I'm Trying to Stay Out of Jail...

So a few weeks ago, I got a jury notice. I waited until the last minute to respond. Once I was finished registering, the voice told me to call the day before my assigned week, so that another voice could tell me if I was required to attend the following day.

My assigned week feel on a holiday. Whatever that past holiday was, I think President's Day, so I was in the clear for that Monday. That Monday night I called to see if I had to report on Tuesday, but I was cleared for another day. Tuesday night comes and I blog, cleanse, and then sleep. Wednesday comes and it wasn't until lunch that I realized I hadn't called the jury line. I dial the number and the voice tells me that I was scheduled to appear that morning at 8:30 am. I'm panicked until I get costumer service on the line and she simply reschedules me for next week.

So next week rolls around, and oops, I forget again. This time I realize I forgot to call turning into the parking structure at work. Once again the voice tells me I should have reported to jury duty at 8:30am. It was only 8:20am. Funny how the voice speaks in past tense, as if it knows, I fcked up again.

I call again, and again I'm rescheduled for the next week, this week. The operator talks to me in an exasperated voice while sighing and such, like she's knows I'm the same flaky procrastinating chick from last week. But by this time, I'm shaking in my boots and not giving her any lip. Just taking her ish and being thankful the Marshals aren't waiting for me at my cubicle.

So last night rolls around and though I did blog until 1am, I still managed to remember to call and sure enough I had to report. Don't want the popos knocking at my door...

I have to say though, that it's not as bad as I imagined it to be. I thought I'd be in a courtroom, sitting on those hard wooden benches, while waiting to be chosen as a juror. But instead, we're in a large waiting room. The seats are soft and comfy and we have two vending machines as well computers with prepaid Internet access.

It wasn't until lunch time that I noticed a sign saying that the computers could surf the web via a credit card. But there were folks justa longing at the stations. So I did the polite thing and nabbed a chair after I had returned from my swift Burger King run during lunch. We got an hour and a half for lunch, so I knew folks would be taking their time to return.

If I could live off of snickers and butterfingers, this would be heaven. A paid break from work where I could blog and blog hop is the perfect Monday for me. The only drawbacks is that the Internet is a little slow and that I can't live off of Snickers. Wish everyday could be like this though.

And it turns out that they don't send folks to jail for avoiding jury duty anymore. Maybe that was an urban myth, but they just slap them with a $1,500.00. Still, I'm glad I finally made it and next time I might be looking forward to reporting.

12 comments:

  mp1

March 4, 2008 at 1:24 AM

Jury duty was great for me!!! Mainly because I didn't have to show up, but I didn't report it to my job. I ended up with two days off with pay. Now that was the business!

Blogging and blog hopping. That sure would be a great way to spend Monday afternoon! lol

  Anonymous

March 4, 2008 at 5:20 AM

Darling write these things somewhere not good to be forgetting

  PCD (Pretty Circle Drawer)

March 4, 2008 at 9:02 AM

never had jury duty, don't think i could do it either, unless they let you strap your baby onto your back! LOL

  swag_ambassador

March 4, 2008 at 3:38 PM

i really dodged jury duty somethin tough. but not on purpose.. my address isnt listed fa some reason, so when they asked for it again, i gave em the same address.. maybe somewhere theres a 1500.00 fine for me LOL.. who knows. i doubt it

  A Beautifulstruggle

March 4, 2008 at 3:39 PM

Shit, maybe I should try going then. I can't afford that $$. It is so crazy how, I never got a notice until I filed my damn taxes. Then, all of a sudden the notices were coming left and right. I always kindly wrote myself a doctor's note. Maybe I shouldn't tell you guys that. oh well!

nice spoy you have here.

  Park Avenue

March 5, 2008 at 4:24 AM

I've been called for jury duty 4 times:

1st time: Got chosen & it was a 4 day trial.

2nd time: Wasn't chosen. Yeah!!!!!

3rd time: It was too soon after my 2nd jury duty assignment & I was excused. Yeah!!!!!!!

4th time: I had moved out of the state & they STILL sent me a jury duty notice. Of course I was excused. YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!

  Edirin

March 6, 2008 at 7:11 AM

you need a planner or something, to plan your day, b4 u go and forget very very important

  All-Mi-T [Thought Crime] Rawdawgbuffalo

March 8, 2008 at 4:57 PM

hon, my folk own a bail bond, and i hate jail, did 10 days once, operating a dance hall wo a lic and selling liq w/o a lic. was better than paying 2002.00

  HeyShae!

March 10, 2008 at 12:52 PM

Oh girl, you need to put a reminder on your Outlook at work for stuff like that. I would hate for you to try to match your blog to your jailhouse uniform. ;o)

  Miss Snarky Pants

March 11, 2008 at 2:17 PM

"they don't send folks to jail for avoiding jury duty anymore".

Thanks for clearing that up cuz I damn sure was a believer.

The funny thing is I actually WANT to be selected as a juror and they refuse to contact me LOL.

  Miss Mika

March 14, 2008 at 1:50 PM

Gosh, I hated jury duty!! I wish they would have hooked us up with online access while we waited, that would have made all the difference in the world!

  nicole

March 23, 2008 at 3:49 PM

lol i've managed to avoid jury duty TWICE because i've been away at school, but i was contacted when i went home for xmas break (wtf! isn't 3 times alot when you're only 21!?!?) and thankfully it fell on xmas eve and they cancelled everything. i did NOT wanna be stuck on a case all break!