I've been running on very limited sleep lately, and today I'm feeling it. I don't think I've had more than 5.5 hours once this week, and had a couple nights that were around 4.
I really want a nap.
But, since fall break starts today, and seminary is done for the day, I'm going to nab a couple minutes hours to catch up on life lately. Then I might take a nap. Or do laundry. Or go to lunch with Mar, who has a half day due to finals.
CV's Homecoming Dance was on Sept. 30th.
You would think I would know more about boutonnieres by now. I ordered from a flower shop in Parker (one I haven't used before, but, upon asking around when seeing cute boutonnieres in the past, had been recommended), but was told they only do red or white roses for Homecoming. I told them Mar's dress was burgundy-ish, and the guy told me he had "deep colored" roses that would look good. Needless to say, it wasn't a match hahaha. I tried. It was also a bit tricky for Mar to pin it on. Talking with her friend Aspen's mom, they ordered theirs from a Castle Rock florist and it was a MAGNETIC boutonniere. You can bet that's where I'll be going from now on.
I didn't get a lot of great pics on my phone camera, so some of these pics are borrowed.
Aspen is in our ward and turned 16 a day or two before the dance... she's one of those lucky girls that has a date right off the bat.
Mar's friend Mo was Aspen's date, and he hosted dinner at his home... a dinner that HE made (minus potatoes and a salad that Gavin's mom brought). I was super impressed. The only parents that came for pictures were the Mormon kids' (Mar, Aspen, and Gavin). That was pretty funny. Again, it seemed so different than Parker (so hard not to compare to what you've known) where it's a pretty big deal for parents to come for pictures.
This was Bill's idea... obviously.
Mar said it was a good night.
Bill's court date was Oct. 3rd.
He has been losing sleep for weeks about this day, and I was thankful it was finally here and would be over. I had determined that, whatever the outcome, I would be content knowing we gave it our best shot. Prior to scheduling a court day, he had been offered a 1-point reduction to admit his guilt, pay the ticket, and move on. He was taking a risk to fight the ticket. He was taking a risk to represent himself (attorney fees are not currently in our budget haha). We both strongly felt, however, that he was not at fault, so it was worth trying to get others to see that, too. Bill selected to have a jury trial (an extra $25), so a selection of 6 jurors was part of the process.
I found it all very fascinating, and felt very much like I was in the middle of a Perry Mason episode.
Bill had acquired a copy of a 911 call from a woman who had been an eye witness to the accident, and who had clearly stated in the call that the white Mercedes was driving too fast, made a lane change, and must not have seen the cars stopped in front of her. I figured once the jury heard the call, the case would be finished. Bill had tried several times to contact the woman who had made the call, but after initial contact she didn't respond. He found out that day that, since she wasn't present, he couldn't use the recording of the call. Bummer.
The prosecution had 4 witnesses, Bill had 1... me. Since his phone had died two days prior, he had no way to take photos of the accident, so once I arrived on the scene, I snapped away. I was basically there to testify that they were my photos, and also to confirm Bill's injuries to his wrists and arms from the airbag (part of his defense), and to the fact that he did NOT have a phone in the car with him.
A couple of things to note if you read my earlier post about the accident:
The policeman issued Bill the citation because the front vehicle in the accident said he only felt one impact. (Bill used Newton's law of motion for part of his defense.)
The Mercedes was over 2 tons heavier than Bill's car was, and had lost it's front right tire in the accident.
The woman in the Lexus was injured enough to go to the hospital.
The Mercedes driver admitted that she was trying to move toward the median (the crash happened in the far left lane).
The citation was for careless driving. The jury had to believe beyond a reasonable doubt that Bill had been carelessly driving.
Going in, I thought this would be done by noon, if not earlier.
Nope.
This was a full-day trial.
The jurors were so patient, as well as the prosecuting attorney and the judge. Bill received advice from another attorney interested in the proceedings on his lunch break.
Because I was a witness, and Bill had opted for sequestered witnesses (meaning they can't stay in the courtroom and hear the testimony of other witnesses), I spent the majority of the day in the hall... with the prosecution's witnesses. Such a joy.
Once closing arguments were given, the jury went into the deliberation room and everyone else scattered. After having a pleasant conversation with the prosecuting attorney (primarily about Utah... "are you Mormon? My wife and I love Utah. I think it's the most beautiful state in the country, just hard to get a job there." He also complemented Bill on a job well done, and said something to the effect of, "I think you may have got me today."), Bill and I sat in the courtroom and waited. 10 minutes later, the jury had it's verdict. The judge allowed the jury forewoman to read it... and it was NOT GUILTY. What a relief.
I wish this photo wasn't blurry of Bill... but it sums up how we felt as we left the courthouse.
He even gets a refund of his $25 fee for a jury trial.
Manna from heaven.
On Wednesday we went with some friends to a concert at Red Rocks. I couldn't turn down free tickets and a beautiful Fall evening. I didn't know who was performing (my friend thought it was a couple of acapella groups), but we were totally down for it.
It. Was. Awesome.
He has been losing sleep for weeks about this day, and I was thankful it was finally here and would be over. I had determined that, whatever the outcome, I would be content knowing we gave it our best shot. Prior to scheduling a court day, he had been offered a 1-point reduction to admit his guilt, pay the ticket, and move on. He was taking a risk to fight the ticket. He was taking a risk to represent himself (attorney fees are not currently in our budget haha). We both strongly felt, however, that he was not at fault, so it was worth trying to get others to see that, too. Bill selected to have a jury trial (an extra $25), so a selection of 6 jurors was part of the process.
I found it all very fascinating, and felt very much like I was in the middle of a Perry Mason episode.
Bill had acquired a copy of a 911 call from a woman who had been an eye witness to the accident, and who had clearly stated in the call that the white Mercedes was driving too fast, made a lane change, and must not have seen the cars stopped in front of her. I figured once the jury heard the call, the case would be finished. Bill had tried several times to contact the woman who had made the call, but after initial contact she didn't respond. He found out that day that, since she wasn't present, he couldn't use the recording of the call. Bummer.
The prosecution had 4 witnesses, Bill had 1... me. Since his phone had died two days prior, he had no way to take photos of the accident, so once I arrived on the scene, I snapped away. I was basically there to testify that they were my photos, and also to confirm Bill's injuries to his wrists and arms from the airbag (part of his defense), and to the fact that he did NOT have a phone in the car with him.
The policeman issued Bill the citation because the front vehicle in the accident said he only felt one impact. (Bill used Newton's law of motion for part of his defense.)
The Mercedes was over 2 tons heavier than Bill's car was, and had lost it's front right tire in the accident.
The woman in the Lexus was injured enough to go to the hospital.
The Mercedes driver admitted that she was trying to move toward the median (the crash happened in the far left lane).
The citation was for careless driving. The jury had to believe beyond a reasonable doubt that Bill had been carelessly driving.
Going in, I thought this would be done by noon, if not earlier.
Nope.
This was a full-day trial.
The jurors were so patient, as well as the prosecuting attorney and the judge. Bill received advice from another attorney interested in the proceedings on his lunch break.
Because I was a witness, and Bill had opted for sequestered witnesses (meaning they can't stay in the courtroom and hear the testimony of other witnesses), I spent the majority of the day in the hall... with the prosecution's witnesses. Such a joy.
Once closing arguments were given, the jury went into the deliberation room and everyone else scattered. After having a pleasant conversation with the prosecuting attorney (primarily about Utah... "are you Mormon? My wife and I love Utah. I think it's the most beautiful state in the country, just hard to get a job there." He also complemented Bill on a job well done, and said something to the effect of, "I think you may have got me today."), Bill and I sat in the courtroom and waited. 10 minutes later, the jury had it's verdict. The judge allowed the jury forewoman to read it... and it was NOT GUILTY. What a relief.
He even gets a refund of his $25 fee for a jury trial.
Manna from heaven.
On Wednesday we went with some friends to a concert at Red Rocks. I couldn't turn down free tickets and a beautiful Fall evening. I didn't know who was performing (my friend thought it was a couple of acapella groups), but we were totally down for it.
It. Was. Awesome.
A guy and a piano... loved it.
This group was super fun, and put an old-fashioned big band sound to current pop hits.
Loved them.
The final group was Straight No Chaser. You may have heard their fun rendition of The Twelve Days of Christmas.
This was a fun spin-off of a few musicals... I tried to get the entire performance, but had the camera on, not the video, so I now have about 15+ pictures taken in burst mode vs. the full piece on video, but enjoy the part I was able to capture:
Last night Mar had her first CV choir concert.
It also was awesome.
The above picture is a special women's jazz group made up from Red Hot, an early morning mixed jazz choir that Mar doesn't participate in due to attending seminary. She thinks this yet-unnamed group will continue throughout the year, but they have only been meeting once a week before school, so Mar has left the last 10 minutes of seminary to attend on those days.
This concert was much different than Legend's (remember? held in the big church with jumbo screens and a crazy good sound system), but Bill and I felt the CV choirs were more practiced in technical and performance skills, not to mention the majority of their songs were uplifting and happy (in Mar's previous two years at Legend, the choir she was in always sang the most depressing songs at the Fall concert). The choir teachers at CV are pretty darn intense (husband and wife duo). When your child tells you the classes that were harder before (English and Spanish) are the easy ones on her schedule, and her choir classes are the most demanding, you know there are some serious choir directors making it so.
Mirinesse
This wasn't their most technical piece, but it was one of my favorites because I loved the message of the song (called The Blessing, btw).
That's all I've got time for today, friends.
I'm attending Time Out for Women tonight and tomorrow. I'm excited, but OF COURSE it would fall on a weekend when we need to knock out basement projects. And I hope I won't fall asleep on my feet... I'm seriously THAT tired.
XOXO
That's a happy post...Homecoming, a court victory, an awesome concert with friends (I love Straight No Chaser!), a beautiful song about blessings (So very pretty! And here's a question for you I've been pondering as I listened...who do you think the voice of the song is? Heavenly Father? A family member such as a mother or a spouse?), and Time Out For Women. All is well...except for the tired part... so I hope you get in a good nap sometime! :-)
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