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.

A Weekend Report

For some reason, the folks who decide such things, decided I'd make a good Grand Juror for Boulder County.  I found out on Friday that I, and 15 others, will be serving on the Grand Jury for a year.  Oh, boy.  We'll meet (mostly) on Thursday evenings, and I've already notified them of my Pony Penning trip next summer - they know I'll be absent if they schedule any meetings then.
   Kathy, my sister, had a double mastectomy Friday. She was scheduled to begin the surgery at 8:30 in the morning, but all that happened at that time was her injection with radioactive dye - she wasn't taken into the Operating Room until 11:30.  I arrived at the hospital a few minutes before 1 pm, having taken the direct bus from the Courthouse to the hospital.  I didn't see anyone (Jim or his sister Kathy) in the waiting area, so I ran into the cafeteria and grabbed a quick sandwich, and carried it back to the waiting area.  We met up and at 1:50, I went to the restroom, while Kathy and Jim grabbed to-go stuff from the cafeteria.  We kept on waiting for the Doctor to come tell us about the surgery.  He never did.  He had Jim's cell phone number, but didn't call Jim, either.  It is guessed that he came looking for Jim when Jim and Kathy were in the cafeteria, and I was in the restroom.
   In any event, one of the sentinel lymph nodes was compromised, and showed signs of cancer, so they removed more nodes from her right armpit than originally planned.  Kathy had a good night, and was sent home this afternoon, 24 hours after her surgery.  She has always been a fast healer - today, her chest did not hurt, but she said it felt like she a a bad case of razor burn under her arms (where the lymph nodes were removed) and her foremost complaint was a sore throat from the anesthesia.  My sister is one tough lady!
   I have to admit, at this time, that I am getting worried about Nedi.  For the third time this week, I found him asleep in the bathtub, with a live mouse crawling on him.  Does my cat want (or need) a pet, himself?  I can't figure out any other reason he keeps catching mice, turning them loose in the bathtub, and then getting in the tub and going to sleep.  Is he trying to show the mice he won't hurt them?  I just don't know.
   Today we're expecting a high in the mid-70s.  BUT.  The weather folks say the Arctic Express will be bringing extremely cold temperatures and snow starting tomorrow.  After today's warmth and sun, tomorrow's high of 51 will seem awful - and with steadily dropping temperatures and snow in the afternoon, with highs in the 20s for the rest of the week (and lows in the single digits), most people here are not amused.  Of course, there are the snow bunnies and all the ski and winter resorts are very happy!!    I'll be thinking, grumpily, of my friends in Florida...                                                                           

Family Surgery - And, Jury Duty, Here I Come

Well, I called the Jury Summons telephone number, and heard a recording telling me that if my assigned juror number was between this and that, then I needed to be at the Courthouse at 8:15 in the morning.  The beginning number was only 25 before my assigned number, and the end number is 110 after my number.  Looks like I'll be there!
  But my thoughts today are with my sister, Kathy.  Being sisters, and having six and a half years of age between us, we haven't always seen eye to eye; and I am frequently upset by her  (in my perception) regal and arbitrary decisions. I am sure that I make decisions that she doesn't like, either.  But she is my flesh and blood, my closest living relative; and I do love her very much.  Kathy checks into Foothills Community Hospital this morning before 7 and will be on an operating table at 8:30.  She is having a double mastectomy; they are also removing the sentinel lymph nodes from each arm pit.  Hopefully, both of them will show no signs of the cancer that is eating her body, and that will mark an end of the removals.  If so, the surgery will last only 3 to 5 hours.
   Kathy has been diagnosed with invasive ductal breast cancer.  The good news is that it's been found early; that it's the most commonly found cancer in women over the age of 50, who have had children; and there is a very high recovery rate without a recurrence of the cancer, if found and treated early.  The worst thing is waiting for the results from the surgery, which will take a few days - waiting to find out if Kathy will need to under go chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and/or hormonal therapy.  As she and Jim lead a very active lifestyle, Kathy has selected not to have reconstructive surgery - to hasten her recovery, to save money, and to be able to run her half-marathons without being stuffed into a Sports Bra.  If all goes well, she should be returning to work soon after the New Year.
   In the meantime, one of Kathy's former co-workers will stay with her in the mornings while Jim runs and takes care of business, and while I'm walking dogs.  After noon, I'll be Kathy's hands and arms, cleaning, doing laundry, washing dishes, cooking, reading to her, and writing for her, while Jim takes care of house-hold items (like shopping).  Connie, Kathy's neighbor, will fill in when neither Bernie nor I are available.  I am scheduled to house-sit the week of Thanksgiving, but I'm only two blocks away from the houses...  so things will be easy to handle.
   Boulder has really dodged winter so far.  However, after some rain tonight,  we're supposed to be sunny and in the 60s Saturday and Sunday.  Monday, however, the temperatures are forecast to fall all day with about 3 inches of snow in the evening, with a low of 17 degrees.  Tuesday (thankfully, it's Veteran's Day, and a Holiday) they say we'll reach a high of 32 and have snow falling all day; Tuesday night's low is forecast at 19.  Looks like Winter is actually on it's way!

Jury Duty

I sat down and read my 5-page Jury Duty Summons this morning.  I had briefly run my eyes over it when it arrived, and just took in the fact that I am summoned to appear on Friday, 7 November - tomorrow.  I sat down today and carefully read every part of it, and filled out the page of information required.  Then I re-read the other instructions and found that I must call a certain number, after 6 p.m. tonight, and listen to a recording, to see if, and when, I must actually report.  What?  I cleared my calendar of work for tomorrow when I got the notice.  Then there's the small note that says to expect to serve as a juror, if selected, for one full day, but that most trials run for three days - and occasionally longer.  After one has been kept serving on a jury for 3 days, then one will be recompensed $50 per day for the fourth and any additional day.  OK.   I served once as a jury member in a civil case that lasted for 13 hours - all in one day.  I also served on the Grand Jury for six months, and saw 6 cases.  But both of these happened while I lived in Gainesville, Florida.  This is my first call for Jury Duty in the 10 years I've been a registered voter in Boulder County, so I really can't complain.
   What has amazed me is how many people have told me ways to "get out of jury duty" and "ways to get excused."  I guess I am showing that I was raised in another era, or by parents who wanted to do a service for their community.  Mom and Dad were happy and proud to be on a jury.  I am, too, when I'm chosen.  Why should I want to escape from jury duty?  We are guaranteed a right to trial by a jury of our peers in either a civil or criminal case.  This was written into the Constitution of the United States, and that was a carry-over from the Magna Carta - which King John was forced to sign in 1215 (by his leading land-owners, who were tired of not getting any trial, just a royal decision).  Why don't most of today's voters want to serve on a jury?  To me, it's a service that I owe other people of my city, county, state, and nation, for the right to vote - and I'm happy to make the pay-back.

Voting, Horses, Ebola

We are expecting rain today and tomorrow, so it will be up to the weather gods as to how much money I make today.  Of the three dogs I walk, none of them like to walk in the rain, and all of the owners have stated that if it's raining, walking is not necessary - just let the dogs use their doggie doors to the yard....  Having been registered as a voter here in Boulder for 9 and 3/4 years, I have actually received a Jury Summons.  While living in Gainesville, I served as jury foreman in a civil case, and then as the secretary of the Alachua County Grand Jury for six months.  I was still serving on the County Grand Jury when I received a summons for the State Grand Jury, so I was able to decline that last invitation.  So I'll appear at the Boulder County Court House on November 7....
   I watched from the rail as Cigar won the Breeders Cup Classic at Gulfstream Park under Jerry Bailey, as dusk fell.  The great race horse was retired to stud, but was found to be sterile, so he was retired with daily exercise at the farm.  For the past six months, he had had osteoarthritis in his neck, which resulted in pressure on his spinal cord.  Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital has been treating the champion throughout his ordeal.  It ended last night, when Cigar was euthanized after complications developed following a surgical procedure to relieve the pressure on his spinal cord.  He was 24 years old.
   Unfortunately, the poor man from Liberia has died from ebola in Dallas, Texas.  Folks in the Dallas area are panicking, and stores are reporting sales of emergency medical supplies and kits are having a sharp increase since the news of the man's hospitalization was made known.  And now five international airports in the US are implementing a new health screening check for passengers arriving from West Africa.
   I have lived in the City of Boulder for the past 8-plus years.  I received our county mail-out about the four state amendments that we are to vote upon, on 4 November, as well as the voting on retention of County judges.  I thought that was all that was going to be on the ballot, along with our elected state officers - Governor, Senators, Congressmen, and other state officials.  Not so.  There are two County amendments, and three City amendments - which I found out about from my sister.  I had to look these measures up, on my computer, to see the terms of these items we'll be voting on.  Several are small tax increases lasting for two to five years, to help pay for all of the needed county and city repairs, following last years flood - and for continued assistance to those who lost everything due to the flood.
   The things that have put my back up are the requests that the City Council be allowed to run "private executive" meetings regarding the set-up of the municipalization of the power plant, and that they be allowed to set up their own company to provide direct internet service to anyone within the city limits.  I had voted against the muni power plant, but the measure was passed, and the City is proceeding to make a hostile take over of the local Excel Energy offices.  Being inside the City, I must use City power, so I'm cringing about what the new rates will be.  If we allow the City to set up their own internet supply company, I'm afraid that we will also be mandated to use the City's provided service, rather than being able to "shop around" for the best-suiting service.....    Grrrrrr.