Jul. 8, 2006 - Whew! Busy busy busy!
I got a new toy the other day--a digital camera!! For $20--qualifying the camera as Deal of the Week. I am so tickled with it! When I have more time, I'll try and post pictures.
The reason I don't have more time is that life here is just crazy. In summer, all the nuts on our street come out of the woodwork. We actually called the police the other day because at 10 pm (when we were trying to sleep so Josiah could get up at 2.30 am for work) there was a nasty screaming fight between an unpleasant neighbor and our newly moved in very needy neighbor. After the fight ended, the needy neighbor's 5 year old daughter spent about 15 minutes screetching "B***" down the street at the top of her lungs, having learned how to do that from the scrapping adults. Needy Neighbor did nothing to stop her daughter from yelling cuss words at the top of her lungs. We have got to get our children out of this neighborhood. I have been so stressed about it that I actually dreamed vividly that I leaned out my window, hollered at the local drug dealer, and gave him a big piece of my mind. Said all the things I've been wishing to say to one of the people who is dragging this neighborhood through the muck. If only I could do that in real life. But I have to be satisfied with telling the destructive children who wander into our backyard looking for windows to break that if my big old husband catches them they'll get a whuppin'. They won't really, of course, but it seems to do the trick. 
Speaking of Needy Neighbor, she spent all afternoon at our house, stressing herself out to the point of gagging and retching and weeping and eating all my chocolate. All over keys locked in the car. I can see now why Josiah used to hate my over-emotionalism. I used to do the very same thing, and watching it in someone else is really awful, not to mention annoying. She finally went home and we sat down to dinner, and she brought her daughter over and asked if we could watch her, so the mom could talk with the person bringing new car keys in peace. Screetching Girl spent 20 minutes jumping up and down by our door, hollering "Mommy, MOMMYYYYYYYYY!!!!" while we tried to eat dinner so we could go to a wedding. I honestly thought the kid would quiet down if we just ignored her, but she's got long-lasting batteries it seems.
Josiah was hopping mad, but of course, when he's hopping mad, he doesn't show it. But he did tell me not to open the door to Needy Neighbor anymore, wanting to protect us from the stress of it all. As she seems to be a magnet for fights and problems (and willingly participates in them, calling herself "spunky" and "not a naiive white girl" whatever that means), he doesn't want her drawing all the drama to our home, and I think he's right. Both the boys were just intolerable after an afternoon with Screetching Girl. We have done our best to help her in the last 2 weeks, but I have a feeling that this is one of those people who can easily become a black hole and suck up all our energy. We've fed her and sent her home with bedding since she's sleeping on the floor, and let her use our phone and let her "hide" in our house from her admittedly nasty neighbors, but we can't keep it up for long without breaking out in hives.
To top it all off, we missed the wedding because I thought it was at 7, and it was 6. And Josiah thought it was at 6, but had forgotten in the middle of all of the other stuff going on, and we arrived at church, where we were just in time to see people leaving. So we went home, discussed neighbor boundaries, apologized for our respective faults in missing the wedding, and went to bed.
Thankfully, the locals must have run out of illegal firecrackers by now, because all was (relatively) quiet.
Comments
Jul. 8, 2006 - Oh my goodness!
Posted by Katie in Ohio
What a week! Your neighbor sounds like a real challenge; she'll appreciate you very much A) when you move away and B) when she grows up. Oh dear...
Any chance of moving anytime soon?
Don't you sort of love having dreams where you give someone a piece of your mind? I'm always shocked at what comes out of my mouth in my dreams, LOL. Things I would try to never say in real life...
Jul. 8, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Lizzie
Oh Maggie! What a day! I think you'd be justified in making brownies...
Jul. 8, 2006 - Wow!
Posted by homeskoolmom
We lived in a similar neighborhood for just a few months in Grad school-- what a mess it was. Yelling and screaming and parties at all hours. I sure can sympathize.
Also, I'm curious where you found your camera. We are wanting a cheapy digital for Shane to take to Liberia and $20 sure fits the bill.
Have a blessed day,
Christine
Jul. 8, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by cappuccinosmom
Katie, we do hope to move this summer. Josiah just left to work on the other house a minute ago.
Christine, I posted a want-ad on Craigslist in my city (Wanted: free or cheap digital camera).
Jul. 8, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Titus2woman
I can so relate and LOVED your honest sharing! (((((HUGS))))) sandi
Jul. 9, 2006 - Yikes!
Posted by Anonymous
Sounds like you're on the right track setting boundaries with that neighbor. We have also had a "needy neighbor" issue that threatened to drain us dry.
And one more reason to be thankful we live in a very small, no traffic light town...though our neighbors like illegal fireworks too. Or they did until we started finding the leftovers on our (flat) roof and called the police. :)
Princess Donna
Jul. 10, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Martha
You could always move out west! .......We would be happy to have you!
I am sorry that sounds rough and you have such a nice way of putting it to make it sound almost funny when I know it wasn't! I am sorry!
Jul. 10, 2006 - These are the days of our lives
Posted by Angelheart
Ohh can I relate. My dhs daughter (18) seems to bring trouble no matter where she goes. We love her but you just feel exhausted after she leaves. She tires you out just listening to her. This may seem harsh. Long story short . Dhs ex. ran away with her when she was small. We just found her a year ago. She is a mess though just running wild. Her mom no longer wants her . Told her to leave and told her shes not her daughter anymore. Its scary because her mom has 8 more children. Its mess and tiring. My point is you are lucky you can just close the door. I dont want to do that to this child. At least this person isnt family. Good luck to you.
