Now I’m happy.
I was working on my film blog as the sun fell Wednesday night, and Ellie B aka Dogamous Pyle starting bouncing around the living room with her mean bark on.
Up she leapt on my recliner, practically knocking me off my half as she woofed out the front window. Off she bounced to the couch to bark-bark-bark out the side window, throwing in a growl.
My dear wife Karen translated.
A man was walking his little dog up on our lawn. Not just the dog on a long leash with the guy in the street. The master was three feet up on the grass, meaning the dog was even closer. Ellie B was not pleased. And I do not blame her. Once they retreated down the block, she calmed.
Once they came back up, her fury returned. Karen added that this man was looking in our window, right at Ellie B and my wife.
So …
I refrained from yelling out the window, or dashing out the door to share my thoughts on this subject.
I shall write it here. Maybe somebody he knows will see this and share it with him.
I do not know from where you may have moved here, sir. Perhaps you lived in the land of large lawns, where walking yourself and your pet up on the grass and not down on the street went unnoticed by homeowners and homebound pets alike. But here, on our little street in the Syracuse city neighborhood of Eastwood, three feet up on our lawn means 12 feet from our front window.
Not cool.
I’d appreciate it if you refrain from putting your feet up on my lawn as you walk your dog. My dog barking furiously like that, it was a pretty good clue you were unwelcome.
And maybe looking inside people’s houses like that isn’t such a good idea.
Thanks,
Mark Bialczak
Do you see people walking their dogs with the humans up on the lawns where you live? Would you go outside and share your thoughts about such a thing, or hope the barking dog from inside your house would solve the issue? What about looking inside your window as they went past?/
Mark Bialczak 
Mark,
As you know, I am Texan (and got some Comanche blood in me to boot)
If someone invades my personal space, well… then….it is bow and arrow time.
Jes sayin’..
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The guy would get the point, I know, Lance.
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Hahahahaha! “Get the point???”
Yeah, I got them points!
MarK! You Sir, make me smile.
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I agree with you… He’s obviously an outsider and needs to be schooled on the ways of the neighborhood. I’m dealing with a similar new neighbor problem. I would probably not be confrontational because these days, I’d be afraid they might be carrying a gun or something. But when I was growing up in my grandparents’ house directly across the street from the junior high school and all the kids walked through our yard and picked all our oranges, my granddaddy never hesitated to hide in the bushes and squirt them with the water hose. Again, these days, that wouldn’t be a good idea, but back then it was pretty funny and well deserved. I always love the Ellie B posts. 😀
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Your granddaddy had fun back then. These days people wouldn’t stand for it, you are correct. We have to take a lot more than we used to, and that allows the “other folks” to push and push and push their “independent behavior” over the line.” Ahem.
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Amen to that!
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Rachel,
Today he might need a taser.
Then again, his opponents (these days) might be carrying an Uzi.
Strange, scary times we find ourselves in, eh?
(And ppl ask me why I wanna go back to the Sandbox…)
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No escalations of weaponry, Lance. That is something I fear.
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LOL! That’s true! Did you ever see the movie “The Village”? That’s what I want to do. (But with air conditioning.)
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I have had runners, when I owned a house with my ex, that would run on everyone’s lawn, instead of the sidewalk. I chalked it up as keeping his feet feeling better. As far as looking in windows, not cool to be so close, but I am one who looks in any windows where the shades or curtains aren’t drawn. It has made me feel safer, enjoyed the cozy feeling of seeing a couple together or the historical design work from the sidewalk. Never on the lawn! Smiles, Robin
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Looking OK, peeping not good. Careful, Robin. Just joshing. I know you know the difference, my friend. 🙂 Have a great weekend!
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I think there are people walking about our world that have that sense of entitlement. Completely inappropriate of him. Completely.
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Thank you, my friend.
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Wow! I’m really glad Ellie was home with you guys. What a jerk. Scary..
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Just too close for Ellie B and my dear wife Karen, I think, Aud!
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this is both rude and creepy, mark. here, people walk their dogs on the sidewalks, parks, or streets. that would freak me out too. i think having ellie bark up a storm will do the trick, but i’d call the police if it happens again, it’s trespassing to say the least. now i wish you really did have a wild bobcat living in your yard !
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The bobcat would do the trick, you are right, Beth. Maybe the skunk, too, but probably not the gopher.
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In Texas, they just shoot you if you get on their lawn. But I’m not suggesting that…
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Thanks for not suggesting that, Kerbey!
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That is super creepy Mark! I would have gone out and said something to him! But I’m super direct, in a respectful way. Come to think of it…I would fit right into my perception of what New York is like! 😀
Diana xo
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You fit right into what my perception of what you are like, Diana, and that’s pretty darn cool. 🙂 Wanna come over and keep my lawn clear, my friend?!
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Wanna? That would be fun! With my luck though, there would be no violators! haha
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We have a few that walk their dogs out here. The road is very narrow, so they typically let the dogs walk on the grass, but most are always leashed. And they have sense enough to not troll around my property.
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Dogs get a few feet of grace. Owners, no. My rule of the road, Apple Pie. Trolling around, they should not be, as you put it so well, my friend.
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Looking inside my window as they walked past? I may bark at them instead.
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Yeah, right? He did not return tonight. Knock on wood, a different route? Karen reminded me that he looked big and mean, Jeanette. I had forgotten about that part of it. The dog was small and cute, though.
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There is an older couple that lives a couple of blocks from me who have two huge dogs. Very friendly to people. Hate other dogs. And they always seem put out when someone else walks their dog. They will yell, “Go back!”, expecting the other owner to turn around and go another way because of their mean dogs. Drives me nuts. So I get the dog etiquette thing. And walking up on your lawn? Not cool. I’m with Ellie B on this one:)
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The older couple in your neighborhood are taking it too far, Kay. My view is, I do not own the street. I do own my lawn. Enough said. The dog gets a bit of my space, human feet and eyes, come on!
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If only you’d had the lawn sprinklers ready to fire up….
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Yeah, push that remote! Great idea, ESN.
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A not so concealed carry will make an impression on him. His dog probably crapped on your yard and he left it. Hate that.
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Man, I hate that, too, especially because I carry two bags and pick up Ellie B’s business every time.
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most definitely not cool. Wish you had sprinklers on hidden in the grass that would go off at just the right time.
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Man would be all wet, Rachel, yes, indeed.
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I can’t say I blame Ellie B in the least. I mean how rude! I don’t have someone walking a dog that does this, but a neighbor who boldly walks right across our front lawn not even near the street, with her baby buggy to go to the house next to me. Yes, we live on a busy street and no there is not a sidewalk either. But, just to walk not even 10 feet away from our house? Um, my cats aren’t happy about that! They really get upset. Where is the RESPECT???? Have a great day, Mark!!! Love, Amy
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Yes, Amy, that stinks. Since when do people do that? Ten feet from your house with her baby carriage? Takes some sort of nerve. I have no answer for that problem, my friend. You’d look like the bad guy, her with the kid. Oy.
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I don’t have a problem with her cutting across our lawn, especially being it a very busy street, but she could at least cross closer to the street as a sign of RESPECT. This is the same woman who made fun of me for using the umbrella as shade when I was shooting some flowers. *sigh* This I do know, Mr. Mark, how you treat others, does most certainly come back to bite ya on the butt. Sometime, somewhere. And that is my way of keeping my cool. (smile) xx Amy
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I know you are a cool friend, Amy from the near west! 🙂
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GRIN!
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That’s just downright rude! Maybe he was casing your place… lock your doors! We had people round pretending to sell house alarms, getting a good look around your house, then coming back at night and robbing the place. It never happened to us, but to people we knew. You just can’t be too careful.
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I’m glad Ellie B had he mean dog bark on, Ali. No thief would want to contend with that, I hope. We do lock our doors. That scam in your neighborhood is terrible.
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Wow, that is creepy, Mark. Ellie B is showing her usual good judgment here and alerting you to an intruder. Maybe this was just a one-time thing and you won’t have to go out and have a “discussion” with the guy.
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I’d hate to have a frank talk face to face, because I don’t think my viewpoint would be taken well. Let’s hope it was one time, like you say, Barbara.
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In some of the prettier neighborhoods out here that have brownstones, like Brooklyn Heights or Chelsea, I like to go for walks at night and look in the windows to steal decorating ideas. It’s not snooping. It’s fact finding.
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Comparing wives instead of dining room decor, that’s not fact-finding, Mark. That’s creepy.
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And that’s what he was doing?! Eww. There are probably laws in the books.
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My wife said he saw her see him. That was enough for me to have had enough of it. Mark.
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Laughing out loud. “Fact Finding!” Hahahahaha
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