If your entire world is on West 8th Street then it's been a rather boring week. But we all are part of a bigger "neighborhood" and in our neighborhood there's been some happenings.
One very sad event took place 4 blocks away from West 8th Street on W. 4th St.
A 17 year old girl was walking with her friend behind the Save A Lot grocery store when her 27 year old ex-boyfriend appeared with a gun and shot her three times. It didn't take long for Davenports finest to track the would be murderer down and put him where he couldn't hurt anyone else.
The girl, although in critical condition at first is recovering and will survive.
Lucky for her and also lucky for those of us in the neighborhood that her so called ex will no doubt not be attending any social events for quite some time.
Of course the question begs to be asked as to why a 17 year old girl was even allowed to have an "ex" boyfriend who was 10 years older?
You could also take the ages and bring them down by one year reasonably since he is an ex-boyfriend. That would leave a 16 year old girl with a 26 year old boyfriend!
Incredible.....
Moving on, a few days ago the wife and I were leaving our home for dinner at Kelly's when as we were pulling out we noticed a large amount of brush clippings that someone had unceremoniously dumped in the middle of our alley. It was such a large amount that it blocked traffic in both directions. I would imagine someone was "making a statement" about our cities garbage and recycling fees.
It could have been taken 3 miles away down to the compost site and for probably less than $2 been dumped there but obviously whoever did this was in a hurry or just didn't have the cash on hand.
It used to be long ago that our "sewer" fees were all part of our water bill that arrived every 3 months. The "fees" were split and suddenly it seemed that we were paying almost twice as much for our water/sewer service and we were receiving two bills every 3 months.
Of course through the years the costs for both have gone up and our leaders have added to the sewer portion of our bill what they call "fees" for various city services. We now have a "garbage" fee, a "recycling" fee and a "storm water runoff" fee all tacked onto the sewer bill. And of course, our property taxes haven't decreased but have in fact increased on average over the years.
I haven't seen much of our allegedly drug dealing neighbor lately but stay tuned.....it's Saturday and things tend to "go down" more on the weekends.
The weather here on West 8th Street was almost balmy Friday. I believe Terry Swails on channel 6 said it got up to 47 degrees! The snow and ice was melting at a rapid pace. The South facing sides of our yards on West 8th Street have very little snow left in place.
We are promised though that the temps will fall and stay pretty much steady for the foreseeable future. Right now at my trusty weather station it is 32.2 degrees. That number is probably askew since the transmitter is in the bright sunlight right now.
All in all, things keep clicking along here on West 8th Street. I hope you have had a good week! Stay warm and remember, spring is only 2 more house/rent payments away!
Friday, January 26, 2007
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Welcome to West 8th Street
Geeze, it got cold last night. When I got up this morning it was +8 degrees F in the neighborhood.
The sun came out brightly today but didn't do much to melt any of the ice/sleet/snow we got in the last couple of days. Looks like winter time has finally set in around here!
The Davenport city council has been working on making the Red Light and Speed cameras they have set up around the city legal. There used to be two close to the neighborhood but now there is only one left.
The one still standing is pretty much at the beginning of West 3rd Street. It's a speed camera and actually it's in a great spot to catch people going over the speed limit.
That end of 3rd Street (a one-way going East) doesn't normally have much traffic and drivers take advantage of that by pressing on the gas a little more than they should.
It tends to make me think that at least this camera is more for making money for the city than keeping people safe but in the end it probably acomplishes both.....just one more than the other.
The "former" red-light camera location was at 4th and Division.
I'm not sure why that camera isn't there any more. The city, I'm sure, spent quite a bit of money putting in the posts, wiring and all that but it only stood there for a few months and then it was gone.
In fact, I think it was one of the first red-light cameras installed.
Maybe it wasn't making enough money, who knows.
The city is pretty mum on all of their reasonings for where they put the cameras and where they don't.
All I know is that I haven't become a victim of one of these cameras as of yet. There have been times when I thought I might have but I've not gotten one of the tickets in the mail.
Here it is 5:50pm and it's already dark here on West 8th Street.
I can't wait until spring. There will be a lot more to talk about.
Stay tuned.
Geeze, it got cold last night. When I got up this morning it was +8 degrees F in the neighborhood.
The sun came out brightly today but didn't do much to melt any of the ice/sleet/snow we got in the last couple of days. Looks like winter time has finally set in around here!
The Davenport city council has been working on making the Red Light and Speed cameras they have set up around the city legal. There used to be two close to the neighborhood but now there is only one left.
The one still standing is pretty much at the beginning of West 3rd Street. It's a speed camera and actually it's in a great spot to catch people going over the speed limit.
That end of 3rd Street (a one-way going East) doesn't normally have much traffic and drivers take advantage of that by pressing on the gas a little more than they should.
It tends to make me think that at least this camera is more for making money for the city than keeping people safe but in the end it probably acomplishes both.....just one more than the other.
The "former" red-light camera location was at 4th and Division.
I'm not sure why that camera isn't there any more. The city, I'm sure, spent quite a bit of money putting in the posts, wiring and all that but it only stood there for a few months and then it was gone.
In fact, I think it was one of the first red-light cameras installed.
Maybe it wasn't making enough money, who knows.
The city is pretty mum on all of their reasonings for where they put the cameras and where they don't.
All I know is that I haven't become a victim of one of these cameras as of yet. There have been times when I thought I might have but I've not gotten one of the tickets in the mail.
Here it is 5:50pm and it's already dark here on West 8th Street.
I can't wait until spring. There will be a lot more to talk about.
Stay tuned.
Monday, January 15, 2007
West 8th Street on the Rocks!!
Welcome to West 8th Street in beautiful Davenport, Iowa!
Well, we had ourselves quite an ice storm taking place in the last couple of days. Starting out with rain, it then turned to slush, then freezing rain and finally a little snow.
The wife had hard time getting into her car this morning. The doors were all frozen shut.
I was able to get into mine only because I have a remote start so it had a good while to warm up and thaw the locks.
So now out my widow appears a winter wonderland for only the second time this season.
The first one didn't last too long but I suspect this one will hand in there for a few weeks.
We are of course in the middle of January but we are a month into the days getting longer and slowly but steadily it will start warming up....noticeably by the first or second week in March. That means 6 - 7 weeks more of cold weather.
West 8th Street will get through it....
Well, we had ourselves quite an ice storm taking place in the last couple of days. Starting out with rain, it then turned to slush, then freezing rain and finally a little snow.
The wife had hard time getting into her car this morning. The doors were all frozen shut.
I was able to get into mine only because I have a remote start so it had a good while to warm up and thaw the locks.
So now out my widow appears a winter wonderland for only the second time this season.
The first one didn't last too long but I suspect this one will hand in there for a few weeks.
We are of course in the middle of January but we are a month into the days getting longer and slowly but steadily it will start warming up....noticeably by the first or second week in March. That means 6 - 7 weeks more of cold weather.
West 8th Street will get through it....
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Salting West 8th Street?
Really unusual is the fact that West 8th Street was salted during the night last night while a freezing rain fell. Usually, since West 8th isn't a main throughfare, it remains iced or snow packed until days after the weather event.
I supose it's because the city hasn't had the need for all their salt due to the unusually mild weather we've had so far.
But here it is, January in Eastern Iowa and the weather forcasters are calling for some snow tonight. If it does snow, it will be only the 2nd time this winter. The first time was in late November of 2005 and we got 5 inches.
I've heard everything from 2 to 8 inches tonight.
It would be nice if the city of Davenport would have an inspector tour the neighborhood. As the winter goes on, people are becoming more and more slack on observing city ordinances.
In the block that I live in I suspect that half the housing is rental and the other half owner occupied.
The ordinaces apply to both types of course but there is more of a problem with the rental properties.
There's this one house which had been well taken care of and owner occupied.
The owner passed away and the house was sold.
The first thing the new owners did after moving in was to tear out the alley side chain link fence so they could park in the back yard.
Those owners eventually allowed the property to be repossesed.
New owners came along and they rented the house out. The "renters" are parking in the back yard again.
I know what the yard will look like in the spring.
I supose it's because the city hasn't had the need for all their salt due to the unusually mild weather we've had so far.
But here it is, January in Eastern Iowa and the weather forcasters are calling for some snow tonight. If it does snow, it will be only the 2nd time this winter. The first time was in late November of 2005 and we got 5 inches.
I've heard everything from 2 to 8 inches tonight.
It would be nice if the city of Davenport would have an inspector tour the neighborhood. As the winter goes on, people are becoming more and more slack on observing city ordinances.
In the block that I live in I suspect that half the housing is rental and the other half owner occupied.
The ordinaces apply to both types of course but there is more of a problem with the rental properties.
There's this one house which had been well taken care of and owner occupied.
The owner passed away and the house was sold.
The first thing the new owners did after moving in was to tear out the alley side chain link fence so they could park in the back yard.
Those owners eventually allowed the property to be repossesed.
New owners came along and they rented the house out. The "renters" are parking in the back yard again.
I know what the yard will look like in the spring.
Monday, January 8, 2007
Traffic report....
Welcome to West 8th St.
Since my last posting, I've watched three other vehicles pull up next door...actually in front of my house, and my neighbor coming out of his appartment only to stick his head in the passenger side window for 10 seconds or so and then as he walks back inside, the car speeds off!
I didn't recognize any of the vehicles as belonging to the neighborhood. In fact all of them were very nice vehicles...newer, like 2005 - 2007 models.
I have the blind which covers "most" of the window about 2' to my left raised slightly so I can see out generally without being noticed. The last car that pulled up I attempted to take a photo of so I could post it on this blog but I wasn't fast enough.
I don't want anyone to think that my neighborhood is "full" of drug dealers because it's not but what we have here is one bad apple and a failure of our local law enforcement.
Since my last posting, I've watched three other vehicles pull up next door...actually in front of my house, and my neighbor coming out of his appartment only to stick his head in the passenger side window for 10 seconds or so and then as he walks back inside, the car speeds off!
I didn't recognize any of the vehicles as belonging to the neighborhood. In fact all of them were very nice vehicles...newer, like 2005 - 2007 models.
I have the blind which covers "most" of the window about 2' to my left raised slightly so I can see out generally without being noticed. The last car that pulled up I attempted to take a photo of so I could post it on this blog but I wasn't fast enough.
I don't want anyone to think that my neighborhood is "full" of drug dealers because it's not but what we have here is one bad apple and a failure of our local law enforcement.
I was sent an email by a good friend containing about 7 new rules for 2007.
I agreed with three of them and thought them worth sharing.
New Rule #1:
There's no such thing as flavored water. There's a whole aisle of this crap at the supermarket, water, but without that watery taste. Sorry, but flavored water is called a soft drink. You want flavored water? Pour some scotch over ice and let it melt. That's your flavored water.
New Rule #2:
Just because your tattoo has Chinese characters in it doesn't make you spiritual. It's right above the crack of your ass. And it translates to "beef with broccoli." The last time you did anything spiritual, you were praying to God you weren't pregnant. You're not spiritual. You're just high.
New Rule #3:
If you ever hope to be a credible adult and want a job that pays better than minimum wage, then for God's sake don't pierce or tattoo every available piece of flesh. If so, then plan your future around saying" Do you want fries with that?
_____________________________________________________________
I would like to start of saying it's a beautiful day in the neighborhood but it's overcast, cold and looking like it could snow some.
I have this neighbor who lives in the upstairs apartment next door. He's this black guy, I've talked to him when he first moved in and he seems like an intelligent, friendly sort.
He's lived there with his wife and kid for about the last 6 months now. And after watching things that have been going on for that long I've come to the conclusion that he's dealing drugs.
Proof? I have none but my suspicions actually. My experience from my previous life has shown me what to look for when drug deals are "going down".
One day I'll see a nice looking Chevy pull up in front. My neighbor comes out the door and gets into the car and it drives off. Ten minutes later the car pulls back up, sits there for a bit and my neighbor jumps out and the car takes off.
He then goes back into his apartment.
A couple of days later, an entirely different car pulls up and the same thing happens.
Although I'm not here %100 of the time to see what is going on, I have seen this enough to think there is something happening.
For all I know, this guy might have a lot of friends from various backgrounds that comes to take him for a ride around the block a few times.
Or more likely, he's "dealing" and as a smart drug dealer will do, he would rather do his dirty work somewhere other than his own neighborhood.
Either way, stand by for more on this guy.
I agreed with three of them and thought them worth sharing.
New Rule #1:
There's no such thing as flavored water. There's a whole aisle of this crap at the supermarket, water, but without that watery taste. Sorry, but flavored water is called a soft drink. You want flavored water? Pour some scotch over ice and let it melt. That's your flavored water.
New Rule #2:
Just because your tattoo has Chinese characters in it doesn't make you spiritual. It's right above the crack of your ass. And it translates to "beef with broccoli." The last time you did anything spiritual, you were praying to God you weren't pregnant. You're not spiritual. You're just high.
New Rule #3:
If you ever hope to be a credible adult and want a job that pays better than minimum wage, then for God's sake don't pierce or tattoo every available piece of flesh. If so, then plan your future around saying" Do you want fries with that?
_____________________________________________________________
I would like to start of saying it's a beautiful day in the neighborhood but it's overcast, cold and looking like it could snow some.
I have this neighbor who lives in the upstairs apartment next door. He's this black guy, I've talked to him when he first moved in and he seems like an intelligent, friendly sort.
He's lived there with his wife and kid for about the last 6 months now. And after watching things that have been going on for that long I've come to the conclusion that he's dealing drugs.
Proof? I have none but my suspicions actually. My experience from my previous life has shown me what to look for when drug deals are "going down".
One day I'll see a nice looking Chevy pull up in front. My neighbor comes out the door and gets into the car and it drives off. Ten minutes later the car pulls back up, sits there for a bit and my neighbor jumps out and the car takes off.
He then goes back into his apartment.
A couple of days later, an entirely different car pulls up and the same thing happens.
Although I'm not here %100 of the time to see what is going on, I have seen this enough to think there is something happening.
For all I know, this guy might have a lot of friends from various backgrounds that comes to take him for a ride around the block a few times.
Or more likely, he's "dealing" and as a smart drug dealer will do, he would rather do his dirty work somewhere other than his own neighborhood.
Either way, stand by for more on this guy.
West 8th Street Blog
Good morning Davenport!
I am not a journalist, reporter but a lowly warehouseman who finds comfort in typing out my thoughts. I suppose it's a way for me to sort through all that takes place in my life. Assigning priorities and sifting out the chafe.
My experience is that in high school I took a "creative writing" class and did pretty good at it. Early on in 8th grade at Frank L Smart Junior High School, my father almost insisted I take a typing class. I passed that class with a blazing typing speed of 63 wpm. (My wife types 93 wpm!) Now in the days of the internet, it serves me well.
After graduating, I continued what I had been doing in my writing class by making entries in a journal.
Although it is piecemeal at best since I didn't write in it every day it contains much of my experiences and thoughts as a young man.
I have one other main blog that I make entries to. My desire is to keep these two blogs of mine separate. Besides me authoring both of them, they have nothing else in common.
I am keenly aware that this blog can be read by anyone with an internet connection.
As I try my best to maintain my anonymity I know that I have to balance it with current events within my neighborhood, which is the purpose of this blog.
My "neighborhood" is not a "happening" place. It has had it's times though that would make one think that it is. I will be commenting on my thoughts and feelings of what I see and hear on W.8th Street in Davenport, Iowa.
I am not a journalist, reporter but a lowly warehouseman who finds comfort in typing out my thoughts. I suppose it's a way for me to sort through all that takes place in my life. Assigning priorities and sifting out the chafe.
My experience is that in high school I took a "creative writing" class and did pretty good at it. Early on in 8th grade at Frank L Smart Junior High School, my father almost insisted I take a typing class. I passed that class with a blazing typing speed of 63 wpm. (My wife types 93 wpm!) Now in the days of the internet, it serves me well.
After graduating, I continued what I had been doing in my writing class by making entries in a journal.
Although it is piecemeal at best since I didn't write in it every day it contains much of my experiences and thoughts as a young man.
I have one other main blog that I make entries to. My desire is to keep these two blogs of mine separate. Besides me authoring both of them, they have nothing else in common.
I am keenly aware that this blog can be read by anyone with an internet connection.
As I try my best to maintain my anonymity I know that I have to balance it with current events within my neighborhood, which is the purpose of this blog.
My "neighborhood" is not a "happening" place. It has had it's times though that would make one think that it is. I will be commenting on my thoughts and feelings of what I see and hear on W.8th Street in Davenport, Iowa.
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