I have jury duty today. Which would be fine, except we're still in this pandemic and I am covering for, like, 5 people mostly due to employee attrition. Which means I'm on ALL of the launches.

But I'm going to jam some lunch in my face, put on a KN95 mask, pack a book and some battery chargers, and go to the courthouse early since I don't know how long the security line will take.

Good luck, shrift! I wish you a quiet afternoon in the jury lounge and/or an early release.

I am fascinated at the idea of jury duty not starting first thing in the morning!

On the many, many (MANY) times I've served my time on jury duty, they'd have the jurors arrive early, but then there'd be an orientation ... and a long wait, usually. Judges have to call for a jury, they'd have to pull our numbers, gather us up, herd us down to the courtroom ... and then there'd be another wait while they got the judge, attorneys, bailiff(s), etc., ready to start voir dire. Then things would get started but mostly we'd ... wait. Sometimes they'd herd us back into the hallway while the legal types did something legal-adjacent. Mostly it involved waiting. And, often, watching TV (one time, when we'd gone through multiple terrible talk shows and Geraldo came on, I kind went fetal and moaned).

Do you know, there are people who not only have never been called for jury duty but have no idea what it is? Had someone at a previous (terrible) job try to have me disciplined because I was not going to be available at a time that was inconvenient for him and he didn't understand where I was going to be or why I couldn't tell him EXACTLY how long I'd be unavailable.

unless it was for one friend who I know would want the Swedish princess cake because marzipan.

Let it be known that you have TWO friends like that. (It's me. I'm the other friend.)

I'd go with Swedish princess or St. Honore.

A version of the Swedish princess cake was one of the technical challenges on GBBO. I remember thinking it looked yummy but some of the contestants struggling with the decoration.

Do you know, there are people who not only have never been called for jury duty but have no idea what it is?

The last time I was called, I ended up chatting with a lady in her early 60s - it was her first time ever being called. I literally have no idea how many times I've been called because it's SO.MANY. The randomizer hates me. Or possibly loves me.

We have a small jury pool - I can usually count on being called every two years PLUS less frequently for the Federal court. What with the people who are only living here for short times so they don't bother changing their voter registration from their home state and the lawyers and law enforcement people who get excused, us eligible jurors are few and far between. My mother, I believe, was called once in her 89-year life ... at a time when she couldn't serve.

I usually post in the morning before work, but I was running late!

I have only been called twice. The second time, I never had to go in!