one more question

Okay, so it's nearly 1:30 a.m., but I can't go to sleep. I have a lot of thoughts racing through my head, and since this is intended to be as much as a journal for me as it is intended for anyone else, I thought I'd tell a story that I don't want to forget ...

At 8:13 p.m., I received a phone call from Aaron Garrett, the current editor-in-chief of the law review. Having wrapped up a week long interview process for editorial board positions more than 4 hours before, I was lounging comfortably but was excited to see a call from an unknown number. And then I heard those dreaded words: "We have a few more questions for you. How quickly can you get to the law school?"

My mind went to work. 15 minute drive. Changing back into hose/suit/heels. "Twenty minutes?" "Okay, just get here as fast as you can."

I pulled on my grown-up clothes, hoping that my face didn't have any "sheet marks" from the nap I had taken earlier in the afternoon, and I ran out the door. On my way to the law school (driving a cautious 3-5 mph over the speed limit the entire way), I wondered if this was a set-up or if I was about to face a barrage of questions that would forever determine my editorial fate. I pulled into the parking lot, entered the law school lobby and heard the sound of boisterous conversation coming from the direction of the faculty room.

Hurrying into the room, I was greeted by comments of "thanks for coming back," to which I hastily responded that it was not a problem. I was cold (I failed to mention that it had showered a "wintry mix" on my way to the earlier interview), and I was nervous about what this final interview might bring.

Then Aaron said, "We have one last question for you ..."

At this point I knew what was coming next, but I waited for what I was certain would follow ... and sure enough it did. "We have selected you as Editor-in-Chief. Will you accept?"

It was kind of overwhelming to react in front of the entire past year's editorial board, and I didn't see many of their faces, but the excitement was there. And after many congratulations and thanks showered around, I was on my way back to my house, to make my phone calls and celebrate the night away.

So how does this editor-in-chief-elect celebrate this sort of an honor? Go see a late night chick flick, of course! I convinced (though it didn't take much arm twisting) my wonderful roommate Sara to come along and we frittered away our evening with "He's Just Not That Into You." And now here I sit, trying to shut my mind off for the evening because my alarm will go off all too soon.

I'm overwhelmed and humbled. I'm nervous and excited. And I am so honored to be selected by my peers. I hope that I can live up to all of their expectations.

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thirty seconds or less

Okay, so I've got a sufficiently voluminous to-do list and, much as I'd love to wile away an hour writing an interesting and witty post for the blog, I've procrastinated enough lately. So I'm going to attempt to give you an update on my life in 30 seconds or less. Ready, set, GO!

• Spong came, Spong went, met judges, wore heels, feet sore, Krysta tired.
• Ed board interviews (5), decision Sunday, hope they make good choices
• Met Sandra Day O'Connor, meeting Paul Clement
• L and I both gave each other $15 iTunes gift cards for VDay
• good visit in Norfolk with Sarah; cute keychains
• Sing nostalgia
• tournament brief due soon!

Okay, that was more like one minute, but I won't tell if you don't!

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to-do list

Anyone who really knows me knows that I am an avid to-do list maker. We're talking multiple times throughout the day, making a list from scratch. It's generally pretty detailed. And there's nothing better than the thrill of checking something off my list -- it's cathartic and serves as a physical representation of accomplishment. But I digress.

Because my to-do list has been overwhelmingly long these days, I haven't gotten back to my most recent attempt at online journaling. I don't feel like I've necessarily deprived the world of any great insight, but that's not the point. This journal is for me and for anyone who cares enough about the mundane and not-so-mundane moments of my life that they care to read it. So go ahead and get comfortable, this is going to be a long post.

1. I am done with interviews!!! After 11 callback interviews, 10 plane flights, approximately 850 miles on my car, and a handful of awkward moments, I am done! I don't ever want to drive to the Richmond Airport again (I'm flying out of DCA for Homecoming, so I'll actually get my wish for that trip), I'm not wearing heels for at least a week, and my trusty "interview pantyhose" will not make another appearance until my Moot Court tournament next spring -- unless I decide to throw them away! I've met well over 100 attorneys - it's actually probably somewhere between 130 and 150 - and I've told the same stories about student speech, Mongolia, and working for a legislator over and over again. I've gotten nauseous from smiling too much (seriously, that's a story in-and-of itself, but I'll spare you) and I come home mentally and physically exhausted. I am so glad to be finished, and I don't even really care if there is something brilliant out there that I've missed. I have some offers pending, I'm waiting to hear back from others, and that is the universe from which I will make my decision. The end.

2. I am going to Homecoming!!! I can't remember when I booked my flight, but it is official. I will be listening to the angelic voices of the Baylor Religious Hour Choir once again. It will be exhausting and exhilarating all at once. There is nothing like the feeling you get with the chill of fall in the air, the glow of the campus (and the bonfire) at night, and the warmth of far-away friends who are close together again. It's perhaps my favorite weekend of the year.

3. I went to a Martin football game! I hadn't been back to my high school for a game since my freshman year at Baylor. As I was walking into the stands (feeling like somewhat of a novice since I'd never not come with the band before), I couldn't believe that it had been six seasons since I had directed on that field! It was such a big part of my high school experience, and becoming a drum major was probably what I considered to be my biggest accomplishment during that time of my life (even compared to NMS). It was so wonderful to be back in those stands, reminiscing about the joys and triumphs it brought, feeling the change in the weather and realizing that, although I wouldn't trade it for anything, I didn't feel like those were "the best days of my life" like so many others do. I'm so glad we went, and I hope my parents are too : )

4. I got to see Alli! There's not a lot to detail here because it mostly consisted of private conversations and the like. But my sweet friend was thoughtful enough to drive up to Dallas while I was in town interviewing. We went to lunch, enjoyed some time catching up face-to-face (which is so much better than over the phone) and she even took me to the airport. I was so blessed by her willingness to take that much time out of her busy, busy day to come see me (she's BRH president this year and has a lot on her plate). She is such a precious friend to me.

5. Fall is here! It should be no surprise that this would excite me because two of the paragraphs above have addressed fall weather. And at the risk of ripping off other people's blogs (and because you're probably already tired of reading) I won't go into an exhaustive list of why I absolutely love fall. But I'll list a few: Homecoming, my red pea coat, leaves changing (it actually happens here in VA), the smells, the beginning of Christmas and the crispness in the air. Only in fall can you be certain to drive with the windows down and radio up. It is a miracle season to me.

6. I am busy. I have a million and one things to accomplish today, and I have already exceeded my allotted "blog time," so I'll have to write about them later. But there it is, a recount of what I could tell you and allusions to the things I could not.

Until next time ...

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jet-setting

When you hear the term "jet-setting," you probably picture first class seats, champagne, Florence and Dolce. Or perhaps, if you're like me, a certain challenge from Project Runway season three comes to mind, boasting an alarming mix of disastrous get-ups among suave and elegant styles.

I doubt that any of you pictured me, in jeans and a t-shirt, commuting from Richmond to DFW three times within three weeks. The 3Ls are right -- the first time it's fun, the rest of the time it's just a pain.

Okay, I'm not complaining. Technically I guess I am, but I don't mean to complain. I mean, what could better than an all-expenses paid trip home, right? Plus, the places I've gotten to stay are pretty swanky (to date, I've stayed at the Ritz-Carlton twice and the Fairmont Dallas once). I say it in all humility -- I actually think it's kind of ridiculous how much firms spend on recruiting law students -- and I've definitely had moments where I promise that people are looking me up and down and trying to figure out what in the world I'm doing in their upper-escheleon world. But I know that I better be careful, because my teacher mother, phD-seeking sister (who will have to pay her own way throughout the country when she goes on her internship interviews, though she'll be much cooler than I am and should get the star treatment) and social worker best friend will probably start to yell at me.

Seriously, though, I'm tired of fancy meals and endless small talk. There was one interview over lunch where I really, desperately wished I could get a burger. Probably not the classiest move in the world.

Thank the Lord for these two weeks I've had away from the Richmond airport. Away from fancy foods and thoroughly immersed in my Bagel Bites, naked spaghetti and Dr. Pepper. Really, this is the life.

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