Hello. Welcome to my website. It started while I was in Europe for a semester, and I've kept it up since then. I'm now at the University of Chicago Law School, living in Hyde Park, and the story continues. If you want to say hi or visit me, email cfloyd at uchicago dot edu.
"Life is nothing if not the sum of your anecdotes." -Scotty The Body, on storytelling "But it ain't that bad, man. Just figure out the system before the system figures out you." -T. Matthew Smith, on the 1L year "The beer just doesn't taste as good when you're not drinking it with your buddies." -Anon., on being away from good friends "Somebody has to pay the rent around here. Why the hell not us?" -Cotton, on studying for exams
3/30/2004
I'm in the game again. It's good to see people, as far as that goes. Folks look healthy and refreshed. The weather isn't soul-sapping anymore. So it's back to the grind. I can't decide whether the pleasant spring is a good thing or a bad thing. On the one hand, the walk to school is very pleasant. On the other hand, it's terrible being trapped inside when the sun is shining and it's 68 outside. I think I'll take the warmth, though.
Hidalgo was good, "Clark". If you see it, slap yourself first, to knock any silly cynicism about suspension of disbelief out of your system. It's no true story, so just accept that, regardless of Disney's wishes to the contrary. If you go in willing to be entertained, you will be. It was good to see with the family. Next I really want to see the Coen brothers' latest, The Ladykillers.
3/30/2004 09:55:00 AM
3/27/2004
Back in Chicago. Spring Quarter 2004, prepare to be whooped.
3/27/2004 04:55:00 PM
3/26/2004
Today was a good one. My last day in OK. Drank some coffee and read magazines, went to the bank, then went to the Philbrook to see their Rodin exhibit. Good stuff. Took a run on the river (well, adjacent to it) and then bought some movie tickets. I'm seeing Hidalgo tonight. I hope it's good. Tomorrow morning I'm leaving at 8am or so, hope to be in the Chi around 6pm. Then it's a day of rest, and back to the grind. Holla.
3/26/2004 02:48:00 PM
3/24/2004
Springbreak timeline since the last update:
Thursday: drive home. Temperature goes up about four degrees Fahrenheit every hour south I drive. Arrive around 8pm and watch School of Rock with Mom and Steph. It's a funny movie.
Friday: hang out in Tulsa. Take a run, work in the garden, eat grilled steaks with the family, then go downtown to the new "Irish" pub at First and Elgin, James E. McNellie's Public House. It ain't authentic, but it's got 60 or so beers on tap. I appreciate it.
Saturday: head to Norman. Meet up with Jonesy at On The Border, then go to the OU-TX baseball game that afternoon with about twenty more of my old fraternity brothers as well as girlfriends (shoutout to Bonner). We set up folding chairs, a couch and a grill on the rise over the outfield and yell dirty things at the Texas players. The Sooners come back in the 8th inning and win. Watch some NCAA that night then went to Bison Witches. Stupid stuff follows.
Sunday: Go to another baseball game with Spot and Bassity. Then the Library happy hour for delicious ale and pizza, as well as plenty of old friends including Ted Matt Smith (see above quotation) and Wade McClain. Then dinner at the Body's for his patented beer-boiled brats. Finally, a visit to the newlywed Mournings in Moore.
Monday: Arrive on campus to turn in some long-overdue books and try to figure out when my second degree is forthcoming. I then catch Danielle for coffee and hear about Paris and London. Next I attend a DU chapter meeting with my ultra-high seniority. A little old-school Bill's follows, and we watch OU collapse against Michigan in the NIT. Well, next year will be better. Flop.
Tuesday: I break my fast at the Diner. Then I get a haircut. Or, at least, a trim around the edges in anticipation of my Wednesday interview. Head back to campus to confer about my degree. I need three more hours of credit. I curse the international credit transfer system. I kill an hour then pick up Stephanie and we visit Bessy at Wienerworks. I catch dinner with the Body at Daddy Wu's, then we hang out at his place, curse the DVD player into submission. It capitulates and shows us the Cross Canadian Live disc.
Today: Break my fast at McD's with a McGriddle. Strange but tasty. Then an interview for a summer job at Crowe and Dunlevy. I leave crossing my fingers. Meet Donohew for lunch at the Lunch Box, then back up the Turnpike to Tulsa. Albert G's for dinner. I get fatter.
That's it. I'm hanging out in Tulsa until I drive back to Chicago on Saturday. I'm thinking maybe play some golf, drink some coffee, read some magazines, watch some TV, be extremely awesome. And I'll post summer plans as they develop...
3/24/2004 09:05:00 PM
3/18/2004
I'm about to head home to Oklahoma. I'll be on my way within a half-hour. Call me if you want to hang out.
One of the charms of my building is the Greek super. At least, I think he's Greek. Anyway, he just kind of hangs out in the lobby in the same flannel shirt, messed up hair. I always greet him with a "Howsit going?" to which he replies, "Nah baid." (That's "not bad," in a funny accent.) Another thing about him is that he curses a lot, so I curse back when we chat. Just now I went down to my car to open it up for my drive. There are snow flurries outside, and he was standing at the door watching it begin to snow. "Wha the f-ck is goin on?" he asks me. "Looks like g-dd-mn snow to me," I reply. He laughs. "Wha the hell?" "I don't know," I say, "but I got to drive to Oklahoma in it." "Aw shit. Ees not a problem. No sticking." He makes me feel better.
3/15/2004
Criminal Law went fine I guess. It's a crapshoot. Afterwards I picked up Scott Henderson and Ryan Purnell. We've been enjoying spring break here in Chicago. Fun details coming, and I'll be in Oklahoma on Thursday or Friday.
3/15/2004 03:49:00 PM
3/10/2004
One down, one to go. Couple of curve balls on the Property exam - don't think I struck out, but no telling if I came anywhere near hitting it out of the park.
3/07/2004
Last Sunday I wrote about omelets. This Sunday the New York Times Magazine writes about breakfast in all its splendor. Read the essay here. It's great. And if you're not a registered user, either register now for free or use mine. It's charfloyd and the password is library.
3/07/2004 10:46:00 AM
3/06/2004
Sometimes on the weekends I go on 14-hour study benders. Is it cramming if the exam is still a week or two weeks away? If I'd done this in college, I'd be a damn Rhodes Scholar. And damn boring.
Usually I put on classical music, because music with words distracts me more for some reason. But then I end up making up words to the classical music. For instance, Beethoven's Fifth: "I-hate-crim-laaaaaw..... I-hate-crim-laaaaaaw.... I-hate-at-tempts-I-hate-mur-der-I-hate-crim-laaaaaaw." Or, to some Bach overture, "theacquisitionoftitllllllllle... torealandpersonalpropertyyyyyyy... by adverse possessionnnnnnnn... isbasedontheexpirationofastatuteoflimitations ...statute of limitations... statute of limitations!!!."
Then I leave my apartment before I have to punch myself in the face.
3/06/2004 02:26:00 PM
3/05/2004
Today was my last day of classes for the quarter. The professors tend to give farewell speeches, where they actually express their affection for us students. My property professor was pretty emotional as he told us how much it meant to see us learn and grow in the law. His voice cracked and he nearly broke into tears telling us how much it means to him. Considering all the dry humor, skepticism and cynicism that comes with the study of law, it was a touching moment. I guess making it through a hard academic term is just like going through any trying period. When you come out on the other end, you look with vague nostalgia on the difficulties.
And then you sit back and say, damn!, glad I don't have to do that again.
3/05/2004 06:32:00 PM
My parents got me The Seekers for Christmas in 1998 or 1999, I think. I had come across his ideas one place or another, maybe the Books section of the Tulsa World. Turns out this Rhodes Scholar and Librarian of Congress had grown up in Tulsa and gone to Central High School.
Anyway, his writing and ideas were part of what influenced me to be a Letters major and try to get as broad a learning as I could. I admire the way he kept an open mind throughout his career. So many scholars derive their identity from an ideology or a niche of study. They become apologists for a certain position, eventually fall victim to cognitive dissonance, and lapse into irrelevance. Boorstin moved all over the spectrum but continued to attach himself only to intellectual honesty and continual learning.
He's the kind of scholar that intimidates me from a career in academia, and his resume is the type that you only hope to accrue in 90 years. A keen mind until the end. I guess your brain is just another muscle, and it stays strong only through active use, no matter your age. I only hope to be as sharp well into my 80s.
3/03/2004 08:17:00 PM
Every once in a while I go study on the main campus, where the undergrads are. It's a wonderful thing and it takes me back to the glory days. There are less furrowed brows and receding hairlines, except for the other grad and professional students who also are nose-in-the-books in the oasis of the young and carefree. But sometimes a little too carefree. I have to strike a balance between being too stressed-out and being too relaxed. If you're wondering why I'm talking about this, it's because my exams are a week from today.
Also, I have completely embarassed myself with my lack of ability to use the broiler on my oven. I'm just used to grills, that's all. Still, it's no excuse for turning a fine NY strip into jerky. If someone can tell me the proper way to broil a 1-1/2 inch piece of beef to melt-in-your-mouth, medium-rare deliciousness, for the love of God post or email me. Until then I'll just sear my cuts on a smoking hot cast iron skillet, which might be the purist's choice anyway.
3/03/2004 06:03:00 PM
3/02/2004
Last Thursday morning my computer crashed. It gave me the Blue Screen of Death. Luckily the problem was in the operating system software and not in vital hardware. So I was able to get all my important files off of the hard drive before reformatting That's good, because my exams are in a week. So now things are more or less functional, although a little shaky. I feel like it's like a car - never quite the same after a wreck, even with repairs. Apparently I can get a one-time computer loan to replace the old Dell, but I'm not quite sure I'm ready to do that. She's running smoothly so far. Maybe this fall.
Also, I had to get rid of high memory files like mp3s and pictures. So if you've got any good picture files you want to share, so I can get my digitized album back going, I'd love to have them. Email me, or IM me (screenname: CharFloyd).
3/02/2004 03:55:00 PM
