Jury Duty

Yesterday, I had to go to Jury Duty. UGH. Well, I wasn't in the group they let go in the morning! I was let go that early once........ sigh.......
I ended up staying all freakn day! Got a lot of reading in though (that's the good part)! I was put into a group that the jury panel would be selected from. The Court Administrator's assistant got sick about 15 minutes into the many announcements/instructions; so that made the day even longer. {It was funny when all these cell phones started going off and my neighbor and I were snickering and counting how many went off.} The Aministrator even called out one guy that was actually talking on his cell! About 11:30, they told us to take a break and to be back at 2:30. Oh joy.
So, I grabbed some lunch, then headed for the book store. I was concerned I would finish my book and then have nothing to read! The way this was dragging on, I didn't want to be left without anything to read! So, I grabbed some other books also, to read while in the store. I had almost 2 hrs left!
We sat another hour or so waiting for them to finish up the rest of the peeps to go to the many different courts. We were all given cards with numbers on them. Mine was 18. Weird coincidence, that is my birthday number. Hmm.. Then we were led to the Security metal detector walk through. So glad I left all my guns and sharp tools at home! WHEW! Uh, you know, being Texan and all.
When we reached upstairs, we had to wait outside of the courtroom until we were given permission to go in. It was 30 minutes later when the officer came back to tell us the Judge was running late. Oh joy. So it was another 30 minutes that we sat/stood in the hall until the Judge arrived.
After being seated, the Assistant District Attorney started voir dire (asking us questions to weed us out). It was a DWI case. We were all asked about our drinking and driving habits; if we'd ever been given the sobriety test, whether charged, jail time served, etc., even if it happened 20 years ago. Oh that was fun. Really, funny. Lots of embarrassing laughs throughout the potential jurors. And, how we felt about police officers. Well it was worded differently, but along with some others, I had a comment.
I told them I had a problem with them. As, I had once asked for help and they refused to help me. People! I think that was it! That was when they decided I would not be on the jury! WooHoo!
I looked over at the defendant, and he looked hopeful that they would pick me! Sorry dude!
But, that was just my feelings about the local cops. Really folks, my feelings about the cops would have not deterred me from listening to the facts and going from there.
We were let out into the hall for 10 more minutes so they could choose the jury. While out in the hall, there was another coincidence! A lady walked over to me and asked if I was in the Compassionate Friends group. I told her yes. Well what do you know?! She had been sitting besides me (#19) the whole time, and we never knew! You see, we were engrossed in our books and didn't want to chat (and we had only met one time before). They let go at 5:15, just in time for rush hour! Long day. (Sorry for the book.)