So I'm on jury duty (until Friday) - meaning I have to call in Monday's and Fridays to find out if my group has been summoned. Well, I was summoned this morning.
Attempted Murder Case.
Defendant accused of attempting to kill his ex-wife - they were in a serious custody issue. Their 15 year old son has separate juvenile charges against him. Also charged, but receiving immunity for testimony is their then 12 year old daughter.
Needless to say since I'm talking about this in a blog, I wasn't selected. To be honest the mere description of the case made me cringe. I missed news of this since I went through a long period where I ignored almost all news.
The reason I'm out is because they asked if anyone knew violent/serious crime victims, victims of sexual abuse, sexual assault, or abuse at home. I do. The list is longer than I really cared ever to think about, at least until I had to sit there in the jury panel and examine it. A friend of my sister's was murdered during a robbery at her part time job in KCMO. A girl my sister and I went ot junior hihg with (between my sister and I grade-wise) disappeared, is assumed dead/murdered and one of the suspected victims of John E. Robinson - oh by the way I lived in the same neighborhood he did when I was a teenager.
I know someone who was molested by a family member as a child. I know more people than I care to think about who either suffered abuse by a spouse, parent or witnessed it. I myself have suffered verbal abuse.
I thought about a friend I had between the age of 10 and 12 who lived down the street. She was a couple of years older. Not liked by a lot of people. Her mother didn't spank her children - she beat them - shoes and hairbrushes and the most vivid in my mind - and yes in front of other children.
I couldn't do it. I couldn't sit on that jury with those memories, with that knowledge and give the defendant a fair trial. I admitted that and was dismissed.
I've checked on details of the case since returning home from jury duty. The details of this case are chilling. It's dredged up a lot of memories -and that's just from the short period of time I was in jury selection before being dismissed for cause.
/http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2009/nov/30/jury-selected-trial-lawrence-man-accused-trying-ki/
Monday, November 30, 2009
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Tales of the Unemployed #2
Took the car in for service, noticed yesterday that the heat gauge was a far to the right (meaning overheated - only it didn't act like it and no service engine light, no check oil light, no check radiator/coolant light). And it freaked me out - cuz hey this is me we're talking about and well everything freaks me out - it's where I go. I'm working on it but I am a born worry wort. Turns out to just be a sensor. Of course sensor is going to cost over $300 to replace because naturally they can't just replace the sensor they have to replace other stuff with it. I opted to go with a bad sensor for now. State of mind, much calmer. Praise God it was only a sensor and not something crucial and expensive. I've sworn for a couple of years now that God is the one keeping that car going - still do.
Nice week weather wise so far. Blue sky. sunshine. After weeks of mostly grey stuff it's a welcome sight. And praise God that I get to enjoy it instead of being trapped in an office. Forecast for tomorrow - 76 degrees! In NOVEMBER! Of course that reminds me that circa 1976 when I was in the 6th grade when the weather was like that I got stung by something. Bee? Wasp? Probably a wasp - it had crawled inside my short shirt sleeve, I shifted my arm walking from one class to another (yes outside) and it stung me. Bit of an allergic reaction - big ole swollen red/pink spot under my right arm.
Called the outplacement folks again this morning. Got voice mail, left a message.
Recruiter called me yesterday from elsewhere about a senior cost accoutant in New York - hour and a half outside of Erie, 2 hours from Buffalo. My resume is on the way there - yay! I keep applying to things online from other states. One company asked me for a word document version of my resume because their online application process garbled the stuff on my resume (note to companies - online copy/paste functions for resumes seriously bite - if ya'll would all put an upload function on those I'd be a much happier camper and not have to send these things again). I'm going to consider the fact that they actually asked for a copy of my resume means maybe, possbily they're interested. Position is in Alabama and I realized later yesterday afternoon that I know the company name from my previous position and that they deal in/make forklifts (and I did some lease accounting).
I'm getting much more comfortable selling myself in interviews based on my babbling on and on in an interview with a local recruiter yesterday. Good sign. On my way home I asked God who in the world that person was (not the person who interviewed me but the person who babbled on about herself and how awesome she is). At some point along the way have I turned into a more outgoing person? And can I credit my work in children's ministry over the last 5 years for bringing me out of my shell?
Need to get back to working in the spare bedroom. Mostly sorting and stuff. How did I let it get this bad? Bad me bad me.
Beth Moore Esther study tonight. Next to the last meeting. Wow that went fast. Great study. I learned a lot. So much in the book of Esther and she does a wonderful job of bringing it out and showing it to you. I'm always a bit lost when these studies end.
I meant to take my severance package paperwork with me to Lawrence this morning so I could stop by my bank to have my signature notorized so I could send it back. Forgot it. I hate that. I told myself last night that I needed to put it in my back so I wouldn't forget. Did I? No. I know when I tell myself to do these things or I'll forget that I'm going to forget. Really I know better. Oh well, onto the todo list for tomorrow (or when my mother finally gets the call that her car is ready and I take her in to pick it up).
Nice week weather wise so far. Blue sky. sunshine. After weeks of mostly grey stuff it's a welcome sight. And praise God that I get to enjoy it instead of being trapped in an office. Forecast for tomorrow - 76 degrees! In NOVEMBER! Of course that reminds me that circa 1976 when I was in the 6th grade when the weather was like that I got stung by something. Bee? Wasp? Probably a wasp - it had crawled inside my short shirt sleeve, I shifted my arm walking from one class to another (yes outside) and it stung me. Bit of an allergic reaction - big ole swollen red/pink spot under my right arm.
Called the outplacement folks again this morning. Got voice mail, left a message.
Recruiter called me yesterday from elsewhere about a senior cost accoutant in New York - hour and a half outside of Erie, 2 hours from Buffalo. My resume is on the way there - yay! I keep applying to things online from other states. One company asked me for a word document version of my resume because their online application process garbled the stuff on my resume (note to companies - online copy/paste functions for resumes seriously bite - if ya'll would all put an upload function on those I'd be a much happier camper and not have to send these things again). I'm going to consider the fact that they actually asked for a copy of my resume means maybe, possbily they're interested. Position is in Alabama and I realized later yesterday afternoon that I know the company name from my previous position and that they deal in/make forklifts (and I did some lease accounting).
I'm getting much more comfortable selling myself in interviews based on my babbling on and on in an interview with a local recruiter yesterday. Good sign. On my way home I asked God who in the world that person was (not the person who interviewed me but the person who babbled on about herself and how awesome she is). At some point along the way have I turned into a more outgoing person? And can I credit my work in children's ministry over the last 5 years for bringing me out of my shell?
Need to get back to working in the spare bedroom. Mostly sorting and stuff. How did I let it get this bad? Bad me bad me.
Beth Moore Esther study tonight. Next to the last meeting. Wow that went fast. Great study. I learned a lot. So much in the book of Esther and she does a wonderful job of bringing it out and showing it to you. I'm always a bit lost when these studies end.
I meant to take my severance package paperwork with me to Lawrence this morning so I could stop by my bank to have my signature notorized so I could send it back. Forgot it. I hate that. I told myself last night that I needed to put it in my back so I wouldn't forget. Did I? No. I know when I tell myself to do these things or I'll forget that I'm going to forget. Really I know better. Oh well, onto the todo list for tomorrow (or when my mother finally gets the call that her car is ready and I take her in to pick it up).
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Tales of the Unemployed
based on career builder.com local market is slooooooooooooooooow. still applying via monster for out of town positions. we're headed into a traditionally slow season in recruiting (aka the holidays). still upbeat. could be because i'm enjoying not waking up to an alarm and loafing around the house.
i've gotten a bit of work done on the dreaded spare bedroom. some stuff is in the living room as I needed room to move things about. wild woman saw it yesterday but was impressed with how much I've gotten done. And that's with me working in spurts -it's a back requirement ya know. I'm not going to mess with it today as I've got a 1pm meeting with a recruiter in the city and I don't want to get all sweaty and gross beforehand. My bins are all in place and stacked. Now I've got piles of stuff that need sorted. That could mean days of stuff strewn across my living room. But, it needs to be done.
I've also got errands to run. Mom is still without a car so I'm errand girl this week. She needs leaf bags so after my recruiter appointment I'll stop by to pick those up for her. And I need to drop something in the mail - unemployment related re severance pay, and need to drop a book I finished at the library (great book - Gone Tomorrow - by Lee Child).
I haven't gotten much writing done. I was trying something different. Not sure it's working so methinks I'll go back to where I was before.
Lifegroup tonight. Beth Moore Study tomorrow. Border Crimes Monthly meeting on Saturday Morning (someone from the Johnson County Sheriff's Department is speaking on jurisdictions - can you say RESEARCH!) And sometime in there hopefully Mom gets a call from collision repair folks saying her car's ready.
i've gotten a bit of work done on the dreaded spare bedroom. some stuff is in the living room as I needed room to move things about. wild woman saw it yesterday but was impressed with how much I've gotten done. And that's with me working in spurts -it's a back requirement ya know. I'm not going to mess with it today as I've got a 1pm meeting with a recruiter in the city and I don't want to get all sweaty and gross beforehand. My bins are all in place and stacked. Now I've got piles of stuff that need sorted. That could mean days of stuff strewn across my living room. But, it needs to be done.
I've also got errands to run. Mom is still without a car so I'm errand girl this week. She needs leaf bags so after my recruiter appointment I'll stop by to pick those up for her. And I need to drop something in the mail - unemployment related re severance pay, and need to drop a book I finished at the library (great book - Gone Tomorrow - by Lee Child).
I haven't gotten much writing done. I was trying something different. Not sure it's working so methinks I'll go back to where I was before.
Lifegroup tonight. Beth Moore Study tomorrow. Border Crimes Monthly meeting on Saturday Morning (someone from the Johnson County Sheriff's Department is speaking on jurisdictions - can you say RESEARCH!) And sometime in there hopefully Mom gets a call from collision repair folks saying her car's ready.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Last employed day...
Here I am - at work, last day. They're taking me out to lunch to 'celebrate' my accomplishments. I'm letting them. Really I don't like attention, hype and houpla.
To make things even more strange, it is the last workday before Halloween. and my employer has a tradition of office trick or treating complete with people in coustumes. I did not dress up (me? please I never dress up). I did not bring candy (one more thing to tote home today).
I'm sort of looking forward to getting done with today and getting it over with. I've carted most of my stuff home already. Yesterday afternoon I went over my duties with the boss. I have my paperwork from HR and only need to turn in the amex card (for travel) and corporate ID at the end of the day.
I don't know where God is taking me, or what all I'm going to learn from this (other than to TRUST IN THE LORD). I do have plans. Stuff I've been procrastinating on. Things like deculttering the spare bedroom (you so don't want to know). And sorting through the piles of books - hauling some of them to Half Price books for sale. And I'll have time to write. And, oh yes, find a job etc etc.
Question to ponder - will Halloween now become an anniversary sort of date for me? One that marks a change in my life?
To make things even more strange, it is the last workday before Halloween. and my employer has a tradition of office trick or treating complete with people in coustumes. I did not dress up (me? please I never dress up). I did not bring candy (one more thing to tote home today).
I'm sort of looking forward to getting done with today and getting it over with. I've carted most of my stuff home already. Yesterday afternoon I went over my duties with the boss. I have my paperwork from HR and only need to turn in the amex card (for travel) and corporate ID at the end of the day.
I don't know where God is taking me, or what all I'm going to learn from this (other than to TRUST IN THE LORD). I do have plans. Stuff I've been procrastinating on. Things like deculttering the spare bedroom (you so don't want to know). And sorting through the piles of books - hauling some of them to Half Price books for sale. And I'll have time to write. And, oh yes, find a job etc etc.
Question to ponder - will Halloween now become an anniversary sort of date for me? One that marks a change in my life?
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Let the weirdness begin
this week has been weird already. Okay the last 6 months or so have been stressful, chaotic, and well weird. Who am I kidding the last year plus has been way stressful. It's likely that I'm off the chart on the whole life event stressers list.
They announced on a limited basis that tomorrow is my last day. They're taking me to lunch. Let the questions begin. That's why I wanted them to wait. I hate answering the questions. I hate the attention.
Am I nervous? yes. Am I afraid? yes. Do I know what's gonna happen? Nope. But I have God. And I trust God. And I know while it may be painful, God is going to take care of me. This is all a faith journey. I know I will come out of this experience, come through this experience a changed person. Changed for the good as God tests me and purifies me. My faith will be strengthened from this. I can already see in how I'm handling this situation vs similar situations in the past that I have grown in my faith, grown as a child of God and have a much more mature faith.
They announced on a limited basis that tomorrow is my last day. They're taking me to lunch. Let the questions begin. That's why I wanted them to wait. I hate answering the questions. I hate the attention.
Am I nervous? yes. Am I afraid? yes. Do I know what's gonna happen? Nope. But I have God. And I trust God. And I know while it may be painful, God is going to take care of me. This is all a faith journey. I know I will come out of this experience, come through this experience a changed person. Changed for the good as God tests me and purifies me. My faith will be strengthened from this. I can already see in how I'm handling this situation vs similar situations in the past that I have grown in my faith, grown as a child of God and have a much more mature faith.
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