On another note, my brother got married on Friday. I have a new sister-in-law... her name is Karina Toscano Pandya. Wild. Someone new in the family. That's never happened before. I'm really happy for my brother, but it feels weird. Good weird, but weird nevertheless. You know how every family has got some dirt... and you usually keep this dirt within the house. How does someone else get fully involved in that? Does anyone else know what I'm talking about? I can't even verbalize what I mean... Regardless, Congratulations, Mayank!!!
posted by phat tony 1:29 PM
Okay, does the fact that on some Saturday nights, I just want to be at home in bed make me wack? Seriously, though, at which point is the entire "staying in" thing okay? I mean, I know that one never really has to go out on the weekends, no one is forcing anyone to do anything... but am I allowed to already be too tired for that sort of thing? And I don't mean "too tired" as in tired OF it... I mean, tired, as in sleepy, as in I probably shouldn't be falling asleep in the cab on my way TO the bar/lounge/club/apt., should I be? Take, for example, yesterday... I tried really REALLY hard to have fun. I was even meeting new people through other friends and all that... I was gearing up for the dynamic small talk thing... but I just couldn't do it. It was so sad.
posted by phat tony 1:25 PM
Here I am, in class, blogging away. My professor is slowly deteriorating in front of us. Scary.
My brother is getting married on Friday. I have no idea when and where (well, it'll be somewhere near Ossining, NY) on Friday, but definitely on Friday. It's kind of a weird situation. I don't know what to think of it. Of course, it's not really for ME to undertand, per se, but still. Originally, I was going to be the only one coming to the wedding... and yes, I mean the only one... my parents weren't coming, my brother's fiance's family wasn't coming, there were no friends invited... I was gonna be the witness, the best man, the ringbearer, the photographer, etc. etc. etc. Now my dad is flying in... I mean, I thought this was going to be a good thing, but I feel now that's going to be extra drama which is going to make this weekend unending. Aw man. I mean, there are reasons why the parents didn't want to come. We'll see what happens.
On a lighter note, the new Reese Witherspoon movie is opening in theaters on Friday, and Mandisa and I, no doubt, WILL be there opening night.
Okay, back to class.
posted by phat tony 11:34 AM
Had a great day yesterday, no question. Let's talk about it.
Morning: Proofread and turned in my first memo... this memo had been hanging over my head for weeks, and now I'm done. That doesn't mean it was any good, but there's also the pass/fail contingent. Regardless, it's done, and we're happy.
Afternoon: One of my best friends in the world, Tal, came into town last night. We decided to meet up for lunch. I met up with him and his friend(who incidently went to India to become a yoga instructor) in Union Square, and he proceeds to tell me that he interviewed and GOT a job at NYU Medical doing research, so he's definitely going to be here for atleast a year. Incredible. I'm not quite over it.
Evening: First, I headed to my friend Shira's apartment... it was her birthday yesterday, and consequently, there was a party. Fun. They were all undergrads... YOUNG... (probably because I know Shira through the Clefs). Anyway, I had a great time for the, like, 30 seconds I was there, had a few screwdrivers and whatnot... then I headed downtown with Gerard to Sam's event at Bowery Bar... where I basically had a great time. I saw everyone, from the old Michigan crowd to the new Columbia Law folk (the cool ones, obviously) Sam Palak Mandisa Angie Lynn Shitang Ankur Ed Leslie Karina Vivian Brian Tal Michelle Cory Roxanne Tanya Will Lindsay Bobby Julia JaMille Marina Opal Victor Gerard Randall Jon Matt etc.... met some friends of friends and some friends of friends of friends... it was fantastic, and I didn't end up buying a drink the entire night (Thanks Michelle, Brian, and Roxanne!). Everyone, let's hope that Sammy gets a job out of this! Then a bunch of us headed over to Mamoun's and then this random Indian-fusion joint where... well, I don't know how to describe it. It was some good shit, no question.
And now I'm awake, feeling good (no hangover!), finishing up some laundry, and ready to start studying. Ugh.
People, we need to have nights like this more often.
posted by phat tony 1:57 PM
It's funny how I'm always playing catch up in my classes. There's a solid one or two days out of the four class days during the week when I'm on top of things, having done all the reading for each of my classes. And then, in one night, I'm completely behind. It's uncanny. And sort of worrisome.
On top of all this, I'm not even getting behind for any good reason. I'm at my apartment reading all day (or trying to focus for hours on end). I'm not even going out during the week, probably because the 100-block trek is a bit of a deterrent, especially if I have no one to go with (I could either take FOREVER to get downtown, or I could spend around $20 round-trip). I think I need to get into some sort of routine.
posted by phat tony 10:09 AM
So, I had my first rehearsal with my new group today... it was dope. Now, for some reason, I'm feeling really focused and motivated about everything. I think that's how I worked in undergrad, too... I occupied all my time with lots of student groups and activities. Of course, then I didn't really do school work. But with just one group, I can for sure study a lot, but I'll be able to have something not law-related to vary things up. Geez, I totally remember how having a performance at night would get me through the day. I'd just think,"Okay, I've got this and this and this to do, so I had better get that all done now because I've got this fun performance tonight and we'll for sure be chillin' afterwards, and let me just deal now." This entire performance thing is going to help so much.
posted by phat tony 8:18 PM
me = out of shape.
Angie, Karina, and I ran in this race/run/walk thing called Let Freedom Run. The run was great, brief, and painful (this was all, of course, after we had to wait two hours because the entire scene was just a massive unorganized mess... the main speaker lady almost made me cry, she was so horrible, and Miss U.S.O. sang the national anthem, and I was almost tempted to scream "SHUT UP!" But I didn't, so don't judge... Regardless, I think it kickstarted my motivation for working out (or atleast raising my heartrate a little bit a little more often).
On another note, I've just been knighted... yeah, you're jealous.
posted by phat tony 3:27 PM
Funny thing... I have never EVER wanted the weekends to arrive so much... I'm lying in bed right now, loving that fact that I don't need to get up, grab my laptop, and sit in a lecture hall. True, whether I'm there or here, I'd probably still be typing this, but whatever.
I'm going to work out today. Yes, I am going to work out today. (I need to keep repeating this to myself... my own little mantra, if you will, to get me up off of my ass.)
Tomorrow, Angie, Karina, Grace, and I (maybe others?) are running this short little 4 mile run called "Let Freedom Run." It should be fun, but if you can believe it, I'm actually a little scared of running it. I really haven't run in the past 2-3 months. My body has been slowly but surely deteriorating to nothing. To think that a few months ago, Disa and I were kind of training for a half marathon... 6-10 miles for an afternoon run was nothing at all. Now I'm scared of 4?!? Damn.
posted by phat tony 12:30 PM
just to give you a little taste of law school (torts, specifically...):
"What is the best way to motivate human behavior such that it conforms with another set of norms? Strict liability isn’t the most efficient way of motivating you to achieve that balance between balance and security… NEGLIGENCE principles will incentivize the correct behavior. That’s what underlies this economic theory."
This is what I just wrote in my notes (I'm in lecture right now)... what does this all mean? It's gonna be a nice, LONG year.
posted by phat tony 10:10 AM
I MOVED UP!!!
top tier, baby, top tier.
posted by phat tony 10:07 AM
Sept. 11th, 2002.
Bush using peoples' sympathies to garner approval of a preemptive attack on Iraq... We didn't react on 9/12/01, so people lost motivation, they lost anger, they lost their immediate reaction of utter revenge. Human nature is fascinating.
on another note... dude. I need to get on top of my reading. get motivated, amit. now. please. please?
posted by phat tony 8:21 PM
What am I doing?
Last Tuesday, I auditioned for an a cappella group here. It's not law school affiliated... it's one of the university-wide ones. A 58 Greene, or an Amazin' Blue, if you will. I made callbacks (which were on Sunday night), and then this morning at 3:30am, they "sang" me into the group. "Amit, welcome to the Clefhangers."
I can't believe I'm doing this again. I've DEFINITELY needed something artsy fartsy to keep me occupied, no question. I just didn't think I'd be doing the a cappella thing again... I mean, I love it, that's why I'm doing it... I actually just didn't think I'd get into this group.
Whatever... this is gonna make life at Columbia a lot easier... who-ah.
posted by phat tony 12:35 PM
Let's talk.
Socially speaking, starting grad. school of any sort is funny. In the beginning, I was diving into the small talk bit like crazy, fluidly traversing from one person to the next, forgetting their name as soon as the "how are you? What's your story?" line came out. Regardless, I was able to see people on the street or walking through the halls and experience a momentary mutual recognition... not enough to make a big deal about, but enough to make both parties feel a little more comfortable at this brand new environment. Then came the random law school sponsored functions... meet and greet and all that. Then, of course, you've got your classes. I've met a few dope people in them, some of these chance meetings evolving to a greater friendship and a deeper understanding of my community at large. And yes, that's all fine and good... but I'm already realizing that these people are really going to be more friends of convenience rather than friends by choice, you know? They'll end up being great business contacts (because don't you know it that that is what classmates are actually thinking when they ask about your day? ridiculous.), but that might be it. I realize that I'm in the process of actively separating parts of my life. My academic experience will reside within the walls of Columbia... the LIFE is gonna be downtown a little bit. I've got people I love down there, people whose academic, business, and personal qualifications don't really mean a whole lot within the confines of our interactions. It's who they are, not what they've set out to prove. We've all got something to prove, but no to people with whom we already have an understanding. It's funny going to school in an area where you already have a social outlet, a family of sorts... you don't want to try as hard because you've preemptively realized that what you might find ain't gonna beat what you've already got. It's not like I'm gonna stop trying to meet people and make friends for life and all that... it's just that I won't be setting aside my established circle in NYC anytime soon... or, for that matter, ever.
posted by phat tony 2:24 PM
Having ethernet in the classrooms is a bad idea. Getting distracted is so easy.
I, for example, am typing this entry while the professor is entertaining ideas regarding discrimination unter Title VII in the workplace.
Note to everyone... to reach me, trying e-mailing me during class.
posted by phat tony 2:14 PM
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KARINA!!!
posted by phat tony 11:40 PM
Kelly won. She definitely won.
This final episode was the first (and obviously last) episode of American Idol that I had seen, and I'm so happy it was... this show would've drawn me in like crazy. I would've spent hours and hours in front of the TV staring at all those would-be superstars. Ridiculous. I'm glad Kelly won... she reminds me of Reese Witherspoon, and that can't be a bad thing.
Aw, look... she's crying. And there's Paula Abdul. I LOVE Paula Abdul. SHE'S a winner.
And I'm spent.
posted by phat tony 9:58 PM
