I haven't written in forever, nor have I finished the rest of my jury duty blog. :(
I finally got a weekend off this past weekend. Thank GOD! I needed it so freakin' bad. I have two shift supervisors at work that both could not come to work for a couple of days, so I got stuck working a double twice in one week. BTW. I know ya'll are thinking I should have just made them come in, BUT one had a doctor's note, and the other has a spasming back and went to the doctor yesterday. Bleech! I totally need people that aren't in aching and sick all of the freakin' time! I wish one of my shifts would just retire already. If you are sick almost all of the time, you need to make the decision to stay at home. Her husband is retired and surely she could too. I have a cashier that is coming back to work after however many days gone. I wish he would just retire too. I don't look forward to having him back at work not able to do anything except for ring people up. I would rather have Renee there. I am hoping that he decides that he can't stand up that long after a couple of weeks.
I am finally finished with jury duty. YAY! NO MORE! I am sure I will get the displeasure of serving again in 3 years. I almost got picked last week to be on a jury that would last a couple of days, but I was the last kicked off of the jury. Ok, so honestly, I didn't mind sitting on the jury. The only part I did not like was the decision making. It is very stressful, and I could not sleep at all even after the decision was made. At the time the decision is made, you feel like you are making the right decision. The next day you begin second guessing yourself. It took me a long time to be at peace with the decision.
My husband has had two strange occurences in the house and both times the dogs went crazy barking. The first was the accordian door between the kitchen and the spare room just pushed open by itself. Then today, the front door opened on its own while Jack was sitting on the couch. Creepy, but not creepy. I have yet to have anything happen here to me, but I have had very weird things happen to me before. Feel free to ask.
I went to McDonald's earlier, and I got a color changing straw. I was amazed when I looked down at my straw.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Whoot!
I got a freakin' bonus! WHOOT! They told us it would be in gift card form, but it arrived in my mailbox as a check. The downside is that they took freakin' taxes out of it! UGH! My 200 bucks went down to 134! <-- Crazy!
My boss came into my store today. I mean why not right? I was off of work all week due to jury duty! Luckily, we are almost back on track. My store did not look like the total disaster it was just a few days before. I got a green!
I called about jury duty today, and I DON'T HAVE TO GO tomorrow! Hot damn!
I bought my hubby a game for his birthday that is in October today because he really wanted it. I told him I would get it for him now, since I got my bonus. He traded in a couple of games too, so we got NHL 2011 for about 38 bucks. The rest of the bonus is going straight into something for me. I just don't know what yet.
The verdict of the trial was put on TV today. Here is the link nosey ladies if you haven't seen/heard it yet.
Jury Duty-Day 3 will follow this, so if you are reading that it will follow shortly after this post is made.
My boss came into my store today. I mean why not right? I was off of work all week due to jury duty! Luckily, we are almost back on track. My store did not look like the total disaster it was just a few days before. I got a green!
I called about jury duty today, and I DON'T HAVE TO GO tomorrow! Hot damn!
I bought my hubby a game for his birthday that is in October today because he really wanted it. I told him I would get it for him now, since I got my bonus. He traded in a couple of games too, so we got NHL 2011 for about 38 bucks. The rest of the bonus is going straight into something for me. I just don't know what yet.
The verdict of the trial was put on TV today. Here is the link nosey ladies if you haven't seen/heard it yet.
Jury Duty-Day 3 will follow this, so if you are reading that it will follow shortly after this post is made.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Jury Duty-Day 2
I failed to mention in the previous post that rape of a child in Tennessee means any miniscule amount of anything (body part or foreign object) that goes into a girl's vagina is considered rape. It can be .00000001 of an inch, and it is considered rape.
I also failed to mention that the little girl says that she did not tell anyone about it.
Day 2 consisted of a lot of in and out of the jury room too. Day 2 was the day that the grandmother took the stand. Her name was Cindy. She was on the stand the WHOLE DAY!
They asked her many questions about her financial status. When you go to court, they pull everything they can about you. Bank statements included. I know how much this woman makes, that she has two houses (one of which is in foreclosure because she cannot afford it with only one income), she has a savings account that is separate from the joint account, I know the the agreements in her prenup, I know how much money he spent out of their joint account while out of town.
Here is her story
Her husband (the defendent) had been in Texas for a long while because he had been injured in a motorcycle accident. While reviewing the bank statements, they show us how much money he spent while out in Texas. His food purchases looked like enough for two people if you ask me (no one every brought this up). She had injured her back at work, so she claims she hadn't seen her grandkids in a long time. When he came home, he wanted her to find his medicine. He has herpes and hepatitis C and needed his medicine. She also says that he wanted to see the grandkids. She tells him that she doesn't want them to come over because she cannot help take care of them. She wouldn't even be able to change the youngest one's diaper. She says he called and made the arrangements for them to come over. *He has also made the decision to have a party at the house that day for Labor Day (this was last year). She says she didn't want to have one and that he asked her to go to the grocery store with him, and she refused. Later she says that she went with him.* He leaves to go get the girls early in the morning. He comes back home. Everything seems normal. S comes into her nana's bedroom to tell her hi. The party ensues. It is mostly the defendant's family that comes over. Around 11 after almost everyone leaves, she begins to help S change into her pajamas in her bathroom. She says that S starts to cry and tells her about Peepaw touching her (she does not mention the masterbating at this time). She gets very angry and finds her husband upstairs and tells him that they need to talk. They go outside. She says, "She told me what you did." He throws his hands up and says, "I messed up. Can we just keep this between ourselves?" She does not ask him what he thinks she is talking about. No one asked her if she did either, so that left that up in the air. She tells us that she gets the youngest girl from her son's room and takes S, little sister, and herself and locks them all in the bedroom. She doesn't ask him to leave the house. She couldn't even tell us if he actually stayed at the home that night. Someone takes the girls home the next day. Nana does not inform S's parents of what happened that day. She claims that she was afraid of what her son would do, and she wants to wait until the defendant is out of town to tell him. She does however tell 3 people. Her ex husband and two other people. Fast forward to another day 20 days later. Nana is getting S ready for bed again. S tells her about the masturbation. Nana calls the ex husband. They make the decision to tell S's dad. She cannot remember who told him (the ex husband or herself), she cannot remember if the girls were there that day. She says he is furious.
The second person on the witness stand is Cindy's (Nana) neighbor. She says yes they did have a party. She was not there though. She also says that the day after the party, Cindy comes over and has a conversation with her that makes her feel that she should watch the house (You cannot say what someone else said while on the stand because it is considered hearsay). Cindy seemed really distraught. Later that night, Cindy called her and told her something that shocked her, and she understood why she should watch the house.
3 more days to go!
I also failed to mention that the little girl says that she did not tell anyone about it.
Day 2 consisted of a lot of in and out of the jury room too. Day 2 was the day that the grandmother took the stand. Her name was Cindy. She was on the stand the WHOLE DAY!
They asked her many questions about her financial status. When you go to court, they pull everything they can about you. Bank statements included. I know how much this woman makes, that she has two houses (one of which is in foreclosure because she cannot afford it with only one income), she has a savings account that is separate from the joint account, I know the the agreements in her prenup, I know how much money he spent out of their joint account while out of town.
Here is her story
Her husband (the defendent) had been in Texas for a long while because he had been injured in a motorcycle accident. While reviewing the bank statements, they show us how much money he spent while out in Texas. His food purchases looked like enough for two people if you ask me (no one every brought this up). She had injured her back at work, so she claims she hadn't seen her grandkids in a long time. When he came home, he wanted her to find his medicine. He has herpes and hepatitis C and needed his medicine. She also says that he wanted to see the grandkids. She tells him that she doesn't want them to come over because she cannot help take care of them. She wouldn't even be able to change the youngest one's diaper. She says he called and made the arrangements for them to come over. *He has also made the decision to have a party at the house that day for Labor Day (this was last year). She says she didn't want to have one and that he asked her to go to the grocery store with him, and she refused. Later she says that she went with him.* He leaves to go get the girls early in the morning. He comes back home. Everything seems normal. S comes into her nana's bedroom to tell her hi. The party ensues. It is mostly the defendant's family that comes over. Around 11 after almost everyone leaves, she begins to help S change into her pajamas in her bathroom. She says that S starts to cry and tells her about Peepaw touching her (she does not mention the masterbating at this time). She gets very angry and finds her husband upstairs and tells him that they need to talk. They go outside. She says, "She told me what you did." He throws his hands up and says, "I messed up. Can we just keep this between ourselves?" She does not ask him what he thinks she is talking about. No one asked her if she did either, so that left that up in the air. She tells us that she gets the youngest girl from her son's room and takes S, little sister, and herself and locks them all in the bedroom. She doesn't ask him to leave the house. She couldn't even tell us if he actually stayed at the home that night. Someone takes the girls home the next day. Nana does not inform S's parents of what happened that day. She claims that she was afraid of what her son would do, and she wants to wait until the defendant is out of town to tell him. She does however tell 3 people. Her ex husband and two other people. Fast forward to another day 20 days later. Nana is getting S ready for bed again. S tells her about the masturbation. Nana calls the ex husband. They make the decision to tell S's dad. She cannot remember who told him (the ex husband or herself), she cannot remember if the girls were there that day. She says he is furious.
The second person on the witness stand is Cindy's (Nana) neighbor. She says yes they did have a party. She was not there though. She also says that the day after the party, Cindy comes over and has a conversation with her that makes her feel that she should watch the house (You cannot say what someone else said while on the stand because it is considered hearsay). Cindy seemed really distraught. Later that night, Cindy called her and told her something that shocked her, and she understood why she should watch the house.
3 more days to go!
Jury Duty-Day 1
I am going to try to break this down into days. I just really think that it will help me mentally deal with this jury duty thing. I had no idea how mentally taxing it would be on me.
9:00- The beginning of the day. The judge picks names out of a cup to see who will be forced to endure Voir Dire with the attorneys. This time I am chosen. I was one of the last 6 chosen. The assistant DA for the state starts with her questions. Has anyone ever lied? Oh let me rephrase that, "Who here has never lied?" As I look back on it, I wish I would have raised my hand. One man raised his hand. He claimed he had never lied because he was afraid God would be angry at him. Whatever dude! I am sure at some point in your life you have told someone that you were "fine" when really you weren't. I also wish that I would have wore a shirt with Bejamin Franklin on the front with a bandana around his mouth, and on the back it would say, "I have the right to bear arms." I wish I would have worn a suit. I wish I would have lied and said I had a couple of doctor's appointments that week. ANYTHING to get me kicked off the jury! Anything to not have to deal with all of the mental anguish I have been going through for the past week!
Back to the Voir Dire. They also inform you a little bit about the trial and ask if you think you will have a problem being on a jury for whatever it is about. This one trial is the State of Tennessee vs. FRH. He is being accused of raping a 6 year old. They ask us if we will be able to understand that she is 6 and may not be able to remember everything. That there is no physical evidence in this trial just words. Will we be able to handle that? What do we think a child rapist looks like (yes, Misty I will post a picture.)? Is there anyone there that had experienced something like that personally? Yadda yadda. When Voir Dire is over the attorneys begin to make their decisions who to cut. They start with 40 people. I did not verbally answer a single question. They cut and cut and cut. Then the judge says, "Ok I believe we have our jury." 14 people are chosen for a jury. 12 people will make the decision with 2 alternates incase someone has an emergency.
We all slowly move into the juror's box as we are called into it. They inform us that we can depart to the juror's room after Mr. Smith checks to make sure it is "ready." Check to make sure it is ready is the nice way to say, "Check to make sure that there is no one hiding in there." The elevator that they bring the prisoners up on was right next to that room. We figured that out on about the 2nd or 3rd day.
We all sat in the jurors' room and got our "Juror" name tags. Then we eventually got called back into the courtroom. The judge asks the the assistant DA Ms. Hemenway if she would like to begin her opening arguments.
We listen to her tell us about the case. I will spare you that information because trust me I am about to tell you all about it. I will however tell you two things. 1. The state first tried to charge Ray Harrison with incest, but that was kicked out because they are not blood relatives. 2. The defendant's attorney tried to say this was just a ploy to get money on the grandmother's part because her and the accused were going through a divorce...more about that later.
The opening arguments are over. We are sent to lunch.
The first person that they put on the stand is the little girl. I will not say her full name just because she is only 7, so I will just call her S on here. If you are just dying to know her real name shoot me a message on Facebook, and I will let you know.
I had no idea that they were actually going to put a 7 year old on the stand! She walks in, shoots us all a smile. She is cute as a button. She is energetic in the witness stand. She cannot sit still. The judge asks her a few questions to make sure that she is able to answer questions truthfully. He decides that she can, and Ms. Hemenway begins to ask her questions. Before she can really get started, we are sent into the jury room because there are some things that the attorneys need to talk about with the judge that we cannot hear. This happens constantly the first day. Ok on to the little girl's story. ( I will spare you attorney's questions as much as I can.)
S says that her Peepaw picked her up from her parents' house in Murfreesboro in his white car. She put herself in the carseat. She did not have any water with her. She was by herself in the car with him. A long time after she had left the house at one of the red lights. He asked her if she needed to pee. She told him that she did not need to pee. He told her to get in the front seat, so he could see if she needed to pee. He moved her flowered shorts to the side and her panties, and he checked to see if she needed to pee. She says he tickled her with two fingers. She then says that he took his kidney out (that is her name for a boy's parts) through the small hole in his pants and shook it. Then white stuff came out. He tasted it and asked if she wanted to taste it. He told her it was sweet. The attorney asks her if it was sweet, and she said, "No, it was sour." She made a sour face.
When they let her off of the stand, they let us go home for the day, but not before the judge read us the admonishions. Don't talk about this anywhere. Discussing it before the jury deliberates would be premature.
9:00- The beginning of the day. The judge picks names out of a cup to see who will be forced to endure Voir Dire with the attorneys. This time I am chosen. I was one of the last 6 chosen. The assistant DA for the state starts with her questions. Has anyone ever lied? Oh let me rephrase that, "Who here has never lied?" As I look back on it, I wish I would have raised my hand. One man raised his hand. He claimed he had never lied because he was afraid God would be angry at him. Whatever dude! I am sure at some point in your life you have told someone that you were "fine" when really you weren't. I also wish that I would have wore a shirt with Bejamin Franklin on the front with a bandana around his mouth, and on the back it would say, "I have the right to bear arms." I wish I would have worn a suit. I wish I would have lied and said I had a couple of doctor's appointments that week. ANYTHING to get me kicked off the jury! Anything to not have to deal with all of the mental anguish I have been going through for the past week!
Back to the Voir Dire. They also inform you a little bit about the trial and ask if you think you will have a problem being on a jury for whatever it is about. This one trial is the State of Tennessee vs. FRH. He is being accused of raping a 6 year old. They ask us if we will be able to understand that she is 6 and may not be able to remember everything. That there is no physical evidence in this trial just words. Will we be able to handle that? What do we think a child rapist looks like (yes, Misty I will post a picture.)? Is there anyone there that had experienced something like that personally? Yadda yadda. When Voir Dire is over the attorneys begin to make their decisions who to cut. They start with 40 people. I did not verbally answer a single question. They cut and cut and cut. Then the judge says, "Ok I believe we have our jury." 14 people are chosen for a jury. 12 people will make the decision with 2 alternates incase someone has an emergency.
We all slowly move into the juror's box as we are called into it. They inform us that we can depart to the juror's room after Mr. Smith checks to make sure it is "ready." Check to make sure it is ready is the nice way to say, "Check to make sure that there is no one hiding in there." The elevator that they bring the prisoners up on was right next to that room. We figured that out on about the 2nd or 3rd day.
We all sat in the jurors' room and got our "Juror" name tags. Then we eventually got called back into the courtroom. The judge asks the the assistant DA Ms. Hemenway if she would like to begin her opening arguments.
We listen to her tell us about the case. I will spare you that information because trust me I am about to tell you all about it. I will however tell you two things. 1. The state first tried to charge Ray Harrison with incest, but that was kicked out because they are not blood relatives. 2. The defendant's attorney tried to say this was just a ploy to get money on the grandmother's part because her and the accused were going through a divorce...more about that later.
The opening arguments are over. We are sent to lunch.
The first person that they put on the stand is the little girl. I will not say her full name just because she is only 7, so I will just call her S on here. If you are just dying to know her real name shoot me a message on Facebook, and I will let you know.
I had no idea that they were actually going to put a 7 year old on the stand! She walks in, shoots us all a smile. She is cute as a button. She is energetic in the witness stand. She cannot sit still. The judge asks her a few questions to make sure that she is able to answer questions truthfully. He decides that she can, and Ms. Hemenway begins to ask her questions. Before she can really get started, we are sent into the jury room because there are some things that the attorneys need to talk about with the judge that we cannot hear. This happens constantly the first day. Ok on to the little girl's story. ( I will spare you attorney's questions as much as I can.)
S says that her Peepaw picked her up from her parents' house in Murfreesboro in his white car. She put herself in the carseat. She did not have any water with her. She was by herself in the car with him. A long time after she had left the house at one of the red lights. He asked her if she needed to pee. She told him that she did not need to pee. He told her to get in the front seat, so he could see if she needed to pee. He moved her flowered shorts to the side and her panties, and he checked to see if she needed to pee. She says he tickled her with two fingers. She then says that he took his kidney out (that is her name for a boy's parts) through the small hole in his pants and shook it. Then white stuff came out. He tasted it and asked if she wanted to taste it. He told her it was sweet. The attorney asks her if it was sweet, and she said, "No, it was sour." She made a sour face.
When they let her off of the stand, they let us go home for the day, but not before the judge read us the admonishions. Don't talk about this anywhere. Discussing it before the jury deliberates would be premature.
Mini Blogging Convention!
Saturday Oct 2nd around 12-12:30 at Goodness Gracious in Murfreesboro.
It is right off the square in Murfreesboro. We can just all meet in the square and walk over there! :)
If the date/time isn't good for you, just comment! Goodness Gracious is only open Monday-Saturday. They have a website. Click Me! ^o^
It is right off the square in Murfreesboro. We can just all meet in the square and walk over there! :)
If the date/time isn't good for you, just comment! Goodness Gracious is only open Monday-Saturday. They have a website. Click Me! ^o^
Friday, September 17, 2010
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Yep
Another fun filled day of jury duty. I almost fell asleep. I get so freakin' tired of hearing the same question over and over again. It isn't over yet. I have at least one more day if not the rest of the week. I can't wait for this to be over, so I can tell ya'll what this trial was all about. UGH! It is really hard to keep all of this stuff in!
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