Kalatches

Hi everybody,

Law exams are finished for the year. Still one more assignment to hand in, though…as well as a huge, looming business exam, but let’s not think about that or else I may go insane. Just one more day separating me from the welcoming arms of summer break. I’m torn: on the one hand I want Monday to pass right this second so that I can vegetate party with friends for the next 3 months; on the other hand I don’t want it to come at all because that way I can pretend that those final two assessment pieces don’t exist. I know we’ve all been there.

In case people get bored over summer, here are a few ideas to get you through those boiling days and nights: read Crime and Punishment, The Book of the Dead and Inferno. Go rent out “Kung Fu Panda” — you won’t be sorry; the humour is great. Watch tennis. In fact, there’s the Brisbane International next January, which I highly recommend you to go attend. Of course, there’s always the Australian Open. You must should all watch the tennis this summer.

It’s been a long and winding journey…as they say…but, in restrospect it’s actually been pretty fun. Don’t get me wrong, though: procrastination is not fun, and never will be. Making friends with procrastination is not a good idea, at all — so don’t do it. Don’t ask me why. You know why!

See you around!

Sherryinabottle

Long Time, no post..

Wow, it has been so long since I posted, I forgot my password.

Just having a read through all of your posts over the last few weeks of the semester and I just can’t quite relate to those saying they “loved” some subjects…. ugh.. never, ever want to see them again…. especially LIAM!!!!! such a high maintenance boyfriend… so demanding, never letting you have any time for your other so called friends such as.. well, it doesn’t matter it’s over now. 

Hopefully we live and learn from our experiences… Well that was the plan anyway. 

(I have always been about the plan.  You know, a night out drinking with the girls, we had a plan.  The plan was always Drink, Dance, Die… The Rules, no strays and definitely no drunk dialling… we girls had to stick together… and like all good plans we promptly threw them out the window, and just tried to minimise damage. Often we didn’t stick to the plan, and hardly ever stuck to the rules.. but I digress) 

So, after the debacle that was last semester, I had planned on being so super prepared for this semester that I was going to have all my books, and the readings for the first two weeks done for each subject….before the semester started.

Well, here we are back next week, and I just ordered my text books yesterday (Friday) and I have not done a single thing…. that whistling sound you might have heard a few weeks ago was The Plan flying out the window.   You would think that after all those years of drinking with the girls that I would give up on The Plan.. .

Honestly, after the exams, I just didn’t want to think about it.  I was a little nervous about getting my marks… and I am pleased to say I did pass them all.  The mark I am most proud of is my 4.  Yep.. just got it too,… 51% . 

Why am I proud of this mark you might be wondering…. especially when everyone knows you have to get good marks in Law to get the good job..

Well, let me tell you.

On the morning of the exam, I got up at 4am.. I didn’t do any study, you see I had a plan…I simply spent from 4am until 7am getting my notes into some kick ass templates, and order, so I would be ready.  7am, I hit the print button and start running to get my kids up, dressed, lunches made and in the car so i can drop them off at before school care and get in, get a park ready for the exam at 8.30am. 

After much cajoling, pushing, shoving and demanding, I had the kids in the car eating their toast for breakfast and I was on my way at 7.50am, telling them not to drop crumbs in the car.  I basically told them to tuck and roll as I pushed them out of the car at before school care (not really I did walk them in) and screamed through peak hour traffic to Uni. 

I was lucky to get a park and be sitting down in front of the exam room with 10 minutes to spare, and thinking I would sit down and calmly read over my notes… my notes.. I pulled my whole bag apart only to realise they were at home sitting on the printer.  I didn’t pack any of my rough notes because I had these kick ass notes.. that were at home on my printer.   So I basically did that exam with my text book and my lecture note pad.   Having spent most of the time trying to find out how to answer the first question, I had just started the second question when the “INVIGULATOR”, calls out fifteen minutes to go…. so i put down some points for question two and basically some very brief bullet points for question three…. yes, that 1 % that just scraped me over from having to do a subject again.. I bet are those last three bullet points.  So, I am very proud of that mark.

Anyway, I wish you all the best for semester two… and I look forward to seeing you all in the lectures and the tutes.

PS.  On reflection of this past semester, I just want to say a very big thank you to all the new friends I made … you guys have been invaluable in getting me to this point… from helping me with stuff I just didn’t understand, to listening to me moan about my life, giving me tips and places to go for help, help with assignements, and just basically getting me over the line… a big huge heartfelt thank you. R,G, R, L,C,H, K… you guys rock.

 

 

c’est fin

Well Ladeez and gents,

its offically over..the first semester of uni…only 7 more to go…(yes I am one of those insane people doing summer school..kill me now).  I hate to say it..but i ENJOYED the LWB142 exam…I actully knew what I was talking about..and for that I would love to thank my AMAZING tutor Frances (you rock!!!)…141 however…well lets just not go there…at all…ever.  My business subjects went down a treat…lots of writing long answers which is really my thing   I was relativly prepared for exams considering I worked most of Swotvac…I love my job Seriously it rocks.  Aside from that..I’m not faced with about 5 weeks alone (my flatmates moved home for the holidays) working on and off…and watching Dr Phil with my cat whilst eating TimTams…most people would go..”how boring” I however am revelling in the fact that I don’t have to read Legal Institutions and Methods again…thank god. Not that it isn’t interesting…its just after the 50th time it loses its fun.

Aside from all that, who is going to the QUOTALs end of term drinkies at birdees? Preetttttty sure we should all go…seeing as some of us havent had a decent drink in weeks/months (damn you Kevin Rudd).    Stupid alcopop tax…wtf…who ACTUALLY calls them an alcopop….even my GRANDMA doesn’t call them that..and shes pretty awesome…

Anywho. I am going back to Dr Phil…with my cat….and the Tim Tams….

Tootles

xx

Like Patience on a monument, smiling at Grief.

Hi folks,

Well, today I officially finished my first semester of university. That’s one tenth of my tertiary education over. I wish I was deluded enough to be able to say that I passed with flying colours — I am content with having survived this initial hurdle. Things are supposedly meant to be ‘easier’ (in the strictest sense of the word) from now on, so we’ll see if I manage to stay (relatively) sane next semester.

The 142 exam was very interesting. That is to say, it allowed us a lot of scope for our content, and I enjoyed that. The 141 exam was this morning. Is it just me, or were the first two questions absurdly longer than expected? I didn’t get time to even substantially flesh out the third question; I think I wrote about two paragraphs and then time was up. Not a happy camper about that. However, my 141 assignment mark brightens me considerably.

Next semester I’m off to do Legal Research and Writing, and Laws and Global Perspectives. At the risk of sounding completely off-the-bat, they sound neat. This whole first semester law experience has been quite positive overall. Having had a little bit of time for some general reflection, honestly I can’t wait to sink my teeth into some more law. I also acknowledge that the examination time-tabling was very kind to me — it’s fortunate to have such a long break, and I am fully aware that such fortunate time-tabling is a luxury that I am most unlikely to experience again.

Holiday plans: stay up overnight watching Wimbledon for two whole weeks (sleep deprivation, indeed), draft more on screenplay, re-read Austen novels, attempt writing companion vignette to Soldier Boy (has anybody heard this song? — movingly sad), and earn some more cash for uni fees. Excellent.

See you all around (maybe even at the Justice Kirby lecture),

Sherryinabottle

PS: One huge dampener on this post-semester mood is the ridiculous French Open result of my tennis person. He has faced humiliation at the hands of ‘he who shall go unnamed’. I am so glad it’s now the grass season.

I may not be religious, but…

Thank god that is over. What a miserable day. First, the final exam for me with 141. What a mess. Precedent and Judicial reasoning no sweat, but what was with that interpretation question?? did anyone else find you could have written for 3 hours on that question alone. I did all of those freakin past exam paper questions and not one of them was as long as the exam one. talk about misrepresenation!

And then after that, after hanging around my post office box like a bad smell for the past week waiting for some feedback for my 141 assignment, i finished my exam (frustrated), walked to my post office box and there the freaking thing was. Opened it up, red scrawl all over it (yes Alistair, i’m assuming it belongs to you and yes Peter i know he can read this). What a way to end first semester. Then to top it all off, i had to run back from my post office box with someone of a lump in my throat just in time to sit down with my first patient. I was so worked up that when my first patient told me she hadn’t been flossing (like i’ve been telling her to do for the last 2 years), i could have knocked out all her teeth. Problem solved. Much easier than ridiculously long statutory interpretation questions.

A romatic getaway with LIAM

Typical. the week before an exam i’m finally beginning to enjoy 142. Sounds like what a scorned woman would say about a man “just when you begin to like them, they run off and start letting other people enjoy them and leave you stranded with all these questions.”  I do still have a preference for 141 (affectionately known as LIAM). All my friends think i have a boyfriend named liam because i keep telling them i can’t go out with them ‘because of liam.’ It’s been very useful to date. All those things you don’t really want to go to (like your Uncle’s 50th), can now be avoided by saying ‘gotta hit the books.’ When i go home to my parents house, as long as i continually look busy reading books, my mother keeps bringing me food. Classic. I’m sucking this one for all its worth.

However an interesting thing happened on Saturday night. Poker night with some friends. They all got smashed, i got tipsy, and when it came to be 1am i stood up, swaying slightly, and said ‘I have to go to bed, uni in the morning’. Then an onslaught of abuse and ‘you’ve gone soft’ assaulted my ears. I then ever so elegantly (throwing my empty wine glass/plastic tumbler into the corner of the room), replied ‘Listen here you bunch of troglodytes. When you all have driving convictions and assault charges and need my help, you’ll be thankful i didn’t wash away all my brain cells with Wine.’ I then promptly fell into my bedroom door, climbed into bed fully clothed and put my earphones in and listen to the sweet sound of Christine Campbell’s tutorials about the doctrine of precedent. Christine, if you are reading this, I think you should go into relaxation therapy. Your voice puts me to sleep.  

Now instead of focusing on studying, I am using my time planning my semester break. Oh the places I’m going to go and the things I’m going to do. Nothing will stop me- I’m taking Christine off my Ipod and putting something a little more upbeat. A nice little Alice Cooper rendition called “School’s Out” comes to mind J  

 

Why, Justine?

Hi everybody

End of week 12! That pretty much says it all.

Don’t know about you, but I find doctrine of precedent logic hard to wrap my head around. At the same time, however, I find myself coming back for more — sort of like a drug. Yes, tackling question after question about case precedent is like a drug.

After many weeks labouring over statutory interpretation questions, I’ve taken a liking to them. It’s aggravating that almost everything can and will be rebutted – if not by my own ‘critical onlooker’ then by my tutor – yet pedantically analysing a piece of legislation, word for word, is peculiarly satisfying. One comes to realise just how limiting words can be. Nitpicking the English language is a great way to pass time.

Gave blood again. This time, when the needle came out, my wound refused to stop bleeding. I think the nurse ended up bandaging me three times. Now my iron levels have hit a new low, from all that loss of blood. Fascinating that I haven’t fainted yet.

Finally got to see Phantom of the Opera. As in, the actual opera. Live. Only got the understudy lead but he was so utterly good that nobody cared it wasn’t Anthony Warlow. The show was simply phenomenal. You know, that feeling: when you know exactly what’s going to happen because you already know the story back-to-front, and yet the performers are so good that they can still stun you and send chills down your spine. They handled the ending very well.

Also watched Made of Honour. What was with the random appearances of the random dogs? Anyway, French Open draw comes out later tonight, and play starts late Sunday. Henin, dear dear Henin. She will be sorely missed. Women’s tennis has a huge void now.

See you all later,

Sherryinabottle

What is LEX?

By now you should all have heard of LEX, QUT’s feedback mechanism on teachers and units. I thought I’d give you a little bit more information by having a chat with Melinda Shirley, the Assistant Dean (Teaching and Learning). You can download the podcast here.

Have your say with LEX

The Learning Experience Survey allows you to give feedback on all your units and teachers via an online survey. It is important to participate in this survey because your feedback helps the University improve the quality of its courses, and also helps your lecturers and tutors improve the way they deliver their classes.

The survey takes less than ten minutes to complete and can make a world of difference, both now and for future graduates.

The feedback you give is confidential. Teachers and other faculty staff receive no student names or student identifying information with survey results.

Complete the survey and go into the draw to win one of twenty gift vouchers for JB Hi-Fi valued at $200.

To complete the survey go to QUT Virtual at http://qutvirtual.qut.edu.au. In the student messages box, a Learning Experience Survey message will appear. Click on the link: “Complete the survey”

Once you have opened the survey in QUT Virtual, you can complete it in 3 easy steps:
1. Select one of your units.
2. Select teachers you wish to evaluate from the list provided on the screen.
3. Complete the survey questions.

Again, please take the time to complete the LEX survey – your teachers and the university appreciate your feedback.

A month of Lazy Sundays

wow… just handed in my 141 assignment and i feel very liberated to say the least. In fact, in celebration, my roommate and i are going out for a beer after work. She is also celebrating because i’ve been insufferable for the past 3 months and now she gets a slight break. So we are going out for a beer… and i don’t even drink beer. But there is some sense of achievement to be celebrated and its too early in the week for Champagne. Champagne gets opened on the 12th of June at 11am.

I do have to say i am slightly more impressed with my second (external) assignment effort for 142. Namely because i wasn’t feeling largely nauseated when i submitted it. However, now it’s time to put the blinkers on to help me try to concentrate on finishing the work and studying. But how can one study with so much distraction? All the ‘quality’ t.v that is on at the moment has actually intrigued me. I, like the other 500,000 idiots, tuned into the first night of big brother 08 and i would like to comment: “Different Show: I Don’t Think So” (Shakes head like peroxide jackie and Kyle ’sold out’ Sandilands). I’m wondering if the executives for BB get together in a conference room and say “ok, lets see if we can get the most annoying group of people yet”. The they proceed to stuff it with the visually annoying (blonde haired waif), Physically annoying (you feel an overwhelming desire to slap that Corey kids face off) and of course they abuse your ears with that voice that reminds me of homer simpson pretending to be marge. And if that isn’t enough, the insult all intelligent people by sticking in a law student who has the communication skills of a gnat and an 18 yr old top heavy fembot who think that because she wears glasses and reads she’s intelligent. Pfft…

So fascinating t.v aside, I have to try to regroup and prepare for the 2 big days in June. For now, im going to practice on my glass lifting skills at the local watering hole.