5 Acres of Solitude

This time last year I was enjoying the mountains and coolness of Colorado at my cousin’s home away from home. Especially enjoying being out of Texas and away from thoughts of the commencing school year. But alas this year I decided to tough out the heat of August here in Bastrop, retreating as necessary to my air conditioned Airstream. It’s been OK. There are lots of ways to cool off around here. I’ve seen “inception” twice at the Bastrop theater, for example. Thanks to my great niece Clare for explaining a key point to me, by the way. When I see it again, I’ll have a better idea what is going on.:)

And alas again………..this is my last week of summer vacation. I’m playing as much as I can. And relaxing the rest of the time. Visited my pals in Conroe last week. Had a great time renewing friendships. Got good advice from my broker and accountant pals. I’m dangerously close to deciding to do a major retirement in the near future. Not working in the public schools looks way to good on my friends who retired this year.. I wanna smile all the time too.

Love, Lynne

I got my self to my cousin’s wedding in VA and back home with only a small hitch. I should not have relied on the rental car people and maps to direct me from the Baltimore airport to Winchester VA. I was routed in the wrong direction by the nice guy in the ticket booth as I was leaving the airport terminal. Ended up going south when I should have been going west. Not to worry. I had plenty of time to get to Winchester and the drive through the VA countryside was beautiful. I refuse to use one of those talking guidance things. MapQuest directions are hard to read while I am driving, but I can manage. Besdies I love to stop at Tourist Bureaus. They usually have coffee, clean restrooms and nice ladies who write good directions in big print.

The wedding was perfect. Well planed and well executed for one thing. I got to meet interesting people and visit with folks I’d met 2 years ago at a Colorado wedding. I wore all the clothes I packed, ate great food, shared stories and laughed a lot. Even got to take a field trip to the new American Indian museum in DC on Sunday. I heard later that it was the hottest day on record in Washington. Returned to a cool front in TX. Been watching movies and enjoying the rain ever since.

Love, Lynne

Great relief abounds. I received a letter from the court clerk saying my jury services were no longer needed. The defendant pleaded guilty and bargained for a life sentence without parole. It was an ugly crime. Listening to the testimony would have been like a nasty nightmare. Although I was looking forward to the voir dire. Filling out the questionnaire had been fun. I’ve never been asked what I think about so many things. More questions in the voir dire might have been fun too. Thinking about the experience certainly has been enjoyable. I envisioned the judge and lawyers wanting my opinions on even more things: the public schools, our healthcare system, environmental policy, TX politics, special education. Then they ask me what I would do to change the world. I wonder what I would have said.

Love you all. Thanks for your comments.

Love, Lynne

The 15 page questionnaire was to be read by the lawyers prior to our scheduled voir dire. I’d never been asked such questions and enjoyed searching my conscious for the answers. Are you a Conservative or Liberal? ( knee jerk liberal) What do you think about defenders/prosecutors? (not much) What do you think of psychologists/psychiatrists? (everyone should have one on call) What work would you do if you weren’t doing what you do? (be a movie producer) Every chance I got I reinforced the notion that I am a flaming liberal who has little regard for the TX criminal justice system in general and who hates the death penalty in particular. It will be interesting to see what happens. I left for the day with a schedule conflict. I was supposed to return for voir dire the day I return from my cousin’s wedding in Virginia. A nice clerk lady called me yesterday to reschedule. I was glad. But I had been hoping the judge would call to say they had read my questionnaire and decided they didn’t need a nut case like me.

Love, Lynne

If I paid attention to the news at all, I probably would have ignored a jury summons on Wednesday. I would have been among the 500 who knew that the summons was for a capital murder trial being held in my county on a change of venue. But NOOOO…..I was among the 300 souls who were herded like cattle through the rows of seats in the auditorium of the new performing arts center. It’s a beautiful place……..and air conditioned. I was happy about that. But I wasn’t happy when the judge said it would take three weeks to pick a jury and two for the trial. Yikes. What about summer vacation plans? After a long line of people presented their excuses to the judge, he released the old, infirm, illiterate and pregnant. Those of us planning summer trips and doctor’s appointments stayed. With a slightly sympathetic tone he said he would do what he could to accommodate folks with conflicts. Then with the tone of a stern father he reminded us that he WILL seat a jury this summer and that it WILL come from the remaining panel of about 250 people. I kept hoping he would say, “Oh yeah….those of you who hate the TX death penalty are free to go.” Didn’t happen. We were given a 15 page questionnaire and told to come back in two hours. And if we decided not to come back, he would send the sheriff after us.

Love, Lynne

This month’s topic for my writers group was “Happiness”. Seeing as how I am an expert on the subject, I thought it would be easy to write more than my usual 3 or 4 line essay. I was wrong. All I could do was share the ‘true fact’ I know about Happiness…………If I’m not happy it’s my own damn fault. Seems like that was a lesson I learned from my ex-husband. He sure wasn’t going to let me blame my unhappiness on him. I tried, believe me, I tried.

I hope you all had a Happy Holiday. I certainly did.

Love, Lynne

Just wanted to let you know that I am still around…….just not writing much on my blog. I’m still working 5 daze a week in the schools. Took up yoga, belly dancing and drumming. Found a fellow who is willing to teach me how to make movies on my Mac. Had my first open house honoring the artisans who contributed to the building of my house. And have been enjoying visitors and taking walks in the woods with QT Pie and Clyde. Maybe I’ll do something exciting soon and share it with y’all.

Love, Lynne

HERE’S the picture of the view from the deck……..fingers crossed.

One of the reasons that I loved this summer was the road trip QT Pie and I took to the mountains of Colorado to visit cousins. She was a great traveling companion. She got along well with my cousins’ dogs and cats and didn’t bite any of the kids who came her way. I was especially grateful for her good behavior. Here’s a picture of the view from the deck of their place. I loved sitting on the deck in the morning, drinking coffee in my warm robe and socks. TeeHee. Love, Lynne

I hated last summer………it was hot, the mosquitoes were especially mean, it seldom rained and the walls of the Airstream were beginning to close in on me. By the end of July QT Pie and I were getting on each others’ nerves. She was constantly in play mode and I got very little rest. I was glad when school started and I could focus on something else besides my pitiful self. Sooooo……..I was determined that this summer was gonna be better than last. I was out of the Airstream and in my new house for one thing. QT Pie was a year older and had Clyde to pester. Had to be better. It turned out to be my best summer ever.  I loved being at home. I loved being in the forest. The heat didn’t kill me. There were NO mosquitoes, fleas or ticks. I made several new friends. Wrote everyday. Loved it. Loved it. Loved it.

Now I’m back at work in the schools, staying home as much as I can. Being a hermit is beginning to appeal to me. Even have another documentary idea regarding such.

Love to you all,

Lynne