The shadow of her[or his] smile.....

[CLICK BUTTON TO JOIN]







On my lunch break this past week, I walked around the marina on a sunny, balmy afternoon. This heron actually let me walk up close and personal!!! [one of its toes was missing]













- - -<><><>- - -




A little bit over a week of 2011 taken from me already! Where did the week go I wonder? Not that it went by fast; it didn't for me...it was just the idea of having all those beautiful gorgeous days that I was cooped up in a courthouse with no windows, nothing but pure boredom. As y'all know I had received a jury summons around Christmas and the New Year weekend. So, early Monday morning, when I normally would be in my room, on the computer, I had to jump in the shower and get ready to mosey on down to the county courthouse. Around this neck of the woods, if you are not selected first off, for the scheduled trials of the day, you are to remain for others throughout the week, or until all jurors are properly selected...and then, afterward the court clerk will pick a handful of jurors for backup if no one shows or if there are dismissals of other jurors who aren't liked. So, it made for a long week...for me. I feel as if I've been on a long road trip and not being home much except for when it's dark o'thirty only to eat, sleep and start the rigmarole over the very next day. It really puts a damper on my lifestyle. Not that I have anything better to do, it's just that the complete boredom of it all tends to wear thin, and after a while the book I take with me tires my eyeballs and I feel the need to jump up and run around the courthouse parking lot just to get some movement in my system...I hate having to sit, sit, sit. No jury duty for me...it's over for another two years when the whole spiel begins anew. Maybe it's every three years that the summonses go out, but no matter....soon, I will no longer be eligible because of age. Yippee...if ever I look forward to 'old age', it's because of this. I've been selected to sit in as a juror three times in my life, and I've learned that no matter, it's the one who hires the costliest lawyer who "wins", guilty or not guilty. Money speaks volumes...I can't say too much good comes from our own justice system. Even if the verdict is guilty, it seems parole or bail is often the way out without serving the time for the crime. The justice system really is all about who has the most money. Anyway, come Friday afternoon around 2 the clerk released those of us left in the central jury room to go home. Yay!! I was like a kid released from school for recess. Oh ya, I know, it doesn't sound like I'm much for one doing my civic duty and handling it very well...yes indeedy....just give me some WHINE with my dinner, thank you very much.


- - -

On a happier note, I must tell you this little ditty. Our neighbor right next door to us has the cutest little dog. I love him to pieces. Well, the Sunday before I had to report to court, a bunch of cop cars were parked out on the street...next door. A crowd had gathered, but I didn't want to go out and see what was going on at the time. And I haven't had a chance to talk at all with the neighbor...but during all the hoopla of the cops and crowds, Bud and I saw from our front room window [all during the Cowboys last football game of the season]---we saw the animal control truck pull up by our mailbox, they had, on long chains, two pit bull dogs......I was worried that they had attacked our neighbor's little dog, or worse someone's child. Well, all week when I got home in the evening, I would ask Bud if the our cute little furiend had been seen out and about. He usually has the run of the 'hood! LOL Bud would sigh and report "No, he hasn't been around. I bet he was butchered by those loose dogs." Well, I felt sad all week and at times I would catch myself thinking of the cute little booger...gone for good. Coming home Friday afternoon, nearing our driveway and fumbling for the garage door opener, I spied him!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I jumped out of the car and walked out of the garage and whistled for him to come see me. He came running up to me. I checked him out good, for wounds or stitches...nothing in sight. He's alive and well. I feel good all under. Bud heard my whistle and came out to greet the both of us...he was elated to see him as well. I still haven't had a chance to talk with his owners yet, since they both work long hours each day and keep indoors mostly on the weekend recouping from their work week, but I will let them know just how worried the two of us were. What a relief.


- - -

Okay, so this weekend I will try and catch up on my visitors. I thank you all for being such faithful friends while I was tending to the summons of doom. I have just a few menial plans for the week ahead. I am going to clean out and 'gut out' the DVDs and VCR tapes that we haven't watched in years and instead of trading them in at Half Price Books this time, I'm going to get them sent over to the Women's shelter...they can always use those for their entertainment at night when the doors are closed and they're locked in for safety. Then, I am going to do the same with my books...get them cleaned out and take them in to trade in. And after catching up with everyone here, I am going to get outdoors!!! Cold front coming in from the Canadian Arctic or not!!! I've been a shut in far too long. As I type this at 4 a.m. Sunday morning, we are receiving a vicious downpour and it just started tossing a hailstone or two. Hope this doesn't last too long.