Wooden Sadee in BookThree: Flight Log 2016

I woke up this morning from a dream that involved arguing with my dad, going to a job that drained my soul (figuratively and literally) and then getting into a screaming match with Wife about why I get into arguments with my dad. So, when I woke up… I’m not surprised I woke up sad and a little depressed.

That being said, I got into work about a half hour early. Wanted to go over things and detail some stuff before court. So… 8 am, start work.

Then court was brutal. Granted, nothing was accomplished because that is how this place just IS but… the magistrate had (absent mindedly) scheduled four things for the same time. So it was case after case after case after case… straight like that until 3 pm. SO if I really wanted to… I could/should/would be the guy that leaves at 4 because that is a full 8 hour day! But… I won’t do that.

I will share the obvious bit of court today… because I’ve shared it before and I’ll likely share it again. Every case… from the simplest misdemeanor to the most aggravated misdemeanor (because… I do misdemeanor court) is related to one of (or a mixture of) the following three things: (1) There are no jobs here; (2) There is no entertainment here; (3) There is no “continuing education opportunities” for adults. So.... yes, the things I’ve been complaining about are actually the biggest contributors to crime. Everyone (everyone) around here is somewhere on the poverty line. Average “take home” for a family in the county (per census) is around $30k. FOR A FAMILY. Most of the articles I read say “for a two parent, two child household: $40k is a good start.” Well… in this county… how about a one parent, five child household? Is $30k sufficient? No. Nope. And with no jobs, that poverty keeps climbing. Oh and… entertainment? Education for adults? Yeah. I have even the wealthier individuals in the county (those making between 50 and 60 thousand) coming in to court on charges… because they are blowing a .341 in public on a weekly basis… or because they bought a shit ton of meth. And… as opposed to them as I am… I don’t blame them! If you haven’t got a car… you can’t leave. If you have to stay in these small rinky dink towns… there is The Bar or The High School. So, either you DRINK or support the children… and if you don’t want to do either of those? Yeah. So… while in court, listening to this guy, I wanted to slap him across the face and say “Find something else to do!” I was mostly filled with sorrow for him and his town because… there just isn’t anything else to do.

Soooo… court ends. I walk back to work. 3:00. Hottest part of the day. In a suit, tie, long pants, and a long sleeved shirt. It is 90 degrees outside, but the weather man was nice enough to say that “with humidity it feels like 101”. Miserable outside. I come into my office and realize that I could leave. It wouldn’t even be a problem. BUT… I want to finish some things. But… despite wanting to be The Good Guy that finishes his work… I am realizing my apathy for this place is taking over. Because honestly… fuck ‘em. If we aren’t going to punish our criminals, there is no point to me prosecuting them. If the motto for the county is going to be Blood from a Turnip… fuck ‘em. But… I do still want to learn and earn my pay. SO… begrudgingly, I continue. Attempting to do work.

As I was looking for Up North County’s poverty ratio, I also saw an interesting (if depressing) chart on population growth and decline. The County was established in 1851 and the first population census noted was 1860 with 103 people. It hit its population high in 1940 with 16,000 people. But every census since then it has lost people. Slowly at first and then rapidly, losing 10% of the population (or more!) every census since 1970.

BAH! I AM SO TIRED and so over this bullshit place that I can’t force myself to focus to get the work done that I actually REALLY wanted to do. This is frustrating. Like… Romans 7:15 frustrating!!