Thanksgiving

Before I get started with the list of things for which I'm thankful, let me direct your attention to an opinion piece on usatoday.com which is probably the most cogent, well-thought-out, and succinct piece on the use of scripture as a gay-bashing weapon, Buzz Thomas' When Religion Loses Its Credibility. Brilliant, that!

So, as we Yanks catch up on the calendar with our Kanuk brethren north of the border and finally celebrate Thanksgiving, I'll take a traditional pause to acknowledge and give thanks for my blessings. This year has been quite a trial, but it has brought me things for which I'm grateful.

My health. I have lost about forty pounds (18 kgs, almost 3 stone) this year. Away with that weight went nerve tingling in my hands and arms, terribly painful GERD attacks, high blood pressure, elevated blood glucose levels, and fatigue. My mental health has had its ups and downs, but might be improving, too. Through most of this year, I've been troubled by events and situations at work. This past week, a few rays of sunshine began peeking tentatively through the clouds of depression. I'm not sure that anything has changed other than my attitude, but I'm grateful because I feel a bit better about my work situation. If I do leave my job to attend law school next fall, I'd like to leave on a positive note that's congruent with the twelve good years that I've had with the same employer and I'd like to restore some of my battered confidence, all of which I'll need for school.

My family. I've always been close to my Mum, Mamaw, and Papaw, the maternal side of my family. Recently, I've grown closer to Pops and his side of my family. This year, I said goodbye for the final time to Granny, my paternal grandmother. I witnessed quite closely her decline of health and the last weeks of her demise. During that time, I saw everyone pull together to comfort her and one another. Experiencing both the loss of a loved one and the love flowing between us has made me very glad that I've reconnected with my paternals and quite thankful for them as a unit and individually.

My home. A long-time friend and his partner recently took in an acquaintance from church who was in need of a place to stay after he wore out his welcome with another family. I'm so glad that I have a place to go every evening to feel secure and to welcome family and friends so that I needn't depend on the charity of others for shelter. Along with my home, I'm thankful for my job, my car, and my animals, which make my home life possible and richer.

My friends. I think that I'd have my choice of friends with whom I could stay if I were in need of shelter. From giving me cast-off furniture, to looking after my animals for an extended period, to treating me to the occasional lunch or dinner, to just having me over for drinks, I have so enjoyed spending time with my many friends. I hope that I have returned their kindness in some small measure or at least passed it on.

Jeff. This year began with the immediate aftermath of the end of nearly eleven years with Jeff. Divorce is never easy. I witnessed my own parents' divorce and related proceedings drag on for seventeen years. However, if I had to do it all over again, there's little that I would want different about the way that Jeff and I split up. He remained supportive and as sympathetic and understanding as he could be given his immediate role in the situation. I would certainly not trade our time together for not having to go through our separation, for there was much love there and it made me much of who I am today.

Chris. In the midst of my separation from Jeff, a near stranger from my past walked back into my life. Chris is warm, gentle, and smart and has given me so much love and support, not to mention the opportunity for a long, exciting trip to a fairly exotic foreign country. I like to think that, in return, I've given him a bit more than a few small gifts and soggy shoulders.

This list looked quite familiar as I looked back over it. I realized that these are the same things for which I express appreciation to God when I pray each night, though they're in roughly the opposite order when I pray, because what's the use in building suspense for a dramatic close when you're talking to God? Nevertheless, let's certainly take the day that's set aside for such purposes and be thankful for what we have, but let's also set aside just a minute for daily reflection on our blessings. :J

Glorious Republic of Justin, Ministry of Information, Report of Week

I ought to be listing stuff on E-Bay for the upcoming shopping, er, holiday season and I am, indeed, relisting some things that didn't sell previously. But, I'm feeling uninspired. The fact is that I'm distracted; a friend pointed me to a shopping site called Bim Bam Banana where I found some quite unique gift ideas like this puzzle alarm clock or this lung-shaped ash tray. Please do not take this as a subtle hint to buy either one of these items for me, lest you find it regifted to you on the next convenient occasion!

I received in the mail several days ago a voucher for two free tickets to the new Grand Theatre here in Winston-Salem, which is located in a converted Super K-Mart on University Parkway. Unfortunately, it was set to expire on the day that Chris returns from Manila, so I chatted up my friend, PJ, who recently moved back to North Carolina from California. We hadn't yet had a chance to spend any time together, so we arranged to see Borat. Oh my stars! When, not if, you see this picture, do yourself a favor and wear a diaper, because you will likely piss yourself; it's that funny. The main character, Borat, has come to the United States to film a documentary so that the Kazakh people and government could learn from our culture. At first based in New York, they begin a cross-country trek, driven by Borat's newly-found obsession with Pamela Anderson. Along the way, he and his producer try to learn American social customs and humor with poor results. They find themselves in numerous awkward situations that are hilarious and painful to watch. PJ actually had to leave the auditorium in search of cookie dough bits with which to comfort himself as Borat prepared to sing the national anthem at a rodeo in Salem VA.

After the movie, I drove over to the home of Jeff (Chris' cousin) and Dan, who were having a belated Hallowe'en party. (I suspect as much to alleviate crowding on the calendar last weekend as to take advantage of 75% off Hallowe'en regalia -- men after my own heart!) Not being one to dress in costume, I had originally planned to not attend, but I decided to at least drop by and say hello as long as I was out, since they were nice enough to invite me. I'm so glad that I did go to the party! Jeff and Dan are welcoming and gracious hosts and make friends very easily. I caught up with friends that I'd made at their August luau as well as made some new friends.

Later today, I'm heading over to Mocksville for lunch with Pops and Jeannie, then to visit my great aunt Bert, Granny's only surviving sibling, who's had a fall since Granny's funeral and is recuperating at home. After that, it's church this evening and back to the grind tomorrow. Mmmm... grind... grounds... coffee... mmm. :J

Law School Expo

I got in my car just before lunch-time today to drive up to Wake Forest University and attend a graduate and professional school expo to which several law schools had sent admissions representatives. When I got into my car, I discovered a nasty surprise.

My windshield was cracked!

Yes, again.

Yes, the new windshield that I just installed two months ago!

Grrr. Well, at least this crack is on the passenger side and not immediately in my field of vision as the other crack was.

So, I drove up to Wake Forest and parked in an area on the grass just west of the quad that they often use for over-flow parking. I made my way into the Benson center and registered. I dunno whether it says more about folks graduating from Wake Forest or about current trends in graduate schools, but about 95% of the 75 or so schools there were law schools. Several others were MBA programs (including UNCG).

The first person with whom I spoke was Karen Britton, the representative from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville (UTK). I asked her many questions about the school and city and found her answers very helpful, both in particular about her own institution and about the law school admissions process in general. UTK didn't immediately pop into my head when I originally thought of where I might like to attend law school, but the low application fee attracted my attention and when I looked more closely, I found that I might be a strong candidate. Karen mentioned that many of their students work as summer associates at firms in Nashville, which is also the largest market for their graduates, something that weighs in UTK's favor with me.

Diane Finger of Wake Forest U was interested to hear about what had led me to consider a career in the law and told me about an upcoming admissions information session. Megan Jordan of Elon U answered yet more questions about accreditation from me and explained why their brand-new law school is well-positioned to earn ABA accreditation. Melissa Fruscione, whose e-mail message tipped me off to this event, spoke of how much Notre Dame U has to offer as an institution and a community. Cristi Head of Virginia (UVa) was rather encouraging and gave me an application fee waiver (worth $70) when I voiced my reluctance to even apply in light of my numbers and UVa's reputation (a top 10 law school).

I also spoke to Anne Richards of George Washington University and, finally, Mweni Ekpo of UNC Chapel Hill. (Mweni was constantly surrounded by a crowd and I wanted to make better use of my time than waiting.) I picked up a brochure from U South Carolina and signed their mailing list, but there was no one at their table at that moment. Everyone to whom I spoke answered my questions sincerely and candidly and took their time; I never felt rushed, even when I pounced on Mweni just as the expo was wrapping up.

I saw representatives from Columbia U, Vanderbilt U, Stanford U -- big names among law schools. There were folks from Charlotte and Charleston, two new private, for-profit law schools that are opening in those cities. There was even a representative from Chapman U, a medium-sized, private university in Orange County, California, that my friend, PJ, had tried to sell to me! NC Central U was conspicuously absent. I was disappointed to see that there was no representative from Samford U and WVU, two schools that are on the outer ranges of my radar, but about which I'm interested to see more information.

Going into the expo, I felt that I had little chance of receiving a fat envelope from Georgetown, UVa, or Vanderbilt but I felt relatively safe in applying to UNC Chapel Hill and WFU. Much of what I heard confirmed some of my suppositions, but I now fear that UNC Chapel Hill and WFU are "reaches" for me, too. I must admit that this is a little disappointing. I had hoped to receive a bit of encouragement, but that was as much as I received -- a little. Many to whom I spoke agreed that much would depend on my personal statement and other materials with which I supplemented my application.

Application fees are expensive (as much as $75 for the schools on my long list), so I'll shorten my list quickly and won't go out on many limbs. I will apply to UNC Chapel Hill, WFU, and Elon because those are my top picks. I'll apply to NC Central U and UTK because I think that I'd be a strong candidate. I'll apply to UVa because I have a fee waiver. Then, I'll wait patiently by my in-box to see what avenues open themselves to me. :J