Didn't get called in to Jury Duty

Dammit. Didn't get the call. No jury duty for Tad. Missed my chance to be a fingernail on the hand of Justice.

The damn convenience of a call-in system. First I had to call in last Friday after 5:00 for the possibility of reporting Monday. It tells me to call Monday at noon for the possibility of reporting at 1:00 PM. Can I make it there from work in time? (See my posting on Rush to Judgment) Should I even bother going in to work?

I go to the office, not taking on any assignments that might actually require me to be there the whole day. Might have to go on a moments notice, maybe I'll be needed to help decide a crucial legal decision. So I called in at 11:30 to see if they post the info early. They do. It tells me to call Tuesday at noon for the possibility of reporting at 1:00 that day. Here we go again.

I suppose that this is convenient. After all, I don't have to set foot in a courtroom and sit around for hours. But then, I feel that I can't really do my job to the fullest extent. Having to report might get me on a panel and keep me there for weeks. Can't schedule meetings. Can't schedule doctor appointments. Really convenient.

Of course, I do have the option of calling them up and arranging to come in on a specified day and sit on my ass in their waiting room in case I'm needed. That would make a day at the DMV seem like a trip to Disneyland. Even though I would have my favorite reading material, boredom would eventually cause my neck to open up at some point and swallow my head whole. I hate it when that happens.

Called in Tuesday. Same status. Cool, kinda. Two days down. Odds of getting picked going down.

Called in Wednesday. Some groups were summoned, mine was not. Have to call in Thursday. Uhoh. The sudden activity means that they're not just sitting on their hands at the courtroom. Has the odds of being asked to come in gone up, or down? Now I'm fearing that I'll get called in on Friday and saddled into a week long trial, sabotaging my vacation. arrrgh...

Called in Thursday. I get notified that my service will not be required. Woohoo!, and yet, . Kinda bittersweet. Now I'm perversely waiting from my next Christmas card from the county saying that they need me to help make an important decision.

Don't they realize the emotional ringer they've put me through? I'm thinking of sueing for emotional distress. Now I'll have to follow through on my threats to paint the living room and hall next week.