Jury Duty...Again

My sticker
Photo by King Richard

Today, for the umpteenth time, I had to report to the Superior Court building for jury duty.  Since moving to the Northeast over twenty years ago, I have had the honor of performing this civic task more times than I can count.  Mind you, I don't always have to show up in person (like today).  Sometimes all I need to do is call in to see if they need me.*  At other times, I have been excused.  For example, when Katherine the Great was young and still nursing, I was allowed to delay my service until she was weaned.  A few times, I was permitted to bow out because I was a homeschooling mom with a deployed military husband.  Once, after going through part of the voir dire process, I was excused because I was the back-up labor and delivery coach for my friend who was pregnant with twins.  About six years ago, I was granted permission to leave because I was the executor for my father's will.  Today, however, I had to make an appearance in person.  Thankfully, I only had to stay for about two hours.  I was impannelled for a civil case that was subsequently continued, so the other jurors and I were dismissed.  Now, because I actually showed up for jury duty, I won't be required to serve for three years.  Unfortunately, that will not stop the judicial system from sending me a jury summons.  I get those a least once every six to twelve months.**  Fortunately, this time, when I get a new summons, I will be able to refer to my juror certificate as evidence of previous service.  Hurrah!

*In my state of residence, being excused from jury duty by being listed on a "no show" list prior to your appearance date excuses you only for the current court year, which runs from September 1 to August 31.

**Jury summons are mailed to citizens based on a randomly generated list that pulls names from the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Central Voter Registry of the Secretary of State, the state income tax rolls at the Department of Revenue Services, and the unemployment compensation records from the Department of Labor.  This random selection does not take into account prior jury service.  The judicial system relies on jurors to alert the court as to their previous service, if any.

In the Market?

Belcourt Castle in Newport, Rhode Island is up for sale! The last time it was available, according to Wikipedia, was 1956. Back then, the property was purchased by the Tinney family for $25,000. The asking price this time around: $7,200,000. For a video tour of the home, check out this YouTube video (see below). For more on the history of the property, which is quite a tale, peruse “Newport History for Sale” by Eric Moskowitz, an article that ran in the Boston Globe last June (2009) or visit Belcourt's History page.

I Am Mrs. Potato Head

I almost fell off my chair during this Super Bowl ad for Bridgestone Tires, not because I am in need of tires but because…I am Mrs. Potato Head. Just ask my husband what it is like to drive with me in the mountains or during a snowstorm. Basically, any time I perceive danger on the road and I determine that he is not taking appropriate precautions to keep me safe, I turn into Mrs. Potato Head. The older I get, the more often this transformation occurs. I suppose, for my husband, it is like living with Dr. Jekyll and Mrs. Hyde. Poor King Richard. Sorry, honey.

For everyone else, enjoy the video.

A Friendly Visitor

After the last snowstorm, my daughter and I noticed that a pair of deer began visiting our yard on a fairly regular basis. We were at a bit of a loss to determine what was attracting them until, one day, we saw this individual (not certain if he/she is male or female) munching on one of the azalea bushes in the backyard. Since I did not do anything to stop or discourage the friendly beast, I will probably not have much of an azalea bush left by spring. Oh, well. I have a pretty healthy collection of azaleas in my yard. Losing one to a hungry deer may not be so bad.

Don't Forget to Set Those Clocks

The end of Daylight Savings Time has finally arrived, so don't forget to set your clocks back an hour before turning in tonight. Remember, the time change does not apply in Arizona, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands. It is also recommended (and customary) to use this time change as a reminder to replace the batteries in your smoke alarms.

So, check those smoke detectors and enjoy that extra hour of sleep. The holiday season is just around the corner!

Landmark Day

Amid the hustle and bustle associated with the end of my daughter’s opera internship, I didn’t want this headline to pass without recognition:

Same-Sex Marriage OK’d by State Supreme Court

Despite widely differing personal opinions regarding same-sex marriage, no one can deny the importance of this decision to the debate about whether the act of marriage belongs exclusively to a man and a woman, or whether civil unions are sufficient. My view falls in the latter camp, but that is not the point of this entry. I merely wanted to recognize the moment and to provide some information about the possible fallout here in my state of residence, as evidenced by this headline:

Ruling Spawns Movement to Revisit Connecticut Constitution

It was interesting for me (and for my daughter) to hear a personal reaction to this legislation, given by a younger gentleman who is working on the opera. He was thrilled that the case was decided in the affirmative; many of my acquaintances were not. I am waiting to see if the case ends here, even though the first article I referenced stated that no possibility exists for federal appeal.

Connecticut is now the third state in the union to recognize same-sex marriage. The other states to sanction this practice are Massachusetts and California.

History on My Kitchen Table

My kitchen table has a very bad habit of collecting “stuff.” It has been doing this since my husband tore out the wall between our family room and our kitchen when my daughter was younger. It was filled with “stuff” during that demolition and we just never recovered from the temptation to toss things there...until later. Well, one of my missions before the end of next week is to have the table cleared off; hence, my archaeological dig. Today, I found this, a letter from my fuel oil company:

August 1, 2006

Dear Valued Customer:

As we all know, this year we have seen oil prices hit very high levels; as of July 1, 2006 it is already over $70 a barrel with predictions of spiking to $100 per barrel. The continued uncertainty in the Middle East and current supply issues will most likely keep prices extremely volatile for the foreseeable future.

Oh, if only oil was that low priced!

Too Smart for Me

It’s no wonder squirrels got into my attic! My daughter wants to know how the second guy got that candy bar. Not my find. Thank Scot McKnight over at Jesus Creed.

In the East...Mars?

Most of us are familiar with this Scripture passage about the Star of Bethlehem being visible when Jesus was born:

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.” --- Matthew 2:1-2 (NIV)

But did you ever think Mars would be something to see? Anyone venturing outside this evening should, weather permitting, be able to view a different “star in the east,” otherwise known as the red planet. According to the website MarsNews.com:

On December 24, Mars reaches opposition. This means that it will appear as a bright orange star in the east soon after sunset.

One of the weather websites that I consult regularly, CTWeather.com, has this to say as well:

Mars will be unusually bright this Christmas Even and the moon will be shining full --- a development that might make Santa Claus rethink his need for Rudolph’s red nose.

The red planet will shine brighter because it will be directly opposite the sun, reflecting the most light, and fairly close to Earth, only 55.5 million miles away. The full moon will appear nearby, rising about an hour later.

Mars will outshine the brightest star and wont be as noticeable in the sky for nine more years.

With such a long wait until the next peak visibility, I just may be outside tonight looking for Mars...instead of Santa.

Merry Christmas!

Oil Monitor

Sorry for the two week absence. I was crazy busy with homeschooling and church, not to mention some gigantic home organization tasks (the results of which will probably show up on Gooseberry Lane in the next few days). But now I’m back…and ready to keep tabs on the price of crude oil; hence, the addition of the oil monitor in the sidebar.

Being an economics major, I am curious to see exactly when the price of a barrel of crude oil will hit $100. The market has been creeping toward this century mark for a while now, but doesn’t ever quite break through (not that I want it too). Oil-Price.net, where I found the crude oil dashboard, has a one-year forecast price of $122/barrel, as of today. The market believes the price will eventually push above $100/barrel. Some economists believe it will go even higher. As a consumer, I just get to wait for the proverbial price shoe to drop, all the while paying $40-$50 each time I fill my Subaru and attempting to make each tank last 7-10 days. I met the former limit last week. Ten days may elude me, what with commutes to music lessons and performances. I am up for the challenge, though.

The home heating oil season is also upon my family. The furnace has been on in the mornings for 2-3 weeks now. A few of the chillier days had it up and running throughout the entire day. Currently, the thermostat is set at 68º F during the day and 65º F at night. Being programmable, it shifts between the settings without much ado. It did, however, lose its mind this morning, heating the house to 70º F at 3:00 AM. I know this because I was too warm and woke my husband to check the furnace. Much to my chagrin, I may be shopping at Home Depot or Lowe’s this evening, if the thermostat has truly “given up the ghost.” Oh well, better a new thermostat than an out-of-control, oil hungry furnace.

So, how is your family coping with the high price of gas and oil? How many tanks of gas do you use per week? Have you changed your habits in order to conserve energy this winter? I am curious to hear what others are doing to address this issue.

Fall --- Now and Then

After lunch today, I went “jaunting” with my daughter for about an hour, an activity that would take some explaining, so I will save it for another blog entry. Anyway, on our way down Tom Wheeler Road, I realized that the rain (combined with the wind of previous days) was doing a nice job of knocking some of the leaves off the already turning trees. Hence, the photo. I can’t believe the color is coming so quickly this year. Much different from six years ago.

On September 11, 2001, the only trees that were dedicated to a color change stood on the road outside the submarine base near my home. It was crisp at dawn but had warmed nicely by mid-morning; it was a beautiful, exceptionally clear day. It was also the first day of “class” for our homeschool that year. My daughter, eleven years old at the time, was working on a spelling test. The television was off. Sometime around 9:00 AM, my mother-in-law phoned from Minnesota, her voice somewhat panicked, at which point I tuned into CNN to see what was unfathomable. By the time the plane hit the Pentagon, my husband was home for an extremely early lunch break at Home Depot. I can still see him standing by the back door watching the news coverage while I sat with my daughter at the kitchen island.

A few hours earlier, as I moved through my morning routine, a woman named Ruth McCourt, the resident of a nearby town, and her four-year-old daughter, Juliana Valentine McCourt, were preparing to fly on United Airlines Flight 175. Total strangers to me, it is possible that their plane flew over my house that day as I live between Boston and New York City. It amazes me to think how many people were engaged in so much personal activity that morning, how many decisions were made (or not made) that had such a profound effect on so many lives.

For example, what if Ms. McCourt had postponed her trip at the last minute? She would now be enjoying a relationship with a teenage daughter who would be entering high school. What if Mr. McCourt had joined his wife? An entire family would have died that morning instead of one person being left behind. What if the courageous people onboard United Airlines Flight 93 had decided to do nothing, instead of thwarting the plans of a small group of madmen? The world would be a very different place. But then, the world is a very different place.

I watched a news magazine program several years ago where it was reported that a museum official, in rejecting an exhibit on the great men and women of history, stated that people don’t matter, only institutions matter. I couldn’t disagree more. On September 11th, people were the only thing that mattered: the people who died, the people who survived, the people who were heroes, the people who comforted others, the people who were comforted…it was all about people. It is still all about people, people that we should honor and remember annually.

Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them. --- Deuteronomy 4:9 NIV

Word Puzzle

This afternoon, I revisited some parts of the French curriculum that Katherine the Great will be using this fall. When I opened one of the books, low and behold, I found a word puzzle from the 2005 handbell tour folded up inside. The choir director had this particular brainteaser available as a team problem-solving exercise to occupy some of the long hours on the bus ride between Connecticut and Illinois. Give it a try and see how you do! I will post the answers in a few days.

Example: 12 = M in a Y (12 months in a year)

26 = L of the A
7 = W of the W
1001 = AN
54 = C in the D (with the J)
9 = P in the SS
88 = PK
13 = S on the AF
32 = D at which WF
90 = D in a RA
3 = BM (SHTR)
29 = D in F in a LY
64 = S on a C

Those Pesky Squirrels

In September 2006, concern arose over the desecration of veterans’ graves in the Forest Hills Cemetery in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Groundskeepers believed unruly children were stealing the small American flags that adorned the final resting places of our war dead. Well, those same groundskeepers eventually discovered that it wasn’t unruly kids but unruly squirrels who were committing the crime. Apparently, under cover of night, the creative critters took the flags up a nearby tree, tore them into pieces, and used them as foundation fodder for a giant nest.

Now, the Oak Hills Cemetery in Neenah, Wisconsin has the same problem. Caretakers there noticed the disappearance of about 25 flags from veterans’ graves around Memorial Day. Much like their kindred culprits, the Oak Hills squirrels have never been spotted stealing Old Glory. The only wildlife seen with an American flag: blackbirds. It seems they also prefer flag scraps for nesting material. So does this mean our fauna are anti-American?

Read the story at:
- Science Daily
- ABC News

A Boogle?

The other day, my daughter was exploring YouTube when she happened upon a video of ferrets performing what people refer to as the “weasel war dance.” It is a funny-looking movement/gesture that ferrets display when they are happy or excited (or so I am told). Anyway, watching the video led her to investigate a Wikipedia article about weasels, where she discovered that a group of them is called a “boogle.” So, geese travel in a gaggle, lions live in a pride, and crows traffic in murders (sounds ominous). How is it that a boogle is not a family of ghosts? Just a thought from my friend Vickie.

If you know the names of any other odd animal groupings, please let me know.

Word Games

Much to my dismay (or is it my amusement?), I live with two rather nutty and creative people who love to play word games. I think King Richard came to enjoy these during his many hours on watch as a reactor operator in the Navy. Katherine the Great just has a fascination for Latin and all things “language.” Their latest pastime is to combine movie titles, similar to those Jeopardy categories that use the beginning of one word and the end of another. Some examples of King creativity:

Daddy Day Care Bears
Down with Love Actually
Gorillas in the Mystic Pizza
The Hunt for Red October Sky
Knight’s Tale of Two Cities
The Lake House of Sand and Fog
Lawnmower Man of La Mancha
Man in the Iron Mask of Zorro
Men in Black Rain
National Treasure Planet of the Apes
The Nightmare Before Christmas Story
Sixth Sense and Sensibility
Sleeping with the Enemy of the State
While You Were Sleeping with the Enemy
One Fine Day After Tomorrow

Not horribly intellectual, but a good mental exercise just the same. Try it and see what comes to mind.

I Would Fail That Quiz, Too

Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani had a little trouble answering some practical economic questions the other day at a campaign stop in Alabama. Apparently, a reporter quizzed the former New York City mayor on his knowledge of prevailing food prices. Giuliani’s answer, quoting from an article on Fox News:

“A gallon of milk is probably about a $1.50, a loaf of bread about a $1.25, $1.30.”

The article went to state that:

A check of the website for D’Agostino supermarket on Manhattan’s Upper East Side showed a gallon of milk priced at $4.19 and a loaf of white bread at $2.99 to $3.39. In Montgomery, Alabama, a gallon of milk goes for about $3.39 and bread is about $2.

Don’t feel bad, Mayor Giuliani, I would have trouble with those questions too (and I have a degree in Economics). I don’t drink milk and I often buy bread in a specialty store rather than at my local supermarket. Add the fact that I dislike grocery shopping and I would have failed the pricing quiz too.

Appropriate Museum Behavior

I am the daughter of an artist/elementary teacher. Consequently, as a child, I was introduced to all manner of art media --- painting, textiles, sculpture; you name it, I saw it. Whenever time, money, and opportunity permitted, I was subjected to art museum field trips in Minneapolis, fully a two-hour drive from my hometown (by the way, I enjoyed those excursions a lot and found them incredibly interesting). Still, as part of all my museum outings, I was taught one very important rule of behavior: KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF THE ARTWORK.

Or, in the case of a 22-year old Pewaukee, Wisconsin, man: KEEP YOUR FEET OFF THE ARTWORK. Read for yourself the unfortunate result of his complete lack of self-control, as recounted in an article from Fox News:

A man who claimed he found the subject disturbing put his foot through a 17th-century painting valued at $300,000 at the Milwaukee Art Museum.

David Gordon, museum CEO and director, said the 1640 work, “The Triumph of David” by Ottavio Vannini, was hanging in the museum’s Early European Gallery when the incident happened Wednesday.

The oil painting depicts the end of the biblical tale of David and Goliath, with David carrying the severed head of the giant Goliath, Gordon said.

“[The man] was kicking it, aiming his blows at the head of Goliath, and then he pulled it off the wall and started kicking it,” Gordon said.

A museum employee and security guard tried to restrain the man, and eventually he stopped, took off his shirt and lay on the gallery's floor, Gordon said.

So, what are the consequences to an individual who destroys a 376-year-old painting? The penalty for this Pewaukee man has yet to be determined. However, my sixteen-year-old daughter has an idea for justice and restitution: force Mr. Disturbed Vandal to pay all costs associated with the full and complete restoration of the painting. If restoration of the painting is impossible, then Mr. Vandal should pay the commission fee for a gifted artist to paint a replica of “The Triumph of David.” In both cases, my daughter believes the perpetrator of this crime against an historical artifact should also repay the original value of the painting, $300,000, in addition to the aforementioned expenses. I think I would have to agree with her; however, I would require Mr. Vandal to receive extensive psychological counseling as well.

To quote my very frank and opinionated child: “Get over yourself. It’s art.” To which I would have to add, “If you don’t like the painting, just walk away.”

Flocking Remembered

I saw an advertisement in the hallway of my former church the other day. It announced the availability of “flocking” as a fundraiser for the congregational concert handbell choir. Apparently, the choir is planning a summer tour that requires some extra funds. I recall fondly the last time the bell choir ventured forth with “flocking” as a fundraiser. It was in the spring of 2005, the last year Katherine the Great played with the group. At the end of that fundraising effort, I took the entire flock of flamingos home for a bath. When they were laid out to dry in the driveway, I snapped this picture.

For those of you who maybe interested in conducting your own flamingo flocking fundraiser, or if you are unfamiliar with “flocking,” check out these websites for more information and a complete explanation of what it means to “get flocked.”

Fundraising Ideas & Products Center
Flamingo Flocking

Folding the Flag

This bit of information came to me from the Cedar County [IA] Genealogical Society newsletter. They reprinted it from the Scotland County [MO] Genealogical Society newsletter, Volume 19 No. 3 July 2005.

At military funerals, have you ever noticed how the honor guard pays meticulous attention to folding the American flag thirteen times? You probably thought this was to symbolize the original thirteen colonies, but we learn something new every day.

The first fold of the flag is a symbol of life.

The second fold is a symbol of the belief in eternal life.

The third fold is made in honor and remembrance of the veterans departing the ranks who gave a portion of their lives for the defense of the country to attain peace throughout the world.

The fourth fold represents the weaker nature, for as American citizens trusting in God, it is to Him we turn in times of peace, as well as in time of war for His divine guidance.

The fifth fold is a tribute to the country, for in the words of Stephen Decatur, “Our Country, in dealing with other countries, may she always be right; but it is still our country, right or wrong.”

The sixth fold is for where people’s hearts lie. It is with their heart that they pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible with Liberty and Justice for all.

The seventh fold is a tribute to its Armed Forces, for it is through the Armed Forces that they protect their country and their flag against all her enemies, whether they be found within or without the boundaries of their republic.

The eighth fold is a tribute to the one who entered into the valley of the shadow of death, that we might see the light of day.

The ninth fold is a tribute to womanhood and mothers. For it has been through their faith, their love, loyalty and devotion that the character of the men and women who have made this country great has been molded.

The tenth fold is a tribute to the father, for he, too, has given his sons and daughters for the defense of their country since they were first born.

The eleventh fold represents the lower portion of the seal of King David and King Solomon and glorifies, in the Hebrews eyes, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

The twelfth fold represents an emblem of eternity and glorifies, in the Christians eyes, God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

The thirteenth fold, or when the flag is completely folded, the stars are uppermost reminding them of their nation's motto, “In God We Trust.”

After the flag is completely folded and tucked in, it takes on the appearance of a cocked hat, ever reminding us of the soldiers who served under General George Washington, and the sailors and Marines who served under Captain John Paul Jones, who were followed by their comrades and shipmates in the Armed Forces of the United States, preserving for them the rights, privileges and freedoms they enjoy today.

File Sharing Legalities

Confused about the legalities of file sharing and downloading on the Internet? Check out Legal Lad’s latest podcast, “Share and Share Alike” in the Gooseberry Lane sidebar. His advice: be very careful when engaging in file sharing activity. The penalty for willful commercial copyright infringement is up to six months in prison and/or a $250,000 fine. For articles that discuss this issue, Legal Lad recommends the following websites:

Recording Industry Association of America
Electronic Frontier Foundation

Have a great Saturday.