Little Kids Scaring The Hell Out of Me

Hello, blog.  Don't worry, I haven't forgotten to write you.  Thanks.  I've missed you too.

I've started my new job at Harry & David and love the fringe benefits.  I work in a candy shop, and I think that's pretty cool.  Of all the places I thought I'd go, being surrounded by rich people and chocolate was not part of the planned itinerary.  But it has been a very low stress job with better pay than I had in Michigan.  And that far outweighs any would be cranky customers... except the people I see on a daily basis are well funded and rarely concern themselves with the trivial nature and stresses of middle income life.  Plus, I can get a bag full of truffles for $1.50 now.  So, win-win.

Want to know what isn't so win-win?  My neighbors.  The first week we were here, we met with a few incidents, including some one spraying a fire extinguisher down our hallway and on our door... and the now infamous green penis.  Well, tonight I almost had a heart attack - which is either less or more funny depending on your perspective.  It seems that the little kids in our complex have found a new amusement - playing with the screen doors outside the sliding glass doors in the living room.  Fortunately for me, there's no way to open the sliding glass doors from the outside without something short of a large rock, which is beyond the strength capacity of a toddler as is.  Unfortunately for me, when I'm taking a shower in a new apartment and I hear what sounds like some one breaking into my apartment well... lets just say my nerves are a little on edge.

So.  I crept out of the shower and got quickly dressed.  Quickly grabbing a knife from the kitchen, I assume my sly-mongoose stance, and creep to edge of the blinds primed for action... only to discover a 5 year old kid sliding the screen back and forth.  Examining him, just to make certain that he's not a cleverly disguised midget, I look up to see his father staring into space while several of his brood meander in front of people's apartments basically doing the same thing:  toytruck tossed down a hill towards a window there, kicking a car tire over here, running in circles laughing... and it goes unstopped until the toddler begins rocking the tire and sets off the car alarm.

I like Seattle so far, don't misunderstand.  Tomorrow, the wife and I are going to Archee Mcphee's and the Nordic Museum, basically because she loves strange gifts and I love vikings.  But people basically hanging out beside your living room window and vandalizing the walls next to your door... doesn't inspire a lot of confidence.  Even if they are just kids.  I think it's moving time come April.