[geeks] Re: Amy and Lawn Nazi's

[James Rice]

I don't usually have a lot to say, but  <soapbox>

Amy's opinion never offends me whether I agree or not.  I've never liked 
weak submissive women, all of my SO's have been vocal independent 
people.  Ronda, my current and final wife (I'm not going through that 
ever again) is her own person with her own opinions, interests and 
passions.  We mesh well and her strength, tenderness, qualities as a 
mother are what attracted me to her in the first place.  I never want a 
"doormat".  Weak people are boring.  I tend to be a go along person, not 
making waves until someone pushes me too far then I push back...hard.  
Someone calling my wife a "piece" or a "fucktoy" would have me looking 
for my gun.

I appreciate the work involved in running the lists.  Bill is doing a 
great job with out many rewards.  I'm getting to know some of the people 
on here, some of whom are on other lists that I'm on too.  I tend to 
work way too much to have many friends, so sometimes I feel that my best 
friends are a few people that I will probably never meet.  I would hate 
for a few assholes to spoil it for everyone else.

So, thank you Bill.  </soapbox>

On another topic. I purposely picked my neighborhood because it didn't 
have a homeowners association.  I rented a house in Richardson.  The 
owner lived in California and had left a lot of construction debris in a 
side yard.  The sprinkler system didn't work and the landscaping had not 
been completed.  My lease specifically forbid my from changing the 
landscaping, removing the construction "material in outside storage" or 
doing any repairs to the "home or it's systems" myself.  We were 
constantly harassed by the Lawn Nazis for "improperly watering the 
grass", "unsightly debris", "failure to remove concrete debris from 
yard", "failure to maintain in accordance with neighborhood association 
standards".  The HOA finally had the city cite me for the debris and I 
had to get an attorney to force the homeowner to allow me to pay someone 
to remove it.  We found out there was a long running feud between the 
HOA and David the owner. 

The only neighbor that would talk to us, asked the HOA for an accounting 
of the dues.  The three families that ran the HOA with a Nazi SS 
attitude, refused to comply.  Danny withheld three months dues.  The HOA 
filed a suit to foreclose on his house for non-payment of dues.  He 
finally paid the dues and then was assessed  $2200 for legal fees and 
costs.  I heard their house was listed for sale.

James