Prompt: 5 minutes. Imagine you will completely lose your memory of 2010 in five minutes. Set an alarm for five minutes and capture the things you most want to remember about 2010.
Things I want to remember about 2010 include:
1. My trip to Myrtle Beach to see one of my oldest friends, Meagan. I was there for the better half of a week and we ate sushi, shopped, caught up on each other and saw John Mayer live - finally!
2. My Spa date with my Mom for her 50th birthday. I remember it was snowing like crazy but we still made our way up to Raleigh for her big day and had a lot of fun together.
3. My 21st birthday, good and bad. The good because as I mentioned in my previous post there were some fantastic times down in Myrtle Beach; the bad because it helps me remember why I've moved on.
4. A random beach trip to Wilmington - the first of the season - that actually happened just prior to my 21st. Two girlfriends and I drove down just for one night and we bathed in the sun, had sushi (sensing a pattern?), danced on bars and went back for another jaunt on the beach the next day.
5. The night I met Perry and all of the hilarity that ensued. He was drunk on Patron Tequila and after the way he acted he said he was convinced he'd never hear from me again. He cracked me up so I let a few things slide, plus we have an awesome story to share.
6. There was one random Saturday this past Spring where we had the house open and my parents and I blasted beach music and danced around our living room. Even Sheba, our Great Dane, joined in as best as she could. Those are times I never want to forget.
7. The day when our SVP announced women no longer had to wear hosiery. It was a GREAT day on which she finally let go of sexist and outdated practices!
8. When Perry asked me to go to the beach with him one weekend this past Fall. We didn't leave until 11:00 or so on Saturday night and were only gone for just over 24 hours but that was possibly the best weekend I had all year and preceded our decision to start a relationship.
9. The State Fair - the smells, the animals, the rides, the foods - I missed it last year so it was great getting back this year.
10. Halloween, not because we had some crazy party (though Perry's Mom did have an awesome party herself and decked out her house and garden!), but because my best friend ended up in the ER after a horrible bout of Acid Reflux. I remember being ready to punch the staff members because they seemed so ignorant and unattentive. She's all better now of course!
11. Obviously I'll never forget having to call my Commanding Officer and tell him I no longer wished to remain in the DEP program for the US Navy. That was a horrifying moment for me since I'm mostly not great with confrontation but I made it through.
12. The support my family gave me when I told them I was no longer going into the Navy, the way my sister jumped on the ball and started making calls to handle any legal issues that may have come up and how everyone told me it was fine that I wanted to go back to school instead or that I needed student loans to do so.
Okay - so I cheated. This was more like a 10-12 minute blog but I had to make sure I got down what was important to me!
Oh and one more thing - the fact that I am now officially finished with my first semester back in school. Exams are over and I'm free again - for now!
15 December 2010
09 December 2010
I'm Gonna Party Like It's 2010
Prompt: Party. What social gathering rocked your socks off in 2010? Describe the people, music, food, drink, clothes, shenanigans.
Reflecting on this year's parties actually makes me sad. This past May I turned 21 and that's supposed to be, like, the biggest birthday bash ever, right?!
WRONG.
Don't get me wrong, we had a lot of fun... for the most part. There were five of us, joined later on by another friend, who drove down to Myrtle Beach for a weeklong celebration. In fact the night we arrived was Gin's Birthday Eve, which we commemorated with drunken card games and frolicking on the beach. There are a few moments in particular I can think of that made me feel on top of the world, like waking up early that first morning to go buy my first six pack that I personally designed courtesy of Food Lion. That evening was great too. I was completely surprised by a couple of gifts and we all spent hours getting ready, putting on cute dresses (minus Caleb of course, who looked handsome as always in a button-up), and doing our make-up and hair. We took a lot of photos, a couple of which I'll share below. We went for the "little black dress" look except Serena, who wore a fabulous blue and purple number that always looks great on her. I remember she did my hair in a crazy hybrid of pin and 1940's style curls, which prompted one guy to ask me if I thought I was Lady GaGa. That's alcohol for ya. It's amusing now how much time we spent getting ready, because although it was fun I find I'm no longer a huge fan of the "club" look. I love looking nice but do I really have to paint on a face before I can head out for the night? Anyway I just sweat it off once I start drinking and dancing!
I also wore these ridiculous four inch heels, which anyone who knows me knows this was an odd feat since I prefer shoes that at least pretend to support my feet (read: flats). The clubs we went to were like most others: loud, packed and full of bars overflowing with liquors, beers and jello shots (Oh My!). I never met anyone I was particularly interested in (I hear that's the "point" of these masquerades?) but I was mostly excited to buy my first drink in a club. I think people, whether they drink or not, can admit it's a liberating feeling to have legal access to these "adult" things once they reach the age deemed appropriate. Ironically one of my friends, after joking about how she wanted a military boyfriend, met just the guy on one of our jaunts there and as of a few months ago he became her husband.
The "drama" that ensued later in the same evening and on throughout the week specifically revolved around one person, that same person I mentioned in my last blog with whom I no longer associate. This person has a very distinct way of ruining things for everyone but after I blew up, screamed, yelled and cursed for a bit I felt better and we all settled into blissful ignorance of this person when they were anything less than agreeable.
One another part of the week I'll highlight was our big Sushi lunch! I love Sushi and cannot get enough of it, so when I realized we were in close proximity of a wonderful little place that a friend who lives in Myrtle Beach had taken me previously, (Thanks Meagan!) I was thrilled. We get there and at this point there's still five of us. First there's not enough plates or silverware on the table, which is fine but when we point this out our requests are repeatedly ignored by our server and we had to scavenge other tables for the right utensils. Presumably our server could not handle simple requests. Would we have understood if the restaurant was packed? Of course. We've all been there during those crazy lunch/dinner rushes and you've got way too many tables and requests and not enough hands or time to deliver properly.
HOWEVER,
We were her ONLY table in an otherwise empty restaurant. One. Uno. When we asked for a little more time to decide on our orders, she didn't return for twenty minutes. When we asked for more drinks, we either faced waiting until our throats had gone dry and we choked to death on raw seafood or getting up to remind her yet again that our glasses were empty.
The crowning moment was when she brought our checks. Although they were split as we had asked, she had added a gratuity. For those of you who may not be familiar with working in restaurants, gratuity is not automatically added to checks. The standard rule for most places is for parties of six or more, gratuity will be added. I never followed through with this practice because it's a complete and total crock. I don't care how many people I was waiting on at one time: they were either going to tip me or they were not. It's my belief that gratuity should be based solely on the performance of a server and not pre-determined for anyone. Unfortunately if you have greedy or cheap people at a table you don't always get what you deserve, but the majority of the people I ever waited on left me great tips and appreciated the fact that I didn't decide for them.
That being said, we knew she was up to something. She obviously realized she was a crappy server to us and assumed we wouldn't leave her anything. If you ask any of us, she didn't deserve a dime. After all, we did everything but jump up and compose the Sushi rolls ourselves. Before I could get up to comment, another of my outspoken friends marched right up to her and demanded an explanation. Her excuse?
"Oh... I thought there were six of you."
Suuuure you did. Not only did we have the gratuity removed from the checks, but she also ended up with about $5.00 on a total bill that exceeded $100.00. In our moments of pure spite my aforementioned friend even drew her a picture in Wasabi paste:
But alas, I don't want to end my "party" post on a crabby note, so here's one last photo:
Reflecting on this year's parties actually makes me sad. This past May I turned 21 and that's supposed to be, like, the biggest birthday bash ever, right?!
WRONG.
Don't get me wrong, we had a lot of fun... for the most part. There were five of us, joined later on by another friend, who drove down to Myrtle Beach for a weeklong celebration. In fact the night we arrived was Gin's Birthday Eve, which we commemorated with drunken card games and frolicking on the beach. There are a few moments in particular I can think of that made me feel on top of the world, like waking up early that first morning to go buy my first six pack that I personally designed courtesy of Food Lion. That evening was great too. I was completely surprised by a couple of gifts and we all spent hours getting ready, putting on cute dresses (minus Caleb of course, who looked handsome as always in a button-up), and doing our make-up and hair. We took a lot of photos, a couple of which I'll share below. We went for the "little black dress" look except Serena, who wore a fabulous blue and purple number that always looks great on her. I remember she did my hair in a crazy hybrid of pin and 1940's style curls, which prompted one guy to ask me if I thought I was Lady GaGa. That's alcohol for ya. It's amusing now how much time we spent getting ready, because although it was fun I find I'm no longer a huge fan of the "club" look. I love looking nice but do I really have to paint on a face before I can head out for the night? Anyway I just sweat it off once I start drinking and dancing!
I also wore these ridiculous four inch heels, which anyone who knows me knows this was an odd feat since I prefer shoes that at least pretend to support my feet (read: flats). The clubs we went to were like most others: loud, packed and full of bars overflowing with liquors, beers and jello shots (Oh My!). I never met anyone I was particularly interested in (I hear that's the "point" of these masquerades?) but I was mostly excited to buy my first drink in a club. I think people, whether they drink or not, can admit it's a liberating feeling to have legal access to these "adult" things once they reach the age deemed appropriate. Ironically one of my friends, after joking about how she wanted a military boyfriend, met just the guy on one of our jaunts there and as of a few months ago he became her husband.
The "drama" that ensued later in the same evening and on throughout the week specifically revolved around one person, that same person I mentioned in my last blog with whom I no longer associate. This person has a very distinct way of ruining things for everyone but after I blew up, screamed, yelled and cursed for a bit I felt better and we all settled into blissful ignorance of this person when they were anything less than agreeable.
One another part of the week I'll highlight was our big Sushi lunch! I love Sushi and cannot get enough of it, so when I realized we were in close proximity of a wonderful little place that a friend who lives in Myrtle Beach had taken me previously, (Thanks Meagan!) I was thrilled. We get there and at this point there's still five of us. First there's not enough plates or silverware on the table, which is fine but when we point this out our requests are repeatedly ignored by our server and we had to scavenge other tables for the right utensils. Presumably our server could not handle simple requests. Would we have understood if the restaurant was packed? Of course. We've all been there during those crazy lunch/dinner rushes and you've got way too many tables and requests and not enough hands or time to deliver properly.
HOWEVER,
We were her ONLY table in an otherwise empty restaurant. One. Uno. When we asked for a little more time to decide on our orders, she didn't return for twenty minutes. When we asked for more drinks, we either faced waiting until our throats had gone dry and we choked to death on raw seafood or getting up to remind her yet again that our glasses were empty.
The crowning moment was when she brought our checks. Although they were split as we had asked, she had added a gratuity. For those of you who may not be familiar with working in restaurants, gratuity is not automatically added to checks. The standard rule for most places is for parties of six or more, gratuity will be added. I never followed through with this practice because it's a complete and total crock. I don't care how many people I was waiting on at one time: they were either going to tip me or they were not. It's my belief that gratuity should be based solely on the performance of a server and not pre-determined for anyone. Unfortunately if you have greedy or cheap people at a table you don't always get what you deserve, but the majority of the people I ever waited on left me great tips and appreciated the fact that I didn't decide for them.
That being said, we knew she was up to something. She obviously realized she was a crappy server to us and assumed we wouldn't leave her anything. If you ask any of us, she didn't deserve a dime. After all, we did everything but jump up and compose the Sushi rolls ourselves. Before I could get up to comment, another of my outspoken friends marched right up to her and demanded an explanation. Her excuse?
"Oh... I thought there were six of you."
Suuuure you did. Not only did we have the gratuity removed from the checks, but she also ended up with about $5.00 on a total bill that exceeded $100.00. In our moments of pure spite my aforementioned friend even drew her a picture in Wasabi paste:
But alas, I don't want to end my "party" post on a crabby note, so here's one last photo:
08 December 2010
On Starting Again & Being Beautifully Different
So how was that for a pause? I realize most of you thought I had stopped writing and I had, for a while at least. Now it's time I got back into it and follow through. I've found I really miss my almost daily rants and ramblings. I've changed so much over the past year I considered starting a completely new blog but then decided against it. Let's be honest: we all grow and change throughout our lives. Here's a brief update on events since March:
1. In case it wasn't obvious, I am no longer leaving for the Navy. For numerous personal reasons, I decided only about a month from my ship date to withdraw from the Delayed Entry Program. They weren't too thrilled and didn't attempt to understand my position, which is fine. To them I was merely an investment because of my high test scores and intelligence. They wanted me to go do "great things"; however I've made other plans.
2. I started school part-time this past Fall while still maintaining my full-time position with SECU. It's been a whirlwind, to put it lightly, and I've been referring to myself as one big ball of stress. Although I'm only taking two classes (US History and, my favorite class I've ever had the pleasure of taking, Sociology), I've learned vast amounts of knowledge in this short time which has helped me to further shape my beliefs, practices and every day actions. If I could share with you all the thoughts and realizations that have gone through my head since I got involved in these classes I swear it'd be an amazing thing; however hopefully this new knowledge will manifest itself through my writing and no further explanation will be necessary.
3. I got rid of the people in my life who are completely worthless to me. Really I'm referring to one person, who I will not name because this isn't the time for ex-friend bashing, but I feel like a weight has been lifted since that person is out for good this time. I've gotten closer with my true friends and I cannot thank them enough for being here for me throughout this crazy year and always. To my family, I thank you as well. I am very lucky and blessed. I love you all!
4. I am now in a stable, (hopefully long-term!) relationship. My partner is a wonderful person and invaluable to me. We were friends for a long time prior to taking the first steps, which I know has made all the difference. This person has seen me at my very worst and never left my side. I've enjoyed all the time we've spent together so far and look forward to all of our future endeavors.
Now for the real reason I am back in this blog, typing away feverishly. My clever friend Danielle came to me yesterday with a proposition. She asked that we participate in Reverb 10. The story is this: "Reverb 10 is an annual event and online initiative to reflect on your year and manifest what’s next. Use the end of your year as an opportunity to reflect on what's happened, and to send out reverberations for the year ahead." You can read more information about it here. In order to "officially" participate I'm supposed to sign this contract on their website citing my dedication to writing on the daily prompts and also linking my blog to them. I'd like to do this but for some reason my browser here at the office will not allow me to, so I'll have to take care of that part at home. I also think I'm supposed to be writing on this prompt in or around 750 words since I keep seeing mention of "750" on their site, but again I'm having difficulty accessing every link so I'll figure that out later. For now, without further ado, here is today's prompt:
December 8 – Beautifully Different. Think about what makes you different and what you do that lights people up. Reflect on all the things that make you different – you’ll find they’re what make you beautiful. (Author: Karen Walrond)
It seems that no matter how I approach this prompt I'll feel as if I'm boasting on myself, but maybe that's the point. One thing that surely sets me apart from many people I know is how pugnacious I am. I realize this seems contradictory. I've just said I'm bragging about how great I am (har har) and in my next breath stated I'm a stubborn, aggressive and at times, confrontational person, so let me enlighten you all on my train of thought.
When I was younger it was emphasized to me these were negative traits. Little girls should be sweet and gentle, quiet and well-mannered. Screw that. The idea of girls and boys, women and men acting differently is another subject I'd like to touch on at another time, but I never liked that whole "seen but not heard" idea.
It's taken me a long time to reach this point, years in fact, but I can finally say how glad I am for being tenacious. Because I am aware of this fact I also make it a point to be educated about any subjects on which I harp, and if I'm ever asked about something about which I'm not currently educated I like to find the facts before I respond. After all, no one likes to hear an ignorant person yapping on to the sound of his or her own voice.
But I enjoy being strong-willed because for me it means I'll fight for what I believe in until it's no longer possible for me to go on. I've been told time again I'm admired for my wit. In fact it's one of the things that attracted my current partner. Even my Mom always says to me she likes how I "tell it like it is". This one trait alone encourages my honesty, pushes me to be more informed on issues and typically aids my sarcastic and humorous rants. It's also one thing that inspires me to write in the first place because I want people to read what I have to say and really consider my words, even if what I say is not always agreeable.
My goal for the upcoming year is to continue developing myself into a more confident and well-rounded individual. I also hope that I can find ways to inspire people and shed light on various issues in some of the same ways as my Sociology professor, to whom I owe many thanks, has done for me.
And how was that for being a little rusty!
1. In case it wasn't obvious, I am no longer leaving for the Navy. For numerous personal reasons, I decided only about a month from my ship date to withdraw from the Delayed Entry Program. They weren't too thrilled and didn't attempt to understand my position, which is fine. To them I was merely an investment because of my high test scores and intelligence. They wanted me to go do "great things"; however I've made other plans.
2. I started school part-time this past Fall while still maintaining my full-time position with SECU. It's been a whirlwind, to put it lightly, and I've been referring to myself as one big ball of stress. Although I'm only taking two classes (US History and, my favorite class I've ever had the pleasure of taking, Sociology), I've learned vast amounts of knowledge in this short time which has helped me to further shape my beliefs, practices and every day actions. If I could share with you all the thoughts and realizations that have gone through my head since I got involved in these classes I swear it'd be an amazing thing; however hopefully this new knowledge will manifest itself through my writing and no further explanation will be necessary.
3. I got rid of the people in my life who are completely worthless to me. Really I'm referring to one person, who I will not name because this isn't the time for ex-friend bashing, but I feel like a weight has been lifted since that person is out for good this time. I've gotten closer with my true friends and I cannot thank them enough for being here for me throughout this crazy year and always. To my family, I thank you as well. I am very lucky and blessed. I love you all!
4. I am now in a stable, (hopefully long-term!) relationship. My partner is a wonderful person and invaluable to me. We were friends for a long time prior to taking the first steps, which I know has made all the difference. This person has seen me at my very worst and never left my side. I've enjoyed all the time we've spent together so far and look forward to all of our future endeavors.
Now for the real reason I am back in this blog, typing away feverishly. My clever friend Danielle came to me yesterday with a proposition. She asked that we participate in Reverb 10. The story is this: "Reverb 10 is an annual event and online initiative to reflect on your year and manifest what’s next. Use the end of your year as an opportunity to reflect on what's happened, and to send out reverberations for the year ahead." You can read more information about it here. In order to "officially" participate I'm supposed to sign this contract on their website citing my dedication to writing on the daily prompts and also linking my blog to them. I'd like to do this but for some reason my browser here at the office will not allow me to, so I'll have to take care of that part at home. I also think I'm supposed to be writing on this prompt in or around 750 words since I keep seeing mention of "750" on their site, but again I'm having difficulty accessing every link so I'll figure that out later. For now, without further ado, here is today's prompt:
December 8 – Beautifully Different. Think about what makes you different and what you do that lights people up. Reflect on all the things that make you different – you’ll find they’re what make you beautiful. (Author: Karen Walrond)
It seems that no matter how I approach this prompt I'll feel as if I'm boasting on myself, but maybe that's the point. One thing that surely sets me apart from many people I know is how pugnacious I am. I realize this seems contradictory. I've just said I'm bragging about how great I am (har har) and in my next breath stated I'm a stubborn, aggressive and at times, confrontational person, so let me enlighten you all on my train of thought.
When I was younger it was emphasized to me these were negative traits. Little girls should be sweet and gentle, quiet and well-mannered. Screw that. The idea of girls and boys, women and men acting differently is another subject I'd like to touch on at another time, but I never liked that whole "seen but not heard" idea.
It's taken me a long time to reach this point, years in fact, but I can finally say how glad I am for being tenacious. Because I am aware of this fact I also make it a point to be educated about any subjects on which I harp, and if I'm ever asked about something about which I'm not currently educated I like to find the facts before I respond. After all, no one likes to hear an ignorant person yapping on to the sound of his or her own voice.
But I enjoy being strong-willed because for me it means I'll fight for what I believe in until it's no longer possible for me to go on. I've been told time again I'm admired for my wit. In fact it's one of the things that attracted my current partner. Even my Mom always says to me she likes how I "tell it like it is". This one trait alone encourages my honesty, pushes me to be more informed on issues and typically aids my sarcastic and humorous rants. It's also one thing that inspires me to write in the first place because I want people to read what I have to say and really consider my words, even if what I say is not always agreeable.
My goal for the upcoming year is to continue developing myself into a more confident and well-rounded individual. I also hope that I can find ways to inspire people and shed light on various issues in some of the same ways as my Sociology professor, to whom I owe many thanks, has done for me.
And how was that for being a little rusty!
30 March 2010
On "Debit Card Fraud: Is Your Money at Risk?"
This morning I came across the following article on Debit Card Fraud. In fact lately I have come across multiple articles about when you should and should not use debit cards, hot spots for debit card fraud and so on and so forth. Now I grant you that the following paragraph taken from the aforementioned article is completely factual, as I have seen it firsthand while working here at the Credit Union:
"When your debit card is used fraudulently, the money is missing from your account instantly. Payments you've scheduled or checks you've mailed may bounce; you may not be able to afford necessities, and it can take awhile for the fraud to be cleared up and the money restored to your account."
The article goes on to suggest different methods for protecting your financial information such as to beware phishing scams and using bank ATMs as opposed to those located in convenience stores or other unsecured areas. One recommendation in particular, however, really cracks me up:
"Don't make purchases with your debit card. Use a credit card instead, because it offers greater protection against fraud. If you do make debit card purchases, don't use your PIN - tell the cashier to select the credit option. The money for your purchase will still be withdrawn from your account right away, but you won't expose yourself to PIN theft."
Are there schemers out there? Sure. Thieves attach skimmers to ATMs and gas pump that scan your card information and allow them to create counterfeit copies. Hackers are capable of sneaking into merchant or payment system databases and accessing the card numbers of thousands of consumers at a time. Unfortunately in compromise situations like these there is not much one can do except get momentarily angry, contact one's financial institution and then move on.
In 95% of the situations I encounter though, people seem to lack one major thing that could have prevented fraud in the first place:
COMMON SENSE.
In our disclosure we specifically advise members not to record their PIN or keep it anywhere near their card. Disclosures often contain what may seem common knowledge to most, yet somewhere along the line someone could not figure out that writing your PIN in permanent marker on the signature line of your debit card is the equivalent to screaming, "HEY, FEEL FREE TO TAKE ALL MY MONEY!" Memorization of a four-digit number should not require that much effort, not to mention the fact that a PIN can be changed to ANY four-digit number for easier recollection.
I do hate these articles imply that debit cards are completely unsafe though, as there is absolutely nothing wrong with using a PIN for debit card purchases. Now, problems may ensue if one were to perhaps say the number aloud as it is keyed or have the card reader blatantly facing strangers during the transaction because then the safety of one's information probably cannot be guaranteed. But in reality no one needs to become a paranoid loon over this sudden excess media attention. Tomorrow the headlines will read, "Wearing Green Causes Cancer: Your Health Questions Answered!" and debit cards will be safe once again.
To close on a hilarious side note, I just overheard a couple of coworkers exclaiming that our members needed to exercise more common sense. Such perfect timing! It's nice to know that cynicism is not confined to my cube.
"When your debit card is used fraudulently, the money is missing from your account instantly. Payments you've scheduled or checks you've mailed may bounce; you may not be able to afford necessities, and it can take awhile for the fraud to be cleared up and the money restored to your account."
The article goes on to suggest different methods for protecting your financial information such as to beware phishing scams and using bank ATMs as opposed to those located in convenience stores or other unsecured areas. One recommendation in particular, however, really cracks me up:
"Don't make purchases with your debit card. Use a credit card instead, because it offers greater protection against fraud. If you do make debit card purchases, don't use your PIN - tell the cashier to select the credit option. The money for your purchase will still be withdrawn from your account right away, but you won't expose yourself to PIN theft."
Are there schemers out there? Sure. Thieves attach skimmers to ATMs and gas pump that scan your card information and allow them to create counterfeit copies. Hackers are capable of sneaking into merchant or payment system databases and accessing the card numbers of thousands of consumers at a time. Unfortunately in compromise situations like these there is not much one can do except get momentarily angry, contact one's financial institution and then move on.
In 95% of the situations I encounter though, people seem to lack one major thing that could have prevented fraud in the first place:
COMMON SENSE.
In our disclosure we specifically advise members not to record their PIN or keep it anywhere near their card. Disclosures often contain what may seem common knowledge to most, yet somewhere along the line someone could not figure out that writing your PIN in permanent marker on the signature line of your debit card is the equivalent to screaming, "HEY, FEEL FREE TO TAKE ALL MY MONEY!" Memorization of a four-digit number should not require that much effort, not to mention the fact that a PIN can be changed to ANY four-digit number for easier recollection.
I do hate these articles imply that debit cards are completely unsafe though, as there is absolutely nothing wrong with using a PIN for debit card purchases. Now, problems may ensue if one were to perhaps say the number aloud as it is keyed or have the card reader blatantly facing strangers during the transaction because then the safety of one's information probably cannot be guaranteed. But in reality no one needs to become a paranoid loon over this sudden excess media attention. Tomorrow the headlines will read, "Wearing Green Causes Cancer: Your Health Questions Answered!" and debit cards will be safe once again.
To close on a hilarious side note, I just overheard a couple of coworkers exclaiming that our members needed to exercise more common sense. Such perfect timing! It's nice to know that cynicism is not confined to my cube.
25 March 2010
On The Time I Skirted Jury Duty
Per instructions contained in a letter I had received from Johnston County, I made a call on Tuesday evening to an automated line only to receive the most dreadful news: I had to report for Jury Duty at 10:30 on Wednesday morning.
I arrived early because even in Smithfield it's difficult to find parking when you are heading to the Court House. It was a beautiful day and I tried to remain optimistic that I would not be there long anyway. I found my way to the Jury Pool Room and joined about 35 other uninterested-looking people. We did not have to wait long for some Courthouse employee (I am certain she told us her name and even her title, oops) to come in and present us with a video on why Jury Duty was important and what was expected of us, yadda yadda. She then let us know that if we were selected for the upcoming case we could expect it to last 2-3 days but, gee golly, we are the lucky ones because they have some murder and drug trafficking cases coming up that could last 2-3 weeks! First I thought, "In Johnston County...? Surely not." Then it occurred to me that if I were chosen that would mean wasting MORE of my precious hours in the Courtroom hearing arguments about cases I could not care less about.
I was given plenty of time to the tune of about 3-4 hours to sit there and mull over an escape plan. I even texted a few friends to inquire about the consequences should I simply not show up after they called for the lunch break. I was told bad things would happen, so I scratched that off the list.
Finally one of the Bailiffs arrived to escort us to the Courtroom. I was strangely reminded of entering a church: it was cold, there were only rigid wooden pews to sit on and I felt out of place. The Judge began by explaining the case and introducing the various people in the room. He went on to contradict the information previously provided to us by stating that he expected the case to last until next TUESDAY. For the mathematically challenged, this means I would spend a total of FIVE days in this Legal Hell. I knew at that point I could not leave the odds of being chosen up to fate alone. I had to act fast! Luckily the honorable Judge then uttered the magic words, "If any of you feel you have a valid excuse as to why you should not be chosen, please approach the stand now so that I can speak with you."
After a moment's hesitation I mustered the courage to get up and join the line of about five others. When it was my turn I walked right up to him and said, "Sir, I work at a Credit Union Operations Center and as we have a limited number of employees in our department I feel it is pertinent I be there to attend to my job duties." I hope my jaw did not drop open in disbelief when he said, "Alright then." I earned Ninja Points for this next move though. The Clerk of Courts explained to me that my Jury Duty was only being "deferred" and she needed to know what month was best for them to contact me once again. "How about November or December, honey? Is one of those months good for you?" I smiled innocently and replied, "Oh November's great for me! Thank you so much!"
I am not certain but I may have danced out of that Courtroom.
I arrived early because even in Smithfield it's difficult to find parking when you are heading to the Court House. It was a beautiful day and I tried to remain optimistic that I would not be there long anyway. I found my way to the Jury Pool Room and joined about 35 other uninterested-looking people. We did not have to wait long for some Courthouse employee (I am certain she told us her name and even her title, oops) to come in and present us with a video on why Jury Duty was important and what was expected of us, yadda yadda. She then let us know that if we were selected for the upcoming case we could expect it to last 2-3 days but, gee golly, we are the lucky ones because they have some murder and drug trafficking cases coming up that could last 2-3 weeks! First I thought, "In Johnston County...? Surely not." Then it occurred to me that if I were chosen that would mean wasting MORE of my precious hours in the Courtroom hearing arguments about cases I could not care less about.
I was given plenty of time to the tune of about 3-4 hours to sit there and mull over an escape plan. I even texted a few friends to inquire about the consequences should I simply not show up after they called for the lunch break. I was told bad things would happen, so I scratched that off the list.
Finally one of the Bailiffs arrived to escort us to the Courtroom. I was strangely reminded of entering a church: it was cold, there were only rigid wooden pews to sit on and I felt out of place. The Judge began by explaining the case and introducing the various people in the room. He went on to contradict the information previously provided to us by stating that he expected the case to last until next TUESDAY. For the mathematically challenged, this means I would spend a total of FIVE days in this Legal Hell. I knew at that point I could not leave the odds of being chosen up to fate alone. I had to act fast! Luckily the honorable Judge then uttered the magic words, "If any of you feel you have a valid excuse as to why you should not be chosen, please approach the stand now so that I can speak with you."
After a moment's hesitation I mustered the courage to get up and join the line of about five others. When it was my turn I walked right up to him and said, "Sir, I work at a Credit Union Operations Center and as we have a limited number of employees in our department I feel it is pertinent I be there to attend to my job duties." I hope my jaw did not drop open in disbelief when he said, "Alright then." I earned Ninja Points for this next move though. The Clerk of Courts explained to me that my Jury Duty was only being "deferred" and she needed to know what month was best for them to contact me once again. "How about November or December, honey? Is one of those months good for you?" I smiled innocently and replied, "Oh November's great for me! Thank you so much!"
I am not certain but I may have danced out of that Courtroom.
22 March 2010
A Rush of Blood to the Head
On an insignificant sunny afternoon I am in a white dress walking through an open grassy field. All around me there are daisies and wildflowers; the bees humming as they go about their work. The grass tickles my uncovered feet and I feel free. I look up at the brilliant blue sky and notice puffy clouds that are moving quickly, much too quickly, above my head. A light breeze drifts through the air and my nose is greeted by a sweet floral scent. I shiver as something soft brushes my shoulders and I turn, alarmed by the ghostly touch. When I find no one I glance down and notice silky brown curls brushing my bare skin. It seems strange that my hair is long again but I do not have time to question it. I feel I should keep going.
As I continue my stroll I come across a heavily wooded area. The trees grow so tall here that I cannot make out where they end; their arms reach right into the Heavens. I take one long look back at the glowing field and move forward into thick darkness. Since the dense canopy of the surrounding trees allows very little light to peek through I am struck with the idea to crawl along the cool floor. Though an unseen branch grabs hold of my dress and rips a small tear in its thin material and despite the knowledge of being coated in soil I am not hindered in my progress.
Soon enough I reach a clearing and in the middle is a building. It is difficult to make out but it appears to be the auditorium from my original elementary school, the same old brick building that housed my Father and Grandmother during their years of primary education. Something tells me this is impossible as I recall the building being torn down some years back; however curiosity outweighs my doubts and I pull myself up and through the crumbling doors. Inside it looks the same as I remember it: creaking wooden chairs that are not comfortable in the slightest, unstable balcony overhead, outdated chandelier with dim yellow lights and a small wooden stage. In the center of the stage is a lovely man, a fine example of the tireless cliché tall, dark and handsome. He is surrounded by some of my friends and a handful of strangers. I watch him carefully from the end of the room, drawn to his humor and charming smile just as the others seem to be. I decide to approach them since I see familiar faces but I stumble and have to catch myself on a nearby chair. He looks up at me then, distracted by the noise yet the only one who seems to notice my presence. When our eyes lock in that moment I feel overwhelmingly vulnerable. I go to move, perhaps to hide, but find I am unable to do so. The man smiles at me, unconcerned by my awkwardness and unkempt appearance. I notice I am returning his smile only after my lips have already turned themselves upward in acknowledgement. He climbs gracefully down from the stage and as he begins to walk toward me...
...my eyes shoot open. It is 06:15 and some irrelevant news story is now blaring from my radio...
Damn my luck.
As I continue my stroll I come across a heavily wooded area. The trees grow so tall here that I cannot make out where they end; their arms reach right into the Heavens. I take one long look back at the glowing field and move forward into thick darkness. Since the dense canopy of the surrounding trees allows very little light to peek through I am struck with the idea to crawl along the cool floor. Though an unseen branch grabs hold of my dress and rips a small tear in its thin material and despite the knowledge of being coated in soil I am not hindered in my progress.
Soon enough I reach a clearing and in the middle is a building. It is difficult to make out but it appears to be the auditorium from my original elementary school, the same old brick building that housed my Father and Grandmother during their years of primary education. Something tells me this is impossible as I recall the building being torn down some years back; however curiosity outweighs my doubts and I pull myself up and through the crumbling doors. Inside it looks the same as I remember it: creaking wooden chairs that are not comfortable in the slightest, unstable balcony overhead, outdated chandelier with dim yellow lights and a small wooden stage. In the center of the stage is a lovely man, a fine example of the tireless cliché tall, dark and handsome. He is surrounded by some of my friends and a handful of strangers. I watch him carefully from the end of the room, drawn to his humor and charming smile just as the others seem to be. I decide to approach them since I see familiar faces but I stumble and have to catch myself on a nearby chair. He looks up at me then, distracted by the noise yet the only one who seems to notice my presence. When our eyes lock in that moment I feel overwhelmingly vulnerable. I go to move, perhaps to hide, but find I am unable to do so. The man smiles at me, unconcerned by my awkwardness and unkempt appearance. I notice I am returning his smile only after my lips have already turned themselves upward in acknowledgement. He climbs gracefully down from the stage and as he begins to walk toward me...
...my eyes shoot open. It is 06:15 and some irrelevant news story is now blaring from my radio...
Damn my luck.
20 March 2010
Good Day Sunshine
When I woke up today and pushed aside my heavy dark curtains to let in the sunlight I could not help but smile. My head was pounding, my nose was still stuffy and my throat was still sore but the knowledge that Winter is quickly fading and that warm Spring and Summer nights are swiftly approaching was cause enough to ignore any physical discomforts. Shortly after I emerged from my room my Mother opened wide all the windows and doors in our home. The breeze is drifting in beside me now and I am experiencing so many things I had no idea how much I missed. I can smell the new grass and the freshly bloomed flowers, hear the sound of a neighbor's lawnmower and I have a lovely view of the bluest, clearest skies I have witnessed in quite some time...
This is how inner peace feels for me.
Happy Weekend, everyone.
This is how inner peace feels for me.
Happy Weekend, everyone.
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