Two Body Problem (orig)

I was called in today for jury duty. Although a hassle, it isn't really something that I mind because I feel it is important to do this duty as citizens. I always think how much I would appreciate a jury of my peers if I were ever to be put on trial (like the day I finally hunt down whoever stole my gym towel the other day, forcing me to have to go through the gym lobby sopping wet in my swimsuit severely pregnant to get a new one). And with the new "on call" system here in California, you're only committed to come in for one day and if you aren't selected, that's it, you're done. It turns out that our case was settled right after lunch so I'm done for a year!

But going back to the beginning of the day...I went in laptop in hand ready to do some work but I forgot about the level of distraction in the jury waiting room. Not only was there the awful day time TV (although I learned that Baby Einstein videos may actually cause slower speech development in kids - oh, and there was what seemed like 3 hours of promotion on NBC for the summer Olympics that are 1 year from now...it's worse than election campaigns!) but on top of this the cell phones! It's amazing how little people realize (or care) how loud they are - it's impossible not to listen in! I got one girl's full name, credit card number, and security code. Shopping spree anyone? I also learned about her upcoming wedding. And how her husband wants nothing to do with the planning. And how she also brought her computer to do work (her performance evaulation) but I never saw her actually work on it - made me feel a bit better for neglecting my work. My favorite though was the woman behind me who was on the the phone the entire 6 hours we were in the room together. She planned her son's Bar Mitzvah making sure there will be a lot to eat because everyone will be hungry after services. And how she found a caterer that will spell Mazel Tov on the cake. A different call to a doctor revealed that someone she knew had a horrible wrist injury. I thought it was her daughter until I heard her call a coworker to complain how her employee was always complaining about this wrist injury. Then she helped her mom fill out the paper work for her new mortgage and plan their arrival for the Bar Mitzvah...and on and on.

It was so frustrating. Especially since neither Aaron or Sara were available for me to call...sigh.