Civic Duty

I’m officially a good citizen, or at the very least a responsible citizen, I fulfilled my Jury Duty requirement for the next 3-5 years. I’ve never had to deal with jury duty before, so on some levels I was excited, but I had a feeling this experience would be more ass pain then learning experience. My feeling was spot on. Let’s recap the joy of Jury Duty:

1.) Had to be in the Jury Lounge by 8:30 in Rockville, which meant a very early morning, rush hour traffic and a scramble for parking in the limited jury lot. Oh, and it was raining, which did not make the day (or traffic) seem promising at all.

2.) Had to deal with inept security trying to run 1 metal detector/x-ray machine with a massive line out the door and of course get the obligatory bonus scan/pat-down. I realize security is important, but these guards were so scattered people could get past them and a few did. This was followed but the additional joy of another long line that wrapped all over the Jury Lounge just to check in and be counted.

3.) After all that waiting and early rising, with no hope of caffeine, the jury handlers turned off the lights and had us watch a special video. It started with actors re-enacting the Medieval justice system of throwing people in water to see if they would float and other fun stuff, then cut to Ed Bradley who gave us the short History of Jury Trails. Then on came Diane Sawyer to help us know what to expect in our own trial. This was a seriously old and poorly constructed info tape, so it just made the morning seem longer.

4.) After sitting for about 2 hours my number (Good Old 79) was called. Off my group went to the 7th floor courtroom, only to be told to wait a few more minutes and then be told to go back down to our lounge, the trail was dismissed.

5.) More waiting with no cell phone (it had a camera and that’s a no-no) in mostly silent room (though those who had cell phones certainly used them) and no access to the computers (thanks to other juror’s bogarting them). The waiting was broken up by lunch followed by more waiting.

6.) Finally by mid afternoon, we got the word we could collect of $15 and go home. YEAH!

What did I learn? Nothing except the one day, one trial system usually means sitting around doing nothing. At least I got my French homework done which made me feel useful. I’m also glad I wasn’t dealing with jury duty in DC where you only get paid $4 and have the same useless waiting. Good thing I don’t have to even think about this again for the next 3-5 years.

The Davos Question: I Dare You

Moving and True: I Dare You to not be moved by this!

Media, WTF!

Do you know what has been seriously pissing me off for the last few weeks? The way media pundits are forcing race and gender into the democratic primaries. I realize the candidates have both had sly comments on both race and gender, but for the most part they want this kind of focus to be minimized. Issues, not genetic characteristics, should be what the media and voters focus on. I realize that race and gender are influencing factors to many, but it shouldn’t be the only factor. To imply that genetics (Male vs Female, Black vs. White) are the end all and be all of this election is utterly disgusting!

A few media outlets, apparently most notably CNN, posted stories implying black women in South Carolina were going to have the toughest time, because they must decide to vote color or gender. WTF! What, issues don’t exist? Why would white women democrats be any less at a loss for a decision? How the hell does that affect a black woman who wants to vote for Edwards? Is she a race/gender traitor? Am I a bad woman if I vote for Obama or Edwards? Does my XX genetic code mean I MUST vote for Hillary, even if I question her policies? For me race and gender is the furthest thing from my mind when I think of the president. I want a leader who can fix the foreign policy screw ups of the Bush White House. I want a leader who offers solid economic policies and starts to implement major Health Care reform. Media at large, you are so busy telling me about the obvious genetics of the candidate you have yet to even try to present an actual policy analysis or force indepth policy ideas from candidates.

When I vote I will vote for the person I think can best run this country. If Hillary gets the nod and can convince me she is the one, then fine. Same holds true for Obama or Edwards, hell even McCain has a (long) shot at my vote. Please leave chromosomes and color out of this election and let me focus on who can best run this country. The US is significantly more diverse than the media is portraying it right now. STOP DUMBING DOWN THIS COUNTRY'S ELECTORATE!

Civic Duty

Well, for the first time ever in her adult life, FroggerGirl has been called to Jury Duty. A few months back I got the questionnaire that dictates eligibility and of course I was eligible. Next week is the call in to see if I really have to show up followed by an 8:30 appearance at the courthouse to see if I get called onto a jury. I have mixed feelings. This is my civic duty and in theory after one day I'm done for 2 years. The suck part is I get $15 for the day and no guarantees it will only last one day. I must suck it up and embrace my civic duty to show-up for jury duty and try to muster up the same enthusiasm I have for voting. Sigh....

Baby Mama

So I'm a 'tard and can't get the widget to load correctly (or so my computer tells me) for this trailer to display on my blog, so instead I've embedded the link to this movie in it's title. Baby Mama looks like a solid comedy with great women in it and a pretty funny premise. The preview had me in giggles and them some. Anything with Amy Poehler AND Tina Fey deserves a look! Perhaps this will be the chick flick of the future, one that isn't all about dating angst or sad romances.

Snow!

It's snowing down here in the swamp, and not just wimpy flurry snow, real snow! Supposedly the frozen crud of Sleet and it's friend Freezing Rain are supposed to swing by later, I see hints of them now, but for the time being it's just pretty fluffy wet snow! At least 2 inches already...so that means schools are being let out early and people are already planning their commutes home. It's still nice in winter to actually have signs of winter instead of the crazy weird warm weather we have had lately. I'll try to keep my dread about the evening traffic at a minimum, and instead stare and smile at the pretty peaceful curtain of white outside my window.

Fear the Super Bug!

OK, the media drives me nuts, every day there is some super-bug or disease I must live in fear of or at least they really want me to live in fear of. In years past it was Super-Strep (the flesh eating kind), SARS, Bird Flu, West Nile Virus and of course the affliction du jour MRSA. Now there is a new drug resistant and even nastier strain of MRSA that is affecting gay men in high density population centers (San Francisco, Boston etc…). Now the warning is that it’s likely to make the jump to the general population (insert the words "imminent jump" if you’re on CNN or one of its brethren) and it’s been shown to be sexually transmitted.

I realize this is a serious issue, but at the same time I feel like it’s being twisted by the media to add fear to my life. If it isn’t a disease, it’s the recession (or lack there of) or it’s the war or some other thing that adds stress and pain to my psyche, but racks up ratings and money for them. MRSA is avoidable with good hygiene and vigilance, but the media likes to ignore that completely or hide it at the end of a story. Instead the news is spending a lot of time on the gory details of the MRSA infections. I realize the media needs to report on public health issues and I would hate to not know that there is a threat. Yet, here is the issue to me, I think the media exaggerates and misleads us about the seriousness or spread of a lot of these issues because it helps them score ratings and ad money. If you’ll excuse me, I now must buy some sanitizer for my desk so I can avoid the regular flu that is hitting my co-workers, but not that's not getting any news time. I’m also going to price out full body condoms and the going rate of a fall-out shelter or some other remote piece of real estate as the ultimate protection…you can never be too safe, right? ;-)

Mitt's Hair Tells All?

OK, I found it hysterical and mildly disappointing this morning that an NPR reporter while describing Romney's appearance at his MI Primary winner's speech actually said, "His usually perfect hair was mussed, but that didn't take the shine off the moment." I don't have the exact audio file, but I'm sure some clicking on the NPR news story would find it. Really, that's news? Mitt's hair is somehow embodying his status in the GOP race? I mean, I hate Mitt's hair, but who am I? Just some random person with Ken Doll Hair issues and a general dislike for Mitt, NOT an NPR reporter. It just felt weird to have a legitimate journalist slam Mitt's hair. This wasn't the brainless partisan pundits or random bloggers like me that I expect to slam a hairdo, this was media I usually respect. I guess that should tell you how odd this election is going to be, Mitt's hair is now the bellwether of results. At least it's an interesting angle and possibly more accurate than polls, right?

Smurftastic!

Underneath the blaring headline featuring the train wreck of Brittany was a much more heartening story: The Smurf’s turned 50! The cute, blue staples of my childhood cartoon time are still around and better yet, they are teaming with my favorite branch on the UN (yes, I realize this is a major sign of my geekiness), UNICEF! Smurfs are still super popular in the EU nations. I ate the blue Schtroumpf (French/Dutch name for Smurf) Ice cream a few times in France and saw plenty of comics/books of Smurf adventures in stores. Thank goodness some vestige of my childhood is still pretty much unchanged and still popular. Smurfette and Papa Smurf keep up the smurfing good job!!

How to Win a Fight...Blog Style?

OK, I saw this link about really winning a fight, more as a rebuttal to weak artivles in Men's Magazines and as I read it and laughed, I realized I know this information and have learned the lessons kind of painfully. I’ve never been in real fight (ie no pads, with malice of forethought), but I did do Krav Maga for almost a year and that involved voluntarily (and with aid of some padding for certain drills) getting may ass kicked for fitness and of course safety. I agree with one of the comments, which is it is a bit misguided/macho to think via pictures and half-assed advice you can teach someone to punch/fight is a bit off. There also the no kicking advice that is totally for crap. I learned some pretty brutal/effective kicks, and let’s face it, kicking in the right place is the primary defense taught to women everywhere. I get the sense the no kicking is more because guys want to be Bruce Lee and a lot of guys have the no kicking in the balls rule of fighting. I’m still a fan of avoidance and non-violence, but at least I have some external affirmation that in a pinch, I could save my own ass. I still hope I never have to prove it...

Oui, Wii!

OMG, my super fantastic Christmas present from Mom and Dad Frogger was the Nintendo Wii. I grew up with Nintendo and the Gameboy among other toys, holds a special place in my nerdy heart. For my 21st B-day I asked for and got my purple Gameboy Color, which to date is really only used to play Tetris. Nintendo already had and still has my brand devotion (I guess I’m a corporate sheep on that point). The Wii was the first game system in a long time to hold any appeal and I’ve been trying to get one since the summer when the Wii scarcity was in full swing. Well, no longer do I have to suffer.

Beyond my mild irritation that everyone seems to be sold out of the Wiimote/Nunchucks I need to get any multi-player games going, the Wii is the most fun ever!!! You get to bounce around and move....it's great! Thank you Universe and of course Parents, for the Wii fun. Now I just need to make sure I don't get too addicted. ;-)

Golden Globes, Bye-Bye?

As many know, FroggerGirl is a bit of a movie junkie. I love going to the movies, watching Netflix DVDs of those I missed and I even watch the Golden Globes and Oscars. I have fun with the awards season and enjoy the frothy nonsense of pretty dresses and film stars. Now word comes that there will be no Golden Globes this year. WGA, SAG and Producers Guild, you just shot yourself in the foot big time. I get it, there is a strike, but one of the few showcases to help all of your causes, keep the media money maker moving and get fan interaction is the one award show where many participants drink too much, people are wiling to be goofy and in general be kooky Hollywood for a night. My life will move on and missing drunk/crazy celebs is not the end of the world, but it’s still a bummer for a movie fan like me.

PS: This little rant on EW.com has my favorite smacks to both sides of this strike on the Golden Globes issue!

Boredom...

I'm so bored! Like watching paint dry might be an improvement to my day bored. There are still a few work things I could do, but honestly, they will add to my boredom and I just don't think that is a positive step to the day. It's Friday, the work week was only 3 days and it's 4 pm, which means I'm within 2ish hours of going home and it feels like the clock is moving backwards! This does not make sense...GAH! It's not like I have big exciting plans or anything else to motivate this weird bored/antsy feeling. Universe, work with me here!

Darwin Awards

What's better than lists that cap off a year. Like this is a strange combination of pity, mirth and of course perverse approval of stupid people dieing in stupid ways. Here is the 2007 Darwin Award Winners, Enjoy!

The Primaries are Moving Along...Thank God!

Everything I wrote yesterday is still true today about Iowa. However, I was pleased and surprised by the record voter turnout and the unusually close race it produced for both parties. New Hampshire should be interesting to watch, but I think the later primaries will be the truly fun fights to watch. Big voter states like Florida and California might also be crazy. It could be the first time in decades that the conventions are not pre-determined months in advance. I might be annoyed at this never ending election season, but at least it will be interesting AND with political action like last nights the headlines might stay socially and politically relevant instead of focusing on the ever imploding Spears clan or other random uselessness. Here’s to hoping!

Iowa...Really?

I’m originally from the Midwest and I know this is somewhat biased but…who gives a flying flip about Iowa? I mean seriously that State, along with New Hampshire who also deserves the same comments, is forever the bellwether for the Presidential elections? Really? I appreciate History and the importance of traditions, but in 2008 Iowa and its caucus system feels ridiculous to me. So much time, energy and money is being spent on a system that may only give us a false leader board to work off for the coming primaries. If the weather is too cold there will be low voter turnout, the system is so complicated a lot of younger voters avoid it and let’s be honest, Iowa is not exactly diversity, economic or racial, incarnate. How is it possible then that Iowa (and again not to seem to evil on one state New Hampshire is in this too) is the place that will often help determine who runs for President? Is it not scary to anyone else the Iowa is helping Huckabee?

As I watch Nightline and listen to NPR give me almost constant Iowa updates all I feel is a rising sense of frustration with the system and anger at how much effort is spent on such a small fraction of the US population. I have met very nice Iowans and I realize there are relevant issue for everyone (immigration, health care, global warming) to be found in Iowa, but overall it just feels limited in scope and power for the Presidential elections. Maybe I’m just bitter, but I know I’m not alone!

The only good thing right now with the Iowa caucuses is that they will be over with today. Now we can see if the other states like Michigan and Florida will really be punished for trying to challenge Iowa and New Hampshire for dominance. I hope to God the next election some of these shenanigans will have worked themselves out. I'm suffering from election burnout and nothing has even started to happen yet. America, what the hell are we doing?

The Traveler

I discovered something on my travel misadventures this Holiday season…I’ve become an honest to God traveler. I fly so much and have encountered so many random situations that it takes a lot to shake me up or mess with my head. I hadn’t realized how much of a traveler I had become until others started to say how they would have freaked out, or how good it was that I was a traveler. Heck, my Mom even said she doesn’t worry about me or my Big Brothers when we travel because we do it so much. This is the same woman who almost re-arranged a visiting family members trip to WI because she was worried about me driving through Chicago alone on my way to Ohio. I have never thought I was a bad traveler, I just never thought I was great at it. Apparently I should reassess.

This trip was the first time I’ve ever had a flight all out canceled due to weather with no immanent hope of a correct connection/fix-it flight to my final destination. I’ve been canceled before and I’ve missed flights and had to spend nights around airports, but never like this. In years past this kind of seemingly hopeless situation would have reduced me to tears and self-pity. This time I had a few emotional thoughts and moments, mostly because of the Holiday factor to the travels, but I could rein them in, still be polite to the airline folks that could help me and be focused on my task.

In one of my not so proud moments on the phone with customer service I pretended to get choked up to ratchet up the sympathy factor and get more help…and it worked! I was super polite to desk agents and the luggage people and you know what, they all helped me gladly and thanked me for being so patient and polite. If they could read minds they would know some of the not-so-polite thoughts rushing around my head, but thank goodness not a one of them appeared to be psychic.

While I would never pick nightmare flights and trips, at least now when they happen I know what to do. I have the ability to navigate the system and that is actually a good thing. Now if only the airline industry would start making some improvements, that would be a travel miracle for everyone! Now if I could only afford more exotic or even not so exotic travel…that would be even better!

A Kind of Christmas Miracle

My trip back North to the Frozen Pond for the Holidays was filled with all sorts of issues. Leaving the Swamp was no issue, heck Detroit was a breeze it was that final leg into Packer Country that proved difficult. Fog, snow, ice and general icky weather meant no flights into my final destination airport Saturday the 22nd…which totally sucked. What was worse? That Northworst’s only solution when I left the airport was to fly me to Minneapolis late in the afternoon on the 23rd and hope they could connect me to my final destination knowing that weather would mean a night in Minneapolis too because weather warnings were already popping up about my final destination airport. Northworst Airline was screwing with me and so was God with the weather and it sucked!

One bright side was I met up with 3 other stranded women trying to get to the same general area and we were able to split the discount hotel room and give each other moral support the nest day when we started to play the stand-by game to see if we could get to our respective families. Bright side number two, after a good chunk of time on the phone and schmoozing the Northworst Ticket agent I was able to secure a mid-day flight to Milwaukee, which was at least in the correct state and with-in 2 hours of the Frozen Pond! Then came the rest of the cosmic joke and somewhat miraculous ending.

My Big Brother B started to drive down to get me to salvage some of the Christmas togetherness we were planning…then the weather had different ideas. He hit ice not far from the Frozen Pond, hit the guard rail and found the ditch. He was safe and sound, but the car needed to return home for an assessment. Once in Milwaukee I found out it would be at least 3-5 hours before anyone would be able to get to me and get me home. Bright sides popped up again, my aunt and uncle lived in the area. I was able to hang out at their house, and while there 5 big Golden Retrievers were a bit much, it beat the airport.

Finally my parents were able to retrieve me and we slogged our way North. Northworst continued to play with my emotions by promising me imminent arrival of my luggage, but that didn’t happen. Thankfully my luggage did arrive on Christmas Eve and we were able to hit up Target for the major requirements of underoos and PJs! I was able to see Big Brother J for about 24 hours and there was still quality time to be had with the rest of the family. All in all, the hassle didn’t poison the trip.

No matter how messy and awful my trip might have been, it was totally worth it to have Christmas at the Frozen Pond with family. Plus, it seems low level miracles like getting home can happen even when the weather wants it to happen differently.