Hello to all in the blogosphere. I survived day 3 of jury duty, but I’m afraid you must wait to hear the juicy details until the case is over. I didn’t tell the judge about the blarg, but I know it’s such a famous website and all, he probably checks it in his chamber on those little sidebar doobers.

I was able to scribble out over 3000 words during my first three days of jury duty! That brings me up to a momentous 75,000 WORDS! There is something about that number that feels like I’m rounding the final turn in a race around the world. I was telling Stacie that for this last part of the book I think I’ll have to write it almost non-stop.

I went ahead and bought the Canon HV20. I was able to produce some beautiful looking video on the PS3, and that sold me. We’re heading up to Turlock in a month, so I’m excited to take it a long and do some filming of the almond orchard and old house. Many a childhood memories were made there.

In case you haven’t been following the Presidential Primaries, I’m happy to report that Romney won in Nevada after winning in Michigan earlier this month. He leads all candidates in delegates and total votes. It looks like Florida will be a very important race where the four top candidates are all running neck and neck in the polls. I’m hoping Romney gets a similar boost that he saw in Michigan as discussions focus on the economy. You never know, California could actually become a deciding factor come February 5th: Super Tuesday! In case you didn’t notice, I’ve got a little Romney endorsement to the right.

The case could take all of this coming week, so my sub plans are there just in case. I don’t like using my sick days, but I am certainly enjoying the break. I wish I could be writing the entire time, especially since I probably won’t have a vote once the trial is over, but I’m having a good time observing the process. Heck, if I ever need a good court scene in a future novel I’ll have some firsthand experience to draw from.

Happy Martin Luther King Jr. day! He is by far my favorite civil rights activist.

I took Denise’s hint to heart and decided to post, and luckily I thought of something worthwhile.

I’m sitting here entering grades in the district’s online grading program (how cool is that?) and I had a disturbing thought: I think I miss my students. When I stop to think about it, I see my students more than I see my friends and family. For 5 out of 7 days for the last four months I see the same kids, and some of them actually grow on you. I’m sure after a week or two back I may not have as fond of memories as I do now, but I think I genuinely miss them, maybe.

My CHRISTMAS break so far has consisted of very little of substance. There has been a lot of sleeping in and staying up late, watching movies, playing with the dog, and spending time with my wife. CHRISTMAS day itself was really nice. We split time between Stacie’s parents and mine, but we got to see everyone. We’ve watched Narnia, King Kong, Broken Flowers, Undertow, and Shall We Dance. In addition I’ve watched The Fantastic Four, The Exorcism of Emily Rose, and Red Eye. I got Stacie a z22 palm pilot for Christmas, so we’ve had fun putting software on that and learning how to use it, I mean she has had fun doing those things. Yesterday we returned a bunch of stuff and exchanged things. I really don’t like crowds, at all, and there are still plenty of them.

Today I’ve decided to work on lesson planning and get that out of the way. The first week back I’ll be at a workshop for 2 of the 3 days, and then that weekend we’re heading to Turlock, CA to visit my mom’s family. Stacie has never been to the farm, so I’m looking forward to showing her where many of my childhood memories were made (and they have a bunch of super cool Boston Terriers). I also start winter session at CSULB next week, so I need to have lesson and sub plans ready for the next two weeks.

Not sure what we’re doing on New Years, but we’ve got three invitations I think. Maybe we’ll try and hit all of them! Hope everyone is having a great time off (if you’re lucky enough to have some). Back to regular blarging soon.