Good timing. We just got home from Harry's 61st reunion and those 79-year olds looked pretty darned good. And had a great time! Now I'm looking forward to my 50th next year in Indiana. We always have the best time and don't care that much that the guys have no hair and we don't weigh 105 anymore. We're just glad to see one another.

Hi Kschipper621 - Don't know where you live, but have you researched law schools with evening programs? I stated in an earlier post that I'm in an evening program and am probably on the younger side of the class at 32. My study partners are 36, 43 and 45 (I think). I'm also quite good friends with at least 3 other women in their 40's - one has a son who just graduated college himself, one has 2 small girls and the third is single, never married. At least 2 men in my class have daughters my age. I don't think you're ever too late for law school. Some of my older classmates often joke that no one under 30 should even be allowed to apply.(Again, no offense intended to those who went at younger ages - each person comes into it in their own time and for their own reasons, but you know how the old fogies like to joke...). So I would encourage you to seek out programs that welcome non-traditional students. They are becoming more popular and slowly (very slowly) the legal community might be starting to recognize the value of the life experience and legal training that we bring to the work place. It is probably especially helpful if you want to practice in a field that you have some past related work experience or if you have some business/marketing experience. It seems that there have been more and more articles written lately about the importance of being able to network and build a client base for the firm - especially if you want to work in a private firm. If you want to go into public interest or social justice work, you might find that it's even more acceptable and easier to get work. Those jobs tend not to pay as well and there can be a great deal of emotional stress dealing with some of the clients in those areas, but that's where your background and maturity can come into play and really be a benefit. Evening programs tend to draw those of us who work during the day and/or those who want to be in a class with older, more non-traditional students. However, I know at our school at least, you are not forced to remain in the evening program during the course of your schooling. I started taking a mix of day and evening classes this semester and was able to flex my work schedule to accomodate some scheduling variety at school. So, no, you're not too old and your GPA is the same as mine was when I applied. I think given your age and life experience, a well written and thoughtful personal statement coupled with strong references would be important and could get you over the hump if you're worried about your scores. I can't say that it worked exactly that way for me, but my scores were somewhere in the bottom of what they accepted and I feel like I wrote a very good letter of personal intent and had some great personal referneces who knew me quite well professionally and personally. I was a Teaching Assistant for a first year class at our school and that program is linked with a special admissions group of students who maybe don't have the top scores but have personal/professional experience that makes the school think they would make good attorneys. Those students who are accepted under the special admissisions criteria are placed into the TA sections and receive some additional assistance and resources to help them be successful students. After being a TA for about 20 of those students, I'm not sure I really saw a difference - they were really energetic and very devoted to their academics. It was a great program that lends some extra support where needed. I'm fairly certain that my school is one of the schools to pioneer the program in the country and we've received awards from the ABA in recognition of it's success. ALSO - final tip - submit your application EARLY in the timeframe that they accept them - ESPECIALLY if it's a school with rolling admissions. Time is on your side if you get it in early. Wow - I babbled a bit, and I sound like a recruiter for the school, which I'm not, I just really like my school. So I say, go for it! You'll never know unless you try.

I just added one. I couldn't find the "good" photo in my computer. They were made in Minnesota or Wisconsin. Several of the old homes here in town still have them up. We played with the idea of "new" fabric awnings, but these babies have stood, and will stand, the test of time, as in decades and decades.

Second bid came back around $20,000, projected to take 15-20 days. We'll probably compromise a bit on communication and professionalism based on our initial experiences with the painters but I've seen good examples of both of their work, so I think that compromise will be worth it. We did follow up with the most expensive one since it seemed like it could be an error but he confirmed that he thinks it will take much more than 300 hours- closer to 800 or 900. I also have found a few handman types who charge less per hour and are willing to do some of the work so we may have one of them do some of the less important spaces.