Sunday, May 20, 2007

Rainy days

The past few days have been raining and it really messes with my breathing. I didn't even go to a family wedding that I had been looking forward to. I get so much more short of breath and doing anything, even walking, feels like it takes all of my effort and energy.

Needless to say, the couch potato in me shines during times like this. I watch everything from cable news to Animal Planet, Cops, Emeril Live, Hollywood gossip to Nancy Grace. What on earth is all the attraction to Paris Hilton? It seems like everyone is hanging on every move she makes. Well, even I want her to go to jail now. What's up with all the guys and the scruffy look? I really love a guy with a little 5 o'clock shadow, but a 5 day growth in a tux? When did I miss that fashion news flash? And why should I care about Britney Spears? Oh yeah, she's another "poor little rich girl" who's lost her way. Duh.

I haven't been out to do any shopping so I've used up everything in my pantry and fridge to feed myself. I discovered that cereal is a great dinner meal, red kidney beans are quite good from the can, hard boiled eggs are a great snack food and I single handedly brought back tuna noodle casserole.

Now I have to go out today to get some cat litter!

Sunday, May 06, 2007

Snitching


I admit it. I snitched. I live in a 6 family house and the family directly upstairs from me got a visit from the PD at 3:30 in the morning a couple of weeks ago. The 19 year old son called me a 'snitch' a couple of days later.

The family upstairs consists of a single mom, her 10 year old daughter, 19 year old son and his wife. I was jolted awake at 3am one morning by yelling. At first I thought it was out on the street, but soon realized it was coming from directly above my bedroom.

The yelling continued and it was so loud that I couldn't go back to sleep so I went into my livingroom and sat on the couch. This went on for another half hour, and then I heard footsteps running above me and a loud thump, all the while the incessant shouting continued. By now I was afraid that someone was being hurt - the thump was loud. I would never be able to live with myself if the young wife or anyone else was hurt and I did nothing about it. I could hear every word that the man was shouting and he wasn't stopping.

I did what I felt I had to do and I called the police. I am pretty tolerant and wouldn't have done anything if it was just the yelling - it was the running and thumping that concerned me. The police came and knocked on their door loudly for over 10 minutes. Of course all noise stopped when they arrived. When no one responded to the knocks on their front and back doors, the PD started to batter their door in. THAT got their attention. The mother came to the door and told the cops that they couldn't come in without a search warrant and the cops responded that they could. She resisted - they bashed the door in to check on the welfare of the family.

Thank goodness no one was hurt and I am NOT sorry that I called the PD. I really resent that this neighbor considers that snitching. If anyone ever hears any loud shouting or banging in my apartment, I would appreciate someone checking it out.

I live in a small town and this whole 'don't snitch' crap is lost on me. I get that there is a whole population of people who have a basic mistrust of any authority but let's face it: the whole 'don't snitch' campaign was started for, and applies to thugs.

I refuse to be intimidated and will do what my gut tells me. I don't think I was too far off, either, because he has since smacked his little sister, and gone after his mother with a knife. Too bad I wasn't involved in any of those incidents because no one else will step up when they see this or hear it.