Monday, May 26, 2008

I Met "Rudy" from Across the Street!

We had some new neighbors move in across the street about a month ago. I've been so busy with work that I haven't made the time to go over and meet them. As luck would have it, the boy and I were throwing the baseball in the side yard a few days ago and I let one get past me. It rolled across the street and into the neighbors yard just as they were pulling up in their truck and getting out. They are an older couple (I'm guessing they are retired) with some grandkids. I picked up the ball and introduced myself to the man who was holding a giant, beady-eyed pit bull on a leash. The woman went inside. "I'm Roger. I live across the street and I thought I should introduce myself since you've been here for a few months already."

He walked up to me with the snarling dog to shake my hand. I was a little slow to approach him as the canine made me just a bit nervous. "Oh, don't worry about him. This is Rudy. He's a big baby." I shook the man's hand and would have reached down to pet the dog, but I've become fond of my limbs and decided against it. The guy seemed ok, but strangely enough his eyes looked like Rudy's. He said something about baseball and the conversation was over. He pulled Rudy to his front door and I threw the baseball back to my son.

It was fairly uneventful, but did anyone notice that something was missing here?

13 comments:

Rose Starr said...

I've had neighbors like him...very odd...so odd that you tell your kids to steer clear.

Hopefully that first impression is not indicative of things to come...maybe you caught him on a bad day...but it sounds like you may have caught him on a good day!
~Rose

Toni said...

Rudy rules the roost. Begin Twilight Zone music now.
Blessings,
~Toni~

My Thoughts Exactly said...

Maybe next time you see him, address him as "Rudy's Daddy". I'm sure that'll score some points!

Big Doofus (Roger) said...

DING! DING! DING! DING! We have a winner. They guy actually shook my hand and introduced me to his dog. I still don't know his name. However, i just received the quarterly neighborhood newsletter* and learned that his last name (and thus Rudy's last name, I guess) is Maish.

*The one with no real news--they just remind you that you cannot do anything to the exterior of your house without filling out paperwork and getting their approval.

Toni said...

The newsletter. Bahahahaha! You mean the same one where they tell you to seek approval for every little project, but then let Jimmy John build a concrete basketball court in his backyard (did too!) and they refuse to address the dung pit known as Larry's house, what with the 3 dogs "doin' their business" everyday without nary a cleanup worry from ol' Larry. You mean that newsletter? I can so relate. Now make sure your mailbox post is up to code. :D
Blessings,
~Toni~

Unknown said...

I noticed the wife didn't waste any time coming out to meet you either huh? Sound like real friendly neighbors ya got there...lol

Unknown said...

You mean you actually read that newsletter? We should send a copy to your dad, just for fun. Do you think that would earn a phone call as he regales us about he could never live somewhere he couldn't do what he wanted to his property? Just askin.

Oh, and you didn't tell me about Rudy. Yeah, I've seen that lady out a lot and she never looks at me.

Rebekah said...

Did he not introduce himself? Just the dog

Mighty Morphin' Mama said...

How kind it was of him to introduce his dog. Does he have a name??

Chris said...

Your's is just a "newsletter"? Ours is a three section, 50+ page "newspaper" (it's even printed on newsprint by the local newspaper on their press!). And yet, it mainly provides 1) local gossip on who's doing what to whom, 2) real estate listings, 3) golf and tennis standings (so who hit a hole in one this month?), 4) real estate listings, and 5) real estate listings. OK, to be fair, I love seeing pictures of my kids in the "Smoke Signals". It's reminiscent of a small-town rag; heavy on gossip and chatter; light on real news. But, we all have drudgereport for the rest, don't we? We actually do have a website (www.bigcanoenews.com) for the local stuff. We're high-tech and high-touch all at once, baby!

Uvulapie said...

Our last association newsletter was eight pages of "green" advice. I am now enlightened.

jan said...

Kind of makes our neighbors seem like real winners by comparison.

Hunny Bee said...

I try to assume the best about people until I have a really good reason not to. So I'm gonna say maybe these guys were having an off day. Maybe someone just died. Or is sick. Or maybe they didn't want to move but had to. Maybe they'll come around when they see what nice people live across the street. We can always hope!
Regarding the newsletter, we just got our first one for our new association and thank goodness it was just one flyer with mostly useful information. Like how *certain neighbors* can't be parking their giant work truck/trailers in the street, blocking traffic. They must be parked in your three car driveway. Yes, that means you *certain neighbors*. That's the only thing I remember cuz I wanted to go tape the flyer on *certain neighbors* door.