Jury's Out

That's true for me.  I just got called for jury duty... again.  And, again, I am unable to fulfill it.  I was called during grad school, but it was for the week of finals so I was exempt.  Also, when I lived in Indy I was called, but it was going to be for after I moved.  Also, I wish they'd stop asking me to do jury duty at places I no longer live.  A couple of months ago I called summoned for jury duty in Illinois.  I haven't lived there in years.  Today I was summoned for the county our apartment was down here.  If only they'd sent it a couple of weeks sooner.  Darn it.  I really, REALLY want to do jury and I think the last county we lived in coulda been good.  Drugs, murders, robberies... it was everywhere.  I think that's what I miss most about social work.  Court was my favorite.  Writing court reports, attending hearings, testifying.  True love.  Just keep your fingers crossed that I get called soon... chances are I will.  I get called everywhere I live... just after I move, apparently.

State of the Union

You know how Presidents always give personal anecdotes in their State of the Union addresses?  They're supposedly used to make themselves look more "in-touch" with the general population.  You know the ones, "Bobby Jenkins blah, blah, blah, blah, blah until I, the Great One, turned his life around by signing such and such bill... yada, yada, yada"...

I would love Obama to use me as a personal example to show just what is the state of my union.  "Ms. Lifetime Guarantee who showed dedication and hard work to obtain both her undergraduate and Master's degree in under five years has unfortunately been forced to work part-time in an hourly position making minimum wage (I actually don't know if that's true because I don't know what minimum wage is, but I suspect I am very close to it) due to the tanked economy I have aided in creating".  Oh, the uselessness, of these traditions.

Lost

During the past two months I've been watching the TV series Lost.  Yup, as usual I'm about 3 years behind the times.  It's AMAZING.  Start watching it now.  But only if you have considerable amounts of time on your hands - which I really don't, but since I'm an addict, I find time.  Isn't it funny how I find time to do that, but can't seem to fit in a run?  Anyways...

It's amazing.  Although, I am going to say it's not awesomely amazing.  It's hard to explain.  For me, I watch it because I really want to know what's going to happen next.  Not because I love the show itself, but because there are all these twists and random freak accidents that screw up the plan so you have to watch to see how they're going to fix it.  To me, this is definitely not a show I would buy the DVDs and watch over and over.  It's like the movie Sixth Sense.  Once you know how things work out at the end, it ruins it for ever wanting to watch it again.

Job Security

While the economy has tanked and I have not had luck finding a job in social work since moving to Georgia - this article reminds me that even though there isn't any funding for the services, they are still very much needed.  Stupid parents.

I call it job security.

Nigel's Gift: A.K.A. Ode to Krista

It's no secret that Matt and I have the best friends.  It's true.  Not only do we feel this way, but other people have told us, too.  Yup, we've seriously received compliments on how great our friends are.  I'm about to give you another example why.

New Year's Eve Mr. Nigel Barker received a package in the mail.  Yes.  Our dog receives mail on occasion.  But since it was addressed to Nigel Barker I knew exactly who it was from.  My good friend Krista calls him Nigel Barker because that's the name of a judge on America's Next Top Model and we used to watch that show (Krista, do you still?).  And Nigel barks.  Often.  Anyways...

I opened it up expecting to see a doggie treat or toy, but I should've known better.  She always gives the best, most thoughtful presents.  For example, as a wedding gift she gave us cooling racks, a cake pan/carrying pan, funfetti cake mix (my favorite) and several favorite recipes of hers.  Can I tell you how many times I've used that pan?  It's currently on our kitchen counter housing turtle cake.  Man, I love that pan.  Back to the story.  I open the package and I pull out the most beautiful, handmade stocking just for my little man.  (Ignore the sparseness of our mantle and the makeshift stocking holder I used because our Christmas stuff is put away).



IT'S A PAW-SHAPED STOCKING!  And she made it herself!  Let's take a closer look:

A green bone near the top, little baby paws at the bottom and a festive, red 'N' smack-dab in the middle.  I think it's adorable.  I love the colors and I love the idea.  It's something I would see at a store and probably Matt would tell me I wasn't allowed to buy it.

And that, my friends, is how Nigel obtained a better stocking than Matt and I have. 

I love it Auntie Krista!