Wednesday

Well, I survived the Jury Summons.  I can't go into many details about the case but let's just say that being the well rounded woman I am, it was evident from the very first question that I was going to be dismissed.  Pray tell, what was this first question you ask.  Simple, "How many of you ride a motorcycle and what kind?"  I was panel member number five, so I was sitting on the first row.

My hand goes up as I was instructed and while holding my knitting I politely answer, "I ride a 2009 CVO Springer Softtail."  "Is that a Harley?"  "Yes."  "Stock pipes?"  "No sir, two into one pipes that have been tuned on the Dyna machine to boost performance."  A voice in the back of the room, "Do you have the Screamin' Eagle package?"  "Yes, with the 110 engine."  A different voice from the back, "Do you have the black/green or the blue/gunmetal version?"  "It is the Candy Cobalt Blue with the gunmetal and loaded with chrome."  At which point the judge intervenes and we move on to the rest of the panel members for their respective answers.

Next question, "Have you every driven a vehicle and towed anything with it.  If yes, what?"  Again the hand goes up.  I am the only person in the front row with my hand up so I go again.  "A Ford Conversion Van towing a 17' Malibu Ski Boat."  "Seriously, you drove a huge van towing a ski boat?"  "Yes sir, we camped in it due to the fold down full size bed and went to Lake Somerville quite often."  "Fine.  At any point while driving and towing did you ever feel the need to come to a complete stop before you turned?"  "Yes sir, there were many times that I felt it necessary to bring the can and the trailer to a complete stop before maneuvering a turn, especially to the left."  Voice from the back, "It is illegal to come to a complete stop unless there is oncoming traffic."  My retort, "I really don't give a flying flip what the law states.  As a driver it is my responsibility to make certain that my actions do not cause any harmful consequences to myself, my passengers or to others.  So, I'll stop when ever I feel it is necessary, let traffic go around and then make the turn when I'm good and ready."  "Even if that means you could be issued a citation?"  "Absolutely!"  Everyone else answers with various trailers and boats.

We keep going and the final question is about sky diving.  Once again the hand goes up.  At which point both attorneys are dumb-founded.  At which point I am asked, "Ms. Ping, looking at you sitting here knitting it is hard to believe that a woman of your age has done so many things in your life that contradict your outward appearance.  Can you explain?"

My dander was up now...."If it pleases the court, may I remind you sir that as an attorney you of all people should know not to pull the gender card, the age card or personal appearance card.  Yes, I knit.  Big flippin' deal.  I have been doing it for the better part of thirty years.  It keeps me from wanting to smack insolent people.  As for my age, other than the fact that you are privy to it due to the Summons Card, it is none of your business what I outwardly portray.  As long as I am a law abiding citizen I can look however I so choose.  I may have tattoos and piercings all over my body but you can't see them.  Would that matter to the case?  Not unless it is about piercing and tattoos.  And as for what I chose to enjoy, that sir is certainly none of your business.  If I want to bungee jump off the Fred Hartman Bridge and it is legal I just might.  I might want to learn hot to drive a drag car.  Point is, sir, you have no right to pass judgment on me or my appearance.  The only facts that you can utilize are my answers that are pertinent to choosing a twelve-person panel for this civil case."  Stopping to take a breath, "and I am sadden and dismayed that the judicial system would allow you to interrogate me this way."

The Judge intervenes again.  He apologizes and reminds the counsel that they cannot question any one in this manner.  A little too late.  I am seething waiting for a break.  Finally, we are given a twenty minute break.  Most of the panel members steered clear of me to allow me to cool off.  One did ask me if I needed any water or anything.  I declined and just sat there doing my crossword puzzles in black ink.  Which caused another panel member to remark that I was too smart for this case and should be disqualified.  I asked why and he simply said that anyone who did crossword puzzles in ink was smarter than the average person and that was good for me but bad news for a jury.

That led me to think about that after we were finally dismissed, after the twelve special jurors had been chosen and sworn in.  Am I really a challenge to court cases?  Because I am so diversified in my likes and interests do I make it hard to be objective?  I would hate to think that my county is so backwards that there will not be a panel that I could serve upon.  I would like to think that these are the very qualities that make it able for me to be open-minded and objective.  We shall see.

I will continue to do crossword puzzles in black ink.  I will continue to read every book, magazine and manner of print that catches my eye.  I will continue to search the Internet for information.  I will continue to follow social media.  In short I will continue to stretch my limits and grow for as long as I am physically able.  Attorneys take heed....I am not a push over just because I knit....I can debate with the best of you...just sayin....

And, Congrats to the US Soccer team on their victory today!

Monday....

Well, this was one of those weekends that I could have slept right through.  As a matter of fact, I don't even really remember what we did that evening.  I know we watched TV but for the life of me I can't recall what it was.  I wonder sometimes why I can't recall such little things but then I am reminded that the brain recalls what it is trained to remember, so the TV show must not have been all that stimulating to the brain.

Saturday was slow and easy.  SF is still not 100% yet, so we did some light yard work.  The temps here combined with the humidity were such that I insisted that we be finished before 11:00 AM.  We managed to get it all done by 10:30 AM.  After showers, we spent the remainder of the day inside with the remote and the AC.  We watched sports during the day and then we watched Three Rivers and Cold Case that night.  SF remembered that I love Katherine Moennig  AKA Shane McCutcheon and I know how much she loves Cold Case.  Sadly, both shows have been canceled by CBS, so after we catch the remaining episodes, we will be looking for replacements until the fall lineup starts again.

Sunday was slow and easy as well.  We read the paper and ate out breakfast while we discussed the day ahead.  SF was feeling well enough to want to get in the pool, so we agreed to do that early on so that we were out before the inferno starts in the afternoon.  We spent about three hours in the pool before she announced that she was hungry.  Actually I think she said she was starving.  I was as well, so we pondered our options since we were in our swim suits.  We agreed on Taco Bell.  We dried off a bit, threw on tank tops and shorts over our suits and headed to get grub.  I will not say what we got but there were eight items in the bags...four each.

We got home and ate while we watched the Atlanta Dream beat the San Antonio Silver Stars (WNBA).  It was not pretty but it was great to see Sancho Lyttle play.  I saw her play as a member of the Houston Cougars and as a member of the Houston Comets.  She is an exciting player that seems to get better as she ages, not that she is old.  She was born in September 1983, so she is only a month older than Stephanie.

We also watched the America versus England soccer game.  I remember watching the FIFA events in 2006.  Megan was excited, as she was just back from her Summer School trip to Italy.  We watched as many matches as SWCNLBN would allow.  We were thrilled when Italy won.  I think that Megan wore her Italy shirts for a month.  I watched today as Italy finished with a draw/tie.  I'm so glad that there is ESPN3.com available!  I will be watching as many of the matches as I can get away with....

We also watched the Celtics versus the Lakers last night.  I was cheering like crazy for the Celtics.  We had watched the Thursday event when Big Baby Davis drooled.  We had also watched the press conference and I was howling with laughter at the Shrek and Donkey comment.  It was a hoot!  I want one of the posters that we saw being waved at the game last night.  We will also probably stay up late on Tuesday and watch the next game unless the Celtics fall too far behind, which I hope will not happen.

All of this got me to thinking about my sports identity.  I realized that over the past 28 years I have always rooted for whom ever my partner rooted for.  Case in point, when I was married to John, he cheered for the Steelers, the Penguins, Penn State, Pitt, the Phillies and the Greenbay Packers.  When I was with SWCNLBN we rooted for the Buffalo Bills, Ohio State and the Tampa Bay Rays.  The year I was in my apartment, I rooted for the Greenbay Packers because I identified with Aaron Rodgers.  I also rooted for the Houston Comets and the Houston Astros.  When push came to shove I also rooted for Tampa Bay, as Carl Crawford is from Jeff Davis High School right here in Houston.  I also made sure that I rooted for the Houston Texans.  Much to the chagrin of SF, I kept up with SFASU and Sam Houston teams as well.  Being from Tennessee, I also watched as much Vols sports as I could get via Comcast.  College football and basketball lends itself to me spending a lot of time in front of a TV, cheering for teams as I decide who warrants my attention.

Have I maintained that self identity?  I'm not sure.  I would like to think so, but I have been thinking about it.  I know that I would be rooting for the Celtics right now regardless of SF's preference, as I don't really like Kobe.  No offense to his skills, but he cheated on his wife regardless of what he told the public...so he is slime like all the rest of the sports figures that can't seem to keep their parts safely inside their zippers when they are away from their respective partner, be it a wife, a fiance or a girlfriend.  I will be looking at who I have been rooting fro lately and making certain that I remain loyal to the teams I want to endorse, not the ones that SF wants to endorse, unless it is a team that I already have selected.

Knitting on oldies has continued.  I will post about that Tuesday.  I also will have a double duty Temptations, since I just realized that I didn't post last week's.  And, yes, there are changes to the blog.  Tell me what you think....