The Apartment, The Law Books, and The Eye Surgery

Yesterday, I put together my new desk. I was surprised and a little disappointed that the directions did not include words. That is, there were lots of pictures, but no words to explain what I was to do. Why wouldn't they have words? On one page, the picture had three circled items with complicated enlarged diagrams to demonstrate what could have been said in the simple sentence, "Be sure the unfinished edge is facing up and there is a 1/16 inch space around the outside."

Setting up this apartment is taking more energy than I thought. I'm buried in boxes, swimming in furniture, and still living out of a suitcase. I can't seem to get everything to fit. The bedroom is the size of a bowling ally (long and narrow) and the kitchen is the size of a closet. And unless I consider storing the food and dishes in the bedroom, it doesn't really work for me. Already in the "bedroom," beyond the bed, is a loveseat, recliner, exercise equipment, musical instruments, a desk, TV, and a bookshelf and there is still plenty of room. I feel like I just keep moving boxes around, but nothing is actually getting unpacked. Sadly, I am feeling the crunch of time and really feel like I need the apartment to be functional by the time orientation starts next week.

I bought my books yesterday. The bill was just under $600. I went to the law school booksale, but only found two books there. I had to get the rest of the books from the University Bookstore, where I also got my student id. I passed several students who will be in my cohort, as we all carried the same pinkish book list around with us, but didn't really meet anyone yet. I suppose that will happen next week during orientation. In the law school building I overheard a second year student (we call them 2L) talking to a first year student (1L). The 1L was asking about what extra books and study guides to buy. The 2L responded, "Don't buy any of that stuff now. Basically, you're going to have no idea what is going on for the first several months, so there is sense in spending the extra money. I mean you've never done anything like this, it's going to be like a whole new universe." I waver between feeling that the 2L was torturing him and feeling very afraid that I have gotten in way over my head. I should have some idea soon as I already have an assignment due for the first day of my Civil Procedure Class.

Tomorrow I have surgery on my eye to weaken one of my muscles to compensate for a weak muscle on the other side. It seemed a little backwards to me that they are planning to cut a muscle to make another muscle seem stronger. I am a little excited and a little freaked out about the whole thing. I can't imagine that my whole way of seeing the world will literally be changed tomorrow. This muscle weakness is a congenital condition, and my way of compensating for it has been to hold my head at a slight tilt. This tilt has caused numerous muscular problems in my neck and shoulders. Also, when I'm tired, I see double anyway (as anybody whose been in a car with me at night knows) and I can't look to my left or lay on my right side without seeing double. Now, if all goes well, the tilt will be gone and I will not have double vision anymore. I can't even imagine being able to hold my head straight without struggling to achieve binocular vision.