Keeping up with The Jones

Saturday, September 29, 2007

So I guess that was just a suggestion

As mentioned by Captain Steve in the comments section, I’ve been spending a lot of time in the Stapleton houses lately. I even planned to write about it. Of course, I’ve been meaning to write about a lot of things lately.

Anyway, the primary reason for my increased presence in the projects has been our corps recent outreach campaign. We’ve purchased flyers in the form of door hangers and have been putting them on as many of our neighbors’ doors as possible. It’s my goal to hit every door in the Stapleton houses.

My second day there this week I noticed a sign that read:

NO BARBECUING
ALLOWED ON DEVELOPMENT
GROUNDS OR TERRACE AREAS
ALL VIOLATERS WILL BE SUMMONSED BY NYPD


I was surprised I had not noticed these signs earlier, since there are at least four prominently displayed on every floor. Apparently I was not the only one who overlooked this directive, since one thing I had noticed was that many people (at least a dozen so far) keep grills right out on the terrace. I’m sure they’re not for barbecuing.

Carrying slightly more authority was the creature I encountered in the doorway of one apartment. Normally when I find a door open – as many are on hot days – I poke my head in and speak to whoever’s home. This door, although open, was blocked by a large black dog. He looked to be at least part pit, and his head popped up and one ear perked the moment he saw me. He sized me up; I backed down. I’m usually a dog guy, but I’m no fool. Protect your turf. I’ll get your door another day.

In the meantime, I’ll address this to whoever lives on the third floor with the large dog blocking the door: in case you’re interested, we have worship services every Sunday at The Salvation Army – 10 AM, Sunday School, 11AM Morning Worship, 5 PM Evening Praise.

Hope to see you there.

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Catching up (again)

Okay, it’s time to pull this thing back together.

First off, some of you may have noticed a reference in the last post, authored by Capt Steve, to my “new apartment.” So the first bit of news, and the closest thing I have to an excuse for blogging inactivity, is that I’ve moved. Only two blocks, mind you. But I moved everything myself, excluding the pull out love seat, the only item I had help with, and the old gray recliner I’ve love so much since junior year. I’m afraid the mice have loved the stuffing even more, so it's gone.

The reasons for the move included a shady power struggle between my landlords (a tale for another time), and more beneficially, a friend moving to the area interested in splitting expenses (Chris, also our new youth director). There’s nothing quite like more than tripling your floor space while simultaneously lowering your monthly expenses.

Seriously, come visit me. There’s room now.

Today I went to the bank and my auto insurance company to update my address. Knowing the difficulty both these institutions have given me about this information in the past, I brought plenty of ammo: my apartment lease, a recent pay stub with the new address, and my electric bill. Guess how many of these things I needed.

If you guessed none, you’re apparently qualified to run a bank. Just to clarify, if you open an account one day, and then come back to the very same bank the very next day to open a linked account, you will need to establish your address all over again with two separate documents. But if you wait six months you can come back and transfer both of those accounts to any address you can make up, and open any new accounts at that same address.

At least my car insurance now takes my word that I don’t live in Massachusetts. I think.

Perhaps the biggest news: for those of you that don’t already know, my sister is currently spending her final collegiate semester in Romania, fulfilling her social work practicum. You can read all about her adventures, as well as drop her encouraging notes, at:

shannoninromania.blogspot.com


Right now she’s blogging circles around me. Check it out.