I have mentioned before that we do not have a traditional driveway. Instead, we have a parking lot. This house used to be a dentists office (or eye doctor, we get conflicting reports). For the most part, having a parking lot is pretty nice. Minus the times when people think it is public parking.
I have had multiple times where someone will park their car and get out to start walking somewhere. I will ask them what is happening and they will get mad that I am questioning them. I then explain that this is not a public parking lot and they usually ignore me and go about their business.
Honestly, I would not mind if someone parked there. Hell, friends have messaged me asking if it is alright and I always say yes. However, I like being asked. If some stranger wants to park there, they at least should ask me if it is okay, especially if I am standing outside. Most definitely if I just told them that it is private property.
You may think this is something that I am just being stupid about, but Samson goes crazy when someone pulls in and especially if they get out and start walking. If Payton is sleeping, then he could wake her up (hasn’t happened yet, but you never know!).
I have had three different occasions where I actually got fairly angry.
-When the borough was doing sewer line work, the excavators would park their trucks in my lot. I did not say anything, but then after a day or two, I noticed candy wrappers and cigarette butts in my yard. I said to them one day to please stop throwing garbage in my yard and they kind of laughed at me. So I told them that this lot is my property and they can find a new spot to park, if they could not respect it. They stopped parking there, but I will say they did so something nice one day after that. They used the plow on their one piece of equipment to clean the snow off my lot when I was at work. I told them thank you. I still had to clean up the cigarette butts.
-The day we left for my bachelor party was also the day of the community yard sale in Ebensburg. Everyone was meeting at our house and leaving cars there and riding with my brother. As a few people arrive, this random car pulls in and these two women get out. I realize pretty quickly what is happening, but cannot allow it because Jason would not have a place to park. So I went out and told them they could not park there. They were incredulous. “What do you mean we cannot park here?” I said that it was a private residence and they would have to move. “Isn’t today the community yard sale?” Yes, but we are not having a yard sale and again, this is a private parking lot. “Well I do not see any signs.” Do you have signs in your driveway? Please move. They got in and slammed their car doors and backed out like a bunch of assholes.
-One night, I think Payton was only a few months old (haha, like she is so old now). I just put her to bed and I took Samson outside to poop. It was dark out and this guy pulls in and just sits there. So I keep an eye on the car, thinking he was typing in directions or something. Samson does his business and the guy is still sitting there. I went over and he puts down his window. I asked if I could help him with anything. “No, I’m good.” At this point, Samson has started barking at the car. I respond with okay, can you move your car? “I am just waiting to hear from someone.” Oh, well can you wait somewhere else, strange cars freak my dog out. This is private property. “It’s a parking lot.” Yes, it is a private parking lot. “I’ll just be a few minutes.” Okay, but it is late and I would rather you not sit here, there is a Sheetz right down the hill. “Seriously? Whatever man.” He then pulls out like a maniac.
Before anyone thinks I was some hero for saying something to that guy…he was like 16 and the scrawniest kid ever. I am pretty sure Samson would have eaten him.
I think from now on, when someone parks there, instead of getting angry, I will just write up a parking ticket. I will put on there that it is $15 and payable to me and they can drop it off on the porch. Never know, maybe I will get some money out of this. Or perhaps I should put in meters…
What a pain. A sign would probably save you headaches in the long run. This type of crap is why I had a “Go away” doormat when we lived in Colorado. We were near model homes and people would wander in our front door if we left it unlocked.
Ha! Look at this: http://www.greghowley.com/265
Wow, that was pretty far back in the archives. We did not even know each other yet.
Internet friendships are weird. We do not personally know each other. And yet, from the twelve years we have been reading and commenting on each other’s blogs (and facebook, twitter posts). It’s pretty cool and fairly amazing when I think about it.