apparently, you're watching Sports Night on CSC

[raven]

Oh hai, I hate everything. I do. Yesterday I had an oral exam and today I went to the dentist, in contemplation of tomorrow I have an email titled "ALL DAY FIRE ALARM TESTING FRIDAY 5TH MARCH" and on Saturday four hours of exams.

And, waaaail, flist. There were fillings, and drilling of owwww, and poking about also of owwwwww, and a feeling of all-pervasive guilt (i.e., you would not be in this chair suffering PAIN and OWWWW if you did not eat so much, which is only partly true), and also I hate my dentist. I mean, I do not hate the institution of dentistry, I hate my individual dentist. She is very... patronising. And she thinks I need braces. I think, well, okay, maybe, but I have had braces on my teeth before and isn't once in a lifetime enough, and okay, if you really insist, but I don't have £2000 or however much it is, and being a student, eternally and forever, means this isn't changing any time soon. (Yes, training contract. But I have to pass my exams for that. Oh, flist, waaaaail.) And she really thinks I need braces. She gives me a ten-minute spiel on the subject every time I see her, which okay maybe is her doing her job, but today she said, blithely, "I recommend it! It would correct your whole face!"

...my whole face?

Cue ten minutes in front of mirror going, omg, omg, why has no one ever told me I am HIDEOUS?

oh wail. hate everything.

Yesterday. Yesterday was slightly better than today. I had to deliver an application for summary judgement and was hugely, uncharacteristically nervous all the morning and all the way up the hill until four o'clock, and when I finally got in there I was something of a wreck, and said, all flustered, shall I give you my authorities.

My tutor, whom I've written about in these metaphorical pages before, said, sternly, "Are you going to give me section 13 of the Supply of Goods and Services Act?"

"...no?" I said, getting more flustered. "I thought... I thought you might know it?"

"Yes!" he thundered. "Despite having been given it twelve times today, I learned it at law school! Thank goodness for you!"

So after that I felt slightly better, but still gibbered my way through the first part of my submissions. He cut me off and said, "Ms. [my last name]. Why, in your opinion, is there no prospect of the defendant defending this claim?"

"Er," I said, turning to my notes.

"I would like your honest opinion," he said, glaring at me.

"Er," I said, and took a very deep breath. "It is my honest opinion that the defendant is lying through its teeth, sir."

"I'm very grateful!" he shouted, and I concluded my submissions. Afterwards, when I looked expectant, he said, "Sorry, it's a long while till I can tell you how you've done. I would like to remind you at this point that you can do these in your sleep."

And he hustled me out. I felt better, going down the hill, and as an aside, my litigation tutor is great in many ways, but not least in how he addresses me as "Ms." without a flinch or doubt.

Now I am trying to desperately prepare for my civil litigation paper on Saturday (crim lit prep tomorrow, oh hell) and rewarding myself with bits of Sports Night. Which is so much fun. I tried to get into it a while ago, but my source dried up; this time it's easier and I'm enjoying it so much. Mainly Dana, and mainly mainly Natalie. I love her. She is so awesome.

Like so:

It's kind of blurry, but, ohhh. She's so pretty. So awesome, and so pretty, and in "Mary Pat Shelby" I wanted to waaaaaaail in her general direction.

Oh.

Oh, and, because I ought to go away and read about civil litigation and try through willpower to stop my tongue falling out and dancing a calypso on my desk - oh hai, dental anaesthetic - I will just note for the record which stories I wrote for purimgifts:

an open-door policy, The West Wing, Toby/Andi.
Otherwise known as "ARGH NO PLOT WHERE IS PLOT ARGH". shimgray came up with it at the eleventh hour, I wrote it in one sitting, but I'm pleased with it, I think.

so many colours it nearly broke my heart, Harry Potter, Parvati, Padma and Hermione.
Okay, so. I did not set out to write a Holi-themed story that would be revealed on Holi. It just sort of... happened. Serendipity and whatnot. But I liked it.

sometimes patient, sometimes kind, Love Actually.
Not something I would have written if my recipient hadn't asked for it, but on the whole I'm glad she did; it's not my best story ever by a long chalk, but it was probably good for me to go through the mill trying to get something good out of very few ideas.

Right. Civil litigation.

Comments

[foreverdirt.livejournal.com]

"Er," I said, and took a very deep breath. "It is my honest opinion that the defendant is lying through its teeth, sir."

The other day someone tried to make a lawyer joke at me, and I was honestly confused, because all the baby lawyers I know are so overwhelmingly awesome that I have totally forgotten there are other stereotypes out there. Jus' sayin'.

Grrr at your dentist, and so much yay for Natalie. I ship her and Jeremy so damned hard. (Have you got to the one where he's stressing about going to spend Easter with her family? Because that's probably my favourite line Sorkin has ever written.)

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

Hee! I'm happy to be changing stereotypes bit by bit.

Oh, oh, I ship them too! I haven't got that far, but I look forward to it. Oh, I love her. Why is there not reeeeams of fanfic about her, is what I want to know.

[tau_sigma]

I am very confused at how this entry went away while I was trying to comment. Also I am remembering that I am AN IDIOT and didn't phone you last night, although I wasn't quite sure if you were free or busy, and I am so sorry you have more exams, I was hoping (naively) you had just the one. *hugs*

Re your fic for purimgifts: I didn't read the first one, having watched no West Wing; I did think you might have written the second, not only for the subject matter but mainly because it sounded like you; and I missed the third, somehow, so will read that later (and hope that I can remember who is who of the characters; it has been a while since I watched Love Actually).

Your dentist sounds frankly bizarre. I have met you several times now, and I don't remember anything horrific about your teeth (or, indeed, your face, which in fact is a lovely happy smiley face, and entirely fine as it is). If you don't think you need braces, if you've always been happy with your face and teeth, then don't worry about it.

I think I should probably stop babbling, so I will just say that your tutor sounds lovely, and move along. *g*

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

It went away because the first time there was HTML fail, so I deleted and reposted it! I am sorry for confusion. Do not worry about phoning me! Phone me whenever you like. If my phone is on I am supposed to be revising and wouldn't mind the distraction.

I'm glad you enjoyed the story! Everyone seems to have guessed it was me, and I can't say I blame them. :P And thank you for being reassuring re: MY SUPPOSED HIDEOUSNESS. I know my dentist is wrong, I do. She's just... persistent. :)

[tau_sigma]

Oh wow, your Love Actually story is great. I really, really love it; in particular, I love the part with Karen, and I'm honestly not sure if that's your writing or because I always felt so bad for her and it's nice to see her getting the love and attention she deserves.

I am just bewildered as to why your dentist would ever say that about your face. It's a very, very odd thing to say. (A dentist I saw once had a much more sensible approach; he asked, before even looking at my mouth, if I thought I needed a brace. 'I do it this way,' he said, 'so that you don't think I looked at your mouth and thought you needed one.' Very clever, I thought.)

[musesfool.livejournal.com]

I love Dana and Natalie and it always makes me sad when people don't like them, because they are AWESOME.

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

Oh so awesome! Every scene they have together makes me so happy.

[biascut.livejournal.com]

"Er," I said, and took a very deep breath. "It is my honest opinion that the defendant is lying through its teeth, sir."

Hee! But also, I am intrigued about how this affects your case. Should you tell the defendant to stop lying through its teeth? Should you do your best anyway? Are you allowed to *headdesk* in front of the judge if the defendant is particular egregious?

I am saving your stories for later.

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

Aha, you see. *pause, for putting on of hat* An application for summary judgement is, in essence, a request to the court to either throw out the case or make a judgement, without it actually going to trial. You have to argue in your submission that the case satisfies the test, and in this case I was appearing for the claimant and had to show that "the defendant has no reasonable prosect of successfully defending the claim, [and] there is no other reason for the matter to proceed for trial". And the defendant's witness statements were very dodgy indeed, and my saying that they were lying was basically me arguing that, they're lying and we don't need a trial can we all go home now.

But if I had been appearing for the defendant and it was my opinion that they were lying, I would have had to argue against the application and explain why the matter should go to trial. If the defendant had told me that they were lying, and that their witness statements were fabricated, then I would have to step out immediately, present my apologies - in my personal capacity - to the court and leave the defendant to find another lawyer. Which is the theory, but I suspect it may not work like that in practice.

(yay, stories!)

[deathbyshinies.livejournal.com]

Even if postcolonial HP fics didn't already own my soul, I think I'd love your Holi story in any case. The odd joyful-elegaic tone, and the year after the world didn't end, and Hermione interacting with other women, and oh, everything. I plan to bookmark and rec it, if that's OK.

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

That is very much okay, and thank you! I am really glad it worked for you. :)

[sophiahagia.livejournal.com]

I love Sports Night. It's my default "The world is going to hell, and there's no way out, so let's watch some good TV" show. My LJ title comes from one of my favorite Natalie lines.

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

It's so great, isn't it? And perfect for watching in bits; you can watch five minutes and there's sure to be a joke or a moment of awesome.

[gamesiplay.livejournal.com]

It's my default "The world is going to hell, and there's no way out, so let's watch some good TV" show.

It is truly amazing how many people feel this way about Sports Night. Actually, a couple of weeks back misspeacock came to stay with me pretty much entirely because we were both having Major Crazy and felt that the best way to handle it was to watch SN with a fellow sufferer. :)

[gamesiplay.livejournal.com]

Clearly this was the icon I meant to use for that comment.

[soupytwist.livejournal.com]

I am sorry you had dental woeeeee, but I can tell you that there is for definite absolutely nothing wrong with your face. (then again I never thought there was anything objectionable about your teeth either, so maybe your dentist is seeing things others don't. Just sayin'.)

I am glad your tutor called you Ms and you got to show your awesome.

And: NATALIE NATALIE NATALIE OH MY HEART. I loved her when she was Wade on Silders (in retrospect I should have realised I was queer rather earlier than I did LOL) and oh her and Jeremy are so win. I love that Natalie is a little bit nuts but owns her nutsiness, accepts it and uses it sometimes and never lets it stop her ultimately trying for what she wants to do. She's just great.

(I like Dana too, but Natalie is my favourite Sports Night woman. ♥ )

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

I am contemplating getting a second dentist's opinion on my face. It would probably set my mind at rest one way or the other, at least!

NATALIE! Why is the whole internet not falling over at her feet? I mean, I like Dan and Casey an' all, but, NATALIE. And Dana. But NATALIE. in ALLCAPS.

[soupytwist.livejournal.com]

That sounds like a good idea, because whether something is up or not, that really wasn't a reasonable way to express it to you!

NATALIE NATALIE NATALIE. Like, whenever I watch the "Right now, how much do you love me?" bit - which isn't often because I cry - I have to mentally go "A LOT". Also there is an episode where Natalie does Dana's job while Dana has a day off, and ROCKS IT OUT OF THE PARK. The rest of the episode is a bit eh, because my least favourite character is in it, but that bit is awesome.

[deepbluemermaid.livejournal.com]

Your dentist sounds very odd and ungood. I went to the StuDental place at Brookes' Headington Campus and saw a lovely guy, who was clearly used to treating impoverished students. The clinic also had the coolest X-ray machine...

Your tutor sounds awesome!

Also, I wish I could watch Sports Night - I have heard so many good things about it. I doubt it was ever screened in New Zealand, and I haven't met any serious Sorkin fangirls here. I just realised, with the help of Google, why I recognise the actress playing Natalie: she was an FBI agent on Numb3rs, and rather fantastic.

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

Same dental practice! But different dentist. Huh, that is my bad luck, not getting the nice dentist! Woe.

Sports Night wasn't ever screened in the UK either, and isn't available on Region 2 DVD, which annoys me greatly; it's one of the few shows where I feel no compunction about acquiring it, er, creatively, because there's no legitimate way of seeing it!

[shehasathree]

yaaay Sports Night! (and ohhhh Mary Pat Shelby.)

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

WAIL. Srsly. I just wanted to cry by the end.

[dormouse-in-tea.livejournal.com]

I have seen pictures! Your face is in no way in need of any correcting whatsover! I am wrathfully inclined to bite that woman's nose off! And now I am going to wander away, because I am out of exclamation points!

!!!!

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

*grins* Thank you very much, that does make me feel better.

[ladyfalcon.livejournal.com]

Firstly, you are not hideous. Maybe you should have braces, maybe you shouldn't, but if it's impossible for you to get them right now that settles that in my mind. If the only reason she's suggesting them is for the purely cosmetic, well, you're already exceedingly pretty so there's no need to gild that lily.

Secondly, I would be very glad to know of a source for all things Sports Night, as I've been unable to find it and it's been years since I've gotten my fix!

Erin

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

Thank you, honey! Much appreciated.

(My email address is on my profile. Email me re: SN.)

[gamesiplay.livejournal.com]

"I recommend it! It would correct your whole face!"

oh my god WHO SAYS THAT?

Your face is impeccably correct as it is. Seriously.

Also, of course I agree with you about Natalie, who always has good ideas. Like not sticking her hand in the blender.

[lauds.livejournal.com]

Ah, I really really need to watch Sports Night. <3

Just wanted to say I LOVE the Toby/Andi fic, all lovely and understated and very them. The unexpected little picture at the end made me flail, I always forget how much I like their relationship!