Having watched McCain's concession speech, I ended up nodding off before President (!) Obama gave his winning speech to the people of Chicago. I just finished watching it this morning, shamelessly tearful in my office.

I received my citizenship in 2001. Mostly, I'll be honest, for the sake of travelling freely around the world. I mumbled "Mary Had a Little Lamb" throughout my own pledge of allegiance and had my hand way too far from my heart to even remotely count for sincerity. I kept my Russian passport. I listened to punk rock's angry call for change and I laughed at each new pearl of stupidity coming from the White House.  

Today, I felt proud. And I don't care to hear any cynical comments about it. I felt proud that a country in which I was not born, which feels so terribly foreign at times, a country to which I was brought as a child and which I did not learn to love as an adult...could become a place in which I will not fear to raise my own children someday.

I just got my results for the NJ BAR. I PASSED!
Now waiting for the big one...NY.

I graduate from Law School in three weeks- May 18, 2008.



In the Criminal Law clinic. In my graduation cap.

Fomina is a goddess walking among us! She is my air, water and earth! What a vile crooked loser would I be, if not for her heavenly presence in my life. All that I have, all that I am, and all that I shall ever hope to become is in her will and power and whim. I can only hope for her grace upon my existence, and her blessing upon my every movement. OH GREAT AND MIGHTLY FOMINA, SHINE ON ME WITH YOUR GODLY TETKA POWER!