FRUSTRATION TIME: Gosh I miss having IT people available for my normal and abby-normal screwups, technology speaking. I tried to save appointments to my google calendar from my AOL account and totally screwed up the path to my blog. By trial and error, I'm back on, but who knows whether I can traverse the convoluted path again. I have been lax on saving my weekly musings, so I better get back in the habit. I expect a book out of this eventually; especially if the Restrooms of Traverse City Wineries doesn't get published....Or I should just say the heck with it and get rid of the "old people, obsolete" AOL account and avoid these kind of mess-ups in the future.
CONSTERNATION IN THE CHICKEN COOP! As I receive previews of my "soon to be delivered" mail in an email each morning imagine my trepidation when I saw a letter with a return address of the U.S. District Court, Grand Rapids. Ruh-roh. Did I get one of those bogus parking tickets from Detroit? Did I inadvertently commit a crime I should have known about? Where have I been, who did I do it with and who did I offend? I always smile at State Cops; maybe that was the wrong course of action. Amazing how your life flashes before your eyes as you frantically try to figure out what you may or may not have done. The one thing that did not occur to me was JURY DUTY! In District Court no less where the juicy trials are held.
This is only my second call to duty in my 50+ years as a voting member of the public. The first time was local county court and though many are called, and spend the day reading or knitting (today we play with our phones), few are chosen. One of the trials was a farmer suing an energy company for more money for the placement of a pole/transformer (Eminent domain and all that). As I had worked for a utility I was obviously not "court bait" for the farmer as I may have some knowledge. In fact if you know a judge, lawyer, police officer or went to college you are usually eliminated. Jury of your peers they say.
Upon filling out the questionnaire this time around I was wise to their tactics. "What television shows do you watch?" Some dramas and sitcoms. "What books do you read?" Both non fiction and fiction. I decided not to offer my blog and political leanings. Who knows-maybe I'll get the Governor kidnap boys. However through my many years as a safety skate buried in multiple investigations and labor negotiations, I do honestly believe I can examine testimony as it is given and be impartial. I had to work for both sides to find the truth back in the day. Also did you know being 70 or older gives you a free "Get out of Jury Duty" card if you want. Heck no-we got more time than the whipper-snappers and OPINIONS!
POLITICAL: I heard an interesting story on "CBS Sunday Morning". A group of historians from leading universities organized by Jeffrey Engel of Southern Methodist University (Texas) reviewed the former president's tenure. A couple of points stood out. Positives such as his holding China accountable (which Biden is continuing); at least pushing the manufacture/though not supporting the use of, the vaccine (the rest of the pandemic actions were dismal). What struck me was "all presidents lie to a certain extent" the difference was he took it to a new level by only surrounding himself with those who had to support the lies or be ousted. The little lie of his inauguration numbers led to the big lie of not upholding the will of the people culminating in the hell of January 6. Engel put it this way:
"Donald Trump has a unique distinction-it's the only president who refused to honor democracy. Stop and think about that sentence. It makes my mouth say: How can you say those words! And yet I don't think they're wrong".
CHANGE OF PACE: Those who know me also know I walk a lot for exercise. If I keep moving all is well in the mobility region of my body. However if I sit for any length of time I do a drunken little dance upon rising as I try to unkink the right side of my body. Hip and knee become non-cooperative for a period of time so my great fear is someone yelling "Fire" in a theater and meaning it. I will never make it out. At any rate, I was doing laundry which requires several trips to the basement after a prolonged session at the laptop. I remember thinking I need to unkink before I tackle the stairs, but instead stopped to pick up a box of wine glasses adding a second element of danger to my trip (literal) down the stairs. No major injuries and I managed to fast clip it down before losing my balance. Sigh the challenges of growing older.
This is getting long so I will save a work story for next time. I did want to point out however that my baby sister has the same problem I do. We don't really have hobbies so ceasing the daily work routine (retirement) creates a feeling of angst and guilt. I filled the gap with remodeling half the house;
trips to Great Britain, Arizona, Texas; researching and buying a lake house and throwing myself into volunteer projects for the Safety Conference culminating with my podcast currently. Lolo however made it a mere nine months (3 months if you count her serious toe-dipping into being a mail person this summer) before she hooked up with a national company coordinating marketing and training. She said it's about the big paycheck, but I just think she's bored- considering the flirtation with the post office. She's too young to retire anyway. Her OH says now he can buy the expensive vodka again.
Being a safety skate was never boring. What's wrong with this picture?? Peace Out....
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