A neighbor called me up early this evening, freaked out...

[GoddessOfGuinness]

It seems she saw three young raccoons in my yard as she walked past. We had some in our attic a number of years ago, and I mentioned it to her, like an idiot. She's now certain that we have them in our attic again, because "when they want to get in somewhere, they'll find a way".

This poor woman's only joy in life is finding something new to complain about. She does not like animals, period. And all wild animals might as well be brown rats as far as she's concerned. I'm fond of the raccoons and oppossums and such that sometimes make an appearance in our neighborhood. As long as they aren't in the house or raiding the trash, I enjoy watching them.

But no raccoon in their right mind would hang out in our attic at this time of year anyway...I'm sure the temp up there is well over 100. The critters like to go into the sewers in the summer, where it's cool.

Ah well...Tomorrow she'll be griping about something else.

[Lethe]

1. she called to complain that there were raccoons in your yard?

that is a bit freaky. i mean if they're not in her yard why does she care?

[GoddessOfGuinness]

4. She doesn't like our yard...

Too many trees for her taste. We definitely need to do some trimming back there; but it's not all that bad. She lives two doors down, and can't stand my neighbor's yard either. His yard is gorgeous. He has the most beautiful willow oak in the whole town. Too bad she can only bitch about it. :eyes:

[Oeditpus Rex]

2. Do you perchance live next to

...nah, I'd better not. :)

[GoddessOfGuinness]

5. Whom?

Now you've got me curious...

[Oeditpus Rex]

7. I'd better not

DU has roolz against calling out and continuing flame wars. :scared:

[NaturalHigh]

3. I love raccoons.

We had a couple of pet raccoons when I was a kid. Unfortunately, on died, and one ran off when he was old enough to hear the call of the wild.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

6. We've got trees all over the neighborhood...

In fact, our town was designated a "Tree City, USA" a few years ago. Where there are trees, there is wildlife...

I've occasionally even seen a grey fox wandering around.

[Roon]

13. We have a red fox here in metro Denver.

He lives in the vacant lots and travels through rocky mountain ditch. I always worry about my kitties getting eaten by him. He has stolen goldfish out of our pond too!

[GoddessOfGuinness]

15. I guess if they're hungry enough, they'd go for cats;

but I'll bet they help keep the rodent population down.

[NC_Nurse]

8. She doesn't like TREES?

Weird.

There's a lot of newer subdivisions down here on old cow pastures - no trees, cookie-cutter houses....maybe she should move.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

10. I've seen this happen to other people around here...

As they age, they gradually become paranoid about everything that could possibly happen. In her case, she's freaked that my neighbor's (large, but healthy) tree will fall in a storm...or that the raccoons which have made an appearance in my yard, are going to break into her attic.

Another neighbor removed all the shrubs and roses that his mother had planted in his yard. He was afraid that rats might burrow under them and nest.

I guess it's easy to get caught up in all of life's "what-ifs" when you begin recognizing how frail you are becoming.

[NC_Nurse]

12. Yes, you're right. A lot of older folks start to obsess

about something bad happening.

It's sad that the man removed all of the roses his mother planted. :-(

At least my dad just bought every kind of insurance ever made! :-)

[GoddessOfGuinness]

14. There's a lesson in there...

Of course, with my devil-may-care attitude, I'll most likely have something happen to me that I have no insurance for.

[MountainLaurel]

16. My landlady is like that

When she bought our house, the first thing she did was tear out all of the gorgeous trees (which were not diseased in any way). The neighbors were appalled and begged her, even offered her money, to not remove the trees. Not sure what her issue is, all I know is that the yard has no shade and we have no privacy (landlady also doesn't believe in curtains or shades, so we've had to pay for the ones we've put in).

On the bright side, everyone in the neighborhood despises her so much that they are quite happy to have us, even with our occasionally barking dogs.

[Wcross]

9. I sure am glad I don't have neighbors nearby.

That woman sounds like she needs to get a life!

[GoddessOfGuinness]

11. I feel sorry for her...

Her husband passed away several years ago; and her son, who lives with her now, doesn't seem to be employed, though he's well into his 40s.

Most of my neighbors are great. She's just a very lonely lady, I think...