Living Lawyerly

NYC Ballet "A Midsummer Nights Dream" from June 5-10

Linda McMahon, the WWE, Libel and Other Good Stuff

New York Legislation Wants to Ban Anonymous Commenting

GOP Candidate Wants Journalists Jailed. In other news, water is wet.

Shiloh

Six years ago I was in Union Square and an animal foster service begged my roommates and I to take a dog.  The dog, referred to then as Missy which she clearly disliked, could not be housed anywhere, as all the animal facilities were overcrowded.  We were told that if we did not foster her, she might be put down.  Though Gizmo, the shih tzu in the cage to the right, was cuter, ultimately it made sense to take this dog home and care for it, for awhile, until they could find a proper owner.  However, no one ever came back for the dog and she wound up staying with us. Looking back on it, this was clearly a ploy, but I like to think of it as divine intervention.  We promptly changed her name to Shiloh Nouvel, after Brangelina’s child, and she became the apartment mascot.

Growing up, I had never had a pet.  My mother was allergic to both cats and dogs (conveniently, as she also hates them).  I likely would not have believed this if it weren’t for tha fact that my grandfather tried to get them a German Shepard when my mother was a kid and she was diagnosed with mono for 4 years until the dog was removed.  I have always loved animals, sickeningly so, and dogs have always been my favorite.  As a child I had wanted to be a veterinarian, but decided against it when I realized you also had to put animals down.  The happiest moment of my life was when I went to visit my friend who was studying at UPenn to become a veterinarian.  While there, she took me to the grads school’s happy hour, where everyone brings their pets and hang with them while they drink.  I remember thinking that Shiloh would have liked it, since she would at least have gotten to socialize while we had one too many.  Often, when walking on the street, dogs will attempt to run at me, infuriating their owners and entertaining my boyfriend.  I am truly a dog whisperer and find them equally as charming as they seem to find me.  However, I will never find a dog as amazing as Shiloh.

What I liked best about Shiloh was that she was happy.  I have never encountered a dog who was so loving and loved.  Her tail was always wagging, her tongue out, and she loved to use her paws like arms, swatting you when you didn’t pay enough attention.  She hated the Chinese food delivery people, though loved the Asian massage workers next door ( might have had to do with the fact that they gave her entire slices of pizza) so we knew she wasn’t racist.  She once got angry at one of my roommates, went in their room, looked them right in the face, then swiftly took her paw and knocked over all of their books.  She was spiteful.  When the Mets lost in the 2007 play-offs because David Wright sucks, she consoled me.  She was empathetic, but knew when to be tough.  She was half chow/ half golden retriever, which made her VERY VERY cute and fluffy.  She demanded all doors be left open so that she could come and go into your bedroom in the middle of the night as she pleased.  This created awkward situations.

When I was informed last year that Shiloh had cancer, I was deeply upset.  I had never had a pet before, so losing one would be unimaginable.  She was given a few months to live, if that.  Being the Keith Richards of dogs, she made it over a year.  I am happy that it turned out that way.  Everyone was able to spend time with the dog and really show her how much they loved her.  This resulted in a 20 lb weight gain on the dog’s behalf, as she was regularly given human food as her last supper. All in all, she had a good run.

When I created this tumblr, I didn’t really have any idea what direction it would take.  I think I intended on having it focus somewhat on my everyday life, though not being too personal, as I find that uncomfortable at times.  I think I also wanted to post about interesting legal developments, etc.  as I am a lawyer who works in media and thus, am interested in media law. I think judging by the months that go by without content, you can truly understand how inconsistent I am, sadly in all areas of my life.  However, I think to not have posted about the dog who I have loved for the past six years as she is about to be put down would be a travesty and complete affront to what I am trying to accomplish here, whatever that might be ( still haven’t figured it out yet).

In conclusion, you will be missed Shiloh.  You were a good dog.  I didn’t post the photo of you wearing that crown from my one Halloween costume, as I was concerned that might be considered animal cruelty. Instead, I used the one where your eyes look sort of nuts and from when you places cold cuts in people’s bags.  A thousand pardons.

The Celebrity Apprentice Finale

There are no words for my disappointment when it comes to the Celebrity Apprentice Finale and this season in general.  In fairness, I don’t think I could consider myself an expert on the show, as last season was the first season I watched in its entirety.  However, the banality and predictability of this season’s ending has put me off from ever watching another episode.  That is, unless LaToya Jackson is brought back.

Arsenio Hall is not my celebrity apprentice.  While I like Arsenio, he didn’t necessarily “bring it” this season.  I felt like he essentially coasted into the last few episodes by keeping himself out of leadership positions and hanging on to the coat tails of other, more animated/creative personalities.  Case in point: Aubrey O’Day.  While I find Aubrey insufferable, I have to give credit where credit is due: she was the brains behind every operation.  Had Aubrey not been on Arsenio’s team for the Walgreen’s challenge, he would not have been a successful project manager.  Moreover, his inability to keep his composure when she pissed him off really showed a not so soft side of Arsenio that I didn’t much care for.  I don’t care how annoying Aubrey is ( and she is incredibly annoying): whore is not an appropriate insult. I’ll give Arsenio that he genuinely seemed to care about his charity: The Magic Johnson Foundation.  Having a relative die from AIDS, I know it is something that means more than face time to him ( looking at you Victoria Gotti).  However, one thing I found strange was the whole begging Magic Johnson to be involved in the season finale.  I get he is famous but it is HIS charity.  Shouldn’t he have insisted he would be featured in the promotional video?  Wonders never cease.  Also, where the hell was Eddie Murphy?  How do you go from your own late night talk show and best friends with Eddie Murphy to not being able to raise money?  Who did this guy burn bridges with?

That being said, Clay Aiken wasn’t a great alternative.  I have to disclose that I am, indeed, a “claymate” and have been for some time.  I didn’t watch American Idol when he was on the show, but I did like that song “Invisible” which he released afterward. Moreover, the fact that Clay’s charity was one he started himself endeared him to me.  Throughout college and some of law school, I worked with mentally and physically handicapped children.  It was something that I found incredibly fulfilling, wish I still did, and has made me particularly sympathetic to any cause related to these kids.  Thus, Clay had me at hello.  Sadly, Clay also was not a strong competitor.  He was decent, at best, and though a team player, didn’t necessarily stand out.  Also, I sensed a little cattiness when it came to his criticism of Dayana and his friendship with Lisa Lampanelli.  Lampanelli, who I was vaguely familiar with from roasts and such, comes off terribly on television and is, like Aubrey, transparent.  I can understand why Patrice O’Neil disliked her so much that he made her weep.  In fairness, though, she cried every episode.

The reason I loved last season was twofold.  The first reason being that the cast was a sort of dream team for me.  I have had an interest in LaToya Jackson for a long time.  Lil’John, Meatloaf, Star Jones, Dionne Warwick and Gary Busey also engaged me, as they seemed such unlikely participants.  While originally I was drawn to Dionne Warwick’s refusal to work, Busey-isms, and LaToya, I stuck around for Marlee Matlin and John Rich.  I mean, these two people raised over a million dollars each for charity.  They may not be Brad and Angelina, but that is pretty impressive.  This season, I think in total $.35 was raised.  There was little heart, little interest, and even less entertainment.

In short, Theresa Guidice and Lou Ferrigno could have been in the finale and I would have been just as interested, and that isn’t saying much.  There are very few areas in which I would call myself an expert.  Certainly none of these areas have to do with my actual occupation.  However, I think those who know me would say that I am incredibly well-versed in reality television and that even if I don’t watch a show, I know a good deal about it and usually have kept up with plot points, etc.  I think this season of the Celebrity Apprentice has actually disillusioned me.  I had intended on recapping episodes for my own entertainment, but instead, I couldn’t even muster a description of the final episode.  I will now blindly throw my faith at “American Ninja Warrior”.  At least it has Evan from “American Gladiators”.

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