This was a weird week! My daughter had band camp at the high school every day, and I had an unpaid vacation, thanks to jury duty. I had to call in every evening after 5:30 to see if I had to go to the courthouse the next day, and because my job is appointment-based, I couldn’t book clients without knowing if I would be there or not. But of course there were workouts as always! Thanks to Kim and Deborah for hosting the Weekly Rundown. Let’s just see how this week played out.
Monday
Because I was able to find out my jury status on Friday evening (not asked to go in) I put myself back on the work schedule for Monday. I took my daughter to the school, went to work, and then after work ran on the treadmill at the gym. 4 miles with some speed work thrown in.
Tuesday
Again, not needed to report for jury duty! There was no chance to get booked with clients, so I stayed home and did a massive project- cleaning out my bedroom closet. And, I did an upper body strength workout at home, including work with the pull up bar- (negatives, ouch!)
Wednesday
Still no need to go in for jury duty, hooray! I did a 4 mile run outside, and some of my hip stability exercises. Continued the closet cleaning.
Thursday
STILL did not have to go in for jury duty. Are there no crimes being committed in my county??? I did a lower body strength workout at home, and made it really hard. Squats, hip thrusts, side planks with leg lifts, and the hip stability exercises I didn’t get to on Wednesday.
Friday
Well, it was the last day of my jury duty, and when I called Thursday night I got a recording saying my term of service had ended, and thanking me for my “participation.” Yes, I worked hard making those phone calls every night! I celebrated by doing a “long” run of 6 miles.
I think I’ve gotten acclimated to the heat- I didn’t feel as bad, and while it was hot and humid (of course) it didn’t make me extremely angry.
Finished cleaning my bedroom closet! I took one huge bag of clothes and a bag of books to Goodwill, and threw out two giant bags of trash. Phew- I really needed that.
Saturday
That was a nice week, and now I’m paying the price. I did the Caroline Girvan dead bug workout in the morning, then headed off to work for a double shift. I have to make up some of those hours I missed!
Sunday
On tap- an early run, then working all day again. Fun! I’m looking forward to getting back to a normal schedule next week.
Can you believe it’s almost August??? Is summer flying by for you?
42 Responses
Phew, much ado about nothing indeed! Tomorrow I’m off to an open-air cinema with my parents to watch Juror #2. I’ll be thinking of you and your heroic phone calls!
That kind of unpaid, unpredictable situation sounds so frustrating – like the world’s worst staycation. But you made the most of it with workouts and a closet clear-out, so that’s a solid win!
Ha ha, the worlds’ worst staycation- that’s a good description. I did try to make the most of it.
Lalalalala… I did not hear you say it was almost August.
Also did you say “vacation” and then proceed to clean your closet for days? (Don’t mind me, I’m just being defensive because I thought my closet would be a summer project, but I haven’t started yet.)
I’ve been derailed from normal activities for a while and hearing you say you “celebrated” with a six-mile run makes me want to schedule a long hike for myself tomorrow…
Well- I already had a REAL vacation when I traveled- this was a week off where I just felt like I should do something. (btw- I’m SO HAPPY with the cleaned out closet. Just sayin’.)
Yes- I hope you get that long hike in.
Well you know my ears (eyes?) perked up when I heard about a decluttering project. All the gold stars from me. And I’m glad you didn’t have to go in for juror duty, but frustrating to be in limbo for a week. You made the most of your time.
Um, YES. This summer is flying by. I cannot believe July is almost over. I feel like I say that every month but this time I really mean it. Where did the last 27 days go???
Elisabeth, at least you still have lots of “summer” left! Schools here start August 11 (WHAT) so it really is coming to a close. Sigh.
I CANNOT believe it’s almost August. I’m kind of mad at how fast it has felt. Gahhh! Obviously it won’t feel like fall but the start of school approaching is kind of blowing my mind. I think summer should have a minimum of 10 school free weeks (we only had 9!).
Yes, I agree! I think we did have ten. I seem to remember your kids getting out later than mine. Yes, it won’t feel like fall but the start of school means a new “season.”
I am glad you were not called in. What a pain! I know it’s part of our civic duty but it’s extra annoying for someone with your kind of work schedule!
But yay for the closet clean out! That is such a satisfying project!!
We still have a good amount of summer left since the boys don’t start school until 9/2 and 9/4. I feel like time isn’t really flying away for us though since we have done quite a bit of local adventuring. And this is not a stage of life where the days fly by as we have discussed… like bedtime for Will could not come fast enough last night as he was so crabby from staying up a bit later on Friday!
That is true- time doesn’t “fly” when you have little kids. I remember the immense relief I used to feel when Labor Day finally rolled around, ha. Yes, you’re on a lter school schedule- we start back August 11 (sigh!)
Jury duty is just so inconvenient, isn’t it? I’m sorry you had to make up your work hours. My work pays us for jury duty, which is a really nice perk. Still, I’d rather go to work! Glad you made the most of the time.
Yes, I could go on and on complaining about how jury duty is not fair…. but it is what it is. I did it, and now I hope I don’t get called again!
I guess that the good and the bad of jury duty. For most salaried employees, they would have gotten the time off with pay, but we appointment-based workers don’t. At least you made the most of your down time and got a long overdue project out of the way!
Yes! In the end I’ll be glad I got that closet cleaned out. I purposely made myself do a project like that so I didn’t feel the time was “wasted.”
I guess the phone-in system is better than having to show up at court and sit around there, but it is quite disruptive to work schedules — especially appointment-based work like yours.
I bet having a cleaned out closet feels great!
Yes, as annoying as that was, I’m VERY glad I didn’t have to go in! And… my closet does feel great. So it all ended well.
That’s…so strange. I had no idea that was how jury duty worked. I thought it was for specific cases. Huh! You learn new things every day. Well, a forced staycation is kind of nice to get caught up on all those things that fall by the wayside although selfishly I am wishing for a before/ after photo of the closet!
I know- I didn’t take a “before” photo because I was afraid people might call the department of health, or have me committed. Maybe I’ll take an “after” photo though.
Sounds like jury duty was an annoying process! But maybe you got some extra me time which is always appreciated. I feel like I always need to clean out my closets!
Yes- I wouldn’t have gotten that done without jury duty, so I guess I should be grateful!
Jury duty is really annoying…especially when you have to put your life on hold, all for nothing. But, on a good note -> it’s over 😉
Yes- tat’s the most important thing- it is OVER!
That’s really interesting how jury duty works for jobs like yours! Did you still get “paid” for jury duty? Hopefully, since you had to miss your real job…but kind of a unique staycation with lots of time for fitness and close cleaning!
Nope! I would have gotten paid $50 for any day I actually went in, but as it is I did not get paid. SIGH!
The jury duty sounds so stressful, with having to wait and see if you need to go in. Good for you that you’re done. Nice way to celebrate!
The summer is truly flying by, but I’m enjoying it. July has been a very good month here, we’ll spend August in Italy and I’m a bit sad that summer will mostly be over when we come back. But before that we’re having four weeks of likely very hot summer weather. Italian summer can be very intense!
Maybe four hot weeks in Italy will get you ready for fall! And yes, the most important thing about jury duty is that it’s OVER.
Well, poo on having to take UTO (unpaid time off) this week and then having to catch up this weekend. That’s so annoying. There has to be a better way to do jury duty.
Right now time is dragging a bit. It’s too hot to do anything except stay home. I’m actually trying to soak up the boredom because once August hits it’s going to be a month of mayhem. I’m going to BC and then the boys will be going to school!
I agree- there should be a better way to do this jury thing. And- yes, August will whiz by for you. That’s what happens when you travel- I guess that’s partly why July went so fast for me.
I never really thought about jury duty for people with jobs like yours – that’s unfortunate! I do prefer the call-in system to having to go there and wait it out, but still it isn’t the perfect system. I’m not ready for summer to end!
Yes- I would MUCH rather be at home cleaning my closet than sitting at the courthouse!!!
You had a very productive week off work, and no jury duty to “ruin” it either!
Today is my birthday and I did my long “run” (lots of hiking because it’s rocky here, as most trails are in AZ anyway) to celebrate, 14 miles with 2,000 feet of elevation gain on the trails of Sedona. I got an unexpected bonus mile because the route on my watch was off and for the last 5 miles, I had the trails all to myself! I took the next two days off work but school starts a week from tomorrow for the district I work for so I know when I get back it’s gonna be super busy. But I’m enjoying my 6 days off work!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! You definitely picked the perfect way to celebrate. Enjoy the rest of your time off!
I cleaned out my closet at the start of spring and still haven’t taken my bag of clothes to the Goodwill!! I might take another look at it to see if I missed anything (like I still want it), but I need to do that soon. My daughter went through it and did pull out some items for herself.
That’s a bummer you had to miss work for those days and you never went in to jury duty. I guess that means they already had enough people on those days (they overbooked in case they need substitutes)?
Yes, I guess so. I really have no idea how it all works!
I took my stuff to Goodwill right away- partially to get it out of the house, and also Goodwill is on the way to school where I had to pick up my daughter at the end of the day- so I just did it.
That’s definitely annoying to just not know if you get called in to report or not. I’m sorry it was so disruptive of your week. It’s incredibly important, but also extremely inconvenient.
We are in band camp too! A will actually miss tomorrow – they went to DCI in Atlanta and my husband booked the return flight incorrectly. Sigh. But their show is almost ready so it’s all good!
I know, I saw your post! Seems like we’re on the same schedule.
And- I think there must me a better way to do jury duty. i have some ideas if anyone is listening!
I can’t decide if that’s better or worse than our jury duty – as far as I know you have to show up at the courthouse. Your way would be particularly annoying when your work is appointment-based. If you end up not having to do the jury duty and got some other stuff done, I guess it’s kind of nice?
I am sorry you had a forced “unpaid” vacation based on jury duty and that they didn’t dismiss you on day one… but at least, you had some unplanned time off and were able to kinda use it for yourself.
Are no crimes being committed in my county?- bah ha ha ha. Maybe I need jury duty to tackle some of my nagging home projects. Summer is flying by and there are not enough hours in the day. Much to do before I start back to babysitting. I just realized we need to buy Reg his laptop for college – and lots of other stuff.
Well I feel like if you have to do jury duty, getting to be home/off work and accomplish something else AND technically check your civic jury duty off the list is not a bad way to do it!! And I can imagine exactly how great it feels to have the closet cleaned out. Since Asher cleaned up our garage last week, every time I step out there to get in the car I literally stop and think, ” Ahhhhh.” It really feels SO GOOD!!
Lucky you – no jury duty and so a week off from work.
Guess what. I signed up for 2 races – a half in Asheville on March 21 and a trail race in Lutz, Florida – Dec 13.
That’s a relief! My person pled guilty just before the trial and then I wasn’t used again. It was 15 years ago though so I expect I’ll get another one soon.
I keep trying to do straight deadbugs in the gym then forgetting what to do with my non-active arm – does it stay up in the air or drop forward? Why can’t I remember????