Me and my Blackberry

I was walking by our IT lady's office yesterday when she stopped me and said she had a new Blackberry for me and needed to hook it up to my computer. I just laughed because I thought she was kidding; I mean, I'm a summer associate who handles nothing important. But she was serious. So, now I have a Blackberry for the summer. Get ready for me to start sending out tons of high priority legal emails over the weekend.

Driel and Evan (and Moriah) visit

Driel, Evan, and Moriah arrived on Thursday to finish off their whirlwind vacation. It was nice to see them -- especially to see Mo in the flesh instead of on millions of posted pictures -- but I have to apologize for our poor hosting. Since we're both working, our nights aren't exactly wild and crazy. Unless you count watching "Man vs. Wild" as wild and crazy. Although, we did get in a "What Not to Wear" marathon.
Since it was super hot this weekend, we spent a lot of Saturday at the beach. It was a great beach day, but the best part is that dolphins kept swimming by. Okay, you're right, they could've been porpoises, but that's still super neat. At one point, I swam out as they went by. It was pretty cool being only ten feet from some dolphins, even though didn't do any jumps or tricks or anything. They just came up out of the water and blew air out their blowholes. Still, it was rad.
Actually, now that I think about it, the best part was when Mo peed on Evan and then started to cry because she doesn't like getting wet. It was pretty much the signal that she was ready to go home. I tried to teach her to pee in the ocean, but she's not a very good pupil sometimes.

Lorein and Driel boogie boarding

A candid shot

Working Man

I started work at Hughes Hubbard & Reed on Monday. I thought they were going to put me in a little cubicle, but when I showed up, they took me to my own office, complete with a giant desk that takes up half the room, a separate computer desk, a wall size bookshelf that's completely devoid of books, and a huge dresser (also empty). They also said I'll be getting my "Mr. Crall" door tag in a few days. The most surreal part is that I have a secretary. You know, for all the important legal work I do. Basically, the only thing she has to do for me is record my hours.
Since I'm on the 36th floor, I also have a great view. Unfortunately, that view is of Southeast L.A., so maybe it's not actually all that great. Although it was clear enough on Friday that I could see all the way into Long Beach.

Lorein's B-day

Lorein turned 24 on Sunday, which also coincided with Mothers' Day. Luckily, she's not yet a mother, so I didn't have to get her double gifts.

Lorein's loot. Just kidding. One of those gifts is for the grandmas.

Lorein wanted Ben & Jerry's Banana Split ice cream instead of cake, but my mom and sister went to four different stores and couldn't find any. We had to settle for an incredible chocolate cake. We advise everybody to try Ben & Jerry's Banana Split ice cream, but Lorein thinks we may be in a test market which is why we can't find it anywhere else.

The fam: My Dad, David, me, Grandma Ginny, Grandma Riley, Lorein, Mary Ann, my Mom

Kent and Melanie visit

So I haven't posted for a few weeks. Big deal. I've been busy. And it's not as if Lorein can't post! Anyway, the day after I finished my last final, our friends Kent and Melanie Freeze came to visit from Durham, NC. They're both getting their Ph.D.s at Duke in Poli Sci, and you can read their blog from the link to the side. I really enjoy their blog because Kent's really goofy (which is meant as a compliment). They were both in D.C. at the same time Lorein and I were in 2005, and we take 98% credit for setting them up. We allow Kent .5% for the courage it took to ask Melanie out, and Melanie 1.5% for the courage to say yes, but even that's stretching it. Our credit should definitely be closer to 99%, but whatever.
So, they came to visit and we had a great time. The only bummer was that it was cloudy and cold the entire week. And the Dodgers lost every game while Kent and Melanie were here. Maybe it's a good thing they finally left. Come to think of it, they left our house at 6:30a on Tuesday and when I got up at 7:30 it was totally sunny. And then the Dodgers took 2 out of 3 from the Brewers. Wow. Good riddance to the Freeze's!!

Kent and Melanie's first major league baseball game, which the Dodgers lost 12-1. We did get to sit in the "AmPm All-You-Can-Eat Pavillion" though. Kent had four hot dogs, a thing of nachos, a bag of popcorn, a bag of peanuts, and some sodas. Melanie didn't eat as much.

Kent busted out some pajamas, so I had to follow suit.

We saw some ducklings at the Venice canals, and you know I had to get a picture of that. I'm a sucker for ducks.

In the Getty Museum's Central Garden

View of Century City from The Getty.

Lorein, me, Melanie, Kent, and Mr. Higgins (my grandma's dog) in Temecula

It's over!

I took my Introduction to Federal Income Tax final today and now I am officially done with my second year in law school! I am so happy! I am free! I have no homework tonight! I have no class tomorrow! I start work in one week (which wouldn't normally warrant an exclamation point except that I'll finally be making money)! Yea!!!

I'm 26; I'm a man!

Since Justin viciously attacked my manhood (like a pack of dogs on a three-legged cat, as Jeff Foxworthy would say) with his comment to the previous post, I must take this time to defend myself. We are a month into the baseball season and I have only missed two or three Dodgers' games, and that's usually because the Sunday games are during Church. I've already been to the stadium twice this year, and I'm going again on Wednesday. I even watched today's game that started at 9am because the Dodgers were in Miami (luckily, I had a day off between finals). I have also watched a lot of the NBA playoffs, caught some Sportscenter, and waded into Baseball Tonight. It is this copious amount of sports television that brings me to concede the remote for such shows as Dancing with the Stars, American Idol, and What Not to Wear. Let the record show, however, that I refuse to watch Top Chef. Lastly, only a true sports fan would get the connection between this post's title and Mike Gundy's* rant.

* Oklahoma State football coach