(Soon after my brother brought Winston home)
Winston struggles with anyone outside of my sister, parents, and friend (and that is sometimes even touch and go). Regardless of his many rages, I do consider my sister and I considerate pet owners. We keep our apartment clean and try our darnedest to eliminate the smell of dog. Jen and I have also gone through many discipline tactics. Alas, the squirt bottle is the best so far (maybe I should try this out when I have children of my own).
Which brings me to my point of being pet considerate and kid considerate...because oddly enough I often feel like I am raising a child. Each one has to be fed everyday, taken to the bathroom, bathed, disciplined, and most importantly entertained. My sister and I have the privilege to have the best neighbors in the entire complex. They clean up after themselves, participate in pleasantries and small talk, and are quiet as mice. Who am I kidding....I think we pulled the short end of the stick when it comes to the tenants we share our building with. I am beginning to think someone secretly hates me out there in the apartment world and practicing exposure therapy to help me overcome my OCD tendencies (okay....I watch a lot of Obsessed on A&E).
Point #1:
Don't get me wrong I love pets, but if you are not going to take care of them don't bring them into your home (hmm...similar to children). Every day I make my way up and down three flights of stairs, multiple times a day, so my dogs can relieve themselves. Notice I said I go up and down the stairs. Our awesome neighbors directly across from our apartment recently brought home a Basset Hound puppy for a Christmas gift. Days went by and suddenly there were surprises left between the apartment doors. They were allowing their puppy to use the space between our doors as a toilet. Number 1 and number 2 deposits were appearing just steps away from our apartment. The number 2 transaction was left at the doorstep for more than three days and Number 1 so nicely froze into a puddle for several weeks. Really??!!! Who feels okay leaving that for everyone to "enjoy"? The cherry on top was the other day when I was walking my dogs and I stumbled across another "transaction" in the middle of the sidewalk. "I love my neighbors...I love my neighbors". Side note....tonight we are now stacking diapers at the doorstep and the bottom of the stairs!
Point #2
Now on to children. Again, I state if you can't take care of them (children or pets) DO NOT bring them into your house. Our neighbors downstairs have two very "sweet" little boys and also contribute many habits for all to enjoy. I would like to preface this point with a little conversation about the "rules" of having a pet in our complex. You must pay, an undisclosed non-refundable deposit, for cleaning upon moving out of the apartment. I completely understand the logic behind this because pets are unfortunately not like humans and do not use the toilet. BUT, I am beginning to think a deposit should be required for children. Now back to those sweet boys, imagine being in a peaceful slumber and all of the sudden their is a child SCREAMING below you (it is 3:00 AM). One usually wakes the other and often times cry harmoniously. Do the parents go and console their children? No of course not, they continue to allow them to cry until they are so exhausted they fall back to sleep. I am by no means a child hater, and I would be fine with an occasional scream fest. BUT, the fest lasts the entire day and sometimes the parents even join in by yelling, "STOP IT" (and I am not kidding about all day...come and visit and you will experience the joys of these boys) or turning on the Twilight soundtracks to muffle the sounds of the screams (I don't even need to mention how loud she plays the music because you are well aware I am sure....I KNOW the music she is listening to and even sometimes can understand the words). Now, if the screaming and music were not bad enough, we have to add in the 7:00 AM vacuuming sessions that tend to last at least 30-45 minutes (our apartment is 900 sq feet). I leave my favorite for last because it directly effects me and the ambiance :) of my apartment building. The mother so dutifully sweeps the kitchen floor about once a week. You may ask, "Kerry, how do you know this?". Well, normal people would use this cool little gadget called the dust pan, but why would we use that when we can sweep it out the door. If you are ever needing a snack there are often times goldfish, cereal, bread crusts, and crackers just outside her door. So DELICIOUS!!! Imagine with me for just a moment....If she sweeps that amount of crap outside and her children are screaming and kicking the walls (sometimes it even makes the floor shake)....what in the world does her apartment look like? For all I know her boys urinate in the corner....just like dogs!! Do you now agree, children need the cleaning deposit too!!!???
Points #3-7
Pumpkins- One of my favorite holidays is Halloween. First, because it is in the fall and I love it. Second, I love the smells, decorations, and excitement that revolves around this time of year. Pumpkins stacked by doorsteps....and even digging your hands into that gooey mess before carving. Well, Halloween has been over for two months now and some pumpkins are still lingering around the building. Their first home was by my neighbors door (they looked the best there). The second was by the door of someone that lives on the other side of the building (still looked okay). Their current home....out on the grass by the playground. It is especially nice when the snow melts and their slimy, rotting remains are there for everyone to enjoy. Apparently some people are too lazy to throw them in the dumpster and would rather throw them to the playground area. Does the apartment complex do anything about it? Of course not! They only receive hundreds of dollars from each apartment each month.
Cat Crate- Another addition to our lovely abode is a cat crate...in two pieces on the grass outside the building. You may wonder, why I am so bugged with a silly crate? Well, when it has been laying there since the end of October and it has a questionable substance in the bottom....I have issues. I guess the new trash can at our building is not in the apartment or the dumpster. Just come on over and throw it outside on our grass.
Cats in General- This really has nothing to do with neighbors or children, but it has everything to do with the roaming cats in our complex. Why must they kill mice and eat everything but the head? Enough said.
Window Screens- You may begin to wonder if I dislike cats after so many points directed towards them. They are not my favorite pet, but I do not hate them....I think I just dislike their owners. Another neighbor of ours allowed their little feline to scratch, chew a hole in the family room window screen. Did she ask to have the screen replaced or replace it herself? No, she took her scissors and cut out a square so the little kitty can have easy access to go outside whenever needed.
Christmas Tree- The most recent irritation is the disposing of Christmas trees. The day after Christmas our neighbors got rid of their tree. I am impressed it is not just out in the lawn, but they did leave presents behind. There are pine needles all the way down the stairs. A couple? No. It feels like you are walking in a forest as your go up and down the stairs. So much that they crackle beneath your feet and you always get a collection in your apartment each time you come in.
After this entirely too long of a post you may be thinking I am just a grumpy person who is never happy. This is not true...I love pets....I love children....I love neighbors. Just take care of your crap please so I don't have to look at it!
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