The Red Velvet Lawyer

They Are Big Magic At the end of last year, I read Elizabeth Gilbert's new book: Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear (2015).  You know her from her earlier work: Eat, Pray, Love . I loved the central theme of the book.  She argues that creativity is our birthright and inheritance. Birthright because we are part of a profoundly abundant and creative universe.  Inheritance because we come from generations of people who got things done through creative problem-solving.  They created useful and beautiful tools, objects, art, books, music, and other forms of expression. She says: "You will find people who spent their lives making things.  This is where you come from. This is where we all come from.  Human beings have been creative beings for a really long time -- long enough and consistently enough that it appears to be a totally natural impulse." And this: " I have the right to collaborate with creativity because I myself am a product and

Committed to  High-Quality Legal Education So, I am re-posting these teaching tips here for easy retrieval as I need them.  Two law professors that I admire for their commitment to high quality legal education offer them for our use. Students? What do you think of these suggestions?

Information for Law Scholars Thanks to Brian Leiter for providing this updated guide for submitting law review articles.

Wishing You  the Best in 2016! Yes, I am back to blogging after a five month transition to a new part of the world, a new university, new students, a new home, and generally a new lifestyle.  I plan to catch up on some of the experiences I have had in Doha.  I have shared some of them on Facebook, but without much commentary or the perspective that comes with being here for several months now. It is still a very great adventure that I am holding gently in my mind, heart, and hands.   Many of my expat friends here have posted reflections on Facebook today about their own experiences during 2015. They often talk about the surprise they still hold for making the transition to Doha from places all over the world.  Few expected to be here a year ago.  They talk about the challenges of change.  But, also the importance of the journey of growth, self-discovery, and service. They talk about what you shed to be able to put on this new skin.  About a year

          My Sister from Another Mother I've been in Doha for a little over two weeks.  I had planned a few more posts in my "Letting Go" series, but simply ran out of time in the run up to my departure date. But, I'm pausing before the semester starts to complete the series.  Today, I want to talk about my support system in Grundy.  This morning on Bloomberg International TV, I watched an interview of photographer, Sally Mann .  She talked about aching for her home state of Virginia and the deep kindness of its people.  I understood exactly what she was talking about. Over in the central Appalachian Mountains, Virginians give that kindness an extra bump up, something I always called mountain hospitality. In my thirteen years living in Grundy, everyone was extremely warm, kind, helpful, and loving.  They generously folded me into the community.  So, here is my tribute to the folks who provided the many types of personal services we often take

Praise from my  Risk-Taking  Role-Model I shared Dottie's farewell email  earlier.  Dad's farewell email follows.  Some of the references require some explanation. Many relate to his pioneering work in dentistry.  As background, I am the eldest child and only daughter in a family of four kids. My Dad and Mom married when my Mom was 18 years old and my Dad was 20 years old.   As newlyweds, they moved from a small farming town in central Illinois to St. Louis while my dad completed dental school at Washington University.  They lived in a new public housing project, Pruitt-Igo , that gained the reputation as a failure in urban planning. In 1972, the Department of Housing demolished it in a fabulous implosion . When we lived there, in the late-1950s, we were one of three or four white families.  During the 1960s, St. Louis experienced a period of "white flight" from the ring of suburbs,  including University City, located  immediately outside of the St.

I've talked about letting go of family in an earlier post.  After the visit in July from my Dad, Jerry, and my Stepmom, Dottie, I got a couple of emails that I'd like to share.  If you want to know how I have the "courage" to make this move as a 61-year old woman, these emails provide some insight.  I am reproducing them with permission.   My Dad married Dottie several years after my Mom, Jo Ann, died of colon cancer at the age of 61.  Dottie, with a Ph.D. in education, brought along a large extended family that placed its large and loving reach securely around Dad.  She has been a generous, supportive, and loving spirit in my life.   Hi Paula, tutoring [for at-risk grade school readers] ended yesterday.  Just saw your posting of old cabinet and assume you sold it.  How is the rest of moving moving along?   So happy we had a chance to visit.  And love the posting you made on/lauding your friendship with Kenn Ann .  That truly what REAL friendship