Grumpy Old Man

[kybearfuzz]

Yesterday, I turned into the grumpy old man on my street. I always knew that it would happen, but not so soon and not at this age.

My neighbors are a young couple, in their early 30's I think, who have three kids -- a boy who is 5, a daughter who is 3, and a newborn son. While Mom was on her porch with the baby, the other two were riding around in one of those Power Wheels, battery-powered jeeps. They make an ugly "whirring" sound, these things.

I had just gotten home from a run, sweaty and disheveled, and was getting ready to strip off the gym clothes in my laundry room when I heard that noisy jeep make a spin around my house. The boy was driving with his sister squealing in delight. I rolled my eyes, hoping it was a one-time occurrence, but then it happened again... and again... They were going through my yard, across my patio, between my house and the one next door, down the embankment, up my driveway and to the sidewalk. My biggest concern was that the embankment is next to my garage where I had a tree removed last summer. The stump is still there and if they hit it, the jeep will tumble over the stone embankment to my concrete driveway about 2 feet down.

Not wanting the liability of this, I went out and asked their mom to have them stop doing that. She said, "they just love the hills around your house." I don't give a $#!+ if they do, I thought. I explained about the stump and the drop and she said she didn't know about that.

I never thought I'd have to explain to a neighbor that her kids couldn't play in my yard. It seems like a natural assumption that most people would make. Having found toys in my yard before, I guess I'll have to put forth a stronger reminder, but in doing so, I've now become the grumpy old guy on my street.

I should buy a cardigan sweater and a cane to shake at the kids.

Comments

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

You explained more nicely than I would have. Unfortunately, most of us who are homeowners should have an umbrella liability policy, beyond our homeowners insurance, to cover trespassers on our property. Anyone injured on your property can sue (whether they should be there or not), so you are correct to warn her that the kids were no welcome to play on your property!

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

I really don't understand the liability laws when it comes to unwanted or unknown people on my property. I know that people can sue, and sadly have won cases, but to me that's just plain wrong.

If I didn't invite them on there, why should I have to pay for it. It's not like I put land mines throughout the property to deter people and they got hurt, but there should be a natural expectation that if you are trespassing on another person's property, it's at your own risk.

[dendren.livejournal.com]

better that you are the type to yell at kids instead of inviting them in and cooking them in to your house made of candy and cooking them in the oven. that never ends well.

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

No it doesn't. And the clean up afterwards! Ugh...

[dendren.livejournal.com]

hahahahaha... I'd hate living in a house made of candy... ants everywhere, gingerbread crumbs always on the floor, annoying children always trying to eat the door :P

[bruinwi.livejournal.com]

You want to attract the "right" people; therefore, have your house made of bacon, and attract all the Bears. If you're ambitious, have a fountain that gushes beer.

[dendren.livejournal.com]

bacon does seem to bring the bears to the yard... ;)

[changeling72.livejournal.com]

Their behaviour does seem a bit much - to drive into and through your garden. Is it possible to erect a fence? Not that you should have to go to that expense.

When me and my brother were kids there used to be an old boy down the street who always used to tell us off for playing near and cycling past his house! Now, he was a grumpy old git...

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

LOL.. now that sounds like my childhood. My brother used to do the same thing to a lady that lived at the end of our street. She'd yell at us for riding our bikes past her house, even though we were on a public street.

And I don't want to have to erect a fence, but I admit that I've given it some thought in the last 24 hours. Let's see if their parents will pay a bit more attention to them first. They have a fenced in back yard, so I am surprised they're not kept there instead.

[paterson-si.livejournal.com]

Snickers?

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

Milky Way :)

[paterson-si.livejournal.com]

Kinky. :)

[barak.livejournal.com]

I hereby dub the CARL FREDRICKSON!! (will you have ballons carry away your home next?)

We have a wall underneath our deck, that shores up a gravel pit.(It wasn't our choice, but we decided to leave it alone). The wall borders a sidewalk that goes along the back end of some of the other townhomes in our area, and grows in height from about half a foot to 4 feet tall.

Twice this summer, I've caught kids walking the wall. Which is always concerning because they could slip and fall off onto the sidewalk or the street. I had to play the grumpy old man card too and ask them not to walk on it. One kid looked to be about 8-10 years old.

"Why?" He asked me.
Because you could crack your empty head open and I'd get sued I thought. What I said was "Because you could fall off and get hurt."
"Oh, I won't fall off." He reassured me cockily.
"Exactly, because you're not going to walk my wall anymore." I retorted.

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

I remember that feeling of fearlessness being a kid, but once an adult told me to stop doing something (especially something on his property), I didn't repeat it.

Has the little brat been back?

[mikiedoggie.livejournal.com]

Get a shotgun. And a wifebeater. The image will be striking!

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

LOL... I need a Marlboro to hang out of my mouth too. Must complete the ensemble. :)

[bruinwi.livejournal.com]

If you're going to go that far, may as well go with white socks and slippers with no backs (for that timeless, white-trash image where you lose one, and stand there with one stocking foot, the butt of the shotgun resting on your hip, barrel pointed to the heavens, and the Marlboro with 2" of ash hanging from your lip).

[mort-83.livejournal.com]

I soooo would have done the same thing. I think you were well within your rights there. Can you say "entitlement"? Her precious snowflake's happiness is priority.


Harumph.

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

I guess I just don't understand her line of thinking. So far I didn't notice any "jeep" tracks in my yard since, so I am hopefully it's done.

[madknits.livejournal.com]

I can make you a cardigan. I'm thinking a nice olive green. I'll need to see you in person, though, to get your measurements.

You know, if kids leave their toys in your yard, you could always hold mock executions and hang them.

Well, it was just a thought.

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

LOL... I need to find that balance between being a good neighbor and telling them to leave me alone :D

[notdefined.livejournal.com]

Sexeh!

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah... *grumble grumble* :)

[notdefined.livejournal.com]

Didn't work, I stand by my opinion.

[notdefined.livejournal.com]

Oh and try the old bag on fire full of manure. Ring the bell, run for cover and watch what they do when they open the door and see the burning bag. The manure has to be fresh (still squishy)
though or it won't work.

[putzmeisterbear.livejournal.com]

Welcome to the club.

darned kids trampling on my lawn... in my day we never would have done that...

[kybearfuzz.livejournal.com]

If we did it, we did it once as kids. Once told "no," it was over.

[pudgybloke.livejournal.com]

You should already own several cardigans!