Originally Posted By chickendumpling I feel compelled to offer up some unsolicited advice to you Tiggirl because that would have me on a pretty heightened level of personal security myself. I feel for you. *hugs* I know you'll be extra alert and aware of your surroundings now. And there really is a LOT to be said for body language - head up, stand tall, walk assertively, swing those arms! (not too much though, we don't want you looking like a dork. ). My mom (and some life experiences) taught me a lot about self-protection so, at the risk of sounding like a paranoid freak, I'd like to share if you don't mind: Please constantly look around and be aware of your surroundings; casually glance under your car and the cars right next to yours as you approach them; scan the interior before getting in and don't leave blankets or coats just thrown in the back seat. If something looks out of place, you want to be able to recognize it immediately. I carry my key poised in my hand as a weapon. I never park next to vans or other "obstructed view" kinds of vehicles. I never leave my car door open unattended when I am alone. Not even for a second. I don't adjust my skirt or anything without shutting and locking my door first. Gawd, I am sounding like a weirdo. LOL. Okay, continuing on... If I'm in a place I'm unfamiliar with or don't like, I don't sit in my car checking my hair in the rear-view mirror or dilly-dally at all. I get in, lock up and drive off. I can deal with the other stuff when I get somewhere I feel safer. This may sound silly to some but I know what I'm talking about. Trust me. And, since there is a specific danger here, keep a camera readily accessible (I carry a disposable in my glove box in case I'm in a fender bender/hit and run or something), keep a notepad handy to jot down a license plate, etc., and report ANYTHING out of the ordinary. You have no idea what may be helpful or of interest to the police. If something is out of place or just seeming weirdly random, call the non-emergency number, tell them you live in that neighborhood and report it. If they act like they don't care, not your problem. I do NOT in any way mean to scare you or anything by saying this stuff. It's just good common sense coming from an "old" lady who has been around the block a few times. Take care. I'll be thinking good thoughts of peace and protection for you! Stepping off soap box now...
Originally Posted By smedley All excellent advice from Chickie, I too carry my keys that way, hold the blade of one of the keys between your fore and middle fingers with your hand in a fist around the keys... Take care, I'm sending you big hugs x x My whine is the same as it's been all week, my shoulder is still awfully sore, even just sitting doing nothing, the only relief is if I lay in the bath or in bed
Originally Posted By Tiggirl Thanks for all the advice guys. It's really helpful. Mark was very concerned as well since he had to leave for work before me this morning. So he made sure I carried a big huge Mag Flashlight with me (like the heavy ones the cops use) and that I was on the phone with him the whole way from the apartment to the car. Thanks for all the good thoughts and I will for sure be implementing everyone great advice. I'd much rather be safe than sorry! ~Beth
Originally Posted By smedley Ahhh yes I forgot to mention the maglite, I have one of those in the car too, very hefty
Originally Posted By smedley My neck still hurts, and even more today than it has previously, and I've left my prescription from the doctor at home, and even moving hurts, and I'm at work, and it's not fair!!! And what's worse is I know there are people so much worse off than me, but the continual pain for almost 3 weeks now is getting me down *sigh*
Originally Posted By mickeymeg Can we please fast forward to Sept. Please. I have too many itty bitty annoying things to do over the summer that I just don't want to. I am also being annoyed at this wedding planning thing...could someone else do it and I will just show up. That sounds horrible I am sure, but while I want it to go well and be classy and fun I just am not too interested in doing all the work to get it there. Oh, and I really need a proper job. I haven't found one since getting back from Africa yet. That is annoying. Come Sept. I should be ready to finally graduate (I suck, so didn't make the cut this June) and get on with real life. bottom line might be that I am feeling Lazy and I want to whine about it.
Originally Posted By jasmine7 I want my desktop computer back! It's been giving me headaches for about the last 3 weeks. It would shut down on me while playing World of Warcraft and reboot on its own, and HP thought it sounded like it was overheating, so I took it to Best Buy to have Geek Squad install a new, more powerful power source with a bigger fan. I was without it that time for about a week, and when I got it back, it ran for about six days before it started crapping out again. They've had it since last Monday, and they still haven't figured out what the problem is, at least as of yesterday morning. I just want to play WoW again. :-/
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb Ozz Fest here in California is the SAME day as the release of Harry Potter 7! I'm so afraid if I go, I'm going to over hear some spill the beans on the book (assuming I can get tickets). <----- Geek much?
Originally Posted By Tiggirl I am very irritated with Mark's...ahem... place of employment at the moment. They keep giving him terrible schedules and then call him, cancelling the bad schedule and giving him a better schedule and then calling back the next day after plans have already been made and demanding he go back to the original schedule they cancelled in the first place. I'm getting very fed up with them. Very. ~Beth
Originally Posted By Tiggirl Oh yes, Alex... it is indeed the lovely "difference". ) I honestly thing they assume that working there is your life and everything else should revolve around that. <rolls eyes> ~Beth
Originally Posted By SuzieQ My husband has a job like that. Fortunately, the pay is better than Mark's employer!
Originally Posted By chickendumpling You'd think I lived with monkeys considering the amount of potato chip crumbs I just vacuumed up! LOL
Originally Posted By chickendumpling Well, ya learn somethin' new every day don'cha! LOL. Yes. My monkeys eat potato chips. They're highly citified monkeys.
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb The "Man World" residents get to do fun stuff today and I'm stuck at work.
Originally Posted By chickendumpling I either have realllly bad sinuses or a realllly bad head cold. Either way I feel absolutely miserable right now. Wah.
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb Ash has been falling from the skies for days and the Zaca fire that's causing it isn't expected to be contained for another month.
Originally Posted By smedley I got a really bad sleep during the day today (how dare people assume it is acceptable to be in their gardens making noise, during the day, when it's sunny!!) So I decided to take a couple hours break and get a sleep, then the stupid machine broke and the person I left watching it couldn't fix it without me.... So he came and woke me up after 20 mins... I feel worse now than I did before I went for a nap *sigh*... 3 more hours and then I can make the hour's trip home, to hopefully get some more sleep today.... Rain dance anyone??
