I got a summons for Christmas

Monday is long gone and Wednesday (Christmas) is less than an hour away, at least in my time zone.  Normal work day nothing too exciting which is good.  I stopped for mail on the way home and picked up a summons for Jury Duty.  It’s not until February.  I’ve never been called before so I would actually like to serve.  Problem is my employer will NOT pay me for Jury Duty.  I asked the dick (aka my boss) for a letter to excuse me since I was deemed essential personnel.  I was told sorry can’t write you a letter.  Really?  They also can’t take any action against me if I do serve or because I was summoned.  They are not required to pay and they can’t make me use my time.  Now here is the messed up part.  I am exempt, meaning that I am paid by salary.  So it doesn’t matter if I work 20 hours or 2,000 hours in a month my pay is the same.  The true meaning of the word salary is you earn the same amount regardless of how much work you do or don’t do in the course of a month.  Now, back when we were making travel arrangements for WIFI last year I was told I couldn’t be gone for 2 weeks, I was needed in the office.  Okay but now all of a sudden it’s okay that I am gone for a minimum of a week to a maximum of the length of a trial.  What if the trial took 2 months? 

This actually sounds like I might have a cause of action, at least in my mind if I do have to serve and they dock me.  I would have to talk with the Wage & Hour people and probably a Labor Employment Attorney. 

Rather than getting angry and wasting money on legal fees, I am going to go visit the Jury Duty Office on Thursday and present them a letter in person and explain to them that this will cause me a financial hardship if they require me to serve, I would be risking my home going into foreclosure if I am unable to make payments.  So I am asking them to excuse me now, but call me again at a later date and if my circumstances have changed I would be very happy to serve.  See I really do want to, I just can’t afford to since I work for a lame company who doesn’t want to encourage their employees to do their civic duty.  The way it’s always worked for my past employers you surrender what money you earn from Jury Duty to the employer and they pay you OR you tell them how much you got and they make up the difference so your not out any money, just your time.

I shot a dagger to the boss and reminded him that if I was required to serve that I would be out of touch because electronics are not allowed in the courthouse.  Just saying pick your poison you can help me or you can try to screw me but I won’t be checking the phone every chance I get and I won’t be working in the evening from home.  If I am out for a week, I will be out for a week and there won’t be a damn thing he can do about it.  So like my late partner used to say you fuck me, I fuck you and we all go fucking crazy!  Bastards.  It’s got me just a little fired up.

Tuesday… we closed at 2pm.  Hardly worth getting out of bed to come in.  Last night I messed with the thermostat because it was too hot in here we were all burning up.  So I turned it down one degree and the furnace went off.  All was good, until I woke up this morning to no heat.  Seriously!  I tried every trick I knew to get the damn thing to run but the fan would kick on for a couple minutes and then it would turn off.  I was going out for supper but instead came home because I was worried I would have to call a repair person.  I know it’s coming, just a matter of when.  Anyway, it appears to be working now.  So I won’t be touching it  - heat is very important.  Lucky the kids have fur coats they can stay toasty, plus they have built in heaters.  Maybe I should just snuggle with them!  Talk about being cheap.

Paid all of the bills that I know of right now.  Have $41 left to my name.  No word from the mortgage company, I got voice mail and left a message when I called yesterday.  No response from them yet.  I called back today and got the same thing.  I will be trying on Thursday and Friday as well.  If that gets me no where then I will call back on Monday.  Eventually the lady has to come back to work.  Plus my attorney gets back on the 6th so then she can take over the phone campaign.  I have a # to customer service but they aren’t too helpful and I am told the person my attorney has found is more than helpful.  So I kind of look forward to speaking with her.  I really hope that I get different results this time.

Saw a picture of a neighbor that I grew up with.  Man he turned out like the rest of his family.  Short and very, very fat.  He’s a cop but there is no way in hell he could run.  He would probably have a heart attack. 

I found out that one of my late partners friends passed away.  No one called I read it in the paper by chance.  So Thursday I will be going to the Funeral Home and I just hope I can keep it together.  This isn’t exactly a great time of year for me.  Plus I know what his wife is going through.  He was 80 or 82 so he lived a good long life. I fully expect that she will be following him shortly.  They did everything together.  Sort of like me and my guy.  It wasn’t one of us it was both of us or we weren’t there.  At least my guy has a friend to keep him company.  He was always worried that one time we would go to visit this guy in the hospital and it would be the last time.

So there you have it Monday & Tuesday.  Tomorrow going over to friends house to have dinner and chat, plus drop off their present.  If I have time I will do a surprise drop by my mom’s.  I thought her or my brother would call tonight but no such luck.  They will probably call in the morning is my guess. 

Thursday – I have to talk with the phone company both cell and landline to try to negotiate a lower price on my bills, it’s not a requirement but it sure would help me if they gave in.  I have to visit the court house to drop off that letter.  I have to call for a payoff on my car and then figure out if I want to pay it off or continue with monthly payments.  After all that work it will surely be time for a nap.  I am sure some idiot will bother me from work but I certainly hope not.  I made it very clear if you call or e-mail me I am on vacation and can be reached if you have an emergency.  Funny thing is what they think is an emergency really isn’t. 

Oh, I did watch Don Jon tonight.  Amazon came to their senses and allowed 48 hour rental for $4.99.  Joseph Gordon Levitt looks so damn fine in that movie.  Shame no naked booty shot though.  It was interesting but really all the hype was just that hype.  Nice way to occupy a couple hours. 

I will be seeing Tyler Perry’s Madea Christmas either on Thursday or Friday – not sure yet.  Well time to get upstairs and snuggle, the furnace is on and I am getting tired since it’s late. 

Talk with you peeps later!