Served

one more big moment in life to check off the list, just as 2008 comes to a close: i had my first restraining order filed against me. it's actually an injunction against harassment, but close enough. aaron's ex-girlfriend alleges that i come into the store where she works for the sole purpose of staring her down. all precipitated by the fact that someone allegedly slashed her tire last week. i find this slightly amusing because staring does sound like something i would do. when i was in high school. or first grade. side note: does anyone remember saying, "you got a eye problem!?" ?

unfortunately, it's unfounded -- i'm all grown up now with at least SOME maturity and perspective and healthy fear of losing my law license and YEAH RIGHT i would leave my apartment in the middle of the -4 degree night to commit crimes when even cheap beer and wing night couldn't lure me from under the covers -- so really it's kind of annoying. because wandering aimlessly around in the quiet, temperature-controlled womb of the mall in search of great bargains is probably my #1 extra-curricular activity while the weather stinks and my husband is occupied. and because the comfiest bench in the mall is outside that place. and because it is the only place in flagstaff that sells flannel-lined jeans and i'm not sure i'll be able to survive much more of winter without stocking up and i was really hoping that they would eventually go on enough sale that i could afford a pair for every day of the week. *sigh*

most interesting was being approached by a police officer. as a public defender, i constantly gave my clients the do-not-talk-to-the-police spiel and was constantly disappointed by the fruitlessness of the spiel. now i understand because i failed the test myself! i tried to answer the questions politely like i was taught as a little girl, but finally remembered my own advice and told her (yes, her, ugh) that although she was entitled to my name and address, i had nothing else to say to her. she continued to ask me questions. the same questions over and over again, i guess to see if i would give different answers. she accused me of lying after every answer and hinted at dire consequences for doing so. she accused me (incorrectly) of evading service and informed me (incorrectly) that i would be in big trouble if i did not let the constable serve me. as aaron pointed out, why is it that it's a crime to lie to a police officer when he can lie to you all he wants? she finally gave up when it was clear that these techniques were not working on me and i know more about the law and her rights than she did. most people (especially those out allegedly committing crimes and ESPECIALLY kids) are not in that position, however. my disgust with custodial interrogations and statements to the police has increased ten-fold in a mere 7 minutes.

and the officer's excuse for treating an ordinary and innocent citizen like a criminal: based completely on unsubstantiated hearsay from a biased, paranoid and elitist little girl with her own history of vandalizing my marital property. this is such a ridiculous and insignificant event in my life, but the big picture just blows me away. maybe the maricopa PD has it right with their overwhelming hatred and distrust of law enforcement ... in which case, maybe i will more seriously consider defecting to a deserted tropical island. tom hanks survived it AND he had a good tan.