the cops...

When I left for Dallas, LM noticed (as she was trying to break into my house as I was running late) that there was a cop just sitting on my street in his cop car. She really only noticed becuase she was obviously trying to get into my front door (which was dead bolted) and then realized she would have to go around back.....with all of her bags....so she was probably wondering who was watching this debacle!
I never thought anything of it becuase one of my neighbors is a cop and often sits out there doing his paperwork and such. Then we came back from Dallas and another cop was there. I went out to run some errands and came back to a different cop, then went to a birthday party and there was a different cop again. So after polling my friends, I walked out my front door and up to the cop car to ask what was going on.
I wish I could replay the whole conversation for you, but here is what I remember:

Karen: um, you guys are kinda freaking me out sitting outside my apartment. Should I be worried?
Cop (who was cute...just didn't know how tall he was, which is important): Ma'am, why are we scaring you?
Karen: Becuase you guys have been sitting outside my apartment for over 4 days, I am assuming, and you haven't left! I'm worried that something bad is going on! The cop that lives here does it periodically but you aren't obviously him.
Cop: Ma'am (at this point, really, Ma'am? how old am I!), the cop that lived here had his life threatened by a gang and we are taking precautions.
Karen: WHAT?!? do they know where he lives?
Cop: Ma'am (really?) they say they do, but we don't believe it is a credible threat.
Karen (in her head): REALLY? WHY THE HELL ARE YOU LIVING OUTSIDE MY APARTMENT THEN?!?
Karen (outloud): Oh, so I really don't have anything to be worried about?
Cop: No Ma'am (I know he is being polite....I'm trying to get over the being called ma'am).
Karen: Aren't you bored out here - I mean, what the hell do you do for all 12 hours you are sitting outside of my apartment (thinking, god, I hope my blinds have been closed or else they may have gotten their own show and that is why they like this shift!)
Cop: I've watched 6 TV episodes on my phone and read a book. Now I'm starting to get bored.
Karen: Sorry - but glad you are here!

Then I went in to get him some water (he was thristy!)....and some other things started running through my head I contemplated saying, but held back:

"Can you make sure the gang members know he is on the 2nd floor, so if they decide to riddle our apartment with bullets that they miss mine?"
"Why the hell aren't you around back instead of just out front?" (of course, as i am sleeping, anything wakes me up thinking the boogie man is coming for my neighbor)
"Can you make sure tomorrow I get a single cop that is around 6'4'', dark headed, blue eyes..."

But I decided those probably weren't appropriate. So I kept my mouth shut. Last night I kept peeping out my windows to see if they were still there - yes, they were. We'll keep count for how many days they are there....

**UPDATE**
Talked to the cops again today...he was outside my door hanging out - needing to stretch his legs. Of course, being the nice person I am, I offered him a drink and talked to him a bit (I know how bored they must be!). I got out of him that they would be here for at least the rest of the week while "intelligence" was making sure the "chatter" had died down. Good gosh. They can stay as long as they want in that case! Although, a friend came to dinner last night and she was a little freaked out. This may mean no more dinners at my house till they go away!