Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas Everybody. Faramir and Eowyn tried to capture Santa, but Precious sprung the trap when he drank the milk. And then, Santa walked in the door to tell Faramir he heard what he did to the Easter Bunny so he was lucky to get a present. (The ferrets set a trap for the Easter Bunny and while Faramir was negotiating for more chocolate eggs, Eowyn hid the Bunny's eggs in the closet) So now the cats and ferrets can rest in excitement because I won't let them open their Santa gifts until I wake up tomorrow morning. I got a call from a temp agency about a job possibility and the company will select the people they want next week. I hope I get picked. Crossing fingers. Well, Have a great Christmas. I will be celebrating with my Mom, Aunt, and sister's family.

Christmas Letter 2015

Merry Christmas to all my family and friends. Another year of college studies and hopefully be done next spring, my brain is exhausted. Slept in on New Year’s Day since my only job was my work study for an economics professor and no school for a couple more weeks. Went to the family Christmas at Mom’s retirement home banquet room. Did my civic jury duty for a civil lawsuit (yawn). Then back to work and taking 5 accounting classes, I want to graduate as quickly as possible. Then, took Mom to a lunch at a restaurant where my Dad’s cousins were getting together. Had a lovely chat with relatives I never see anymore, thank goodness for social websites. This year we celebrated ferrets Faramir’s and Eowyn’s 2nd birthdays and cats Precious’s and Frodo’s 9th birthdays with cake and canned tuna (ferrets love frosting, cats love tuna). Lost a lady fish Canace after a few months. Lost an old man fish Apollo after 5 years, my first baby fish. Lost another male fish Dionysis I had a year. Got another baby fish named Hades and an adult male fish named Pan. My girls Selene and Artemis love watching and flirting with the new boys. Little Hades is getting big now, but still smaller than the females. Had a March ice storm that covered the city is a sheet of ice. After skating my way to the car and watching my books fly down the sidewalk, I decided to email my professors and stayed home. Had to yell at the cats who wanted to nap on my bruised legs, poor babies. Winter ended watching the ferret-sized snow tunnels melt into water.

Spring came with hosting Easter dinner and egg hunt in my courtyard. Nephew actually won the most eggs for the first time to receive a movie. Niece #4 also got a movie, but Nephew chose his reward first. Got to speak at my professor’s Personal Finance class about life insurance. I won 2nd place in a college poetry contest, I never complain about winning $50. Began my internship at amusement park as Team Leader and learned more things to do. I actually got to tell people what to do. We celebrated my cousin’s daughter’s high school graduation. Took Mom and Sister #1 to the cemeteries to notice a flag at Dad’s tombstone for the first time. Someone must have noticed I put a flag on his stone every year to do that. My spring ended with the announcement that Niece #1 was pregnant. She is a busy woman planning a wedding for 2016, returning to school to get her Master’s degree, working her teacher job, and preparing for the baby. Had to tell the world I’m going to be a great-aunt. Spring ended with the end of the work study and beginning of my internship at amusement park.

Summer was blessed with a raise at the amusement park because of a labor shortage. Who would want to work for minimum wage when they can get more at the grocery or retail stores? I guess that means the Great Recession’s surplus of workers is over. Had 3 job interviews over the summer and received 3 rejection notices. Enjoyed a day at my amusement park with my Sister #2’s family and later took Niece #4 to the water park portion since Nephew refuses to get in the water anymore (had a scare the year before). Attended my cousin’s bridal shower with my Mom and later in the day enjoyed a Tesla/Def Leppard/Styx concert at the Iowa State Fair with Nephew and Brother-in-law. Summer ended with a new job as invoice verifier at healthcare company through a temp agency and beginning another semester of classes, 3 classes this time.

Autumn celebrated Nephew’s and Niece #4’s birthdays, 11th and 12th. They are getting so big I don’t know what to buy them anymore. I celebrated my 40th birthday at a local city park by a river with big bash on a very windy day. Cousin got married in Las Vegas and came home to celebrate a Halloween-themed reception complete with fireworks. Enjoyed the Science Center’s Star Wars family night with Sister #2's family by dressing up as an Episode 7 character and won a Star Wars poster. I won’t know if my character costume is a hero or villain until the movie comes out mid-December. My temporary job ended right before Thanksgiving. I keep sending out resumes. So far got 2 interviews and 2 rejections. Thanksgiving was at my brother’s and his fiancée’s new house. We got our first snowfall the week before and ferrets love jumping around in it. The autumn ended with Niece #1 giving birth to my great-niece.

Finishing up my final exams and decorating for Christmas. We will celebrate the Family Christmas at Mom’s retirement home banquet room again. Next year will be finishing my classes in hopes of a better paying job. Last semester, I promise.

So everyone have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Weekend update

Had a fun filled weekend. Went to the Science Center for Family Night that celebrated Star Wars with R2-D2 and a guy dressed as an Episode 7 villain. He came around without the costume and took our photos with a plastic stick in front of the camera to make it look like our light saber was lit up. They had contests and drawings. I won a Star Wars poster. Niece whined she wanted it, but I said no. It's going on my door when I take the scarecrow down. Niece and I dressed up as Jedi while nephew refused to wear his Darth Maul costume he wore a couple Halloweens ago. Weird kids eagerly dress up for Halloween a couple weeks ago and don't want to dress up for Star Wars. Next, my niece celebrated her 12th birthday at the Cheesecake Factory. She loved her gifts and we had chocolate cake. Got to announce my temp job is ending and the day before Thanksgiving, I will unemployed again. Not too concentrated on job hunting until after finals in a few weeks. Been sending out the occasional resume to never hear a response other than, "We received your resume and if we think you are acceptable, we will contact you." Did hear from someone I interviewed with 2 months ago. They had to tell me they hired someone qualified, but thanks for interviewing. Yeah, after 2 months, I already figured it out they didn't want me. Just keep on sending out resumes until someone calls. Signed up to take classes in the spring to gain 2 certificates and then no more classes. My brain is exploding from all this knowledge I never get to use cause I have no work experience. Niece will be having her baby in the next month so eagerly waiting for Christmas to hold the sweetheart. Very certain she/he will be born by then. I'm going to be a great-aunt. I'm going to be a great-aunt. Well, nothing else to report.

Happy Halloween

Spending my Halloween at home doing homework and watching Halloween specials. Hocus Pocus, It's the Great Pumpkin, and Ghost Adventures tonight. Last night I watched History Channel Monsters series and History of Halloween. Niece and nephew went out with their Mom while their father is running the NYC marathon. Kids thought my Mom or I should come to their new apartment and hand out candy. Had trouble explaining apartments don't have trick or treaters. I heard kids returning in the hallway, but nobody ever knocked on my door. I do have candy since it's a good time to get it (coupons and sales). Next week will change rooms at work. Some group needs out training so moving to another building. Some will go to home office and work. Still working on invoices and figuring out where to send them when they lack information. Yep, that is what I do all day for 8 hours, 5 days a week, Stare at invoices. For the money, I don't complain how boring it is. Other coworkers have left for other jobs, but I'm not looking too hard. I am focused on my associate's degree and passing my classes. Once finals are over, I will be more aggressive looking for work. Temp job lasts until Nov 30 and classes end Dec 10. Next semester I signed up for 3 classes (discovered 4 classes working 40 hours make me flunk everything so dropped a class to lose $300 plus book rental fee). Hopefully will get a Payroll Certificate to move up the ranks. All I have is hope of a better future. Well nothing else to report. I eat, sleep, work, and do homework. Cats feel so neglected.

The Talk with Mom

Called Mom for my monthly begging for money that has been going on for the past five years. I hate asking for money so much that often I will take a cash advance from a credit card in the middle of the month just to avoid asking more than once a month. But rent is due so have to bite the bullet.

She asked how my college classes were going and I neglected telling her that I was close to flunking them. Been doing badly since my migraines increased in frequency causing fuzzy brain. For the past 4 weeks, I have at least one (sometimes 3) each day. Went to doctor to get a med that was too strong and triggered my asthma so had to stop taking it. Found a homeopathic med online that helps with symptoms so getting better. Migraines just won't end for some reason.

So explained to Mom that I dropped a class. Didn't want to and cried myself to sleep feeling like a total failure, but now I can focus more on the other 3 classes. I'm working 40 hours a week invoice verifying so don't have a lot of time to deal with 6 hour long homework I can't understand. Don't get any money back unfortunately so out $400 and have to return the book because it is rented. 4 classes were too much for my workload, but had no idea about workload I would have when signed up for them.

So told Mom what I needed to pay my rent and 1st of the month expenses. My paychecks only cover so much. Told her about my job interview this week as a payroll clerk with a financial services company (my dream job) and hoping this is the miracle I've been waiting for. My temp job is soon coming to an end and have no idea if they want more staff since I was hired on to help with backlog that is recovering to normal workload.

Will enjoy the nice weather this weekend while working on my homework. Post later.

Autumn update

Had a lovely summer working 6 days a week and reporting my lack of progress of finding a new job to the intern professor. Had my resume reviewed by a career councilor and the professor to get complaints how I'm not fabulous. Sorry I didn't graduate Harvard with honors, never held a management job to showcase results of my skills, and worked retail instead of an office. All temp agencies offer is customer service jobs so we no longer speak to each other. I'm trying to leave customer service. Was told by 2 temp agencies they have don't have positions for me now nor in the future. Very hard to explain to people why I'm not good enough for any job, not even entry level office jobs because I don't have 3 years experience. Had a coworker look at my resume who used to work human resources. I'm too old to work (ok, then what should I do for the next 20 years when I can collect Social Security) and my temporary jobs make me look flaky to not be able to hold on to a job. Thanks a lot, you criticize things I can not change. Did you miss the Great Recession when millions people lost their jobs and living in tents by the river? Just because someone looses a job due to a business being sold or closed does not mean they are unemployable, you self-righteous byotches who never applied for unemployment benefits that last 2-6 months.

Anyway, worked 4th of July and never saw my brother and his intended when the visited my nearby sister. Jerk. Even worse, I got discount tickets for them to go to the amusement park I work at to hear from my sister that my brother decided not to go and didn't bother to tell me. This left me with 2 nonrefundable tickets I paid for. Used them to take niece without the rest of her family to the waterpark that nephew refuses to enter (he nearly drowned last year and now fears the water). She hates water slides and scared of the wavepool so we spent the time in the lazy river and eating. After a few hours we walked towards the exit riding on whatever niece chose. This was her big birthday present and will receive a smaller present later when her cold weather birthday arrives.

Interns left to return to college and continued to find a job when my internship ended. Managed 3 interviews and 3 rejection notices saying they hired someone more qualified. Whatever. Planned out my 40th birthday bash my sister insisted I have because she saved her 40th party decorations just for me. None of my coworkers came, only 1 friend out of 5 who said they would come came, and all others that came were the family who come to the family Christmas, 16 guests in all. We ate grilled food and it was so windy I lost a set of salt and pepper shakers. Who knew ceramics flew and broke into pieces? The pink champagne birthday was so fluffy that it fell apart when tried to pick it up. Didn't take a picture of the cake cause it wasn't very pretty, just a hand full of blue flowers and a ribbon around the base that was annoying when I cut it into pieces. I didn't take any pictures party for that matter, tablecloths were whipping around too much to produce a good backdrop. Besides, not a day I really want to remember. The highlight of the day was wondering what happen to an older guest who walked to the rest room. Their legs gave out just 20 feet of the party and covered in diarrhea. Had to take them home to change clothes.

Finally, I had good news to report to my family on my birthday. A temp agency found me a temp job that didn't require an interview. Started it after my party. Called Verifying invoices for the Accounts Payable department. We temps look at invoices and make sure the vendor info, order info, and amount of invoice total is correctly placed in the system. Yes, that is what a I do all day. Very important job because the company changed computer systems and invoice codes so this created backlog that makes the vendors complain the company is not paying their debts. The managers from another babysit us and answers questions we have. And these managers change every week so I'm certain the company will not be keeping us past the assignment term. At least it's work and have to take what I can get.

Nothing else to report. Post later.

What caused the Civil War?

So now there is a movement to remove all signs of the Confederacy from parts of the country that celebrate it as its heritage. Excuse me, what would that accomplish? The Confederacy did exist, its descendants celebrate their heroics, and lives on in museums. I actually love looking at the beauty of old plantation houses and the portraits of the owners who built them. Did the Confederacy represent racism and keeping slavery legal? I have no idea since my ancestors fought on the Union side from Iowa and Kentucky regiments. The South is not my heritage and will leave that answer to the Southern people.

But to the question of "Was slavery the cause of the Civil War?" I would say no. I have a Bachelor of Science in History to receive more information than the watered down version taught in high school history class. My professors with PhDs telling us exactly what they thought and encouraged us in our research to understand multiple points of view. British think American Revolution was a temper tantrum over taxes, while Americans think American Revolution was about freedom from tyranny. So who is right? I'll get to that later.

So what then caused the Civil War? States Rights, Slavery, Economics, or something else?

I think we have to look at the Revolutionary War to find the source of the Civil War. Reading biographies on George Washington and Thomas Jefferson I couldn't help but notice that all the reasons the South split from the Union were present during the Revolutionary War. I told you I would get this.

Grievances of the Confederacy:

1. The 10th Amendment stating any laws not designated by the US Constitution to be determined by the states, called States Rights.

Revolutionary tension: Who's in charge? In the beginning, the founding fathers were not united as we like to think. Some served out of self-interest and get rich out of this war. For many years, the colonies governed themselves from Jamestown's Don't work, Don't eat to Plymouth's Mayflower Compact to Williamsburg's House of Burgesses. The companies that founded the colonies blessed with a royal charter made their own rules how the colony should function so imagine a faraway king suddenly demanding after a war you pay taxes you can't pay because their laws prevent you from minting British coins and all taxes must be paid in British coin. In fact, the Spanish reel cut into 1/8 pieces called bits was the coin of the colonies had in their possession. Remember there were NO BANKS to trade for British coins to pay your taxes.

During the Revolutionary War, representatives fought over who should be the generals in charge of the army because they all wanted the top dog from their state. Besides George Washington, the other contenders were Thomas Johnson of Maryland (later Supreme Court justice), Charles Lee of Virginia who thought he should have been appointed top general and demanded compensation for forfeiting his British landholdings (he was later court martialed from the Continental Army), and Richard Montgomery of New York who died during the invasion of Canada. Once we became a country, Alexander Hamilton wanted a National Bank while others chimed how banks were not part of the Constitution and we should have only state banks.

Civil War settled the question that all National Laws supersede all state laws.

2. Simple economics.

Revolutionary tension: Colonial economies are exploitive in favor of the home country (British, French, Russian, whatever). Raw materials are taken from colonies and sent to the home country. Thus, manufactured goods are sent back to the colonies. That is how the colony economy works. Now, why can't all these colonials make their own manufactured goods? Simple, they are not allowed to. Iron manufacturing in Colonial America was banned so colonists had to buy British made nails, screws, keys, farming tools, and wire. Furthermore, Colonists shipping their raw materials had to pay all shipping costs, custom duties in London, unloading the goods fee, broker fees to sell it, and agent fees to shop for luxury goods like a felt hat that was banned from being produced in the colonies. Worse, what happens when your soil depleted of nutrients fails to continue to produce bumper cash crops (no fertilizers except for manure). Oh, you go into debt with promises of next year's crop will be better.

After the Revolution, industry boomed when America could make what it wanted with manufacturers from iron works to cotton mills. And mint their own coins. The Confederate States had a cash crop economy exploitive from these booming industries. In fact, when repeating rifles were invented and entered the Union army, the Confederates captured some of these supplies, but they didn't have the copper industry to make the casings needed for the cartridges necessary to utilize this weapon.

The Civil War didn't change the economics of the South, slaves who stayed simply turned into sharecroppers. Many slaves did leave for northern cities and founded black dominated neighborhoods like Harlem in NYC. Many slaves went west and became cowboys and gunslingers called Buffalo Soldiers by the Indians. When farm machinery was invented in the late 1800's, it changed the economics of the South and the sharecroppers disappeared by the mid-20th Century. The man who invented the cotton picker and revolutionized the industry was from Texas. Today, the South is more industrialized than it was 100 years ago. Can anyone say Coca-Cola or Texoco?

3. Slavery.

Revolutionary tension: First and foremost, all 13 colonies had slavery. Some founding fathers were repulsed by slave auctions and burdened by taking care of the servants while men in Britain get rich off the slave trade. But that didn't mean they were willing to free their slaves either. Americans believed slavery was pushed on them by the British government getting rich off the import duties of slaves.

After Revolutionary War: In the north, state by state emancipated its slaves and new immigrants supplied the cheap labor industry needed. Many compromises were made about extending slavery into new territories gained in the Louisiana Purchase and Mexican War. The Missouri Compromise kept slavery at the border of Missouri while Bleeding Kansas sought by popular vote if a new territory/state is slave or free.

Now, remember, white plantation owners were not the only ones who owned slaves, nor did the majority of people in the South owned slaves (10%). Indian tribes owned slaves in their territory in Oklahoma and those whites married into the tribes brought in slaves too. 2 tribes (Choctaw and Chickasaw) joined the Confederacy as 'First Battalion of Choctaw Indians' in Mississippi and also held a representative in the Confederate House of Representatives. Free Blacks also existed in the South prior to emancipation and some owned slaves as well, there was a large population of Free Blacks in New Orleans, LA and Charleston, SC. And to complete the thought, only the rich had slaves just like only the rich have servants who live in their house. I cannot imagine why lower class poor white men without shoes would march in a Confederate uniform and die to keep slavery. Slavery only became an issue when generals in the Union army taking over cities started setting the slaves free in areas they controlled. This was not universal. Plus the threat of Great Britain to join the Confederate side encouraged a political ploy from President Lincoln that all slaves in Federally held territories that rebelled against the Union be free (not the slaves in the border states). Later, at the end of the war, the push for full emancipation of slaves was made and gained. In the end, the South had to accept the end of slavery as a condition to reuniting with the Union where all Federal Laws supersede all state laws that suddenly got established. But that didn't mean they had to like it, hence Segregation and Lynching began that the Federal government didn't interfere with until the Supreme Court did in 1954 (Brown vs. Topeka, KS).

In conclusion, wiping away all evidence of a Confederacy that offends some, but admired by others doesn't erase it from history. Slavery happened and it ended for a reason. The Confederacy happened and ended for a reason.

Long time no post

Sorry for not posting for months, I've been busy. Homework, Homework, Exams, and spend time with the family. Sister was happy I had weekends off, but never found time to spend with me. Easter was my apartment since my sister didn't want to clean her house. Whatever. Had Easter egg hunt ready and niece doesn't want to do it because she is too old. Yes, let's ignore the fact that she has been pestering my sister for weeks about it. Sister recommended movies as prizes and gave me the money for it. Nephew won the contest gathering the most eggs and ready to pick one of my Rated R movies. Ah, excuse me, I presented the 2 movies my sister said to get to them and he was so excited over Transformers. Now he wants Troy or 300 or Gladiator. No and if he doesn't want it I will send it back. Sister suggests borrowing Happy Potter movies as a reward to him reading the books. I can live with that and he accepts his Transformer movie. Niece doesn't want her movie either cause they taped if off the TV. Sister explain she discarded it in her downsizing so they don't have it anymore. Niece accepts movie. I decided no more egg hunts and no more presents if it's this traumatic for them. Started working at the amusement park again. What can say, I love this job. Worked on Mother's Day so sister took Mom out to dinner. Mom protests spending so much money on her at a fancy restaurant, but they fall on deaf ears. Memorial Day took Mom and sister out to the cemeteries. We got a surprise: My Dad's tombstone had a military flag. They never did that before. Maybe someone noticed the flags I put out every year. End my work study with a bang. Last day was a career fair so took photos and uploaded them to my professor's folder on the computer. He gave me a Hawaiian torch with flowers and leis attached, then an ice cream cake. Since he did so much for me, I painted him a picture of the Des Moines River and a downtown bridge. He loved it. I sent him the photo I based my picture on. He wanted me to stay during the summer, but working 6 days a week at amusement park made that impossible. I told him I would love to come and speak to his personal finance class again. That was so much fun. I talked about life insurance to his class giving a multiple point of view and siding with any sales pitch. What to buy depends on your needs and your objectives to getting it. My main point was that life insurance was not an investment, but a gift for someone else. Signed up for fall classes to get 2 certificates to hopefully help in getting a good job. I don't have to be a millionaire to be happy, just supporting myself is enough money for me. Finished the semester with 5 A's and 1 B. So disappointing to get a B, but I tried my best. Amusement park job evolved into my internship. Have weekly reports and applying jobs. Went to the college career center to receive the same old advice I've heard a million times. Telling me to research the company doesn't help me in interviews and wear a suit impresses nobody. Went to my Dad's grave on Father's day and left a rose with a black ribbon (to copy Phantom of the Opera). Then later went to work. Meeting new people and new interns. Sorry I have to go, but need a year around, higher paying job. Though everybody got raises this year from a labor shortage caused by stores paying above minimum wage. Busy applying for jobs, but no interviews yet. I think it's kinda early since I'm not available right away. Manager keeps asking when my internship ends. I'm sure she can manage without 1 employee until the end of the season. Well outta things to talk about Post later.

Tax clients I despise

Doing taxes for the public again (did this a few years ago) and have to rant for a moment. The tax clients I despise: The ones who keep no records and get mad I can't make up deductions. There is a thing called an audit and I refuse to go to jail for 5 years for a fraudulent return just because you are a cheap bastard. The ones who get mad their college expenses are not deductible. I'm sorry, but a dependent client cannot deduct college credits and I don't care if your friend told you otherwise. College expenses are deductible for independent people and lowers their taxes owed, they do NOT receive any extra refund. You must earn at least $26,500 Single or Married Filing Separately, $27,800 Head of Household, or $29,550 Married Filing Jointly, to receive full benefit of college credits. People who have not filed for years decide to suddenly file this year. Excuse me, why are you here if the IRS is not breathing down your neck for not filing for years. When I send this in, you can count on an audit of your past years lack of filing. People who believe they don't have to file because they don't owe. Read complaint above. You have to file if you earn above the standard deduction and exemption amount, which change every year. If a dependent, then must file if above the standard deduction. This year exemption is $3950 per person. This year standard deduction is $6200 for Single or Married Filing Separately, $9,100 for Head of Household, and $12,400 Married Filing Jointly. People who don't know about deductions. Read the form I copy for your records and you will find a long list of possible deductions. List for those taking Standard Deduction: HSA contributions, paying alimony, student loan interest, retirement contributions, education K-12 and college expenses, moving expenses if move more than 50 miles for a job, and child care expenses. List for those who can itemize beyond the standard deduction: Medical expenses/insurance, long-term care insurance, taxes from real estate or car tags, home mortgage interest, charity donations, and job expenses. People who want larger refunds than last year. If you wish a $5,000 refund, then you must pay $5,000 in taxes in the first place. I can not give back much more than you already paid through your paychecks so change your W-4 or make more money to pay more taxes and thus, get more back. Personally, I rather have money year around than a big check once a year. I think I'm done ranting for now. Post later.

Icy sidewalks

Had a ice storm last night. I go out thinking everything is fine because the ice is clear and can't tell the difference between wet and dry sidewalks. It is all ice as I discover slipping onto my elbows and knees to watch my books fly down the icy sidewalk. No salt anywhere to be seen. Skated to the car and removed wet ice easily. After nearly falling down again and grabbing the car, I decided to stay home. Saw cars go by on the street, but scared of icy driving in the parking lot. Emailed my professors. Spent most of the day sleeping and doing homework. Leg killing me all day and have to tell the cats to get off it when they want attention. Updates: Spent January attending the extended family Christmas where hardly anybody talked to me. I think I'm still ostracized from the family even though they beg me to attend family events just to ignore me. Then when my time at the mall train ended early, I signed up for unemployment. Was denied unemployment since I didn't earn enough to get unemployment. Living off student loans until I get another job. Had jury duty in a civil case. Longest two days of my life. Restarted my college classes and continued learning new things form Economics professor I work for. Working on a survey for professor skills they would like to improve. Apparently professors have to update their skills every so many years. Spent Valentine's Day doing homework, with 5 classes I get a lot. Declined to work the Easter bunny station at the mall cause need my free weekends for homework. Tough decision since I need money. Volunteering as Tax Preparer for poor people at college. I'm good at taxes. Got a 95% on the required IRS test with only reading the book to refresh my memory. I only took the class to learn the software, which is pretty easy. Any client problems (professor checks my work because it is required) are usually software mistakes, with one not knowing Iowa tax law on how car registration is figured because that was not on the IRS test. No college students have come, they are all poor people living in the city. Reached the anniversary of my lost ferret's disappearance. I cried and cried and made a final prayer for her return. Been praying for a year and still missing. I give up praying and accept she is never coming home. Had a new fish die that I had for a few months, a beautiful blue female Beta named Canace. One cat is more accepting of the ferrets, but one still freaks out when they come too near him. Poor ferrets try so hard to get along with the cats. Celebrated a ferret's 2nd birthday and cat's 9th birthday. Niece and nephew are beginning to want to play Monopoly. Apparently they don't play it very much at home so have to go to Auntie's house to learn the rules. Nephew loves Star Wars so have to take him to the movie when it comes out. New Cinderella movie is coming out and may take her to it, unless she is too old for it. She loved Mirror, Mirror. Nephew love Mirror, Mirror cause of the comedy. Normally he hates girly films and likes manly films like Transformers or Cars. Well, nothing else to say.

Jury duty experience

Finally got my 1st jury summons. Ugh. Last thing I want to do is sit through a boring trial. Got a delay because I'm a student. So go in and selected for a civil case. Ok, don't have to decide if someone goes to jail. I can live with that. So go through the jury selection and too high on the list to be excused without question. Dammit, dammit, dammit. I tried everything I found on the internet to avoid getting picked and I get picked. The only question I got into was if I was in a civil suit before. I said I had a worker's compensation case. Lawyer said that's not a civil case, that's a worker's compensation case. Ok, so I'm not a lawyer. So receive pens and paper to take notes. My pen doesn't work so grab one out of my purse when opening statements are done. Lunch is coming so hurry and write what I remember to ignore judge speech before leaving. Return and Plaintiff witnesses are questioned. Worst witness testimony I ever heard. Sympathy card of falling down on ice and fracturing a bone was all the Plaintiff had. No evidence of negligence on Defendant's part. Evidence: Plaintiff's medical records of injury, pain and suffering endured, weather reports of prior weeks and day of fall reports, and witnesses of people living at residence community where fall took place who suddenly got amnesia when cross-examined. Go home and return next day. Day two brought the Defendant's witnesses. Better witness testimony, but some memory was fuzzy. Emails and invoices of snow removal given as evidence. Defense strategy was Plaintiff was tipsy when left residence and defendant has no control over Iowa winters. Defendant brought further evidence of a meeting of board of directors in charge of the residence community that took place shortly before the fall addressing complaints brought up by residents. Plaintiff is viewed as causing their own fall. Plaintiff is recalled as a witness. The only testimony offered is the amount of pain and suffering the person endured. That's it, a sympathy card is all they have to offer, no evidence how the Defendant is responsible for the fall, 100% of Woe to Me? Closing arguments given and we don't get the free lunch we were advised of the day before because the judge has some legal stuff to discuss with the parties. So we leave for lunch we have to pay for. Return and give jury instructions. Since we can't give weather a responsibility we can only choose percent of responsibility. Instructions: If Plaintiff is held 50% or more responsible then they get nothing. If Plaintiff is held less than 50% responsible, then amount of money awarded is deducted that percent. We have to determine % of fault and amount awarded, if any. So off to the secluded room to deliberate. We agree both are at fault. Most of us state if we had been the in the Plaintiff's position that we would not have sued at all. We discuss holes and indecision of both parties so much testimony is ignored cause witnesses can't get their stories straight. Elected Foreperson and they suggest and half agree at 50-50 fault, other half is silent. But, oh, Foreperson who suggested 50-50, suddenly reads the Plaintiff gets nothing if we rule 50-50, so they change their mind to 60-40. But, oh, the amount rewarded is reduced 40% if we say that so Foreperson changes it to 80-20. We agree on 75-25 in favor of Plaintiff. Now the money, everybody questions how to place an amount of suffering and pain. Foreperson was once in accident and got a huge settlement, but can't recall what it was. Ignoring the evidence and going by sympathy alone, the jurors balk at me tossing out numbers, 100, 1000, 5000. Half are ready to award the price of a house to the Plaintiff. Ok, I'm not ready to bankrupt a company over a bone fracture so mention that this is not equal to the car wreck the foreperson suffered, it is a fracture injury and got better after physical therapy. Half agree with me and one states Plaintiff can have their medical expenses, but doesn't want to give more than that (I agree with them). We are ignored by the other half wanting to give this Plaintiff a fortune so they never have to work again and question what if the Plaintiff has to have surgery in the future, which was not part of the evidence. Even better, the ones worried about surgery over a fracture are in the medical field. I'm sorry, but if surgery was not suggested in the past 2 years since the fall, I don't think they will in the future. I comment how the Plaintiff has won the lottery with us. I am ignored. So one on my half states the amount of a luxury car, no more than that. That is agree on after they figure of how much the Plaintiff gets after their 25% deduction (by which I might add was something in the instructions we were not suppose to do). I comment how the Plaintiff is getting a jackpot and neglect to mention how much of the Plaintiff award will go to her lawyer (we have no idea if this is a by hour fee or pro bono where they take 40% of the reward)since that should not be a factor either. I am ignored. I mention Defendant can appeal our decision and ignored again. We all agree so we can leave and not return tomorrow. Return to courtroom to give our verdict and state we all agree to it. Go home. In conclusion, I just want to say how people who claim they would not have sued over a similar incident are so eager to give a jackpot to an opportunist who can't get their story straight (we agreed on this), hid evidence (ignored subpoenas so we agreed on this), and suffered a little bone fracture (in the medical records and we agreed on this). Very surreal experience.