WEll all of you who know me have heard about my health issues and Ange told everyone I was burglarized, so instead of sending a mega email I thought I would update my lj and then you can read it or not.

First, the Good - started out bad, but a somewhat happy ending: Burglarized (breaking and entering the dwelling place of another at night with the intention of committing a felony within). On February 16, 1 year to the day I quit my last job, my house was burglarized. Some tweeker broke in through the back kitchen window (cost $232 to fix window) and stole my computer and my camera, so all my photos and files, gone. **** Moral of story, back up your system****.

I was devastated as I am signed up to take the CA bar and I need a computer to take the test, that and I had already downloaded the program to take it (costs $120 to use program). So I ran out and got a new computer with printer and all that stuff for $1061 with $220 in rebates to mail away. Again still unemployed and really running out of money. I called the burglary department to report my serial number for both items and then tried to set up the new computer, you all know what a time consuming mind f8@& that can be.

So Tuesday at 9 am, knock on the door. Two detectives and I exclaimed, your not here about the burglary??? They said yes and that the officer who came that Friday night never wrote down my phone numbers. They found my laptop in a pawn shop, srs bsns, I was shocked. I have been burglarized and mugged several times and never got anything back. When I first moved into this house, my niece invited some druggies in and they stole my computer and printer, 19 days after moving to Vegas and 6 days before I started law school. This computer is the one I bought to replace the last one. Detective called me back and arranged to meet at the pawnshop on Wednesday morning at 10:00 am and make a statement and retrieve my computer. Here's the weird part. The guy had to give ID to pawn the computer so they have him, and he pawned it at 10:23 pm on the 16th, the same time I was on the phone to the police to report my house was burglarized. And the computer is fine, nothing wrong. I am typing this on it now. So that is the happy ending. I have signed up for Flickr and will download all my photos for safe keeping in the future.

The BAD - right my health issue. The results are in, I have auto-immune hepatitis, and I am in Stage 3 - advanced fibrosis of the liver, stage 4 is transplant time. This disease is due to my Rheumatoid arthritis- my immune system used to attack my joints and is now attacking my live, just gets better and better. It is official now, I can never drink any alcohol again or take tylenol. I am on prednisone, major doses and will be on it for years, plus Azathioprine which is an immune system blocker that is used in kidney transplants to stop rejection and in bad cases of RA. The good news is that these drugs will halt the damage to my liver, that is if they work and my eyes will start having tears now as it controls the Sjogrens syndrome as well. There is a chance this won't work, but too soon to tell. Plus the liver can regenerate over time if the inflammation goes down, that is if the drugs work. This also explains my fatique and feelings of depression over the last year and 1/2. Now I am just depressed because I thought I was in remission and I was wrong. Prednisone did stop the swelling last time when I was on it for my full body every joint inflammation with RA, so I am hopeful. And I will be gaining back all the weight I lost due to my liver not functioning correctly and more due to the pred. Batshitrix may not be an option in July, lol.

The Ugly - Due to all the drama that has happened with the burglary and my health issues, I have entirely fallen behind in studying and am finding it hard to start again. Oh well, and still absolutely no job prospects. So Back up your systems and say a prayer for me that I pull it together and pass the CA bar, this may be the only chance I really have of being an environmental lawyer.

Not that I post very often, but I am going to be moving and I need to concentrate on getting a job, selling the house, and packing the rest of my stuff. So I will not be going on LJ again until I am situated in a new home with a new job. I will be attending Azkatraz, so I will see whoever goes there. Ciao, Morag

I too was was tagged to do this by the awesome angulique for the music memey thing. So I dragged out my two ipods and one has all law discs for studying for the WA bar, which of course I did not listen to,lol. My little shuttle for running is all music, so here goes.
1. Select Random on your MP3 player/windows media player.
2. List the first five songs and what they mean to you.
3. Tag five people.
( Morag's Music )

I had a dream lastthat Zombies were attacking people at the convention I was at. And this had happened last year at the last convention I was at. Weird. I often have dreams where I am being chased, but never by Zombies. And if they touched you, you became one. Plus the convention I was at had a lot of RV's and old people and no HP references what so ever. Go figure. So do you think convention stress? I don't know, but I do know when I last talked about Zombies and it was on the Dizzy trip. Again, Weird. and Somewhat amusing.

That's right. I have managed to do almost nothing to the house in the 4 months from the bar and I am floundering in undone projects. Plus Portus, plus Accio and the Scotland Trip (that's what I am calling it, lol. I think Nicole might get this vague reference.) And next week the sleep over. Yikes, I need to get super powers or magical powers. At least I seem to be feeling a bit better. So what to do now, A quiz from Stephers, with amazing results, lol.

What Middle Earth race do I belong to????
( Anybody, Anybody? )

Do I dazzle you? You know I do.
Nicole got tickets to see the Phantom at the Venetian last night for both of us and it was DAZZLING, really Sparkling, actual fireworks. Thank God Nicole kept telling me when to close my eyes or I would have retina burns today as a result of all the flashing lights, fires and fire works. What a beautiful set and costume, plus I almost cried, and considering I don't make tears that is really saying something. Beautiful and I recommend it to all who visit or live in Vegas.

Honestly, what a funfilled, exhausting weekend. We went to many of my old haunts, managed to avoid both my ex-husband and the Saturn in the ramp from Fwy 10 to the 405, and did not even get drunk ever. I have been at the computer all day catching up with my email, lj etc. We rocked the Pirate hats all through Dizzyland and everyone was saying cool hats. We told everyone Ange made them and I kept calling Ange Captain in a hoarse voice, it is probably going to ruin my real one. Nakki is now the Quartermaster, if you don't know what position that is, then you don't have the Pirates Code. I bought one in Downtown Dizzy. Yikes so much has changed since the last time I was there. there are way too many things to do in one day. Need to stay two days and three nights at least.

Klaudia took me over to Cal Adventure which was being built when I was there last, neatest ride is the Cal Scream, it is a roller coaster that shoots you up the first ramp, the best absolutely. I hobbled back to the motel after Tower of Terror 'cause my feet swelled and I developed a kind of hively rash on my ankles, back of knees and legs. That has only happened before when I ran marathons, which proves how much you walk at Dizzyland.

Trying to join the ONTD twatlight community
as well as Ange kept entertaining us with the stories from that community. I hope this works.

Also called Kinkos and am going to get the tickees laminated from a jump drive I have.

Plus I am off to Phantom with Nicole this evening, squee, tooooooo busy. I need to nap now.

The evening started out with such promise. LVHPF met on Friday at the Crown and Anchor Lite, a smaller version of the one on Tropicana. I got there a little late and everyone was already eating. Being my usual jovial self,I was talking raunchy and loud especially since Chris had brought two new friends and I was trying to find out about them and make them feel comfortable. Then the evening started to unravel. Waitress asked us to keep it down, we actually managed to scare off 6 people who live in Vegas, but are originally from England. Captain Ange said 'let's go to the Artisan' and we paid and off we went to our little imitation Hogwarts.

( Debauchery Ensues - graphic description )

Went shopping yesterday and bought a dozen chocolate cupcakes with vanilla icing and candy sprinkles, I had a coupon and needed a pick me up, lol. I also watched the first 2 Torchwood episodes and I am totally hooked. Watching the special features, I found out Captain Jack was a character on Doctor Who, soooo, that's right I watched the first episode of Doctor Who on netflix instant play. I blaim Matt and Stephers for this, curse you both. I am so totally a fan girl, and at my age, not so pretty, XDDD.

I want to shorten my entries so that they don't take up space, SOOO, HELP all you computer savvy compadres out there.

PLUS *drum roll* I found out yesterday that I passed the Washington State Bar, yeah and yahoo, cause I was never taking that again. Now I am going to be licensed as a lawyer in Two states which makes the results of my tarot even funnier.
( Tarot Quiz )

Judge Patterson states there is genuine worth in SVA book...because he read the first book to his grandchild and found the "magical world hard to follow". Quoted from http://www.smh.com.au/news/books/rowling-makes-fiery-return-to-stand/2008/04/17/1208025322650.html?page=2

"In an exchange with Johnson, Patterson explained that his firsthand experience with the Harry Potter novels was limited.

During a visit by his grandchildren, he read them the first half of the first book in the series, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.

But, even in that quick read, he said, he found Rowling's "magical world'' hard to follow, filled with strange names and words that would be gibberish in any other context.

"I found it extremely complex,'' he said - even more so than the Dickens his own father read to him as a child.

The judge suggested there is genuine worth in a book like Vander Ark's, even if does nothing more than index the somewhat ridiculous sounding names of Rowling's characters."

[Cited correct, or nearly so, lol]

Persons who studied law tend to skim read a lot of things due to a perceived lack of time, too much on their case load, etc. My old boss thought the letter I wrote regarding my work with the firm to a trustee was libelous until he "actually" read my letter. This Judge appears to have done the same thing in reading to his grandchildren. This Judge has to go...Or on another happier note, they already have an appealable issue to bring to the higher courts, neutrality of the judiciary. Fun in following the case. Wish I was in NY.

I know I post a lot of these, but really this is hilarious. What are the odds that I would get this title???? I was thinking that I should take up poker as I am unemployed and need some income, lol.

I was trying to join Portus's video page on You Tube and I had to join You Tube first to subscribe. So I do. Still not in yet but getting there. Then I was trying to watch a video on Photobucket and I thought "oh maybe I need to join this too." But mlogansrun was taken, rats. Lights go on and I login as a user and I am the mlogansrun that is used, lol. I don't even remember signing up for Photobucket, lol. The internet is pervasive, that is for sure.

On another note, I am applying to go to Lewis and Clark for the Env. Law Masters. Flying up April Fool's day to check out the school, but 99.9% I'm going, well that's if they will have me. I will go to great lengths to avoid getting a real job, lol.

On a lighter note, I heard a noise from behind my filing cabinets last week and thought something had fallen. A couple minutes later, I heard a louder unidentifiable noise, so my curiosity got the better of me and I got up. Pooters my 16 year old blind dog had wandered into the open closet door and was stuck between my suitcase and the door. He could not turn around. Poor thing. I now have boxes in the way so he can't find his way back there again. I love this dog.

is exactly what I thought as I tripped over a big lump in the road and fell ass over tea kettle at 5:30 am on Tuesday, the first day of the bar. Right, I am in Bellevue (aka Microsoft mecca) it is dark and there is an obscure, but huge, asphalt lump in the road that I am ambling down to try to act like a healthy running person. Luckily I am a good tuck and roll faller and no real permanent damage seemed to occur (more later) so I ups myself and continues to run, very carefully now to the Botanical gardens. Of course I am going over the negligence torts that the City of Bellevue would be liable for as they are not properly maintaining their roads and I am an invitee to the city and I am an expected party who would run down a road, lol. Still trying to study even after a traumatic event.
When I get to the gardens, I realize this type of area is usually when and where women runners get dragged into bushes and are not found later until they are skeletons. Yes I am wearing the obligatory black legging running pants, good for suffocating. No, I am not that attractive, but as I said, it is dark. So I turn around and amble back to get ready for the bar.

All the first day at the bar when I cough my right boob is hurting, so I think I hit it. That night I realize that I might have cracked or torn a rib or my sternum as I can't sit up or reach for anything. Sleeping is bad as I can't turn without pain, and can't sleep on my side at all. The next day after the end of the bar, I saunter over to the City Hall to report the bump in the road. Everyone assumes I am trying to report my damage for a claim. I told the guy, I just want you to get rid of the bump so no one else falls. He thanks me and says they always assume people want to sue so he is always called. He is with Risk management. Hopefully they will fix it.

As for the WA bar (the other bump in the road), it was a nightmare, my brain shut off about 12 pm on the second day and the test didn’t end till 4:15pm. Now I remember why I did not like it the first time. I sucked on 4 out of the 9 essays on Wed. but only 1 or 2 of the essays on Tues. There is a small, minute, diminutive chance that I may, just may, have passed, but it is highly unlikely (lawyer speak for I so sucked).

Good news is that I have decided to take the Florida bar next February and I met someone who had taken it and she is giving me her study books. Plus the test is two days, 1 day of the multiple choice type questions that I scored 149 out of 200 here in Nevada (great score average is 130-35), and 1 day of 3 1 hour essays and multiple choice questions on only Florida law. I love the multiple choices, yes I does. Then I can get a job there and will be living next to Hogwarts. Such high aspirations in my life.

I am getting better so no permanent damage did occur on the fall. Just in time for the Red Rock Half marathon on Saturday, lol.

This is not a picture of Thumper my bird, it is from the internet, but he has the same markings as this one. So why does he maybe need a new name you may ask? You need to know some back story for this.

Thumper eats out of Boyd, the parakeets, seed bowl daily. He actually stands in the seeds. I thought it was some kind of dominance thing, or he really likes to be near Boyd, which he does. He is always perched on his cage and tries to sleep there at night.

Yesterday I walked in the Dungeon and Thumper is perched in the seeds and looks like he is having a seizure. His head is lolling back, his feathers are spread out on his chest and his wings are semi extended and flapping. I thought how am I going to tell the woman who gave me him that he died from a seizure? He recovers after a few seconds and with me yelling his name. Then it dons on me. Thumper is using the side of the bird dish to wank, yeah, wank. I never realized that is what he was doing. It doesn't take long, lol. He did it again later yesterday as well.

So now for his new name. What do you think of Humper? I think Wanker is too obvious. Cheers.

Just a synopsis of the legal analysis I was going to do regarding the WB vs RDR case involving the Lexicon website publishing a book. Of course, this is just another sojourn into 'not studying land", :-) Plus I have not read all of the arguments yet, because "doh" I am supposed to be studying. So my thoughts are not supported by any research as of yet. Have I bored you to tears yet with the disclaimer? "yawn"

I think that JK Rowling has left herself open for these types of arguments because she did not shut down the use of her material from the very beginning. It is my understanding that RDR is using a Fair Use defense, arguing that Jo has allowed websites to publish this by internet and therefore Jo should be "estopped" (really cool legal term that means "stopped". Riiiight, and you thought law was hard, tee hee) from not allowing the website to be published.

Jo argues that the websites were not benefiting economically from her work product and therefore she did not want to stop them from disseminating freely her work to others that may not have the capacity to get the information otherwise, i.e. movies, fan sites. She also argues that the books published have been scholarly endeavors that have analyzed and critiqued her books i.e. John Granger, got to love his work.

I would put forth that websites and fansites will suffer if RDR wins this case as JK Rowling will have to pursue her rights to stop any other parties from publishing which amounts to her direct work product rearranged. Which could mean policing sites and asking for things to be removed. This type of ruling could definitely stop any new authors from allowing the amount of free access to information that Jo has allowed if they think that they will lose their rights by doing so.

When I get done with the bar next week, I will start looking into what is really being argued and the possible implications for any future actions for copyrighted authors materials. Or in other words, to determine if my legal analysis of short blurbs really just effing sucks.

[Hey Ange, I got to use semin and anal in this post, roflmfao, I has been a good girl yes I has]

AS the entire LVHPF is currently listing the fandoms they are or have been involved in, I can't help but feel old. My first fandom was Star Trek,and it was before all of you LVHPF's were born. I even went on a Star Trek cruise, lol. So my results from the DarkCelestial20 little quiz is even funnier. I am quit depressed about this actually, as he was not my favorite character.



Jean-Luc Picard

An accomplished diplomat who can virtually do no wrong, you sometimes know it is best to rely on the council of others while holding the reins.