Yes, I'm In Contempt, Big Time!

Ok, I've finally seen the light. I've always wondered how people can get themselves cited for contempt of court. Just "cliente la boca"--that is, SHUT YOUR MOUTH!

Ha.

I found that I could not shut my mouth.

You see, I am managing the rental houses that we sold in December for the new owners, as they are dealing with some serious health issues. They also live on the East Coast of Florida, travel frequently, and she is an airline stewardess. Needless to say, some doofy house in Yankeetown is not going to be high on the "I want to show up there" list. A current tenant, who shall for our purposes be named Joe, had not paid rent for May and June, and currently has October due as well. He made a partial payment when I threatened eviction, but still owes $1400. I filed the papers for eviction, giving evidence of my lease with him, his formal notice of nonpayment, and my notarized statement of my position as landlord's agent for the property. All were accepted, along with a $195 check for "filing fee". The court date was set, and two weeks later, we arrive at today.

I arrive at quarter to one, with a court time of 1 pm. We are informed at 1:15 there will be a delay. Indefinite delay. An hour goes by, an hour and half, Sarah (who was with me) and I were making games out of counting the tiles on the floor. Finally, at 2:49 pm, we go into the courtroom. He was a stone-faced geezer (I can say that now) who was in a "no crap here" kind of mode. I explain why I'm there, wait for him to speak. He takes my paperwork, says there will be a short recess. I'm thinking, well, maybe he has diarrhea?! I could certainly understand getting up and leaving abruptly. So Sarah and I joke with the bailiff a bit, he asks her questions about school, Nintendo DS, etc. Finally, about ten minutes later, the stone-faced judge returns. Without looking at me or anyone else in the room, he says, in a pretty quiet voice, case dismissed. I was like, WHAT?! But instead, I said, I beg your pardon? He says, you have no real interest in the property and cannot file this claim. I say, well, I did bring the notarized statement allowing for me to represent the owner and I am also the landlord on the lease. He says, case dismissed, we are adjourned. I say, I am simply managing the property for the owner who is having a bone marrow transplant and won't be able to appear in court for at least two months. He says sternly, We are adjourned, you don't have real interest in the property and this is the wrong venue for the claim. I say, and yes, I did actually say, That's ridiculous! I am the landlord's agent and the tenant needs to be removed for nonpayment to the owner. (Joe did not show up, of course.) He says, WHAT did you say to me? DID you SAY something to me? (breaking his stone-face for the first time). I said, I am simply asking a question, since you say it is the wrong venue, where should it be filed and by whom? If it's been wrongly filed, I'd like to know where to file it and who should do the filing?! He says, I don't have time to be your legal advice. WE ARE ADJOURNED. I say, You are a sorry old bastard who should have retired years ago to do who knows what since I guarantee no family is around your sorry A** because you are a nasty, no good, bastard of a judge! Ok, I didn't say that part, but I was thinking it for sure, and if I had, no doubt contempt would've been on it's way and I'da been sittin' my sorry butt in jail for the night. Contempt of Court? YOU BET I HAVE IT!

So gee, I wonder how people who live in Canada and rent their house in Florida evict someone? Or people who are 90 and can't move? Or people who, I don't know, WORK and have rentals as a SIDE BUSINESS!? Oh, the things I would like to have said to him. Sarah's comment as we walked out? "Gee, Momma, I don't think he liked you too much!" I said, "You're definitely right about that, but the feeling was mutual." "What's mutual?" she said. I said, "I thought he was a big jerk-wadder, too." (Thanks Jonny, I love that jerk-wadder word.)

Anyhow, for all you non-court people like I used to be:

THAT, MY FRIENDS, IS HOW YOU END UP IN CONTEMPT!

I really ought to just "cliente la boca."

Mmm, Red Velvet Cake

Since my kids always have chocolate cake with chocolate frosting, I decided for my 36th birthday, it was time to try something new. So I turned to Cook's Illustrated (again) and pulled out this pretty little number. Red Velvet Cake. A true classic, even for us Northern transplants. It could win over any sane person, no matter how thick your blood might be.

Look! It's not a lopsided wonder! My first truly straight and even with no cutting cake. Phew.

Lot of thick cream cheese frosting held up by two very even layers! It can be done!

And two bottles of red food coloring later, VOILA! Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting. Drool, or forever hold your peace.


Truly, it was moist and delicious. Sorry to make everyone so jealous. Ok, I'm not.

I got a grill for my birthday! Woohoooo! My current one flares up like a self-contained volcano. No kidding. The carcinogens in our systems are adding up exponentially with each meal. And since I do all the grilling (Shawn can't be trusted to arrive home ON TIME on any given day), it was a perfect present. Plus, Sarah wrote me a song about turning 36 (ouch) to the tune of "Don't You Want Me". Most amusing. All right, off to bed, I'm pooped and Izzy's whining like a banshee and frankly, I have no idea what she is saying, but it MUST be asking to go to bed, right?!

Goofy

The best thing about the Japanese garden was this supersteep bridge, it makes a perfect circle in the water's reflection.

After the Academy area, we headed to Chinatown for our last evening. We ate a fabulous dinner (and cheap, too!) till we were stuffed. Shawn mentioned how much he liked the "kung poo" dinner as we were walking up a steep hill and I laughed for three blocks or more. I could hardly walk, being so full and laughing so hard all at the same time! We bought some souvenirs for the kids, and went to drop off the rental car. We got back to the hotel and hardly slept at all (thanks to Shawn's tossing and turning). After getting up at 4:30 am, we headed for the airport. We arrived back in Cedar Key at 8:15 that night! A long day, but a most enjoyable trip. We were so happy to see our little ones again! Nanny and Laura went home, both thanking their lucky stars that they didn't have to care for four kids anymore! And so, all is back to normal. Work, sleep, play, kids. Someday we'll take the kids and show them where we went in person!

Cal Academy of Science

We visited the newly redone Academy of Science, one in a whole block and then some of art museums, japanese tea gardens, aquarium, planetarium, etc.

This little guy kept posing for me.

And it was there, in the bathroom stall of that wonderful place, that I found my new favorite saying--and my new favorite hand dryer--they were turbo dryer, dip your hands inbetween two plastic pieces, pull out slowly and VOILA, they're dry. Wow, can I get one for my kitchen, Shawn?

The Japanese tea garden was pretty, but frankly, Shawn and I both were bored. I guess we're not too cultural these days. We were happy to move on to the next thing...

Muir Woods

Happy to be out of the car, I guess? I swear he had not been drinking.

You can't imagine how impressive these trees are -- you have to see them to know!

Blurry but cute

Shawn and I both loved Muir Woods, it's one of our favorite places ever.

And Back...

The Lone Cypress

Dashboard view of Golden Gate Bridge

View right after GGBridge

Shawn's position for a good portion of the trip. He would NOT relinquish that steering wheel. As usual.

Pebble Beach

Shawn in the kelp

It ain't called Pebble Beach for nuthin'

We liked this crazy place for tee practice, see the patch of grass on the outcropping of rock?!

Welcome to Monterey!

After a long drive down the coast, we arrived at Monterey just in time for dinner at the Fisherman's Wharf.

I liked this fella

Our appetizer left us too full, Calamari! But huge pieces unlike you get here..our kids would have been in heaven!
We ate at Sand Spit Bar and Grill on the pier, as recommended by one of our San Fran contacts. I had cioppino, Shawn had sand dabs.

The bay with sailboats that go out every Wednesday evening from the Yacht Club.

All the boats moored for the evening

Down US 1

After San Fran, we headed south down U.S. Highway 1, a scenic drive directly on the coast. I had been there before with Grandma Gill back in college when she and I went to Yosemite and other California sites together. Unfortunately for Shawn, it was terribly foggy and he couldn't see squat. :) He kept saying, Wow, this IS fabulous dear, I can see why you loved it! By midday though, it had cleared up beautifully and the coastline was as pretty as I remembered! Shawn thought it was incredible, too.

Here we are at Pelican Point Lighthouse? I think I've forgotten the name already. Geez I'm old.

The kiteboarders were awesome to watch, we loved it.

What an adorable

We weren't the only one taking in the view that day

Lighthouse

More San Fran

The Boudin Sourdough Company makes bread in all kinds of cute shapes, turtles, lobsters, bears...

Alcatraz by day

Aw, what a cutie!

Golden Gate just beyond the tower

San Francisco

After Napa, we headed south to San Fran. We hit the Wharf late afternoon, getting a hotel room at the Hilton as it was the same as the Holiday Inn. Frankly, we weren't that impressed. But we slept well and then hit the Wharf early in the morning to catch the seafood buyers at their desks. Sales calls in person, what a concept. It was worthwhile for sure, and exciting for us both.

Golden Gate against the sunset. The first time we drove over the bridge we couldn't see squat, it was so foggy. Later we got a better view and WOW what a view it was.

Alcatraz, you just don't realize how close it really is until you're standing at the Wharf.

I lightened this a ton (it was dark) so you could see all the sea lions hanging out at the Pier for all the tourists to see. And BOY what a noise they make!