(Black) Friday Follies..
Alrighty, then...got all the leftovers cuffed & stuffed, right?
All set to go shopping on this day, otherwise known as "Black Friday", right?
What...are you CRAZY?
Good luck to you...you're gonna NEED it
We plan to stay as CLOSE to home as possible.
It was funny to note that one house in our area has had CHRISTMAS LIGHTS up since Halloween...someone need to get these folks with the holiday list chronology!
A bit EARLY there...but these people will do whatever they want...because they CAN.
Yesterday's festivities around our house were sedate (and I wish many of the neighbors would have been SEDATED).
I've been used to cooking for at least FOUR, and this year, it's only two. Talk about recalculating the logistics of the day...lol.
It was fun after a fashion...mostly.
Later on in the day, I got in my usual "funk", because I had a pet cat pass away on Thanksgiving (back in Philly)...
That's an...interesting thing to have occur, especially right in front of you, as you hold him.
Feline Urinary Syndrome was the culprit, and my little buddy went to that Rainbow Bridge on that day.
After that devastating event, I boned up on as many health concerns about felines (and canines) as I could.
Helluva learning experience, I can tell you.
But, I still carry a picture of him in my wallet...STILL.
Told you...I'm a complex individual.
It makes me all the more fond of the cats we have now (and they're entering their 14th year, so I can plan another round of losing them soon enough).
At least THEY think they're still young...the way they run through the house.
*** Anyway, enough about that for now...
I want to describe what our ghettohood was like yesterday, but I first want to convey the fact that last night (and early this morning) we had TWO MORE shooting incidents in town.
Three people are in the hospital for now, but remember, we're only ONE HOMICIDE away from my prediction of TWENTY-FIVE for the year.
(could be higher should more than ONE give up the ghost).
((Update 1500 hrs - From The News-Sentinel/WPTA:
The Fort Wayne Police Department is investigating two separate shooting incidents – one late Thursday night, the other early this morning – that resulted in three people being shot.
Police officers were dispatched around 0315 hrs. today to investigate a report of a possible shooting in an area near Hobson Road and Trier Road, according to a news release from the police department. Officers heading to the scene were
then notified that two men who had sustained gunshot wounds had reported to the emergency room of a hospital.
One of the men was reportedly in fair condition with a wound to an arm; the other man was reportedly in serious condition after being struck in the chest, according to the news release.
Police said witnesses reported that a light-colored vehicle, possibly gray, pulled up next to another vehicle at the intersection of Hobson and Trier, where someone from the light-colored vehicle opened fire.
In the first incident around 2345 hrs yesterday, police officers responded to a home in the 800 block of Lake Avenue after a report of a shooting and home invasion.
Upon arrival, officers found two men in the residence. One, a 27-year-old man, had a gunshot wound to an arm, while the other man, 55, was reportedly struck in the head by a person with a gun, according to a news release. Both men were taken to a hospital and were said to be in fair condition.
Police investigators believe two armed men knocked on the door to the home and then forced their way in when one of the victims opened the door, according to the release.
Police are looking for 2 white males, in their 20's, about 5'10", around 185 lbs. One was wearing a camo hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans, while the other wore a black sweatshirt and jeans.
The men reportedly robbed the victims of an undisclosed amount of money.
No identities in either incident were released. ))
So, there 'ya are...crime really DOES NOT take a holiday, at least for the chronically cranial-rectally-inverted among us.
Neither area is near us (for a change), and I can state I did not hear ANY gunfire in our area (also, for a change).
But that doesn't mean we came through Thanksgiving "unscathed", as it were...
Personally, I prefer every other house in our immediate area to be EMPTY...I can monitor the ghettohood a LOT better when "their" numbers are fewer.
However, thanks to Section 8 housing (and we all know how wonderful THAT can be), we get more than our share of human refuse moving into the area.
Now, we did have a wheel-chair bound individual at one house nearby, and that was working out well. Then, suddenly, we didn't see that person any longer, but instead saw a car from Minnesota at the house. Another "new" tenant? Didn't see any furniture come OR go...perhaps a "relative"?
With these people, who can say?
But since the 20th of this month, the house has seen about THREE TIMES the traffic is used to have (which was practically a handful of cars per month).
Last night was the kicker, though.
Over TWENTY vehicles came and went, until well after midnight (this began late morning).
Now, you're probably thinking "Family's over for the holiday", and you "could" be correct.
BUT...I know enough about these people from being exposed to them for a dozen years down here.
I know the "patterns" they follow, the "M.O." if you will.
And this had all the trappings of something a bit more "involved" than mere holiday frivolity.
About 8 or so years ago, we had a guy living at the same house that was running a gambling house.
How did I know this?
Well, it as pretty obvious (to me).
People were coming and going, usually at night, and I could see hands being moved about (in the garage window) AS IF someone were tossing dice, and I would see people walking to and from the house with WADS of foldin' money that could choke a damn horse.
And most all the "patrons" were BLACK MALES...hardly EVER saw any women there.
Yesterday was like Deja Vu...all over again.
The exact same patterns at the house, except I saw no money (it WAS dark after the sun went down), no women, and sheets are covering the windows. (many around here don't know what the hell DRAPES, CURTAINS, or BLINDS are...how ghetto is that?)
They DID have every outside light on,...as a "beacon" to those wanting to "stop on by". Plus, those at the house did put out TWO 96 gallon trash bins that are a bit more than FULL!
(that's a LOTTA trash for just ONE day, right?)
Whenever you have a group of these people, they create trash like there's no tomorrow. They will stand in one spot, and then leave a pile of trash when they move...simply A-frigging-mazing!
I swear they must ship it in.
And naturally, the PARKING issue becomes a problem REAL fast.
Houses around here with garage parking (like ours) are uncommon, as when these places were built not everyone even HAD a car...so, it's either a driveway or on-street parking.
No one told these assholes that having TWENTY vehicles at a bungalow that isn't even 1000 Sq. Ft in size is MAYBE not the smartest thing to do.
Double-parking is standard, and taking over half the damn block with their vehicles is the norm.
Screw anyone ELSE living around here that wants (or NEEDS) to park at THEIR house...these morons have NO regard about others.
Yes, friends...this IS once again a "party-house".
((OR..it could also be another "week-long" funeral PARTY like we had at the house across the street from THIS house several years back...either way...it's an f'n nuisance.))
And given the repute of other such establishments, we could be in for some interesting times.
We've already seen what can occur at illicit places that are conducting activities that could deemed "dubious" in nature.
Hell, we had rolling gunfights that weren't even related to houses in this area...it's just a fun place to drive around and shoot at one another (or houses).
Now, I plan to relate my suspicions to our FWPD quadrant captain...and then we'll sit back and watch to see HOW LONG this house is allowed to "operate" before ANYTHING gets done.
I know I plan to call in ANY loud music or loud partying...that's SOP for me.
I mean, I don't want to see this escalate (or is that devolve?) into someone getting pissed and then start shooting up the area.
Oh, wait...that's the way THESE PEOPLE take over good neighborhoods...by fear & intimidation.
I suppose when you're bred to be a "ward of the government", look upon that as "your right", and have absolutely NO self-worth or esteem, you gotta do something while in between handout checks, right?
Maybe President Reagan was onto something when we wanted to make WELFARE into more like WORKFARE.
Perhaps it's time to revisit that place.
*** The GOOD news is that the weather has turned wintry...with a vengeance!
(that should keep the local flotsam shivering their sub-woofers off)
Last night, the wind-chill dipped into SINGLE digits (which seems kinda BALMY if you live in Montana...or Wyoming...or Idaho).
And we saw on the news where people were CAMPED OUT in this weather to be"first in line" when whatever store they were at opened today...
Whiskey-Tango-Foxtrot????
What on God's green earth is SO enticing that would cause one to leave their senses (and warm home) to bivouac on a sidewalk alongside a BEST BUYS in freezing weather?
The only reason I would do anything remotely close to that (and I DO mean the ONLY reason), would be if I knew *I* was being given a brand new Aston Martin DB9 (in the color of my choice with all the extras, and a year's worth of gas)...that's IT!
They could offer me my choice of women, firearms, or scotch (all together...for free), and NONE of that would be worth getting my warm ass outside to "wait" in some dumbass line, freezing parts of my anatomy that shall remain nameless...period.
I guess these people really DON'T know what the hell Thanksgiving was all about...damn shame.
Seems we have more smart PHONES than we have smart PEOPLE these days.
Not necessarily a good thing, is it?
At least I know what I am thankful for, and it ain't some 5AM sale at some electronic "boutique".
Wifey and I will get shopping...when all this hoopla dies the hell down.
We don't have to prove anything to anyone else..or even each other.
We got it together in that regard.
Which is a lot more than I can say for all the rest of these mooks around here.
Yeah...it sure helps to make the season BRIGHT, if nothing else, right?
Have yourselves a great weekend...shop wisely, and remain aware of your surroundings.
Be well, make a difference to someone, and...
Stay safe out there, America.