Why? Because these cities are the top ten safest cities in the U.S. They have the lowest crime rate per capata, i.e. the least amount of thieves, criminals, entitled narcissists and sociopaths.
I am actually willing to live on any city on the list of the top 100 safest cities. Lake Bluff, Illinois, my previous hometown fell 71′st on the top 100 safest cities. While not one California city made it to the list on the list. Not one. I am not at all surprised.
I have had it with L.A. HAD IT!!! I think once or twice before I have mentioned to you that I hate L.A. As of Friday my hate has moved into a rabid, snarling and hissing loathing. Here’s what happened: At 10:15 a.m. I left my house for an appointment. At 10:30 Fed Ex delivered two packages from Neiman Marcus. In those boxes were my new Lilly Pulitzer dress and 10 cosmetics. I came home at 3:30 and there was nothing in front of my door except my hand-weaved “Welcome criminals” mat that I got at CostPlus World Market.
After checking the FedEx web site I saw that they had indeed left the packages at my door. I called them and they told me that since I had signed a release for them to be delivered that they have no liability. Next I called Neiman’s and was told that they could put a claim in for the merchandise in 10 days but I would still be out the $500 because I had signed the release.
I next called the management of my condo to find out if there were cameras in my hallway. No. There are no cameras and their only suggestion was to call the police but they did warn “they aren’t going to be able to do anything”. I instead called He-weasel and he came home from work and knocked on everyones door in our area and asked if they saw the boxes and/ or if they saw anyone by our door. No one claimed to see anything. They did share that they had heard of similar things happening in our building.
I called Neiman’s again in a panic. This time I wanted to talk to a supervisor. But, first I explained what happened to Bill, the customer service guy who answered the phone, and he had a very different reaction than the first guy. He assured me that after the investigation I would get a full credit for the merchandise stolen.
Somewhere in my building some despicable criminal has opened my box of goodies to discover that the Lilly dress is not their size and that I have dry skin while they have oily skin and that the colour foundation and lipstick I got does not suit them. The criminals will likely do one of the following:
1. Throw my merchandise away. That option makes me the sickest.
2. Attempt to go to Neiman Marcus but, too bad for you evil criminal, they will not give you money for my goods.
3. Give my goods to friends and family. As, Bill the lovely guy at Neiman’s said, I hope that the creams give you a rash.
4. They will try to sell it on ebay. Well, dastardly criminal, I am a weasel and I have already set up search alerts for my merchandise and today I will file a police report so that if I find my stolen goods for sale on Ebay I will inform the police. Ha-ha!
Even though I am getting my money back and Neiman’s has sent out a new order in which they gave strict instructions not to leave packages at the door, I am still mad and I want out of this place. This is not the first time I have experienced criminal behavior here and we are living in a very nice ( supposedly) high-security and high-rent building. The first crime was on my birthday a friend sent me flowers and they inadvertently were sent to our old apartment unit and when this was discovered my friend contacted the florist and assured her they had been delivered but they would send me a smaller bouquet to make up for the fact that the criminal in our old unit had knowingly kept flowers that were not intended for them. That would NEVER happen in Lake Bluff—NEVER!
He-weasel and I went out for cocktails in an attempt to calm me and that is when I came up with my plan to after we finished our drinks to immediately go to U-haul and rent a truck and get boxes and go home and pack and we would leave tonight for anywhere that was on the list of the safest cities in America. I even gave in and offered him things that I had never before have agreed to just to get him on board with my “we are moving tonight” plan: he could open a restaurant in the safe city USA we are moving to and he could get an old truck and even build a log cabin like he has always wanted (desperate times calls for desperate sacrifices). He was thrilled to hear my openness to things he has always wanted to do or at least pretended he wanted to do just to torment me but he knew I had suffered a big trauma and that there had been a good amount of Merlot imbibed.
Sadly, we are still in L.A. and I hate it more than ever. Where before I was in a slow simmer of hatered now I am in a full boil. I think this is good. It is progress. There was, before the Neiman Marcus Caper struck, a resignation that we had to be here and now I am fully energized to get out of here even if that means He-weasel has to follow his genetic imperative to open a restaurant( he’s Greek). I doubt it will come to that. But, now I want out of L.A. so bad that I feel sure I will make it happen.
Picture above is downtown Lake Bluff where crime doesn’t happen and no one would ever steal your boxes from Neiman Marcus or your birthday flowers. I miss you, Lake Bluff. I hate you, L.A.
I don’t even lock the door. I’ve never seen a gun outside of a movie ..move here.
Wow, I talk about wanting big city life, but there are advantages to sleepy mini cities. Here in my edge of the city suburban life we are pretty safe. We had a laptop computer delivered a day early while we were away and came home 36 hours later to find it still sitting there, in full view of the road emblazoned with big letters saying DELL.
If it is in your power to move, I think you should try to make it happen. The place clearly makes you very unhappy.
x
I’m so sad for your nasty neighborhood criminals…. I hope you do move….
(((LBR)))
Oh Belette, how terrible for you. You need to move – LA is not for you – plus then you can go far away from your mother. It’s just a pity you’ll have to leave Igor behind.
A Greek restaurant is not such a bad thing (I’ll come and eat there! I love Greek food).
Hope you find the scum that stole Lily’s clothes – she must be devastated!
xx
You’re one smart cookie – putting up the alerts on Ebay. Wishing the criminals some seriously bad karma (s*#t! does wishing it on someone else turn it bad for me?
Anyway, kudos to Neiman’s for superior service – even if it DID take more than one phone call…
P.S. – Delicious dress!
Gah!@ I’m so sorry this happened to you. I don’t know about job prospects, but I’m going to suggest San Luis Obispo, if you want safe AND scenic AND nice weather. Sure, there’s some petty crime, but it’s a neighborly place.
I’ve only had one delivery stolen from my front porch, and it was from Banana Republic. I called them and they credited me immediately, apologized that the item I’d ordered was no longer available, and gave not one whit of hassle.
As you may recall, I share your pain about LA, though for me it’s the traffic and the heat. Come out to the Conejo Valley (Agoura, Westlake Village). We need new restaurants and we don’t have a Greek one anymore.
But do it soon because my husband and I both work from home and my goal is to leave as soon as the youngest graduates from high school. Just a few years and I start auditioning cities.
Several things:
1) No joke, once I got a box at my door. I order A LOT so I just opened the box without looking (partly my error) I was SHOCKED at the “very adult pleasure item” in the box. It was my neighbors. VERY AKWARD. Waited until after dark to sneak it back to the correct door.
2) Columbus Ohio. Good places to eat, craptastic weather 8 months of the year, nice people year round, house for sale on my street RIGHT NOW
3) If you want to deal with the Lilly Pulitzer problem head on just meet me at the outlet sale in June.
Well, if you moved to Highlands NY you would be only 30 miles from me, at the opposite corner of the general metropolitan area in which I live and that would be fun just because I’d get to see you. Otherwise I am not familiar with the place. A greek restaurant is always nice, but he-weasel might otherwise have a longer commute. I don’t think it would compare with Lake Bluff
I keep thinking about city life, but do like the idea that a package can be left here and no one sees it or if they do, bothers it. I don’t know if it is my area or my neighborhood that is safe. I do know that once, a while back, when Net-a-Porter was shipping with DHL (a terrible company and I don’t miss them even though they were cheaper than UPS or FedEx), DHL left a package from Net -a-Porter for me at another house across town. The addresses had nothing in common except that both were short streets and we had the same street number. The nice people saw that the package was not for them, saw my phone number on the shipping label and called me. I was very grateful, although very annoyed with DHL.
I think Neiman Marcus would have no trouble shipping you a new package. In my experience they have always been very helpful. and I think you were smart to take the options you took. I think whoever stole your creams should have their face erupt in pimples and boils. (Well, that is a little vindictive.)
Sarah Lulu: I am a bit of a scardy cat and in Lake Bluff even I would sleep with the doors open and not bother to lock anything. I miss that.
Michelle: I find it so creepy to live so close to people and yet they refuse to smile or say hello when they walk past you. Indifference and dehumanization, I think, are required to do this kind of thing. Shocking.
Your Dell story should be the norm and not the exception. Here a Dell box wouldn’t make it 15 minutes.
July is our move date. Where we are moving to is anybodies guess.
giggles: Thanks for the hugs and the moving wishes.:-)
Imogen: I wish I could get Igor and my hair-angel to move with us.
The bad thing about a restaurant is that there is so much physical work and I am totally against that. And, I would NEVER work in a restaurant. I would eat there but never work there.
LOL! Actually the Lilly Pulitzer dress was for me.;-)
xo
MyLittleHappyPlace: It makes me crazy to think that someone has my stuff. Once they opened it and saw they couldn’t use it why wouldn’t they just bring it back?? Bad people, those criminals.
I won’t be happy until I have my stuff and see the credit on my Neiman’s statement.
Deja Pseu: Neighborly seems really nice. I miss that small town feeling we had in Lake Bluff.
Neiman’s is not as good at this as BR. I had to call twice and no report can be filed for ten days and then it will take a couple of weeks to get resolved. I want instant resolution!
Bobbi: Oh, I am with you on HATING the traffic and the HEAT. I am already bracing for summer. I cannot stand it. Do you at least get ocean breezes out where you are?
He-weasel wants to start doing a tour of our top places on Findyourspot.com. My top place was Amherst, Mass and his was Middlebury, Vermont. They both sound so nice.
KT:
1) LOL!!!I bet you never saw your neighbors the same way again.
2) I would love to live on your street. If you could just get He-weasel a great job there and we will be right over.;-)
3) Ooh, where is that?
Mardel: 30 miles close to you would be fun. We also have been looking at cities in Connecticut, Vermont and Virginia. It will take a while to make this happen but I want out of here.
I had a similar experience as you when in Lake Bluff. Our mailman dropped an envelop that had an airplane ticket in it on the main street and a vendor found it and called me to ask if she could bring it to my house. So nice.
I am all for vindictive. Pimples, boils, and hives are not enough retribution.
That is just awful! As you know, I live in LA as well. I love the weather, but some of the people (those with a sense of entitlement) and traffic bug the crap out of me. I have had shipments disappear as well. I always insure everything now and sometimes have it delivered to my office to avoid it being left in the hallway. But, I also have a “Watch Rita”..kind of like a Watch Dog. Rita is this sweet little retired lady who has lived in my building for eons….she is always marching up and down the walkway looking out for hooligans up to shenanigans. She is also on a mission to make sure the front gate remains closed. Sometimes she is nosey…George Eads (hot guy on CSI) used to live in a house behind my building and you would often find her peeping through the fence. I admit that I would peep too, if he still lived there. Rita, much like Gladys Kravitz, knows the comings and goings of the tenants….she also holds packages if you are not home and something is delivered. I can tolerate nosey for the trade-off of having a “Watch Rita” at the complex.
L: I envy you your watch Rita. I know Lily barked her sweet little head off at these criminal who dared to so brazenly steal my things and yet they dared to do it anyway.
Entitlement, traffic and endless summer where the things that made us move to Chicago in the first place. I am not finding L.A. any sweeter the second time aroungd.
Such horrible people, Belette! I can perfectly understand you wanted to leave LA. I just hope you can really find a safer place, because unfortunately criminals are everywhere and with the current financial situation I fear it will get worse. York, UK would need a good Greek restaurant, so pls move here and open one! You don’t need to work in it, just get other people do it and you just supervise them! Hope you will get your money back soon. Ciao. A.
Lilly has a warehouse sale 2x per year in Valley Forge PA. (Basically Philly) One in November one in June.
Antonella: Everyone in my building is paying extra to live in a security building and yet it is not secure. Makes me fume!!!!
He-weasel wants to open up a diner( like all his Greek relatives in NY have). His other dream is to have a farm. Are there two dreams that require more work? I think not!;-)
KT: Oooh!!!!!!:-)
So what about France La Belle?? Plenty of crime but they just sound better!
Joking aside what an awful experience and worse even having to live somewhere you are unhappy. xv
Sixteen words for you:
“On Moving: A Writer’s Meditation on New Houses, Old Haunts, and Finding Home Again” by Louise DeSalvo.
I have “moved” no fewer than 40 times in 56 years, thus I do have some experience with this matter and, in some ways, the reason for the move is beside the point.
Since we first met on the cyberhighway to nowhere, you have been sharing stories about moving. Take some time and dedicate it to Louise, you will not regret it.
I am moving as I type and Louise has made it possible for me to do so with a slightly shifted perspective. I am actually excited, not about the move, but about the reasons for the move and about the recurring issue of having to pay attention to who I am.
Let me know if you and Louise get on reading terms. I’d love to discuss it with you. It’s fantastic and very moving.
Now this is one of the lowest life forms known to man, a Lilly thief? They really must be some kind of miserable soul, honestly.
I am so sorry, because that dress is fabulous. At least Neimans is coming through.
Hope this week turns out better Miss LBR,
tp
How beautiful is that dress? Here’s hoping that the colours look god-awful on the nasty LA criminal’s colouring and that it’s way too small and makes them feel fat.
Hey! Thousand Oaks is always #1 or #2 of the safest cities (over 100,000). You can move here!! I am so sorry for your theft. I hate when I realize that I can’t trust those that live around me. I don’t worry about crime here but I do worry about getting run over by an Escalade (and I know they would only stop to make sure I hadn’t scratched the paint).
To respond to Deja Pseu, I grew up in SLO and my parents and brother both still live there. Beware what lurks behind the nice facade. My brother said he has never seen a city so full of thugs (and he has a second place in Venice Beach and thinks the people there are much more civilized!?). Good wine and nice music hall and Mozart festival but you mighy have to give up your table at dinner to Chuck Liddell.
And Belette, Bobbi is right!!
Oh lady, I’m so sorry. Such a violation! You must be pretty serious about getting out if you’re agreeing to the log cabin …
VIcki: I now look at everyone I see in my building with suspicion. Hate that!!
LFA: I just ordered it on Amazon. I splurged and got the 2 day shipping. I read Desalvo’s book on Writing as a way of healing when Iw as in grad school. We have moved 5 times since I tarted this blog. Our leas is up in July and we ill move again. I am not a traveling wilbury by nature. I like roots. I want to go home, only if I knew where it was.
Our 7x’s in 3 years is more than I can take. I don’t know how you do it.
I can’t wait to read this moving book on moving. You can be sure I will right about it.
Good luck with the move! LA sounds hard, so is Paris somedays. carla
thepreppyprincess: There needs to be a special place in hell for those who steal your Lilly.
If I have any trouble with NM you will hear about it here.
Thanks, gorgeous.xo
pretty face: I like where your head is at. Horrible. I don’t know how they sleep at night.
Leah:Thousand Oaks is sounding better and better. Seriously, I will take safe over almost anything. I LOVE safety. We might be house hunting in your area.
I do hear you on the Escalade problem. But, I bet they drive safely so as not to damage their beloved cars.;-)
I worked in Venice and I never felt safe. Even worse than that? No thank you.
Sal: in 17 years of marriage I have been consistent about the following:
1) no old truck
2) no log cabin
3) no opening a restaurant
4) no farm
In one day I gave in to three of his dreams. One more crime here and I will be willing to buy a farm.
Carla: Paris may not be safe but it has beauty going for it. Valencia doesn’t even have that.
Oh holy poop on a stick! Run run run as fast as you can. Oregon, darling. Good for log cabins and He-Weasel already loves it. We could use a good Greek restaurant around my stomping grounds.
You could even live at the coast. Talk about peaceful!
I know, I know – I see that we all want you to move wherever we can hang out with you. But really. Oregon. ‘Nuff said.
Hang in there sweetie!
Belette
I have the PERFECT answer for you, move to Edwardsville IL. We are across the river from St. Louis (22 miles to downtown). We are an upscale farm community with a university (SIUE). My husband owns a business with lots of property and I am starting a community garden. Plenty of room for he-weasel to plant for his restaurant. We own our condominium complex so I have 4 units from which you can choose to live. Best of all you’d have ME for a neighbor and I am a VERY GOOD friend. You’d like me, I’m the funniest person I know! Also I have 6500 sq ft to rent that is just begging to be a restaurant. Are you kidding me $17/sq foot you’ll be millionaires. AND this is an EATING town. There are so many fat people here and they don’t cook! We don’t have a Greek restaurant yet and honest to god at 7 pm you can’t find an open table anywhere. We are no more than 2-3 hours north south east or west. Chicago is a 3 hour drive and the planes fly there every hour. It’s humid here in the summer your skin will love it. Our winters aren’t even bad. It seldom get below 20 and very little snow. If it snows it’s gone in a few days.
Best of all we won’t steal from you. Heck we don’t want the things we have let alone anyone else’s. Today is large trash pickup day (a very important event) and you should see all the crap on the side of the road.
Let me know when you want to come visit. I have a beautiful spare room you can stay in.
Oh, you poor thing. That’s just terrible. I understand how you feel! And Lilly….that’s just WRONG. I’m so sorry.
Kristen: That is what He-weaeel would LOVE your plan.
The criminals have me feeling highly paranoid. I want out of this town.
Linda: You are very kind and your town is added to my list of places that I would rather live in than L.A. He-weasel wants a farm and so he would love your plan too. Your proposal is very tempting. I miss living in the land of Lincoln. I really loved living there. Jeeze, you really know how to pitch. Even I am tempted by your plan and I am not a farm town gal. But, I have always wanted a tractor of my own.
I remember the junk pickup days in Lake Bluff. Somebody was throwing away a baby grand piano. I only wish I could play.
Muffy: I just cannot believe that a thief has my dress and box of beauty goodies. So wrong.
I feel your pain, some time ago when the girls were small I used a catalogue company. Once they put my delivery in the bin! seriously he thought since it was empty it was a good place to hide my stuff. When I suggested this was a little risky he then left it with a neighbour who denied signing for it and kept it.
My worst violation apart from countless purses being pinched from my bag was when I was asleep with daisy when she was a baby on my bed. Someone walked in to the house through my french windows and took my bag. I was so shocked that anyone would have the nerve to do that. Amazingly a neighbour found my bag whilst she was gardening. The last laugh was on the thief as my bag was a mulberry and what he took was worthless.
On the other hand twice in the last year I have dropped my purse only to have it handed in with all the money still in it. I have always expected the worse from living in London but on the whole..’.touch wood’…. it is not all bad.
So come and live here!
indigo16: There is something shocking and deeply violating about these kind of thefts. I suppose it alters ones sense of the world as being safe and benevolent.
I cannot imagine how terrifying it must have been to have someone come in while you are sleeping and steal your bag. Horrible. I am glad that you at least got your bag back.
Let me tell you if He-weasel’s company had an office in London we would be right over.
I just had a similar thing happen with 2 separate packages sent via UPS – I was (and am still) so upset!! It feels like such a violation! I totally empathize, darling!
On a lighter note, love your double entendre comment and link to Grimace!
xoxox,
CC
my dear, i am so upset for you at your loss and hope nm stands by their usual customer service and gives you back your money…frankly I thought they always did in these cases!
as for moving, I would as soon as possible but can’t suggest anywhere as i am a native californian…hmmmm, i live in norcal however which makes all the difference…it is like night and day and CA really should be two diff. states…anyway, if you are interested in considering up here, I can tell you that healdsburg and windsor, cloverdale and many others are well within SF driving range for the evening and yet, safe and sound…also not over the top expensive(healdsburg is but prices have dropped and it’s gorgeous wine country!)…other states as you have mentioned however, may be cheaper….i will mourn your loss as i went immediately to nm and filled my shopping bag with cosmetics after reading what you bought! you did not mention the clothes to my recollection however and that is just so sickening…i do hope and pray they will let you have them anyway…they should as it is not your fault!
i shall think positively all day and night and day that you get full credit and figure out where and how to move immediately…hoping it is not in a log cabin…the greek thing sounds fun!!
xoxoxo
Bellette
I’m telling you, you would like it here. You won’t even need your special hair girl cause nobody looks that good here! Plus the cost of living is cheaper here. So with what you get for the sale of you condo you will be able to buy a GREAT place here. I was also thinking since there’s nothing really much to see here (although that’s a secret we keep) there is no chance of any of your annoying relatives to come see you. St. Louis has good shopping and very good restaurants. I also forgot to mention all the parades we have in our town, it’s a regular scene out of a Norman Rockwell paintings. In the summer we have the orchestra in the park on Wed or Thurs evenings. Everyone goes and listens to the town orchestra (yes orchestra not a mere band) we eat, drink, dance it’s a hoot. We also have oodles of shrinks too!
Eek! This is why I’m passionate about not waiving signatures
Can’t trust peeps!
That is a scandal. I’m so glad they’re going to reimburse you at Neiman Marcus…
oh you poor thing…. i will be hoping mad too. glad you are able to get your credit back. but, i must say harvard is pretty nice. i love it when i went to school in boston.
Couture Carrie: I am thinking about getting a PO Box so I never have to risk this again.
Well, Grimace is the definitive wearer of purple.;-)
xoxo
Linda: I was flabbergasted when the first guy told me that I would have to pay for the items anyway.
I think am wanting to get out of California all together( we’ll see if I feel that way when the shock wares off) and I agree north and south are night and day but I just want to again live in a place that felt like Lake Bluff(maybe with a little less snow).
I didn’t mention the dress. I wan going to wait and see if I liked it before I shared it with you. What did you get at NM? Has it all arrive safe and sound?
No, I don’t think He-weasel really wants any of those things. I think he likes to torment me a little( in a fun way) and I like to pretend I want a horse.
xoxo
Linda: You make a very compelling case. And, I even shared your pitch with He-weasel and he is eating up your idea like baklava.;-)
But, I do like going to Hair-Angel and looking good and I would really miss Igor.
I do miss the parades and concerts in Lake Bluff! Le sigh!
WendyB: NEVER AGAIN. I learned my lesson the hard way
K.Line: I think I will feel unsettles until I see the credit on my statement.
Savvy Mode: I have never been to Boston. I was surprised how many cities on the top 100 safest were in Mass. I had no idea.
stolen neiman marcus boxes and birthday flowers… not cool moments in ‘humanbeing land.’
i often dream of living in safe city, usa. it one of the reasons i love ‘gilmore girls.’
l’air du temps: I hate it when something happens to make me feel even more sure that there are many people who suck.
I would love to live in the land of the ‘gilmore girls.’ I would also like to be able to eat like the Gilmore Girls and never gain weight. They really are big eaters. I think that in Gilmore Girl land metabolisms are faster.;-)
L.A is a whore but she has a good heart. Come on- Stay!
corine/hidden in france
Corine: Come on, let’s blow this pop stand and go to Brazil.;-)
I would no more live without a P.O. Box than breathe ammonia! That is a given, regardless of whether or not I was planning to order from vendors who only deliver via courier.
It is not safe in our day and age to receive, nor send, U.S. mail in a home mailbox unless it is a lockbox–and even then I’m dubious. I have literally spent 6 years stopping every form of junk mail, financial statements, and 3rd party engendered mail from coming to our mailbox. After 3 years and 4 months in the beater trailer I have received exactly 2 pieces of mail addressed to us in our totally unsecured mailbox–one voter reg acknowledgement and one personal letter from a clueless friend. All my cartes de visite have my P.O. Box address on them.
However, save the P.O. Box (it also allows one to safely avoid dealing with mail on a DAILY basis)until after you and Louise talk. Speaking of which, I would like to read the healing through writing book. I’ve read her memoirs but not that book. I’m glad you mentioned it.
I’ve been a lurker forever, but I want to let you know I feel your pain. I live in Chicago and someone stole our $700 Mountain Buggy Urban Double Stroller. Who steals a stroller?!
I now have all my packages delivered to the UPS store two blocks away. Kind of a pain but since said store is owned by a cute guy who mercy flirts with all the moms no matter how craptastic we look….it’s worth it.
Wherever you go I know you’ll be happy, you seem to find a way to listen to your inner self in a really great way.
P.S. LOVE that dress. I got a really cute silk sleeveless top from that spring collection. Good stuff!
I grew up in a town of 800 people,
My sister-in-law was supposed to receive a shipment of J.Jill goodies from her mother via FedEx. She returned home one day to find a note (from FedEx) saying that her neighbor had signed for the package. The neighbor DENIED it and then sometime later my sister-in-law saw said neighbor WEARING THE J.JILL SWEATER! The nerve of some people!
The closest I ever got to LA was San Francisco. Does that count as a nice, safe city? Somehow I don’t see you in overalls or a big apron and tall white hat. I’m reminded of Ava Gabor and Green Acres.
Oh I feel your pain and anger–this same thing happened to us several times in our supposedly nice, secure Manhattan co-op. I didn’t end up moving–I staged a coup and got rid of the board president who refused to do anything about this.
Someone somewhere in this building is eating off my new dishes (birthday present), reading an antique needlework magazine (ebay find), wearing new sneakers and displaying a lovely antique Limoges handpainted plate (another ebay find).
The anger fades, but it is not something you’ll ever forget. So awful to think that NEIGHBORS would do this.
Oh, poop. I have nothing to offer except…can you/do you take frequent vacations somewhere else? What a discouraging and maddening thing to go through. I hated living in cities. I love living where I live, though there are distinct disadvantages like not being able to make a living. Sorry dear. Hope it looks up.
People always go on about South Africa being so dangerous and what not,but it seems no matter where you are,stuff like this can happen.Even in the little town I live.I hope that whoever stole your things,gets an asscramp so debilitating that they can’t walk for a month.
So sorry this happened. Whatever happened to that doesn’t belong to you. Virginia is a great place to live. I have been looking at lake and mountain property there. Close to NC too! Which is very nice.
I am thankful I live where I do.
Sorry that happened to you. : (
Since, like most petty criminal jerks, he’s probably a young cracker misogynist, here’s hoping he ends up in the slammer sporting the dress.
you can’t move after becoming an L.A. blonde!
La Framéricaine: So, you think DeSalvo will talk me out of a PO Box or out of mail or out of wanting to move? I hope not the later.
I definitely recommend Healing Through Writing. Let me know what you think.
Trish: THANK YOU For delurking. It is so exciting to meet you!!!!!!!! Horrible that someone stole your stroller. Awful11
I hope my UPS has such a guy. Is it a feature of all UPS stores to have a flirty guy? If so that would be a great thing for them to advertise. “We deliver compliments while wearing brown.”
Thank you for your kind compliment. Lately I have been craving Chicago so much. I miss it. Say hello to it for me.
P.S. I am going to the LP webpage to see what else they have.
p.s.s. Please come by and say hi again. I LOVE seeing you here.
Tessa: OMG!!!!! I would have called the police immediately. Unbelievably brass of this thief. Horrible.What did J.Jill do?
Susan: New York is where I would rather stay. I just adore a penthouse view.Dah-ling I love you but give me Park Avenue.;-)
Oh I also forgot, Asheville NC is called the Paris of the south. Check it out!
Bastards! I am so sorry. Move down south to La Jolla. I know, it’s not on the safe city list but it’s better than LA.
My hubby is from France and he keeps wanting to pick up and move there after we watch the evening noons…
Hang in there. Love your blog!
Gilljen: Good for you!!!!I hope your building is now theft-free.
He-weasel has had words with the management. We are paying too much for there not to be better security and cameras on each hallway. Madness.
I am sick to hear about all your treasures being stolen from you. I hope that karma kicks them in the butt, quickly and swiftly.
It is four days since the theft and I still cannot believe it. I keep expecting the thief to come to his/her senses and that the boxes will be returned. Silly me.
Sallymandy: Our lease is up in July. We will blow this pop stand once that happens. Nothing lasts forever.
Penny: I LOVE your wish for the thief. And, I suppose that wherever you go there are good and bad people.I am just finding more bad ones here in my area than good ones.
Julianne: NC sounds nice too. Small ,safe, scenic and an hours drive to a Jcrew and a good mall is all I want. Not much to ask for.;-)
La Donna Welter: Enjoy your home safe home.
Thanks. I suppose it could be much worse. But, it is still maddening.
Randal:Young cracker misogynists do not look good in Lilly Pulitzer.
Non Je Ne Regrette Rien: I am not and never will be a L.A. Blond. I am a Venetian blond.
Julianne: Tempting!
Frenchie4moi: La Jolla is MUCH better than L.A.
And, if I were you, when hubby wants to move to France I would start packing!!!!;-)
Thank you so much for your VERY kind compliment!!!!:-)
dear honey-pie, i’m so tired, i can barely think but everyone left this am so i should get my wits back in several days…my nm shopping bag is full and awaiting my coming back with time enough to actually buy it…makeup in the form of lipstick, mascara and eyeliner in this lovely really light blue..can’t remember anything else right now and yes, once something didn’t make it up to my house but i live on a country road so i just called and said it never got to me even tho i always leave special instructions about delivering to my home or gate if closed….so they have no way out if it doesn’t get to me..i have no neighbors so i don’t have much crime, knock wood!
i have sad news…i can’t get a westie…my son freaked out because they remind him too much of his ex, etc etc… it was a very seriously difficult divorce on him, she was a bitch and he practically lost it when i told him my wonderful, i thought, idea…like HOW COULD YOU!!! course, i didn’t know his feelings about westies at the time but now i do so said fine, no worries, like the wonder mother i am…i am getting a collie instead, which is what i have always had and so i am not sad…well, maybe just a little… WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!
xoxox
ha ha ha, i did not know that about greeks – i dated a boy in high school. greek. family owned restaurants.
but on to the more serious matter that PEOPLE SUCK!!!! what is wrong with them? you are the second blogger this year to post about a package being stolen. it makes my blood pressure rise just reading these posts. i am really sorry about this. infuriating is the word.
I’ve read somewhere that in countries like Sweden and Norway, lost items like wallets are almost always returned. But not so in places like NYC. It’s the cultural difference, the feeling that we have to struggle more to get ahead we have here in the states. Maybe that’ll change, slowly with the volunteerism Obama is trying to encourage. I don’t know.
But at least, I suppose, it is safer here than places like…Darfur…oh God…did I really have to go there to find a place less safe than the states?
Thank goodness, at least you’re getting your money back. And what a wonderful husband to come home and help you search for your list packages. That is awesome.
oh no, that’s horrible. i can’t believe someone stole from your doorstep – i would be frantic too!
i live in LA…so i understand your pain.
xox
Linda: Order of operations:
1. Rest
2.Recover
3.Order Neiman’s cart
4. Enjoy your collie.
xoxo
editor: All Greeks( yes I know this is a gross generalization;-) have the restaurant business in their blood. Zeus must have been a restauranteer.;-)
I agree, PEOPLE SUCK!!!!I am infuriated and slightly paranoid. Every person I see in the elevator is a potential suspect.
Cheryl: In my old home town people returned wallets. Here they would steal the wallet and then get your address and then come and rob your house.
Yes, you did have to use Darfur. Really, the states are not as safe as they used to be. Sad.
I am lucky Neiman’s is being great about this and He-weasel was amazing. He’s my hero.
Mademoiselle Frou-Frou: I was naive. I learned my lesson.
I am with Sarah-Lulu…come to Australia! I have left the door to our house unlocked several times and come back without even batting an eyelid. The only guns I have ever seen in Australia are those on the hips of senior policeman. In the times I have had flowers delivered and I wasn’t home to receive them my neighbours watered them for me. We have a healthy Greek, (and Lebanese, and Italian,etc etc) communities and we could always do with a new restaurant. Go on! If all else fails however, I hope you get your Lake Buff!
xxoo
Theft from the doorstep can happen anywhere. You take yourself with you where ever you go.
Okay, I haven’t even finished reading this post…I just looked at the cities and decided I needed to cast my vote.
I vote for Chester, NY — that’s right near me!!!!
I’ll help you unpack between treatments. Okay, that’s probably not realistic, Plan B — you can just stay with me and be my nurse…bring Lily, my kids would eat her up (not literally, we’re vegetarians)…and I feel sure He-Weasel and my DH would hit it off, they are both, apparently saints
Thanks for all your support lately my dear friend, you are a treasure.
Duchesse: It is true. But, it has never happened anywhere else and I have pre-existing animus towards this place and hence my disdain.
Kayleigh: I prefer Plan B to A. Too much work in plan A. I was a candy striper many years ago so that is almost like a nurse. Yes, all three of us will be right over.
Truly, if there is anything at all I can do please let me know. Huge hugs to you.
xo
I’ll never forget the day my kineraase from skinstore package was stolen from our mail area in our old building in Brooklyn. Felt so angry and violated! of course, that’s kind of what one would expect from brooklyn. and my newspaper would get stolen from my old apt., until I put up a sign saying “stealing newspapers is a sin.” I knew I had some churchgoing neighbors and it was never stolen again.
la belette, someday you’ll be in a safe, homey town where no one would think twice about stealing anything.
I SOOO hate it, too!! Born and raised in Hollywood, California from 1965- 1983… Went south for University (UCSD) and stayed in SD for 23 years!! I TOTALLY know what you mean about L.A.
Oh another note… Look into Clairemont, California.. It’s far from the ocean, I know, but it’s a beautiful town…. Take care and hang in there…. Leese
Thank heavens Nieman’s is going to work with you and that you insisted on speaking to the supervisor!
Let’s move to Rockport!!! I’ll meet you for lunch every other Tuesday at the most charming cafe in town…whatever that is, LOL!
fashion herald: I had another theft since this post. I have now put up a huge sign in which I have told UPS and Fedex not to leave packages as thefts happen here. I am just waiting for my sign to be stolen.
I hope your packages and newspapers are never again taken. And, I LOVE your sign. I might add the sin part to mine.
Leesa: Luck you! You got out!!!!:-)
Claremont? Well, it is a college town. I do love college towns. I’ve never been there. Perhaps I’ll stop by there. Claremont is where David Foster Wallace taught. Le sigh!
TattingChic: I am still worried that they are not going to credit me. Until I see my credit card statement I will keep worrying.
Lily and I will meet you at the Franklin Cafe!:-)
May the fleas of ten thousand camels infest the thief’s armpits.
I think Lily would like it here. We might not be on the top 10 of that list, but I don’t think nearby Portland Oregon has much badness.
Fantastic Forrest: From your mouth to the fleas ears.
He-weasel dreams constantly of moving to Oregon. Oregon is his Paris. Lily would love the many lovely places to walk in Portland. I would too.