Tomorrow at 0800 I am supposed to be in Greensboro (about 30 minutes in non-rush hour traffic, somewhat longer otherwise) to begin my Federal jury duty. My children have school here at 0725 and 0755 (can arrive as early as 0730, though). We have one car because the Explorer is in need of repairs. If I wasn't going to court I could take it to get fixed. Allie doesn't work tomorrow so she can chauffeur me and keep the car. However, Tuesday she is working 0800-1700. How does this work? It doesn't.

I'm so frustrated with this jury duty garbage. I don't believe in our political process anymore. I don't believe in our government as it exists. I don't support a judicial system where judges ignore the letter of the law to legislate from the bench as it pleases them. In short, I am a disenchanted, disenfranchised citizen, skeptical of the level of corruption in our current system. I firmly believe the system does not work. Would you want me on your jury? Ha.

Last Wednesday I got a summons for Disctrict Court jury duty in my own county in late January. Um, no. I will request to be excused since I am serving in Federal Court this week. If they fail to see the relevance, stink may ensue.

So, yeah, the Explorer needs a new fuel pressure regulator. Trying to reach this part to replace it myself is approximately the same as trying to touch your right elbow with your right index finger. It's a $65 part which will probably cost me three times that to replace because the repair shop has to hire aliens or contortionist freaks to do the work. Once I get that fixed I will put in my own thermostat and flush the radiator/add anti-freeze in order to keep my freeze plugs from falling out. That would be ungoodness. It was in the 20's the last two nights. If it stays below freezing for a day or two, the radiator would likely freeze and cause more fun. Why didn't I do this earlier? Oh yeah, it was in a parking lot across town with the fuel pressure problem. Did I mention my automotive diagnostic and repair skills are on par with, say, a stick?

Work is still hard, but pretty good. It's the lack of management that royally bites there. It's frustrating.

No one's is sick, no one has died. In the scheme, things are all good. Still, I struggle to feel it.

Nope, not feelin' it.