Erin Albert’s Blog

In a day full of Constitutional and Property Law readings, I decided to mash them together while reading Pierson v. Post and ask…is the pursuit of foxiness enough for possession?

No, not that kind of bling-bling foxy-ness….actually chasing a wild fox!  Does chasing it constitute enough for possession or ownership of the fox?

The majority in this case said that chasing wasn’t enough.  Dang, too bad, otherwise, I’d be out chasing a bunch of stuff!

(Just kidding.)

Even though the chase might not get you ownership, at least in the case of a wild animal chase, maybe the thrill of the chase itself is reward enough?  Even our Constitution didn’t say we have the right to “happiness”; we instead have the right to “pursuit of happiness”.  Even though we might not catch happiness, it is fun to try and chase!  Just don’t shoot it.  Not only is it rude, but karmic retribution here could be a huge negative…

One of my friends and colleagues in law school rolled in at the end of the week to class, looked at me and said, “This is one of the days I wished I’d bought the red convertible instead”.  I got the joke, of course, being a fellow non-traditional (or, ah-hem, older) law student.

When the older student is deciding about going back to law school, it really isn’t a choice between law and some other type of grad school degree, because many nontraditional law students already have a Master’s degree, or even a PhD in other cases.  It instead is a choice between paying for law school (while not going into debt), and the little red convertible.

Some may call the little red convertible a mid-life-crisis mobile.  Heck, mine isn’t even red - it is black (with a red interior).  (No, I still don’t have the car yet…it will be my gift to myself after law school and the law school debt has been paid off…)  My point, as I’ve made on my previous “Thinking about law school?” video, is this:  there will be days if you do decide to go back to school as a nontraditional (older) law student, where you think you might have totally screwed up and made the wrong decision.  For me, those days usually occur in proportion to the day of the week (high on Monday, lower on Tue & Wed, then increasingly higher until 7:30 pm on Fridays when class ends for me). The weather is also a factor here too (the nicer the day, the harder it is to roll into law school while everyone else is out playing)…in their RED convertibles!

A great piece of advice I got and now give to others thinking about law school is this: to write down the reason or reasons WHY you want to go to law school, then seal them up and put them in a safe place while you apply, get in, start, and finish your law programs.  On graduation day, pull that little note back out and read it.  Alternatively, if you have a flash moment of freakoutedness and decide to quit law school in the middle, take the note out and read it then before you quit.  Because, some days, the ONLY thing that is going to get you through the day is to remember the big WHY.  Why did I want to go to law school?  Read it, and then repeat it in your brain.  Read, repeat, read, repeat.

…but I’d prefer to repeat in a little red convertible!  Maybe someday….

It is Friday!  YAY!

If you are as excited about making it to the end of the week in tact as I am, I’m going to give you one final week end challenge.

You didn’t arrive at this point by yourself…you made it because of others helping you along the way.  So, before you leave your offices/desks/cubes and/or classrooms this week, try thanking at least ONE person who helped you get through your week.  Maybe it was your parents, a teacher, a sig other, a friend, your boss, WHOMEVER!  Just shoot them a little thank you email/note/banner or certificate for helping you rock out your week!  We’ll call it an ambush thankover kickoff to your weekend.

Yup - I’ve already done this - it was on the list! : )  Have a GREAT weekend!!!

And the answer to this question could be anyone here, or in the great beyond (i.e. no longer among us).  If you’re not ready to answer, here are 10 I’d LOVE to friend on Facebook (in random order):

10. Einstein - I would LOVE to see what his next equation might be!
9.  Both my grandmothers - both were great writers and I miss their notes and writings! I’d like to think each would have a blog where they are now…
8.  Gandhi - we need a little more “be the change you wish to see in the world” action these days.
7.  Winston Churchill - ibid to #8, with leadership thrown in there too
6.  George Washington - first prez would HAVE to have an opinion on healthcare…would he think it was a right?
5.  Mother Teresa - can you IMAGINE what she’s up to now? I’d love to see her wall on Facebook!
4.  Jane Austen - What would Jane do?  I often ask myself this!
3.  Judy Blume -  Are you there, Judy?  It’s me, Erin!
2.  Senator Richard Lugar - an eye on Washington DC with the interests of Indiana at heart…
1.  Chancellor Merkel - dude - seriously - chemist/G8 country leader/leader of THE G8…talk about some serious girl power!

I’m sure I’ve got a million more, but it was fun to think about some of my top picks just going through Facebook this evening….

…who are your picks?

Attention all wonder women: New shoes!

Yay!

I’m trying to finish up my Con law reading assignment for tomorrow, but I needed a healthy digression for a minute with a blog musing before my brain goes on official meltdown.

I blogged at one of my other sites about the current global Robsession - the marketing phenomenon and powerhouse of the Twilight series.  (Ok, I promised before I’d shut up about it at this blog, but I just can’t stop…sorry!)

So, to all you Twilighters out there….I am with you when I say, I’m looking forward to the New Moon movie, coming in November!  In fact, I’m evening thinking of throwing a midnight viewing Show-Us-Your-New-Moon-Soiree. (That is, if I’m still alive by November…)

Furthermore, if you are on Team Edward, I’m going to suggest my partygoers make a donation to the local bloodbank, or The American Red Cross prior to the event.  If you’re playing for Team Jacob at my party (and who isn’t in New Moon???) I’m going to suggest a donation to the local humane society or animal shelter of choice. (Yeah, I play for both!)

I encourage you as well to have a New Moon party, or even a simple party for a cause.  Getting together is great, but getting together for a cause is even greater!

Watch this video to see what companies of the 21st century need to do in order to SURVIVE and THRIVE!

And Mr. Pink: we can’t WAIT for your new book in December!

I can’t believe it has been 20 years ago this month that I began college (for the first time).  Now, I find it even more ironic that I’m officially a freshman faculty orientation guide at my alma mater/employer, Butler University (Go Dawgs!)

The most interesting part of the day as I go through it with my Freshmen is that my own freshman orientation felt like it was yesterday, rather than oh-so-many-years-ago.  But, I’m happy to report that Butler is still doing some of the same things they did 20 years ago.  Namely, (and my favorite part) they have all the freshmen read one book, then they bring the author to discuss it.  This year’s book is Dave Isay’s Listening is An Act of Love.  Mr. Isay came to campus this morning and had a great set of stories in audio and video to share with our freshmen.

I still remember my own freshman orientation speaker, Dr. Maya Angelou, and the book was I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings.  I don’t remember much else from freshman orientation, but I do remember her.  Anyone who sings in the middle of her talk definitely gets and keeps my attention!

Last but not least, I get the opportunity 20 years later from my freshman orientation in undergrad to go back and start being a student again this evening at law school.  We didn’t really have an author speaker at our first year law school orientation a year ago, but I do recall one of the professors getting up and telling us not to forget to read stuff OTHER than law school books.

I am thankful for that wisdom.

Tomorrow starts my 2nd year of law school, and the beginning of another academic year as a teacher.  And while I’ve been reading and writing all day to prepare, I still don’t feel like I’m in the place I need to be yet mentally in order to make the first week “successful”. Furthermore, my 2nd year of pretty much all education has been historically my least successful academically. (Pharmacy school was the most vivid…at least the first pharmacy degree.)

I know what you’re thinking…(”Why the heck isn’t she off cramming more in her brain rather than whining online about her lack of preparation?”)  Well, even this chick’s brain needs a break…so I’m taking a quick one to write that I think the 2nd year worries are probably bigger than just mere lack of preparation.

The first year is always shiny and new.  Year 2?  The dust kind of settles, you know what to expect, and the shine is just plumb worn off in some cases.  Coupled with the fact that I just don’t feel the end is near either, so it is just…the year 2 blues, maybe?  Not sure.  But I’m hoping to jump back into the swing of things while keeping my sanity in tact this semester.  Teaching 3 courses and taking 3 courses could finally help me more easily find my limits…but we shall in time see what happens.

If you are heading into year 2 of anything - be it a job, a degree/education, or even a relationship…I want to wish you the very best of luck.  And may my bad 2 year chi never show up this fall for ANY of us!

I don’t have any super powers…just yet. But, if ever a girl were to acquire special super girl power from wearing shoes, this pair would be THE pair. While I’m not normally a shoe hound either, this pair is just…well, girly, fun and empowering! I own a pair–and not only are they fun to wear and semi-comfortable, but yes, they are also furry! I call them my “cheetah girl power shoes”.

I wore them today while on a TV interview with Inside Indiana Business (BTW: LOVE the cast and crew there, all great people)…but the shoes made me feel empowered, especially while talking about the new list out from Forbes.com on the 100 most powerful women this week. The obvious Indiana choices were on it - including Angela Braly from Wellpoint, and former Indiana resident Deirdre Connelly now at GSK…but most surprising of all? Angela Ahrendts, CEO of Burberry Group, Plc…a native of…New Palestine, IN! She was #71 on the list. AWESOME!

See? Even women from New Pal can rule the fashion world…or healthcare world or the ________ world! The best part for women and girls alike…? They can fill the blank in above with anything they like and go for it, even without the furry shoes.

(But I think they help!)