So, it is April 14, 2007, and pending our final grades from the exams we just took, you may now call me Juris Doctor, Doctor of Law, Doctor of Jurisprudence . . . take your pick!
It's been a long journey, but 3 years have passed, and law school is done. I never thought I'd see the day. It was hard work, but the rewards (including meeting my soon to be husband!) are, and will be plentiful.
Please look forward over the next few weeks to much more frequent updates, including some makeup for the posts I've missed . . . and also, please look forward to a phone call some time in early May!
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Friday, March 16, 2007
March 17 is for Remembering Sunil
People are traipsing around the streets already - 12:30 in the afternoon, and I sit here in bed trying to reconcile what to do with this day.
The confusion of these dates is getting the better of me. Am I supposed to be sad now? Tomorrow? March 17 as a universal reminder sucks to be quite honest. Happy people everywhere, big MARCH 17 strewn across banners everywhere, and all I want to do is cry.
Thinking about which day (my March 17 or yours) to 'mourn' has me wondering whether mourning is the right way to handle this. I can't help but let this date bring back memories of that late night phone call, of uncontrollable tears, of the worst week of my life to date.
But earmarking it to this day in the confusion of it still being March 16 at home makes me think that maybe picking a date to be 'sad' isn't the right approach. . . Annie & Karen must be under the same confusion as I today.
I guess all I can do is use these next days, be it one or two, to try not to be sad - to try to forget the horrors of that night, that week, and try to just use it as a remembrance. Maybe I can get the March 17 signs everywhere that will forever connect to Sunil to be a way that I have him close to me as this day approaches.
It is just his style to have left this earth on a day where so many people are out there celebrating life. Maybe he wanted it to be really really difficult for us to be sad this day.
Well Sunil, I hope I can eventually smile on this date. For now it is just too painful. But I will try.
My start is to say that for me, as I begin my New Zealand March 17, I will sit and remember our moments in the courtyard, your Sunil hugs, our endless phone conversations, that voice that was the one I went to with things I couldn't talk to anyone else about - the brother I had never had. I'll try to honor the lives we talked about leading - and remember those things this day.
Oh. And it figures. We've had 40 degree weather with high winds and rain the last week. BUT today in Christchurch New Zealand - its 86 and sunny. Yes babe, I know you are here!
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Taking Flight
And now, the moment you've all been waiting for (drumroll please)
THIS is how I spent March 3, 2007:
THIS is how I spent March 3, 2007:
Yes, that's me, up above the clouds! I always said I wanted to do it, but I'll be honest, I never knew if I'd lose my nerve. Jay, Margie, Josh, Jen and myself put fear aside, and went skydiving with NZSkyDive in Glenorchy!
The day started out a little scary, as we originally were booked with another company, and were told when we arrived that due to rain, from the previous day, Queenstown air control would not let them go up, and we couldn't dive. You can imagine how we felt at this point, when we had spent a full morning psyching ourselves up - including Josh's blasting musical countdown which included Eye of the Tiger, and The Final Countdown.
In what was somewhat of a blur, we re-booked with another company, found out that the new company had much more scenic vantage points, were bussed out to Glenorchy, and were putting our jumpsuits and gear on.
The day started out a little scary, as we originally were booked with another company, and were told when we arrived that due to rain, from the previous day, Queenstown air control would not let them go up, and we couldn't dive. You can imagine how we felt at this point, when we had spent a full morning psyching ourselves up - including Josh's blasting musical countdown which included Eye of the Tiger, and The Final Countdown.
In what was somewhat of a blur, we re-booked with another company, found out that the new company had much more scenic vantage points, were bussed out to Glenorchy, and were putting our jumpsuits and gear on.
The next thing I recall is being on this tiny little plane, heading high above the clouds - without question presenting some of the most amazing views we've seen so far. The plane contained 10 people - myself, Margie, and Jay, each of our Tandem Masters, each of our Cameramen, and the pilot. We embarked the plane un-strapped to our Tandem Masters which, of course, left a few wondering questions in my mind, but I decided to let faith (and the fact that my Tandem Master had completed 14,000 jumps) take over.
I watched the dial on my instructor's altimeter go from 0 - 12,000 feet (we jumped from 12,000, pulling the parachute at 5,000). At about 11,500 I started taking some very deep inhales and exhales, but I knew there was no turning back. I was first jump of the 3 of us. I thought that was somewhat of a disadvantage, until I heard Jay and Margie explain what the feeling was like when they looked over, and I was just GONE. I digress.
At 12,000 feet, the door was opened, and my heart began racing wildly. The cameraman jumped first, and I was swung around to the door of the plane to find him holding on to the wing, staring at me with the camera. Next thing I recall is this terrifying 5 seconds of free fall, and then the equalizing shoot pulled (the little white one), and in that 5 seconds I had acclimated to myself to the environment and spent the remaining 40 seconds and 7,000 feet of free fall screaming and pumping my fists and yelling HI MOM into the camera!!!!
At 5,000 feet the real parachute was pulled, and at that point, when my Tandem Master instructed me to look up and watch Margie - it was amazing - these 3 bodies floating through air - and I'm thinking I JUST DID THAT!
It took about another 5 minutes to get to the ground, which was scenic, and overwhelming - the adrenaline was unbearable - to the point where once we had landed and I was unclipped, I ran and tackled Margie (much to the pleasure of the cameramen and tandem masters lolol).
The final result - I appreciate the ground, but will never forget the feeling of being up in the skies.
Enjoy the video -
Here's the full set of pics.
I watched the dial on my instructor's altimeter go from 0 - 12,000 feet (we jumped from 12,000, pulling the parachute at 5,000). At about 11,500 I started taking some very deep inhales and exhales, but I knew there was no turning back. I was first jump of the 3 of us. I thought that was somewhat of a disadvantage, until I heard Jay and Margie explain what the feeling was like when they looked over, and I was just GONE. I digress.
At 12,000 feet, the door was opened, and my heart began racing wildly. The cameraman jumped first, and I was swung around to the door of the plane to find him holding on to the wing, staring at me with the camera. Next thing I recall is this terrifying 5 seconds of free fall, and then the equalizing shoot pulled (the little white one), and in that 5 seconds I had acclimated to myself to the environment and spent the remaining 40 seconds and 7,000 feet of free fall screaming and pumping my fists and yelling HI MOM into the camera!!!!
At 5,000 feet the real parachute was pulled, and at that point, when my Tandem Master instructed me to look up and watch Margie - it was amazing - these 3 bodies floating through air - and I'm thinking I JUST DID THAT!
It took about another 5 minutes to get to the ground, which was scenic, and overwhelming - the adrenaline was unbearable - to the point where once we had landed and I was unclipped, I ran and tackled Margie (much to the pleasure of the cameramen and tandem masters lolol).
The final result - I appreciate the ground, but will never forget the feeling of being up in the skies.
Enjoy the video -
Here's the full set of pics.
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Take me to the Water . . .
As I mentioned in my last post, this was my first week at 30, and it just so happened to be my most adventurous!
I'll start with the first leg of my adventure - on February 26, we went white water rafting! My first time! We happened upon a perfect day, headed out to the Rangitata River, and with our fearless leader, Ben, made our way from Level 1 through Level 5 rapids!!!!!!!
I'll start with the first leg of my adventure - on February 26, we went white water rafting! My first time! We happened upon a perfect day, headed out to the Rangitata River, and with our fearless leader, Ben, made our way from Level 1 through Level 5 rapids!!!!!!!
This day was our first out of Christchurch City proper, and it was much needed - we were beginning to miss Australia terribly - but just when the chips are down, New Zealand decided to show us what it was made of. First of all, the Rangitata river was crystal clear (it was drinkable, can you believe that!) and a color blue of which I've never seen before. It was glacially fed - so cold is a bit of an understatement - let's use the word refreshing - but temperature was soon forgotten as we made our way down the river. LOOK at the scenery - can we say Lord of the Rings anyone?!?!
Perhaps the highlight of the trip for me was this little moment here [follow the progression, noting the second red hat from the back of the raft on the right hand side]
Yes, that's Elliot (red hat) falling out - only the highlight because I love him and can laugh with him! (and if you really look you can see me laughing with him from across the raft, I'm in the green hat!)
Here is the full photo set so you can see all of our antics!
Here is the full photo set so you can see all of our antics!
Monday, March 05, 2007
Turning 30!
Thanks to time zone changes, I got to stretch my transferring of decades over 42 hours, as opposed to 24! At 12 midnight here in New Zealand - all the way until 6pm on the 25th, when February 24th finally ended in New York.
Anyway, the milestone has come and gone, and nothing has really changed except a little ol prefix - I will not let the forced recollection of changing decades change the amazing way I feel, and create aging before my time!
As would be expected, Elliot made sure to make the day special for me - we started out the NZ 24th with a wonderful brunch on the Avon River that runs through Christchurch, and moved on to some strolling around, light shopping, but mostly relaxation and resting up for the coming evening. We then went to an amazing dinner at the Lobster Club - a beautiful, upscale restaurant on Lichfield Street - where we shared a colossal seafood platter for two!
We then moved on to Liquidity - a very New York City-ish bar where we met up with our friends that we have been traveling with. Thanks to my sweetie, it felt much like I was at home with my friends and family the way I normally spend my birthday (though he said he had offered to fly most of you out here, but you declined, what gives!?!?!).
I'd be lying if I said there wasn't something missing - well I guess a few things are missing this year - my location blocking my closest family and friends (aside from Elliot of course), and my birthday wishes from Sunil. That being said, El did you all very proud - it was a happy birthday indeed.
I'm adding a few pictures here of my 30th Birthday Celebration - and my next post will show you how I spent my first week as a 30 year old - if I must say myself, I'm off to a good start. ;)
Anyway, the milestone has come and gone, and nothing has really changed except a little ol prefix - I will not let the forced recollection of changing decades change the amazing way I feel, and create aging before my time!
As would be expected, Elliot made sure to make the day special for me - we started out the NZ 24th with a wonderful brunch on the Avon River that runs through Christchurch, and moved on to some strolling around, light shopping, but mostly relaxation and resting up for the coming evening. We then went to an amazing dinner at the Lobster Club - a beautiful, upscale restaurant on Lichfield Street - where we shared a colossal seafood platter for two!
We then moved on to Liquidity - a very New York City-ish bar where we met up with our friends that we have been traveling with. Thanks to my sweetie, it felt much like I was at home with my friends and family the way I normally spend my birthday (though he said he had offered to fly most of you out here, but you declined, what gives!?!?!).
I'd be lying if I said there wasn't something missing - well I guess a few things are missing this year - my location blocking my closest family and friends (aside from Elliot of course), and my birthday wishes from Sunil. That being said, El did you all very proud - it was a happy birthday indeed.
I'm adding a few pictures here of my 30th Birthday Celebration - and my next post will show you how I spent my first week as a 30 year old - if I must say myself, I'm off to a good start. ;)
Friday, February 23, 2007
Tasmania: Who are You, and What Have you Done with the Real Stephanie?
For our last weekend in Australia, we decided to try out something very new for us – or at least for me – and spend 4 days in a camper van /RV in Tasmania. Tasmania, as I have previously noted, is the ‘small’ island state of Australia that, while once attached to the mainland, has separated off and is now separated from it by the Tasman Sea. It is a nature-lovers haven – some of the most beautiful scenery I have seen so far – and unfortunately it is also a road kill haven – as much wildlife roams free in Tassie.
Here are a few pictures of our home for the weekend:
For some reason I neglected to take a picture of the bathroom – you guys would have gotten a kick out of it. We arrived on a Thursday evening, and Jay skillfully drove us through a windy and dark road to get us to the base of Cradle Mountain – where we spent the night in a parking lot as all of the campsites were closed by the time we got there! Scared – me? Not at all (*wink wink*).
The next day, alive and well, we headed to the base of Cradle Mountain, surveyed a few different paths, and decided to use Marion’s lookout point as our pathway to the base of Cradle Mountain. We completed a small, not so difficult hike up to Marion’s look out – and looked ahead to what we were contemplating climbing a little later on.
The weather was cloudy – and we couldn’t even see the top of the Cradle (the mountain is named for the cradle created by its twin peaks) – which may explain that we set off with the thought to head all the way to the top.
After a brief break, we moved forth to Cradle Mountain – and when the clouds that first covered the top of its peaks broke, we realized just what a feat this would be.
I had thought that the Grampians Mountain – Hollow Mountain - climb we had completed a few weeks earlier was very tough – granted, it had been my first climb, but I was quite impressed with myself after that was done! Well this Cradle Mountain dwarfed Hollow Mountain in every respect – size, difficulty, temporal ranges, it was amazing but quite scary at many different points. Needless to say, we did it – we got all the way to the top – round trip a 5 hour hike – with a few scary moments but mostly many moments and feelings of achievement. Take a look below.
And Finally - the final pic of what we had climbed!
At the end of the hike we were aching for Tessie, so when we got to the bottom of the Mountain, instead of heading back via Marion's lookout (too tough to scale again, we were tired . . .), we opted for the Face Path. Why none of us realized this may have meant scaling the FACE OF THE MOUNTAIN, I have no idea. Mind you, we skipped the "Overland" track as a return for the Face track - which would you choose?!?!
Needless to say, after 5 hours, we tagged on another 3 to get back to the carpark via the Face Path - which was pretty intense. We may have thought it easy had we not just hiked to the top of Cradle, but after 6, 7 hours, trust me your equilibrium and just about everything else plays tricks on you.
Click here to see the entire set of photos from the day - I wish I could say there were some pics of the Face Track (there are a few of Ballroom Forest at the end, which was part of Face Track) but we were in no spirits to be photographers at that point!
The next day we headed to Maria (pronounced Mariah) Island. We took a ferry and stayed for a few hours – unfortunately too short – for all the beautiful sights the island had to offer. The entirety of the island is now a national park - thought it was, at one point, a penal colony, in the early part of the 1800's, and later, when people began to recognize its beauty, was known for its silk and wine production, as well as a holiday destination. I'll let the photos speak for themselves - the national park status that it holds today might best (in my opinion) suit the beautiful place.
Here are a few pictures of our home for the weekend:
For some reason I neglected to take a picture of the bathroom – you guys would have gotten a kick out of it. We arrived on a Thursday evening, and Jay skillfully drove us through a windy and dark road to get us to the base of Cradle Mountain – where we spent the night in a parking lot as all of the campsites were closed by the time we got there! Scared – me? Not at all (*wink wink*).
The next day, alive and well, we headed to the base of Cradle Mountain, surveyed a few different paths, and decided to use Marion’s lookout point as our pathway to the base of Cradle Mountain. We completed a small, not so difficult hike up to Marion’s look out – and looked ahead to what we were contemplating climbing a little later on.
The weather was cloudy – and we couldn’t even see the top of the Cradle (the mountain is named for the cradle created by its twin peaks) – which may explain that we set off with the thought to head all the way to the top.
After a brief break, we moved forth to Cradle Mountain – and when the clouds that first covered the top of its peaks broke, we realized just what a feat this would be.
I had thought that the Grampians Mountain – Hollow Mountain - climb we had completed a few weeks earlier was very tough – granted, it had been my first climb, but I was quite impressed with myself after that was done! Well this Cradle Mountain dwarfed Hollow Mountain in every respect – size, difficulty, temporal ranges, it was amazing but quite scary at many different points. Needless to say, we did it – we got all the way to the top – round trip a 5 hour hike – with a few scary moments but mostly many moments and feelings of achievement. Take a look below.
And Finally - the final pic of what we had climbed!
At the end of the hike we were aching for Tessie, so when we got to the bottom of the Mountain, instead of heading back via Marion's lookout (too tough to scale again, we were tired . . .), we opted for the Face Path. Why none of us realized this may have meant scaling the FACE OF THE MOUNTAIN, I have no idea. Mind you, we skipped the "Overland" track as a return for the Face track - which would you choose?!?!
Needless to say, after 5 hours, we tagged on another 3 to get back to the carpark via the Face Path - which was pretty intense. We may have thought it easy had we not just hiked to the top of Cradle, but after 6, 7 hours, trust me your equilibrium and just about everything else plays tricks on you.
Click here to see the entire set of photos from the day - I wish I could say there were some pics of the Face Track (there are a few of Ballroom Forest at the end, which was part of Face Track) but we were in no spirits to be photographers at that point!
The next day we headed to Maria (pronounced Mariah) Island. We took a ferry and stayed for a few hours – unfortunately too short – for all the beautiful sights the island had to offer. The entirety of the island is now a national park - thought it was, at one point, a penal colony, in the early part of the 1800's, and later, when people began to recognize its beauty, was known for its silk and wine production, as well as a holiday destination. I'll let the photos speak for themselves - the national park status that it holds today might best (in my opinion) suit the beautiful place.
After returning from Maria Island to our new home, Tessie, we decided that we would drive that night to a camp site near Freycinet Peninsula, which we planned on exploring the next day. What was a simple decision ended up providing us with one of the nicest moments of the weekend – when we walked to the beach, with some wine and some fresh, local fish in hand, and watched the sun set (here are all the pics from that dinner).
After spending the night at Coles Bay, we moved on to Wineglass Bay, on Freycinet Peninsula, and the reason we had spent the night in Coles Bay. It is named for, you guessed it, the shape of the bay - and is regarded as one of the world's ten best beaches by some travel authorities. Before we began our travel to the beach, we were greeted by our new friend - we say he's a Kangaroo, but hell, he may be a Wallaby, but he was quite cute nonetheless!
After descending a seriously steep path down to the beach itself, the 4 of us, exhausted from our weekend's adventures sat for about an hour, and hiked back up the now treacherously steep path. It may have just been our weariness speaking, but I think we were a tad disappointed with this world-reknowned beach, and wished we had spent more time on Maria Island, but C'est La Vie. (Here's the full photoset of Freycinet Peninsula and Wineglass Bay)
More VERY soon - big birthday to share with you guys!
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Valentines Day . . .
So, for most of you its still February 13, while for me it has passed midnight and is officially Valentines day. This post really has nothing to do with valentines day - but the date is my marker nonetheless.
We just got home from Tony's house. If you haven't read about Tony, take a look at Elliot's blog - Tony is El's cousin, his first cousin! We are halfway across the globe, sitting down to a gourmet meal cooked by Elliot's cousin - and it just put me in a contemplative mood, got me to thinking about what is really important.
1 year ago today (Valentines day) I was being picked up late at school by my brand new sweetie at the time - our relationship slightly more than 2 months new - heading to his house for a gourmet meal cooked by him!
When I think back to what life has brought me - my brain gets lost in the frenzy... the last 12 months have been sprinkled with some amazing ups, and some awful downs. I guess only one awful down, in the loss of Sunil Varghese - probably one of the biggest heartbreaks of my life. Correction. The biggest heartbreak of my life to date.
I am tied to this time last year because it is my last memories of Sunil's friendship mixed with the beginning of my life with Elliot. About this time last year Sunil and I sat on the phone for at least an hour - in what would be our last conversation - catching up - dreaming about scuba diving in Australia - telling each other of new people in our lives. And then he was gone.
Life has a funny way of making you realize what is important. Since that horrible day in March, Sunil brought me to some amazing new friends (and reunited me with some old friends) - and I've slowly watched so many of us who were close with him have major things fall into place. Coincidence? I think not.
For me, the last year has brought a new love, a life long love, both he and the love he provides changing my very being. We pledged our future together, and then we got on a plane to experience the adventure of our lifetimes - 5 months in a far away land, learning more about the world, culture, and ourselves than I thought was feasible. Last weekend we stood, arm in arm, on top of Cradle Mountain, in Tasmania, which stands 1 full mile above sea level, after scaling the rocky and scary path. We sat up there, and I couldn't help but think about the past year and how thankful I am.
Over nearly the last year now, I also began to think about how I was spending my time, and started spending less on stressing and over studying, and more with the people who matter to me. My sister and I have never been closer, and the pride and happiness that my parents have in their eyes when they look at Melissa and I (and Elliot & I for that matter) has never meant so much to me.
Now, on the road ahead, I can't help but smile - a smile that I didn't know I would have again when Sunil left us. With graduation, 2 of my best friends' weddings, the bar exam, a new home, a wedding of our own - and with amazing family and friends to share it with, I can't help but wish to always feel as happy as I do today. Yet I know, thanks to the lesson so many of us learned last March, that even when life gets extremely low, it won't stay there very long.
We just got home from Tony's house. If you haven't read about Tony, take a look at Elliot's blog - Tony is El's cousin, his first cousin! We are halfway across the globe, sitting down to a gourmet meal cooked by Elliot's cousin - and it just put me in a contemplative mood, got me to thinking about what is really important.
1 year ago today (Valentines day) I was being picked up late at school by my brand new sweetie at the time - our relationship slightly more than 2 months new - heading to his house for a gourmet meal cooked by him!
When I think back to what life has brought me - my brain gets lost in the frenzy... the last 12 months have been sprinkled with some amazing ups, and some awful downs. I guess only one awful down, in the loss of Sunil Varghese - probably one of the biggest heartbreaks of my life. Correction. The biggest heartbreak of my life to date.
I am tied to this time last year because it is my last memories of Sunil's friendship mixed with the beginning of my life with Elliot. About this time last year Sunil and I sat on the phone for at least an hour - in what would be our last conversation - catching up - dreaming about scuba diving in Australia - telling each other of new people in our lives. And then he was gone.
Life has a funny way of making you realize what is important. Since that horrible day in March, Sunil brought me to some amazing new friends (and reunited me with some old friends) - and I've slowly watched so many of us who were close with him have major things fall into place. Coincidence? I think not.
For me, the last year has brought a new love, a life long love, both he and the love he provides changing my very being. We pledged our future together, and then we got on a plane to experience the adventure of our lifetimes - 5 months in a far away land, learning more about the world, culture, and ourselves than I thought was feasible. Last weekend we stood, arm in arm, on top of Cradle Mountain, in Tasmania, which stands 1 full mile above sea level, after scaling the rocky and scary path. We sat up there, and I couldn't help but think about the past year and how thankful I am.
Over nearly the last year now, I also began to think about how I was spending my time, and started spending less on stressing and over studying, and more with the people who matter to me. My sister and I have never been closer, and the pride and happiness that my parents have in their eyes when they look at Melissa and I (and Elliot & I for that matter) has never meant so much to me.
Now, on the road ahead, I can't help but smile - a smile that I didn't know I would have again when Sunil left us. With graduation, 2 of my best friends' weddings, the bar exam, a new home, a wedding of our own - and with amazing family and friends to share it with, I can't help but wish to always feel as happy as I do today. Yet I know, thanks to the lesson so many of us learned last March, that even when life gets extremely low, it won't stay there very long.
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