Establishing the in-group

So I've completed my first two days of class, and all I have to say is... eh.  I wouldn't say it's been totally impossible, nor does it appear overly imposing, but I'm definitely planning on waiting and seeing before I make any huge pronouncements.

Beyond that, I don't feel like I have a lot to say.  There are a number of attractive female fall starters, but the jury remains out on whether I'm actually going to get to know them.  The law school seems to be divided into a strange class system.  All the summer starters are now expected to be friends with one another, which makes getting friendly with fall starters and upperclassman an interesting experience.  Also, it means that all those people I never talked to over the summer are suddenly my best buds.

Weird stuff. 

Anyway, tomorrow I'll tell you about da ting wot happened ta me da udder day.

The importance of perspective

So I could spend the next little while talking about my first day of classes or the wootoff that is going on right now, but instead I think I'm going to talk about something that boggles my mind.

I've noticed that some people are willing to stop dating someone for something as stupid as a lack of chemistry.  They may get along fine.  They may even really like each other.  Heck, there may even be an acknowledged attractiveness.  But if even for a moment it seems that not enough physical tension exists, then the whole thing is a no go.

I do not understand this concept, and I've been thinking about it pretty hard, trying to come up with how anyone could think that way, when I realized what my problem was.

I go on a date every 1/2 century.  For me, any kind of relationship (including a single date) is a precious commodity that needs some serious stewing over before it can be halted (and probably multiple tries at keeping it going). 

For other people I imagine this isn't the case.  It seems quite likely that there are people out there who go on dates twice a week, or at least twice a month.  The very idea of that blows my mind.  Where can a person find so many people?

Anyway, for those of you who don't have problems finding someone for a nice friday night, I say bully to you.  If it just isn't that big a deal to you, break up as many times as you like.

Perfection is ignoring the blemishes

You know what I like to do occasionally? I enjoy trolling the dark depths of MySpace, because it gives me a chance to develop about a billion crushes at one time.

One interesting notion in psychology is the one that argues that attraction and love in general are based upon how high up in the world and our own estimations we can put a person. Thus, the unexpected results that the people who are happiest and most likely to be together 20 years down the line are also the people who are least aware of each other's shortcomings.

And that's what MySpace and Facebook and all of those things are all about, aren't they? They are about putting our best, zaniest, funniest, wackiest, cutest, most beautiful and handsome faces forward, and then pretending like all of our baggage doesn't exist.

I dig that.

In fact, I'd even suggest that part of establishing a new relationship is towing that tiny line, where we reveal bits of ourselves, but only enough bits to make the other feel comfortable and like they know us. The rest, the baggage, we save for later.

Anyway, as I was saying, I dig facebook and myspace, because on those pages are a thousand perfect women who are just real enough to seem amazing.

Edit (5 minutes later): I want to add something, but I don't know what. I'm suddenly feeling great, though. Really great. It makes me want to tell a joke I heard yesterday.

So there are these two penguins standing around on this drifting iceberg. The first penguin looks at the second penguin and says, "Say, you look really good today."

The second penguin says, "Thanks."

The first penguin replies, "No. I mean really good. If I didn't know better, I'd say you looked like you really were wearing a tuxedo!"

The second penguin pauses for a moment, then eyes the first penguin, suspiciously.

"... How do you know I'm not?"

more dumb quotes

In my continuing series of fwd type internet quotes (see here and here) I've come across the following:

Dance as though no one is watching you. Love as though you have never been hurt before. Sing as though no one can hear you. Live as though Heaven is on earth.

The problem is that I'm not sure if I can really make a lot of fun of this one, mostly because I appreciate the sentiment. Also, there are no real logic problems, as far as I can make out. It's very possible to sing like no one can hear you while dancing like no one can see you.

I guess the only real problem I see is the implied lack of confidence. Or perhaps the implied fear of being judged. Either way, I get a sense, while considering this little nothing quote that I should be embarrassed of singing and dancing. I should forget about my past hurts. And I should ignore all of the wrongs on this world.

Perhaps, in evaluating this quote, I should put it another way. It's too simplistic, and all of its simplicity comes from the wrong angle. Suppose we left the simplicity in, but approached it all from a slightly different path?

Dance as though the whole world were your audience. Learn and grow from your hurts, that you might love all the better for them. Sing loud, that everyone might hear. Live, for this is your one chance at life.

See? Still overly simplistic, but now you aren't hiding from the world, you're embracing it. I like it much better.

1L blogs

So I feel like I need to address the countless 1L law blogs I've just discovered, but I'm tired and don't want to right now.

That said, it's interesting to note that there are a heck of a lot of first year law students who are both big time bloggers and virgins.

...

Shocking, I know.

HTGBWET rule #248: Don't be both a first year law student and a blogger.

School's out!

Exciting news, everyone. School is officially out. That's right, no more feelings of intense guilt whenever I'm not working hard. At least, no more for 2 weeks. Then it'll be back to feelings in intense guilt, but for now I'm feeling fine!

I'm headed home pretty soon, so all you Wichita folk are welcome to send a note my way, asking for a moment of my time. I will certainly be gracious in my reply.

Um. And that's about it for now. I'd like to say that I have lots of exciting news for everyone, but that just isn't the case. I finished finals, and I now I can only wait anxiously for them to be graded and returned. When that happens, I may have some news. We'll see.

Oh. One other thing. I have a new website, for those of you who use that to get to this blog. It is....


Right here!

And for those of you who can't get links to work, here is the actual address...

http://njbetzen.googlepages.com/home

Alright, you all have a good one, y'hear?