Whining, feel free to pass on by.
Shit things happened today. It was FUN.
Today started off all right. Managed to sleep in until 8am. It was glorious. It was only after that when things went down hill.
Part the first: the therapy appointment.
I generally enjoy my therapy appointments. Michael is great, and friendly, so I basically talk his ear of for an hour and call it a day. Considering how little I actually talk to people, this is typically the majority of my socialization any given week. Today, at about 10:20, my mother walks in.
"So, would you mind if I went with you today to your appointment and talk to your therapist about you? Oh, and since the sun is out, we'll be walking. So be ready to leave soon."
Yes. Yes I did mind. But that isn't an acceptable answer to someone who cares about you and goes to bat for you so much, and since this would basically get her off my back for awhile, I smiled, nodded and off we went. She kept saying she wasn't going to stay long, but she took up over half the visit, alas, and I walked out feeling worse than when I went in. And then we had to walk home.
Part the second: Insurance companies suck
So, this is the way my insurance is supposed to work: Every month they take out (or is automatically sent) the payment for my insurance, that way it's there when I need it for things like prescriptions or doctors visits.
Sometime in October for a reason no one knows, Mom turned this off. Meaning, we didn't know about this until I got the notice that "Hey! We turned off your insurance do to lack of payments for several months! Just thought you should know!"
So, on the 11th, I mailed in a giant check that should cover me until March, which would then be retroactively applied so it appeared as though my insurance was seamless and any doctors visits or prescriptions at full price would be refunded. Great! And how long, I asked, would this take to kick in? How long, in other words, would I have to wait before going to the doctor or getting a prescription filled if I couldn't pay full price out of pocket? Oh, a week, they said. At the most.
Being a suspicious sort, I gave them more than that. Just in case. I tried to refill my prescription today after cutting down my meds to barely tollerable levels to get this far. Went to pick it up and, if I actually got it, it would have cost me more than $200. Obviously, something was wrong. So, I called them.
"Oh! Yes, I see here that we did receive your check. Unfortunately, you haven't been re-activated yet, as that department is very backlogged. But you are pending! No, sorry, I can't say how long it will be before you're activated. Anything else I can help you with today?" No, thank you. Unless there's someway I can get notified when I do get activated. "OH! Well, I can keep an eye on that for you and call you back!" And you didn't offer that before because...?
Anyway, that should happen. Hopefully before February, but I'm not going to hold my breath.
Part the third: I was wrong on the internet.
Or possibly wrong. Possibly just un-PC. I'm not entirely sure, because NO ONE WOULD ACTUALLY TELL ME.
Anyway, here: http://community.livejournal.com/ontd_political/7616275.html?thread=469630227#t469630227
You can judge for yourself. That links to my comment thread, so before you judge my comments please read the article. And then after my first comment, I replied a couple more times down thread. The last time was basically absolving myself of all involvement, unless and until someone actually says something relating to this single article mentioned, so I can't go back and call the very last person who commented a fucknut. But I want to.
It sucks being a grown up.
There was one comment that was positive and agreeing, and saying that most of ontd_p is super sensitive in terms of race/minority and thus whomever is the most unique can do no wrong. Unfortunately, this person only responded in Private Message. Ah, well. Baby steps.
ETA:
It saddens me to see how little people know about how a jury trial works. I will explain here.
What they're saying: This jury was wrong! See, they were using their prejudices against her and gave her this GINORMOUS sentence! It was a misuse of power!
Or something. That's what I gather from multiple comments, anyway.
The problem: Juries don't work that way. For those who have never been part of a jury trial, I'll start at the beginning. First, you get a letter in the mail. You hate this letter. It means you may or may not be part of jury duty, and you won't know if you have to go down to the courthouse until the night before. Plans are up in the air. Work may or may not be canceled. Life sucks.
You call the number given the night before. If you're really lucky, your number is excused and you have an unexpected free day. Yay! Life is good. Go about your business.
If you're unlucky, your number is required to show up the next morning. Early. Possibly in another city. Good news: they'll reimburse you for your gas. Bad news: It's not a whole lot. So, you go to the courthouse and have to find your way to the jury room. It's crowded, and busy and you have to sign in before you can do anything else. And they they have a wonderful video (at least at my courthouse) about the Wonders of Being on Jury Duty (It's an Honor!).
Then you wait. Sometimes your number will be called for a trial early in the day. Sometimes it won't be until the afternoon, and other times it's not called at all. They just wanted you to wait, just because.
Your number is called for a jury! Yay! You follow the aids through the security line and into the courtroom where you're seated according to a chart that only they know. You're not in the jury box, but you can see it. Everyone is there, but only the lawyers will be asking questions. They vague it up and ask about your feelings on certain things, like gun control if the case is about guns. You still don't know exactly what the case is about, and if you make yourself seem a little crazy or answer too definitely on one side or the other, you're out. Go home, have fun, you're done.
If you're not too crazy and are close enough to the start (only the first 12 people they can all agree on get the cut), you're on the jury. A short recess break and then it's into the jury box for you, and the actual trial can begin.
THE TRIAL ITSELF:
First? They read the charges, and EXPLAIN WHAT THEY ARE. But you don't really have to take notes on this part, as you'll see later. Opening remarks about why this person is guilty, or innocent. Evidence is presented. Witnesses are called forth. The judge kinda listens, but can play on their computer in the mean time because this isn't really about them. This is about you.
Sometimes the case goes on for more than a day. In that case, you go home and say only the vaguest of details about the case. "I'm on a jury, it seems sorta interesting. We still have a bit more do go, though. I'll tell you more after the trial."
Sometimes it's short enough for just one day, which means that you don't get to talk to anyone about it at all. It's sad, no need to be mysterious.
In any case, after all the evidence has been gone through and the witnesses have all have their say, the lawyers present their closing remarks, and the judge turns to you for their final instructions.
"You are not here for emotions. You are here to judge the evidence of this case as it has been presented to you. No outside inferences or pressure should be taken into consideration for your judgment. You are to decided if this person is guilty or innocent, but that is all."
Or words to that effect.
You then return to your own little jury room, which is close to the court room and not the same place as the big room that you checked into when first entering the courthouse. There, you and the other 11 members of the jury discuss the case and each charge. You are provided with a copy of the charges, as well as the legal definition of each charge. You are provided with a copy of the evidence. And you stay in there for as long as it takes (with breaks for meals and to go home, of course). You decided if the accused is guilty or innocent of each crime. Did they or didn't they? And then, when it is a consensus (10 or more), you tell the judge what you have agreed.
The verdict is read, you are thanked, and dismissed. THIS IS THE END OF YOUR INVOLVEMENT.
At some later time, the JUDGE will decide the sentence. It's not up to you, you have no say. The JUDGE will decide when that time is, and how bad the sentence will be. A smart lawyer will appeal to the JUDGE for leniency. The jury has nothing to do with it.
tl;dr: The jury didn't do it. If the sentence seems overly harsh, blame the judge.
N E WAY! I figured it's been awhile, so it might be ok if I whined in LJ without cluttering up your flist. I mean, what else is lj for but whining and fanfic? And, unfortunately, I has no fanfic written recently.
Today started off all right. Managed to sleep in until 8am. It was glorious. It was only after that when things went down hill.
Part the first: the therapy appointment.
I generally enjoy my therapy appointments. Michael is great, and friendly, so I basically talk his ear of for an hour and call it a day. Considering how little I actually talk to people, this is typically the majority of my socialization any given week. Today, at about 10:20, my mother walks in.
"So, would you mind if I went with you today to your appointment and talk to your therapist about you? Oh, and since the sun is out, we'll be walking. So be ready to leave soon."
Yes. Yes I did mind. But that isn't an acceptable answer to someone who cares about you and goes to bat for you so much, and since this would basically get her off my back for awhile, I smiled, nodded and off we went. She kept saying she wasn't going to stay long, but she took up over half the visit, alas, and I walked out feeling worse than when I went in. And then we had to walk home.
Part the second: Insurance companies suck
So, this is the way my insurance is supposed to work: Every month they take out (or is automatically sent) the payment for my insurance, that way it's there when I need it for things like prescriptions or doctors visits.
Sometime in October for a reason no one knows, Mom turned this off. Meaning, we didn't know about this until I got the notice that "Hey! We turned off your insurance do to lack of payments for several months! Just thought you should know!"
So, on the 11th, I mailed in a giant check that should cover me until March, which would then be retroactively applied so it appeared as though my insurance was seamless and any doctors visits or prescriptions at full price would be refunded. Great! And how long, I asked, would this take to kick in? How long, in other words, would I have to wait before going to the doctor or getting a prescription filled if I couldn't pay full price out of pocket? Oh, a week, they said. At the most.
Being a suspicious sort, I gave them more than that. Just in case. I tried to refill my prescription today after cutting down my meds to barely tollerable levels to get this far. Went to pick it up and, if I actually got it, it would have cost me more than $200. Obviously, something was wrong. So, I called them.
"Oh! Yes, I see here that we did receive your check. Unfortunately, you haven't been re-activated yet, as that department is very backlogged. But you are pending! No, sorry, I can't say how long it will be before you're activated. Anything else I can help you with today?" No, thank you. Unless there's someway I can get notified when I do get activated. "OH! Well, I can keep an eye on that for you and call you back!" And you didn't offer that before because...?
Anyway, that should happen. Hopefully before February, but I'm not going to hold my breath.
Part the third: I was wrong on the internet.
Or possibly wrong. Possibly just un-PC. I'm not entirely sure, because NO ONE WOULD ACTUALLY TELL ME.
Anyway, here: http://community.livejournal.com/ontd_political/7616275.html?thread=469630227#t469630227
You can judge for yourself. That links to my comment thread, so before you judge my comments please read the article. And then after my first comment, I replied a couple more times down thread. The last time was basically absolving myself of all involvement, unless and until someone actually says something relating to this single article mentioned, so I can't go back and call the very last person who commented a fucknut. But I want to.
It sucks being a grown up.
There was one comment that was positive and agreeing, and saying that most of ontd_p is super sensitive in terms of race/minority and thus whomever is the most unique can do no wrong. Unfortunately, this person only responded in Private Message. Ah, well. Baby steps.
ETA:
It saddens me to see how little people know about how a jury trial works. I will explain here.
What they're saying: This jury was wrong! See, they were using their prejudices against her and gave her this GINORMOUS sentence! It was a misuse of power!
Or something. That's what I gather from multiple comments, anyway.
The problem: Juries don't work that way. For those who have never been part of a jury trial, I'll start at the beginning. First, you get a letter in the mail. You hate this letter. It means you may or may not be part of jury duty, and you won't know if you have to go down to the courthouse until the night before. Plans are up in the air. Work may or may not be canceled. Life sucks.
You call the number given the night before. If you're really lucky, your number is excused and you have an unexpected free day. Yay! Life is good. Go about your business.
If you're unlucky, your number is required to show up the next morning. Early. Possibly in another city. Good news: they'll reimburse you for your gas. Bad news: It's not a whole lot. So, you go to the courthouse and have to find your way to the jury room. It's crowded, and busy and you have to sign in before you can do anything else. And they they have a wonderful video (at least at my courthouse) about the Wonders of Being on Jury Duty (It's an Honor!).
Then you wait. Sometimes your number will be called for a trial early in the day. Sometimes it won't be until the afternoon, and other times it's not called at all. They just wanted you to wait, just because.
Your number is called for a jury! Yay! You follow the aids through the security line and into the courtroom where you're seated according to a chart that only they know. You're not in the jury box, but you can see it. Everyone is there, but only the lawyers will be asking questions. They vague it up and ask about your feelings on certain things, like gun control if the case is about guns. You still don't know exactly what the case is about, and if you make yourself seem a little crazy or answer too definitely on one side or the other, you're out. Go home, have fun, you're done.
If you're not too crazy and are close enough to the start (only the first 12 people they can all agree on get the cut), you're on the jury. A short recess break and then it's into the jury box for you, and the actual trial can begin.
THE TRIAL ITSELF:
First? They read the charges, and EXPLAIN WHAT THEY ARE. But you don't really have to take notes on this part, as you'll see later. Opening remarks about why this person is guilty, or innocent. Evidence is presented. Witnesses are called forth. The judge kinda listens, but can play on their computer in the mean time because this isn't really about them. This is about you.
Sometimes the case goes on for more than a day. In that case, you go home and say only the vaguest of details about the case. "I'm on a jury, it seems sorta interesting. We still have a bit more do go, though. I'll tell you more after the trial."
Sometimes it's short enough for just one day, which means that you don't get to talk to anyone about it at all. It's sad, no need to be mysterious.
In any case, after all the evidence has been gone through and the witnesses have all have their say, the lawyers present their closing remarks, and the judge turns to you for their final instructions.
"You are not here for emotions. You are here to judge the evidence of this case as it has been presented to you. No outside inferences or pressure should be taken into consideration for your judgment. You are to decided if this person is guilty or innocent, but that is all."
Or words to that effect.
You then return to your own little jury room, which is close to the court room and not the same place as the big room that you checked into when first entering the courthouse. There, you and the other 11 members of the jury discuss the case and each charge. You are provided with a copy of the charges, as well as the legal definition of each charge. You are provided with a copy of the evidence. And you stay in there for as long as it takes (with breaks for meals and to go home, of course). You decided if the accused is guilty or innocent of each crime. Did they or didn't they? And then, when it is a consensus (10 or more), you tell the judge what you have agreed.
The verdict is read, you are thanked, and dismissed. THIS IS THE END OF YOUR INVOLVEMENT.
At some later time, the JUDGE will decide the sentence. It's not up to you, you have no say. The JUDGE will decide when that time is, and how bad the sentence will be. A smart lawyer will appeal to the JUDGE for leniency. The jury has nothing to do with it.
tl;dr: The jury didn't do it. If the sentence seems overly harsh, blame the judge.
N E WAY! I figured it's been awhile, so it might be ok if I whined in LJ without cluttering up your flist. I mean, what else is lj for but whining and fanfic? And, unfortunately, I has no fanfic written recently.