A little court, a little crime, and a little fruit.

On January 1st, I got a speeding ticket in Nolensville. I was going 46 in a 30. Thats considered wreckless driving. Yuck. Anyway, this morning I had to wake up early, get all dressed up (because everyone said I had to) and trudged out in the blizzard to go to Traffic Court. And what an experience that turned out to be...



I walked into the Nolensville Town Hall, which was in a small strip mall. I got there a few minutes early and was sent back to the "court room." From the second I walked in I knew I was in for a treat. This court room was smaller than a small classroom. There were folding chairs all lined up in a few short rows and a simple table up front. Sure enough, the room filled up pretty quickly (none of those people were dressed up) and then an officer stood up and actually said, "All rise for the honorable Judge so and so" and contintued with all that other court room stuff.



Someone had told me that they would just have all the folks stand up at once and plead guilty and that'd be it...So I was surprised when he called out a specific person. I can't remember this poor guy's name but he was hispanic and couldn't speak any english. The judge called out to all of us, "Do any of you speak Spanish? Oh you, will you translate?" The judge went on to say, "So and so, you are charged with going 50 in a 30, no license, and no insurance. How do you plead?" I felt a little relieved because this guy's offense was worse than mine. But I couldn't believe they were going to call everyone out individually like that! I was thankful that my last name started wit S- I assumed I would be called toward the end. BUT no, no. The very next name, "Jaclyn Joy Smith." Oh no...I walked up to the front. "Jaclyn, you have been charged with going 46 in a 30. How do you plead?" "Guilty." I went out and paid the court fees and was allowed to go.



As I was getting out my gloves and keys, these 3 scruffy guys came in. The lady asked if they were there for Traffic Court. One of them said, "No, but I'm hoping to put someone in court." Oh my...this was going to be good. I tried to stall but I couldn't hang out in there any longer without it being obvious. So who knows what that was about.



I now have to go to Traffic School. I am going to the one at The Factory in Franklin. The lady told me they give out door prizes at that one. What?! Door prizes at Traffic School?? Okay.



I spend the rest of the day being lazy. I read a lot, and sat on my butt a lot. Until I went to the grocery store and bought all this fruit...





So I'm turning over a new leaf. The old one is getting a little too pudgy.

A day with Maddie

Maddie and I got to spend a great day together today. I did have to work, but even just sitting around with her in the office was wonderful. But...all the real fun happened after that. We went to Borders and got her some really cool books and things to entertain herself while we are at work tomorrow. Then we went to the bowling alley to play in the arcade. We were thinking about bowling but it was league night. Someday I will be in a bowling league and that will be awesome. Anyway, I got her $10 worth of tokens thinking that maybe we could win about 100 or so tickets and walk away with a Chinese finger trap and a kazoo. I love both of those things. But boy was I surprised when she put her first token in and this is what happened...

...she won 50 tickets right away!! Oh but wait, like a true Las Vegas gambler, you don't leave when you're hot! So she put her second token in and JACKPOT! She actually hit the jackpot!! Who really does that?! It was the funniest thing. We were both going crazy until this group of silly boys showed up.

All the boys wanted to know her secret! They were so jealous! As if that boy right there really needed any more tickets. But he said that he had been trying to win the jackpot on that one all night! You know that that means...Maddie appeared to be the the lurker! You know, like the old ladies that practically live in the casinos and watch people win nothing on the slot machines until they finally give up. Then the lurkers swoop in there and win the jackpot! Just like my sweet girl! It was fantastic! I told Maddie that just because she has the magic touch does not mean she needs to go back to Vegas and become a gambler. She said, "Aunt Jackie, I know you gambled. I saw pictures." I said back to her, "But Mad, thats okay. I used Papa's money." I made her pinky promise. Anyway, we ended up with 400 tickets! She picked out a dough set, some dominoes, a jumbo pen that says "Best Brother" (she is going to color over that tomorrow), and 5 pieces of laffy taffy. Bummer, no Chinese finger-pull.

Then we came home and decided to make scrambled eggs for dinner. The ones I made for her were awesome. Mine were less than awesome. Sacrificial love.

Our night wrapped up with some good ol' America's Funniest Home Videos and dominoes. Yep, I love this girl.

God, what do you look like?

So, my friend David Morris stopped by the office today to chat for a few minutes. We started talking about what God looks like...somehow. I often forget how I end up in certain conversations but I was telling him how I pictured God when I was little. I pictured him like this...

Have you ever image googled God? Well, this is what you get...

The typical, old God...

The eye of God...

The kinda creepy God...

The pretty God...

And my personal favorite...