The other side...

of the NC bar exam.

I really thought I would take the time to blog and lead a "normal" life while studying, but um, that  was unrealistic. At least for me. I have a guilt complex.  I should have known.

I have very few photos to show you because I figured no one wanted to see photos of my outlines and notecards (see statement above), but Pierre does have a post coming up soon from his perspective of  hotel living. This is not meant to infringe upon the book rights that Sarah and Kait have claimed to a collection of short stories entitled, "Pierre at the Plaza." He had a blast, primarily sleeping.

Exhibit A:

 Exhibit B:

Exhibit C:

 I think I have exactly two photos from dates that Eric and I went on that are not dinner related:

1. We took a pilgrimage to Montpelier. Appropos while studying Con Law again. Gives me an appreciation for the sacrifices made to be where we are today, as a country. We may not be perfect, but we've got the best thing going. In the world. I believe that, in all (nerdy) seriousness.

2. We went to a Corey Smith concert. Like old times. It's approximately my seventeenth one. Except I was the old one annoyed with the underaged college kids this time. True Story.  And this band called Connor Christian and the Southern Gothic Band opened for him, and they were phenomenal. Like, Eric walked out to the lobby while they were still playing and bought a CD. You should look them up.

Some of you were probably wondering if I was talking about making it to the other side of two months of hotel living. Surprisingly...it wasn't bad. At all. Although toward the end, Eric and I got REALLY tired of eating out. REALLY tired. We like to cook, and when you're making healthy choices every day, restaurant choices become even more limited. But worth it, I suppose, because somehow, after over 60 nights of restaurant dinners, neither of us gained an ounce. And, I only ruined two of them with stress-induced tears. Wish I was kidding (so does Eric).

I was going to put up photos of some of our crazy, amazing weekend dinners, but they are in dim lighting and not the best quality. And you don't really care to see them. But...if you will be in Richmond any time and want restaurant recommendations, I'm your girl.
 
The bar exam is about the last thing in the world I want to talk about right now. But. Well. This blog is about our life. Not just the fun parts of it. I really have very little to say about studying for the bar in comparison to the amount of time I spent doing it. Unfortunately, I don't need to write every detail down for us to remember. I can say that it was, by far, the most miserable two months of my life, and Eric would probably say the same. I think that might be the hardest thing...putting someone you love through something that they didn't choose for themselves. I mean, that's marriage, and we're obviously in it all together...but still. That was really hard for me. My classmates who just went through it with children to care for deserve a standing ovation.

To the handful of law student readers who want to know more or have more specific questions, please do email me directly. I'm happy to answer, if I can be of any help at all to you. I just don't have the energy to rehash it all here.
 
I do have to say, however, that I have the best husband and the best friends ever. Eric was my rock, day in and day out, unfailing, and somehow managed to have me laughing even as I walked in to take the exam (read: he made the impossible, possible). Eric, I know you are reading this (probably thinking that I'm not even writing the HALF of it), and I love you. And the cards, packages, emails, calls, texts, g-chats, PRAYERS, from all of my friends from home, law school classmates, and even some of YOU who I have never met in person, were so much more encouraging than you can know. I was blown away. Humbling, truly. I cannot thank you enough. You know who you are, and I want you to know that.

Currently...
I'm focusing on getting back to the most important things in normal life....being my husband's wife, being our dog's mama, being present for my friends, planning my grandparents' 50th wedding anniversary party, soaking up the Florida sun and sand, and whipping up some yummy things in the kitchen.

It feels really, really, really good to be back in our own bed, with our own sheets, with our own coffee maker, and with some of our best friends snoozing away in the guest room upstairs on a Saturday night.

I'll be keeping myself busy this week planning the details of our next Euro-trip that's right around the corner, prepping our house to go on the market, and doing some MAJOR cleaning out, clutter-clearing, and packing up for our upcoming move. If I knew more details than "upcoming," I would tell you. 

I'm so excited to be back in blogland with all of you, and I'm looking forward to catching up on all that I've missed in your lives! It's like I got stuck in some crazy time warp  while the rest of the world moved on.

Do tell me...is it too late to make New Year's resolutions? Ha!