Am I a smuck .... ? - Page 2

ROYC75 · 07-19-2005, 07:34 AM

OK, for 4 + years, I have been mowing my neighbors yard. She is 85 yrs old, no kids and has a niece that will visit her from time to time. Her house is run down, it appears that no maintence has been done for 30 years to the place and the health department checks up on her each month. She lives on social security, she has no A/C but you never hear her complain. 2 years ago I bought her 4 fans for her house when it was so damn hot during the summer.

During this 4+ year period, I have never charged her a dime, not a penny for any yard work or light repairs to her place. Then last year she starts giving III $10.00 each time we do the yard. I do the tractor work and III does the small amount of push mowing and weed eating. I tell III that since I supply the mowers, weedeater and gas, he can forfeit the cash to me to buy the gas each week. I do our yard and her's the same day, just to keep the yards looking good and because she has nobody to do it for a reasonable price. Her yard would cost her about $ 40.00 to have it mowed. I also mow my MIL's yard ( for 3 years ) , don't charge a dime for it either, out of respect.

This old lady next to us has nobody, she calls us daily, sometimes 2, 3, 4 times per day. She calls just to say , " It's nice to see your truck parked out front " .... or calls and says, " you don't mind me calling do ya, ya know I really love ya ". She is a lonely old lady that needs some attention and this is her way of getting it.

During the 4th of July weekend, we shot off our fireworks for the g/k's. The policy here in town is it's OK to shoot till 10:00 pm unless a neighbor calls in to complain....... She did , she won't admit it, the cops came and told us we had to stop. I have been pissed off with her since. Sometimes our driveway is blocked with cars, I'll drive my pickup between her house and ours, ( 1/2 is her property ) she tells the g/k's that she is going to call the cops on me. But yet she lets me and the kids drive the golf cart around the yard.

The deal is this, I think I'm getting fead up with this old lady. For 4+ fuggin years I have done her a favor and she acts like this ? I'm thinking about charging her for her damn yard now........ Am I wrong here ?

Or do I continue to do it free and live with her back stabbing ways.

**Skip Towne** · 07-19-2005, 08:17 AM

Hell, you can't even spell schmuck, how could you be one?

**Predarat** · 07-19-2005, 08:22 AM

PastorMikH · 07-19-2005, 08:30 AM

Roy, I can definately say I understand. I don't mind doing things for people - and in my line of work, I do a lot. One prime example, I had a guy in our last church that was building a house - not contracting it out, he was doing the building himself and it was a rather nice house that he ended up selling fo over 150k. Well, I spent a lot of time over there helping him. I enjoyed the work, learned a fair bit about new construction and so on. I didn't ask for one dime and he never gave me cash for the work. I helped him for the better part of 6 months on the house - spending almost all of my free time and also time that I should have spent working my job. When I started getting busier and wasn't able to help them, he and his family started getting upset with me. Later he became a board member and when he was in a place to return the favors, he instead was extremely hard to work with.

It really gets irritating though when you feel like people are expecting you to do free stuff for them and are taking you for granted.

I wouldn't be rude, but I would suggest that if she is acting this way, just back off on what you do for her. Start mowing your yard later in the day so you don't have enough sunlight to do hers. At least I'd do this as long as she is acting this way.

**Predarat** · 07-19-2005, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PastorMikH

Later he became a board member and when he was in a place to return the favors, he instead was extremely hard to work with

Let us know his handle and we will neg rep the heck out of him. Only kidding, not THIS board. But your right, its great to do things for people but when they take you or it for granted, its time to stop.

PastorMikH · 07-19-2005, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Predarat

Let us know his handle and we will neg rep the heck out of him. Only kidding, not THIS board. But your right, its great to do things for people but when they take you or it for granted, its time to stop.

His is one of many that I could share. I don't get in nearly as deep anymore because I have started to notice the signs that things are headed into the "Taken for Granted" direction before it actually gets there.

ROYC75 · 07-19-2005, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dartgod

It's a running joke here. Someone was having a problem with a neighbor's dog so it was suggested that a bowl of antifreeze be put out for the dog, who will subsequently die from ingesting the antifreeze. It's now the standard solution to ANY problem. Although, it's not nearly as funny now that I've had to explain it (Not like it was side-splitting hilarious in the first place).

I knew of this about pets, I was hoping you didn't want me to spike her Kool Aid ...........

BTW, wasn't aware the antifreeze term was used here at one time, musta missed that one too .

07-19-2005, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PastorMikH

I wouldn't be rude, but I would suggest that if she is acting this way, just back off on what you do for her. Start mowing your yard later in the day so you don't have enough sunlight to do hers. At least I'd do this as long as she is acting this way.

The problem with this approach is that if she is moving into senility she won't remember anything but the things that make her unhappy. When my dad was 91 he didn't remember the good times when all of us were young, but he was sharp as a tack on what we did that made him mad.

Eventually he forgot everything, if it is senility for this lady she will soon forget everything and at some point be placed into a home unless here family takes care of her. Some can put them in a home, others can't.

Roy, do what your heart tells you is right.

PastorMikH · 07-19-2005, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Electric

The problem with this approach is that if she is moving into senility she won't remember anything but the things that make her unhappy. When my dad was 91 he didn't remember the good times when all of us were young, but he was sharp as a tack on what we did that made him mad.

Eventually he forgot everything, if it is senility for this lady she will soon forget everything and at some point be placed into a home unless here family takes care of her. Some can put them in a home, others can't.

Roy, do what your heart tells you is right.

And if this is the case, what is Roy supposed to do? She's not related to him. Legally, he has no say in her care. If he backs off, the niece that comes around starts realizing that the lady needs more care and starts coming around more. IF dementia is a problem, then she will see it and since she is the closest family member, it will be HER place to deal with it not Roy's.

I'm not advocating Roy completely disown his neigbor, but if doing so much for her is starting to bother him, he should back off. If he doesn't resentment will set in and he will cease to care for her - then who will she have looking out for her?

**Saulbadguy** · 07-19-2005, 09:08 AM

Naw, but you are a putz.

StcChief · 07-19-2005, 09:09 AM

I would talk to her regarding Fireworks on 4th. Reminder her its America's Birthday. Only happens once a year.

She should call you if she has issues on anything, not police. You are her neighbor and take care of her yard.

She may not notice if you stop doing the yard, if she is getting senile and when it's 10 inches high will relized it and be mad.

Nip this in the bud, life is too short to become the
Hatfields and McCoys over this.

07-19-2005, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PastorMikH

And if this is the case, what is Roy supposed to do? She's not related to him. Legally, he has no say in her care. If he backs off, the niece that comes around starts realizing that the lady needs more care and starts coming around more. IF dementia is a problem, then she will see it and since she is the closest family member, it will be HER place to deal with it not Roy's.

I'm not advocating Roy completely disown his neigbor, but if doing so much for her is starting to bother him, he should back off. If he doesn't resentment will set in and he will cease to care for her - then who will she have looking out for her?

I don't disagree, I just wouldn't want to be in Roy's shoes right about now. It's a difficult decision to make.

**Dartgod** · 07-19-2005, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Electric

When my dad was 91 he didn't remember the good times when all of us were young, but he was sharp as a tack on what we did that made him mad.

That's not because he was senile. It's because you never did anything good. You were all such a disappointment to him.

Chief Faithful · 07-19-2005, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Electric

Eventually he forgot everything, if it is senility for this lady she will soon forget everything and at some point be placed into a home unless here family takes care of her. Some can put them in a home, others can't.

If she is going senile the fact her yard is not getting taken care of could push her into a home sooner.

Personally I like PasterMikH's approach best. Mow in the evenings so you can't get to her yard by dark. If she is not senile then she will contact you to work things out, which will open the door to address all the issues.

It reminds me of rules for buying a new car. Only negotiate just before closing time. The salesman wants to get home so he will keep the bull to a minimum. If the old lady is not senile and wants the yard work to continue she will eventually want to talk thinks out.

**Saulbadguy** · 07-19-2005, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dartgod

That's not because he was senile. It's because you never did anything good. You were all such a disappointment to him.

**Rausch** · 07-19-2005, 09:35 AM

If you help someone out, and find they're an a$$hole, that doesn't take away from your good deed. Feel good about it...

07-19-2005, 07:34 AM
ROYC75 Time For Your Wake Up Call !!! Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Barn Yard Casino cash: $5549400	Am I a smuck .... ? OK, for 4 + years, I have been mowing my neighbors yard. She is 85 yrs old, no kids and has a niece that will visit her from time to time. Her house is run down, it appears that no maintence has been done for 30 years to the place and the health department checks up on her each month. She lives on social security, she has no A/C but you never hear her complain. 2 years ago I bought her 4 fans for her house when it was so damn hot during the summer. During this 4+ year period, I have never charged her a dime, not a penny for any yard work or light repairs to her place. Then last year she starts giving III $10.00 each time we do the yard. I do the tractor work and III does the small amount of push mowing and weed eating. I tell III that since I supply the mowers, weedeater and gas, he can forfeit the cash to me to buy the gas each week. I do our yard and her's the same day, just to keep the yards looking good and because she has nobody to do it for a reasonable price. Her yard would cost her about $ 40.00 to have it mowed. I also mow my MIL's yard ( for 3 years ) , don't charge a dime for it either, out of respect. This old lady next to us has nobody, she calls us daily, sometimes 2, 3, 4 times per day. She calls just to say , " It's nice to see your truck parked out front " .... or calls and says, " you don't mind me calling do ya, ya know I really love ya ". She is a lonely old lady that needs some attention and this is her way of getting it. During the 4th of July weekend, we shot off our fireworks for the g/k's. The policy here in town is it's OK to shoot till 10:00 pm unless a neighbor calls in to complain....... She did , she won't admit it, the cops came and told us we had to stop. I have been pissed off with her since. Sometimes our driveway is blocked with cars, I'll drive my pickup between her house and ours, ( 1/2 is her property ) she tells the g/k's that she is going to call the cops on me. But yet she lets me and the kids drive the golf cart around the yard. The deal is this, I think I'm getting fead up with this old lady. For 4+ fuggin years I have done her a favor and she acts like this ? I'm thinking about charging her for her damn yard now........ Am I wrong here ? Or do I continue to do it free and live with her back stabbing ways.
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07-19-2005, 08:17 AM	#16
Skip Towne Supporter Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: T-Town Casino cash: $10004900	Hell, you can't even spell schmuck, how could you be one?
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07-19-2005, 08:22 AM	#17
Predarat Run Chiefs fans, run!! Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Nashville, TN Casino cash: $9973863
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07-19-2005, 08:30 AM	#18
PastorMikH Will KC ever be better? Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Land of Red Dirt & Necks Casino cash: $9925087	Roy, I can definately say I understand. I don't mind doing things for people - and in my line of work, I do a lot. One prime example, I had a guy in our last church that was building a house - not contracting it out, he was doing the building himself and it was a rather nice house that he ended up selling fo over 150k. Well, I spent a lot of time over there helping him. I enjoyed the work, learned a fair bit about new construction and so on. I didn't ask for one dime and he never gave me cash for the work. I helped him for the better part of 6 months on the house - spending almost all of my free time and also time that I should have spent working my job. When I started getting busier and wasn't able to help them, he and his family started getting upset with me. Later he became a board member and when he was in a place to return the favors, he instead was extremely hard to work with. It really gets irritating though when you feel like people are expecting you to do free stuff for them and are taking you for granted. I wouldn't be rude, but I would suggest that if she is acting this way, just back off on what you do for her. Start mowing your yard later in the day so you don't have enough sunlight to do hers. At least I'd do this as long as she is acting this way. __________________
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07-19-2005, 09:08 AM	#24
Saulbadguy When a nightmare becomes real Join Date: Nov 2003 Casino cash: $2486966	Naw, but you are a putz. __________________ http://www.goemaw.com
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07-19-2005, 09:09 AM	#25
StcChief Playing for #1 Draft Pick Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Just West of Lambs land Casino cash: $10004900	I would talk to her regarding Fireworks on 4th. Reminder her its America's Birthday. Only happens once a year. She should call you if she has issues on anything, not police. You are her neighbor and take care of her yard. She may not notice if you stop doing the yard, if she is getting senile and when it's 10 inches high will relized it and be mad. Nip this in the bud, life is too short to become the Hatfields and McCoys over this. __________________ sig test for this screwy schema
Posts: 25,901