The year started with my serving jury duty for a multiple homicide trial. The jury selection process started November 13, 2009, and finished early January, with the trial beginning mid-January. I wasn’t allowed to say anything about the trial from the time we started the selection process, and it still feels a little odd to actually be able to talk about it. I learned I can avoid talking about major things happening in my life when needed, and I learned that all of those crime investigation shows (CSI, Law & Order, etc.) are far off base (I knew that already, but didn’t realize just how far off base they were). I also learned that those note-taking skills from college can kick in whenever needed. I have yet to actually watch any of the crime investigation shows I used to watch. It will still probably be awhile until that happens.

With the trial over, I was back to work in mid-May. I took a week off between the trial and going back to work. I’m still glad I did that – I needed time to process everything that had happened during the trial. I also had to re-adjust to life, in a way. No longer did I need to catch the bus to Pioneer Square Monday through Thursday; no longer would I be sitting around a conference table chatting with 16 people who had become like family; no longer would I need to take notes on testimony offered