What a freakin’ day…
It snowed last night. Just a few centimeters, but it rained a little and I wanted to clean it up before it froze solid. Well, I usually clean up my neighbour’s driveway while I am out there. Doing their driveway, I figured I’d scoot my snowblower across their walkway as well. They live in a duplex and share a walkway with their neighbour. I didn’t feel right stopping halfway across the walkway so I went all the way across. Well, my neighbour’s neighbour has these plastic candycanes lining her walkway. I didn’t realize that they were “light-up” candycanes. Under the snow was a network of extension cords and Christmas lights. Not for long. The candycanes disappeared into my snowblower faster than you can say “Merry Christmas”. Shit. Stupid event number one.
So… I figure I should go and pick up some replacement candycanes. (The lady wasn’t home, and I was hoping to have the replacement ones before she got back.) I finish up my driveway, and go into the house to get ready. I wanted to trade my winter jacket for my leather jacket. I had just gotten back from a business trip to Detroit yesterday and there was some stuff in my pockets. What’s this? A set of keys? Oh shit… shit! The keys to the rental car! I returned the rental to the airport, full of gas, neatly parked… but forgot to return the keys! Stupid event number 2. (By the way, National Car Rental graciously accepted my explanation and closed out my contract as if I had returned the car normally the day before! Now THAT’S customer service. All I have to do is courier the keys out to them.)
They say these things come in threes… Waiting for stupid event number 3 ruined my day… 11 minutes to midnight… gulp!
rekounas
December 18, 2005 at 11:27 am
Steve, I hope you have a more understanding neighbour than I do. My neighbour would have called the city and had me reported! She would have made them (the city) come out and survey the situation. I called the city one time to ask them about my driveway and how close I could be to her property. They explained to me that she had already called and they expressed their condolences. They also said that I could put a fence, driveway, or shed right on the property line.
I rate her as evil woman #1. I know you have another person in mind when you rate evil people
Steve
December 18, 2005 at 11:24 pm
I rank an entirely different woman as evil woman #1. But that’s another story.
This neighbour kind of laughed it off. I gave her a $30 Walmart gift card. She seemed happy with that.
rekounas
December 18, 2005 at 11:44 pm
I bet they were just happy to get rid of the candy canes
Or maybe just the husband was?
Nelly
December 19, 2005 at 6:28 pm
Hey, anyone who is bold enough to place “plastic candycanes … light-up ones of course” should be prepared for the inevitale “my snowblower ate your candycanes!” story…especially from a neighbour ! :0)
Nel
January 8, 2006 at 2:53 pm
Hey Steve,
I started a new blog. This one will be for creative writing “exercises” only. Feel free to give me some criticism. Always very appreciated from people whose opinions and perception I value :0).
http://spaces.msn.com/members/goneonmyway/
Pender
January 9, 2006 at 3:14 pm
Steve? Where’s steve? I miss steve… Steeeeeeeeeeeeeeevvvvvveeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!