Dubliners

Irish is in my blood, which makes me embarrassed to say I have never been to Ireland. That is unbelievable to me. It should have been one of my first overseas destinations--together with Scotland, which makes up my other half.

I had a chance to go to Ireland last year with a group I am associated with but had just changed jobs and didn't have any money or vacation time. Other than that, I have never had any opportunities to go to Ireland. I have heard so many good things about Ireland and the Irish people that I will just have to make my own opportunities to travel there as soon as possible. I want to explore cities, but also drive out into the country and visit some of the little towns and villages.

One thing I would like to experience is the Dubliners festival, held in honor of James Joyce's book Dubliners. I learned about the event in an article about Julia Roberts, who said that was her favorite book and that she goes to that festival.

In Dublin, it looks like there are many desirable Dublin hotels, including this one, the Adelphi Hotel Dublin, from Eur 90 a night up.

Other places in Ireland I would like to visit are Cork and Belfast. There are great ways to book Cork hotels and Belfast hotels online.

A trip to Ireland to me would be a huge delight. I have also thought about signing up for one of the vigorous walking trips you can book in Ireland.

Regardless of what I would do in Ireland, I know I would have fun.

And part of the fun would be meeting people in various Ireland hotels such as this cutie, the Lawless Hotel and Holiday Village. Sign me up now!

Rudy To Drop Out

Even though I am a democrat, and I wouldn't have voted for Rudy Guiliani, I am sorry to hear that he will more than likely drop out of the race tomorrow. I know he has his problems, but I really liked how he handled 911, especially when Bush was not much help during that time. He is smart, articulate, funny. I think the commentators are right--that he emphasized the past, and 911, when he should have been focusing on some other things. Maybe it is for the best. But I really thought I Hillary/Rudy race would be great fun. Oh well.

Paying Off School

One of the hardest parts about going to law school is paying for it. I am not going to one of the more expensive schools, so tuition is not as high for me as for some others. But it still has been hard to incorporate the payments into my budget. I have been paying for school as I go, so I will not have student loans. But the result has been I have not paid off my other debt as quickly as I would have liked. So maybe it would have been better for me to take out student loans after all.

For those who will have student loans, student loan consolidation can help. Through student loan consolidation, you can consolidate all of your federal student loans, lock in low monthly payments with a fixed interest rate, and perhaps cut your monthly loan payment by half. Some of the loan repayment periods can be extended for up to 30 years.

This would be helpful for those who go to very expensive law schools. One of the factors that leads to burn out early in a law career is the staggering amount of loan debt that can add up to $1000 a month or more in payments. If you can make the monthly payments smaller and extend them out, it would make sense that you would feel less financial stress.

I have always heard that there is a lot of private student loans and scholarship money out there--you just have to find it. I wish I had taken the time to research loans and scholarships prior to going to school. But then I wasn't planning on going to law school when I did--it was sort of a last minute thing. But if I had, it would have taken money off my mind, leaving me more time to think about the law!

Phone/Web Tools

Some people do not want to give others easy phone access, but for a small business, it makes sense. You probably want clients to be able to contact you anytime they have a question.

One way to do this would be by Phone-Me-Now, in which customers would click a link on your Website and a window would pop up. They would type in their phone number, and then someone from your company would give them a call.

Call routing is another service that might be helpful. During regular business hours, technology can send a call to the next available staff member, or, if after hours, the technology could send the call to a voicemail box.

You can also collect information from your clients using interactive voice response for customer surveys and to complete order processing systems.

These are all good tools that will help with customer support and service.

Marketing Uptick

Part of my duties at work involves marketing. I am supposed to market our company in hopes of finding more business. Which sounds fun and easy, unless you know my boss. He doesn't embrace change. If he doesn't think it is a good idea, or if he hasn't tried it, he thinks it won't work.
hmmmmmm.

It is not that he thinks like this every day. He is actually encouraging on some days, and some of these things are his ideas. But he thinks like this enough that it can be difficult.

Marketing is about getting your name out there and developing relationships. That means you have to get out there and display your wares.

Part of what I want to do to achieve this is go to trade shows. Our company has never before had to advertise or market, but now we do. We have no experience in these areas, so we need to think about what we need in terms of trade show exhibits.

I love going to trade shows. In my previous career, I went to them periodically as a consumer, and I loved going up and down the aisles and looking at exhibits and picking up samples.
Part of having a successful booth is having an eyecatching display that includes colorful table covers. You can even get some with your company's name on it. Often, these bright, customized tablecloths can make the difference between attracting customers or not.

One trade show is coming up that we could go to. I hope "boss" will understand the benefits of participating, but I will not hold my breath.

Glenn Beck Says He Is Not a Journalist

Glenn Beck amazes me over and over with his ignorance. Tonight on his show, he is claiming he is not a journalist, but an "opinion guy." Poor guy doesn't understand the basics of his own profession. His guest was politely trying to explain to him that even being an opinion guy makes him a journalist. Beck just laughed in amazement. I laugh in amazement at his ignorance. The guy does not deserve a show.

Moot Court Blues--Episode 7

There are rules in court, with moot court being no exception. Law schools are different from business schools, for example, because law schools have to answer to bodies such as the state Supreme Court. Business schools can pretty much do what they want in many instances, such as make their grading system and their attendance policies to their own liking.

Some of the rules pertaining to law schools involve the number of hours a student must take to graduate and attendance at these classes. The Supreme Court dictates that in order to get a law degree you have to be present at X number of classes, moot court included.

There have been a couple of instances lately of people being booted from moot court because of excessive absences or tardiness. The rules have been made clear. No one should have been in the dark about it.

Nevertheless, people have ignored the rule and now have to pay the piper. Some have been called on the carpet and at least a couple have been booted from the class, which might mean a delay in their graduation.

Harsh? Maybe so. But after all, we are in law school. And there are rules of court in the real courts that can be more harsh than this, and we need to get used to this reality. In the real world, disobeying a court rule can mean sanctions on us or our clients.

But to be honest, some of the rest of us think how lame. Moot court is an easy class. It can get boring and seem like a huge waste of time. Unless you are presenting, you just have to sit there. But why would you put your graduation in jeopardy for something like that?

Listening Intently

One of the things I have done the last two years in school is tape my lectures. I got a digital recorder for Christmas last year and it has been invaluable. The only problem is sometimes I don't listen as closely in class as I should because I know I can listen to the lectures later. Oh well.......

Another slight problem though is my headphone set. It is OK, but I wish I had a better one. Many of the students put their recorders on the teacher's podium, so it can pick up clearly. I don't, however, mainly because of the inconvenience, but also because I don't trust that my recorder won't run out of battery or memory during class. It happens to me all the time during class, but it is easy for me to fix it since it next to me.

But because there is some distance between the recorder and the speaker, occasionally it is hard to listen to the recording. I can't hear the words distinctly, or there is some collateral noise.

I have been looking at bose headphones to see if they would be better for me to use. I looked at a list of the headphones and their descriptions and liked what I saw. Some of the bose headphones, according to their reviews, are good for drowning out ambient noise, which is not an issue for me. But many of the models apparently let you hear layers of sound in the recording that you would not hear otherwise. This is referring to layers of music, but it would have to enhance speech as well.

Again, looking at the list of bose headphones, the models that are described as "on ear" or "around ear" appeal to me more than the "in ear" version. I have used ear buds before and do not like them.

I Am Out of Ink Again!

I was spoiled for years. At my previous job, my employer was very generous about letting you print out anything from the computer that you want. I worked for a big employer, so we had big printers that could print out a lot of material without worrying about running out of ink.

Well, that is not the case now. Now I work for a small business, and even though they have not said I couldn't print out a bunch of personal stuff, they probably would say that if they thought about it.

As a law student, there is always something you have to print out. Notes, outlines, charts, cases. These things can go on for pages and pages, and it takes a lot of ink. I am using a laser ink jet printer for the first time and I am shocked at how quickly you can run through a cartridge!

Because of that, I am looking for a way to buy cheap ink cartridges. Luckily, I have found a Website with some really good prices and it only takes a few days to get the cartridges. In addition, they offer cheap toner, which some other people at work may be interested in.

If I would have to start printing some of this stuff out at school, it would kill my budget, as they charge ten cents a page. So my best bet is to order discount printer ink online.

The Joys of a Collegial Law School

I am one of the lucky law students--I go to a collegial law school. That is right--I go to a school where students like each other, look forward to seeing each other, and even help each other out with class. The students ahead of us have been very generous in giving us tips and materials to help us succeed. And most everyone in our class helps each other out. We give each other copies of our notes, outlines, other study materials, and are quick to explain a difficult concept to someone else. The other law school in town is also a collegial law school.

This is in such stark contrast to some other law schools in the nation. I won't name names, but some law schools are very cut throat, are known to be so, and attract those very kind of students, so the environment continues year to year. I don't think I would enjoy one of those schools.

Vacation from Terror

The vacation to Mallorca had been planned for months when 9/11 happened. Gray and I were going to meet in England and then fly to the island together.

After the World Trade Center was hit, as well as the other plane crashes that day, the planes were grounded for about 48 hours. I was supposed to fly to England during that time, so of course I couldn't go as planned. I didn't even know if I could go or wanted to go. It was a scary time to fly and I wasn't sure I wanted to take any chances.

My wanderlust rose to the occasion, however, and I didn't want to give into the terrorists, so I rescheduled and met Gray on Mallorca, albeit a few days late. I have to say Mallorca and its tourists were very comforting. More than a couple of times, tourists from other countries would burst into tears when they saw me, knowing that I was American, or when they talked with me about those awful events on 9/11.

Because a lot of that trip is a blur, I would like to go again. I have no idea what hotel we stayed at, but I found some great Mallorca hotels online, such as the one at right.

Great deals can be found at Palma de Mallorca too, from a three star hotel from Eur 42 a day up.

We didn't visit Ibia Island, but apparently that is a great place to vacation as well. Great looking Ibiza hotels such as the one bottom right can be found there for as little Eur 18 a day!

San Antonio (not the one in Texas!) also seems like a

great place to vacation. Likewise there are really nice

San Antonio hotels to be had for as little as Eur 20 a night.

I really want to travel back to Spain and its environs, as it was very nice to me at a time that I really needed some TLC.

What a Fool Believes

I have been intrigued by The Motley Fool for a while, but haven't had the time to read their material or really learn what they are about.
I was surfin' the Net and stumbled upon The Motley Fool site geared to England. There is one for the U.S. too, but the English one intrigued me.

The site has all kinds of valuable information about credit cards, loans, insurance, savings, and how to get a mortgage.

You can compare mortgages, including standard rate mortgages, buy-to-let mortgages, offset mortgages, discount and tracker mortgages, and capped rate etc.

They also have helpful articles about how to obtain your first UK mortgage, the true costs of buying a home, and how to compare mortgage rates, etc.

I own a condo, but am wanting to buy a house within the next few years, so I am going to bookmark this site.

One question I had though was why the name, The Motley Fool? I looked on the site and there is the explanation: That in the days of old, the fool was an entertainer and the only one who could tell the king the truth without getting his head cut off. Similarly, The Motley Fool is dedicated to telling their readers the truth.

Missing Two Great Stars

In the last day, we have heard about two great stars passing: Suzanne Pleshette and Heath Ledger.

Suzanne was a star on the Bob Newhart Show in the 1970s on Saturday nights on what was the original "Must See TV" lineup: Mash, All in the Family, Mary Tyler Moore, and The Bob Newhart Show. I was a kid, and loved those shows. I never made plans on Saturday nights, unless it was for after 9 p.m.

It is a shock to hear about Heath dying since he is only 28 years old. Sounds like drugs are involved. More details will come out I am sure. What a shame--he already had a great career and there was more to come.

Ciao Baby!

I have never been to Italy, but it is definitely on my list. One of my best friends got engaged in Italy, and I can't imagine anything more romantic. She speaks fluent Italian and has taught the language, so her boyfriend thought that would be the perfect way to ask her to marry him. I can understand that, as I imagine Italy being one of the most romantic places on the planet.

If I were going, I of course would hit Rome first. I would want to go see the Vatican and just take in everything! The history, the art, the architecture! From a quick look on the Internet, I realized I could get a nice looking Roma hotel for as little as 38 Eur a day.

Another city I would want to see is Florence. I have heard raves for years about the art in Florence. That is where David of Michelangelo is! At right is a Firenze hotel for 60 Eur a day. It has a lot of charm!

Milan would be a change of pace, as it is one of the world fashion capitals, and the main financial and business hub of Italy. I would definitely want to go shopping there! Another quick look on the Internet revealed nice Milano hotels for as little as 35 Eur a day.

I'd definitely have to see Venice. That would probably be my favorite place! I am fascinated with the canals, and of course there is plenty more art. I'd have to go on a boat ride for sure!

Here is an interesting Venezia hotel that runs as little as Eur 90 a day. Cute!

There are other places I would like to go in Italy, but these were the high points.
Get out the trip planner!

Studying is a Yawn

I am home today studying for my upcoming conflicts exam and I am listening to recorded class lectures. Everytime I hear myself yawn on the tape, I yawn again. Isn't that wierd? I am yawning a lot on the tape, so am yawning a lot now too. But that is not as wierd as the other thing that recently made me yawn. I saw a photo of a tiger yawning that went with an article about why animals yawn. Just looking at the yawning tiger made me yawn. Over and over. Even writing about the tiger yawning is making me want to yawn. What a yawn......

A Beautiful View

I really like my condo even though it is too small, but I love my neighborhood. No doubt about that. My neighborhood is just thriving and has all kind of cool stuff in it. My taste in furniture is definitely eclectic, which is fine, even though I do need to do a furniture update when I get out of school. So basically I am happy, even though I could use more room.

I see these amazing new condo buildings going up all around me in Nashville, and they are much more expensive than mine. Of course they would be, considering that my is 20 years old, which isn't really that old though. But one of the best things about these new buildings is the view that they would offer. Most of the new developments are highrises and look out on the beautiful Nashville skyline. I would love to have that view!

When I see photos of the interiors of these condos, I think that modern furniture would work best in them. I think living downtown in one of these buildings and waking up in a room with modern furniture, looking out at the morning sun over Nashville would be a little bit of heaven.

I think modern furniture in such settings seems so sophisticated. (what alliteration!) Having a fancy dinner party in your dining room and then having people sit in your living room sipping after dinner drinks would be the life. I don't know where I will live next. I have envisioned a house with yard, but maybe it will be a condo with a skyline.

Economic Stimulus Package

I was happy to hear that we might get a stimulus package that could include tax rebates of up to $800 for individuals and $1,600 for families. The rebates would be sent out in late spring. I was elated to hear this, because I could use this money now because of paying for BarBri review (It is very expensive.). Getting that money would take a load off my mind.

But my next thought is, "Oh no, does that mean I am slipping back into being a republican?" I shuddered at the thought. I grew up in a republican home but long ago went to the other side, and I don't predict I will ever go back. It made me nervous that maybe I was being lured back into republican thinking by the thought of easy money.

So I was glad to hear on the news this morning that this economic stimulus package was first discussed by John Edwards! George Bush only recently came around to agreeing we needed such. Thank goodness!

And, during talk on TV about the various campaign events, pundits have talked about democrats who are either beer drinking democrats or wine drinking democrats. Even though I like beer on occasion, I have to admit I would characterize myself as a wine drinking democrat.

Cheers!

Health Scare

A relative important to me had a health scare this past week. Chest pains sent her to the hospital for fear it was a heart attack. After a battery of tests, it looked like it was nothing serious. But it was a tense 48 hours checking it all out. I was holding my breath and praying that she was fine. And it turned out she was. I am ecstatic! But it is moments like that that show you how you really feel about people, and how important they are to you, and how things could change for the worse if they were not in the picture anymore. Not to worry!

Transporting Your Car

What if you lived in Tennessee or another state but were moving to Hawaii or Alaska and had a car you wanted to take with you, and needed an auto transport service? That happened to a friend of mine who was in the service and had to move to Hawaii for several years. She had a cute little sports car that she wanted to take with her to zip around the island, so she checked into car shipping companies.

If she were doing that today, she would have an easier time getting a quote on the Internet and setting up the details. Since it was an expensive sports car, it would probably be shipped in an enclosed trailer to keep it safe from the elements.

It is also easier today to get quotes for interntional shipping of cars (and of course boats, motorcycles, etc.). For shipping of vehicles, and especially international shipping, you would have to look at the economics of such a decision. Would it be smarter to sell a vehicle and then buy another one when yo arrive at your new location? Or would it make more sense to ship it. I can see where it would make more sense to ship a car if it were a car that had a lot of life left, or a car that you were attached to. It appears that you can get a reasonable quote for car shipping, so in many cases that might be what makes economic sense.

Movie Marathons

When I visit a friend of mine, we like to kick back, drink some wine, and have one or more movie marathons. One problem though is her husband doesn't like movies and gets irked we when do this. He would rather be doing something else but inevitably gets caught up in it because we are watching the movies in the living room where he often is sitting.

One solution would be to get a portable DVD player. Then we could take the player to a different part of the house and have our movie marathons without disturbing him.

I was looking at portable DVD players on the net, and found a variety ranging from $25 up. I found some with a swivel screen and a portable DVD player that was handheld. The handheld, of course, wouldn't work well for our movie nights, but it would be convenient to have in some situations.

If I got the player, I could use it in other circumstances as well. Another item for my Christmas wish list!

Precious Water

My life has been blessed in so many ways, one being that I have not been touched by a water shortage. I don't really think about water, because I have more than enough. It is there when I need it. I don't have to worry about not having it. But that might not always be the case.

Some areas of the world are facing a real water shortage. On a smaller scale, a few communities not too far from Nashville were fining people last summer for watering their yards. And that is on the lighter side of the issue.

From all accounts, water shortages are going to get worse. Just as more people are recycling these days, I think more people are going to start conserving water and using water reuse systems.

A factoid that I have read is that in many cases, by capturing rainwater and reusing greywater, we might very well be self sufficient in that area. (Greywater comes from showers, sinks, washing machines, etc, and and can be reused after treatment.)

You can install rain water tanks that let you store and reuse rainwater. The rainwater tanks come in either in-ground or above ground systems and come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and configurations.

Grey water systems are also available that take the water from your showers, basins, washing machines, and treat it and store it, and then it can be reused for garden irrigation, car washing, toilets, and washing machines. There are also systems that can disperse water around a garden as soon as it is used.

This is another example of how we can become good stewards of the earth and use resources wisely.

Poker Face

I stumbled onto the poker website flopturnriver.com, and being the wordsmith I am, I had to figure out what in the world those words meant. So, I clicked on the poker lingo link, and down in a fairly long list, under the word "flop" was the answer: Apparently in Texas Holdem, each player gets two cards and then the players share five community cards. The "flop" is when the first three of the five cards are dealt. The fourth card dealt is the "turn," and the last card dealt is the "river."

The Website is a poker strategy and information site. It has a good beginner's section and review pages for Full Tilt Poker that acquaint you with the rules of the game.

On the site you will find a Full Tilt referral code. If you want to play online poker, you should enter this code when you create your account in order to get their Full Tilt bonus--they will match any amount on your first deposit up to $600!

The site also has online poker rooms with a no deposit bonus that lets players try out a poker room for free. You might even want to check out their Ultimate Bet bonus code. I noticed on the site that UltimateBet has just upgraded their bonus offer to provide a 111% initial deposit bonus for up to $1111 bonus dollars. 1111 is supposed to be a lucky number, so I would definitely do it!

Fun Humidifiers

I am still looking for a humidifier online and was amazed to find some cute ones. A cute humidifier? Who would have thought that humidifiers could be cute?

But someone had some ingenuity. Lo and behold I found a pig humidifier, an Elmo and friends humidifier, an elephant humidifier, a cow humidifier, a frog, a panda, and a puppy humidifier. A whole menagerie! Also a Thomas the Train humidifier, and even a Hello Kitty humidifier. My niece would love that one!

But I also found some sleek, modern humidifiers that would go well with modern furnishings. I am hoping to remake my condo over in time into a cool urban condo, so these would be great for me. I may eventually purchase a tower humidifier, or one that looks more "techie." The variety of humidifiers out there is amazing--I just had no idea.

Comfort Humidifiers

I used humidifiers for many years and love them. I was using them because of my skin--it is good for keeping your skin moist, expecially with central heat and air. The only thing I didn't like about them were keeping them clean and trying to find filters for them.

I really liked the slight hum of the humidifier and feeling the cool mist. It comforted me for some reason.

Humidifiers are also good for colds and sinuses, and it is that time of year.....

Another thing that comforts me is Vicks Vapo Rub. I love putting it on my face, throat, and chest and feeling the warmth. My grandmother would put it on me when I was a child, and it made me feel good, and I guess that is why I associate it with comfort.

So why not get a get a humidifier that combines the two? I have been thinking about getting a Vicks humidifier and have been checking them out.

It looks like I can get a Vicks humidifier for as little as $17 dollars online. That is great!

There are different models listed with different tank sizes. The Vicks humidifier I am interested in is the Vicks 1.2 Gallon Cool Mist Humidifier. It is reasonably priced and has gotten good reviews on the Internet.

Irrational Religion

Over the years, I have seen the TV ads of Jerry Sutton, pastor of Two Rivers Baptist Church, a huge church with more than 6,000 members. Apparently some of his parishioners became worried about the church finances and leadership and in September filed suit to get access to financial records and have the pastor and other church leaders removed. According to a Tennessean article, a judge dismissed the lawsuit but said the church members had a right to see the financial records.

The church has responded by basically saying these errant members have to repent--apologize in writing, drop present and future lawsuits, and stop meeting together, or risk expulsion from the church.

Good leadership Jerry! (Maybe expulsion would be a favor.)

Graduation Plans

I am starting to think about law school graduation, even though there are still a lot of hurdles in front of me. I've done well in school, but three of my classes this year have been landmines in the past, causing people to flunk. So making graduation plans may be premature, but I think I will do OK, so am putting some things in motion.

I have reserved the patio at a great restaurant for a party the night of graduation. A few of us are going in on this. We want to celebrate together, because we can't imagine celebrating with anyone else. Sort of like boot camp.

What might be fun for the party is some kind of party favor, maybe some graduation cookies. There is one type of cookie decorated as a champagne bottle and two champagne glasses that would be perfect. After all, I have a feeling we will be drinking some real champagne!

There are also some other graduation favors I am considering ordering such as chocolate bars (yum!) or some cool graduation wildflower seeds. The seeds could be symbolic of our blooming law careers.

Off topic, but still related to favors are some really pretty winter favors I discovered while looking up graduation favors. They could be given on a variety of occasions, anything from a Christmas party to some kind of dinner party or brunch or birthday party in the winter. I particulary like the cocoa filled cones and the snow cone bath salts favors.

I love planning parties, so this is my kind of thing. Now back to the books......

Movies to Study Law By

I am home studying law tonight, which will be the same thing I will be doing for the next countless nights. I have the TV on, as I always do. I have been able to study with the TV on ever since junior high.

I am trying to apply what I am watching out of the corner of my eye to what I am studying. Tonight I am studying conflicts of law, which I will be studying every single waking minute for the next 6 weeks or so.

The movie I am watching is Titanic, which is just as gripping every time I watch it as the first time. Conflicts of laws really applies to this movie. The ship is registered in England, and there are people on the ship from all over the world. Think about the conflicts of laws there.....yeah baby.

The next movie coming on is Unfaithful, which has a murder in it, which is good for criminal law study. See, movies do help you study law.

Dashing For the Airport

How many times on vacation have I been searching late at night for a hotel near an airport for an early morning departure? More times than I care to think about. Two times in London leap immediately to mind.

I think this problem comes up so much because many flights get cancelled or delayed, and you end up having to spend an extra night, or the timing of the flights just don't coincide with when you have to get back to the departure city, and walla! You end up having to spend an extra night near an airport for an early morning flight.

As I plan my "dream" trip to Australia, I wonder where I could stay for an early morning flight out of Sydney back to the states. As I search on the Internet, I see there are quite a few Sydney airport hotels. While searching, I found an interesting tidbit: Sydney Airport is the world's oldest continually operated commercial airport. Who knew?

In travelling around the country, you might have the same problem of having to catch an early morning flight to another city. While in Australia, I would also want to visit Melbourne, Brisbane, and Auckland, New Zealand. In each of these cities, there is a great selection of airport hotels to choose from. Airport hotels tend to be fairly pricy, but I did see Melbourne airport hotels from AUD 108; Brisbane airport hotels from AUD 109; and Auckland aiport hotels from $90. Good deal!

My Last Law Brief

I gave today in class what might have been my last law brief. Those dreaded pieces of paper that contain facts, issue, rule, application, or some variation thereof. The kind you have to say outloud in class.

I am not positive it is my last brief. But it might very well be. In my other two classes, the teacher does not require us to brief. I start two other classes in Feb., and from what I can gather, we won't have to brief in those either.

For some reason, I was nervous before giving my brief. I don't know why--I was prepared, and it was a fairly easy, medium length case. But it worked out, as I did well, and my teacher said, "Good job," which is a rare treat. So I am celebrating another little but noteworthy milestone.

NO MORE BRIEFS!

The Life and Times of Oprah Winfrey

We all know about the wealth and power of Oprah Winfrey. Look at the quality of her show and the reach of her movies such as the wonderful The Great Debaters out now (starring Nashvillian Trent Boyd as Nathanial Farmer). Her support of Barack Obama certainly hasn't hurt his campaign.

I know quite a bit about Oprah since she is from Nashville, but I was still glad to hear about a new Oprah Winfrey biography--I love biographies and you can always learn something new from such books.

This Oprah Winfrey biography is called a bio-poem, a short biography written in the form of a mega poem rather than a book. The author says this is a new book genre that was developed to help adults and children learn to love reading about inspirational people and learn how to lead more effective lives.

You can download the Oprah Winfrey biography and I want to do that. I tried to do that tonight, but wasn't able to. Maybe there are too many people trying to do it at the same time! Apparently this is the inaugural bio-poem to be published, and they couldn't have picked a better first person!

Dr. Laura

She actually said something nice about Hillary tonight on Larry King Live tonight.
It surprises me--I just didn't expect that.
I think her advice is usually so awful.
Her advice usually amounts to being a submissive female. And she comes off as such a dominatrix!
She should get over herself.
I just don't understand why people even want her advice.
Not at all.

Taking Your Vitamins

One problem with going to law school in addition to working full time, is that you let a lot of things slide.

For me, one of those things is my healthy lifestyle. I am a very healthy person, but I haven't really eaten right, gotten enough sleep, or enough exercise since starting school.

I used to take a lot of vitamins. I don't mean mega doses--just a regimen of vitamins. The reasons were twofold: for anti-cancer reasons and for anti-aging.

I think it worked, as I looked good! I don't look as good right now, but I want to get back on track. I have heard that Herbalife products are very good and am looking into them.

I used to research vitamins quite a lot and knew the latest info. I have fallen off, so need to start that again. I looked on the Internet to find the closest Herbalife distributor, and one is located less than two miles from me.

I discovered that not only can I obtain products from an Herbalife distributor, but they can also create a custom program for me to feel and look my best. That would do me wonders right now!

Turning White

Lee Thomas, an anchor on a Detroit TV station, appeared tonight on Larry King Live to talk about his struggle with vitiligo, a debilitating skin disease. Devastating for all who have it, it is particularly difficult for those with dark skin, because the disease makes you lose pigment and shows up so much more in those with dark skin. It is not a dangerous disease and is not contagious, but there is no cure and it is emotionally draining.

It is considered so devastating that some in India with the disease are shunned.

Thomas wears makeup on TV and puts it on himself. His skill is amazing--with the makeup on, you can't tell he has it at all. Off camera, he doesn't wear makeup, and he talked on Larry King about the stares he gets.

He says he does get treatment, and that is good. Not all people respond to treatment, but some respond very well to it. Drugs to treat the disease include ultravate and protopic, and some even say that such things as drinking green tea can help bring back pigment.

Accessorizing With Silver

My birthstone is aquamarine, and for a long time I didn't think much about it. It is not my favorite color, and I thought the stone looked washed out. That is until I saw an aquamarine ring a friend of mine bought at a crafts fair a number of years ago. It was a large, beautiful square ring. I couldn't take my eyes off of it. It redeemed the aquamarine in my eyes.

I wanted to get a ring like that. But that was many years ago, and I long ago forgot the name of the artist.

Just recently, I found a Website that offers sterling silver jewelry, and while looking at the site--walla! There was a ring that reminded me of my friend's beautiful ring!

The site offers both designer inspired jewelry and Tiffany knockoffs. (They even offer a ring called the Desperate Housewives amethyst ring! )

The ring that I fell for is one of their Tiffany inspired rings. It is their Paloma Picasso Sugar Stack Ring Aquamarine. I really like it. It is fashionable and much more affordable than the ring my friend bought! I may just have to pull out my Visa!

Hillary Shines in Debate

I thought Hillary was great in the replay on CNN of the debates from Saturday night. But then all four did well. What a great group. Hillary was even good when Obama made that kind of odd comment about Hillary being likable enough. I take it he was kidding, but I am not sure about that. Anyway, she handled it well, and came out the winner.

This has been a debate marathon night for sure. I then switched over to watch part of the Fox GOP debate. I didn't hear all of it, but heard Thompson tank again when he said he was for conservative judges who didn't make the law up as they went.

Fred, shame on you. You are a lawyer. You should know better.

Fred Thompson and John McCain Tank

I am watching the replay now of the GOP debates on CNN right now, and both Fred Thompson and John McCain are so far off the mark when they said the U.S. has the best healthcare.

What planet are they from?

That hasn't been the case for a long time you two.

You two just lost the nomination for yourselves. Sorry, but you should have known better.

(Huckabee's, Romney's, and Paul's answers were much better.)

Please check the healthcare facts. The U.S. is very sorry on the quality of healthcare right now.

And p.s--this isn't a secret. Most of the voters know this. Please don't treat the voters as morons by denying the fact that our country needs serious help in the health care area.

We may be the best in a few isolated areas, but are far from the best overall. Far from it--far down the list as a matter of fact.

OK, McCain just mentioned incentives for better healthcare, and that is good. But he should still acknowledge our healthcare system is not great right now.

(I am getting so tired of McCain's sneer. Please keep us from having to see that sneer on a permanent basis! )

Neither one of you will be elected. People know better

I Heard It Through the Grapevine

One of the good things about this day and age is that it is good to be single. It is fine, there is no stigma, and it is even fun. There is a huge single community out there to encourage us and embrace us.

Some of these communities are even online now. Once such community is Grapevine.com. I enjoyed reading about the four Grapevine girls: Gabby, Liv, Shannon, and Raqui and their lives.
They live in Chicago, and I am jealous: Chicago is my kind of town!

Grapevine.com allows readers to peek inside these women's lives, and discover their lives and loves, their shopping tips, and their professional insights. The women spend time at the Grapevine Cafe and Boutique, which offers great coffee and food. The Grapevine Boutique offers accessories, handbags, belts, jewelry, and gifts.

I love cafes, and I want to go! It reminds me of Sex and the City!

Grapevine.com also gives readers a peek at the women's closets, and you are able to buy their wardrobe online. Similarly, if they travel, you will be able to view and purchase the same hotels, airlines, etc.

Readers can also contribute their own views, comments, and suggestions.

Sounds like fun. Wish I had thought of this first!

Coffee Is My Life

I'm sitting here on Sunday morning trying to schedule the day in my head. I have to study despearately, which I will do, even if I don't accomplish anything else (which will probably be the case.)

I do have to do at least minimal housework. My place still looks too cluttered, but I have been working on clearing off a couple of my "hot spots." I am making headway on my kitchen table. I also want to work on my coffee table today. Too much paper laying around. I also have to clean one of bathroom floors.

But whatever I do, I will do it with coffee. Even if I go out of the house to study, it will be to a coffee house. Thank goodness for coffee houses!

I am thinking about buying a new coffee maker Mine is OK, but it doesn't keep my coffee hot long enough. Not sure why.

Looking on the Web today, I found a couple of neat Braun coffee makers. The BR AR-12 looks good--it is a 12 cup coffee maker and the site lists the best price at $23. Can't beat that!

Another Braun coffee maker that looks good is the KF 510 10-cup coffee maker. The site allows people to leave reviews of their coffee makers, and this model has gotten a lot of positive comments. People seem to like the sleek size and some say it makes perfect coffee. That is a good reference!

I also looked at the Braun coffee maker model KF 550 10-cup and thought that looked good. And all three models that I have talked about here are in my price range--$50 or under!

Well, now back to the grindstone. And to my favorite grind!

Navigating the Medicare and Medicaid Maze

I don't qualify for either Medicare or Medicaid, but I think it is a good idea for me to go ahead and learn about the programs.

I first became aware of elder challenges as my grandmother aged and then got sick and wanted to stay in her apartment. She was able to do that, and for that I am so grateful. She had amazingly little problem with her insurance and was well taken care of, and for that too I am grateful.

Others are not so lucky and get stuck in the insurance maze and have trouble finding and paying for services.

As a law student, one of my goals is to help the elderly, and in particular, the poor elderly. I probably won't be practicing law full time, but I want to do pro bono work for the elderly and help make their lives, and the lives of their caregivers easier.

I found a Website (http://www.agis.com/) that offers Medicare information and Medicaid information in an easy and understandable format. It explains the difference between the two programs, the different kinds of Medicare coverage, and who qualifies for what.

They have a multitude of Medicaid and Medicare resources on the site, such as Medicaid FAQs, Medicare rights, the differences between Medicare A and Medicare B, and more.

Elder care is only going to become more important for all of us as time goes on, so a site like this is invaluable. I know I will use it and pass it on to friends who are caring for loved ones.

Finish Line Ordered to Go the Distance

Finish Line, which had entered into a merger agreement with Genesco, and then tried to back out of the deal, has been ordered by Davidson County Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle to go ahead and buy Nashville-based Genesco.

Both companies are in the footwear industry, which has taken a toll in the current economy.

Indianapolis-based Finish Line planned to finance the deal by borrowing money from UBS. UBS anticipates that the combined company will not be able to pay its debts and has sued both companies in a New York Court to escape its commitment, according to a Tennessean article.

Lyle acknowledges that if the NY court finds the combined company insolvent, it may be impossible for Finish Line to buy Genesco, the article continued.

Wine Group

I am sitting here drinking a glass of chianti and surfing the net. Yes, it is a Friday night, so what I am doing may not sound that exciting. But it is for me. I have to study all weekend, so I am trying to take it easy. I don't have the money or energy to go out.

I really like Chianti, but my favorites include a variety of red wines and white wines. I only like dry wine (So why do some friends always give me sweet pink zinfindals? Yuck! Maybe when I say I don't like them, they think I am saying that I like them???? I really don't understand.)

So, while I was surfing, I discovered the Website Tastevine.com, which is pretty cool. It is like an online wine group or class. After you register, you can view and review wines, and even buy them online from wine shops.

On the site, I searched for a wine that I was drinking last week--The Little Penguin Merlot--and discovered that it could be purchased from a store in Napa. I also looked up one of my favorites--Kendall Jackson chardonnay--and found there were a couple of ways to purchase it on the site.

Out of state wine cannot be shipped into Tennessee, so I cannot order any from the site. (There are a number of states, however, where this is not the case.) But I can enjoy reading the wine reviews on the site, adding my own, and getting personalized recommendations. Cheers!

Retail v. Auction Prices

When you are working full time and going to school full time, as I am, time management is crucial. I try to budget my time, although I am not always successful at it.

For example, I love to shop, but don't have much time to do that. So shopping online has become more important to me.

Even shopping online can be time consuming, so being able to compare prices online quickly is very valuable.

Mpire offers just that: convenience in comparison pricing online.

And their Website is cool too: You can see instant price comparisons on certain products and if the price is going up or down.

For instance, it shows in graph type style that Seven jeans in real time are selling new for $17.90 and at auction for $44.99. The Apple IPhone is $599 new and $643 at auction. The Garmin GPS is $345 new and $324 at auction.

I could have used this for Christmas shopping. Wish I had known about it then!

On the Eve of the Caucus

Who knows what will happen tomorrow in Iowa? It seems to be a free for all. It will be interesting to say the least.

Whatever happens in Iowa tomorrow will not define the election. But it will be an interesting first step. Then there will be a correction--step ball change.

I sure want a Democrat to win the president's race.

But I have to say that whoever wins the presidential election has to be better than what we have in office right now.

P.S. Bless Ron Paul's heart for being so clear about how incompetent Bush has been.