was walking to get some water after my set, and to do this I have to walk past the treadmills.

There wearing a sweat band on his head and wrist was some guy on a Treadmill. What the eff?
A guy on a treadmill...this is retarded. Guys don't use treadmills, they run on pavement. Now ok, I could buy that guys use treadmills to warm up, but this dude had been on this hampster wheel for awhile.

I don't know why this bothered me so much, but it did.

Effing guy on a treadmill. I hope he had ear phones so he could hear The View that was on TV. I should give him a copy of Cosmo so he can read while he works out.

D-bag

US News Rankings

2008-03-26T15:39:00.000-07:00

Well it is that time a year again. When every law student clammers to the computer to find leaked versions of U.S. News Top Law School Rankings. It is laughable how much weight is given to these rankings, but since weight is given then it becomes real.

http://www.abovethelaw.com/images/entries/US%20News%20World%20Report%202009%20law%20school%20rankings%20ratings%20Above%20the%20Law%20blog.pdf

Here is a bootleg version posted on Above the law.

I have learned a few things from these rankings.

1) Yale is undoubtly the best law school in the country. Period Overall score is 100 the next best are Harvard and Standford at 91....Damn

2) People don't like Berkley in the top 6. Though they beat out the schools that are tied with 7 and 9 by only 1 and 2 points respectively, it seems they probably wont stay there.

3) And this is the one that ticks this cowboy off: Vandy is 15th....What a bunch of bullshit. Texas and UCLA are tied for 16th. Vandy beat both schools by 1 point. 72 to 71. Vandy wont stay there. Not to say that Texas is much better that a 16th ranked, but they are a better school than Vanderbilt.

4) Nothing else of consequence really happened in the top 25 other than Fordham dropping out which is a big joke among Columbia and NYU people.

5) University of Houston is tied with Baylor now for 55th overall. Im proud of UH! Go Coogs.

The ranks don't matter after this.

I remember when these things did not matter to me....And we can all remember why they wouldn't . Kinda wish they didn't .

I was SHOCKED! Very Refreshing...Go Irish

2008-03-19T07:57:00.000-07:00

I believe I've posted this before, but as a 3L very little happenings in law school come as any suprise. This is evidence by my lack of posts since my 1L year. In any event, this was not the case Monday afternoon.

Upon running late to clase, I realize that there is not a soul in the classroom. I ask the assistant if class had been canceled. She informed me that class had not been cancelled, but had relocated to a popular bar amoung us law students. I guess that the luck of the Irish had swept in.

I get there and everyone is sitting at a semi large table drinking very good (and not cheap) dark beer. Needless to say, the tab was picked up by UT. It's a class expense. Class at a bar really is the way to go. Oh I was asked if I was a Virgin by my law professor, (this was done in a classroom way to make a point of how uncomfortable questioning makes people) everybody had a laugh when I pretty much yelled NO across the table. Everything was going fine when something Scotish whispered in the air. I was not sure what this was...a recording?

Then they came. 1 lead bag piper, 3 followers, and 2 drummers in full scotish kilts and hats with plumage. They walk through the bar while the rest of us were laughing. Then they set up camp right at the end of the porch. While 1 or 2 songs on a bag pipe are cool an hour and a half is a little much. Most songs sound the same...I did get excited for Brave Scotland and Amazing Grace.

So in an attempt to continue class we discussed some of the finer points of Voir Dire in state court...while drinking beer.....while yelling over bag pipes...take a moment to visualize this...yup...didn't see this one coming.

On a side note, what the fuck is it with the Scotish? It is St. Patricks day. IRISH. Why wear kilts? Now I hear that bag pipes are used in Ireland as well...thats fine...but kilts? Would the damn scots get their own holiday. I wanted to throw my pint glass like the true Irishman I am and yell "Where is your William Wallance now Bitch!" I of course did not realizing that I had 1) never been to Ireland 2) chances are that the bagpipers have not been to Scotland and 3) Im Texan...so I drank. I still think the Scots should back off though.

After class officially ended, a few of us stuck around to celebreate...well celebrate class being over. Pitcher, pitcher, green beer, green beer and a bar change; the evening ended at 12:30am with myself and another litigator law student 3 sheets to the wind.

So yeah...GO IRISH.

Parents of Austin.

2008-02-07T08:54:00.000-08:00

I do not mean parents in the literal sense.

As many of you know, and by many I mean my two readers, I have a constant need to define sociological themes where I am. From schools to cities, I always try to see the common fabric and motivations of the place as a collective whole. Anyway, I have a new theory for that of Austin, TX.

Austin, TX is not a grown up city. Not even close. Their economny is not driven by the major issues of our day like Houston or Dallas. Austin is a playground. Just go to the park on a Weds. It is full of adults that should be working but choose not to!

However; for any child and in this instance a city there must be some parents. This post is a salute to them.

A few unique souls accept what few "Grown Up" jobs there are in Austin for probably less money to be a parent of Austin. Legislators, Lawyers, Bankers, and Real Estate developers are pretty much the only Grown up jobs in Austin. They are the reason Austin is not still in the 70's. They are the reason that the whole place does not smell like dope. They are the reason the city has expanded in the correct way that it has. This is not to hate on the innovators which Austin has a plenty. Dell of course is big time. Along with some funky companies, but it is the parents with their grown up jobs that allow this type of freedom in the local economny.

Anyway, I just wanted to say thanks to the Parents of Austin. Though I will probably never be one of you, I respect you and what you are doing.

Ya Know....Im just not sure...

2008-01-30T13:56:00.000-08:00

Recently the internet, along with major publications, specifically WSJ, have become ever more disdainful of American Law Schools. Not the elite of course, but pretty much anybody ranked lower than 30 (that is being generous).

The arguments basically say that American law schools do a poor job of fully disclosing job opportunities at the completion of law school. Salary and employement % are skewed to show their school more favorably. Now students are strapped with massive student loans but have a 40,000 a year starting salary.

I've seen this as well. From my friends experiences and my own.

Which leads me to this.

If I had known how hard it was going to be to do what I wanted to do from where I started, then Im not sure I would have gone to law school. Thankfully, being lucky...and I do mean LUCKY, saved me from a pretty bleak existence....Let me explain. Actually on second thought, Im not going to explain. It makes me sound way to arrogant, which is not my intention.

Perhaps you will understand my point of view better when you hear some advice.

Only go to law school if you want to be a LAWYER. Don't do it for the money or prestige.

"Ok bootstraps I want to be a lawyer now let me in!"
Hold it there. Are you sure...like really sure? Do you really know what a lawyer is outside of Law and Order or some fantasy view of what BIGLAW life is? If you see some 6 person insurance defense firm and you still want to be a lawyer, then I will believe you.

The truth is if you don't go to a top law school (and Im talking top 25 here), then you wont be a managing partner at some V100 firm. Anything is possible, but just not probable.

Many of you may be thinking, nah bootstraps I know people it will be fine...you are just an arrogant prick who forgot where he came from. This is not the case. I know where I came from and have seen both sides of it.

If you want money, prestige, power and don't get into a top 25 school (maybe a really good regional school), then don't go to law school; unless you really want to be a lawyer (in any capacity)

Getting back to my point, if I were at the beginning of my law school career and understood to the full of extent of how lucky I would have to be to do what I have done, Im not sure I would have gone.

I would have grab some job worked for two years and gone to some MBA school. (which is easier to do than getting into a good law school).

Thank God Im lucky.

A Texan in the Northeast

2008-01-21T08:50:00.000-08:00

I hope all of you faithful readers had a wonderful Christmas Break. My break consisted of binge drinking, alcohol, thinking about re-hab, then doing it all over again.

Seriously, I only had 4 days out of the entire break where I did not wake up hung over or having slept for less than 4 hours. However, this was on purpose. I was training. I trained for visiting D.C. and New York. Thats right my friends. This Texan was in the Northeast.

I will start off by saying that D.C. is not in the Northeast, but the northern most outpost of the South. Of course some of the culture is very different, but the overall feeling of the place was not unlike the South. It was here I waited at the steps of the SCOTUS from 5:15am to 10am just to sit and listen to oral argument about the Constitutionality of Lethal Injections. We watched for an hour then it was over. As a law student or any other legal observer, this is a must to do. It is a sanctuary. The rest of the stories consist of visiting all the highlights of D.C. and me getting so trashed I slammed my face into a door frame and gave myself a black eye...but just a small one. I will not elaborate on D.C. because it is much of the same experience you have when visiting any other big city in the South. It kinda reminded me of Dallas a little bit. Needless to say, I love D.C.

Once D.C. was terrorized enough we headed to New York by train.

New York did not hold the same appeal for me as D.C. at first blush, but now thinking about it I like New York just as much. We pulled into Penn Station and grabbed a cab. One of my best friends had been drinking on the train for the last 4 hours. He speaks with more of a country accent than I do and when he gets drunk he really gets going. ANYWAY, we are in the cab pull out and head straight for Times Square. Before we even get there, we smack into traffic. New York traffic...Slow...pissed off traffic. People are running between cars, honks serenade the sunless sky, my friend finally lifts his head to look at the mass of humanity and from his throat he yells the comment that almost assuradly every 1st time visitor to New York thinks.

"It is Fucking Pandamonim down here, Jesus Christ"

As a Texan, I had to say what is expected, and at the time believed, "Too many people here, I could not live here." You can't see the sun (which did bother me actually). The sky is small. More on this later in the post.........

Without going into too much boring detail we stayed in Times Square. I looked at the Coke sign for about 4 hours. Times square sucks. It is real touristy, which I know I am as well, but nonetheless. My advice, see it to say you saw it then leave. Don't spend your time there.

We pub crawled from Times Square to the Upper West side. Now this I completely endorese and is a wonderful idea. One of your best friends will end up past out in the bathtub of some Upper Westside apartment.

Go on the Harbor tour, obviously on a boat. Take pictures.

Try and get on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. That will change the way you look at stocks for the rest of your life.

Make last call at 4am. For visitors, you will raise your arms in Triumph. Now I have to be honest about this whole, 4am thing. People in New York drink differently then us Texans. For one we start drinking at 7 or 8 at dinner. They don't start till about 10 or 11. That right there almost makes up for the hours difference. Texans sprint New Yorkers run marathons. Though I was conditioned, we went head to head with some New Yorkers on drinking. Playing by their rules but drinking at a Texans pace (Or at least our pace) we drank them completely under the table. Not that Im bragging, but know that a 4am last call changes much of the style of drinking you are practicing.

Also, there is not a pretty girl there to save your life. Talk about woof. Nah, im being a bit harsh, but seriously, even at 4am I could not find a girl that I would say...Damn she is hot. Im an equal opportunity guy as well. Though I realize Im not attracted to ALL kinds of women, I know when someone who is different either by ethnicity or race is pretty. Still to no avail. The prettiest girls at the bar were the Texans that live in New York who we were already with!

Go to the Met after having stayed in bed till 5pm. It is an incredible mix of culture there, which is why I loved it.

Go to McSorelys Old Ale House and order dark.... You only have two choices Light or Dark...Dark is better.

Take a Yager Bomb in the Village.

Pre-Party in SoHo.

Eat in Little Italy. Just pick the one that doesn't look commercial.

Eat Mexican Food in New York and realize that you should not have done so. Im thinking about sending the city some chili powder. I don't know if the city has any.

See Central Park.

Visit the Upper Eastside

See Chinatown

See Canal street.

Eat pizza at 5am.

Drink coffee, alot of it.

Enjoy the cab rides

Be stupid on the subways.

Be nice to everyone in which there is any opporunity to have a conversation with. New Yorkers I did not find are mean at all. Granted you can't say hi to everybody or anybody that bumps into you, but if you take the time to talk to someone chances are they are going to be nice. I thought New Yorkers and Texans are alot alike if not for only 1 way but a big way. What we do and how we do it is right, and everybody else has it wrong. Also, they are as proud they live in "The City" as Texans are proud that they live in "The State". Let them teach you how they do it, and they will be more than happy to show you around. They will take care of you just as if some New Yorker sheepsihly came up to you at Gruene Hall and asked what they are supposed to be doing. You would smile and buy them a shiner bock.

New York is a fungus that attaches to your foot and spreads to your knees. At first you hate it. It is a stench, is irritating, and bothers you from the second you wake up to the second you pass out. Then you pick up the pace. This fugus is making you walk faster and jump subways faster. This fugus directs you which doors to dive into off the busy street to find a chill bar or coffee shop. This fungus makes the city smaller and people nicer. In other words, New York grows on you. Then, for the love of god, while walking/running from the Upper Westside in the rain to the Lincoln Center subway station, by yourself at 6 :30am, having just bought a coffee, paper, and a bagel for about 3 bucks you realize in terror what the fuck just happend.

You fell in love with New York.

2008-01-15T21:00:00.000-08:00

Publishing that last post was a mistake

To Exiled from the Book of Bootstraps Verses 1-12

2007-12-17T16:32:00.000-08:00

Im going to write this post to AggieInExile (Exiled) in a style like Paul wrote to the Corinthians...(Im not an apostle, but I dig the beards..ANYWAY)

To Exiled:Having talked to you reminded me, well perhaps articulated many of the feelings that one goes through when progressing through law school.Most notably is the feeling that your life is on hold while your friends lives are not. This feeling sadly to say only intensifies as the years in law school continue. Friends and family have received jobs, make money, have girlfriends fiances or wives, take trips, drink with other friends who are doing the same thing, have hobbies, are involved in the community. Though it makes you smile when you hear the stories there is a part of you that is a little jealous as your torts book jumps into your arms like an attention starved kitten.

What is even worse is when you get to taste some of this life when you go home just to have it ripped back when you check your bags at the airport or turn the key on in your car.But Exiled, as I tell myself everyday, this is all a means to an end. This alternate reality, this limbo of not a college kid but not quite an adult, this hell is to become one thing......To be an Attorney.

A great Torts professor once asked us if anybody new what Attorney actually meant. None of us knew, or were brave enough to say anything. It is from the French word At-or-ney, which means "Someone to Turn To". Take a second to think about what that actually means. Counselor.

Not to say the life in law school cannot be entertaining, as our blogs have shown it most definitely is. But law schools are still crammed with people just like us in the same limbo.

I Could Take 29...How many Can you take

2007-12-14T17:30:00.000-08:00

How many 5 year olds can you beat the shit out of?
http://www.howmanyfiveyearoldscouldyoutakeinafight.com/

Take Heart 1Ls

2007-12-13T09:20:00.001-08:00

This is the week that you have been dreading since you first sent in your acceptance letter to attend law school. You have seen the paper chase and have read 1L (scott turrow). You have read Law School Confidential and have talked to many older law students. This as you now know...doesn't help.

Law school exams are like the matrix....You can't be told what it is like, but you must see it for yourself. This is a moment that you will be able to say...."Before that, and after that" in terms of your law school career and maybe farther.

In the words of the 3L RA in the Paper Chase, "everything they tell you about grades is true".

Well, sadly it is...but you know what? Its ok.

Some people were meant to work for BigLaw. Some were meant to blindley follow the man. Some were meant to become great plaintiffs lawyers some were meant to work solo practioners. Some were meant to work insurance defense.

It is difficult to grasp this right now 1L's, and honestly I still wrestle with it.

But know that the top 10% is precisely that. The top 10%. Not everybody can be in the top 10 % or it would be the top 100%.

So if you don't do as well as you had hoped this first round...keep your chin up. Though you may not be the managing partner at Cravath, Swaine and Moore, you can still be a damn fine attorney. You just wont feel that way till after your top 10 counter parts are passively rubbing it in your face that they summer with 3 different firms.

Realize how far up the academic mountain you have come. Though most law students only look up where they want to go, I encourage you to look down and see how far you have come. You may feel a little better. You may actually feel a little smart once again. (which of course you are)

So basically what I am saying is. Fuck It. Get the tests done, go get drunk, let the cards fall where they may and see where you come out.

Somebody pass me a Martini

2007-12-13T09:17:00.001-08:00

Because damn, Finals as a 3L are the only way to go. I have 3 finals. 2 of which are substantive law the other is Trail Advocacy, all evenly spaced a week apart...Glorious!

I have not had a legit freak out yet, and I've already taken 2 of the finals!

To all the 1L's, I highly recommend this approach to law school.

So when you have accepted a job, only taking 2 substantive law courses, and basically all you care about is keeping your same GPA, then law school becomes moderately enjoyable.

Something to look forward to.

A little humor for finals time

2007-12-05T10:07:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8ABhatAfsA
This is the best video ever

Followed by this one

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xi5LESZ7_Kc

Gladiators v Knights, and other ramblings.

2007-11-29T16:43:00.000-08:00

Yesterday in trial advocacy we watched a clip of Gladiator. It was the scene in which Proximo was talking to Maximus about them finally going to Rome. Proximo was telling Maximus to not kill too quickly...win the crowd.....

All of us kinda laughed because it is kind of an intense moment to just be thrown into. ANYWAY, our professor went on to describe that this clip relates to many old lawyers. Trial Lawyers are Gladiators. Most lawyers see this scene as an old lawyer trying to teach a young lawyer.

I found this analogy interesting, but in the end false.

I always thought of Lawyers as Knights. We are exclusive and adversarial and very much apart of the aristocracy, but we are not the top. We don't fight unless a lord tells us too. (Business and or individual). Without a fight and without a battle we are nothing but suits...or suits of armor.

Gladiators though they win the crowd are slaves that have no part in the running of anything. Though an argument could be made that we are indeed slaves that just means we are slaves to law firms (other Gladiators) which may make the Gladiator quote that much more accurate. Whatever.

I guess we can be classified as both, but I like the Knight Analogy...As for the Knights.

In my criminal defense clinic we arrange the tables in the room to a square. Close to the door 4 professors sit at the head of the square. 1 older and distinguished lawyer who has seen it all, an older lawyer who is almost bitter and refuses to change much, a younger male lawyer who is smaller in stature and firey, and a tall attractive (but not smokin hot) women who dresses well. Then there is the rest of us filling up the sides of the tables.

Over and Over we are taught in the clinic that the first impression of us is bad. Criminal Defense lawyers...we wear the black armor. I always kinda laugh at this because we are more like knights anyway. I can't help but think when I am daydreaming and bored that this room of 30 people is like the dark den of knights. The things we laugh about and the way we plot to win cases would shock most people, but there we are. I describe the professors in a way that you can see the demographic. It just seems like a recipe for some dark knight school.

What a weird post.....

Tech is my Omega...Again

2007-11-15T08:30:00.000-08:00

So this last saturday I was watching college football when I decided that I should use my own ticket and actually ATTEND a game. The longhorns were playing Texas Tech. So when I finished watching the Ags lose another game, I walked over to DKR.

I was sober, dressed in a burnt orange long sleave button up shirt with a Texas hat and aviator sunglasses boots and jeans. I was also alone because most of my law school friends had started to lock themselves in their study rooms for finals.

So I shuffled my way into the stadium and up to my seat. I've posted this before, but frat guys tend to look more intently at me because I kinda look like them and they think they should probably know me. I also get half smiles and glances from the sorority girls for the same reason. Too bad they don't know me. ANYWAY.

I make the climb to my half way decent seat and begin to watch the game. It then dawned on me....This was my last college game a student....Again....

My first last college game as a student came in 2004 against the one and only Texas Tech. This was also the only time A&M beat Tech in my 4 years at Texas A&M. The tailgate lasted for 6 hours before the game and we were 3sheets to the wind. I sat there after the game with my roomates and may friends at the time to soak it in. Our last college game. I knew I was probably headed to a law school in Houston that didn't have a Football team. (If you didn't know which one I went to, you do now). A deep breath was taken, a final look at the scoreboard through my drunken haze, and out of the stadium I went.

So my first year of law school I attended a school with no football team. Though I did attend many games that fall it is just not the same when you are not a student.

Then in the summer after my 1L year, I got the letter that would forever change my life. I got into UTLaw as a transfer. (I will before my blogging is done write an epic post about the transfer subject, but I've yet to find the time). So with the help of stilletos and levis I was quickly outfitted in Burnt Orange. I made a few UT games that year, but I didn't have the student season tickets.

This season I did have the student season tickets. So I went to a few, including the last Tech game, and this brings me back to my point.

So Im standing in DKR with the sun setting painting the sky burnt orange. The tower can just be seen on the right, the capitol on the left with the Frost Bank building a little behind that. The breeze was just slightly blowing the Texas Flag. Texas scored again, and I sang Texas Fight while throwing a Hook'Em.

As the next possession took place and the crowd quited down I laughed to myself. Not 3 years ago I was drunk off my ass wearing Maroon, yelling and whooping, with many friends that hoped to beat Texas Tech. Now, Im alone, sober, wearing Burnt Orange with the tower and Capitol in the background watching my last football game as a student hoping that we don't lose to Tech.

So, when the last whistle blew and UT lit the tower and sang The Eyes of Texas I walked home, with one more smile from the red headed sorority girl.

The last 3 years have been an interesting road.

It all ends with Tech.

Bye Bye Fran

2007-11-06T18:32:00.000-08:00

Well it looks as if Texas A&M is finally giving up on the Fran Plan. Rumors and alot of smoke have reported that Fran has or is close to settling on a 2 million dollar buyout and the end of the season. This is 6 million less due to the fact he broke a few secondary NCAA infractions with secret emails he was selling to boosters.

This is an end of an era. An era that began with such optimism and ended in such bitter cynacism. Fran gave countless laughs and entertainment to the Big XII and the nation at large. Hell, Texas fans had to start a support group because a few of their ranks could not get enough "Aggy Misery".

Fran took a somewhat rising program (overall) and sunk it into obscurity.

I do take comfort in the fact that I was there when RC was still the coach.

Perhaps this will ignite my passion for Aggie football again. I lost after the Tech loss in 2006 and then Dr. Gates leaving to be the secretary of state.

They Got My Name Wrong.....

2007-11-06T18:29:00.000-08:00

So there is a board in the Atrium of the Law School that has the names of all the students clerking for judges. It of course is a big deal because clerking is cool. Anyway, I go up there to see if they have added my name.......

They added my last name correctly but put a completely different first name.

I thought it was funny because that pretty much sums up my time here at UTLaw, which basically leads to this question...

"So, who are you?"

Bandera, TX and the Texas Experience

2007-10-24T07:00:00.000-07:00

So last weekend some friends of mine came into town. It was pretty much the last weekend of summer. Clear skies, not cold a perfect storm of energy and a willingness to get boldy out of control. (As many of you know, Im a cold weather guy, but meh)

Friday started out typically on 4th and 6th streets. Though nothing happend completely bizzare we did see 4 sub par frat buys attempt to break dance on the roof of the blind pig. One tried to flip and WHAM hit his head. Another stirped down to his boxers and danced around. Pretty entertaining.

Saturday was a day of rest, but we decided that we would go to Bandera, TX. For those of you who don't know what Bandera is, it is a little town in the Texas Hill Country. It has many bars and claims it is the "Cowboy Capital of the World". It is the town you think of when you think 1930's Cowboy town. Think about it for a second.....ok you got it.

So we make the drive up their a little before sunset. We take the long way through the Hill Country and not through San Antonio. Takes longer than we want but the drive was beautiful.

We find an old resturant to eat at. Old Spanish Trail. Its been around since 1921 and they have a room dedicated to John Wayne, with a TV that plays nothing but "The Duke" movies. Men peered at us under strange versions of cowboy hats. We walk up and three sherrifs are just sitting outside sippin coffee. When we walk in the door, just about the entire resturant looks up at these "outsiders". Greatness. We sitdown and order chicken fried steak. Easily this ranks in the top 3 chicken fried steaks I've ever had. And im an expert in the food.

Once we finished eating and found a hotel, which took us 3 different tries. Apparently Bandera was the place to be. We made our way into the "SILVER DOLLAR". This is a place of legend. Its only a door on the street and you must walk downstairs to get to the bar. Once you get in there is a band playing old Merle Haggard songs with a steel guitar and saw dust on the floor. A fat older women will always call ya Honey at the bar and the bad wore matching red bandanas around their neek. The only ligjts are neon and again everyone stops to look at the "outsiders". We stayed for a beer or two just to feel what depression was and moseyed on down to the next bar.

We knew we found the Bandera Saloon when there were hourses tied up front to the hitching posts. 2 of them. We knew we had found the right place. We walked in, again everybody stops and stares. Our boots made unique thuds as they hit the hardwood floor. Everyone had a cigarette that seemed to never burn down. We now began to pound whiskey like it was going out of style. Straight, doubles, mixed...didn't matter.

Then it happens.....We turn to see two monsters of men start to push and shove. 6'3" 240 biker types, but wearing cowboy clothes. And as everyone was expecting and secretly wished for fists began to fly. The older man started with a left jab then a devestating right. The other man went stumbling backward and into the speaker in front of the band. Another patron of the bar grabbed the speaker before it hit the ground as if he had done it before. The band never skipped a beat. The fight quickly dragged out into the street where somehow the bleeding man made it to his car. The bar backs had to come and clean up the blood that had drizzled on the dance floor.

The people that moved were only the ones who stood to get hit. The rest of the bar looked as if they had just seen somebody take a swig out of a beer. They have seen this before. Later somebody asked the bartender/owner of the bar about the fight and all he said was "Fuck It, this is a real bar".

When the police officers came they yelled to the bartender/owner...Damnit this is twice in two nights! The person that got his ass beat actually called his mother. HIS MOTHER, who in turn called the police. Nobody was arrested except for this little imp of a man who would not shut up around the officer. They cuffed him and put him in the back of the car....later they let him back out and he went back into the bar for more booze. Nobody went to jail after a knock down drag out fight.

We drank until 2am. By then end it was pretty much us drunk yuppies dancing in the middle of the dance floor belting La Bamba while everyone else watched in disbelief. A friend of mine somehow found two British chicks who were in town to see the "Cowboy Capital of the World". My bud had been working on a deer lease so he was covered in dirt and was wearing a camo tshirt that said "beer hunter" on it...yeah... He saved the Queen that night.

Once the bar closes, a man got on his horse and left with another horse right behind. Apparently he brings two just in case he brings home a women. The town had an eerie silence to it. We jumped into the bed of a pick up truck and parked in front of the bar to pick up our friends....A cop stopped us said we were parked in the middle of the street and told us to have a good night.
Yup.

Our motel smelled like stale cigarette smoke, and I didn't dare get underneath the sheets. I just slept on top of it with a sleeping bag. In the middle of the night I had a headache so bad I threw up.

The next morning was confused. It was not cold, but you could tell the mornning wanted to be cold. The smell of dust that only a north wind began to pick up. After a few breakfast tacos we headed back to Austin through San Antonio.

And that is the Texas Experience.

Do NOT be this guy

2007-10-19T07:42:00.000-07:00

I can't believe that a 2L student at the University of Miami(USnews rank 70) would talk this way to a judge. Even if it is in People's Court.

Wow.

This guy was Owned

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnJnA_mt_UA

The ID of Prestige

2007-10-16T15:09:00.000-07:00

For those of you who do not know what the "ID" is, it is a freudian concept that says that the human mind acting in only its most hedonistic capacity is exercising its ID. Its not just hedonism either. It basically animalistic side of human nature. This is probably the worst definition ever written but at least you get the idea. ANYWAY

Check out this website if you are bored.

www.xoxohth.com

This website proclaims it is the Most Prestigious of College/Grad/LawBoards. All of it is good, but pay particular attention to the Law board.

Every other post is something about "Prestige" if even in a joking way. Like, "Drinking Alone...Prestigious?"

Also there is a never ending barrage of racial slurs and Jew jokes.

I just found it interesting for only this simple thought.....

"The Dark Side of Prestige is Alive and Well in Law School"

Bye Bye FrannyCakes

2007-10-14T14:55:00.000-07:00

If anybody has been following college football this year, then you will know that it has been one of the best and suprising seasons in recent memory. Their are upsets every weekend!

Even if you have been following College Football you may not have heard about Texas A&M because the head coach Dennis Franchione has led the program into obscurity and irrelevancey. In any event after the blowout loss to Miami and now Tech, Fran is going to be fired.

If the losses were not enough there is an email scandal that puts a very sour taste in the mouths of Aggies. So yeah, that bum is going to be fired.

Now lets see who the new Coach is going to be. Maybe the Ags will emerge from these past 5 years under Fran as a team that is at least relevant.

Does Fort Worth Ever CrossYour Mind?

2007-10-14T14:38:00.000-07:00

Listen to this while you read my post.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OD1W2nQrNpM

So if finally happened I got a job! I know I have not talked about this aspect of law school too much, because honestly I was too damn frustrated. You would think that 90% of the law school gets a great summer associate job with a huge firm and every one is offered a job. It sure as hell seems that way. However; this is not true. Only about 30-40% of the class gets an offer at the beginning of their 3L year. The CSO says it is an even lower percentage.

So now you must be wondering to yourself, why the hell am I listening to this country song? Well, I hope your answer to the question that the song poses is ALL THE EFFING TIME because yours truely, Bootstraps, will be working if Ft. Worth.

I had more to this post, but since I just googled this blogs name I saw it was linked to a Dallas Law Blog. Hence, I've decided to keep any particulars about my hiring to a minimum. It however would not take much to figure out how it all happened

So Yeah. Bootstraps is a Federal Clerk. WTF

Lawyers and Playboy

2007-10-11T07:17:00.000-07:00

Perhaps I should have said Lawyers IN Playboy.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2007/04/10/2007-04-10_its_jurisimprudence-2.html

This article was published in the New York Daily News about a 3L law student doing an erotic video for Playboy.

Just thought it was funny and needed to be shared.

Really, Im just numb

2007-09-25T11:52:00.000-07:00

In class today I was surfing the net and reading all the new 1L blogs. Wow each and every one is full of wonder and awe at this whole law school thing. Something funny the professor said, this or that.

For the hell of it I checked back through some of my old posts and I'll be damned if it weren't the same type posts.

I thought to myself, geesh I wonder what happend? Why aren't things so crazy anymore. Profs don't say anything out of the ordinary anymore. I reasoned it was only to scare and shock 1L's, but I listened extra close to the lectures today to pick out things that I would have as a 1L. (as opposed to now, where I can pick out only things I know are going to be tested or interesting).

Low and behold I heard things that would have shocked the hell outta me as 1L. I heard a prof drop the word Fuck into a sentance. Another prof complained that magistrates are full of bullshit, and another said why would cops lie? What? Maybe they weren't breast fed enough.

This was just ONE DAY of class. So my original hypothesis was wrong.

Im just numb

But comfortably numb.

ACL

2007-09-16T17:21:00.000-07:00

The only thing ACL means to me is a knee problem.

For those of you hippies that track your way 100 billion miles from your car to the stages all while smoking a joint with a gallon of water on your back...you have my respect. Your commitment to music is more than I have to just about anything. Y'all party all day listening to bands that you may or may not have heard of while sweating more than a whore in church. Now one day I MAY be convinced to go, but chances are slim.

I spent my Saturday sitting on the couch watching College Football.....ALL DAY. It was glorious. I drank a gatorade just to re-hydrate from sitting in the 70 degree A/C. Tough day.

Now South by Southwest....you have my attention.

Eff It. Im an elitist if you haven't noticed. ;)

3L....hmmmm

2007-09-14T10:00:00.000-07:00

So it finally happend. Im a 3L. The top of the law school food chain, which makes me about as qualifed to practice law as my first day of law school. However my semster is a bit more exciting.

I decided to forgo another 15 hours of lecture class to sign up for a clinic. Criminal Defense to be specific. Now these I highly recommend. Though it takes more time than you really have, you actually get to do something real as opposed to 4 hours of reading. Practicing under a Student Bar Card, I won my first case. Good feeling.

Other than that, being a 3L is decidedly less stressful in terms of class, but now if you were unfortunate enough to not nail down permanent employment you realize the real world is knocking. Damn Captin Hook.

To be honest, your disdain for 1L's does grow. They crowd the halls like scarred animals talking a mile a minute about Penoyer v Neff or something equally as mindless. Gunners in classes are almost non-existent. There are a few that might speak up, but these people Im thankful for. Without them it would be us staring at the professor blankly as he tries to get the class involved.

I guess what Im trying to say is....3L's have it figured out. We understand that class participation means nothing, and if you pay attention too much you are likely to get as confused as you did as a 1L. 3L's tend to walk through the halls standing at full height (they can do this because they don't bring every book ever written by the professor in their backpack) by themselves. If you are lucky a 1L will look at you and know...they move out of the way.

Damn right.

On a side note, if anybody still reads this blog because I post so much check out the link AggieInExile.blogspot.com. He is a fellow blogger and friend who now attends law school in the deep south. He is a 1L, so his posts will be much more entertaining and more frequent than mine. I guess that is the way of law school. There is alot to say as a 1L because it is all new and different. As a 3L, its hard to imagine life not thinking as a lawyer, so none of it is a suprise.

Meh.

4 weddings and ....well nobody's died yet

2007-06-28T07:10:00.000-07:00

But I probably could think of it as a Wake.

Ladies and gentlemen it is Wedding Season! Now I have mixed feelings about all of this, but I break it down into a simple fact.....I get drunk for free. If I think too hard about weddings and futures my head starts to throb worse than the morning after, but if a I focus on the scotch at the open bar then Im golden.

Apparently I missed the memo, so perhaps somebody can foward me a copy. This memo states that at age 24 your shall find "True Love", and get married with the girl that happens to be with you..ugghhh...I mean marry the girl that you fell in love with.

Are y'all really ready to throw away the "20 something out of college" stage of your life early? It is like graduating from college in two years. You are leaving the party right before it gets good. Though I realize Im not a real expert on this considering Im still in law school (believe me an alternate reality), but it doesn't make me wrong. Many of my friends are not even dating anyone and have the same mentality.

There is a certian level of greatness that exists after college. You are officially on your own (not me but I can imagine) you can do, say, drink, whatever and whenever you want. There is no control on you other than be at work at X time and leave at X time. The rest is up to you. The best is when you find others like you. There is a sense of fighting the norm among these people even if it is a lie for the evening. Each night where you tap into this vein of youth that winds its way through the rock of adulthood, you realize that there is more (or less) to this stage than getting married right after college and is the next step on this path to achieving this mythical idea of adulthood. Going out and having a great time (or everytime you don't stay in to have "movie night") is a shout of rebellion to the social gods that you will conform only when you wish to and when you are damn well good and ready. (More on adulthood and maturity later, promise) There might not be another time in your life that you get this type of freedom devoid of responsibility. Social pressures are going to come crashing down in a few years so why not make the best of it before that happens! I for one am riding this wave till its done.

To be straight, I don't judge the people that choose to wed at 24. The whole point of this is to do what makes you happy and complete. If it makes you happy then do what you want, and by doing so you will make me happy because if I decide to do family law, Im going to represent half of you.

Good Point.

Banned from TexAgs

2007-06-28T07:05:00.001-07:00

Well, it had to happen eventually. I am 20 hours into what is a 24 hours ban on TexAgs.com. Some individual was expressing concern over their sick and dying cat.

Apparently, they didn't appreciate a picture of a skinned cat being posted.....I thought it was funny as hell.

Fear and Loathing in Houston

2007-05-25T09:59:00.000-07:00

I moved out of my apartment last Saturday. When I took the clerkship in Houston, I didn't realize that leaving Austin for the summer would strike me the way it did. Houston nights have already began to fog up glasses when you walk out of the bar. Perhaps because of the Write-On packet I've yet to fully embrace Houston again as my own, but as of right now I feel like a stranger to this city. Better yet I feel like I'm hanging out with an Ex-Girlfriend in which I have not spoken to in years. Maybe she will warm up to me again....then again maybe not.

Summer Employment

2007-05-17T08:17:00.000-07:00

I don't know why everybody starts hating on the CSO so much. I've had nothing but good experiences with them. Perhaps its because I realize they are more advisors than headhunters and I don't expect them to get me a job. Hell, they even stroked my ego a little bit saying that I was in great shape. Eh, oh well.

In any event, I have finally received summer job offers! Offers you say? Hell yeah, plural. I went from have zero...count em...zero job offers to having more than one and even more than two! So im feeling better about myself and have withdrew my application at McDonalds.

Now granted Im not spending the summer being boozed up on someone elses tab or flirting with a partner whom I know has a crush on me, but I will learning to kick some ass in Business Litigation and actually do some work that matters.

Did I mention the secretary is hot?

Left Out...Again

2007-05-13T20:49:00.000-07:00

Well it is that time when finals are winding down and alcohol consumption goes from moderate to insanely heavy. This is the time when all the 1L blogs blog about not being 1L's anymore....Good luck finding new material, the first year is the easiest to blog about.

Amicus Curiae which is linked to the right, left her final will and testament of blogging to up and coming UT bloggers....I was left out. Not to say that Im heartbroken or anything, but it is a metaphor for the life of a transfer student. Though I may blog about this more in detail later, being a transfer student is like joining the Indy 500 from the stock car races and you are 250 laps behind. You can drive as fast as you can, but still never catch the pace car. Though I will never regret joining the race, the speed is very fast and you are already behind.

I just have to turn in my take home final.....

Keep Austin Weird

2007-04-03T20:23:00.000-07:00

I get it.

If you read back in some of my earlier posts you will that I had trouble right at first understanding what Austin was trying to do. I still don't get the highways and the more bumper stickers the car has the slower it goes, but overall I see it.

A few summers ago I worked for the governer here in Austin and there was this bar I would go to frequently on Tuesdays called Joes Generic Bar. This was a shotgun bar that only sold beer right off 6th. It was always filled with smoke and every tuesday Allan Haynes would play some burn the barn down Texas Blues (he used to play with Stevie Ray Vaughn). This bar closed about a year ago, and though I was a upset they closed the bar that was instrumental in finding my love of Austin, I just chalked it up to the fact that some businesses fail.

Then came a new construction on UT campus that blocked certain views of the tower, right off MLK. Then came the condos that make the whole place look like Houston mixed with Dallas. Then came the massive array of cover bands in every bar on 6th. This last thing is the worst. The live music captiol of the world plays nothing but cover bands. Hell, you only have a few choices on Red River to really get some local music. (in the downtown area).

So I say bring on the Hippies! Bring on the weird awful live bands that have a sound only known to Austin. If this doesn't happen, the whole place will start to look and feel like Houston. (Not Dallas because of the Snob factor. Austin doesn't have that yet). Not that I have anything against Houston, but Austin is Austin. The weird little blue dot in a sea of red that will go to great lenghts to do something different or werid.

Keep Austin Weird Damnit!

Courses Taught by Non-Lawyers in Law School.

2007-03-29T11:58:00.000-07:00

4 words.

Do NOT do it,

Unless you have confirmation from at least 5 sources that it is worth your time. Just becaus one has been an expert witness in a few trials does not qualify the individual to teach a law class. There thought process are not the same as lawyers and their approach to the subject material is also not the same as a typical law class.

Good god...

Spring Break, and lack thereof

2007-03-29T11:57:00.000-07:00

A note of advice to Bootstraps and Lawyers avid readers....

Do not get the flu over spring break....

You will end up cursing the world.

However; you will probably quit Copenhagen.

Maybe the flu wasn't so bad

1L's at Firm Receptions

2007-03-08T07:10:00.000-08:00

Dear 1L,
Congratualtions on kicking ass your first semester and being invited to your first firm recpetion. Yes, I know the booze there is free and the food is almost always pretty good. However; if you stand there and act like a douche bag one more time in front of the partners like a drunken monkey flinging poo, I will personally burn your house down. Yes, firm receptions are forced awkward moments when all you can do is smile and look at your watch. However, when a lawyer cracks a joke (or even un-intentionally) you should not laugh like a hyenia. The man is not Jerry Seinfeld. When partners start to look at me when you are saying or doing something stupid to see how I react or to see if I have any input to say with my eyes (yes we know the look), then we are going to have problems. So a little advice, watch SportsCenter for about 30 min before you come (to have some small talk), don't drink too much (this makes you even more retarded you slap happy prick), and for the love if you can't think of something intelligent to say and not beat the lawyers head in with banality (don't kiss their ass, they hate this) then shut up, look at your watch and pray it will be over soon.

Love,
Bootstraps and Lawyers.

A & F

2007-03-08T07:08:00.000-08:00

Assault and Flattery was excellent. Though amatureish, bad acoustics, and overall cheesey, the damn thing was funny. Will I go again next year? Maybe. Will I try out to be in it? Maybe.

Ethiopian Resturants

2007-02-21T20:32:00.000-08:00

Does anybody else find this offensive? I was driving down I-35 exiting Dean Keeton and saw this new resturant.

Of all the countries of Africa to borrow cuisine inspiration from the United States picks Ethiopia.

Ethiopia is a famine stricken country whose human rights...well lets just say they need some human rights over there. Most meals they have are crackers and water from the back of a U.N. truck.

So, with this in mind the pure arrogance of the United States picks this country and sells their food to our already fat citizens.

I don't know, I just found this peculiar.

Valentines Day

2007-02-13T14:22:00.000-08:00

Ah yet one more manufactured holiday that irritates me beyond that of normal irritatedness. Of all the holidays that are completely conjured up by the good folks at Hallmark, Valentines day takes the taco as the most as ridiculous of the bunch.

There are 3 specific reasons why this day is particularly atrocious and are as follows:

1) It makes single people feel like crap (this doesn't effect me but I know a multitude of people who are bothered by this).
Because of this crappiness this forces women and to a MUCH LESSER EXTENT men, to have to parade around the fact that they are single in order to cover the fact that they wish they weren't single. For instances, the 4 women who go to dinner in a swanky resturant to show that being single doesn't bother them. Well, sorry to break up the Sex in the City cosmo party, but almost any one of these females would head for the highway if a stud would come and sweep her off her feet.

2) I get nauseous everytime I step outside myself for the entire day.
Especially on college campuses you see boys and girls holding hands all doey like. Makes me sick. This doesn't happen on normal days?! Normal days they walk arms distance apart bitching about who left the dishwasher full, or who forgot to lock the door. But no all these real problems are pushed aside to deal with a day created entirely for the consumption of chocolate.

3) VALENTINES DAY IS NOT A TWO WAY STREET.
This is probably the kicker of them all. I don't know when if ever Valentines day was a two way street but it is certianly not now. There is an inordinate amount of pressure for guys to go above and beyond like some circus monkey to out do the girl he is datings best friends boyfriend. Something cute, something traditional, something cool, but above all better than the next guy. All these things we have to decide upon. It is like being a girl for a day damnit. And is this reciprocated to men? Hell no. At best and I do mean AT BEST, the women will put on some sexy lingerie. Not that Im completely complaining, but where is the creativity? Where is the pressure? Nada, nothing, zero. It is almost insulting for women to think that this can make up for all the blood sweat and tears it took for the man to super glue every rose petal from downtown houston to her bathtub filled with lavender and bubbles or make heart shaped pancakes so big they would not fit through the bedroom door. As men, I suggest that this should no longer be accepted as a form of gratuitious transfer and demand something of a higher calling. Further, as any guy should at least know, that any giving of valentines also go to your friends, (though nothing physical is involved), and then your mother. WTF? Do you see females going through great strides to make sure all the men in their lives feel special? Nope, they are drinking cosomos at some swanky resturant saying how much they love to be single when in reality they are jealous that their friend couldn't make it because her boyfriend and constructed a playground set made entirely of dark chocolate and strawberries that could feed Belgium.

So in all, Valentines day has become basically Sexy Mothers day.

P.S. Can we move the Lingerie to St. Patricks day? There is something about peeing green beer and fighting in the street that makes me all fiesty inside.

Arrogance or Something Like it.

2007-02-13T06:33:00.000-08:00

As a 1L, many if not all law students will have to tackle the issue of the law affecting your realtionships with people. Im not just talking significant others here, but Im talking the way you interact with the world and the way the world interacts with you. You constantly ask questions to gain more perspective on the situation, and always have a different answer than everybody else.

Then you decide that you will make a conscious decision to not do this anymore. And thus you believe things get better into your 2L year.

However my friends, I believe this is a fools facade.

The only reason you think you're better is that you have more immersed yourself in the warrped reality of the law school experience. You hang out with more law students and lawyers and they challange you the same way as you challenge them so you don't notice.

So, I ask you all readers of Bootstraps and Lawyers to take a moment and evaluate if you are being an Arrogant Prick. Stop and think when you are basking in the glory of being right about something (because you were able to deduct the outcome through inferential logic) that perhaps this the world is percieving you as jerk. Stop and think when someone asks you the way you feel that you don't give them a break down in a 3 part test. Stop and think when you are trying to get information from a friend you don't use trial tactics such as voice influctuation and banging the table. If someone calls you out on being arrogant, and you make the argument that it is not Arrogance but just the way you are trained, (which is true) be careful because the fact that you use law to argue the point in your personal relationship is arrogant.

And we wonder why the divorce rate among lawyers is high.............

Desperado

2007-02-07T06:44:00.000-08:00

For those of you who have not read any of my last 20 posts, I am a transfer student to the University of Texas. This makes my perspective on law school that much more warrped yet pure at the same time.

Instead of being completely engulfed by the fires of law school, I have remained in a constant state of limbo where the only place I am truely comfortable is a classroom seat. This isin't meant to sound like Im lonely or anything. I have made friends all of which are bad ass I might add.

However; I can't help but feel like im a "Desperado" a lot of times.(antonio bandaraes sp?, too lazy to look it up) I can walk around the halls, right down the middle with everyone talking, and people move out of my way. Shadows bend not to show my face, though people always look as if to say, "Do I know you? Should I know you? You look like someone I know."

So this leads me to conclude how important the first year of law school is. Yes, we all have all heard this, but really it goes beyond grades. Obviously, if you do well in the 1st year with grades you're set, but it is also the 1L year that is the hell that bonds your class. I went through hell in another hell, a different hell, a hell that has since passed, just to climb into another hell which is more closely reltated to the pink floyd song lyric "I thought you could tell Heaven from Hell" (That sentance may sound weird, but read it again...Its greatness!)

Or I could just use the standard metaphor "Your 1L year is like boot camp where you bond with everybody." Yeah, pretty much.

What is fun is when I do show up to parties and stuff with the friends at UTlaw I do have. Nobody knows me, but Im a 2L, which obviously gives me street credit. If I tell them I transfered it does not drop my stock (at least they don't say it to my face). I party like there is no tomorrow, wear the lamp shade, play wild drinking games, take my pants off and jump naked in the pool. They laugh, I go home, and they never knew what hit'em. "Desperado Style"

So, advice to those who are wanting to transfer law schools. Its an interesting expierence that will change your legal education way more than what your resume will say. Is it worth it? Depends on who you ask and what school you go to under circumstances. (How lawyer is that answer). As for me, it was totally worth it. I get to say this pearl everytime I take a shot of tequila, "Fuck it, I go to UT"

Daily Drudgery Posters

2007-02-07T06:36:00.000-08:00

There are many Blawgers on the internet. Many of whom post specifically about law school. I guess to an extent so do I, but not nearly to the extent of these daily diary heros of whining.

When something happens in a day that is more than the standard day, I let y'all know. Talk about it a little bit, hell maybe even spin off and talk about something else.

But to hear the same old thing from some other blawgers.... OMG today in Torts class.... which is before OMG in Con Law Class, which is after OMG in Contracts today
Give me a break. I didn't even do that as a 1L, and Im sure as hell not going to start now.

Unless you can find a good gossip blawg for your law school, those are gold.

Now granted My Blog is not perfect, far from it. I don't post often and when I do it normally is not funny, but at least im trying to focus on the governing dynamics of law school and the common thread that runs through this unique experience instead of appealing to my classmates who just like to read something online that they can say they know first hand.

Law School Sux

2007-02-06T15:31:00.000-08:00

This is what I see inscribed on the desk in my anti-trust class, and this got me thinking....

A little background.
I meander my way through the rows of seats in a 50 person classroom to find a seat. The chair is fine, but there were smudges on the desk. These smudges were the kind that are made when a piece of lead falls out of your mechanical pencil and while it lays flat you move it around your desk. I see nothing but markings until I go to put my laptop down. Then I see it. Sketched ever so bodly in true middle school style were the words. "Law School Sux"

Anyway, back to my thoughts for which all of you frequent this site.

Does law school sux?
It never really accorded to me like that before. I for one never thought law school sucked. Hard, Frustrating sure, but SUX? This is not the normal sucks, but SUX?

Sux is a term used to refer to psycho ex-girlfriends your freshman year in high school, or to describe your biology teacher in the 10th grade. It is used to describe brussel sprouts and cabbage wrapped in shit. SUX is not a term to be used to describe law school.

It then occured, from reason just now occured that law school does SUX for some people. I know we always hear horror stories or even first hand accounts of people dropping out of school, but while I sat there attempting to take a picture of this with my camera phone seeing this persons anguish etched into the table like a cry for help I realized that this type of education is not for everybody. To be so unhappy, so distraught, so upset, as to write Law School Sux on a table in a classroom is indicitive of the misery this person faces.

I hope lady justice reaches out and pulls this tortured soul close to her bosom and comforts this individual. May Socrates embrace him as his own and give you robes so that you may feel the breeze beneath your thighs.

I hope this individual finds piece.

Obviously this person is a 1L.

A 2L would say. Fuck Law School.

I love the Aggies

2007-02-05T09:33:00.000-08:00

Who in their right minds would rush their own court after an away game victory?
Who could even figure out how to do this?
Who is dying to be good at something?

Texas A&M thats who.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxggBQ7bXMk

Yes, A&M beat Kansas at their house. The first time a Big XII South school has done this since the inception of the Big XII. Im not knocking on the Ags here. I think it is greatness.

A&M Basketball has now hit insanity. 6,000 Students camped out for two days to get tickets to the Texas Game in College Station. Not going to lie. It is pretty damn cool.

However; as a side note, I hope A&M if they win against Texas today do not rush the court. It would just be one of those things. But knowing my Aggies they will. Either way, its a lot of fun. Gig'Em Ags.

You know you want some

2007-01-31T18:19:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cc5QpeSvyg

Oh yeah, just do it. Listen to it while you read this post. When listening. Close your eyes(not really then you couldn't read my words of wisdom) and think about 7th grade (if you are about 24) and have this song wisk you away to that ackward time at the dance when you used to dance with girls with your hands on their hips.

Think of how you would not look at each other, and constantly keep looking the opposite direction.

Think of seeing the little short perverted kid hold his own hands or even wrap his arms so far around the class slut that he could grab his elbows.

Rock...Rock back and forth.

Think of your mouth dry, her hair when she turns her head and it brushes your cheek, and by the grace of god she puts her hand on the back of your neck. You put your arms further around her, your cheeks gently touch, but you still have not made eye contact.

The song ends, and you go running back to your friends who undoubtly saw the whole thing unfold, they punch you in the stomach making fun of you but only because they are jealous. You spend the rest of the night eating chips and talking about somebody's older brother and how the older kids are all getting drunk on Dymatap.

Thats the stuff.

And now listen to this song that came out roughly the same time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pzbgf_L7k8w
Its a fuck me song.

Plebians

2007-01-31T17:56:00.000-08:00

Today, I had to go to the post office on "main campus" (which is any place other than the law school, and much to my astonishment there IS a huge university past the little island I stay on. Amazing right?

At first I was excited, all these people that I haven't seen yet NOT doing the same boring stuff as me, but then a realization struck me. THESE ARE PLEBIANS, 18 year old momma droped them off at the dorm pleabians. I was taller, older, and much meaner than these twirps. It was they way they walked, the way they talked with their friends. Different. They walked without a care in the world. I guess I used to be that way when the biggest thing I ever had to deal with all week was where was I going to get wasted that weekend, but that kid has long since been killed. Law School has killed him.

Am I better for it? Hmph maybe. At least better for what Im going to school for...

What is worse is that all the frat boys would glance at my face to see if they knew me. WTF? Im not a frat boy.

I bought my stamps, threw in some copenhagen and realized, it may not be law school that caused this...and that was the most terifying thought. ;)

Scared 1L's

2007-01-27T20:35:00.000-08:00

So, today some law students volunteered to help Permant Legal Residence gain US Citizenship. We filled out paper work for the people who couldn't quite understand how the process worked. There were alot of immigration lawerys who were there to answer more difficult questions.

In any event, if anybody asked one of the 1L's what they did they would say. Im at UTLaw(proudly).....Then a wave of fear you could see creeped across their face and they then said....But Im just a 1L, as to avoid being asked any technical question...

Just thought it was funny.

This helps to prove my theory that law school just gives you enough knowledge to make you look like an idiot and will do anything to cover that up.

Comment for MBA Wannabe's

2007-01-25T07:19:00.000-08:00

Said in a Corporations Class

Prof: Pretend for a moment, counterfactually, you know, in a sort of nightmare twilight zone world, that you're an MBA. How do you pitch this deal?

Dichatomy of Texas Students

2007-01-24T11:42:00.000-08:00

Perhaps I should have been a sociology major because I constantly try and catogorize people and see how these groups react to each other. Hence why I find Texas A&M and UT a fastinating case study on how groups with similar upbringings change. In any event, I have tried to catorgorize Texas Students into catagories. Here are some I have come up with.

The Typical Frat Boy (yeah who didn't see this one coming)
Characteristics: A light brown Patagonia Fleece (some North Face depending on the frat) boat shoes and kakhi shorts. There hair is always a bit shaggy to long and their faces are always a bit round due to increased consumption of beer. You know what I am talking about? It is like that rim of baby fat that fills their cheeks and in their gut. Croakies..Effing Croakies enough said. You can easily spot these creatures in deep West Campus.

The Older Frat Boy
Characteristics: Seemed to have realized that Fat drunk and Stupid is no way to go through life (thanks Animial House). They have seemed to trade their boat shoes for boots looking more like the freshman frat boys, but instead of the standard issue Red Wings they have opted for a nice cowboy style boot. The shirts are typically long sleeve polo or oxford, but the hair still remains long and the cap typically is turned around backwards. They tend to only hang out with the frat for the parties and the plethora of sorority girls that always follow, but other than that have found their few good buddies and spend time drinking at Cain and Ables talking about when they will take over their dads company. Found in the career center and deep West Campus.

Freshman Frat Boy
Characteristics: Red Wing Boots and ratty jeans. They always wear a faded polo short sleeve or the blue blazer and kakhis. Tired, hungry and limping at weird times these creates are found cleaning and building at frat houses when not blindfoled and left for dead in some field.

Typical Sorority Chick.
Characteristics: Brunette hair that has been highlighted blonde so many times you would think her roots would know better by now. A windbreaker pullover with their sorority letters on the left side is the typical top with some sort of sweat pants or leggings for bottoms. Flip Flops. Jones Hart book purse thingy. It would seem these girls have been eating at the sorority house too much because there is always a layer of "softness" about them which comes from sorority house food and the "punch" at frat parties. Though these girls are somewhat cute you can't help but wonder what the hell happened. This is the darkest time for these chicks because before and after are much better. These creatures are found in the outskirts of West Campus closer to the drag.

Freshman Sorority Chick
Collar Bones. Just think Collar Boans when you see these anorexia inflicted track stars from high school. They haven't eaten in a month leading up to rush and have bought every new style of coach shoe on the planet leading up to this week of hell in the Texas Summer heat. Though their stomachs may be flat, so is their chest with sunk in cheecks and elbows that can cut though brick. These young fawns can be spotted purging themselves behing Hardin House.

The Older Sorority Chick
Characteristics: At the end of the typical sorority girl phase there are two roads the women must travel. 1) Continue on the road of self-defication and be that drunk girl that has had one too many beers over the course of 4 or 5 years but is really nice to make up for the fact that they are fat or 2) lose the weight as to attract the Older Fraturnity guys and Professionals so as to not have to use her college degree a day in her life other than organizing a fundraiser for the PTA. Often times sorority girls choose the latter and become everything a barbie girl should be. Curves in right places and a more natural hair color tend to make these girls quite attractive and the reason they call them "Texas Sorority Girls." The trouble is finding these goddesses of West Campus. Because they are more interest in furthering their social career beyond that of the KA house, they tend to hang out on 4th street sipping martinis and gin and in professional penthouses. If not there, then with the professional or older fraturnity guy talking big plans of marriage and that bitch who is not invited to the wedding because while purging herself her freshman year threw up on Older Sorirty Chicks' shoe.

Non-Sorority Female, but looks like they should have been
Characteristcs: Typically very nice people that put themselves together but not enough as to look like they are competeing with their sorority girl counter part. Hair color is natural and can range from fat to skinny. They come in all kinds. They wear North face backpacks on their back and dont feel ashamed of wearing a cap to class. Usually alot of fun to hang out with. Can be found on 6th and a few frat parties that they were invited too when some guy they knew from high school saw them in class one day.

Non-Fraturnity Male.
Characteristics: Burnt Orange Sweatshirt and some type of sandle that is not Burkenstock (SP i know). Saggy jeans and an occasional chain around their waist or hanging from their pocket. It would seem there are less males not in fraturnities then females not in sororities. Either that or you are in a fraturnity or you look like this. Tend to smoke alot of dope and can easily tell. As opposed to the fraturnity counter part who hides it. These specimens can be found on Red River and in South Mall.

Hippies
Characteristics:
There is no difference between male and female hippies. They all look dirty with long smelly hair and some sort of stocking on their calves. Piercings tend to cover the ears and lips with some in other unmentionalble places. If you can find one not high you have found a 4 leaf clover. If you find one not on something harder than dope you have found 100 dollars on the street. Drug use runs rampant with this type of student if they ever were or are a student. It is hard to tell. Found in the Co-Ops and around Kirby Lane's on the drag

Goth:
Characteristics: Again no difference between male and female. Hair is black which is either really short or long with a piercing in at least one ackward place on their face. Wear some sort of black sweatshirt type thingy with some homeade patch stitched on the back. Black lipstick and pale skin rounds off these heros of the heroin.

The Foreginer:
Characteristics: Always lost and frazzled. Wears Tivas and a t-shirt with cargo kakhis. They tend to be engineers and attend UT because A&M is the white racist school (which is not true). They tend to run in packs of 5 or more and always have 1 to 2 girls for every group of 5. 2 of which will also wear glasses. They also have a nervous walk to them. Found in Hyde park, walking into traffic off Dean Keeton near the walkway, and in Mai's Noodles.

The Well Adjusted Foreginer.
Characteristics: Have a much more confident put together walk about them. Don't run in packs and know how to party. For some odd reason they never carry backpacks but are always in class taking notes. When class is over, it all dissapears and they walk confidently out of the classroom. Astonishing. These people can be found in Dobie Mall and south west campus.

Grad Students: A mix and match of all of the above without any type of confident walk whatsoever. They stumble intermittently amongst the undergrads with the look of why the hell am I still in school upon their face. After call they tend to travel in packs with their pocket protectors gleaming in the sunlight.

Law Students: Again a mix match of all the above, but with a confident look about them espeicially when they are interviewing in suits. This however does change later in the semster when finals hit where they become scared frazzled little beings that hide from sunlight and growl and nosey undergrads. They stay in a tucked away portion of campus away from undergrads in the northeast part of campus and seen quite frequently before during and after class at Crown and Anchor or Possey East. Their habitat is North Campus if not the library. Can also be found drinking in the early part of the semester of 4th and sometimes 6th. They have to get a piece of those Older Sorority Chicks.

If I find any more I will add them.
Enjoy

A great quote

2007-01-24T10:55:00.000-08:00

This was from The Ellen Show (No I don't watch this show, but a good friend of mine showed me this clip)

Around min 4 might be one of the greatest quotes ever.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1lDBx1gBww

An Aggie Rap Song...

2007-01-24T10:53:00.000-08:00

Yup...Wow.

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=72482404

At least it is better than the "Bryan College Station, Come'on and Raise up"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPp2ZoISQ8o

Now Don't get me Wrong

2007-01-19T14:45:00.000-08:00

Im still an Aggie. I love much of what Texas A&M has to offer, but I do realize that some of the things they do are completely ridiculous. The worst of which is if you question what you are doing you are a 2%er. This bothered me when I was there and bothers me even more that Im not there.

Just to clarify...This still is a Texas Aggie's look on BS and everything that is law school, but now some of that look is through burnt orange lenses.

How an Aggie Becomes a Longhorn

2007-01-19T14:22:00.000-08:00

If you have read my posts by date you know know that I am a half-breed Aggie and Longhorn. But the question that is probably burning into your mind is how did I become this non-loyal son of a beetch that you read every few months.

Here is the story.

It began with the Red River Shoot Out. So many people hated Oklahoma that I too began to hate their little hillbilly asses. No teeth sister marrying retards. Because of this hostility I was rooting for Texas to beat Oklahoma. The first time I ever wanted Texas to beat Oklahoma since I became an Aggie. Texas won.

This was the beginning of the end.

A few weeks later I was at home watching Texas play Nebraska. They got behind and it was snowing in Lincoln. Then the walk on kicker came on and scored the winning field goal. For the first time since I had been an Aggie, I felt in my gut, in my chest, that I wanted Texas to win. Texas won.

The air had turned a bit chilly and I knew I was heading to Lubbock to see the Longhorns play the next week. I had a Carhart jacket which I loved but it looked very country and I needed something else that was a bit lighter. After shopping around for awhile I made possibly the best purchase of my life. I bought a North Face Denali Fleece. Yes you know it. Black and Grey. This is almost a standard issue at UT, but I didn't care. It was very warm when it was cold and cool when it got hotter.

The very next weekend I made the trip to Lubbock to see the Longhorns play the Raiders. I hate Tech. I want Tech to lose under any circumstance. So naturally I went for the Longhorns. They got behind 21 points, but i didn't worry. The longhorns would pull it out. In the first quarter students began to tear up their own bleachers. Texas Won.

This next point is probably the biggest of them all. So I went to College Station for ESPN Gameday when they played Oklahoma. This is a big deal. At 3am a good buddy of mine hits my hand in a drunken high five and knocks my ring off my hand into the grassy front yard. Being drunk and dark we decided to look in the morning. Everyone got up early for gameday; however, I got up early and headed to Acadamy to buy a metal detector to aid my recovery of the ring. For 3 hours I looked for the damn thing. I had given up and called my friend to ascertain where the tailgate was and to have a beer open for me when I decided to swing the metal detector one last time. It was a miracle I found the thing and that it had not been pushed into the mud. The ring was just too big for me. I had lost weight. I put it in my glove compartment of my car retuned the metal detector Acadamey and went to the game. I have not worn the ring since.

The Aggies then came to Austin, where they then proceeded to beat the Longhorns at home. Though I wore Maroon and set in the A&M student section I would be lying if I wasen't a bit irritated that Texas lost to the Ags. Now granted I was more excited that the Aggies won, especially since all my friends were going NUTS, but hey, whatever.

Then finals hit, in which I did nothing but study for a month and a half. I didn't even get a hair cut.

So after getting drunk on 6th street before heading back to Houston the next day, I looked in the mirror.

I wore cowboy boots, low rise levis jeans, North Face Fleece, No Aggie Ring, Texas Hat, and that curley shag protruded out of it with a bit of scruff.

I then realized......... I'm a Longhorn.

I know everyone was looking forward to this post

2007-01-19T14:09:00.000-08:00

12-7 This is the score of the Texas A&M v University of Texas game.

This score now proves my theory. I AM A EFFING LOSER. I have yet to win a rivalry game straight up. I grew up a longhorn when A&M was beating the hell outta Texas. Then I became an Aggie and Texas beat the hell out of A&M for 7 years straight. Now that I am a Longhorn again, the Aggies win.

Yes this is my plight. I am a cursed man that can call no university his home. A man without a university.

As many of y'all know I had a hard time reconciling being a student at both schools and still feel connected to the other one. This feeling has past. I am a true half-breed now. Though this bothers more Aggies than Longhorns, I don't care. I am the rosetta stone of Texas Higher Education.

For awhile many of my Aggie friends kept making fun of me for being a Longhorn and that I wore my Texas hat around (had it since high school). Then I found the response to shut them up, "Ok fine, Hook'Em", "Oh, wait when was the last time you won a National Championship in Football?".

The thing is I am the most dangerous of Longhorns and Aggies. I understand what both schools hold dear and really know how to dig a knife in. So don't mess with me.

Back to 12-7. Friends asked who I rooted for. I wore Maroon and stood in the Aggie Student section. Was I excited the Aggies won? You bet. Was I a little dissapointed that Texas Lost? Yup I sure was. Did I drink for 48 hours over Thanksgiving? Oh Yeah.

Loss of Respect

2007-01-19T14:00:00.000-08:00

So, I have lost a great amount of respect for The University of Texas School of Law. Not only did they let me transfer into their prestigious school they let me stay another semester! Thats right folks the morons let me stay. UT Law is not infallable (but my spelling is), and they make blunders and mistakes.

In all honesty it suprised me. Not only did they let me come back they didn't put me on scholastic probation or even put me at the bottom of the class. Now that my friends is just ridiculous. I can't even eat food and not drool all over myself, let alone have the brains to stay at UT Law.

So I want USNews to look at this blog and realize that UT Law is just a bunch of smoke and mirrors. Thats right...SMOKE AND MIRRORS

Yeah, I've been a bad boy

2007-01-19T13:54:00.000-08:00

I apologize to all of you avid readers of bootstraps and lawyers that I have not posted since the first week of October. This is truely unacceptable. I found two websites that have taken up all my time.

www.texags.com
www.hornfans.com

As many of you know I am a BIG college football fan. I live and breathe the stuff in the fall. I used to have to wait till I talked to my friends to discuss football, but since I found both of those message boards, I could talk about college football 24 hours a day 7 days a week! It was an amazing experience.

My screen name there is Tex117. I post on both Hornfans and TexAgs. Bias aside TexAgs is a better site because it is faster, no pop-ups, and more people tend to post.

I was recently caught on TexAgs for playing both sides. I posted on Hornfans and TexAgs playing each respected side. Yes, I can explain in subsequent posts and Yes, I swing both ways in the most heterosexual way possible.

Now that I have established myself there as a regular respected poster, I am throughly bored. Now, It would seem I will be back to blogging, which I think I am better at.

Red River Shoot Out

2006-10-05T21:16:00.000-07:00

Ok, I post alot about College Football. It is important, and if you go to law school in the state of Texas, it would behoove you to get on board because it will be talked about with Texas attorney's looking to hire you.

With that being said.

OU SUCKS

Ahh Memories

2006-10-01T21:31:00.000-07:00

This is what the "Wrecking Crew" used to look like. Delicious, but so long ago

http://stingray.tamu.edu/athletics/football/movies/holiday.mpeg

Dark Days

2006-10-01T17:55:00.000-07:00

DISCLAIMER: I am writing this post in anger and bitterness; however, the reasoning is still sound. I aplogize for spelling and sentance structure, Im too mad to care.

The Aggies lost to Texas Tech. I Don't remember the score, doesn't matter. We lost. "Time didn't run out"...There is no "We'll get'em next year," We lost.

It is not that this was a "Big Rivalry Game", it just shows we have fallen to arguably the 6th/7th best team in the state of Texas, ARGUABLY.

1. Texas
2. TCU
3. Tech
4. U of H "Cougars"/ Baylor/ UTEP
6. Southlake Carrol High School
7. Texas A&M

Whatever, Bye Fran

But this is not really what is bothering me. Football is Football. You don't judge a school by their Football Record as easy as that is to do. You look at the student body.

Instead of focusing on the very attractive girls that Texas A&M has brought to College Station on TV(like every other college football game), we see the Corps of Cadets. "Keepers of the Spirit". They are the self-proclaimed face of the university. (I could go on a 20,000 word essay on the corps, but i will refrain).

SO, instead of the other 45,000 student body we see this:

www.jcdenton40.com/aggy-nutsqueezing.wmv

I will wait till you quit laughing to continue

Are you KIDDING ME! Words cannot quite capture how idiotic this looks.

This just makes us all look stupid. Even worse it makes the State of Texas look stupid.

Amazingly enough on the Longhorn message boards, Texas actually feels sorry for us. Not the condosending rivalry way, the sympathetic parent way.

P.S. How can there possibly be a rivalry on the football field when there is no doubt who is the most dominant team?

The Aggies are making it very easy for me to be a Longhorn Fan.

College Commercials

2006-09-24T16:37:00.000-07:00

In recent years, The University of Texas along with GSD&M (an Austin marketing group) has come up with some excellent commercials to advertise their university. "What Starts Here Changes the World" is an excellent slogan. Even as an Aggie, and most aggies would agree with me (as much as we would hate to admit it), the commercials are good. Very Good. We want some just as good if not better.

So we hired GSD&M to do the same for us, and to revamp the whole marketing/advertising theme at Texas A&M. This is a good move.

Here are the Texas commercials
http://www.utexas.edu/inside_ut/tvspot/

The Aggie ones are comming along, but are not the offical 30 second made for TV commercials. It is a longer commercial link on the website for people that visit the site. A step in the right direction I think.

http://www.tamu.edu/home/video/

In my opinion, the list of 9 UT commericals, the "Rallying Cry" is my favorite of all commercials. Just Barely, and i do mean just be a hair. Probably because it is short and sweet. Though they only use two scenes for 9 commercials with diffrent commentary. This one in particuarlly is great.

And bias aside, my second favorite is the Texas A&M commercial. It does an excellent job at portraying A&M the way it is. It does not come across hokey in anyway. Who am I kidding, it is fantastic.

So lets hear what you think! Post a comment.

The best radio comment....Ever

2006-09-24T16:23:00.000-07:00

Once it was officially decided that the Longhorns were going to destroy Iowa State, one of my best friends and I decided that the Hill Country was calling to us like a mother calls home her kids. On a side note; do yourself a favor and go to Bandera, well worth your time.

So, of course we heeded the call.

Being good Texas fans we listened to the game on the radio.

This sets the stage for one of the funniest things I've ever heard on the airways.

Now this post will make no sense for anybody that has not listened to any kind of sports on the radio, but as you know the announcers/commentators are particularly specific in their delievery.

So, the game was delayed, and this is what was said:
Read the rest of this blog in your best Radio Impersonation

Now, what Texas wants to do in this situation is get everybody inside and out of this weather.

There is no telling what hail can do in this type of situation, but you better believe that the nickel sized ice can do some serious damage.

Mack Brown has practiced this senario time and time again during the afternoon workouts to make sure his team is prepared.

Judging from the clock this rain has been driving for about 8:30 minutes and has eaten up much of the time for TV commecials.

Texas is going to have to do something to slow down this rain, or it is going to be all over for the Longhorns.

Are you kidding me? Is this the way they talk all the time?

Imagine the holidays.

Now the turkey is going to have to make a strong stand against the up and comming gravy train.

Keep in mind that mashed potatoes were showing chunks earlier in the meal, but have seemed to haved smoothed out under pressure.

I laughed from Johnson City to Fredricksberg.

They played for Freedom

2006-09-19T11:51:00.000-07:00

Saturday might have been one of the greatest Saturdays of College Football in recent memory. 7 games with teams in the top 25! That is madness. I watched College Football for 12 straight hours.

Though there were many highlights of the day
LSU v Auburn last catch
Oregon v Oklahoma. That was nuts

There was one game (you know it is coming) that was just mind boggling.

The Texas A&M v Army Game.

Gotta hand it to Army. Those guys played as hard as they could, but if you think about it...It is just not fair.

These guys can have a pep talk saying that they are playing for our soldiers in Iraq! And using an inferential step, they are further playing for FREEDOM!

Now how can A&M compete with that?

We play for booze, good times, laughs, (and lets face it; some recognition that we exist on an athletic level compared to some other university).

A&M played terrible, but won.

So, I say way to go Aggies for keeping your team together and thwarting the hopes and dreams of our fighting men so that we all can continue our drunken debachary well into the night. Better yet, give the Aggies the statute of liberty, we gotta pee.

Now Don't get me Wrong

2006-09-12T20:10:00.000-07:00

Here at Bootstraps and Lawyers, another opinion especially ones that differ from the writer are highly appreciated.

This comment took thought and time to articulate, Bootstraps and Lawyers feels that it deserves publishing on the real blog.

Bootstraps reply comes later

Anonymous said...
Dear "Bootstraps",

After reading several of your posts I feel that you need a bit of perspective...

Town Lake/Lake Austin-It's called Town Lake while it runs through down town and Lake Austin out towards the 'burbs! And yes, it is actually the Colorado River! Who cares?

Loop1- Yes, poor choice of an official name but, that's why most Austinites call it MoPac.

Tacos-There is such a thing as a Soft Taco! A burrito is an extra large soft taco with the rice and beans included like at Freebirds!

Causeless Hippies-A hippy's only REAL cause is wanting to be able to smoke as much weed and have sex with as many people as possible with out consequence!

Los Lonely Boys-Austin is the live music capitol of the world and has a large hispanic population it was bound to happen! Besides, Houston produced the South Park Mexican...that's WAY worse!

Okay that being said let me get to my point and the perspective I want to offer you...Austin wouldn't be Austin without all of those "weird" little quirks. I'm sure you wouldn't be you without your's. Instead of acting like a female and picking Austin apart, embrace the quirks. Learn to love Austin for what it is and, enjoy your time here!

Love,
Another Transplanted Houstonian

This my friends is an excellent comment, and well appreciated.

I will now comment back in kind.

The Lake thing is just weird. Same body of water does not warrant two diffrent names. we don't call the Gulf of Mexio the Gulf of Texas just because the gulf stream is going past Texas.

I understand it is called MoPac. I was just trying to point out the road sign diffrence.

Don't mess with me on Tacos. A SOFT taco is a tortilla that is non-deep fried and does not close all the way. Breakfast "Tacos" are surrounded by tortilla. Therefore, NOT a taco

I very much agree with the Causeless Hippie Comment. No complaints here

Though Houston did produce South Park Mexican, they also gave the world ZZ Top, which is undoubly a great contribution to to world.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Austin. It is arguably my favorite city in Texas, and further the world. I just wanted to point out these quirks in a satirical mannor instead of the usual congratulatory back slapping saying "Keep Austin Weird" with a joint in their hand kinda way. In doing this I am contributing to the many viewpoints that Austin boasts that it embraces.

Again, Annoymous Bootstraps and Lawyers greatly appreciate your comments, and I hope you continue your readership and post comments on Bootstraps and Lawyers

Misnomers

2006-09-07T22:21:00.000-07:00

What is it with Misnomers in Austin?

What misnomers are you talking about Bootstraps?

Let me tell you.

Town Lake/Lake Austin. IS THE SAME DAMN BODY OF WATER.

and further....IT IS THE COLORADO RIVER.

There is no distinguishign characteristic that makes it a lake. It is narrow and flows. This my friends is a river.

Loop 1, commonly known as MoPac.
THIS IS NOT A LOOP
So why call it that.
Are you retarded.
It is a e'ffing highway

Everything here is a Taco.
Ladies and Gentlemen.
Crispy=Taco
Soft and chewy= Burrito

They are not Breakfast tacos when they are wrapped in a NON-deep fried tortilla.
They are not tublar taco's. THEY ARE BURRITOS

The only burrito you can get around here is Freebirds (which is a damn fine burrito I must say)
And that is a College Station thing.

Someone explain this too me before I start calling enchiladas, quesadillas, OR Texas Tech a real school.

Dear Hippie

2006-09-07T22:12:00.000-07:00

Dear Hippie,

Today I saw a "Fear Totalitarianism" bumber sticker on someone's car today.

This is ridicilous. Almost as much as my bad spelling

Fear Totalitarianism! You have to be kidding. That is like saying FEAR SHARKS. Both just as dangerous and both just as stupid to fear when neither are really an issue for you here in the Texas Hill Country.

No kidding totalitarianism sucks, but Im pretty sure there is nothing to fear anymore.

Totalitarianism was a Mussolini thing, and im pretty sure the Allies came out on top of that one.

Austin is a just a cause-head place. They pick a threatning world issue and stick with it...for about a week. (Quote from PCU 1995 Jermey Pivens movie)

Is Austin's hippie movemant solely centered on protesting something, and if they do not have a cause lose their sense of identity?

Further, these people do very little to acutally do anything about these causes they claim to care so much about.

So have a seat hippe and smoke another bowl. Let us law students/lawyers who actually are trying to do something about the causes handle this. Y'all can't play with the big boys anyway.

Love,
Bootstraps

Ode to Wings and Vodka

2006-08-31T19:56:00.000-07:00

Ode to and farewell to wings
when he writes the birds to sing

Alas he's gone, away he went
Now all Im left to do is vent

How will UT go on without
his snide comments looking down his snout

Atop of this school he did reign
But was all of it in horrific vein?

I beg to differ I beg to say
We will miss you every day.

That poem sucked. Sorry Im still pissed but learing to live again

And then.. Bevo ran though the classroom!

2006-08-31T19:44:00.000-07:00

That is what I have to tell people when they ask how my first week at UTLAW went. It was thankfully uneventful.

People ( myself included) were prepared to hear something amazing when one of their own walked through the hallowed halls of UTLaw.

Y'all guess what... It is law school.

Though there are some really cool things here don't get me wrong. i.e. People in the student lounge at 10pm watching Aladin; however, it is a law school like any other.

Guess what?
You still have to read for class.
You don't have to read a book a night, and you don't have to slam your head in library stacks where people stole books.

Professors will call on you, but they don't tear you apart like they did in my old school.

The professors are mildly to very entertaining

They party more here

The library smells like old people and dust, which is the same thing

They speak english, which you would think they would only speak latin because OH MY GOSH IT IS UTLAW.

Even though Im new here, I am a 2L. I looked in the mirror and didn't see a half crazy eyed shadow of a broken soul staring back at me.

I just saw a completely crazy eyed broken soul staring back.
But that is being a becoming a lawyer.

HOWEVER;
The welcome back lashing does take place.

Im still licking my wounds

I love Austin, but so what if I hate Los Lonely Boys?

2006-08-31T19:40:00.000-07:00

How Far is Heaven?
I'll tell you...

As far away from Los Lonely Boys as possible.

Though I'd admit that the lead guitarist can play his fender strat, but the music is about as pleasent to listen to as a baby being dragged across a chalkboard.

And the worst part is...Its on every damn radio station. Bob can shove his itune shuffel remix ipod up his digital ass.

Sorry, Im still pissed that Buffalo Wings and Vodka hung it up.

I've lost my will to blog

The saddest day in cyberspace

2006-08-31T19:35:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it.

I guess it had to happen.

The man the myth the legend. BUFFALO WINGS AND VODKA ended his reign as a legend in the law blogging community.

From the begining of my law school career (and even before) Wings and Vodka was there.

He helped me prepare for law school

Helped me laugh at law school

And I also beared his ill-legitimate child

Now where will I turn for comedic relief?

What will I do when Im bored?

Damn you wings and vodka....Damn you

I just can't quit you Wings and Vodka

I'll Never Let Go.

FUGGIT

2006-08-24T19:01:00.001-07:00

If you say FUGGIT out loud you realize that the way you say FUGGIT is the way you say FUCK IT drunk.

I am going to FUGGIT and have the best semester of my life drinking, shamelessly hitting on undergrad sorority chicks, and fail out of UTLAW at semester.

I hear med school is still taking apps.

Its like...Mice running around in my head

2006-08-24T18:58:00.000-07:00

So I had to go to a little orientation a few days ago for transfer students to UTLAW.

I have since realized Im a retard.

I can barely read the course descriptions on the registrar's webpage, let alone actually taking the course.

I'm in over my head

Leavin on a Jet Plane...err TrailBlazer

2006-08-09T07:29:00.000-07:00

So, as y'all may or may not know I attend law school in Houston, Texas. I will remain silent as to which one, but you know there are only 3 in Houston.

So, I applied as a transfer to the University of Texas School of Law. It was a snowball's chance in hell. I did it anyway as to reassure myself of my medocriaty and to make sure my ego got a health dose of rejection.

Much to my terror I got in, and hell just froze over. Any of my readers residing "South" of the boarder can thank me for that cold front that just shot over the river styx.

Therefore, I move to Austin. A Texas Aggie at the University of Texas. Hmmm Im working on how Im going to deal with this conflict of interest.

Gig'Em Bevo?
Hook'Em Aggies?

I will figure it out rest assured.

Until then...Donde esta seis street?

Sorry, my babies

2006-08-08T08:37:00.000-07:00

So, the last few months have been one wild experience.

Lets start with internships. Federal Judicial Internships to be exact

Imagine a room. Now make it smaller.
Imagine 13 people, imagine them huge.
Imagine a sardine can.
You got it.

This was my 10 week internship experience.

Now I will say that the internship was excellent with many memories of my first actual legal job. I will look back and smile.

Im not kidding about the sardine can. There were 13 people in chambers around a large wooden table. All we did was research on lexis or westlaw and write memo opinions, which in a sick way was actually exciting. However, the clerks that actually work at the office had to redo most of the stuff anyway. HAHA sucks to be a clerk with 13 retarded 1L interns.

Most of the experiences came when we all ran around the courthouse like we were playing on a playground. The Enron verdict came down when we were there, so there was much sprinting from courtroom to courtroom.

A few of the people I worked with became friends; therefore, we made our alcholism a team sport with many happy hours. The last week was championship week where we hit up a happy hour everyday.

Also, for all my houston readership. (which is basically me) Treebeards is an incredible, cheap, and delicious cajun experience in downtown. Do yourself a favor...

I also have other news. I'll post that tomorrow when I get some time. I will also think of how to be funnier. I have not been very funny since I quit my intership at the bank because i have not been bored.

I will improve.

Finals Movies

2006-05-04T16:09:00.000-07:00

As most of y'all know who read this blog every so often, you will notice that around finals time a movie comes on HBO that i kindof latch on to. Last time it was Spanglish with Paz Vega which is semi-respectable. however, the movie this time around there is no excuse for.

Did I watch The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants?
Yes I did.

Did I like it?
Every part with Blake Lively, she is the girl Bridget in the moive.

Am I ashamed....
Not really, Google the name guys and post what you think. (she is 18 i think)

Do i care what you think?
Nope

Am I trying to study contracts?
Yup

Did you fight a Panic attack today.
Funny you asked i sure did

Are you going to do fine on the final..
Probably

You wanna get wasted?
I forgot what alcohol tasted like

Are you a sad excuse for an individual.
Sadly, yes

Sorry,

2006-05-04T16:08:00.000-07:00

Allight, I know my last post was in Feb.

A lot of BS has happened, but belive me law school just keeps getting weirder...

I promise to elaborate, but I gotta study a bit more.

Now for Presidents Day

2006-02-17T11:26:00.000-08:00

Are you kidding me? Does anybody care?

I actually heard some Radio Commercial trying to use it as a marketing ploy.
Seriously,
do you really think because it is presidents day that somebody is going to buy more useless crap then they usually do.

Moron

Valentines Day in Law School

2006-02-17T11:21:00.000-08:00

As an undergrad you can always tell when it is Valentines Day.

The dining halls put up decorations

Freshman girls carry around roses that their NEW boyfriend (you know, the one AFTER the one that she said they would stay together forever while they were in high school).

The single girls put together some plan about watching Sex and the City with a bottle of wine celebrating the fact that they are single, but it is obvious it is being forced.

The guys get together and drink beer ACTUALLY celebrating the fact they are single.

People cry

Angels sing

Professors wish you happy valentines day

In law school:

No one gives a flying fuck and it is fantastic.

No one wears red

No one eats chocolate

The only crying is heard in classrooms from being ripped up by a professer.

As a matter of fact i doubt people even KNEW it was valentines day. Hence why i am writing this post more that 3 days after the fact.

Yeah.....

Drink up and Party On

So Yeah...

2006-02-17T11:17:00.000-08:00

A month then goes by in your second semester. Then it happens. For the first time in a long time, You are bored. Yes my friends BORED. You have since figured out how to brief a case that in your first semester took an hour now takes 20 minutes. You have electronic research access to Westlaw, which means you don't have to book research any more. Saves time. You know how to outline, so when you are in class you take notes in a way that makes outlining easy.

Basically, what I am saying, is that you now have a shakey yet nonetheless bead on things.

So there you have it. Not much has changed it is a holding pattern. Now i am just crusing till spring break, then Finals. Then being done with the first year.

As John Dunn once wrote

2006-01-31T22:09:00.000-08:00

No man is an island in and of itself..

Theraputic Things

2006-01-23T16:21:00.000-08:00

Recenlty I have rediscoverd some things that have a high theraputic value, but in a socratic method I will ask it as a question.

Why is listening to Smashing Pumpkins Zero and Bullet with Butterfly wings so loud in your car that you can't keep a thought in your head feel so damn good when you need to smother any brain activity?

The answer is like how many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop. no one knows except for the fucking owl.

But none the less the louder the better.

Or how about playing your own instruments. When Im in need of some serious venting few things outside of alcohol work as well as banging an E minor chord on your guitar. Quite liberating actually. Again, the more abrasive the better. Sometimes profanity comes out of your mouth sometimes not so bad song lyrics that emit from your soul, but either way it makes you feel a whole hell of a lot better.

Then with your fingers still tingling from the vibrations you pack a dip and drive around.

This my friends is how to quite any soul.

And We're back...

2006-01-23T14:56:00.000-08:00

So then it happens. For awhile there you don't think it will. That life that you knew for 4 months has been drank into oblivion so you think, but it happens. You start school again.
By now you have your grades. Some people did well, some didn't, some people aren't there anymore, but that is of no consequence. You pick up where you left off, and actually forget you were even on Christmas break.

There is a renound sense of i would say calmness. We have been there before. It is not as new and exciting, but if anything it may be a tad daughting becasue now you know exactally what is in store for the next few months. The first case you read is slow. (it has probably been awhile since you read anything with substance). Then the next one is a bit easier. By the end of preparing your first day assignments, you are ready to get after it.

Going back to law school after the break is an interesting situation. The first day back you get a bunch of phone calls from your buddies, but once you say you are back in law school they mutter an "Oh" and stop calling you. The end of the week leaves you as you were when you left for the break. Alone with all your law buddies, and what friends you can chase down on a friday night if you even have time to do that.

However it feels good. Kinda like an old slipper. You quickly gage your profs and figure out the ones that you really have to bust ass for, and you go on about your business.

In previous posts I mentioned that i may talk about the people in the different levels of law school. I've decided not to do that. Why you may ask? Well, it is because it doesnt really matter. It is totally whatever. Law School is a very personal thing. Yes, there are certain elements much like marine boot camp for your mind, but the perspectives are totally different. To everyone law school is different. I like to go at it alone, some need more people with them, but either way it is how you choose to view it.

I also apologize for my lack of funny posts. Things haven't been all that funny recently. I mean there a few law jokes i could tell, but they are a waste of time unless you were there specifically.

What is kinda funny is that I lead two diffrent lives. My first one is the law school one. Im serious, standoffish, wear my hat down low, and get through the week. Mostly under everybody's radar. I like it that way. It gives me time to think and to study. This was the system last semester and they are letting me come back to law school so im going to stick with it. Then there is the weekend life. Here i am loud, drunk, wild and do crazy things. The one life doesn't know the other at all.

The Aftermath

2006-01-03T08:34:00.000-08:00

And then like that, finals are over. You walk out of the law school with a sense of relief of being done, but the dread of finding out your grades at a much later time. You may very well find yourself standing on the street as I was not knowing what to do with yourself. I for one said Fuck It and went to Austin that very night. The drive and the booze did me very well; however it is a different type of drinking. Instead of drinking to have fun as an undergrad you now drink till you can't feel your feelings anymore. This takes considerably more alcohol, but nevertheless it is worth the endeavor.
I boozed for 5 days straight, I had to stop this odessy because my lymph nodes were beginning to swell, and my stomach began to hurt everytime i drank a sip of alcohol. So my weekend came crashing to a hault. My Christmas was bittersweet I never truely got into the spirit of things partly because I forgot there was another world beyond law school and for other reasons. Nonetheless Christmas came and went.
Then all of a sudden weird things happened. .......
I started to miss law school. While I had been out on break i had spent too much money; got two traffic violations, and destroyed what little relationship I had with a girl. Nice job huh? I thought so.
Then it came to me a horrid/beautiful thought. What i thought of as the walls of the law keeping me from expierencing my life I realized it was the opposite. It was the walls of law protecting me from myself and other people full of BS. The law in theory holds no passion (which it does, but it is not the passion as we tend to refer) it holds miles of research, books, and philosphy which can keep you busy for days straight, for a lifetime. I came to realize I am a better person when I am in law school. I think faster, run faster, don't drink as much, when I do get time to talk to people Im nicer, and more organized. Sick huh?
Perhaps a cynic would say that I'm just hiding from the human expierence. Well perhaps, but shut the fuck up I can do what I want, and dedicating a life at the law is something the average human expierence cannot comprehend.
New Years was one for the record books. I got wasted on 6th street, make a walk from 6th to 28th street, rode the horses at Littlefield fountian, stole a turtle and threw him back, ate only bacon at Kirby lane's dripping wet. The next day I went to a wine tasting in the Hill Country and (Flat Creek Estates) and ate a chicken fried steak overlooking a river at sunset in Marble Falls. Quite a remarkable New Years.
Now I'm just waiting for it to start again. The second semester of law school. It is weird because now everybody in the classroom as been through a final, and perhaps we are all a little wiser for it. At least I hope I am. I want to be committed to something again. To pass the time I've tried reading some novels, but I find the writing so elementary it makes me sick. Now I wait. Wait on grades wait on class wait on things to pick back up.

Delusion, Insanity, and back again

2005-12-03T09:40:00.000-08:00

There comes to a point during finals that the world becomes quiet. Nothing matters. People talk and you can't hear, cars move slower, the only thing you can hear is the reminents of black letter law echoing in your head.

It starts slow, you do things you never do like leave the oven on, or try to open your house door with a car key for about 15 seconds till you figure why it is not working. You can almost convince yourself in this time period that you don't ever have to take finals. It has been a week that you have not been in class, and the smell of turkey is in the house.

Then it happens:
You find yourself naked in the bathtub with no water at 3 am in the morning clutching your torts book in the fetal position rocking yourself singing Living on a Prayer.

At this point you do have a moment of clarity, you stand up, put your clothes on, and go back to studying.

Things are never that bad again. Clarity mixed with Apathy, and a crush on Paz Vega will pull you out of this slump like a life boat on the titanic.

Copenhagen helps too...

Why the Movie Spanglish has saved my life

2005-12-03T09:23:00.000-08:00

I apologize to all my avid readers for the lack of posts. Law Schools finals are fantasticly horrid, but exciting at the same time. In any event I have not had much time, and what time I have had I have speant it driving around dipping Copenhagen and clearing my head.

With that being setteled....To the topic.

I don't know if any of y'all have seen the movie Spanglish (Adam Sandler, tea lioni, Paz Vega).
It is not a typical Adam Sandler movie and it is kinda a serious role for him. In any event the person of interest in this movie is Paz Vega. She is about 27, from Spain with long dark hair and dark eyes. She plays a mexican housekeeper.

I have watched this movie I think at least 6 times since it has been on HBO, and it is always on before any of the finals i have taken. In watching this movie I am stunned by Paz Vega. I could watch it on mute and still just stare at it. Thus, my mind has not been dwelling on finals and i have been thinking of my crush on Paz Vega.

A clear head and not stressing out is essential to taking law school exams.

Therefore, I can chalk up my sanity to watching Spanglish.... An allright movie...

Yes i realize this post does not make sense, but then again neither does my distorted reality.

Types of Law Students (Levels)

2005-10-24T06:55:00.000-07:00

So it becomse apparent midway through the semester, probably sooner the different kinds of law students.

There are 4 levels of students, and within each level are specific types of individuals.

There are:
The upper group that pretty much has a grasp on the material at least what is presented in class. This is an interesting mixtures of assholes and cool people. The widest variety of individuals reside in this class and in the kinda have it group.

The kinda have it group, that hold on to what they know, but really milk it for what it is worth. In all honesty it is hard to tell between these first two groups. There are certain classes of people that make this line blurry, but fear not, an explanation is forth coming in subsequent posts.

The kinda don't have it, these are the people that would be in the kinda have it group, but seem to act more like an undergrad. They come in hung over, and always have a story about the night before, and complain about being way far behind in their reading.

Then there is the don't have it group. This is the group that has people dropping out and always have that frantic, confused, pissed off look in their face.

Remember these are perceptions. Not actually based on knowledge. It could be the pissed off people are mad because everyone else is so stupid, or the kinda don't have it people get drunk because they are bored because they know everything already. Granted this is not too terribly likely, but most certianly this is a concern.

I fall somewhere between the Upper level, and the kinda have it group. Some days are better than others. I know I am not totally lost in most of my classes. I can follow what is going on. I can ask good questions in class. This is good.

I will go into more detail about the personalities within each group a bit later. They are quite fasinating like much of law school is.

Ah the First Cool Front, and a moment of reflection

2005-10-24T06:46:00.000-07:00

So the first cool front of the year has blown in. Temps from 100 degrees not three weeks ago as of right now is about 49. There is something about the north wind that charges the soul. The sky is never as blue than on days like today. I also know that the semester is beginning its rapid decline, and soon my freedom will be limited between book covers. These are the days I miss College Station the most.

Thinking back this has been an eventful semester.
From the Aggies being worse than everybody thought,
to a Hurricane that everybody had to evacuate from,
to the Astros winning the pennant.

At least the last two are events that don't usually happen to this part of Texas. Better yet, these senarios happened about 3 weeks apart from each other, so they were like mile stones directing me farther into the semester.

By the time I looked up there were only about 3-4 weeks of classes left. Are you kidding?! I just started! There is a background noise of hysteria that was always there, but is now beginning to grow into a dull roar.

People are beginning to not show up for class because they think they will have to recite, and professors will go through 4 people on the list just to get to one who is present.

Every day is more surreal than the next.
This weekend I shall have one more solid weekend in College Station, but after that it will be whatever happiness i can grab in a 4 hour time span betweens studyin.

It is getting crazy

Hazing...

2005-10-05T14:14:00.000-07:00

Dear John Roberts,
You are about to get your ass so whipped by the current supremes it is just mind-boggling.

I've heard that they make you adminster justice with your pants off, and you have to pop 2 viagra before each hearing. There will be no half mast for you Chief Justice Roberts!

Then, you must lie in a coffin and watch 6 straight hours of the Ginsberg sex tape that has been circling the internet.

If you aren't dead at this point they will make you do a sixty second keg stand and prank call George W. to ask if his refridgerator is still running.

Also, on top of all that you have to take a nose dive from the bench to land between the supple cleavage of Anna Nicole Smith.

Once all this is accomplished you will learn the secret handshake, and upon your completetion of sitting in the Lincon Memorial on Abe's lap, naked, on acid, reciting the Restatement of Contracts, you will be finally initiated into the Supreme Court.

You will meet the ghost of John Marshall, and actually get to kiss the rotting corpse of Oliver Holmes, amazingly enough his white mustache is still there!

So congratualtions Chief Justice Roberts, you deserve it!

Sincerly,
Bootstraps

I'm a 1000 Miles From Nowhere

2005-10-04T21:49:00.000-07:00

And there is no place I'd rather be....

It becomes apparent midway through your 1st semester of law school that you will never be the same.

At first when you hear you will change you don't believe it. Even in the first few weeks you hold to the fact that you wont change. You still go out, get smashed like an undergrad, and have many friends that are willing to do the same right along with you.

Then day by day these things begin to slip.

The first thing to go is your concept of the weekend. In college it was Wed.-Sun. Now you just pray you get at least one night completely free. Getting lit up is usually a luxuary you can't afford because of the atrocious hangover that you weather all the next day. However, make no mistake that you still get wasted, but now you just know that you shouldn't. It will only take a day for you to realize why 1 out of 5 lawyers have an alcohol problem.

The next is your hoard of friends. Your relationship will change a bit like it or not. Lie to yourself if you want to, but it does. Your friends are not on the same page as you. You look at things differently. They can slam 5 beers faster than you can drink 1 and you are more drunk than they are after it. Believe me this is a good thing that they don't think like you. It is like drinking from a mountian stream after crossing the desert when nobody asks you for 24-hours what a Reasonable Person would do. Old friends are refreshing

The next step is your slip into Nowhere. Work is piling on from the Law School gods, what you thought you had a handle on at the beginning of the semester is slipping from your mind, the price of gas is 3 bucks a gallon, and finals are now in the somewhat distant horizon. You begin to doubt what you are doing is the right way to study. You find yourself lost in thought most of the time while walking around doing things. You can't fall asleep very well because you are again lost in thought. Conversations on the phone with your usual people becomes distant because half the time you are wishing you were reading torts and not chatting on the phone.

However, at least for me, I enjoy it. You have to take things day by day and week by week. Everyday will present itself with a unique challenge and it is up to you how to handle it. Everyday is an opportunity to do better, and everyday is another opportunity to do worse. If you let yourself drown without a fight, there will be no re-surfacing, but if you thrash hard enough, you may not lose sight of the daylight and emerge once again.

Almost losing to Baylor? I mean are you kidding?

2005-10-04T09:18:00.000-07:00

So there I was, sitting in my recliner in my athletic shorts when Texas A&M enters Kyle Field on saturday at 11:30. I had just cleared my afternoon schedule so I could devote my attention to the Aggies. Little did I know at the time I could have saved myself the commercial breaks and headed down to the high school stadium to watch some pee-wee football. The Aggies were atrocioius on offensive, and sub-par on defense. The defense did do well in holding the Bears down to just a few points, but that may have been because the Bears don't know how to find the end-zone. I'm not knocking Baylor they played a great game. There defense was all over the place, and their quaterback did fairly well.

How is Texas A&M going to compete with the big boys if we cant whip the step sister of the Big12?

I'm afraid it may be a long season. BUT I've been wrong before.

A good litmus test will be this weekend of the road against Colorado

Whatever, Im still mad.

How I learned to stop Worrying and Love the Hurricane

2005-09-27T15:04:00.000-07:00

Ahh hear that? That is the sound of relaxiation and a grilled cheese. I have had classes cancelled since last thursday till tomorrow, and I am soaking in every drop or chilled goodness.

But lets set the stage.

It had been 3 weeks or so since a real post.

I will say two things about Law School at the end of week 8.
1) It is hard, but managable; and
2) It is like getting hit in the face with a wrench and trying to remember the serial number.

Sounds like fun yes?

Actually it can be, but then again I have not had the pleasure of sitting through finals yet, so my perspective very well may change.

A routine begins to set in after week 2. Days go by on an almost methodical clip. You know when you wake up everyday you are going to be confused at least once that day, and you will somehow find a glimmer of hope by talking to some other poor soul in class that you think you are doing better than.

This continues till about week 7.

At this point another wave of panic is beginning to invade the classes psyche. Some people are already hitting the wall. You actually take comfort in this because hey, it is not you, and you seem to be doing ok. You are very confused as to what to remember and what do you don't. Your legal research and writing is starting to pick up the pace sending your schedule into a funk. A professor may give a practice test to make everyone feel that they are doing ok, but the reverse is true, and everyone feels as if they are the stupidest people on the planet.

And then hell comes from the Sea.

Hurricane Rita, a catagorey 5 at the time, was barreling down on Houston like a pack of wild dogs. People from the south were already under evacuation, and we are sitting in Civil Procedure doing nothing, but thinking how to file a 12 b 6 against the hurricane when all of a sudden an email crosses computers like the hand of God saying classes are cancelled for the remainder of the week, and for us to evacuate.

At this point, to describe how warped the reality of a law students reality is, we all rejoice as to not have class for 2 days, and not even give a thought as to the destruction very well could be in our future. Quickly margaRITA parties are being planned, and you can almost hear the tops of beers being popped in class.

I for one decided that I would finish my work for the next class peirod like a good law student I am (yeah so that part is bull shit), and evacuate to College Station for some rest, a football game, and plenty of undergraduate booze to go around.

I wake up the next morning at 5:30am to "Get a jump" on the traffic, but much to my dismay traffic never stopped, and I had to board up my house with ply wood anyway. Once I hit the road I began to get creative. This was the biggest traffic jam in US history. It went on for 100 miles and would last for over 14 hours on the road to go less than 100 miles. I chose to brave Hwy 290, which i was only on for about 1 mile because i just couldn't stand it. I ended up on the back roads without a map and only the sun to guide me. Somehow, i was dumped 30 miles South of College Station in only a mere 4 hours. The average time it was taking people was 8 hours, and the usual time was 1 hour and 20 min. None the less i felt good about life and felt I accomplished something.

The rest of the weekend consisted of booze and fun, and not a soul asked me what substantail certaintiy meant. I was drunk and happy for many days.

I came home as of yesterday, knowing that my utopia could not last, and began to study a bit here and there.

I got a little mad at the hurricane for a little while because I was caught up with all my stuff, but people that were not had a chance to catch up. I however later decided that I got a much needed vacation and they had to spend it studin. So i felt better. I belive I may have held off a psychotic episode for at least another few weeks.

Now, I am just outlining a bit, reading over some stuff, and watching Fox News. I fell good, I feel happy, and I know that the semester is half over.

Here's to my last moment of sanity.

I apologize

2005-09-19T06:05:00.000-07:00

For all of those who read this blog (yes i know this is the masses), I apologize for not posting in awhile. Between the Aggies losing to Clemson, and a Civil Procedure practice exam, I have been most pre-occupied. However, fear not! I will post very soon.

Until then here is something to chew on....

My eye-patched, john wayne, true grit, torts professor,

Pulled out a land mine in class

Just something to think about

Memories of my first two weeks of Law School

2005-08-30T21:04:00.000-07:00

I seem to be noticing a certian sense of overall decline in the tenseness of a 1L classroom. Not to say it is still stressful, but people have forsaken the stoic scared look, and now go with the crazed look. The profs too seem to be getting more comfortable.

For Example: TO have this example be more funny. Think of my contracts professor as Milton from Office Space, but add a Adolf Hitler mustache and no glasses.
Yesterday in contracts we were reading the case Fiege v Boehm talking about how there was valid consideration when there was a reasonable belief the defendant was the father, and that if he paid for medical expenses she would not sue. So the class was chewing on this asking questions and such when the prof just blurts out

"Look I doubt she was having a Gang Bang night, so y'all can quit asking about the probability of him being the father, it was the 50's for Christ sakes!"

The classroom erupted in laughter, but he never skipped a beat and didn't even pause for the howling to die down.

The second memory was in my Criminal Law class TODAY. This guy is in his first year teaching and he used to be in the JAG corps. I think he is doing very well with his first year of teaching, but more on that in December.

Anyways: So he is trying to make a point about circumstantial evidence and how that can be used to prove Mens Rea when he sits on a podium that is proped against the wall.
This podium goes crashing in pieces and the professor eats it on the stage. Again laughter erupts because the prof is turning bright red. He begins to cut up and make fun of himself as we are trying to hide our laughter from behind our laptop monitors. He continues for 5 minuets to pick wood splinters out of his ass.

And who thought you couldn't have fun in law school

1st week Down, and I learned a very valuable lesson

2005-08-22T21:52:00.000-07:00

Well the first week of law school is now but a memory. Now I can join the legions of legal professional who consistently reference their 1st day/week of law school. The work load is not incredibly awful, but it is not easy either. 4 hours a day can under most circumstances do the trick. Today I was called on to answer some question about personal jurisdiction, and I kinda didn't know the answer, but I had a hunch. I was trying to hash it out with my professor in front of the class when some dumb ass chick sitting next to me starts to whisper the other Yes, (I was arguing no). Thinking I had it totally wrong I backtracked and said Yes....I was wrong. FUCK! I am still pissed. One I knew i had a good idea what the answer was, and I am even more mad at myself to listen to somebody I know that is at least as confused as I am. Damn I am mad. But at least I wasen't reciting a case and these questions came in a slew to others so I doubt that it made a lasting impression, but still. FUCK SO i learned a very valuable lesson, FUCK everybody else, and unless they can show you in writing or very explicitly express to you that you are wrong....Then they are wrong and I am right....

Other than that, With only 1 week down, I kinda like this stuff

Orentation...Kinda like 6th Grade Government

2005-08-11T23:26:00.000-07:00

So I have been attending my law school's New Student Orientation. I would like to describe it as pulling teeth, but slower. My goodess. Today they actually took an hour to explain that there were 3 branches of government, and what they did in accordance with the law. I can understand that you have to start somewhere, and I don't believe that it will remain at this pace, but what made it worse is that some people were frantically writing this information down. I mean are you kidding! Call me crazy, but I doubt that will be on the final. If it is call me Chief Justice because I have this nailed. One of my professors looks like an older John Wayne from True Grit...(the one with the eye patch). He is pretty much a bad ass. My LR&W prof seems fairly legit. So now I just have to finish up reading for my Mock Class and get ready for the real deal. Lets just get on with it.....

Hole in the Wall Bar's and Lawyers

2005-08-06T12:05:00.000-07:00

So a few nights ago I was sitting in some dive in Houston listening to Dub Miller (A Texas Country Singer) host an open mike might. This particular artist sings a song called These Boots. Basically the song is about his cowboy boots. After having writers block on my Persoanl Statement for law school, I was driving around listening to this song. In short, the song inspired me to write about my own cowboy boots in the two pages of personal statement. Back to the story. While I was sitting on the stool drinking a hand cramping cold long neck, I told my buddy this story. Apparently a friend of Dub Miller over heard this conversation and insisted that I relate the story to Dub. So, after a song was finished while I was wasted I yelled this story to him on stage. Miller started laughing and said "Man that is cool, I forgot all about that shit." Dub Miller is also in law school at the same one I will be attending. Then another law student came up, and they both related stories to me that my life is over. I took their advise and started devising my will. When a country singer says your life is over when all he normally sings about is losing wives, dogs, and sobriety then I became a little nervous and take his word for it.

Copenhagen Love

2005-08-02T00:36:00.000-07:00

For those of y'all who have not had the pleasure of ever expiermenting with Copenhagen, I lend my deepest sympothiese. Copenhagen has been satisfying customers since 1822, and had taken 4 years of my life that I could say that I was "Dip Free". I do love the stuff very much, but I quit my sophmore year of college for overall health reasons. Copenhagen is finely cut tobacco mixed with fiberglass to put in your bottom lip. It is quite an incredible sensation of tobacco buzz and burning; however, your first time to use such an incredible substance can prove to be a tad overwhelming.
During my last week at work at my internship, my boss was out of town. This led to me and another guy who actually works there to have a self proclaimed summer camp in the office. All week we jacked around, went to Starbucks, and caused trouble. On our way to a Starbucks the following conversation takes place

Bootstraps: Hey man, have you ever tried Copenhagen?
Co-worker who has done/is on hardcore drugs: No man I haven't

BS: It is pretty good stuff. Dude you should try it!
CW: I don't know man, It is a pretty Aggie thing to do (He went to UT)

BS: Allright then, it is your birthday though. (It was indeed his birthday)
CW: Thank You

BS:.......
CW: Hey, I kinda want to try it. Do you have any?

BS: No, but i will get some hold on.

I then at this point drive to the closest corner store and purchase a can of the brown goodness. I show the man how to hold, pack, and dip Copenhagen. Once we have everything situated this is what followed.

BS: How ya feeling man?
Slightly buzzed co-worker: Pretty good

BS: Dude you need to take it out if the buzz gets real hard.
Getting more buzzed Co-Worker: Man don't worry, I have had weed that is not as good as this.

BS: Ya doing ok?
Really Buzzing Co-worker: Woah man I need to get a blowjob on this. This is great!

BS: Careful....
Getting Sick Co-worker: Dude is it hot in here?

BS: No

(He is sweating profusley)

BS: Take it out
Sick Co-Worker that takes it out: Ehhhh AIR....Get back to the office

BS: Ok man

Wheels automobile into the office parking garage

BS: Dude here ya...

Co-worker opens the door, holds onto my bumber, and throws up all over the ground. He is at this for a solid 10 min. I begin to worry that somebody will come out and think we were doing drugs or something of that nature. After puking we get inside were he runs to the 1st floor bathroom. Here he gags a few more times and is still sweating. I had a meeting and left him there to talk to some lobby supervisor. An hour later I found him staring at his computer with his head in his hand swearing to himself.

Best part is, I got him to do it again that afternoon.
HAHAHA

Thats Right...Biatch!

2005-07-26T08:59:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of having to drive to the Houston Ship Channel to have my computer fixed. There is more to this story, but it is for another time. Now in this place I was probably the only tie wearing yuppy in a one mile radius. No one whould hear my Calvin Klien wearing craker ass scream. So while a guy named Hung is working on my computer (yeah I know) this punk kid comes walking in the door. He is wearing a black beanie, long jean shorts, and some racial connetation shirt on. Words like, yo, fool, and trippin come pertuding out of his mouth as he converses with everybody in the store, except for me. I finally found a small stool to sit on amidst the graveyard of dead PC's and attempted to not draw attention to myself. While I was sitting on my stool, this kid walked right passed me. To my absolute astonishment when he walked by he said with no accent "Excuse Me Sir" I, feeling pretty cool, replied "Well, Excuse Me", but internally I was saying

Damn right craker, I just killed whitey and busted a cap in some fool that was trippin on my bitch. Yo you have no idea what the street is like fosheezy.

Translation: I had a mocha frappachino at Starbucks, and I appreciate you noticing that I in wearing a suit denote some sort of authority and power.

In any event, I felt cool and old at the same time.

Ah Fridays

2005-07-22T15:15:00.000-07:00

Yes it is Friday, Some people look at it as the end of the week. It is even reffered to as the weekEND; however, this is not for me. With the taste of stale beer still lingering in my mouth from a Thursday night of saying I will take it easy, I look to Friday as a new beginning, the beginning of the weekend, the beginning of hardcore partying, and just a beginning to what can and all that is possible. The 5pm chime can be equivicated to that of angels singing and a purging of your soul commences as your step outside those cell doors. As your car drones through traffic each white line represents you being that much closer to your beginning. It is time to move on. Past a day, past a week, past a month, and quite possibly past a year of trials. irritations, and dissapointments. We must sieze this opportunity of freedom and exploit it to its maximum. Friday a time to move on.

Friday...drink it...live it....breathe it...

Thursdays are for Young People

2005-07-21T14:51:00.000-07:00

It has recently come to my attention that there is a line between the old and the young. Yes my friends there is no general fade into either catagory, but specific discernable leaps. This leap is one of the first steps. There is no specific age. It can come at either 20 or 50. The onset of old age is a relative term that knows no age, no race, and no gender. My friends, I am talking about the ritual of Thursday night. In our college years we were introduced the beauty that is going out on a Thursday night. It is a show of defiance, it is a show of independence, and it is a damn good time. When you are finally out of eden and into the desert of corporate wandering for 40 years, the mecca of Thursday nights still remains a pillar of youth. Not that a person must go out EVERY thursday night, but the feeling of wanting to must be in your bones. There are other steps in becoming old, but this is one of the first gates to fall to the barbarians that will eventually come in and destroy all that is left of your screaming inner youth.

And that means, I am going out tonight.

A wave of Panic

2005-07-18T16:53:00.000-07:00

So thoughout this summer I have been basically chilling out. Sure, I have been saying to myself how hard Law School is going to be and how much work it will require; however, today was very different. Do to my curiousity I accessed the school web page to see what was new. The initial class assignments were posted. I clicked on some that could very well be my professors. My eyes went wide with terror. Sure I can read, Sure I can even brief a case (at least get the format right), but having to read all those rules? For instance 12.01-12.08? What do I do with them? Do I memorize them? Do I put them in an outline? The pressure is most certianly building, and it is not the pressure that I have been experiencing. It is something diffrent. I don't know yet, but it is different. It is just time to begin. That is all there is to it. I am sitting at my table in the middle of the hall torturing myself with how hard it is going to be. I don't want the time to stew in such thinking. I'm ready to go.