February Photo a Day: Something You're Listening to

San Fran from Oakland

Okay, okay. I'm cheating again. What can I say? I'm limited to a small area and most of my time today was spent in a room with terrible lighting and bad back support with 1200 other nervous people.

I can't take a photo of what I've listened to today because we're not allowed cell phones (thank god) in the test room. The sounds I heard today were the coughing of a thousand people, the bodily movements induced by sitting for 3 hours straight for 2 sessions, the sound of pencils bubbling in our answer booklets. Also, the idiots who opened the HUGE doors to get outside the room to the bathrooms when there was a door open. Sigh. Thank goodness for good earplugs. So, because I couldn't take a photo of all that, you get a view of San Fran from an 11th floor window while I was waiting for the elevator to get my workout on in the hotel gym.

February Photo a Day: Money

Not actual greenbacks but...

So, I know. This isn't money per se. However, it does show the extent to which Marriott is nickel and dime-ing all the California bar candidates.  If discussing money and costs of things makes you uncomfortable, you should stop reading right now. Some highlights:

• Internet: $9.95 or $13.95 if you don't want to pay for "lite" internet. I don't know about you, when I'm uploading exam files I don't want "lite" internet service.
• Breakfast: $25 for scrambled eggs, coffee, potatoes and a random muffin. Oh, and this morning, they delivered hot water instead of coffee. No tea packets either so who knows what they were thinking. I would have opted for a "cheaper" option (cereal at $18) but I have issues eating first thing in the morning and eggs are the only thing I can literally choke down.  Add pre-test jitters and I'm lucky I got $5 worth of this breakfast.
• Lunch: $14+tax+gratuity, so I'm thinking more like $24 (apparently there's a 21% service charge + $3 delivery on room service!). The brightside is that they deliver it to your room so when you are done with the morning session of the exam it is waiting for you in your room. I would say this may be the only thing worth the money. Also, the sandwiches were HUGE so it will also be lunch tomorrow. Win.
• Parking: $33/ day for valet, otherwise $24 each entry.
• Late check out: $99. $99?!!? I find this last charge egregious. Unfortunately, I'm going to pay it because this way I can have my lunch in my room (see above) and don't have to stress out about packing up all my stuff into my car at 7am in the morning before a hard test day (the essay day today was rough, I'm sure it will be rougher after another day of testing). Also, there are 1200+ people taking this test and I'm pretty sure most are in my hotel. Let the chaos ensue. So, my plan is to pack up the car Wednesday night and then have one bag to take to the car with me when I do the late checkout. This way I can leave directly from the exam and get home asap (we have a dinner res at a 2 michelin star restaurant thankyouverymuch).
• Room Charge: I looked up the price for the hotel for this coming weekend.  It's currently listed for $80 less/ night. The fleecing continues.

So yeah, soooo much money spent to take this stupid exam. I know, I know. First world problems. I'm very lucky that we can pay for these things to make the test less stressful. But, seriously? I'm all for capitalism, but this just seems a bit much.

P.S. Sorry for the length! I've been typing all day and this got a little out of hand.

February Photo A Day: Something You Ate

So, I've cheated. I have yet to eat this food, but it is food, and it will be eaten at some point over the next few days.

Sorry this one is lame, folks. The California Bar Exam starts tomorrow, and I totally forgot to take a photo of what I ate. Let's just say other things were on my mind. I'm currently watching the Bachelor and trying not to FREAK out. "Hay's in the barn" so to speak so all I can do now is rest up my brain with some brainless tv.

So, if you have been lurking on my blog, now would be an excellent time to delurk and wish me the best of luck. No, really, I'm serious. Yes, I'm shameless and perhaps nervous for no good reason for the exam tomorrow.

February Photo a Day: Night

My night consisted of packing for the bar and watching Iron Chef.
Yes, I'm bringing free weights and my P57 DVDs to the hotel. I haven't made this much progress for nothin'.

So I don't forget, um, EVERYTHING.

February Photo a Day: Green

It is unfair to have to study on a day like today.
(Taken outside my gym)

February Photo a Day: Inside My Bathroom Cabinet

Again, much like the closet, I can't believe I'm showing you guys something so not organized/ pretty.

I'm going to treat this as a "before" picture.
And yes, I take a multi-vitamin, calcium (in yummy chew form!), B vitamins and biotin.

This is what I want my cabinet to look like:

{Source}

I have the perfect paper too! Ah... after the bar.

February Photo a Day: Shoes

Yes, I wear slippers for most of the day. Did I mention how I can't wait to be done with this studying stuff?

February Photo a Day: Where I Work

I've posted photos of where I actually work last fall, but for right now, I "work" at home as you all know.  So, here's where I study all day:

At least it has windows and cute furry kitties (and I can be in PJs as late as I want)!

The good news is that I'll be heading back to work on March 5. CANNOT wait!

February Photo a Day: A Fave (Recent) Photo of Me

Taken on Feb. 16, 2012 at Half Moon Bay, CA

So, I decided to change this one to my favorite recent photo of me mostly because I didn't want to go through all my photos. I could have picked a wedding photo (love pretty much all of them), but I don't have blond hair anymore. So... you get this one taken while my train friend was visiting from NYC. We had such a fabulous day. It was definitely good for my soul. You can expect to see a blogpost about that adventure at some point.

February Photo a Day: Handwriting

Ah, practice essays. Usually, my handwriting is mostly legible.  Add a timed essay to the mix and it becomes pure chaos. Fortunately, I'm taking the bar on the computer so the only person that has to decipher this scrawl is me.

February Photo a Day: Something You Hate to Do

Betcha you thought I was going to post a photo of my bar study materials. Nope. As terrible as studying for the bar is, it's necessary, I'm getting paid to do it and I've been guaranteed at least one day off a week for the last 7 weeks.  All in all, I'm very fortunate and saying that I hate doing it would seem ungrateful for the blessings in my life or something.  Let's not mess with the Universe right now!

So, I picked something that I'm pretty sure is universally hated by everyone:

Fortunately for me, since my studying is in high gear since the exam is in NINE DAYS!!!! OMG!!!! (Sorry, momentarily panic attack), Erik has taken over all household responsibilities including cleaning the kitchen, bathrooms, vacuuming and cooking our meals for the week.  I'm very thankful for him and his willingness to do the job of two partners for the next week and 1/2. As for me, my 10 minute study break is over. Back to the grind (and remedies!).

February Photo a Day: Drink

<3 Coffee

I have to say I'm enjoying this photo a day thing. It's a nice break from my otherwise monotonous day of studying for the bar and doing housework as a break from studying for the bar.  I'm sure I'm not the only person that cleans as a way to relax.  It mostly has to do with the fact that otherwise I feel guilty about not studying so cleaning is at least justifiable because it's productive.

February Photo a Day: Time

This is the time that I got dressed today. That being said, I did brush my teeth and wash my face before 1pm, and I did study for 4 hours before switching out of my nightgown/long sweater/ugg fabulousness into the ever-more-fabulous sweatpant/ugg combo. My poor husband.

February Photo a Day: Something New

Since the scale told me on Monday that I had lost 8 lbs since my all time high at the end of December, I celebrated with skinny jeans, a purchase I have been avoiding for months. Unfortunately, the scale this morning said I've only lost 3 lbs. Too bad I already love my new jeans. I'm just going to pretend that today's weigh-in didn't happen. ;)

February Photo a Day: Phone

I LOVE my phone case.  Yes, I decided to be a little yuppy and buy a Kate Spade case.  As you can see, a case is totally necessary (as evidenced by the broken off bits on the edges).  I've dropped this sucker more times than I can count, and it's still alive and kickin'! I was drawn to this particular case because it reminded me of E. When we were in college (and since then), we would dance to music in my dorm room (now, our apartment). I liked to look at this case while we were long distance (ush, cheesy moment!). Now, I get to dance with my man whenever I want. Still LOVE the case though.

February Photo a Day: Heart ReDo

Okay, so I think my previous post was a little cynical. Erik brought home fabulous wine and a thoughtful card.  I suppose I was a bit of a grinch when it came to VDay this year. So, here are some more meaningful/ less lame hearts around the apartment today. Bonus photo: My kitties partaking in some valentine's day snuggling.

So, this is a cd (mixed cd, mind you) that I made for Erik in 2002, otherwise known as the first Valentine's Day we spent together.  He surprises me with 2 dozen white roses with pink tips and a weekend trip to Savannah, I made him this cd. Ah, young love.

Love.

I bought this rose gold ring for myself Valentine's Day 2006.  This is when Erik and I were apart and I was "dating myself".  That is, I was treating myself how I felt like a guy should treat me and just getting to know me better.  I wear it everyday and totally forgot that there are hand-etched hearts around the outside with the phrase "Love life. Be thankful" along the inside.  The artisan is Jess MaHarry and I believe it's still available on sundancecatalog.com if you're interested.

Another ring I own and completely forgot about.  Maybe I should do an overall of my jewelry.

Erik and I call these guys siblings, but sometimes we think we're wrong, 
Here they are partaking in some VDay snuggling.

February Photo a Day: Heart

Finding a heart in my apartment to take a photo of should totally count as a "scavenger hunt". E and I are skipping Valentine's Day this year. I know, where has the romance gone?

I take solace in the fact that we are going to this restaurant on March 1 and getting a hotel room so we can both partake in the wine pairing. Happy no more bar exam to us!

February Photo a Day: Blue

Today through Wednesday, I am taking a full-length practice CA bar exam. Hopefully, I will score well enough that I won't have a panic attack about only being 2 weeks out but still low enough that I will be motivated to study more.

February Photo a Day: Inside Your Closet

My closet it not very interesting so I took a picture of E's closet because 1) it functions as the "family closet", hosting things we don't know where to put! and 2) it's in need of a major makeover similar to the bathroom and the laundry closet. Again, I can't believe I'm opening up my hidden messiness to all of you. Seriously, on the face of things, I'm super organized, but open any door or drawer to any closed off space in the apartment (minus my closet, the bathroom cupboards, under the kitchen sink and the laundry closet) and you will find chaos. Metaphor for me personally? Gosh, I hope not.

February Photo a Day: Makes You Happy

I knew immediately what I would take a photo of for today (okay, yesterday): My husband. Despite the fact that there are many things that make me happy (beautiful weather, blooming trees, my cats, my job, nutella), he is definitely what makes me the most happy.  My life is much better with him around.