2004-07-20 13:31:34

Wow, it's been a long time since I've written a blog. I've been in a stupid busy-but-not-really fog and I'd like to get out of it. Last week is pretty much a complete blur. The last thing I can recall is Friday, when my mom and I drove to Southern Ohio to visit her side of the family. The drive actually went better than anticipated. We're both not particularly fast drivers, so I thought the trip would take a ridiculously long time, but we got there in 8 1/2 hours. The rest of the trip was pretty long and uneventful. Seriously, that part of the state is so boring it should come with a warning label.

For real though, it was great to hang out with family I hadn't seen in a year. Highlights include changing a kitchen faucet with my Uncle Mike, looking through lots of photos of my grandparents when they were young, listening to my grandma's anecdotes on everything from Dr. Phil to bare breasts (or boobies as she called them), and driving my mom's super phat Volvo. We just drove home yesterday and I had a horrible headache for most of the day, which was no fun. It was great to come home and see my kitties and Patty, and get to sleep in my own bed.

This morning, I got up bright and oily and went to the Monroe County Hall of Justice to report for Grand Jury duty. Most of the people who showed up were selected (by the very scientific process of drawing names out of a box) to serve. I was one of the lucky 46 people selected for one of two Grand Jury groups. I need to serve every other day for the next month. While I'm not totally thrilled by the idea of paying $6 a day for parking, and messing up my work schedule, I realize that they call it "duty" for a reason, and I'm happy to do my part in the legal process. I went through my orientation today and it sounds like it's going to be pretty interesting. It will be like my own little soap opera or reality show. Unfortunately, since grand jurors only decide if felony cases should go to trial or not, and don't actually take part in any of the case's trials, we're never allowed to talk about the cases we hear - even after their trials take place. If we're caught talking about any of the cases, it's considered a Class E felony, punishable by 4 years in prison. Dang!

They didn't let us eat lunch until after 1:30 today, and my schedule has been all effed up lately, so I got another horrible, throbbing headache today. I was planning on stopping into the office tonight, but I just don't think I can muster up energy. Nuts. Three days out of the office and I won't be going in tomorrow either (since my jury duty officially starts tomorrow). I'm going to be crying when I finally get back.

Enough about me though. Scott put a link to Zack Braff's blog on his site and I was like, ohmygodilovehim! Watch the trailers for Garden State. I can't wait to see it at the Little in August.

-Fran