That sentence is so surreal that I still have trouble typing it. Since sometime around the third grade I have been telling everyone who asked (and even some people who didn't) that I was going to go to law school. And here I am, 1/3 of the way done. It's just unimaginable.
In all truthfulness I am actually already done with 1L. My last exam was on Wednesday. This extra week of hell is, technically, optional. But it's optional in the same way that showering is optional. You don't have to do it, but if you didn't, your future would be pretty heavily impacted (not to mention you'd have fewer friends). This week is write-on. Anyone who knows anything about law school has likely heard of write-on. It's a fairly grueling writing competition for 1Ls to get onto journal staffs. Here at W&M, write-on is a week long, right after the finish of exams, Friday to Friday. So, Thursday was a nice day at least...
Laws:
In light of write-on this week, my current thoughts center entirely around a small wire bound book called the Bluebook. And any law student will tell you, when your in law school the Bluebook quickly becomes a third arm. (Though I have not gone so far as to name mine--yet--many people do...that's how intensely the Bluebook permeates our world. And think, someday you'll be calling these people for help...) Now outside the legal world, the phrase "bluebook" has some varied meanings. However, I assure you we are not walking around the law school offering car appraisals...In the legal world, the Bluebook is the written version of legal citation rules. As law school has taught us all that we have no independent thought worth writing down, citation of other people's far more important, scholarly and published thoughts is a key part of our existence. So the Bluebook...
The Bluebook is published by a joint group from the Harvard Law Review, the Columbia Law Review, the University of Pennsylvania Law Review, and the Yale Law Journal, so you know, a bunch of morons. It's currently in the 18th edition and weighs in at a precocious little 416 pages. Though some states and judicial districts use other citation systems or alter the Bluebook method to suit their own needs, the Bluebook remains the ultimate legal citation authority in academia, the SCOTUS, most major courts, and most large law firms.The first edition of the Bluebook was simply called A Uniform System of Citation and was published in 1926. It was 26 pages long and was, in fact, gray. In 1939, the 6th edition had expanded to 51 pages and the cover color was changed to blue, which was when it began to be called the "Blue Book" colloquially. By 1991 it was up to the 15th edition and the name "Bluebook" was officially adopted. Since then, there has been a new edition about every 5 years, each adding about 45 pages. The latest Bluebook development? The 18th edition can now be accessed online.
So, for those who suffered through learning MLA or Chicago style citations (or for those of us who were MBC political science majors and had to learn the obscure APSA), my sympathy is limited. Though I acknowledge that those are some intensely frustrating rules to learn, until you have to look through an untold number of pages and 2 different tables to determine how to cite to an international civil code in a non-common-law jurisdiction appearing in multiple languages, don't talk to me.
Sausages:
So though I am suffering through write-on, the weekend was made at least marginally better by the Farmer's market. After missing last weekend's market, I was particularly excited for today. Since I'm going home on Friday, my buying opportunities were slightly limited. As enticing as the giant bundles of the most gorgeous spring onions and lettuces were, they would likely get smarmy in my fridge before I could eat them all. However, I couldn't say no to the completely wonderful organic Japanese turnips. If your not familiar with turnips, you should be. They're wonderful! I'd never had them as a kid and first encountered them when I went to Katie's for Thanksgiving a few years ago. Her family had turnips in place of mashed potatoes and since 
then, I have been in love. The versatility of root vegetables is nearly unparalleled and I have had a fun morning cooking them up. Here's some of the "recipes" I toyed with today.Turnip Greens:
People often times forget that the greens of turnips are edible, and quite delicious also. They are similar to collards, kale, mustard greens etc. and can be cooked in similar ways. I like to keep it pretty simple though. Just estimate on the amounts. Taste is paramount, measurements, not so much.
turnip greens
olive oil
garlic
red pepper flakes
salt
pepper
water or broth
(you can throw in some herbs too, if you're feeling frisky...)
Saute the garlic and herbs/spices in the olive oil briefly first. Then add the loosely chopped greens to the olive oil and then add enough water to get a good steam going. Cover and cook for around five minutes until the stems have softened and the leaves wilted. Then continue to cook uncovered until most of the liquid is absorbed. (You can guesstimate on the time, depending on how soft you like your stems.)Mashed Turnips:
Turnips are slightly more watery than potatoes so some people choose to add a potato to mashed turnips (one potato for about every three turnips). I don't mind the more watery texture so I didn't but feel free. Mash the turnips with a fork after boiling and add whatever you like. My version from this morning is below.
roughly diced turnips, boiled
salt
pepper
assorted herbs
feta cheese
Roasted Turnips:
I sliced mine so they were more like chips but you can just dice them too. Also, it's great to mix them with other vegetables and roast them all at once.Toss sliced/diced turnips in olive oil, salt and pepper. Spread out on a cookie sheet or roasting pan and put in a low heat oven (around 300) for around 7 minutes.
