I got shot
 

:(

so, yeah. I don't exactly live in the best neighborhood. There are gunshots all the time around here and I just ignore them anymore. (lots of ice labs and crack houses in the surrounding streets.) I'm not scared of my place, you just have to keep aware of your surroundings.

anyway, I live in an apartment building way off in the back of the apartment complex's property. One of my neighbors has an ice lab and every couple of days he fires it up and you can smell that stuff cooking for hours. Police are always out there, but never do anything about it *shrugs* oh well. He was cooking when I came home from work last night so I just quickly went inside and didn't hang around too much. (most of my neighbors are really sweet people. I like to hang out on my porch and talk with them on friday nights. Most of them don't speak english at all and are kind enough to not laugh at my silly southern accent when I speak Spanish.)

I really try and stay inside when I know he's cooking...then after I stop smelling it I know he's getting high for about an hour...then things quiet down and I don't worry so much about going out.

Last night I was still smelling the lab until about 11:00 or so. I decided not to take my dog out for her walk and just go on to bed. safest bet. About 2:30 this morning she was really agitated. whining and running back and forth and I figured she just needed to go pee so I stumbled out of bed and checked the time figuring all would be quiet. wrong.

My neighbor aparently had been having an arguement with one of his buddies over the ice and had just beat him nearly to death. when I opened my door, (his apartment is a half level below mine and accross the hall) he looked straight at me and fired one off. Pretty damn lucky for me he was high 'cause the bullet went through my left arm and shoulder instead of more important things on my left side.

So....someone called the police and the ambulance. I spent a good part of my early morning getting patched up and talking to the cops.

My fun night..er morning...er whatever. My friends now are all afraid to come to my place and my parents live about 3 hours away...so I guess I'm on my own again for awhile. Least I get to have a physical therapist come help out next week.

Isn't life full of interesting twists?

Aw, Katie, I'm so sorry that happened. http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/7773/iconhugcf2.gif

You must be very shaken, and rightly so. Sometimes it seems like all the bad news and scary things really do come in the middle of the night, when we're half-asleep and just concerned with simple ordinary things. It's not fair, is it?

Everything will be ok, you sound like you'll be ok, eventually. I'm glad you're still with us! :tsurpris:

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/7773/iconhugcf2.gif

:o How you can be so calm about it frightens me. The aenesthesia hasn't hindered your spelling at all though :)

Holy sh*t. So it's safe to say your neighbor was high as a goddamn kite, eh?

I hope he gets shoved away in a nice dark cell for a damn good while. Unprovoked violent like what happened to you absolutely scares the **** outta me. Glad to see you're relatively whole and level-headed about this.

That's terrible. Might want to consider moving, your home is the one place you shouldn't have to be afraid.

Hope your arm gets better soon.

Y'know, when I had an 'incident' of my own (luckily none of them fired, because they were too busy laughing at how stupid I was to resist), I was only afraid for the ten seconds it was happening, but even then I was burning mad about it. How DARE they do that in MY neighborhood, on MY corner?

And then I found the whole thing amusing. Partly because I wanted to calm down the witnesses, and later my friends. Partly because I was shocked I'd gotten away alive. And partly because I find almost everything in my blessed life amusing, and I understood that on the scale of traumatic events in the world, my case didn't even wiggle the needle, even a little. I guess that's yet another reason to thank my worldy Amnesty training in the ways of human horror.

So, really the emotion that's carried through is the... anger (not sure what to call it... passion, rage, drive... bloodlust? :flaming: :P :tsurpris: ). I gotta say, I identify with Raph a little better now. ;) I'm NOT quite as proactive as him & Casey, but I did finally join the neighborhood watch after years of "meaning to." We patrol the streets in the dark. Move? Run? **** that.

I was also angry at myself, for a long time, for being afraid to go out in the dark, which, I can't decide, is either stupid or sane. Maybe both... it seems that to be brave is to be stupid in a sense. But I have regained my insanity enough to be comfortable in the dark once again.

The point is, before something like this happens you'd just think that you would be afraid, and that's it. Poor, poor victim. But it's a jumble, because life is more complicated than that. (Sorry for the rambling, Katie!)

Glad (sounds weird to say) that it just went through the shoulder, and not anything else important, as you said, on your left side. Someone was definitely looking out for you.

*hugs*

Feel better soon, and good on you for being strong!

Thans guys. you've kind of cheered me up a little.

I was trying to sleep, but it just isn't happening for me.

@gobo.....I wish there was anesthesia....the thing went right through me, small callibur thing...so all they did was stitch and patch. nice new war wound I guess.

I'm a mess honestly. angry.....sad....hurt. It seems the harder I try the worse off things get.

..so anyways, if I don't come around as often as usual....don't worry...I just have to work this out in my mind.

Thank God you're still here. *big hug* http://e.deviantart.com/emoticons/h/happycry.gif

I don't really know what else to say except what others have already stated: someone's looking out for you, and your strength never ceases to amaze me. I hope your shoulder heals soon and that all things turn out for the best.:)

I know how that is. Not getting shot, but trying hard and getting nowhere.

Buck up, kiddo, things get better. Life goes on!

And, to find the silver lining here, you got shot and lived. I only know one other person who did that, and he's from Krypton.

Get better soon.

Sincerely,
Voltron.

katie i hope your alright i really do

holy crap that's crazy! :o least you're still alive and well, that's the main thing!

i was expecting it to be a pellet gun or something, but to be actually shot... :o

makes me glad that i live in a country where guns are completely illegal (well, mostly... up here in scotland you hardly hear of it, 'less its in glasgow) sure, there's plenty of knife attacks and what not, and also plenty of junkies (i live quite near the red light district - street hooker drug addicts with scabs and bruises, etc - it aint pretty) but nothings' ever happened to me and for that i am thankful...

so i'm glad you're okay, and that the bullet just went straight through, and didnt hit anything major... and least you'll have a cool scar where you can be like "hell yeah, i got shot" 8)

Aww feel better >< Thats no walk in the park, but what doesnt kill ya makes you stronger right? Heal up nicely and quickly ^^

Your so cool for telling the story all calm like that. If it was me I would post something like "YO BITCHES I JUST GOT CAPPED" and brag about how tough I was.

Heal quick!

Sheesh!! Glad to hear you're ok...i used to live a neighborhood very much like that so I can kinda empathize (though I never was shot - only robbed a few times, once at knifpoint)...things coulda been a WHOLE lot worse...

>< Oh geez...talk about rough luck. I'm sorry to hear this has happened to you. I really can't believe how strong you seem to be and how you are taking this. Take care and I hope you recuperate fast. :ohwell:

Holy crap Katie! :o I'm so glad you are alright! When I read what you posted my heart was humming like crazy, but I'm just so glad that you are okay. This is most definatly uncalled for. Hopefully he will be locked up soon, or even now. My hopes and wishes for a speedy recovery to you, Katie! You little trooper! (Be warned; I'm now in the mood to make a get well card :P ;))

So, what happened with the guy who shot you, is he locked up for manufacturing drugs, using them and shooting you? Please say yes. One less meth-cook makes me smile, though one of my net-pals had to get hurt for anything to come of it. Why can't the cops stop these guys before they ruin (or hurt) other lives? :(

One more reason why dogs are annoyances.

;)

and I don't really see the point anymore of airing these problems..maybe i'm just jaded but why would you waste time and energy griping to people that couldn't give two ***** about you IRL.

But thats just me.

Couple days of being unable to log on, and this is what I come back to?!

*hug* Aw man... sorry for what you had to go through. Just hearing about your area makes me paranoid, and I'm not anywhere remotely like that. Rest up and try not to stress yourself too much.

Man.

I wish I had something more helpful than words on a screen... but seriously. We're here for ya. :tsick:

Day 2 and anger sets in
 

the silence in this place is killing me.

I posted this because no one in real life does give two rips about me. I had to vent some feelings. I guess if poeople don't wanna read or deal with it they don't have to look at the thread. The silence here is killing me. I'm loosing my mind. I'm scared to go out my door and I don't have anyone else to talk to. And maybe this is teh only way I have right now of just....breaking down and crying for a few minutes.

My "friends" only cared about who was using my ticket to the game today. (and maybe if it wasn't too much trouble I could go to their house and babysit all 5 kids while they went and had fun.) yeah..I know what I am to them. Free babysitter.

My family went on vacation yesterday...gonna be gone until next week and then they are all going to Vegas for Christmas. I can't afford to go. Whatever.

I don't need anyone anyway. I'm better off on my own. The silence will stop bothering me eventually and I will stop caring.

Katie, I'm sorry that your friends made you feel like they don't care about you, and I'm sorry that your family won't be there for you. I understand the need to talk to someone, and all the conflicting emotions that other people don't seem to 'get.'

I think, people see this stuff on TV and that gives them a false impression. The hero dude on the TV, fighting the bad guys, getting shot but continuing on out of sheer willpower... it's almost a cliché, isn't it? But it's obvious that the writers who pen those screenplays have either never faced a situation like that, or they're leaving things out to make it 'fun' for the viewer. Because on the TV, once they clean up the red corn syrup and put the actor's arm in a sling, everone's fine. Smiling, even. The end. Roll credits. See you next episode, Mr. Norris. And that's just not how it is.

I guess it's fairly easy to imagine physical pain... you can see the wound, you can see the blood, and you can wince in sympathy. But it takes some subtlety to imagine everything that goes with it, and unfortunately people aren't that subtle. :ohwell:

You're right. That IS just you.

I couldn't agree more with iris.

your right and after a nap things are a little less angry. These things are in cycles and I understand this is how it's going to be for awhile.

and...no fair picking on Stryker. he and I are very good friends and he was just frustrated he didn't get to hear about this until he read it.

:( You have every right to vent and feel upset. Sounds like your peers and family are real human beings. And I don't mean that sarcastically.

I'm mad that I don't have anything to say besides sickening clichés -- and that the thing you need now probably isn't an outpour of words, but rather something no one here can give. Stryker is partially right. We can’t fly or drive over and have a cup of coffee. We can't take you for a fun night out on the town or invite you into our homes for a home-cooked meal. All we can do is talk and listen. Spread the word. That’s why we have the internet.

A lot of people, not only those who have replied to this thread, have heard about a kind woman in Tennessee who is going through some rough times. They deeply sympathize. My parents' church is praying for you this morning. And we're here for you as much as people can be in a forum. We check back to see how you're doing, since we can't do that in real life. It’s not the same as spending time with you in person. But people know. We’re rooting for you -- and that, when the time comes, you’ll pull through for the better.

I really just love how a person that nobody even knew three days ago becomes so loved just because of a long sob story.

But again....Thats just me.

So you're just sour because she's getting attention? Is that it?

Wow! Get a life. I recall you complaining about being "ignored" before. Pretty pathetic. Maybe you're just not interesting enough for people to care about.

*clears throat*

I'd hate to go "mini-mod" on everyone, but fighting won't solve anything. Heck, there was nothing to solve to begin with! All this will result in is a closed thread, some sour grapes, and a very hurt Katie. If you want to fight, PLEASE do it in PM. The last time I warned everyone about this resulted in a closed thread, so take heed now.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Anyway, that really sucks about nobody being there for you, Katie. Have you tried getting through you "friend's" thick heads that you are in pain and most likely can not run around after five active children with one arm?

And don't worry about the silence. When the universe began, there was silence. When you are in hospital there was silence. Soon the world of noise shall return to you and you'll be fine. Besides, we here at the Technodrome are here for your support.

And now for your own entertainment to lift your spirits - BAD FAN OPENINGS!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0p6hhp4O4EA

Keep your spirits up, okay? We are here for you :)

nah it's not about that, I could care less about people talking about me.

Just bringing up the f*cked up sh*t that happens around here. It's not about me at all.

Dude, are you ok? This is just a really... puzzling... reaction.

If I saw some lady on the street, and I didn't know her, and she was looking lost and hurt, I would ask if I could help. Maybe, as you like to say, that's just me.

But Katie isn't just some nameless person on the street to me. No, I don't know her very well, but I've talked and joked with her a bit, and I like her. Deal with it.

I have this funny habit of caring for people I've talked to online, also. True, I only know as much about Katie as I've gleaned from her posts, but I know there is a human being out there somewhere, having a rough time. And yes, I get sympathetic. It's frustrating because sympathy is about all I have to offer, but such is the internet.

Sometimes all it takes is knowing that people are thinking about you (if only for the time it takes to read a thread). *shrug* Maybe that only works for me because I'm just a sentimental loser, but ah well.

*hums* The sun'll come out... tomorrow...

Hell yeah. She's been here for a year and a half only and wrote more than 1,000 posts. Not a chance that anyone here could get to know, befriend or at least remember her.

Seriously man, show some heart. Why don't you just threaten us to leave again, and get it over with? Rid yourself, because clearly that type of attitude is for the ghetto only.

Hope you feel better Katie! Get more sleep and you should be fine, you can't really trust anyone in this world anymore, pretty sad all this violence for no reason what so ever.

The only true thug here is Benvenuto, anyway.

Anyway, sorry I was so late to posting here, but that's a terrible story. Hope the best. Getting shot is no laughing matter.

Yeah, I hadn't really posted either, I guess I wasn't sure what to say. It's pretty crazy though. Hope it's not too painful anymore. ^_^;;;

heh, thoughtI better update you guys.


I'm feeling lots better. I have a really special good friend who has been helping me tremendously. On sunday night he checked on me and we had a good tough love session. He let me yell and scream and basically sat their with his arms folded and took all my anger. Then he yelled back for awhile, let me know I was better than I was acting, and you know what? I began to feel better.

He called me on Monday to make sure I was still doing ok..."being happy" And even though he had to work last night, he called me at 1 in the morning (I have been rather nocturnal lately so it was all good) after he got off to make sure I was ok and to let me know he hadn't forgotten me. He talks for hour with me about random things to keep my mind off all my bad thoughts and I thank him so much for all his help. he's truely amazing in every way. I hope he reads this and knows just how much he means to me. And how much I love him for all he is for me and how blessed I am to have him in my life...I hope he's there for a long long time.

Thanks everyone for all the nice thoughts and prayers....I'm making it through :D

Huzzah!!!!!!!
 

All right!!http://e.deviantart.com/emoticons/b/boogie.gif The Fledermaus bows 8,000 times... that is, until my abs can't take it no more... to this friend. He rocks!! May he live forever!!

Oh yeah, and this one's for you:

http://www.globalschoolnet.org/about...s/applause.gif

May you continue on the road to recovery. :D

I couldn't agree more ;)

and you guys keep calling Stryker all kinds of bad names. He's not such a bad guy after all. (thanks for the calls Stryker)

Katie, I just added you to my AIM friends list...


PM me for my screenname....

Katie that's great to hear! Here, here for this friend who has helped you through these rough times. Having no one after such a traumatizing experience must have been so rough. :( I'm glad you are able to find solace here and in real time. :D