Entry 94: Some Days in Much Ado About Nothing

I have to be honest, it took a lot of willpower to even come in today. My Saturday was filled with auditioning and taking Nala to the Groomers, and errands and Sunday was filled with attending Political Meetings and errands and other stuff. AND then today at work? I have two trials. In one trial: Why did this officer pull this driver over? That’s the trial. That’s the whole trial. In the other trial? Your registration was six months expired and your insurance was six months expired. I don’t know why you even want this going to trial… it is the easiest shit to prove via bodycam. WHEN THE OFFICER APPROACHED THE VEHICLE- what were the dates on the paperwork given? Really? DONE. End of trial. Go home. Thank you. Bye bye. That’s my day. Which, all things considered, it would be more beneficial to me (thus the County at large) had I stayed at home, slept more, and gotten the rest I didn’t get over the weekend. Which… shows where I am as a person in a lot of ways and none of them are good. I remember being very explicit with Hermia about needing Dead Days and her being very dismissive of it; but time since then has proved clearly why they were important in the first place and why going without largely may have created the deficit I am still experiencing. Which especially means I would really like to get back into “the pink” (as it were) before Shakespeare Rehearsals start up, assuming I get a role of some kind.

Ultimately, this is one of those things that I think is deeply wrong with how a job like this is tracked and managed. When we come in early, when we stay late, when we come in on the weekends- that doesn’t go on our time sheet. That doesn’t get paid extra or accrue additional benefit time. The only reason to even do it is because we don’t want to lose cases and we want to present our cases intelligently, professionally, and completely. And some cases, even in my docket, can take days to prepare properly. If I have four officers show up to a standoff, and charge the guy with Reckless Use of a Firearm- No Injury or Property Damage… that’s my case. I have to review EACH INDIVIDUAL BODY CAMERA for the ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE STANDOFF to then edit to present at trial. That isn’t a 5 minute traffic prep. That will absolutely take time after work and time on the weekends. Or the days where I have over 200 hearings to prepare. THAT is going to take extra time. But no reward for doing the job in that regard. But on a day like today? Where quite sincerely all I would really need to do is show up at 10:30 and then again at 1:30? I would have to use benefit time. NO reward for being here extra to do the job.... but when the job doesn’t require my presence- punishment for not being here. So my day will be pretty much… sitting at my desk. Doing nothing. Feeling tired. For most of the day.

Though, I have 78 Hours of sick time. And 138 Hours of vacation. After my last trial, I could just slip out. Spend time with Nala at the dog park and get home at a decent hour to rest. That may be exactly what I end up doing. Especially if I get another parking ticket. It’s ridiculous is what it is. The Employee Lot can hold 90 cars total. There are easily more than 150 people who work in this Courthouse. Easily! SO… when employees can’t park at the Employee Lot.... we are forced to use Meter Parking or park at the Courthouse. Meter Parking can cost up to $3 per day and you still have a trek from your car to the Courthouse; that must be made several times a day to keep the meter fed. Meanwhile, parking at the Courthouse is far less of a walk and, if you are ticketed, the ticket is $5. It is certainly annoying to get a ticket but I don’t consider $5 a week for parking to be that much of a deterrent. I was paying more than that for parking when I worked in Des Moines!

Of course, I went to my car during lunch and I got… two tickets. Both $5 so a $10 parking in total; but even people who were using meters today got ticketed so… I suppose now that the weather is a bit nicer, those who manage those things are taking the opportunity to be outside more and are issuing tickets more. I will admit, my stomach wasn’t thrilled with me so I ate an apple, chugged water, ate a banana and that was lunch. Came back, did my trial, stomach still felt off. But you know how ridiculous I am? I’m not going to leave work “several hours early” (though may leave a half hour early and not mark it) because of my own sense of honor regarding rules. REMEMBER HOW MUCH MY SENSE OF HONOR SCREWED ME FOR YEARS but there are still.... so, if I go home hours early, then I can’t take Nala to the dog park. Because I went home sick, so that means I shouldn’t be outside/socializing/doing anything more than resting and healing. And if you’re sitting there going, “Dude! You could still take her to the dog park! Like… you went home. Rested a bit. Started feeling better. Took her to the dog park. That doesn’t.... that’s entirely possible!” I would say you are correct. There are just some things that have stayed with me deeply deeply ingrained. If you interrupt, abandon, or leave an obligation due to health: THAT’S it. You stay home, you rest, you heal. We meet our obligations first. WHICH is also likely why the House Project List hasn’t actually been tackled. Because I only have space in my head/heart/body for THESE obligations are the focus, the rest? We can push off. So as long as we are meeting the WORK obligation, other obligations come later.