One Year's Service Over

Last year, on the day my sister was having a double mastectomy, I had to answer the summons for jury duty.  It was the first time I'd been called for jury duty since I moved to Colorado in November 2004.  I had not realized that my summons was not for a criminal or civil trial - it was for the Grand Jury for the county, which meant service for 52 weeks.  That service ended last night, having begun on 7 November 2014.  I must say that it was extremely enlightening, and we (members of the jury) were paid $50 for each sitting after the third one.   Sometimes we met for one hour, sometimes for up to five hours - and dinner was provided for each meeting, although we were all a little tired of Abo's Pizza after several weeks.
   I had not realized that in Boulder County, the District Attorney and his his assistants sort and choose through those people empaneled for the Grand Jury, and, by some unknown and arcane formulae, choose whom they prefer as the Foreperson and the secondary foreperson themselves.  I got the short stick, so to speak, and was named the Foreperson.  I had to swear in everyone who testified in front of Grand Jury, including attorneys, police officers, federal agents, and normal people who were caught up in certain activities. I was also in charge of getting agreements and disagreements mended within the jury itself, took votes, tabulated the returns, and was the person to tell the DA's what the Grand Jury's decision was.  I also had to sign all the paperwork for supboenas and indictments.  Wow.   As I said, it was enlightening.
   We learned all sorts of things about federal and state laws, about drug abuse, opiate addiction, heroin usage, street drugs and their current prices.  We learned about the homeless and laws that do, and don't, protect them.  We learned a lot about vehicular accidents and how much time and money is spent performing investigations.  I missed one meeting only, because I had made vacation plans a year in advance.  But I certainly received an education from the police officers, investigators, undercover agents, and our District Attorneys.    I came away from this experience having more empathy for the officers involved, and a much greater understanding of our legal system.
   Being on a jury, judging evidence and testimony of others, and making what can be a life-changing decision regarding someone's future is a very powerful experience.  You can't be mean and spiteful - believe me, it shows.  I just don't understand why so many people wish that they didn't have to participate in jury duty.  I believe it's my right and duty to do so.  Why do so many people have such an aversion to serving justice?  I enjoyed myself.

Snow And More Snow

The big fluffy snowflakes that were falling earlier have ceased, and the sun is trying to pierce heavy clouds that are moving east.  Clumps of snow are falling from tree limbs, and all the squirrels have sopping wet feet and legs, and rather bedraggled tails this morning.  Nedi didn't want to come back inside this morning, so he spent more than an hour outside, and when he returned, his feet were muddy, and he had sparkling snow on a lot of his fur.  Lovey stepped out onto the patio, looked around, didn't react at all when a squirrel jumped over her head, and came back inside to curl up in the afghan.
   I took care of Jasmine yesterday morning, and then managed to get Rosie out for an hour before the snowflakes started to fall thickly. Yesterday afternoon, I went back to Jasmine's, and since I was running late to get to the Grand Jury meeting, I left her empty food can, filled with water, in the sink, so I could scrub it out and place it in recycling this morning.  Then I hurried off to the Justice Center.  We were brought up to the current point on an old case, and presented a new case last night.  I already know my stance on both of these two cases, even though I'm listening to all evidence to see if I  hear of, or notice, any discrepancies.
   When I returned home last night. I found an e-mail from Jasmine's "co-keeper" - this lady cares for Jasmine normally, but she was supposed to gone for a week on a camping trip, so I was taking care of the heavy-duty mouser.  The friend had returned early from her camping trip, thanks to the snow, and let me know that she was back, and would take over the care of Jasmine beginning this morning.  I told her that was fine, and I warned her about the empty cat food can in the sink...  I wonder if Jasmine caught another mouse last night?
  Today is Good Friday for Christians, and Passover begins for those of Jewish faith at sundown this evening.  And we'll have an unusually quick total lunar eclipse of a Blood Moon tonight/early tomorrow morning - the full eclipse will last only 4 minutes and 43 seconds, the shortest total eclipse in this century.  Here in Boulder, the full eclipse will begin at 5:57 a. m. MDT, and we should be able to view it all.  However, due to the sunrise, we'll miss out on the complete revealing of the moon from the earth's shadow.

Stuff

I was looking at the mountains as I walked back to my apartment this morning, and I realized that I haven't seen the Indian Peaks in a couple of weeks.  I could easily see Boulder's peaks and the Flatirons, I could see Sugarloaf with it's cover of snow, and I could see Mount Audubon - but nothing further away.  There was/is a huge cloud bank a little farther west, which obscured the view.  It was warm yesterday, and the snow has partially melted from the back yard.  The grass looks pretty scruffy, with small tufts sticking up here and there through snow, and a few bare patches.  We might get some rain or snow this afternoon, but then we're supposed to be in the 60s Monday and Tuesday.  That will be very welcome!  I know my kits will be happy to be able to dig in the dirt for a few days - they prefer to use the bathroom outside, but if there's snow on the ground, or the ground is frozen, they hurry back inside to the litter boxes.
  I was all ready for the first Grand Jury meeting last night - it was scheduled to begin at 6 p.m., and they had said they'd have food and drinks available for us.  Since my food allergies are so weird, I delayed my breakfast and lunch, hoping I wouldn't feel like I was starving by the time we were dismissed.  I also re-read the 60-plus page booklet of instructions.  I took some trash out to the dumpster yesterday afternoon, and I then checked my e-mail - it was 3:30.  There was a message from the court, in screaming caps, that the meeting was cancelled. I responded that I had received the e-mail, and asked if the meetings were frequently cancelled on such short notice.  The reply was, "Yes. Check your e-mails frequently."   I really dislike planning for something and having it cancelled at the last minute...
   My sister Kathy is having her third chemo-therapy treatment today.  Almost all of her hair has fallen out at this point in time, but she's still presenting a sunny, smiling face.  Her biggest complaint is that she has no energy, and she has always been a busy, busy lady.  Not being able to do things is the only item that makes her blue.
   And the "vicious dog" story is still going full strength in Githens Acres.  I have removed myself from the tumult.  The person who has the dog on her property caused a fire storm yesterday by sending out an e-mail that made very little sense, and that ended with her telling people that if they want to walk their dogs on the easement (which she still calls her driveway) and be certain they will be safe, they need to call her and schedule a time.  That has not been taken well...