Dazed and Confused

Thorndale
According to Officer Derrick McClinton, a Thorndale patrol officer, muggings and robberies are the majority of crimes that occur in this location. The Dominicks food store is a primary location for individuals to become victims of crime because perpetrators assume that people have money prior to entering the store. Furthermore, due to several dark alleys and corridors, offenders have many opportunities for escape in this area.

So it seems that every day around these parts turns out to be an "adventure". I want to document here what it means to pay a boatload of money to "pioneer" in a what was once a crime bastion.
That is, to pay some higher fraction of a million to live down the street from crime and the lack of punishment. So walking down the street, if you make it without a racial incident, can also make you a witness to stuff that might take you to court...as a witness.

I decided to walk to the end of my block to pick up some spicy Mongolian beef. I enjoy this particular restaurant because, as I studied the Mandarin Chinese language as an undergrad, the owners are good enough to let me indulge myself in speaking some Mandarin with them. At least I try...My Chinese characters are a little rusty, but a life's quest is to spend time in China.

Next to the eL stop is Castle Liquors, a fairly popular African owned internet cafe and lots of corners and alleys for gang members and street people to hang in. Then there is the Laundromat, the deli, the cleaners, the corner coffee store, the corner restaurant, etc. The Chinese place is mostly a carry-out, and it has a little parking lot that it shares with the video store and the Laundromat.

So the guy in front of me seemed like he might have been a student. He ordered some sesame chicken and was promptly served. He turned around to leave the store, but a HUGE Range Rover had double parked and had him blocked in. Apparently the owner had hone across the street to the Liquor store.

So the guy waited. And he waited and waited. But then, a second SUV showed up and blocked in the first car, further clogging the parking lot. A hefty professional looking black woman went to the counter of the Chinese restaurant to pick up some food. Now the blocked in guy was getting really pissed.

After 10 minutes or so of being blocked in, the second woman pulled out. And finally the first woman showed up...And "words were exchanged". The first "woman" was a very affected black transvestite....with finger nails that looked to be four inches long. She/he screamed and yelled for a time and reparked his/her Rover diagonally so that even more people could not leave the small parking lot. Apparently the goal was really to draw attention.... A riot could have ensued.

As I was on foot...and anticipated the cops showing up, I left the queen with his/her (likely) unpaid-for Rover...to argue over BS...and wondered why anyone would drive to a corner mini-mall around here....