Fed up? Feel free to vent here, and get it off your chest!
- Thread starter Georgiagranny
- Start date
VaughanJB
Scrappy VIP
@KSav ... no HOA ... and I wouldn't live where there is one because of a chance they may go overboard and get tyrannical
I bought a house in Virginia, but it needed some sprucing up. So I had professionals come in and paint the outside. Little did I know I was walking into a minefield. I'd used the "wrong shade of blue", which wasn't in the HOA guidelines. Being British, I thought I just needed to go talk it over with them, and show them the bill I'd paid for the work. Nope. It even went to court - and eventually they adopted my shade.
HOA'a can be weird.
Naturally
Well-known Member
- Location
- Corner of Walk 'n Don't Walk
@Jules ... the youngest boy isn't in school yet. The older boy is and school bus stops there every school day morning and afternoon to pick him up and drop him off. My next door neighbor (in the blue house) has security cameras all round that capture much of the trashy rats yard as well as about half of mine. Thing is, the trashy rats KNOW what the cameras can and can't see.
Muskrat
Senior Member
- Location
- Mainly arizona
I certainly feel sorry for that family. Hope the children are smart as whips and can run like the wind when old enough. Poverty is pretty tough when you cant get the gumption up to tackle it.
Naturally
Well-known Member
- Location
- Corner of Walk 'n Don't Walk
The trashy rats called the police on me for no reason because I'd called the police on them once(1).
The "dad" and boys were setting off fireworks in the middle of the street directly in front of my house one New Years Eve. City ordnance says NO fireworks inside the city limits. I'm a disabled military veteran, called the police, cited the ordnance and told them I'm a disabled military veteran. Also, the boy dog HATES BOOMS, shakes uncontrollably, attaches himself to me or seeks a place to hide when fireworks are going off ... especially right in front of the house. The police showed up PDQ but didn't actually catch the trashy rats in the act. They could see waaaay down the street when the police turned the corner and they disappeared ... although fireworks debris was scattered about.
They came back out when the police rolled past and I yelled across the street that I'd call them again if they started setting off fireworks again. Boy did I get cussed out from across the street. And the "dad" took to setting off especially loud fireworks one at a time at random times for about a week, just to antagonize me.
The "dad" and boys were setting off fireworks in the middle of the street directly in front of my house one New Years Eve. City ordnance says NO fireworks inside the city limits. I'm a disabled military veteran, called the police, cited the ordnance and told them I'm a disabled military veteran. Also, the boy dog HATES BOOMS, shakes uncontrollably, attaches himself to me or seeks a place to hide when fireworks are going off ... especially right in front of the house. The police showed up PDQ but didn't actually catch the trashy rats in the act. They could see waaaay down the street when the police turned the corner and they disappeared ... although fireworks debris was scattered about.
They came back out when the police rolled past and I yelled across the street that I'd call them again if they started setting off fireworks again. Boy did I get cussed out from across the street. And the "dad" took to setting off especially loud fireworks one at a time at random times for about a week, just to antagonize me.
Naturally
Well-known Member
- Location
- Corner of Walk 'n Don't Walk
It is quite the generational dysfunction going on over there. I suspect it will all be passed along as they go along. Sad but true.
VaughanJB
Scrappy VIP
There are just some people who don't want to get along. Entitled, uncaring, and any advice given is just you getting in the way of their having fun. It's ignorance of the highest order. People like this don't want to get along with others, yet also don't want to move out of the towns and city's. You'd think they'd prefer to live along somewhere..... sadly.............
When I first saw this picture I thought "hey, that's my childhood!" though I was never as heavy as those kids. I've gotten a kick reading the comments because everything is so relatable.
I used growing up in squalor as motivation to live a better life, but Naturally I also wanted to add it was the kindness and consideration I received from a couple of neighbors that I truly credit with showing me a better way to live. I wouldn't like having that family as neighbors, but those poor kids are simply victims of their environment, I hope they can escape that life.
Naturally
Well-known Member
- Location
- Corner of Walk 'n Don't Walk
The older woman (boy's grandmother) that lives in that house did not buy the house. She was the part-time caretaker of a man that lived to almost 100. He'd bought the house to give her a place and when he passed away, left the house to her. They have no real investment in it.
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Naturally
Well-known Member
- Location
- Corner of Walk 'n Don't Walk
I've tried to be nice to the boys. When on better terms, I paid the older boy to help with some yard work. I didn't need help but felt he did ya know. Then when he was selling cookies for a school fund raiser, I bought some and never saw the cookies or my money. Pretty dang sure it wasn't the boy's fault.
Most of the time if I attempt ANY interaction with the boys ... I'm cussed out loudly and told to mind my own business !!! And I'm sure the boys have gotten an ear full on more than one occasion about what a terrible (polite word) man I am and to stay away.
The "dad" used to borrow tools from me often. Very often. In fact I think he had begun to think of them as his. I had to go over and retrieve my tools when he hadn't returned them a couple of times. There was also signs of tool abuse sometimes when he did return things. I cut him off borrowing anything.
It is NOT in my best interest or for reasons of sanity, to befriend the trashy rats.
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I'm glad you prevailed.
@Naturally, sounds like you've pretty much done all you can to be conciliatory and helpful to those kids.
This is so similar to what goes on across the road from me. There are two boys who are young men now and they still live there with the parents. They are following in the parents footsteps. It is sad. I honestly think the man is mentally ill. They basically terrorize the area and people are afraid of them.
Naturally
Well-known Member
- Location
- Corner of Walk 'n Don't Walk
A decade or so ago when the boy's "mother" finished high school (don't know if she graduated or not) ... she came home one evening in a Wendy's uniform. She was VERY disheveled and filthy looking. She was cussing VERY loudly about NEVER going back to that place. Arguments and shouting went on into the night over there. She did not return to work at Wendy's or any other place for that matter, since. So she has only ever worked one(1) day in her life.
The "dad" ... who is known to have been physically abusive to the boy's "mother" ... can't keep a job. They separated a couple of times over the years but "she can't live without him". Usually he is fired very shortly after working somewhere randomly or as he is currently doing ... working for cash under the table intermittently working for a yard maintenance outfit ... that employs many misfits.
The trashy rats are charming BS artists who will place blame on anything & anyone except themselves and failure to take personal responsibility.
The kitchen of our local Wendy's that someone posted on Google Maps. I've shared it before. Even this place wasn't "good enough" for the woman to work at ...
The "dad" ... who is known to have been physically abusive to the boy's "mother" ... can't keep a job. They separated a couple of times over the years but "she can't live without him". Usually he is fired very shortly after working somewhere randomly or as he is currently doing ... working for cash under the table intermittently working for a yard maintenance outfit ... that employs many misfits.
The trashy rats are charming BS artists who will place blame on anything & anyone except themselves and failure to take personal responsibility.
The kitchen of our local Wendy's that someone posted on Google Maps. I've shared it before. Even this place wasn't "good enough" for the woman to work at ...
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I get it, there's not a lot you can do to undo that kind of family dysfunction.
VaughanJB
Scrappy VIP
I'm glad you prevailed.
Honestly, it was no victory. It was a lot of angst, money, and bewilderment. Coming from a place where there were no HOA's, it was baffling that someone could tell you what you could do with your own property. But then you start attending their meetings, and you find that the HOA board was full of nosy bastards with a wish for control over everything...... including you. It was all horrible and soured me to the neighborhood.
So not a victory really. I certainty had no feeling of victory.
oscash
Senior Member
- Location
- Sydney - Australia
Hey Telstra!!!! Why do you let these annoying tele-marketers keep ringing me twice a day, once about 3pm and the other about 8pm telling me
they want to help me get a good price for my gas bill. I yell at them and sometimes don't even answer their questions, until they hang up. No phone number comes up on my landline so I can't block them.
they want to help me get a good price for my gas bill. I yell at them and sometimes don't even answer their questions, until they hang up. No phone number comes up on my landline so I can't block them.
It sounds awful. And—as I'm sure you already know—HOAs can even put a lien on your property if you don't comply with their directives. It just doesn't seem right, and yet in an increasing number of neighborhoods you can't buy a house without signing on with one.Honestly, it was no victory. It was a lot of angst, money, and bewilderment. Coming from a place where there were no HOA's, it was baffling that someone could tell you what you could do with your own property. But then you start attending their meetings, and you find that the HOA board was full of nosy bastards with a wish for control over everything...... including you. It was all horrible and soured me to the neighborhood.
So not a victory really. I certainty had no feeling of victory.
As I mentioned a few times already (ha ha; I'm so proud), my older daughter is pregnant with twins. She was here a week ago for a visit and said she did not intend to play the Beatles for her kids, that she was going to focus on—cringe—One Direction! Ugh! She went through a huge One Direction phase when she was a younger teenager. She's going to be 27 in August; I assumed she'd outgrown them.
I have always been a huge music fan, in particular of the Beatles, but of all types. All three of my kids are well versed in classic rock, from 50s and 60s music, to Bing Crosby, to Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan, and so on. (I also played them a lot of one-hit 80s wonders, etc.) On this one particular visit, she sang along in the car to the Beatles' "And Your Bird Can Sing," and then mentioned that at a recent music trivia event at her place of employment she'd successfully replied to questions about songs by The Marcels and Chuck Berry. Yay!
So her decision to play only (I'm not sure it's "only," but "mostly") One Direction to her babies annoys me. There are so many better artists out there. (Guess you can tell I'm not a 1D fan.)
Of course, when the kids are with Grandma, guess what they'll be listening to in the car?
I feel better now after venting.
I have always been a huge music fan, in particular of the Beatles, but of all types. All three of my kids are well versed in classic rock, from 50s and 60s music, to Bing Crosby, to Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan, and so on. (I also played them a lot of one-hit 80s wonders, etc.) On this one particular visit, she sang along in the car to the Beatles' "And Your Bird Can Sing," and then mentioned that at a recent music trivia event at her place of employment she'd successfully replied to questions about songs by The Marcels and Chuck Berry. Yay!
So her decision to play only (I'm not sure it's "only," but "mostly") One Direction to her babies annoys me. There are so many better artists out there.
(Guess you can tell I'm not a 1D fan.)Of course, when the kids are with Grandma, guess what they'll be listening to in the car?
I feel better now after venting.
StarSong
Awkward is my Superpower
- Location
- Los Angeles Suburbs
A house across the street and a couple doors down had similarly fallen into some disrepair. Not terrible, but unsightly. House needed paint and yard needed some cleanup. I think they'd had some job losses and the depression was getting to them. They were nice people going through a rough patch.
Their next door neighbor (catercorner to us), a gentle, diplomatic MD and his RN wife, offered to have the neighbor's home exterior painted and yard cleaned up on his dime. They gratefully accepted. Barely was the work done when the MD and family put their house up for sale and got full price. He got his money back for fixing up their house, plus some.
(Knowing the MD, he probably told his neighbors they'd be moving soon.)
p.s. The family didn't move because of the neighbor - they had a toddler and were expecting another child, so remained within L.A., but closer to family. They were regretful to move because ours is a nice little neighborhood. He told me they'd been friendly with the neighbors over the years, and it worked out well for both families because he wanted to do something nice for that neighbor before they left.
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I got rid of my land line for that reason. The phone was ringing endlessly, usually with robocalls. I also had a cell phone. So I took the plunge and just discontinued the land line, figuring I didn't need to pay about $40 a month to be annoyed. Best decision I ever made.
The cell phone rings a lot less often with somebody trying to sell me something (or scam me out of money), and of course I can see who is calling, or at least their number, and decide whether I want to pick up or not. I think land lines are a thing of the past.
hollydolly
SF VIP
- Location
- London England
With my landline company I have all incoming calls vetted.. so when someone not on my contacts list rings.. they have to say who they are before I press number 1 and let them connect to talk to me. If it's someone who I don't know or recognise I don't press 1..and they're disconnected. Most telemarketers when they get the recorded message .. just hang up. I have had no more than 3 tele -marketing calls on my landline since I paid for this option many years ago...
StarSong
Awkward is my Superpower
- Location
- Los Angeles Suburbs
Friends bought a house in an HOA neighborhood about six months before DH & I started looking for a home. When heard some of their horror stories - couldn't park a car in the driveway or on the street overnight, needed permission to paint your house any color but the original, only certain basketball hoops were acceptable in the driveway, couldn't put a pergola or other structure in the backyard without written permission, etc., we knew this wouldn't fly for us. Told our realtor to not bother to show us anything in HOA NEIGHBORHOODS. Period.
When my family moved to Los Angeles their new neighborhood had an association, but it was strictly voluntary - nothing in the deed so not compulsory to join, pay dues or follow their guidelines.
Soon after we moved in, Mom got a letter from complaining about cars parked on the street. (At the time our household included three 17 year olds, an 18 year old and two adults.) She wrote back, saying she appreciated their concern, but the teenagers would soon enough grow up and move on, as children do. In the meantime, the cars were all running and presentable. What did this homeowner's group suggest the family do - park the cars on the roof?
End of discussion.
Not too many years later, most of the neighborhood children reached driving age (including the signees of that complaint), so there were oodles of cars parked on the street. I often laughed up my sleeve when visiting Mom and seeing all those teenagers' cars.
As you said, HOA's can be weird. Not to mention short-sighted.
Brookswood
Senior Member
One thing that bothers me with this site is that naked links are allowed. That is people will post a link to an article or story that is online, but they will not give us much if any information about it.
As a general rule I skip over links offered with little or no insight over what they might contain.
As a general rule I skip over links offered with little or no insight over what they might contain.
StarSong
Awkward is my Superpower
- Location
- Los Angeles Suburbs
Same here. Also YouTube video links without some sort of summary or explanation.
Paco Dennis
SF VIP
- Location
- Mid-Missouri
My beef today is the news that the RIAA is suing the music making AI companies for copyright infringement. ALREADY!! These sites can't make a full song. If they do it is usually quite a mish mash. If you have listened to them you will not hear any copied music that the RIAA OWNS. They new songs might have similar attributes to recognized music but not exactly. The RIAA ruined radio in the early 70's with payola, and having 1/2 minute commercials every few songs. Only playing top 40 songs over and over and over. They have been squeezing every last penny from the music the OWN.
Music is for everybody whether you play an instrument or not. It has been around for centuries with no problem until money got involved. I remember making a song in about '88 that a disc jockey in NY would play. He used to be a DJ and quit because of the commercialization of the music. He started his own broadcast of new artists with fresh new songs of all kinds. I loved it. My hope, which is probably going to be a disappointment, is that the RIAA's frivolous law suit bites the dust. BUT, I fear they will win, and these new ways to create music will be squished, until we come to our senses and give the music back to the people.
Music is for everybody whether you play an instrument or not. It has been around for centuries with no problem until money got involved. I remember making a song in about '88 that a disc jockey in NY would play. He used to be a DJ and quit because of the commercialization of the music. He started his own broadcast of new artists with fresh new songs of all kinds. I loved it. My hope, which is probably going to be a disappointment, is that the RIAA's frivolous law suit bites the dust. BUT, I fear they will win, and these new ways to create music will be squished, until we come to our senses and give the music back to the people.