Oh god, I need to go to bed.

For tomorrow's FamLaw studying, I will use as inspiration the team motto of the Chudley Cannons: "Let's just cross our fingers and hope for the best."

1. court structure
   
2. marriage
   
3. divorce


4. net family property equalization
   
5. domestic contracts
   
6. custody & access
   
7. spousal support
   
8. child support

Have I mentioned I hate this class? Because I really do. I cannot imagine a more soul-killing occupation than dealing with people gouging out the hearts (and, often enough, bank accounts) of those they once promised to love till death did they part.

Chris said he noted that my mood brightened considerably once I was done going to FamLaw classes. Coincidence? I think not.

***
I think this fic charmed me because it's so sweet and totally different from the dreck I've been studying. It's also the one and only time I've ever read Harry/Luna Lovegood. Probably the only time I'll ever read that pairing, since normally Luna kind of annoys me. Still, it's very cute, in a weird kind of way :)

21 Observations about His Relationship with Luna Lovegood, by Harry Potter
Excerpts:
1. It really isn't nearly as weird as everyone seems to think it is.

16. The most hilarious entertainment in the entire world (agree Harry and Ron) is to put Hermione Granger and Luna Lovegood in a room together and watch them try to have a conversation. Hermione - who really has made a valiant attempt to bridge their considerable personality differences for Harry's sake - is unfailingly polite. So is Luna, in her wispy way, but inevitably she mentions the Rot-Fang Conspiracy (or similar) and the conversation just sort of ... splinches.

17. And speaking of Rot Fang Conspiracies ... should it worry him that some of her theories are starting to make sense?

Progress Report, Cyberwhinge, and Earthy matters

Have conquered Highlight Land. Am now entering Summary World.

1. court structure
   
2. marriage
   
3. divorce
   
4. net family property equalization
   
5. domestic contracts
   
6. custody & access
   
7. spousal support
   
8. child support

In a sick, twisted way, this is kind of fun. Kind of.

***
My computer is completely baffling. After Chris sent every defragger and debugger and adblaster and cookie crumbler known to cyberworld loose on it, it worked perfectly - for about two days. Then it suddenly went down to crawlspeed again. We unleashed all the same arsenal upon it and: nada. Zip. Zilch. Even when we did a complete shut-down start-up, it just sat there like pohoihoi, making me wait 1-3 minutes per e-mail. Then an hour ago I sat down at it and it's working like a dream.

?

Edit: And now it's back to crap. I can only think of only two things I might have done to get a virus/worm/malicious cookie/whatever this time: gone to a site run by Warner Bros, and played my Windows Media Player.

I hate these damn machines.

***
Happy Earth Day to those of you who, unlike me, are conscientious enough to do something to mark it instead of muttering at your FamLaw notes. For example, linaelyn, who put together a list of things you can do for your planet here.

Read it. Pick one. Do it. If you're so inclined, look at the ones you don't do, and ask yourself why.

And if you come up with a good answer, let me know, because I was wincing sheepishly at a lot of the list items, knowing I could/should be doing them, but don't, for no really good reason. I mean, I tell myself they're too expensive/time consuming/difficult/etc, but in my particular situation, the real reason is that I'm kinda lazy. I'm not a single parent, I'm not living hand-to-mouth, I'm not living in a city with no public transportation... ::sigh::

Will do better this year.

As FamLaw eats my brain...

I keep thinking it's both mean & crummy, and totally inspired, that our profs gave us a fact situation to practice doing Net Family Property equalization payments that begins like this:

Monica Geller-Bing comes to consult you regarding the breakdown of her marriage to Chandler Bing. She is specifically concerned about the issue of division of property.

The situation then goes on to list all the assets that Monica and Chandler collected, before and after their marriage: a cottage that was a gift from Monica's parents, jewelry, an old car, an antique watch Chandler inherited from his father, yadda yadda yadda. We're supposed to go through and figure out what can be listed, what can be excluded, deducted, etc., then figure out how to equalize them.

It's crummy because, you know, Monica and Chandler. If she'd made it Ross & Rachel I could split them up no problem, knowing that (a) they'll just get back together again anyway or (b) they'll finally for the love of god leave each other for good and go on with their lives. But Monica and Chandler?

It's inspired because I hope that, silly as it is, the example has made some of us think about whether we really want to go into Family law. Because if we get bummed out by splitting a fictional couple's marriage, maybe this is a pulsating neon sign telling us this is not the best career choice available.

OK, back to work.



BTW, Chandler ends up owing Monica $86,850.