Monday Musings...
Here we are...beginning of a new week AND a new month - welcome to AUGUST.
(where does the time go?)
We also had a new "visitor" to our Fortress this past weekend.
And, I'm always up for friendly visits...no matter how many wings they might have.
If you've ever been a butterfly "buff", you may of may NOT have seen one of these, although, it's not a butterfly, but indeed, a MOTH.
How's about that munching on your clothing in the closet?
It's called a POLYPHEMUS MOTH, because of the large "eye" (Greek reference to the cyclops) on the lower wing sets, and it's about 4-5 inches ACROSS...
And that to me, is WAY better than seeing a large tarantula crossing MY path, and LOTS better than those Alaskan king crab-sized spiders on the other side of the globe...LOL.
So July ended nicely...as to August?
I did manage to "sleep in" today (amazing) and woke up around 0640 hrs.
Yeah, for ME...that's late.
I got the neighbor's cat fed, her flowers watered, then got back and watered ours, fed OUR cats, and even managed to make a cup of coffee.
Talk about early-morning multi-tasking.
*** And speaking of being "tasked", today is the day I send along my "monthly report" to our quadrant captain, telling her (if she even bothers to read it) about trends, visitors, along with a tally of the overall number of NOISE violations.
I've been doing this for SEVEN long years now...didn't think it was THAT long, and I have to admit that while a few (errant) changes have occurred around here (revolving "neighbor" syndrome, no doubt), little if any REAL difference can be seen...and definitely NOT heard.
The southern migration of our "ghetto blacks" is well under way now, with a smattering of Hispanics.
It's becoming even MORE rare to see ANY realtor signage on ANY properties.
Damn near EVERY house is "flipped" via word-of-mouth...or in some rare cases, hand-written signs.
THAT alone speaks volumes to me (no background checks for occupants, lease agreement breaches, and the like).
This is but ONE facet of this flawed "gemstone" called the SE side of Fort Wayne.
It is often said in life that if you manage to address the "small" problems, they will have this tendency to NOT grow into those LARGE problems.
That can apply to one's finances, child-rearing, auto repair, or even crimes.
But, if you ignore those small problems, you will (more sooner than later) wind up hip-deep in large problems; problems that will not only be a lot more difficult to address and manage, but can be life altering in some instances.
That's why I prefer to take care of the little things.
So why do people always say to "Never sweat the small sh*t" in the first place?
There are items when something is SO trivial that it doesn't warrant the attention we often lavish upon it.
And we waste precious time and resources making THAT right, while not bothering with slightly larger things that DO need our time.
That's where we learn to PRIORITIZE.
After all, any stove only has SO many "back-burners", right?
You try and do the right things...IN the right order, and life will tend to move a lot easier.
Think of creating priorities as LIFE'S WD-40.
It keeps things from squeaking and becoming annoying.
With that said, let's take a walk on the wild side (of Fort Wayne) and see what's shaking, shall we?
These stories happened early this past weekend, but deserve note because many of you faithful followers are NOT from this area.
But it "could" happen in YOUR city or town...given the degradation of societal mores these days.
*** This goes to show that oddballs can be found places OTHER than the SE side...just not all that often (enough).
(( Published: July 31, 2011 3:00 a.m.
Gunman shot, hurt by police in standoff - Journal Gazette
Fort Wayne – Fort Wayne police shot and seriously injured an armed man who was not following officers’ orders to drop his gun late Friday, a police official said.
The officers were dispatched to the man’s north-end home in the 5000 block of Ann Hackley Drive at 11:56 p.m. They were responding to a report of a suicidal man who had a handgun and was firing shots in the air, said officer Raquel Foster, police spokeswoman.
Foster said police found the man in the 4900 block of Rothman Road, about two blocks south of his home. She said it seems the situation developed quickly, with the man refusing to comply with commands to put down his gun.
Two officers fired their weapons, and the man was then disarmed.
The man was in serious condition at the scene, and he was taken to a hospital. He remained in serious condition Saturday night, Foster said.
Police said they are waiting until Monday to identify the wounded man and the two officers who fired at him. In compliance with department policy, the two officers are being placed on paid administrative leave.
City police and the Allen County Prosecutor’s Office are investigating the shooting. ))
Going to be interesting to see how soon this person returns to our streets.
And I'd wager this loon was WHITE, otherwise, the "family" would be rioting in the damn streets over this.
But if you prefer your loons a bit more "of color", there's this little gem:
(( Pantless drug suspect tries to evade police
Updated: Friday, 29 Jul 2011, 4:17 PM EDT
Published : Friday, 29 Jul 2011, 4:17 PM EDT
Myra McCain
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - A Fort Wayne man ditched his pants and walked down a city street in his underwear Friday morning after police suspected him of having drugs in his possession.
According to the Fort Wayne Police Department, when vice and narcotics officers along with an emergency services team arrived to search the home at 3929 South Park Drive, William Bates, 32, who was sitting in a car in the front of the house, took off his pants and started to walk down the street in his underwear.
Police caught up with Bates and when they checked the car, found his pants with his wallet and identification, along with .2 ounces of crack cocaine, a .357 magnum revolver, marijuana, powder cocaine and scales.
During a search of the home, police also found about 12.7 ounces of cocaine, 1.3 ounces of crack cocaine, 9.5 ounces of marijuana, an AK-47 rifle, a pistol grip shotgun and 6 additional handguns of various calibers and types.
Bates was charged with four counts of dealing cocaine and dealing marijuana.
Police said Willie I. Nelson, 62, was also arrested and charged with possession of about 12.3 ounces of powder cocaine that was found in the freezer inside the house. ))
And here's their respective rap sheets:
02D04-8903-MC-006531 Nelson, Willie I 03/27/1989
Allen Superior Court 4 MC - Miscellaneous Criminal
Decided P.C. MURDER
02D04-9112-CM-037082 Nelson, Willie I 12/18/1991
Allen Superior Court 6 CM - Criminal Misdemeanor
Decided CRIMINAL CONVERSION
02D04-9405-IF-005641 Nelson, Willie I 05/05/1994
Allen Superior Court 5 IF - Infraction
Decided NO OPR'S LIC. WHEN REQ'D
FAILURE WEAR SAFETY BELT
02D04-0506-MC-001128 Nelson, Willie I 06/20/2005
Allen Superior Court 6 MC - Miscellaneous Criminal
Decided P.C. POSSESSION OF COCAINE
02D04-0506-FB-000076 Nelson, Willie I 06/23/2005
Allen Superior Court 4 FB - Class B Felony
Decided DEALING IN COCAINE OR NARCOTIC DRUG, OR METH
POSSESSION OF COCAINE, NARCOTIC DRUG, OR METH
=====================================
02D04-0805-CM-002798 Bates, William J 05/05/2008
Allen Superior Court 4 CM - Criminal Misdemeanor
Decided POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA
02D04-0809-MC-002114 Bates, William J 09/11/2008
Allen Superior Court 6 MC - Miscellaneous Criminal
Decided P.C. THEFT
02D04-0809-FD-000815 Bates, William J 09/16/2008
Allen Superior Court 5 FD - Class D Felony
Decided THEFT
02D06-1106-CM-003807 na BATES, WILLIAM J 06/27/2011
Allen Superior Court 6 CM - Criminal Misdemeanor
Decided 35-44-3-3(a)(3)/MA: Resisting Law Enforcement
=========================================
Now, you have to admit that this "tactic" is a bit out-of-the-ordinary.
I've heard of "no shirt, no shoes, no service", but this IS "unique".
I guess this dumbass was thinking along similar lines:
NO pants, NO drugs, NO arrest?
Sorry, Billy Boy...doesn't work THAT way these days.
And now, the po-po can add INDECENT EXPOSURE to the mix as well....wonderful.
Oh, and did I mention that THIS happened on the ...(all together, kids...)...the SOUTHEAST SIDE of town...(thank you).
THIS is what lives down here...and in abundance.
THIS is what passes for a "neighbor" in many cases.
And (unfortunately), THIS is what is NOT being arrested in greater numbers (even after I provide information to the police).
*** I really WANT to have faith and trust in this police department...I really do, and I'm sure YOU do as well, especially in today's world (more than ever).
I know the guys and gals in blue out there are doing as good a job as they can, under the circumstances.
But here in Fort Wayne, I'm just not seeing good, solid results from having about 450 pairs of boots on the ground.
I am seeing a lot (too much) of radio-chasing (after the fact...and often the crime), but when it comes to REAL policing...not so much.
Hell, I want to see a patrol car doing just that...PATROLLING my streets 24/7/365.
I want to see officers walk the damn beat again, getting to know everyone AND everything that goes on in their particular sector.
And I want a return to RESPECT for these officers...none of this crap like evading, spitting, and acting a fool when a perp gets caught.
You want to be enough of an asshole to DO some crime, then by God, be man (or woman) enough to OWN UP TO IT.
I guess the word INTEGRITY isn't in the ebonic lexicon.
Neither are the words such as:
HONOR...
CIVILITY...
RESPONSIBILITY...
ACCOUNTABILITY...
DIGNITY...
or RESPECT!
Because if any or all of these words WERE put into practice by these cretins, we'd probably not be having a lot fewer of these conversations...
So, until that happens, I'm going to fight as good a fight as I possible can, practicing those words that are above and missing from too many people in this part of Fort Wayne.
To do LESS, makes me part of the PROBLEM, and not part of ANY solution.
And that is something I never want placed upon my shoulders.
My parents raised me a lot better than that.
Have yourselves a great week.
Be well, make a difference to someone, and...
Stay safe out there, America.