Nosey Neighbor or Doin' the Right Thing?

At 4:30 p.m. I arrived home and saw my neighbor's garage open and his door leading into the house open.  His car is nowhere in sight.

I haven't met this neighbor.  In fact, he's the only neighbor that hasn't introduced himself to me (and vice versa).  I've never seen his garage open without his car inside.  I think it's pretty strange but don't worry too much.  Maybe he just ran a quick errand?

I'm going to leave again in an hour and remind myself to check and see if there's any change.  There wasn't. 

I considered calling the police non-emergency number at that time - then start going back and forth on should I or shouldn't I (didn't I complain about that behavior in one of my other posts?!)  I pick up my friend and we begin talking about something and I completely forget about my neighbor.  Scatterbrained much?  (I'm not *that* great of a neighbor, huh?)

So, I returned home around 8:40 p.m. and the neighbor's garage door is still open, the door leading into the house is still open, and every light is off.  That's highly unusual.  I finally call the non-emergency police number.

The officer manning the phones was unpleasant, but took the information.  I explained to him that it was dark - I don't know my neighbor - I'm NOT going to go over to his house by myself.  He stated he would send out a car and asked if I wanted a return phone call.  Eh?  No.  Why?  (Now I regret it.  Although I doubt they would've told me what really happened.)

Arriving in "stealth" mode, the officers park a house away and turn off their car lights.  They walk into the house, turn on all the lights, and guess who shows up?  Yes, the homeowner arrives. 

How would you react to see the police walking out of your home when you come home from work (or wherever)?  I'd be freaking out!

I did not witness any freaking out.  In fact, the police asked for his driver's license - checking for home ownership and that's it.  They left.  Home owner walked in the house.  No biggie. 

I don't get it.

If I came home and the police explained to me my home was wide open all day long, I'd ask them to walk with me through the house to make sure no one was inside.  AND make sure nothing was missing.  AND AND make sure I was not STILL FREAKING OUT! 

But nooooooooo!  They just left.  The neighbor lowered his garage door.  Drama over.

Am I crazy?  Should I have just ignored it?  I remember accidentally leaving my garage door open all night.  It really frightened me when I found it open the next day!  Anyone can break in the door leading into the house from the garage.  The front door and window has the big locks on 'em, but not that garage door.  (BTW, NONE of my neighbors knocked on my door to tell me my garage was open.  NOR did anyone call the police - although that would be a bit extreme for just a garage door.)

I'm kerflumuxed.

Horrorscopes - fact or faked?

Here's my horoscope for today:

You have a lot on your plate today and could be rather busy just trying to keep up with everything. However, you might not have much to show for your efforts by the end of the day. Even if you have a viable plan in place, one distraction after another lures you away from your work. But there's no reason to think that frustration will hijack your day; simply accept the premise that disruptions bring important lessons you need to learn before you can move on.

First of all, how did my horoscope know that I'd be busy grading 300 essays today?

Second, how did it know I might not have much to show for my efforts because I'm easily distracted away from grading essays?  For instance, I'm typing this blog instead of grading essays.

Third, it tells me if I have a viable plan, which I do -- just sit and finish grading those dang essays -- that viable plan will not work due to continuous disruptions (ie - this blog, and that book, oooh and that shiney thing over there!)

Finally, it tells me that these disruptions bring important lessons I need to learn before I can move on.  Uh...move on to what?  And isn't the important lesson that I'm NOT supposed to allow myself distractions so that I can just get the grading finished?!?!

Oh, horrorscope - how you frighten me into immobility!  Ooooh what's that shiney thing over there?

UPDATE:  I finished grading all 150 essays and 150 tests.  I did not allow any distractions.  AND, I treated myself to a flick - Paranormal Activity 3.  Liked it.  :)

SWAT!

Watched Dallas Swat for the first time today.  Wow!  Haven't seen this much testosterone since Bruce Willis took out those terrorists at Nakatomi Tower.

In fact, they just took out an entire HOUSE!  Really, they took down a house!  It was a crack house... allegedly. (Whatever, we know it was!)  But they ripped off every entrance to the abode.  The poor pit bull doggie was terrified.  I hope they take it to the SPCA for debriefing.

I think I'll watch this show more often because I love Alpha Males!  These take charge men don't hem and haw and have that shoulda-coulda-woulda attitude that I loathe.

Sure, some of them come across like Henry Rollin's character from The Chase, but that's okay.  Every job has their die-hard nerd.

Sigh... I wonder if any of those officers are single.

Okay, I need to get back to the real world because HOCKEY IS ON!!!

I have a cold

I dislike colds... immensely.

However, my job places me in contact with millions of germs on a daily basis.  No, I'm not a scientist or waste management technician.  I'm a teacher.

I could write TONS about being a teacher, but I value my job and do not want to say anything that will put it in jeopardy.  I'm not saying everything is awful.  It's not.  But I couldn't be truthful and keep my job.  :(

WAIT - I was talking about being sick! 

Last night while watching my Dallas Stars give a lackluster performance against the Pitts (we lost), I felt an ache in my ear.  That's my #1 clue that something big is a'comin!

I got out the heating pad, took my zinc, gargled, took my Nyquil, piled on the blankets and STILL woke up feeling like cacadoody.

Dear Scientists and assorted Genuises:  Please, please, PLEASE find a cure for the common cold.

Thank you,

SickyPooh Me :)

eHarmony Update 1

November 6, 2011
eHarmony Diary: Today's matches: a 48-year old man whose favorite things are "cycling ,hiking ,making dinner " and obviously does not know how to use a comma.  No, of course I didn't take him off my "possibilities" list because he can't use a comma!  I took him off my list because he's 48, has children (plural), does not live in Texas, and had no photo.

There was also a 43-year old, quite handsome, gentleman from "tlanta, GA" who is most passionate about "love" and the most important thing he's looking for in a person is: "happy".   It's such a shame he lives in Georgia.    ...and the beat goes on...

November 8, 2011
eHarmony Update #4589723490587: Today's winner states the following: "I’m in love with the sea she’s my mistress. My interests are diverse and my desires and border on the renaissance while my leanings are for the ardent hearted."

What Is He Talking About?!?!?!

My sister says he's being poetic and as an English teacher I should appreciate it.  Meh, I can't understand it!

November 10, 2011
Today's ONE eHarmony match is from... NEBRASKA! Yes, there aren't any men my age within the State of Texas or any "connecting" states. They had to look all the way over in NEBRASKA!

Thank you for taking care of me, State of Texas!

So I'm checking out of my local grocery store on Sunday (before noon) and the cashier takes away my beer.  She says, "You have to wait until noon." 

I'm sorry, what?

"You can't buy beer until noon in Texas."

Well, thank goodness the State of Texas is looking out for me!  God knows I was going to go home at 10 a.m. and down a six pack of Shiner Amber.  Then ... who knows... I could've done something really awful like mowed my yard drunk or passed out on my sofa or played my music REALLY LOUD on a friggin SUNDAY!

Of course, when I lived up in Virginia they wouldn't sell any alcohol on a Sunday at all.  And the times the "alky" stores were open was like between 2p.m. and 3:15 p.m.  LOL

Thank you Mr. & Mrs. Politician for looking out for me!

Hockey Helmets

Dallas Stars have become a team that NEVER GIVES UP!  Thus far this season has been a real treat for Stars fans.  But let me talk about something *really* important:  the hockey helmet.

The hockey helmet, a.k.a. bucket, bonnet, hat, or mask (if you're a goalie or possibly injured) is one of the goofiest helmets in sports.  Seriously, have you seen the fan who wears a helmet or helmet-type hat to the games.  They look silly! 

Yet, put one of these buckets on a player in full regalia and he becomes sex-on-a-stick.  Why is that?

Or is this just a Debbie thing?