Yes, I was grateful that my trial was a rather hysterical civil case and not a horrible criminal case. A friend was on a murder trial with all the gruesome pictures and details. She suffered nightmares and said she would never agree to be a juror again under any circumstances.

For your consideration: Buffista Castle.

Look at all those summer pictures with nary a winter picture to be had of what frequently is a frozen hellscape of the Lake they call Michigan.

One time I got as far as the voir dire but wasn't chosen.

When I wasn't chosen for the kidnapping case, where everyone was trying to get out of it, but I wasn't (since I was in grad school and had all the time in the world and NY was paying a decent amount for a broke student), I gave all the "right answers" in the voir dire but (and I know you'll all be shocked by this) I'm pretty sure my smart-ass first comment sealed the deal on not getting chosen. The prosecution, who was making a point of using and remembering everyone's name, joked about my name being difficult to spell. My deadpan response? "I learned when I was six."

Look at all those summer pictures with nary a winter picture to be had of what frequently is a frozen hellscape of the Lake they call Michigan.

Truth.

So, lowering the portcullis and staying in the castle with whatever goods may be needed to survive the siege of winter is not a good plan?

No. Every actual appellate lawyer (and the judge is not one) says that for it to be grounds for appeal there has to be a finding of a direct link -- a juror who heard the statement, brought it into the jury room and that MW being angry at them affected decision making. Can't be speculative in any way.

Thanks for the clarification, Sparky. Always better to hear from the experts.

I have to share - I am officially taking a sick day today but I'm getting a little work done because there are things that can't wait that no one else knows how to do and I feel ok. Anyway, I checked my email for anything urgent and there was a question about this ongoing thing that I felt like I should respond to. So I did, and got back three OOO autoresponses from other people in the conversation. This seems hilarious to me - so urgent and none of us are actually there working on it!

We managed to get appointments booked! First shot on Saturday, wheeee!

{makes Kermit arms} Yay!

Jim just used the phrase "I'm completely aligned on this" in a meeting. I am going downstairs for the flamethrower.

.

Hahaha that’s our current buzzword for everything and I hate it! Driving alignment has become my primary priority, apparently. Ugh.

Toddson! Jesus, how scary!

I've been called once, and I reported, but I just sat in the room all day. I'm all registered and licensed and stuff, but... only ever been called once.