basement brothel - part 4.5

On the night on Thursday, October 22nd, 2009, the last "guest" to leave Apt T3 left a little past midnight. Yep... what other activities do you imagine going on at that time of night?

basement brothel part 4 - final installment

As we're getting stuff moved out of the apartment, we're seeing a lot more "business." Today, we happened to get mail for T3, so J made several attempts to give them their mail. However, they never opened the door when he knocked. Not once! How shady is that? A man had just gone into their apartment a few minutes prior and now all of a sudden they can't open the door... Something fishy is definitely afoot. They even looked out the peephole! J also heard sounds of a belt buckle inside, as well as voices.

It is getting really irritating that there has never been any interaction with these "neighbors," besides the glimpses we've had of them as they trek behind the apartment to Starbucks (they hold Starbucks cups when they come back from their excursions - I believe this is where they solicit their clients).

I have a theory that they don't actually live there and that the place is just rented out for them to conduct their clandestine activities. Never have they checked the mail and never have they used the front entrance. They just always go out the back. I've never even seen them come out of their front door. The only people to come in and out of that place are men!

*sigh* So, these are the final hours of this investigation... I wonder if we'll uncover anything else. Also, is this something I should tell the new tenant about?

keys open doors, keys open doors...

A week ago was closing day on the house. Keys are in hand, stuff has gradually been moved over, the painters are there getting after the ugly blue trim, window salesmen have come and gone (decision still pending). All these developments have left me shell-shocked. I think it takes awhile to get used to changes that have such an impact on your life. I haven't lived in the same place for more than about 4-5 years, so it's incredible to think that I will be living in the new house for at least twice as long as I have lived anywhere else!

Tomorrow is the big moving day. It's going to be amazing to watch the house fill up stuff, but it will be even more amazing to watch it fill up with the people I love.

basement brothel part 3

When J went to take the trash out yesterday, he ran into an Indian guy who was coming into our hallway. He appeared skittish and acted like he was going to leave. When the guy saw that J was going out a different door, he continued to T3. As J was coming back from taking out the trash, the guy left looking all around like he was afraid of being seen. It doesn't seem like he made it into our neighbor's. I guess he got cold feet.

Today, there was a notice on their door. It was a "Summons for Unlawful Detainer." This was the information that I found. Pretty interesting, eh? Looks like our apartment community might be on to them as well...

basement brothel part 2

So, it's 9 pm on a Thursday night and someone just knocked on the door. A man.

J opened it and the guy said, "Sorry, I must have the wrong address."

Talk about awkward! What if I had opened the door? I guess I should have to see what he said! And I could then ask him what was going on over there. But would he even tell me?!

My suspicions must be true. I just need that confirmation. Well, looks like I have at least another month to figure it out.

are you my mother?

Today I tried on dresses with E, K and my mom. Despite numerous phone calls and text messages, I have not heard from my mom since the week I got back from Australia. Or at least that's how it seems. And I hadn't seen her since the end of July. It is now September. She doesn't live that far away, but we never see each other because she doesn't seem to know how to call me or answer her phone.

I just feel really frustrated with her at the moment. She's in the process of moving right now, so I guess I should cut her some slack. I will be going over there this Saturday to help her and to also get some of my things.

I just want her to be more involved with my life and it seems like she's slipping farther and farther away and now she'll actually be even farther away distance wise. I just don't know what my expectations are of her anymore. I feel like she doesn't really know me, but I still value her opinion more than most other people.

While I was in Australia, my cousin Christina told me all about my mom's life - stuff that was a mystery to me, stuff that my mom had been keeping from me even when I asked her bluntly about it. I hate that my mom doesn't feel the need to tell me things about her life. *sigh* Maybe I'll finally meet her "boyfriend" on Saturday, since he's probably helping her move. With my luck, I'll probably show up to an empty house.

third times the charm... hopefully

House-Hunting: Even before J got a job, we had been looking at potential homes. Of course E wanted us to stay in C'ville forever and ever, but we finally did venture beyond the 20121 zip code. Since moving to Tysons, we started to check out some other areas and once J got his job offer, we were ready to start looking more seriously. We've already put in two offers on places in Centreville. Neither worked out. The third offer we put in was for a place in Fairfax. It looks like third time will be the charm! The house is old, as in built in the days of lead-paint possibly. That will be checked out during the home inspection, among other things. Then there is also the appraisal process, so it will still be a few weeks before we know for sure whether we will be moving there or not. The place is about mid-way between J's job and my job and it has 3 bedrooms and 3 full baths and tons of space. The only thing it's really lacking is outdoor living space, but hopefully there is enough for J and his grill to be reunited.

two years...

My dad has mentioned to me a few times that my god-cousin, Allen, had a brain tumor. He would ask me if I had heard any word of whether Allen had passed away or not. Growing up, my mom, grandmother, brother and I would go to visit Allen's family in North Carolina a lot. I can remember spending short weekends there as well as entire summers.

Allen was some years older than me. He got married when I was in the 11th grade. That was the last time I saw him.

Today, I went over to my cousin Cathy's to pick up some pictures that my uncle had set aside for me. While I was over there, my uncle told me that Allen passed away two years ago. I didn't know how to respond, though I was already given some warning via my dad. I guess I knew it was a strong possibility. I just can't believe he died two years ago.

My mom has grown so distant from the people that she was once close to, which is probably why we didn't find out about Allen. My cousin, Christina, gave me some insight on that while I was in Australia. I guess it's a lot of cultural and "adult" stuff that I wouldn't understand or stuff that my mom doesn't think I would understand. Come to think of it, two years ago was also right around the time my step-dad passed away.

I guess sometimes we don't know how to reach out when our loved ones are what we need.

Allen's parents helped shape my childhood. I spent summers in their restaurant clearing tables, peeling potatoes, wrapping eggrolls, etc. They helped my family a lot through the whole messy divorce between my parents. I feel devastated that I was not there for them in their time of grief. I hate that we've lost touch with them, but I'm not sure how to get back in touch again.

basement brothel

The day I started moving in to my new apartment, I noticed something strange. The apartment across the hall housed at least 2-3 Asian women who seemed to receive a lot of male visitors. In fact, on that first day, in a half hour span, two different middle-aged men knocked on the door and were let in.

Before I left for Australia, I commented to J that I thought they were prostitutes. He knows I enjoy making outlandish observations, but while I was in Australia, he had plenty of time to make his own observations. The trend continued. There seemed to be a steady flow of male visitors who would leave typically within an hour.

Every time there is a noise in the hallway, we go bolting to the peephole to see who might be out there. It never fails. It's always a random man. There have even been a few repeat visitors. We take every opportunity to peak into their apartment via the sliding glass doors in the back. There is a partition up on one side and a sofa bed, I believe. The tv will often be on, but nobody is there watching. I never see them inside, so I can only deduce that they are in the bedroom!

I'm tempted to knock on the door one day and introduce myself. I'm afraid the new neighbor window will be closed soon. How am I supposed to gather more evidence to support my hypothesis?