Of Trials, Haircuts and Snowstorms
Two days of yoga has put me in such a good mood. Too bad I can't go tonight (stupid snow!)
Everyone in Massachusetts is hysterical right now over the snowstorm, which started about an hour ago. I was listening to the news last night and just shaking my head in amazement at the sheer ridiculousness. I just don't understand how people can grow up and live for years and years dealing with winter storms, and yet shit hits the fan EVERY SINGLE TIME someone spots a snowflake descending from the sky. I guess I understand that the last time we had a big storm that hit in the middle of the day it was a clusterfuck (my mom was stuck in traffic for five hours trying to get home) but still. It happens every year. Stop shitting your pants, you know what's going to happen. Drive slow and you'll live.
It is supposed to be a pretty spectacular storm, though, if what they're predicting actually comes to pass. It started at about 2pm and it's supposed to go til midnight. We're going to get about a foot, supposedly, all told. Just about all of the schools in the area either closed for the day or had an early release. All non-essential state workers stayed home.
Anyways. Instead of freaking out and hibernating for the day, I kept my 11:30 am appointment for a haircut. I'm pretty psyched about the way it came out. I got it colored as well, so no more yucky blond highlights (well, they weren't so yucky. I was just bored of them). Also, much much shorter. And styled in such a way as my hair hasn't ever been styled before. I'm glad I have two weeks of break before I have to look good every day (student teaching) so I can figure out how to get my hair to look this way - I'm going to have to give in and learn how to use a hairdryer, I think.
Finally, that stupid trial. Remember how I got into a car accident at the end of August, right before I went back to school? Well, short version of a long story: He was high, got arrested and charged for operating under the influence. Trial date was yesterday. I got there at 8:30 am - I was summoned as a witness. Met with the DA and told my story. Sat on a bench and read my book for about an hour. DA came over with an update: Due to the circumstantial nature of the case (apparently it's hard to prove someone is high? The guy refused a blood test to prove he was clean, which I thought was akin to admitting guilt, but apparently not?) he wasn't sure he'd get a conviction if it went to trial, so he was trying to get a deal on a lesser charge - negligent driving or something like that. I was totally fine with that because I just wanted to leave and having the whole thing over with.
So, I sat for another hour. Funny gay man with flaming blue hair complemented me on my outfit and we had a five minute conversation about the benefits/drawbacks to turtleneck vs. cowl neck sweaters.
DA came back (10:30 or so?) and told me the guy who hit me wanted to go to trial - I assume for the same reason the DA wanted to avoid trial. He'd agreed to a bench trial, not a jury trial, so it would get resolved before the end of the day. Because this was basically the last day the courts were going to be open until after Christmas (because of the snowstorm today) there was a huge amount of cases on the docket, including two gun cases, which were getting priority over my puny accident (obviously). So the case was moved to a different courtroom.
Sat for another long period of time. Finally, at 11:45 or so, the DA told me to go in the courtroom, we were going to get started in another 10 minutes or so. At 12:15, the judge had the two police officers and I swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, and I was called to the stand. I testified for five minutes.
I would have stayed to see what happened, but I had been sitting on incredibly uncomfortable benches for four hours, so I stayed to listen to the officer who responded to the scene testify, and then I left. I was too stiff and sore to stay any longer (and I had to go get my sister from Fitchburg, which was being evacuated - again- due to the storm. It was evacuated for four days last week because of the ice storm. Most of the that are still doesn't have power).
So, I'll call next week to see what happened. I'm not sure what kind of sentence he would get. I don't really care all that much, actually, but my grandparents and parents do, so I'll find out for their sake.
OK, now I'm off to talk my dad into putting up the Christmas tree. First, they make me deal with a fake tree for a few years - bad enough. Now, Dad doesn't even want to put it up at all - he says he'll only do it if Colleen and I insist. Well, I insist. So I'm going to go see that get done.
Everyone in Massachusetts is hysterical right now over the snowstorm, which started about an hour ago. I was listening to the news last night and just shaking my head in amazement at the sheer ridiculousness. I just don't understand how people can grow up and live for years and years dealing with winter storms, and yet shit hits the fan EVERY SINGLE TIME someone spots a snowflake descending from the sky. I guess I understand that the last time we had a big storm that hit in the middle of the day it was a clusterfuck (my mom was stuck in traffic for five hours trying to get home) but still. It happens every year. Stop shitting your pants, you know what's going to happen. Drive slow and you'll live.
It is supposed to be a pretty spectacular storm, though, if what they're predicting actually comes to pass. It started at about 2pm and it's supposed to go til midnight. We're going to get about a foot, supposedly, all told. Just about all of the schools in the area either closed for the day or had an early release. All non-essential state workers stayed home.
Anyways. Instead of freaking out and hibernating for the day, I kept my 11:30 am appointment for a haircut. I'm pretty psyched about the way it came out. I got it colored as well, so no more yucky blond highlights (well, they weren't so yucky. I was just bored of them). Also, much much shorter. And styled in such a way as my hair hasn't ever been styled before. I'm glad I have two weeks of break before I have to look good every day (student teaching) so I can figure out how to get my hair to look this way - I'm going to have to give in and learn how to use a hairdryer, I think.
Finally, that stupid trial. Remember how I got into a car accident at the end of August, right before I went back to school? Well, short version of a long story: He was high, got arrested and charged for operating under the influence. Trial date was yesterday. I got there at 8:30 am - I was summoned as a witness. Met with the DA and told my story. Sat on a bench and read my book for about an hour. DA came over with an update: Due to the circumstantial nature of the case (apparently it's hard to prove someone is high? The guy refused a blood test to prove he was clean, which I thought was akin to admitting guilt, but apparently not?) he wasn't sure he'd get a conviction if it went to trial, so he was trying to get a deal on a lesser charge - negligent driving or something like that. I was totally fine with that because I just wanted to leave and having the whole thing over with.
So, I sat for another hour. Funny gay man with flaming blue hair complemented me on my outfit and we had a five minute conversation about the benefits/drawbacks to turtleneck vs. cowl neck sweaters.
DA came back (10:30 or so?) and told me the guy who hit me wanted to go to trial - I assume for the same reason the DA wanted to avoid trial. He'd agreed to a bench trial, not a jury trial, so it would get resolved before the end of the day. Because this was basically the last day the courts were going to be open until after Christmas (because of the snowstorm today) there was a huge amount of cases on the docket, including two gun cases, which were getting priority over my puny accident (obviously). So the case was moved to a different courtroom.
Sat for another long period of time. Finally, at 11:45 or so, the DA told me to go in the courtroom, we were going to get started in another 10 minutes or so. At 12:15, the judge had the two police officers and I swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, and I was called to the stand. I testified for five minutes.
I would have stayed to see what happened, but I had been sitting on incredibly uncomfortable benches for four hours, so I stayed to listen to the officer who responded to the scene testify, and then I left. I was too stiff and sore to stay any longer (and I had to go get my sister from Fitchburg, which was being evacuated - again- due to the storm. It was evacuated for four days last week because of the ice storm. Most of the that are still doesn't have power).
So, I'll call next week to see what happened. I'm not sure what kind of sentence he would get. I don't really care all that much, actually, but my grandparents and parents do, so I'll find out for their sake.
OK, now I'm off to talk my dad into putting up the Christmas tree. First, they make me deal with a fake tree for a few years - bad enough. Now, Dad doesn't even want to put it up at all - he says he'll only do it if Colleen and I insist. Well, I insist. So I'm going to go see that get done.