August is a good month to check things off my bucket list

In my mind, I have a bucket list. One day I'm going to write these down, but I'm excited to announce that this list in my brain keeps getting shorter!

A few months ago,  I received the best piece of mail for the whole year. I was summoned for jury duty. While most people moan at this civic duty, I took a picture and posted it on Facebook expressing my excitement. I've always wanted jury duty and I finally was one step closer. If they took volunteers, I would have signed up!

I was able to change my date and chose this week and next week. The lady at the courthouse told me that she highly doubt that I would actually be called in. I made my phone call Sunday night after 6:00 as instructed. Well, lo and behold my panel was instructed to show up Monday morning! I was excited,  but also a little bit not excited, because since signing up for these specific weeks, they became very busy and it really wasn't the best time for me to be taking off work.

I arrive extra early Monday, hang out in an extremely quiet court room With other fellow potential jurors. They call names to come fill the seats behind the half wall, and yours truly was #13! Yes, my name was called! After a lot of questions and conversations, they started dismissing jurors,  but I got to stay. Yep, I was selected for a 2 day trial!

I won't go into details in regards to the trial, but the process was very interesting. I work in appeals, so I see a different side if this, and it made me happy that I don't do hearings daily!

Just a few notes, at 5:00, after a LONG testimony, the judge announces that there is protesting at the Franklin Square and it's raining are we ok to keep going so we don't have to get into any of that. We kept going until 6:30 that night. I don't get headaches, but my head was pounding and I was mentally exhausted! Due to these protest, which I never saw, we had an escort to the parking garage. I do appreciate the concern for our safety.

Plus side of jury duty, lunch at Meridees!

We wrapped up the trial Tuesday afternoon, spent a while deliberating and handed out the verdict. Luckily I wasn't chosen to be the alternate. I invested too much at this point and wanted to see the end! It's somewhat intense, a lot rides on our decision. I felt confident in my decision, and was glad that it wasn't something crazy, like a murder!

So, jury duty has been marked off of this imaginary bucket list. I'm ok if it takes another 36 years before I'm called in again. I still have to call in each day next week, so fingers crossed the other panels get pulled before me.

The reason why this was  not the best week for jury duty is because Friday is my last day at my current job and I'm leaving early at that to drive to Chattanooga to see my favorite band Moon Taxi with Leah.

So, because I feel like I should  announce my change of employment, I'm putting it here to see who actually reads this thing and reads it to the bottom. This is my 2nd bucket list item for August. This is a job I've been working the last 11 years for and I'm super excited for it. I love my current job, I can honestly say that It has been an amazing 2 years of growth and learning and I'm forever thankful this opportunity. I work with amazing people that I'm going to miss seeing daily. Please pray for my transition this coming up week.

In 2007, in one of my first MySpace blogs, I said I was on my way to being governor. I'm one step closer now! Haha!