Court Jury Process

I've been on crazy mode trying to get things done. I have all my holiday decor up, all my cookies made (which is a lot!), presents wrapped for my nephews, and gifts bought for my children. I've been pushing Mica to nail out his Science Fair Project. Mica has been stubborn about that one. I just NEED to work on my holiday card in a big way.

I've been freaking out about Monday (Possible Jury Duty), for a good month. I just feared trying to find parking downtown. Crazy that I grew up here, and feared that. Maybe it's all the one way streets. I found out my Mom is the same way. Maybe I get it from her.

Travis was hoping I'd get Jury Duty. He wanted me to wear my big girl panties, and get my ass downtown. Well I called Sunday night, listened to the Juror numbers 3 times, and swore mine didn't need to show. Travis said, "Umm yes you need to show." Not only was I direction incompetent, but I was dyslexic with my numbers too. Nothing new there. Maybe directions and numbers go hand in hand.

Just so everyone knows, I tested positive for a learning disability in college. I never had a name attached to that disability. I've always found my way, somehow. Anxiety does happen from time to time, when things are weak in my mind. I get through.

Off I went downtown. Get this...it's mostly straight, but it feels like I turn and twist all over the place because the streets merge into other streets. Much of the way wasn't narrow straight, but I only turned twice and once was right by my house.

I never got lost, and parking wasn't so bad.

I pay attention to everything!

Except when it comes to directions. 

When I got there I had to go to the bathroom, so bad. I drink like crazy in the morning. Guess what? A couple was getting married in the hallway, right in front of the bathrooms. Who gets married at 8 in the morning right by the courthouse bathrooms? 

I was one of the first to check in. No one sat by each other, but the room was full of people. It was so odd. You could hear a pen drop in there.

They told us on our forms to dress business casual, but there were lots of people in ball caps and t shirts. 

One guy showed up with 2 very small children.

My Odds:

There were 2 trials going on. They only needed 12 x 2 = 24 Jurors. There was well over 200 people there. Everyone was divided into 2 groups. Then between the 2 groups the selection process began. 

We entered the court room. Again I pay attention to everything. A guy was told to take his hat off. Two girls were not. Odd!

I'm thinking, There's a lot of people, maybe I won't get picked! They called off, "Alesa Apell", which I knew meant "Alissa Apel" rhymes with Melissa Maple. 

18 people were called up.

They asked a ton of questions. The one I had to explain the most was, "Do you know anyone that has had to advocate, for someone?" My nephew Emerson has to be advocated for all the time. I had to explain a lot about him. That was a big deal because the case was, for a guy that had to be advocated for.

They kicked off 6. 2 were nurses. The case involved nurses. 1 was a lawyer that defended cases like that. 1 worked for a law firm. 1 just had a surgery, and couldn't sit still. 1 was just trying to make his way back into the world after being homeless. I stayed.

Every time I was in the courtroom I thought about one of the Jurors getting the hiccups up there. Not able to control themselves. 

Rules:

We were told to listen to the facts, not to talk to each other about the case, not to talk to outside sources about the case, and not to have empathy for each party. The empathy part was the hardest. Second hardest was I didn't know how much we could or couldn't talk to the other jurors. Apparently they didn't know either. The room typically got very quiet on our breaks. So much so, that the water bubbler was extremely loud when someone was getting a drink. You could hear when someone was peeing. When we had to buzz in that we were all there, ready to go back in after a break I swear it felt like we waited an eternity for them to show us into the courtroom. It felt like we were inside an escape room, and may not find our way out.

WW: Do Old Buildings Talk? {Linky}

I don't think buildings really talk, but they all have personality.

A few weekends ago we went walking around downtown to see some art openings. I think some of the buildings alone make me feel inspired. I could just spend time there just taking photos all day long.

 

What inspires you?

WW: Light {Linky}

We went to the KANEKO Light exhibit a few weeks back. I may go again because their mirror room was being repaired. I wanted to see that so bad.

I kept wondering why I only took phone photos. Then it dawned on me that they mentioned that's all I could take. Kind of odd considering that the new Apple phone is supposed to take excellent shots. I don't have the newest, and greatest. I still like the photos I got.

Their big light board that reminded me of Lite-Brite:

 A light fort:

Light Bars:

Have you ever been to a light exhibit?

WW: Vines {Linky}

We were on our way to an art opening, and I spotted some vines on a brick wall. I said, "Get over there 1 by 1, and I took everyone's photo. Then my husband took my photo.

Isaak was easy to shoot. He puts on a good smile for me. He lets me know when a smile isn't going to happen.

Most of Mica's photos had "goof" all over them. He plasters on crazy faces, then laughs.

I usually have to shoot a few of Travis. He loves to open his mouth to say things to the kids, or I. Then it looks like he's singing to the camera.

Travis took a few of me. One with glasses and one without. I'm not totally used to my glasses just yet. Sometimes I swear I see better without them than I do with them. I wonder how long it will take to get used to them?

WW: Goodbye M's Pub {Linky}

There's something cool about old buildings. What makes a building that doesn't talk cool? Maybe it's the old painted signs, the texture, and vines on the outside brick facade. Perhaps it's the fact that you know many souls have been in that old building. People older than you that enjoyed that same space that you were in. It could be the food, the lighting, or the art that hung on the walls inside. It's as if buildings really can talk.

We've had a lot of talk around town about old buildings. First there was ConAgra Foods that decided to uproot their business to move to Chicago. They've been here as long as I can remember. The town tore down old buildings just for ConAgra. Omaha even gave ConAgra tax cuts to stay here. When they talked about moving many people were pissed. Jobs are being cut, the historic buildings were demolished long ago, and we can't have them back.

The guy that owns Omaha Steaks also owned a few historic buildings. The city wanted to buy those buildings to make parking garages. That didn't set well with people around here.

Then a fire happened. Not just a little fire. A big fire. There was a -20 wind chill the night the fire was tackled.

Source

One of the waitstaff at M's Pub smelled gas. No one else could smell it. She ran outside to see if someone was working on anything. Sure enough there was. Those people are more than likely going to have a huge lawsuit! The waitstaff told everyone to get out of the building! Shortly after an explosion occurred. Only a few were injured from glass windows. Thankfully no one died.

I was worried about my brother-in-law who is a firefighter. Years ago he helped put out a different fire in the old Butternut building - also downtown. He was not on duty that night.  Firefighters from all stations were called to tackle this fire.

Now M's Pub looks like an ice building. They have thawing machines out there. Other businesses are shut down from water damage. It's like a ghost town in our downtown area. It makes me sad. I think about jobs lost, people loosing their homes above the space, and sadly this building spoke to me; proving that building do in fact speak.

Source

When I went there this weekend instead of people playing music by the cobble stone streets, shoppers going from one shop to the next, it was like a ghost town. 

Mica was staring at a bit of history. Remembering when he went to eat at M's Pub.

Someone's apartment; no longer livable.

 

A historic building left burnt, iced over, and fenced off.

 

I'm happy no one was hurt, but I'm sad this piece of history is gone. 

 

WW: Crazy Car

We were downtown, and spotted this car:

He's holding up 3 fingers because the toy beside him is holding up 3 fingers to.

Isaak was in in car heaven. I think this is what he wishes his art looks like.

Here's the top of the car.

If you have a moment please enter my Peppermint Essential Oil Giveaway. 

Metal Slides - Gene Leahy Mall

We went downtown last night. They have a park with big gigantic metal slides there. I took the boys there, while Daddy went to go fix a sign that was at a gallery he has his artwork in.

It was so odd. There was this adult male sitting in the center of one of the slides; just talking on his cell phone.

There was about 15 kids standing in line to go down the other slide. Of course none of the kids could go down the other slide because this strange guy was parked in the middle of it.

He was on his phone for about 20 minutes. Part of me wanted to say something. I was afraid to. I didn't know what kind of person he is.

Another part of me wished a kid would just go down that slide full force on waxed paper, and smack right into the guy - oops they didn't know he was there. Of that is wrong to. Two wrongs do not make a right. I can still think it though.

All the Moms were giving this guy dirty looks when their kiddos were standing in a line to use the other one.

He finally looked up and said to no one, "Sorry I had to take that call." In the middle of a slide, REALLY?

These slides are much more fun with wax paper under your butt. Daddy grabbed some, but left it on the table. Oh well. They played tag and kept going down the slides.

In the end they were wore out and sweaty. Mission accomplished.

Last Night Our Downtown Was on Fire

Daddy wasn't too far from this:

I'd give credit to the photo, but I don't know who took it. It's floating around on FB.

There was an electrical fire under our manholes. It almost sounds untrue. Even Daddy didn't believe me when I told him. All the power went out downtown. There was plenty of fog, which added to the creepiness. Over 2,000 people were without power. This morning only 100s were without power. They had to repair a major circuit, but were cautious because they didn't know what if it was safe for their workers under ground. 

Experts think the fire started because it's been so dry. We've had moister lately. They thought that moister got into the cable or tape. 

Could you imagine driving down the street and witnessing manholes popping up with a blast of fire?