No, no, no, it's pronounced "fee-nee"

enfin, je finis


I passed the patent bar! Time for another whew-hoo! Yay for computer-based exams that immediately provide results! (Contrast: state bar exams that make takers wait from 3-6 months)

I took the test on Monday at a Sylvan Learning Center. Fortunately, the Center wasn't too far away and I didn't have to be there until 9:30 am, so I was well rested, even if nervous. The week before, I had taken 3 days off work to study full time. Even so, I managed to hit a night out on the town Saturday with J and a baby shower on Sunday. As I was gloating to J last night while he was trying to fall asleep, I heard myself say that I thought I budgeted my study time quite well--actually balancing work, life, studying, and extras. The second that statement came out of my mouth, I knew that if I had failed I would be (over)analyzing how I had mismanaged my time. It occurred to me that most of my resulting elation or disappointment was from my overanalyzing, not the actual test results!

What's even more profound is that I never have to take another test EVER! (Well, unless I go back to school.) My dream of becoming a patent attorney has finally been reached! Wow! All those tests in high school, the SAT/ACTs, college, LSAT, law school, OR and WA state bars, and finally, the patent bar--all passed! That, my friend, is a load of tests!
(special little shout-out here to my French college prof who taught me how to correctly say "I'm finished!")

So, time to vote. What degree/certification do you think I should get next??? (ha,ha)



Water Skipping Article Incorporating Elliptical Outline and Hollowed Interior Core
patent#: US 6905430
patently silly

USPTO

Running Down the Dream....whoo-hoo!

I ran the Shamrock Run in downtown Portland this morning and had a great time. A couple friends and I chose to do the 15k (9.3 mi.). Fortunately, C -- aka Stripes -- wore knee high green striped socks, which helped me keep track of her up the approximately 4 mile long hill. Hills are my hardest part of a run and C is incredibly strong and steady on hills which was a huge help. Funny enough, on her blog she wrote how I helped her through the final portion!



I've only been running once or twice a week so I was delighted to finish in about 1 hour and 23 minutes...somewhere around 9 minute miles. It felt really good to wake up early, get a great run in, celebrate with some chowder and beer after, and enjoy the excitement of a race. Definately inspiration for the Portland Marathon in October. When it comes to marathons, though, I'm somewhat of a commitment-phobe. One of my goals in life was to run a marathon; the subsequent goal is to run a marathon and qualify for the Boston Marathon. I'm not even sure that I want to run the Boston Marathon, it's the idea of qualifying that cements, in my mind, that I'm a decent runner. I did run the Flying Pig Marathon in 1999, which is based in Cincinnati, but missed the qualifying time for Boston although making my secondary goal of coming in under 4 hrs. Truth is, it's the training that keeps me from signing up for the Portland Marathon. J helped me train for the Flying Pig, so the schedule was somewhat rigorous, to say the least (i.e., double runs, 50-60 mi. per week, intense speedwork, etc...).

I think I can commit myself to it if I have people with whom I can train. Fortunately, Portland is the optimal place for that! So, despite being a little sore and tired from this morning, I think I can do the Portland Marathon and enjoy it!

Portland Marathon

Welcome Back, Mrs. Cleaver!

As master of the obvious, I'd like to take this opportunity to note that I haven't posted in quite sometime. What have I been up to? A whole lotta something with no results.

Well, I applied for a job, did the interviews (phone and full day, onsite), received great reviews but no offer. Not knowing if the other 2 candidates were more qualified or not (which could change my perspective), I really feel that I wasn't offered the job because they found out my spouse was in grad school. The atmosphere quickly turned murky when they discovered he was a student and asked how long he would be in school and what he would do after graduation. Excuse me? Is my spouse applying for this job? Over a week after they told me they would be in touch (as well as a phone call, an email, and a handwritten thank-you later), I received an email stating that based on feedback from my interviews I wasn't being offered the job. Subsequently, I emailed the interviewers about constructive feedback on interviewing skills and received a comment that I did an impressive job. I returned home that day and did some prelim footwork on marital status discrimination.

I can't believe that it's 2006, I have a quality education and degree, the employer is a reputable one within the state, and all leads are pointing to me not getting the job b/c of my HUSBAND! Should I just stamp my forehead with late-twenties, clock-ticking, will-leave-workforce, husband-following wife? Seriously, if that's a concern then why don't they just ask me if my family life would interfere with my career?

Or at least follow-up on my benign inquiries to improve my interviewing skills and qualifications, thereby letting me know there was a more qualified candidate. Their avoidance simply increases my suspicions.

So, along with this fiasco I've been maintaining my current job. On the brighter side of things, J and I took a lovely walk down to the lake last night. I really felt like an old married couple out on a stroll. Wait a minute...

What those numnuts don't realize is that if there's a situation in which I would leave, he likely will too.

Damn, I was so going for the Claire Huxtable thing!