My Neighborhood Directory

I was thinking about the neighborhood garage sale that my neighborhood has twice a year. I know they normally do it in May or June. I thought about possibly doing one myself.  I searched online and found my neighborhood’s website.  I had been there before and it was totally different. I tried to click on different things and a log in page popped up. I was thinking well how do I get a login? I clicked Register and started looking at the form.  One of the first things I noticed was Pet Information, at first I thought, I wonder why that is important. Then I saw it said description and emergency number.  Then it clicked.  I think that is brilliant. I have seen lost pets in our neighborhood, most of the time it was my old neighbor’s dogs, so I knew who they belonged to, but a person a street over might not know.  Pets get out on occasion, they are not just pets, and they are members of someone’s family.  I think it is awesome that my neighborhood is going the extra mile to include that in the online directory.  I would love to see that become a standard in a neighborhood directory all over the US and Canada too.

Of course there are basic information items in the directory too. They have the typical names and ages of your children. That would great for finding kids Noah’s age, and for those friends he meets on the bus.  He starts Kindergarten in August.  He knows his phone number but maybe some other kids won’t.  I will eventually teach him our home phone number too, so my cell phone isn’t the hub of Noah’s social network. 

What kinds of things are in your neighborhood directory?

The F word!

I hate the F word. It makes my skin crawl every time I hear it or read it. I hate it so much. I don’t want to be associated with that word in any way shape or form. Not that the ones who are, are bad people by any means. It’s just not what I want to be. When I think of the F word it is almost like an insult to me. Maybe I am just weird, but my skin is crawling just typing this.

What is the F word? It’s probably not what you are thinking of. In fact I know it isn’t. I don’t like that F word either but the one I am referring to is FRUGAL. Before I sound like a complete snob let me explain. I have no problem with coupons. I love coupons. I used to get so excited when they did triple coupons and dollar doubles. I love a great sale as much as anyone else. I love to shop clearance and see what I can find for really cheap. I am not excessively wasteful either. It is just one of those words that get under my skin and gives me the creeps. Kind of like the way people don’t like the word moist. That seems to be a creepy word too.

I am not sure where the word frugal came from. I am sure its Latin or Greek for something. When I think of that word I think about a recent episode of Wife Swap and how the family shared bath water. I think of people reusing everything. I see them picking up used toilets at the end of people’s driveways. I think of people with bomb shelters full of food. You know the ones that are ready for some really long natural disaster.

I know some people have to be like that to survive. I am not trying to insult anyone I promise. I just hate that word. They should change it to something new. The word frugal gives me the heebie jeebies. I am sure you all have words that just drive you crazy. It is odd how certain words are just like nails on the chalkboard but are perfectly fine for others. What are some of your creep out words?

No profanity please. I am aware most people don’t like foul language so you don’t need to point that out to me.

Good thing I went outside when I did....

 I went outside and was sitting on my screened porch. I noticed the neighbors had their fire pit going. No big deal right. I thought its kinda weird to have it lit at 3 pm in the afternoon as they like to sit around it at night. So I am sitting there and watching the little white pieces of ash float around. Then the mom comes out from the other side of the house and puts a 4 foot piece of carpet or rug on the fire. I am thinking that's not a smart thing to do. But these are the people that burn furniture. So I am sitting there hoping my house doesn't catch fire. All the sudden I notice that the grass is on fire. I thought that maybe it was a big piece of ash or something still red. Nope the grass was on fire. My neighbors weren't outside watching the fire. So I panicked and I went next door and ring the door bell and no one answers I ring it again and then finally the son answers and I was like hi your grass is on fire. The fire is going but the grass is on fire too. I really hope they have one of those home warranty insurance plans to protect themselves from their crazy escapades.

Mind you these are people that seem to forget to put the collar on their dogs so they run all over the place. When I went back in my house I looked and the mom is standing out by the fire. I live next door to these people and I love my son and my house and I don't want anything to happen to my family or stuff. I am gonna go check again. There is a reason you aren't supposed to burn carpet and rugs. That's what trash cans are for.

Update: I went downstairs and looked and the fire is out now.