~~~UNC NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!~~~

UNC won the 2009 National Championship!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  And, it wasn't even close!

Wow, what a great ending to a great season of hoops!  I admit the end is bittersweet as it means 7 months until next year's season starts up again.  I am so happy for this team, but sad to not be able to see them in action again.

Oh, and I got my law license in the mail today.  I figured that was a good omen...I could have failed the bar again and UNC could have been knocked out in the tourney, or I could have passed the bar, yet UNC loses or vice versa...but no, I passed the bar AND UNC won the National Championship.  Add that to Obama winning and the Phillies winning, and life is feeling pretty good right now.

And to that...CHEERS!

Still Soaking it all in

I'm not sure when it will finally hit me that I passed. The results were posted online a few days ago and seeing my name on that list felt good. All of the congratulatory words, text messages, and emails were very much appreciated.

Someone asked me how long it took to get to this point. I had to think about it for a second. Let's see....I took the LSAT in July 2003, got accepted at NCCU in December 2003, started in the evening program at NCCU in August 2004, graduated in May 2008, took the Bar (v.1) in July 2008, took the Bar (v.2) in February 2009. It will have been almost 6 years from the time I started getting ready for law shcool until I'm actually able to practice law. In a way, passing the bar serves dual purposes: it ends one cycle in my life but also begins a new cycle.

I'm hoping my license and bar number will come in a few weeks and then I can really get the ball rolling on my next endeavor: going solo. Yes, I'm taking the plunge, but I do feel ready for the risk and ready for the challenge. I feel like I have the suppprt, energy, and motivation to be successful at it. Oh, I also like peanut butter and rice and beans, which is a good thing since that's all I'll probably eat for a few months.

This weekend is full of fun stuff: Full Frame Documentary Festival, John Prine concert, and of course, UNC is in the FINAL FOUR!!!!!!!! GO HEELS!!!! I'm still not done celebrating that I passed and it is a relief to be able to have fun without the Bar exam lingering over me.

As for this blog, I will continue to post here until I've got my solo practice blog going. I do have a few more things I want to say about this whole process, but it's a nice day outside and I'd rather go celebrate....

SUCCESSFUL!!!!!

So....I got word through the wonders of Facebook that some had received their letters today.  Well, I'm in DC with the sigO, who has had meetings and such.  My little brother was in charge of checking in with the dogs, so I called him earlier to let him know that he should check my mail.  

SigO and I headed out to Old Town Alexnadria for dinner and drinks.  Around 8 p.m., the bro called to say the letter was there.  After a few minutes of debate, I decided to have him open the letter. 

So he opened the letter.....

And after I heard "Congratulations!" I didn't care what else he said.  I passed.  I f'in' passed.  I told the bartender and he brought us 2 flutes of champagne.  All night long, I couldn't help myself from saying to wonderful BF-who supported me through all of this despite my breakdowns, "Guess what?"  He would sweetly respond (even after the umpteenth time)..."What?"  And I would elatedly respond....

I passed the Bar Exam.

I passed the Bar exam.

I PASSED the Bar Exam.

WE passed the bar exam.

Results are in the mail

...and I am in DC, far away from my mailbox.  One more day of not knowing won't kill me, but I did get that nervous rush when I saw that others had received their letters.

Will I be sitting at the edge of the bar for another 4 months?  Or did I pass?

I'll be sure to update tomorrow ;)

Brackets, Biscuits, and Bar Results

Since everyone seems to be asking:

1.  I should get bar results in another 2-3 weeks.  Based on what they've done in past years, I'm guessing the coveted letter in a pretty cream-colored envelope will be mailed on 3/21 or 3/28.  I am still feeling rather ambivalent about the results.  I mean, if I fail it, I just take it again.  Of course, I'd rather not take it again, but there are worse things I could do in life, like sit in a tanning bed for hours (my personal idea of hell).
   
2. Yes, I'm picking UNC to go all the way...except in 2 secret ballots that I'll only share with 2 people.  I have to take into account that Lawson might not be able to play 100% all games, but I'm not about to publicize that I've picked a team other than UNC to win.  I will say that I have picked a 2/15 upset involving a certain devilish team that rhymes with puke in at least one bracket.  I'm also partial to 3/14 upsets and #6 seeds.
3. Biscuits...yes, I really know how to make them and no, I don't keep a stash in my car for when you see me in public.  Every time I go to a store or gas station or post office in my work uniform, someone inevitably asks if I have any biscuits with me.  Um, no.  And I don't have any chicken, either.

Off to finish a few more brackets...GO HEELS!

March Madness

I am a college hoops fanatic (or a junkie, as someone affectionately called me). I love this time of the year. It helps that my favorite team, UNC, is generally a good team, and that the ACC Conference is also generally good each year. But lest you think I limit my fanaticism to just one team, I'd like you to know I just love watching a good college hoops game, no matter the team. I grew up watching college sports and one of the reasons I chose UNC was because I wanted to go to a school with a successful sports program, or at least one where students and alumni are big fans. I loved watching UNC games in Mexico City with other fans who were on vacation (but obviously they didn't plan well, because who would leave the country during March Madness!?)

So my addiction leaves me tired and with no fingernails. I can't sit still when there's a good game on. Last night, I stayed up until 1:30 in the morning to watch Syracuse beat UConn in SIX overtimes. I watched the entire game, considering Syracuse is the team I support after UNC and the other ACC (except Dook) teams. There was no way I was going to go to bed until the game was over!

6 overtimes. The best players fouled out by the 3rd overtime, so the last players on the court were players who hardly played during the regular season. That game seemed to be a prime lesson on the importance of sticking it out and the true meaning of working as a team. Sometimes I wonder what the benchwarmers think while on the sidelines the whole season, as they watch the top players get the glory. But, this game proved that those players are just as important to the team as the starting 5.

I love college sports because of games like these. The emotion involved is almost palpable. I read a neat article about the game and how certain sports moments are unforgetable and how that's what keeps so many of us hooked. There are certain sports moments I'll never forget: when Roy Williams spoke after Syracuse beat Kansas for the national championship, Henderson bashing Hansbrough's nose, Chris Weber calling a time-out he didn't have, Kay Yow's last game coached....

However, one thing I don't like about March Madness is imminent feeling that the end of the basketball season is coming. It's always a bittersweet feeling to know that I won't be riding this sports-induced roller coaster for at least another 9 months or so. Sure, I enjoy other sports, but college hoops is in a different league for me.

In an ideal world, I'll get my passing letter the same weekend that UNC advances to the Final Four. But, I'll also admit that I'd be thrilled even if just one of those things happened. Yes, I admit that UNC winning a national championship is nearly as important to me as passing the bar.

GO HEELS!!!

Windfall-bound

So so so so excited to finally get away for a few days! I'm heading to a small town on the coast of South Carolina, where I'll spend 3 days with my best friends and my honey. We don't do much of anything except eat, drink, and be merry. Well, there's usually a slack game of bocce ball and an occasional jog around the property. The main event is the UNC-Dook game. I'm picky about watching big games, but this is the perfect environment---I think between the 8 adults, there are 9 UNC degrees (one more in progress). It's not too loud (unlike a crowded sports bar) yet provides the feeling of a party when we win. Since I had to go right back to work after the exam, I didn't have the opportunity to get away and relax. This will be good for me.

Only about 25 days or so until results come in....