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rufus dog

(8,419 posts)
28. Nice work MineralMan
Fri Jun 8, 2012, 05:54 PM
Jun 2012

I put up a roll up hoop almost 10 years ago, my girls used it a little, but then some other kids asked if they could shoot. No problem, occasionally i have to replace a net, other than that nothing. Kids have even asked to borrow a basketball and it has never disappeared. In fact, I somehow ended up with a second ball left in the front yard.

We also have a small park down the street, drops down into a canyon so quite often kids drink beer at nights. Some of the neighbors go crazy and have even come to me to go chase kids off. I take the dog down quite often and when I see them I only hassle them if I see a bottle, which has only happened twice. I explain to them it is a kids park and I have seen broken bottles which is unacceptable. In both cases the kids collected all the bottles and began to walk off. I walk out with them, ask for the empties and throw them away, ask if the driver has been drinking, in both cases they claimed not. Check them out closely then tell them I can drive them home if the driver has been drinking, both times polite, not enough empty beers to assume anyone was close to the limit and that is it.

On other occasions I have seen kids doing nothing wrong, just hanging out and a security guard will hassle them for being in the park past dusk. I walk up and explain that they are behaving, know where they live and they are just leaving. Other than a pissed of Security Guard, no problem.

Finally, I have a dog that occasionally gets out. A neighbor a couple houses down puts a bag with poop on our front door with a note. Fine, could have been my dog, make sure we watch him close and not let him go near the yard. They put a handmade sign up stating "Keep your dog off the lawn." Fine again, It could have been my dog, if they talked to me I would have apologized, and picked up any droppings, and explained to him he bolts in their direction because their next door neighbor gives him bones every time the dog gets out and after about 5 minutes the dog comes back home. Anyway the lame sign has been up for about six months, whatever.

Last Friday I left my garage door open overnight, in the garage is a laptop, two computers and my wallet/money clip with $100. Not a thing has been touched! Walk out to pick up the paper and notice the house with the dog sign has some strange stuff in the driveway. Now they have fake snakes and pinwheels that I guess are there to scare bunnies, so I just think it is some more weird stuff they are trying. Later in the day my daughter points out that someone has tagged their garage door with a "F&%* YOU! Luckily it turns out to be with some washable paint so no major harm.

Anyway, it seems highly unlikely that my house is untouched while the grumpy house takes abuse, unless it is one of the multiple neighborhood kids that have either used the hoop or who I have treated with respect at the park. Point being Mineral Man, your house will likely have "protected" status for the next 10 years.

My new neighbor is very clever. [View all] MineralMan Jun 2012 OP
I love this post malaise Jun 2012 #1
The whole thing made me smile. MineralMan Jun 2012 #2
People like you build neighborhoods malaise Jun 2012 #47
Being a Grumpy Old Single Guy liberalmike27 Jun 2012 #75
One day when you have time just sit in the background and listen to malaise Jun 2012 #77
+1 freshwest Jun 2012 #3
Me too :-D secondwind Jun 2012 #31
You are a gem and a rare one at that. Too many adults can't stand to see kids having fun. appleannie1 Jun 2012 #4
I was just really impressed with how the kid's mom MineralMan Jun 2012 #6
The only time to worry... awoke_in_2003 Jun 2012 #37
That is most certainly true. MineralMan Jun 2012 #49
I love your positive attitude, MineralMan! pnwmom Jun 2012 #5
Seconded 100%. nt AverageJoe90 Jun 2012 #64
Hope nobody starts protecting the paint! deaniac21 Jun 2012 #7
Maybe we should set up Shankapotomus Jun 2012 #8
I wish that would work. I really do. MineralMan Jun 2012 #9
Someone should try that. Seriously. randome Jun 2012 #24
I didn't think this story was going to end well. Blaspherian Jun 2012 #10
I like kids. I know the parents of all those kids, MineralMan Jun 2012 #12
My grandfather was that guy in his neighborhood. Mariana Jun 2012 #20
Mr. Tikki is that guy...and he carries it on his own...he's had no... Tikki Jun 2012 #23
Outstanding post MM, outstanding post. nt SGMRTDARMY Jun 2012 #11
I live in a condominium with a swimming pool which my condo faces lunatica Jun 2012 #13
Yup! It's a great sound. MineralMan Jun 2012 #15
I had a similar life as a kid in the 50s zeemike Jun 2012 #22
That's how I grew up as well - TBF Jun 2012 #39
Reminds me of some "cousins" who grew up a few miles from me when I was a kid. calimary Jun 2012 #58
What a sweet story.. sendero Jun 2012 #14
Reminds me of 1987 when I decided to have a pool installed Not Me Jun 2012 #16
Kids keep us young malaise Jun 2012 #48
"If you build it, they will come." Like it says in the movie. calimary Jun 2012 #59
Outstanding. Especially the last sentence. n/t lumberjack_jeff Jun 2012 #17
Kick ass! ZombieHorde Jun 2012 #18
Nice post Yo_Mama Jun 2012 #19
Very cool. Good on mom and you. Sports are a great common denominator. bluesbassman Jun 2012 #21
What a great mom, and what a good neighbor she has! Chemisse Jun 2012 #25
Create a community in your neighborhood central scrutinizer Jun 2012 #26
That's really a good idea. MineralMan Jun 2012 #50
You should have shouted "get off my lawn" Swede Jun 2012 #27
Nice work MineralMan rufus dog Jun 2012 #28
Good point you make. Being a good neighbor to everyone MineralMan Jun 2012 #51
Exactly rufus dog Jun 2012 #57
This is what I don't understand about people who choose sufrommich Jun 2012 #29
+10 MineralMan Jun 2012 #52
In politics, we can't have nice things. Gold Metal Flake Jun 2012 #30
A simplet vignette of authentic humanity. left coaster Jun 2012 #32
What a lovely story to wake up to. Paka Jun 2012 #33
This is the opposite of 'get off my lawn!'... liberalmuse Jun 2012 #34
Not to sound to cynical but jonthebru Jun 2012 #35
That reminds me of a lovely story about my dad. He was 50 yrs old retired from the military. southernyankeebelle Jun 2012 #36
Thank you for sharing that. Your father sounds like a great guy. MineralMan Jun 2012 #53
Your welcome. I loved him so very much. Am almost 65 yrs old and still miss him very much. southernyankeebelle Jun 2012 #61
I don't know what I was expecting . . . Brigid Jun 2012 #38
I saw some of that during the 60s "hippy" phenomenon 99th_Monkey Jun 2012 #40
Occupy cast light on our basic problem. JDPriestly Jun 2012 #43
interesting take on Occupy. 99th_Monkey Jun 2012 #46
Thanks. Great post. JDPriestly Jun 2012 #41
A lesson? More flies with honey than vinegar Taverner Jun 2012 #42
cool story Liberal_in_LA Jun 2012 #44
Awesome story! tallahasseedem Jun 2012 #45
I'm really glad to hear that. MineralMan Jun 2012 #55
your story/my neighborhood NJCher Jun 2012 #63
re. a lesson for politicians, Ping Pong Diplomacy. chknltl Jun 2012 #54
Nice! MineralMan Jun 2012 #56
no yr neighbor is simply a conformist, EVERYONE already has these pitohui Jun 2012 #60
Oy. (nt) Posteritatis Jun 2012 #65
No room for negativity Are you serious Jun 2012 #68
Apparently, the fact that your parents Surya Gayatri Jun 2012 #70
In my neighborhood, not everyone has a hoop. MineralMan Jun 2012 #72
Same with my neighbor across the street all the girls come to shoot hoops against the boys... Historic NY Jun 2012 #62
Spam deleted by Morning Dew (MIR Team) Heather4 Jun 2012 #66
We have. Have you heard Obama sing? Are you serious Jun 2012 #67
A game called H-O-R-S-E Major Hogwash Jun 2012 #69
Wonderful! I wish you were our neighbor! Rosa Luxemburg Jun 2012 #71
Having a bad neighbor next door is always a nightmare. MineralMan Jun 2012 #73
"leaf-hating " sufrommich Jun 2012 #74
you haven't heard my 'leaf story' Rosa Luxemburg Jun 2012 #76
I love the sound of kids playing outside ProfessionalLeftist Jun 2012 #78
I've never had children, either. I feel much as you do. MineralMan Jun 2012 #79
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