Resolutions Revisited

Well, I didn't make a New Year's resolution because I don't think they work for me. Instead I decided to just continue in being successful in the goals I've set for myself. Much like 2 years ago when I was happy that I was ending the year smaller than I started, I was happy that I ended this past year smaller than I started. I didn't make the progress I wanted, but it made me smile when a dear friend noticed my progress at a happy hour event pre-leaving LA. But I needed to get back to the gym. I don't even want to talk about the amazing dinners I made during the holidays, but let's just say that between the gourmet dinners and decadent desserts, combined with the snow on the ground, I was not as active as I'd hoped.

I found out there's a school gym about a block from my apartment so now it's going to be my fall back if I don't use the one on campus. Now there are no excuses because instead of a 20 minute walk from home, this place is a block away. Added bonus: the gym was fairly empty because the undergrads aren't back yet, so instead of trying to package my workout into a stupid half hour time slot, I was able to take my time. That I actually manage to hang on for 45 minutes was a miracle of the iPod. Praise be to Pat Benetar, Britney Spears (Circus album), and Soulja Boy...and to fab people who have previously gifted me iTunes giftcards :)

Ooh, and I bought myself another Christmas present!



I'm trying to make sure I am maximizing my progress, so what better way to help me keep track of calories in and calories out. If it works for the Biggest Loser folks, then it could work for me (notwithstanding the whole, ya know, 8 hours of working out per day).


PS: For the gym rats, don't be assholes to the people who did make resolutions and are in the gym. Yeah, I know it sucks when you have to wait to use a machine, but if they want to make a change, you should be happy for them.

Ten Years

OK, so technically the end of the decade is what, next year? Who knows? I'm never really good at that stuff. However, since everyone had the Y2K hysteria and did the decade lists 10 years ago (and this year), I think it's fair game to talk about it now.

1999: I graduated from high school and had finished my first quarter at UCLA. I was really enjoying myself a lot...well, at least my extracurriculars. I disliked my roommates a LOT and was looking forward to living off-campus. I wanted to go to law school, but knew my grades weren't going to be up to par. My mom and stepdad had just split up and my family had just moved to Vegas (my mom, the twins at 8 months, and my sister). My sister had just finished high school and was pregnant with my nephew Isaac. I had just negotiated with the judge to complete an alcohol diversion class instead of having a suspended license for my MIP (minor in possession). I had finally broken up with my high school boyfriend a couple of months before and was not-so-secretly pining after a guy I hooked up with during the summer. I had no idea if I'd ever meet someone that I could even date long term, much less marry.







2009: Shockingly, I managed to not only finish undergrad, but also a master's degree. I just finished my first semester at Harvard Law School. I really like it a lot, even though I don't get nearly enough sleep. My grades are probably still not up to par, but I try very hard. My roommate now irritates me sometimes but I probably won't move out any time soon because he's my husband :). I've been married for almost two and a half years. I now live on an entirely different coast. My nephew will be 10 in a couple of months and the twins will be 11. But the biggest change? I am happy.







True, it's not all wonderful. I've gained weight in the last 10 years which annoys me (to put it mildly). I don't look as young as I once did. But the last 10 years have been such a roller coaster ride and they've seemingly passed so quickly. The next 10 are going to be filled with so many other wonderful milestones: graduating from law school, beginning my professional career, having children, buying a home. The twins will be on the brink of turning 21 (!!!!!!). I will be officially middle aged (Boo!). But I can't wait for all that life will bring.

Happy New Year, all!

Merry Christmas to Me!

I decided to buy myself a pre-finals pick-me-up. I mean, it makes The Outdoorsman's life easier because he doesn't have to shop for me or try to keep a secret (at which he is quite terrible). I win because I get exactly what I want at a good price and I get it immediately! Of course, this was a rationalization made after I saw the email from Gilt Group saying that there was a sale on Juicy Couture that day and The Outdoorsman was still sleeping so he couldn't talk me down from the ledge.



Little Juicy Couture crown earrings. I bought another pair for my little sister for Christmas too. She's in 5th grade now and preparing to go to middle school next year. Between the Juicy tote I bought her last Christmas and the earrings this Christmas, she's going to be the coolest little 6th grader ever.




The only difference between this one and mine is that mine is in a dark beige/taupe-ish color.

My Life is Hard

I really shouldn't be taking the time to blog given that school is blowing up in my face. My life can best be described by the video clip below (at least, roughly the first thirty seconds). When I was younger I'd watch this and scoff thinking school couldn't possibly be that hard. I still maintain that high school is weak shit, but sadly, I feel a bit like Jessie these days.

Just Workin' on My Fitness

One of the things that many of my classmates have complained about is that in law school, like undergrad, they are starting to put on weight. Maybe it speaks to how sedentary the lifestyle is in LA's car culture, but I haven't had that issue. If anything, I lost a little from always walking around. Even still, I wanted to make a return to the gym. We canceled our gym membership back in LA when money was tight and I was looking forward to going back during the school year when it was "free" (and by "free" I mean, I paid $45 large for it).

Before the semester started, I made a sweet little Excel chart for my week -- on Mondays and Tuesdays when class started at 10, I'd go to the gym in the morning. On Wednesdays, I'd go after my last class. On Thursday and Friday, I'd go between classes. It was a good plan, too...until I stepped foot on campus, got into my first week of classes, and realized I'd underestimated how much time I'd need to read. I kept promising myself that once I got a handle on the reading, I'd go to the gym...next week. Then it was the week after. Then a month passed and I still hadn't gone. Then I started to psych myself out and feel intimidated -- after all, it was halfway through the semester and I was probably the only person who had never set foot in the gym. I would do some pilates at home, but then I realized that I missed doing a cardio routine.

I finally decided this week to nip it in the bud. I texted two of my school friends and told them we had an appointment at the gym after Property class. Incidentally, two was smart because one forgot her gym clothes and by the time she'd go home to get them and come back, we'd be long done. I roped another friend into going today too so there were three of us powerful women in a line on the elliptical. The elliptical is fucking intimidating. I always feel like a clumsy dork when I use it but I think I was a pretty good poseur today. I did a good half hour on the machine (stupid time limits) and felt very refreshed. And, of course, I'm proud of myself because my goal was to go today and I did it. It only gets better from here!

Dinner with Turkey Lurkey

Monday night marked the last meeting of the Sports Business and Law reading group I had this semester taught by my Crim prof Dersh and co-taught by the CEO and co-owner of the Red Sox, Larry Lucchino. As our final meeting, we got together to have dinner at Dersh's (who, I was quite delighted to find out, was the voice of Turkey Lurkey in a fairytale show. Totally clutch discovery by someone in my section.

The dinner was delightful -- catered by the apparently go-to Chinese restaurant, Chang Sho. Delish desserts followed. I didn't take pictures of that though because the home itself was quite a conversation piece. His home was exactly how I picture Dershowitz's mind running -- eclectic, different, fast paced, brightly colored, etc.

One of the first things you see when you walk in the house



And just a sample of one wall. The entire living room, foyer, and other hallways were EXACTLY like this with historical artifacts and art all mixed up in there



One of my classmates pulled the yawn + stretch here (note, you can see my polka dot coat on the couch)



At the end, he took us on a tour of his home. After walking through his bedroom (awwwwwwwwwwwwwkward), we got to see his private office with tons of memorabilia. This was one of my favorite things



Yes, that's a dartboard with his face on it. Even funnier, it was completely full of holes.

It was a delightful dinner and good time all around. I'm consistently impressed by the hospitality of our professors here.

Isn't It Lovely?

Sometimes I forget how beautiful it is here. I spend so much of my time trapped at the law school or in the library or inside my apartment that I start to get sick of the same sights and really don't find many beautiful things to look at (except a select hottie in my section). Today I got to get out of the square just to briefly run an errand and in driving alongside the river, I was reminded how beautiful it is here.

Excuse my pictures. They were taken via iPhone when I was driving. I know the one in particular is quite egregious, but I liked the colors of the fall foliage!