I am still kinda wondering why, but probably our interactions have been leading up to it for years.
They have never complained about me because I do nothing for them to complain about - except complain about them.
They are from Laos. They got a big family and you can't tell who's coming or going. Which in itself isn't bad or good. I like people. What I don't like are inconsiderate people. I am sure some of it is cultural, but still...
So, I have complained about nicely in the beginning, and a bit more direct lately:
their dogs barking in the middle of the nite. they have had 6 or 7 to my 1.
their daughters car alarm going off multiple times at 5am
their chopping of meat at 10+ at nite with the kit. door open next to my/our bedroom
car stereos i.e. boom cars
house stereos at 11 at nite.
probably some other stuff.....
their backyard and ours are kinda coraled by our houses. It is like they are in the next room.
Today, I was tryin to be neighborly and let them know i was going to have some guys trim the lelandi cypress I planted as a barrier. Fine. The next thing I know my neighbor is telling my guy to cut the trees on his side of the fence. The landscape guy comes to me and says another $50 please. In hindsight I should have paid to have it all done but I am a poor carpenter/didn't want to do it/don't like to spend $ on tree trimming etc., but these guys were next door working and so I asked what they would charge. Things kinda got convoluted and outahand at this point and I got caught up in it. So I go to my neighbor and ask what's going on does he want to pay to have it done i.e. dont go telling people that I hire to do work that I am going to pay for. Bad idea. He didn't get it. I was in his backyard at this point and a Sister or Sister in law steps into it. This was after the Neighbor in not so good english and motioning with his hand in a sawing motion,tells me instead of me trimming them he'll just cut them off at the bottom from his side of the fence. Huh? I kinda wanted to laugh at this point. but instead I say "do you want to go to jail?"
So I tell the sister in law to go back inside the house. He didn't like that of course. She says I'm calling 911. I say go right ahead.
Meanwhile I am trying to fix/solve my overheating GL1100 issue and I get pulled away - If the damn bike was running I would have been out ridin it and missed the whole show...!
So 5/10 min. later the sheriff shows up. We live in an unincorporated area between Seattle and Renton. It is in the city but not really. We get the sheriff. Anyway
I meet the Sheriff and try to explain. He says its my neighborly duty to trim the trees on both sides of the fence. I say yes but I don't like people doing what he just did which was to tell the landscapers to do work I am going to pay for without coming to me first. Besides I tell him I am not made of $$.... Big Inconsiderate!(cultural and or ignorance). I was a little pissed at the landscaper too for starting to do it before I said ok. In hindsight he was workin it too. I didn't want to make it stink anymore than it already was so I said ok I'll pay. I was too busy thinkin about my neighbors reaction. the landscaper made out ok...
Sheriff goes over to neighbor after talking to me. Comes out and its obvious he got an earfull. I am an Asshat plain and simple for complaining. I am the bad guy for complaining - not for doing anything to complain about. So I give a few more explanations to the sheriff about my issues i.e. chopping meat late at nite. Not proper chopping - we are talking hammering. Sounds petty I know - you would have to have been there kinda thing. It is the one thing he came back with - I complain about their cooking. Huh? He says call 911 next time. I say I don't like calling 911 for pety shit. All I did when that was goin on was tell the guy "close the door I am sleeping there" pointing to my bedroom. He gets pissed of course and slams the door. WTF? If somebody told me that and I am unaware I would say sorry/apologize and do it ....
I (think) am very considerate toward my neighbors, but I take issue when they aren't with me. This probably translates as racism in their minds. Not. I am married to an indigenous chilean lady.
Yeah, I should have bucked up and got a quote to do the whole mary ann. I probably subconsciously wanted to piss them off though....not cutting their side.
Bottom line I need more space, different neighbors and a different neighborhood! I'd go tomorrow but prices are way down, we have an old dog, I can't retire yet, we're going to move to Chile then (yes I am taking at least one wing). Its not just these guys just about every neighbor does something not neighborly imho now and then. lI am going to try and let roll off, mostly for the wife, but it is going to be hard. I work in a lot of nice neighborhoods and my sense is overall they are much more considerate. Not perfect I know. They can get pretty nasty too but they do it with the help of Lawyers and Lawsuits..
I guess I'll do what the Sheriff says and call 911. I hope it doesn't happen. that may equalize things or escalate them...
Tell it like it is...
thanks
They have never complained about me because I do nothing for them to complain about - except complain about them.
They are from Laos. They got a big family and you can't tell who's coming or going. Which in itself isn't bad or good. I like people. What I don't like are inconsiderate people. I am sure some of it is cultural, but still...
So, I have complained about nicely in the beginning, and a bit more direct lately:
their dogs barking in the middle of the nite. they have had 6 or 7 to my 1.
their daughters car alarm going off multiple times at 5am
their chopping of meat at 10+ at nite with the kit. door open next to my/our bedroom
car stereos i.e. boom cars
house stereos at 11 at nite.
probably some other stuff.....
their backyard and ours are kinda coraled by our houses. It is like they are in the next room.
Today, I was tryin to be neighborly and let them know i was going to have some guys trim the lelandi cypress I planted as a barrier. Fine. The next thing I know my neighbor is telling my guy to cut the trees on his side of the fence. The landscape guy comes to me and says another $50 please. In hindsight I should have paid to have it all done but I am a poor carpenter/didn't want to do it/don't like to spend $ on tree trimming etc., but these guys were next door working and so I asked what they would charge. Things kinda got convoluted and outahand at this point and I got caught up in it. So I go to my neighbor and ask what's going on does he want to pay to have it done i.e. dont go telling people that I hire to do work that I am going to pay for. Bad idea. He didn't get it. I was in his backyard at this point and a Sister or Sister in law steps into it. This was after the Neighbor in not so good english and motioning with his hand in a sawing motion,tells me instead of me trimming them he'll just cut them off at the bottom from his side of the fence. Huh? I kinda wanted to laugh at this point. but instead I say "do you want to go to jail?"
So I tell the sister in law to go back inside the house. He didn't like that of course. She says I'm calling 911. I say go right ahead.
Meanwhile I am trying to fix/solve my overheating GL1100 issue and I get pulled away - If the damn bike was running I would have been out ridin it and missed the whole show...!
So 5/10 min. later the sheriff shows up. We live in an unincorporated area between Seattle and Renton. It is in the city but not really. We get the sheriff. Anyway
I meet the Sheriff and try to explain. He says its my neighborly duty to trim the trees on both sides of the fence. I say yes but I don't like people doing what he just did which was to tell the landscapers to do work I am going to pay for without coming to me first. Besides I tell him I am not made of $$.... Big Inconsiderate!(cultural and or ignorance). I was a little pissed at the landscaper too for starting to do it before I said ok. In hindsight he was workin it too. I didn't want to make it stink anymore than it already was so I said ok I'll pay. I was too busy thinkin about my neighbors reaction. the landscaper made out ok...
Sheriff goes over to neighbor after talking to me. Comes out and its obvious he got an earfull. I am an Asshat plain and simple for complaining. I am the bad guy for complaining - not for doing anything to complain about. So I give a few more explanations to the sheriff about my issues i.e. chopping meat late at nite. Not proper chopping - we are talking hammering. Sounds petty I know - you would have to have been there kinda thing. It is the one thing he came back with - I complain about their cooking. Huh? He says call 911 next time. I say I don't like calling 911 for pety shit. All I did when that was goin on was tell the guy "close the door I am sleeping there" pointing to my bedroom. He gets pissed of course and slams the door. WTF? If somebody told me that and I am unaware I would say sorry/apologize and do it ....
I (think) am very considerate toward my neighbors, but I take issue when they aren't with me. This probably translates as racism in their minds. Not. I am married to an indigenous chilean lady.
Yeah, I should have bucked up and got a quote to do the whole mary ann. I probably subconsciously wanted to piss them off though....not cutting their side.
Bottom line I need more space, different neighbors and a different neighborhood! I'd go tomorrow but prices are way down, we have an old dog, I can't retire yet, we're going to move to Chile then (yes I am taking at least one wing). Its not just these guys just about every neighbor does something not neighborly imho now and then. lI am going to try and let roll off, mostly for the wife, but it is going to be hard. I work in a lot of nice neighborhoods and my sense is overall they are much more considerate. Not perfect I know. They can get pretty nasty too but they do it with the help of Lawyers and Lawsuits..
I guess I'll do what the Sheriff says and call 911. I hope it doesn't happen. that may equalize things or escalate them...
Tell it like it is...
thanks