This is my outlet . . .

Last night, I was reading a blog by one of my law professors,

 who is one of my biggest inspirations,

and I became somewhat disheartened.  He was talking about student blogs and how so many of them were all the same thing, and there were very few that he would recommend, and I noticed the ones he did recommend were all very legal.  

Because I look up to this particular professor so much,

 I started doubting myself.  

I was thinking how my blog is just kinda my thoughts and there is not much depth or any importance to it.

But then, I thought, "No!!! This blog is my outlet!!!

 I think and read and experience law all day everyday!

I want to be a human too!  I want to carry on about somewhat meaningless things at times and talk about my feelings and music, things I am passionate about apart from the law!"

Clearly, I am passionate about the law, above most things! 

 I would not spend 13 hours in one day in the school, 

studying property of all things, if I weren't!

There are so many issues out there that I love to discuss, mainly immigration and death penalty type issues, but that is what I do here, all the time.  

I titled this blog, Inter Alia, which means, among other things, because I wanted it to be a place for the OTHER THINGS!

Someday, I might also start a blog about legal matters, social issues, 

human rights and the like. 

But for now, this is my place to vent, and feel free.

So, to my lovely dear professor (and I truly mean that) who inspired this blog, if you read it,

 you might not learn anything of substance, or any new legal theories.

But you will learn about me.  Who I am, how I feel, what makes me tick.

And for now, that is my only goal :)

And the Insanity Begins . . .

Finals start . . . NOW!!!!!

It is like, the most insane thing!

You spend ALL semester studying, reading, prepping

for 1 test,

1 test that is your total grade for that class!!!

Talk about PRESSURE!!! 

I have been a little crazy lately!

I miss people,

 I have been spending every evening with my books.

At least my cats are great company!!!!

So, I am going to take some time to focus on things that make my heart smile :)

I dream of taking a trip to the UK passing after the bar exam!!!!!!

This is how I picture it: 

Green, Wet, Beautiful, Alone, Enchanting

I dream of traipsing about the English countryside

with Mr. Darcy or Heathcliffe 

I picture myself sitting 

in an Irish pub, 

watching the rain through the window

and feeling completely content.

( I did this all the time . . .

I thought they were racing!)

I am also looking forward to this summer! 

I have no clue what I am doing yet, 

but that is exciting!

I want a perfect, paid legal job  

I also want summer romance!!!!! 

THIS is Exactly What I am 

Dreaming of, Hoping for, Anticipating, Desiring . . 

Summer sunsets, building our own personal soundtrack, holding hands, picnics, wildflowers,

taking pictures, reading, discussing, debating,

 live music and dancing. 

EPIC.

Can it Happen?????

I am challenging myself, 

starting now, to be

 more open, vulnerable, and available.

Why does this scare me so much????

I think it is my greatest fear!

I am ready to see where curiosity can lead me . . .

Sometimes . . .

The heart just wants what it wants

Sometimes . . .

We burn, we pine, we perish

Sometimes,

We just can't make 

sense of things

Sometimes . . .  

   Our Hearts feel things

that we can never, ever say . . .

Sometimes . . .

No one understands

Sometimes . . .

You feel like there is no hope.

And Yet . . . . . . . .

No matter how much we try to resist, 

no matter how much we "know better",

at some point . . .

we start to give in. 

Because as much as we think we are 

cynical, bitter, and broken;

Hope creeps through, 

Desire breaks the skin, 

Passion cannot be quenched

And One Final Thought:

(I hope it's great . . . I'm really nervous!)

Spring Break is Over

Have you ever woke up at 3:00 in the morning, thinking about someone that you just can't get out of your brain?

It's like when a song gets stuck in your head and plays over and over and over . . . but it's not a song, just a name and a face that you wish you were with.

I want my head and heart to be clear.  I don't want to let people in anymore unless they pursue me and beg to be let in.    I tend to give away pieces of my heart so easy.  Especially to the wounded,  I long to take care of them.  I need to wait for someone who wants to take care of me. 

This is especially true. 

 You could be my inspiration, my music, my entertainment, my lighter side, my fun.

I could be your stability, your comfort, your reason, your soft place to fall.

A Tribute to Zooey . . .

SOOOOO . . .  I am sitting on the front porch in a shabby white rocking chair with the sun shining and a nice breeze blowing and listening to the new She & Him album, Volume 2.

                                                         

I have kindly included a link, so you too can have a listen!

And this has inspired in me a need to share my love for the amazing Zooey Deschanel

I am just going to go ahead and assume that you have all seen (500) Days of Summer, since it is the best movie released last year and one of my current obsessions.

(If you think the movie is great, the soundtrack will blow your mind!)

So, accordingly, you should at least know Ms. Deschanel (Gibbard) as Summer.  If not, she has also starred in Yes Man w/ Jim Carrey, The Happening w/ Mark Walberg, and many other films such as her screen-stealing role in Almost Famous.

But her acting alone is not what inspires such devotion from me.  

For one, she is an actress and musician that actually makes

good, quality music.

Also, she is married to THE Ben Gibbard, 

which lets me know she has 

wonderful taste and appreciates quality men.

I think she is one lucky girl!

One of her defining characteristics is her unique style.  

She is a fashion icon for the unconventional, like me!

Lastly, awhile back I found these adorable pics of her apartment!!!  

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE getting to see how my favorite stars decorate!!!!!

Final paper of the semester due Friday.  It is a massive pain.  

At least I am on the side I believe is right, makes the work much easier.  

Last Semester, on the way to every final, 

I rocked out to MJ & Janet's Scream.  

The lyrics are quite applicable to law school life

"Stop pressuring me, you make me want to Scream!"

Blaring it is definitely a nice outlet.

I ran into this recently and it warmed my heart all over.

Those of you who know me well, know of my long-term, 

intense love for the King of Pop. 

I have always defended him to everyone. I have listened to his music consistently throughout my life. 

I never turned against him, or gave up on him. 

When my BFF told me he had died, I fell to the ground. 

It sounds very odd, but I mourned more for MJ than I just about anyone else I have ever known, 

with one exception.

I cannot see his children make a public appearance without tearing up.

And, I actually had a spiritual experience when I went to see "This Is It"

Now, before you cry "Blasphemy!" . . . .  Listen!!!

I was in the theater watching this amazing man perform, compose, produce, conduct every single minute detail of his show,  his opus.  He had more talent in his pinky than everyone else I know in the world combined.  Watching him took my breathe away, and I just kept thinking

"God gave him that talent.  This breathtaking talent is just a small glimpse of an aspect of God, something that he created, and blessed Michael with."

And his spirit . . .

He was so humble and so kind.

The American public turned on him in a horrible way

and hurt him very deeply. 

Due to accusations that had no evidence to back them up

and a scandal-hungry mass media that

decided his guilt the moment they heard the accusations, 

his life was never the same.

But from what I saw in the documentary, 

I would say he did not become bitter or cynical.

People hurt him, bad

But he wanted to provide his fans with an amazing show

He wanted his children to get to see who he HAD been, before.

The cynical people out there will always believe what they want, 

but I believe in Michael

and I am soooo thankful for the gift of music, dance, and inspiration

that he gave us all.

It makes me sad to think of what he got back from us at the end of his life .. . .

I will conclude this topic, one I am very passionate about, with this:

When I was leaving the theater after watching "This is It" 

I was listening to the masterpiece, Billy Jean

and some of the lyrics hit me so hard

as a foreshadowing of the events in Michael's life

"Be careful what you do,

 because a lie becomes the truth."

My Personal Top 10 Albums of the Decade

So, I have been thinking a lot lately about the end of the 00 decade.  Most of my high school years and all my undergrad years were in this decade, so it was quite formative, and I am very appreciative of it!

To show my love, I am going to start making some lists, summing up things I loved dearly in the 00s. Today we have . . . . . .  

My Personal Top 10 Albums of the 00s!!!!

Disclaimer: These are the albums that I listened to most and were released in the 00s. 

 I am not saying they are critically the best, if that were the case, 

Yankee Hotel Foxtrot would be on here for Potts.  

These are simply the albums I could never get enough of!

10. The Postal Service - Give Up

In my heart, anything Ben Gibbard touches is gold!!!!!

9. Ra Ra Riot - The Rhumb Line

This album would definitely be higher on the list, 

but it did not come out till near the end of the decade, 

so I had much less time to listen to it!!!!!  

8.  Copeland -In Motion

    

I first heard of Copeland when I saw 

them at HYAMP in Huntington. 

I spent most of 2006 listening to this CD.

One of the most beautiful songs I will ever know

is "You Have My Attention"

7. Anberlin - Cities

Any and all Anberlin CDs could easily be on this list. 

 I can count on all of their albums all the time.

Consistently good.  

6. mewithoutYou - Brother, Sister

I thought I did not like mwY until Jess Poole made me

listen to this CD.  How wrong I was!

One of the best shows I have ever seen!

5. Spill Canvas - One Fell Swoop

As Jess Poole and I discussed the other day, 

both Spill Canvas and Ra Ra Riot are AMAZING bands

that we had never heard of until they opened for 

a band we loved!  Isn't it wonderful to receive a

surprise like that?

4. Death Cab for Cutie - Plans

Again, this is really just my representation for all 

Death Cab albums.  They are definitely in my top 

3 favorite bands!! Dying to see them live again!

3. White Stripes - Get Behind Me Satan

As much as I love White Blood Cells, what sets

 Get Behind Me Satan apart for me is the 

insane diversity in the songs.

Almost every song on the album has

a completely different feel to it 

than the one before it, and yet

I love them all!!!!  

Jack is genius!

2. Michael Jackson - Number Ones

I mean, is there any need for words??  

RIP MJ, I was never a fan that 

abandoned you, and your music

will never abandon me when 

I need to dance!!!!!

And . . . . . My Top Album of the 00s is . . . . . . . 

1. Mae - The Everglow!!!!!!!!!

I will NEVER, EVER forget the way I felt the first

time I put this CD in my car stereo and heard "We're So Far Away."

This album is a story, and no part of it disappoints.  

I am listening to it right now, and it feels like 

reuniting with a long lost friend. 

Some Honorable Mentions are:

Brand New - The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me

Taking Back Sunday - Louder Now

White Stripes - White Blood Cells

Death Cab for Cutie - Narrow Stairs

So . . . 

What are SOME of your Favorites?????