Trip to take the MPRE
Mood:  chatty
Topic: Working Mom

Have I mentioned this is a bilingual blog?  I wrote this to a friend, anddid not feel like rewriting it in English. So here is the account of my trip. (Sorry dear English speaking friends)

El viaje estuvo muy agitado pero bien. Habia regresado de Orlando el
domingo, y el jueves 8 me monte en un vuelo para Tampa. Esto de viajar tanto es agotador, especialmente el vaciar la maleta y reempacar.

Aunque habiamos planificado el viaje para los 2, Pierre se quedo en casa con las nenas pues estaban enfermas y nos quedamos sin babysitter. Mi pobre suegra esta enyesada con el tobillo lastimado. Mami tampoco se pudo quedar con la nenas pues estaban enfermas y ella tiene la inmunidad suprimida. El volcan Montserrat estuvo botando ceniza en estos dias, asi que todo el mundo ha estado grave.

Yo tambien tenia el catarro pero tenia que ir como fuera. Llegue el jueves por la noche a Tampa y guie hasta St Pete Beach. Q sitio tan BELLO! Me encanto. Una pena que Pierre no pudo ir. Se hubiera enamorado del area.

Ya habia estado en Tampa hacia unos a¿os antes y me hab¿a gustado mucho. Lo que mas me gusta de St. Petersburg/St Pete es que es bien "quaint".  Es un lugar moderno, muy simpatico y cortes, sin la agresividad/hostilidad de San Juan (que ya se va notando un poco en Orlando). Ah, y lo mejor, el aire se siente limpio y respiro mucho mejor. Las medicinas del asma ayudaron bastante.

Le traje info del area a Pierre, que tambien esta interesado en el area de Tampa (Pinellas Cty, St Petersburg, Clearwater, etc.). Tampa ha crecido muchisimo en los ultimos 6-7 años. Tiene un parecido con lo mas lindo de Miami, pero sin ser taaan grande y sin tantisimo trafico.

El Viernes fui a explorar el area St Petersburg (creo q pase por Clearwater) para encontrar Stetson U donde tome el examen. Alli estuve un rato estudiando en la biblioteca. Por supuesto, ya estaba enferma (el volcan no ayudo).

Tome mi examen el sabado por la a.m. Antes, pare a desayunar en un restaurancito del area-- divino. Luego del examen compre unos adornos de Navidad en www.kkringles.com.  De ahi guie volando hasta MCO para abordar el vuelo de las 5pm a SJU. Pues Pierre me llamo desde la oficina del pediatra que las nenas estaban malas y que por favor tratara de alcanzar el vuelo. Menos mal q habia comprado frutas, Frapuccinos en botellas y agua pues asi mismo me mande el viaje.

No se como llegue a MCO, entregue el carro y el GPS, hice la fila, zampe las maletas casi a las 4:30 y me monte en el vuelo de las 5:15pm a SJU. Pierre me recogio en el aeropuerto cuando regrese.

Aunque se q tenia bronquitis asmatica cuando regrese, el aire de PR me impacto como un bofeton. Chaaaachooo q contaminacion! Cough! Cough! La cortisona no paro el ataque. (Otro motivo para mudarme pronto)  Thank God Pierre me habia conseguido los antibioticos.

El lunes aterrice en la dra. Ya estoy mucho mejor. Por fin puedo hablar, pero no puedo abusar de la garganta.  Pierre quedo de lo mas entusiasmado con los brochures y las revistas del realty del area.

 Espero recuperarme pronto, a ver si logro regresar a trabajar esta semana.

Buenas noticias-- Credenciales ya tienen listo mi resume, solo tengo que ir a revisarlo, recogerlo y pagarlo.  Voy a tomar un counseling session con el Career Center de AU. Los resultados de las revalidas deben estar listos en Abril 16. Todo se va moviendo poco a poco.

Estoy muy contenta y muy ilusionada.

So much for my romantic escape with DH
We got back from FL last Sunday Morning. DH and I (and probably Letty) are
glying back to Orlando, to stay at Tampa, on Thursday night. Wohoo, Not!
The trip is to take the MPRE (multistate professional responsibility exam)
on Staturday Morning. We are also planning to check out the Tampa / St.
Petersburg area.

Pierre and I thought we could have a little romantic escape during the
weekend, some very much needed couple time. Unfortunately, my MIL
fell, hurt her ankle and now has a cast. Chances are I'll be flying by
myself and taking the exam. Also, Karla has a cold (when doesn't she). The
cold is a problem because my mom has fibromyalgia and is about to have one
of her inmunosuppresant treatments. Also both my grandmothers are staying
at my parents' house.

I just talked to Pierre. I'll be flying on Thursday night ffby myself and
returning Sunday morning.
I keep telling myself It's not our fault that we make plans and they go
bad. It's nobody's fault. I'm just very annoyed.

No matter what, I still have to go out and do this in a positive frame of
mind. I'll practice smiling in 15 minutes to get myself in a better mood.
Right now, I'll allow myself 5minutes (by timer) of whining.

Just had to vent.

Letty's no stage-- No no no no no!
Mood:  silly
Topic: Letty
Letty recently discovered the word no.  She just says "no, no, no, no, no" over and over.  If you disobey her, she gets angry and throws a fit.  I mean a huge fit.  Letty is incredibly strong for her age and will throw you off balance by swinging her body around while you attempt to carry her.

I just finished taking the FL Bar
Mood:  caffeinated
Topic: Working Mom
Thank you for all the support provided during the FL Bar! Your prayers and
PVs worked.

I took the exams yesterday (Florida) and today (Multistate). I hope I
passed yesterday; I have a good feeling about today. :D

I'm soo happy to have finished this. I'll be picking up DH and the girls at
the airport in a few minutes.

Special thanks to Laurie! Thank you for soothing my nerves yesterday.

What am I doing tomorow? I'm going to Disneyworld! (with DH, Karla, Letty
and my 3yo nephew)

Took part A of FL Bar today
Mood:  lucky
Topic: Working Mom

Took part A of the FL Bar today. We had essays on Contracts, Domestic Relations and Torts. I was grateful for all the practice essays I had to write in the last months. :) I think I did great on this part.

The multiple choice part involved business entities, trusts, wills,
corporations, and procedural matters. Not my favorite legal subjects.  Don't know how I did on this part. I can only hope I passed.

Looking forward to tomorow's MBE. I keep telling myself this can be done.My family is arriving tomorow after the exam and we're going on vacation.

By the way, I love the idea of taking the exam at the hotel. I stayed at the hotel. Bought my lunch the night before. During lunchbreak I was able to have some quiet relaxing time (no nervous people comenting the exam and no bathroom lines.)
I was able to check out the area of the exam the day before the exam.

Knowing the shortest route was fantastic during the morning rush.

Feb 25, 2007 update
Just 2 days away from the FL bar exam. I'm at the hotel where the exam will
be given. No need to rent a car. The hotel offered a special rate for bar
examiners and the place is full of bar takers. I've been listening to my
lectures while taking walks (it calms down the nerves). The hotel is lovely
and has nature trails, which I've explored several times while listening to
lectures. Must say the Bar Examiners have really good taste.
www.rosenshinglecreek.com

Pierre and the girls will arrive here on Wednesday night, right after the
exam. I miss them like crazy. For now, I'm enjoying some quiet time.
Karla is very excited about seing her cousins and going to Disney World.
We'll spend one night at my sister's before heading back home.

Joselyn

Our latest favorite song
Mood:  crushed out
Topic: Motherhood

Letty's favorite song is "Había un sapo que nadaba en el Rio".  Karla loves the song too.  Someone transferred the song to my cel phone, while I was studying at Starbucks.  Needless to say the girls love it. 

Today, I found out the song was also set as my new ringtone.  Too cute :)

Now Letty gets all excited whenever my cel phone rings.

Había un Sapo, sapo, sapo

que nadaba en río, río, río

Con su traje verde, verde, verde,

se moria de frío, frío, frío

La Señora Sapa, Sapa, Sapa

me conto oh oh

que tenia un amigo

y ese amigo eras ... tu, tu, tu, tu.

Karla's new phrase
Mood:  quizzical
Topic: Karla

As I took Karla to school this Valentine's morning Karla uttered a phrase.  She said "Estamos como los huevos del perro", meaning she thought we were late.  First of all we weren't late, but on time.  Second, I just couldn't stop laughing.  For the next 5 minutes, I couldn't stop laughing.  Major pavera attack.

She must have learned it from her father, my dear hubby.

Happy Valentine's Day 2007!
Mood:  crushed out
Topic: Family

Happy Valentine's Day!

This morning we dressed the kids in pink, for casual day at preschool and daycare.  Today is a lot of fun.  They have a Valentine's day party and exchange treats.  As a special treat, I took Karla (3yrs) out for breakfast (just us 2) before school.  I have been studying a lot for the Bar exam and will be studying for the next 13 days, so breakfast together was a special treat.  Tonight, we'll have takeout and eat on Valentine's day themed plates.

In 2 weeks, (as soon as the exam finishes) we'll take the kids to Disney (the exam is in Orlando). DH and I will finally get a weekend to ourselves soon afterwards, when we travel to take the MPRE (Ethics exam).

Karla just got admitted to a new school & Update
Mood:  celebratory
Topic: Karla
As I've mentioned before, public schools here are not an option at all.

Even though we are planning to move to FL, we still have to get Karla
admitted to a school (otherwise next year, I might not be able to find a
good and affordable school for her). Most good schools here have been
starting at preK or earlier. Well, DH and I decided we needed to get Karla
into a school since her wonderful preschool doesn't go beyond PreK. :(

A psychologist friend had recommended DH's alma mater. We had to fill in an
application, take Karla to psicometric (IQ) tests and an oral exam (sort of
like a job interview). I never thought transferring into PreK was so hard.
We were application 79 for only 36 slots.

Well, this morning DH called me, and told me Karla had been admitted. It
seems she did a perfect oral exam. Must say I'm so happy and proud. :D
It's an excellent school, nearby and affordable (it's a parrochial
school). The school also has sport activities. As long as we are here, we
won't have to change schools for Karla. Needless to say DH is ecstatic.

I got Karla some shades and cute socks to celebrate. She loves shades and
never has enough socks.

Letty will remain in daycare for the next year. Next year she can go to
preschool, wherever we are.

My Update-- I'm studying like crazy for the FL Bar, and just realized I've
gained a ton of weight. Even Karla has asked me why I'm so fat, and has
told me that I need to get into a healthy weight. :P
Once I pass the Bar and undergo the infamous character investigation, I
could be admitted 6-8 mos afterwards. I'm holding on filing the Bar
Application until I pass the exam, just so I don't get heat at my
workplace. Once admitted I can finally go jobhunting.

Gotta say goodbye. Must go to pick up my girls and tell Karla the good
news.