OH my GOD, you guys...

[swingchickie]

so, i went out to my car this morning, and glanced over at mt trashcan at the end of my driveway.

i didn't put my trash out last night. monday is not my trash day.

one guess as to who came to my house last night, took all my trash (bush trimmings, etc.) and recycling, and put them at the end of my driveway... including GOING INTO THE TRASHCAN and separating the bags of trash from the yard waste.

i was home all night, she didn't even knock on the door to ask if i had forgotten to take the trash out, or offer to take it out for me. she just came onto my property and did it.

i am sick to my stomach, i'm so creeped out and mad.

Comments

[viellen]

You need to confront her about this. Going through someone's trash is stalker-ish, she needs to chill the fuck out.

[boutell.livejournal.com]

Seconded. So not okay.

Even my 68-year-old little old Italian lady neighbor limits herself to nudging my trash cans back an extra six inches or whatever. And it still bugs me a little.

[steven.livejournal.com]

That totally crosses a line.

Since you have to be neighbors, I guess this means putting the friendly spin on it first. "I appreciate that you took the time and energy to do this; however ... "

[pennycuts.livejournal.com]

have you asked others about her??

[krisdance.livejournal.com]

I was just going to say the same. I would ask some other neighbors about her. Perhaps she has some real problems that extend beyond just boundary issues. My parents were "lucky" enough to live next to a woman going senile (she lived by herself). She was constantly accusing them of trying to kill her. She would shout at them when they were outside about their conspiracies to get rid of her. The police were often over at my parents' house in the middle of the night as a follow up to this ladies complaints. My parents would call her adult children, but they were no help.

Hmmmmm...

[pinchedpink.livejournal.com]

That IS really weird. I don't know the back story or anything, but it would creep me out if my neighbor started going through my stuff. There are just certain boundaries you don't cross when it comes to acquainances (or good friends for that matter). That is one of them.

We are pretty lucky, though. Our neighbors are a little nosy and older but they are gone for most of the year. They truck around the US in their RV all Winter long and travel each weekend in the summer. So we really don't have any complaints about them. Now, the kid that just bought the house on the other side - well, we're not going there right now!

[katehaney.livejournal.com]

Yuk. That is wrong, wrong, wrong.

It sucks that you have to confront a neighbor so quickly after moving there, but this one has got to be stopped.

Possible approaches:
Honest: "Honey, you're freakin' me right the fuck out. Please stay off my yard and out of my garbage. That shit is way too weird."

Benefit of the doubt: "I know we discussed your doing my lawn. My definition of that activity begins and ends with mowing the lawn every two weeks. I can't afford to pay any more, so please don't extend your activites beyond that." If she keeps it up... buy your own mower. And maybe a fence. On credit if you have to.

Play ignorant: "I've never owned a house, so I'm new to this, but I have to admit to having been alarmed recently to discover your activities in my yard. I feel it's very important that we respect each other's boundaries -- both literal and figurative."

Act like you're the one who's a freak: "I know I have a broad sense of personal space, so it's important that I tell you that your recent unasked activities in my yard really made me uncomfortable."

Play a humor card: "How will I ever learn to take care of my own yard if you do it for me? And seriously, I do enjoy taking care of myself and my home -- I don't want you to do it."

But you know all that. The main thing is TELL HER TO STAY OFF.

[shanabanana.livejournal.com]

Creeeeeeepy!

[naughtyboy.livejournal.com]

Two words. Razor Wire.

[swingchickie.livejournal.com]

lol good idea.

at least i have 2 other words: security system.

[thetech.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'd feel a bit uncomfortable about all that going on :\