Wow! It's been almost a month since I had anything to report, and now...tada..I have NOTHING to report. Geez!

The rehabbed former drug/squatter/hoarded house sits empty. Lots of people dropping by to look at it. Lots of different realtors having Open Houses. The rehab company (older guy) stops by to make sure the doors are locked and the porch light gets replaced (burns out frequently).

The house sits looking pretty, but it's so far out on the price and the 'design' for our old neighborhood, that I haven't seen anyone come back a second time to look at it.

The price has gone down from $469,900 to $455,000 for the 'rehab guys' and down to $449,900 for the other, unrelated realtors. ALL the building/rehab crew who bought the house are relatives so they pool money, pay cash and then wait for the big payout at the end to divide it.

It's been pretty boring just watching and waiting. No police action, no graffiti, no break-ins. Geez it's BORING!

I'd love to announce a new era over there with some strange occupants, but so far nothing. Maybe they will rent it out for awhile to get some cash. Everyone I know around here had taken the 'tour' and has the same opinion. TOO expensive, taxes would be about $6,000 a year alone. Gotta make big bucks to pay the mortgage and taxes. I can't think why anyone who would make that kind of money would want to live in an old neighborhood, which isn't awesome, no cute houses, nothing historical, main, busy street.

So we sit, we wait, we watch.

In the meantime, I've got TENANT troubles. Ugh! Eldest son from another country finally got his Visa, immigration papers, all that good stuff after TWENTY SEVEN years of trying. He's been here for with his wife for 68 days now. FREE. Living with the parents and his younger brother (who have always been my tenants). After 2 months of FREE living, I finally had to tell them I needed some money from the 'newbies' to live there. Wrote up a weekly agreement to avoid any problems of locking anyone into anything and made sure that they knew this new weekly deal only applied to the visitors. It would not affect the original rental agreement with my long term tenants.

So all was sort of OK. Family 'attacked' when I presented the offer and we worked it out, or so I thought. Then it looked like the son/wife might be moving out yesterday (the LAST day I allowed without paying) BUT this morning, rent day, occupant son paid his money, and the newbie started a long dialogue about how he couldn't, wouldn't, didn't think it was fair, etc. He did pay me the hundred bucks I asked for but refused to sign the agreement. No problem, we just wrote a receipt which will prove that he's paying rent.

THEN he came back to argue the point again. Very hard to deal with someone who really wants to NOT pay for staying. I went through the entire routine about MY bills, MY electricity, MY water, and all that good stuff, and he really is just at the edge of 'I don't know what I will do, I will have to leave, I can't ask my parents to pay this, I am trying to find a job, you should be more caring of my position, etc."

I am drained. I will not however, back down off the extra 100 bucks a week to cover my expenses and referred him to Social Services, Unemployment offices, and all that good stuff. He is now going immediately to CHECK the laws about IF I can charge him to stay there. Geez! I expected that since his old job was working for a JUDGE and he obviously knows the laws. I told him exactly where to find the information. Hope he reads it carefully. I am free and clear with 'legalities'. I get the feeling he thinks I'm trying to gouge them. Oh well. Time will tell.

At least it's something to keep me busy for awhile. Worst case scenario, he keeps refusing, he stays, he doesn't pay and I will have to evict all of them (or threaten to). Best case is he understands, I have no more problem and he either pays or moves to another relative's house near by. There are several around here that could take him and the wife. He feels he's taking advantage of his parents (who have little money) and he's panicking about not causing them trouble. He said he will move out (sometime) but for now still wants me to take half of the amount I'm asking. I won't budge. I can't really. My rents are SO LOW, not even up to what they should be and every year, I have to explain to IRS that these are relatives/friends so I charge way under the normal rent. Otherwise IRS thinks I'm trying to scam them to avoid taxes on my income. What a mess, not unexpected, but hey, we needed some drama around here.

YOu can have my new neighbors. They've only been here a week and I've already burnt any bridges of getting along. I think they moved in 4 families, one for each bedroom.

Sorta, that's too bad. Sorry he is being difficult.

Ana, I'm sorry to hear that. Did they buy or rent?

Wow Ana! You must be having a lot more fun than I am. Living next to anyone is good or bad. Most of my neighbors are pretty nice or at least they stay out of my 'zone'. Got rid of the squatters, the 'thief' has been arrested, the 'apartments' have been almost totally cleared of most of the 30 people who lived there and we only can count the original 'family of owners' and about 5 'regulars' still there. Very calm for now.

The crazy guy across the street who is still shunning me, is very erratic and we all just sit and watch him do his strange things. He's really got some problems which we can't quite pin down. One is alcohol, and another is anger management. Other than that, he's pretty quiet and the rest of the family is great.

Now this TENANT stuff is just a bump in the road. It will resolve somehow. He will probably (or already has) go to the library and look up California Landlord/Tenant Laws as he threatened to do and which I told him the exact place to get the information. I have no worries about what I do legally as a Landlord. He's definitely going to be a minor thorn in my side until he figures out that I'm not a stupid person. He's tried his best so far to intimidate, bargain, make me feel sorry for him and everyone else. I sympathize, but they must have some money for 'living' since they moved across the world, and I can't imagine doing that with nothing. More important, the Immigration Authority surely would make sure that the couple would not be coming without someone to support them and give them a place to live. I know they are using my rental as their permanent address in the States. Not strictly legal, but I was trying to be understanding since the parents are my 'friends' for all these years.

If the arguing continues, I will just have to put my foot down 'somewhere' and remind them all that I can end this with a legal notice to move. They won't do that I'm sure. The son thinks he can find a place to rent around here for $400. or less a month. He already tried the 'the house here is old and needs repair.' Ummmm. Like I haven't fixed everything the very same day they told me? It's surely old, but in good shape. I checked his old country rents and they are the SAME as recommended rentals around here. Wow. I'm amazed they are the same. Nice to know.

Hoping it all works out quietly. I have better things to do with my free time.

Hey Ana, got any good 'terrible neighbor stories'? You might try Mrlandlord.com for some really good ones. It's a website that you can get advice about bad people and just plain funny stuff that happens when you are a renter/landlord. Fun to read and I get great ideas and advice there.

L4L, they bought it. It was rented for two years prior to the crazy folks that had the cops here at least twice a week. We were so glad they were gone and now I am living in hell again. There appears to be about 7 kids under 9 yo and 2-4 sets of adults.

Sorta,

Will Ana be taking over? Ana's Neighborhood

Hey, someone's gotta do it. I'm almost out of fun stuff to report.

Oh, Ana, I'm so sorry to hear that. Neighbors can make all the difference, can't they?

The house right next to us is for rent. I hope it takes awhile as I'm enjoying the quiet.

Update on the Drug house that got rehabbed. So I keep checking the realty sites and finally one put up this message: "We are no longer showing this house, the owners have accepted an offer and are in process of a sale." At an asking price of $469,900. I don't think it will fly, but some realtors were listing it for as low as $449,900. Maybe someone with a VA loan bought it. VA has NO down, and the figures listed say it's 5k closing costs period and you are in. Yup. Could be a military family. So easy to get into a house, but then a 30 year mortgage at $2500. a month will be a biggie.

I guess that means that unless it falls out of escrow, it's a done deal.

Yesterday, there was an Inspection Company over there for 3 hours. He was under, over, in the house and on the roof twice. There was a couple with a small boy there for awhile. I'm not sure if they are the prospective buyers or just more of the 'selling renovators'. Too many faces to remember.

So nobody today, nothing going on, boring. I keep waiting for the 'sellers' to remove all the 'staging' furniture stuff and then I will know it's sold.

I'm still thinking it will be a family with 4 kids and 2 large dogs. Or an extended family of aunts, cousins, friends, etc.

I've been wondering if anyone was going to pony up for the house! I just hope they are good neighbors...

I hope they are good neighbors, Sorta!

Woot, hope they are a fantastic family and great neighbors!

Sorta

Nothing, nothing, nothing is happening. No showings, no one walking around like they are waiting for escrow to close, just people dropping by to pick up the flyers. Don't know what is going on with the 'sale'. All realtor sites say, no longer on the market, etc. Wish something would happen. At the least, they could come and remove the 'staging' or something. Maybe they are selling it to ANOTHER rehab company just to get rid of it? So BORING!

But BORING IS GOOD!

I like boring. The house still sits empty BUT there has been some action over there for the past few days. The original 'workers' are back. They first liberated all the Zapota Fruit off the tree in the yard, then started to work on finally finished the inside of the garage.

It had been left with bare studs, a half-broken wall between the front parking area and the back 'office' room. Terrible horrible mess. It was a workshop with benches and cupboards and all, but they tore all that out when the started the re-do. So now they have completely drywalled the inside, put up some very nice cupboards, finished the dividing wall and installed a door inside. Looks really nice.

Can't tell whether they are doing this for the 'new' owner to finalize the sale, OR if that fell through and they are doing more little things to entice someone else to pay the big bucks. Time will tell. So quiet there, no squatters even wandering nearby. I'm really happy now for months.

When someone finally moves in, it will be another story. Can't wait to see what new adventures await.

This all sounds pretty positive to me Sorta.

Tuesday morning, 8am, they are TENTING the house! Wheeeeeee!

Termites?

Yeah or no. In Calif. most 'lenders' insist on tenting a place as part of the sale no matter if they find termites or not. Stupid rule but I guess it's better to start off 'fresh'.

It's a good sign that in 3 days we will have some NEW owners. One of my 'detectives' says she saw a family over there twice. I never saw anyone twice, but I remember that group. Mom, Dad, 2 grade school sons and a bigger son who could be teens or young adult with a girl in tow (girlfriend or wife). Could be the whole crew moving in or who knows.

All I care is that they don't have barking dogs. Dogs are great, barking ones (without cause) are bothersome. Around my neighborhood, there are a lot of dogs, but they never bark unless another dog is being walked by their house. Nice.

Expect an update in 3 days or less. Less if someone stupid sees a tented house and breaks in thinking they can steal a bunch of stuff. There is NOTHING in there except a stove and dishwasher and microwave (all built-ins). Can't wait to see if anyone figures it out. Loads of 'tenting burglaries' in recent months.

It only took 3 guys 2 1/2 hours start to finish to do the 1300 square foot house and a garage. All done, they are gone. I took pictures. It looks like a huge 'bouncy house'. Wonder if they put kids in there?

Oooo... exciting!

Could this be the beginning of the end?

Tenting all done in 2 days from start to finish. Nothing happened until today when I saw the 'old guy' who is the patriarch of the family that does all these rehab houses. One big family so he explained to me last time I 'accosted' him over there.

Today, I couldn't help myself and watched him go in, drive away and come back with a grocery bag. When he got ready to leave again, I went outside, he waved and I walked over. He loves to talk. Found out lots of stuff about the rehab and inspectors, and all that. AND he said it IS sold is in escrow and definitely sold sold sold AND he will find out the NAME of the buyer for me and tell me next time he's over here. He checks that house and the others they have, once or twice a week. Wow. Hope he follows through and sounded very honest about it. Nice guy, I'm fluttering my eyelashes a lot to get info. Fun. So soon, maybe we will have more info and a FAMILY moving in. Definitely NOT another company buy-out deal. Good.

AND I asked him about the 'dangerous' step down just inside the front gate that a lot of people trip down and up. He said he also trips on it. He can't figure out why the workers didn't slope that. I explained how easy it was. Maybe they will fix it, but he aid the BUYERS didn't ask for that to be fixed, nor did the inspectors mention it. The inspectors did mention other miniscule things, like 3 screws in the water heater cabinet that were missing, etc. Silly stuff.

Time will tell. Hope he comes back in a few days with info on the new owners and how much they paid. Yup.

Good work, Sorta!

Sorta.

NEW Neighbors! We have neighbors. Unfortunately we don't know how many.

Last night, 5 cars/trucks arrived at various times with lots of people. From what we can see, we think it's a younger couple with 2 boys about 12 and 15. Then again, there were 4 little boys (3-4 yrs) running all over screaming and jumping all over the place. Then there were 2 little girls. Adults were numerous.

Some boxes were unpacked and thrown in the yard and lights went on and off inside for a few hours. THEN everyone left and nobody has returned all day. Maybe they will all come back Saturday for the big move. I'll know more when I finally see some of the settling in. Could be 2 families are going to live there, or the young couple and grandma/grandpa. Hard to tell.

More exciting news about what kind of furniture they move in and if they have pets. I'm hoping for elephants or alligators.

Sorta. It is nice to see this saga end with a new family in town.

Yay for new neighbors! I hope they are great ones!

Sorta, maybe they will have a peacock for Penelope

Oh L4L, what a great idea! I wish someone would have a male around here. She's still sitting on eggs I guess. She just made her kama0kazi run for food and drink. Took her 3 minutes and a lot of 'honking'.

Still moving in over there. They put up sheets in the bedroom windows last night. Might have been someone sleeping there, but today I see the 2 identifiable vans (one white one red) coming in separate waves. I did see one guy I am starting to recognize. Middle aged, big pot belly. Can't miss him.

Well, you've had just about everything else happen over at that house, my guess is that they are probably aliens, in disguise. Yep, if you wake up from a "nap" one day and a strange urge to buy the components for a fusion battery, blame the neighbors.

By gosh, Trail, I think you've got it!

Why didn't I think of that!? Trail you are soooo smart. Yep, aliens it is. Actually I'm not sure that aliens would truck in on a flatbed trailer a classic Mustang car which looks more like just a 'shell' and is going to be worked on in the garage. Interesting to see what new neighbors bring to the table.

So far, a nice new 'simple' washer sitting on the driveway, sheets in the bedroom windows and nothing in any others. Two boys (one about 6 one a teen) with bicycles, a medium sized dog (dark with a white ruff). have no idea what type of dog it is but it's not a 'barker'. Gooooody!

Can't tell actually who will be living there, but I'm suspecting the young couple, the two boys, maybe the pot-bellied guy, who seems to be there all the time now. Probably spent the night, went away for a little this morning and is now back. He's got a white SUV. Now I can at least place him and a car together.

They turned off ALL the lights since starting the move. No porch lights, no security lights, nothing. VERY dark over there. AND I saw a TV going in the 'master' bedroom. Flicker is recognizable. Pot belly guy watched TV till the wee hours.

Such fun. At least so far, no annoying people, no drug deals, no fights. Simple family I think. Off to spy some more. I'm sure they will notice me sooner or later on my porch (sometimes with binoculars). I'm trying to be COVERT.

Sherlock Blonde.

Still spying. Pot belly stayed the night and left this morning in the 'other' SUV that was parked out front for 2 days. We thought that was someone from up the block but apparently it's also for this house. The dog is a boxer puppy about 4 months. HE managed to climb over the low cedar fence when the pot belly guy was out on the sidewalk. Oh boy. They are going to have to build a higher fence or tether him. Scary as it's a very busy, main drag street to everywhere. Fast cars at all hours.

The teen boy was there today and he is a BOXER. Not the doggie type, a real in the ring, gloved, boxer guy. He was setting up old tires and punching them off a wall and then ran around the back yard like Rocky boxing and running. Fun to watch. I assume he's on some high school boxing team or maybe a gym something or other. Interesting.

No women seen today at all but they are probably in the house. Guys are outside playing with cars, etc.

More fun and games in the neighborhood. I guess they have moved everything in? No movement of stuff all day. Must not have a lot of stuff. Time will tell.

I wonder if they know the history of their new home. Do they know they're being watched; the neighborhood news of the day?

During the Recession, the neighborhood where my ex and I lived, instead of outright purchases, there was a lot of rehabbing going on. Some s mall ranch homes, similar to what we had, were practically torn down and replaced by mansions. One took up an entire corner including the back yard which was left the size of a postage stamp. I think a builder owned that one. About a mile away, the property for another huge house included a full tennis court and pool. Just down the block, the next suburb over, in an area where homes are worth about $200,000; a place was built with an asking price of almost a million dollars. For the most part, these a safe, clean neighborhoods but not worth that much! Go figure!

OMG! Last night was a doozie! Just when I thought it was calm and I was just sorta watching to see who was going to live in the old scary evil nasty rehabbed house, we have ACTIVITY!

Picture this: Watched Fear the Walking Dead and was just starting to watch the recorded Last Ship. I hear a siren (not the fire truck). I look outside just in time to see an older white (1980's) car zoom by, followed by a police cruiser with all lights and sirens. They had come down the 'T' Street where the house is kitty corner to me. That street Tbones into my driveway and my neighbor's.

So they BOTH screech around that corner. I'm guessing they were going about 50ish. No kidding. Up the block to the corner (only 3 houses) and then left on that street. Still hearing sirens close by. Heard them coming BACK. It's the SECOND trip around the corner. Each time, the Toyota almost jumped the curb and it would have been either my phone pole out front OR my nice wooden fence that got taken out if he slipped just a bit.

Second go round and then the SAME pattern, they were coming AGAIN down the T street right at my house. THEN they stopped. Neighbor a few doors down saw the whole thing from his front yard where they were having a family barbeque. He came running in front of my house just as 3 more cruisers zoomed in and took up positions in front of my house, at the corners and up the street. Eventually we had about 7 police (probably more) AND the police Helicopter!

Seems the guy in the car had jumped out 2 doors up from the corner, ran across and THROUGH my crazy neighbor's yard across the street, then into the 'tow yard' and the police were yelling at him to "stop, get on the ground!" over and over. Just like an episode of COPS. Awesome.

Well the guy kept running and the helicopter finally spotted him 2 doors farther and the police and canine officer got him. Wheeee! Heart stopping fun.

Seems the guy stole the car and the police just happened to see it and the chase was on. The stolen car was driving with NO lights. Yikes.

My neighbor at the barbeque had run after the guy when he saw him coming this way and was going to 'tackle' him so he says. Keep in mind, that my neighbor guy was more than a little drunk. BUT he did see it all and told the police where to look. Crazy neighbor across from me (the one who shuns me for 2 years now) was out IN HIS YARD with is wife and 3 daughters WHILE the guy was IN his back yard, just feet away. Drunk neighbor kept shouting for them to get back in the house.

All the neighbors eventually were outside watching the whole fiasco and I'm amazed nobody was hurt. Police were awesome. Cars blocking the roads, police standing guard up and down the street, protecting all of us.

Fire truck came in (lights and sirens) to check out a policeman but he was OK I guess, since they just left soon. Tow truck took the car later. All this in about 1/2 hour! Amazing stuff. Front row seat. Never a dull moment around here.

Now here is the fun part. In all of this, the NEW family was inside and finally a few came out to see what was happening right in front of their NEW happy home. I mentioned to my friend/tenant who was watching TV with me, that this was our version of 'The Welcome Wagon' for new residents. As the drunk neighbors went home, he called across to the new people, WELCOME to the Neighborhood'. Oh so funny!

I can only imagine them rethinking what they got themselves into by buying a 'crack house', 'squatter's house' with bad karma, and now THIS. It's gonna be like this as usual. We are so used to stuff happening right here, right now, all the time.

So it was a fun night, I wonder what the new guys are thinking this morning?

OK finally I think I've got the new residents accounted for. Maybe. Man about 50 (mr. pot belly). His 20ish son, a girlfriend of the son's. I don't think the girlfriend actually lives with them, but I see her sometimes along with the little 3 year old son of the son. Then maybe a wife of mr. pot belly. Still hard to tell the actual residents.

Neighbor, who talked to them, says mr. Pot belly was living with his brother, moved out with the son and a nephew. Not sure who is the nephew, but maybe I'm confusing the son and another similar male. All I know is one is a BOXER. A really good looking, hard practicing guy. He's out every day for at least an hour, running, punching, shadow boxing. I saw him yesterday punching the fruit tree (huge tree) and boy was he fast with those hands. He just hit alternating hands for about a minute. Awesome.

Still moving in, still no curtains, have the new fridge and new washer/dryer. I'm not seeing any big furniture but it might have come earlier when I wasn't there. Only a few cardboard boxes lying in the yard. Strange. Maybe this guy didn't have many possessions at all.

Makes me wonder. If the house was listed at the lowest of $455,500. How could an unemployed guy afford it? He's not going to work, the son isn't going to work, don't see a car with women staying overnight ever so far. If the wives/girlfriends worked it wouldn't seem that they could afford the price, or the upcoming TAXES. Taxes will be around $6,000 and are due in November. This is interesting. Maybe a massive inheritance? Could be the 'brothers' were living together in the parent's home and they passed and then one brother 'bought out' the other? So far it's a mystery to be solved by Detective Sorta.

Well, this is interesting. For the past week I have seen only Pot Belly and the Boxer son. Last night, they put up a metal 'canopy' frame, strung lights on it and played around with a table. There was a woman who came for that later.

Today! Party truck arrived with CHAIRS. At least 30 or more of the nice ones that they use for weddings. Wooden ones, turned spindles, cushioned seats in white. Then the lady from last night arrived and hugged Pot Belly. I assume they are a couple in some sense.

Boxer son and Pot Belly went out and came back with what looked like a big sheet cake. A white canopy cover just went up on the metal frame and I'm assuming that they are going to be havinga wedding! Dunno who. Pot Belly and girlfriend? Boxer and girlfriend who has the 3 year old boy? Someone else we haven't seen yet?

Fun to ponder. Now we will see if these are nice quiet people, or if we have rowdey party types moving in. So far they have been very quiet over there. Still no curtains on the windows. Just the sheets in the bedroom windows and of course the TV on the wall in the master.

I think the big event will be tomrrow, but ya never know. Updates with their 'choice of music' when it happens.

Sounds like lots of fun, Sorta

Well, last night's party was strange. No one arrived until after 8pm. Then, there were maybe 3-4 extra cars that came and went. It looked like a sit down dinner thingy. Chairs around the tables and an extra table set up outside the 'patio' for the kids. Saw several kids running around.

It was VERY quiet. No music, nothing that would draw attention, except when people left and said goodbye, etc. Sound carries wonderfully from side to side of our street.

So I'm still in the dark as to what the party was, and still as to who actually lives there. Today is Sunday, should be nobody going to work and everyone should be 'home' today. I've got to start counting my 'chickens'. Seem like they will be nice quiet neighbors no matter who we finally determine lives there.

Only strange thing is they left the lovely chairs OUT last night in the dampness. I hope they are meant for that. Those cushioned seats would surely have soaked in the dew that happens overnight. Today should be a clean up of everything. Maybe I will see more people. OH and for the first time, there were lights on ALL over the house. I think maybe this was a 'housewarming' and everyone got tours. Tiny house, not much to tour but it's pretty now.

I'm going to post the 'before and after' pictures here later as soon as I figure out how to find that link again. Awesome stuff from the renovation company which shows some of what the squatters were living in. Ugh!


Before and After Pictures:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=...e=3&theater

Interesting that they put in new appliances but not a 'fridge. Wonder why?

Yeah, I thought the same thing L4L. They spared no expense on everything else. The hookups for the fridge were in (water) and hookups for washer and dryer. I'm guessing that those items were much more expensive and they just left them out. I'm still waiting for the 'recording' of the deed to show up on our City website or for the Tax statement (3 more weeks till then). Then I will know how much the house sold for and WHO bought it. Things go so slow on filing stuff. I'm still thinking that either this new guy or guys are the idle rich or they got a really good deal and might be relatives of the rehab crew. Still can't fathom anyone spending over 450k for that house even if it looks good. But then again, I've looked up other recent sales around the neighborhood and they are ALL above 400k when they were selling for 300's 6 months ago. Values are going UP. Good for the rest of us.

Yes it is! Except as it affects your taxes

Taxes, yep. We are sorta lucky that the assessor only does minimal ups each year according to what 'programs' we are being made to pay for. Mosquito abatement, rat and other critter abatement, bond measures, etc. I always hated paying for 'public schools' when I was a TEACHER. I figured I did my 'contributions'. The major reassessments come when you refinance or take a home loan and especially when you buy a new property. I had a mortgage for one amount, refinanced it for a bit more to payoff some bills and ended up getting dinged on my property tax. Ugh! I had no idea just a refinance would trigger a reassessment.

Well the new/old chapter is about to be over for this house.

The new tenants (so many I can't count) are there most of the time now. From my count, it's a Man and Wife. Their 2 boys (ages 18 and 21), and sometimes, their married daughter and a few kids, and then the 18 year old's fiance and her kid. The 18 year old is getting married soon. Weekend before last they had an ELABORATE engagement party for him. It was huge. Very low key, but the decorations in the yard were awesome. Canopies, rented tables and chairs, beautiful all white stuff and a lot of people.

So that was it for the big influx of visitors. THEN we got a weekend off and THEN Saturday and Sunday of this weekend, they had TWO parties. One started at noon for a 2 year old kiddo, and it morphed into another starting about 5PM for the dad. My neighbor on their side had 'warned' me about the party. She has made 'friends' of the wife over there and got a load of information. The wife explained to her that they were having the parties, and that it would be a LIVE band and some sort of 'impersonator'. So after about 50 cars arrived at various times, each with 2 to 5 occupants, I decided that it might be a BIG party.

They had live music (actually pretty good Mexican stuff) a CATERED sit down meal, with waiters in black and white attire serving people, and a CLOWN. Yup a clown. I was waiting for the pony to arrive but it never did.

Things went pretty well except for the parking. Cars and trucks all over trying to find spots. There may have been more than 50 of them but I didn't go out to the sidewalk to look up and down the streets. I just saw people walking in from every direction, or being dropped off and then cars parked far away . The only problems were that my 'shunner' guy across the street, made frequent trips out to his car to INSPECT it for scratches or dents all night long. He's really paranoid. He went around it with a flashlight. I didn't see any damages anywhere. People were pretty careful.

THEN late late late, I noticed a car pulling up across my driveway. Earlier, a truck had blocked the handicap ramp in front of my neighbor's house, but it wasn't serious enough to call for traffic enforcement. BUT when the gal bridged my driveway that goes to my parking area behind my house and to both my tenant's houses, I watched to see what they were doing.

Turns out, one of the resident's (one of the sons) had come across to move his truck UP a few feet to allow the gal to park behind him. I finally walked out because they were just about to leave the gal's car sticking out into my narrow driveway from the back wheels and trunk. I politely accosted the guy and said that it wasn't going to work there. He looked at me strangely (I would have too) and they kept trying. Finally I repeated myself and said I have tenant's behind and they need access. I didn't mention that we need a clearance for fire truck and ambulance (city code) but that was my next attempt.

He finally gave up and the gal went up the street. Good. So then I put a traffic cone behind the truck so others wouldn't try to park in the little bitty spot. Actually a Geo or mini-compact car would have fit, but all the guests seemed to drive BIG cars or trucks, hummers, pickups and the like. Within 5 minutes (when my tenant/friend came up to watch TV) SOMEONE had MOVED the cone! How nice of them. I guess someone else tried to park there when I wasn't watching. Geez!

Party was good. Jumper castle for the kids, lots of music all night. The only problem was that somewhere about 10:30 PM, we had an 'attack' of 5 police cruisers zoom in with lights blinking! The party people immediately turned off the music and the policeman (who blocked the intersection with his car) walked over to talk to the home owner. I figured maybe someone got in a fight or? Turns out, it wasn't anything to do with the party. Some guy 2 blocks away had been robbed (probably at gunpoint) and the armed thief was running loose in this direction.

We had cars at every intersection (4 of them that I can see from my house) and on the scanner they blocked off the MAIN street in town. The police helicopter was circling and they had the dogs out. Wow. They really wanted this guy. Don't know if they ever found him. Then about an hour later, all the police left. Fun time. The party was still going on, (quietly for awhile).

So at midnight, I went to bed, music was getting louder and more booming booming booming of the base. AND at ONE AM someone got on the PA system and started saying some obscene things in Spanish. I guess he was trying to be funny. I assume by that time most of them were well marinated in alcohol.

The party finally broke up at 3:30 AM. Ugh. A party from noon till 3:30AM?????? 15 glorious hours of fun. THEN Sunday morning, someone finally woke up to clear up all the party stuff from the yard. Surprise that nobody in our lovely neighborhood didn't steal everything. THEN at noon again! More cars arrived with more kids with presents (I think a new party was starting) and they not only had the jumper castle, but a double water slide (blow up) with a pool at the bottom for the kids. It was a HOT day and it sure looked like fun.

That party lasted until 9ish at night. Long parties over there. THEN I found out from the close neighbor, that the wife, besides being a manager of a Jack-in-the-box, also had a side business of PARTY PLANNING and EVENTS. Oh boy. Lovely decorations, all the trimmings, she's GOOD.

So my question now is: After 2 parties in 3 weeks, and LONG hours of them with loud music on the last one, will this be the end of the celebrations? I don't think so. 18 year old son soon to be married (another party) and all those other family members will surely be having parties. My worst fear is that this family will be 'renting' out they yard for parties that the wife plans. Perfect location, big yard, etc. Hopefully I'm wrong, but time will tell.

Maybe the saga isn't over yet.

Sounds like my new neighbors! I believe the only actual residents are a couple about my age but they have more friends and family living nearby than I have ever had in my life! And they all gather at least 4 nights a week. They give me anxiety issues when they play on my front lawn. I don't like people on my property and in front of my windows. I don't draw the blinds except in the bedroom at bedtime.

I hope they run out of things to celebrate soon by you!

Sorta, I think you pegged it. I'll bet they are renting out the yard and she is doing a party business from the house. On the plus side, it'll be lots of fun for you all to watch

Actually, I might be right. Sadly, I usually am about shady dealings. She invited at least 3 of the nearest neighbors to the big party saying, "We don't usually have parties, but I just wanted to let you know in advance that this will be loud". None of the 3 neighbors attended. This was before we found out she was a party planner big time. I spoke to my 'detective' who got the most information by making friends between her pug and their boxer puppy. Good time to find out 'stuff'. The other 2 neighbors decided to camp out in the front yard where one of them has almost weekly barbeques with his family and a few friends. They just sat there across the street watching the action. So strange when they had been so friendly to the newbies a few weeks back.

Also sadly, and I feel so terrible, the boxer puppy took ill after 3 weeks running around and got some sort of 'bacterial' infection that the vet said only dogs get. Weird. I can't help but think that something about the squatters/druggies and the contaminated grounds by sewage, etc. might have caused the puppy's demise. Poor thing didn't make it. I'm so sad. My detective friend said she isn't going to tell them about the 'history' of the house and we all agreed we wouldn't say anything unless we are directly asked.

For some reason, the newbies have NO idea about what the house was before they bought it. All they asked was if the old guy died in the house and of course he didn't. But they obviously didn't look at the before and after pictures that the rehab company posted and I linked here. They also didn't see any of the 10 news videos with the squatter gal and me after the fact.

OH and the squatter 'Bad Gal' is now not with the new boyfriend anymore. Something about him being too controlling. Good for him. He finally came to his senses. She is BACK at her ex hubby's house where she goes when she has no other place to live. I assume soon, she will find another house to take over and move in there and start all over. Just sayin.

Like sands through the hourglass... so are the Days of Our Lives."

Sorta,

What will we all do if this ever ends?

I've got that spidey sense that this house is cursed and that things will continue to be uneasy no matter who lives there. I'm just waiting for the weekend. Oh yes. AND today, finally the 18 year old got home and he has yet to go out to the yard (which btw is in full view of both streets being a corner house) where they have at least 4 canopies, tarps, etc. strung up and in various states of falling down due to our Santa Ana winds. I have the feeling that they won't clear up all that stuff until the next party.

I have no idea why I feel this way, but then again, I'm so used to getting 'feelings' and having them be right that I'm predicting interesting events to come. My neighbors think I'm just being negative, but then, I was right about the cops showing up during the party. They weren't there for that reason, but they did show up big time. I figure my premonition was right even if it wasn't specifically accurate. Yup. I'm predicting something.

I don't think we will have to worry about 'things to watch'.

I believe I will continue to keep my popcorn stash stocked!

Hey, Drac, don't forget the Nachos. Very good for reading up on strange happenings in MY neighborhood. As for me, I'm just amused at the lack of cleaning up that they do after parties. Leaving EVERYTHING out in full view of the neighborhood (and I mean everything) isn't very pretty. Right now the yard looks like a transient camp. Tarps, hanging all over, stuff on the ground in piles. Mom and Dad should arrive home soon so maybe they will get to work or bring in some of the family to help get all that stuff put away. If not, it's going to be a continuous mess. Gotta love it.

I know everyone has been patiently waiting for some 'interesting' news on our new neighbors. Well, here it is. The first of the signs that my intuition was right. Well, not actually the first, but at least a real clue.

After the Parties (engagement one week into the move) then (2) on Saturday 2 weekends later, and the other one on Sunday, it took till yesterday till the Pot Belly guy finally took down the tarps which were all over the yard, up and down, in various states of shabby. He did it all alone. The wife had been out the day before clearing off all the tables and stacking chairs (rented ones). But the jumpers (2) are still lying in piles on the ground. The party supply truck arrived and took the chairs, but not anything else. This left a bunch of plastic folding tables and boxes and bags of 'trash', all piled along the patio wall, fairly neatly I must say.

So today is trash pick up day. We all put out our cans the night before, and then it's picked up in stages (yard waste, recycle, regular trash) during the day. So my neighbor nearer the new guys called. She asked if I knew WHO put trash in her can. She has a tiny (special senior rate) regular trash can that is never full. Well it was flowing over with a huge black garbage bag. Our city rules say all trash must fit IN the can and the lid must close. She's very careful.

So I went over with gloves and found a huge bag of PARTY STUFF! Food plates, containers, happy birthday one year old banners, princess crowns, all that good stuff. Geez! THEY sneaked over in the middle of the night and used her can for their overflow. THEIR cans are neatly closed at their house, BUT my neighbor's AND the ones at the roofer's house directly across from the new neighbors are also overflowing! I'm guessing the new guys also stuffed his cans. I'm waiting for someone to figure out they have someone else's trash in their cans.

We all have to pay for our own trash service (mandatory). I'm guessing that maybe since these guys moved from a nearby city that doesn't pay for trash (everyone gets it free included in the taxes), that they figured they could just use everyone's cans. My neighbor has a friend in the city they came from and she says it's a real problem with everyone using her cans too. Strange but it's just what happens.

Now we wait for next trash day and see what happens. I will record my security footage and see who is sneaking over with trash. They must have run out of time or darkness or stuff because my cans (which are practically empty) didn't get used. I'll be watching this morning to see if anything else shows up.

So this is a new twist on our nice neighbors. I'm still hoping they will be GOOD neighbors, but now I'm even more suspicious given all the 'stuff' that's happened in less than a month. Nine vehicles for 3 adults, (2 are not running) the 4 parties on two different weekends, the leaving of stuff from the parties all over the very visible yard for almost a week and it's still there. And the windows with no curtains anywhere except the two bedrooms which still have bed sheets tacked up. Mini-blinds would cost less than 4 bucks a window and be a good start.

Still can't figure out who actually lives there. I see man, wife, 18 yr son most nights. Then the others who come and go. Looks like it will be a while before it all is figured out. It will keep me busy.

IF they are using the property as a party venue, isn't that a business and is that property zoned for that?

These new neighbors seem rather "trashy".

Nope, our neighborhood is R2 (residential up to 2 houses). No variance for businesses, UNLESS they have supplies stored and no advertising, or any signs or anything indicating a business is there. Our wonderful roofer guy 2 doors down, has 3 or 4 big trucks, receives shipments of building materials, goes out early and comes back late with all his workers. You would never know they are there unless you are really watching closely. Nothing indicates any business there at all. It's allowed.

Conversely, the cement guy at the corner, consistently parks 2 huge trucks on the street, they are towing stucco 'blowers' and take up mucho parking. They are clearly labeled with the business name, but nothing ever happens to him. I take that back. After several complaints from a bunch of us, he stopped parking his 2 huge cement mixer trucks there. Took a bit of doing but after we got the sidewalks, it was really bad and he couldn't park them in his yard anymore since he refused to pay for 2 driveways. Ha. The city made him remove the big 4x4's he put in the gutter to drive vehicles over the curb into the yard. The little guys won for once.

Dunno about the party house now. I'm waiting for the weekend to see if anything happens. All I know is it's not NICE to dump your trash across the street in someone else's cans because you are too cheap to pay for an extra one for your place. My 86 year old sweet lady friend is really mad. It was all I could do to prevent her from taking the garbage bag back across the street and dumping it on their porch. She's feisty enough to do it too! Funny how 'little' things can get to us.
'

Heck, I would have helped her do it!

I think she should have taken it over there, and sweetly explained that she has to pay for her garbage and she thinks they used her cans by mistake.

I like your attitudes Drac and L4L. Wanna move in with me and help me keep the neighborhood running smoothly? I'm for sure going to monitor those new guys. Not nice to take advantage of your neighbors. Nope.

Sorta, I would totally take the garbage back to their house. If you let them get away with it now, it will only get worse. How rude!

It's happening AGAIN! I'm so happy that something has provided me with more entertainment.

Last night: All sorts of cars coming and going and backing in and out of the driveway. Several men unloaded a lot of 'stuff'. Looked like rolls of foam mats. Huge long rolls. Then the clanging of metal poles and wood supports and lots of activity in the dark. My friend and I were watching recorded BBC series and I kept saying that they were probably building a boxing ring. Yeah, like that would ever happen. I only say that because the one son (21 years) is a boxer and I've seen him boxing a lot in the back yard, hitting whatever is around and running around like Rocky). I finally got out my binoculars (very dark to the naked eye over there) and looked and I was RIGHT! They have built a FULL size boxing ring. The off the ground type you see in the gyms, with the skirt around the bottom, and the 'ropes' with buffers at each corner and boxing gloves lying on the mat. Last night a few of them were playing on it boxing all over.

Sooooo today, another PARTY or at least an EVENT. They have bunches of chairs set up facing the ring for spectators. I can hardly wait to see how many show up, how loud it will be with the cheering and the BELL ringing and probably a PA system announcing everything.

I think I was right. They are going to have 'events' every other weekend. Maybe they did this where they lived before. I will do some detective work and see what I can find out. In any case, I'm ready for a long day/night of noise and aggravation if the parking situation is like the last time.

Just for the record: First party was 9/10 then another on 9/24 afternoon and another 9/24 late night until 3:30 am, then 9/25 all day for the kiddies with jumpers and blow up slippery slides, and now 10/8 for a boxing match of some kind. I'm wondering if the city permits so many events? Probably no rules against it, but I'm getting geared up for an onslaught of parties and other fun stuff over there in the future. They haven't even lived there 2 months yet and it's going on 5 parties/events as of today!

Ah how I love my new neighbors. Only good point is that the druggies and squatters are gone. I'm beginning to wonder if the 'trade' was worth it. At least the bad guys were QUIET.

Sorta, have you "welcomed" them to the neighborhood yet? You could get more info that way. Sounds like a hoot. You should call the reporter who did the drug house report and have him/her come when it's event day.

Oh ideas ideas! I have my other 'detective' who lives up the street. She walks her dog (or rather he walks her in her wheelchair) every day now scoping out the house. She is the one who gives me most of the information about the people there. Lots of good stuff. I will have to call her today and she if she knows anything about the 'boxing ring'.

A little movement over there now, with Mr. Pot Belly (the dad) busying himself around the yard and the boxer son doing a few 'moves' in the ring from time to time. I counted at leas FIFTY folding chairs set up all around the ring. No decorations, nothing to indicate a party of any kind.

My neighbor next door, who didn't believe me when I proposed that they were party people, is now leading the charge to find out IF this boxing thing is legal in our city. Funny. She is also the one who got their trash in her can on trash day. She's still furious about that and didn't put her can out this week.

I'm toying with calling Joe Little of 10 news who did the 3 stories on the house and having him contact them and casually ask if they know the 'history' of the house. That would be such fun. I don't think they do at all and if they knew...hummm. He would probably love to do a follow up story on how happy they are. Ha. I won't do anything until I see if this last 'event' is annoying enough to cause me to act. I'm hoping that it will be nice and quiet, but then, are boxing matches quiet? I've only seen them on TV and everyone is yelling and making a lot of noise. Lovely to think about. Probably will happen sometime later today. It's way too hot right now about 85). No movement on the street, no cars driving up yet. Soon...

UPDATE: It's going to be a LONG night. A DJ and light show company just drove up with a van and unloaded so many huge speakers I lost count. AND their website shows laser light shows and all sorts of lighting stuff. I saw scaffolding for lighting going in by the ton. It will be LOUD as the website had a sample page of the music when you first sign in. Looks awesome if you are in a party setting but I don't think a quiet neighborhood will appreciate the 'fun'.

I will wait for tonight when the party is in full swing and see if it's so loud that it's unreal and then if it goes till the wee hours of tomorrow like the last party, I'm definitely going to call and have our local friendly police stop by. I suspect that several neighbors will also be calling in. This is gonna be a BIG one!

Do you guys not have a noise ordinance?

Noise ordinance we have, but it's sorta vague. It states no loud music/noise after 11 pm that can be heard 50 feet away.

For years now, NOBODY has had loud parties around us. It's been so nice. Now we have Party City moving in. I did some digging and found amazing stuff.

The 'inlaws' that the wife told the neighbor they lived with for 2 years is most probably the BOTHER of the husband here. From the phone number on the DJ van, I looked up the website, which linked to a Facebook page and lo and behold, the DJ has the same 'unusual' last name as the guy here. No wonder this all seems to be going smoothly with 5 parties since Sept 10th!

DJ is the brother, they have a party STORE in the town they moved from AND the place they lived is a duplex just a block away from that store. It's primarily a business district and that is the only single story older house I see for miles on that main drag.

So we all are speculating that they bought THIS house because of the big open back yard so they could host parties for their BUSINESS. Family business obviously. Amazing they told the neighbor that they 'never have parties' Uhhuh. That was to throw her off the track so everyone would think they were nice quiet neighbors.

Happily, although the music was loud enough to obliterate the TV sound, and the LIGHT show was shining laser lights and all sorts of stuff right across our main street and into my windows (and homes nearby), the commotion over there was limited to some lady on the PA (way too loud) and then the WWE wrestling demonstration on that 'ring' they built. I thought it was for boxing, but it was a party with a wrestling theme. They had a huge screen with projected pictures of WWE wrestlers especially featuring John Cena. Most of the poses were what I wouldn't really show to kids from infant to 12 years. Bare chests, lots of scantily clad girls, etc. Don't know what they were thinking.

Parking was a bit hectic like last time, but I didn't interfere with the one car that was blocking my driveway by one foot. I didn't want to cause any problems. You never know what might happen.

So now we wait to see if there is another party today. If not, I can almost guarantee that there will be one next weekend and definitely for HALLOWEEN. OH yeah. Gotta be one then.

I'm going to check with the city about running a party business in a residential zone. They can't prove it's ALL family. The people who came last night couldn't even figure out how to get in the gate or where it was. Not family for sure. They are hosting parties for money and probably are getting a load of cash for it.

Makes me mad they pretend to be quiet friendly people and then start up a business right on the corner and don't care if the neighbors are losing sleep. One or two parties are great. But it looks like this will be a regular thing. Going to rally the troops and see what everyone else thinks about this development.

Can't run them out like squatters. They own the place. No criminal activities going on, no fights, just the parking and loud music and screaming children all night.

I'm hoping it's all going to go away, but my spidey-sense tells me I'm in for a long siege. And my next door neighbor, who was all 'for' the new people and the family parties is now seeing the real story. Oh so fun.

I think that if they are selling tickets, charging admission and/or selling beer/wine/liquor they would need special permits and licenses, so if thats the case it all may be illegal. How could anyone with an ounce of common sense think that there is nothing wrong with this?

I'm watching them like a hawk now. I thought it was just a happy family having some birthday celebrations. So the wife told my neighbor. THEN all this other party stuff started. The 'boxing/wrestling' ring is still up in the yard. All speakers and lights gone. They picked up the Porta-Potty yesterday afternoon. Strangely enough they just pick it up and angle it into the bed of a small pickup truck. I don't see any 'company' marks on it so they must own it along with their PARTY business.

So far I've seen no alcohol. I did smell beer at the 2nd party, but no drunks or anything roaming the streets. Maybe they know the law all too well and are being very careful. I'd love to know if there were any complaints on the business. I'm going to look on BBB to see if I can find anything.

Speaking of Party business, I can definitely link them to that duplex in the city they came from (only 10 minutes from here. Their cars are clearly parked all around it in the google maps pictures. I'm guessing the in-laws they mentioned living with were not the parents, but rather the hubby's brother, etc.

This is a family business and time will tell if they continue to have semi-weekly or more often parties. I'm wondering why the neighbors right next door on either side are not complaining??? Imagine sharing a chain link fence with the parties, with your bedroom window right against the fence? She's an older, handicapped woman and maybe doesn't want to complain, but her daughter (my confidant) and I talk all the time. I'll ask her about the problems.

I'm certain that there must be some ordinance other than the 'no noise after 11pm bit that will help out here once we establish that they are running a business there and not just family fun.

I'm am watching and waiting for anything that can help all of us. I really think the news guy will be the best chance of letting them know about things. Today, nobody stirring over there. No cars, they all left early and when there are no parties, there are usually only 1 or 2 of them there. Most of the time, even the wife doesn't spend the night. She told the neighbor gal that 'they are moving slowly' from their old house. I'm guessing they are just running parties all over and are very busy.

So let's guess how long the wrestling ring stays up in the back yard. I'm thinking at least till next weekend. It took a long time to build and 3 or 4 guys working hard. They are not the fastest people on cleaning up either. Stuff just stays on the ground for a few days and then they manage to pick up stuff and put away chairs, etc. It's been since Saturday, so by Wednesday??

More gory details when I see something happening.

You would think there has to be some notification or information regarding a party for whatever reason, somewhere. How would they get the word out? Maybe a trip to their store (if they have one) or web site to see if there are any flyers or ads. May be proof of admission being charged or something to show that ordinances are being violated. If its considered an Event then there are many regulations to follow even if it is allowed which I doubt as a special land use Permit or such would have to be granted. Very interesting.

A good point Greyfuss! Maybe they need a permit for a party. As far as I can see, it's 'invitation only' with everyone just showing up and nobody taking money on entry. I think they contract with the party company in advance and then the nice new neighbors plan and execute the party with full decorations, food, music, etc. for a price. They gotta be making a ton of money with the amount of people that attend. So far mostly kids and parents. No adult only events but ya never know what will happen on Halloween. I'm really expecting a HUGE light show and lots of stuff going on over there.

Just really bothers me that after all the 'bad karma' on that house that someone moves in and the saga continues, not nearly as bad or dangerous, but with the potential to keep our neighborhood off balance until something can be done. Can't hardly just ask them to move. Wish I could.

Time will tell what will happen. My best 'ally' is the roofer's son whose front yard has the perfect view of the place. Directly across the street, up above street level by about 6 feet. He has lots of family cookouts (he's a cook). I get invited to some and so do the rest of the close neighbors who know the family. HE has a habit of drinking too much beer/wine and thinking he is Rambo. He's engaged several unruly people through the years, including some of those druggie guys. We all had to warn him off when we found out they had guns. When he's drunk he's invincible (so he thinks). But he's the one that would finally get angry if this constant party stuff continues since he has to get up early for work and he has several small kids who need to sleep.

I just can't wait for the next 'incident'. So much drama around here all from ONE house. Who knew when for 35 years there was never a peep or any bad thing from the old guy who lived there. Now it's turmoil all the time. I had a feeling that bad karma on that house would affect the new people. I guess it reached out over 10 miles and brought in just the right people to give us something to keep us busy.

This may never end Sorta.

May never end.

Admission doesn't have to be paid at the gate for it to be an event. Even if its a bought and paid for party from their store or web site it would still be regulated by City Ordinances. Maybe a call to your Police friends would direct you to the proper City Services representatives to talk to. If they are using residential property for business profit it would need City approval for each occurrence at least that is the way it is around my neck of the woods. Heck they have even denied a person permission to do a dog grooming shop out of a residences garage. Here is a question...is that corner lot Zoned residential or commercial?

Works here the same was as GreyFuss says - you cannot run a business from a residence without a CUP or Conditional Use Permit which is only granted - or not - after a public hearing where neighbors and other have an opportunity to express themselves.

Good ideas GreyFuss and Draclvr. I'm going to check with the city PERMIT department. I forgot that any business must have a 'use' permit. Our roofer guy actually runs his business from his home, but there are 'rules' about no advertising signs on the property or vehicles, all activities must not cause a nuisance or noise. He just gets roofing supplies delivered, packs his trucks and the workers arrive and drive off early morning. You wouldn't know they were there.

The 'tow yard' up the street, which was dragging cars in and out at all hours and working on them (clang clang) I personally got shut down (for awhile). They city sent me a copy of the cease and desist letter. Nice. It worked for about 6 months until they slowly started sneaking cars in. But no more noise or blocking the road or clanging. Just storage of tons of things. I can handle that.

So this Party Central probably needs a permit. It's definitely a residential zone. Not business at all. I'm going to look up that letter too and see the department that handled the tow problem. Good thoughts.

I know this is not legal, but it's just the logistics of getting it all to stop.

Yesterday, they picked up the tables and chairs in two trucks and then after dark (yeah a good time) they came and dismantled the wrestling ring. Took them about 3 hours to do that. Can't wait till the NEXT event.

Off to look up city services and the municipal code on house based businesses.

It's just starting to seem like this house was not purchased as a residence to live in at all as a primary factor, but rather as a party venue first and residence second - or maybe even third or fourth!

I was just thinking the same thing, Drac. From the time it was 'purchased', we never saw ANYONE over there looking, peeking, taking pictures, like you would if you were going to live there and were so thrilled that you actually were in escrow.

Then, when they finally moved in, it was weeks before we actually could recognize some of the major players. We put our sightings together with the 'detective gal' up the street who got word from the 'wife' about the family.

According to the 'story', it's just the hubby, wife, and 18 yr old son living there. Most days, we don't see all of them staying the night. Mom comes and goes and mostly is NOT there overnight. 18 yr kiddo is there every day and night, but mostly gone during the day and only comes home to roost late late.

Pot Belly dad is there more than anyone and seems to be 'in charge' of all the fixing, party ups and downs, etc. Of course now that we are pretty sure his brother runs that light and sound disco party event thingy, it makes a bit more sense.

Mom told the neighbor that they are 'moving in slowly'. I guess. The windows still have NO curtains or blinds, except just before this last party, they took down the only window coverings (zebra striped sheets) and put up some mini-blinds. Nothing else is covered. Doesn't seem like a 'home' to me.

The real test will be to wait till the end of this month and see if there is another party or more than one. If so, we will be positive they are running a business here and chose the house for its location and big back yard. It's obvious that little by little they are moving stuff into the garage under cover of darkness. Tables, chairs, jumpers, and other party stuff. Everything seems to be done in the dark that can be. They turn off the driveway floodlight and the back yard floodlight and work in the dark.

Very strange crew, but it's far better than the drugs and squatters. At least so far we are not scared to death of gunfire or other bad things. Time will tell. Might get worse or then again, could be it all settles down and things go to quiet living.

I'm NOT holding my breath.

So I went to the monthly yard sale down the block and my neighbor there asked how I liked the 'new neighbors'. We both laughed when I mentioned the numerous parties. Then she said she had talked to my neighbor across the street (the one who shuns me) and he said the new neighbors told him that they were only having ONE MORE party. Yeah? Like they haven't lied before? I'm not holding my breath for that ONE last party. When I told the yard sale neighbor that the family runs a party planning business, she almost fell over. She's also not holding her breath. I can hardly wait.

It never gets boring Sorta.

Well again, not much to report except no parties last weekend. There is still THIS weekend for Halloween and I'm positive there will be a huge party. Everyone in the neighborhood is thinking the same thing.

BUT yesterday, when nobody was home (which is the usual) a car pulled up, 2 people got out and the young man walked right into the gate and around the back of the house. That was strange! Not one of the family that I recognize and certainly not a worker. THEN the guy walked back to the gate where someone who looked like his mom perhaps, was coming in. They walked towards the back of the house again at which point, my shunning neighbor (who just happened to be sitting on a bench at the corner of his yard) called across to the couple. I also heard the wife responding when the 'trespassers' yelled something about the owner letting them get fruit from the tree in the yard. It's a Zapota tree also called a paw-paw tree. Yellow fast rotting fruit that is the consistency of vanilla pudding inside. Yummy and rare around here. The old guy who died, used to dole it out to everyone if they asked.

Well this couple didn't ask, obviously could see there was someone living there, and went right in. I'm not sure they really wanted the fruit or were looking to steal or break in. Strange. Happily the couple across interrupted the 'activity' and they got into their car and left. I would recognize them again. Might actually have been some of the OLD squatter/drug crew coming back to nose around. They never even went to the front door (right there) to knock or ask permission. Good that the neighbors spotted them and said something. The NERVE of some people! Imagine just walking to someone's yard, through a substantial fence and inviting themselves to your fruit tree?

Funny that the people left but the drama didn't Sorta. That lot may be cursed.

Funny you should mention that cursed idea. I really have thought that since all this started almost now 4 years ago. The old guy was a loner, a hoarder, wouldn't let anyone (except the kid he called his nephew but was no relation) into the house. They got along fine. Nobody else was let in on the condition of the house. The guy never married (almost did once), and although he was friendly to a point, I called him a crudmudgeon. I'll have to look up the spelling of that one. His Niece (once I got to know her a bit) also agreed that was exactly what he was. He was estranged from his entire family of 2 sisters and a brother forever, at least since 1950's. He didn't want anyone interfering with anything.

When he died, I swear I thought that he was going to haunt the place. I even told the Squatter Girl (Bad Gal) about it and she believed me to the point of 'seeing' and 'hearing' things going on in the house that were unexplainable. Eventually that 'fear' spread to others of the squatters. Very funny to hear what they were saying.

So yeah, I think it's got some sort of Bad Karma and probably always will. Can't imagine all the stuff it's gone through with all those people and now the 'nice' new family seems sooooo strange it's really creepy. They come and go at weird hours, alternate days. They don't really seem to ACT like a family. Just people coming and going and passing each other here and there. For the past 3 days, 2 sons, the dad and the mom (occasionally) have been over there, but not all of them at the same time and only the sons and dad spend the night and then are gone by 4 or 5 am.

It reminds me of that movie, "The Burbs". I'm waiting for something to happen that will prove or disprove my theory that they only bought this place as a 'business' and are using it for a tax deduction in some way. Can't imagine OVER paying for a house for any good reason. It's value is at least 100k below what they paid.

Still waiting for the Halloween party to start staging. I'm going to be disappointed if they don't have one huge loud annoying party.

Halloween party as expected but NOT what expected. They started preparing Friday night and Saturday morning. Minimal decorations, and then from 1 pm until about midnight, the usual number of people showed up. It looked like a kid's birthday party (saw gifts going in). No costumes on the kiddies or adults and the adults OUTnumbered the kids about 3 to one. Strange. Quiet canned music mostly and not too loud. Kids got goodies (nerf guns) and a band of about 12 started running all around the house, yard, sidewalk, street, shooting each other and screaming. That was fun except most of the kids were about 4-6 yrs and were running OUT in between parked cars into a busy road. Scary. I almost went over to alert the adults, but one of them finally spotted the activities. Whew.

TODAY...all 'residents' spent the night. It's RARE for mom, dad, son, and sometimes the older son to all be there at the same time especially over night. I can only guess that this was the small party for one of the kids and then today, they will revamp the yard for a big adult party with all the 'trimmings'. I can hardly see all this stuff being set up for just a little party. AND they brought in TWO porta potties! Usually it's one, so I'm gearing up for a major adult costume drinking alcohol fest. Can't imagine why 2 potties. All the other parties (even the big huge one for adults) only had one potty. Gotta provide for the beer going down I guess.

Can't wait for tonight's shindigs probably with LIVE DJ music blaring all over the neighborhood. I think I'm right. I will win the 'pool' with my neighbors. We always 'bet' on what's going to happen. I usually get it right as does my closest neighbor lady. She's a smart one, very intuitive, and like me, has that 'six sense'. She says it's the witch in her.

Until tomorrow then. Wait for it....wait for it...

Sorta.

Well, I was wrong. Gotta write that down to remember the rare day I actually guessed wrong. The kid's party was fairly quiet, ended not too late, music went away and the next morning, the entire family (who had strangely spent the night for once) were out there cleaning up all the stuff. Back Yard is pretty empty now. Guess they needed it all for another party somewhere else. They took a trailer load of folding chairs, huge round tables, the porta potties, all the decorations, etc. I am guessing that nothing is going to happen over there tonight.

It will be fun to see if they are home and handing out candy to the kiddies. I'm watching.

Oh the Joy of a new neighbor to keep me entertained! Yesterday, the guy I'm calling Pot Belly, went out to the back 'patio' with a hammer. There is a small enclosed concrete slab just behind the garage. It has a block wall all around it about 4 feet high. Nice area for BBQ etc. So I hear whamwhamwham. I look out and see Pot Belly with a regular nail hammer and he's knocking out BLOCKS from the wall. When he was done (with that little hammer) he had demolished 20 feet of lovely block wall that separated the yard from the patio!

Last night, he went out with a sledge hammer (got smart I guess) and finished the job by getting all the little pieces off the slab and then spent the rest of the time stashing minions of folding tables under a bright white tarp which has been hanging on the fence back there since the first party. It glares in the sun and looks horrible. So now the tarp is the 'cover' for all the folding tables and a few other items which I couldn't identify.

My guess (we took a neighborhood poll again) is that they needed that extra 15 or so feet for more room for the parties. WHY would someone just destroy a lovely block wall? It even had nice 'capstones' on it. Gah! These people are just plain weird, but then again, they paid $456,000 for the house and they can do whatever they want. Well over value and more than any other sales in our area. They are probably using it somehow for a business write-off.

And you all thought this was over. Ha!

Last night: Pot Belly and his sons (who all seem to have actually moved in on a regular basis now) were tinkering with a very old classic Ford pick up truck. It's been in and out of the garage for several weeks, along with that Mustang 'body'. So it's now running, and next thing we hear/see is they have driven it around the corner and are BACKING it up over the curb. Well actually not the curb, the most delicate part of the curb which is the sewer drain. Gonna be some damages there I'll betcha. It's an opening of the curb about 8 feet long to allow rain run-off into the culverts that run to the sea. And, it's totally illegal to drive anything over it to access yards.

So Pot Belly tries several times to 'bump' the rear wheels over the drain and finally succeeds. He drives it around the back yard and parks it along the neighbor's fence line with its nose to that one little piece of block wall that he didn't demolish. I really thought he might have taken down the wall to move the truck onto that cement patio slab.

Later, the family (I counted 8 of them), were outside in the back yard doing 'something' with hula hoops and a light. I'm still not sure what the heck was going on but they took turns watching and playing. Maybe it's some sort of 'full moon ritual'?

I get up this morning and find that I was RIGHT. Overnight, they had somehow moved the truck onto the patio slab, covered it with a huge tarp and there it sits, with a braided huge hammock (which had been in the far corner of the yard) thrown over the tarp. One can only guess now what is the next fun event.

I'm now on 'number of residents' watch since at first it was just Pot Belly. Then the 18 year old son, then the 24 year old son, and then a number of women and children. At least there are signs of life over there and lights in the living room at night, etc. Maybe they finally decided to make this their home.

Tomorrow is the fullest full moon in 70 years so it should produce some fun events. Watching...

The fun just never ends, does it

It's getting so boring around here now. The new family seems to have settled in to a semi-normal routine of actual family nesting. The only new entertainment is that Pot Belly dad climbed up on the roof (yep he did) and it's a VERY steep pitched roof, and put up some awesome Christmas Lights. They are the ones that are a thick icicle hanging type. Very pretty. BUT since the house is on a corner lot, and if you walk or drive up the street or the side street, you can see all of it, I noticed that the lights are only on the front and one side. No lights on the back (very visible) or the driveway side (also very visible). The lights just stop midway and that's it. I thought he would finish but it's been since Thursday and no more action over there. Looks a little weird, but maybe they just ran out of lights and can't afford any more? I was hoping they would do the entire eaves area AND the garage too which is the same cute peak thingy. Time will tell. They did have, on the first night, some plastic, 4 foot snowmen and a mickey mouse santa and some other critter on the front porch. On the next day, they were GONE. I'm wondering if they were moved inside? More likely, someone wandered by in the night and stole them.

It's a great neighborhood if you chain all your outdoor stuff down. Not kidding. I have my front porch benches AND my 3 huge Ficus plants in barrels, chained to the porch pillars. I started that after I moved in, put up some lovely hanging ferns and other expensive plants and came out the next day to find them all gone. Yeah, lasted one night. So we bought more, and ran fishing line through the hangers and through the hooks and guess what? The next morning, 3 of the 7 plants were HANGING from the fishing line way down to the porch railing. Guess the thief came back and wanted more. So greedy. He didn't get them. If we had left them, I'm sure he would have come back with a knife to cut the line. We moved all plants to the back and they were safe. Amazing how people just drive up and 'shop' the front of your house.

So now I'm waiting for the new neighbors to do something. So far, I'm hearing sawing, or sanding, and then their smoke alarm went off and the noise stopped for awhile. I'm guessing sanding and the dust set off the alarm. Wonder what they are building?????

Sounds like fun. I hope they finish the lights

Wow! Talk about being in the right place/right time. Finally my good karma is kicking in.

Seems that last week there was a U-Haul parked across the street for several days. Appeared in the night, disappeared in the night. Never saw anyone in or around it or driving it off. Darn.

Sooooo this morning after my 'chores' I open the front door and what do I see???? THE U-Haul parked smack dab in front of my house. BUT here's the good karma part. IN the cab is a WOMAN who gets out, does who knows what by the driver's door and then finally gets in and out again and crosses over to the sidewalk AT which point, I accost her.

She was dressed in pajama pants (no kidding) had on several pairs of socks, 2 different shoes (a croc and a jogger) and several sweaters and jackets. She was holding the keys to the U-haul and some papers. I saw she was just about to walk up the street so I loudly said GOOD MORNING! She turned and said hi and we met at my front gate. I asked if she planned on parking here long? She asked why? I said because the huge truck blocks the view of the fast moving traffic on the street and it's very dangerous to get in and out of my tiny little narrow driveway, especially for my elderly tenants.

She was very nice. We spoke for several minutes during which I found out a LOT about her. I really didn't want to know, but she enlightened me after I asked (bold) if she was living in the U-Haul. She quickly said nope, she has stuff in storage that she is moving and do I know of a place for rent? Uhhuh.

So given her clothing, the U-Haul parking for several days and now back, I'm guessing she's homeless. But then she tells me she has TWO degrees from our local college. One is psychology and the other is environmental engineering? Ummmmm. Well she spoke freely but the more she said the more I realized she had 'issues'. She launched into that I should plant a garden in my front yard to grow all my food. Then the homeless needing 'army' tents to live in around town, then the planting of bamboo near the bayfront, then the local church with a big back lot that was supposed to be Senior Housing, but nothing is there, then the fact that her brother OWNS the apartment complex (huge one) just a few streets away and won't let her rent there. Ummmm. Now we are getting a clearer picture. She said she did live there awhile, he let her do 'jobs' when they came up, but now he won't let her live there for some reason.

I felt sorry for her, but she seemed to be coping with her life and was understanding and friendly towards me. I told her to park across the street in front of the 'empty' house. Didn't tell her it was empty though. Not for general info. It's a perfect place and wouldn't block anyone's view. Then she noticed the motorhome across there in the yard and asked it if was for sale. This is strange because it's got a 2x4 foot sign in the front window that says: NOT for SALE. Oh well.

I really think she's just a lost soul looking for things to do. She seems busy. Mentioned going to the city council to speak about low income housing, etc. She drove off and so far she's not on my block. At least we are on good terms and I can count on her to not block my driveway's access view. So dangerous when even a car is parked there. FAST traffic. Several close calls for me and the neighbors.

Now I will keep looking for her and can spot her U-Haul if I see it again somewhere. Interesting life. I figure that she can rent the U-Haul for 20 bucks a night and that's way cheaper than a motel. Might be a good solution for a lot of people if they can find places to park them on the street legally.

What a great day! I saved me and the neighbor lady a load of angst about blocked street vision. Wheeeee!