A very unwelcome homecoming.

Why hello there,

I hope everyone had a splendid weekend. Brandon and I sure did. We took a little adventure down to Provo and spent some quality time with family and friends. We also escaped the two inches of snow that surrounded our apartment. But unfortunately we had to return. And we returned to something very, very terrible. Downstairs neighbors.

They have been moving in for a while but they finally made an appearance yesterday. Now, I don't want to make any prior judgements before I actually get to meet the three teenage looking occupants, but I do have one complaint. The dog. First of all, dogs and apartments don't mix. They just don't. Dogs need a backyard and a doggy door. They need to be able to run free. This particular dog needs one of those barking shock collars. Early this morning (around one or so) one of those shocking collars would have been very helpful. But, these things I can live with...mostly. It's what happened this morning that constitutes removal of this particular canine.

I was happily prancing down the stairs ready to jump in my car and make the little trek to Rexburg when this furry fireball came charging at me. See, they obviously realize that dogs and apartments don't mix well either. So, they decided to tie up their dog to a pole outside of their apartment. Well, the rope is pretty long, so this dog has free access to a great deal of the parking lot and complete access to my Honda. Did I say it came charging at me? Yes, barking, sprinting, and showing it's very pointy teeth. I had to climb in the back seat of my Honda (were thankfully the little bugger couldn't get to) and then climb into the drivers seat. Then as I backed out it chased my car until it's rope yanked it back.

Us having a stare down. Being the smart person I am, I took this from my patio. Also, it may look small but small things can be quite the terror as well..I mean just think of that two-year-old you saw at Wal-mart today...

So, the conclusion to this story is the dog has to go. Like, very soon. Any suggestions? I might accidentally run it over as it chases my car out into the parking lot..just kidding..but maybe. Or, maybe some really good pepper spray would work? Who knows. But for now I will continue the climb over the seat routine to save myself from being a chew toy.

The parking lot is not a playground.

Well it's not. But the kids in our apartment complex thing it is. There's about ten of them, they just ride their bikes around like they own the place. Well guess what, my car is bigger than your bike. I find myself waiting patiently as all ten of them shuffle from one side of the street to the other, and then sometimes back again. Really, I don't mind that they play, I encourage being outside instead of glued to a video game. It's just the fact that my front bumper has gotten awful close a couple of times, which makes me nervous.

It gets worse when they decide to play a game of tag. Really, it becomes a real-life version of Frogger. They dart and dodge around my moving vehicle to avoid being tagged. I hope I valued my life a little more than that when I was younger. The irony of it all is that there's a perfectly good grassy area across the street that looks way more inviting than the black asphalt, even if it is the landscaping around the AmeriTel.

I might just anonymously post this sign around our complex: 

I think the "thanks" really helps. Don't you?

But, it is things like this that make me crave my own home. In a real neighborhood. Without awkward neighbors who smoke all day long. One that has a garage and a backyard, maybe even a pool..I should probably stop. But for now, I will be patient and wait for the little munchkins to cross the street, while I day dream about my future home.

Have a good weekend!