Small Town, Big Excitement

It's amazing. The excitement we've gained by moving to this small town. Why, just a few days ago, our next door neighbor was arrested. For assaulting his girlfriend with a gun. In front of her kids. (One's in high school, two are in elementary school).

We've been sharing a driveway for over a year and now we find out he's been quite an intolerable sort. Hard-core. Alcoholic/Drug Addict hardcore. If a reporter were to come around and talk to us, I'd be the one quoted as saying, "We're very surprised. He's always been so friendly. He even plowed our driveway the two times it snowed this winter."

It's funny, because I've "suspected" that there was strange behavior going on next door ever since we moved in. When your neighbors have blankets on all of their windows all day long, and cars come and go throughout the day...and at night the blankets are off and everyone can see inside...you start to wonder...

Everything looks normal at night but during the day...the activity just seemed a little too suspicious. Then, last night, around midnight we hear what sounds like a semi-truck idling outside. Me, being the nosy neighbor that I am, peeked through the blinds. I took one look and turned all the lights off and found a comfortable spot to...observe. ;) (I really didn't but I did go back to peek quite a bit. Hey! You'd be curious too.) There was a semi-size, maybe a little shorter-type motor home thing, with a huge trailer on the back of it parked out front and two cop cars. Not the first cops in the past week. The police have been a common fixture since this guys arrest a week ago. (Mind you, they had never been there before this incident).

The truck pulled into the back alley and turned on the most massive spotlights I'd ever seen. Quite literally, our WHOLE block was lit up. It looked like the middle of the afternoon. Hard for anyone to miss, and many people took notice, as I soon saw a steady stream of traffic slowly circling our block. Not much is missed in this small town. Especially, when you brighten the whole town with spotlights at one in the morning!

I couldn't make out what was printed on the side of the truck but there were about five or so people, some with white (protective) suits and masks on that pulled out a table and a bunch of paraphenalia. (I could only assume they weren't having a picnic). They also had what looked like water jugs and kept mixing things together and every now and then, they'd jump back real quick. Then they'd take pictures.

It was quite the excitement. It all died down by about 1:30 or so. Mark could only grin and shake his head at me...I'm too curious. I mean, I'm a stay-at-home mom and yeah I don't get out much but that was crazy!

My neighbor (the girlfriend) and her three kids are moving. They're under protective custody so I will never know where, but man...the lives people live...

As Shirley said, "Some people live like "dog's."

Sure makes you THANKFUL for yours!

One more big excitement, in this small town: Abo's being potty trained. The kid has no choice. I've been waiting for him to be interested. Just ain't happening. Last night, he had a mess in his diaper that "somehow" also got on his hand. (Gag!) And Mark & I told him he has no choice anymore. He's gone pee a few times already. Cross your fingers for us!