Today I was a total lazy-ass. Slept in until somewhere between 12:30-1pm, then kicked my sorry ass out of bed. Went on the PC for a while, still in my PJs, until 3:30-ish and then got ready and went to church. After church I met up with Jenn at Frenchy's, but we didn't realize they closed at 5pm on Saturdays. So off to the mall we went.
I ended up with some ankle socks, which were on sale and I needed them for when it's hot out and I'm walking (hot, HA! I sound like I have to justify that purchase). Also bought a really nice black t-shirt, and though I already have 2, this one was slightly more dressy, if that makes sense. The major purchase of the night (sorry Mare, it was on sale and looked really nice) was a blue & white striped suit with capris. I did it. I finally broke down and bought a pair of capris. I feel defeated in a way, since I have until tonight refused to wear capris, but they do look really nice. Mare and I will have to co-ordinate so we don't wear the same thing at the same time (though mine was from Reitman's, so it's not exactly the same). We also ran into Lisa & Anthony in the middle of our shopping and stopped to talk to them for a few minutes.
By the time we finished the mall, we were getting hungry and Stew had gotten home, so we decided to get Chinese food - Jenn and I had said the next Saturday night we were hanging out and it was raining, we should get some. So we ordered & picked it up and headed to her house to eat.
I sat down and started into my meal when I heard my cell ring. I was lucky my purse was beside me, actually, b/c I had left it on buzz mode and heard it vibrating. The call was from ADT, and the alarm at my house was going off. Basement motion sensor. They asked if I wanted to dispatch the police, but I said no, I'll go over and check it out. Stew came with me, and looked around first before I joined him and we went inside. No obvious broken windows or anything. We went inside, and I expected that something in the basement had fallen over, but I couldn't find anything that looked out of place. The only thing I did find was one of my windows was unlocked, but the screen was still on, and if someone had come in, it was wet outside and there was no evidence of anyone having come inside. We also looked around everywhere upstairs, but nothing out of place. Nice not to have found anything wrong, but I hope it wasn't a malfunction that would go off again in the middle of the night.
The evil thought of perhaps mice in my basement occurred to me as well... God please don't let it be that!!
This is the crappy part about being a single girl living alone. I am a stereotypical girl in this situation, I would rather have a man around to protect me. Living here alone was the major reason I got the system. Some of my neighbors work shift work and are home during the day, which is good, and there is an RCMP officer up on the next street, but if someone wants to get in, that won't stop them. I'm glad I invested in this. I always said I'd rather have the system in place before experiencing a break-in, and watching friends deal with their break-in served to strengthen that idea later on when I bought a house on my own.
Makes me want to keep a baseball bat under my bed though. I am going to invest in a motion-sensitive floodlight at the back door, I've been thinking of that for a while, even just for the fact that I'd like a floodlight back there anyway.
Being in the basement also reminded me of all the cleanup I still need to do down there, and since tomorrow is going to rain, perhaps that would be a good Sunday project, along with laundry. Will have to do that anyway since Vag will prob be staying with me around the luau. Maybe I can actually have a door put on the spare bedroom by the time you get here, Vag! Nothing but the finest in accomodations :D
20 comments:
Three cheers for Stew. I'm happy you had someone around to do the dirty work of checking for you.
Those systems are great, and are a single-person's best friend. It's like insurance; you may never need it, but it is nice that it is there if you do.
And I recommend a Louisville Slugger. Many people will tell you go for the aluminum. No, there's something comforting about having a wood bat in your hand when you need to feel safe.
The wood bat is better, however, as much as I adore ya Liz, I seriously doubt the ability to swing it with enough power to inflict pain. My suggestion is actually a knife. While messier, it is light enough that you could get a good bit of power behind it before sinking it in....belly's prolly the easiest.
you know, my cousin lives one block down from you, if you ever have any troubles you can call him and he'll be right up. no questions asked. i can put you guys in contact if you'd like.
he's a big guy. good with a bat, i'd imagine. better with the loud voice.
Well, bats and knives are good, but nothing says "how-do-you-do" like mace... If you know any postmen ask them for a can... It's called "HALT"... I take it with me in the woods, just incase of killer rabbits and stuff.
If the mace doesn't suit you I'll volunteer for the live-in-man position.
;-)
PS: Capris are totally hot :-)
Oh, Dobby. Liz doesn't need a house-elf.
But what if the man of the house gets just as scared as you? :-P
As for the whole bat/knife debate, I'm all for hiding under the bed with my cell phone and hoping for the best...
And anonymous, you need to read up on netiquette. Nasty anonymous comments are not cool.
Actually mace/pepper spray are illegal and if used even in that situation you could be charged with possession of a dangerous weapon. Doesn't matter that you used it in self defense... just that you had it in your possession. Go with the bat and the cell phone - cell phone doesn't tell other phones in the house to display EXTENSION IN USE which I've always found as an advertisement to would-be burglars that hey there is someone home! EEK!
That's a good point about the cell phone Cyn...never thought about that!
Personally, my recomendation is for a nice WWII era flame thrower. I'm a bit of a torch first ask questions later person though. And there's that whole collateral damage to the house...
Seriously though, take a self-defence course if you are really concerned. Knives and bats can be taken away and used against you.
Yes, I agree, get a Killbot.
I need a Torgo. He takes care of the place while the Master is away.
[insert Torgo theme here]
Those were "Willbots" Anthony, the killing was just an unfortunate glitch. ^_^
Having been at home (house sitting or babysitting) more than once while the place was being broken into kinda makes a person think of these little things ie the phone. Hehehe!
Also, the knife is one of the easiest weapons to be turned back against ya... Go with the bat.
ummmmmm Scott, we need to talk bud ;-)
Seriously Liz, Cell phone is always good, along with a defence weapon, but, a self defence course that was mentioned is not a bad idea... if for nothing else, a good workout... and last but not least, mans best friend!
But, you do have an alarm system.
Have a peacefull nights sleep, you don't need to worry. It was probebly the wind that ajared the window. :-)
I love the idea of a self-defense course. I really want to take one too. If you find one, let me know and we can take it together :)
i took a self-defence course for women at the y a few years ago, they may still offer them sporadically. definitely worth the money. i learned how to punch, how to stand, how not to wear ponytails as they make a good handle... i'd take it again, if people were interested. i'm also considering taking something martial-arts-like this fall.
scott makes some excellent points, you have the advantage as you know your place, right?
but again, my cousin. one block down. he wouldn't mind at all, in fact, he would be happy to help.
Scott-scary. :-P
I was actually thinking just last night that a self-defense/martial arts class would be a good thing to take. I'm woefully ill equipped to take care of myself if I were attacked, or if the apartment was burgled with me in it.
the tai chi is actually what i'm looking at taking. they offer a class uptown, and one at the millidgeville community centre. it's not the cheapest, but it looks good.
hey, that's not a bad idea.
Tai Chi is great. I took it for about 3 years before I lost my sensei.
All I can find now are dumbed-down "Americanized" versions that suck.
Good luck.
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