ARTISTRY

Our home was Robbed yesterday.  Merry Christmas!

 

OK... Bryan got home late from school.  He stayed behind to talk with friends so he didn't' arrive until 5:PM.  I immediately got a phone call. The Christmas tree is right by the front door.  It was knocked down and a mess.  He tough the cats had a busy day and it was knocked over by them.  I told him to set it up and just be careful of the glass.  He must of did just that and then walked directly into his room.  He wasn't suspicious at first because -- one the big TV as still there -- and he is 16 observant is not a teenagers mode of operation.

 

His room was not only tossed but vandalized.  The desk was broken, TV in his knocked around [too heavy to carry easily], computer monitor keyboard mouse, ipod, camera, games, PSP, and other items gone. They destroyed his desk and tossed his room. 

 

He called instantly I told him to lock the door and go next door. He did.  I called the cops and left work getting Chris along the way.  Because of the weather and the fact it was full of commuter traffic it took us almost an hour to get home.  Bry was with our neighbor and the police when we arrived.  He was scared, angry and obviously upset.

 

We did a walk through of the house. The window in my studio was the point of entry.  Funny thing is I just got confirmation that my window would be in and could be installed next week.  The window was securely boarded up and they could have used the back window to the house easier but 'stupid criminals' went in that way.  The must have been here between noon and PM. 

 

Luckily our neighbor two houses down came home for some reason at lunch and saw a suspicious vehicle and actually called the police.  He wrote down the license plate and the cops did a drive by.  Everyone figures that must have rattled them and they left before they finished the job.  They still stole plenty and damaged the rest - what they couldn't take they busted up. 

 

In our bedroom they went through our stuff, messed with my personal 'girlie' items. [I already washed everything]  The big item they got out of our bedroom was my medications.  I have some very strong prescriptions, narcotics [prescribed pain killers] for my fibromyalgia.  Also they were just filled last week because I had a doctors appointment.  They tossed the room and bathroom a bit but once they had the drugs they pretty much moved to other parts of the house.  My jewelry and Chris's is still here.  The violation of messing with my personal items creep-ed me out.  The 'responsibility' of my prescriptions worried me - I told the officers last night, talked to my pharmacy giving them notice [incase they tried to fill the prescription for more] Believe it or not when I called my doctor's office to inform them - they told me that someone tried to get a refill last week from a robbery.  They were very pleased I thought to call and asked for me to keep them informed.

 

In the living room the Christmas tree was tossed and they tried to take our big TV but Chris has is bolted and installed on a entertainment cabinet so they wasted quite a bit of time trying to get that loose.  They had brought tools with them because the bolts and screws were loose and there were plenty of finger prints on the TV and cabinet.  They took the Box and controllers but didn't know enough about computers to take the media center PC.  I am almost positive that they just didn't' know what it was.  Things were knocked around a bit in their but with the tree being tossed it did look like the cats could have knocked it off.  Hell they even searched the kitchen.

 

Once they were that far in the house, the computer room is next.  By this time - especially if they were here when we think they were.  The cop was doing a drive by which you can see the cops car from the windows at the back of our home but if you are not out in the open the cops can't really see in.  They must have gotten spooked -- also they know that they have been in the house too long.  They hit the computer room and toss stuff.  Take my little 17' monitor, try to remove my big 22' monitor but its bolted into my PC so the PUNCH IT.  Yes that's right they just punch the thing out of spite.  The computer is jockeyed around, they take my head phone amp, toss my headphones [which cost tons more than my amp by the way - stupid criminals] they toss around the rest then move to Chris's unit.  We just bought him a new monitor for his system, his Christmas present its 32' - yes he is spoiled.  it was his only gift.  They moved things and jockeyed things around but the pressure must have messed with them and they took off only slightly tossing his stuff.  However -- they did take our CD case with a laundry list of licensed programs that would put that tally they are running up into 'holy shit' costs. Then to round it out they took all my photography equipment.  Yes my big digital camera with extra lens and filters, my older manual MM, and a antique camera that was passed down to me by my mother. 

 

They took tons of easy carry items and quite a bit of our feeling of safety.  I had a security service come out a short time ago and give us a quote on a system installed and monitored.   We had some security but not a monitored system or video cameras.  But with our hard work lately we have acquired a few new toys this year and we wanted to be secure.  We had it slotted to be taken care of in January. Our next year budgeted big ticket item for the house. We do one each year.  That has been put a little closer to say.... now.  Cause the statistics are that once you have been burglarized your chances of being again increase.  I think simply because they know you have 'stuff' and want it. 

 

My first and truly only concern was our son's safety. What if he arrived home on time and they were still here?  We have some lovely friends and they as well as Chris's sister are going to house sit until the installation of the New Security system is in.  Chris's vacation is next week so it is only these next three days but better safe than sorry.  We've notified the pawn shops, got our neighborhood watch system informed, and are doing the dirty deed of putting our home back together as a home.  The thing that makes this OK is that Bryan is fine, we are fine -- it was just stuff -- somewhat easily replaced.  As long as we are good then the rest will fall into place. I believe highly in Karma, and what comes around goes around and I am trying to have every faith that they will be apprehended and we will remain safe.

 

I hope our holiday mishap does not dampen yours.  For we are truly fine and I only posted to vent out my frustration and disappointment on the human condition.  I know what desperation is, I've been there and made bad choices but this does not seem to be the desperate act of someone trying to take care of their family.  It seems to be a petty, childish 'you have it I want it so I am going to take it - instead of earn it'.  Thank you for listening.

 

Many Blessings,

Jax

 

 

 

 

 

Well, it seems as if it has been a long time since I've been here.  I started a new job in June and prior to that I dove head first to finish my degree and I did but I swear I lived and breathed school while doing it.  I kinda got burned out.  It is tough prioritizing and simply finishing what you started let alone accomplishing anything along the way.  Things have been very toppsy turvey. 

 

I've been using my 'facebook' but it seems like a quick 'headline' to life instead of any actual connection.  The funny thing is that my job had me start some research for the compnay on Social Media.  They are trying to promote their people to utilize the medium and we are launching a page for the company.  Along with the Social Meida I am also working to switch we hosts and re-invent their web site. I am slightly more informed on this than say a rock.  I have some training from my degree but 'art' web stuff is a whole different kinds of beast as a business site.  Luckily the whole company, not just our franchise is re-vamping it so I just have to organize and put my two cents in when called on with the company they hired to do the whole she-bang.  But it seems as if my job is going to change rather quickly here into web and Social Media, which is fine because I am bored with all the marketing stuff.   I do have to say that a photograph I took of one of our listings is on the cover of a magazine.  Pretty cool.  I'll post it and talk about it more.  So at least I will remain gainfully employeed for awhile longer.

 

Other stuff has encroached on my state of calm and I am doing all I can to deal with it.  Family really can do a number on you.  They are the only people I believe in your world that can rip you to shreds and you do all you can to just take the blow.  All the while trying to take their hand to help.  So I will try to gather myself and keep my sense of self contained.  I am very lucky to have Chris, he keeps me grounded and sane.. well at least as sane as everyone else....

 

Sorry for the morbid moment......

 

Now on to good.  I am very close to finishing re-modeling our third bedroom in the house into my studio.  Its not anything else but a stuio.  It's not the corner of a room or the hoarded space in the garage. Its a space for me.  The last item is the window. Bryan tried to open the window and instead of taking the handle to slide it he placed his hand on the plan of glass to slide it open.  Only it was locked... so his hand went though the glass plane ... hes fine not even a scratch.  This is an old house so we could buy a standard window or just replace the plane.  So we had to order the window to be made and as soon as it is ready I have a guy who is going to install it.  I have it all set up.  Chris and Bryan helped me scrape the ceiling popcorn off and we painted, then did baseboards and refinished the door.  Installed my shelving system and put all my art tools and supplies.  I have already set it up and have been working in it. I am very excited.  Hopefully, this will keep me motivated and focused on producing some new work.