October 21, 2007
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I think I’m allergic to my house. Seriously. Can I come live with you?
I’m sitting here - miserably - suffering through the sniffles, sneezing, and scratchy throat associated with allergies to mold and dust. Where’s the mold and dust, you ask? Well …
I have a condo on the ground floor of a unit which is built into the side of a boulder. We have landscapers who - from all apparent intent - are only interested in the front yard, and not the back.
Where’s my unit? That’s right. In the back.
Looking out my patio window you can see a lovely assortment of dirt, moss, dried leaves and broken twigs which have fallen from the neglected trees (click to enlarge the picture). It’s damp and moldy and, when it rains, muddy. You can imagine what that does to my allergies!
When I first moved in, I made an attempt to make it nicer - planted a couple of flowerbeds, erected a birdhouse/feeder, put up a hammock strung between two trees and bought a really nice wrought iron park bench and situated it between two other trees. Even considered putting down some sod to try and get grass to grow. In hindsight - glad that I didn’t.
Then my catty neighbors got jealous and starting bitching. I was told I was in violation of the condo association bylaws by altering the common area. (I direct you to the last picture of the dirt, moss, dried leaves and broken twigs. That common area, prior to my makeover, was totally neglected.)
Upon learning of my “offense,” I did what any other person in my position would do - I threw a hissy fit. Ripped out all of the flowers I had planted. Took the rocks and stones that I had so painstakingly removed and threw them all about the backyard. Took down the hammock and moved the bench to my patio. All the while, vehemently throwing f-bombs and other assorted adjectives expletives to anyone within shouting distance.
Since then, I’ve snubbed my neighbors, and continuously do my best at pissing off the association. Example: Nick has three bikes laying in the backyard. Not one of them are functional. Does he throw them out? Nope. Do I care? Nope. I’m waiting to come home one night and find them jacked up on cinder blocks whilst he improves his mechanic skills.
Meanwhile, I continue to suffer my own personal hell with these blasted allergies. Think it’s time to start looking for a new home.
~dKaye
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Tags: family, poli-socio rants, ponder, practical solutions, reflections.
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We didn’t get the rules of the association until after we moved in and we were totatally unaware of the aspects of life they try to control. The condo association says, “Thou shouldst only have on household pet. Well crap we’ve moved in and we have 1 dog and 2 cats. Should we take them out and shoot them?
We didn’t. WE just reinterpreted the rules for ourselves to read “Thou shall have only 1 animal the condo association knows about.” The cats never went out. ONe cat has since died and we are down to 2 animals. I don’t know what we will do if they ever figure it out.
Good luck
Our association allows pets - as long as they’re cats (of course, that’s why we have guinea pigs). No dogs! Yet, the condo behind us is full of dogs who come and use our property to pee and poop. Go figure!
For all they know - my guinea pig is really a yorkie masquerading as a guinea pig. Hmmm….
We tried to domesticate the groundhogs, squirrels and chipmunks - since they are in abundance in our backyard - but couldn’t get them to stop chewing up everything.