It took three years, but I’m finishing with the first semester that actually feels like law school and I’ve hit some startling conclusions.

First, my theory on art is properly applied to everything, especially litigation. I try to do everything above reproach (except personal dress, which I have to admit I like being a rag bag more than I like dressing up). I’ve also realized that while I want to practice law for a chunk of my life, I want to be done within ten years. I want to go back to school and get a history doctorate, I want to write, and I want to open my own law practice as a ministry.

Now that seems like a lot, but its the only way I can think of to keep everything fresh. I want to use what God has given me, but I want to use all of it. I have too many interests to nail down one career path, I prefer to be the renaissance man and I’m going to chase that.

I will say that this whole above reproach with measurables thing is going pretty well. I’m actually learning material and getting real joy out of what i’m learning. I just hope I get a chance to practice and improve my skills even more in the Army.

This doesn’t come naturally to most people, and that’s unfortunate. Some narrative is needed to explain. When I say I’m going to work (to just about everyone I encounter past 8 o’clock these days) it means I’m returning to the law school, descending the glass staircase and walking into the maze of movable shelves, each of which contains hundreds of years of our country’s history.

You probably have to like books to enjoy the library, it would help even more if you liked history as well. To a lot of people I understand this isn’t a thrilling experience, but there’s nothing quite like walking between shelves brushing your fingertips against the spines of volumes and volumes. It’s like a time machine and you’re just waiting to make a selection.

Then you pull a book as big as your torso from the shelf, walk to a comfy chair in the corner, put up your feet, and slowly part the cover. All I need is a cup of hot coffee/tea/espresso and I’d be close to heaven. I love being in court, there’s no doubt about it, but book research still has to be one of my favorite things.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned about a high-pressure lifestyle it’s that it comes with it’s own little problems. The two I get most often: Insomnia and Headaches. I’m either tired with a headache, or frantic at three in the morning.

Nevertheless, God lets me be cheerful in these circumstances. I have so much to be thankful for that It’d be a catastrophic wrong to walk around all doom and gloom. I have a great family, I have the chance to be educated, I’ve never gone hungry, I’ve never had a lack of clothing, I can read the Bible without fear of reprisal, and the list goes on and on. God is good and, high-pressure lifestyle or no, that fact doesn’t change

There is a rough truth to face as you get older (being an aged man of 23 I am perfectly competent to say this). There will never be enough time to get done what you want to get done. My book is figuratively collecting dust while I pour hours into my law work. Anyone expecting updates in the “writer’s gymnasium,” may be disappointed.

Rest assured, (I’m probably reassuring myself more than anyone) I plan to put more time into the other portions of the blog, right now I’m just pressed for time. I get to be excited though, I’m going to San Diego this weekend. I’ll be working late for a few nights, but in return I get to escape, sip coffee, and hug babies (well three babies in particular, and they’re related to me so it’s not quite what it sounds).

After getting back to Tucson, the first Game night arrived. There were nine in all and we played the classics: Bruno Faidutti’s Citadels and Mafia. Now most people haven’t heard of Citadels and you’re missing out. It’s the best parts of Clue and Monopoly, with none of the garbage. Just lots of death, thievery, and city building.

As for Mafia, I’m convinced the game is overrated, but I had so much fun I’m only half-hearted in saying so. Nothing says “bonding,” like luridly described Mafia hits involving lava pits, falling icicles, and misplaced Tibetian Yaks.

A tip to those of you who would host your own “Game Night.” Don’t invite the crowd that’s “too cool for school,” make sure you bring people who aren’t pretentious and are ready to have a good time. If you can also schedule said “Game Night,” in the middle of a Tucson monsoon and lightning storm, so much the better.

If you’ve never been to the glorious high desert of Tucson/Sierra-Vista, you’re missing out. Really, you don’t have to be there all the time, just June/July/Early-August.

Around that time the clouds show up in less than an hour and pour down rain. It just pounds down and cools the city by about fifteen degrees. I always lament the fact that I miss it by going to Hume (for the record, I’ll take watching Elisa’s kids over stupid monsoons any day). I especially miss the Tucson sunsets.

So imagine my joy when I got to have my cake and eat it too. A rash of late monsoon weather has given me ample time to enjoy the cooling rain. I didn’t quite get the full “wander outside while wearing board-shorts and become dry in five seconds,” experience, but it’s been plenty for me. Thanks God.

I’m back in San Diego for the weekend and I remember why I always miss this place when I’m gone. If you’re in San Diego, stop by Kaffee Meister and I’m not just saying that because my parents own the place (even though they do).

I can sit on a big bench sipping excellent coffee or non-coffee drinks and slam through work like nobody’s business and I can chat with visitors or staff when I feel like it. It’s the best parts of a vacation and work combined.

I think I’ll live next door to a library as long as I can. You can check out books, movies, get free internet, and who knows what else. I’m sitting in the Woods Memorial Library hashing out blog entries and enjoying the monsoon clouds rolling in.

This semester I find myself constantly pressured by work, but I have to admit I don’t mind. I’d rather be busy trying to understand my classes then checking the box and being done. There’s another benefit: if anyone wants to ask me about tax law I’ll be able to give a good answer because I’ve been typing them up.

All in all I’ll take the library and a cappuccino over many other scenarios, even if I am “Humesick.”

Once again I’m sitting across the street from my apartment for the sake of free wireless. Classes have begun again and I’m already thick in the routine. Hard to believe I’m only here for one more year, but it’s exciting.

I’m also getting more chances to write this year on a variety of topics. If you’ve been following the law and historical topics you already know I’ve been a busy busy bee. I’m making it my goal to have those regular updates pumping through to continue to hone my skills as a writer.

For those of you who want to know about the novel, the third rewrite is coming along. Hopefully I can get out of the writing phase and into the loooong editing phase by the end of the year. Be praying and I’ll send updates as they come.

I may be the luckiest person in the world. I have been ready to shed tears every time I’ve left somewhere. I almost cried leaving Arizona, then San Diego, now Hume Lake. I’m on my way to start my final year of law school and I know I’ll get into it. Nevertheless, it’s heartbreak leaving anywhere that has people I love.

I can understand how some people float from place to place never putting down roots. Or just fly wherever and never really dig deep into the people there. I’ll never be able to do it, but I understand it. Yesterday I explained to Corin I was leaving. Now as more and more Joshua students leave, Corin refused to say goodbye and then broke down in tears when he finally did. I can understand his sentiment, he didn’t want to say goodbye.

There is a lot to be done when I go home, and I’ll see family in Tucson and Sierra Vista. I’m thinking a lot about what I’ll do after law school and what I’ll do after the army. Still, right now I feel ready for a good cry.