Out with the Old, In with the New

For the past three days I have been cleaning out our playroom. I do this cleaning extravaganza every year at Christmas time as a way to get rid of old or broken toys, books that haven't been read all year, and whatever else I might find that really no longer needs to be in the playroom. Such cleaning gets rid of the old and broken, and makes way for the new toys that are already wrapped and under the tree (mostly from Grandma!) I am a pack rat by nature, so I always have a bit of a difficult time getting rid of old things that my kids have played with for a long time, but have now outgrown. This year, however, I was ruthless. I pitched and pitched and gave away and gave away. I pitched all the baby toys that they have outgrown (OK, except for my two favorite ones!). I pitched toys they still play with if they were broken (a favorite stuffed animal is missing an ear - I pitched it!). I got rid of the bouncy seat (or what we called the "dinner chair" as we could put the chair in vibrating mode and have enough quiet baby time in which to eat dinner). I got rid of another favorite baby toy that I had been hanging on to for no reason except that both my kids had loved it when they were infants. I felt great, relieved and had a CLEAN, ORGANIZED playroom.

The morning after pitching all these things, I found out one of my newest friends is pregnant! My baby stuff was too old and worn to pass on to her, but I was wishing that I could, and I was ecstatic in sharing with her her new beginning, just as I closed out the baby stuff period (OK, I still have many baby CLOTHES in my attic!:-)) in my house.

A Little Nostalgia

Last night I played my last hockey game of 2007. I also played my last game with my gloves, gloves that I have played with for 23 years. The leather on the hands are completely worn out. My fingers poke out the sides of the finger pads. They smell REALLY BADLY. But I love these gloves because they have seen so much, have been with me for so much, traveled so much. They are hand me downs from a good college friend. I am looking forward to breaking in my new gloves, and hope that I can play for another 23 years to give them a fair shot at a special place in my memory banks!

NYC for the Holidays

I have just returned from a weekend in NYC. Growing up in Connecticut we went to NYC frequently. We had a family tradition of going to the city at holiday time, strolling 5th Avenue, gawking at the moving windows and the skaters at Rockefeller Center, and perhaps taking in the Nutcracker. I have tried to continue this tradition with my kids, even though the trip is a bit longer. We went this weekend, met my mom and Leo (her SO), and had a perfect day. We found parking for $12 all day. We ate at a deli. We saw an amazing model train display at the Citicorp Building. http://dunhamstudios.com/cititour.htm. We saw the moving windows at Saks and Lord and Taylor (Lord and Taylor's are the best, our family decided). We watched the skaters under the big tree at Rockefeller Center. http://www.rockefellercenter.com/home.html. We saw the Grinch on Broadway. We ate at Maria Pia (chosen, of course, because my name is Maria!) and we had perfect, cold, crisp weather. Perfect, just perfect. Anyone who can should visit New York during the holidays!

I am also jazzed today because one of my favorite people has agreed to guest lecture during my teaching experience. He is an amazing IP attorney who works for Microsoft, and one of the kindest, smartest people I will ever know. My students are in for a treat this spring!

My Purpose

I am new to the blogging world. I am beginning this blog mainly because, in the spring, I will be teaching a course on international trade at George Mason University's School of Public Policy. I thought a blog would be a great way to inform my students about events they might be interested in attending, groups they might want to join, and posting various readings and articles of importance to the class.

My purpose is also to learn for myself about new media and communicating through new media. I have a great friend who works for Sun, and she was the one who opened my mind and made me think that I should blog as a way of communicating with students, and anyone else interested! She has a great blog, a blog I love and now have an addiction for (and not just because I have been mentioned twice!). You should definitely check her out at http://blogs.sun.com/mary/. She gave me great advice for blogging: authenticity and frequency. I will adhere to those principles to the best of my abilities!

It is a glorious day in Arlington, Virginia today (despite dire predictions for an incoming storm). A perfect day for rake leafing and other need yard work. Enjoy!

My Profile

I am Maria DiGiulian, an attorney and mom living in Arlington, Virginia. My proudest accomplishments to date are my two smart daughters and my great marriage to my wonderful Midwestern husband.

I was graduated from Hamilton College (BA), George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs (MA), and George Mason University’s School of Law (JD). My most interesting educational experience was spending my junior year in China (long ago) in 1986-87.
Currently, I am an adjunct professor at George Mason University’s School of Public Policy where I am developing and teaching a course which will examine the multilateral trading system and its rules and practices. I am also general counsel for IBIS, A Chamber Music Society, Inc., which is a music society open to the general public that fosters an appreciation of chamber music through free community concerts. Please learn about this group at http://www.ibischambermusic.org/.

I have worked at large law firms for most of my professional career, including Sidley Austin LLP, Powell Goldstein LLP, Graham & James LLP and Mudge Rose Guthrie Alexander & Ferdon LLP. During those years, I litigated in various courts of appeal and the Supreme Court on matters involving questions of public international law and global corporate responsibility, and focused largely on the regulatory matters of international trade law. I also was involved in some exciting patent litigations before the U.S. International Trade Commission. Trial work brings an attorney into a face-paced, highly collegial environment in which you are constantly and quickly learning—not only about the substance of the laws at issue, but also the litigation process.

I have also done a significant amount of policy work on trade matters. This work was fascinating, as I focused on issues including U.S. relations with China, Vietnam, Cambodia, India and Burma and international trade interests such as normal trade relations trading status, sanctions, intellectual property rights, export controls, textiles and footwear. In my younger years I worked on the Hill on the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Economic Policy.

I am barred in the District of Columbia and Virginia, and am admitted in the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of International Trade, the U.S. Court of Appeals, 4th Circuit, the U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit, the U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit.

I am heavily involved in Women in International Trade, a non-partisan professional organization in Washington, D.C. for individuals—particularly women—who share a strong interest and expertise in the field of international trade. Please become involved (the group welcomes men and women) and join. http://www.wiit.org/.

My favorite hobbies are skiing and playing ice hockey (I grew up in Connecticut).