Seeing Red

I am seeing red, and it's not because of a lack of sleep from school or because of "bar review." I am seeing Red because of the project (Red) that Bono and Bobby Shriver started. When you buy designated products, a portion of the purchase price goes to the The Global Fund, which helps women and children affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa. One hundred percent of that money goes to the fund. That is a great way to bring attention to this horrible problem. Their Website says that to date, Red partners have generated more than $60 million for the Global Fund. There are a number of products included in Red, and they are going to keep on adding more. I am a little cash strapped until after school, but the ones I can buy are the Hallmark Cards and the Gap shirts. I would like to buy the shirt that says Inspi(red). That would be a neat way to help spread the message.

Snow Day!

It snowed and classes were cancelled today! yay! A day off. I am trying not to waste it. But waste it is a relative term. If I were to sleep in and watch movies after weeks and months of ongoing stress, would that be a waste? Or would that be smart? I think it might be smart. wink, wink. But I also need to clean. How I need to clean! I am going to think of flylady and do housework in 15 minute increments. If I do that all weekend long, I might actually get some of it done.

Mortgages in TN

I just had a test on mortgages, so I can volunteer a little info on the subject. Actually in TN, mortgages are really deeds of trust. It is a three party transaction, as opposed to a two party transaction as in a mortgage. With a deed of trust, a mortgagor executes a deed of trust, and it gives legal title to a trustee. A granting clause in the deed of trust gives the trustee the power of sale. This means that a property can be foreclosed non judicially, which saves time and money.

TN is also a title theory state, which means that the mortgagee holds title until the property is paid off. Unlike the lien theory states, where the mortgagee just basically has a lien on the property.

TN also enforces due on sale clauses as written. Bored yet? I could go on, but you may not be listening.

I am just floating on air because I think I did well on the test. Maybe even an A! I hope so, but you never know with these dang law tests. Here's to positive thinking!

Dirty Dancing

Once in a while a movie captures the mood of the country. Or at least part of the country. Dirty Dancing was one of those. I was young and all of my friends and I saw that movie over and over. We loved the music and played it all of the time. We loved the story. Many tried to dance the way they danced in the movie (to no avail). Today I heard that Patrick Swayze has pancreatic cancer. That makes me so sad.

Lining Up Bar Exam References

As the year starts on the downhill slide, my mind has turned to the infamous bar application. Like everything connected to the bar, the number of references we need seems excessive. There are several categories we have to nail down.

First, we have to have three letters of recommendations from our law professors. I received my third one today (all three from judges). I am so thrilled, and they seemed happy to comply with my request for the letters. I will attach them to the application.

Not surprisingly, we also need employment references. I have asked a current colleague and lined up three from my last place of employment. I really only need one, but I was there for such a long time, I thought maybe I should ask three, and they all said they would speak of me glowingly. They don't have to write a letter but have to respond to questions the bar examiners may have.

Then there is the general reference category, and we need six of them. I have asked six friends and/or colleagues and they have all agreed. Two of them are deans, four of them are professors (two are law professors), another is a judge, four are lawyers, and one is on staff of an agency where I used to serve on the board of directors. I think this is a good mix, and I am so grateful to know such good people and that they think well of me to do this.

One more step accomplished on the road to the bar exam!

Channel 2's Concept House Benefits Cystic Fibrosis

Channel 2 in Nashville is promoting its 2nd annual Concept House, going on right now. It is an amazing house in a wonderful neighborhood. In fact, it is a dream house! When I toured the home this past week, not only did a I dream of someday owning a nice house like that (or maybe something at least a little bit like it) it also inspired me to take better care of my current house. After touring that wonderful place, I had to go home and face down the dust bunnies and clean clothes that still had to be hung up. Being in that dream house revived my dream of living better and in a more organized and luxurious fashion right where I am. The best part of the tour though is that the proceeds benefit cystic fibrosis, a life threatening disease that needs donations badly and has a great track record of using donations very wisely.

Vanderbilt's New Chancellor

Vanderbilt University, my alma mater, today announced only its 8th chancellor in its history: Nick Zeppos. I have met Zeppos and think he is a fine choice. A law professor and provost, he is very intelligent, witty, and will put on a very good face for the university. I had heard rumors that they might want to choose somebody from outside the university family, but they decided to stick with one of our own. And they made a good choice, IMO.