Rainy Days

It's been raining here for the past couple of days which is both good and bad.  It's AWESOME because we really needed the rain because well everything is just so dry and it's making allergies awful... like really awful.  My allergies usually don't start bothering me until the leaves start to change, but this year they started like a week and a half ago while the leaves are pretty much still green.  Although I'm happy for this rain, I'm not enjoying it too much as it has been equating to not so good days for me and it makes me just want to stay in my pjs all day with a cup of tea and a good book.

Yesterday I had quite the Monday.  By 9am I had already fallen in the parking garage and scraped up my knee pretty badly.  You see, because it was raining I decided instead of wearing flip flops to walk from my parking garage, through the hotel parking garage to court like I normally do, I decided to instead wear my heels for the walk so that my feet wouldn't get wet.  Bad idea on my part.  It was just my luck that my heel got stuck in a crack in the parking garage and in trying to get unstuck... which was difficult because a) I was wearing a dress, b) I had my briefcase and tote bag on one arm/one hand and c) I had a cup of coffee in another.  Well needless to say I was not successful in gracefully getting my heel unstuck and ended up on the ground with a bleeding and swollen knee and a twisted ankle... awesome right??  And to make things better I couldn't get it to stop bleeding like ALL day while I was stuck in court.

Things in court didn't go much better.  We lost our trial yesterday morning...it wasn't the best case ever, but I thought we could have gotten the conviction on the lesser included offense, but no such luck.  It was kind of sad for the first trial working in this new unit to be a loss, but hey, I know we can't win them all.  I'm supposed to be 2nd chair in another trial tomorrow which I think will go better for us because it is pretty slam dunk on one of the charges... the others are going to be a bit tricky.  We're going to try one more time to settle this with a plea, but working with juveniles is always tricky because parents are just plain crazy and don't want their kids to have criminal records regardless of how solid our case is, so they try to fight these things.  I've even seen parents go so far as to try to convince their children to commit perjury to get out of being convicted of a crime.  First off, don't try to convince your child to commit perjury when you are sitting in front of the prosecutor, that's just plain stupid.  Secondly, you shouldn't be trying to convince your child to commit perjury anyway, because perjury is a SERIOUS offense and could get both you AND your child in a lot of trouble.  But some parents just don't see it that way... they see it as they are trying to protect their child.  I guess I just don't get that because I'm not a parent yet.  Though I am reasonably certain I will never try to convince my children to commit perjury just to get out of being a convicted of a crime that the state has pretty solid evidence that they did in fact commit.

Today on this rainy Tuesday what I really want to do is some baking and then curl up on the couch with a book and a cup of tea.  Unfortunately that is not what is going to happen today because this is my marathon week of working and I have to go into my "paying" job today.  For those of you who don't know me, I have a few jobs... some paying and some not.  Since I just graduated from law school I have been unable to find a job since I don't know if I passed the bar exam yet, so I'm volunteering at the Attorney General's office as an "Assistant AG" being sworn in under this State Supreme Court Rule that allows law school graduates to practice like attorneys in certain public service positions.  So I work there 2 days a week volunteering my time working 9 hour days... all so that I can keep getting legal experience while looking for an actual job and waiting for bar results.  BUT volunteering for the AG's office isn't going to pay the bills, so I also work at a restaurant hosting and as of today serving to make some money so that I can just barely afford to live at the moment.  Thank goodness for the bf who has been taking care of ALL of the household expenses so that I only have to worry about my own for now while I'm not making much money.  Without him I'd be pretty much doomed right now and would probably have to move back home with my parents and all that fun stuff.  Anyway, today I start my training for serving because I need to make a little more money so that a) I can give the bf some money for the household bills and b) that I can feel like if I want to go out and grab a quick happy hour drink with the girls that I can do that without thinking about the fact that I really can't afford it.  Plus, oh yeah, I need a new car.....

So it's off to go get ready to head into my paying job... Can't wait until Saturday when I FINALLY get a day off... AND get to go visit one of my favorite places on earth... BUCKNELL!

Happy Day for Boyfriend

This is going to be short, but I was so excited I had to share.  Boyfriend got a promotion at work today!  It's not the position he wanted, but hey, it's still a promotion and I couldn't be more proud of him!  Go boyfriend!

Where Hearts Are Free by Golden Keyes Parsons

image from booksneeze.com

Forbidden love. That’s what Philippe Clavell and Bridget Barrington have. Philippe is a French noble who became an indentured servant to the Barrington family when his money was stolen during his passage to the New World. When Bridget declares her love for Philippe, Bridget's father releases Philippe early from his servitude on the condition that he never speaks to Bridget again. This works out well until Philippe learns that Bridget is engaged to a man that is all wrong for her, a man who has ulterior motives that are less than pure for marrying her. Philippe, with the help of his brother Charles, decides that he is willing to risk it all to save the love of his life.


Where Hearts are Free was one of those books that I just did not want to put down. I would say that I was going to read one chapter before bed and one would then turn into two, three, maybe even four chapters before I was willing to turn the lights out. It was uplifting to see how the characters put their faith in God and trusted that everything would work out the way that it was supposed to. That is something that I think people today often forget, myself included, so it was a good reminder for me that as long as I trust in God things will end up working out how they should in the end, even if they don’t seem very good right now.  This was the third book in the Darkness to Light trilogy and since I never read the first two, I do plan on going back to read them because if I enjoyed the third one this much, I'm sure the other two are just as good!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com <http://BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Fall is FINALLY Here!

For those of you who know me really well, you know that fall is one of my absolute favorite seasons.  It's not too hot, it's not too cold yet, the leaves on the trees turn pretty colors, professional football is back and of course, fall means that it is PUMPKIN SEASON!

Now pumpkin season may not be exciting for all of you, but I pretty much love all things pumpkin. Pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin picking, putting pumpkins out on my front stoop, etc.  I also LOVE to decorate for fall... all the mums, scarecrows, gourds, etc.  I usually decorate both inside and outside for the fall... the bf thinks I'm crazy, but what can I say, I love making things look cute for the various holidays.

This is what my front stoop looked like last year...

I'm hoping that this year it will look this good or better.  We already have 4 small pumpkins out there, but I don't want to put out my little scarecrow girl until we have the mums and such (hopefully by going to Linvilla Orchards to do some pumpkin picking and such... bf if you're reading this, don't you think going to Linvilla is an AWESOME idea?!).  On the other side there is also a smaller mum, but for some reason I didn't get it in this picture.

Fall also means Oktoberfest and over the weekend the bf and I attended our first Oktoberfest in Delaware.  It was a lot of fun, despite the fact that it was super dusty (and the dust took a toll on my allergies).  We enjoyed some good German food... and by we I mean the bf enjoyed some good German food because all I had was BBQ Chicken... and some good German beer.  The bf was happy because he was able to buy himself a beer stein to drink out of... and it only cost him $10. for an entire liter of German beer.

the bf with his new beer stein

He was definitely a happy guy after getting German food, German beer, and a beer stein.  It's the little things in life that make him happy.

BUT he was really in his glory on Sunday when we drove out to Harrisburg for an Audi Club event and he was able to drive his car on a test track.  He took me around a couple of times with him, but then I got out to be the official photographer so that he could really see what his car (and him as driver) could do.  

making sure everything is secure before he takes off

this is probably my favorite pic I took of him

Because I love him so much, I also took a video of him....

Despite the loud techno music coming from the Russian's car, you can hear the bf's tires screeching as he was going around some of the turns.  This didn't happen when I was in the car with him, but like I said, he definitely let go as soon as I was out of the car. 

Fall also means that I have a lot of awesome things planned including: a trip to Bucknell, the Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk, a Flyers v. Penguins game, etc.  Fall also means that it is only a few weeks until the results come out for the DE bar exam.....

Wordless Wednesday... with a few of my favorite things

Actually trying this "Wordless Wednesday" thing.  So enjoy some pics of my favorite people and things... with of course a few words to let you know what these pictures are all about.

Rooke Chapel @ Bucknell

My family <3 @ my Bucknell Graduation

Florida Beaches

Jersey Shore

La Alhambra in Granada, Spain

Beautiful Nerja, Spain

Eiffel Tower in Paris, France

The Love of My Life... almost 4 years together < 3

The Original 3... my bffs from DE

My Girls <3 

Graduating from Law School!!

Best Friends from Freshman Year @ Bucknell <3 

NJ turned FL turned PA turned VA Best Friend <3 

I <3 Cutting Down the Christmas Tree

Best Friends Since 1st Grade

I'll Never Forget

(thanks google image for the picture)

It's been 9 years since the terrorist attack on the United States on September 11, 2001 and I still remember it like it was yesterday.  I remember that I was sitting in my Honors US History class with Jasper.  I remember all of a sudden the school went into lock down mode.  I remember that they wouldn't tell us what was going on at first, but that we could tell that something was wrong and that we were not having a lock down drill.  I remember HS looking on Jasper's computer to see if he could find out what was going on.  I remember him finding out what was going on and then everyone beginning to panic.  Most of all, I'll never forget how scared I was.

See the problem for us was that we live so close to NYC.  That's why we were in lock down.  The school had no idea what to do for something like this.  We all knew people working in NYC, in fact most of us had family members working in, or around the 2 towers and if we didn't have family members working there we had friends, parents of children we babysat, etc.  I don't think that there was one person in my high school who didn't know someone in the City around the towers.  And if people didn't know someone in the City, they knew someone in DC at the Pentagon.  Everyone was in a panic.

I'll never forget that my best friend AW (we've been friends since 1st grade) was upset because she had a family member working in the Pentagon.  I remember going with her so that she could call her family to find out if everyone was ok.  I remember the look of relief on her face when she discovered that although the office of her family member had been destroyed, that family member, by some miracle, was not in the office at the time.

We spent the rest of that entire day watching the news and praying that all our loved ones were ok and that they hadn't been injured or worse, died in these attacks.  Many students had parents come pick them up from school so that they could be together as a family during this day.  I remember talking to my parents at lunch time and having them say that I should try to stay in school for my friends that didn't have parents that could pick them up.  I remember my parents saying that we needed to stay strong and be supportive of each other.  I also remember the fact that BOTH of my parents came to pick me up from school that day, and that we all went as a family to pick my brother up from school. That night we spent time together as a family.  We lit a candle on our front steps in honor of all those killed and those now fighting to protect us.  We have flown an American flag outside our front door EVERY SINGLE DAY since.  There is not a day that goes by that we don't have memories of what happened on September 11, 2001.

One of the other things that I remember about this was my Dad telling us how he saw it all happen out of his office window.  He was on the phone with my Mom when the second plane hit.  He saw it happen before she even had a chance to see it on the news.  I can't imagine what it was like to see something like that with your very own eyes.  It was hard enough for all of us to see it on TV, but seeing it with your own eyes, now that's scary.

Although I knew a lot of people who died during these attacks, I also know that a lot of pretty amazing things happened.  I know that some people had parents who missed their trains that morning and didn't make it to work on time so they were not in the WTC buildings when the attacks occurred.  I knew someone who's car broke down so that were not able to make it to work at the WTC the morning that the attacks occurred.  I knew people who just weren't in their office or in the building when the attacks occurred.  For the number of people who died on this horrible day, there were a lot of miracles out there as well.

Before I end this post I really want to say a great big THANK YOU to all the men and women who are serving our country and fighting to protect our freedom and fighting to make sure that something like this NEVER happens. You all are doing your country such a great service and I will be eternally grateful for all that you have done and continue to do for us.

God Bless the U.S.A.

If Only Finding a Job Was as Easy as Finding Volunteer Positions

Still nothing on the job front.  I've looked and looked and looked, but without a bar admission and without some experience I am pretty much undesirable as a potential employee.  This bugs me.  People who had the grades got hired before we even graduated.  I know that they had the grades which means they are smart, but what about practical experience, doesn't that count for something?  Those with the top grades weren't the ones who have already been in front of a judge multiple times for hearings, they weren't the ones who represented real life clients, and they weren't the ones who have written motions, drafted pleadings, filed petitions, etc.  They were the ones who wrote memos and did the more academic research.  Now I've done all of those things and I still don't have a job.  Yes I am volunteering for the AG's office which is awesome experience, but it's not a paying job.  And I NEED a paying job because loans will come due and I need a new car desperately.  The AG's office job may materialize into something, but only if I pass the bar.  If I don't pass the bar then I've got BIG problems.  So everyone, keep your fingers crossed that I pass the first time around.

In other news, I am now the Philadelphia Chi Omega Chapter's Panhel Rep for the PA Alumni Pahnhellenic.  I'm pretty excited that I was given this opportunity because not only is it an AWESOME way to get re-involved in Chi Omega, but hopefully it will provide me with some valuable networking so that I can actually get a job in this area and not have to consider moving back home to my parent's.  I always wanted to be the Panhel rep when I was at Bucknell, but never had the opportunity because I went abroad, so I'm super excited that I am going to get to do this now!

I also submitted my volunteer application to the Make-a-Wish Foundation, so hopefully I hear back from them soon and can continue to get involved in all these wonderful organizations.  If I don't have a job, at least I'm doing my part to help out by volunteering!

Chi Omega Yours Forever, Loyal We Will Be

6 years ago tomorrow I began pledging Chi Omega.  6 years ago tomorrow I joined an organization that played a huge role in my life during college and has continued to play a role in my life since college.  Thinking back to recruitment my sophomore year of college I don't know that it was a pleasant experience, but I'm glad that I did it and I'm glad that I became a Chi O.  I remember being devastated when I was cut from Alpha Chi... I was devastated because that was the sorority that all of the females in my family had been in before me... I was convinced that I had to be an Alpha Chi or I would just die.  But I continued on through the rest of recruitment and eventually ended up preffing Chi O.  It was a hard decision for me at the time.  Had it not been for the two sisters (AH, now AB and AB (different one)) being the sisters that I had spoken to would I have joined.  The two of them made me realize that I was going to end up where I belong and that I would be incredibly lucky to be a Chi Omega.  Though I was very unsure of it at the time, I chose Chi O and they chose me and without Chi O I'm not sure what my life would be like today.

Chi Omegas on Bid Night 2003

Me and AH (aka now AB) Wouldn't have joined Chi O if it hadn't been for her

 Me & AB... wouldn't have joined Chi O if it hadn't been for her either

My Chi Omega family (<3 <3 the Angels) and sisters became some of my best friends in the entire world and without them my life wouldn't be nearly as much fun and wouldn't have nearly as much excitement.  Now keep in mind that even though we had TONS of fun as Chi Omegas, we also did a lot of other things.  It was through Chi O that I became involved with the Make-a-Wish foundation and that is what has prompted me to submit an application to be able to volunteer with them again.  It was through Chi Omega I learned many lessons that have carried me through life.  Things I have learned:

1. My sisters will do just about anything for me.  I know that I can call them any time day or night and they will be there for me to help me through anything.
2. Chi Omegas are everywhere.  I'll never forget studying abroad and meeting Chi Omegas every where I went.
3. "To be womanly always, to be discouraged never."  This is something I learned and I feel as though I have since forgotten.  I will definitely have to try to keep this in mind further on down the road.
4. Being in a sorority isn't just about partying... it is about philanthropy, community service, sisterhood, and doing your best at everything.
5. Never let a guy come between you and your sisters (or friends for that matter).
6. You're not going to get along with everyone, there are going to be people that don't like you are there are going to be people who you don't like... but you need to be yourself, no matter what

 .... I definitely learned many more lessons, but these were some of the big ones....

Before I end this, I just want to say that to those of you pledging a sorority now or in the future, best wishes and know that you are joining something incredible whether you are becoming a Chi Omega or a sister in another sorority.

Now, for some pictures that remind me of what Chi Omega means to me and how we're sisters forever...

Angel Family at Revelations (G-big, Me, Big)

My Best Friend VG and I (as sophomores)

Supporting our sisters during Greek Week

2004 Chi Omegas at Bid Night

Spring 2005 Formals

Angel Family Bowling Night

Fall 2005 Formals

Twister at an event

 Classic Us Pic... Standard Since 2004

Spring Break in Italia with one of my sisters/best friends

Twin, G-big, Me Homecoming 2006

Some of the Angels and Glitters @ a GI Joe and Barbie Hoes Mixer

Chi Omegas Out Celebrating LH's 21st Birthday

Silly Angel Before Spring Formals 2007

Seniors at Spring Formals 2007

Angel Family Fall 2007

Chi Omegas at my Big's Wedding (October 2007)

 

 

 

Chi Omegas at AH (a.k.a. now AB)'s Wedding (October 2009)

Chi Omega's at MH's Wedding (May 2010)

This has been our standard pic since we joined Chi O together in 2004 :)

Sorry for the massive amounts of pictures, but just want everyone to see why I love Chi Omega so much! And of course how it has been a part of my life from College until today :)