Kickin' it in Cabo!

So JM and I just got back late Sunday night from a fabulous vacation in Los Cabos, Mexico. We had many reasons to celebrate our trip, Deighton and Adrian's wedding, me being finished with the bar, and on Sunday JM and I celebrated being married for six years!

We stayed at a great all-inclusive place, the Riu Palace, which is where Deighton and Adrian got married on Friday (8-8-08). It was beautiful! Let's just say that within minutes of checking in we were greeted with great margaritas! That first day we took the time to check out the resort (which was huge) and the ocean. We learned after a quick swim why the ocean there is typically not recommended for swimming....I had fun getting all that sand out of my bathing suit. Too bad the water was just so beautiful! That night we met up with everyone for a great meal at the resort Japanese restaurant. Then for a nightcap I went with JM and Adrian horseback riding on the beach.

The next day started with breakfast in bed. Those who know me know that I am obsessed with room service!!! The rest of the day was all about the pool and laying out in the water! We alternated between Mojitos and Pina Coladas....YUM! The resort was amazing in that someone was always there to assist you, take your drink order and there were plenty of sun chairs. Best of all, when we got tired, hours after a big buffet lunch, we just went back to the room, cooled down, and ordered a snack or two. At the risk of totally sounding like an alcoholic, we were also amazed that in every room there was a refrigerator full of beer, sodas, and water and also a mini bar of liquor in upside down bottles. I decided to poor myself some scotch just to try it (never have) and upon drinking it, started to choke, couch and could barely swallow it....ah, free is nice because if you don't like it, you just poor it out (which I promptly did). That night was the rehearsal dinner which was at the resort steakhouse. The food was fabulous and it was fun to sit at a table with Deighton's other married friends....even the singles' table was not laughing as hard as we were!

On Friday was Deighton and Adrian's wedding! JM and I hung out by the pool in the morning and then I went to help the bride and bridesmaids get dressed (my favorite part of a wedding). I got some great pics and became quite a master of getting sashes tied just right.

We then went down the beach for the ceremony which of course was beautiful! D&A were awesome and so excited to finally tie the knot!

After the ceremony, we had the entire gourmet Mexican restaurant for the reception. Adrian's Mom surprised the couple with a Mariachi Band when they first arrived. Then we ate like pigs on such amazing food and watched the cutest slide show of D&A. Finally, we all headed over to the discotheque for dancing and drinks. The couple had their first dance, family dances and then totally surprised us (and anyone else who has never been to a Mexican wedding) by breaking this huge bag of toys/favors....I don't even know what to call it. There were hats, sunglasses, glow bracelets, flashing tiaras.....if for even one second you thought you were too tired to dance, this changed your mind! It was hilarious seeing everyone looking crazy and dancing their tails off! Little did I know that this is a Mexican tradition where the weddings go until 6am in morning. I think D&A lasted until 4am, at which point JM and I had been asleep for a couple of hours!Saturday, most of the guests had to leave early on the charter so only a handful of us where still at the resort. We met up with D&A for lunch and then JM and I went with our friend Josephine on a snorkeling/tour trip. We took a glass bottom boat to a nearby beach, Santa Maria, and snorkeled for about an hour. The fish were amazing, although at one point I swear they were following me and I got a little freaked out. After snorkeling we took the boat to Lover's Beach which I think is the most southern tip of the Baja Peninsula. OMG, it was so so amazingly gorgeous!!! We took as many pictures as possible and were mesmerized by the waves crashing into the rocks. Oh, and there were also seals all laying out on a rock. John, Deighton's little bro, refers to them a dogs of the ocean since they love to play and bark.

After our trip, we decided to go help D&A move their luggage into their honeymoon suite. They are staying at the Sheraton this whole week and Adrian gave us a tour. It is also a beautiful resort and of course we took pictures.

That night we went out on the town. We ate dinner at a great taco place and then took a tour of the nightclubs, including El Squid Roe.

On Sunday JM and had a great last meal at the resort and then caught a plane back to DC. We were so sad to leave...but after gaining 5 pounds I guess it was time. Can't wait to vacation again in Cabo! Happy wedding D&A!

It's Over.....I Hope! (My Bar Experience)

The July Bar is finally over! The culmination of my law school experience is finally finished...I hope!

This last Tuesday and Wednesday John Mark and I were in Roanoke, VA in order for me to take the Virginia Bar. I rode down there with my friend Shaunte and John Mark drove down later that evening. The ride was actually very pleasant, full of farms, beautiful estates, mountains and oh yes, a battle field for civil war reenactments. I wish I had taken my camera as I honestly can't think of why I would make that drive again (the February bar is in Norfolk).

We arrived in Roanoke and poor Shaunte stayed at the creepiest hotel, but it was the closest hotel to the testing facility. John Mark and I stayed at the Doubletree which was originally the Hotel Roanoke, a really neat historical hotel that had been redone about ten years ago.


Day 1 of the exam was miserable in that I arrived at 8am on the dot, but the test did not start until 9:40. Then for 3 hours I wrote essays on topics that I was prepared for along with topics that were promised by my very expensive bar studies class were not going to be on the exam. Honestly, I feel pretty sorry for the grader who is going to see one particular essay. There was such a remote chance of it being on the exam that many people skipped the review seminar altogether. Thankfully, I remembered bits and pieces, but that's about all I put down.

We took a break for lunch and it was quite a site to see 1,500 people walking around in suits and tennis shoes. We were pretty easy to spot, hence the random man wishing me good luck as I was walking down the street.

In the afternoon it was another gruelling 3 hours of essays, however the topics were a bit more predictable, but not necessarily easier. After a long day, John Mark took Shaunte and I out on the town....which in Roanoke terms means to the couple of restaurants open in the historical downtown. After an early dinner, we left to get some much needed rest for the next day.

Day 2 was the MBE- the Multistate Bar Exam. It consisted of 200 questions in 6 hours. The nice thing about the MBE is that the correct answer is somewhere on the page. The not so nice part is that the average score is a 125-130 out of 200 which means that law school graduates are scoring at or less than 65% which wasn't what we were used to doing in law school. Oh, the bar is humbling in so many ways!

My morning session of the MBE was awful because I messed up my timing. Thankfully, I did get through all 100 questions. Over lunch, I told JM to talk to my Mom to call in the prayer warriors! I definitely felt that prayer during the afternoon session as my timing was much better.

Last night we drove home as soon as the exam ended. We stopped close to JMU (Shaunte's alma mater) to eat dinner. It was good to call and chat with a few friends and family on the way back to DC. I will not find out the results until the middle to end of October. I would not be surprised if I had to take this exam again, but I know the Lord has John Mark and I where he wants us. In the mean time we will be praying that the bar graders have mercy upon me and that somehow all those jumbled facts miraculously made their way onto paper in a precise and well organized way of analyzing the applicable law.

Everything You Hear About the Bar is True....

So two of my best girlfriends in law school make the feature picture in the Florida Times Union in an article about the bar. Four days to go... in most states (including FL and VA) the test is this Tuesday, July 29th and Wednesday, July 30th. Keep everyone you know who is taking a state bar in your prayers!!!!

Artomatic

So earlier this summer I had the very fun experience of teaching a workshop in Photography for a DC art show called Artomatic. It was a fabulous exhibit showcasing DC artists, musicans, and performers that ran for about a month and a half. Because the individual shows and exhibits were being set up during my final exams I chose not to exhibit my art this year, but am trying to get a collection together to show next year. Instead I put on a Photography 101 workshop for anyone to attend. It was such a fun experience!!!! I had 25-30 people each time. It was a beginers workshop since I have been out of the photography world for a bit, but it was great and I hope to teach this same one and an advanced workshop next year.

Anyway, I was able to put together a power point slide show for the class and will do my best to get it posted onto this site so that everyone can use it. I also found out that my workshop was a pick of the week by others and mentioned on DCist!

Christian the Lion

I just had to post this today....Christian the Lion

(thanks Ramsey!)

We're Moving....Again!!!!

Yes, right in the middle of bar studies we are moving! Not exactly the most convenient timing, but that was not really up to us! John Mark and I are currently living in 700 square feet...so it's cozy and our couch does not make for the best guest suit....so, when our landlord told us we could not go month to month as planned and needed to sign up for a year more, we decided to start looking.

We looked and looked and found a great place, but a terrible lease made it a no go! Finally, out of sheer desperation I pointed to a building and told John Mark we should check it out because it looked pretty. Anyway, we really liked it and signed a lease on a two bedroom, two bathroom place! So visitors line up! We are so excited to be able to host lots of guests after I finish the bar!

Anyway, if you are curious, you can check out our new building, Halstead Tower. We will be moving this weekend, as we officially have the place June 27th!

The Ultimate Tease

The ultimate tease is law school graduation, because even though you have put in three years of crazy hard work, the greatest test is after graduation...the bar!

For those of you in to blog-stalking or just keeping up, I apologize for nothing being posted on this blog for a good long time! In April, the craziness of finals started and this May I have been short on time as well due to graduation and bar prep. As mentioned in my earlier blogs, I have decided to take the VA bar and will join thousands of others this July 29th and 30th in Roanoke, VA praying that our last 3 years have prepared us for this ultimate exam.

Law school graduation was great! John Mark and I were in Florida with my parents, his mom and her new husband. We were able to see my law school friends for all the graduation festivities and John Mark was awesome in setting up a large dinner to see all of our church and Jacksonville friends (aka non-law school people). It was a very busy weekend, but we really got to see most everyone, even for a bit, so we were very pleased.

However, in coming back to town, I had to start my summer long bar prep session that Monday. Honestly I was exhausted from the travels and it made for a very rude awakening that led to a couple of break-down moments, but since the tears, the determination has set in. Speaking of, it is high time I get back to my studies! In sum, (I use that phrase alot in my essay writing) graduation was wonderful, but my ultimate challenge has just started. I hope to periodically post, but in case you don't see anything new on this blog site until August, you now know why. Thanks to everyone thus far for the encouragement! Please keep JM and I in your prayers, especially on test days!