funnies

I just love Wait Wait Don't Tell Me... here's Bill Clinton playing this week:

http://www.npr.org/2011/06/25/137386121/bill-clinton-plays-not-my-job?ps=cprs

Symphony

Last night I heard Mozart's Requiem and the Oboe Concerto. So good! I loved it. I had a seat as far and high as I've ever been, but I kind of liked the bird's eye view and anonymity of it all. Before the piece, there was this long pause and this maintenance type guy came out to fix the microphone. When he came out people started clapping, maybe thinking he was the conductor? Anyway, he leaned down to fix the cord and everyone started clapping again. He stops what he's doing and looks up at the audience. Basically, he's saying, You people are crazy clapping for me. I didn't even do anything!" Clapping dies down. He finishes fixing and starts to walk off stage. Everyone claps. He just calmly, slowly walks off stage and doesn't look back. Brilliant non-verbal communication and humor. I loved it and thought it was hilarious!

Off to go running.

Denver weather: we had 65 degree weather all weekend. Monday and Tuesday are snow with lows of (actual temperature) -15. Yikes! Glad I played outside instead of doing work... tee hee hee!

Dating

A post about dating. Dating's fun! It's fun to meet people, hear what they care about, how they think, see their quirks and - at the "worst" - have some funny stories. I had a brunch date last weekend. This guy just could not get over that we weren't having a date at night time. The night before he called me to ask what to wear (I kid you not). During the date he kept saying "I can't believe we're having a date over breakfast!" Seriously? The date was, predictably, a flop, which isn't to say I didn't have a good time. I hope I kept my emotions (laughter?) in at the time. Inquire within for more details. So, that's the kind of date where you don't expect anything from it. You have to go into it as a little case study of weird people, pull yourself together, be outgoing, and push past the awkwardness in order to have a funny story to tell your girlfriends at yoga class. That's the Awkward Date.

Then there's the Unavoidable Date. This comes up in a couple situations. First, you see the eyes. You know what I'm talking about, don't deny it. The attempts at eye contact, the nervous chatter and flustered questions to make you stay chatting longer. Usually, the date is couched in some ambiguous terms like, "Can we get together to talk about a few questions I have from class" or "Can you help me with my paper." It's unavoidable. The terms of the date make it so that you have to say Yes. You can't refuse because then you'll look like the jerk classmate who won't give a second to help out a peer. But, you also can't respond with the "I'm seeing someone" line because then you seem like an arrogant egomaniac who assumes everyone is asking you out on a date when they really were just asking for help. I can't say no to a date when it's not officially a date. Unavoidable.

Then, and this is my least favorite, there is the Ambush Date. This is when you're hanging out, la-di-da, having a good time and, all of a sudden, Bam! It occurs to you that this could be, just maybe - I mean, is it possible that from his perspective - this is a date? Ack! How did that happen? When did that happen!? You look around and realize it's a romantic date restaurant. The lights dim. All of a sudden the eyes (see above for description) come out. You run to the bathroom and come back to see the check is paid. That's when you say, Shit, an Ambush Date!

I have yet to pull a Meg Ryan from When Harry Met Sally, but all in all, I'm having a lot of fun these days. How about you guys? Any genres of dates you've noticed? Gentlemen- what's your defense?

Photo updates

I saw this sign a few weeks back and had to take a picture. I think it's hilarious.















Like many cities, Denver has a First Friday where galleries are open late with new exhibits for the month, free wine and snacks and live music. There's mostly bad art, but some of it is decent. I went on Friday and one of the galleries had a ribbon dancer (or whatever you call it) like those Cirque-du-Soleil people. Pretty cool. I love the contrast of the blue ribbon and the yellow/orange bright painting on the wall in the background.

First week update

I'm doing reading for class that starts in two hours, but here's a quick update of the first week.

Classes:
1. Administrative Law (federal agencies - kind of overlaps with a lot of constitutional law)
2. Intermediate Legal Analysis (writing and putting together a good logical argument)
3. Urban Planning Law, Growth and Sustainable Development (self-explanatory)
4. Federal Indian Law (cool-ass professor, 10 people in the class, no final, incredibly interesting, etc.)
5. Alternative Dispute Resolution (negotiation, mediation, arbitration, etc.)

Admin is stereotypically "the worst" of the bunch, but it's useful. The professor is Meh. Perhaps he's just getting settled. He pretty much just follows the book exactly, only explaining things less clearly.

I have good professors for ILA, Federal Indian and Urban Planning. Those 3 classes are my favorite.

ADR is amusing, so far. It's pretty fluffy, as far as law classes go. My professor is a little scatter-brained and, surprising, doesn't have fabulous people skills. She says awkward things like, "Oh, I'm sorry. I can't meet with you on Friday because my good friend DIED. And, so I'll be going to her funeral." and "It's just like pornography, you can't explain it, but you know it when you see it." I had to restrain myself from dying laughing, though no one else seemed to find it either as hilarious or shockingly inappropriate as I did. Tee hee. Oh, to have my sense of humor.

A few other things:
-My new baby ACER computer is great! A little kink with my bad USB, but that's solved.
-I am not buying 2 of my expensive books because they are in the library - hurrah!
-I'm still a little sad grad school is over, sigh.
-I've been figuring out the best time to run, but no matter when I do, I pretty much end up exhausted and wish I could go to bed at about 7:00 p.m.
-Back to yoga class! I had 2 awesome classes this week AND she's adding a 1 1/2 hour class on Saturdays. One day, when I have a life again I will go to yoga 3 days a week.

Must get back to reading.