The Blanding Bugle

Volume 17 Issue 2

February 2008

Guilty or Not?

Doreen had the privilege of doing something she never thought she would: serve on a jury. it was quite an eye opening experience.  She had to learn how the bus system worked in the Seattle area, watch the masses and sit on a jury. This is an experience she won't soon forget.

Doreen doesn't drive into the city.  She can never find the place with all those one way streets and driving The Beast down there just isn't going to happen.  Not only that, try to find cheap parking. That isn't going to happen. Thankfully there are ways to get to downtown Seattle without driving a car.  Doreen's option was the bus. She found that the bus drops her two blocks away from the beautiful court house.  It was so convenient. She might even just bring the kids into the city by way of the bus next time.  

While on a jury you do a lot of hurry up and wait so there is time, a lot of time, to watch the masses move around in the city.  If she wasn't just watching the masses on the street but the masses in the jury room as we all waited for our assignments.  There were people from all walks of life and it was very interesting for her to see them interact especially when they probably wouldn't have been put in the same room. It truly takes all kinds.

Doreen was on a jury but with the last choice, the defense excused her.  But there was still one day left of jury selection and she was put on another jury.  This time she was picked and became jury #10.

The case was a simple one: did the young man accused take something  that wasn't his and did he take it from a car.  Two different things.  As she sat and listened to the testimony three things became apparent. One, yes he did have something in his possess that wasn't his: Guilty! Two, yes he took it from a car: Guilty! And third, it is a fact that he who represents himself has a fool for a client: Guilty!

Doreen was on jury duty a total of five days and although it isn't anything she would like to repeat anytime soon, she will not shirk her civic duty as it was a great eye opener to the workings of humanity.  Yes, he was guilty and yes, she actually enjoyed the process. Law and Order will now be seen in a different light.

Happy Valentine's Day, Dear

It is red, cute, all weather and we are so happy to have it.  For Valentine's Day Steve bought Doreen a new car.  Well, it isn't "new" as it was driving by other people before it came to us. And it wasn't really a present but Valentine's Day just happened to be close so it was an easy target. It could have been Easter, or President's Day; we aren't choosy, we are just glad we have a third car for errands and so Doreen's schedule can free up a bit more.

For a while we have been thinking of getting a third car since Kray almost has his driver's license and there are many times when we wish we had a small car for Doreen to drive.  With the price of gas inching up every day, The Beast was just drinking way too much of our family budget.  We also need a car that can handle a bit of snow. 

We had been searching Craig's List for about a year and nothing jumped out at us until we saw a little Red Sports Car.  Within hours of its posting Steve shot off an email and we set up an appointment to go see it.  To go see it meant taking the ferry across the sound! Boy, we must really want it.  Come to find out we aren't the only ones.  We like the car, it handles well, and more importantly Doreen can drive it.  When all the paper works get worked out the Blandings own a 2002 Ford Escape. It is the perfect car for Doreen to use when ferrying kids here and there as well allowing Kray to take his driver's test.

Doreen's mom always said that she wanted a "little red sports car" when she was old. Now Doreen has one and LOVES it!

Doreen and her "Little Red Sport Car"

See? it is Little!
(But then everything is little next to Z Beast.)