writer's anti-block

I realized today why I haven't been posting much. It's not that I have nothing to say or nothing's been happening; it's more like I can't decide which of numerous events &/or thoughts to start with. (Yes, a fine example of an ACOA Perfectionist. You so want to get it right the first time that you end up never starting because it must be perfect from the get-go.)

Outside of my new work shoes (stupid bunion), I am really enjoying my new job. I am really enjoying having a job. I am especially enjoying having a regular income and not having to second-guess how many groceries I can buy in a week.

I am not enjoying my neighbors. Just one couple though, all my other neighbors are awesome. The good neighbor behind me just finished replacing the north wall of my 6-foot fence (which was/is ~40 years old, my father & grandfather built it). During the time of No Fence, there was chicken wire in place to keep my dogs from getting out (and by golly it worked). Problem was, Peter had a little problem with barking at everyone he saw...even though he knew them (yeah it's a little embarrassing). When I wasn't home, my good side neighbor kept an eye (& ear) on my dogs. I thought I was staying on top of it enough, and my fence-building neighbor was very understanding.

Yeah. Well not so much the neighbors beside him, who share about 6 feet of my back fence line. These are people I have talked to before. Been quite friendly with. When they had a sweet little Jack Russell that kept getting over the fence (!) and into my yard, we had several pleasant conversations. So you know what my oh-so-friendly neighbors did? They filed a complaint. Didn't talk to me. Didn't so much as give a peep of "Hey you must not know how much your dog is actually barking & it's driving us nuts." Nope. I received a letter from the county. Of course I had assumed it must be some nearby neighbor that didn't know me, that thought I would go ballistic or something if they brought it up. (Honestly, if my dog is creating a nuisance I want to know!) But no. My side neighbor guessed who it was (they are her back neighbor), and my fence-building neighbor confirmed it.

The ultimate irony of all this? For over FIFTEEN YEARS, they left their dog in the back yard all the time by herself. And she barked every evening. And barked. And barked. Did my family or the other neighbors file a complaint? Nuh-uh. (And yes, I do wish now that we had. But honestly I felt so sorry for that lonely dog...) Did I complain when their sweet little dog got over the fence into my yard? Nope. Did my side neighbor turn them in when they had a little yapper that wouldn't shut up? No. (She spoke to them instead, fancy that.) Does any of that give me a legal leg to stand on? Of course not!

All they had to do was talk to me, and it would have been taken care of right then.

Oh, and fyi.... they got rid of the yapper fairly soon. And the sweet, gentle Jack Russell? She developed a knee injury & they didn't want her anymore. Are we surprised? Thought not.