32 thoughts on “May 16, 2021: Ek!”

  1. FB memories reminded me that Runner daughter graduated on this date. And Harmon died.

    This morning we pack up and head for home -- it's been a nice week at the lake in MN. Last night we had a pleasant visit with my youngest brother and SIL, who got to detox here for a while after their daughter's wedding the day before. We took the canoe out and played duck duck goose gray duck with a pair of loons, and discovered an eagle's nest on the island with the mom feeding young 'uns. I also learned that the mountain chickadee sings "cheeseburger" (look up a video).

    We saw a goodly amount of wildlife this past week, and I was especially surprised by the number of swans; I guess our timing was right to see them.

  2. I had planned on spending most of yesterday working on the yard. On Saturday, my son mowed the lawn and trimmed some of the branches that needed attention. As a result, my Sunday plans changed. After church, I played 18 holes of golf and spent some time on the putting green and driving range. Got home, finished up some yard work, including removing lower branches on my dozen pine trees so we can mow without getting all scratched up. I made some Pork Chops that we got from my chef, who raises pigs and beef. First farm fresh pork I have had in a long time and those chops were phenomenal! Watched the 3rd period and OT of the Wild game, which was awesome! At around 6, I took my wife to the driving range to help her with her swing, and then we played another dozen holes or so. Weather was absolutely perfect all day. All in all, a great day!

    1. We ended up shipping Newbish to Grandma's house and working all weekend. Got the nursery painted, got some fabric put down on the garden, got the lawn mowed, got the compost spread onto the garden and tilled in. It was a heck of a weekend.

      The gin and the tonic tasted very, very good in the evenings.

  3. Citizen lawyers out there:

    My organization won a Hennepin County conciliation court case against another business and it's been 30 days past the appeal deadline with no payment. I'm trying to find out what my options are at the court to force him to pay or garnish the payment, etc. I'm seeing nothing on the Court website, nothing was in our award notice, and the phones don't seem to offer any help in talking to a person.

    What are my options, and more importantly, how do I access the process (if there is one)?

    1. Short answer: "Ugh" with a "Well..."
      Long answer: "Let's have a conversation about throwing good money after bad."

      1. So what you're telling me is that there isn't an easy way to have the courts squeeze him. Maybe I'll get our attorney's to send him a sternly written letter.

        1. There are ways, but there are ways around those ways, etc. But I don't know too many attorneys who love doing collection work, and when you're talking about concilliation court, you're necessarily talking about (relatively) small amounts. So you've got to watch out for the fees to collect eating up a big chunk of the award.

          1. I did know one attorney who enjoyed this stuff... he once dumped out a woman's purse and started cataloging the various items inside, in response to her denying that she had any assets of value.

    2. I had a neighbor that win a dispute against a concrete guy. Concrete guy ignored him. Sheriff explained to neighbor how he could search for vehicles in the business' name. My neighbor found a brand new truck and the sheriff seized the truck for him. He got paid pretty quickly after that.

      1. Nice!

        I should probably qualify my advice: my experience involves lots of exempt assets and such. Way more headaches there...

      2. That's what I'm talking about. Court awarded us $5,300 but if I could somehow make non-payment difficult that would be cool. Even the threat of doing so might help.

        1. Coon Rapids National Little League received a judgment 25 years ago on an embezzlement and still hasn't seen hardly any of the money

          1. From what I've seen, I'd be surprised if most organizations like that don't have some level of misproportioned funds. No controls whatsoever.

      1. This is the kind of detail-oriented, deep-cut, subtle-but-precision-delivered snark that I pay good money to be here for.

          1. I should ask you and the other lawyers around these parts:

            Almost every attorney's office I have ever been in has been , how do I say this, very outdated and not polished up at all. I am wondering if Lawyers or Law Firms don't want to show too nice of an office in order to stem thoughts in your clients that you must over charge? Kind of like some plumbers and electricians I know who use a beat up truck for their business, but have a $70,000 truck they drive around for personal reasons. Anyway, not saying your office is like that, but speaking from my experience and just kind of curious.

            1. I’m also a bit curious. We recently refinanced our house* (nearly a decade after purchase) and had to go in to sign paper forms at the title company selected by our (large) credit union. The company’s office is in a small suite in a Malaise Era, three storey, faux Tudor commercial property on a service road near some auto dealers. It was the first office building I’ve been inside in over a year. The office hasn’t been redecorated since the early Nineties (at least). My thinking at the time was that they’re not putting a dime more into decor or amenities than they have to, and sink all the rest into the appropriate tax-sheltered LLCs. I only saw one employee, although he talked to someone else, so they seem pretty small.

              I’ve spent the last 15 months working from my basement’s bar, where I have one small non-egress window six feet off the floor. So, not much natural light. But holy heck, that title company office was a depressing environment I couldn’t wait to leave.

              * Legal Wrinkle SelectShow
              1. Judging by the horror stories I've heard from my wife, title agencies strike me as rather mercenary about things. I think your "let's get on with this" instinct is probably at least somewhat on point.

                1. My title guy is a quote legend unquote in the title business in Nola. He has an extensive art collection of great value on display in the most depressing high rise structure in central city New Orleans that I’ve ever seen. Happy to leave (twice now).

              2. When we refinanced, they managed to screw up two things in the documents: 1) the amount; and 2) the location of our house. We did not sign that day much to the annoyance of everyone else.

  4. One of my academic buddies, a Cubbies fan, sent me something from stathead, with sympathies.

    Since 1950, the worst Inherited Runners Scored percentage by any MLB team was Boston 1956 (82 of 153, 54 percent).

    So far this season, the Twins have allowed 36 of 53 Inherited Runners to score. Sixty-eight percent.

    As Kenny Mayne would say, "that would be a record."

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