First Day with the LSAT

My FIRST official PrepTest for the LSAT.

The first 2011 official “fall-feeling day” in Washington, D.C. is also the first day of me studying for the LSAT. And now that it is 1:22 in morning and roughly 7 hours after I finished my first LSAT PrepTest, I feel that I can retrospectively announce that today was a success.

This morning I woke up at 8:30 with Steph, and we were joined by Nick for a hearty breakfast consisting of Tropicana OJ, homemade waffles and coffee. At around 9:30 we left for the Library of Congress, and I officially began my studying within the main reading room, which is the one Nicholas Cage raided in the movie, National Treasure 2.

I have to be honest, studying in the main reading room of the Library of Congress

for the LSAT is inspiring. It is going to be hard to top this study location when I actually begin law school, because this place is amazing. The main reading room is circular, providing a 360-degree view of books from around the world.

On the ceiling, a scene that looks to be depicting the apotheosis of knowledge is draped for everyone inside of the reading room to see. On top of every Corinthian-styled column there are quotes from famous philosophers and lawgivers throughout world history. The quotes are each painted with a golden-toned paint that forces the viewer to look at the quote straight on, or else they disappear with the light.The acoustics of the room make every sound echo.

It almost feels like every element of the main reading room was designed to foster intellectual growth, which is probably what the architect was shooting for.

An aerial view of the amazing main reading room in the Library of Congress Jefferson building.

Anyways, I didn’t do as well as I would have liked on my first LSAT, but all that means is that I will have to do a little more leg work to get where I would like to be. And because I have pretty lofty goals, I have quite a bit of leg work to get through.

Never Forget

Ten years ago tonight, I sat on the fireplace in my parent’s home, watching the news with my grandpa, brothers and parents. My dad was shuffling back and forth between the kitchen and the living room, mumbling to himself under his breath. He does that when he is frustrated.

I remember thinking to myself as ABC News blared in the background, I hope this never happens again. Minutes later, President George W. Bush told millions of Americans that it wouldn’t, and I remember feeling comforted.

I think the fact that I now live in Washington, D.C., one of the cities that was attacked on that clear morning, is forcing me to actually reflect on how lucky I am. I am sitting down with my wife, watching Sunday Night Football. I can do that because ten years ago, millions of American’s became devoted to two words: “Never Again.”

Never Again: It is not a political charge or rallying cry. It is not a militaristic vendetta. It is a declaration that the 2,997 memories held by all Americans will not be forgotten.

These pieces come from the engines of the planes that flew into the World Trade Center buildings. They are on display at the Newseum, donated by the FBI. If you get a chance to see this exhibit at the Newseum, it is very moving and extremely well done.

This twisted heap of metal is the antenna of the WTC. It sits in a room with thousands of Sept. 12, 2001 front pages from around the nation and world. On the adjacent wall to the antenna, notes from people who were directly affected by Sept. 11 are projected onto the wall.

Nats night and the President’s firsts

I was born to live in DC. What other city is able to mix American-history facts and baseball so easily? I don’t have the exact answer to that question, but I bet there aren’t many, and DC accomplishes this with ease!

Tonight I went to the Washington National’s game, and I realized that this is a team I could follow–not because I enjoy them as a professional baseball team (I am a diehard Colorado Rockies fan), but because I want to be at the game when

We snuck down to great center field seats. From this location, we could see the "presidential race," as well as be in the general area that homeruns were being sent. It was a good game overall.

Teddy wins a presidential race.

During every home game for the Nationals, there is a “presidential race” in the fourth inning. At the top of the fourth, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt pummel out of the center field gate. Every time, without a doubt, Teddy Roosevelt doesn’t come in first. Either he trips or does something illegal like riding  a Segway.

In many ways, the city of DC is obsessed with watching the Nats play to see when Teddy will win. Fans spit curse words and scream at the top of their lungs for Teddy during the race. Sometimes, there is more emotion during the presidential race then there is during the game itself.
Tonight’s game is the third I have attended at National’s stadium, which made me curious about why Teddy always loses. A lot of speculations float around the stadium, but no one at the  seems to have proof as to why Teddy never wins.

After spending thirty minutes on google and asking several people with “ask me” written across their shirts, a guy with a badge that read “supervisor”  told me he thinks he has a pretty good idea why.

Run Teddy Run. Check out http://blog.letteddywin.com/

Apparently Teddy Roosevelt was known for accomplishing a lot of “firsts” throughout both his presidency and his life.

According to a website dedicated to Theodore Roosevelt, Teddy was the first president to fly in an airplane, to be submerged in a submarine, own a car, have a telephone in his home, and travel outside of America’s borders while still in office. Furthermore, Teddy founded many American institutions that Americans take for granted today, such as the national monuments.

So, because of his adventurous spirit that caused him to explore, the Washington Nationals are punishing his great legacy.

Seriously, I think I was made to live in this city.

Struggling for a theme

When I started  this blog, I was flooded with wordpress articles about the importance of instituting a theme. I thought about it for about half an hour, but then I decided I would need a lot more time to think about it.

For the past few months my mind has been flooded with issues like politics, getting a job in politics, sight seeing, making friends, reading new books because I have a lot of free time after work to do so, adjusting to living in the city, setting up a system to study for the LSAT, money, and just living. So to say the least, I haven’t put much time into thinking about a theme for my blog. Then it hit me. I realized that the things that have been overwhelming my thoughts are the basic components of my life. For me, they are the things that make life interesting. They make life real.

So as simple as it sounds, I have decided to base my “theme” on those components. It might work, or it might be a colossal fail. Lets see.

Living in the District

Theft. Vandalism. Nonstop honking. 50 plus-hour-workweeks. Bad dry cleaners. Overwhelming bills. Stress.

I have experienced all of the above throughout the last month I have lived in Washington DC. To say the least, my transition into city life has been a little more stressful than I had hoped for.

Let me digress…

I thought I would have a job within a week. So as I enter week five as an underpaid, overworked intern, I can’t help but feel like somewhat of a failure. I have bills that seem to point and laugh every time I open the door to my apartment. Adding to that stress, my bike was stolen after my first week of living here. After three weeks, the back window to my Ford Focus was smashed in (they didn’t even take anything). The dry cleaner on Massachusetts and 6 NE lost my dry cleaning for two days. When I went in to pick it up, the Asian woman started yelling at me for asking if I still had to pay. When I got home, I found a yellow stain on one of my white shirts that wasn’t there when I dropped it off, and on another shirt, the cuffs were ripped and the buttons smashed.

This has all happened within one month.

Now don’t get me wrong. I love Washington DC. I love what I am doing. Even though I am an intern, I love the office I work in. I finally feel like my plans for life are coming together. I am very in love with my beautiful wife, Stephanie. I love the church I am attending. On top of all that, Steph and I have made some pretty good friends along the way.

So, as cliche as this may sound, I guess I should take everything bad that has happened with a grain of salt. During my devotions this morning, I read Proverbs 3 in the Life Application Study Bible. Verses 11 and 12 are about accepting trials as God’s discipline, for He disciplines those he loves. Right now, that is encouraging, for although I may have trials I know that God loves me. I know that I am still blessed. I also know that I am in DC for a reason, even if that reason is to only gain experience.

I love the stage of life I am in. I love being here, and I love knowing that even though I am struggling, there is always something to look forward to.