Author |
Message |
Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Tuesday, August 10, 2004 - 5:11 pm
yea, sure..wonderful.................
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Lkunkel
Member
10-29-2003
| Tuesday, August 10, 2004 - 5:20 pm
::vent:: ::vent:: ::vent:: Last night/early this morning, our across the way neighbors had friends over. Normally, I wouldn't mind people having guests, but these folks have strange behaviors: they like to gather outside on the walkway between our front doors, drink beer, smoke dope/cigarettes, and talk. Now this, on its face, doesn't seem bad. However, their method of discarding their empties (and the bottle caps) are to either (a) drop the glass bottles over the sides of the railing so they fall and shatter; (b) leave the bottles/cans on the walkway to be blown any which way; (c) leave the debris in our planters. BTW, the bottles aren't always empty either, which makes it an even bigger mess as well as saftey hazard for either THEIR two small children or the three young boys downstairs directly below them. Their roaches and cigarette butts are put in our planters or thrown onto the cement walkway. One was put out on our door carpet and left a burn mark. Their conversations generally involve shouting. I can hear them in our bedroom, which is the room furthest back from the front door. Normally, these parties occurred during football and basketball and ended at a half-way decent time--11PM or Midnight. The times I (or Potshot) did call the office, were mostly to alert them to the broken glass. When the glass (and the unbroken bottles) stayed there for more than 72 hours, Potshot would go out and clean it up. The three boys downstairs thanked him, since they were only allowed to play outside and the glass made it impossible. Last night, however, their confab started at midnight and lasted until 3AM. I noted that at any given time, there were anywhere from 2 to 4 people outside, yelling, breaking bottles, and carrying on. At 2:04AM, I had enough and called the office to see if there were any instructions about contacting the security guard who does patrol the grounds. (I know he does--I've seen him!) and was told that if it was an EMERGENCY to call this toll-free number. Neither Potshot nor I deemed it an emergency, so we left a message alerting them to the situation, and notifying them again about the glass. This morning we called to find out what we should do if (when!) the event occurs again. The answer: call the police and have them arrested for disturbing the peace. We asked about the security guard, and if he could do anything, and were told, no, he was only there to protect the owner's property and to call the police. Great. So, the only way to get this resolved is to call the police and have our names on the report so that we can possibly be retaliated against. (I have talked to them directly, and were told to F-off, so I'm a little leary of confronting them--or worse, Potshot confronting them.) I guess the bright spot in this is that unless Potshot is awake/wakes up, he won't likely know. I'm the one it tends to wake up, so, I'll have to just deal with it. ::end of vent:: ::end of vent:: ::end of vent::
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Resortgirl
Member
09-23-2000
| Tuesday, August 10, 2004 - 5:29 pm
((((Lkunkel))) That sucks!! What a bunch of rude obnoxious neighbors! I hope you get some relief, somehow!! Maybe some nice LOUD classical music at 8 am on Sunday mornings!!
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Abby7
Member
07-17-2002
| Tuesday, August 10, 2004 - 5:34 pm
Lkunkel, that is ridiculous that the Security Guards can't be called. I understand your fear of retaliation. Is there a central location for the mailboxes? If so, you might try putting up a "flyer" in that area. State your complaints about what you mentioned. You don't have to specify apartment number (they will know you are talking about them). State you don't want to bring in police officials (for their sake), so for them to please handle the matter (to your specifications) themselves. I think if the "flyer" is worded (without anger)....they might listen. Then again, they sound so obnoxious to do that in the first place....maybe not. Sorry you have to put up with that!
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Lkunkel
Member
10-29-2003
| Tuesday, August 10, 2004 - 5:54 pm
RG: I must admit I had thought about that--except that they have two kids, and I don't want to wake them up. It's bad enough (IMHO) that they aren't allowed to go outside. Potshot didn't realize they had kids until they had lived here 8 months, and he was coming in at 12:30AM from a friend's and saw her sitting in the doorway, with the parental units telling her to not stick one inch of skin outside the doorway or she'd get it good. Mom unit has since had another child. I didn't see the little one out trick or treating, so I left her little treat outside her door. (I had made up special ones for the little ones in our quad with dimes instead of nickels.) So, the kids are yet another reason I don't want to call. Abby: It is a great idea, IF I could figure out which quad of mailboxes they're at. Our downstairs neighbor walked with me one day to get the mail (there are 4 separate banks of mail boxes) and we were a little surprised that she was at the bank across the street. So, there would have to be at least 20 fliers (which all have to be approved by the office) to make sure we cover all various ways they could come upon their mailbox--and that is assuming they have their mail delivered here, and not the two mailbox places across the street (as we have our important mail [bills and checks] go to; I've seen a number of residents over there. I'll think about this one some more...it is a good idea, I just have to figure out the execution.
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Vee
Member
02-23-2004
| Tuesday, August 10, 2004 - 8:53 pm
Texannie, this is an extreme measure...do not threaten it unless you are willing to actually do it! It worked for me and turned my life around completely in just 24 short hours. By the way, both kids have grown to be very tidy people, thank God. Solution: If you do not keep your room tidy, your laundry done, and (whatever else you want to toss in here), your bedroom door is going to be removed until such time as it is accomplished. Voila! I think a clean room is on its way... (They only hate you for a short time. 
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Vee
Member
02-23-2004
| Tuesday, August 10, 2004 - 9:01 pm
Lk, what a connundrum! I hadn't even noticed your post before I just took off posting. I cannot imagine living under those conditions. In my town, certainly nothing like Las Vegas, we would just call the police and the story would be over. What a shame that you have to worry about retaliation.
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Hereiam
Member
03-29-2002
| Wednesday, August 11, 2004 - 8:24 am
Hi Lkunkel. I can relate to your problem to some degree - at one point we had an apartment with some rather loud /drunk neighbors. The final straw for us was when they tossed their tv out their window (they were on the second floor and we were right above). DH called the cops, the cops worked fine for us because when the neighbors were sober they were ok and when drunk never remembered anything. Soon after the apartment complex kicked them out anyway. Since you are leary of calling the police could you have a chat with the security guard the next time you see him? Maybe get a cell number or something from him so you could contact him the next time things start up. Then the security guard can be the one to call the police. If he/management is only concerned about property you might point out that one of those falling bottles may damage their property - or a mislaid butt might burn the place down. Good luck, I feel for you.
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Lostintheglades
Member
07-10-2000
| Wednesday, August 11, 2004 - 9:09 am
Vee...we've thought of that...just haven't gotten to that point of frustration. Lk. DH and I don't drink and I get extremely angry when my sleep is interrupted. The thought of having not only cigarette butts but pot butts as well placed into my planters would send me over edge not to mention the beer smell. I also hate conflict. If you've asked and they stop then the only alternative I see is filing a complaint. Perhaps there is someway you could ask for privacy...since you're just reporting a "Wild Party"....there's no need for them to know who called is there? Talk about patience...I'm afraid I would have lost mine a long time ago.
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Wednesday, August 11, 2004 - 9:48 am
Vee..that might work. They wouldn't care about me seeing the mess, but the boy likes his "privacy"!
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Lostintheglades
Member
07-10-2000
| Wednesday, August 11, 2004 - 11:50 am
<<<passes Hammer and screwdriver to Annie>>>
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Vee
Member
02-23-2004
| Wednesday, August 11, 2004 - 1:23 pm
Yes, but they do get a warning and the warning is usually enough, gals! I'd be very reasonable...let's say, you've got until Saturday morning at 10:00. Honestly, it was the single most effective thing that I ever did...that and setting my alarm clock for midnight or 1:00 and warning them that woe be unto them if it ever went off...ahhh, I was a terribly mean mom. This probably belongs in the parenting thread...sorry!
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Wednesday, August 11, 2004 - 1:48 pm
I love the setting the alarm clock for midnight!!!!
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Marysafan
Member
08-07-2000
| Wednesday, August 11, 2004 - 2:26 pm
Omigosh, Vee! That setting the alarm clock for midnight is pure genius! I wish someone would have told me about it when I had teens at home!
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Lkunkel
Member
10-29-2003
| Wednesday, August 11, 2004 - 3:25 pm
The way I worked it with our former foster daughter is that the alarm was set for 5 minutes after her curfew (giving her time to get into the house, lock up downstairs, get up to our room, etc.) She then would shut the alarm off. If the alarm went off, she was in trouble. If it didn't go off, then she wasn't. Of course, more often than not, I was awake anyway, but it was a good back-up.
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Resortgirl
Member
09-23-2000
| Thursday, August 12, 2004 - 9:36 am
I decided to clean a couple cabins today to get a jump start on the weekend (I have a VERY special guest coming Saturday!! , but I'll let her decide if she wants to tell ya'll that she's coming) and I was vacuuming the cabin and blew a fuse. I don't have another so I moved on to the next cabin. The water was dripping in the shower so I went to turn it off tight, and the handle broke! Grrrrr , and I don't know if I can just replace the handle or if I have to get a whole new shower thingy majig.... I should have stayed in bed!! LOL!
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Escapee
Member
06-15-2004
| Thursday, August 12, 2004 - 4:29 pm
I am not sure where to put this, but it is definately a gripe, and this IS free expression, so those who do not agree, keep that in mind. DH and I were watching the news about the state of California's laws against illegal immigrants. Now, I know that this country was founded by immigrants, but now, there are laws about entering this country, as there should be (henceforth, 9/11), so I am damn sick and tired about all these illegal immigrants rallying for rights in this country. YOU ARE NOT LEGAL RESIDENTS! If you can't enter this country, legally, then you should be sent back to your own country. There are ways of becomming a citizen, whereas, you take certain steps to becom LEGAL. I am all for that. Come here, work hard, earn your keep. Don't come here, mooch off of our government, have a whole mess of kids that someone else has to support, and then complain that you are not being treated fairly and you deserve more. NEWSFLASH, you don't deserve anything but to be put on a bus and sent back. Why are we allowing this? Why aren't we as LEGAL citizens up in arms. Why are we just sitting back and watching our country go to deeper in debt and paying higher taxes to aid foreigners who don't have a RIGHT to be here. Some hardworking taxpayers are having enough trouble taking care of their own families, let alone the 10 illegal immigrant farmworker children who don't speak a lick of english. On the news, illegal immigrants were at a huge rally in front of the capital stating that they wanted drivers licenses. HELLO, THERE THEY ARE, ALL TOGETHER, DEPORT THEM! Lets do this America, lets get illegal's out of this country, and the people who are legal and on wellfare, and able to work, have one month to get jobs and off government assistance, there should be plenty of work now that the illegals are gone. AHHHHHH...............good vent. PS. Not intended to offend.
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Lkunkel
Member
10-29-2003
| Thursday, August 12, 2004 - 5:32 pm
Move over....you have company. What irritates me about the Spanish-speaking immigrants is that, unlike immigrants before them, they make no attempt to learn English. It really irritates me that we--at least Nevada--is catering to this. I don't WANT to push 1 for English. ::sigh:: Purportedly, even if we removed the illegal immigrant workers left, no one else would want the jobs they hold....and yet, to be legally employed in any position I have ever held, I had to show PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP for my I-9 form. So, what jobs are these people holding, and shouldn't their EMPLOYERS be busted for labor law violations?
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Whoami
Member
08-03-2001
| Thursday, August 12, 2004 - 6:04 pm
That is such a touchy subject, isn't it? If you stand up for yourself, you're labeled a racist. And yet..... There used to be a time when I worked at a convenience store, and suggested to my manager we put up signs in Spanish and English, cause I for one had many problems with the gas pumps from those who couldn't read the signs. I remember being taken aback when she debunked my suggestion and told me her view was, "they're in an English speaking country, they by God better learn to speak English." After a year in that job, and many Spanish speaking customers coming in and getting down right hostile with me cause I didn't speak Spanish....well, I began to see where that manager was coming from. After the first time I was laid off, there were numerous jobs that would have been right up my alley, if it weren't for the fact that one of the major requirements was to be bilingual. On the other side of the spectrum though, are those who are taken advantage of because they don't speak English. At that same convenience store job, I'd have Spanish speaking customers come in, get a pack of cigarettes (back when they were just under a dollar), slap a 20 down on the counter and start out the door. When I'd holler at them to wait a minute, they'd come back in the store digging in their pocket for more money! It often made me wonder just how much some of them paid for a pack of cigs from other clerks. I also remember one Vietnamese girl who came to work at our plant. In Vietnam, she worked as an interpreter, cause she spoke seven languages. At our plant, she was always getting pulled off the floor to go into meetings to interpret. One day (after over a year of this), she finally refused, and told the people she was interpreting for, "you live in America now, speak English!" I can understand her stand. For one thing, her own work suffered cause she was always getting pulled away from it. For another, she was often pulled into very sensitive meetings (like disciplinary actions against the non-English speaking person).
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Lkunkel
Member
10-29-2003
| Thursday, August 12, 2004 - 6:23 pm
Who: I think what annoys me the most--and what set me off tonight--was that we had gotten a wrong number (and I knew it was a wrong number becaue it was the fifth time they had called, and I didn't recognize the caller id) and I decided to let them know it was a wrong number. I picked up the phone and said: "Hi, I think you reached the wrong number." And I get a spout of Spanish. I then broke in with "No hablo espanol." The guy then started screaming at me in broken English for NOT speaking Spanish. WTH was that??? Last time I pick up an unrecognized phone number.
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Escapee
Member
06-15-2004
| Friday, August 13, 2004 - 2:24 pm
I think it should be illegal to not hire someone because they are not billingual. Unless you are being hired as an interpreter, that is just bs.
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Escapee
Member
06-15-2004
| Friday, August 13, 2004 - 2:28 pm
At my old job, one woman there spoke spanish, so they gave her all of the spanish speaking patients. Well, she got fed up with this. Most of the patients could in fact speak english, they just chose not to. Some of them had lived in this country for over 20 years, and still, no english. How is it possible to not pick up on the language? It's because they don't have to. Everytime they gave her a spanish speaking patient, she sent an invoice to the company for interpreter fees. Interpreters make a mint.
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Whoami
Member
08-03-2001
| Friday, August 13, 2004 - 3:05 pm
quote:Interpreters make a mint.
I think that is a main reason why the Vietnamese girl I worked with finally refused to interpret any more. She was working in a manufacturing job for basically minimum wage, and doing all the interpreting for the company.
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Hippyt
Member
06-15-2001
| Friday, August 13, 2004 - 8:32 pm
I find this entire conversation very distasteful. Wish I hadn't read it.
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Max
Member
08-12-2000
| Friday, August 13, 2004 - 9:37 pm
I think there are many sides to this debate and it's hard to figure out how to handle it equitably. I've been fortunate enough to have travelled outside the U.S. several times to countries where English is not the primary language. I'm always amazed that (1) many people there are bi-lingual -- it's part of their normal school system to learn English, (2) those who did not speak English were almost 100% polite as I struggled with phrase books and sign language and we always ended up being able to communicate at some level, and (3) there are a high number of American travellers who seem to think that peopole who don't speak English -- even in their OWN country -- are somehow stupid and that if they speak English to them more slowly and loudly, maybe it will work. That last category embarrasses me to no end and I try to distance myself from those folks as quickly as possible. Bottom line, both sides on this issue need to work towards understanding each other more. And I don't mean simply the language issue. Disclaimer borrowed from Dennis Miller: "Of course that's just my opinion and I could be wrong!" 
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