Friday, May 13, 2011 at approximately 4:30 p.m. pacific time I finished a 3 hour property exam and as a result had finished my first year of law school.
Afterwards, I grabbed some nachos with my study group and then we headed over to the bar that is located across the street from campus. I was only planning on staying for an hour or two, since being the only sober person in a bar tends to get boring pretty quick. With that said, I had a great time celebrating/talking with all my great law school friends. But I was shocked when I felt ready to go that it was already 10 and that I had been entertained for about 4 hours. So I said my goodbyes/congrats and headed out.
When I got home from the bar I decided to celebrate in my own Mormon way. I grabbed a Mountain Dew, put on my swimsuit and relaxed in the hot tub for a half hour.
It was a great way to unwind and reflect on the past 10 months of my life as a California resident and a law school student. It hasn't been the easiest year of my life and there were definitely times when I wondered what the hell I was doing. But overall, it has been a great one. I've made some great friends at school and at church. I've had some awesome times (concerts, baseball games, Switzerland, the beach, visits to the city, softball, dodgeball, poker nights, etc.). And I've learned a little bit/studied for a disgusting amount of time.
A wise man once wrote that "every blessing ignored becomes a curse." I know that being grateful is an important part of life and a large factor in my ability to be happy....what I'm really trying to say is that I have a good life and I am grateful for it each and every day. And it is good in large part due to all the great friends and family I have. So thanks everyone who is a part of my life, whether you're at law school, church, Utah, California, New York, Idaho, Switzerland, or somewhere else. I love you all and hope you are grateful for your life and realize just how great your life is too.
Finals started this last week, one 3 hour test on Tuesday, one on Friday, another this Monday, and the last on Friday the 13th. Nevertheless, life is good. Really good.
Why, in the middle of finals would I say that? Well let me tell you.
First and foremost, on Tuesday, immediately following my first final, my coed softball team, the bad news barristers, won our final game of the season, went undefeated and became the Intramural Softball regular season champions! That's right, the old law students handed losses to all 4 of our opponents. It is likely one of the greatest accomplishments of my schooling career. Especially considering that going into it I wasn't too sure we would be any good at all. Turns out we are pretty dam good and I can't wait to see what we can accomplish these next two weeks.
Second, on Thursday I received a check in the mail for $118.43 from T-Mobile. I was part of a class-action law suit against them for unfair contract cancellation practices. I think it's just a premonition of how awesome I am going to be as a lawyer. Also, it's nice cause I'm hoping it can feed me with a steady diet of beans and protein shakes for the next 54 days.
Third, summer is pretty much here! And now I live in California rather than Utah and it is awesome.
Also, I got into summer school classes here, so it looks like I'm gonna stay and party in the 408 rather than be a tourist in Istanbul. So now I get to enjoy a summer of sun, bbq, baseball, beaches, workouts, basketball, xbox, lost, starcraft, and hopefully a chance to work a few weekends at the infamous Bohemian Grove. If you don't know what it is google it and educate your ignorant self. I am already getting excited for the summer and in anticipation I am all tanned up for it...it is shaping up to be the best summer of my life of 2011!
But before that party even starts I get to visit the UT for the last two weeks of May and watch a few of my friends get married/become dead to me, but mostly I'm coming back to party with y'all. So consider yourselves warned and make sure you're ready to shotgun mountain dews, play bingo, and watch American Idol and Saved by the Bell just like the old days.
Finals suck, but there are a lot of positive things going on in my life and I am just excited for the fun times that will be this summer and I am very excite!
PS - I decided after watching Hot Rod for the thirty-first time that I want to name my firstborn, regardless of gender, Voltron Zollinger. If my future wife isn't cool with it I'll settle for Ron Swanson Zollinger or Tom Haverford Zollinger. You think I'm kidding...but I'm not.
As all of you know. San Diego + Me is not happening this summer.
So many of you are likely up late at night thinking, "Brett, what are you going to do this summer?"
So rather than let you stew for weeks, here are the current plans/possibilities:
1- Watch all 6 seasons of lost
2- Watch a crap load of movies, specifically Harry Potter 7: Part 2
3- Baseball games, BBQs, sun, beach, get tan
4- Study abroad/internship in Istanbul
5- Read a book, for fun
Finals start tomorrow, but I'm just excited to see what I end up doing this summer. If you have any suggestions, feel free to send them my way.
