the whole vodka and diarrhea episode,....

Friday, August 15, 2008
jury duty misadventure,... Category: Life
and so, I came back from vacation a bundle of nerves anyway, only to be greeted with the dreaded jury duty letter I left by the computer when I left. Drat! So, like a good lil gurl, I called in, and repeated this nauseating procedure every nite, with the reward of having no duty, just to call in again the next nite. Until Wednesday nite,..........................................................*here, I will mimic my internal scream....ahem! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHH!
What ensued was just traumatic, drama for Gidget, at its best. I mean, really, any time is just not the right time to do this. And people, the ones who are now thinking "Ah, its not so bad, just do your civic duty and be done with it. I actually enjoyed it." To you guys, I just want to bite you,.............all of you! For me, at THIS particular time, it was just awful! Awful timing! I am in the process of the whole "letting go while holding on" crap, that I'm supposed to be okay with, and practice. (I'll get to that later) And anyone who has done jury duty knows you have to be available for 3-5 days, possibly 7. No, no and uh, no. I needed to be gone in 5 working calendar days, no sh*t! Really! I'm not making this up! So, for me to start a case would just be impossible in my mind.
Let me just tell you what happened.
I leave, grab a iced caramel macch, get to the court house,.... arrive a lil early, in a tank top, kini top, shorts, and flip flops. Yeah, I looked like I was still on vacation, and had the look of dread on my face to boot. Oh well,.........enter waiting room for jurors, go through orientation, dress code is explained,...where mind you, the speaker said "And do not come dressed in a halter top, shorts, or flip flops." At that point, I felt a million and one eyes on me. Anyhow, I decide I need to try and get a postponement. I fill one out, then decide much from the "encouragement" of my sis and hubby to renege it with their words "you should just wait it out. You may not even get picked". At this, I say "Whatev!", because surely, you have now jinxed me. They call the first and ONLY panel that day,......................its an 11 day trial, minimum, and people need to call in on the 20th, and report on the 21st. OMG!!!! I am now sick to my stomach,..... just know that diarrhea is going to hit any moment, and I feel the need to have vodka for the first time ever in my life! Thanks Chris! Thanks Boo! Are you kidding me? Oh, and did I mention that I was one of the first 5 called out of more than 40? For this particular panel? NOOOOOOOOO!!!!
By now, through crazy texting, and relaxation measures of my own, I aproach the window, to state my case. By now, because of the postponement, the renege,..I am on a first name basis,..............not good. Anyhow, I explain why I cannot be assigned to this case, and of course, she says "You understood everything clearly, and know that I cannot remove you from this case." After explaining again, that I am infact, competent and do understand what has happened, I explain my case yet again but this time, I add what can happen to me legally. At this she is dumbfounded, because I guess no one in their right mind would ask this? Remember,...I am a mom, getting ready to take her first born off to college outta state, and cannot,....CANNOT miss it. Just can't. I add to my question "I have proof of where he is going, when he needs to be there for check -in,..everything." Thank God, I had it to! Because she called me on it, removed me from the list, and put me back into the jury pool. She added, "Now you understand that you can be called again, right?" "Yes, but I can only hope I can either be excused or the case finishes by Tuesday." Whew!
Now, I wait,.............in agony! for what seems like hours. Oh yeah, it is! And then break comes. No vodka from Chris. No saving from anyone. My thoughts torture me. And thankfully, no diarrhea. (btw, sorry this is grossing you out!) So, I rebel, go off to the beach close by and just sit. Nice to just sit with the sand all over my legs and feet and the sun beating down on my unmercifully. I needed that.
And then back to jury waiting game for more hours. At this point, I am now afraid I'm going to fall asleep and start snoring and not hear me being called or excused from anything. I hate when that happens,........then,.........I'm saved!!!! All of the jurors, more than 60 of us, are excused! We won't be called to do any kind of service for atleast a year! Yay! Oh, I was soooo relieved! I just hope the next time,................and there will be a next time, will just not happen during a milestone such as this. The time before this? I had two graduations in danger of me not being there. Anything,............ANYTHING that has to do with my crew I simply cannot miss. Not in my mind. Its just total chaos.
Past the anxiety, past the dramatic day, past the diarrhea,...........................but vodka may come in handy soon. After all he is leaving.................................
...........................my feeling about that, right now,....and for days now,...is that I am worried about the "normal" stuff,...but most of all I am soooooo damn excited for him!!!! Yes, I'll miss him, but I'll see him soon enough, I'll hear from him, and can't wait to either.
Day by day,..................................................
Currently listening : Roots Rock Reggae By Various Artists Release date: 2005-03-08