Champagne Lip Balm

Stewart and Heidi gave me this fabulous champagne flavored lip balm for my birthday. It really feels good, so I took it to my office when the lip balm I kept in my desk drawer ran out last week. What I didn't anticipate was that it would so realistically smell like alcohol. It took me the better part of a day to figure out that all of my clients were not relapsing (although I still have my doubts about one of them). I replaced my champagne lip balm at the office with a non-alcoholic variety - now I just hope I don't get pulled over by the police when I'm wearing it. I wonder how it will test on a breathalyzer...

Ender's Game

Marilyn read Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card and raved about it, so I picked it up and was immediately caught up in the fantastic story of a boy genius who is destined to save the world from an alien race called buggers. Ender's Game is touted as one of the best sci-fi books ever written, and it may be. I was amazed at how a book originally written in 1977 could so accurately portray so many things that have come to pass, like the use of things like video games to train soldiers and the use of the Internet to disseminate political messages. The story of Ender Wiggins, the 6 year old genius who goes to Battle School to learn how to become a great commander, is both wrenching and exhilarating. It is difficult to read about a 6 year old who is isolated and alienated by adults who are trying to mold him into a killing machine. Overall, I enjoyed Ender's Game, but I found the sequences in which the adults in Battle School talked about Ender's treatment rang false to me. I would still recommend it and I plan to read the sequels and go see the movie when it is released in 2008.

Creepy La Loca Update

I got this e-mail from my landlady today:

Karen-

Thank you for taking the time Tuesday to go into court and testify against Tina. I understand that you were particularly articulate and largely
responsible for our getting the judgment.

It turns out that Tina is even crazier and more desperate than we had realized. Last week she spent so much time trying to get the FBI to charge Mary Katherine and our management company with hate crimes that she is now banned from the FBI building.

Yesterday she apparently called the Secret Service Field office in Houston and said that if she was evicted next Tuesday she will kill someone.

Please be very careful. We have been advised that the Houston Police have been notified and if you do need to call them they will respond.

Isabel

She is so creepy. I am still glad I testified, but I am dreading having to deal with her until she moves. I am dreading dealing with her after she moves, too. I don't think this will be over until we move out. What a mess.

Crazy Court

I testified for the management company today at La Loca's eviction trial. It was a rotten experience. Mary Catherine, the neighbor with MS, is a ghoul. When I arrived at the courtroom, she pointed to the front two rows of seats and grinned saying, "These two are ours." I just nodded affirmatively. She really was taking a sick kind of delight in trying to get La Loca thrown out of her apartment. Mary Catherine and I were the only neighbors to show up, and midway through the trial, I told her to be quiet. She kept saying things out loud, like white trash at the Jerry Springer Show.

Court opened at 9:00 AM, and several cases were thrown out because neither the apartment management or the defendant showed up for the trial. Three cases had one party show up, so the judge knocked those out in about 10 minutes each. Then our trial came up, and it went on for two and a half hours. The management company vice-president was first to speak. Apparently, they had been confiscating her signs, so they had her Wookin' Por Nub sign and her Laptop for Sale sign. The short of it is that I told the judge that I was sure there would be retaliation on her part, but that I felt I owed it to Connor to come to court and tell them about her bizarre behavior. She accused me of being a liar, whipped out a sealed envelop and chucked it at the judge telling him, "There is a thousand dollars in that envelope, I want her to take a lie detector test." She brought up a lot of irrelevant issues, mostly "violations" she feels the management company has committed. She even tried to claim my plants were "trash" and cluttering up the courtyard. Her arguments were wild, varied, and even inappropriate. She brought up an argument that Mary Catherine's boyfriend was having sex with Mommy Dearest. There was an e-mail introduced into evidence in which La Loca proclaimed her lust for a tenant who moved out of her residence after only living here for 3 months to avoid the unwanted advances of La Loca.

The judge sided with the management company and told her that she needed to leave the courtroom and not accost any of the witnesses as we left. She has 5 days to file an appeal, or vacate the premises. My guess is she will be filing an appeal. I parked my car in the Medical Center and took the train into downtown this morning.

On my way back to train, La Loca pulled up to the intersection just as I was about to cross. She was stopped at a red light, but I was going to have to walk directly in front of her to get to the train. It was reflex, I waited until another pedestrian stepped out in front of her car before high tailing it across the road. She yelled at me as I crossed, "God is going to get you for this." I'm pretty sure that the only one who will try to get me is her. Before I got home, I got a call from the attorney who thanked me for my bravery. I don't feel particularly brave, but I am glad that there is a good chance she will be moving...at some point, anyway.

Dilemma

On Notice by MEG

Marilyn doctored the "On Notice" list from the Colbert Report. It fits this blog entry because I got a call from the management of my apartment complex asking me to go to court and testify against La Loca for them next week. They are working on throwing her out of her apartment and they want me to be a character witness against her. On the one hand, I can see why they are taking her to court, and I agree that she needs to go. On the other hand, I am not looking forward to living in the building she burns to the ground after they throw her out. I am also not looking forward to having my tires slashed after I testify against her and she's thrown out. I don't relish being responsible for her homelessness, and I do not think I want to see her on the elevator where I work heading to the homeless program. I told them I would call them today with a decision either for or against testifying against her, but I absolutely blocked it. I didn't remember to call them until after 7:00 PM.

Vandalism

The latest incident/straw - Mommy Dearest got her tires slashed. Connor's money is on La Loca. I don't doubt it, but Mommy Dearest seems to have the ability to piss people off, so who knows?

Little Rock July 2006

Fireworks Over Vinson by Finijo

The trip to Little Rock was pretty good. Arguing was minimal and a pleasant time was had by all. I had almost forgotten how much I enjoyed summer nights in Arkansas.

Party Keg by Finijo

We set off fireworks one evening and ate barbecue cooked by BJ - who is quite a good cook. The carport entrance under the patio leads to what will probably be a full apartment with a kitchen, living room and bathroom. It also contains a tornado/storm safe room.

Side View of Dave's New House by Finijo

Dave's new house is coming along nicely. He says he thinks it will be done in about 2 more years.

Waterfall by Finijo

He completed the waterfall and the rock siding his new home. It is all much bigger than it appears in the pictures.

Front View with the Boys by Finijo

This is a front view of the house with Connor, BJ and Reuben (the dog) standing on the landing that leads into the living room.

Front View from Driveway by Finijo

This is a shot from further down the driveway. It will really be breathtaking when it is finished. Dave has created a pretty unique space for himself.

View of Property from a Distance by Finijo

This is a view of the old house, pool house, trampoline, and gazebo. You can barely see the volleyball net off to the right. Dave has an fundraiser luau every year, so at least once a year, the property is filled with festivities, barbecue and lots of people.

Pool View of Old House by Finijo

This is a view of the old house and the pool house. Ruben is inside the fence debating on whether he should take a swim or not.

Connor and BJ Wrestle by Finijo

Connor and BJ had a wrestling match with the floats. Connor is almost as big as BJ, now. It is surprising that he caught up with BJ as quickly as he did (Con is 12 and BJ is 20), but it is not completely unexpected.

Ruben Plays Ball by Finijo

Ruben loves to play ball and he loves to play in the pool. In this shot he is playing with Dave while Marilyn and Connor look on. If you look in the background, you can see the new house peeking from behind the trees.

Ruben at Rest by Finijo

Ruben doesn't sit still a lot, but I was able to get a shot of him while he watched Marilyn and I walking around outside. Ruben is a really cool dog.