I scanned my reading for Contracts and Property this week, and took notes with word and the Office XP document management app side by side. It helped immensely.

You get used to writing code as a process wherein your mind is directly connected to the computer. Other things can get this way as well, such as surfing the web, doing things in a shell, etc. But when you have to look back and forth between a book and a screen, it totally screws the whole thing up. You can't maintain that direct link between you and the computer, and you become conscious of your actions again, rather than just being conscious of your thoughts. Plus, my back isn't being wrecked by a ton of heavy dead trees.

I've also found a coffee shop near school with $1 coffee and $0.50 refills, free wireless, and half-price sandwiches on Mondays. (Common Grounds in Virginia Square)... I'm there right now, and I'll be there more than a lot over the next 3 years. ;)

I have my first non-pass/fail writing assignment this week, which involves writing about false imprisonment. Our legal writing class is about how to analyze a factual scenario to determine, with regard to all of the required elements of a legal cause of action, what the probable outcome will be. We have to do this for 3 out of 4 elements of the false imprisonment claim this week, using about 5 or 6 other cases as background, and following a common structure.

I have 60 pages of reading for Property, about 40 for Contracts, and 60 for Torts this week. That includes mostly cases that I have to read, understand, and analyze for various points, then summarize for myself in preparation to be grilled in class. I haven't been directly called upon yet in class, but I'm sure I will at some point. I do ask questions frequently in class though.

I met with a couple of people for the first real study-group session we've had on Sunday night. We played a card game with a set of flashcards about Torts. That actually worked out pretty well, and was the first time I had a chance to step back and start to see the forest rather than just the trees... This morning I went and bought myself a set of the cards for Contracts, Future Interests (Property), Real Property, and signed up to get the others that weren't in, namely Torts and Wills and Trusts...

I'm going to try to get my 60 pages of Property reading done tonight so I'll have time to review, begin my outlines, and work more on the writing assignment this week.

I also have a class in Economics, which I really need to study soon. I've been going to class, but haven't read the first 3 chapters we've covered yet. It's very straightforward, but I need to keep up or I will be inundated later, regardless of how easy it is to understand.

I am beginning to get a bit less stressed about preparing for class, and a bit more focused on the big picture. I am also getting more determined to be efficient and continue refining my study methods. I have to take advantage of my time. Can't waste any of it. I've taken to doing busy work when my brain is fried in order to give it a break and still get other things done. I can organize my materials and things like that during these times. I also have found that I get a lot more done by going to sleep when I'm dead and waking up earlier, than by just continuing to stay up. Usually... ;)

I've been drinking a lot of coffee and yellow soda. Have to try to get more water in me to prevent dehydration. I did manage to go to church Sunday, and a bunch of other things. I'm still working; worked 6hrs last week, and about 4 on Sunday. May have to cut that back more, but we'll have to see.

It seems that a lot of people are worried about the job market. I have to be in the top of my class to feel confident about the job situation, but they say it's far far better for IP (Intellectual Property) people than others. I've met maybe 4 or 5 other people with a computer science or electrical engineering background. I'll have to pass the patent bar next year. Crazy.

AIPLA is having a meeting next month I'm going to try to attend in order to start meeting people, etc.

I watch StrongBad emails for 1 minute breaks now and then. ;)