September 7, 2013 -- Banging Brood, has the Truce Ended?

At 4:05 p.m., the Banging Brood began with a few light thumps.  This grew both louder and longer until about 4:10 p.m., when it ended.

Now as far as this "truce", what I haven't mentioned yet is that their mother came over on Tuesday evening and offered me a truce.  She seemed shifty-eyed and a bit deceitful, especially when she tried excusing the wall punching as "noise from a fan".  Funny, I don't recall fans ever learning how to walk on their own, or beat on a wall to retaliate for normal noises I'm making.

Needless to say, it's been rather quiet around here up until a few minutes ago.

September 7, 2013 -- Leash Law Violation

At around 11:30 a.m., one resident allowed a small dog to romp around unfettered on the quad lawn.  What's the big deal?  We have a leash law in Farmers Branch, and each resident knows this via the lease.  But it's not uncommon to see small dogs being allowed to run free.

True, it's sometimes difficult to find a harness small enough to keep a wee dog on a leash, but sometimes those dogs will come right at you for no reason.  Now, I'm not exactly afraid of a short, fuzzy mop of a dog, but I'm rather fond of my ankles and don't want them chewed.  I also worry that someone like myself, going about normal activities, might inadvertently "draw" an unfettered dog into the path of a moving vehicle.

I think you know what I'm talking about.  You're going about your own business.  This little dog that doesn't know better decides to follow you.  Dog gets run over by moving vehicle in the parking lot.  Everyone's sad.

September 6, 2013 -- Who are you trying to Impress?

At 8:17 p.m., I heard a motorcycle skidding its tires and revving its engine right outside my bedroom window.  Seriously, is that noise supposed to impress anyone other than the operator?  I find it annoying, not impressive. 

On the plus side, at least the curfew wasn't violated.

September 4, 2013 -- You Know You're in a Ghetto Apartment Complex when...

... you notice a "Beware of Dog" sign in a window. 

Now granted, a "Beware of Dog" sign is pretty common-place.  But in an apartment?  Most people at London Square have pets of some kind.  Dogs are pretty common.  It's a safe assumption that there's a four-legged speed bump lurking behind most doors, so there's little reason to warn someone.

Unless you fear criminals and you know the FBPD is pretty much useless as a crime prevention force.

September 3, 2013 -- Banging Brood Strikes Again

Around 9:30 a.m., the Banging Brood (who should all be in school at that time of day and not at home thumping on the walls) were, well, banging and thumping on the walls.  And I think I've figured out why.

It's not "play time" as the mother called it.  It's retaliation for any sounds I make.  How do I know this?  Well today, I was minding my own business, trying to pack stuff.  Some stuff I'm downsizing and other stuff I'm packing for my eventual move. 

I was in the bedroom and living room.  And the little banger followed me to bang on their bedroom and living room wall, which I share in common with them. 

Fortunately for me, the event happened when the apartment manager could be contacted.  So I told her what had transpired and she did make the little demons next door knock it off.  Aside from some walking upstairs, it's been pleasantly quiet.

And I'm glad it was dealt with, because I really don't want to call the useless donut patrol, aka FBPD.  I'm too tired after walking nearly 5 miles in the blazing hot afternoon sun.  My nerves are raw enough, I've had anxiety spells like you wouldn't believe, and I really don't need any nonsense from the next door brat pack.

September 2, 2013 -- London Square, the Dumpground

Okay, you know a place is starting to go downhill when you see empty cigarette packages, beer bottles, cans, and a myriad of other solid waste strewn about the entire property.  I don't know why we even have four dumpsters if throwing garbage into the hedges and on the ground is the norm.  Maybe one day the trash trucks will be coming here to dump a load instead of to collect it?

Trust FBPD to never be around to enforce anti-litter laws.  But wait!  They can't enforce what goes on at an apartment complex!  Only the manager is in charge of that! 

So the cops are saying that if I owned an apartment complex, they couldn't come in and solve a murder that occurred on the property?  It would be up to me?  Dude!  I'm no Sherlock Holmes.  And I panic at grizzly real-life horrors.

September 1, 2013 -- Calling Wal-mart, Calling Wal-mart...

... two shopping carts have "taken up residence" on London Square Apartment's property.  There's no telling if there's more, since I haven't walked the entire property.  And there could be some over at Courtyards too.

I seem to remember shopping cart theft (that's what it's called when you remove a store-owned cart from its lot) is a $500 fine.  Ouch.  London Square is going to take a big hit.

I can't tell you how many times I've seen "borrowed" Wal-mart shopping carts just pitched into a dumpster here at the complex.