I haven't made a personal post in a long time. The second year of law school has, for me, been harder than the first. The classes are more complex, there is more material covered per hour and the schedule isn't balanced. On top of that, I suffered almost a whole month with kidney stones.

I wrote an essay for the Lord Acton Essay Contest, run by the Acton Institute. First prize is $2,000, second is $1,000 and third is $500. The money would come in handy.

I am also still working on my directed research paper which has a separation of powers thesis. As well, I am starting work on a business law paper for an ABA writing contest.

I just returned from a brief trip to NJ for Thanksgiving. It was strange and different without my Grandmother there. But, at the same time, she was present. Travel over the long weekend went perfectly - bizarro travel.

Finding summer legal work that actually pays is amazingly difficult. All the local firms seem to be averse to hiring someone who didn't grow up in Michigan. They are afraid the student will take their money for a summer and run. Nothing I can say will convince them of my interest in staying in Michigan. I do, however, have an interview with the Salvation Army Legal Clinic this week.

Study this week, finals next week then 8 days of writing. Then, 10 days in NJ followed by a week in Royal Palm Beach. Speaking of travel, my friend Larry and I will be going to Beijing in over spring break. I am trying to pick up a little Mandarin. In some ways, it is a simpler language than English and in others more complex.