This is a weekly blog post that I'm calling Apartment Hell Life. I've mentioned a few times some of the crazy things that go on in and around my apartment complex in the past 24 years that we've lived here and people keep telling me I should write a book. But instead of a book, I've decided to share the crazy things that have happened in and around my apartment complex in the last 24 years here in a weekly blog post.
So this week I ended up calling the police, I was outside with Falcor and a lady who was walking down the center of the street carrying a baseball bat that she was dragging along side her so it was making a pretty unmistakable noise as she was getting closer. I wouldn't have been worried but she was also screaming at no one in particular, not that I could understand what she was saying. But as she was passing by me, she turned to face me and started walking over to me, all the while shouting something unintelligible.
She's homeless and I've seen her around here because she shouts a lot. I think she has mental problems and her being homeless isn't helping her situation. She topped me last month and tried to stop me from going past her on the sidewalk but I just told her to get out of my way and she went out in the middle of the street to stop the cars from driving by her.
But this week she started to raise the bat and I brought out my taser, turned it on and set it off a couple of times. Then I yelled at her, "You better get your ass away from me, because I will light you up with this." And then pulled the trigger again.
She had the bat on her shoulder and was still screaming about something and then walked away. I came inside and called the police because I don't like feeling like I've just been threatened. I saw out my bedroom window when they got here and I went outside. They looked around for her, she was gone and then said that if I see her to call them back. There really wasn't anything else they could do.
I mostly take my taser with me at night because there have been a lot more homeless, tweakers, crazy people walking around here. Good thing I took it this time too.
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You remember that child I've told you about in my courtyard that is always outside with no clothes, shoes and is only in a diaper? I got a picture of him (I didn't want to show his face) but you can see he's only got a diaper on, no shoes or anything. He and his brother were outside and this kid was just standing still screaming at the top of his lungs. Just screaming in front of his door for no reason and his mother never said a word to make him stop. I don't understand this mother at all. This kid has almost been hit by a car at least twice that I know of when he wandered out in the street.
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The high this week was 76F/24C
The low this week was 46F/7C
So that's it for this week's Apartment Hell Life! Be sure to come back next week for more.
Your temperatures are really dropping.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you had your taser - and sorry it was necessary.
And really hope that child stays safe.
December is usually the coldest month so we'll see what next month is like.
DeleteHi, Mary!
ReplyDeleteYou are wise for carrying a taser for protection when you leave your apartment, dear friend. It makes me sad that you live in a such a high risk, unsettled neighborhood. The woman who confronted you with the baseball bat probably carries it for protection, same as you carry a taser. She probably stops you and tries to stop motorists because she wants to tell her sad life story to somebody - anybody who will listen. Clearly she has mental health issues. I'm sorry for your sake and for hers. The screaming diapered child is another manifestation of a dysfunctional society in which the poor cannot cope with everyday life and screaming for no apparent reason is the accepted norm. I'm so sorry you don't enjoy a more peaceful and secure life on your block.
The temps are dropping in Vegas. Soon the cold will become a major concern for the homeless, not the severe heat.
Have a good week and a happy Thanksgiving, dear friend Mary.
I don't know what's with the childs mother. It's getting colder so hopefully he will have some clothes on soon.
DeletePoor kid, seems like you should call social services on that woman.
ReplyDeleteThey wouldn't do anything.
DeleteThat’s awful about the kid and he sort of looks too big for diapers, but it’s hard to tell from the back. Omg on that woman. I’m glad you had the taser.
ReplyDeleteHe does seem way too old for diapers.
DeleteIt is the social services that have to be addressed in both cases: the woman, and the kid.They will see to it that the police is involved whenever the need.
ReplyDeleteSocial services won't do anything for either problem and neither will the police.
Delete"Poor kid" is right. He's probably screaming because he's going nuts with that mom who apparently doesn't care if he lives or dies. You may have to go walking with that axe next time the homeless woman is in the area, threatens you with her bat.
ReplyDeleteI might have to take my ax one of these times.
DeleteOh wow darling my best wishes to you
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteI already knew about the bat threat story via Twitter, but it doesn't get less creepy just because one reads it twice. I wonder where she found the bat...someone really should take it away from her...and help her of course. Same about the kid (and isn't he a bit old for diapers anyway?).
ReplyDeleteShe could have found the bat, who knows. That kid does seem way too old for diapers.
DeleteI love the shouting homeless. I empathize a lot. One time a woman was so pissed because she got thrown out of the coffee shop and was tellin' of the barista and I wanted to offer to buy her coffee. life without caffiene is a crying shame.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could understand what she was shouting about.
DeleteI'm glad you had your taser on you that day. I'd like to say your neighbor kid's situation is unique, but it goes on in my neighborhood, too. So frustrating and sad.
ReplyDeleteIt's very sad.
Deleteoh my goodness....this sounds so scar. I keep a taser with my at all times just to be safe especially as women. Poor kid. I feel for the homeless situation, I truly think the governmnet needs to step in when the rise of it is due to the lockdowns we had. But there are some homeless people I know here that choose that life too. People have to want a desire for more in their lives and that can't be forced. So its a tough dilemma for sure.
ReplyDeleteThere are homeless shelters here but they say they are bad to be in.
DeleteGlad you had your taser with you! I just wish the crazy woman with a bat had still been around when the police arrived. Hope this week is a quieter one for you.
ReplyDeleteIt took the police 30 minutes to get here so no wonder she was gone.
DeleteWow. Rough week. I hope you and that child stay safe. Happy Thanksgiving week!
ReplyDeleteAnne - Books of My Heart This is my Sunday Post
Thank you.
DeleteWow, that is definitely scary. Stay safe, Mary.
ReplyDeleteI will try.
DeleteThat is scary and you are very patient, I'd zapped her good.
ReplyDeleteIf she had gotten closer to me I would have.
DeleteGood lord! Thank goodness you had the taser! Sounds like a crazy lady! That poor kid! CPS should step in!
ReplyDeleteCPS won't do anything unless the kid is being abused which I don't think he is.
DeleteI would been on edge in that sitution. Sad there so many mental ill people not getting help.
ReplyDeleteCoffee is on and stay safe
It is sad. Mental health help has decreased here a lot.
DeleteGlad you had your taser. Lady sounds nuts (I hate to say that but I'm sorry, threatening someone with a bat...) and that poor kid! Good grief.
ReplyDeleteBe safe this week!
She has some mental problems but there aren't a lot of resources here.
DeleteThat's what it comes down to, seems like. So many people need help and there usually isn't enough.
DeleteYeah, exactly that.
DeleteYou're obviously wise to take your taser when you go out, given so many crazy types wandering around.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like the kid is an unwanted child and his mother is quite indifferent to him. He's going to come to a sticky end.
Yeah there's an uptick of mentally ill people hanging around here.
DeleteI don't know what's going on with that kid.
Crazy as always
ReplyDeletePretty much.
DeleteI am glad you were not hurt. Stay safe! I feel really bad for that poor child.
ReplyDeleteI do too. It's getting colder so hopefully he will be wearing some clothes soon.
DeleteI'm glad you have the taser! 😯
ReplyDeleteStay safe! 😥
I am too.
Delete