Things that aren't supposed to happen

There are some things in life that I just feel like aren't supposed to happen. The kind of things that make me say, God, where are you in this? If you are the good and loving God I believe you are, then why do things like this happen? And, I always come back to the same place... knowing that things like this draw us to Him... that we are more likely to look for something greater than us when things aren't all perfect. That these are the times, more than any other, that we need something to believe in.
On Monday, the 9-year old son of my parents' next-door-neighbors shot himself in the head and subsequently died yesterday afternoon. He was apparently home alone and it's been attributed to an accident. What else can I say? It's terrible and my heart goes out to his parents.
My parents are close to his parents and spent a fair amount of time with the boy since they moved there a few years ago. In fact, my dad was quoted in the local paper... reading that brought me to tears over this for the first time. My dad was really sweet talking about Zach. Here's the article if you want to read about it.

a proud moment

I don't often write about work stuff here, but this morning, our brand-new website launched. I am so excited because it is SO much better than the former site and it feels good to look like a grown-up arts organization rather than a limping chorus. Anyways, I worked pretty hard on cleaning up some of the copy this week... I'm sure there are still a few details to be fixed or improved, but today it's up. I'm proud of it.
Check it out

Good day, #299384

A wonderfully cool day in August: +2
Oversleeping the pool: -2
Still having no voice: -3.5
Getting a temp to answer the phone since I'm a mute: +1
Having the temp complete 3 projects I don't have time to do: +3
Getting a ton of work done b/c no one is in the office (nor apparently in the city): +2
Yummy chicken salad for lunch: +1
Current score: +3.5

Now, to Macy's to return clothing and home to clean, clean, clean!

The muted version

I lost my voice this weekend. I was hoping I would wake up this morning and it would be better, but it is pretty nonexistent today. I feel okay, but my voice is just not there. I had to cancel my morning meetings for tomorrow. It would be a nice surprise if it reappeared.
Froggily yours,
Hy

Pop some popcorn, baby

I've just found my new favorite international issue. I plan to be a spectator of what I'm coining the "Arctic War". Russia planted a flag in a titanium capsule on the bottom of the ocean and Canada is now going up there to "reassert their sovereignty". There's a part of me that hopes they get into a bit of a flag-planting war.
And, just when I thought that conquering and land-claiming were dead to the Northern hemisphere!

Great times.

This is my favorite time of year. (Is the sarcasm dripping from your screen yet?) The time of year when it gets down to 90 at night. The time of the year when it feels like a steamy oven all over the place. Ew. Ew, ew, ew.

In better news, I made dinner for my small group and it was totally tasty and fun (if hot).

In strange news, a guy hit an SUV with his fist when we were crossing the street today and shouted "What? Are we in your way?" when they had to stop with the end of their vehicle in the crosswalk at rush hour. He really nailed it, too. It actually scared me. The girl driving wound down the window and said, "classy". Weird

GJF, Vol. 14

Well, just a few final thoughts. (Well, at least until the recall days.) The last five weeks have been so different than the rest of my life. In a way, it was kind of nice to learn about something all new to me. I really didn't know that much about the criminal prosecution process and it's nice to be more educated about something. I probably could have lived my whole life without hearing about all of those domestic violence cases and without some of the vocabulary expansion. Regardless, it has been an interesting process.
I am more than happy to going back to working just one job, though!

Celebrate the Mattress! (GJF, Vol. 13)

We hear case after case and they tend to run together. Often, we'll refer to a case by the one memorable nugget, an identifying feature: the one with with the brick or the one with the Bobbi Brown lipgloss, something like that. Today, though, we got the best nugget yet.
A witness came in to tell us about an altercation he had. He was a rather confused older man who seemed to have a childlike mentality, for whatever reason. Anyways, he mentioned early on that he had a mattress delivered the day of the altercation. The attorney later asked him if he had any alcohol that day. He responded, "Yeah, I had 3 beers.... I had to celebrate the mattress!" We all chuckled... how awesome is that! Celebrating the mattress. You go! You celebrate that mattress! Carpe Diem, man!
Later, though, I couldn't help but think that perhaps we could all use a little more mattress celebration. We take so much for granted and have such a sense of necessity (and truthfully, entitlement) that we rarely take time to really soak in the little stuff. But, this guy... he was celebrating his mattress. I don't know why it was important to celebrate it. Maybe he was sleeping on the floor. Maybe he saved up for it. I don't know, but I do know that he found it celebration-worthy... and beer-worthy.
Tonight, on your way home, notice the little things. And, celebrate them! Maybe it's just a little smile or a silent "Thanks, God" or a diet coke toast to that great pair of earrings you found on sale for 75% off. It doesn't really matter what your "mattress" is, celebrate your mattress!

Overheard in Georgetown

"I didn't realize that it wasn't a state. I thought New England was a state up there by New Hampshire." Wow... wow, wow.

Also, there was an adorable, swedish-looking family on the bus tonight with two little kids. They both had "Mom cell 202.202.2022" written on their arm. Hysterical. And, smart!

GJF, Vol. 12

Have I mentioned that our foreperson resembles Bill Cosby?

GJF, Vol. 11

It's late. I'm tired. So, this will be short. The lady formerly known as Circus Lady will now be known as Ms. "Have a conversation with the witness rather than just ask a question". Seriously. The jurors are getting restless. If we had more than 1.5 weeks left, there might be a brawl.

In other news, cute blonde girl tried on her wedding dress yesterday. It made her sister cry. Aww.

Candace and I bonded over kohlrabi.

Vote for Jonathan

My esteemed friend, Jonathan, has been nominated for hottest media type on a DC media blog. The voting is going on now and goes until Monday! So, get your virtual self over there and vote for Jonathan.
And, pass it on!

Update: At last count, "J-Shray" was in the lead!

Today's score

Not finding lost phone: minus 2
Feeling crappy from remnants of cold: minus 1
Trick hip acting up: minus 1
Sweet email from boy: plus 3
A very clean kitchen: plus 2

That's a score of plus 1 -- not too bad, I guess.

PS - the grand jury natives are getting restless... personalities are starting to clash... more on that later

A little cold to go with that, please

I have a crappy, crappy cold. I stayed home yesterday, but today, I went in to the office for the afternoon and then to church. I'm worn out now.
Church was good, though. Here's what my mind is trying to wrap around at the moment: "Wishing everyone else would worship you is a product of pride." Ouch. I've actually said that out loud about men. Well, more precisely, "I secretly want all men (esp. my exes) to adore me." If it's not about me, which it's not, then I have to get rid of this. I don't know that it's wrong to want people to like you, but I may be crossing the line here.... big time.
Ouch.

GJF, Vol. 10

Well, it's starting to really catch up with me. I am officially behind at work and to top it off I came down with a cold. Jury duty has been really busy so I haven't gotten much done during the day. And, because I'm feeling a little under the weather, I haven't been going into the office in the evening...a recipe for getting behind, for sure. I can only do what I can do, though.

Today, I made good on my promise to buy TJ a Tendercrisp. She was happy as a clam. It's the little things.

Today's vocabulary word: voyeurism

GJF, Vol. 9

Today was that fateful day. I had hoped it wouldn't arrive, but it did. I lost the Tendercrisp bet. Last week, there was a false alarm, but today I officially lost. Let me explain.
TJ (who sits next to me) eats a Tendercrisp sandwich from Burger King nearly every day. There is another individual on our jury who asks a question of nearly every witness we hear. Sometimes this person's questions are relevant, sometimes not. One day last week, TJ noticed that it really started to annoy me. So, the birth of the bet. I bet her a Tendercrisp sandwich that we couldn't get through one witness' testimony without that individual asking a question.
Last Friday, we heard a witness and she left the room without our friend Mr. Inappropriate Question asking anything. TJ jumped up and declared that she had won a Tendercrisp. But, then the witness was called back and Mr. I.Q. asked something. Decision overturned!
Today, though, we got through a witness without him asking anything. So, I officially owe TJ a Tendercrisp sandwich. So much for that bet. I'll have to come up with a new game to keep me occupied.

GJF, Vol. 8

Tired. So very very tired. I don't wanna anymore. My brain is totally spent. So just one indulgence:
TJ (young, extroverted, sensationalist girl): Yeah, I weigh 130! Weigh me.
Aiesha (pretty 30-something mother and professional): 130? No way! I weigh that.
TJ: Yup. 130.
Candace (40-something reserved woman and all around cool chick): And, it's all in your lip.

Go Candace!

GJF, Vol. 7

Today was one of those days where our down time between cases wasn't really sufficient to get a lot of work done. Translation: I got lots of anecdotes from my fellow jurors. I won't bore you with everything (nor will I be able to remember it right now), but here are a few bits of today.
- After 9 days of jury duty, I nominate Maria as most interesting person. She may not prove to be the most interesting person, but she certainly has entertaining stories.
- The circus lady told yet another animal story that was actually a metaphor. Let's call them fables...Maria's fables. Maria's fables always teach something about human nature and behavior through the behavior and instinct of animals. I actually don't remember the story she told, but I do remember saying, "Everything comes back to the circus. Maria, you should write a book about your life and call it 'Everything I needed to know, I learned in the circus.'"
- She also told us about some custom t-shirts she had made once. She is black and told us about how she used to tease her hair way out. She had a t-shirt made that said, "Happy to be Nappy". But, my personal favorite was (in small writing) itty bitty titty club. But, apparently, her chest got larger when she hit about 30 or so. To compensate, she had "Reformed Member" added to the back of the shirt!
- The timing award goes to Candace for making me laugh the hardest all day. Unfortunately, I don't remember at all what she said -- something about a lawyer, I think, but I definitely don't remember.
- The blond showed me her wedding dress online. She was so cute and so excited to show me. She wanted to show me her sister's bridesmaid's dress, too, but she couldn't find it quickly. I think I'm back in her good graces, which is good cuz we sit just down the row from each other. Honestly, I'm jealous of her b/c she gets to talk to Candace all day. I want to talk to Candace. I want Candace to be my friend because she just seems so cool. (I am so 12.)
- I also found out that another girl on our jury met her husband when he had her paged in her dorm at college. Really? That stuff works? Well, she said that it actually didn't work and she blew him off, but they ended up working together at the library. Yeah, that's where the romance is... in the books.
- Finally, my law phrase of the day: "intent to frighten"

GJF, Vol. 6, No. 2

Today was rough. Not only were we in "court" (I put that in quotes because we don't actually meet at the courthouse, but I guess that technically we are in court.) until just after 5pm again, but the cases were heavy -- the kind of thing that weighs on your spirit a little. On a brighter note, I got to have lunch with Nathaniel! That was nice. I don't get a lot of 1-on-1 time with "Thanny" so that was a nice treat. yay. K - I need sleep.
bye bye

GJF, Vol. 6

I forgot to add an anecdote last week. This is from the same woman that rode the elephant:
When she was 11 years old (11!), her mom used to dress her up and put make-up on her (always red lipstick) and then drive to the club. The mom would go in and have a good time -- drink, dance, whatever -- and then come out to the car and wake up the sleeping 11-year old girl to drive her home. She made the 11-year old drive the mom home! Apparently, she thought that the red lipstick would make her look older, in case the police stopped her. I have a feeling this woman could write a book about her life! The funny thing is that when she tells these stories, they aren't sensational. They're just factual... this is what I did. This was my life.

Also, we had our landmark "baby mama" case today. And there were multiple baby mamas in it so I feel like that made up for the lack of baby mamas last week.