April 28, 2011

I OBJECT, YOUR HONOR!! (OVERRULED!!)

It's finally here, the last day of jury duty!!  It has made for a long month.  The ritual of arriving, checking in, sitting in the jurors' lounge for hours on end waiting to be called, the anticipation/trepidation as names are called (will I be called?  why are they calling a jury at 2PM?), going up stairs to stand in line outside the courtroom, then being herded (yes, like cattle) into the courtroom only to sit for another hour as the judge and various lawyers and defendents go through the motions of "clearing the docket" until it's actually time to sit a jury, all combine to make for a very long and very stressful day.

Easter was pretty awesome!  As I have almost every year, I sang the Exultet at the Easter Vigil. Nobody complained, and noone jumped up and ran out of the church holding their hands over their ears, so I guess that was a good sign.  The only glitch was when I stumbled at the foot of the sanctuary while holding a cup of the Precious Blood.  Struggling to not spill any, I went down pretty hard.  I'm sure the building shook, and the walls swayed as I landed... but I didn't spill a drop!!! 

Easter Sunday we had a very nice dinner with family gathered either in person, or via the internet!  H1/DIL1 were linked in via computer, although no sound made for a very interesting meal time.  The grandkids LOVED it!  Dinner was good and we had, in addition to family, Bob and Joan, friends from when I was stationed on the USS Moosbrugger who are now retired and travelling the States in a camper, and Matt, a coworker of H2, with NOPD.  We did miss H2FGFNW (former girlfriend, now wife) who had to work. But we made her a full plate which she had as soon as she got off.  Everything was delish (thanks, Major Dad, for the awesomely awesome deviled eggs!!) and I think everyone had more than enough to eat. 

It's after 10AM, so they should start calling for juries soon.  A very Happy Easter Season to you all!!  Christ is Risen!!

April 22, 2011

A LITTLE MORE OF THIS, AND THAT

Jury duty is just that, a duty!!  Boring, boring, boring!!  It wouldn't be so bad if I were picked each day to at least go to the jury pool and watch the lawyers do their stuff... but waiting in the jury lounge is almost painful... ok, it IS painful.  Thankfully, only two more days, and I rearranged my schedule so next Wednesday and Thursday are jury days.  Then I should be safe for at least two or three years!

Yesterday H2, MD and I took a L-O-N-G bike ride.  It was the annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, held by the Pat Taylor Foundation at the Circle Bar Ranch in Mississippi.  The GPS said it was a three hour trip, but add to that a couple of gas stops, one of the cops' motorcycle battery died on the way, and it took a wee bit longer than expected.  Once we got there, most everything had pretty muched wrapped up. We had missed all the good food, so we were all pretty hungry.  After having a quick soda and looking around a bit, we headed to Nells Grill, a place I found via the GPS that was only 4 miles from the ranch.  Oh, and did I mentioned that the sky had darkened considerably about the time we arrived, and most of the other riders had hightailed it out of there?  So naturally, our luck being what it is, we were .8 miles from the restaurant when the rain hit.  We were soaked by the time we arrived. 

Nells (that's the way it is spelled, no apostrophe) Grill turned out to be a tiny little place way out in the boonies, but it was clean, the people (looked like a grandmother, mom and daughter where working) were friendly and, I don't know if it was just because we were so hungry, the food was delicious!  Big ol' greasy burgers, with the buns warmed on the skillet, fried dill pickles, french fries, corn poppers (little fritters), it was all good!  We sat and talked and ate while the storm passed, then headed for home, taking it slow on the wet roads and gradually speeding up as they dried out.

With the long trip up, the rain delay, and then the ride back, I barely made it to church for the 7pm Mass for Holy Thursday.  I was still in my bike boots and jeans when I vested for the service.  It was all good, though, and everything went smoothly.  A long day, after all, but in a very satisfying way.

Today I wore the same shirt I had on on April 1st, and took the same route I had taken then.  I have to admit to some butterflies in my stomach as I approached the overpass where I went down on the Shadow.  The Valk was as sure-footed as ever, and got me to work with no problem!!

Next up... EASTER!!!  Yeah, Baby!  That's what it's all about!! Wishing you all the happiest and holiest Easter as we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord!!

April 15, 2011

A LITTLE OF THIS, A LITTLE OF THAT

April is trucking along quickly, although it didn’t get off to the greatest start I could have hoped for.  On April 1st I managed to “total” my Honda Shadow (VT1100), only recently purchased from Major Dad, while on the way to work.  Although I wasn’t wearing gloves, I did have a jacket on or the damage to my arms would have been much worse than it is.  My knuckles and elbows on both hands and arms took a pretty good beating.  The bruise on my backside is HUGE (but, then, so is said backside!)!! 

April is also my month for jury duty at Orleans Parish Criminal Court.  This involves going twice a week (either Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday) to sit in a jury pool, waiting to be called up to one of 12 courts as a prospective juror  for a trial.  So far I have not been chosen, although I was called to a courtroom once.

Next Thursday (Holy Thursday) is looking to be a busy day.  If my Honda Valkyrie (GL1500) gets out of the shop in time I plan to go with H2 on a ride to Mississippi with a group of his police officer friends.  It’ll be a good ride and a good time to get “back in the saddle” after the accident.

The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival (Jazz Fest) is right around the corner.  It got me to thinking that the last time I went to Jazz Fest DLG was pregnant with the grandson who is graduating from high school next month!!! Wow!! Guess I’m a huge fan of Jazz Fest, huh?..   NOT!!

This morning as Linda and I headed off to work I noticed that the temperature was 76 degrees.  This at 7AM!!  And it’s only mid-April!!  What does the summer hold in store for us?!?!

One last comment…  Stephen Colbert’s American Dream (a Ben and Jerry’s ice cream) is the BOMB!!!  Delicious!!!  Try it, you’ll like it!