Monday Morning Mish Mash

1. A few weeks ago, I remarked to someone that I had never been called for jury duty. Well, I jinxed myself, because the summons came a few weeks ago. I’ve always thought it would be neat to serve on a jury, but I had in mind the sort where I might be sequestered in at least a three star hotel during a trial that garnered enough attention that I could at least appear on Regis and Kelly if not Oprah once it was all said and done. But, this was county magistrate court, so my expectations were low.

So this morning I drove the nearly one hour to the county seat. Circled the block aimlessly for ten minutes trying to find 107 South Main (which, naturally, was actually a block OFF Main Street, behind 101 South Main, because that is how streets are done here), sat in a waiting area that had not seen updating since Three’s Company went off the air, and was hustled into a court room where juries were to be selected for five different trials. Now, they didn’t tell us what KIND of trials these were, but I suspect most of them were car accidents and small offenses. Several litigants were representing themselves, one didn’t bother to show up, and one theatrically braced at her neck as if to convince us all that she was truly suffering. After a dozen or so folks plead that serving might be some sort of hardship, the rest of us had to stand and introduce ourselves, giving our line of work, and where applicable, our spouse’s occupation as well. Twice I was called as a potential, and twice the plaintiffs asked the judge to seat me. And twice the defense attorneys asked him to excuse me. When the fifth trial was called (The Case of Ms. Neck Brace), the two attorneys present asked to approach the bench and informed His Honor that they had settled. I was free to go!

2. I had a very lazy weekend. Slept in every day, which I have not done in a long time. I can’t shake this feeling of constant fatigue the past few weeks,  but a couple nights of double-digit hours of sleep sure helped.

3. Last week was my birthday, and it kinda sucked this year. Honey was on a boat. Most of my friends who I could normally count on to show me a good time were predisposed. So I worked. Then I came home and made myself a filet mignon and a big salad and defrosted a cheesecake over which I sang myself “Happy Birthday.” Then I took a Tylenol PM and went to bed before the news was even over. But I did get some loot in the mail (and flowers from Honey) so I went shopping on Saturday, bought two pairs of pants and a new sweater at a “Buy Two Sale Items, get The Third One Free” sale. Now, anyone who has been shopping with me knows that I only purchase on sale, so it was a bargain meant for me.

4. I indulged in some of my only can’t miss shows last night—Desperate Housewives and Brothers and Sisters both had their season premieres! Does anyone else watch those? Brothers and Sisters in particular works my nerves–for a family that talks and shares and ushes and gushes as much as they do, they sure have a lot of dysfunction and get their feelings hurt awfully easily. Though I did love the cameo of Nora’s mother played by the lady who we know best as Miriam Cunningham from Happy Days. Hysterical when she went on about Nora’s late husband’s bottle blond bimbo when she was sitting right in front of her. As for Desperate Housewives, I’m already wondering what the new family on the block’s big secret is, and who attempted to murder Julie could be any number of people at this point…I guess Ill have to tune in next week.

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