Finally picking up again after two-month hiatus:

Juice Resists Urge to Drive Circles Around Uptown Scouting out Sweet Parallel Parking Spots

I did manage to pick up a shift tonight. Good thing, too, because it gave me the opportunity to bag the sweetest parallel parking spot EVER. Man, what a rush.

Vacationing Student Has Difficult Time Getting off Butt

I am no longer referring to the attic as my craft studio. Now it's my clubhouse. I love my clubhouse. Today (if I can get off my butt) I'm going to put lights up and try to cozy up the lounge area. I need a big furry rug. I'm sitting here in the quasi-lounge, drinking coffee and listening to the squirrels scamper across the roof. Er, I hope they're outside. I've been feeling strangely paralyzed and unambitious the last few days. My mom and sisters had a change of plans and didn't come down after all. I am having lots of "me" time. I've been sleeping in, reading, putzing around. What a wonderful break. I wish I never had to go back to school.

My stomach is making some irritated grumblings today. Possibly the strange assortment of things I put in it yesterday. My sister Kate came over last night for a light dinner. I made a butternut squash soup, pasta salad with pepperoni and artichoke, and a spinach salad, and we drank egg nog and wine coolers. I think this is the first time I've had egg nog. It is so delicious. Wow. I thought it would taste like egg yolks. As if the egg nog/wine cooler combo was not bad enough, when Kate left I went to Anemoni sushi bar with my friend David, and we shared some sushi and edamame and I had a couple of sake cosmopolitans (very tasty) and beer. We shut the place down. Anemoni is fabulous, by the way--if you haven't been there yet, I highly recommend it. It's the newest part of Azia's conglomeration of swank down on Nicollet.

Oh! The dishwashing fairy is back! I left quite a little mess behind after dinner with Kate, and when I returned home last night, everything was cleaned up. Yay!

I haven't worked at the restaurant where I am supposedly employed for about three months. Thought I should stop being supported by my dear husband and get off my butt and try to pick up some shifts during my break. I went down there last night and noticed that my name wasn't on the schedule this week. Last week's schedule was still posted, and my name was still on that one, though of course no shifts were scheduled for me. Hm. Am I still employed? So the racket involves me putting a note up offering to pick up any shifts. Then I find out who is working tonight, and today I grab a big cup of coffee and start calling them all to see if anyone wants the night off. No one wants the night off! What is that all about? When I worked there regularly, I was pretty quick to give up a shift. (Probably, I'm more lazy than generous). Anyway, the whole economy there is pretty interesting, the supply and demand of shifts. You have to figure it out. If people are stingy about picking up shifts (i.e. high on the supply-side), then you have to be a bit more predatory--e.g. call them about one hour before they're supposed to report to work, when the idea of leaving their cozy home to run around in all that noise is a bit less enticing. Or, I could just show up at the pre-shift meeting and see if anyone wants to go home. The last-ditch scenario (for the truly shift-desparate) is to buy someone's shift off them. (Ah, this works the other way, when demand is high--if you need a night off, and no one will pick up the shift for you, you could pay someone to take it...I have rarely seen that happen at this restaurant, people are too nice). Anyhoo, I'm going to continue to lounge around and hope someone calls me back. Much as I would love to have the night off, I need the moolah.

Craft Studio Begins to Take Shape

I've been cleaning up in the attic all night and putting together my craftin' space. Things are looking good. I shoved all of Shad's stuff into his designated area, and am filling the rest with makeshift shelves and furniture. I'm trying to work up the energy to pull the lime green sofa out of the storage space. There are three sections to it, all completely buried in junk. It's going to take the better part of an hour and everything is going to be in my way and I'm sure I will be cursing like a sailor as I attempt to wrench it all out. Luckily, there is a lot of beer in the fridge and I'm home alone.

Currently Reading:

Blogger Not Surprised to Discover Only Action at School Today is in Law Journal Office

Woke up fresh and early today to work on stupid Law Journal project. The school is dark, but for one shining light on the second floor. There are only three people at school today: another law journal peep, the security guard, and moi.

We had a lovely Christmas with the family in Perham, MN. Mostly just lounged around, played games, watched movies, ate cookies. It was perfect snowman-making weather. We made a 10-foot-tall monster with a hideous face that looks right into the kitchen window. At first it was going to be a cobra, so we made the big wing-things on the side of its face and a big creepy open mouth with fangs. But then we ran out of snow in that vicinity and were too lazy to roll it all in, so we decided to turn it into one of those monsters like in the movie, Tremors, where the big snake-monster-things live in the ground. So we left the big monster head sticking up by the kitchen, and elsewhere in the yard made a big arc where another part of its snakey body came up out of the earth. We were going to make another arc elsewhere and a sticking-up tail at the other side of the yard, but we got called in for dinner and abandoned the project in typical fashion.

I'm going to languish in the law journal office today. The rest of the week, my mom and sisters are coming down to visit. Nothing big planned--there are a few craft projects to work on, maybe go shopping, stuff like that.

The U of M reuse center was swell. I got two long fold-up tables (as seen in conference rooms and church basements) that will work out really well when I set them side-by-side in the craft studio. I also bagged some groovy chairs circa 1960 or 1970. They had tons of chairs, big desks, drafting tables, room dividers, shelves, etc. at decent prices (e.g. my tables were $25 each, chairs were ten bucks).

Juice Eats Sushi and Raw Cookie Dough, Sticks Head Under Hood of Car

It's been a fun couple of days. Last night I had a lovely dinner at Nami with Stacy and Ellen. Had tasty udon noodles with shrimp and vegetable tempura and shared a spicy tuna roll with miss Ellen. Very tasty. Thought it was odd that Stacy wasn't eating the sushi or drinking a martini with us. Then found out she is three months pregnant! Yay! I'm so excited to have a little munchkin growing up a few blocks north of me in just a few months.

Brought the Kia over to Matt's so he could check out the most recent issues (difficulty starting, no heat). He gave ol' Kia a tune-up, FIXED my heater, AND even fixed the dashboard lights, an ongoing issue that I had given up hope of resolving. Good ol' Matt. I was so tickled to be driving the Kia home with actual heat that I forgot about any ill will I ever held toward her. Since the door is working again, she's just like new. Shad and I will be fighting over who gets to drive her.

Molly and I had our annual cookie-baking extravaganza tonight. We made all the classics: sugar cookies, peanut butter blossoms, ginger cookies, and almond-bark pretzels. We went through about a hundred pounds of butter and ate so much cookie dough I think I am going to burst. Or my stomach will rot open. One of those.

Tomorrow Stacy and I are going to check out the U of M's reuse center. It's open Thursdays only, and I've been meaning to check it out for years. I'm hoping to pick up some goodies for my new craft studio.

I'm heading west tomorrow afternoon to spend Christmas with my family. If I don't update--enjoy your holidays!

Juice Lost Without Structure, Pretty Much Just Farts Around All Day

Goal for day:

Go to school and finish proofing/editing/cite-checking two chapters of book for prof I work for.

Actual day:

08:00 Alarm goes off. Hit snooze.
08:15 Alarm goes off again. Shut off.
10:00 Get up. Put laundry in dryer. Sit around.
10:30 Shower, stare into closet. Pick out weird outfit. Put lotion on face three times.
11:00 Change into less-weird outfit.
11:05 Go out to start car. Curse car out for not starting. Car starts! Drive two seconds. Car dies! Curse car out. Car starts! Decide to just park it and ask Shad for ride.
11:07 Call old boss to see if he wants to have lunch.
11:20 Get ride in with Shad.
11:45 Have lunch with old boss at Crapplebees, worst restaurant ever and had worst hamburger ever with stale bun and cold french fries. Did not complain because I was the one who insisted on going to restaurant in skyway because am too big of baby to walk outside.
01:05 Finish up lunch with old boss, shoot breeze back at office with former co-workers.
01:25 Summ calls to remind am supposed to bring to airport. Had forgotten that can not give ride to airport without car. Also had forgotten was supposed to be at school at 1:30. Offer to buy Starbucks if she'll pick me up and let me drive her car to airport instead.
01:35 Step out of Starbucks with grande mocha and tall caramel macchiato.
02:00 Arrive at airport. Unload bags. Give Summ hugs and kisses.
02:02 Attempt to start car. Car inexplicably dead.
02:03 Cop raps on window to tell me to move along.
02:04 Continue unsuccessful attempts to start car. Engine doesn't even turn over.
02:05 Another cop raps on window to tell me to move along.
02:06 Call Summ to advise about car situation.
02:09 Summ returns, can not get car to start. Flag down numerous drivers to request jumper cables.
02:12 Nice guy in truck jumps car.
02:30 Arrive at school and see Geoff in parking ramp, preparing to go home.
02:31 Ask Geoff if he wants to grab drink. Do not have to twist arm.
02:45 Arrive at bar with Geoff.
04:50 Leave bar and return to school.
05:00 Check email.
05:10 Help friend edit cover letter and writing sample. IM buddies and little sisters. IM Summ during layover at Vegas airport. Tool around library. Return original writing sample and begin editing new one. Read blogs. Read news. Read Chicago Manual of Style.
09:20 Shad picks up and takes home.
09:45 Heat up leftovers for dinner. Are out of clean forks so ate with spoons and ate off same plate to conserve resources in case dishwashing fairy continues to hold out. Drank milk out of coffee mug and plastic keg glass.
10:30 Sew.

Dear Dishwashing Fairy:

I made a tasty pasta this evening with red wine cream sauce. The kitchen is looking rather grisly. Please come soon.

Yours Truly,

Ugly Juice

Author Urges Readers to Exercise Discretion When Wearing Leggings

This post is directed to no one in particular. I hope merely to convince the passing reader that leggings are to be worn with utmost discretion. Of late, certain individuals have professed a special fondness for this peculiar garment. My concern stems from the fact that in the past I have questioned the proper discretiary usage of leggings by this particular individual. And so, anonymous reader, I present to you a survey of leggings worn by America's finest over the past two months. I'm not going to tell you what to do. I just hope you will look at the evidence and make an educated decision.

Juice Breaks Personal Pact Not to Rant About Apostrophe Abuse

I told myself I wouldn't start posting examples of apostrophe abuse on Ugly Juice. Frankly, the abuse is too pervasive, and just thinking about it causes my blood pressure to rise. But I have to mention this. I pass a Ski Montana billboard on my way home from school each day. The logo drives me absolutely crazy. Whenever I see it I do that Marge Simpson throat grumble thing and have to look away. The whole thing is just unfortunate. I would suggest that they take out the damn apostrophe+s and insert a third diamond instead. In fact, all they need is two diamonds on there for people to think "diamonds" when they read it. I hate it, people. I hate it.

Lost is Kinda Dumb but Addicting

OK, so last night we watched season one of Lost, the show SummSumm has been raving about forever. And, I'll admit, I liked it well enough. I do like the characters and their back-stories, etc. And I do find the whole thing to be kind of addicting. But, come on. What kind of a golden lab can't find his owner just 100 yards away at the beach?

Juice Tags, No Tag-Backs Allowed

I got tagged by Angela to tell five interesting things about myself. Hmmmm. What don’t you all know already?

1. Going for long walks at night is my very favorite thing.
2. I wish I was a bad-ass guitar player and want to be in a rock band.
3. If I’m driving with someone who can’t fit into a parallel parking spot, I ask them to get out and let me try. (You probably could have guessed that).
4. I don’t know how to operate my TV and related apparatus.
5. I freak out when people throw food items in garbage cans that are not located in the kitchen (e.g. banana peels in the bathroom; empty potato chip bags in the bedroom…gross).

And, just for fun, here’s #6: After completing my last exam at 10 this morning, I am officially half-way done with law school! Woo hoo!!!!!!!

OK, my turn to tag people:

Gnomeygnome
JoolieDoolie
Sassy Buster
Jack the Fool
Peter Church

14-1/2 Hours Later, Juice Finishes Exam and Could Not Be Less Amused but is Glad at Least the Bars are Still Open

That was crap. But don't take my word for it. Let's ask LA's little princess. Hey Esther, what do you think of that exam?

Take Home Exam is Every Bit as Crappy as Expected

I’m having such a crummy day! First, I had a dream last night that I had finished law school and didn’t have a job. My parents were caring for an invalid in their home, so my mom told me I could apply for a care-taking job with her, but that I’d have to change the name on my application so my dad didn’t see. So, I applied for the job, but she hired someone else! Another law student! The technical editor of our Law Journal! Dissed by my own momma!

Then, I slept in an hour and a half. I had to pick up the take-home exam at 9 a.m. and didn’t wake up until 8:30. No big deal. But then I was looking for my keys, and couldn’t find them anywhere. I always clip them to my purse, so it’s really weird to lose them. So I was freaking out looking for them for 20 minutes, and finally found them clipped to the tote bag I was using yesterday. And my coat and scarf smell like bacon because we ate BLT sandwiches at the cabin all weekend. Then I opened the door to go outside and saw 20 or 30 big fat ugly crows in my yard and my neighbor’s yard. Ew! Then, I got in my car, and my front tire was low, so I stopped at the gas station to fill it with air, but, (this is really sad) didn’t have 50 cents to fill it up. So I drove away.

Then I got to school to pick up the test and discovered that the answer is expected to be 16 pages long. WTF? This is a little piece of crap 2-credit class. That is totally ridiculous.

Juice Kills Ethics Portion of Bar Exam, Loses Ten Bucks

I got my MPRE score. I passed! Yippee! I totally thought I had failed that dog. I think Matt got the highest score possible on the exam. He is such a nerd. I mean, it's one thing to pass, but to kill it as thoroughly as he did is just dorky.

Anyhoo, when I bragged to Geoff about it, he reminded me that he gave me 2-to-1 odds on a bet that I'd pass. Bummer.

We had a great weekend at Matt's cabin. I took some deliciously long walks along the St. Croix river. It was wonderful. We got lots of studying done and had good food, stormy arguments about politics, and lots of tasty beverages.

Geoff & I both have exams at 9 tomorrow morning. Mine is a 24-hour take-home exam. The prof said it would take about 10 hours. I know how that goes. Our Crim Law prof last year told us the take-home exam would take only 3 or 4 hours, and everyone spent about 20 hours on it. Jerks.

Vodka Drinkers Conceive of Best Craft Table Ever

I received an irritating and unsolicited five-day extension on my paper. So, I did not spend the evening in the library finishing it, as planned. Because, if given the opportunity to procrastinate, I will certainly do so. Instead, I turned in my take-home exam and went to the bar with -s. We had just one drink and some nachos. As I was walking to my car, I got a call from my uncle Matt. A few weeks ago I had told him about the sweet table I'm planning to build for my craft studio, and he was calling to offer to build it for me. Kick ass! He and my aunt Angie were on their way to get a drink at the St. Petersburg Vodka Bar, so I decided to join them. They live just a mile or so away from me, and it's right in the neighborhood. They bought me the best White Russian I've ever had--the bar makes its own coffee-infused vodka that they use in it. So yummy. After a couple of martinis, the craft table was on its way to being the most incredible and innovative creation ever, with two shelves on one side, and one shelf on the other. Oooooh. It's going to be excellent. And perfectly planned one day after Molly and I have our annual cookie-making day.

(For the record, I stopped at home to change before going to the vodka bar. I couldn't risk another citation by the fashion police for negligent wearing of sweatpants, or whatever my infraction was.)

Tomorrow, M, G, and I are going to Matt's cabin for our study-fest, and will be there until Monday. I stopped at the liquor store tonight, and we'll hit the grocery store on the way out of town tomorrow, and we'll be all set. Lots of studying, great meals and tasty drinky-drinks. No internet there, so no Juice updates...but it's probably for the best. I have lots of studying to do.

Juice Prosecuted for Fashion Violations

I was given a severe and unrelenting beat-down at school today from the fashion police. The thrashing was so merciless that no clothing item escaped. Matt called me "Punky Brewster," and -s., apparently self-appointed chief fashion prosecutor, stripped me of all rights to pick on Matt for the way he dresses until May 2006.

Can't a girl wear sweatpants and an old marathon t-shirt on a day she is writing an exam and finishing up her upper-level writing assignment?

I'm hoping to plea the charges down to disorderly conduct.

As if this weren't bad enough, Geoff popped up on IM in the midst of the beat-down to say he had a bone to pick with me about some apostrophe usage.

Why is everyone picking on me?

Oh, AND, Matt and I polished off the rest of the jello salad in the lounge, and we tried to offer a bite to people who walked by, but they all looked at us like we were total dorks. What was that all about? Suddenly people don't like cool whip and marshmallows? What a bunch of snobs!

And now I'm crashing from carb overload due to the leftover potroast I had for lunch. There were lots of potatoes in it. My eyes are all squinty.

What a weird day. I need to finish this crap up and go home. I fear it will be a late night, though. I have a paper due at midnight.

Gulag is the New Pogs

Here's how you play Gulag:

Three players (we'll call them, for the sake of convenience, M, G, and A) sit side-by-side in class. A goes to Twin Cities Free Market online and finds someone who is giving away two yards of lava rocks. A sends a quick IM to M & G to ask if they would help her haul it if she responds to the ad. M & G, who are good sports, say Aw, sure, anything for you, A (or something like that).

Two days later, M, G, and A show up at the designated place to find a big pile of lava rocks on a tarp. The rocks have been sitting on the tarp for a couple of months, it seems. In that time, it has rained, frozen, and snowed. So the lava rocks are now basically one large chunk of ice. Nice. This is the fun part of Gulag. The players (who are allowed to grumble and curse openly) stand in the freezing weather and chip away at the mound. Chip, chip, chip, chip, chip. A pick-axe would have been nice, but the players only had shovels. They sweat. They gripe. They curse the idiot that failed to put a tarp on top of the rocks. They laugh at how stupid the game is. But mostly, they chip. Gulag!

This wasn't part of the game, but after we finished playing Gulag, I promised to treat M&G to lunch. First, though, I had to move the Subaru, because it was in Matt's way. So I drove forward about six feet, then left the keys in the ignition, got out of the car, pressed the door lock, and walked away. About one second later, I thought oh, crrraaaaaap. Yup, the keys were locked in. And it was still running. And my purse was sitting in the passenger seat. Amazing. Matt says, "No problem, where is your extra key?" "Um...it's attached to the same key ring as the first key?" He made me check all the doors, and as I do so, I look at Geoff, who is in his car and shaking his head with a huge grin on his face. Matt, nearly speechless with disbelief at my incessant stupidity, told me to get in his truck. One second later, Geoff calls to tell me how incredible I am, as if I didn't already know. During the ride to school I endure ridicule and chiding interrupted only by a call from Geoff, who was driving right behind us. "Someone else is playing Gulag!" he says. Sure enough, there was a Department of Corrections van at the side of the road, and a bunch of guys with chisels pounding away at something. Awesome.

Minneapolis Woman Attempts to Remain Good Natured as Sun Sets on Kia's Life

My Kia is special to me. I paid $7000 for her at a used car dealership in Deer Creek, Minnesota one cold day in December 1999. There were 5000 miles on her. She had just been turned in after a one-year lease so was practically brand new. My dad gave me some cash, and I took out a loan for the rest, and drove her home. It was my first time driving a stick shift.

She has no power steering, no air conditioning, no power locks or power windows, or any other of your fancy and superfluous "features."

We have come a long way. Shad and I have driven Kia across the whole country, to Boston, Louisiana, San Diego, Tahoe, Montana, etc. We have slept in her many times during these road trips. And, she has taken a few beatings over the years. Driving up the Pacific Hwy 1 in California, a wind gust blew off the Yakima and bikes we had strapped on top, destroying the bikes and leaving dents all over the car. I ran into a barricade in a parking ramp one day when I was returning from a massage and was just a little too relaxed, which left a huge dent in the rear passenger-side door. The stereo was stolen, the windshield is cracked, the dashboard lights stopped working, the dome light no longer works, the fan and heater are now broken, and one of the wheel rims is missing. Notably, due to the broken heater/fan situation, the windshield doesn't defrost. The limits on the battery have been tested due to my little "leaving-the-lights-on" phase. She doesn't always start in the cold winters, but she usually does. There was a phase when the gas tank was messed up, and I could only put 5 gallons in at a time and then the gas would squirt back out at me. There have been some serious brake issues and occasional klunking noises. But all-in-all, she's been a decent and loyal car. I will certainly miss her the day after I totally lose it and place a brick on the gas and send her off a cliff.

Oh, yes. I have missed driving the Kia so much these past few days. Shad had to run some errands today, so he took the Subaru, and I drove the Kia. Ah, my dear friend.

Did I mention the driver's side door doesn't close any more? Driving to school is like a damn video game. The door swings open at every turn. This wouldn't be *such* a problem were it not for the fact that turns are precisely the time I need both hands to turn the wheel (which takes effort because I have no power steering and my front wheels are total crap), and work the stick-shift. But the most fun was driving up six levels in the parking ramp while simultaneously working the door, stick, and steering situations. Whee! God, what a dork. Luckily, it's only a 10-minute drive to school. Hopefully the car warmed up in the ramp during the day, so the latch will work again. If not, I guess we'll have to just get some rope.

I think it is Kia's last winter. But I might experience amnesia again come March.

Anyhoo...I'm done with all classes now, and am back to hanging out in the library. I didn't get my Crim Pro reading done, but am working my way through the exam with the help of "Crunch Time: Life-Saving Help in the Final Days Before Your Exams."

I just got a great assignment in Clinic. I'll be working on an appellate brief that is due mid-December. Would have been nice to have received the assignment prior to exams, but I'm psyched to have the opportunity to write it. The brief is an appeal of a denial of an order for protection before the MN Court of Appeals.

Student Curses Self Out For Not Reading Assignments When She Was Supposed To

Here's a secret about me: If I try to read "normally" (that is, not just topic sentences), I am the slowest reader in the world. So the fact that I haven't read anything since mid-term (except for the one day I was on panel in Crim Pro) is beginning to present itself as quite a problem. The 300 pages I had to read this weekend for Crim? I have only read 80 so far. Gross. It takes me about 6 minutes per page. Sometimes twice that long because I often space out halfway through and have to re-read it. So, this afternoon: More reading, and trying not to fall asleep. Really should get it done before I pick up the exam tomorrow...

Tonight some school buddies are coming over for a pre-exam "comfort food" dinner. Everyone is supposed to bring an old family favorite to share. I'm making a classic mom pot-roast in the crock pot with potatoes, carrots, mushrooms, and onions. I also couldn't resist making my Grandma's orange jello and cool whip salad, with mandarin oranges and crushed pineapple, topped with miniature marshmallows. As an appetizer, I'm making something my aunt Mary often makes for family gatherings, a dip platter made of scallions, hard-boiled eggs, and baby shrimp. I'm excited to see what others will bring--especially -s, who is known to whip up some killer Indian food.

Yesterday we stopped by the No Coast Craft-o-Rama, in NE, the first indie craft fair around here. It was a huge success. I didn't buy anything, but was excited to see all of the interest. The place was totally packed, and full of fun things by local crafters. I'm thinking the International Craft Conspiracy will have to represent at next year's show.

Juice Finds Joy in Holy Grail of Fabric Scraps

I had an excellent and satisfying day. First, my dear husband has insisted on driving the Kia for the winter, so I drove to school in warmth and comfort in the Subaru, as I have for the last week or so. He, on the other hand, has discovered yet another issue with the Kia, which is that the driver's door will not stay latched shut, which apparently makes left turns rather difficult. I feel bad for abandoning my Kia, as I feel a strange attachment to her like a parent to a naughty child.

Anyhoo, I spent the morning and early afternoon in the clinic working on stuff & had a client meeting. Then, at 2:30, some of my school buddies and I went to Feed My Starving Children in Brooklyn Park to volunteer. That is a great organization. What they do is package meals and ship them to about 30 different third-world countries to distribute to hungry children. Each meal feeds six people, and we packaged over three thousand meals in the two hours we were there. The meal is basically a Rice-a-Roni type thing--we put some fortified chicken powder (which is actually vegetarian? It's like a Lipton soup stock type thing), dried vegetables, soy grain, and rice in packages and vacuum-seal them. Because they do most of their work through volunteers, 94 cents out of every dollar donated to them goes directly to the food, which is a pretty incredible figure.

After FMSC, I picked up Julie, and we went to a home in our neighborhood to pick up some quilt scraps that I had found at Twin Cities Free Market. When I responded to the ad, the woman asked if I was interested in looking at her collection of antique quilts. (Duh!) So I said of course, and bagged Julie on the way there so that she could check them out, too. Well when we got there things were not quite as expected and I was sure glad to have Jules along. The quilt lady wasn't there, and some weird guy was there instead. He wasn't really scary, but he was a little...off. He was talking to us about several random things, and Julie and I were glancing at each other sidewise like Let's Get the Hell Out of Here, Dude! He brought four big containers of fabric for me, and Julie helped me shove them into Subaru and we got the heck out. I was in heaven ripping through all that fabric when I got home. The fabric belonged to the guy's mother, and in addition to collecting yardage, she would actually rip apart clothes and save the fabric. Amy and I thought we knew all about Seam Ripper Hell, oh no. This lady seam-ripped entire outfits, including the collars and pockets and hems. When she had taken out every bit of thread that held the pieces together, she folded them up ever so neatly and stored them away. Oodles and oodles of fabric scraps. Amazing. She would have been mortified, I'm sure, to have witnessed th reckless abandon with which I tore through all the fabric, separating her neat little piles and flinging them around. Sorry, lady. I was digging for gold! At the bottom of the 4th container, I found some special goodies: Two rugs that are made out of recycled plastic bags! I've never seen such a thing! They look like those braided kitchen rugs that can be made out of recycled fabric or whatever, but they're made of plastic instead. What an awesome way to recycle plastic bags. I'll have to take a photo to show later. (Sue--Danny will have to check these out for his new little rug-making hobby!) Also, there was a bunch of yarn, and a small bag full of those crocheted little granny squares. Neat-o!

Shad, Dave and I went to the MCAD Annual Art Sale tonight, which was awesome. Lots of incredibly talented students, man. Seeing their work was fun and inspiring. Also ran into lots of peeps, including Sarah.

After the show, Shad and I had dinner at Yummy on Nicollet. Our meal was delicious--wontons, calamari fried with peppers and shallots, seafood with fresh made fun noodles, and what is supposed to be the best General Tso's chicken in town (um, according to Dave). I thought it might be a new fun place to eat and I hope it was only coincidence that we had to stop twice on the way home to deal with some intestinal/digestive issues in gas station bathrooms.

Happy birthday to Mike! Tomorrow there is talk of a breakfast to celebrate his birthday. I understand the pancakes are merely the beginning of a day-long geekfest at his house playing video games of various sorts. Alas, I must bow out to read the 300 pages of Crim Pro to prepare for the take-home exam that I pick up on Monday. Speaking of Geekfests, I also have to attend a Law Review holiday party/meeting thing tomorrow afternoon and early evening.

It's late. I'm really tired, and I'm blathering on. So I'll end here. Nighty-night!

Extension on Paper Clears up Schedule for Night of Craftiness and Drinking

Yay! PR prof has granted us a week extension on the paper. Usually this is bad news because it prolongs the misery, but it's probably good since I was so sick of it I had convinced myself to just add a few more sentences to the rough draft and turn it in. Plus now I can enjoy a whole evening of craft conspiracy! Whee!

Hippie Deodorant from Co-op Turns Juice Into Stinky Kid

Yesterday was my birthday. It was a fun day. Elissa took me out for coffee at 8 a.m. and I accidentally left my purse behind at the coffee shop & thought it was a goner for sure, but when I went back about 20 minutes later, it was still there. Phwew. Also, the crazy Starbucks lady that I hate was working, but we went in anyway (though the next one is just a half block away. It was cold out.). Elissa was treating me to the coffee but the crazy Sbux lady forgot to charge for it. We didn't say anything because she has messed up about a hundred of our drinks in the past and besides, it was my birthday. Sue me. Hung out with my buddy David in the afternoon, and he treated me to another cup of coffee. Then sat through classes, and met Shad for dinner when class was done at 7 p.m. I didn't know if I was even going to have the night off because I've been working on that stupid paper, so I was super surprised when we arrived at the restaurant and a bunch of my friends were sitting at a table waiting for me! Fun! It was super great to see my homies and special as I know they braved the weather to show up on what could have only been very short notice. Thanks, Peeps! Was a great dinner, excellent drinks, and fun times.

Julie, I don't remember if we answered your question last night about why we go to McCormick & Schmick's when it's snowing. (This is the favorite happy hour place of G, M & me due to $2 food until 6 p.m., we can sneak it in between classes). Anyhoo, when it's snowing, they have $1 irish coffee. Yum. But be careful, sometimes they try to say it's not really snowing, it's just snow blowing off the top of the surrounding buildings. Bunk.

We watched Mr. & Mrs. Smith last night after dinner. I thought it was a fun movie, although it shocked my sensibilities a bit what with all the work I've been doing with victims of domestic abuse.

Oh, I'm trying a new deodorant, that Tom's of Maine crap. It is total crap. I think I'm turning into the stinky kid.