Got into a yelling match with my next door neighbor last afternoon

[look 171]

Originally Posted by nostatic

These houses were likely built decades ago. What is happening is renovation. LA if rife with this right now, typically it is a flipper who buys a property, brings in a crew, then sells at a profit (e.g. they don't live in the neighborhood). Real estate is a serious profit center in LA, and often at the expense of people who just want a place to live.

In this case the OP does live in the neighborhood, but he's not working on the house he's living in, so it is a financial thing. Which is fine - everybody's gotta make money. But I think people living in a neighborhood have more patience when an owner is improving their own house as opposed to a rental or property to flip.

Sometimes, Todd. I used to do lot of upper end condos in West Hollywood. Good money, great design and expensive taste but, the neighbors are all pain in my ass. I had people spit at my vehicle, tape nasty notes on my vehicle, cuss us out and refuse to ride in the same elevator with us. One man who lived upstairs used to start banging on his floor at about 9am until he got tired of banging. he would come down within the first 4-5 days and ask if were finished and when. This was a project connecting two condo units making it into one gigantic unit, a 4-6 month project. After we got done, he was invited to visit and he called me to bid on his remodel. His request was to finish as quick as possible, start early, work late and work weekends to help him "Get it done". I asked him about the distributing the neighbors. His answer was,"Who care about them. I am paying for it and its my house". I politely decline the job. I am going to let someone fook em' on the remodel.

[Matt Smith]

Just read this Look.
It's entertaining reading- especially for a way, way outsider- what with the NY attitude of get yourself broken for calling on someone's door, to Todd's probably realistic version of multiple points of view.

If I have one universal thing to offer, it's that the pregnant wife and mother in law combination will override any man's ability to act with empathy to another's activities. Eight months of construction around his 'safe place' will get him edgy.

I also live in a neighbourhood of change. We are in a Victorian-era street, and there is constant noise from foundation-up rebuilds. All good though; either that or decay. Hard call for you, but best to hold back imo. My wife would have done something like yours has. She hates confrontation. I can't divorce her like some posters would because I love her.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by Matt Smith

Just read this Look.
It's entertaining reading- especially for a way, way outsider- what with the NY attitude of get yourself broken for calling on someone's door, to Todd's probably realistic version of multiple points of view.

If I have one universal thing to offer, it's that the pregnant wife and mother in law combination will override any man's ability to act with empathy to another's activities. Eight months of construction around his 'safe place' will get him edgy.

I also live in a neighbourhood of change. We are in a Victorian-era street, and there is constant noise from foundation-up rebuilds. All good though; either that or decay. Hard call for you, but best to hold back imo. My wife would have done something like yours has. She hates confrontation. I can't divorce her like some posters would because I love her.

Matt,

My wife is right to deescalate the situation and try to calm both of us down. But I was too pissed and pig headed to realized it at the moment. it would have been nice if she acted like a rough neck with me along my side.

The actual construction was mostly interior and there was barely any noise. The actual work on the place was about 2 months on and off out of the 8. We usually sit on it as my crew are working on other projects.

[aigel]

You need to cool off Jeff. Nothing I read here is worth high blood pressure or marriage trouble. I also advise against escalating it, even if the neighbor is going off the rails with more obnoxious parking jobs.

Todd makes good points. This guy is probably miserable. High rent, small place, preggers wife and MIL at the house, watching housing prices skyrocket around him, never going to be able to afford anything, just have to endure construction traffic and watching others increase their net worth ... and then they start bugging him about parking his car ...

Remember, you own half the canyon, so you'll come out ahead in the long run ...

G

[look 171]

Originally Posted by aigel

You need to cool off Jeff. Nothing I read here is worth high blood pressure or marriage trouble. I also advise against escalating it, even if the neighbor is going off the rails with more obnoxious parking jobs.

Todd makes good points. This guy is probably miserable. High rent, small place, preggers wife and MIL at the house, watching housing prices skyrocket around him, never going to be able to afford anything, just have to endure construction traffic and watching others increase their net worth ... and then they start bugging him about parking his car ...



Remember, you own half the canyon, so you'll come out ahead in the long run ...

G

Oh no, George, I am not going to do anything. Parking their cars like that just to make a point is so high school. I am not falling into that carp. I just wouldn't do or say a word anymore. Silence kills. I should know, my wife used to do that crap to me. I kept teasing my wife about asking them if they want to rent the remodeled house from me. She said I am an arsehole.

[look 171]

Here you go Speeder. Since you asked, I will show it to you.

Cement truck was parked where the white Toyota is on the left side of the street in this photo (facing down hill) along with the concrete pumper. The house is to the right of that. Mr. Dick head's red car was parked where the white truck is on the right with his tail sticking out 2' into the street. The street was empty at that time, so there isn't anyone in front or back of him. All he needed to do was to move up one car length. It was also trash day. Three cars were backed up because of him for about 20 min. All neighbors were great and moved their cars into their driveways. There is no way to pump 18 yards of concrete into the property without the truck and pump being there. Its actually a pretty steep hill.

[Tobra]

Sounds to me like you should be feeling sorry for the poor SOB. The transplants to California is not a new thing, and 99.99% of the time, it is not going to be Texans causing problems. People from Barbara Boxer's neck of the woods, sure.

I would bet money that they demand for an apology was from the wife or even more likely the mother in law. You only have to live next door, that poor bastage has to live under the same roof.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by Tobra

Sounds to me like you should be feeling sorry for the poor SOB. The transplants to California is not a new thing, and 99.99% of the time, it is not going to be Texans causing problems.

I don't know about that. I was visiting a friend in Perryton, Texas. He was ticked off about something. Said, "See that new house over there?" He pointed to a speck on the horizon. "Too f**kin' close."

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by Matt Smith

If I have one universal thing to offer, it's that the pregnant wife and mother in law combination will override any man's ability to act with empathy to another's activities.

This times ten thousand!
Think about it...
Wife pregnant = stressful
Living with MIL = stressful
Pregnant wife + MIL someone hide the guns!

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by Matt Smith

If I have one universal thing to offer, it's that the pregnant wife and mother in law combination will override any man's ability to act with empathy to another's activities.

Sounds like we need to do something about the mother in law plague in this country.

[speeder]

Any guy who lets his MIL move into a small house with him and his pregnant wife has no balls and deserves whatever he gets. Jesus...

[Baz]

Originally Posted by speeder

Any guy who lets his MIL move into a small house with him and his pregnant wife has no balls and deserves whatever he gets. Jesus...

LOL....yup......he must be related to Fred's buddy.....

[DanielDudley]

Wouldn't kill you to send some flowers for the wife and mother. And since we are looking at different points of view here, you must have looked like you were out of your mind from your wife's point of view. I myself can get emotional to the point of being irrational or less than completely under control. I may try to justify it, but I don't expect my wife to back me when I cross that line.

But I can tell you that if someone came to their door and moved their car, I would THANK them, even if I did think they were not always as considerate as I would like to pretend that I am. The whole family stepped up to the plate and did their part. Kudos to them.

You are a Good Guy. You will figure this one out without setting fire to anyone's hooptie...

[scottmandue]

Or...

X15 Personal Flamethrower for Sale | Throwflame.com

[look 171]

Originally Posted by speeder

Any guy who lets his MIL move into a small house with him and his pregnant wife has no balls and deserves whatever he gets. Jesus...

Not even a house, its someone's basement. The only 2 people that rent on our block. The other renter is a family with two kids. wonderful folks.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by DanielDudley

Wouldn't kill you to send some flowers for the wife and mother. And since we are looking at different points of view here, you must have looked like you were out of your mind from your wife's point of view. I myself can get emotional to the point of being irrational or less than completely under control. I may try to justify it, but I don't expect my wife to back me when I cross that line.

But I can tell you that if someone came to their door and moved their car, I would THANK them, even if I did think they were not always as considerate as I would like to pretend that I am. The whole family stepped up to the plate and did their part. Kudos to them.



You are a Good Guy. You will figure this one out without setting fire to anyone's hooptie...

I am usually really really calm, and yelling is not my style. I am calm now, so I can joke about it for a bit. How about I buy a 12 pack of beer and beer and knock on his door and apologize? For the next day, some flowers for his wife. More flowers for the MIL the next day. After that, a 2 buck chuck for all of them. That oughtta do it.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by look 171

I am usually really really calm, and yelling is not my style. I am calm now, so I can joke about it for a bit. How about I buy a 12 pack of beer and beer and knock on his door and apologize? For the next day, some flowers for his wife. More flowers for the MIL the next day. After that, a 2 buck chuck for all of them. That oughtta do it.

Why not just take them out to dinner, pave their driveway, and promise to mow their lawn for the next year?
An olive branch in the form of flowers - OK, maybe you DID scare the ladies. Anything that the douchenozzle that yelled at you in the street would appreciate is out - he doesn't deserve it.

[johnsjmc]

How could the flowers be delivered without someone knocking on his door? Send him an apology note in his mailbox and leave it at that.

[RANDY P]

yup. Tool. "i'm gunna put it on the internet!!"

Dork. SHould've taken the phone and smashed it to bits.

rjp

[A930Rocket]

Don't give him or her squat. He'll be gone in a few months and you'll never see him again.