Thanks, Dad! I appreciate that! (NOT)
My father and stepmom came to visit this past weekend. A great visit, actually, despite Dad's efforts to set off the neighborhood. Pulls up with a monster diesel truck and a 27 foot 5th wheel and announced that the campround was full, just as the good neighbor across the street comes home - so I asked if it was ok for them to park out front for just the night? Yep, he said... and then Dad announced he was gonna fire up the generator... OH NO... I talked him into coming inside and calling the KOA - which luckily had a spot with hookups across town, lol. Once we got him situated there and the camper unhooked, we came back to the house - and as we pulled up, Dad asked which neighbor was the problem one and when I pointed, he made SURE to pull into that neighbor's yard with his large diesel truck - just to make a statement (rolling my eyes).
Once inside, Dad settled down... we talked about my son and his new family, and about my neighbor as we were killing time before dinner... and then my Dad started talking about the past. So remember... this is the man who tried to kill my mother in front of us kids when I was 12... so he starts talking about our childhood, about the divorce (his and Mom's), insisted we were abused by my stepdad (we were abused, but not by the stepdad - it was Mom and Dad), goes on to say that he was in such a bad way then, he was actually preparing to BURN DOWN the house we were living in - and if it hadn't been for my stepmom, he would have. WOW. GEE, DAD, that's what I really wanted to hear - your selfishness was so out of control that you were gonna burn the only bit of stability we as children had then? I did well, didn't let it show that his comment REALLY freaked me out...
And then BAM, it dawned on me.... that's why I keep getting these creepy, weird, abusive people all the time... because I've learned over the years to deal with them, accept them, function around them. (SHIVERS!) THAT IS NOT A GOOD THING! They left yesterday to head on over to my sister's place in Denver... WOW!
And then this morning, I got a wakeup... my neighbor has been INSISTING to the police that I have a ton of dogs constantly barking at my house (I don't). I thought he was just saying that because he was a jerk.... but it turns out, he's actually got a reason. With the runs to pick up police reports, having to leave the house earlier so I can drop off stuff at my attorney's, I'm watering the lawn an hour earlier - and HEARING DOGS. LOTS OF DOGS. So I did an inventory... 2 dogs behind bark 6 am to 7:30... 2 dogs next door on the other side howl at their door 7:00 to 7:30.... Jack Russell down the street and around the corner actually sounds just like mine... pitbull behind neighbor across the street barks when the others do... and it sounds like at least 3 dogs up the street howl at the 7am fire siren. And me? Completely clueless about all this until this week because I've got 2 air conditioners and double locking windows and don't hear a thing indoors. I'm nervous... but am really looking forward to the hearing on August 2nd - maybe we'll finally get this DONE and he'll leave me alone - especially since I'm gathering video about all the dogs in my neighborhood compared to how mine behave... I'll keep you posted! LATER!
Once inside, Dad settled down... we talked about my son and his new family, and about my neighbor as we were killing time before dinner... and then my Dad started talking about the past. So remember... this is the man who tried to kill my mother in front of us kids when I was 12... so he starts talking about our childhood, about the divorce (his and Mom's), insisted we were abused by my stepdad (we were abused, but not by the stepdad - it was Mom and Dad), goes on to say that he was in such a bad way then, he was actually preparing to BURN DOWN the house we were living in - and if it hadn't been for my stepmom, he would have. WOW. GEE, DAD, that's what I really wanted to hear - your selfishness was so out of control that you were gonna burn the only bit of stability we as children had then? I did well, didn't let it show that his comment REALLY freaked me out...
And then BAM, it dawned on me.... that's why I keep getting these creepy, weird, abusive people all the time... because I've learned over the years to deal with them, accept them, function around them. (SHIVERS!) THAT IS NOT A GOOD THING! They left yesterday to head on over to my sister's place in Denver... WOW!
And then this morning, I got a wakeup... my neighbor has been INSISTING to the police that I have a ton of dogs constantly barking at my house (I don't). I thought he was just saying that because he was a jerk.... but it turns out, he's actually got a reason. With the runs to pick up police reports, having to leave the house earlier so I can drop off stuff at my attorney's, I'm watering the lawn an hour earlier - and HEARING DOGS. LOTS OF DOGS. So I did an inventory... 2 dogs behind bark 6 am to 7:30... 2 dogs next door on the other side howl at their door 7:00 to 7:30.... Jack Russell down the street and around the corner actually sounds just like mine... pitbull behind neighbor across the street barks when the others do... and it sounds like at least 3 dogs up the street howl at the 7am fire siren. And me? Completely clueless about all this until this week because I've got 2 air conditioners and double locking windows and don't hear a thing indoors. I'm nervous... but am really looking forward to the hearing on August 2nd - maybe we'll finally get this DONE and he'll leave me alone - especially since I'm gathering video about all the dogs in my neighborhood compared to how mine behave... I'll keep you posted! LATER!
Replies
Who let the dogs out .... !?
I don\'t want to dis your dad but....REALLY? Do you express your true feelings to him when he disrespects your neighbour and offends you with his actions and comments? Yikes. You\'re right, we learn our behaviours when young...but we CAN learn new ones. Know your boundaries. It doesn\'t sound like your Dad is contributing to your life or happiness...think about it is all I\'m saying. RE your hearing - good luck hon! All will be well - hang in there!
Who let the dogs out .... !?
I don\'t want to dis your dad but....REALLY? Do you express your true feelings to him when he disrespects your neighbour and offends you with his actions and comments? Yikes. You\'re right, we learn our behaviours when young...but we CAN learn new ones. Know your boundaries. It doesn\'t sound like your Dad is contributing to your life or happiness...think about it is all I\'m saying. RE your hearing - good luck hon! All will be well - hang in there!
Dissing Dad is fine, lol... because I\'m USED to it, I \"laughingly\" told him that he\'s gonna cause me way more trouble than I already have and that\'s when he settled down.... he\'s told me in the past that I\'m his favorite because I\'ve been so strong through everything (yeah, because I grew up at TWELVE!). I\'ve been debating - maybe someday I\'m going to have to do a sitdown with him and give him a heads up on some truths... Like I was the one to call the cops on him... Like I remember EVERYTIME we had to go to the welfare office because he didn\'t want to pay my mother child support... which also led to hand-me-downs, gifts from friends for school supplies, etc., and I especially want to tell him that burning down the house would have DESTROYED us kids.... but will he \"get it\"? Doubt it.... As I said, it was the best visit we ever had, but I\'m glad it was only a day long and that they live 900 miles away.
You are simply put..amazing!!! You have grown up under this man and look how well adjusted you are. I am really impressed! Thank goodness it went relatively well and Im glad you enjoyed the visit.
As for the dogs...good detective work. It does sound like there are a lot of dogs, but the good thing is, they arent yours. You should be fine. Again, I am very impressed by you! You go girl!
Thanks Sandy!
Well adjusted, lol - it\'s because I ran away from home (granted, I was in my late 20\'s) and got a chance to see how NORMAL people live, lol. Took 10 more years to start applying it....
And dogs - there\'s SIXTEEN of them in the neighborhood and yet he can hear mine, indoors, while they\'re sleeping (we get worn out at the dog park first), over the air conditioner, through his garage and enclosed deck?! I\'m hoping he won\'t even bother to come to the hearing... but I\'m prepared with PROOF just in case!