The last three days have been a combination of one bad judgment, a stress case, a misdemeanor and a happy ending.
First, I made the mistake of thinking I was 13 again and went water-tubing with a couple of pre-teens. You would think I would be smart and just go for a short ride but no, I was thinking like a teeny bopper and went tubing for a good 30-40 minutes. Mind you, I was having a freaking blast but good golly this old body was taking a beating. I think it was when we were in mid "whip" when I saw our own wake coming at us when we caught at least three feet of air I thought to myself "this is gunna hurt". And it did. A lot! My left shoulder blade to my spine up the side of my neck feels like it is being squeezed in a vise . I am pretty sure I have a mild case of whip lash. Funny, how when you are having that much fun you don't think about the lasting effects on your body. But I do have to say, laughing and spinning around on that inter-tube with the pre-teens was one of the best times I have had in quite awhile. Ah, to be young, fearless and carefree!
Verdit: Really stupid judgement = pain. Remember you're not 9 you're 29!
Second, is going to be a little hard to explain so I will just summarize it for you. I have sky-scrapper pile of work projects that have been consuming me lately which has been causing me some un-needed stress. I took on an extra project that in itself is pretty substantial (along with my typical work responsibilities). The deadline has been looming for weeks; yet, what I didn't realize is that it would fall on a week that is beyond chaotic in the office. With me being part-time and having so many people count on me for a pelthora of tasks (not to toot my own horn too much) it can sort of be a disadvantage. Two days a week plus forty hours of work = brain exploding like a watermelon Gallagher style. End of story.
Verdict: Punch yourself in the neck the next time someone asks you to take on such a huge project. And then run. ;-) Or just learn to say no.
Third, I was summoned for Jury Duty. I wasn't too happy about it* but had no choice so I marked it on my calendar at home and then entered it in my outlook to remind me the previous day. But somehow I managed to get the date all wrong. I thought I was scheduled for Wednesday, September 9th but in actuality I was scheduled for Tuesday, September 8th. When do you think I found that out? You guessed it. Last night at 8PM. I panicked! In small print at the top of the summons it stats, very clearly, "Failure to report for jury service is a misdemeanor offense. RCW 2.36.170". Oh Gawd, I am going to jail.I started to cry. I had just had too much. With the stress of work and the neck/back pain I was just to my MAX. Of course, at 8 in the evening the courts are closed and there is no one to take my frantic phone call to explain my flub. So, the thoughts in my head were racing... jail, handcuffs, communal toilet, bunk beds, solitary confinement, chain gang, fines, community service, liter patrol, bail, misdemeanor on my record, I look terrible in stripes, yadda, yadda, yadda. Not good. SO NOT GOOD! The only thing I could do was wake up early and get down to the office to plead my case. And that is just what I did. I was a good twenty minutes early thinking that my diligence would work in my favor. Unfortunately though it didn't matter, the jury office didn't open for another 20 minutes. Der. So, I waited. My palms were clammy. But I just kept thinking in about 20 minutes at least I'll know my destiny. The doors opened. I made my way to the front and spoke with the clerk. I told her my story and she just looked at me funny. She informed me that my group number wasn't even called yesterday. That today was when my official summons began. So, I didn't need to fret, I was right on time. THANK YOU JESUS! Apparently if I would have read more of the finer print the summons also stats that my date of service is for the entire week. My obligation is to call in everyday and wait until my group number is requested. Once I hear my group number on the recording then I am to show for jury duty. Thankfully my number wasn't actually called on Tuesday so I didn't miss a thing. Just so happens that it was called for today! Perfect! Although, that nightmare was over I moved on to the next phase. Finding out what type of trial I would be placed on. Only thinking the worst I just knew I would get on some murder trail or worse yet, a child molestation case and be completely traumatized for the rest of my life. I was a bit terrified. I sat through the orientation. And the waiting commenced. I got comfortable in my seat prepared to sit the whole afternoon waiting for my group number to be called back for the trail proceedings. I was about 4 pages into A Tree Grows in Brooklyn when I hear the clerk call group 5. Here we go, I thought. Groups, 2,4 & 5 gathered in the hallway when she announced that the Judges had emailed her stating that the trails had been canceled and that our jury duty is now complete. Thank you for your service. Those were the sweetest words I had heard all week.
Verdict: Read all the fine print and gosh darn it, don't be such a head case.
All I need now is a good neck rub and my project to go off without a hitch! After that I am going to eat a box of chocolate covered donuts, sit on the porch and veg out!
*Before you all get pissy at me for not being all gung ho about jury duty. I want to clarify that it really was about the amount of work/stress/chaos I was already enduring. The thought of having to consume myself in something else could have put me over the edge.
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