To Bar or Not to Bar… 

Monday, November 22, 2010 - Posted by Intellectual Elegance at 8:02 AM


The countdown has begun for me to sign up for the NYC Bar exam. Actually, it began on November 1st, 2010 and given all the craziness with the move, I haven't registered for it yet. I am not sure what to do about it since I only have 8 days to register and pay for the exam, and only 8 days to pay $2200 for a Bar examination course.


I think that I am secretly scared of finally taking the bar examination, so I have to take a very strong look at myself and assure myself that I will be prepared and that it will be fine. I have to be honest with myself and acknowledge the fact that I am scared, but that I can get through this, just like I get through everything else in mi vida loca. I hate failing at anything, and this thing has scared me since the inception of law school. Think about it… 20 topics that we must remember and answer semi-correctly so we can practice law. Why? When we practice we use books and collaborations and research, so why would they do this to us? I feel like I have to relearn some of the basic subjects because one of my professors was a total idiot about teaching it correctly.


I am also worried about the stress factor of the preparation because I just moved to a new city, new location for my work, new perspectives, new everything. I am not sure if throwing in a bar prep course and preparing for the bar is going to be the best idea. I don't even have an apartment yet and I don't know how I'll pay for that BARBRI course!


The other side to this is that I would like to get this over with and not take it again, ever. And if I take it in February, and if I fail (yes, I said it) then I can retake it in July. L Not my ideal situation, but still, I have to be realistic about what could happen.


I've been thinking a lot about what I want to do with this J.D. of mine. I think I've come up with a good idea for now. I love what I do now, and I absolutely love where I work. Governors Island is the like the cool creepy location where I've always wanted to be and the people I work with are great. Plus, I earn about what a first year associate makes in NYC, and that makes my heart happy, not to mention the fact that if I stay with the Federal government for the next 5 years, I can pay off my student debt. J Woo Woo. So, this is what I proposed to myself. I will keep my job (if I can) working with the Federal Government, and when I pass the bar, I will take on pro-bono cases from organizations like KIND (kids in need of defense) and immigration cases in the community or other legal non-profit organizations. I feel that this is a safe approach because it makes me happy and I don't have to charge people for my services. I went to law school to be an attorney for the people and with this plan, I can truly make it happen. At least for now, this is what my plan is.


Now I just need to decide if I am taking the stupid bar exam. L ugh.

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My Feet Hurt 

Sunday, November 21, 2010 - Posted by Intellectual Elegance at 9:53 AM

Oh New York, you are like the Jackie Chane sensei on Karate Kid, and I am Jayden Smith, your sassy mouthed student. I know you are trying to teach me lessons, but good lord, do you have to kick my ass this bad? In the end, we will be one. :)

holy crap. I knew that I would be walking a lot around the city, but my feet are on fire. I am pretty sure that I have plantar fascitis. (not sure if that is the correct spelling, so don't quote me on that.) I see all these women walking around in their high heels and I don't know how they do it. I admire them. They don't even look like it hurts. I, on the other hand, wear the pain on my face and in my feet, I imagine that I look like a messed up looking velociraptor, all hunched over with my toes tapping on the ground.

I am still enjoying the city. It's definitely a much more accelerated lifestyle than Denver. People run everywhere and it is always go, go, go, go, go! People run everywhere! I take off running too because I figure whatever they are running to, I must be running to the same place too.

I am not resting as well either and I think it is because of the stimulation of everything. That and the comfort of the air mattress is slowly wearing off. Good news is that we did find an apartment and have submitted our application. Now we wait.

Today I need to do laundry and just chill out because tomorrow is another busy, crazy, day. Actually, it will be a busy, chaotic, crazy week.

I hope you all have a great week and tomorrow I will post on what's happening with my job and this week I promise to post more places to eat in Denver! :)

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Apartment Hunting Sucks 

Wednesday, November 17, 2010 - Posted by Intellectual Elegance at 11:15 AM
The last couple of days have been difficult on us. Not so much the emotion of feeling like we're homeless, but because we left Denver exhausted after packing up our life then arrived in NYC exhausted, and I've been exhausted ever since. In between all this exhaustion we have to go to work and find a place to live and love.

Yesterday was insane. We went to over 10 different apartments and made the fortunate error of walking into an apartment agency. We signed the fee agreement that charges us only "If" we move into an apartment that they find us. The good thing is that they showed us tons of apartments, the bad thing is that the one we liked we can't afford because of their fee agreement ($2800!!!!). To get an apartment in NYC is like adopting a child from another country. They want your credit score, bank statements, letters of employment, taxes, W2s, and your first born child. Oh, and you must come to the signing table with first and last month's rent AND a security deposit. Throw in there a broker fee and BAM! You've spent $8000 securing an apartment in NYC. Congratulations, you're broke.

As we walked around Hamilton Heights in Harlem, I couldn't help but wonder how the immigrantes do it? I mean, I have a full time, government job, and I still can't afford half of these places! So how bad are they getting screwed over? That's just rent, what about food, clothing, kids, etc! It's nuts! Now, here's the thing too, I knew it was going to be expensive, but I didn't know it was going to be this difficult to find a good apartment.

In the morning we met with a different (no fee) broker who decided it was a great idea to show me an apartment building that was basically a project building. The neighborhood was super sketchy, and the moment we walked in the door, the paramedics were wheeling out an elderly man who had overdosed on something. The broker kept his composure, and turned around and said, "Wait till you see the views!" I couldn't believe it. I didn't care how nice the views were, I wasn't going to stay in this place. To top it all off, the elevator got stuck twice. Once with two very tall angry men, and then a second time with 4 teenagers who were banging on the buttons for the door to open. Priceless. He didn't even acknowledge the shadyness that had just occured.
He then told us he had a second property, and I should have known better but there we went. Following his dumb ass across Harlem to the complete opposite side. All that walking for what? He took us to the largest apartment unit in Harlem. Again, sketchy neighborhood and even sketchier people and this place was HUGE. It was like the Mega Projects. I couldn't help but wonder if he thought this was my thing. Like I was looking to get myself shanked in whatever neighborhood I wanted. Geesh! It was tiring and annoying and disheartening. And the rent was ridiculous! Again, I saw gente, and I just wanted to ask them how they do it.

The good thing about yesterday is that I love Hamilton Heights in Harlem on 145th and Broadway. Bad part is that we can't find apartment there and the one we found is too expensive. I have to call back the Broker and tell him that I'm sorry but that I can't afford to live there or his fee! This makes me nervous because he and his lovely wife spent ALL DAY with us yesterday showing us apartment.

The last couple of days I've learned three things. One, that I must have patience with everything! Patience with myself, the hubs, and with NYC. Two, all the gueras out here look like Ke$ha. I see them and I can't help but start singing "Wake up in the morning feeling like p.diddy..." But oh well. Lastly, you can wake up in the morning and put on yellow tights, rain boots, a purple skirt, green vest and a white button up, and you will look just fine. Nobody stares (like I do) at you, because you, my friend, are stylish in another dimension. :)


Patience, patience, patience.

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Adios Denver... Hola New York!! 

Sunday, November 14, 2010 - Posted by Intellectual Elegance at 5:27 PM
We arrived yesterday, on my birthday, to NYC! It was one of the most emotional birthdays of my entire life! I cried the moment my mother asked me if I was "ok" at the airport, and then didn't stop crying until we got to the terminal. Then I was ok. Then I cried again as we boarded the plane and then I was ok. I watched eat, love, pray on the plane and I found it fitting since it was that book that forced me to light a fire under mando's ass to make a real legit attempt at moving to NYC. The movie is just like the book; boring at times, then it picks up, then it gets boring with its brilliant moments. :) The end of the movie is it's shinning moment. She speaks about something she calls the "Quest Physics." This is a force of nature governed by laws as real as the force of gravity. The rule of Quest Physics is this: "if you are brave enough to leave behind everything familiar and comforting, which can be everything from your house to your bitter old resentments and set out on a truth seeking journey, either externally or internally; and if you are truly willing to regard everything that happens to you on that journey as a clue; and if you accept everyone you meet along the way as a teacher; and if you are prepared most of all to face and forgive some very difficult realities about yourself; then the truth will not be withheld from you." All this is of course at the very end of the movie. They should have just stated this at the beginning and then said "the end." I actually do like the book because it inspired me, but I think she's somewhat of an idiot. This is for a different blog entry, but I recommend the book. ;)

I feel that I am on my truth seeking mission and although it is very difficult for me to leave my family and friends, I feel that it is something I must do. I cried again on the airplane right as we were about to land because I was listening to a really sad song. Which of course I must insert for you to listen. I was staring down at the rolling hills of green and lakes and rivers, and I started thinking about Pocohontas. Weird right? But I was thinking that I was somewhere over in the east coast (and of course that is where Pocohontas lived based on that disney cartoon documentary) and I got sad that I was so far from home. And then the mixture of that sadness and the song made me teary eyed and I cried again. I missed my home already, and that made me sad.



I spent my birthday eating a crepe and some hot chocolate with the hubs (aka husband) and then we came back to our friends apartment and went straight to sleep. Yup, that's right, I didn't go out for my birthday, I slept my face off. I was so tired and I think my body was begging me to go to bed. So I did. I also realized last night that I don't have to go on an olympic sprint to eat everything I see. I usually do because I am just visiting and I have to eat everything in sight, but last night I reminded myself to chill out, because I live here now. How weird is that? I reminded myself to relax and to wait for my hotdogs or that delicious shishkabob cart, because I will see them everyday.

Today was a good day of exploration and I didn't get sad. It will probably be an up and down couple of weeks, but my priority right now is to find a place and get settled in. I need a bed. I am sleeping on a twin size bed in my homies living room. The last time we slept on a twin was in college, and it was much easier then compared to now. Oh and I also embarrassed myself royally in front of a good crowd today! I was looking at my phone and didn't see a giant curb as we crossed the street. I kicked the curb so hard that it made a loud "bang" sound then I flew forward and landed on a poor guy. Landed is such a kind word, I shoved this guy SO hard, that he must have thought it was a pick pocketing gone bad. He looked at me like he wanted to fight me then said, "oh my god, are you ok?" I squeeked that I was, then huddled into the hubs arms as he laughed out loud at the hilarity of the scene. Oh, and I learned it's not a good idea to walk around all day in cowboy boots and a skirt. NYC 1, Jazmin 0.

:)

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all is well 

Wednesday, November 10, 2010 - Posted by Intellectual Elegance at 12:57 AM
I'm over my moment. It certainly will not be my last, but it's over. (Aside from my BFF's uncle passing this morning, but then again, maybe it is good for him and her family that it is over.) The night has passed and morning came. :) I still have to make it through dinner with the familia but I survived saying bye to my beautiful friends. We ate at Lao Wangs and literally shut the place down by ordering what seemed to be almost everything on the menu.

The other two BFFs came over tonight to help me pack. Idiots. Apparently, I pack like an idiot. It took CPO 10 minutes to do what I could not in a day! Also, Armando is super super sick. I think he might have strep. Bad news for us.

I will write more tomorrow but it is 2am and I need to sleep.

P.S. i wanted it to snow today, it seemed to snow everywhere but here. boo.

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ugh 

Monday, November 8, 2010 - Posted by Intellectual Elegance at 11:41 PM

I don't know if my quotable card will get me through this one tonight... lol.

It's almost 1am and I still cannot finish packing. This sucks. I am slowly losing my enthusiasm and fear is kicking in. I'm annoyed, I'm sad, I'm angry and more than anything I am not ready. I thought I would be more put together with all this packing but I think deep down inside I take my time so I can stay longer. And that makes me mad.

We got into our first big blowout tonight about moving. I tried hard not to fight but I wanted to leave earlier. I wanted to leave Friday so I could slowly come out of my shell in the city and not be that much more afraid. I wanted to slowly acclimate myself to the city and not be scared of it, like I am now. I am still excited but I am scared. We fly out Saturday, and it's really not that big of a deal but for some reason it messed me up. I'm like his sister in that way, because when I create a timeline I plan to stick to it come hell or high water and when it changes, ooh, it makes me angry. But I realize that I am just scared of it all.

I haven't cried until right now because I've been telling myself to be strong. This is the first time that I am admitting that I am scared and I think for that reason I just want to go so that I can just launch myself into it and get used to it that much faster. I think tonight was just a bad night in general. My BFFs got into a fight and the other one has a sick family member and it makes me sad for her and her family. She doesn't need this now, and the other two crazies need to stop fighting because it hurts my heart. Oh yeah and my poor sister's dog got run over and had to be put down as well. It's been a rough weekend. Especially for her. <3

I think I just need to go to bed. I hope I have a better week.

I hope you all have a great week.

<3-
jaz

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The things I will miss the most... 

Thursday, November 4, 2010 - Posted by Intellectual Elegance at 10:38 AM
One of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop what we are doing and devote our attention to eating. ~ Luciano Pavarotti

Aside from family and friends, I realized this weekend that I should probably go to all of my favorite restaurants and bid farewell to them all, and explain to them why they will not be seeing me for a while. I don't want them to think that I don't like their food anymore or that I have found another love to replace them. That is unthinkable. (At least I won't find a replacement here, but I plan to locate them out there!) :)

I figured I would create my own foodie awards in case any of you ever want to know where you can find delicious food to eat, all over town! I will call them the Sasnor Awards. :)




I will start with the most obvious one. Lao Wang Noodle House. Ohhhh sweet dumplings of sunshine, oooohhhh my Xia Long Bao! How you will be missed. For those of you who have never EVER been to Lao Wang's you must go immediately! Lao Wangs is a Taiwanese mom and pop dumpling and noodle restaurant. A cute elderly couple cook, wait and greet the customers. They are notorious, and I mean nationally, for their soup dumplings known as the Xia Long Bao. These lil' dumplings of love are filled with pork and a soup broth inside! You poke a hole and throw in some chile, vinegar and soy sauce and you are set! This is one of my favorite restaurants and I love going there with family and friends! Their address is 945 S. Federal Blvd. #D, Denver CO 80219. They are open 11-9, and closed on Mondays. :) Yes, I know their hours. so what.

Next up, Spring Fling. Yes spring fling is like crack to me. (I assume crack or the meth tastes like spring fling to addicts.) Actually, I think Spring Fling is probably every woman's dessert addiction in the Mile High City. Spring fing is a unique zucchini cake that is piled high with fresh fruit like mango, grapes, strawberries, etc and topped with a whip cream, creat cheese, butter cream frosting. This is heaven to me, this is my crack. From the moment we met, we've been in love. It costs around $7.00 (with tax) per slice at the Market 15th and Larimer, but it's worth every penny because they give you a GIGANTIC slice. I love you spring fling, and I'll miss you alot.


Next up, is Panaderia Rosales in North Denver. BEST pan dulce in Colorado. Hands down, I've had a lot of conchas (esponjas) from various panaderias around town, and NONE of them compare to this one. I have been going to this bakery since my family and I arrived in Denver in 1892.... jk, 1984. :) I know the family and my grandmother went through dialysis with one of the owners of the bakery. This panaderia sells the most delicious tamales, menudos, tortas, pan dulce (sweet bread) and much more! They also sell amazing sugar skills for your day of the dead celebrations. When I was younger I would have my mom or dad bring me home esponjas after work. Sometimes they'd forget and stop by a different bakery close to home. The moment I smelled the bag, I knew it wasn't Rosales. That's how well trained I am in determining what makes a great esponja. Trust me, I can't be fooled. Panaderia Rosales is also near and dear to my heart because they are one of the great last Mexican places in North Denver. Gentrification has changed that entire block but they, along with Patzcuaro (another yummy place) and La Mexicana Taqueria, have remained. I love them and suppor them and know that they will never leave if they can avoid it. Rosales is located at 2636 W. 32nd Ave. Denver, CO 80211.

These are a few of my favorite spots so far. I will post more this week and next week, but if you can, check these places out because they will not dissappoint and they are super affordable. I ask that you love them as I have loved them. Visit frequent and love every bite! Viva la Vida y Buen Provecho!!














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