Neighborhood Watch

Just as we had finished watching Hercule Peirot tonight I heard one quick beep of a siren pretty much right outside the door and of course went ou to check it out. Three cop cars there already, and a fourth and fifth came up while I was watching.

Seemed not too big a deal, but they got three people out of the car (all being pretty cooperative, it seemed -- two men and a woman) cuffed 'em, sat 'em down on the curb and then stood around forever. Didn't seem all that interesting, except that I noticed that all the cars that were pointing away from me were CHP, and I couldn't see the one that was pointed towards me, except for the headlights.

John came out and we sat there and watched for awhile, then I went in the house and got out the binoculars, because, like, you know, you don't want to miss anything. After they stood around for quite awhile (this started about 10:30 p.m. and I just came back in the house and it's midnight) they started going through the car. First I thought they were searching it, then it looked like they were just getting the people's (the perps'?) stuff out of it. But then they opened the back of the car and took out the tires and I think eventually took out a rifle of some kind, something that might have been some kind of automatic weapon. But I was trying to see this from across the street with two very large trees and some wimpy bushes somewhat obstructing my view. I can still hear the cop heliocopter flying around near Broadway somewhere, so I'm wondering if these people were suspects in something else that went down, rather than just a DUI or whatever. I don't think they usually arrest everybody in the car for DUI.

In addition to us, a bunch of guys from the half way house, who are no doubt not strangers to this scenario themselves, came down and watched for awhile, and a couple carrying a baby walked right over there and past the scene of the action, and when they had satisfied themselves, walked back. I don't think I'd be taking a baby right up to that, myself. But then again, most people wouldn't sit on their front porch with binoculars, either. I will probably pay for this with a bunch of new mosquito bites tomorrow.

We're finally going to get new windows in our back sunporch -- though I think it's a long ways away -- but we're trying to get all the crap out of there, which in my case seems to necessitate making a complete mess of the other bedroom while doing it. Last weekend Lynda and I had a yard sale. I spent most of my earnings at the bead show this weekend, though. I did get rid of a lot of stuff up there, but there's still a lot more there. We're mostly down to paper products like books of music -- a whole bookcase full -- paper of various kinds that I might someday use, but usually can't find when I want it. I believe that all of this can probably be put into the desk in the bedroom, but it's tedious process and of course involves throwing away junk that's in the desk. I think I'm also going to have to put the computer on that desk for the duration of the project, too. I already have one box of junk ready for the next yard sale, and may get another before I go to bed.

No more news that's fit to print this weekend.