The chaotic life of a 2L begins....

So, it’s been a while, hasn’t it? It has almost been a month. My apologies to everyone. The last few weeks have gone by like a whirlwind, and I have barely had time to catch my breath. So, what have I been doing? Well, when I last wrote, I had been captivated by the wonderful novel “The Prestige,” by Christopher Priest. I was getting ready to head to Cleveland for a few days of R & R with my best friend and his family. I arrived at Aaron and Julie’s on Thursday and stayed through the weekend. We had a wonderful time. We ate, we played video games, we watch movies, and celebrated my (gulp) 35^th birthday. Aaron and Julie took me to a wonderful restaurant in downtown Cleveland called Sushi Rock. We dined on some excellent sushi and had a wonderful evening. I arrived back in Chicago and immediately started getting ready for classes on Thursday, but first I had a law interview for a firm in Madison, WI. The interview season for summer associate positions (for NEXT summer) was already upon me, and I was fortunate enough to have been granted a number of second interviews with some pretty reputable firms around the country. The interview was an all day affair, but I found some time to have lunch and dinner with some former colleagues of mine from my last job. I arrived home late on Wednesday night, but I was ready for class the next day. The following week, I found myself on a plane to Washington DC for another second interview. I flew back on Wednesday night and was in class the next day. I was able to catch my breath a bit this week, and I needed it. There are still some things that I would like to take care of around my place.

I haven’t watched many movies since the last time that I wrote, but I did read an excellent book (yet again on the recommendation of my friend Aaron). Anthony Bourdain, the chef with his own TV show on the Travel Channel, wrote a novel in 2000 called “Kitchen Confidential,” a fascinating look into the secret society of kitchens around the world. Bourdain’s book comes across as a completely honest and, at times, painfully unflinching look at his life and the places his work as a chef has taken him. Bourdain also has a wonderfully wicked sense of humor, and I found myself laughing out loud while reading several of the passages (much to the consternation of my fellow train riders in the morning..I guess they thought they were stuck with “crazy guy on train”). Bourdain also teaches. For example, the best nights to eat in a restaurant are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights. The WORST meat in the cold rooms is served whenever someone orders something well done. Don’t ever (EVER) order mussels from a restaurant. Knife sets are wastes of money. All you need is one chef’s knife of a particular manufacture. Am I being too cryptic? Pick up the book! It is wonderfully readable and chock full of fun facts. Bourdain has become my favorite (non) celebrity chef.

My reference to reading on the train reminds me that I need to rant briefly about something. iPods are slowly and surely removing us from daily important social interactions. Everywhere I look (on the train, on sidewalks, in elevators), men and women walk around attuned to their own world, the eponymous white ear buds sticking out (and the volume too damned loud!), tuning out the world at large. This has caused a reduction in day-to-day conversation and interaction among the people in our society. Now, I am not an iPod hater. I love my iPod. It saves me when I am at the gym, and iTunes is a wonderful computer program for cataloguing one’s music. My problem is that I can see the iPod-ation of our society will have some farther reaching consequences beyond early hearing loss in the majority of individuals under the age of 30. What is my suggestion for a better society? If you are around other people (unless you are doing something like RUNNING), turn it off. Not only will you save your ears (and the ears of those around you..those ear buds really aren’t worth crap), you might be surprised to find that you are living in a society of pretty decent people.

Sorry if the entry seems a bit rambling, but there was a lot on my mind. Until next time….