A Muggy Afternoon

Oh man I’m so punny.

So I was mugged (see?) on the Friday of last week. I was just strolling down Walnut at about 1PM in the afternoon, minding my own business and enjoying what was a beautiful day, when one of three guys that had been walking in my direction on the sidewalk inquired, “Hey holmes, you have an iPod?”

At this point my brain didn’t quite register what what was about to transpire; I think my first reaction was the sort I’d normally have to a panhandler, so I managed to get out a “no” in response before a sucker punch came flying in my direction and took me unawares in the jaw. I’d never actually been punched in earnest before, and it was an interesting experience. It didn’t really hurt (and I didn’t even bruise afterward; it was either a glancing or a very weak-sauce swing), but it was rather disorienting, as one doesn’t normally expect to be punched by some stranger when walking down the street.

I sat down in an adjacent stairwell at that point, told them I had nothing, and ended up giving them my (cheap, free, Verizon) cell phone and $7 from my wallet. I really didn’t want them to actually take my wallet (it’s almost comical that my brain was thinking ahead to the pain in the ass that is dealing with credit companies and the DMV), so I just held it up and proffered the bills within. I also had my laptop in my backpack at the time, but I didn’t say anything about it, and these muggers weren’t very thorough (or intelligent, presumably, but then I wonder if any muggers are). All in all, a very poor take for the three (which looked about 20-ish), especially given the police now have a pretty accurate description of all of them.

Given the recent flurry of small (and not so small) crimes in and around Berkeley, I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised, but at the same time, this occurred in broad daylight in Northside, a block from gourmet ghetto. It’s definitely a little scary, but things could have been much worse. Life goes on, and the initial look-over-my-shoulder apprehension I had for the first few days after the attack has disappeared. Perhaps the worst part is that those assholes made me miss lunch with Cami! Luckily, the officer who took my statement was nice enough to drive by Oscar’s, where Cami was waiting and worried given I was 30 minutes late and not answering my (by then stolen) cell phone. It was very nice to have her around just then, too, as I was a bit shaken after the initial shock passed.

Funnily enough, my iPod, which I would normally have with me (I never leave the house without it) had just bit the big one a week earlier due to old age and hard drive failure. Had I still been using it, the muggers would have had something more to show for their misguided efforts, which makes me almost happy that the thing broke when it did :)

And, while I’m here, I’d like to shout out to everyone that I need to collect phone numbers! I’ve felt so naked this past week without a cell phone, but I have managed through bumming my roommates’ phones and directing people to call me on the house line. Now that I almost have my new one, however, I’m ready to start rebuilding the contact list (and this time I have Bluetooth functionality, which means I’ll be able to keep a copy on my computer). It will be activated tomorrow, so feel free to call me so I can add you (619/823-9312), or just shoot me a message or post here with your number.

Happy end-of-finals and gradumation everyone ^_^

Posted on 05/17/08 at 2:51PM,