The tale of the Snoring Homeless

One would hope that I add something to the world- be it good, bad, or indifferent- Me

Yesterday I had a fun little outpatient procedure done. They made me sleepy and groggy and stuck a camera down my throat to look at my stomach, etc. It was an attempt at figuring out what might be causing my excessive burping.

It went okay, they found nothing, and I was left sleepy, annoyed, and hungry. My dad was kind enough to take me home, and out for dinner, finally leaving me to fend for myself at around 7:30pm.

I moped around the house, finally crawling into bed at around 11:45pm. About 30 minutes into my wonderfully deep sleep I am awoken by the LOUDEST SNORES IN THE WORLD. I am absolutely appalled. my roommate doesn't snore, and certainly not this loudly. I sit up and listen for a moment, finally recognizing that the sound is coming from outside my window. I figure it's just a random loud neighbor and try to role over and get back to bed.

12:15am I am once again awoken, this time by loud crying, wailing, spitting and groaning. Exactly what I need after midnight. I go to the window and yell outside- "it's after midnight! Go to bed! Shut Up! there are other people trying to sleep!" I think this will work, and crawl back into bed.

12:45am The snoring is still going on. It ebbs and flows from loud to annoying to distressing, keeping me awake. I finally freak out and go to the window, trying to identify which building it's coming from. I grab my flashlight and start pointing it at windows when all of a sudden I see it...a man, sleeping on the ground right outside my 3rd story window. Oh my g-d! It's a Homeless man keeping me up!

1:00 am I call 911, to report the homeless man. They get a bit annoyed since it's not a true emergency, but they say they will send someone out.

1:15am I discover that my roommate has also been hearing the noises. I tell her it's a homeless man, and use my flashlight to point him out. I tell her that I've called the cops because I just can't stand it any more.

1:45am I have been sitting awake waiting to hear the police waking up the guy. The snores have turned, once again, into loud, wailing person dying distress calls. Spitting and grunting, yuck! i try to use my flashlight to wake him up- shining it in his eyes. No such luck. I finally realize why women get themselves in stupid situations. They get tired of waiting for the cops to show up!

2:00am I call the non-emergency number. They inform me that an officer cleared the scene almost 30 minutes ago. I say, HELL NO! and give my number for them to call me to help out.

2:06am Since I have the computer out to get the Police number, I decide to write an e-mail to a friend chronicling my hate for homeless men. I'm sure it was a lovely read.

2:09am I get tired of listening to the wailing, and I decide to take matters into my own hands. I get dressed, take my keys, my flashlight and my phone. I check on him one more time, and then decide to wait outside for the cops.

2:19am I get a phone call, telling me the cop is on his way. Thank G-d! I was going to give it 5 more minutes before I walked over to the man to get rid of him.

2:23am Cop shows up. I show him the ally. He refuses my flashlight (his is so much cooler!). I decide to wait by the door to make sure that they get the guy. I become slightly worried that the homeless man will recognize that I'm the reason he's getting moved, and I panic slightly.

2:27am The cop comes out with the guy. I had put on my hood, and had my hands in front of my face to avoid being seen. The second I see him I loudly shut the front door behind me. Back to my wonderful bed!

10:28am I wake up after a fitful sleep, looking outside the window at where the man was last night. He was sleeping on stairs! I mean really, no wonder he was grunting.



I've never really dealt with the homeless before. On some level I feel sad that I had him arrested, but at the same time, damnit(!) I pay good money to live here and he dosen't!

I guess it's my own fault. I was just telling my dad yesterday how much I enjoy living in the city.


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October Write-Away contest: things that scare me

One would hope that I add something to the world- be it good, bad, or indifferent- Me

While I'm slightly afraid of a bunch of random things, you know, bugs, cockroaches, scary noises, etc. my biggest fear is somewhat different. There are, unfortunately, two of them.

I am terrified, down to my soul, that one day my adopted older sister will decide to look for her real parents. Why does this terrify me you ask? I'm not really sure. What could possibly be wrong with my sister discovering the people who gave her life, genetically speaking? Somehow I feel that if my sister were to go searching for her parents, that she'd be giving me away. I'm tearing up just thinking about it. We shared blood when we were very young, sitting on the banks of the stream in our backyard. I've never had a strong relationship with my sister but lately we've been getting closer. It's been very hard, she moved to San Jose, is becoming part of her fiance's family. If she decided to find her birth parents- I don't know what I'd do.

Who am I kidding- she's my sister; I'd help her look, try to be supportive, but inside I am terrified.

The other thing that terrifies me is that I will wander around the earth looking for someone to love me- only to never find anyone. That I will become a cat lady; the miserable old bat who never committed to anyone. I'm only 23! I'm not sure if I'm more terrified that I'm having these thoughts at 23, or that I really might end up alone. This time in my life is supposed to be wonderful, but really, it's stressful. I don't know what I want but with all my friends getting engaged and married, it's hard to remain positive.

These are the 'Things that Scare me' in response to this post by Scribbit.

You are all encouraged to enter Scribbit's contest, but if you're not feeling up to it just give me a taste: What are you scared of?

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To be who I am

One would hope that I add something to the world- be it good, bad, or indifferent- Me

It's time to be who I am; and all that I am. To this end, I'm inviting more people- specifically- to my blog. I've invited these people into my life, many of them so intimately that they are involved in my deepest moments, why shouldn't I invite them into this world as well.

For those of you who are here for the first time, let me explain my "hesitation."

This is my space. I never want to worry about what I write here. As such, if I write about you, or you think I'm writing about you; understand the reasoning's behind it. It's here that I share my life, my thoughts, and those things that I don't want to share otherwise.

This is my sounding board. I might know what some of my friends will say about my thoughts. I want new ideas, interesting theories, and thoughts.

This is not about you. If I write about you, infer about you, or anger you well- remember, this isn't about you. There must be a reason for ME to write about you.

Okay- with that said, I'm opening up. I hope you enjoy this little piece of my soul...

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Banned Books Week: Free People Read Freely

One would hope that I add something to the world- be it good, bad, or indifferent- Me

I have to start this post by stating that I didn't realize that we really had 'banned books.' But apparently we not only have them, we have enough of them to support a Banned Books Week. I wonder if it is just coincidence that this week falls in part over the National Coming Out week....just wondering...

So, to honor, here is the list of the top 10 books Banned in 2006, and the top 10 most banned books in the country. How many have you read?

Top 10 in 2006:

1. "And Tango Makes Three" by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell, for homosexuality, anti-family, and unsuited to age group;
2. "Gossip Girls" series by Cecily Von Ziegesar for homosexuality, sexual content, drugs, unsuited to age group, and offensive language;
3. "Alice" series by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor for sexual content and offensive language;
4. "The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things" by Carolyn Mackler for sexual content, anti-family, offensive language, and unsuited to age group;
5. "The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison for sexual content, offensive language, and unsuited to age group;
6. "Scary Stories" series by Alvin Schwartz for occult/Satanism, unsuited to age group, violence, and insensitivity;
7. "Athletic Shorts" by Chris Crutcher for homosexuality and offensive language;
8. "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky for homosexuality, sexually explicit, offensive language, and unsuited to age group;
9. "Beloved" by Toni Morrison for offensive language, sexual content, and unsuited to age group;
10. "The Chocolate War" by Robert Cormier for sexual content, offensive language, and violence.

Unfortunately I'm loosing on this list. I haven't even heard of most of these- looks like I've got some reading to do.

Top 10 Banned Books:

I have to admit that I haven't found only one list. There is one here for 1990-2000, and one here for 2000-2005; but I decided to do out this list together from all the ones I've seen. Unfortunately there might not be anyone person who agrees with me, but here it is:

1. The Great Gatsby
2. The Catcher in the Rye
3. The Grapes of Wrath
4. To Kill a Mockingbird
5. The Color Purple
6. Ulysses
7. Beloved
8. Harry Potter (which is at the top of the 21st century list)
9. The Giver
10. Brave New World

I'm happy to say that I've read almost all of these books. Can anyone loan me Catcher in the Rye or Beloved?

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Not sure what to take from this

One would hope that I add something to the world- be it good, bad, or indifferent- Me

So, yesterday I asked everyone who reads my blog to post a comment... I asked a simple question and expected about 10 answers.

Off of the top of my head, these are the people I know read my blog at least occasionally

will
Caitlin
Mike
David B
David H
James
Mary-beth
Ade
Scribbit
Matt

That's at least 10 people I expected to comment yesterday- but I got nothing. Hmmm.... oh well, maybe next year.


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STOP LURKING!!

One would hope that I add something to the world- be it good, bad, or indifferent- Me

OKAY! Another post...I learned that today is The Great Mofo Delurk day! So, as others have done, I'm going to ask a simple question, and hope that everyone out there who reads my blog responds:

What was the last meal you cooked?

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Just about life

One would hope that I add something to the world- be it good, bad, or indifferent- Me

It's been an interesting week. I'm pleased to say that although a lot happened, I think it all went very well.

This weekend was my first dinner party. It was FANTASTIC! We had such a great time; everyone loved the food and the cupcakes, the table looked beautiful.

Monday was okay- mostly cleaning and class. I started working on my parents scrapbook.

Tuesday was work, then Eureka. I wasn't thrilled with the finale- to be perfectly honest.

And here we are on Wednesday. I have a date tonight, a show and Simchas torah (dancing) tomorrow, a play on Friday, Wicked! and soccer on Saturday, and then Sunday is hopefully a little relaxed.

I've decided to try and finish 20 scrapbook pages a week. Along with GRE study, classwork, and my job; we'll see how I do.


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