Not Feeling So Neighborly

My Twitter followers have seen my tweets ranting about a certain neighbor with boundary issues.  I figured it was past time for more than 140 characters to explain the frustration.  Yes, it is relatesd to my blog's topic because the frustration and stress of dealing with this guy is beginning to affect my health.  I don't like being outside much because he always shows up.  I've nicknamed him Boundary Issues because that seems to fit perfectly.  He seems to have no concept of minding his business.

It started innocently enough.  We met a few days after we moved in and he seemed harmless.  One day we came home and he came over to tell us he went onto our roof because he thought he saw smoke.  It was actually steam from the heat, but we thought it was nice of him to look out for us.  Another time, he cut our lawn while cutting his.  Just because. He explained that he used to help the former owner with her yard work - something the former owner did not mention.   Then again, we dealt with her grandson for most of the buying process.  He (the grandson) gave us a heads up about a couple of neighbors, but Boundary Issues wasn't one of them.  At the time he was caring for his elderly mother and busy with her.  After she passed, Boundary Issues seemed to lose it a bit.

Small things began to seem off about him.   He'd tell me one thing and tell hubby another. When hubby and I talked about him, and our accounts were different, we wondered if he did it on purpose or just didn't remember.   He had advice about everything - the best paint, way to care for the lawn and shrubs, how to care for our dogs when he had none, etc.   When the pups escaped one afternoon and went exploring,
he told me we could lose our house because they got out.  I was about done with him then.  He wanted to scare me and it failed.   He told hubby that night that he thought he'd upset me.  I wasn't upset, just beginning to see him clearly.

I was sitting in the living room early one afternoon when the dogs became alarmed and growled while facing a window.  They always growl a little at squirrels, so I wasn't concerned.  I heard a noise at the window and the dogs began barking.  I threw the door open - probably an unwise move considering I just heard a strange noise and my dogs were on high alert - and there was Boundary Issues, holding a screen.   It wasn't our screen, though.  He said he was cleaning in his shed and found extras and was checking to see if they fit our windows before he offered them. He claimed he measured without asking first because he thought no one was home.  He knows I work from home and is outside every morning when the family heads out
on weekdays.  I decided then to let the dogs continue to dislike him.  I wanted them to stay on alert where he was concerned.

I know, some of you think he's just being nice and maybe lonely. Maybe I'm reading too much into his motives.   I'm not finished, though.  Read on and then tell me what you think.

A few weeks ago, we made major landscaping a family affair.  Hubby, the kids, and I took to the yard with the mower, clippers, and other tools to make it pretty after practically neglecting it through the winter.  On Friday evening, hubs and I went to work on the palm tree, pruning and pulling weeds from the planting bed around its trunk. It's near the fence, and Boundary Issues just happened to be outside with a beer and smoke.  He came to the fence to chat and 'supervise.'  He told us how it looked so much better, that we should probably prune more, and continued to hover after we stopped talking with him.  He stayed until we said goodnight and went to go inside.

Weird enough for you yet?  No?  Here's a little more.

On Saturday, Boundary Issues went to hubby and offered his help.  Hubby declined, stating that it was a family project and we had it.   Boundary Issues stayed for a while, chattering to no one in particular about how the Magnolia tree should be pruned back so many feet because the leaves and pods were a hassle.  Hubby said thanks, but no thanks again and went back to work.  He showed up in the back yard with work gloves on and a bag stand in hand.   He said he was there to offer a hand and implied that hubby said it was ok.  I told him we had it and took my bundle o'branches to the curb.   Hubs met me and asked what happend
and told me he'd already declined dude's offer of help.   Turns out hubby was already finished with Boundary Issues and looked forward to him leaving.

This episode ended with Boundary Issues headed out of town for several weeks.  We were stoked!  We could relax in the yard without his presence and not have to worry about not hurting his feelings.

Will the wahm and her family find peace once Boundary Issues returns?  Will Boundary Issues get a clue?  Will the mild-manned hubby of wahm resort to raising his voice?   No voices have been raised, but Boundary Issues is back and pushing every button.  His obsession with the Magnolia tree, no where near his property, continues.  He tried working on me then hubby about it to no avail.  This tree isn't even in our yard, but another neighbor's.  He came over another time to offer to power wash our carport.  When hubby declined, he pushed and asked if I drive the pickup.  Btw, he hasn't power washed anything since he asked.

This morning he showed up in our yard.  He parked his mower and walked away.  We'd been hearing it for a while and thought it seemed particularly loud, but didn't expect him to be cutting our lawn.  We didn't ask, he didn't offer, just did it. It's going to be a long, long summer.

So, what say you - are we reading too much into this?  Is he just lonely and misunderstood?  

And now back to the Casey Anthony closing arguments....

Got H1N1? We do!

Not all of us, but the girl has it. She came home from school early on Friday, complaining about her stomach. By Saturday morning she rocked a lovely 103.3 fever, coughs, and body aches. Sunday morning she was officially diagnosed and sent home with a script for Tamiflu, a mask, and all the humiliation a 15-year-old girl can feel when paraded through a waiting room with said mask on. Fun times.

So far the rest of us are fine, but tired. Thanksgiving break starts next Tuesday at 3:55 pm and it cannot come soon enough!

On the food front I'm doing well, but stress eating calls to me. I'm craving sugar something fierce and am literally taking it one hour at a time. I will do what it takes to beat this!

Until later, peace!

Long time no update.

I don't have much playtime these days, but that will change somewhat after finals next week.

We closed on the house & have started on the makeover. I'll share pics soon. We've picked our paint colors, have kick butt hardwoods that need just a little love (30+ years under a carpet will keep 'em pretty). DD wants a black carpet and lavender walls - we can do that. DS wants royal blue & an area rug. Hubster & I are going with cafe a lait and a reddish accent wall.

We're packing and cleaning, all excited and just plain happy. I'm fighting through a flareup from hell. ON Tuesday and Wednesday I repeatedly lost my balance while standing still. Joyous. It's a sign that I need to go back in for another evaluation. Last time I was told that if things didn't improve that surgery was my only option.

Oh f*ckity f*ck f*ck.

The family knows I'm having a flareup, but don't know how bad it is yet. I know I should tell them, but summer is almost over, we're starting a new chapter of our lives, and I don't want to deal with the same questions and odd behavior thrown my way right after my diagnosis. What I really want is them happy until things slow down a bit.

If there was a time for comfort food, it's now. I've been pretty good about that this past week. We had coconut cake and I didn't have more the one slice a day and I didn't have a slice every day. I made a wicked vegetable stew for dinner the other night and wallowed in it's almost fat free, decadent, old school goodness. I followed the recipe from the winter 2007 issue of Don't Eat Off the Sidewalk and added celery and green peas. The dumplings I didn't like much (never have) so I only had the one (about the size of a half dollar coin).

As much as food could be used to comfort me, I won't use it that way. I'm going to be on crutches soon enough at this rate - I don't need to use food as one. Or alcohol. I'm so tempted.

I'm probably going to disappear for a day or two while I complete assignments and get more moving stuff out of the way.

Until next time.