Category: Commentary

Jury Duty and “Lady Bird”

On Tuesday morning I had to report to the Gadsden County Court Annex for jury duty. Looking around at the 60 or so folks assembled in the courtroom I figured I had a fairly good chance of avoiding being chosen to serve. They only needed six jurors and an alternate, after all, so what were the chances I’d be chosen?

Long story short, I was one of the first 18 people called forward, and then after the lawyers’ questions or voir dire (literally “to speak the truth”) I was one of the lucky ones selected to serve on a trial this week. That’s all I can say, other than, “crap.”

We didn’t have to report until Thursday, and since I had a free afternoon on Tuesday, and Studly Doright was out of town, I decided to go see the film, Lady Bird. I’m so glad I did.

Lady Bird struck so many chords. I saw myself in the mom, played brilliantly by Laurie Metcalf, and in the quirky daughter, played by Saoirse Ronan. I giggled and cried and laughed out loud. There were moments so heartbreakingly familiar that I cringed. I wanted to wrap both mother and daughter in my arms and hug the hurt away.

I want my daughter to see this film. And someday, I want my granddaughters to see Lady Bird. It’s about as honest a portrayal of mother/daughter relationships as I’ve ever seen, and that’s the truth. Wonderful.

Call your mom. Hug your daughter. Give yourself a pat on the back. We’re all doing the best that we can.

Peace, people.

Addendum: The trial was fairly cut and dried on Thursday, and I was home by noon. Civic duty done.

Minimalist Challenge, Day 16

Just call me the Queen of Sample Sizes as today I toss 16 items that I must have purchased for travel and then never used more than once, or used completely and then never removed from my travel bag.

Note the clever arrangement of said items into the number 16. Surely I deserve bonus points for the artwork.

To close today’s post, here’s an appropriate tune from my teen years. I do so love this song, and once made up an interpretive dance to accompany it that perhaps only two people have ever seen. It was that rare.

https://g.co/kgs/SSdLmT

Minimalist Challenge, Day 15

Today’s offering is a veritable potpourri of products, from a magazine we have no recollection of subscribing to right down to a tiny little detached brush that fits nothing I own.

I give you the misfits. Also known as junk. But count them and you should arrive at 15 items for my fifteenth day.

Neither Studly Doright nor I smoke cigars; nevertheless, we keep receiving the magazine Cigar Aficionado. Would someone like to confess buying this for us?

Curious about the running total? Let’s see:

1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8+9+10+11+12+13+14+15=130, I think. I ran out of fingers and toes after day six. The administrator of the challenge on Facebook just asked who’s in for March. I might be, but I promise not to drag my readers along for another month.

Peace, people!

My Valentine

Since the summer of 1974, this guy I call Studly Doright has been my Valentine.

From way back when,

to now,

he takes the job so seriously.

Happy Valentine’s Day to my Studly.

Minimalist Challenge, Day 14

February 14 marks the midway point in the Minimalist Challenge. It also happens to be Valentine’s Day, so I thought it appropriate to arrange my 14 purged items in the shape of a heart.

Roughly, in the shape of a heart, that is.

And perhaps it’s appropriate that all of today’s items were purchased to enhance my physical attractiveness. Some worked to varying degrees; others did not.

What isn’t appropriate is that most of these containers are completely empty, and those that aren’t empty have been gathering dust in a bathroom drawer for many months, perhaps even years. It was time to say adieu.

On a side note, I was selected to serve on the jury for a trial slated to begin on Thursday. Hopefully it will be a matter quickly settled, but due process is important. If you don’t hear from me for a day or two, you know where I’ll be. Might need bail money….

Peace, people!

Minimalist Challenge, Day 13

Selected for purging today are twelve tops and one skirt, none of which have have been worn in more than a year. Some of these have been worn so rarely that they appear brand new.

Which begs the question, what was I thinking when I bought them in the first place? The two white T-shirts are a bit too tight across my chest. The striped top made me look like I was auditioning for a Where’s Waldo film, while the peach, apricot, and green tops gave my skin the respective hues of peach, apricot, and green. Not a good look.

And what’s with all the horizontal stripes? Maybe I was a zebra, or a referee in a past life. I’m betting on the zebra option. All of the above soon will be appearing at a Goodwill in Tallahassee.

Peace, people!

Jury Duty Today

I received the jury summons several weeks ago. To my credit, upon reading the summons I didn’t stomp my feet or throw myself on the floor in a tantrum; although, I did grab my calendar to see if I was scheduled for anything that might be used to excuse me from serving. Not a flipping thing. Sigh.

So off I go this morning to do my civic duty in Gadsden County, Florida. Last time I served I ended up as the foreman on a hit and run case in Champaign, Illinois. I’m hoping to blend more quietly into the background this time; although, I did keep the panel from getting bogged down in the swamp of “what ifs.”

And I’m pretty sure I did a better job of delivering the jury’s decision than Yoda:

Peace, people!

Minimalist Challenge, Day 12

Shades of Joan Crawford! No more wire hangers! Okay, I still have roughly two dozen more, but I might need to beat someone sometime.

Don’t recall the Mommy Dearest reference? Let me refresh your memory:

https://youtu.be/XOILKHmZBwc

Tomorrow is day 13, and I need to come up with something spectacular. Any suggestions? Everything except Studly Doright and the cats are expendable. And maybe my Star Wars collection. And my handbags. And boots….

Peace, people!

Minimalist Challenge, Day 11

Underneath my bathroom sink, tucked inside the cabinet lurked these empty and almost empty containers. A couple of the products still are roughly half full, but I found they didn’t agree with my somewhat sensitive skin. And still I kept them around.

Did I think my skin would miraculously change one morning and I’d cry, “Free at last” whilst drenching myself in the luxury of their scents. After 61 years of dealing with sensitive skin issues I should’ve known better.

Those ten items are going into the shopping bag behind them and then the whole shebang is going into the trash, thus fulfilling the requirements for day 11.

Peace, people!

The Post, Not a Review

Studly Doright was out of town most of last week, and by noon on Wednesday I was bored. The best cure for boredom is a movie, so I took myself out to see The Post, starring Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks. I must say I’m an excellent date. I don’t order outrageously priced snacks and I don’t talk during the movie.

I’m not going to review this film other than to say “For the love of country, go see it!”

The acting is incredible and the story so timely it’ll make your heart hurt. There are journalists out there right this minute who are working their butts off to bring us the truth in the tradition of the courageous and tenacious men and women who prevailed during the Nixon years. Never forget that when trump starts calling their work “fake news.”

The film should be required viewing by every American. Peace, people.