Kingston and The Bar, but not Kingston bars because that would actually be fun

[ciroccoj]

Went to Kingston yesterday. Really wish I'd brought my camera, because it was a lovely visit. Except for the gnats.

We started the day by walking up and down Princess St - literally, from Ontario at the bottom to Division at the top, visiting shops along the way. OMG is this age fun. No stopping for diaper changes, no terror that they'd run out into traffic (which is pretty mild on Princess, but still) no frigging sippy cups. Just wandering into bookstores and flower shops and eating places. And OMG is it nice to no longer be perpetually broke. We stopped at Pan Chancho (upper crust bakery) and bought some foodstuffs - bread, salads, etc - and when Justin saw how much it cost his eyes went very round. "Is that how much you used to pay for groceries when you lived in Kingston?!"

ROFL! "Ah, no, Justin, when we lived in Kingston we were students. We occasionally stood outside of Pan Chancho and took deep breaths. That's about all we could afford."

Had a picnic on the waterfront, whence the gnats, and then the boys ran around the rocks for a while so I could do some readings. And indulge in a bit of nostalgia for my student days, and for Daniel's baby years, bringing him to the waterfront so he could run off some excess energy, in the perpetual deluded hope of wearing him out.

Damn, but Kingston's beautiful. I'm struck anew every time we go. I remember thinking that a few times when we lived there, but now that we're not there all the time, it's amazing how quickly you forget the beauty of the limestone buildings, the little courtyards here and there, the lovely lawns, and most of all, the waterfront. Lake Ontario stretching out before you, Wolfe Island in sight...

::sigh::

Stopped at Belleview House, home of Sir John A. MacDonald, which I never visited even once in the eleven years I lived there. Very cool, seeing it with little people, especially little people who had just been learning about Sir John A through Greatest Canadian. I think we gave the historical interpreters a thrill; there they were, in their house maid and upper class gentleman and groundskeeper costumes, with nobody to talk to but themselves. I got little flashbacks to my own Fort Henry historical interpreter days; felt the inexplicable urge to don an apron and a snood. Would've taken the boys to Fort Henry as well - no tours offered yet, too early in the year for that, but what the hey, I must have conducted roughly fifty million tours of the place, I'm sure I could've winged it. Though it would've been disorienting to do it in English, as I did all but three of my tours in French ;)

Stopped at ladystarstruck's gaming store and OMG was Daniel thrilled. Justin too, but Daniel's a huge gaming fan, so this was a slice of heaven for him. Saw ladystarstruck and Mr. ladystarstruck and ladystarstruck Jr, which was wonderful, and OMG it had been way too long. And Jr? Is adorable. And talking! And actually looks a bit like his mom now! Chris has said that it's no coincidence that many kids come out looking like clones of their dads, with only the vaguest resemblance to their moms. Some genetic thing, reassuring dads that yes, they are biologically related to the strange new being their mates have produced. I'm not sure I believe him, but it would explain a great deal :)

Back home now. Have read a million jillion pages of law stuff, of the kind that most thoroughly bores to tears. Will be doing this till June 4th. If I live so long.


Green = unread
Red = read
Blue = highlighted
Black = summarized

Civil Litigation
Jurisdiction and organization of the courts of Ontario
The solicitor and client
Preliminary matters to be considered before commencing proceedings
Persons who can sue and be sued
Parties and joinder
Commencement of proceeding
Applications
Service of process
Pleadings
Disposition without trial
Subsidiary claims — counterclaims, crossclaims, and third party claims
Motions
Discovery
Offers to settle and pre-trial procedures
Preparing for trial: marshalling the evidence
Trial procedure
Judgments, orders, appeal routes, enforcement and costs
Alternative dispute resolution, case management, and mandatory mediation
Simplified procedure under Rule 76

Criminal Law
The classification of offences and trial jurisdiction
Investigative powers
Pre-Trial Release
Disclosure
Preliminary inquiries
Witnesses
Pre-trial applications in criminal proceedings
Mental disorder
The trial
Sentencing
Appeals and bail pending appeals
Aboriginal peoples and the criminal justice system
Youth criminal justice
Controlled Drugs and Substances Act

Family Law
Procedure and the Family Law Rules
The law of divorce
Custody and access
Matrimonial property
Child support
Family Law Act, Child Support Guidelines, Schedule I
Spousal support
Cohabitation
Financial disclosure in family law matters
Enforcement of support orders
The tax principles of family law
Alternative dispute resolution
Mediation agreement
Mediation-arbitration agreement in the matter of the Arbitration Act, 1991
Collaborative family law participation agreement
Domestic contracts
Representing a victim of domestic abuse
Child protection law in Ontario
Aboriginal law in a family law context
The Change of Name Act


Public Law
Public law: basic principles
Practice before administrative tribunals
Judicial review of administrative action
Interpreting the Charter
Charter procedure
Proving a Charter claim
Aboriginal and treaty rights; Constitution Act, 1982, Section 35

Professional Responsibility
Conflicts of interest
Confidentiality
Withdrawal of services
Professional Responsibility Appendices
Rules of Professional Conduct
Practice Management Guidelines
Law Society of Upper Canada By-Laws 8 and 9

Appendices
Lexicon (English-French)
Lexicon (French-English)
Table of Authorities


What's ridiculous is, I may whine and bitch about how much I'm reading and what I'm reading but it is actually, in its own way, fun. I like studying for exams. I'm relatively good at it, and I can turn it into a game of sorts.

Let's see if I still feel that way by June 4th ;)

Comments

[13oct.livejournal.com]

All the very best for your exams. I'm sure that you will do brilliantly!

OMG is this age fun. No stopping for diaper changes, no terror that they'd run out into traffic (which is pretty mild on Princess, but still) no frigging sippy cups. *grins* I have got to be one of the few women who can't wait to get older, coz that means that my kids are older too! Just out of curiosity how old are your kids now?

[ciroccoj.livejournal.com]

All the very best for your exams. I'm sure that you will do brilliantly!
Hope so :) :) I usually love exams, but I must admit this one is just a wee bit daunting.

I have got to be one of the few women who can't wait to get older, coz that means that my kids are older too! Just out of curiosity how old are your kids now?
Heh, you're not the only one :) :) :) Mine are 11 and 8.