Back in 1997, I was on a Jury for what would now be known as the “inspiration” for a movie called “the Boiler Room.”  I was 27, an unemployed stage manager, and figured it’d be a week of my time, I could crochet and have a grand time.

During the Voire Dire, when I told them I was “an Equity stage manager,” all of their ears perked up.  Until I explained that Actors Equity Association is the Union for Professional Actors and Stage Managers.  I was selected as an alternate, and then I became juror #12.

Maybe it’s all of the financial corruption going on now, maybe it’s my wondering when I’ll get another Jury Duty Summons, but I couldn’t get it out of my head.  Then I remembered that in my filing cabinet, I have a file called “Jury Duty,” as this case was over 2 months long, and it was part of the NY State Supreme Court, and our Judge, (whom I adored, and reminded me of the Judge from Night Court,) promised all of us that we wouldn’t have to serve for 6 years.  So I created a file, and dropped my paperwork in, and went about my business.

Until today, when I pulled out the file.  The name of the man on trial was John McAndris, and he was the CFO for AR Barron.

The best article, which mentions the Jury, is here:  http://www.businessweek.com/archives/1998/b3568112.arc.htm

Maybe a part of me was curious as to what I’d find on line.  Back in 1998, a mere 11 years ago, things weren’t as “googleable” as they are today, and I know I wondered what I’d find.

It’s very hard to know that a decision you make can shape the life of a fellow human being. And this was a Stock market Fraud case, nothing where someone would get teh death penalty, yet it was very difficult for us to reach a decision, and yet impossible to believe that someone was guilty on 25 counts of Fraud.

Not totally sure why I’m sharing this today, but it was on my mind.

And I feel so blessed with the ones I DO have.

So when one of them is hurting, I hurt.

Back when many of us met, a bajillion years ago, the main cord that held us together was that we were all beginning the journey of the creation of family.  Some of us got there quicker than others, but we all became friends.  There is one among us, however, who still has yet to grab that brass ring.  And she’s a dear soul.  And her dreams were crushed today with a declining beta, after her 5th IVF.  I love and adore her, so please just go send some love, and a shot of whiskey, ok?

http://infertilitysux.blogspot.com

Thanks.

I promise, by the by, to get to your questions!  I also (stupidly) realized that I asked you to ask me JUST before the Jewish High Holy Days.  I’m an aministrator for a synagogue.  Um. Duh.  So sometime mid-October, look for more posting from this side of Manhattan…

SO I know I’ve been a lame ass blogger lately, and I’m sorry.  I have about 32 drafts of posts, but never enough time to check them for grammatical errors, or flow.

So I ask you, what do YOU want to know? What burning questions have all 3 of you been dying to have answered?  Because I feel like getting back into the blogging thing.  I feel that writing it all down gives it somewhere to go, you know?

So shoot me some questions/topics, and I’ll do my best.

I seriously never understood the term. Until NOW.

After reading this, I laughed SO SO hard, and now? I am crying. Heaving sobs of crying. From the funny? the sleep deprivation? From missing the Smoosh? I have no idea.

But read at your own risk. It’s some funny shit.

JiveTurkey.wordpress.com

You can see why Malka is smitten!

This blog was named Hydrangeas Are Pretty because it was the first thing that popped into my head way back in 2004 when I started my blog.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE hydrangeas, and when I joined the ‘decor” committee with our Co-Op, I made sure to plant hydrangeas in the backyard,

which have matured into beautiful, full blooming plants.

With all of this talk about this new version of a certain movie that comes out today, that is an egreious affront to all that we knew as children, I’ve been having nostalgic flashbacks as of late.  I’m not sure if anyone remembers some of the other shows from the Syd & Marty Kroft Super Hour, but one of my fafvorites was Dr. Shrinker:

And then there was Electra Woman and Dyna Girl, starring Marlena from Days of Our Lives:

And we all knew that the Saturday morning fun was ending when we were forced to watch that Shazam dude talk to the heads in the back of a Winenbego:

And adding to my nostalgic flair as of late, yesterday, at the local thrift store near my work, I found THE most awesome toy that, now cleaned up, is quickly becoming one of Malka’s faves: