Originally Posted by monkeytail

I checked the crime map last night. Usually for a 7 day period there are a couple of instances of things being taken from a car within a mile radius of my house and most of that is south of Washington. Washington is a pretty big street and seems to serve as kind of a divider. From 7/26 to 8/1 there were 3 burglaries, 5 stolen cars, 2 robberies, 2 thefts, 2 theft-from-vehicles, and an assault. The robberies, burglaries and one of the stolen cars were north of Washington. There's a major uptick in property crimes in the area, so I think that's why the LAPD is being so crazy. They already called to let me know they'd be sending detectives and a fingerprinting crew by in the next 8 hours. Exhaustion had won out over paranoia and I had finally fallen asleep about an hour ago, so of course they called I guess I need to get showered and start trying to find someone to fix my windows anyway. And it looks like all the burglaries are in the morning so I should be on the lookout for shady a-holes instead of sleeping.

MT, what neighborhood do you live in?
I have been in Koreatown for 2 years, in a supposedly safe area, but we are moving because there was a shooting on the next block and apparently there has always been quite a bit of gang activity. I never checked the crime maps before that shooting, and I have been shocked by how much violent crime there is in L.A. On the upside, the police have been out in full force since that shooting and a bunch of other aggravated assaults in that same week.

sally - that looks like fun!

mt - good job talking to the neighbors! when my parents house was broken into - way before websites that track crime stats existed - they found out that maybe 50% of the houses on the street had break ins and thefts that year. It was a day time break in too.

jenni - take cake adn marmot shots!

Nothing too exciting for us this weekend - stupid movies and a kids birthday party. I have to figure out tomorrow morning before the party how to do a hand tied bouquet for the birthday girl. Her mom didn't want me to bring a present but I think this will work for her princess party theme and not clutter up the hosue too much.

Cake!!!!!! mmmmm

MB - sounds like a nice present idea!

Renza -- I live in mid-city near Hauser.

MB -- Making a hand tied bouquet sounds really hard. Are you already experienced at flower arrangement type stuff?

Thank God you are okay MT, and that they didn't do more damage. Bastards.
You need a dog!!! A pitbull, I say!!

Originally Posted by monkeytail

Renza -- I live in mid-city near Hauser.

Oh that's a nice neighborhood. I hope things calm down soon.

Originally Posted by chodessa

Thank God you are okay MT, and that they didn't do more damage. Bastards. You need a dog!!! A pitbull, I say!!

Haha, I don't know how helpful that would be for MT! My bully baby is pretty useless at a guard dog. She might accidentally scratch someone's leg as she's jumping to play, but that's about it.

I agree that they are harmless, I have 6 myself, but they sure do make people rethink dumb moves on your property!

Originally Posted by chodessa

I agree that they are harmless, I have 6 myself, but they sure do make people rethink dumb moves on your property!

6 pitbulls?? Your house must be tons of fun. Is that 2 of them in your avatar pic?

I think I'm going to make lemon-cherry sorbet for a bbq I'm going to on Sunday. I've just got to figure out if I can cut down on the agave because the cherries are sweet. I think probably so. Or maybe I should figure out a mojito sorbet. I've never done sorbet before, only ice cream, and was surprised to see how much sugar is called for, but the agave should make it not quite as nuts.

I've been wanting to get puppies, but decided to get the kitchen r***ne first so they won't have to be stressed out by all the workers and noise.

MT - not super experienced with flower type stuff but then again she's 3 so she's probably not too picky. I have tulle, ribbon, flowers, florist wire and florist tape. Worst cast I'll make it a standard bouquet.

My inner asian is dying to escape...anybody got a good fried rice recipe? I think I've found one to make some mei fun, and I'm hoping I can convince my buddy to make me some bulgogi....

MT, holy crap! Glad you had good windows....maybe the neighbor will get towed or something and you can say, "well i didn't want to get in your business"...

piggy - I'll ask my mom what her fried rice recipe has in it. she may not be talking to me though. Off the top of my head she used
day old rice
scallions
small pieces yummy salty meat (like 1.8 in x 3/4 in) of cooked bacon & or char siu
small pieces fried onion
small slices fried egg - she'd use a non stick pan to make a super thin - like 1/16 in thick omlette, roll it up and do thin slices.
there might have been dried shrimp in some
the key was using oyster sauce and not a ton of soy sauce to get the color and tast


the bouquet turned out ok. using a lot of florist wire and tape to hold things together made it a ton easier.

I've only ever made horrible fried rice, so I'm no help.

My 1st eggplant is almost ready to pick. I think it is going to a bbq on the 12th. I think I might need to start pollinating the bush by hand, I've got lots of flowers and only the one eggplant.

MT - what will you make with the eggplant?

PIM this is what my mom said: I put lots of stuff. Bacon and ham or spam, chopped and fried. Some chopped onion, celery, scrambled eggs and fish cake. Add the rice last and season with shoyu and oyster sauce.

Anyone else watching the Curiosity landing?

Woot - 25th wedding anniversary tomorrow! (ETA - sorry today - it just passed midnight pst!!!)