What do you do when you're scared?

[Iowa Lizzy]

I'm the first to admit that I can have an overactive imagination and can get myself pretty worked up. The problem is, I don't really have a good way to calm myself down. I'm hoping some PSers have a few good suggestions for me.

DH is out of town on business this week and I'm home alone. I'm generally fine with being home alone but once in a while I get really freaked out and can't sleep. I usually take an OTC sleep aid when he's gone to help me get tired enough to just conk out and not worry.

Last night around 11:00, I was watching TV when I heard this really loud noise coming from directly below me. Sounded like it was right around where our screened-in porch is. I can usually count on my cat when I hear strange noises that I might not generally notice unless I'm alone. If the cat doesn't stir, I assume it's a normal household noise and I don't worry about it. Last night, the noise immediately woke up the cat and he had this "whatthehellwasthat?!" look on this face. Normally, I just freeze up when I hear a freaky noise and wait to see if it happens again. This noise had me running to the front door b/c I thought someone was in the house or trying to get in.

I called DH (who was asleep and had a big meeting this morning) and he stayed on the phone while I went downstairs to check that the door was locked. Of course, I'd already taken a sleeping pill so I was starting to get drowsy. I live on the end of a cul-de-sac in a very wooded area so I'm playing all of those "girl alone in a house in the woods" scary movie scenes in my head. Doesn't help that our house has floor to ceiling windows (and many of them don't have curtains) so I feel pretty exposed.

I ended up dowsing off around 1:00am on the couch. Woke up around 2:00 and took the cat into the bedroom with me and locked the bedroom door. Woke up about every half hour whenever I heard a noise. Of course, I'm alive and well today. Still a little freaked out. Went downstairs to see if I could explain the noise (maybe something heavy fell over?) and have no clue what caused that sound.

So, what do you do when you're scared? Do you just chalk it up to your imagination and go to sleep? Call a friend? Would you have gone to a hotel? Called the police and asked them to drive by? Since I had no idea if it even WAS anyone, I felt too foolish to call the local sheriff's department. It was too late to call a friend to come over. I have a relative that lives here so I'm actually thinking about calling him to see if he'd let me crash at his house until DH is home on Friday. I feel fine now, in the light of day, but I have a sneaking suspicion I'm going to be a ball of nerves as soon as it gets dark again. Help me put my mind at ease!

Here's a pic of the back of our house at dusk. Seems perfect for a scary movie, no?

 

[ForteKitty]

hahaha i would be terrified too!!

I have no advice, only sympathy. When i wash my face, sometimes i will open my eyes realquick to check the mirror and make sure there's nobody standing behind me. I do that when i wash my hair too... open real quick and make sure there's nothing standing there. Dont know what good that will do if i ever DO see something. probably pass out or something.. or run thru the house with soap in my eyes, screaming...

 

[MichelleCarmen]

If I'm at home alone, I put heavy objects behind all the doors in the house. We lived in one where the back door was almost all glass and I put a super heavy metal chair behind it and kept a bat under my bed. It was a metal one and I figured that if someone broke the window and tried to move the door, I'd hear the screech of the chair and run down and hit the guy on the head. . .DH later told me it was a t-ball bat. lol

Also, pepper stray...

 

[lulu]

If you are really worried you could buy a handgun and take some training.

 

[ForteKitty]

A few of us girls had a discussion about hand guns this weekend. I think it's a great idea for everyone to, at the very least, know now to operate a gun. Then some spoil sport had to chime in about how if you accidently killed an intruder, you'd be tossed in jail and probably sued by the family because what if their gun isn't loaded, blah blah blah. (seriously wtf, i should be able to defend myself!) And how gun laws in california is so strict that you can't even keep the bullets and the gun in the same area or same room or something. (i'm just repeating what she said, i have no idea what the law is)

So I asked, If that's the case, by the time i get it loaded it might be too late, right? she said yea, her law enforcement relatives tell her it's safer to just use a bat. But make sure you know how to use it and dont get it taken away.

 

[Iowa Lizzy]

ForteKitty: Gah! I do that too! I've also been known to peek around a shower curtain multiple times during a shower.

MC: Good call. I think I'm going to stack some crap around the doors tonight. I was carrying around a big*ss MagLite flashlight last night. And I was cracking up laughing re: the Tball bat!!

lulu: I've thought about that. DH has a few hunting rifles but I wouldn't know the first thing about how to load them. Guns scare the crap out of me but so do woodsy axe murderers. I might talk to DH this weekend about getting one.

 

[Autumnovember]

If I'm in bed and something scares the crap out of me (and it usually does because I'm afraid of the dark), I just pull my covers over my head and tell myself nothing can touch me if I'm under my covers and I close my eyes and fall asleep. I know, sounds stupid but it works for me! I get scared of everything when the dark is involved, it terrifies me. I also remind myself that I need to stop letting my imagination get the best of me and that everything is fine.

One time, when I was still living at my parents house full time, it was being remodeled and had plastic from wall to wall and it looked like a butcher shop. I hated staying home by myself at that time and I remember hearing a noise coming from my basement. I was absolutely horrified because there was nobody home but me. Since I let my imagination get out of hand, I decided someone was standing at the stairs by the door that leads into the basement and they were going to kill me. SO, I grabbed the biggest knife I could find (nobody was answering their phones) and I went to the door and opened it (fully prepared to stab someone) and there's my cat. Looking up at me like the psycho I am. He was just scratching at the door so I could let him out but I was too dumb to realize that.

I also run from my car to my house door when I'm coming back from a late night out.

OH! And about showers--I have clear sliding doors to the shower, THANK GOD. When a good friend of mine passed away, I made my mom stay in the room next to the bathroom while I showered....this went on for a really long time too, for some reason I just felt scared.

I constantly check the back of my car at night, killers like to hide there too.

By the way, I LOOOOOOOOOOVE the back of your house so beautiful!

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Oh, and you've covered the basics like motion detector lights, home alarm (or at least ADT stickers/signs), etc?

Your house is gorgous by the way. One of our previous homes had all windows in back and it was wonderful. . .power bill was a bit steep though!

 

[Iowa Lizzy]

Oh, and you've covered the basics like motion detector lights, home alarm (or at least ADT stickers/signs), etc?

Your house is gorgous by the way. One of our previous homes had all windows in back and it was wonderful. . .power bill was a bit steep though!

Unfortunately, no. Our house is wired for security and I THINK we might have an ADT sign in the backyard somewhere, but we have never actually paid to have the house monitored. Our house is a late 1970's contemporary and there are little switches next to all the windows to arm/disarm them, but they don't work! We also have little plates in the master bedroom and utility room that light up whenever a light is turned on in the house. So I'd be able to tell if someone were in the house turning on lights, but that's about it.

We're in the process of selling our house and moving out of state so I know DH isn't going to want to spring for home security this late in the game. Part of me wonders (if it was indeed a person and not a random noise) if our idiot realtor told someone during an open house that I'm alone here on weekdays while DH travels. We've been having open houses every weekend for a few months and you never know who could have been in the house with no intention to buy, yanno?

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Oh, and you've covered the basics like motion detector lights, home alarm (or at least ADT stickers/signs), etc?

Your house is gorgous by the way. One of our previous homes had all windows in back and it was wonderful. . .power bill was a bit steep though!

Unfortunately, no. Our house is wired for security and I THINK we might have an ADT sign in the backyard somewhere, but we have never actually paid to have the house monitored. Our house is a late 1970's contemporary and there are little switches next to all the windows to arm/disarm them, but they don't work! We also have little plates in the master bedroom and utility room that light up whenever a light is turned on in the house. So I'd be able to tell if someone were in the house turning on lights, but that's about it.

We're in the process of selling our house and moving out of state so I know DH isn't going to want to spring for home security this late in the game. Part of me wonders (if it was indeed a person and not a random noise) if our idiot realtor told someone during an open house that I'm alone here on weekdays while DH travels. We've been having open houses every weekend for a few months and you never know who could have been in the house with no intention to buy, yanno?

You can get ADT stickers/signs on eBay.

Oh, and that would piss me off about the realtor. You should talk to that person. My inlaws (the ones I've been ranting about) made a huge fuss about me staying in my new apt while DH was out of state. Giving me bear spray, a 7' long metal bar to block the door with, etc., THEN went outside and announced to my neighbors in a loud voice my DH wouldn't be home for four days! AHHHH.

One thing you can also do is stick big manly workboots outside all your doors. Supposedly that helps make it look like a guy is around. Oprah had a show about that.

 

[Iowa Lizzy]

Autumnovember, I'm just thankful I haven't seen the movie Paranormal Activity yet. I cannot watch a scary movie unless I know that DH will be sleeping at home with me for a minimum of two weeks in a row. So far, since that movie was released, that hasn't happened. I haven't taken a shower yet today because I'm too scared!!

 

[Iowa Lizzy]

MC, thanks for the tip about the work boots! DH has several pair so I'll set them out today!

I feel like the boy that cried wolf because I'm always hearing SOMETHING downstairs that I have to call DH about. This was definitely the loudest and the weirdest noise. I have always been able to explain them away but this one, I just can't. For example, we feed the wildlife dried corn. We keep it in our screened in porch. A couple weeks ago, I kept hearing this banging noise by the porch. I immediately went into a cold sweat. Heart was thumping out of my chest. Called DH, went to a window that overlooks the porch and there is a raccoon, banging on the door trying to get at the corn. We also have hickory trees all around our house and right now we have hickory nuts constantly falling on the roof and deck. During a thunderstorm, I can count on a huge branch falling at some point in the middle of the night and waking me up. Living in the woods, it never ends. Actually, as I'm typing this, there are several owls in my backyard hooting very loudly and it's a strange and eery sound. Ugh.

We have a deer camera attached to a tree in our backyard. It's motion activated and takes pictures whenever something crosses it's path. I took the memory card out to check it this morning and there isn't a single picture on it! I know we've had deer and wild turkey in the yard since my corn is disappearing so it looks like the thing wasn't set up to be taking pictures! Grrrrr. (Oh, and that's another thing that will scare the crap out of me. Sitting at home alone and night and suddenly there's a bright flash from the camera going off. I just sit and pray that's it's a deer and not an escaped convict....) I need to get out of the woods.

ETA: Here's a pic from one level of our deck. It's very wooded. The trees even come up through the deck.


And here's one of the neighbors that has been guilty of setting off the camera flash (though this pic was taken by me from inside, not the tree camera)

 

[Haven]

Okay, first of all--AWESOME HOUSE!

Now that I have that out of my system . . .

When I'm home alone and scared I do one of the following things:
- Cuddle with the dog or one of the cats and soothe them. This sounds stupid, I'm sure, but I instinctively pet them and make soothing sounds.
- If it's nighttime and DH is out of town and I cannot get to sleep I surrender. I'll usually get out of bed, put one of my favorite movies on in the family room, pop popcorn, and have a little movie time. Once I'm all wrapped up in Harry and Sally's love affair I usually forget about being terrified and remember that I'm exhausted.
- If I'm really scared and I think someone is outside I call DH on one phone, grab my Maglite, and carry that and another phone around the house with me.

I'm sorry you're getting scared at home. Your house is seriously gorgeous, though, I am in love with your woods, your decks and your HUGE windows!

Edited to appear less like a bad devotee of Walt Whitman.

 

[packrat]

I am a scaredy cat. I also have an imagination that is constantly on overdrive and I dig true crime/serial killer books and tv shows which makes it way worse. I can't take showers at night unless JD's home-I've tried before and end up leaving the curtain open and get water all over the floor b/c I need to *see*. I also do the thing when I'm washing my face at night, opening my eyes real fast to see if anyone is there. Before JD and I got married he lived out in the country down in kind of nowhere land in an old run down farm house. He always knew if I was there and scared b/c I'd have every light on in the house and he could see it miles away. If I was alone at night and needed to go to my car, I'd leave the door open and his 3 pitbulls would stand in the door way, and I'd talk to them as I walked down to my car. I figured if anything happened, the door was open and they could attack.

I've experienced someone trying to break in when I still lived w/my parents and it was like being in a movie, like it wasn't really happening. I don't want to ever experience that again.

Your house is beautiful and I can SO imagine myself in a house like that curled up on the couch, scared out of my gourd.

I don't really have anything to offer other than echo what has been said about getting a gun and learning how to use it and be safe w/it.

 

[TooPatient]

A few of us girls had a discussion about hand guns this weekend. I think it's a great idea for everyone to, at the very least, know now to operate a gun. Then some spoil sport had to chime in about how if you accidently killed an intruder, you'd be tossed in jail and probably sued by the family because what if their gun isn't loaded, blah blah blah. (seriously wtf, i should be able to defend myself!) And how gun laws in california is so strict that you can't even keep the bullets and the gun in the same area or same room or something. (i'm just repeating what she said, i have no idea what the law is)

So I asked, If that's the case, by the time i get it loaded it might be too late, right? she said yea, her law enforcement relatives tell her it's safer to just use a bat. But make sure you know how to use it and dont get it taken away.

Don't just assume. Find a good range, gunshop, or training facility (somewhere with people who really know their stuff) and ask them questions about YOUR specific area. Each area is different. Even within a single state there can be differences.


States have laws in place about self defense and/or the use of weapons. Some states have the requirement that in order for a shooting to be self defense you MUST be able to prove that you were in danger and only did what a reasonable person would have done (look for info on the "Reasonable Man Doctrine") in that situation. In some places (like where I am), the mere fact that a person broke into your home is enough to show that you had reason to fear for your life (look for the "Castle Doctrine"). In others, there is a bit more proof needed but it isn't (usually) too bad -- a woman could easily be overpowered by the average man, if there are children in the house, if the intruder is armed (a Reasonable Man would have reason to believe that if an armed person entered their home and did not leave -even after seeing a person home - then it is reasonable to deduce from that that the intruder is likely to use the weapon)



Anyway....
Yes, there are laws about using weapons for self defense BUT it is important to know the details before making a decision one way or the other. Another thing to consider is that you are also likely to be sued for injuring/killing an intruder with a bat, pepper spray, marble thrower, hot tea, or any other "weapon".


I am a handgun (and rifle) owner with a license for concealed carry. I will NOT let a criminal destroy my life. This isn't the solution for everyone, BUT if you decide it is right for YOU:

find a handgun that is comfortable for you (grip, recoil, etc)

get trained (lots of training schools out there and they aren't all super expensive)

keep practicing (go to the range often and practice your skills -- many ranges offer a women's night where women shoot free; pistol league to learn and practice skills like moving targets, shooting with only one hand, shooting while holding a child/pet (teddy bears are held for practice! -- never actually practice with a baby in your arms!), low light (like you'd have in a house at night), and much more -- our range does this every week (can go to as many or few as you like) for only $10)

 

[Indylady]

Your house is gorgeous!!

When I'm scared and I know my fears are mostly un-warranted, I put on a movie (usually Stardust) and dream about "the perfect ring" and have internal debates on whether it involves a cushion or an oval, or pave or VC-style floral engraving. I'm happy to meet some of you fellow scaredy-cats! I also avoid watching scary movies..sometimes even scary commercials.

Your fears sound warranted (NOT trying to freak out you; just sayin' that since you actually heard a noise, and you're not just, scared to be scared, ya know?) so I'd stay with your family until DH comes home, or otherwise barricade myself into the master bedroom at 9pm with phones, cell phones, laptop, water, and a snack. Lots and lots of happy, fierce-in-the-face-of-danger dust to you TG!

 

[Iowa Lizzy]

Thanks for all the replies! Hot tea! What an excellent idea. I don't have any pepper spray but I do have wasp spray and that shoots even farther, right? Maybe I'll keep that in hand with all my Wusthof knives!

I texted my uncle (my relative who lives in our city) to see if I could take him out for dinner (and casually bring up that I'm scared to stay at home) and he's out of town tonight. I'm seriously considering springing for a hotel room.

This is one of those times I wish I actually knew my neighbors. I'd let them know I was freaked out and have them keep an eye out for me. Also, I have AT&T and my phone drops calls or doesn't get service half the time in my house (no landline either). I kept thinking "The house is going to be broken into and I won't even be able to dial out and no one will know to help me!"

The more I think about it, the more I might call the sheriff's office this evening. One night I had some drunk teenagers parked by my driveway so I called the sheriff's office. Even though the teens drove away before anyone got there, I still had three separate squad cars drive by within 10 minutes and when I talked to the officers, they promised to keep patrolling the area. Maybe I'll just ask that if no one is busy, they could drive by a few times during the night. I wonder how many calls they get from woman who heard something go bump in the night. Is SDL around? I wonder if that's a common call.

 

[Indylady]

Drats. Could you couch-surf at a friend's house?

Also, AOL instant messenger lets you text message cell phones/and Skype will let you make calls (for 2 cents a minute), just in case you are staying home and want to have a back-up to making texts/calls. However, you can't call 911 through Skype, so that is something to keep in mind.

 

[Iowa Lizzy]

When I'm home alone and scared I do one of the following things:
- Cuddle with the dog or one of the cats and soothe them. This sounds stupid, I'm sure, but I instinctively pet them and make soothing sounds.

I do that too! That's why I took the cat in the bedroom with me, normally I would just let him stay sleeping on the couch, but there's something comforting about just having SOMETHING there with me. And like I said, I use the cat to tell me if a weird sound is something I just don't normally notice or if it's out of the ordinary. I remember the first time I stayed up late enough to hear the water softener kick on around 3:00am. If it weren't for my cat that continued to snooze, I would have been freaking out.

 

[Iowa Lizzy]

Drats. Could you couch-surf at a friend's house?

Also, AOL instant messenger lets you text message cell phones/and Skype will let you make calls (for 2 cents a minute), just in case you are staying home and want to have a back-up to making texts/calls. However, you can't call 911 through Skype, so that is something to keep in mind.

I Skype'd my sister last night after I got of the phone with DH. She texted me this morning and said "Still Alive?" So I was glad that even if DH forgot all about my phone call waking him up, my sister would know to be concerned if I didn't respond. I even positioned my laptop as I was shutting curtains so she could see me walking throughout the living room. I took my laptop into bed with me in case I needed so Skype. Maybe I'll put some minutes on my account and program the local (non 911) police number onto my Skype account.

And since so many of our windows don't have curtains, I kept my cell phone to my ear as I was walking around just in case anyone could see me, they'd assume I was on the phone.

 

[Tuckins1]

When i'm scared, besides checking the locks and turning on the alarm, I try to watch something funny, like the Simpsons or some other silly show... I also have a gun under the bed, so the only thing I really have to be scared of is getting my gun before someone makes it into my room...

 

[Jennifer W]

I like to crash around the house and make NOISE. Turn on every light, maybe thump the piano keys, slam doors, turn on music that would make your ears bleed. I like to sound angry and just a little bit deranged, like you'd better hope you get out of the house before I get to the room you're hiding in... We live in a fairly rural area, and we're right at the end of the village with no overlooking houses. I've had a few scares, and I now have curtains at every window. Really, that open window with the lights on thing makes me feel too vulnerable. If I can be seen but not see, that freaks me out.

I did actually find an intruder once, when I was staying in a friend's house while she was away. I woke up when I heard him screaming from the kitchen for someone to please come and help him - my dog had him pinned up against the fridge and wouldn't let him move (big dog, surprisingly nervous intruder). It was more socially awkward than anything else - what do you say? What's the etiquette?!

 

[Iowa Lizzy]

I like to crash around the house and make NOISE. Turn on every light, maybe thump the piano keys, slam doors, turn on music that would make your ears bleed. I like to sound angry and just a little bit deranged, like you'd better hope you get out of the house before I get to the room you're hiding in... We live in a fairly rural area, and we're right at the end of the village with no overlooking houses. I've had a few scares, and I now have curtains at every window. Really, that open window with the lights on thing makes me feel too vulnerable. If I can be seen but not see, that freaks me out.

I did actually find an intruder once, when I was staying in a friend's house while she was away. I woke up when I heard him screaming from the kitchen for someone to please come and help him - my dog had him pinned up against the fridge and wouldn't let him move (big dog, surprisingly nervous intruder). It was more socially awkward than anything else - what do you say? What's the etiquette?!

Haha. This is why I need a big dog. My little tuxedo cat isn't exactly what I'd call 'intimidating.'

I texted DH and told him I'm prepared for the boogieman or the apocalypse. I've got my MagLite, an axe, an unloaded shotgun and wasp spray all within arms reach. Oh and I figured I can hit the panic button on my keyfob and hopefully my neighbors would get irritated enough to see why my horn is honking from in my garage and I'm not turning it off.

 

[lyra]

You have a gorgeous, gorgeous house...but it would totally freak me out to have that many exposed windows at night. We have no one behind us, so during the day we don't need windowcoverings at all. But if I'm alone at night, I shut every single blind in the entire house and still feel a bit on edge at times! I only feel safe in my bedroom at night really. I'm alone a lot, but I have no real advice. Maybe you'd feel better with a sturdier lock on your bedroom door? Motion sensor lights outside help too (although it always freaks me out when they actually go on!).

 

[Autumnovember]

I like to crash around the house and make NOISE. Turn on every light, maybe thump the piano keys, slam doors, turn on music that would make your ears bleed. I like to sound angry and just a little bit deranged, like you'd better hope you get out of the house before I get to the room you're hiding in... We live in a fairly rural area, and we're right at the end of the village with no overlooking houses. I've had a few scares, and I now have curtains at every window. Really, that open window with the lights on thing makes me feel too vulnerable. If I can be seen but not see, that freaks me out.

I did actually find an intruder once, when I was staying in a friend's house while she was away. I woke up when I heard him screaming from the kitchen for someone to please come and help him - my dog had him pinned up against the fridge and wouldn't let him move (big dog, surprisingly nervous intruder). It was more socially awkward than anything else - what do you say? What's the etiquette?!

I love your solution!!!! I'm doing that next time. It would probably be pretty fun too.



"Hi sir, would you kindly exit my house?"

 

[oranges]

If I'm in bed and something scares the crap out of me (and it usually does because I'm afraid of the dark), I just pull my covers over my head and tell myself nothing can touch me if I'm under my covers and I close my eyes and fall asleep. I know, sounds stupid but it works for me! I get scared of everything when the dark is involved, it terrifies me. I also remind myself that I need to stop letting my imagination get the best of me and that everything is fine.

One time, when I was still living at my parents house full time, it was being remodeled and had plastic from wall to wall and it looked like a butcher shop. I hated staying home by myself at that time and I remember hearing a noise coming from my basement. I was absolutely horrified because there was nobody home but me. Since I let my imagination get out of hand, I decided someone was standing at the stairs by the door that leads into the basement and they were going to kill me. SO, I grabbed the biggest knife I could find (nobody was answering their phones) and I went to the door and opened it (fully prepared to stab someone) and there's my cat. Looking up at me like the psycho I am. He was just scratching at the door so I could let him out but I was too dumb to realize that.

I also run from my car to my house door when I'm coming back from a late night out.

OH! And about showers--I have clear sliding doors to the shower, THANK GOD. When a good friend of mine passed away, I made my mom stay in the room next to the bathroom while I showered....this went on for a really long time too, for some reason I just felt scared.

I constantly check the back of my car at night, killers like to hide there too.

By the way, I LOOOOOOOOOOVE the back of your house so beautiful!

I always do this... I feel like a paranoid weirdo-- glad I'm not the only one.

I'm actually home all by myself this week and I hate it. I've been locking my bedroom door and sleeping with pepper spray on my bed stand. It is so uncomfortable being in a big house alone...

 

[Bunny007]

Beautiful home! But yes, great setting for a scary movie When I get scared, I turn all the lights on in the house (which is easier for me, because I live in an apartment) and sleep on the couch with the tv on.

 

[charbie]

Aww, TG! I feel for ya. I'm currently living in the complete opposite location of you. In the freaking urban gang ghetto. And I'm not kidding...there was a drive by two streets away a week ago. (I'm staying with my BIL until DH moves here and we finally live together again...but its still in this same house until ours sells...DH grew up in a rough area...)

I hate that feeling of your stomach dropping when you hear a scary noise. I freeze completely. I wait as long as possible and see if I don't hear any other noises. I'm lucky in the fact that my two devil dogs actually do bark and protect their momma. *charlie is laying on top of me right now.* I also keep the keyfob close by, lock my bedroom door, and keep on a few lights.

Our house was robbed in the middle of the day a year and a half ago. It took me a really long time to sleep decently there. In fact, the after it happened, I saw our paper guy stop in front of our house and walk up to the door so I called 911. DH and I got an alarm system installed, and I put it on the "no timer" option when DH travels. I spoke with the cops, who told me 99% of intruders are not wanting to be caught by you. They want in and out and will run if they are caught...they won't go after you. So that actually eased my mind a bit to know most people should they get by all my defenses are not really coming after me.

 

[starryeyed]

I recite what I can remember of Psalm 23:

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

I know there's more, but I wind up just repeating that last sentence over and over. I hope I'm not violating a PS rule by posting this passage?

I'm scared of a weapon being grabbed from me and used against me, so the most I have are empty wine bottles.

 

[calibali]

Just this past weekend I had a similar situation happen to me. I was alone for the evening and heard some weird noises coming from downstairs, so I immediately went into the bedroom, grabbed the gun case, and set it on the coffee table in front of me. After I heard a few more strange sounds, I closed one of the doors to the room I was in and opened the case so I could have the gun at the ready.

I'm not particularly fond of guns, but all I can say is if someone enters my house, they won't be walking out. I don't mess around with my safety and neither does FI.