By-Products of Law School-- The Good, the Okay, and the Ugly

I've been thinking lately about how pretty much everything in our lives now seems to be affected by or related somehow to law school. Even though it's only been a month or so, I am already seeing results, so I thought I would list a few here.

1. The first comes to mind because I am directly affected by the results right this very second. Because Doug is in law school and we moved out here to a new apartment, I have discovered that Wednesday AND Friday are landscaping days here.... I hate landscaping days...... Now don't get me wrong, I appreciate nicely trimmed bushes and a clean parking lot and new flowers in the planter boxes, but can't they fire up their chainsaws and lawnmowers and whatever else they use when my child is not napping?!?! Is that too much to ask? It seems like they purposely spend the most time on her side of the building too. Oh well, what can you do?

2. Next, law school = move = new ward = new calling. This one I'm not so sure if it falls into the good, the okay or the bad yet, but I must admit I am kind of excited. I just found out that I am going to be called as the Cub Scout Bear Den Leader. Oh snap. That's all I can say.

3. Another by-product is lots of time to myself. When Juliann is taking her naps and after she goes to bed, I have a lot of time to do whatever I want. This is pretty fun most of the time. I have had time to make Juliann a little dress (that turned out to be way too big for her). I am also working on a little shirt for her and little hairbows for her and her cousin Bryn. I have also had time to plan a menu, freeze meals, make banana bread and double batches of cookies to freeze, dehydrate pears, plant flowers, and lots of other things. Of course I would prefer Doug to be home with me, but somehow it's much easier to get things done when he's gone. :)

4. White hairs. And not on the law student. That's right... on me. I am ashamed. I think part of it is from the stress of having a little baby, but other parts are definitely from worrying about our tight budget, worrying about all Doug's homework, worrying about when he'll be home, worrying, worrying, worrying. I'm going to look like a Grandma by the time I'm 30.

5. Blackberries! Now that we live in Oregon (Blackberry Heaven) I was able to go with my mother in law and sisters in law to their property to pick blackberries. They were all over the place and absolutely delicious. They were huge and sweet and dark. I now have two bags of frozen delicious blackberries in my freezer. Yum Yum.

6. My husband seems to have a new found confidence. It is not uncommon to hear him say, "Honey, I'm a lawyer now." He also likes to accuse me of battery when I (playfully) smack him. He says, "That's battery! You just battered me!" and I say something like "I'll show you battery..." and then he says that's assault and he's going to sue me because he's a lawyer now. It makes life interesting.

The list goes on... I have to go get Little Bit now because the chainsaws woke her up. I'll let you know more results as they present themselves. :)