Everyone has an asshole. Mine is named Steve.

[janradder]

Sadly, it was not at all true, my asswipe neighbor's canoe is still very much in his possession, having been kindly been placed into his garage by one of the residents in the condo which was formerly his four-plex.  I know this because he was over in the yard next door, skulking about and then finally pulled the canoe out to show to someone interested in buying it.

Steve has owned the building next to us since about a month before we bought our house ten years ago.  Over the ensuing years he has, among other things, wandered vaguely through our yard in the guise of projects on his own residence, allowed his dog to roam unhindered into our lawn where he would frequently take large gooey craps which Steve would conveniently not notice (both of these were put to a stop about three years into our residence here when we put up fences for the sole purpose of keeping Steve out), planted raspberries on our property after we had expressly asked him not to and then become offended when we dug them up and gave them back, filled a hole around a stump I was in the process of digging out with the left over concrete from his driveway, instructed workers cover our back fence with over a foot of dirt and old broken up concrete when he had yet another driveway put in (and yes, his plan was to leave the debris there permanently because, as he told me, he thought I'd like it there), and finally physically assaulted me when I returned said debris to his new driveway after a week had gone by and it was still in my yard.  Since then I do not talk to Steve.  I do not look at Steve.  I do not even acknowledge that Steve is there.  Even when he has tried to talk to me, sometimes even yelling.  That does not mean that Steve is not there, however, and it doesn't mean that he is not watching me.

Two years ago he decided to turn his four-plex into condos and sell the units off one by one.  At this point, three are sold and the one which he still owns, is rented out to a very nice couple.  All the people who live there, in fact, are very nice.  Steve, though, is not, and even though he does not live there, he is often found skulking about the property, darting through the breezeway between our houses, creepily moving here and there under the guise of doing who the hell really knows (I guess it's yard work but it's never anything that needs to be done since the people who live there take care of the yard themselves).

I am so tired of feeling watched in my yard.  Uncomfortable to be outside with my children.  I have no idea why he keeps returning to this place but I just hope the day comes soon (it's at least a year away, and maybe longer) that he finally gets around to selling that last unit and is out of our lives forever.  Every timehaddayr sees him she thinks to herself (and maybe I'm paraphrasing it, if so, I'm sorry), "May you go never to return."  It's a great sentiment, regarding Steve.  I just wish he'd hurry up and do it, already.

Comments

[pnew8.livejournal.com]

We had a very disagreeable neighbor a couple of houses down and eventually she died. She made life very difficult for us and other neighbors. Her nose was in everybody's life, she trapped and killed cats made accusations about everyone and their yards, and she even called law enforcement unnecessarily. When she did die, no false sentiment from me, I said, and I meant what I said, "She's dead and it doesn't make me unhappy at all."

On your behalf, I'm rooting for unpleasant Steve's departure.

[janradder.livejournal.com]

It really is amazing how one person can change the whole dynamic of a neighborhood (or work or school environment, for that matter).

[michaeljasper.livejournal.com]

I had to laugh when you said you built a fence not to keep out his dog, but Steve.

Also, this entry has the best LJ title I've seen in a looong time.

[janradder.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

When Steve first saw the fence his face kind of fell (he'd been away in Madison for a while so was not here when I put it up). This was when we were on speaking terms and he tried to hide his disappointment but you could tell he was pissed (which was why, I think, he had all the rubble piled up against our fence later).

[haddayr.livejournal.com]

"Imeacht gan teacht ort." May you leave without returning. That's what I say. I am not saying this to YOU. You are very handy and I rather like you here.