I took this photo to show you what a mess the painting process has made of my sewing room. But looking at the picture, I realize that the room doesn't look very much different from what it normally does--except for the beautiful yellow walls! That's 'Belgian Waffle" by Olympia from Lowe's. My bedroom will be the same color.
The painters (four people and a dog) arrived around noon (when they were supposed to arrive around 9:30). But they flew into action and soon had the guest room and the sewing room painted.
Meanwhile, I worked in the dining room unloading and packing up things from the china cabinet--two plastic bins full just from the top. I'll unload the bottom today. (I also planted a rose bush, replanted a small cedar tree, and made two trips to town for more painting supplies.)
The Case of the Angry Neighbor
You've heard me speak of my next-door neighbor Nolan, a nice, hardworking, neighborly young man. He's the epitome of a good neighbor. Well he has a roomy, a fellow we'll call Curly (not his real name nor description). Curly lives upstairs at Nolan's house. He rarely comes outside, but spends his time playing video games. In the two or three years he has lived there, I've seen the boy once. He doesn't have a job, but reportedly lives off a stipend from his parents. (I hope he doesn't read this.)Curly is sound sensitive, a condition probably brought on by lack of sunshine and fresh air, I don't know. It's not a medical condition--more of an attitude problem. Nolan likes to work on his hobby, woodworking, in his spare time (spare daytime, I might add). But whenever Nolan gets his saw and hammers going in his garage, Curly invariably comes down to complain of the noise. He complains when people mow their lawns, when planes fly over, when birds tweet--whatever.
So yesterday afternoon, the painters were upstairs painting, I was downstairs packing, and Cricket, Linda and Joe's miniature dachshund, was on the back porch. (They won't let him come in the house because they say he is prone to pee in strange environments. I understand. So am I.
Yesterday was a cold, wet day at The Yellow House--especially for May. Poor little Cricket weighs maybe four pounds, and his legs are about the circumference of toothpicks. He got cold, I think, and began to bark to be let in. Cricket has a funny little bark. It sounds sort of like a cross between a Canada goose honking and a screen door screeching.
Linda was ignoring Cricket, and so was I. We were both busy and thought it wouldn't hurt him to bark for a few minutes. Then came a small knock at the door. I don't think I would have even heard it if Sophie hadn't put up her usual visitor-greeting cacophous barking fit.
I looked out the window to see who our visitor was and saw a small, bald, rumpled-looking young man with a disturbed look on his face. But since there were three men, two women, and two dogs in the house (well, one dog in the house, one midget dog on the back porch), I thought it safe to answer the door.
"Hello," I said to our visitor. "Bark bark bark bark bark!" said Sophie.
"Who is that dog on your back porch?" asked the boy. No hello, how-are-you--nothing.
"That's Cricket," I said.
"Well his barking is driving me crazy," said said boy.
"Who the hell are you?" asked I.
"I live next door," he replied, "with Nolan," he added when I looked confused.
"Oh, sorry," I said, "I didn't recognize you, Curly." (I didn't recognize him because I had forgotten what he looked like from seeing him that one brief time.)
"Well OK," I said (I always try to be a good neighbor). "I'll ask Cricket to be quiet."
"Yes, try to make him stop barking. That sound is going right through my head," said Curly, sounding more angry now. I wanted to tell him if he would grow some hair on that shiny pate of his, so much sound might not be able to get through. But I didn't. Good neighbor policy: no smart-ass remarks to angry neighbors.
I closed the door and went out on the back porch, wrapped poor little Cricket in a towel and held him. The little beastlet was shivering. But he soon got warm, and Linda came out and took over the dog nursing.
And that's the story of yesterday.
This post was migrated from the old blog. To see the comments on the original post, CLICK HERE. To add a new comment, click "Post a Comment", below.
On 05/11/2010, Nicole said ...
Sad isn't it that some people's lives are so small? At least he came to your door. My neighbor up the hill called the *police* once when Sophie got left out and was barking to get back in. Honestly.
On 05/11/2010, Barbara Anne said ...
Good morning, Susan!
Love your cheerful and delicious Belgian Waffle paint color! You chose well. Applause!! I'm glad the task of painting went quickly, too.
If you're still undecided on the kitchen paint color, I saw Benjamin Moore "In Your Eyes" paint in several magazine photos and it photographs well as a pleasant blue with a touch of gray. You may want to consider that shade of blue.
Me thinks Curly needs ear plugs from Walgreens or some nearby store. The world and your neighborhood doth not revolve around him. Curly, if you're reading this, it's just the truth. Hugs!
Congrats on planting a rose bush and on all you accomplished yesterday!
Hope your DR set sells today!
Hugs for you!
On 05/11/2010, KAI said ...
OH! That yellow is beautiful! Friendly, warm, and LUSCIOUS! You truly can't ask for more in a paint color! And I would REALLY like to see a VERY current picture of you because I am convinced you have grown wheels on your feeties and have swallowed a jet engine! My GRACIOUS! I can't believe all you're accomplishing! As for Curly, well I say, "Bless his heart!" The poor boy OBVIOUSLY has NOOOOOO life! People like him can be so annoying but for some odd reason, I tend to feel pity for them. Makes me want to take him a good neighbor basket containing, say, ear plugs (as aptly suggested by Barbara!) a newspaper - only the help wanted section - with perhaps a few interesting-looking jobs underlined, a list of nice places to volunteer, a list of therapists, a bottle of chill-pills (jellybeans will suffice as long as the label READS Chill Pills) and a half dozen cookies with Ex-Lax chips to - uh - keep him occupied. BWAHAHAHAHA! Paint on, my dear friend! (But, by ALL means, paint QUIETLY because you KNOW how much a swishing paintbrush can grate on one's nerves!)
On 05/11/2010, Nancy said ...
i'm not sure i would have answered the door regardless of how many people were there...he sounds mentally unbalanced. seriously.
Can't wait to see more pretty colors.
On 05/11/2010, Carrie said ...
Oh goodness! You know, we left the last apartment we were in because our downstairs neighbors could hear our mini's "walking". Yes. Walking.
On 05/11/2010, Sandy said ...
Who do Larry and Moe live with? Really!!!!!
On 05/11/2010, Pesky Patti said ...
The neighbor situation sounds like an eerie "Stephen Kingish" tale that needs to be written. YOU can do it, I know you can!
On 05/11/2010, Donna said ...
Love the paint color! I have annoying neighors too ... hardly ever see them, which is probably a good thing! Curly needs to get a life!
Blessings,
Donna
On 05/11/2010, Beverly said ...
Susan, I absolutely love this color. I have a very similar shade in some of the main rooms in our home, but mine is by Benjamin Moore.
I know you must be loving all of that freshness. You're doing great things.
On 05/11/2010, ramey channell said ...
Well that's funny, and a little weird. I can't believe the sound was going right through his head! In one ear and out the other? Maybe ear plugs would help.
On 05/11/2010, Pat said ...
In his own little world... Curly, that is.
On 05/11/2010, sharon said ...
LOL!! That is a funny story Susan. I didnt know you were prone to pee on the floor. lolol I learn something new about you all the time.
Love the new color of paint. When it's all finished you'll be so happy.
On 05/12/2010, Ruth said ...
I bet you're looking forward to everything being back to normal. The Yellow House is going to look stunning.
Got to feel sorry for your neighbour, but we all have our litle foibles, too bad that he doesn't get some help.
Ruth
On 05/12/2010, Wendy said ...
The neighbor seems more than eerie to me...a solitary skinhead who plays video games and can't stand noise. Really...be careful.
On 05/12/2010, Debra Spincic said ...
An interesting post on various levels!
On 05/12/2010, Dandelion Quilts said ...
What a story, Susan. Oh dear. But on a cheerier note, I do love that cheery yellow you are painting.
On 05/13/2010, Lisa A said ...
It seems to me this young man may have some kind of underlying medical condition. You certainly handled the situation well.
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