Tuesday, May 31, 2011: Good Morning Sam! PHEW! Today was almost a complete waste of time. Between divine intervention and Alicia & Carlos, it ended up being a good day in court. I apologize upfront if I mentioned this before, we have a new judge in family court. The other judge was older and frankly getting a little lazy, thus opting for early retirement. Believe me, I am not sad to see that judge go. Today was the second time this month the new judge let Adriana Coronel Tenorio (AKA Adriana Howitt Coronel, Ari Coronel, Ari Coronel Tenorio, Ari Howitt, Ari Howitt Coronel) have it, telling her she needs to come into her court room with the understanding that it’s YOUR best interests that she has to keep in mind and not her own. As we all know, doing anything that is not self-serving to Adriana is going to be a challenge for her.
It was nice that the judge used us as an example of how we have been keeping your interests in mind the whole time. The judge suggested Adriana follow suit. It probably will not surprise you to hear Adriana was not prepared yet again. There was no translator. This could have ruined the day. Ironically it was the complete opposite. Oscar Ivan Diaz Gomez argued that it was our petition so we should pay for the translator. You should have seen the look on his face. It was as if he just won the lottery thinking he finally got a favorable decision on us. The judge saw it differently: their objection, their responsibility.
Adriana and Oscar Ivan Diaz Gomez actually had the nerve to tell the judge they are in no hurry to finish this. That is when the judge laid into them about putting your needs above their own. It’s about time we were not the only ones to figure that out. Unfortunately our next court date is not until August 16th. So much for that.
In the meantime, I actually was able to convince Adriana to schedule a meeting while everyone was in the same room. What’s the worst that can happen? Exactly, it already has. Adriana cannot, or will not, make any big life decisions 1-month before her birthday. That’s what she told me. So we meet June 28th. No joke. While all this was going on Alicia was meeting with the judge in private for 10-minutes. The judge alluded to the travesty that is this case and how I have not been able to spend much time with you these last 2+ years! FINALLY! Someone recognizes it!
On the drive back to their office, Alicia shared with me that we only have to go to court a couple times to present new motions. June 8th is the judgment in the criminal case and August 16 is the continuation of today. Barring any appeals, perhaps you will be able to spend Thanksgiving with me on our own. That thought alone is surreal to me. I LOVE YOU SAM!
