A Noise on the Roof....

A couple of weeks ago, I heard some voices out on the roof. Outside my apartment windows is a roof. It is not the top of the building but the landing for the fire escape. I was doing my usual internet surfing and heard some people arguing out on the roof. I decided to call Jeremy since he lives five floors above, and ask him to look out the window. Well, he was not at home, but still at work. I stayed on the phone with him while he ran home to check out the noises. When he got here he went out on the roof and did see a person on the roof talking to someone else. We went to the Super's apartment which is a couple of doors down from mine to report the noise. Jeremy went outside to check it out again and the fighting got louder. Then someone started smashing in windows. All of a sudden, I heard my window being smashed in. I screamed and Jeremy yelled for me to come down the hall. We piled into the Super's apartment and called 911. Within 5 minutes the cops arrived...all NYPD style... and went to apprehend the suspects. They were able to catch one guy. Apparently he was all disoriented and did not know how to get off the roof. We then had to go and 'ID' the guy in the cop car out in front of the building. A couple of hours later some more forensic cops (CSI ones) came to look and see if they needed fingerprints. Jeremy and I were also working with the Super to get the tape of who entered and exited the building....all of this ruckus ended about 2:30 AM. The next morning we spoke with the Asst. DA regarding the situation. We ended up going to prepare for court the next week. We found out that the guy was friends of some other guys in the building and was all disoriented. He ended up pleading guilty and was fined for the damage. He also has an order to stay away from our building.

I have posted some pics of the damages....needless to say, I have purchased window and door alarms. I also have getting back to a normal sleeping schedule. I cannot seem to think every night around 10:30 if anyone is coming back.

This story also made it in the NYPD police beat....I guess we did not need a note for being late into the office the next morning.

Here's a link to the NY post police beat.....http://www.nypost.com/seven/02022009/news/nypdblotter/nypdblotter.htm

One Year Ago...

One year ago I packed up 3 bags and boarded the red-eye to NYC. I remember it was sooooo COLD that morning. A cold that I now refer to as 'not Utah cold'. When I arrived at my 'temporary' place at 7 AM, I lugged the bags up the steps and into a long hallway. At the end of the hall was apartment 1A. I unlocked the door and dragged my bags in. I looked around and something wasn't right. I noticed a couple of packed suitcases in the living room. Bathroom items in the bathroom and a half eaten piece of toast on the counter. I realized that someone must still be occupying this apartment. I tiptoed into the bedroom and I could see the outline of a person sound asleep in the bed. What to do???? I was sooo cold and tired....I had a key to this place....I was scheduled to meet a broker to look for an apartment at 10 AM and I needed some rest. I figured that this person was supposed to be leaving before I arrived and there was some overlap. I decided to lay down on the couch and take a rest. I covered myself in my coat and put my headphones in my ears and slept. I heard an alarm go off and the 'lady' got up and got ready to go. I did not know what she was saying on her phone because she was speaking a different language. I now know it was Portuguese. I heard the suitcase zip up and the door shut. Just as I drifted off again I heard the door open again and another person enter the apartment....speaking Portuguese. She was the cleaning lady. I told her to go ahead and clean around me. When I woke up, the place was clean and ready for my short stay.

After my morning rest, I got showered and dressed and went to meet my broker. He took me around to 13 different apartments all over the city. I narrowed my choice of apartments down to three and put in my application. By the next day I had signed my lease and was scheduled for move in. I have to say it was much easier to find a place after all of the advice from Jeremy on what not to do.

Holiday Time

Well, it is officially the holiday season in NYC. Decorations have been popping up everywhere. I will have to take some pictures of the many different lights, wreaths and trees that are all over the city. Along with the holiday season has come the COLD...brrrr. The cold in New York is not like the cold in Salt Lake City. It is biting....it really chills your bones. I always wondered why people donned hats, gloves, scarves, long coats, boots...not for fashion, but for the COLD.