Saturday night I participated in a volleyball tournament (which was awesome, by the way) and ended up coming home at 12:30. We have a back door to our apartment that I'll use often because I always lose my ID card that gets me in the front (surprise surprise). Our back porch faces a huge field...and isn't lit at all. As I got out of my car I made a call to one of my friends, and as I was talking and approached my porch I looked over and there was a man, leaning on the pole, standing on our porch.
gasp. loss of breath. sprinkles of fear running through my body.
"I sorry, I sorry" in a thick Hispanic accent.
I wanted to walk quickly by and get to my door, but I also wanted to know what the heck this guy was doing on my porch at midnight.
"What are you doing?"
"Just looking at the stars."
ok creepster Joe, there's a whole field wide open for your star gazing pleasure...get off my porch.
I came inside and told my roommates and Nick what had just happened...and Nick being the MAN that he is...went outside to check it out. Creepster Joe was gone. But later when Nick was leaving he went back to see if he was there again. And he WAS. Nick talked to him for a bit and asked him what he was doing...he told him the same story...and then Nick told him to leave and followed him to his car.
Campus Safety came over after and we found out that this guy matched the same description of the "Suspicious Man" that has been lurking around the girls' apartments in Southern Village. Nick and I are the first people reported to have actually talked to him...but he's been seen around many times.
ugh. When I think about walking back there so late...and him just standing there in the dark...my stomach feels weird. I wonder if anything would have happened if I hadn't been on the phone...or maybe he's just creepy and harmless, but creepy just the same.
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On another note, I'm going on that soul-searching possibly direction-of-life-changing mission trip to Peru a month from today. I just found out that the yellow fever vaccination is in shortage, and they're only giving it out to people that HAVE to get it. Well, apparently Peru recommends it, but doesn't require it... BUT Iquitos is in the "yellow fever zone" is that not enough? Guess not. Awesome.
One month. Dang. I've got a whole lot of preparing to do...on a lot of different levels.
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And lastly, I'm listening to Pandora radio, which has commercials now. Dumb. In the commercial that just came on they were talking about textbooks and the lady said, "You'll save a butt-load." Really f0lks?
Happy Monday friends.
I like that you portrait me as being really manly. In retrospect, I wish I had tackled him to the ground and threatened his life or something more like an action movie. But I would have settled for a license plate number too.
ReplyDeleteHappy Monday indeed.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad the MAN was there to protect you and escort the creepster out just in time...
How about it, for the MAN.
the MAN is a good friend, I mean, MAN.
Tell the MAN, I said hello.
Okay yeah, I know it's getting old but I like referring to Nick as the MAN in capital letters. It's fun.
I can't wait for you to go to Peru. Can I live vicariously through you when you go? love you tara!
ReplyDeleteThat was truly Suspiciously Creepy Stalker? Because I thought he was African American, 30 years old. At least, that's what CS told us. Huh. Really increases your faith in our jolly old security types.
ReplyDelete=(
ReplyDeleteTara Danger Becker. That's how I'm going to think of you now.
ReplyDeleteMaybe I should send you some mace and mosquito spray.
The stars are better viewed from your porch's view than mine for sure. They should put the guys in those apartments. Then we call all hang out with fellow hispanics and chill under the estrellitas. Until then, I reckon Nick will just have to keep being manly. I don't suppose there's much harm in that, except for the guy he eventually tackles and threatens. Sucka. I have to admit, the way you described this guy on your porch, my mental image was of this quiet, contemplative, sad-eyed, toiling-in-vain, no-hope hispanic dude with a straw hat and worn jeans. I suspect that's not what you think of the suspect. I kind of want to hear this in real life sometime.
ReplyDeleteI too started out having some sympathy for this guy. Oh, how nice. Enjoying the stars. . . Why is he doing it on her porch?!
ReplyDeleteand Peru, Tara? Peru? You'll soon be perusing Peru and finding surprises in el Sur America? Fantastico! Buen viaje y Dios te bendiga mucho. Y espero que tu alma sera cambiando por el mejor :)
I would have flipped out on that guy!
ReplyDeleteCrazy creepster
Yikes! That sounds scary Tara! I've been wanting to talk to you lately about soul stretching events! I'm so glad that you are going to Peru and I'm gonna pray that it ends up being a huge soul stretcher. Let's talk soon, please. Love, Tina
ReplyDeletetara!!! i am really sorry about the creepy hispanic man, i am such a paranoid person that i prob would not have slept the whole night. way to call the guy in though, i am sure nick was pretty scary and he will not come back again! good to hear campus safety is good for something too besides harrassing students. as for the yellow fever thing...i totally had the same problem, i almost didnt get the vaccination, it was truly a answer to prayer...i think they always just say it is on shortage so they can get away with charging bloody murder for it...but anyways havent encountered any yellow fever down here even though we are in the zone too...also i have not taken any malaria meds and have been fine...but i dont know how iquitos is...my friend got caught without having record of getting on and the government only had him pay $10...and none of us had the airport check our immunization records in the airport when we came in....so i will be praying that it works out for you to get one....but if not, try not to stress too much, god will work it out....okay, so i am really stoked you are coming, but still am not sure if i can come...guess i need to try running it by my boss again...not looking super good since they changed our campaign dates...really a bummer...but will try to get some word on that soon...okay..love you bunches...let me know if you need any help packing!
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