So, my professor that has annoyed me all semester just made up for it in one swoop.

Our final paper isn't due until December 21, which is the last day he can accept papers. Apparently, we all gave VERY panicked looks when he suggested the 17th, so he said, "Well, this is a small class. I suppose I can give you the full week to finish."

Bless him! Bless him! Bless him!

OH! And I got my grant I applied for (and that had to provide more information for, which I was sure meant . For a shitty day, it's been ok.

---

Btw, that puppy is lethally cute. And -t, so sorry to hear about your friend. MM, I'm also very sorry to hear about your back. Sounds extremely painful.

So. In addition to normal student insanity (who stole all my enthusiastic, cute ninth graders and replaced them with surly basket-cases who need me to help them RIGHT NOW?), today after school is the Big Announcement about the new Head of School. I don't think there's anyone who expects that the only finalist didn't got the job. Luckily, I think she's going to be great. Unluckily, I fear the announcement may re-ignite the controversy. And then, tonight, I have tutoring. I am really trying to be excited about that. It doesn't seem to be working.

---

The only time I was ever called for jury selection was in NYC. It was for a super-long drug-deal-gone-wrong kidnapping trial. I sort of wanted to be on it and was a grad student at the time so it was actually doable and would be extra pay, but it was going to stretch out over Christmas and many people were pretty open about wanting out.

However, it seemed everybody was acceptable, whether or not you knew a lawyer, cop, whatever. Even people that hedged on fairness and values questions. And they asked a lot of questions of everyone. I was all ready to say how I could be impartial no matter what, didn't think it was wrong to kill puppies, etc. I thought I was sure to be selected.

One of the lawyers (don't remember which side) was very proud of knowing everybody names from the seating chart. But when he got to me, he had to check back. And, in the inevitable pause as he thought how to pronounce it, I said it for him, as I usually do to spare everyone grief. He then made the inevitable "difficult to spell name" joke. Since he had seemed quite dickish throughout, I looked him straight in the eye and said "Really? I've been spelling it since I was five."

He asked me only one question: "What is your profession?" After I responded that I was studying for my doctorate, he used one of his preemptory challenges to dismiss me. You could just see everyone else in the box thinking "Damn! That's a good one!"

---

I got out of jury duty last summer with "I have to teach a graduate-level math course. No, there isn't anyone else who can substitute teach it for me." The course was eight weeks, and the trial was expected to take at least one week, maybe two. (If that didn't work, I also come from a family full of lawyers, one of the people already selected for the jury was the father of a high school friend, and every math person I know has said that, as soon as you mention you're a math person, at least one of the lawyers will reject you -- the explanation I've heard is that they want people who'll follow the reasoning they hand them and not start picking holes in their arguments.)

---

And then, tonight, I have tutoring. I am really trying to be excited about that. It doesn't seem to be working.

focus on the Cha-Ching! Nothing motivates in our Capitalistic economy like dinero. Which might explain why I'm *very* unmotivated right now. Nothing pressing to do, and I'm bored listening to mr. iPod (well, phone) and checking out e-pianos for the next show. fun! (not). But after work, BOWLING! I wonder if I'll break 100 again!

---

I got an email from my sister this morning, "How does everyone feel about [asshate] coming to Xmas? Before I invite him or exclude him, I’d like to know your opinions." I typed a reply along the lines of "how do I feel? Sick to my stomach." and sent it to Mom for pre-approval. I don't know why she is pushing this, I thought it was decided that he wouldn't come a long time ago.

---

Yeah, at the risk of sounding like my fake husband, sometimes you don't want your jury pool too smart.

---

She's still married to him, so she's probably always going to push. She wants him there. You all have a right to say no as many times as it takes, though. Forever, if you need to.

I don't know what he did to make him persona non grata. In my family cheating on someone or hurting them would get you cut from family gatherings forever. Anything else egregious, like alcohol abuse or unkind statements or arguments might get you disinvited from the NEXT event, but that would probably be it.

---

it's a really long story. The worst thing he did to me was call me a non person and say that nothing I ever did or said would make him respect me again. It was my sister who said he wasn't coming to Christmas otherwise I would have assumed he was coming and steeled myself to deal with it. It's the fact that she's changing her mind and asking for opinions that's tickling my honest button.

---

:: whine :: ok, so, like... it's FREEZING in my office. Ok, maybe "freezing" in that California way. Add to that, the crick in my neck, which I realize has been there since Friday, plus bored outta my gored. Doncha just love Mondays.

::/whine::

For what ever reason, I've decided to press SHUFFLE on the Holiday playlist. Seems a bit early to be playing the xmas tunes, but what the hell. Count Basie playing Jingle Bells. How cool is that?

---