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March 04, 2002
Radio Silence
My internal monologue has been on standby for the last week or so. No internal monologue means no external monologue, it seems.
I spent a good deal of last week trying to complete and send all of my financial aid applications. I still haven't heard from five schools, but I had to send in full financial aid stuff to all of them. They want to know every detail about every dollar anyone in my family has spent since I was conceived. It's ridiculous. That my parents and I agreed before I started Dartmouth that they would not pay for law school does not stop law schools from asking for their 2000 and 2001 tax returns, as well as predictions for 2002. Preposterous. Mom stayed up til 3 in the morning last wednesday going through all their financial stuff to get me the information I needed in time (for which I am incredibly, incredibly grateful). Had I been more organized, I would have given her more than three days notice. I thought I had all of the information I needed from them, since I had already filled out a few of the forms. Wrong. Thankfully, I got it all done in time. As things stand now with a few schools very close in my estimation, financial aid may play a very significant role in the final decision.
My record is currently 4-1-1. I was placed on the "preferred waitlist" at Georgetown. Jake seems to think this is a pretty good place to be right now, all things considered (better than a rejection and better than the regular waitlist). Applications are up over 20% at some schools, so it's a tough year to apply. Jake is a second year law student at Georgetown, so there is solid chance he isn't just talking out his ass. I'm going to send the Georgetown people a letter confirming that I am still very interested in the school -- basically kissing ass. I paid the Georgetown application fee twice (a saga for another entry), so if nothing else, maybe I can get my extra sixty-five bucks back.
Other than financial aid stuff, I've been going to the gym a lot. One of the few advantages to being unemployed is that I have time for two-hour workouts in the middle of the week. At least hree times a week for a month and change, so far. The hardest part was starting, but I love lifting weights and I don't mind the rest, so keeping up is easy. Hopefully in a month or so, I'll be at the stage where it bothers me if I don't go. Matt says this is part of what keeps him going. His mind and body are so used to working out that he gets out of sorts if he stops.
I'm in terrible shape, but I've made one cool observation: fat people have strong legs. It's not terribly surprising when you think about it, given what our legs have to support all the time. My upper body is pretty weak, and gyms are all about making you feel inferior to the others working out. So it's a great feeling when I watch someone who is really jacked use the leg press and then I sit down and lift over 100 lbs. more. I'm not really competitive at the gym, but if leg-pressing 375 lbs. makes me feel better about my wimpy arms and chest, then I say, "Thank God for small victories."
Posted by buddha at March 4, 2002 01:11 AM
Comments
Jesusgod- 375 lbs? There are no machines at my gym that can do that. Holy hell Batman.
Have you noticed any changes since you started going to the gym? other than you start being sweaty in the middle of winter?
BTW, Momoko says congratulations on the first four law schools.
Posted by: Jason at March 4, 2002 02:02 AM
Sadly, no changes I can see so far. I've lost about 3 pounds, but that seems to fluctuate every time I visit the gym. There's a decent chance that I've lost fat and gained muscle though, so I probably ought to get my body-fat measured.
Besides, like I said, the strong legs are more than compensated for by the weak arms. Unless I'm laying on my back trying to kick you, you've got nothing to worry about.
Tell Momoko thanks!
Posted by: Dan at March 4, 2002 01:08 PM