Law School Prom

Saturday night was the "Barristers' Ball" or Law School Prom, as it is informally referred to. Unfortunately, Helen was in town last weekend, while my parents were in town this weekend. Despite several jokes over the previous weeks, I did not take my parents to this event although there was serious contemplation about having friends over to my apartment before the prom to have my parents take pictures of the couples in front of my fireplace.

Flying solo and quite exhausted after writing my brief throughout Thursday night and then going on a nice little bender in D.C. on Friday with my buddy Nick who was in town, I was slow in getting into the excitement at the dance. In many ways it was like high school prom (gowns, occasional tuxedo, corsage, and dancing); in other ways it was not so much (open bar, live music, lack of my date fooling around with another dude in the bathtub while I slept in a closet).

Overall the night was a fun experience, bookended by some unpleasantries. Early on, I arrived at the dance without the benefit of the pre-party and was doomed to play catch-up for a while. Mix in the fact that I was stuffed from a wonderful dinner at the Ivy Inn with my parents, exhausted from the previous two nights, alone on prom night, and I was concerned this would be a miserable. Things picked up, courtesy of the open bar and the band providing hits from the 70's, 80's, and 90's. Musically, I think the highlights were Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer" and Earth, Wind and Fire's "September." Respectively, those songs brought me back to summers on the Jersey shore and parties at the ol' fraternity with DJ Nick spinning. Though I'm not usually a big fan of cover bands, these guys had some talent and I loved the fact that at any given time there were 6-10 girls from the law school dancing on stage with each other, with the band members, and with ass-slapping a plenty. (band to ladies, ladies to band, ladies to ladies)

By the time the dance was over, everyone piled onto buses to head to the after-party, being held at a local restaurant and bar. My buddy Matt had acquired a bottle of bourbon which was passed around the bus until there was no more. It was at this point that my lack of sleep really started to hit and I just wanted to go home and go to bed. Fortunately, I wasn't trapped at the after-party for too long and was able to catch a cab home. It was truly "An Evening to Remember." (that was the theme)

Campaign Update

As we reach the end of campaign week here at UVa, I would like to provide everyone with an update on my role in the election so far.

For those of you that are unaware, I am pursuing a position as Student Bar Association Representative for the Class of 2007. There are 19 candidates for five positions, so it promises to be a close race where name recognition and good ol' fashioned dirty tricks are going to decide the election. Check on the latter, still working on the former.

Each candidate is allowed to submit one campaign flyer, not to exceed 8.5 x 11 or "letter" size as we used to call it in the copying industry. (11 x 17= tabloid, 8.5 x 14= legal, 18= barely legal) I am one of nine candidates to submit a flyer, which range from the "I take this way too serious since I lost freshman class president in high school" to "I'm not taking this election nearly serious enough and am probably offending my fellow candidates with my flip attitude." Again, check on the latter, still bitter about the former.

My flyer, which I would post here if I had the technological savvy, is a picture of me with my hair standing straight up after a day of wearing a baseball cap. I have a beer in my hand, nestled in a UVa "coozy," and I am smiling at the camera. The tagline is "Competent and Responsible, So You Don't Have to Be." I then proceed to list a brief resume which includes my subscription to The Economist as one of the crowning achievements of my life. If you would like a copy, please feel free to email me.

All joking aside, I am taking the campaign seriously but have reservations about taking myself too seriously in this election. I seek this office not to bolster my resume, not to rattle the cage of the administration, and not to shake things up in pursuit of making student government "relevant" again. There is a time for revolution and there is a time for continuation of the status quo. Life here at UVa is good, SBA promotes that goodness, and I believe SBA could be, dare I say, even gooder with me as a member. If that day comes that the evil Dean (he's actually quite friendly and a fantastic professor) cracks down on students' rights or people become unsatisfied with their experience here, I will gladly assume the role of advocate and speak up for change.

One funny closing story regarding the campaign. Apparently during On Campus Interviewing, a fellow first year student was asked by his interviewer "Hey, do you know this 'Mambles' guy? I saw his flyer and think its hilarious."

March Madness

I just signed up to get all the March Madness games viewable from my computer which could be one of the best/worst decisions of the semester. Thanks to the wireless network, I can watch games in class all for the low price of $9.95. The price goes up tomorrow to $19.95 and I would encourage all of you to check it out.

http://cstv.ncaasports.com/index.html?leadid=spln

The Greatest Week of my High School Years

To those of you that knew me back at CHS, you may be thinking I am talking about the third week of May, 1997, but no. This has been the greatest week of my high school years. As if it were a negative, people like to say that UVa law has a high school atmosphere. Maybe it's the lockers, the cafeteria, the gossip, or the jocks stuffing nerds into aforementioned lockers. Man, being a jock is sweet. I noticed the parallels early last semester, yet continue to be amazed at times.

Yesterday, I experienced two events eerily reminiscent of high school. First off, this is campaign week for the student government executive positions (Student Bar Association [SBA, not ASB, clever, huh?]). After classes, I attended the candidate debate which was a mix of high school ("I really love UVa and want to give back, because this place is AWESOME!" or "If I'm elected, we can have parties in the teacher's lounge!"), college student government ("I want to promote diversity and be a voice of the students"), and free pizza (Papa John's).

Second HS event of the day: I auditioned for the Libel Show, which is essentially the school play/talent show. For 95 years or so, UVa has put on this event every Spring as an SNL type variety show with skits, song, dance, and a live band. I wrote and performed a new song titled"Sectional Intercourse" ("Mambles follows up to his successful undergraduate album, Songs in the Key of Ron, with Cat Stevens inspired guitar and Sandler inspired lyrics about the awkwardness following a hook up with a fellow sectionmate." NY TIMES 02/01/2005) I should hear back on Monday. As if that weren't HS enough, everyone who wants to be involved gets some sort of part. The catch is, that part may be as an extra, prop guy, or best boy grip (primary assistant to the gaffer).

Cancelled

It is a well documented fact that there are few things I enjoy more in this world than sleeping. In fact at last count there were only four things I enjoy more than sleeping and two of those involve High Life ([1] cans; [2] bottles). Imagine my discontent when I rolled out of bed this morning, speed walked to grounds in the snow, and discovered that my class has been cancelled. Could it be the 1/2" of snow on the ground has stopped traffic? Is the professor not feeling well and I just did not check my email this morning? Is it Saturday? As I begin to wake from my slumber, I am remembering that there is a strong possibility that the professor mentioned it on Tuesday in class and that I did not write it down and simply forgot. Maybe I am finally at that age that requires a planner, calendar, and sobriety.

On an unrelated note, the Law School is in the midst of "Feb Club" in which there is a different themed party every night of the month to celebrate/mourn last semester's grades which finally posted today. So far I am 2/2 in attendance (themes so far: Desperate Housewives and Revenge of the Nerds) and wonder how long I may keep this streak alive. The whole month is planned and sponsored by the North Grounds Softball League (NGSL) which, oddly enough just might be the most powerful student organization at the law school. Tonight: Hard Core Pong (dress as a 70's porn star, play beer pong)

Elimi-great!

Several months ago, I rediscovered a fine documentary, style show on the WB about the mores and customs of dating in America. This "reality" based television show takes one male or female, then puts them in a group with four members of the opposite sex. As the show progresses, the four candidates are whittled to the winner, as contestants are eliminated one by one. It might be said that this show "symbolifies," if I may use that word, the inevitable competition, sexuality, and humiliation of the courtship of today's generation. If you have not figured out by now, I am speaking of the show Elimidate.

My roommate and I devised a game of chance centered around the show in which each of us choose our "horse" for the race and if your candidate is victorious, the loser pays you $1. If neither candidate wins, then it carries over to the following episode. Thanks to the back to back, five night a week format, I have been able to watch several episodes, while losing approximately $73.

As a new feature of Mambel's Rambles, I would like to start including some thoughts and review of my favorite episodes, characters, and quotes. Stay tuned for updates.

Elimidate contestant: (following a spontaneous kiss) Were you surprised?
Girl in charge of the Elimidatin': Yeah.
Contestant: Well, I guess that means I surprised you.