"You Outta Be in Pictures..."

Look out world, I got my sassy pants on today! After two frustrating and futile days of trolling LexisNexis and WestLaw, I found relevant law for my case! Huzzah!!! To celebrate, my mom and I are going to see that Tim Burton movie, Dark Shadows.

You may be wondering, "You're seeing a movie on a Wednesday night? Don't you have to be at work at 8am tomorrow?"

Yup, we're partying on a school night 'cause we're gansta like that.

"Isn't that movie a few weeks old?"

I like my movies like I like my wine...aged.

"Didn't you see that movie in Boston with your friend?"

What's your point? You pay cable to watch reruns, don't you?

"And you're seeing it with your mom?"

You obviously have not met Big Ma T.

Like most things in my life, I don't do movies like everybody else. I do things differently. My way often does not make sense. It may not even seem fun. But trust me, my rules make my life better. And it might make your life better too...so I'll share a few of my secrets. Just 'cause I'm gangsta like that.

Cora's Awesome (but nontraditional) Movie Rules

* Flying Solo - You don't have to wait for someone to get there or compromise about which movie to see. If you want to see that French documentary about mimes on Sunday at 4:30pm, you go on and have the time of your life.
* Never Go On Opening Weekend - All the tweens and prosti-tots get dropped off at the movie theatre on Friday and Saturday nights. The girls suddenly lose half their clothes once their parents are gone. The boys have bathed in Axe or some equally horrid body spray. They text and tweet and update their facebook statuses the entire movie. Tweens travel in packs, especially the girls, so you're not just dealing with one annoyance. You're dealing with a herd of hormones.
[The exception to the Opening Weekend rule is the midnight showing of truly amazing movies. But only if you dress up for the event]
* Unusual Timing - The best part about seeing a movie at 3pm on a school day? NO ONE ELSE IS THERE! I have seen movies where I'm the only person in the theatre. It was amazing. You can prop your feet up and no one cares. You can also sneak in better food when there are less snitches around.
* Bring Your Own Snacks - The only reason to pay $3 for Raisinettes is poor planning. Amateurs sneak candy in their purses or coat-pockets. pfft! Let me tell you, there is nothing better than eating a foot long Subway sandwich while mocking Kristen Stewart.
* Be a Critic - The previews are the best part. You get a glance of ten movies you'll never actually have time to see, but promise yourself that you will. Everyone judges how awesome or horrible that movie will be based on those 15 second clips. Then they vocalize those opinions to the person next to them.
* Double Vision - if you loved the movie the first time, you'll love it the second time. And you'll love it better as you mock it with your friends. I've had some of the greatest times watching horrible movies with amazing friends.

Working Girl

I'm back in Georgia for the summer. I took an internship with the law firm I worked for back in college; instead of being another numbered 1L in Boston, I'm getting lots of personalized attention. Rich has put me in charge of a couple of cases, have me draft responses and motions, and compile research. Lots and LOTS of research.

Also, I get to spend some time with Mom, Dad, and the Bro. I missed my Bro. Living with him was so fun and we became pretty close. Good times. I'm also a bridesmaid in an amazing wedding this summer! One of my dearest and oldest friends is getting married to an amazing guy. I'm so excited for them both because they deserve every happiness in the world. All the bridesmaids are in The Brain Trust, so every shower and party will be A-mazing.

And the bridesmaid dress is freaking cute, let me tell ya.

Anyway...I admit I did a piss-poor job of keeping everyone updated in my day-to-day life in law school. Hell, I didn't even attempt to update anyone about significant life changes this year.
In short: Life of a 1L is the worst experience of your life. Law school is Hell. If you care about the happiness, mental and physical health, and self-worth of your loved ones...discourage them from going to law school.

Which brings me back to this internship and my current day-to-day life.

This is my life

I come into work at 8:30 (give or take 5 minutes), plop my bag on the filing cabinet, and go to the office kitchenette for some coffee. They have a Keurig machine, but it doesn't make enough coffee for me; however, I feel it's rude to get seconds from the office coffee stash, so I just supplement a Coca-Cola around 10:30am. 

I may be an intern, but I prop my feet like a partner.



I check e-mail, facebook, blogs, and CNN.com until 9:15am when I cannot avoid the pile of work before me anymore. Then I start reading. I'm doing a lot of research of a handful of cases currently. The cases are pretty dry (fact-wise and legal-wise). They mostly deal with not-so-smart people making sketchy choices about lots of money, which they don't have, and then avoiding payment when whatever failed business or real estate venture fell through.

Yeah...awesome...



I eat lunch around 1pm. Because it takes most of my 30 minute lunch-break to drive through traffic and I'm broke as a law student with an unpaid summer internship, I brown-bag my lunch. Sometimes I eat with the other paralegals and receptionist. Sometimes I eat at my desk. The lawyers never eat; they just go out for another smoke break and eat a handful of pistachio nuts. I kid you not.

I prefer eating at my desk. Because I'm on my lunch-break, I don't feel guilty about more e-mailing, facebook stalking, and blogging. Or jamming to one of my playlists. Or taking an insane about of self-portraits with my iPhone.

Don't judge. You make the duck face, too.

Then I sigh, take out my earbuds, and log back onto LexisNexis. Rich may have me draft a letter or a motion which has to be mailed out TODAY. Or he may send me to any of the surrounding counties to file a document with the court. Otherwise, I read and watch the clock until 5pm.

My office is located in the back of the building. It's the former office of Andrew, an associate lawyer, who left last year. Then it turned into the dumping ground of old, but open, cases. Regardless, I have my own computer, printer, filing cabinet, and phone. I have a nice view of the trees and shrubbery. I have a coat rack which I'm excessively excited about. I keep a spare black jacket and a pair of black pumps in my office. I have two big desks, one with the computer and one to scatter my papers everywhere. And a big, blue leather office chair. 

Not a bad set-up if I do say so myself. 

So that's my day from Monday to Friday. It's plushy, structured, but not terribly interesting. Sigh Such is the life of a legal intern. 

Stay tuned for more office adventures! I'm contemplating a post about twenty-something fashion in the workplace and reflections of the South after a year in New England. So y'all come back now, ya hear?  



Adventures in Babysitting

One of the many things about moving so far from home is missing my family. Christmas break has flown by. I missed Southern cooking, Chik-fil-A, church, the weather, the accents, and the people. I missed my large extended family and friends that I've known forever. And this year, we had SEVERAL new members to the family. Of my seven second cousins on my dad's side, three were under a year old. All seven are under seven years old. So there was lots of toys and coloring and crying and exhausted parents.

One of the perks of being the cool, older cousin who lives out of town is all the toys I can play with when I babysit.

Case in point: Ruthie's Justin Bieber doll.

Justin sings "One Less Lonely Girl" and comes with his own guitar!
Mobs of tween fans and the their moms not included.

Because I'm the coolest cousin ever, we held a Justin Bieber concert for her Barbies. The stage is constructed with Tinker Toys and pipe cleaners. Ruthie got the new Barbie RV Camper, so that became Justin's tour bus. He invited Skipper, Stacie, and big sister Barbie (or mom. Seriously, Matel? Who's heard of a 40 year old with teenage sisters?) backstage. Why wish for a dream house when you can have a world tour?

Please note that the dog was bored. He's a BSB and NKOTB fan.

Of course, no tour bus is complete without a hammock! 

Girls, here's my advice: never say never.

Tim Gunn says I need to update my closet

Tim Gunn's wardrobe essentials
I don't know if these have been posted before, but I ran across this list and it seemed relevant to the community. It's Tim Gunn (the very greatest part of Project Runway)'s list of wardrobe basics every woman of any size, shape, or age should have.

Embarrasingly enough I have 3 of them. Maybe 4, depending on what you think of my jeans.

1. Basic Black Dress - The basic black dress has been around for a long time. It is often called the "Little Black Dress" or "LBD", and it's true that shorter skirts on the basic black dress,when they hit you in the right place, can be more flattering than a long black dress.
2. Trench Coat - The trench coat is one of the pieces that is both classic and currently a hot fashion item. Most any store sells this piece now. It is great for fall and you can pick it up in a wide range of lengths.
3. Classic Dress Pants -Although it doesn't say black, this is probably what you want to look  for. Black is flattering on all figures and goes with everything.
4. White Shirt -The white shirt is a definite classic. But it can also come in many different styles to make it look trendy and not dated or like a man's piece of clothing. Find one that accentuates your best attributes and minimizes trouble spots. For example, if you have wide shoulders, stay away from large collars.
5. Jeans - Everyone has a pair of jeans, but does everyone have a pair of jeans that make them look great? The wider leg, low-rise jean style has been popular (and still is) but a narrower leg is coming back along with a higher waist, which eliminates the unflattering "muffin top" look.
6. Cashmere Sweater -This is one item probably not many people own. But including it forces people to buy a piece of clothing that is high quality and that is also a luxury item. Having a cashmere sweater in your closet is like givinga gift to yourself. And aren't you worth it?
7. Skirt -If you need dress pants then you also need a skirt. A skirt is womanly and can be flirty or businesslike. Nowadays women do not wear many skirts or dresses, which makes a lot of them fall into a rut of dressing sloppily or like men. See number 8.
8. Day Dress - Women also are not wearing as many dresses anymore. It was certainly liberating to go from the '50s when women wore dresses every day to wearing more practical pants for gardening, exercising, and so forth. But the dress does not have to be abandoned altogether. They can be very flattering, and there is nothing wrong with "dressing up" for daytime.
9. Blazer - The blazer sounds very masculine, but when you get the right one with a proper shape it isnot. Women's blazers should follow the silhouette of a woman's body and accent the hourglass curve at her waist. It is also a perfect piece to put with the skirt or dress pants, and white shirt. Or make it casual with a pair of jeans.
10. Sweat Suit Alternative -As mentioned before, women wear fewer skirts and dresses these days. But some women have taken casual to the extreme and spend days on end in sweat suits. It is possible to be casual and comfortable without looking like a slob. Find a comfortable material (that's why this doesn't say jeans again – denim is not as comfortable as a nice soft cotton) that you would want to wear every day. It could be khakis,cords, a cotton dress, or much more.

Bonus: One Indulgent Trendy Item

Moral...I need to shop

Hey Y'all, Do I Have an Accent?

So here's my first vlog. I kinda like them better. Sure it's weird seeing your facial expressions and hearing yourself talk, but it sure is more time efficient!
note: I can't figure out how to make the video screen bigger. Any ideas?

Please respond!!! I'm just curious. ;-)


Thanks to Ashley for posting this vlog first; her blog is really funny, informative, on trend, and entertaining to read. You should read it, too. :-)
Apparently these questions were part of a dialect study at Harvard and the results can be found here.

The list of words:
aunt - route - wash - oil - theatre - iron - salmon - caramel - fire - water - sure - data - ruin - crayon - toliet - New Orleans - pecan - both - again - probably - spitting image - Alabama - lawyer - crayon - mayonnaise - syrup - pajamas - caught

The questions:
- What is it called when you throw toilet paper on a house?
- What is the bug that curls into a ball when you touch it?
- What is the bubbly carbonated drink called?
- What do you say to address a group of people?
- What do you call the kind of spider that has an oval shaped body and extremely long legs?
- What do you call your grandparents?
- What do you call that wheeled contraption in which you carry groceries in the super-market?
- What do you call it when the rain falls and the sun is still shining?
- What is the thing you use to change the TV channel?

I've Got a Fever and the Only Prescription Is...

Well, I officially got homesick. I should have had my emotional breakdown around Labor Day, but my cousin, Lynn, and her family took me to Maine for their mini-vacation. Too busy and surrounded by extended family, I finally started showing symptoms last week. Long story short, I broke down in tears in the Back Bay Fens while walking Mr. Big yesterday morning.

According to a poll of close friends, I am right on schedule. They all got homesick around 4 to 6 weeks after moving.

I had a tear-induced headache and nausea for the rest of the day; I promptly passed out after Property class and slept for three hours. I felt a bit better after my nap, but didn't really cheer up until I washed dishes. Why dishes? Firstly, I think cleaning is therapeutic in and of itself. Secondly, I have been known to seriously jam out while cleaning.
I sing into my hairbrush. I dance in front of my dog. Sometimes I even play air-drums. It's embarrassing. :)

Here's Dr. Tallant's prescription playlist for a really crappy day:

• "I Need A Doctor" - Dr. Dre and Eminem  You can't argue with a doctor!
• "Dirt Off Ya Shoulder" - Jay-Z
• "Last of the American Girls/ She's a Rebel" - Broadway cast of American Idiot Because nothing says "angry punk in suburbia"  like Broadway show-tunes
• "Coming Home" - Diddy
• "So Says I" - The Shins
• "15 Minutes" - The Yeah You's aka The best song from Easy A
• "Overdrive" - Katy Rose aka The best song from Mean Girl
• "I Heard it Through the Grapevine" - The Slits I love when bands cover songs that are completely outside of their genre.
• "Mr. Brightside" - The Killers
• "Pretty Girl Rock" - Keri Hilson
• "Since You Been Gone/ Maps" - Ted Leo While it may be hard to find since it's a live recording of an acoustic show, it's so worth the effort to hear a guy sing a high-pitched Kelly Clarkson song

The first part of the playlist should get you get through the anger and frustration known as law school...I mean, life. Then you can sing into your hairbrush and dance around your bedroom in your sweatpants. You'll be smiling despite yourself at the end of the playlist. Drink coffee, shuffle playlist, and repeat.

P.S. Can I just say that I miss the golden days of SNL? If you're still depressed after this playlist, just YouTube any of The Lonely Island music videos. Preferably on a boat....

P.P.S. I miss eating Ben and Jerry's ice cream with Mel and Rusty at the pharmacy. Wonder what Mel would say about the SNL themed ice cream flavor, Schweddy Balls?

I heart Torts

"Law school is hard" is a huge understatement.
Imagine you've been thrown into the ocean and you can't swim. It's midnight, so you can't see anything around you. Someone is in a lifeboat and shouting instructions at you on how to swim so you can make it to the boat. After dog paddling for five minutes, you realize that your rescuer is shouting in French. So now you're struggling to stay afloat and translate French...all the while trying to just get to the boat. Did I mention that there's a thunderstorm, it's cold, and you're really tired? And the Green-line is late...again?!

Law school is a lot like being rescued from the ocean by Frenchmen. You're learning how to preform new tasks and analyzing material in a completely new language. Learn to swim, mon cherie, or au revoir!

So far, Torts has held up to my quintessential ideals of a law school experience. The teacher loves the Socratic Method (putting students on the spot and probing them with questions until they  discover the legal standard beneath the facts). Prof. Lustiq may seem stern and gruff, but he genuinely wants the students to learn and succeed. We have ungraded "quizzes" each week so we can monitor how well we understand the material. His midterm is only 7% of our grade, so we can have a full exam under our belt before the final without a huge penalty.

Torts is a hard subject, with or without Lustiq putting students on the "hot-spot". In a very basic sense, torts are wrongful acts fought in civil courts. We covered intentional torts (battery, assault, trespass, etc) for the first month. Here's how I taught myself about trespass and conversion of chattel (movable property).

I thought it was creative. :)

Proof that doodling in your note margins CAN be productive. Enjoy!