The Wheels Of Justice Grind Slowly

Ok, so I got up after 2am so I'd be awake and ready enough to make the bus. Well, it happens that I missed the bus. Twice. Yes! Imagine my surprise. How did it happen, did I doze off? Nope. I was at the bus stop. Well, I thought it was the bus stop. It had the bus route number posted but it seems the bus picked up its passengers in a different place while still claiming to use that corner. Anyway, I finally got on the bus which itself was running a bit behind. I got to the court late but early enough to still hear the same lame humor from the presiding judge. Lucky me. So I sat, and sat. While they do call two groups of people to court rooms many of us just got to sit except for when we got our 20 minute mid-morning break which, predictably, involved sitting some more.

I see Good Morning America. I see The Tony Danza Show. I watch The View. I see the local 11am news. What's this? It's time for lunch! Return by 1:15pm because there are courts which might still want to seat juries today. I check the "food court" in the building and can't believe it's $5 and up for a 6" sub. I'm not paying that. I walk to Wendy's (hamburgers). The rain starts. I get my burger and go all out and even get cheese. Exciting life, no? Not about to go through the same problem as this morning, I walk a few more blocks to see if I have correctly concluded where the afternoon bus will appear to pick me up. Making note I seem to be right, I go back to the juror lounge and wait. Oh, joy! Someone's put on the daytime soap "One Life To Live." I watch anyway. 1:15 comes and goes. It's about 1:40 pm and they call another group. Woo-hoo, I'm in the group! It's off to the next building which means going four floors up and taking the bridge. And walking until you reach the ends of the Earth. Or nearly. What do we do? We wait outside! And wait. Eventually we're called in one by one, not as a pack as happened other times I've been in this process. We hear the usuals things, get sworn, a prelim question is asked. Some people need to be talked to one at a time because on their answer. I was one of those people. In fact, I end up being the next to last talked to as we stand in the hall as each person is brought in one by one and I was one of three not dismissed. We get done and wait further. 3pm comes and we are brought back. Another round of questions. One by one we go through the process of answering standardized questions.

Anyway, the judge calls it quits at 4:30pm meaning we get to come back tomorrow at 9am to continue the process of selecting a jury panel. So much for "one day/one case" really. At least having to return tomorrow means I'll get $15 whether I end up on the panel or not. The first day is all on you and since I paid for my bus trip to the court house, I actually paid in order to sit numbed out of my mind. So we got out and I'm like... well if I hurry, I can get the next bus which is supposed to arrive in 5 minutes. I walk four blocks and wait. The bus turns out to be running late but I'm never so glad to see it. I had gotten a free voucher for a bus ride but you have to scratch off the time and date used. I use my finger, a pen... the thing fights me. It was mauled good enough for the driver and I made it to the back of the bus. My head was throbbing. My eyes ached. I wished Mother would be home so I could share my day. Of course I realize that isn't going to be; wasn't depressing just worth a mental note about only have the cat to talk to and the blog and neighbor. I got off the bus where I had thought the bus was going to pick me up this morning and walked back to the house. The kitty was hiding when I came in but soon made herself known.

This morning, in the rain, walking to the bus stop I took a short cut and walked passed a homeless guy wrapped up, head covered, in a blanket. This afternoon he wasn't there but his blanket was neatly folded; I guess that's his spot. I'm not sure if I'll go that way tomorrow morning or not. It's not as convenient a shortcut given the actual pick up point but is good for the afternoon. Tomorrow I expect I'll not be picked for the panel. They have to eliminate a lot of people to get to me. Dozens in fact. I'll probably be thanked by the court for doing my duty and told to go home. Probably by mid-day which means no express bus for me. I'll have to take the hour long ride that goes all over the place. I'm very tired. Could sleep but I'm hungry. Will probably have a meal, might nap. How about just a nap. Ugh. More later.