J.D.

I am, among other things, a Juris Doctor...



With high honours...



And good friends...



A beautiful, smart girlfriend...



A silly wizard robe in the rain...





And even more good friends.

Harmon Killebrew

It's a very sad day here in Minnesota, especially for us Twins fans. Harmon Killebrew passed away this morning from esophageal cancer.

I never had the privilege to see Mr. Killebrew play, but I heard stories from my parents about home runs at the Old Met. I saw him out and about the Metrodome and Target Field, always with a smile on his face, always looking happy to be there. He was a classy man who treated everyone with respect, a person who was humble, yet took pride in his accomplishments. No wonder Minnesotans love him.

The Twins haven't been very good this year, but I hope tonight, they can win a game for Harmon. I think that's the best way to honour a man who has meant so much to the players, the team as a whole, and the state.

RIP Mr. Killebrew - we'll miss you.

Mission Accomplished

Folks, it has been a splendid few days since, at approximately 4:20 PM on Thursday afternoon, the 12th of May, I turned in my International Civil Litigation exam, and walked out of Hamline University School of Law a newly liberated man. That was it - the end, the finale, donzos, no more, nada. The End of Law School.

I go to sleep without the Hague Evidence Convention haunting my dreams, my mornings have been spent lazily sipping coffee, rather than hurriedly reading 20 pages of corporate finance text. And on this, a beautiful Minnesota Sunday, instead of trying to critique a mediation, I went for a bike ride. Perhaps it was the wind at my back, but I flew southward on Highway 3 toward Farmington as if I were being pulled by thoroughbreds. I'd like to believe it was just a function of a satisfied mind - well, and legs already battle honed this season (see post before last).

And I do have a satisfied mind, as Johnny Cash so aptly put it. When I was having lunch/drinking delicious beer with a fellow liberated lawyer on Friday, we both looked back on our law school careers with relative contentment. Oh sure, I could have done some things better - I could have stayed as far away from modern real estate as humanly possibly - but overall, I have few complaints. I had the opportunity to spend a month in London at the beginning of school, and at the end, after excrutiating yet rewarding hours spent researching, drafting, and arguing, I was sent to represent Hamline in Hong Kong.

In retrospect, that was the best thing. Unfortunately, Hamline is not Harvard, and it never will be. We suffer from an undeserved reputation at home, and employers look unimpressed at our accomplishments. But having the opportunity to go to a foreign place, and along with my teammate, create that impression anew, that was incredibly satisfying. It was humbling to think that Hamline, and the group of alumni who care so passionately about this moot, put their faith in us to represent well. And we did.

I'm not disillusioned so much to assume that life is easy-peasy from here on out. I, for better or for worse, chose a profession that is long on working late and short on healthy work-life balance. I think I've done alright so far though, and think I will in the future too.

But anyway, another chapter ends, another beings. I have a lot to learn, but I've learned a lot. I'm still trying to decide whether I'm prickish enough to refer to myself as "Dr. Nyquist" - probably not, but I'd imagine it will come out as an argument trump card/drunken statement. In any event, it'll be nice to walk across the stage on Friday in the silly hat and maroon robes, and see what comes next. The last few years, maddening as they have sometimes been, have been a good start.

Final Final

This just in, a report from the field:

International civil litigation, prepare to become my bitch.

Sent from my iPhone

Aaron Nyquist
Hamline University School of Law

Ironman 2011, or my pleasant country ride

I think a catchy underdog nickname is only appropriate to tell this story. The "Norwegian Nighthawk" perhaps? Anyways, it's really best if you have either of these two songs in mind as you read this post.





May 1, 2011 - A narration of sorts


So, I decided to bike the Minnesota Ironman last Sunday. Here's what happened.

7:15 AM - Wake up, put on "biking outfit." Said "biking outfit" includes spandex shorts, summer cotton socks, and lightweight summer biking shoes, among other things

7:30 AM - Let dog out. Notice it is approximately 0 degrees Fahrenheit, with wind gusts of up to 100 MPH coming from the WEST. Also notice that wearing shorts may not be the best idea. End of thought process.

7:32 AM - Let dog in. Reconsider shorts element for a brief moment, then again stop thinking. Eat instead.

8:00 AM - Go to Target to buy gatorade and bandanna for head. Lady at checkout says, "Oh, going biking today? Going to be chilly" in fantastic Minnesota accent. I nod begrudgingly in agreement.

8:02 AM - Drink coffee.

8:30 AM - Arrive at Lakeville high school with bike. Realize again that it is quite cold out. Further realize that it is snowing. Think to myself, "Maybe it'd be a good idea to wear an extra coat...."

8:40 AM - Tell check-in lady that why yes, I will bike the 68 mile route. Can't be that bad, right?

8:46 AM - Realize I will die without warmer gloves. Appropriately, I buy new pair of gloves.

8:50 AM - Scoff at friend's suggestion that I only bike the 30 mile route. Confidently and arrogantly say "No, I'm doing 68 miles." Said friend warns me not to die or lose an extremity.

8:51 AM - And we're off! WESTBOUND. INTO THE WIND. WITH THE SNOW. IN THE COLD. WEARING SHORTS.

9:10 AM - Reach the western edge of Lakeville, going headlong into the wind on the plains. Notice that many bikers are going the wrong way, back to Lakeville. Ignore them and push ahead. Quickly realize I made a huge, huge mistake.

9:11 - 10:50 AM - Curse to self, but can't hear cursing over roar of wind. Curse louder. Pedal at approximately 10 MPH through the farming valleys to Jordan. Can't feel knees, feet, brain, fingers, any part of body, etc. Curse even louder still. Repeatedly spit, blow snot, and god knows what else into some farmer's ditch.

11:00 AM - When trying to surmount the incredibly daunting peak of a suburban hill to the first rest stop, nearly fall off of bike due to complete exhaustion. Overcome with weakness, dizziness, illness, feelings of utter despondency, etc.

11:03 - 11:30 AM - Stumble deliriously into first rest stop. Eat approximately 20 lbs of bread based food, nearly throw up. Think about quitting. Also think about how much of an idiot I'd look like if I quit. Decide I feel better. Decide to keep going.

11:30 AM - 1:00 PM - Realize how pleasant it is to not be riding directly into 100 (well, maybe 30) MPH wind gusts. Have nerdy middle aged man (likely a banker) tell me I must be a real "ironman" to do this in shorts. Laugh with delusion. Also, realize how even more pleasant it is to ride WITH the wind. 20 MPH cruising never came so easy.

1:00 - 1:30 PM - Roll into second rest stop in Lonsdale. Again, eat approximately 20 lbs. of bread based food. Did not feel like throwing up this time. Steal much food for the ride home. Get back on the damn bike.

1:30 - 3:00 PM - Slowly, steadily make way northeast to Lakeville. Passed by many, but not left for dead. Even managed to pass a few myself. Upper legs are beginning to feel sad as the 50 mile mark is passed. Keep going.

3:00ish - Arrive back in Lakeville. Pass some of the assholes who passed me previously - joke's on you, idiot. Tortoise always beats the hare.

3:10 PM - Cross the finish line. Look into mirror of bathroom, realize I look like I survived some type of nuclear winter. Knees and face are bright red from windburn, cycling glasses are smeared with grease, hands are indented with seams from gloves. Go into the school to pick up commemorative t-shirt (which yes, I am wearing whilst I write this), and lady asks me incredulously, "You went 68 miles wearing those?!" Steely-eyed, nod yes, snatch the shirt, walk off into the sunset...


Moral of the Story

I'm just saying, the day we kill Osama bin Laden, I biked the 68 miles I said I would back in January. Did it suck? Yes. Was it fun? I don't really think so.

Am I glad I did it? Yes.