in the fall of 1993 i moved into an apartment that, on it's face, was cute enough. once in, however, i found that the floorboard heating unit was missing, exposing live electrical wiring. when i touched the fridge, i got an electric shock.
okay - i turned off the fuse to the heater but the fridge was yet another story - that i needed.
the entrance was through double glass sliding doors accessed by a patio up an embankment adjoining the sidewalk.
the cement started to crack and slip dramatically away from my only entrance/egress... so, i did what any former new yorker would do - i notified the superintendent of the building.
more below the fold - and, yes, there is a point to this diary...
after talking to the super and his assistant, i was informed that they weren't going to do anything to fix the problems - so, as a good new yorker, i withheld the rent.
that's when it started.
my newly arrived license plate for my car was stolen off the car the day after i put it on - with the legal stickers. okay. a fluke, i assumed.
as the dispute over the condition of the apartment grew, i was stunned to walk out one day to find every tire on my car ice-picked - in the sidewalls - so the tires could NOT be repaired.
a friend came over and plugged them long enough to eek the car to the tire dealer (america's tires) to try to find replacements for all four tires.
the manager took one look and said "wait here...". when he returned, he had four nearly new used tires from a trade-in that he mounted on my car. when i asked how much, he replied, "merry christmas!" (yes, it was two weeks before...) out of extreme ugliness and cruelty came great beauty and generosity.
i moved within the week. my phone was scheduled to be turned off - but in between the phone company executing the order and when i left, either the manager or assistant made $1500 worth of xxx rated 900 number calls on my bill. (and, no, i didn't pay even though the telephone company claimed i owed the bill). i received a forwarded notice that i had NOT been approved for "credit" to purchase the oreck vacuum cleaner to be delivered to the address i had left months before. and, btw, none of my mail reached the forward for weeks - it was "picked up" by someone on the site.
the day i moved, a friend and i set out in a rental truck with my belongings and my car. a few miles out (i was moving MANY miles away as i was very uncomfortable around these people) - we noticed the same vehicle following us. each time we stopped, it stopped. finally, i was able to recognize the assistant manager (of the "xxx" rated calls later). we drove about 1 1/2 hrs out of town with this goon still on our tail. i stopped and told my friend to wait while i went around the corner to call the police. by now, he wasn't even TRYING to hide his identity.
the cops came, we explained the situation and they told us to drive away while they kept him there. we did and i made it to my new residence after a very circuitous route to make sure he was nowhere to be found.
i had to change my driver's license to my former married name and use a post office box for mail. to this day, i always know who is behind me and who is around in parking lots. being stalked steals one's security and sense of privacy. it violates your sense of security. it eats away at your peace of mind and sense of safety.
that was in the early 90s. in the early years of 2000, i also had a cyber stalker post repeated lies about me on a popular political website (one of the first ones) - the lies were horrific. hurtful. deceitful. why? because i wouldn't joiin a private, members view only website where the time was spent trashing others from the greater blog.
i stopped blogging for over a year because of that incident. i use my real name, not a nickname. i value my reputation - i value being honest and truthful. if i make a mistake, i admit it because truth to me is more critical than anything else.
i don't attack people personally because it is hurtful and unkind. i hold strong opinions and state them with the reasons for holding them, but i do NOT attack people and i do NOT hold grudges and i do NOT post rants singling out individuals. it is not who i choose to be.
i also don't respond to such attacks when directed at me, personally. it is easy enough for anyone to discern truth with a little due diligence. i try to do my homework before announcing my opinion. i wish others would, as well.
history matters.
truth matters.
honesty matters.
and,
integrity matters.
i'll not be commenting in this diary - it is a statement of belief and of what i believe in.
those who read it can take it at face value - some will see deeper.
peace to all.
good night.