On Passing.

So yes, K. passed the bar exam. Both parts. First try. To say I'm a little proud would be a gross understatement of the elation I feel each and every time I take a breath.

K. said it was easy. Since I was watching the whole process, I can attest it was not exactly easy. It wasn't hard, necessarily, for to me support my husband while he studied. That was the easy part. The hard part was wondering if my husband would keep his word.

It was a little dicey. Unfortunately for K., he inherited a whole freighter's worth of dependability baggage. After having a life where there was no consistency (both environmental and quite frankly, of my own making), it seems it's all I crave. Dependability. Reliability. Assurance. Shit, I sound like an insurance commercial.

And you know what? My husband kept his word. He took the exam. He told me he would pass it - this time or the next, but that he would do it. He made a plan; he stuck to it. He studied hard. And that, my friends, was not easy. All summer, he worked and studied and tried to be a good husband, son and friend. He got most of it right, most of the time. And whooeeee, did it pay off. There is nothing he cannot do... And I can say that with a straight face.

There was this whole part of my brain that was sucked up into wondering about what was coming next - when that proverbial shoe would drop. And you know what? It will take a conscious effort on my part, but I think I can stop thinking about shoes dropping out of the sky on my life. Other than that very pleasant dream where Jimmy and Christian and Manolo decide that I have the perfect foot.

I feel so damn relaxed. I'm not exactly sure what being high feels like, but there's got to be some similarities. And then, today -- I found two heads-up pennies and my normal Chick-Fil-A girl (yes, I have a normal Chick-Fil-A girl - it's right across the street from my office) gave me a free Chick-Fil-A biscuit. She was happy about the bar results too.

HE PASSED.

Take that Florida Bar Exam.

Highly Obvious.

Last night I had a very active dream.  I dream every night, but I rarely remember them in the morning.  Even when I want to catch an interesting dream, it's gone -- poof!

Last night I had a dream where K. and I were running a marathon, up a mountain that never seemed to crest.  We were waiting on bar results.  We'd keep running and he'd remember his bar number and I'd check the website to see if he passed.  It's amazing I could run and check a website all at the same time.  He'd pass!  Yeah!  We'd high five, and then he'd remember that his number was 12345, it was 54321.

I'd check that number and we'd be victorious again!  This pattern repeated the entire dream.

Um, yeah - I'm pretty sure it's easy to figure out what's on my mind.  Bar results are available tomorrow.  TOMORROW.  MONDAY.  sigh.  And we're both trying not to be too nervous.  That's like saying, hey dude - you're going to win a million dollars tomorrow, but hey, play it cool!  Ha.  Obviously you don't know me at all.

In other news, I did order a dress from www.lightinthebox.com (this one) - and it's on its way from China as we speak.  It better get here before Thursday.  Let's hope!

Grateful.

Y'all, I am so damn grateful.

My husband and I, the sometimes amazing, always ridiculous K., are about to land on the other side of the Florida Bar Exam.  Hallelujah.  Halle-fuckin-lujah.

He asked me last night, after the first day, if I would be mad if he had to take the exam again.  He didn't understand why I laughed hysterically.  1) I legitimately believe he's going to pass the exam.  2) He would be willing to take it again!  AWESOME.  My husband is  stepping up.

When I dropped him off at the test site on Tuesday (and a little bit this morning), I cried.  I was so proud.  My husband made a pledge and is living up to it.  And he was ready - he took preparation seriously.

And I am so grateful.  To the friends who heard me bitch about the Bar Exam.  To my family who supported us with love and emails and phone calls. 

To my husband, whom I believe in, again. Not because he's going to pass the Bar Exam (and he is), but because he took the damn thing.

Calm? I got your...

calm right here!

Yeah, we're T-minus hours until the Florida Bar Exam. And while I had the good sense to avoid a manicure (yes, I'm still a nail biter), I did not have the good sense to avoid a hair cut. I am now the proud owner of a disastrous new 'do that makes me look a lot like the Church Lady.

K. remains a bastion of calmness. He's been listening to BarBri on hyper-speed, and regurgitating information about Florida Homestead exemptions and evidence exceptions. He's sleeping soundly. And on Friday, he looked at me and said, "This is all coming together." Well gee, babe, I sure hope so.

I'm nervous - but not absurdly nervous. Appropriately nervous. And aside from the r e a l l y awful situation on top of my head, I am excited about driving to Tampa tomorrow. I am thrilled that my incredibly smart husband is here. At this spot. Ready. Prepared. He amazes me.

Sunday Travel v5, among other things...

It's the Fourth of July - go eat some ribs, drink some cold beer and light a few (legal) firecrackers.  Do it for me.  Do it for your country.

If I were traveling this weekend - which is a big if because I consider the Fourth of July one of the several holidays a year that call to the amateurs, New Years Eve being another example.  Well, since this is all imaginary anyway, let's go camping.  Yes, I said it - camping.  A tent, a cooler, some charcoal -- y'all, pack the bug spray.

We're heading up to Unicoi State Park, near Helen, GA. [Sidenote: if you've never been to Helen, you should go.  Deliciously cheesy, even the trash cans look like little German boys and girls.  It's Heidi Takes Gatlinburg.]

Unicoi State Park is a gorgeous state park - and whatever you want to do, they have it available.  I'll be planning some cowboy food and my Marlboro Ranch skillet will finally make an appearance.  There will definitely be s'mores.

And tubing.  We'll go tubing down the Chattahoochee River.  Which ohmygoodness is a lot of fun.  And I'm going to drag K. to the Cabbage Patch Hospital, only to see him beg to stay in the car.  So, no joke - we used to go there as kids.  It looks a lot different, but the whole Mother Cabbage in labor thing?  My brother and I used to LOVE it.

Camping, swimming, tubing - maybe even a little fishing?  Who knows?  It will be a lovely weekend, in the cool northern mountains of Georgia.  And K. can't handle the tent?  We'll def. stay in one of these: barrel cabins.

a weekend at home (sunday travel v4)

After several weekends "away," I thought it was time for an at-home weekend.  There's nothing like staying in after running around like a chicken.

Don't worry though folks -- next week will be lovely.  It's the Fourth of July, after all!

Hours?

Hahahhahhahaaaaaa.
I totally meant days -- 36 days till the Bar Exam.

WOW.  Talk about wishful thinking.

Sunday Travel 3

I hate to say it... but I almost don't need imaginary travel this weekend.  It was an incredibly pleasant two-day break here in the bend. And while I feel like I need gills in order to breathe in the humidity, I haven't done a lick of work.  And it's been utterly fantastic.

But...  I'm committed to my weekend trips.  I hear New York and Boston calling my name, but I think instead we'll head over to Amelia Island.  It's been a while since I've seen the Atlantic, and there are some fabulous B&Bs I'd like to try out.  Like this one, or maybe this one, or perhaps...  this one.  Yup, it will be lovely and lush.

I'm thinking maybe a kayak trip around the old fort, some beach time, some time without a care in the world...  Well, except to make our reservation at Salt over at the Ritz Carlton.  And the french place - the one with duck seven ways?  Who even know you could do duck seven different ways.

I think we need a weekend of nothing but gorgeous linens and sunshine.  It's 36 hours till the Bar...  I cannot wait.

BEACH!

So, I'm kidnapping K. and we're headed to the beach.

Y'know, before the oil gets here.  Thanks again, BP for ruining my summer...  for the next ten years.

I've made pressed Cuban sandwiches, the beer and lemonade is packed and I have a perfect beach book: Remembering Blue, by Connie May Fowler.  I first read it the summer of 2004...  and promptly loaned it out to all of my friends.  It's warped from being read on the beach, and the lake, and the boat.  And it's perfect for today.  I hadn't picked it up in a while, but the couple in the book -- one of their first dates was walking around Lake Ella.  Lo and behold, so was mine.

Even though K. is frustrated by the campaign and anxious about the impending Bar Exam, we need a day at the beach.  He needs the water, I need the sun.  We need a day off.  We need a day together.  Hope you have a lovely Saturday too!

How many days?

K., don't read this.  I appreciate that you have me on your feed -- but really, this isn't to guilt you in any way.  So.  Stop.  Reading.  I am going to be super whiny.

HOLY FRENCH TOAST!  It's fifty days until the Bar Exam and I cannot wait.  I simply cannot wait.  So blah, blah, blah I 'm so supportive and I love making snacks and doing all the chores.

Except that I don't.  I don't really like making snacks and doing all the chores.  And I especially don't like the guy who's droning on and on about Florida law.  I knew I could get through a summer.  Well, I thought I could -- but really, let's be honest... this is getting through a year.  I hate (with full fury) that I don't get to leave Tallahassee this summer.  I hate it.

I hate that I don't have cable.  I hate that my husband is so worn out from studying and working that he doesn't have a whole lot of energy left over for me.  I hate that I'm some kind empath for his stress level and that I'm starting to have nightmares about taking the Bar.  I dropped out of law school, gosh darnit.

And I hate that I hate it.  I hate that I've lived through three weeks of it and I already feel like jumping ship.  Does he really need to be a lawyer, I find myself asking...

Yes, yes, and yes.  And I know this is just a moment of weakness.  And boredom.  Because of the cable.  And I know that tomorrow I'll be right as rain.  Or, let's be honest, as right as I'm ever going to be.

The Next Two Months...

I'm working on changing my life.  I've been married three years - and despite some really lovely long weekends, those three years were spent on surviving.  Making it.  I would live every day again, if it meant I arrived here again.  (Maybe with a little less bruising).  Yeah, yeah - I write about that all the time.

The first year I moved to Florida, I spent my time recovering.  It would not be an overstatement to say I learned how to breathe.  I know it's cliche - but hot french toast, it's true.  I arrived in Tallahassee with so much baggage, it took a U-Haul just for my issues.

So, now I'm on year four.  And the next two months are presenting an amazing opportunity.  Will I get bogged down in barbri or Florida Civil Procedure?  Heck no!  I don't have to take the Bar Exam!  Instead, I get to support my husband.  This is an opportunity!

And instead of letting this golden opportunity pass me by, I'm planning on grabbing this thing by the nuts.  (The horns are only good if you plan on being gored).  I'm planning on healthy dinners, and a sparkling clean house, weekly lunch meetings in the sun and becoming the Mayor of the Appalachee YMCA.  Heck yeah.

Rabbit, Rabbit.

May, already?  I cannot believe it's MAY.  Here in Florida, the pollen is on its way out (which is reason to throw a PARADE!) and the students are on their way home.  I actually love summer in Tallahassee.  It's quiet, it's slow, it's hot.

I'm headed out to Vegas in a week - the second trip this year.  I believe it will have to make up for the fact that I'm not making it to the Big Apple this summer.  K. will be sitting for the Florida Bar - that's right, finally.  FINALLY, people.  It's good news all around - if only I could work remotely from anywhere other than here for the next three months, I'd be ecstatic.  As it stands, we're working out the details of how to get through both of us working and him studying for the test.  I know it won't go smoothly -- where's the fun in that, but I do think it will go better than the catastrophic scenarios running through my head.

I'm thinking about what to say about Charlie Crist and all the Republican ridiculousness.  Ehhh.  It's mostly already been said.  Florida's governor is toast.  And it's a shame - I've been doing some work on a project about the history of Florida.  Believe it or not, Florida's history is actually really interesting.  Go figure.