She says she's very thankful for the way she was brought up in many respects, but that where were issues especially with my wife.

No fucking kidding.

She also said that she saw that I was emotionally abused

Also true.

I worked with a guy who was on the jury for the Jim Jones People's Temple trial in SF (but who was on trial after the massacre, I wonder?). He had to listen to all the tapes. He didn't talk about it.

Happy birthday, ND!

I was on a jury once. It was an interesting experience, and I’d be ok with doing it again. Bonus points if I could send TFG to prison.

The only time I have been on a jury I found everyone took it seriously and listened to and examined everything despite it being obvious who was the scoundrel.

That was my experience too. Restores your faith in humanity a little bit.

I would not want to be on the Trump jury for fear of notoriety, but also because how long would I have to be off work? I think the only political podcast I listen to is Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me, but I imagine they’d disqualify me somehow anyway. Like, does going to the Women’s March count as going to an anti-Trump protest? And if we find a bunch of people who totally ignore politics I have questions about what rock they’ve been under for 8 or more years…

She also said that she saw that I was emotionally abused and I failed to role model self-advocacy which was bad for her own ability to self-advocate.

This is none of my business, and I certainly haven't liked some of the things that you've said about the way you are treated by your wife, but I really don't love that your daughter seems to be blamng you for her perceived failing. It's like saying "I know you had a broken leg, but it's your fault I didn't learn to walk."

Re the Trump jury - I could be impartial. There is ample evidence that the Orange Menace is a lying liar who lies, so I wouldn't believe anything he said without direct corroborating evidence, but that's not being partial, that's just paying attention to history.

Today is a day of celebration in Buffista land! Happy birthday to Sheryl! May it be a lovely day filled with treats, and may the year to come be joyful.

I used to be called for jury duty every two years. But since I moved (2020) they seem to have lost me. It was sometimes an experience - the first trial, a civil one against a company that led to the client being injured - the lawyer was crying. Some of the evidence was eye-opening - a big bag of crack, guns, etc.

When I first moved to NYC (25 years ago, almost) I got called for jury duty twice in a row (once for Kings County, once for NYS) almost immediately, was put on the jury both times, and haven't been called since. I have no idea how anyone could be a truly impartial juror for Trump, though - one of the requirements is to consider only the evidence presented in court and I just don't know how that's possible with someone whose full time career for decades has been Being An Asshole On Television.

In self-care news, my local rec center pool is finally open again after 6 months of renovations and you guys, OMG. SWIMMING. (They are still not finished renovating the locker rooms, but at least the delays in re-opening the pool means it's warm enough outside that I can drive home wet and use my own shower without my hair freezing on the walk to the car.)

(skipped and skimmed a bit)

Happy birthday, Sheryl! Happy belated birthday, ND!

Flight news: United canceled their flights to and from Israel until next week. I'm flying next Friday. I do not like this game at all, and I'll probably know only on the day of the flight if I'm flying or not.

Spring has definitely sprung.

The maples and the redbuds and the sweet gums and the pear trees are leafing out. The oaks are flowering. The dogwoods are in glorious bloom.

The ornamental peppers I planted in the big flowerpot on my balcony have sprouted, and are now just barely visible poking above the surface of the soil.

Last month I put out a bunch of grocery-store birdseed (What? It was an impulse buy.) in the big ceramic plant saucer that I normally rig as a bird bath. The birds picked out the sunflowers and left most of the rest. Not even the squirrels were interested. It all got drenched in a rainstorm. I dumped it out into the big flowerpot, and to my surprise a lot of it sprouted. The sprouts are an inch or two tall already, growing like weeds (pun intended). I'm curious to see what the plants actually look like, I have no idea what they are. I think some of it is millet. I'm also curious to see if they crowd out the peppers, or vice versa, or whether they manage to co-exist.

Or, the squirrels might dig them all up.

Entertaining, however it works out.

I cleaned and filled the hummingbird feeder. I'm hoping for a first sighting before May 1st.