Sorta, I think about you and your neighborhood every day. Simply cannot imagine living in a place where you are so helpless to do anything. Well, for now anyway... I agree that this Citizen's Police Academy might be your best bet. Funny how it came along at just the right time!

Exactly Draclvr. I wasn't going to apply, thought it was for 'young' people who wanted to be cops, and I guess a lot of the participants in my class are just that. One step up on the ladder before they apply for real. But for the rest of us, just plain old citizens who are fed up with all the 'stuff' happening and not being able to do anything about it or know the RIGHT way to approach the police to get the help they need.

AND just as I expected, after the 'ex' visited me 3 days back, last night Bad Gal finally contacted me again. She always does that. She hears things from her 'sources' (he being one of them) and then checks up with me to see what I know. After I planted some 'ideas' in his head, he of course went right to her and she started the phone conversation out with, "Well, did anyone move out over there?". She was referring to the head guy telling a neighbor that he got a paper from a lawyer and would be moving in 2 weeks. He was of course lying since he's still here. Then again, Bad Gal might have faked that letter (she's good at it) and thought maybe it would scare him into leaving. Obviously didn't work. She seemed puzzled.

She asked about 'activities' and I said it was the usual stuff going on, people in and out at all hours, lots of drug selling, buying etc., and of course the meth lab. She wasn't shocked. She knows everything that's happening of course. I told her very clearly that I was, 'staying out of it, not keeping track, just lying low'. She agreed, but did mention again that I was SAFE. I asked what she meant by safe and she said that she has an agreement with the original friend girl in there, that they are fine as long as they 'don't go beyond the boundaries of their fence line. Very interesting. She explained that THEY are safe from any thing happening to THEM as long as they don't cause any grief for the neighbors (me being one of them). Sounds like a plan for me.

She also mentioned the 'conservatorship' thingy that her ex told me about. I looked it up. It's the SAME thing as an executor of a will, only it's for estates without a will. The conservator is the person the COURT appoints to handle the estate, which could be (and in this case is) a relative of the deceased. So poor ex got it all mixed up thinking they could just 'take' the property since the Niece isn't doing anything with it. Stupid people. The Niece is stalling, maybe it's really a big mess on who gets what, but in any case, the court legally appointed her to be the 'executor/conservator' and she is listed as that in all legal documents on the internet (taxes, liens, deeds). I'm satisfied, obviously Bad Gal is not and is still trying to find a way to get possession of that house. She's like a small dog in a big pack with one tiny bone.

And to make it even more fun, she called right in the middle of one of my favorite TV series (Zoo) and I couldn't get her off the phone. I would have loved to press for more information because it was the PERFECT time. She was higher than a space shuttle. Talking with slurred speech, etc. Perfectly lucid but obviously not quite with it. When she's like that, she says stuff that she doesn't mean to say so I can ask a lot of things and get straight answers.

I didn't tell her about my Citizen's Police class, but did mention about the 'meth lab' over there and how the entire neighborhood hoped it would explode. She's the one who told me about it in the first place. That's when I started looking for and seeing what 'ingredients' they were taking in and who appeared only once in a while to do the 'cooking'. She identified all of that on our last phone call. She also has come up with a NEW idea. I think I planted that one too. She says she could 'tent the house for termites'. Sounds good to me, except, if those people won't leave, does she think that the Termite company will somehow manhandle them out? Ha. They will just refuse to answer the door. Still, it's not a horrible thought, could work. I told her great, go ahead. Let's see if that works.

Anyway, today it's hot and humid and fairly calm around here. I suspect they won't be doing too much 'business' today since they didn't yesterday either. Now I'm wondering if the 'competition' on the other side of me, will cut into their profits and if they will notice, and if there will be a 'war' between them. Could be a good thing, but the last time someone was selling drugs from the Apartments, he ended up dead on the freeway after some gang members moved in (literally or figuratively). Was a real shock. Gangs don't play well with others. Would hate to have something happen while my house is directly between the other 2 warring factions. Ugh.

Time will tell. Class tonight. Can hardly wait! Picking out a 'police-like' outfit to wear. I'm a t-shirt and blue jeans type and I can't be in 'public' looking like I'm doing yard work. Have to wear nice stuff. Still t-shirty (nice fancy ones) and jeans in a little nicer style is my choice. And of course I want to look good in the photos they are constantly taking. I want my 15 minutes of fame out of this. Got on a nice red, designer T (michael jackson would have loved it). It's got a gold shield in the middle, surrounded by gold flourishes. Looks sort of medieval, crusader like. Neat. I must remember not to pet any of the feral cats. These black pants attract everything!

Off to try to not keep track of the action over there or on the other side. Way too many people parking in front of my house and walking to the Apartments to get drugs lately. It's just started this week so it's going to get worse. I am going out today and putting up some 'video camera in use' or 'smile you are on camera' signs on my front fence so the cars parking there will maybe notice and park elsewhere. Might help.

Sorta I just have to say that there is no such thing as safe when you live near a Meth House. I especially worry that the people in the house may know that you are aware of meth being cooked in the house. I would by lying if I didn't say that I am worried for you.

It's my pleasure to let you guys worry about me. It saves me the trouble.

As for the House Guests knowing that I know what they are doing. Sure they do. It's obvious from Bad Gal's activities, phone calls, and her close association with those people (some of which she personally brought into that house), and teh 2 that came to my yard sale and the other guy who came over to check out my cameras and how much I could see/know about them, that they know that she and I have association with each other. Her 'best friend', who is in the house definitely knows and has been warned by Bad Gal not to do anything to hurt or bother me.

Bad Gal knows that I know way too much about the dealings over there, starting with HER being the first to start stealing everything and selling it. It will all fall back on her as the prime suspect in everything. Actually it's sort of like the USA's pacts with other countries. We know they have nukes, they know we have nukes, we all are friendly enemies and are not doing anything stupid. The squatter/druggies know me, know where I live, have all the info they need on me from Bad Gal and at this point. she's a better 'friend' than an enemy. I keep her at arm's length, but since she is guilty of many things, it's better to keep some relationship and have her 'intercede' with the people over there. Mostly I think she is 'protecting' me because I know too much about HER. I have loads of evidence that would be great in court should the powers that be, ever want to charge and prosecute her. I very clearly told her more than once, that if called to testify against anyone, including her and the ex (who is so innocent by mental deficiency) that I would not lie to a judge or police, etc. She knows I'm serious, so she's trying to keep things calm with me. Not a bad thing.

It's SO hot here today that the activities are not happening like usual over there. Only 2 cars today, both regulars, both girls, who are bringing in things from shopping. Kinda boring. We are at 96 degrees at 8 am today! We broke all sorts of records. I'm sooooo icky hot. Fans going, no air conditioning, and I'm looking forward to tonight's Academy class to get cool. This heat will last a few days and then back to our normal summer temp of 77.

In the meantime, thanks for the good thoughts for me and try to to worry too much. Things have settled down a bit, things are quiet, no explosions (yet), no police except for the two that followed the 'other' girl back to the Apartments. She's the newbie drug seller and I think they wanted to scare her. They are well acquainted with her and the boyfriend from all the domestic violence calls over there. She's selling so much lately that it's totally noticeable. Could be that the manager there turned her in. He really doesn't care much about his renters, but if drugs are being sold from that address, the owner could LOSE the property. City will confiscate it. Nice law huh? I'm always watching my tenants for things that affect me. I think in the past, that manager has kicked out other's who caused him and the neighbors some grief (slashed tires, burglaries to their rooms, threats). They disappeared soon after tenants started complaining.

I'm going to find a cool spot to collapse. Might hide under the cactus orchids like one of the Outdoorsie cats. She' so cozy tucked under the cool leaves. Nice.

That sound brutal with no AC. I have an internet friend who live in Palm Desert - her AC went out and for someone who is 91 years old, this was no laughing matter!

They always say around here too that the hotter it gets, the less crime there is because it's just too danged hot to do anything - good or bad!

Well the 'crime' across the street sure has slowed down. Love that part. Hate the humidity. Any other time, we get hot we are single digit humidity so it's comfy and nice. It's some tropical storm off of Baja Calif, coming up to meet us. If it rains, we will be feeling much better.

Drug buyers nary a one all night (just a few in and out who seem to live there) and the gal at the apartments who just started her own enterprise, well after those two police cars followed her home from the liquor store at the corner, nothing happened there either. I think they saw her or were tipped off and just made themselves visible so she would cool the action. I'll watch today and see if business picks up.

As for my Citizen's Police Academy. Ohhhhh! The things I am learning that they don't know they are revealing about our little force. Geez! Last night was the sex crimes division. Two nice guys, very very good and I trust them. They let it be known that we have loads of registered sex offenders (only 9 in our town?) but that they register yearly or monthly if they are transients. So that means that probably, the guys in the park, sleeping under their shopping carts, are maybe, some of them, offenders who have to go to the PD once a month to tell them where they 'live'. Of course they have NO address, but they have to appear anyway and say they live in the park, or under a bridge, etc. So crazy. AND sex offenders who live in another state are supposed to register within 14 days of moving here, ummmmm. How the heck will WE know if they drove over here? It's impossible to keep track of them, AND now with the new law in Calif (maybe elsewhere) the offenders have NO constraints as to where they can live. Used to be no living near a school, park, playground, etc. Now that law is kaput. One guy, lives right behind an elementary school with only a chain link fence separating him from the kiddies. He likes pornography of kids so you can imagine what the parents of those kids there are currently doing. Uhhuh. Screaming to the police about getting him gone, BUT they can't because of the change in the law. Don't ask me why the law was changed. So stupid.

AND from the Domestic Violence team. Very good people too, but we learned that their case load, per investigator, is between 20 (if they are lucky) and 60. How can they possibly investigate and protect and do all the things they need to for the victims when they can't even get through the paperwork? They said it's a matter of triage so the really bad cases get attention first. I wonder if that's why we had a guy stab his girlfriend to death (I know someone who knows the mom of the girl) in their apartment after SEVERAL calls to the police for 2 years, and the GUY never being arrested?????? Now the girl is dead and the guy is in jail charged with first degree murder. Too few police let this one slide? He refused to tell us where the 'death' case was, but I know from watching the TV and hearing my neighbor's report. Sad so sad. We are HORRIBLY understaffed here at the police department. THEY are begging for new officers to apply AND last night the one guy said MOST of our force now is NEW recruits who have no training in how to handle things (especially calming down people) because their 'life experiences' are lacking because they are so young, unmarried, etc. THAT explains a lot about how I was treated by a few of them. I see clearly now.

Things will get better as time goes by, but for now, the inmates seem to be running the asylum. Loving my classes!

for my daily drama update Sorta.

Anyone having withdrawals?

Well things are interesting. The 'cooker' guy has been here 3 times since Sunday night. He came last night at THREE AM! Geez! Lots of 'helpers' come and go. These are not buyers. They bring 'items' and stay a long time all day and night in shifts. Gonna be a good batch of meth soon.

AND I'm on pins and needles. Someone, don't know who, PAID the overdue property tax bill AND the bill for the supplemental taxes. Taxes have not been paid for a year and suddenly, they are cleared. I can't access this years tax bill until next week (in preparation) but I can hardly wait to see if there is something else new there.

I've been checking the 'sold' listings for that address and grantor/grantee index but nothing has changed. I'm hoping that the Estate paid the taxes in preparation for listing it for sale. In the meantime, the 'residents' continue to live there like a happy little family. They do all the normal stuff. Weeding, sweeping the sidewalk, hosing off the driveway (illegal since our drought rules) and washing their cars, etc. I'm so happy for them. NOT.

More info on the taxes bit when I can find it.

"Like sands through the hourglass... so are the Days of Our Lives."

All taxes have now definitely been PAID. I wonder who paid them? Could be the family, could be the squatter Bad Gal, could be the drug people? This is so strange. The first actual ANY evidence that something new is happening over there and no way to find out. Ugh. I will just watch and listen. Maybe someone will call with info.

Arrgh! The agony of waiting and wondering!

it sure would be interesting to know who paid the taxes on the property.

Yep, I'm going to be figuring a way to find out who paid, or if not, IF this property was sold. Probably not sold as I can't find any transfer stuff...yet. AND wonder of all wonders, Bad Gal usually calls me when something is up. She hunts for information from me. So she hasn't called yet (the tax notice just went up yesterday/today, BUT when I went out shopping a bit ago, my neighbor saw HER driving up our street and turning up the side street to look at the house. Maybe SHE thought the house was sold? She keeps asking if the people are out yet. How should I know? She won't tell me her 'plan'. Geez!

Well if the property sells that is public record and will be listed on the city Auditors web site.

And to make it even more fun...there is a new red BMW that has been hanging around. It parked right in front of my 'agent's' mother's house (up the side street) so she had a great view. Seems that it arrived about 6 am and stayed all day, with 3 girls and one guy interchanging positions and going in and out of the house. Some 'disagreements' were seen between two of the girls as they walked to the house. The guy never left the car and pretended to be having car trouble by lifting the hood. Ha. What a joke. He did nothing, but play the game all day. Up down up down. I guess he figured the neighbors would assume he was broken down.

Well it gets better. At first I saw only 2 girls and the guy going to the trunk. They were (as my friend saw) digging through a trunk full of clothing. After about an hour (before I saw the guy) a girl got out of the back seat, adjusting clothing and was followed by the guy! Three guesses as to what they were doing.

So hours later, one of the girls finally comes to the fence and hands something to the other girl (small/palmed) and then the girl goes back to the car (not the same as the first girl) and gets into the front seat on the LAP of the guy! Oh yes, they did! Neighbor narrated it all for me. Ugh! A lot of movement and taking off of clothing, etc. ON a street in full view of people walking by?? Yup. Guess she was 'paying' for the drugs that were just handed off.

Haven't seen them today yet. Things are slow over there, but doesn't look like anyone is moving out. Nope. I still am checking on the grantor/grantee rolls to see if that property changes owners. I called the realtor gal that was contacting the Niece from time to time and she has NOT returned my call. Hummmmmm?

Red BMW So much for low profile.

Sooner or later this house is going to explode.

I SO totally knew where this red BMW story was going!

So after the police and tow truck left...

Ha, bet you want to know what happened 1 hour before that right????

So I fall asleep in bed watching the 11 o'clock news. I wake up at midnight, look out the window (because I always do that anytime I wake up in the middle of the night) and see POLICE. At least 2 cars, but too many cops to be only 2 so I assume a few more were up the street. This is the side street where the Infamous house is located (one front on my street, the other on the adjoining).

I see the police looking INTO and around a small car parked at the stop sign, in the red zone. They really gave it a going-over. One of the cops spent lots of time in the trunk, in the car, opening all compartments, under everything. He was also sorting something he had on the closed trunk. This I later found out was a female's tote bag.

After all cars and the tow truck left (yes they towed the car), I saw a female sitting on the sidewalk. Hadn't seen her before since the car blocked my view. She stood up and started collecting several items from the sidewalk and in the GUTTER! Guess it was her tote bag the cop was sorting and things went everywhere.

The cop talking to her made NO effort to shine his flashlight on the sidewalk/gutter to help her collect her things, BUT did shine it on something he handed her and it looked like he was explaining something. Probably a summons, ticket, etc. I did hear one comment which was 'right here?'. From the police guy as he shined his flashlight across the side of the house twice.

Then the cars all left and she walked away. Guess where? Aha! You already knew. She walked around the corner directly into the HOUSE. As usual, during all this hour or so of fun, the 'guests' in the house turned off all the lights and hid like rats. Eventually when they figured it was all clear, they turned on some very dim lighting.

The next day....NOTHING happening, nary a car in or out, no people walking in or out. Dead city. Well one car arrived late in the day and seemed to have a 'lap-top' under his arm. Probably wanted some internet time. BUT he went to the back door as usual, and came right back to his girlfriend at the curb. THEY walked to the FRONT gate (which for some reason was now OPEN) and walked up to the open (spy window) and said something. Then they walked back to the normal driveway entrance and went in. I'm guessing they needed to be identified and cleared with the proper password, etc. before getting in. This is due to the previous nights FUN.

Today, is calm, but already 3 cars there, doing the normal stuff. Dropping off people, picking up people, going in and out. Guess the 'fear' of other arrests is gone for now.

Oh how I wish I could persuade my yard kid to loan me his 'new' car. It's a Ford Crown Victoria, with the spotlights left on (former police cruiser). I could paint or wrap the doors and roof with white stuff and park it in front of my house. THEY would be scared just in case it was a cop car. Ha. Oh how fun that would be.

I have no idea who got arrested, but they wouldn't tow a car for nothing. Maybe the driver was wanted. Lots of police at a strange hour. They might actually be watching the house. Oh joy!

Excitement in the middle of the night!

We will hope for the best Sorta.

This is so sad a commentary on our 'perfect society'. Yesterday, an 'older' lady got out of a car across the street. I just happened to be watching because there was a 'strange' car there all night and nobody knew who got out of that one. So this short, chubby, normal looking, woman of about 55ish got out (a young male was driving. She walked to the corner (just a house away) and motioned for the 'kid' to drive up, then she motioned him around and up the side street. Mind you, this is broad daylight, she is SO visible with her black pants, nice blouse, nicer colorful jacket and carrying a nice lady-type purse. She reminded me of a short, female version of Danny DeVito.

So the kid drives around the corner, and MOM who is rushing as fast as her little legs will go, crosses the street and goes (you know what's coming) right INTO the drug house. She stands at the gate first talking to someone, then they let her in. The kid stays in the car which is 1/2 block up the street. 15 minutes later, MOM comes rushing out of the house, so cute to see her little legs almost running. She is putting ON her JACKET! Mind you, this is not a winter coat thingy, this is just a light decorative, outfit matching thin jacket. It's sooooo obvious what just happened. SHE was in need of a 'fix'. She went in, they prepared the 'fix' and injected her (so says Bad Gal when I asked earlier in the drama) and then she rushes out to her car, where the (we think her son) drives her off.

Can you imagine WHERE she might be headed? To school as a teacher, or aide or librarian? Or to a nice store downtown as a clerk? Or worse yet, to some medical facility where she is a nurse or receptionist? Or maybe she is a home care person? I'm livid. This lovely looking lady (just like mom's all over) is a druggie, probably heroin addict and is getting her son to drive her to a drug house to get her 'medicine'!

Imagine all the other 'moms' or fathers or brothers/sisters who are doing the same thing? I know some of the people over there who are meth or heroin addicts list their occupations on their Facebook pages. Some are lifeguards, cooks in restaurants I know, home care specialists, sales people in department stores, workers in hotels, mom's with 5 kids, husbands who work in the Mexican Restaurant just a few blocks away. Gee! How many of those people are doing things that WE come in contact with? Worse yet, most of them DRIVE around here. It's no wonder why we have a huge accident rate in our town. Of course they aren't counted on any 'crime' rate statistics because WE have NO crime, right?

AND to top it all off for the day, the car I was watching, (which had been there all night) eventually got an 'owner'. It was a GORGEOUS (not kidding) gal from the HOUSE. She was dressed in all black with some beautiful designer logo on her shirt. She had a figure like a model and hair was awesome. She could have been walking the 'red carpet' the way she looked. Oh my! Beautiful and that's something coming from another female. Perfect figure and perfectly attired to show it off without being 'cheesy'. AND then she was joined by a sleezy looking male (gang dress, ball cap on backwards, all black, with a long t-shirt etc.) and the embraced. ICK! Actually was a very loving, movie-type embrace. I thought I'd just stepped into some Academy Award winning movie. Into the car they went, her driving her very new and sporty, something. Maybe one of those new Buicks. Shiny black with chrome around the windows. She was nothing like the scum that lives and frequents the HOUSE.

At least it kept me busy for the day. I wonder what will happen today? Already, I see that 2 cars had been parked there all night and ONE of them is the RED car that had the 'sex' scene playing out a few days ago. Ohhhhh. What will happen next? Stay tuned.

I have to admit that I believed the police would of done something about this by now. Hopefully they have eyes on this house.

Well it's finally happening. After my casual mention to the police detective at my Citizen's Police Academy class and after last Thursdays trek to 'Coffee with a cop" at the local McDonald's things are now in motion. I mentioned at the coffee event (where neighborhood people can sit and chat with cops) about the DRUG house across the street. Several of the guys (all upper ranks including the assistant police chief) were very interesting in the doings over at the house. One took down my name, address, phone, etc. and I mentioned the name of one who had been to my house before. WELL...yesterday morning, about 9am. I hear a 'hello' at my door. I was at the computer and looked up to see a HUGE policeman at my door. Eeeek! Turns out, happily he was the same guy I'd spoken to earlier this year, who took my video tapes and was very nice. He wanted to know if I had any more tapes or current stuff on the 'residents'.

I didn't even have my monitors on this time so hopefully he saw that I don't glue myself to them 24/7. I dragged out some recent 8x10's of some of the 'key' figures over there and he loved them. Then I showed him several pictures on my computer that I hadn't printed out. As each one came on screen, he kept saying, "Oh I know that truck, I know that guy, that one lives just up the street, so does that one, OH that one is a guy from Louisiana, etc." He KNOWS some of the key players and now knows that I'm not just some nut. They are known drug sellers, etc.
So he took the pics and asked if I could get a picture of the 'cooker' when he appears next. He's positive they are indeed producing drugs and selling drugs and would love to get the 'big' guy. He at least has the car and license number on this guy's car. OH and on some of the cars, he said, 'that's not the right license plate'! Wow, this guy knows his stuff.

So he also said that the 2 traffic stops in the past few days on the adjoining street were indeed a result of 'increased patrol' on the house! Hooray!!!!! They started right after the coffee thingy. Yes! I did it. At least we are starting something. He also said they are having NO luck contacting the Niece who is in charge. I told him neither am I for some reason when she had been so helpful previously.

He will check on the cars, licenses, people, and I assume we have undercover cars around now. He also knows BAD GAL. Yup, he's one of the guys who was in the house long ago when it was totally hoarded, has ARRESTED Bad Gal in the past and calls her, 'a piece of work'. Everyone knows her at the station, so he says. He knows the lies she tells and says that you really want to believe her. I made him watch the Channel 10 News story on the house and he was amused. At least he sees some of the key players in there and knows what he is looking for. He knew 2 of the residents besides Bad Gal. Nice! Mentioned one has a long police record. Yup. Good to know he knows and I am feeling pretty smart now.

I will watch, try to get a pic of the 'cooker' guy. I'm hoping that having a police car out front for an hour didn't give the squatters any ideas about what I was doing. I have a cover story all prepared. Transients in my driveway who are doing 'bad' things. It should work if I need it.

Now we sit and wait and watch. OH and the residents have a new system. They are being oh so careful after the arrests and only letting in people they know. Some are being turned away and not even let in the gate. Now the cars, who drive up for drugs, are honking, or at night, blinking their lights for 'service'. Really fun to watch.

More exciting tales when they happen. I'm hoping for a full-scale raid of the place.

Holy cow! Something might actually happen and you will have a front row seat!

Be careful Sorta. It sounds like they are actually going to clean up your neighborhood.