Jury Duty

I have been called for Jury Duty.
I sat in the room with 300 of my new best friends.
I was one of 184 people selected to be questioned.
They sat 5 juries on Monday.
I was one of the lucky 12 to hear a criminal drug case.
Day 1 was 9 hours long. We got paid $6.00. That is less than a buck an hour.

Today is day 2. We get a raise!! Today we get paid $40.00. Woo hoo.

.....ok, I'm back.

What an impressive display of the system jury duty is.
In my heart of hearts, I know the guy did it. But the state didn't prove it.
Will he be back on the streets using or selling?
Will this straighten him out?
Will his wife and 2 kids know the truth?
Was this is first offense?
Did someone else put the drugs there?

Amazingly..... I'll never know 100% for sure. That's why we found him not guilty.

I am mentally spent.
I told the 11 other people in the room that if I needed a jury. I'd want them to be on it. Every single person took it seriously. Not one person was watching their watch. No one voted with the group, just to get out the door.

I hope I never need a jury.

Let it Snow!!

It snowed here last night. Only for a few minutes mind you, but it snowed.

Our son enjoyed every minute of the 45 minute shower we had. He stood in the snow catching flakes in his mouth. He tried to make a snowball. He got on his bike and rode down the sidewalk. Five minutes into the bike attempt he came running into the house looking for his goggles. He needed the swim goggles to keep the snow from getting in his eyes.

It was hilarious. Clever little thing that he is... he found a way.

I knew he was clever!

small dose of panic mode

I am freaking out about all the stuff that seems to be coming up so quickly. None of it is a surprise mind you, but it seems to be all happening at the same time. Yes, this happens to me in cycles. Rush, rush, rush..... welcome to life.

Work is out of control busy. It amazes me how much the company has grown - and keeps growing. It is hard for an organization to hire, train and fully integrate people fast enough to keep up with the sales and marketing folks. A GREAT problem to have, but a problem nonetheless.

On the home front - we have 4 sets of company coming over the next 8 weeks. Some staying for a week at a time. So there are little projects to get done. Cleaning, fixing, preparing and taking time off from work to see everyone. One of the visits is for our son's 6th birthday - a party will accompany said birthday. I've got the project plan spinning in my head. I have dates to meet, things to order, screws to tighten, plants to plant..... and if it all doesn't get done - the world will continue to spin, but I may need a glass of wine.

I haven't been to the gym in 4 days - I know it would help my stress level and my attitude. I'm going tonight - come heck or high water. Especially since the class tonight is Yoga. That will help me tremendously. I might lift weights first to alleviate some physical stress. The family can reheat some dinner - or order pizza for all I care. I need to do this part for me.

I just need to remember "this too shall pass". I'm trying to focus on the journey as the fun part.

Biking to School

Our son has been dying to ride his bike to school.

Over the weekend he got a helmet and a bike lock. He "broke it in" all weekend. Dear Hubby rode the route from our house to the elementary school and then up to his office last week. He was testing out the best way to wiggle through traffic on his way to work.

This morning it was 35 degrees, mild West Texas wind (only 15 mph). It was like the first day of school. Our son got up and got dressed, brushed his teeth, shoes and socks ready to go and came for breakfast with his bike helmet on. He ate some dried dates (newly found snack - and he loves them) and some of his bagel, drank his milk and packed his backpack - ready to rock and roll. (I took a couple of pictures and will send them later).
I asked him if he was excited. He said "No, I'm nervous". I think that's fine.

Dear Hubby was pretty excited too. He had his new bike pants (wind resistant), long sleeved t-shirt, fleece, wind breaker.... etc. He had his 3 bags packed. 1 - office stuff and lunch 2 - work out clothes for the week 3 - clean clothes for the office.

I drove them across the busiest street and they unpacked the car. They looked so cute riding up to our son's school. I drove back home, got some coffee and went to work.

Date night

I think my husband and I have different ideas of our data night tonight.

We are quite fortunate that every other week my gym's "Kids Club" hosts a Parent's night out. $8 per kiddo, pizza, kid fit class, movie, popcorn, playing games, craft time..... 7-10 pm. It really can't be beat. When our schedule and finances allow, we take advantage of the relative freedom. The plan for tonight however, seems to have two separate sets of expectations.

HUBBY's view
He is all about March Madness. He's not a basket ball fan mind you - just a March Madness fan. He usually takes off two days from work and camps in front of the tube, brakets in one hand, remote in the other, iced tea, nachos, popcorn, pizza on the coffee table (or sports bar table).

MY view
3 hours uninterrupted time with my hubby. Glass of wine, take out chinese, clean sheets and a little seduction.

Yes, it is the first round of the tournament.
Yes, Texas is playing.
Yes, we plan on having a few drinks.
Yes, we plan on having dinner.
Yes, we plan on having adult conversation.

HELLO - We have a DVR - RECORD the B-ball game......we could have some adult entertainment :) while the young-one is jumping on the trampoline/basketball court/tunnels and maze.....

I'll drive the little one to and from so the temptation to listen to the radio is eliminated..... I am sure the convincing will be minimal.

44 pounds

I've officially lost 44 pounds since 2003. 16 since January 1, 2006. It has been hard, slow, emotional, long time coming and always in my sites. Besides just being healthier and seeing my family for a long, long time. We want to have another baby.

I have PCOS. I'm still 56 pounds above my goal weight. I have a low Thyroid. I don't ovulate on my own. I'm 37.

We had to have medical help (Chlomid) to have our son. I am sure we'll have to have help again. The Chlomid only works for me though, when I am lighter.

I've actually joined the gym..... not just pay the membership, but actually go regularly. I average 5 days a week. I really like it. That's the weird part. I have always resisted this kind of activity, but I've been going for over a year. Maybe it is the time it gives to me - to be by myself and do something for myself - or that I feel so much better - or that the people there are so nice. As long as it keeps working, I'll keep going.

My work situation

It is amazing to me how companies function. I came to a position that was being developed. It had been through a couple of versions and never formally defined.

I got written up for not meeting the expectations.

Then the department formally defined the process, expectations, documents to use, steps to follow, deliverables to the customer.....etc.

I've followed it and I truly think it is working very well.

Since this has been in place. I have not been the problem child. Funny enough the "favorite" in the department has had the most grief with customers. And the Internally promoted person is a close second.

I've been with this company for nearly 3 years. No evaluation (or even follow up in the prescribed 30 days to my write up), no raise, no training. It is a good thing I'm self sufficient.

Separately from my situation in the office we've had some other changes. There is a woman who has changed her role within the company. She's been a breath of fresh air. So many people have gone to her and asked for help. She's lovely and has been very helpful. As her plate got too full, very quickly. She began to ask "Why are you asking me and not your boss?"

I answered frankly..... 'cause you are available and helpful.

She reports to the same gentleman as my boss (Mr. X). She's been with the company a long time and has implied power and credibility that I do not.

The powers that be began to ask "why are you doing that...... or on that customer call.... or helping with those issues.....?" The underlying corollary is "why isn't Mr. X doing that??"

I can thankfully say that patience has paid off. The unintended consequence of the changes has benefited me (and my cohorts) greatly.

Finally the powers that be spoke Mr. X. He's been responsive, available, helpful, involved and it none of us had to be the bad guy and suffer any retaliation.

Corporate politics are amazing.

GT

I was in the enrichment program. Dear Hubby (DH) was in the Gifted and Talented program.

How about our son?

Is he bored with school (and hence in trouble)? Is he gifted - or just a high achiever? The IQ test is an all day test. Is it worth it? Is our son ready for that? Are we biased? Is it too much to expect?

These are the questions we are pondering.

He's 5. He can read. He can do simple adding and subtracting. He blew away the benchmark of 5 words written by himself, he wrote 18. I've gotten this feedback on him.

"His reasoning, thought process and transference of knowledge from one experience to a new experience is very advanced for his age; not to mention his vocabulary. In the area of math, his comprehension of adding on from one number to another struck me as awesome last Spring. Most children don't grasp the counting, place value,(1001, 1002,1003... or 425,426,427) plus he had a working understanding of both addition AND subtraction. Most kids don't get that until mid 1st or even 2nd grade! He has a keen interest in Science and how things work."

More later.