Radio Lady: I was NOT chosen to be on Jury Duty in Hillsboro, Oregon on 4/11/2008.

[Radio_Lady]

Juror #113. I was all psyched up and thought it was great -- they don't allow very casual clothing, so it's an opportunity to dress nicely. They didn't want weapons or questionable metal items, because you have to go through a metal detector. The most metal I wear is a large hair clip.

Yesterday, when I called for reporting instructions, they only wanted numbers 1 through 31 and 147 through 178. I feel as if I've lost the lottery. Why do I feel this way?

I know this isn't Boston, where we used to live in Sudbury, Massachusetts ZIP code 01776. It's one of the towns near Lexington and Concord, MA. We were living there in 1976 during the Bicentennial Celebration. I still have stamps posted there and a small invitation to the charity event they held. It's history!

I feel like throwing tea into the Willamette or the Columbia River. Maybe I could have dropped a green teabag in the water just for a symbol. Why didn't I get a chance today? However, we're clearing out clutter in our home for a real estate showing today. That's another whole story. Our grandson is with us because it's a day off at school. Mommy is in Atlanta at a big company meeting; Daddy is at work. I thought I was going to be part of democracy today.

Maybe I'm ticked off because we've been watching "John Adams" on HBO -- or maybe because our Oregon primary is a mail-in vote due May 20th. We haven't even gotten our ballots yet. Ho-hum. If it takes more than a day to count the totals, we'll be on our way to the airport for a New England vacation until June 1. (See ya soon, Will Pitt!)

Could they be discriminating against me because of my age? Naw. Did I have to put my age on the form? Can't remember. However, you can be excused from jury duty at age 70 or older. My husband got called a couple of years ago -- I don't remember why, but he didn't choose to go. It could be that was back when he was working full time.

I was sent a notice to serve once in Florida, but I had two tiny children and got excused for that reason. In Massachusetts, I went to the Framingham Court House in the 90s, and sat around reading until lunch time, but never was questioned or called. One-day obligation in that system in the old Middlesex County, now defunct.

Oh, well -- there's always next time. But probably never. Next year, I can weasel out of it because I'll be "three score and ten" on 05/31/2009. But I miss having the opportunity.

Cordially,

Radio Lady

[Radio_Lady]

1. Anyone have jury stories? Maybe I'm thinking I'd meet someone like

William Shatner "Denny Crane" or James Spader "Alan Shore" on Boston Legal.

But they're actors... it's the Raymond Burr effect.

[madinmaryland]

6. I have only one mundane jury story.

I was called for jury duty on a wednesday in 1992. I sitting through the part where they are having you fill out stuff and listening to the judge call people in for interviews or to dismiss potential jurors. About three hours into this, an attorney walks into the courtroom and comes over to me and says to me that my divorce hearing will be finalized on friday! I left the courtroom within the hour!!1!!

[Tuesday Afternoon]

2. I was on a federal jury case one time.

2 Mexicans and 1 guy from California were busted for transporting Pot over state lines (it was over 200 lbs and they hand trucked it all into the courtroom). It was a very interesting process, in which to participate.

[Radio_Lady]

3. Thanks, TA. My daughter was chosen for a two-day trial last year.

I can't remember the details but she said it was a very good experience.

I still have memories of Raymond Burr as "Perry Mason" and Corbin Berenson (spelling?) on "L.A. Law."

My father was a lawyer, but he was drawn to it by the "drama of the courtroom," not the day-to-day paper-pushing aspects of legal matters. He was always looking to other more artistic pursuits, to get away from the humdrum life he led.

My mother worked as his legal secretary for many years. She was bright unto herself, and wanted to be a journalist. She typed and knew Gregg shorthand, which I never mastered. Later, she switched gears and worked for a company called Transpak (or maybe it was Transpack) in a suburb of Miami.

The day she died, at age 71, she was still struggling to work just to make ends meet in a rented apartment. My father passed away at 76 in 1988, and with him, any chance for elderly stability due to the diminished income. The home they sold is now worth $1.6 million; I have no idea what they got for it, but they went on to renting a small apartment for the rest of their lives. She never revealed how financially needy she was and we just couldn't have her living with us in Boston. She lived only a few more years, until March 1991 when a call came from the police department to my husband. We flew down the next day and I had to call her clients to tell them she was gone.

I think I might have made a good prosecutor, but perhaps the law would not have been a match for me. Medicine was out of the question, although I have a first cousin who had a very successful career as a cardiologist and is now retired and living in South Carolina.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

4. May I ask ...

are you writing your memoirs? You should, you know. You have led a very interesting life. I know you still have plenty more living to do but, these glimpses are gems to me. :hug:

[Radio_Lady]

10. ...

I write in my head during my morning shower or when I take a swim at 24 Hour Fitness. Sometimes I go at 5 AM -- not too many folks then.

Sometimes I write comedy routines taken from my real life.

Then the day encroaches on my thoughts, and right now, I'm up to my ears in projects.

So, unless Skinner takes down this site, I can always use my archived posts as a start.

Lovely lady with pretty holiday name, I tried my only pair of blue jeans with my boots on today. They still fit!

[Kat45]

5. Middlesex County isn't defunct--is that what you're saying?

I live in Middlesex County, not that counties have all that much importance in MA. I remember all the Bicentennial hoopla in MA back then. As a matter of fact, I went to the People's Bicentennial celebration in Concord. It went all night long, and the performers included Arlo Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Holly Near. It rained all night, we tried our best to sleep on the ground, and were awakened by the cannons being shot off for the mainstream Concord bicentennial celebration at about 5am or so.
Edited to add: We had a blast and ran into a number of people we knew. Ahh, youth! :-)

[Radio_Lady]

8. Perhaps you're right -- I'll have to check. I don't remember much about the Bicentennial.

I do recall going to the City Hall in Sudbury and hearing a speech by the Mayor of SUDBURY, Suffolk, England, who came to the "colonies" with his wife to help us celebrate.

We also have some of the stamps that were canceled on that day.

Holly Near! I loved her music! Whatever happened to her?

Cordially,

Radio Lady in Oregon

PS. We're coming to Boston in late May!

[Kat45]

17. You're coming to Boston in late May?

I'd love to meet you. Sounds like that would be a good time to have a DU meetup in Boston. :hi:

[Radio_Lady]

18. Yep. I told my husband we might be able to work out a birthday bash with anyone from Boston.

My birthday is on Saturday, May 31st. But we just can't afford to pay for anyone's meals and drinks, and that makes hubby feel bad. (We wish I could -- I'd be known as the white Oprah!) However, I only scraped elbows with the rich and famous, like Larry King.

It would be lovely to meet and greet any and all of you, I'm sure. You know as a performer, we love a crowd.

However, my husband is not on board with it yet, due to family time frames, which have not been tied down.

We will be staying in Dedham and we thought a good place for the two of us (in a two-some) would be the restaurant at the corner of Elm Street and US 1. It used to be Joe's American Grill and another name, too, when I worked at LoJack Corporation during the 1995-96 time frame. Al and I met there frequently for Happy Hour!

More later... Thanks for your comments.

:hi:

[Radio_Lady]

19. ***Notmyprez, I would very much like to meet you also.***

Notmyprez, I can PM you or others with Boston trip details in case you guys want to figure out something. I feel like you're family!

Do you have meetups in Boston? Is someone on the Massachusetts forum kind of "in charge"?

Great to talk with you!

CU@theDU

Radio Lady Ellen Kimball in Portland, OR

[Radio_Lady]

22. Next day. OK. Never heard back from you or others. :-)

Will Pitt, you're it.

I'll PM asap... if you happen to see this.

[seaglass]

15. Hey I was there too. Do you remember that guy jumping in the

river trying to get to President Ford and the Secret Service going after him?

Sadly I was apolitical and self-involved at the time and only went to party; don't remember that much about it:-)

[Kat45]

16. Yes! I remember when Ford was speaking across the river, at the

mainstream celebration. There were speakers so we could hear his speech, and everybody on our side of the river was jeering and heckling him. I don't fully remember the guy jumping in the river but I sort of do (if that makes sense). I was there to party too but I was in college majoring in political science at the time so I had a strong interest in the politics of it as well. And I thought it was pretty cool going to the alternative celebration. :-)

That's so cool that you were there too. I remember running into a lot of folks I knew there, but whenever I mention it to anyone nowadays they've never heard of it. Were you in school then too?

[seaglass]

21. I was in High School at the time. My memory is somewhat

hazy - I can barely remember the music - the only real clear memories I have is one of the speakers going on and on about California grape workers and the Secret Service going after the guy in the river.

It's weird, there is barely anything on the internet about it, almost as if it didn't happen...

[Critters2]

7. I start jury duty the 21st. I've never done it before.

Kinda nervous. Kinda excited.

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Archae]

11. That's a weird looking bush in the back.

At least is it the backyard?
But that bush looks like a poodle. :-)

[Radio_Lady]

23. Archae, hope you got my PM.

Thanks for the trek into "topiary" via www.images.google.com . What can YOU do with bushes (no, not THOSE Bushes).

These bushes:



http://www.topiaryartdesigns.com/figures_BalletDancer2006.htm

Many more at: www.topiaryartdesigns.com

[murielm99]

12. I was called for jury duty once, about ten years ago.

After we filled out the paperwork, everyone pleaded guilty and the judge sent us home.

My husband served on a coroner's jury last summer. One of the cases was very sad. A sixteen-year-old boy killed himself after being harassed by classmates. They were all telling him he was gay. He was most likely just socially awkward. The kids who harassed him are being prosecuted, because the police have the e-mails and the text messages sent to the dead boy.

My husband was called again for jury duty next week.

My dad served on a sequestered jury in a murder case. It was in the early 1960's.

I am not sure I would be selected to serve if called. I am politically active here, so I know quite a few of the judges and lawyers in this area.

[muriel_volestrangler]

13. You feel like you've lost a lottery because you have

They only chose a few of the numbers, and those were in obvious groups - so I'm sure it wasn't your age. But lotteries and public service selection are historically tied together:

The number lotteries that are in abundance today derive from a lottery run in Genoa in the seventeenth century.
...
At some time in the middle of the seventeenth century, elections by lot were carried out in Genoa and betting was allowed on the outcome. At each election two councillors or Governatori were chosen by lot from the 100 or 120 members who sat on the Petty Council of Genoa. Inspired by gamblers' interest in these elections, the state, or the state with a group of entrepreneurs and bankers, set up a parallel lottery that had more options to it.

http://projecteuclid.org/DPubS/Repository/1.0/Disseminate?view=body&id=pdf_1&handle=euclid.ss/1177011819

So most of the world's lotteries today are based on the lots drawn to select people from a group for public service.

[Rabrrrrrr]

14. My only story about juries is that the French and Soviets didn't allow me one in Nuremberg.

x(

[quakerboy]

20. I got called at the exact same time 4 years in a row

during college. 4 years in a row, called on the week of midterms, second semester. I figured for sure that i would get called again after i graduated. But years have passed, and nary another word.