'Twas the Humpday Before Christmas...
Got a few things to toss out there this morning, not the least of which is the fact that we in Ft. Wayne might NOT be getting our white Christmas...maybe a dusting, or some rain, and that's it.
Reminds me of a few Christmases back in the early 70s, when I recall a New Year that was around 70 degrees outside.
Hell, we can still hope, right?
Pressing onward...
*** Today's WHO SAID IT? quote comes to us from the Battle of the Bulge which took place in the Ardennes forest at this EXACT time of year, back in 1944. Don't bother looking it up...it's a "gimme"...consider it an early Christmas gift:
"We are giving our country and our loved ones at home a worthy Christmas present and being privileged to take part in this gallant feat of arms are truly making for ourselves a Merry Christmas" - General McAuliffe on the 101st Airborne's heroic defense of Bastogne.
Suffice it say, the American forces prevailed in a situation that would seem from the outset to be akin to Custer's last Stand.
Thinking of how THOSE American soldiers spent THAT Christmas should make us ALL step back and take a look at what price their sacrifice and victory cost...and how much more WE can enjoy our freedoms and liberties today, because of such noble and honorable patriots.
We lost close to FOUR TIMES the number of soldiers in THAT battle alone (20 Dec - 15 Jan, 1944), than we did during the entire nine years of the War in Iraq, and yet it's not about the numbers. It's about individuals.
Let THAT be a guidepost for us this season.
Shifting gears...
*** Having a neighborhood become a ghettohood around you over the last 14 years makes you AWARE, if nothing else.
When you know (and can still remember) how NORMAL people act and how THEY conduct their lives, it becomes evident whenever (to paraphrase) "something hinky this way comes". Case in point, a situation that developed last evening near our "fortress".
Just after 1600 hours, a van parked across the street at the side of the house. So, I do what I usually do whenever I see a "strange" vehicle in the area...I take a photo and get the description and tag number, purely for "reference", mind you.
the driver then goes up the alley to a nearby house on another street (parking in FRONT of the house and going to the front door wasn't good enough?), and returned less than 5 minutes later, and after looking around, he backed the van down the street and into the intersection where he promptly disappeared.
Now, to ME...that's not NORMAL behavior.
Whenever I go to anyone else's house, I don't park on another street, and creep up to their back door.
So, I determined this guy was "visiting" for reasons OTHER than merely a "social" call...and I think YOU can figure it out as well.
Some time passes, life goes on for me, and around 1955 hrs, the SAME van returns, parks in the same place, only this time TWO men get out and go up the alley to the same house...curiouser and curiouser.
Didn't seem like anyone was returning a HYMNAL...or dropping off kids or food...and definitely not returning a video or CD to Blockbuster, so I think it's gotta be "something" else...
I went out to our garage and waited, because I had a feeling I should be there.
Sure enough, within 3-5 minutes, they both returned to the van, and the driver handed (palmed) "something" off to the second man, but THIS time, he didn't back down the street, but decided to make a u-turn using OUR driveway (which has a nice sign that reads PRIVATE PROPERTY - KEEP OUT)...
BIG mistake.
I waited until the van was pulled into the drive and then "lit him up" with my green LASER POINTER, right in his FACE!
Obviously, he wasn't expecting ANYTHING like that, and couldn't back OUT of the driveway fast enough...LOL.
In fact, he was SO damn busy trying to get away, he backed into a neighbors chain-link fence post, knocking it 45 degrees askew, before he peeled out and over the street he came in on. He took off like he was shot from a damn CANNON. I'm loving this.
(BTW, I was armed...just in case - always am whenever I'm on MY property)
I figure, I'm not quite done with this perp yet...I really need to spread some CHRISTMAS CHEER...
So, I called the po-po, and gave them the account of the situation including the tag number of the vehicle and direction of travel when last seen.
An officer was dispatched to the house, and I related the tale to him, asking if he wanted to see a few pictures I had taken.
He explained they had the data on the computer in the cruiser and thanked me for my help, saying they will be looking for the vehicle and if seen, will pull it over (routine traffic stop thing). I stated he might have some rear end damage from the fencepost he nailed on the way out.
The officer said "Sounds like you spooked 'em pretty good."
I said "Hey, it's Christmas...just trying to make the season bright...and possibly pharmaceutically-free."
We wished each other the best of the season, and he left.
I wanted this "on the record" for another reason...in case of retaliation (yeah, I know how to cover MY ass, too).
Anything happens, we got a suspect...nice, huh?
THAT is the way you deal with people who don't act in a "normal" manner.
(you lay in wait, go on the offensive, strike fast, and then get a paper trail going...lol)
'Tis the season...to NOT be copping dope anywhere NEAR my house...period.
*** And along those lines, and because I received SO many requests for it (okay, actually maybe it was only TWO, and I wanted to put it here again), here is the perennial Christmas favorite:

Ghetto Night Before Christmas

*****
'Twas da night befo' Christmas & all in the hood,
Not a homie was stirring cuz it was all good;
The tube socks was hung on the window sill
And we all had smiles up on our grill.
Mookie and BeBe was snug in the crib -
In the back bedroom, cuz that's how we live.
And Mom’s in her do-rag and me with my nine,
Had just gotten busy cuz girlfriend is fine.
All of a sudden a lowrider rolled by,
Bumpin' phat beats cuz the system's fly;
I bounced to the window at a quarter pas'
'Bout ready to pop a cap in somebody's ass!
Well anyway.... I yelled to my lady, "Yo peep this!"
She said, "Stop frontin' & just mind yo' bidness."
I said, for real doe, "come check dis out,"
We weren't even buggin', no worries, no doubt.
Cuz bumpin' an thumpin' from around da way
Was Santa, 8 reindeer and a sleigh;
Da beats was kickin', da ride was phat,
I said, "Yo red Dawg, you all that!"
He threw up a sign and yelled to his boyz,
"Ay yo, give it up, let's make some noise!"
To the top of the projects & across the strip mall,
We gots ta go, I got a booty call!"
He pulled up his ride on the top a da roof,
And sippin' on a 40, he busted a move;
I yelled up to Santa, "Yo ain't got no stack!"
He said, "Damn homie, deese projects is wack!"
"But don't worry black, cuz I gots da skillz -
I learnt back when I hadda pay da billz."
Out from his bag he pulled 3 small tings
A credit card, a knife, and a bobby pin.
He slid down the fire escape smoove as a cat,
And busted the window wit' a b-ball bat.
I said, "Whassup, Santa? Whyd’ya bust my place?"
He said, "You best get on up out my face!"
His threads was all leatha, his chains was all gold,
His sneaks was Puma and they was 5 years old;
He dropped down the duffle, Bull’s logo on the side.
Santa broke out da loot and my mouf popped open wide.
A wink of his eye and a shine off his gold toof,
He cabbage patched his way back onto the roof;
He jumped in his hooptie wit' rims made of chrome,
To tap that big booty waitin' at home.
And all I heard as he cruised outta sight,
Was a loud and hearty..... "SOUUTH SIIIIDE!!!!!!!"

*** Lastly today, as we can plainly see, everything in our lies is mostly affected by PEOPLE.
Doesn't matter where we live, or who we know. When it comes to our "neighbors" (here), I much rather prefer SOLITUDE over them...ANY day.
I would rather go nuts being in ISOLATION, than even attempt to "mingle" with folks driven by an entitlement mentality, and wanting everything YOU have, because they have no desire to acquire it the way YOU did...namely by hard work.
Yet, it's Christmas season, and we SHOULD be charitable...well, I got NO problem with that.
There IS being CHARITABLE, and then there's being downright DUMB.
You KNOW who is deserving of charity, as well as who is "crying wolf" here, if you're anyone that has come to know society in general, and people in particular.
We plan to be VERY charitable this year, because it's always better to give than to receive.
And we KNOW that whatever we decide to donate (for whatever cause) it WILL do the most good for the most people.
It won't be a handout, but rather a hand UP...the way people SHOULD express charity to one another.
And it will be done with a grateful heart, because we are blessed enough to do so.
THAT is a large part of what the season means to us...plain and simple.
It's nice to remind oneself of that from time to time.
Helps keep one humble and mindful of what others have to endure because of true hardship.
Yeah...that works for me.
Be well, make a difference to someone today, and...
Stay SAFE out there, America.