Duty.

Tiny little February has been a beast of a month so far! And the *best* part of it is yet to come. : )

One of those beastly things occupying my time was this:

As I've talked to all kinds of people about it in these last couple weeks, I am actually really amazed at the number of people who have NEVER been summoned for jury duty! My amazement comes mostly because I ALWAYS get summoned! Why is it that I keep getting called in and other people go for years and years with nothing? So unfair (for them, tee-hee).

Ever since I turned 18, I've been summoned in each place I've lived (though luckily for me, most of those summons came after I moved, so I got out of those easily). I've been summoned in AZ, UT, NY, MI, and here in OR.

They caught up with me though in Michigan after I deferred once since I had a new baby with the first summons--at the time I had 2 year old Anthony & barely 1 year old Aaron, finding a sitter for them was so stressful (if you're out there, THANK YOU again Ellen & Todd, you guys were lifesavers!)--and I got seated on a criminal trial there for a drug dealer. The trial itself, which lasted 2 days, was really fascinating and I enjoyed deliberating with the jury. We found that guy guilty of the lesser crime.

Then we moved here to Oregon...and actually, I've had a nice long break from being summoned, considering my record--we moved here over 8 years ago! So in January, this summons showed up in my mail (and crazily enough, I kinda had a premonition that one was coming...) My wonderful friend & my sister each were kind enough to help me juggle the boys & their busy schedules to be able to go do my duty that day.

I showed up at the courthouse and there was a huge, long line to simply enter the building. Thankfully it was actually a beautiful sunny morning for once so standing outside was rather pleasant. Finally I got inside the doors & had to go through security, where just like the airport you have to take off belts & shoes (of course I wore my big boots that day, ugh!) and they scan your bags (and something in my bag was bothering them...they kept running it through and rummaging through it. I promise all I brought was my lunch, a couple books & my wallet & keys!) Once finished with that mess, I found my way to the big jury room in the basement, where I found a seat & filled out my paperwork. They make you watch a short video orientation before they begin selecting jurors for trials. As is my usual luck, whose was the first name called for the first trial of the day??? None other than moi. Of course. (In Michigan, I was the 2nd one called! Out of hundreds there each time...really, what are the odds???)

I knew the trial we were picked for must've been a big important one simply by the enormous number of jurors they called (50 or so). They took us upstairs & packed us all into a tiny jury room to wait until they were ready for us in the courtroom. Then after an uncomfortable 20 minutes there, they filed us into the courtroom, where we found out this was to be a manslaughter trial, which would likely last all week.

When I heard that word manslaughter, a cold chill ran down my spine, both for the seriousness of the charge and because that was going to be a lengthy trial and I didn't want to have to make arrangements for the boys ALL WEEK. Luckily (or blessedly as I prefer to think of it, I'd been praying so dearly NOT to be seated this time) my name ended up at the BOTTOM of the list of juror names...meaning the likelihood of being seated in the jury box was pretty low...but still, I wouldn't know for sure until they finally had a full jury of 12 plus an alternate selected.

All of us sat there in uncomfortable silence as one after one, the jurors in the box were questioned by each of the attorneys...over and over again, the same questions were pointed to each juror--questions about their feelings about firearms, whether they owned one, whether they'd use one for self-defense, whether they drank, whether they attended sporting events or boxing in particular, whether they'd witnessed a heated argument, how they felt about policemen, etc, etc, etc...we were sitting forever. I got there at 8am, we were in the courtroom by 9:30 or 10...it was noon when we broke for lunch and they'd finally questioned the 12th juror in the box.

I had my lunch with me so I sat in the jury room & ate alone since everyone else had left. That was fine with me. I had my books to read. I finished the first one & started on the 2nd one before it was time to return to the courtroom where now the attorneys were issuing challenges to the seated jurors. As one was released, another was called to take his/her place and the questioning would begin all over again. I sighed a sigh of relief when they finally had all 12 set but still they needed an alternate, so it was still a bit tense as a few more people were called up and questioned. At long last, those of us who were still left were told to turn in our juror badges and go home!!!

It was 2:30 now when I finally walked outside again, free again! I can't tell you how relieved I was to walk out of there! Someday down the road when my kids are older & a little more self-sufficient, I would totally LOVE to serve on a trial like that...but not now. And I am so very grateful that my prayers were heard.

I hope that man got a fair trial, and I'm sure he did. I heard all those people questioned and I'm positive they would consider the evidence carefully. Listening to the attorneys was really fascinating too. You guys know I love history & government & politics...who knows, maybe someday I'll find myself employed somehow with the legal system. I always thought it would be cool to work as one of those courtroom artists!

Crush...

Christopher's teacher is really cute...she's pretty young. 

(And it feels really strange to be older than my kid's teacher...10 years older, at least!)

I spotted this before he turned it in and so we had a little chat about what is or isn't appropriate to say about or to your teacher...so it got changed, but not without documenting the original first! : )

I love you, too!

It's Valentine's, as I'm sure you are well aware...

I was sending my boys off to school & threw in some extra loves for the day...ended my goodbyes with "I love you!" (which I often do on any other day of the year) and Aaron answered back, "I love you, too!"

I'm almost kinda sad to admit that brought a tear to my eye when I realized how rarely I hear that from any of my boys...  I say it to them all the time and I say it every night going to bed but I guess I never realized how little I've heard it said back to me. They write it in cards and notes all the time, but hearing it is just different, you know?

In fact, I was trying to teach Zac to say it a couple days ago--and he's a pretty good little parrot, saying back anything we say to him BUT he would NOT say "I love you." Wouldn't even try, that little stinker! Oh well.

I love those 5 boys...and their Dad.

Just wanted to get that down before I forgot about it... I have a ton of gymnastics meet stuff to share and lots of other stuff from the last couple weeks (or month, rather)...but I have big stuff happening this week so it's doubtful I'll get to any of that anytime soon. Sorry for my blog neglect.

Happy 101st, Pres. Reagan!

Today would have been Pres. Reagan's 101st birthday. I celebrate it every year!

Here are some great Reagan quotes:


“I have left orders to be awakened at any time during national emergency, even if I'm in a cabinet meeting.” 


“The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help.” 


“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.” 


“I've noticed everyone who is for abortion has already been born.” 


“There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don't care who gets the credit.” 


“You can tell a lot about a fellow's character by his way of eating jellybeans. ” 


“Republicans believe every day is the Fourth of July, but the democrats believe every day is April 15.” 


“I know in my heart that man is good, that what is right will always eventually triumph, and there is purpose and worth to each and every life.” 


“The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one that gets the people to do the greatest things.” 


“Politics is not a bad profession. If you succeed there are many rewards, if you disgrace yourself you can always write a book.” 


“Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly, leave the rest to God.” 


“Recession is when your neighbor loses his job. Depression is when you lose yours. And recovery is when Jimmy Carter loses his.”  (I'd like to substitute in B.O.'s name there today!)


“Freedom prospers when religion is vibrant and the rule of law under God is acknowledged.” 


“Heroes may not be braver than anyone else. They're just braver 5 minutes longer.”


“When you can't make them see the light, make them feel the heat.” 


“Government is not a solution to our problem government is the problem.” 


“We must reject the idea that every time a law's broken, society is guilty rather than the lawbreaker. It is time to restore the American precept that each individual is accountable for his actions.” 


“Government is like a baby: an alimentary canal with a big appetite at one end and no sense of responsibility at the other.” 


“It isn't so much that liberals are ignorant. It's just that they know so many things that aren't so.” 


And I could keep sharing quotes all day...  Isn't he great? Who doesn't love Reagan?

It's February already!

Hi!

I'm still here. Just the usual story: busy. And February is already looking to be a very busy month...I got summoned to Jury Duty, so we'll see how that goes next week. And then I get to travel and attend more gymnastics meets both near and far. And more.

Now for something completely different--I'm going to get political for a bit. (So this is your warning if you don't like politics.)

I've been feeling frustrated lately listening to my usual favorite radio shows as one after the other they relentlessly beat on Mitt Romney. I understand some of it but the daily negative beating is getting to me. They have absolutely nothing good to say (ok, they did defend him when Newt/Perry were attacking him for his success at Bain...but that's the only time.) Mitt Romney is not a perfect candidate, but really, who is? I wasn't old enough to hear Ronald Reagan's campaigns for president but I can imagine the same vitriol he'd be subjected to today simply for the 'sin' of having once been a democrat. Isn't that what we want, that democrats/moderates/etc 'convert' to conservatism? For all Romney's past faults, he leans much more conservatively today. (And he was considered a conservative candidate in '08, next to moderate John McCain.) And I've heard him criticized for not winning every political race he's ever run--hello, he was running in Massachusetts! Not the most Republican-friendly territory. I think it's remarkable that he WAS elected as governor there. Looking at the mess our country is in today, I really think Mitt's economic experience both with business leadership and the SLC Olympics is exactly what we need. I am troubled by the Massachusetts Healthcare stuff but Romney has said over and over that he will work to repeal Obamacare, and that matters more to me than what Massachusetts does.

I love Rick Santorum. I was really disheartened by his loss in his latest run for the Senate. He is a real conservative and I've always liked him. I just don't really get "presidential vibes" from him though. Maybe down the road...but he still seems like Senatorial material to me right now. I don't really feel like he's that strong on the economy either which is major in this election.

And Newt Gingrich... Man, I wish he didn't have that moral mess in his personal history. I really distrust adulterers, and he most certainly is one. And when he speaks as a conservative, he is awesome as were his achievements as Speaker of the House...but he has said some really truly stupid very non-conservative things in just these few years leading up to now--things about Global Warming for instance. And for him to claim not to be an "establishment" or "inside Washington" candidate is disingenuous. He has been very involved in Washington for decades--since before I was born! I really dislike his temper too--we've seen him direct his anger toward Mitt Romney. I'm pretty sure I heard that not once, but twice, his entire campaign staff left him because they couldn't get along. I really don't understand conservatives (those who espouse pure conservative principles, which he hasn't, and the whole Washington-ness--which are the arguments they use against choosing Romney!) and evangelicals (morals!) who back Newt. Seems to me that all those people would be more credible in their stated beliefs by supporting Santorum.

And apologies to both my brother & brother-in-law who are in the Ron Paul camp, but no. I'm not even going to go into him as it's not worth my time.

So that's where I am in this whole thing. I'm curious to see how things play out over these next couple months. Oregon primaries don't happen until May so I doubt I'll get a chance to make much difference with my vote at that point. Feels good to get some of these thoughts out of my head!

I'm still feeling so inspired by the book I just finished--John Adams by David McCullough...you must read it if you haven't. It's awesome & you'll love him and the amazing life he lead. And it shows that politics today are just the same as they've always been.