Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Nosy Neigbors
OK- So, I have this cool new garden, right? Well, today I tilled it (yes, I worked a gigantic machine by myself - I'm sure it was a sight to behold) and I realized the biggest problem about my new garden. I made this thing on the west side of the yard. Can anyone tell me why this is a big problem? Today, while I was fighting with the dirt mixing monster, my very talkative nieghbor came right to the fence and watched until I was done so she could tell me how excited she was about me getting a garden! She then has to tell me how to plant it, how to make it look nice and that sometimes, "we need to pressure our husbands to clean up the yard." At that, I was so annoyed that I knew I had to get away from her and I coudn't get away unless I was horribly rude, so I just walked into my house and waited for her to leave. ugh. She stood at the fence and smiled her weird smile for about 5 minutes until she decided I wasn't coming back. I know I am the rudest person on earth, but she grates at my nerves more than anyone else! If my garden becomes a place of constant visits from her, it is going to be neglected and Jed will win. What do I do? And don't tell me to be nice.
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I learned a great trick from my neighbor Stan. You can tell he's not that talkative, so he wears headphones to work in his yard. It does the trick too! Once, I didn't notice he had them in, and I started talking to him and so he took one out and said, "What? sorry." And I said, "Oh, nevermind, sorry."
Maybe your neighbor would just wait for you to take them out to talk though...hmmmm...just say, I'm listening to a book on tape, and it's at a really good part. I'll talk to you later....put them back in and leave it at that.
Jamie!!! I totally relate! I have a stalker neighbor also who lives in the apartment across from us! She is really nice but OVERLY watchful and she always keeps her door open and sees us come and go. She will come out to ask questions about little Jackson just as soon as I am leaving. I am always in a hurry trying to get out the door and I always get to places late because of it. AHHH!
I always feel really mean because I am always trying to close the door as quietly as possible so she won't hear me and come out of her apartment. I always look out the peep hole to make sure she's not outside smoking before I open the door.
Another weird thing is that she totally knows my schedule and she knows my visitors. She will say, "Running late for church?" or "Did you have a nice visit with your friend Paula yesterday?" Creepy...
Oh man - bad planning! I would plant a really fast growing vine on the fence or maybe fast growing bamboo that will block her view of you. Headphones is a great idea!
Why are some people seriously socially retarded? Maybe that's why I let dad do the yard work - so I can't be exposed. I remeber every time I saw Pam Perrin coming I'd run for cover. It was pure h--- when I'd get stuck.
We have a couple who live on the hill above us who knew about everything we did. They'd ask who had visited us - or comment on the shopping we'd done, or biking or whatever. Finally another house was built that blocked their view of us. They seem to know everything about everyone. Psycho! We call them the Cravet's (from Bewitched). Where would you find the time?????
One more idea, GIANT SUNFLOWERS. They make a great hedge and feed the birds at the same time (I know you hate dogs . . . are birds okay?)
Oh...that's bad. That would be the end of my garden. I have really nice neighbors, and I'm still finding as many tall plants and vines as I can to block them out.
I think headphones is the best idea yet! Make sure they're big, bulky ones that she will notice. Cute. Then keep your back to her the whole time.
I liked your neighbor story, Christine. What a freak! Why can't people mind their own business?!
People serously ARE socially retarded! How does that happen?? Don't people have common sense and understand international signs of annoyance like turning your back on someone or walking into the house before the conversation is over? Every person on earth understands the hand-to-throat-choking sign so why not these signs?!
Oh man! I hope I never bug people like that. How annoying! I like the headphones idea. Sunflowers grow really fast, so that might not be a bad plan. Good luck!
Thanks for all of the good ideas.
Big headphones & flowering vines might work! Jed asked me if I wanted him to just go over there and tell them not to talk to us if we are outside. Seriously.
Mike - I think I might take you up on the vine seeds. I love dogs and I am totally freaked out about birds and fish, so sunflowers might not be a great thing for me. Yes, I am weird.
Hahahaha if Jaime did that the psycho hose beast neighbor lady would probalby push to get her committed or something... I have to admit, though, that would be hilarious to see.
Oh Jamie...my worst fear...neighbors who won't leave me alone and are nosy. I have a HUGE thing about my privacy and I'm not a very social person. The headphone IS a super good idea. I had this SUPER annoying work cubie neighbor who would NOT leave me alone. She kept talking about making a batch of "grakamolie" (guacamole) and kept saying how "destitute" (desperate) she was to get another job...yada yada blah blah until I nearly killed her. Hence my obsession with books on tape. It worked. Plus she got fired later. If it doesn't, I have another great suggestion. Act like you don't see her while you pull the hose (that's turned on full blast with a high powered sprayer). Act like the hose is caught somewhere and yank it this way and that until you "accidently" hose Mrs. cravats right in the face blasting her right off the fence. Oh goodness I am SO sorry! heehee.
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