On weekdays, I’m home by 5:30 or 6pm. Once home, I try to devote my attention to Gabi and the kids, until I’m off the school again the next day. On weekends, things are a bit different. Friday evenings are centered around our weekly martini parties, which we all thoroughly enjoy (“Can you make me a small one this week, Ed?”).

Saturdays are for the family. Sunday morning, I make an early commute to the library, where I can get an additional five hours of study in before coming home to watch football games with Gabi.

I don’t read the news anymore. I used to read the Economist cover-to-cover each week. Now, I scan Yahoo News once every two days or so. I don’t make all of the phone calls to family and friends that I used to. I have a science fiction book that I started three weeks ago, and I’m still less than halfway through it. My current videogame was started in mid-August and I will be lucky to finish it in October.

I’m reporting facts here, not complaining. I’m thoroughly entertained by the reading I’m doing for law school. I find the threading of logic in each class call completely engrossing. And my time with Gabi and the kids is much more sparkly, for being so infrequent.

I’m posting this as an apology to everyone who might feel forgotten. You’re not forgotten; it is just that my universe is now nearly completely filled with law school and family. There just isn’t room for much else, though I’m making sure to create time and space for Thanksgiving, Christmas and other important events. It’s different. And I am enjoying this a great deal.

Here is a short video of us starting on our biking adventure in Davis over the Labor Day weekend.

After doing chores around town on Saturday, we stopped by the law school so that Gabi and the kids could see where I’m spending all of my time. The old moot courtroom where I take Civil Procedure class was open, so we had the kids pretend they were students. Great fun!

Alex

Nicky

I’ve met many of my fellow colleagues at King Hall. I am the oldest (err, most mature) in the class. I have the largest family with me. While statistics have not been published on the class beyond some brief measures, it appears that perhaps only ten other people are married. Notwithstanding a few oddballs like myself, it is a traditional post-graduate experience.

In talking with my fellow students, there is a range of reasons to be coming to law school. Driven, mature personalities; lost souls; seekers of fame, power and fortune; individuals on an intellectual challenge; some who simply see law school as the only way to legitimize an undergraduate eduction in political science, English or or other “soft” study. (My own reasons are published in detail here.) An interesting group; young, mature, attractive, enthusiastic. Certainly not overly cynical, greedy, brittle, egotistical or narcissistic; as lawyers and law students are commonly portrayed.

Personally, the challenge for me will be the separation of family and studies. I’ve filled my locker at King Hall with all of my books and notes, a stash of Diet Coke and power bars, workout clothes and other necessities. It will be where I study. When I come home, it will be to tell a few brief tales of the events to the day but, largely, to enjoy the trials and tribulations of my small family.

Above is a photo of Daniel, Veronica and Gabi running across an open field to get to Rainbow City, a vast playground in North Davis. We’ve been going to it in the evenings, after eating pizza in a downtown student restaurant.

Appearing somewhat like a wooden Angkor Wat, Rainbow City is a vast playground will slides, swings, jumps and falls. Perfect for four little boys and girls to get lost, meet people and play.

Here all four kids take turns sliding on a long, tall concrete slide (part of a skateboard park) near Rainbow City. The cardboard improves their speed on the rough surface.

With good luck (and planning), I’ll have sufficient time concentrating and studying at King Hall to continue to enjoy my family here in our new city. Three years is not so long; it feels like Aaron was born yesterday and he is nearly four now.

It will be an interesting journey.