Greetings from the STL

Hello Leininger Family, 

The fall is flying past for me; School has been really challenging, though it has been very nice that Janet is only 20 miles away. I was inspired during our orientation to begin running more as well. further, I have been spending some time working on the house I live in, and on a car that I bought a few weeks ago. Finally, I have had a few good chances to socialize with old and new friends, in between the many hours of reading I have been doing. 

The primary thing I have been doing has been getting in to the culture of law school. It sure is harder than many things I have done before, and I will have my hands full until Dec. 13th, when finals end. Briefly, for those who have not been close to someone who has gone to law school, the process is very different from most traditional classes. 90-95% of the course grade for all my classes but one is based on a comprehensive essay final examination. This makes preparing a new challenge, because there is nothing by which to gauge one's performance until the grades come back! well that is not quite true, of course we confer with one another, and can build outlines of the courses to study from. this is in addition to the readings that are assigned daily which has varied for me from 35-100 pages each night. Too much on Law School. suffice it so say that I have IMMENSELY enjoyed the challenge and all the fine people I go to class with.

Janet started dental school this fall as well, at So Il School of Dental Medicine. She sure has been busy, with Anatomy, Physiology, Histology, Ethics, Morphology, and Bio Chemistry; she has class from 8-5 every day. I believe she has wanted to be a dentist since she was a little child though, and she has only become more excited about it as the classes have cranked up. We study together at least a couple times per week- good nerdy fun. 

During orientation a intense old lawyer came and talked to us about the import of working out in law school. He still has an impressive regimen, though he is around 60-something, and told of how he trained for the Boston Marathon while attending Washington University law school. I found his presentation quite inspiring, and have taken to running pretty regularly, doing various 5k events around St. Louis, and running every other day after school. On Monday the 24th I got an email about a half marathon happening Today (sunday Nov. 2), and signed up. I had not run quite that far before though, so I decided to try to run the course monday night, just to make sure I could do it. I ended up messing up the route, and running over 15 miles. My legs (just) recovered in time for a successful event this morning. It was really a beautiful day, with bright leaves and fresh air. 

I scouted out a house here in St. Louis this spring, which Trale then bought in July. Accomplishing that alone, from Indonesia, was tricky. The house, to put in in the most favorable light, needed some sprucing up. it still does. but I have replaced all the plumbing, fixed the furnace, replaced both bathroom floors, done a minimal amount of dry-walling, and removed most of the (very distressed) carpets. I have largely ignored the project since I got the occupancy permit on Sept. 10th, since school is just a lot more important than the house right now. the house is functional though, and located in an excellent spot, right next to Tower Grove Park. The address is 3137 Alfred Ave. St. Louis, Mo, 63116, if you like looking

 things up on Google maps or Earth. the house had some rough times. see photo of bullet hole...

funny story...I came across a 2001 Hyundai Elantra on Craigslist for $750; it turns out the car was given as a first car to the seller's son, who immediately proceeded to run into someone with it. A little ticked off at his son, and clearly frustrated, the father sold (me) the car for a good deal. it has been working very well for me, with just a handful of new parts, which I installed last sunday ( an headlight, fender, bumper, and power-steering fluid tank.)

I have had a few very fun social times as well. The law school has it's own softball league, which I participated in. This was held every Friday afternoon, sometimes with double-header games. I also made it down to SIU for Homecoming, though I did end up working on a paper most of the day while I was there :). 

Additionally, I am MOST EXCITED about Marli, the Ahrendson's, and HOPEFULLY my folks, coming to St. Louis for Thanksgiving!!! Anyone else who would like to come is welcome to do so. please bear in mind that the house is still quite rustic inside...but will be furnished with lots of holiday cheer. 

I hope all y'all are doing great with everything and I have really enjoyed everyone's posts on the blog. 

a quick tale from an interesting case I recently read: while flying from Memphis to someplace, a passenger had to switch planes in St. Louis. on the Hour flight from Memphis, he had about six alcoholic beverages. upon arrival in St. Louis, he stole a golf car used in the terminal, and began tearing around in it. finally cornered by gate service personnel, he decided to hide in a trash chute. The story has an unhappy ending: he climbed in too far and fell into the compactor, which automatically compacted him. though the end effect was unfortunate, it was funny for me to picture him speeding thru the terminal in the stolen service car.

Have a great week

Love, 

Miles