A while ago, I wrote that I would tell about "a weird occurrence in the neighborhood".
So, here goes it ...
A few weekends ago (the one that was incredibly hot and humid), my next door neighbor (NDN) and I were sitting on my porch chatting (complaining about the heat) and we saw a red cab pass us by and then it did it again (around the island to the right of where we live). Not really a strange occurrence but it caught our attention because it pulled up in front of a neighbor's house across the way and one of the occupants of that house got out after a few minutes and went into his house. Almost immediately, a yellow cab pulls up in front of his house and out he comes and leaves again.
A few moments later, another neighbor (the elderly woman who is a busy body) comes out of her house (a few doors down from the male neighbor) and hollers for us to come over. So, NDN and I walk towards her house. As we are making the trek across the parking lot, NDN notices some bags in the parking space next to where the taxi cabs had just been. She, being the nosey person that she is, says "I wonder what kind of groceries he left in the street" and heads over to them. She peeks down inside the larger bag (much bigger than a paper grocery bag) and lets out a yell - OH MY GOD - IT'S MONEY !!
Elderly neighbor and I don't really believe her, so we walk over to take a look. By God, she was right. Sitting there on the pavement, is a large brown bag with a bunch of coins and bills inside (not neatly folded or wrapped, just thrown in there all willy nilly). On the top of all the money is a bottle of liqueur (clear like vodka). Next to the brown bag, are 5 or 6 Wendy's bags (from the restaurant). I pick one up to peek inside and it is full of coins. As a matter of fact, all of them were full of coins. AND all of this is sitting in the middle of the parking spot with no one around.
I turn to NDN with a weird look and she looks back at me with a similar look wondering WTF ? (note to add - we both know that this particular neighbor is a manager of a Wendy's in a town up the road*).
WHAT WOULD YOU THINK AND WHAT WOULD YOU DO???
NDN called the police (non emergency, of course!) and reported that there were bags of money sitting in a parking spot in our neighborhood. Elderly neighbor retreats back in to her house and tell us not to mention her name or presence, because she doesn't want to be involved. They said they would send someone out as soon as possible.
So, NDN and I sit down on the curb (on the island) with the bags in our sight and wait. And waited ....
After what seemed like forever, which was really only about 15 minutes or so, the yellow taxi returns and the male neighbor gets out and heads to his house with a clear grocery bag in his hand. He doesn't say a word (I'm sure he saw us sitting on the curb) and neither do we. We can clearly make out the contents of the grocery bag - a six pack of beer and a carton of cigarettes. He goes inside. A few minutes later, he comes back out to the parking spot and picks up the brown bag, which he struggles with because I am sure it is quite heavy (seeing that it is full of loose coin) and walks it up his sidewalk and plops it down just barely on his porch. He makes a few more trips out to the parking spot and picks up a bag with each hand, each time and drops them on the ground right at the end of his sidewalk.
Not a word is exchanged by any of us during this entire time. He doesn't even acknowledge that we are sitting right there watching him. He goes back inside. We sit there on the curb dumbfounded and continue to wait for the police. He steps back out on to his porch, removes the liqueur bottle from the brown bag and goes back inside. We still sit and wait, wondering where the heck is the police officer.
After, again, what seemed like forever (and because it was so stinkin hot), NDN and I head back to our respective houses with the thought that she had given her name and address to the police when she called, so when they finally showed up, they would know where to go since the bags were no longer sitting in the street. And sure enough, we had barely gotten back to our houses and the officer shows up so we go over and meet him across the street. He listened to us telling him what had happened. He tells us that the police had gotten a call to the same address earlier in the day (but didn't tell us why). He told us that the guy had told them that his car had broken down earlier in the day.
Didn't make much sense to us - but what the hell !!
When the officer got there, NDN made it a point to tell him that people leave their trash in the parking lot all the time and that is why she checked out the bags - because she thought it was trash - WHAT A HUGE LIE THAT WAS !!!
(and she had even casually mentioned to me that we should take the money and not say anything to anyone - that was said to me before she called the police). NOT THE RIGHT THING TO DO !! (in my humble opinion, that is).
Anyways, he thanked us for being good citizens and told us that he would go pay the guy a visit. He did and then we watched him drive away. Never did find out what was going on ....
The bags were no longer outside the next day and I didn't dare to look that night - since the neighbor knew that we knew about them. No one else would have even known to look for them!
*My immediate thoughts - since when does a manager of any establishment bring home the money - loose coins and loose bills at that. Wouldn't they lock it up in a safe or take it to the bank for deposit?
Rumor has it - from the elderly busy body - that the neighbor and his sig other (which is also male) have spent the last couple of weekends in Atlantic City .....hmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
Makes you wonder, doesn't it?
Your thoughts and/or comments are welcomed ...
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Finally - As Promised !!
Monday, June 23, 2008
What Is It With All The Thunderstorms Lately?
This will be a quick post (the other ones that I have lined up (in my mind) will come soon).
I had a quick visit from some of the grandchildren yesterday.
So, for SJ and Mom and Dad (it sucks that they live on the other side of the United States) - (and "D" too, if he still reads)
Pebbles
(better known as Tori)
Tyler
(who begged me to take his picture - then gave me a face like this!)
Trevor
(I can't believe he will be a freshman next year!)
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Bits and Pieces
Lets see how good my memory is ... it's been a while !!
5/26 Memorial Day
My neighbor put together a little BBQ ... just a few of us single gals in the neighborhood. She served this "limeade" from a pitcher. It tasted awful damn good - after a few glasses, I figured out why - she put tequila in it !! Did me in for the rest of the day. I was sure glad I didn't have any plans to go anywhere.
5/28 - 5/31
I dog sat for a former co-worker at her house. The commute to work was heavenly cuz she lives just a few miles away (10 minutes if I hit all the lights AND stopped for my morning coffee). They have 4 computers in their house and I couldn't get on to a single one!! Damn password protection !! I was having withdrawal symptoms within the first evening ...
While there, a hellacious thunderstorm rolled through. The hail was the size of golf balls. All I could think was that a tree was going to fall on the house and it isn't even my house !! Luckily, that didn't happen but a tree did crash down into the street. I pretended I had a four wheel drive and navigated around it. Why not ?? Every one else was !! At my house - not a drop of rain fell (at least that is what the neighbors said).
June 1st
I volunteered at the Vintage Virginia Wine Festival in Centreville. I do this twice a year. The production company donates money to the Make A Wish Foundation on behalf of each volunteer. It is for a good cause and it is usually a fun filled day - this time didn't disappoint. The only downside is that you can't "sample" wines when you are working - so, no sippin' for me.
June 6
Kindergarten Graduation Day
What a Proud Gramma, I was !!
June 7
National Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure
This year, instead of walking the race (my knee has been bothering me), I volunteered. My assignment was at the finish line which was pretty cool (the weather wasn't - it was already 85degrees and extremely humid at 8 AM).
This man finished first - running 5K in 14 minutes 24 seconds
Renee Syler from The Early Show participated in the race ...
and so did Gabrielle Union from Ugly Betty.
An estimated 40 thousand people showed up and participated in the God Awful Heat ! (since I was at the finish line I didn't get to see the masses of people until they were finished). My job was to collect the tab at the bottom of the bib as they came across the finish line and they came in fast and furious so I didn't have any time to snap pictures. This picture is where the pre-race activities took place and since I had to be there REAL early, this shot doesn't show the crowd.
I came home, showered and promptly took a 3 Hour NAP !
June 14
My nephew returned to the states on June 9th, after a year long tour of duty in the Persian Gulf . After his medical evaluation, he was able to return to his family in the Shenandoah Valley (at my brother's home).
My sister and her daughter, Hannah came to stay with me Friday evening and we headed up to the Valley for a Welcome Home party on Saturday.
As it has for days, thunderstorms were abundant on that day. But we carried on by improvising and grilled burgers, hot dogs and brats.
Fun was had by all ...
and Lee even brought home with him -
a little bit of the Middle East !
And in true 'Ty" style ...
Welcome Home Lee, Welcome Home !
AND ... just for you SJ, come back later to read about the "weird occurrence in the neighborhood" !
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
The Best of Intentions ....
I'm still around ... really I am !!
Between working longer than usual hours, falling asleep on the couch when I get home, thunderstorms wreaking havoc with the electricity, having a house guest and busy weekends lately .... this blog has been neglected. (I hang my weary little head in shame).
I have material .... yes, I have things to share !! With pictures, even. What I lack the most lately is TIME. (Does any one have any to spare?)
It will come ... in time.
I have been reading and being a BAD commenter, but don't give up on me - OK?
Sadly, it is 9:32 EST and I haven't had anything to eat yet and I am a bit hungry .... A PB&J sandwich even sounds pretty good right about now (how sad is that?)
So, as Arnold says - I'LL BE BACK !!
Monday, June 9, 2008
ONCE AGAIN ...
Thursday, June 5, 2008
This is What You Post When You Haven't Had any Time All Week !
