Thursday, December 7, 2006
I am almost done with my final assignment to submit to Chris. Whew! I will be ready to take the exam on Monday and tommorow, I am going to study! My memory is in a state of flux right now and we will see how it goes......

I took a walk across campus to attend the University Libraries Holiday Luncheon at the Joyce Center. Fr. Hesburgh blessed the meal by also mentioning that he is "glad to be present amongst his fellow library colleagues and not bad for a 90 year old man". Since arriving at Notre Dame, I have had the distinct pleasure of meeting Fr. Hesburgh 4-5 times. It is always a pleasure to "run into" him especially at the Hesburgh Library. He allowed my husband to interview him at one time for an article and he had the opportunity to meet my children of which he offered a blessing prayer for their continued health and happiness. The luncheon was also an opportunity to share my meal with the librarians I worked with at the beginning of my residency (Cheri, Laurie, Kathy, Margaret, Sherri, Carole, Jessica, Laura). A gift by the committee consisted of the traditional Irish Blessing Prayer metal bookmark. It was as always, a great opportunity to fellowship with the people I began my residency with!

I had a patron come into my office a few moments ago wanted information about Osteoporosis and the medications that are perscribed. I feel bad for this woman...she just found out she has this disease and she feels like she should have been informed of this a lot earlier than 3 days ago. I made sure she understood that I am not a lawyer and could not dispense legal advice. I love the database, Medline becuase its full of current information about many medical conditions. I found three excellent articles that she could reference.

Tuesday, December 5, 2006
One of the many insightful lessons and wisdoms my parents and grandparents passed on to me is the old addage's about:

"Ignorance is a blissful state".....For the sake of just trying to survive in a world made up of varying forms of negativity, you have to allow people (personality types) to remain in a certain state of bliss by not bringing their ignorance to their attention. In the long run, it saves you a lot of grief and for being misunderstood.

"The road to Hell is paved with good intentions".... One day you could be feeding a well-prepared meal to the hungry and the homeless and the next day, feel compelled to pass judgement on the person who sought you out for providing a free meal.

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One of the things that makes my work here at the University of Notre Dame so rewarding is that I get many opportunities to be around students and some of the faculty who come from many parts of the United States and very remote and exotic places from all over the world. I find it extremely troubling, and down right discouraging to find out that there is a segment of students in the Law School who are compelled to be discrimatory and elitist. I was literally "broken-hearted" and partially "disappointed" to hear about an incident in passing this afternoon from one of my colleagues. ....... Which puts me in the mind of remembering one of my grandmother's wisdom:"That which does not kill you, can only makes you stronger".

Monday, December 4, 2006

A transcript of today's oral argument before the U.S. Supreme Court on
the issue of race-based school admissions (Parents Involved inCommunity
Schools v. Seattle School District) is available at:
http://www.supremecourtus.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/05-908.pdf

Friday, December 1, 2006

This was a good day and week at the Law Library. I answered only a couple of questions from students this week, and I can honestly have one of two last assignments turned in on Monday afternoon. I now know what I will doing in the New Year. I will once again have the privilege of working with Sherrie (75%) and Cheri (25) of the time. I will spend 13 additional days in January in the Law Library to make up for the time I missed due to my darn back. I do miss my colleagues from the Hesburgh...and wouldn't you know it, this week in Law was absolutely wonderful and awe inspiring.

2007 is upon us and I am excited with much anticipation because its a new year of hope and many possibilities.