Welcome back to another edition of Weird Wednesday. Where the absurd is the rule, rather than the exception!
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| My oldest daughter was visited by a flock of turkeys. While it's not unusual to see wild turkeys in the Fall, it was a surprise to see them in the snow. My grandson was able to use the binoculars we gave him for Christmas for an up close view. |
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| After 30 years of being homeowners, my husband recently discovered that he could use his leaf blower to clear the driveway if it's a dry snow and is only a few inches deep. So, one Sunday morning, he's out there doing his thing, when I happened to glance out the window and saw this man walking down the street, waving his cane. I thought, uh oh, someone is going to complain about the noise. I watched the man continue up the driveway, waving his cane, trying to gain my oblivious husband's attention. Finally, my husband noticed the man and walked down to talk to him. The man lives a few houses down from us and is Indian. He was wearing a bathrobe and kept asking my husband, in a thick accent, "How much?" It finally dawned on my spouse that the man thought he was a part of a snow removal crew. When he told the neighbor that he was the homeowner, the guy began asking him where he bought the leaf blower and how much that cost. We have no idea what this man has been doing for the past decade, because he's lived here longer than we have and it's certainly snowed plenty in that time period! |
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| The latest realtor gimmick. Note: I did not win! My son and his wife have been trying to buy a home for over a year. They've made multiple offers, sometimes $30K over the asking price, but it's never been good enough. The market is insane right now. |
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| For those that haven't heard, we are no longer the Cleveland Indians, but the Cleveland Guardians. Is that the most boring name ever? Right up there with The Pearl Milling Company. Apparently, my local grocer is not aware that Chief Wahoo is banned. He could get a pretty penny for that! |
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This is the porta potty located at the top of our driveway. It is for all the subcontractors going in and out of our house for the nine weeks of our master bath remodel. On the back of our house is the gas meter. Last week, I happened to see the meter reader record our gas usage, walk down that sidewalk, open the porta potty door, and go inside. I thought that was rather presumptuous and rude! It's not a public restroom! I immediately texted my husband who just said, " When you've got to go, you've got to go!"Do you get wild turkeys in your backyard? Neighbors who don't know who you are? Realtors that want to list your house? How do you feel about banned logos? Would you use a porta potty on private property? |
Our neighbours in this particular section of the street (in Belfast) all know who we are, an improvement on London where most of the neighbours were unknown to us. I certainly wouldn't use a porta potty on private property. He could at least have asked permission!
ReplyDeleteNo wild turkeys in the UK. Just plenty of squirrels, cats and dogs!
That’s nice to know all your neighbors. When I was growing up, my parents knew everyone on our street and most of those on an adjoining street. My husband and I have not had friendly neighbors in either house we’ve lived in.
DeleteIt's incredible that your daughter had wild turkeys in her backyard in the snow!? WOW! Well, it's been a very unusual winter this year weather-wise, so I guess even turkey have had to adapt.
ReplyDeleteAnd OMG, that is so funny about the man in the bathrobe. Hey, maybe new year your husband could start his own PT snow removal business. LOL!
Because I'm not a sports fan, I hadn't heard about the Cleveland name change, however, I googled it before I left my comment to to see the reason and discovered why they changed it. OMG...all I can say is, I am so over the whole politically correct/woke agenda.
And no, I would definitely not use a Porta-Potty on a private property. It's hard for me to even use one if I'm in a arena where they have them for public use. I'd just as soon a fire hydrant. LOL!
FUN post, my friend! Have an awesome day! X
The turkeys are fun to watch. I’m still cracking up that the neighbor thought my husband was part of a work crew. He’s a bit old for that! Lol! The Indians name change issue had been talked about for probably a decade. I’m guessing it will be a long time till fans stop calling them the Indians. We are holding on to our Chief Wahoo shirts, etc. here! I’m with you; I’d rather pee my pants than use a porta potty. So gross! Happy Wednesday!
DeleteFunny you mentioned using the blower on snow. My husband just this winter figured that out and it's been a game changer for him! We have a family of wild turkeys that lives about a 1/4 mile from us and will stand in the street and attack cars! Apparently, they are not real bright! I bet that meter reader guy was glad to see a porta potty in your driveway.
ReplyDeleteHow funny! I don’t know if my husband saw someone else use the blower or what! I have seen city workers use them on city sidewalks in the past and thought it was strange, but now we know! Those wild turkeys do look both stupid and mean.
Deletehahahaha hmmm ummm hmmm I may have done the last one a time or two. Shhhh. When there is no woods, gotta do what you gotta do hahaha
ReplyDeleteCleveland Guardians isn't a very good name. Just bland.
Housing prices are nuts. It 200-300K over asking price just to get a crappy house in the city here.
Yeah, my husband didn’t think much of it. I was rather taken aback! The Guardians is just plain zzzzzzzzz.
DeleteWe've gotten multiple light, fluffy snows this winter, on the order of 2-3 inches; a leaf-blower would be the perfect tool! We don't have a leaf-blower, but an ordinary broom also works just fine (altho more physically demanding than the leaf-blower ;) )
ReplyDelete4M and his wife bought a house last year, after being outbid for 6 others. . .
Sorry, 'Cleveland Guardians' is just lame; sounds like a newspaper. I even know where the 'Indians' name came from. Chief Sockalexis is turning in his grave (to say nothing of Bob Feller).
The poor meter-reader was already on your property to read your meter, so don't begrudge the poor guy his relief
I could see a broom working, but then I might as well just use my push shovel. I’m glad your son was able to find a house. It’s so discouraging. They even tried writing a letter once, but that did nothing. People deny that the team was named for Chief Sockalexis because he was let go due to alcoholism. I’m wondering what the meter reader does when he can’t find a portal potty in the neighborhood?
DeleteDon't ask, don't tell. . . ;)
DeleteI have a hard time seeing racism in names like 'Indians', 'Braves' and 'Warriors' - those seem like compliments to me, and a connection with pre-European heritage. Now, 'Redskins'. . .
I think 'Indians' is offensive because of its association with Christopher Columbus. And we know he's been canceled, post-mortem!
DeleteWe have wild turkeys all over the place out here. There's a small flock I often drive by on the way to work...always in the same spot, next to a fairly busy road. I've often seen them while hiking and even just walking through the neighborhood. Not in my backyard, though. The deer probably chase them away. I'm a sucker for wildlife.
ReplyDeleteDuring our last snowstorm, my neighbor across the street was using a leaf blower to rid his vehicle of snow, too. Gotta admit, that's pretty ingenious.
I liked the Indians name but do understand the inherent racism. Living in western South Dakota has given me a better appreciation for Native American culture and the struggles they face. I try to support them as much as possible (e.g., hiring a Lakota artist to paint a mural on our retaining wall), so renaming the team was a step in the right direction. I agree that Guardians is awfully boring though. Too bad they couldn't have come up with something alluding to the city's status as the birthplace of rock 'n roll. The Cleveland Fenders, anybody?!
Hmm…well, we all have more than enough deer, so I don’t think that’s keeping turkeys away from you. I do know they need to be near trees to roost and a water source. The Guardians name comes from bridge statues, which isn’t all that exciting. I think a lot of people wanted to use their original name, the Spiders. You’d never see me wearing that logo!
DeleteWell I have a leaf blower but I've never thought of using it to get rid of snow, not that we've had any this year so far. Now I wish we'd get some so I can try out my leaf blower.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised the guy used the portaloo (as we Brits call them), most tradesman just piss into a bush around here. :D
My husband loves his leaf blower, so was excited to use it in winter. Ha! You’d get arrested in our community for public urination!
DeleteYes, we get wild turkeys in the backyard. Neighbors are cordial here but no one knows anyone else unless you have kids. Realtors always want to list our house; ain't gonna happen for a while. Banned logos are inevitable in a capitalistic society: get rid of one, get fans to buy merchandise with the new one, change that one, get fans to buy merchandise with that new one, and repeat. No I wouldn't use a porta potty on private property because... EWW.
ReplyDeleteIs it sad to you about the lack of ‘community’ in suburban neighborhoods these days? When I was a kid, my parents knew every single neighbor on our street and most of the adjoining street. We won’t be buying new merch. We have a lot of plain red C sportswear if we are concerned about offending anyone.
DeleteWe get letters about buying our home all the time. I guess flipping houses is good money. I suppose that neighbor had never thought of using a leaf blower either and definitely wanted to try it too. When we vacationed in the mountain for Thanksgiving there 20-30 turkeys traipsing through the yard every morning, as well as deer right among them. It was wondrous. I'm sure the meter guy was quite relieved (unintentional pun) to find a potty he could use. I can't help but feel glad for him that yours was there. (Better that than a bush!)
ReplyDeleteYou can always spot a flip because they all pick the same finishes. I’ve been following some houses and these people will only paint and carpet the place and then ask $150,000 more than they paid 2 months prior. It’s a racket. I was wondering what our Project Manager would say if he walked out of the garage and saw that guy exit the potty!
DeleteHaha. Yeah. The project manager might have a different opinion of the meter guy using the portapotty. That's super lame about the house flipping. Racket indeed.
DeleteHe’s a nice guy from the UK, but I can’t imagine what he’d do if he saw the potty user!
DeleteHa! He could feel for the guy, or he could be amused. Hard to know. (When you've gotta go. ;) )
DeleteLove seeing the wild turkeys; we have them in the 'hood around our place in GA. I suppose if there is snow, where do they go? South?
ReplyDeleteWhat is offensive about using the word Indians? I don't really get it, but if the actual Indians are offended, then it should be changed.
So funny about your neighbor. he must really need some help if he didn't change first before running down to your house.
I try at all means to NOT use a porta-potty. Especially if it's being used by construction workers.
I’m sure the turkeys are here year round, but it’s odd that we’ve really only seen them around Thanksgiving! You’d think they’d be hiding instead. The Indians name is offensive or not depending on which Native American poll you read. The area I grew up, everything had Native American names (schools, streets, etc.) based on the tribes that lived there. Even that is disappearing. It’s seems asinine to whitewash everything, but that’s what’s happening.
DeleteWe have a herd of turkeys every so often as well as a flock of deer now and then. Oh and don't forget the squirrels, woodchucks, chipmunks, and dozens of daily birds. Hmm, and mice and rats.
ReplyDeleteWe've been here 30 years and have only met about a dozen neighbor families but our homes are a bit farther apart than your is. I can say that no neighbor has ever tried to hire me, though every now and then I'll clear some snow or cut some grass when they've got other things to attend to.
And hey, any port-potty in a storm, right? It ain't like bathrooms are available on every corner, give the guy a break. It ain't near as wild as the team that took down our trees a few years back. Half of 'em ran to the farthest tree on our property and, well, got relief as soon as they arrived. Before I could even offer up our pot.
And yes, we've been contacted by several realtors in the last few years looking to score.
ReplyDeleteI can’t say I’ve ever seen a rat in the wild anywhere. Let’s keep it that way! A dozen neighbors is a lot! I really only know 5 people in my entire neighborhood of 180 homes. Might recognize a couple more, but don’t know their names. I’ll be doing a realtor post in the near future!
DeleteI grew up in a neighborhood like yours, though teenier lot sizes. Boy, the stories I can tell about life in the suburbs!! Suffice to say, after Dad passed half the neighbors wanted to get to know us to help out, probably about a quarter just didn't care which is fine, and the last quarter only wanted to know us enough to toss out the names of "those father-less boys" whenever any vandalism or theft occurred. Good times!
DeleteThat’s too bad about the last quarter.
DeleteI have plenty of neighbors who are turkeys. I despise changes of logos. I would have to be desperate to the point of the word desperate having a whole new meaning, to use a porta potty anywhere. xoxo
ReplyDeleteMy next door neighbor is the absolute worst. We keep hoping he will move! I’ve probably only used a porta potty about 6 times in my life and that was 6 times too many.
DeleteI think those wild turkeys would scare me a bit and I probably would stay inside until they went away. Does your daughter live out in the country or do the turkeys venture into the city? That is too funny about your neighbor inquiring about snow removal from your hubby. I don't know, maybe your hubby could have a side gig :) I think our neighbors all know us or of us because of the loud barking Winslow does (it is annoying when he barks, but we try to control his barking; he doesn't bark for hours). I don't think I would use another person's porta potty unless I asked if it was okay first. I do know my hubby used a construction one at the dog park one time when nature called. It was at night with no crews working. Men have it so much easier taking care of their business than us women I do believe.
ReplyDeletebetty
My daughter lives in a suburb, but it is slightly more rural than where we live. We get turkeys here because there are so many huge Metroparks, plus the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. You’re right on how easy it is for men to use a porta potty!
DeleteI haven't seen wild turkeys in the winter either, so that's definitely odd.
ReplyDeleteI'm the neighbor who wouldn't recognize another neighbor out and about, but if they were in their own driveway, I would. That's interesting about the snow blower. I might have to try that on the next light snow day.
I have never used a port a potty on private land, but there have been times that if it were available, I probably would have helped myself. Now, this is coming from someone who has ulcerative colitis and when the urge hits, I have to find a bathroom pronto. Not saying that's the polite thing to do, but when you got to go, you got to go.
We had a light snow last night, but I’m just going to throw down some salt for the workers today! Have to go do that right after I respond to this post. I do get it about urgency. I urinate every single hour of the day, skipping only 5 for sleep.
DeleteLmao @ the guy waving his cane! Apparently he goes out in storms in his bathrobe too.. maybe he just waits for the snow to melt? I saw turkeys in my neighborhood a few months back and it was a thing. We never see wildlife so to see a flock of turkeys passing through was news that I had to share with everyone. Lol
ReplyDeleteThat guy is a strange one. Maybe he was getting his newspaper? I thought for SURE he was coming to complain about the noise! Though I guess there’s not much difference between a leaf or snow blower, noise wise. I bet you were ecstatic over those big birds! Lol!
DeleteI agree with your husband. When you have to go, you have to go. I was probably a last resort for a meter reader that doesn't have many places to go while on the job.
ReplyDeleteI always assumed they just drive to the nearest Starbucks, but yeah, not many options.
DeleteHeh. Back in my (1.5-hour) commuting days, I was, if need be, known to stop at a McDonald's just to use their bathroom. But Michigan is also pretty good about spacing the roadside rest areas. . .
DeleteI know most of my neighbors because they are all crazy.
ReplyDeleteWe get snow maybe once every 7 years so it's not really a problem here.
Not sure I would use a porta potty unless I asked.
You do have the crazy neighbors who are hard to ignore!
DeleteI discovered the leaf blower trick a few years ago. It comes in very handy. The Guardians is a dumb name but baseball is dumb so it all makes sense. They can't even agree to a season yet. Idiots. We get something in the mail at least once a week from someone wanting to buy our house. Take care.
ReplyDeleteAnother leaf snowblower! We have some huge baseball fans in the family. My oldest daughter had a baseball themed wedding. I could take it or leave it, much like any sport. Idaho is hot property!
DeleteWe never get wild turkeys in our backyard, which is now the Nashua River below our 5th floor mill apt. We do get Canada Geese, gulls, and Mallard Ducks and an occasional great blue heron and a month ago, a Bald Eagle flew around.
ReplyDeleteWe know more neighbors on our floor here than many others on similar floors. When we lived in a residential neighborhood we knew a handful of neighbors.
We wish realtors had wanted to list our VA house, but that was then and this is now.
Cleveland Indians like a better name. Not sure how I feel about use of a banned logo, never thought about it before.
I would never use a porta potty anywhere!
It’s always exciting to see a bald Eagle, at least for me. The real estate market is indeed fickle. I’m shocked by what people are paying compared to just 2 years ago. I’m with you on the porta potty!
DeleteThis post cracked me up! Believe it or not, we have had a little group of five wild turkeys in our neighborhood for years now. I've lived out in rural areas of Florida and never saw any. We live in the city and right by the beach, what are they doing here?! They chase walkers, bikers, and cars. They are some strange little creatures lol.
DeleteThe Cleveland Guardians sound more like some new Ohio based religious group than a team. What were they thinking?!
The porta potty - just a big no from me, so gross! On the other hand, my husband worked in construction for many years. I don't think he would give a second thought to using a porta potty on private property.
I hope all is well in your world this week! :)
Glad you enjoyed some nuttiness from my world! I would not think of turkeys in Florida as you have other large birds that seem territorial. They are definitely strange birds! A religious based group! Bahahaha!
DeleteHey, Bijoux:
ReplyDeleteLiving in Brooklyn, I don't see too many wild turkeys, but we have tons of pigeons.
I've lived on a cul-de-sac for years and I hardly know anybody here. I'm not sure why that is.
My landlady is constantly get flyers about selling her house. If I were her I'd look to get out, but I'd really miss my apartment.
I don't give much thought to banned logos and, no, I wouldn't use a porta potty on private property--unless it was a dire emergency!
Take care...
It’s funny how pigeons stick to more urban landscapes. We get a lot of mourning doves, who remind me of pigeons. Maybe there is more of a turnover of neighbors, so their harder to get to know? Hope your week is a good one!
Deleteoh. yeah, we get plenty of wild turkeys in our backyard (along with deer, bear, bobcats, fox, rabbits and squirrels), but then two sides of our house faces a 4 acre hayfield. I am surprised the Cleveland Indians didn't become the Rockers (for the Rock 'n Roll hall of fame). Will Atlanta change their names?
ReplyDeleteThe Rockers was the name of the Cleveland Women’s NBA team, so they couldn’t use that. I’d think Atlanta’s name is more offensive, that’s for sure!
DeleteUsing a blow on snow sounds really good! I will mention about it to my husband. Now it is very heavy snowing here. Greetings.
ReplyDeleteI’m sorry to hear about all the snow. Stay warm!
DeleteBannnned Logos!
ReplyDeleteThe most ridiculous part of the totally ridiculous *Cancel Culture*!
Hooray for your grocer! May he keep that sign, forever!
Oh and! Guess I am finally IN. I can fully see my comment being typed! I take it, all my info is happily settled in your blog 'innards'. And I will no longer have to type it in, to comment.
Even my Icon is now showing!!!!
For now, it is Judi Dench from 'Mrs. Henderson Presents'. Where she looks as if she does not suffer fools lightly. And it seemed appropriate for my "Down with Time Change" post. -grin-
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I’m glad your icon is showing and isn’t it nice when you don’t have to keep typing the same info over and over? I use Blogger but have issues commenting on Wordpress accounts. Off to visit you.
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