Consolation Prize

Before I start in on today's events, I think I need to forewarn people that somewhere in the middle of this post, it's going to turn into a rant about christians and how I hate most supposedly "devout" christians and their hypocritical ways.

That said, I guess I should first inform you that I called the courthouse as instructed this weekend and found out that I was excused from jury duty along with all the other people they'd summoned for August 28th. Which was a good thing, because Sunday, my lawyer called and told me that the final papers were at his office and we could come and sign them Monday morning. At long last, we've finally moved into the last leg of this insufferable process of which I hope you take note and make sure doesn't happen to any of your families when the time comes.

So my sister came down to sign the papers with me just to expediate things, which is nice because I like any chance I can get to spend time with her. So, I drove us to the office and we went up to sign the papers. However, before we started putting fresh ink on anything, there were a few things my lawyer felt compelled to tell us.

Along with all the legal forms and court documents on the table, there was also one curious form. On it, after he explained it to us, was a list of all the settlements Vickie was getting out of my father's estate. Would you be shocked to discover that the one life insurance policy for my brother was the only one he had at the time of his death? I know I was when I was told, because if I know anything about my family it's that we are big believers in life insurance. Even as young as I am right now, I still have a $100,000 policy on myself past what my company automatically gives me and I know that by the time I hit 50, I'll probably still have that one and most likely two or three more. Well, after reviewing the totals, it seems my dad was a true Donley at heart, if not in spirit. He did indeed have multiple life insurance policies. All told, it comes up to somewhere in the realm of $590,000. All of it with Vickie as the sole beneficiary.

Which is odd, because at one point, he did have one that had me and my siblings listed no more than two years ago that Dad had told Laura about. But, that one seems to have gone away mysteriously. Almost as mysteriously as how none of this was told to anyone before now.

When out lawyer came out and told all this and showed us the figures, I started laughing. I was laughing because it was that instant that I realized now amazingly naive my brother is. I remember him telling me more than once during all this how Vickie is a good person and she's a good Christian and, "She won't try to screw us over because it's not in her nature as a Christian." Well guess what? She did! Splendidly, in fact! She screwed us over to such an extent that even I have to sit back and marvel at how well she's managed to make us think that she wasn't getting much and that the $250,000 wrongful death settlement we got was the most any of us could hope to get out of this entire sad situation. I mean, I knew for the most part that we were being played in some way, I had just assumed that it was because the actual assets my father owned (house, bank account, etc.) could have come into contention if we had decided we wanted more. Little did I realize that she would have conned or strong armed him into signing not one, not two, but three insurance policies specifically for her while letting the one that was for my, Laura and Ryan to lapse and be cancelled. You're right Ryan. She's a wonderful Christian!

This is why I am not nor will I ever be conned into going back to that hypocritical religion ever again. I've seen what those kinds of people are. They take a great and wonderful set of values and a set of guidelines on how to live a good and selfless life based on love and helping those around you and manage to tear out most of the pages until they can edit it down to something that means that it's ok for you to screw people over and get away with it, because you've been bathed in the blood of a two thousand year old martyr and so it's ok, because you're a good person for believing in him. Following his lead is completely optional. Don't like a specific group of people? Blacks, asians, muslims, fags, poor, people who are just plain different than you? Come join our church!! Here, you can hate them all you want and it's ok because our god? He hates them to! See, it says so right here on this page! Love thy neighbor? Do unto others? Love your fellow man as you would love me? Oh, just ignore that part. He wasn't talking about them on that page.

I've said this before, and I'll say it again, because it bares repeating: Christianity is like communism. It looks great on paper, and in theory works brilliantly. But, when you add the human element of greed, distrust, and hatred born of fear of things that are different, it turns into a big mess and just falls apart beneath the hypocracy of people who go to a sacred place, sit and smile and tell everyone how much you love to give to the church and in doing so help other people, all the while spending your other six days out of the week doing the best you can to hurt people that you don't know or just don't give a damn about.

I think that's why I initially just didn't trust her when this all started. I knew how horrible of a life he lived with her for the last eight years. How unhappy he was because she wouldn't let him spend time with his kids or his grandchild and if he did, how mad she would be with him and how she would go for days afterwards not speaking to him because she couldn't stand the fact that there were other people in his life besides her. I pray to my gods tonight, hoping that once this is all over, I never have to look at her again and if I do, I pray I have the strength to not say what's in my heart.

Of course, this isn't all her fault. I have no idea how or why or where it happened, but at some point, my dad totally gave up his backbone and didn't stand up to her. He signed those insurance papers giving her all the benefits if he died. He didn't have a gun to his head or anything like that. He just didn't care enough to stand up for his children. Even his favorite daughter. He abandoned all of us because it was just easier for him that way. I'm glad mom never did that with us, or else I would be living on the streets right now and would have been for about ten years.

So, there it is. The end of a long journey through the legal system is coming to a close. If we're lucky, we'll have the money in our hands before the end of September.

Right now, I'm just a little disgusted with people and how cold and evil they can be. I wouldn't be surprised if she was praying he'd die the way he did so she could collect.

The call of duty

Last week, I got a summons in the mail for jury duty.

I found it odd and somewhat amusing to tell people about it and have them automatically tell me of the many ways I can get out of it. At the same time, I feel kind of sad. If anyone doesn't remember anything about me on this sort of topic, I'm a member of the evil liberal left and a strong democratic supporter. And while it may shock people to know this, I am also a strong supporter of my country no matter what may be happening. I can be a little conservative about some subjects as well, but for the most part, I just try to remember that I'm a citizen of the United States and I have a duty whether I'm in a uniform or not. With any citizen in our country, we have but two duties to perform and while you may think they're a waste of your time or that their opinion wouldn't matter anyway.

I find it hilarious that more often than not, you're going to hear this said by republican supporters in this state. Here's something to think about (Which I probably shouldn't say because I'll probably end up turning my state from blue to red if the wrong people read it) in the last election, Kerry won Illinois by 545,554 votes. Sounds like a landslide, huh? Considering that less than half of the population actually voted, I'd say he got lucky. If 750,000 Bush supporters had woken up on election day here in Illinois and felt that their vote actually mattered, Kerry would have lost even worse than he had and this state would be a battleground state again.

Beyond voting, which I feel is your most important job as a citizen here, your next most important job is to show up for jury duty when your name is picked. I know it's a lot of time lost from your day. And I know it could drag on for gods only know how long. But think of it this way: If it were you who was the defendant, wouldn't you want people to actually show up for jury duty when you needed them? Those twelve people are part of the system in this country that determines how some of our laws are interpretted and how we as a people believe our system should work. Wouldn't you want be a part of it rather than a victim of it? How many of us heard the news of Michael Jackson's aquittal from his crimes and were furious with the jury? I know I was, and I still am because they proved me right later on by admitting that they thought he was guilty!! But they let him off anyway. No wonder he moved out of the country. He probably figures he won't get another chance to do his despicable deeds and get away with it here.

Jury duty is important. I think people should volunteer for it if they could. I may sound like a patriotic nutjob, and maybe I am. I've had friend in Iraq and I've done my share of nail biting when I hear news from there. I also think Lebannon should be glad I'm not the President. My only comment would have been, "They brought this on themselves by allowing a terrorist organization to live and thrive within their borders." Yeah, I'm a jackass, but that's how I see it. I do feel sorry for the people killed, but at the same time, I can't believe they're actually suprised by what happened.

Anyway, I think I'll save most of my political opinions for a little closer to election day other than so say that I'm looking forward to jury duty and hope anyone else out there who also get's a summons and can attend should do so.

Well, one other comment, because it just now crossed my mind: About this whole gay agenda thing. Did you know when I hear those words on television being spouted out by Ann Coulter, Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell, I have a hard time not laughing myself into a coma?

"Gay Agenda? Gay people can barely decide where they want to go for coffee most of the time, much less come together with a coherent agenda!"

At least, that's been my observation. Unless there's sex involved. Then it's like a dog pile in a NFL game.

Down the slippery slope

So, things are moving right along. NOT!

The damn lawyers are taking forever. I MAY get my paperwork to finish up the settlement on the 16th. Hopefully so, because I'd like to use some of that money to do little things like pay off my car before more intrest rolls over onto it. Sheesh!

In other news, I made, what could turn out to be the stupidest decision of my life just now.
I've been getting applications for credit cards since I made my first payment on the car two months ago. Can I tell you how truely annoying it is to get one every three days? Because, it is. And each time, I knew that I shouldn't fill it out and send it back. Now, I will admit I've filled out about three of them, but I think that was some demented form of therapy because I have yet to send out a single one.

However, today, I got one that said that I could process my appllication online in under 60 seconds. I kind of chuckled to myself (and the dog) thinking it would be funny to get a "what the hell, are you serious!?" rejection in under 60 seconds. So, like the lemming I am, I went down to the computer and filled out the application and waited the 60 seconds for them to tell me to bugger off.

Much to my surprise, I was approved. And it'll be in my hand in 7 to 10 days.

The last time I had a credit card was.. well, long before anyone who knows me now knew me. It was a very very large mistake and it came in the mail in the one month that I was unemployed back when I was 18. Oh, yes, they gave a child a credit card. I'm convinced that credit companies are out to ruin your life right off the bat by doing this. Parents, when you're kids get older DO NOT let them fill out a credit card application. It's just going to be bad for everyone involved. It took me about two years to get it paid off and even then I had to borrow the money from my grandma.

So, we'll see how well I fare on this one (if I get it) and go from there.

On the plus side, I guess that means I can buy my own plane ticket now...