Right now I could feel a little down if I let myself. The two youngest UltraSons left today to resume their college careers and their own lives, but for a week or two they were back here, back in mine and UltraDad’s life, and, I’m not gonna lie to ya, it felt pretty good.
As promised, this was one busy day for me. This morning, bright and early, I showed up at the Courthouse to answer my Jury Summons. Those with a pink summons went to one courtroom, those with a blue one, like mine, to another. But first we waited for about 40 minutes while all of the elected officials were sworn in. Later, the Bailiff informed us that because of the impending swearings, our summons was supposed to read for a later time, but, oh well, it didn’t. UltraMom struck up a conversation with a young woman who had been recently married, worked in a pet store, and was studying to become a Veteranarian Tech. It helped pass the time to have someone to talk to. After all the welcomings, admonitions and information from Bailiff, Judge and Attorneys, the first Jury pool was selected. Lucky UltraMom! Juror #20 out of #23. I was hopeful that when I mentioned where I am employed (Department of Corrections), I would be summarily dismissed, but no such luck. Other potential jurists were excused for such trivial reasons as “leaving on a trip in a week, and I have a lot to do”, “owner of a busiiness and noone else to run it”, “teacher, and need to prepare students for final testing”, “mother up all night with a sick baby and needs to take her to the hospital”, and, my personal favorite, “cut off my finger with a power saw last week, and have a follow up doctor’s appointment.” I was starting to resign myself to the possibility of sitting in on a 3 day Jury trial to decide if the state had enough proof to charge the rather seedy looking defendant with driving under the influence. But when the final 12 jurists and 1 alternate were selected out of the 23 called, UltraMom’s name was missing from the roll call. Hooray!
Immediately I called home to see if the UltraSons had left yet. If I hurried, and if I stopped at KFC and got some chicken for us all, I could have lunch with them. When I got home and spread out the feast, I realized that my bucket of chicken was missing from my 8-piece meal deal. But on the upside, we did have the biscuits, mashed potatoes and gravy, potato wedges, chicken strips and popcorn chicken. I called KFC and they promised me a bucket of chicken next time I was in town.
After a quick bite and farewell, it was time for UltraMom to show up late for her job at the prison, where inmates, eager to buy tobacco, sodas and ramen noodles at the prison canteen, always give her a hearty welcome. We got a big shipment in from one of our main vendors, and my two clerks had lots of volunteer help from other inmates getting the multitude of boxes from the outside gate to inside the store. After putting all that away, running store orders and passing out the merchandise, UltraMom was just in time to show up 1/2 hour late for her weekly Weight Watcher meeting.
This was our first meeting after Christmas break, and people were eager to get back into it. I had half a dozen people waiting for me, but they were all very understanding, and several of them pitched in to help me carry in my stuff and get the meeting room ready to go. We had a very inspiring meeting on setting goals that are 1, Stated in the Positive, 2. Specific, 3. Within my control, and 4. A good fit with my Life. A new member joined, always a good thing, but it makes me a bit late getting home as we go through the principles of the program.
Its pretty quiet at my house right now; quite different from last night’s noisy viewing of The Fiesta Bowl. UltraDad has gone to bed, but I needed a little time alone…...........and doggone it, I am NOT going to feel down, no matter how much I miss those boys. Are you buying this? Cause if so, I have some swamp land in Florida…......
UltraMom
Happy New Year, everyone. So far the year has been great. We celebrated the last day the UltraYoungestSons would be with us by going into Elko to have a great lunch buffet at the Red Lion Inn. Joining us was sister-in-law Pat, who is recovering nicely from her surgery and will be back teaching school tomorrow. After we had all eaten as much prime rib, chicken cordon bleu, roast turkey, mozzarella sticks and berry tart & ice cream we could hold, I went to pay the bill with the Christmas money gift from UltraUncle Dan and Aunt Mary. Looking at the amount, I realized I had been charged for only 4 lunch buffets, not 5. Instead or pointing out the error, I decided to make up for it by rewarding our excellent server with a $12 tip. Then it was time for a little video poker. The guys staked out three machines in the nickel area, so Pat and I found some penny machines with the classic matching line play. I quickly lost my dollar, so wandered back to the poker machines. Johnny spotted me a dollar, and after 10 plays or so, I hit a royal flush. I netted $12, just the amount of my generous tip! Cool, huh?
During this vacation, Jimbo and I have been involved in a little competition I like to call “The Battle of the Elliptical Calories Burned”. He gets on the giant elliptical machine that takes up some major real estate in my living room, and shakes the whole house as he works up a massive sweat. The net result one day on the elliptical readout was 1.2 hours and 700 calories earned. He was throwing down some smack, so I had to outdo him, sort of….my note back, after working til my feet were numb read “Hey Jim, wassup? 1.30 hours, 11360 strides, 770.4 calories burned!”
The next day I got a note back, “Ok, but here’s what it takes to compete with me: 1.10 hours, 12640 strides, 810 calories burned.” Hmm. Somehow, he manages to burn more calories per time than his mother….......but still I have my pride. I hopped back on it tonight, thinking I was going to have to give up on the record, but still planning a good workout. But with a little more trash talk from the boys, I stuck with it. My next note? “So, Jim, but here’s how girls do it: 1.45 hours, 14064 strides, 900.5 calories. BooYa!” I just hope I am able to walk tomorrow.
Of course, the biggest, happiest news of this New Years Day is Boise State University’s unexpected and heart-stopping defeat of Oklahoma State in overtime in the Fiesta Bowl. With two avid fans in my house, the game was emotional and lots of fun to watch, at least until Boise, leading most of the game, let Oklahoma State come back in and tie, then take the lead with less than 2 minutes to go. I’ve gotta admit, at this point I kind of gave the game up as lost, and went into the kitchen to work on some chores, while watching the rest of the game out of the corner of my eye. But the stalwart UltraSons stayed right in front of the TV and cheered their team into a game-tying touchdown and point after. In overtime, Oklahoma quickly made their TD and point after. Boise had a tough fight to answer back with a TD of their own, and then, to everyone’s amazement, went for two instead of kicking for the nearly-certain one point. When they made it, for the win, there was pandemonium in my house, let me tell you. Text messages and phone calls were exchanged with friends and fellow fans. We are all envious of Jim’s friend BJ who was in Arizona attending the game in person.
Tomorrow its back to the grind. The UltraBoys are leaving. It will be sad and lonely for the UltraParents for a while. UltraMom has Jury Duty, work, and WeightWatchers, in that order. UltraDad has a day off, which will hopefully be spent in a little R & R.
So, Happy New Year. I just know that 2007 will be a great year for all of us.
UltraMom
On New Years Day
