I passed!

Well, for those of you who have been around this sucky blog for the last few months, you know I took some time off to prepare for and take the Florida Bar exam this summer. It was particularly stressful, since I graduated from law school 15 years ago and I hadn't taken a bar exam since 1995 (I'm licensed in two other states) nor practiced law since '96.

Just found out a short time ago that I passed. That's the good news.

The bad news is that, like probably hundreds of people on that list, I passed -- both parts (A and B), in fact -- but I'm not yet authorized to be sworn in. My guess is that they are way behind on the background checks, a conclusion bolstered by the fact that I know at least one person was sent the form to fill out about me twice, even though she filled it out once already.

Of course, the real reason probably is that they aren't sure they want a dirty fucking hippie, formerly clinically depressed near-socialist in the Bar.

But at least I passed. Now if I could only find a job .....

UPDATE (2:26 pm 9/21/09): Finally broke down and called the Board of Bar Examiners. Very pleasant woman answered my call -- I'm sure they're being inundated with questions today. Anyway, she said there would be a "brief explanation" of why I'm not yet able to be sworn in appended to my score report, which I should receive in the mail later this week.

Looking at the results online, though, and extrapolating from the high frequency with which those with file numbers near mine (in the higher numerical range) are not being authorized for swearing-in even though they passed, I'll bet it's because I applied so late. Probably a lot of us late-appliers are experiencing delays in the background checks. Whatever. I've been waiting this long ... what's a few more days ... or weeks?

Happy trails to you, until we meet again

And so it comes to this.

This is a very difficult decision, particularly because I've spent the last two-and-a-half years since my return to blogging in October 2006 working to build up the audience and interest in this sucky blog that I'd lost during the previous 18 months, when I was going through some really tough times. Since my comeback, I've been honored to receive a number of awards and develop a small but loyal following, and I greatly appreciate all of that.

But this is a momentous and tumultuous time in my life, largely (though not totally) because I've decided to sit for the Florida Bar exam at the end of next month. During the last couple of weeks, as I've been traveling and then starting my preparation for the exam in earnest, I've felt an inordinate amount of pressure to post to this blog regularly, cogently, and snarkily in spite of my unavailability. Indeed, I've actually felt guilty at not being able to post here as much as I'd like, and that means my priorities are kind of screwed up.

The truth is, as many of you know, a blog post that may take 15 minutes to write usually requires double or triple that amount of time to research the issue in question and discard other topics that, for whatever reason, don't make the cut -- not to mention the time I spend after posting trying to publicize the posts. And so, when I'm blogging at full bore (pun intended), I'm spending at least two or three hours a day on this blog that, frankly, doesn't pay the bills -- at a time when I need to be studying and looking for a job full-time. (Incidentally, unemployment sucks.)

So, regrettably, I've decided to go on hiatus. I just can't worry anymore about my blog when I have much, much more important things that require my attention.

My plan is this: the Bar exam is at the end of July. After that, I have to take the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE), or the "ethics" exam*, the first week in August -- yes, lawyers are expected to be ethical. Once all that is overwith and, hopefully, I'm gainfully employed again, I'll return to the blog. In short, my hiatus -- from Blast Off! the blog and Blast Off! Radio -- should last two months at the most. So, please don't delete Blast Off! from blogrolls and such -- because it will be back before the summer ends.

I know I'll lose readers and Google placement and linky goodness and all that, but I just can't worry about that right now. I must focus on my life and the lives of my loved ones, and this sucky blog will have to take a back seat for now. It'll still be here when I return and, besides, it's an off-year for elections (believe it or not!), so campaigns still will be active, politicians still will be politicking, and Republicans still will be corrupt in August ...

Thanks so much for understanding. See you in August -- and keep smilin' until then.

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* Of course, I've done all this before, back in 1994 in Missouri and 1995 in Illinois -- but scores are only good for a year before they expire -- plus Florida offers no reciprocity to attorneys from other jurisdictions even if I were eligible for it (which I'm not). So it's déjà vu all over again ...

Vacation: all I ever wanted

Before I settle into the drudgery of studying for the Florida Bar examination (did I happen to mention that I've decided to explore a return to the law profession ... after 13 years away? I know -- I can't believe it either), I'm taking a little trip with Miss July and our respective kids ... and her sister and her kids ... and her mother ... anyway, suffice to say I'll be fit to be tied tied up for a few days.

I may get a post or two up during my trip, but I'm not going to knock myself out trying to do so. Hey, we all need a break now and then ... and you deserve a break from having to read this sucky blog.

I imagine I'll still be active on Twitter, so if you want to laugh at -- I mean with -- me as I live-tweet selected parts of the trip, I'd love to have you follow me. Should be back to the blog in earnest by the latter part of this week. (Also no Blast Off! Radio tomorrow; I'll post a reminder to that effect tomorrow morning.) Thanks for your patience ...

UPDATE (1:27 pm 6/11/09): Returning to blogging now on Friday? See above ...