I live in an "up and coming area" - read low income. When parentals/suburban folk come Arthur and I pull out all the stops to try and make our home seem like it was a good idea. (Really, we truly love it as frustrating as it can be at times, but to outside eyes we feel like we appear insane) So, we buy scented candles, new bathroom rugs, a soap dish, specialty shampoos. Yesterday I even perused the pot pourri section. We have spent the last few weeks patching bad spots on the walls, fixing, removing mildew, repainting, glueing, caulking, cleaning. We go and buy a case of nice wine. We stock the fridge with fancy cheese and crackers. We put out a set of fluffy towels and guest soaps from Moulton Brown. We want it to seem like we are fine, better than fine. This is our way of dealing.
But there is some law of averages out there that no matter how good we make it inside our nest the wild world outside on our street will provide the counterbalance. One might say when you have out of town guests you tend to notice the negative stuff more than you usually might. I understand this. I do. But my experience with this phenomenon goes well beyond this... and it is already starting.
Actually, things were looking up. This hideous dumping area in front of a daycare that was forced to close a year ago was recently totally cleaned up. A half-way done apartment building is now more finished with the grafitti removed, the gaping holes in the concrete refilled. A vacant lot down the way from us was totally cleared and all the piled garbage removed. 2 abandoned properties are in the process of total renovation down the way. However, overnight some new potential problems have recently surfaced.
#1. This morn on the walk of shame to the train I noticed 2 dead and decomposing rats out in the middle, smack dab middle, of the sidewalk. Why now I ask? This is not a totally common occurance - especially two. Will they still be there tomorrow? YOU BET! (Unless A or I go and remove them. Remember the dead cat in the box story?)
#2. Next door a big bag of garbage was left behind from last night's pickup for some reason. I see that it was broken into by live rats or cats last night and chicken bones are scattered. This is right next door - by our front gate. When is the next garbage pickup? Maybe Friday? So will it sit outside again tonight for more rodent feasting? Are they providing a thanksgiving for rats? We will see. (I am considering putting this garbage bag back in their containers myself if need be. I can't deal with looking at it and feeding asshole rats.)
#3. The same adjoining building is suddenly in the process of a rehab. There is a huge dumpster next door. Again, I ask why now? Why NOW?
Okay, so all in all, not hideous. The burned out car husk from yesterday was thankfully removed. The problems above are not so bad. I realize, but I am sure some new atrocities will present themselves over the coming weekend, perhaps just during the day today.
Some possiblities - methadone johnny will make an appearance after months of none. There will be a screaming at 4am vagina vagina lady. Or like another time there were out of town guests, there willl be a dead or passed out person laying in the middle of the sidewalk one block away on the way to our house from the train. Or there will be a running pack of rats there - or both! That would be sweet. Maybe we can meet methadone johnny's new girlfriend like the last time my rentals were here. that was fun! i really don't know what the weekend has in store for us but i am sure it will be something special.
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with turkey day approaching it reminded me of the time coming home from the train when i spotted this mass of bloody flesh by the park. i glanced at it briefly and though it was a dead and skinned raw dog. a nasty carcas. so i got home and told a about it. i was on the phone with 311 waiting to talk to someone about it. i was imagining a mass murderer in the making somewhere was responsible. a figured out that I had seen the half frozen turkey someone had thrown out on the street. he was right. it was a frozen turkey half eaten or something.
maybe we can see one of these on friday or saturday. i will know now not to mistake it for a dog carcass.
oh FB, you make me laugh. I love your neighborhood and I haven't even been there.
I forgot to tell you that they are demolishing the crazy dilapidated buildings in Journal Square. Once the square is devoid of legit business, it will be a derelict free for all. New buildings are coming though and so is increased JCPD presence. I am thinking that the neighborhood re-structuring is starting in earnest.
oh FB. NO! No turkey carcass, no dead rats!
garbage bag in front of house is gone. rat carcass is still there. i may send arthur in.
In re #1:
"things were looking up. This hideous dumping area in front of a daycare that was forced to close a year ago was recently totally cleaned up. A half-way done apartment building is now more finished with the grafitti removed, the gaping holes in the concrete refilled. A vacant lot down the way from us was totally cleared and all the piled garbage removed. 2 abandoned properties are in the process of total renovation down the way" = dead rats. I know.
Just passing through.
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