To prep for the triathlon in May, I ran my first 5K today since my last triathlon in 2005 or 2006. It was the Mercer Island run so it was super hilly. I had to walk up one hill, but I felt great after the race. My time was 46 minutes, but time is not important to me. I just want to finish! My friend Amanda, on the other hand, did the 10K in 55 minutes!

I want to try to do one more race in April and then this triathlon in May. I might revise my end of the year goal to do a longer triathlon instead of a half marathon. I get a bit bored only running and my new bike is so sexy!!!

More bikes for Rachael and Charles

Something about living in the Netherlands must have ingrained Dutch bicycle culture in our minds because we felt the need to upgrade our from our Dutch bikes. My Dutch bike is in storage because it just doesn't cut it for the Seattle hills I would like to ride. It also has a basket. Charles has been riding his Dutch bike to work every now and then, but I fear for his ergonomic safety because that thing is not very sturdy. We did buy cheap Dutch bikes after all.

We attended a bike swap last week, but couldn't find anything with the right frame size. We also opted not to purchase anything from the Dutch Bicycle Company because it was just too authentically Dutch. They didn't even sell helmets! In the end, we got our bikes from Free Range Cycle in the Fremont neighborhood.

After lots of test rides, Charles for a Surly Long Haul Trucker in "truckacinno cream," They had a frame in his size in stock so they put it together that afternoon. I ended up getting a Surly Cross Check in black which they had to order. I also got a Brooks seat and Shimano dual function pedals. I also decided to sign up for a triathlon. in May because I have no excuse now that I have a good bike. Hopefully by next Saturday we'll both have our new bikes and will be ready to do a Seattle ride.

Washington February 2009 Bar Exam...All Agency All the Time

I am officially done with my second bar exam! I have come to the conclusion that studying for your second bar exam is more painful than your first, but actually taking it is much less stressful. I was super nervous for Texas during the actual exam, but during this test I just thought "hey at least I am already licensed SOMEWHERE."

The substantive portion of the test could not have covered better topics. However there was so much Agency...at least three questions. Usually they sprinkle Community Property throughout this exam, but this time they were all about Agency. I got so sick of writing about respondeat superior and actual/apparent authority. The three subjects not tested were my weakest: Commercial Paper, Trusts, and Indian Law.

For those who want to know, here's a list of the subjects I think were tested...

Day 1
1. Civil Procedure (with a tiny bit of evidence)
2. Torts (negligence, strict liability, and a sort of far fetched products liability)
3. Wills
4. Criminal Procedure
5. Family Law and Community Property (no children in this question so very strange)
6. Constitutional Law
7. Corporations (with quite a bit of agency)
8. Contracts
9. Weird question that freaked everyone out, but was mostly Agency with surface level Contract and Tort issues

Day 2
10. Criminal Law
11. Property
12. LLP, General Partnerships, and Agency
13. Criminal Procedure again (with a bit of evidence)
14. Civil Procedure again
15. Secured Transactions
16. Sales
17. Torts (intentional and privacy torts)
18. Evidence (my best subject so it felt like it ended on a good note!)

Now I just have to wait until May for the results...

One month and counting

The February Washington bar exam is one month away and I am starting to get that nervous I-can-never-be-prepared-enough feeling that everyone gets. This experience has been very different from studying for the Texas bar for a few reasons.

First, Washington is one of 2 states (the other is Louisiana) that does NOT use the MBE or Multi-State bar exam. Instead the Washington bar is a series of essays covering various topics. This is good for me because I hated studying for the MBE and tend to just get tricked by multiple choice.

My method of studying is also different. Because I am not taking a lot of time off work, I decided to take the BarBri iPod course this time around instead of the classroom course I took in Texas. So instead of piling into a room with 500+ people to listen to someone you can't see lecture, I hang out at home with an iPod full of lectures and try to stay disciplined about it.

I am also surprised about the differences between Texas and Washington law. I thought that because both states are community property states, family law would be easy...but no, there are lots of differences. Well, off to do some practice questions...

Berlin is helping me study

I am taking the Washington bar exam in February and Berlin is using his poodle lawyer skills to assist. He has found a perch on the corner of my desk...

It's still snowing and Seattle is in a panic

Seattle really doesn't know how to deal with snow. There's no real need because it doesn't snow here often. Every 10 years or so they get a bad storm and don't have the plows and other equipment to deal with it. All of the shovels at Target have been purchased and we can seem to find a decent tool to scrape the ice off the car.

I have worked from home for several days and Charles walked into downtown one day because the buses were coming on such an irregular schedule. He did bring his camera though...

Snow in Pioneer Square...


Looking out our window at home...
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Some extra photos (including a few of Charles' office) are in this set.

Snow in Seattle!

Yesterday we were promised a good snow storm and I was sorely disappointed. Today I woke up to a winter wonderland in West Seattle. I didn't make the 20 mile drive to work, but Charles did manage to catch a bus downtown. Here is a pic he took this morning that was posted on The West Seattle Blog...



More to come...

Some Late Halloween Pics

I know it's a bit late, but our Halloween pics are too cool not to post. Charles and I went as two video game characters, the Heavy and the Medic from Team Fortress 2. Here is the inspiration for our costumes...



And here we are...



We went with some friends to a party at the Showbox. Here is our clan...



For the whole set which is huge see here.

A Historic Day

Last night was undoubtedly historic and this election was very special to us. We voted for Obama in the Global Democratic Primary in The Hague and got to hear arguments for and against him from our Dutch and other European friends. It was definitely a very different perspective and I will always remember these pics Charles snapped before the nomination.

In Seattle, I hardly knew anyone who was not voting for Obama. My law firm even served as his political counsel. So it wasn't a big surprise that he won, but I am still elated and showing it off with my Obama threads...



Because last night was so historic, I am sure I will be asked "Where were you when Obama got elected?" Unfortunately we were in the doggie emergency room. I accidentally cut Remus' leg while trying to get a matt out of his fur. He needed stitches, but he's a tough little poodle and will be OK. Here is a picture of the little guy at the vet on this very special election night...

Poodles at Westcrest

The poodles explored their wild nature this weekend at Westcrest Dog Park...



Charles did some fancy camera work to make Berlin look big...



And we caught Remus in the act of doing one of his favorite things (e.g., trying to be the center of attention)...



Afterwards the little fluffballs got a bath...



For the whole set (including some action shots of other park patrons) see here.