The bar exam, hostas, robins, rats and God

I returned home from Oklahoma City tonight at about 8:15. It was a long, tough two days of bar exam taking. Yesterday was 8 full hours of essay writing and today was 6 hours of multiple choice questions. In the past I have always done OK on the essay questions, and I feel like I did reasonably well this time. I write well and essays have never been terrifying to me. However, multiple choice is a different story and I never know how I did. I discovered that the multiple choice questions seemed to have changed in some way. I think that might be a good thing for me.

Thanks to everyone who has prayed for me over the last several days. I could certainly sense your offered prayers. I have to tell you about my lunch today, then I have to go to bed.

The area around the convention center, where the bar was held, did not have very many restaurants. Bricktown is a revitalized area of OK City and all the restaurants are there and it was about a mile away. Too far to go when you have to be back in exactly one hour.

I decided for lunch today, since I had checked out of the hotel, to visit a little garden park across the street from convention center. It looked like it would have benches. So, in a zip lock bag, (it is requirement that anything you bring into the exam room has to be in a zip lock bag), I packed Starkist Tuna in one of those vacuum sealed packages, Triscuit crackers and 2 snack size Kit Kat bars and water. It was my own little picnic lunch!

On the lunch break I grabbed my bag and headed for the park. It was a perfect place. I found a bench that had red bud trees on either side that branched out and completely shaded the bench. There were Hostas everywhere. Hostas are my favorite plant and will only grow in the shade. There was an arbor covered in wisteria vines and a gurgling fountain. I opened my tuna and mixed in a little mayo and was enjoying my lunch. I looked across the path and a robin red breast was very close to me searching for insects. Then I noticed a squirrel sort of hiding in the tall grass. Then it moved a little and I noticed that the squirrel had lost all the hair off its tail. I was thinking "poor thing" then it moved out on the path and the squirrel was really a rat! A good size rat too. He moved back under the grass and watched me. I looked over my shoulder and on my side of the path and there was another rat. I called out to him to give him notice that I was aware that he was there. Notice is a good thing to give to all creatures! He and I checked each other out for a few seconds and then I continued to eat my lunch. I think rats are nocturnal animals and the smell of my delicious tuna fish was luring them out to see if a mid-day snack would be coming their way. I told them they could eat all I threw in the trash and there was plenty leftover for both of them.

It was the most peaceful, perfect lunch. I felt God's presence there. Serenity and peace are strangers to bar exam takers. I have never been this relaxed for an exam. I did not take a camera with me, but I have captured every detail of the beautiful park in my memory.

If you are ever in Oklahoma City, check out the Myriad Gardens on the corner of N. Robinson and Sheridan Avenue. If you sit on the bench in the shade of the red bud trees, God will speak to you in the beauty of garden and the wonder of the creatures.

Thanks again for your prayers. Good night!

Georgie recovering from surgery

Gerge has surgery last week on his left back foot. He had a tumor that we had removed a couple of years ago. It is not a cancer of any sort. It is a tumor filled with dead skin and hair. I have never heard of anything so strange, but it is good not to be worried about it being cancerous.

Well, the vet told us last time that it would grow back and it did. George is a really bad patient. We put off having it removed for a second time because he will eat any bandgage off. So, since I am home studying and can watch him, we had it removed again last week. The price had gone up about $200. How is that for inflation. Sure enough, the second night he ate the bandage off. He did a downward recycle and deposited in the backyard the next day. He left it on the next night and then ate it off the next two. He then proceeded to do an upward recycle right on the carpet. Yes, it was nasty. Joe literally did his own upward recycle after cleaning it up. I had to get the carpet cleaner out and clean the carpet after that.

I am worried because this is a very large open wound across his entire back ankle. It was too big to stitch up. It would not have worked anyway, because he would have licked the stictches out. Joe and the vet decided to put some sulfur type of oninment on it. Joe has actually used this same medicine on a wound he had a couple of years ago and told me to ask the vet if it would work on George. The vet said yes she was thinking of that as well. I think it does look a little better. I think the oinment makes the bandages not hurt as much on the wound. So, I have taking him to the vet and changing the dressing, and doctoring him. He is quite a distraction.

Since we lost our Rudy in April, we are very afraid of anything happening to George. So, he is being pampered and given way too many treats. We tried the party hat or "E collar" for one night. He completely freaks out. He will just wildly run. Once right into my legs. I have a giant bruise where he ran into me. I put him on his bed and told him to lay down and stay, and he just sat there drooling. It was too pitiful. I just could not do it and took the collar off. However, I did snap a few pictures. You are looking a wild dog wearing the hat. He does not know why anyone would call it a party hat because he was not feeling festive wearing it at all.

This is what happens to you when you have an empty nest and a dog. You just get ridiculously silly over your pets!

Our own rockets red glare

This one was called "One Bad Mother"



Checkers and Sassy: Checkers tried to bite me as I was trying to get my camera inside the fence bars. Who knew that a donkey would bite? I never saw that in Shrek. Joe told me that they would bite, but I was not believing it until I went out to the pasture to take pictures.

Uncle Walter shares his Nascar cap with Jordan.

The girls watching the neighbors fireworks show.

Jordan loved the fireworks. He would giggle when they went off. The noise did not scare him at all. He was dressed in a star shirt and flag shorts. What a cutie pie!

We spent the 4th of July at Beverly and Walter's house. They live out in the county and you can pop all the fireworks you like out there. The neighbors all did their own fireworks show. I think we had the best one. The fireworks vendors must love the 4th out in the county.

I read some information about how to photograph fireworks. I set my camera on the fireworks setting and set up my tripod. I had difficulty knowing when to press the shutter because they dide not all go up at the same speed. For the grand finale, the One Bad Mother and some other funny name that I can't remember, it was so spectacular, that I could not focus on the camera.

It was a wonderful 4th of July. The burgers and hotdogs were great. Thanks Walter and Beverly for having us all over.

No scrapping for July

I have made an agreement with myself. I promise not to scrap in July at all! I think the best creative ideas that I have pop into my head when I know that I can't scrap.

I am taking off of work most of July to study for the bar exam. I cannot properly express how much I hate the bar exam. I have become very well acquaited with all aspects of this exam. I am an experienced taker! I was encourgaged by my supervisor to go for a different perspective and try the exam in a different state. So that is what I am doing. I work for the federal government and they do not care what state you are licensed in just so long as you are licensed. The down side of getting a new perspective is that I need to learn the state law. There are two parts to the exam: one is a 200 question Multi State Exam which is federal law, and day two is essay questions, most of which will be state law. So, I have been studying after work and listening to lectures on my MP3 player in the car on my way to and from work. I am very thankful to have a understanding supervisor who is allowing me to take all this time off. We are pretty busy at work right now, so it is a big sacrifice for them.

So, starting today, my little scrapping place is covered with bar review books. I went to a crop on Saturday and that is the last time I will pick up my ATG gun until after July 31.

I read a blog of person named Monique McLean. She is former owner of Scrap Etc, a LSS in Birmingham and she is the coordinator of the Scrap Etc events. She has completed nursing school and has to take her nursing exam. Now that she no longer owns the LSS, she will work as a nurse. She has two of the cutest little girls and she is studying. I don't know how she does it and I am motivated by her commitment. I have no children at home. Only my husband and four legged baby, George. It sometimes feels like I have children at home, but I can tell them to go away and they will.

I would appreciate all your prayers as I study. I really need to pass because, I turn 51 in two days and it is a fact that the older you get, the fewer functioning brain cells you have. I will forget all that learned in law school if I don't do this soon. I wish I had become a nurse! The exam is July 29 and 30. Pray for Monique too.

I will not give up blogging because I feel that it is theraputic for me. So, I will stay in touch this way.

I posted pictures of my work space completely covered in these perfectly awful books.

I am claiming this Bible verse as my strength for this long month ahead:

"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed,

for his compassions never fail.

They are new morning;

great is your faithfulness.

I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion;

therefore I will wait for him."

Lamentations 3:22-24

Saturday IHBC Crop

Kalen
Debbie is using this whole table! That means some really great work is going on!
Judy (just here for the social interaction) and Vicki
Lavona and Todd
Rachel, Marcella, Detta and Terry

Today my scrappy friends and I drove over to Grand Prairie and joined my friends at my home church for an afternoon of scrapping. It was a great time. Lavona was in charge of snacks today and she put out a delicious spread. There was this popcorn that was out of this world, and little red velvet cake balls, and then for those who are inclined to be more healthy, there were fruit and vegetable trays. She also brought her great spinach dip with chips and crackers. I could go just for the snacks alone.

We made a great note pad make-n-take it. It is very cute project that Debbie and Vicki came up with. Kalen had fabulous door prizes as usual. The hardy scrappers were staying for an extended crop. Me and my mid-cities and south of town friends left around 6:00 p.m.

I showed my friends a little of my hometown that has grown and my neighborhood. We made a brief trip down memory lane and drove by the church where Detta and her husband got married. It was a fun afternoon. I completed about 3 LOs. That is good progress for me.

Our precious fur babies

My granddog: Finn

I have already given him a nickname: I call him Finny

Finny and George
Jamey with George and Finn.

Finn learned the treat can was on this counter!

Roxie Ann doing laps

Josh, Grannie and Roxie

Tara, Lizzie and Missy

Missy Girl, Queen of her World!

For my mother's recent birthday, we had a lot of doggie visitors. My daughter and son-in-law brought my granddog, Finn. Finn is a six month old Australian Sheppard. He is a bundle of engery. He gave my old man George, a run for his money. My niece and her husband, brought my great niece dog, Roxie Ann. Roxie is a pound puppy with the sweetest disposition. She minds so well, but is very attached to her mommie and daddy! Of course my blue Doberman, George, was so happy to meet all his new four legged relatives. Lizzie's pup, Missy, who is a wiennie dog mix with a Schnauzer beard, was not happy at all. She is not happy about any other dog, no matter how nice they are. You can scold in your best Lizzie voice and she will tuck her tail and go to the laundry room. She stood at the back door and tried to attack Roxie Ann through the door. She is the Queen of her World and has no need for canine compansionship.

My old George, was worn out by the time Finn left. Finn would jump up and grab George's face with his front feet and bite George's face and ears. When George would lay down, Finn would come up behind him and bite his hind legs trying to get him up so he could herd him. George was not interested in being a cow! Finn's little teeth were sharp and sometimes George would cry when he bit his ears. Goerge only growled at Finn one time the entire weekend. George wants to know when Finn is coming back for a visit!

More birthday pictures

My friend Terry takes great pictures. I asked her to bring her camera when she came to my Mother's 90th birthday. She took some wonderful pictures. Here are some of my favorites.

Thanks, Terry!

Happy Birthday Mary Jo!

Reading her cards

Mother and John

Grand youngins singing Happy Birthday

Paula, Wanda, Terry and Al

Judy, Betty and Brent

Thelma, Linda and Wanda

Betty and Linda

Sydney

Our baby girl with her baby girl!

BFF's

Sisters Paula and Terry

Sisters Betty and Linda

Sisters Debbie and Judy