Thursday, November 3, 2011

Bling


These days you can spot me a mile away, that is, if you aren't blinded by my bling. I'm wearing every piece of jewelry I own-- And I'm not kidding-- 53 years worth of jewelry-- Real, fake, heirloom, junk, even a macaroni necklace Godson made in the 1st grade. Everything!


Typing is uncomfortable with two watches on each wrist and several bracelets and bangles clanking together. My fingers are loaded with multiple rings and I'm getting an itchy neck from the many necklaces I'm sporting. Earrings were a challenge but I decided to wear my best pair and the others are in a couple of pouches in my purse-- A backpack that I have strapped on. Where I go, the bling goes.

No, I'm not making a fashion statement. And no, I am not claiming to be "Mrs. Got Rocks" with an expensive collection of jewels. I have a few nice pieces but mostly I have jewelry that I love because of the people who gave it to me. So I made a calculated decision to "use it or lose it", even if that means my fashion statement is a definite "don't" you'd see in magazines.


My reasoning is simple. Our neighborhood has been hit with a string of burglaries-- 15 to be exact, since February. Two guys in hooded sweatshirts, in the middle of the day, walking casually down driveways to the backs of houses, breaking windows and grabbing laptops, cash, medications and jewelry-- thus my new fashion statement.

For the record, I hide my laptop, have little cash at home, and no one in their right mind would want to take my lupus medication- And if by mistake they do, well, all I can say is good luck with that sucker.

Let me preface this by saying we live in what is considered a "safe" neighborhood therefore the only time we EVER see a police car is on the main boulevard for their monthly "traffic ticket speed-trap day".
A cruiser actually cruising our streets is a very rare occurrence.

Until now. Cops are everywhere. Yeah!

It wouldn't surprise me if every single household in the three mile robbery radius has called our local city councilman, the police department, and the local police command station complaining, begging and pleading for more protection as a result of the unsolved robberies.

I'm guessing these phone calls are most likely from *cough*ahem*hysterical*cough* people just like me-- Women at home alone during the day-- blasting their DVD player with 101 Dalmatians and Marley & Me so would-be robbers know someone's home and seriously thinking of getting a Very. Big. Dog.

To say I'm angry and nervous about the whole situation is an understatement but I'm just this side of getting a ginormous dog for protection. I'm hopeful the thieves will be caught before I break down and get a well-trained, four-legged burglar deterrent and the dog hair that does with it.


In the meantime, I'll continue wearing all my bling and playing loud barking dog movies day and night. I figure at very least, the robbers will think I'm too crazy to deal with... At least a girl can hope.


Hope you're enjoying November!
Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins
Photo Credit: © JackF - Fotolia.com

49 comments:

  1. Wow! that's scary! I don't blame you for being nervous and wearing your bling!

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  2. Oh sweeite, I hope wearin' all those baubles don't give you back problems or carpal tunnel.

    Seriously, how scary for you. I do hope they catch the varmints soon and very soon for ya'll.

    Thanks for intorducin' some new great bloggers to us....one can never have too many friends.

    God bless and have an extraordinary day void of any robbers!!! :o)

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  3. Time to buy a safe to lock your bling in? What a sad state of affairs. I wonder if it is because the general economic downturn that your neighborhood is suffering these crimes? People seem to be getting pretty desperate out there.

    And a dog? The little yappy ones are pretty effective, too. If YOU can stand the yapping.

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  4. oh jj sorry you are having to go through this...ugh...no one should have to live in fear...i hope they catch the group doing this...

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  5. Is there a rent-a-dog service you could use? You could study the "Home Alone" movie for some creative tricks. Keep your cellphone handy and charged.
    Thinking of you wearing 4 watches is kinda funny.

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  6. so sorry to hear about the burglaries, so scary.

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  7. Scary, but still you are so funny JJ.

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  8. It sounds like you are looking pretty fancy, if not too comfortable, in all that bling. While you are at it you need to put your checkbook and wallet in your pocket and any other paperwork with personal identity info in your backback. (My office held an identity theft seminar last night and one of the interesting pieces of information was that the target of many home burglars is identity information. I hope you get the help you need soon to catch the culprits. It seems like going back to the same neighborhood over and over is just asking to be caught.

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  9. Silly me, I had no idea you had this other blog. Now I do and I'll be sure to follow along with you. Thank you for advertising my giveaway, the more the merrier. Hugs. Tammy

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  10. Oh oh oh I didn't expect that..thank you hon..I just popped by to say howdy and see how you are doing. Huge hugs:)
    In Spokane..about 30 minutes away in WA..the mayor has decided to cut the city's small crime unit to save money. So now..90% of all property crimes will go uninvestigated.. OMG. So glad they are around you!!
    Frankly I kinda like that fashion statement..but I want a picture please LOL!
    Huge hugs, Sarah

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  11. Yeah, not a good feeling that something's going on in the 'hood. Stay safe, but don't dwell on the possibilities cuz that just makes you a crazy nervous wreck.

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  12. I've been burglarized twice - it's such a terrible, invasive feeling. The first time the creep got away with my high school promise rings and a smoky topaz ring my mother had given me. The second one got a video of my oldest toddling through a water puddle plus whatever photos we had on our camera at the time. Keep wearing the jewelry!!

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  13. Oh, I do hope that they catch those burglars soon so that you don't have your bling turn your neck and fingers green...

    Thanks for the links to go visit, I'm on my way right now! :-)

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  14. may angels hover near by and protect you; Doggy Angels!


    Aloha from Honolulu

    Comfort Spiral

    > < } } ( ° >

    ><}}(°>

    < ° ) } } > <

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  15. That sure must feel disturbing and unsettling. I hope they're stopped soon.

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  16. Stay safe JJ, they'll catch them soon enough...the same has been happening here in NYC with the bad economy, but they do keep catching them.

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  17. ugh, that's terrible, but medications? they're stealing medications? I'm shocked by that and definitely think it's a symptom of something deeply wrong.

    hope they catch them soon. around here they're in vans w/stolen Swedish plates, so if you see those... ;-)

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  18. What about a real dog, Joanna? They really are great companions and a wonderful deterrent to folks who are 'uninvited'.

    I keep my good jewelry in a safety deposit box at the bank. Not that it's all that fancy schmancy, just that I couldn't afford to replace it, if it were stolen.

    I actually like the 'use it' practice of wearing your jewelry. I don't do enough of that myself.

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  19. I don't know about the dog: our big dog just wags his tail when people knock on the door.

    Regarding wearing your bling: I am really sorry to hear about the crime activity in your neighborhood. It is scary to feel so vulnerable. Wearing your bling, however, is a great idea. I have accumulated lots of "costume" stuff over the years that just sits around. I really should put some on once in a while to enjoy it-even if I am just doing housework. Why not?

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  20. Really scary....Im home most days alone too....Sophie is no guard dog...heck she would jump on them and give kisses. Maybe get a safety deposit box for your good stuff! I hope they catch to bastards!! I saw a commercial where you can get a door bell that has a loud barking dog for the ringer!

    Stay safe! xo

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  21. My sister-in law was just telling me the other day of her grandfather who had a huge amount of money hidden at home. He didn´t trust the banks and thought it was safer in his home. You know where he hid it? In a garbage can OUTSIDE underneath his front steps. Maybe that would be a good hiding place for your jewelery? haha
    Seriously, I hope they catch those burglars soon!

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  22. I know where you're coming from...at our home before this one, that area was big on break-ins! One house got hit three different times...This was all done in the daytime hours in a nice part of town, just outside the city limits...With other houses all around...Our home, my brothers home and about six others...
    About the bling...I too love it! We have a shop in our area called "Dressing Gaudy" ...you would love it!
    Blessings.

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  23. oh goodness JJ, I'm freaked out for you with all the robberies. Stay safe and I hope they catch them soon. Yikes. Thanks for the giveaway info. Looking forward to checking out their blogs. I love reading blogs and seeing all the talent people have. Hugs

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  24. That's very scary. Ordinary people do not have the kind of jewelry these guys are hoping to get. Plus pawn shops give you so little for the value. (My girlfriend wanted to sell some of her good stuff to a pawn shop when she was first divorced and was offered about about 10% of the value.) Petty criminals are not the brightest bulb on the sign are they?

    I think you could rent a small safety deposit box for a month or two until these guys are caught, whick, I hope is soon!

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  25. That would make me jumpy as heck. And I'd be like you--protecting my bling!

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  26. Gosh Joanna. I'm so sorry for all that local burglary problem. It makes my blood boil to see them get away with this most serious of crimes. It seems as though no-where is safe these days. Not sure what the world is coming to other than a sticky end. Hugs ~ Eddie

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  27. I don't blame you for wearing all of your bling! I hope they catch the thieves soon so you and your neighbors can relax.

    Our house was robbed when we lived in Detroit. What a horrible feeling.

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  28. I hope you'll be able to stand down soon. Wearing all that jewelry must get to be a weighty thing. It sounds downright unpleasant. This is my first visit to your blog, so I took some time to browse through your earlier posts.I'm so glad I did that. This is an interesting spot to visit and I enjoyed the time I spent here. I'll definitely be back. I hope you have a great day. Blessings...Mary

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  29. i exhale and give thanks that you are safe. i sincerely pray for those who find it necessary to invade the lives of others without good cause or reason. exhale.

    on the bright side, i bet you looking smashing in all that bling tho ;)

    sending comforting vibes your way. one love.

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  30. For food and very little money, I will come and stand near your door and bark very loudly.

    Let me know when you want me to come.

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  31. Scary stuff for sure. Seattle homeowners are experiencing a lot of burglaries also--I was at a meeting today and someone I've worked with a long time told me her house was broken into last night--second time in two weeks. She's getting a dog. Stay safe.

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  32. How frightening for you... Hopefully, the increased police presence will scare off the burglars. Still, it would be even better if the cops could catch them so that other people and neighbourhoods don't have to suffer.

    Take care!

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  33. I hide my laptop too - but more from Mrs S than anything else!

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  34. Hmmm, but all blinged-out aren't you more at risk for getting mugged?

    We have had a few break-ins in my neighborhood just recently and it freaks me out. I've started locking my doors!

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  35. That is too bad that your neighborhood has been targeted for break ins. It sounds like you are being conscientious though.

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  36. Wise woman. I had all my jewelry stolen (none worth much but sentimental) 14 years ago - 55 years worth of wonderful memories. So I totally understand. None of it can be replaced.. . and my heart still aches for some pieces, especially since those people are now gone. Blessings, Janet

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  37. JJ,
    I know the feeling. We live in a beautiful, "safe" suburb in the Midwest, but because of the economy, break-ins have been on the rise. It's worrisome, and we're all on the lookout here.

    What helps is to have a connected neighborhood -- and a Neighborhood Watch group. As you may have read on my Royal Oak Patch column about the feral cats, we have a neighborhood e-mail chain that keeps us posted on burglaries. We post an alert whenever a neighbor's home has been robbed, and offer any details available to warn other neighbors. We also make sure to describe any strange vehicles we see in the 'hood -- and call the police ASAP.

    As I learned in our Neighborhood Watch group meetings, the best defense is knowing your neighbors, locking your home carefully, and staying connected to your neighborhood news.
    There's nothing worse than feeling you're home is a target for theft. So sorry -- and hope you feel safe soon.

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  38. "..blasting their DVD player with 101 Dalmatians and Marley & Me so would-be robbers know someone's home and seriously thinking of getting a Very. Big. Dog."

    I love the crazy logic of your mind! My great, big galloot of a hound NEVER barks, and greets every would-be burglar at the door with a waggy-tail, and a toy in his mouth (shaking my head).

    Hope they catch these chancers soon hon, and you can go back once again to your usual happy peace of mind.

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  39. I can't blame you a bit for being nervous and worried. Those thieves are gonna slip up at some point and get caught, I hope!

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  40. I would be worried too, but then again I try not to think of those things, since our neighbour (we share a common courtyard) had a guy walked in her place by a patio door left opened, mid-day, while she was in the kitchen. That guy could have decided to turn left and would have come into our home. I keep our doors locked and at times the alarm on.

    Plus, my arms are not long enough for me to wear all my watches and bracelet, so... you must be something to see that's for sure!

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  41. i think it's only fair that we get to see a photo of you with all your bling on.....just saying :)

    and darn those burglars.

    we have a security system and that's the only thing that makes me feel safe. the dog doesn't bark and wouldn't even notice if someone came into the house, but i always leave on a television. it used to be for her so she'd have something to hear, but now she's deaf, so it's really only a burglar deterrent....

    again, darn those burglars. all that all of us ever want is to feel that our homes are safe, right ?

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  42. Boo. This is yet another reason why I don't like people. Yuck yuck yuck... and fingers crosed they manage to catch the no bad nik soon. But the phrase "Mrs. Got Rocks" - oh I haven't heard that in YEARS. I love it :)

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  43. I would truly, sincerely, like to see a photo of you wearing every piece of jewelry you own. Maybe if you do that, I'll post one of me wearing every piece of jewelry I own.

    Which wouldn't be fair to you, as the only jewelry I won is my wedding ring. Still, I'd love to see your photo!

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  44. Stop it! I've been talking to my co-worker who is having an alarm system put in after an attempted burglary and I"m thinking of getting one of those fake dog barker things because of weird people hanging out outside my home and stealing things from my carport!

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  45. Honey Pie, If I feel threatened, I walk around the house, with all of the blinds up, with a HUGE serrated edge saw, laughing manically. People literally run past my house.
    Put your jewelry/valuables in a zip-lock bag and tape it with duck tape to the back of whichever sofa has it's back to the wall.
    Love you babe, be safe. xo d

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  46. It's awful to live in fear, no matter how big or small. Hope they catch those guys soon!

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  47. I hope they catch those scumbags before you have to get a great big dog... or fall over from having all that jewellery hanging off your neck! lol

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  48. So frightening! Stay safe! Ask the angles to stand guard at every window and door. Something I do at night. :)

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