Entry tags:
Just take a look at me now
I think Jury Duty is kind of like being picked for the teams when you're in Gym class, except both the team captains are assholes and you hate this game, and you really don't feel like playing at all. But you're stuck in Gym class, and even if they ignore you during playtime, you know you'll get picked eventually, even if it's just to be the person to pick up the stray balls and get used as target practice.
Okay, maybe it's not as bad as all that, but I got there at 9:30, had an orientation that lasted till 10:15 or 10:30, and then I was part of the second group of people called in for... yay, a criminal trial. But pretty much everyone was right: it was a big waiting game. When I finally got to the place, we waited a bit longer, only to have the judge dismiss us from 12-1:30 for lunch. I went outside and looked around, checked out the basement cafeteria (it SUCKS), and then decided on a hot dog from a stand. It was pricey, but at least it was all beef. I listed to my iPod and read my "Uncle John's GIGANTIC Bathroom Reader" (with the dust jacket removed to protect my privacy, of course), and then went inside where people didn't SMOKE (and the bathrooms hardly worked).
Then more waiting, and more sitting around. Then another orientation of sorts, and when we finally kinda-sorta got around to the Jury Selection, I wasn't even one of the 20. So I'm supposed to go back tomorrow at 10:30 and sit in the audience; I have no idea why (the judge kept emphasizing how short a case it would be, so why I need to be there if I'm not a juror or an alternate is beyond me), but it's better than being at work at 8:30 or in the assembly room at 9:30. If I "fulfill my obligation" then I'm done for the week and back to work. Then again, even if I get compensated for tomorrow, it's piddly: I can arrange for a Metro day pass and get $15 for the day, THAT'S IT! Blech.
Speaking of the Metro, I didn't get hopelessly lost, but it IS a huge ripoff compared to Muni. It's also a heckuva lot LATER than Muni (and by Muni, I mean San Francisco's transportation service in general) is, too. 'Course, I could be sore just 'cause I'm so tired today, it was so expensive, and it was so hot. But $3 for a transfer? Geez. Okay, so the transfer is essentially a day pass, and I should have thought of that when the stupid "trip planner" notified me about it, but I thought $2.50 ($1.25 each ride) would be cheaper than a $3 Day Pass. That is, until the bus driver that was supposed to take me 2/3 of the way home dumped me unexpectedly at a not-so-nice neighborhood with very few crosswalks. I jetted across the intersection as soon as I found an opening, waited for the bus (+15 minutes), got a very friendly bus driver, waited for the bus again (+45 minutes; bus was 15 minutes late, too!), and nearly fell asleep on the bus. I kept waking up sporadically, the way I do when you know I've gotten so little sleep it's unhealthy. But dammit, I hate waking up so early! It's not me!
But I managed to get home, all without getting too lost, too sweaty, too broke, or mauled by the evil Boxer dog that lives on the intersection near the bus stop, where I hate walking past.
And if people want to consider some part of transportation as a good thing, my Muse decided to be a right brat with me, and she's inspired me-- for "Eternal Dimension," the third part in the WDKY series. I haven't even touched "Circle of Seven" yet (even if I have that just as planned out as WDKY) and I'm getting more ideas for ED!? How frustrating.
AUUUUGH! Jury duty isn't compensated at all, work you suck you suck you suck!
Okay, maybe it's not as bad as all that, but I got there at 9:30, had an orientation that lasted till 10:15 or 10:30, and then I was part of the second group of people called in for... yay, a criminal trial. But pretty much everyone was right: it was a big waiting game. When I finally got to the place, we waited a bit longer, only to have the judge dismiss us from 12-1:30 for lunch. I went outside and looked around, checked out the basement cafeteria (it SUCKS), and then decided on a hot dog from a stand. It was pricey, but at least it was all beef. I listed to my iPod and read my "Uncle John's GIGANTIC Bathroom Reader" (with the dust jacket removed to protect my privacy, of course), and then went inside where people didn't SMOKE (and the bathrooms hardly worked).
Then more waiting, and more sitting around. Then another orientation of sorts, and when we finally kinda-sorta got around to the Jury Selection, I wasn't even one of the 20. So I'm supposed to go back tomorrow at 10:30 and sit in the audience; I have no idea why (the judge kept emphasizing how short a case it would be, so why I need to be there if I'm not a juror or an alternate is beyond me), but it's better than being at work at 8:30 or in the assembly room at 9:30. If I "fulfill my obligation" then I'm done for the week and back to work. Then again, even if I get compensated for tomorrow, it's piddly: I can arrange for a Metro day pass and get $15 for the day, THAT'S IT! Blech.
Speaking of the Metro, I didn't get hopelessly lost, but it IS a huge ripoff compared to Muni. It's also a heckuva lot LATER than Muni (and by Muni, I mean San Francisco's transportation service in general) is, too. 'Course, I could be sore just 'cause I'm so tired today, it was so expensive, and it was so hot. But $3 for a transfer? Geez. Okay, so the transfer is essentially a day pass, and I should have thought of that when the stupid "trip planner" notified me about it, but I thought $2.50 ($1.25 each ride) would be cheaper than a $3 Day Pass. That is, until the bus driver that was supposed to take me 2/3 of the way home dumped me unexpectedly at a not-so-nice neighborhood with very few crosswalks. I jetted across the intersection as soon as I found an opening, waited for the bus (+15 minutes), got a very friendly bus driver, waited for the bus again (+45 minutes; bus was 15 minutes late, too!), and nearly fell asleep on the bus. I kept waking up sporadically, the way I do when you know I've gotten so little sleep it's unhealthy. But dammit, I hate waking up so early! It's not me!
But I managed to get home, all without getting too lost, too sweaty, too broke, or mauled by the evil Boxer dog that lives on the intersection near the bus stop, where I hate walking past.
And if people want to consider some part of transportation as a good thing, my Muse decided to be a right brat with me, and she's inspired me-- for "Eternal Dimension," the third part in the WDKY series. I haven't even touched "Circle of Seven" yet (even if I have that just as planned out as WDKY) and I'm getting more ideas for ED!? How frustrating.
AUUUUGH! Jury duty isn't compensated at all, work you suck you suck you suck!
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