Downtown

OK  

I know, I know, I know

I have some serious splan'n' to do.

But, I forgot to mention, I've had to go 

DOWNTOWN

{petula clark}

You know I would rather be here in the spring garden with my petunias than with Petula heading

DOWNTOWN

BIG CITY DOWNTOWN

That means actually getting myself up dressed, driven to the train, found a parking space, paid my fee, walked to the depo, bought a round trip ticket, grabbed a paper.....starting to feel like my old commuting days.... but...seriously all this before 6am..... jumped the train for the big city, the loop, herded off the train an hour later, with the millions of other commuters.  Just follow the crowd Kate, you'll find your way out of the building. But, once out of the building.....where do I go next.  Great now I'm lost. 

I mean what could posses The Garden Bell to go into the city for the day.

It must be something very special.  I'm not really a big city kind of gal.  

I would much rather spend my time at the local French Market getting plants.

Especially, to where I have been picked to go. 

HECK NO.......please say it isn't so.....

I got called.

No, I couldn't get the

LOCAL JURY DUTY

which the county seat court house is less than two minute across my home town.

No, I couldn't get 

STATE JURY DUTY.

Well, thanks goodness for that.

The Jennifer Hudson Family murder trail has been going on here in Chicago.

But, that's another court house on California Street.

Really really bad commute. 

The jury should be coming back on that one today.

No,  I had to go and get called for 

FEDERAL JURY DUTY.

You know those Big Boy cases. The one's with the FBI involved. 

 So, here's how it works.

Starting last Friday after 5pm.  I had to call this 800 number and put my juror number into the system to see if I had to actually show up at the Northern Illinois District Court house.   Monday and Tuesday, I was Scott free... wooo-hooo.  So, out the door I went off to the ba-zillion nuseries for some plants to get.  When I called in on Tuesday night,.....what..... I had to show on Wednesday.  

The major PANIC set in right away.  You see, as some of you know.... I'm a nervous Nelly and do have panic attacks.  

This was not going to be a good thing.  Please, please they need to be wise and not pick me.

By the time, I walked across the big city and found the building.  

Which by the way, was like entering Fort Knox with all the security.

I was a wreck. 

It was a long long day.

Yes, I did get picked out of the 300 in the jury pool room to go for selection.

Sidebar- can you believe they had Judge Judy on the T.V. for us to watch.  

What a joke.  But, I do owe MS. Pammy Sue a big thanks, she kept me going with all the texting back and forth, even though she wasn't feeling that great.  But, I was able to give a blow by blow of the situation from my prospective, which I think kept her in stitches. 

As they lined us up in the hall in two single file rooms, to file us up to the 25 floor to the court room.  We all felt like we were the one's on trail.  You could hear a pin down as we made our way to the elevators. 

We had already answered a long questionnaire.  But, then were put in the jury box to answer to the JUDGE in front of all.  There were 37 of us, which were to be dismissed down to the 12. 

We were advised that we can't talk about the case.... but, I'll tell you it was a big one and worse....

 a very long one.

I had to get out of this....that was all that was on my mind.

So..... when "YOUR HONOR" said would anyone have a problem at looking at BLOODY surgery photo.

my hand shot up.  Yes, me, Yes, me.  Which by the way, it not a lie. 

The other thing that got me dismissed pretty darn quickly is that my Scott works at a hospital and part of his responsibilities among the many working with IT,  was on the billing process for Medicare. 

{doc and medicare, mail, malpractice fraud, millions of $$$$ invovled, shhhhh...FBI sting}

PHEW... that one I made it through and was dismissed before lunch.

Twirling my hair also didn't hurt either. I'm no fool.  My Dad always said that drive business men nuts. 

But, where to grab a bite.  WOW... The Berghoff has closed since I worked in the city.

Guess it will be McDonald's on State.

Nothing like a little Micky-D's to settle my stomach. 

As we still had to report back to the jury pool for the afternoon and possibly another jury.

But, by 215 we were dismissed for the day.

In fact, we were dismissed for the rest of the week.  

Now, how to get the 16 blocks back to the train station for the 240 back to the burbs.

Oh, lord, that was a lot of jogging, but I made it. 

Until today that is.....now.....I'm back on call for all next week.

 I need to start calling that 800 number tonight after 5pm again.

For another whole week of potential trips to the city.  

So, with all the craziness of this going on... I am spending most of my free time outside planting away.

Trying to keep my mind busy and panic free. 

I hope to grab my camera today and get you all caught up on where I am.

We do have a busy weekend ahead.  Scooter just advised he is working on Saturday for a special event at the hospital.  I'm spending the day with the landscaper mulching the beds.... OK, it's just Jose the mower.... but, he and I work very well together.  But, I do drive him nuts, as I'm kind of hands on out there.

Then, Sunday is full of fun with my Mom to celebrate Mother's Day.  Thank goodness I was able to drop off her annual outdoor planter yesterday.  That way I can enjoy brunch in my Sunday best. 

My wishes to all you Moms out there.

It's your weekend.  Enjoy it all.

But, do try to get your flowers today, as I make no promises that there will be anything left by Sunday. 

At least around here the nurseries are already a mad house. 

Toodle-oo

I be back with some quick pics of my progress soon.